Verona's Joe Vivona becomes the third singer from New Jersey to make it through the blind auditions of 'The Voice'
A New Jersey amusement park heir, a country-singing El Salvadoran immigrant and a 16-year-old singer-songwriter who mesmerized with "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" all made it through the second night of blind auditions on "The Voice."
Here they are:
Joe Vivona, a Verona native whose family runs the New Jersey-based Amusements of America, showed off an appealing huskiness on "Dreaming with a Broken Heart," the John Mayer ballad, although the relative newbie was a bit unnerved and had, as Christina Aguilera noted, some pitch problems. Adam Levine turned around almost immediately, followed by Blake Shelton, with Pharrell Williams buzzing in at the very end. Adam praised his storytelling abilities, and Blake said he electrified the room. But he picked Pharrell because he's his 95-year-old grandfather's favorite judge.
Adam Wakefield is a New Hampshire native who now lives in Nashville and whose brother and bandmate died from overdose. He got out about one line of George Jones' "Tennessee Whiskey" -- warm as a glass of brandy, indeed -- when Adam slammed his buzzer, followed by Blake. "I heard things other than country in your voice," Adam says. "I heard Southern rock. I heard the blues." Blake insisted Adam Wakefield is country -- the future of country. The two judges engaged in a somewhat nuanced argument about the universality vs. specificity of country music, but in the end Adam (the contestant) chose Blake.
Shalyah Fearing is a 15-year-old from Hudson, Fla., and one of eight kids who performs in their family band. She performed a gutsy "What Is Love" from Veronika Bozeman that earned a quick turn around from Christina.
Caroline Burns, a 15-year-old from Hollis, N.H., who tried out for season 9, was back for redemption. She sang "So Far Away," the Carole King classic, with a lilting sweetness, and gave it a nice kick on the end. Adam hit his buzzer quickly, and Blake turned around at the very last moment. She went with Adam.
Emily Keener, a 16-year-old singer-songwriter from rural Wakeman, Ohio, performed a stripped-down but theatrical "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John that made Blake to turn around almost immediately, followed in short order by Christina, Adam and Pharrell. She showed great range and interesting instincts.
"Your voice, it's like nothing I've ever heard before," Blake said. "It's a completely new sound. Unbelievable." Adam called her voice magnetic, Pharrell said she was breathtaking and "super fresh" and Christina loved her control and honesty, and said she could speak to a new generation. She picked Pharrell.
Laith Al-Saadi, a 38-year-old singer and guitarist from Ann Arbor, Mich., who has opened for B.B. King and Gregg Allman, delivered a growly, gritty version of The Box Tops's "The Letter." Blake and Adam hit their buzzers. Blake appreciated his well-developed sound, and Adam loved his control -- and his shredding. Laith obliged with an incredible guitar solo before choosing Adam.
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Angie Keilhauer, whose family moved from El Salvador's due to the country's unrest to Marietta, Ga., when she was 11, is a country cruise ship singer. She performed an unbridled "I Hold On" by Dierks Bentley, and Adam, Blake and Pharrell all turned around. Adam: "You kept better and better as the performance went on and on, and I kept believing you more and more." Blake liked the wild way she performed, unusual for a girl, he said, "and about damn time." She picked Blake.
Kata Hay, a country singer from Skiatook, Okla., who lives in Nashville (and has an adorable father), sang Gretchen Wilson's "Redneck Woman," and absolutely delivered, but it wasn't until the end notes that Adam, Christina and Pharrell buzzed in. (They all got big hugs from Kata -- in fact, she tried to climb Adam.) She chose Christina.
Several other singers make it through -- Lacy Mandigo (Christina), Jonathan Bach (Pharrell), and Katherine Ho (Adam).
Vicki Hyman may be reached at vhyman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @vickihy or like her on Facebook. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook, and check out TV Hangover, the podcast from Vicki Hyman and co-host Erin Medley on iTunes, Stitcher or listen here.