Coup de Chaos

I love a good singing show. They’re always such feel-good family enterprises.

The Voice has become the preeminent singing show over the past decade, built around a super simple concept. Contestants complete “blind auditions” for a panel of judges, where only their voice earns them a spot on the show. Once a judge likes a singer’s voice, they smack their red button to turn their chair around, where they can then see who is behind the voice.

After the first episode, the magic of this moment goes away. The Voice is essentially built around those first impressions. Those very first moments where we, and the judges, hear a singer’s voice.

That is what makes the magic of the voice, and that is what always earns the show viewership on streaming platforms like YouTube.

So with that, I count down the best ‘Blind Auditions’ in the history of The Voice.

Of hundreds of worthy performances, I narrowed this list down to ten based on two primary factors:

The ‘WOW’ factor.

That is, how easily you can say “That is one of the best voices I’ve ever heard.” Not just, “that was a really great performance.”

I’m looking for jaw-dropping, “what did they just do” level of performances. For a show called the voice, these singers should be able to pull off more impressive notes than your average singer to be featured on this list.

Speaking of which….

The ‘HUH’ factor.

How much do you crinkle your noise and go “huh” when watching these singers? It’s not just their insane voice, but there’s something about the way they spin the rendition of their chosen song in their own unique way.

They don’t just make the original better, they make it different and better.

While we all love Beyonce, Rihanna or Elton John, it’s hard to really do a cover of their song better. Most that try end up doing the song in the same way as the original. But for those that dare to do it differently, you can’t help but be intrigued. That’s who made this list.

Let’s dive in.

HONOURABLE MENTION — SAWYNER FREDERICKS — I AM A MAN IN CONSTANT SORROW

For uniqueness, twang, and intrigue, Sawyer Fredericks nailed this song. Clearly not the most talented singer in Voice history, Sawyer had a way of emphasizing notes that made his voice just so fun and inviting. For nailing his own guitar to this performance and making three judges turn on the first three notes, Sawyer’s audition had to claim a place on this list somewhere.

HONOURABLE MENTION: ROBERT LUKIAN — EMOTIONS

It’s never easy to do match a Mariah Carey song stride for stride, but Robert Lukian managed that with his strong and powerful voice. He bounced between the high and the low, while dancing his way across stage, letting the strength in his voice shine through without missing a note.

Even with the wind taken out of his sails toward the end with so much power given throughout, he nails the final note in stunning fashion.

10. STEVIE MCCRORIE — ALL I WANT

Stevie McCrorie has one of those unique, gut-pounding voices that you can’t but just love. Like a Scottish Lewis Capaldi, Stevie sings with a raspiness and passion in his voice that lands so authentically to him.

Such a strong and powerful voice, Rita Ora bangs her head on the button to turn, in complete and utter amazement of what she’s hearing.

For most of this song, he gets by through the strength and uniqueness of his voice, but he also hits every high note. A few notes a little wobbly, but others utterly jaw-dropping.

For how much he upgraded an already emotional song, McCrorie had to get a mention.

9. KELLEY SHIMIZU — GOLDEN SLUMBERS

One of the younger contestants on this list, Kelley Shimizu sings this song so beautifully and peacefully, while hitting so much range in her voice throughout. Even turning into a songbird at one point with a Mariah Carey high note, Kaylee displays some of the most magnificent range of any voice contestant in this audition. Her family is left in tears, and the judges in disbelief.

8. MARLEN TJØSVOLL — BANG BANG

Something so sinister and sweet hit immediately as soon as Marlen Tjøsvoll started singing this song. Within the first few notes, three of the judges had already turned.

Her voice — so clear, so powerful. The range even in such a melancholy delivery exposed. The judges were left stunned and speechless, primarily just for how coolly she delivered every single word.

Then immediately into the second verse, Marlen let her voice fly and spin, dovetailing notes with greater strength and echo. For such a repetitive song, the Voice Norway star made every single note hit so differently. That was the crowning jewel on such an outstanding performance.

