‘The Voice’ Season 21 Episode 23 Recap: Top 8 Artists Throw It Back to the ’90s
It’s officially time for The Voice semi-finals, and the Top 8 artists are ready to give it their all. During The Voice Season 21 Episode 23, the remaining singers performed not only solo acts but also ’90s-themed duets with each other. Coaches Kelly Clarkson, Ariana Grande, Blake Shelton, and John Legend worked hard to choose the right tunes for their team members. Who will make it to the Top 5 on Dec. 7? Cast your votes now.
[Spoiler alert: The following story contains spoilers for The Voice Season 21 Episode 23, “Live Top 8 Performances.”]
Team Ariana
Father-son duo Jim and Sasha Allen kicked off the evening with Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson.” Sasha revealed that Ariana spent a few hours picking the best song for them, proving her dedication as a coach. John said he loved seeing how comfortable Jim and Sasha looked on stage and commended the song choice. Meanwhile, Kelly admired the harmonies, and Ariana called it her favorite performance. She added that the performance felt “nostalgic” and “infectious.”
Jim and Sasha teamed up with Team Blake’s Lana Scott for “Hold My Hand” by Hootie & the Blowfish. Kelly clapped along as the duo-turned-trio poured out stunning harmonies. After the performance, the coaches gave a standing ovation.
Team Ariana: Jim and Sasha Allen
Team Legend
After making it to the Bottom 3 last week, Team Legend’s Jershika Maple wanted to put on her best show. She sang Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” In rehearsal, John encouraged her to go a little higher with her voice and leave her comfort zone. Her moving rendition earned a standing ovation from all four coaches. Blake said Jershika proved herself after nearly getting eliminated, while Ariana said she was “stunning.” Finally, John agreed with host Carson Daly that it sounded like a performance one would hear at the Grammys.
Jershika and Joshua Vacanti came together for a rendition of “Hand in My Pocket” by Alanis Morissette. The two brought powerful vocals with the angsty tune, and Kelly and John couldn’t help but dance along.
Joshua decided to sing Celine Dion’s “Ashes,” paying tribute to the song’s co-writer, The Voice Season 9 winner Jordan Smith. Joshua said he felt inspired by Jordan’s success and wanted to emulate the singe’s journey. Ariana said the moving performance made Joshua sound like a “vocal technician,” while John said he had a theatrical tone.
Team Legend: Jershika Maple, Joshua Vacanti
Team Blake
Paris Winningham and Wendy Moten channeled the ’90s with Eric Clapton’s “Change the Word.” Still with casts on her arms after her on-stage injury, Wendy took a seat beside her Team Blake partner. Like a proud father, Blake jumped to his feet after the performance and shouted, “I taught them that!”
Lana Scott, the season’s last remaining country artist, performed Carrie Underwood’s “Something in the Water.” She dedicated the tune to her mother and took a sweet moment to thank her for motivating her. After the performance, John said Lana had been “so consistent” throughout the performance and called it an “inspiring” cover. Blake reminded Lana how important this week was and said it was her best rendition so far.
The Voice Season 21 Episode 23 continued with Wendy singing Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “You’re All I Need to Get By.” Blake said the tune gave her the chance to showcase her heart and emotion. Later, Ariana couldn’t find words to describe how “insane” she thought Wendy’s voice was. Likewise, Blake said the singer made music history. Ariana even bowed down to Wendy and choked up while thinking about how well she performed.
Paris closed out Team Blake’s performances with “Close the Door” by Teddy Pendergrass. Blake encouraged the singer to showcase his personality during the song, and he did so with a mix of high and low notes. Kelly called Paris’s voice “beautiful and raw,” while Blake said he “did exactly what he needed to do” to show off his fun side. “My heart was pounding for Paris,” the coach added.
Team Blake: Paris Winningham, Wendy Moten, Lana Scott
Team Kelly
Hailey Mia, this season’s youngest artist, chose to sing “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi, feeling eager to put her own spin on it. Kelly encouraged Hailey to show off her belting skills, and the 14-year-old singer did exactly that on stage. Ariana said Hailey had a beautiful falsetto, while Kelly said it was important to showcase every part of her voice. As always, Kelly was floored by the fact that the singer had such incredible talent at such a young age.
Fan-favorite sibling trio Girl Named Tom chose Joni Mitchell’s “River,” and Kelly said the song reminded her of the band’s folk roots. The coach added that it was “undeniable” that Girl Named Tom should move forward to the season’s final round. Near the end of the tune, Bekah belted out a high note that left the coaches impressed. John said the trio made “beautiful music,” while Kelly said they “left no moment unspoken for.”
Girl Named Tom and Hailey Mia chose Wilson Phillips’ “Hold On” for their ’90s tune, and Bekah said she was excited to have another powerhouse female join the group. Kelly clapped along with a massive smile on her face as her team had a blast on stage.
Team Kelly: Hailey Mia, Girl Named Tom
Vote for your favorite artists via The Voice official app or NBC.com/voicevote. Tune in to The Voice on Monday and Tuesday evenings at 8 p.m. on NBC.
