Who Went Home and Who Made It Through Night 1 on 'The Voice' Season 25 Playoffs
Madison Curbelo
The Playoffs premiered Monday night on Season 25 of The Voice with John Legend and Dan + Shay’s teams competing for the tough decision by the coaches as to which three of their artists out of the five remaining will advance to the Live Shows.
Meanwhile, Chance the Rapper and Reba McEntire got to sit back and watch and comment on the performances as their artists will be competing next Monday.
The artists on Team Legend got to work with guest mentor Latin Grammy Award winner Maluma and Team Dan + Shay were coached by multi-platinum rapper/singer Saweetie, but it will be up to the individual coaches as to who goes through to the Live Shows. There are no Saves or Steals in the Playoff rounds.
“I am looking for artists who make memorable moments on this stage,” John said. “When they stand in their gifts and their power and give us something to remember, that’s who’s going to the Lives.”
And Shay Mooney said, “Moving forward to the Live Shows, we are looking for people who have the ability to show us they can make people feel something.”
Related: Who Went Home and Who Made It Through Night 2 on The Voice Season 25 Knockouts
Who went home tonight on The Voice Season 25 Playoff Rounds Night 1
Anya True
Kamalei Kawa'a
Mafe
Olivia Rubini
Advancing artists tonight on The Voice Season 25 Playoff Rounds Night 1
Bryan Olesen
Karen Waldrup
Madison Curbelo
Nathan Chester
Tae Lewis
Zoe Levert
Team Legend: Nathan Chester
Song: “Oh! Darling” by The Beatles
John said: “That was your best performance yet. You do it with such conviction and such enthusiasm and such great execution. It’s not all tricks, it’s not all the split, it’s not all the outfit, you can sing, man. You made an emphatic statement about you deserving to be in the Live Shows.”
Team Dan + Shay: Karen Waldrup
Song: “Heart Like a Truck” by Lainey Wilson
Shay said: “I am so proud of how you’ve progressed throughout this competition. Country music is a family and that’s something that we’re looking for in the Lives. You brought us up and then you brought us back here for the ending. We’re so happy for you.”
Dan said: “I think that’s my favorite performance of yours so far. You’ve got a powerhouse voice, but I felt on this song you connected to the lyrics more so than any previous performances. You’re a pro. You left everything on the stage.”
Team Legend: Kamalei Kawa'a
Song: “No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley & the Wailers
John said: “You’ve covered Bob Marley twice and I feel like you’re honoring his legacy in such a beautiful way. You don’t attempt to sound like him with a fake Jamaican accent. You’re just coming out here being yourself and I’m so happy I get to work with you.”
Team Dan + Shay: Anya True
Song: “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift
Dan said: “That was my favorite performance of yours so far. It is easy to go over the top emulating Taylor Swift. I didn’t feel that at all from you. I heard Anya. You stepped up and crushed it.”
Shay said: “You have this Julia Michaels way that you sing. I don’t know if you’re a fan of hers like we are. We’re huge fans. There’s a sharpness to her voice. You sing very similarly. We’re such fans. We’re like your older brothers over here beaming with pride. As Reba would say, ‘You’re cute as a button.’”
Team Legend: Brian Olesen – Playoff Pass
Song: “Africa” by Toto
John said: “Bryan, you just show up every time and make it feel like we’re at Bryan’s concert. You’re such a pro. I feel your intention in everything you do as well. I loved the way you took the guitar in the middle of the performance. It just made you look more like you were the boss up on stage. I am glad I used my Playoff Pass on you. You deserved it.”
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Team Dan + Shay: Olivia Rubini
Song: “I’ll Stand By You” by Pretenders
Shay said: “Olivia, first of all, we’ve loved you since the beginning of this competition when we got to Steal you. As far as the high stuff that you like to do, I dig it.”
Dan interrupted: “He’s going to be trying to do it.”
Shay agreed, saying: “I will be trying to do it immediately after this.”
Dan added: “I feel there’s so much originality there. There’s no one else in this competition that sings like you.”
Team Legend: Mafe
Song: “Someone Like You” by Adele
John said: “What am I supposed to do? Everybody keeps coming up here and being their very best self. I thought the moments when you took a few melodic liberties were tasteful. They didn’t take me out of the feeling of the song. I love working with you, Mafe. You’re fantastic.”
Related: The Shocking Twist on The Voice that Helped John Legend Land This Four-Chair Turn
Team Dan + Shay: Tae Lewis
Song: “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” by Randy Houser
Dan said: “You’re an amazing tenor vocalist. You really showcased your range in this.”
Shay said: “I just had this fire in my belly. It might have been the tacos I had for lunch but I’m not sure. You were so fantastic. I am so proud you’re on Team Dan + Shay.”
Dan added: “You said, ‘I won’t let you guys down. I will make you proud,’ and you did not let us down. You made us damn proud up here.”
Team Legend: Zoe Levert
Song: “Iris” by The Goo Goo Dolls
John said: “The little pronunciations and tonal things you were doing just made it sound like this is primetime. I want to hear a record with this voice on it. You look like, ‘I am ready for this moment and I want you to know who I am.’ I feel like Zoe is becoming a star before our eyes.”
Team Dan + Shay: Madison Curbelo – Playoff Pass
Song: “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac
Dan said: “I am so glad we gave you the Playoff Pass because you really showed up and showed that you deserved it."
Shay said: “There’s something about your voice that carries more than just notes. It doesn’t just go to my ears, it goes to my soul. That was the first time I got the chills. I never get chills. I could talk about you all night.”
Related: Watch the 'Lucky' Bilingual Voice Battle Worthy of a Playoff Pass
Then it was time for the coaches to decide which three of their artists were going to the Live Shows.
Dan and Shay picked Maidson Curbelo as their first artist moving on. Second was Karen Waldrup. And the third and final artist was Tae Lewis.
Next, John had to make his picks. His first artist going to the Lives was Nathan Chester. Second was Zoe Levert and the final artist was Bryan Olesen.
The Voice airs Monday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, and streams next day on Peacock.
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