7. LOUISE — INDIGO NIGHT

Louise has one of those beautiful, powerful voices that can’t be ignored. On the piano herself for this one, Louise displayed incredible range and tonality, changing her voice with every single note. It’s a masterpiece of a rendition with her own unique voice standing out at every turn; not just an incredible performance.

6. SANDRO MACHADO — RISE LIKE A PHOENIX

The true sign of a great voice is the ability to use it in different ways to hit different notes. Sandro Machado masters that in this audition, starting slow and melancholy, and growing into something so powerful and flamboyant by the end. He hits some insanely impressive long notes, growing into the song and commanding the room like he’s the only one in it.

Even when about to miss a note, he smartly changes his pitch to come out cleanly. And missing a note is a rarity if you can find one here, with such ferocity to his elegant voice.

5. JØRGEN DAHL MOE

Jørgen Dahl Moe’s blind audition has to be one of the cleanest, smoothest, and teary-eyed in the history of the show. Leaving two judges with watery eyes, Jørgen Dahl Moe let his voice shine in such a soothing campfire rendition of this Bruce Springsteen song.

Hitting absolutely every note beautifully with slight hints of range and power, the Norwegian singer established himself as an early front runner right from this very first song.

4. FERNANDO DANIEL — WHEN WE WERE YOUNG

Fernando Daniel delivers the first few notes of this Adele rendition so strongly and so smoothly that three judges turn in seconds.

Fernando showcases so much range and talent in his voice throughout this rendition, from the raspiness in sections to the strength in others, to the way he smoothly hits low notes. So powerful, yet so graceful at the same time.

3. CHARLY LUSKE — THIS IS A MAN’S WORLD

There might not be anyone in the history of the show with a faster four-chair spin than Charly Luske. Recognized for his acting career among a few of the judges immediately, Charly Luske belted out this song like he’d sung it a thousand times before. With such uniqueness and umph to his voice, it’s easy to see why the judges turned around so quickly.

After all the initial excitement, the Dutchman continued hitting every note perfectly, never missing a beat. For such a famous song, Charly certainly did it justice.

2. BOGDAN IOAN — THE EARTH SONG

Have you ever heard someone do a rendition of a Michael Jackson song and inevitably, completely pale in comparison?

Not Bogdan Ioan.

In fact, it’s why all four judges turned around the moment Bogdan started singing. They turned around for that “WOW” factor. The ‘who is this guy that sounds just like Michael Jackson, singing a Michael Jackson song?!’

The reaction of the judges helps to illustrate just how insane of a vocal performance this is from Bogdan Ioan. It was the perfect song choice for him, and he ran with it — keeping his composure despite the excitement that came over the judges.

In comparison to the number one slot on this list, Bogdan’s slightly off in his execution of a few early notes amidst all the excitement. Notes that get completely drowned out by the applause and camera cut-aways. But as the second verse starts and the crowd settles, he just hits all the right notes again and executes in a way that MJ himself would have been impressed by.

For what it’s worth, no other blind audition has ever created such a fuss from the judges. Not even the number one.

1. TARRYN STOKES — SHE USED TO BE MINE

I’d imagine that Tarryn Stokes had one of the most unfair advantages to ever exist on The Voice. A Broadway calibre singer with the pipes to dovetail between Carrie Underwood and Mariah Carey, Tarryn had previously worked with two of the judges and had been a more familiar face to the industry than most.

There was never going to be anyone capable of competing with her on Australia’s 2023 season of the show, and spoiler alert — she rightly won the competition with relative ease.

Similarly to that win, it was always going to be difficult to find someone on any version of The Voice capable of competing with her range, talent, and vocal power for this number one spot. She just lands every single note so strongly, so beautifully, and so perfectly.

After starting strong and gaining early chair turns from Rita and Jenny, she strings together a series of notes that could rival any I’ve ever heard in any song toward the end. It’s one of those unpredictable ‘you never know what she’s going to do with her voice’ next kind of Adam Lambert performances. It’s one of the greatest vocal performances of any singing show ever. Period.

Locked and loaded. Tarryn Stokes is the unequivocal number one slot winner, and those judges from Romania would have been slamming the floor for her too.

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What are your picks? Comment below and be sure to share your thoughts! Thanks for reading and see you soon!