Gwen Stefani's shady reaction to 'Voice' contestant: 'Some of those '90s songs are like a trigger for me'
On Tuesdayâs night two of The Voice Season 19âs Blind Auditions, when 36-year-old rocker dad Aaron Scott belted out a faithful cover of Fuelâs monster hit âHemorrhage (In My Hands),â Blake Shelton and John Legend were impressed with his professional pipes. The two coaches even amusingly engaged in a bit of a grunting âHemorrhageâ-off, as they competed to recruit Aaron.
But surprisingly, the two pop-rockers on the panel, Gwen Stefani and Kelly Clarkson, didnât turn around â and Gwen claimed to not even recognize the song, even though it had gone all the way to No. 1 on Billboardâs Alternative Airplay chart and to No. 2 on the Mainstream Rock chart.
âIâve got to be honest, some of those â90s songs are like a trigger for me. I probably have to go see my therapist after that, so thank you,â Gwen quipped, before declining to comment on Aaronâs retro-rawk performance at all. âI will just have a drink,â she joked, as she let Kelly speak instead, while Aaron sheepishly replied, âSorry about that!â
âHemorrhageâ technically came out in 2000, but Gwenâs point was well taken: This seemed like a subtle dig at her â90s-rock-star ex, Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, with whom she acrimoniously split in 2015.
While Gwen hasnât totally distanced herself from her â90s past â on Monday, after The Voice premiere, she went on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and cheerfully discussed the 25th anniversary of No Doubtâs landmark 1995 album, Tragic Kingdom â she recently Photoshopped her current boyfriend and Voice co-star Blake into a â90s-throwback photo of her and Gavin. And Gwenâs sound has certainly evolved from anything remotely resembling â90s rock: Her latest hit is a country duet with Blake, âNobody But You,â which is nominated for Collaborative Video of the Year at this weekâs CMT Music Awards.
Gwenâs remark didnât go unnoticed by some diehard fans, who took to Twitter to comment on her perceived shade (or lack of Fuel knowledge) and express their sympathy.
Donât cover 90s rock songs in front of Gwen Stefani! Girlâs still trying to heal! How could you, man? #TheVoice
â shannon (@attilathehoneyb) October 21, 2020
Baby gwen was triggered aweee pic.twitter.com/NiW8EQAIM5
â Bea / YO APRUEBO 🌺 (@RocketShip726) October 21, 2020
Gwen saying Iâm triggered Iâm going to have to see my therapist 💀
â 💗Em💗 (@gwengxblake) October 21, 2020
Iâm mad Gwen and Kelly didnât know âhemorrhageââlike wth #TheVoice
â Michael Beezy (@getlikeme1823) October 21, 2020
Sorry Gwen, that song by Fuel came out in 2000. Close enough though 🤣 #TheVoice
â Drew (@JustRollinOn86) October 21, 2020
Gwenâs not turning for this 90s rock guy. That chapter of her life is over. 😂#TheVoice
â shannon (@attilathehoneyb) October 21, 2020
As it turned out, Aaron ended up on Blakeâs team (of course Blake won the âHemorrhageâ-off against John), while Gwen ended up warming to another contestant with an apparently less triggering â90s sound. These were the other successful auditions of Tuesday night:
Taryn Papa, 30: âAnywayâ
This Nashville power-singer performs at Blakeâs Broadway bar, Ole Red, and has been working the Music City club circuit for the past seven years. She chose this Martina McBride classic because she related to its message of against-all-odds perseverance, and it was clear that she was really feeling it. She had a pretty tone and a fine sense of control; she chose her moments wisely; and she built the momentum masterfully. Blake called her a âswing for the fencesâ type of vocalist.
Who turned? Blake, Gwen⌠and a blocked Kelly. On Mondayâs premiere, John used his one Block of the season on Kelly, and tonight Blake did the same thing, so clearly the other coaches see Kelly as a threat.
Result: Team Blake, unsurprisingly.
Liam St. John, 29: âSex and Candyâ
I give Liam some points for picking a song that doesnât get covered on singing competitions too often, but he somehow made Marcy Playgroundâs 1997 one-hit wonder sound even more dated. He seemed like an actor playing dress-up as a wannabe rock star; his performance simply lacked authenticity. Maybe it was that headband? But in all seriousness, it was his vocal quirks â all those yelps, yowls, and growls â that seemed hokey and forced.
