Mark Shiiba, “What a Wonderful World”
Nope, we’re still not over Michael Bublé cutting this Season 26 standout after he took our hearts in his hands during the Battles. Teammate Edward Preble was swell but Mark, special. Listen above.
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The Voice’s 20 Best Performances of All Time, Ranked: The Good, the Badass and the Downright Amazing
Charlie Mason
Charlie Mason
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We can’t be the only ones who get nostalgic every time a new season rolls around, can we? Well, whether we are or we aren’t, as NBC‘s enduring sing-off The Voice is kicking off its 27th (!) cycle Monday at 8/7c, TVLine is looking back, reflecting upon the talent contest’s all-time best performances.
Interestingly, as we compiled our (altogether subjective) list of the 20 standouts, we realized that not all of them came from vocalists who wound up winning. In fact, not even most of them came from vocalists who wound up winning. More than half of the numbers that made our final cut were sung by contenders for whom the title remained out of reach. (One of the wannabes didn’t even make it past the Playoffs — and yes, thanks for asking, we are still steamed.)
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Understandably, your picks for the cream of the crop may be — may even have to be — different from ours. Music lands on us all uniquely, right? So, after you’ve taken a scroll through the below countdown and re-listened to the performances that made us go slack-jawed and weak-kneed, hit the comments with the ones that have remained foremost in your mind as especially high notes in the show’s history.
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Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC -
Carter Rubin, “The Rainbow Connection”
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC Marriages of singer and song don’t get any sweeter than that of Season 19’s baby-faced winner and Kermit the Frog’s beloved ballad. Watch Rubin absolutely crush it above.
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Javier Colon, “Time After Time”
Image Credit: NBC/Getty Images Season 1’s victor made fans of not only us but all four coaches by putting his own spin on Cyndi Lauper’s 1980s classic. Listen above to remind yourself of what made Colon’s version so special.
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Joshua Vacanti, “Into the Unknown“
Image Credit: NBC/Getty Images The Season 21 semi-finalist gave us chills with his rendition of the Frozen 2 showstopper made famous by Idina Menzel. Crank it up and have a listen above.
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Melanie Martinez, “Toxic”
Image Credit: NBC/Getty Images The Season 3 standout established herself as an alt-pop muse with her quirktastic Blind Audition rendition of Britney Spears’ hit. Watch Martinez’s performance above.
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Gina Miles, “Wicked Game”
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC Season 23’s eventual victor delivered such a haunting rendition of Chris Isaak’s moody classic in the Playoffs that she released it as her first post-show single. Listen above, and you’ll hear exactly why.
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Jaukeem Fortson, “God Only Knows”
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC The song’s title was the only possible answer to the question with which we were left after Season 26’s Knockouts: “How the hell does a 14-year-old sing with that much power?” Prepare to be wowed above.
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Chloe Kohanski, “Landslide”
Image Credit: NBC/Getty Images Miley Cyrus perfectly summed up our reaction to the Fleetwood Mac cover with which Season 13’s eventual winner Blind Auditioned: “Damn!” See if you agree by pressing PLAY on the video above.
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Wendy Moten, “I Will Always Love You”
Image Credit: NBC/Getty Images Season 21’s runner-up was, is and forever will be known for her pitch-perfect performances, foremost among them, her cover of Whitney Houston’s Bodyguard hit. Have a listen above.
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Alexa Wildish, “Believe”
Image Credit: NBC screenshot Nope. We’re still not over Niall Horan cutting in Season 24’s Playoffs the vocalist who managed to turn Cher’s bop into a heartbreaking ballad during the Knockouts. Listen above, and you’ll understand.
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Kennedy Holmes, “Confident”
Image Credit: NBC/Getty Images If we live to be 100, we’ll never understand how this pint-sized powerhouse only came in fourth place in Season 15 after absolutely smashing Demi Lovato’s hit. Sample Holmes’ magnificence above.
