Has America already found its new Voice?
Sasha Allen
stunned the judges on Monday night's blind auditions despite the music
stars being very picky as they fill their teams' spots.
With just
one show to go, the coaches strategically filled their remaining slots,
but all made a mad dive to push their buzzers when the 30-year-old
mother-of-two from New York City started singing.
Early frontrunner: Sasha Allen stunned The Voice
judges on Monday night's blind auditions despite the music stars being
very picky as they fill their teams' spots
Going into the episode, Shakira had nine singers on her
team, Maroon Five frontman Adam Levine had eight, while Usher had eight artists
and Blake Shelton had picked seven.
Each has 12 spots to fill by the time the auditions
end. And they all wanted a piece of Sasha.
The judges predicted the stunning lady in red could go all
the way and she revealed she has had an extensive career as a backup singer but took a step back to be a mother.
'I put my career on hold to be a mum but now it's time to
get back into it,' she said.
Another calling: The classically trainer pianist put her singing career on the back burner to have two children
A challenge: The mother of two chose to sing Not Ready to Make Nice by the Dixie Chicks despite not being a country singer
She chose to sing Not Ready to Make Nice by the Dixie Chicks
despite not being a country singer.
Adam was first to turn around, followed almost straight away
by Shakira and then Usher, before Blake joined them.
'You are magic and you have an unbelievable natural
God-given gift that I really want to be a part of,' said Adam.
'You have a beautiful voice,' said Shakira who said the
girls should stick together.
Feeling it: Usher listened intently as the 30-year-old from New York sung
Wanted: All four judges spun their chairs around for the former backup singer
'Guys, you're a completely different animal.'
'I'm an animal for my talent,' said Usher.
But it was the
Maroon Five frontman that got Sasha's return vote.
'Sasha is miraculous,' he raved. 'I could not be happier.
She could win the whole thing.'
Perfect match: Blake Shelton could not help but yell when he heard Grace Askew
Thank you! Blake and Shakria both wanted the country singer but Shelton came out on top
But each got their chance to land their perfect singer - especially Blake who could not help but yell when he heard Grace Askew.
The
26-year-old from Memphis, Tennessee dubbed herself a 'blu-ntry singer' -
a mix of blues and country - looked like a young Priscilla Presley
warring her brown hair teased atop of her head.
She won over the crowd with her version of the Nancy Sinatra hit, These Boots are Made for Walking.
And it took just seconds for Blake to turn around.
Singing sisters: Shakira picked herself out a felow Latin performer - Selena Gomez-lookalike Mary Miranda
Finding herself: The young girl moved to Albuquerque four years ago, from her native Cuba, unable to speak a word of English
'I found one
that I really like,' said Blake. 'I don't know that there's anything
sexier than a girl up there with a big old chrome guitar. And with
cowboy boots on. I think you and I could make history. And I'm afraid if
you pick Shakira you'll be history.'
Shakira picked herself out a felow Latin performer - Selena Gomez-lookalike Mary Miranda.
The young girl moved to Albuquerque four years ago, from her native Cuba, unable to speak a word of English.
Top marks: The only other hopeful to win the attention of all four judges was Ryan Innes
'I knew I had many opportunities here,' the 17-year-old said. 'It was hard for me. Kids would make fun of me.'
Everyone
in the audience knew it was a done deal as soon as Shakira started
dancing when the young girl sang Como La Flor by Selena in Spanish and,
of course Shakira's hips don't lie.
The
only other hopeful to win the attention of all four judges was Ryan
Innes, who told how a broken engagement led him to seek a future in
music.
Change of pace: The bearded 31-year-old, who trained as a doctor, sang John Mayer's Gravity
Finding the silver lining: Heartbreak made the bearded singer look to fulfill his other passions
The bearded 31-year-old, who trained as a doctor, sang John Mayer's Gravity.
'I might be late to the party, but I’m going to make the most noise,' Ryan said before he started to sing.
'Ryan's got soul, doesn't he?' Blake said. 'Most fun I've had listening all day.'
But it was Usher who the singer doctor sided with.
Battling it out: Blake and Usher campaigned hard to get Ryan on their team, but he sided with Usher
'You shook
this entire room, man. I just hope that you give me an opportunity to be
your coach,' said Usher as they fought to land him.
Meanwhile the two-hour episode saw a number of contestants take risks - with mixed results.
One leap of faith that paid off was for Jeff Lewis, 28, from Dallas, Texas, works on a golf course in Los Angeles.
Knowing
what it is like to have everything and then loose it - he previously
had a record deal, but he was dumped after recording an album - put it
all on the line singing Usher's own song, You Got It Bad.
Taking a risk: Jeff Lewis put it all on the line singing Usher's own song, You Got It Bad
And it paid off with everyone but Adam turning around - of course the singer went with his 'man', Usher.
Another throwing all her chips in was singer-songwriter Caroline Glaser from St Louis,
Missouri.
'I'm pretty new to the music scene,' said the 'indie folk'
vocalist and guitarist.
The university student is so passionate about her singing career took time off from her
studies to try out for the NBC show.
Gambling gal: Another throwing all her chips in
was singer-songwriter Caroline Glaser from St Louis, Missouri, the
university student is so passionate about her singing career took time
off from her studies
'I just want to know what my fate is,' said the soft-voiced
teen, who sung Tiny Dancer.
Again her gamble paid off with both Blake and Shakira going head to head to have her on their team.'
'I strive to be song writer, so I think I’m going to go with
Team Blake,' the 18-year-old said, making her choice.
But while Caroline may be new to the game fellow contestant who goes by Shawna P.
No limit: At 45 Shawna P said she understands she is older but passion is ageless
At 45 the singer said she understands she is older but passion is ageless.
'It's never too late to do what you're passionate about,'
said the Alabama native. 'I've being singing since most of the people who tried out have been alive.'
She sang in Nashville with the MuzikMafia collective for
years but never made the big time despite singing with some big name stars,
including Kid Rock.
Choosing The Black Crowes song She Talks To
Angels she said: 'It's just gritty and raw - kind of like me.'
No lies: Shawna joked that she wanted Hips Don't Lie star Shakira to show her how to wiggle so decided to join her team
And it was gritty and raw enough for Shakira who was first
to take a look at the face behind the voice, before Adam turned around, too.
However Shawna - who joked that she wanted Hips Don't Lie star
Shakira to show her how to wiggle her hips - decided to join Shakira's team.
As she battled tears, Shawna said: 'I've been working a
long, long time. 'I'm representing 40 and up.'
Country cop: Deputy sheriff Michael Austin or as
he likes to go by 'Big Country' showed he is above the law when it
comes to singing
The shock of the night went to deputy sheriff Michael Austin or as he likes to go by 'Big Country.'
The cowboy-hat wearing tattooed wannabe sings with the band, Austin Law while not chasing bad guys.
'I could literally ride my horses from my house down to the
local saloon. I live the country lifestyle.'
The
shock was however not that he failed to make the grade, but that
country star Blake passed on his version of Somebody Like You by Keith
Urban calling it 'pitchy'.
Shock: Country star Blake dubbed the performance 'pitchy' and passed
But adam found the soing to his liking saying: 'First of all, stupid,' pointing to Blake.
'He doesn't know crap about country music,' said Blake said behind stage.
At
then end of the night all of the judges have been left with just one
spot left, meaning Tuesday's final auditions are likely to be very
competitive.
Trying something different: Adam Levine snatched up the country singer