Who turned? Gwen â who was clearly not triggered by this â90s song â and Blake.
Result: Team Gwen. Hopefully Liam will, in his words, âvibeâ with the â90s queen.
Madeline Consoer, 24: âGirlâ
This bubbly Nashville transplant displayed a lot of fire and charisma on Maren Morrisâs empowerment anthem; her voice had grit and gravel and sass, but there was still a sweetness and lightness to it. Much like The Voice Season 13 winner Chloe Kohanski, I feel Madeline could do classic rock, folk/Americana, country, or even pop on this show, and sheâd give it a certain special twist.
Who turned? Only Kelly, but sheâs the perfect coach for a little bit country/little bit rock ânâ roll artist like Madeline. âYou probably would have picked Kelly anyway,â Gwen noted, which Madeline readily admitted was true.
Result: Team Kelly, as it should be.
Cami Clune, 20: âSkinny Loveâ
A former theater kid who had to leave dance behind when she was diagnosed with the incurable connective tissue disease Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (a condition that Sia, Jameela Jamil, and RuPaulâs Drag Race star Yvie Oddly also have), Cami turned to music, which âsavedâ her. Cami poured all that pain into her delicate-but-passionate cover of Bon Iverâs âSkinny Love,â and the result was magical. This girl is special. John called her âmesmerizing.â Kelly called her âethereal and angelic.â And Gwen called her âreally believable and emotionalâ and promised she could help Cami tap into her innate storytelling abilities.
Who turned? All four coaches â but Blake was blocked. Kelly got her sweet revenge⌠for now.
Result: Team Legend! I thought for sure that Cami would be swayed by Kellyâs lightning-quick early turn and Block usage, or by Gwenâs rather compelling sales pitch. But instead, she went with her fellow pianist. âI should have blocked John,â grumbled Kelly.
Ryan Gallagher, 31: âThe Prayerâ
The instant that Kelly heard this classically trained vocalist (who got his start in the business singing backup for Josh Groban, an obvious role model), Kelly was freaking out. I am not exactly sure why it took her so long to push her button â or why Blake pushed his. Blake didnât even know the song, although I did appreciate his Taco âPuttinâ on the Ritzâ reference when Kelly called him out on his lack of opera knowledge. That was super-duper!
Who turned? Kelly and Blake.
Result: Team Kelly. Oddly, Ryan confessed that Blake had been his first choice going into this competition, but even Blake admitted that Ryan made the right choice in the end. With a diva like Kelly on his side, Ryan could be the Chris Mann of Season 19. And letâs face it, a Ryan/Blake duet on the finale would not have worked. Meanwhile, a Ryan/Kelly duet will sound like a âconversation with the gods.â
Chloe Hogan, 20: âWhat the World Needs Now Is Loveâ
During her interview package, Chloe killed an innocent spider. Not nice! But thankfully onstage, she was gentle and sweet. Modernizing this Bacharach/David classic for these dark times, she showcased a certain earnestness and a lilting, sparkling tone. It was not a perfect performance, but it felt connected, raw, and real. Gwen, a huge Anita Baker fan, spun around and looked genuinely moved, almost teary-eyed.
Who turned? Only Gwen, surprisingly. I would have thought Kelly or John would have gone gaga for this girl. (Kelly didnât turn because she heard some âpitch things.â)
Result: Team Gwen, of course. Expect Chloe to croon some Anita Baker songs in the near future.
Sid Kingsley, 37: âDonât Think Twice, Itâs All Rightâ
This bluesmanâs skronky, slowed-down Dylan cover had an immediate wow factor; as he sat at his organ keyboard, he delivered what felt like an awards show performance. John loved Sidâs âpower, soul, and clarity.â Gwen told Sid, âIt was shocking. Your voice is so confident. It sounds like a guy thatâs been making records forever.â And Blake raved, âYouâre not just singing the notes, youâre attacking them.â
Who turned? Blake, Gwen, and John. Kelly later admitted she was probably an âidiotâ to refrain.
Result: Team Legend! Proving that heâs a grown man, Sid went against his mamaâs wishes and didnât choose her favorite, Blake.
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