'The Voice' coaches make major mistake as Shye’s win raises further questions on troubled show
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: One of the most surprising battles to date on 'The Voice' went to powerhouse Shye, but Jamison Puckett's emotional delivery made many question whether or not the coaches might have missed out on an up-and-coming star. Talented and controlled at 17 years young, Shye wowed the coaches with sheer vocal strength and confidence. But Jamison had brought something special to the stage: a raw heart that spoke to the audience. His smooth tone and very genuine delivery made for a performance that stood out all on its own, and one could tell he put his heart and soul into every note.
While the polished approach and youthful energy impressed the judges, courtesy of Shye, Jamison's performance showed a seasoned maturity and warmth that can be so rare on a stage as big as 'The Voice'. Arguably, some would say that the very talent of relating to a song in such a fashion, on Jamison's part, gave him an edge that could have taken him far in the competition.
As for Shye over Jamison, the selection decision is understandable; however, this begs the question of whether the coaches weighted their decisions a tad too heavily in technical power against emotional impact. Even though Shye surely does have a great future ahead of himself, Jamison's depth and experience could have made him a strong contender in the future rounds. A steal from the other coaches could have been just the perfect opportunity for Jamison to be able to stick around in this competition and his talent develop.
Shye's win over Jamison on 'The Voice' begged a very big question: what is most important in performance technical ability or emotional resonance? While Shye's win was well-deserved, it leads to the thought that at times, 'The Voice' judges may focus too much on perfect technique and just miss out on an artist like Jamison, whose strength indeed lies in bringing emotion. Given the powerhouse of voices this season, Jamison's singular vulnerability would have been a nice contrast. A steal by another coach could have afforded Jamison the time to grow and show even more layers to his artistry.
Michael Bublé praises Shye saying he hears 'Adele' on 'The Voice'
Coach Michael Bublé loved Shye's performance, referring to her voice as "special" and even comparing her to the likes of Adele one day. He was impressed with the control, range, and confidence she had on stage. He added that the specialness of her voice blew him away and that he had no doubt she would do great things in the music world. But the fight to let go of Jamison brought him to that point several times where he was always surprised and taken aback at how nutty this competition gets, sometimes when talents like Shye pop up and raise the pole for him.
Gwen Stefani and Rena McEntire are torn apart between Shye and Jamison on 'The Voice'
Gwen Stefani and Reba McEntire also found it quite hard to decide upon a clear winner because each one of them favored different aspects of Shye and Jamison. Gwen said, "I love Jamison's notes that are longer and less syncopated; that gives soul to his performance, really, and just shows his natural gift." But she also couldn't bypass the fact that Shye seemed so poised and skillful, especially for such a young age.
Comparing herself to Shye when she was 17, Gwen was impressed with his stage presence and vocal ability. Reba agreed stating, "That was one of my favorites thus far. I loved the chemistry, charisma on stage between the two of you."
'The Voice' Season 26 airs on Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 pm ET on NBC. Catch every episode on Peacock the next day.