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Maelyn Jarmon, “Fields of Gold”
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC An hour of meditation couldn’t do more to soothe a troubled soul than a re-listen to Season 16’s winner wrapping her velvet voice around Sting’s ballad. Press PLAY above to be awestruck anew.
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Addison Agen, “Humble and Kind”
Image Credit: NBC/Getty Images We wanted to say, “We’re not crying, you’re crying,” but truth be told, we were all crying by the time Season 13’s runner-up broke down at the end of the song. Hear the studio version above.
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Matthew Schuler, “Hallelujah”
Image Credit: NBC/Getty Images The Team Christina Aguilera dynamo was eliminated in Season 5’s Quarterfinals — but not before giving us the series’ most resonant rendition of Leonard Cohen’s classic. Click above to lend an ear.
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Alisan Porter, “Cry Baby”
Image Credit: NBC/Getty Images The former child star who won Season 10 delivered a take on Janis Joplin’s golden oldie that was too tantalizingly tangy to be forgotten. Hear what we mean above.
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Jordan Smith, “Somebody to Love”
Image Credit: NBC/Everett Collection Every time we were surer than sure that Season 9’s winner couldn’t possibly go any bigger with his Queen cover — that there was no bigger to go! — bigger he went. Savor the magnificence above.
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Amanda Brown, “Dream On”
Image Credit: NBC/Getty Images A rock-‘n’-roll fever dream come to life, the Season 3 dynamo made an impression that was as lasting as it was vivid with her passionate take on Aerosmith. Turn the volume all the way up, and press PLAY above.
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Girl Named Tom, “Helplessly Hoping”
Image Credit: NBC/Getty Images We were ready to hand the Season 21 victory right over to the eventual winners after sampling their divine harmonies during their Blind Audition. Hear for yourself how amazing they were above.
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Christina Grimmie, “Hold On, We’re Going Home”
Image Credit: NBC/Getty Images The late singer, who finished third in Season 6, didn’t just stun with her take on Drake, she downright astonished. Hear what we mean by having a listen above.
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Chris Blue, “Love On the Brain”
Image Credit: NBC/Getty Images Every time Season 12’s winner opened his mouth, it was a full-on event. But for our money, his best performance — and the show’s best-ever — was his Rihanna cover. Press PLAY above and prepare to be blown away.
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Jordan Smith, “Somebody to Love”
We McDonald, “Feeling Good”
Bria Kelly, “Steamroller Blues”
J Chosen, “Sexual Healing”
Sawyer Fredericks and Noelle Bybee, “Have You Ever Seen The Rain”
Josh Kaufman, “One More Try”
Kaylee Shimizu, “Ain’t No Way”
Anthony Riley, “I Feel Good”
Dawn and Hawkes, “I’ve Just Seen A Face”
Madelyn Jarmon, “Fields of Gold”
Among those from singers you didn’t pick
Any performance ny Gina Miles
Maelyn Jarmon, Fields of Gold
Dia Frampton: Losing My Religion and/or Heartless. I’m still salty about her losing season 1.
Amanda Brown was a force! Amanda and Trayvon Martin – Vison of Love
Last seasons winner was the Best that has ever been on Voice !
I preferred Matthew Schuler’s performance of ‘Wrecking Ball’. It’s strange I can’t find a good version of it on You Tube. Also his battle with Jacob Poole, ‘Light Em Up’, is still one of my all time favorites.
No Gina Miles Wicked Game?
Really?
It’s #14 and my favorite.
Oops #15.
Hannah Huston – House of the Rising Sun. Miley as the guest coach suggested perfect adlibs for her for this performance.
Judith Hill, “What a girl wants”
I came to be a fan of every Berklee School of Music alum singing on The Voice.
Emily Luther had so many Billboard wins for the show.she did a song worthy of a Bond movie. “Whenever I’m Alone With You….” was one of the best performances in Voice history.
Christina Grimmie would be my #1 All-time.
Maelyn Jarmon deserves a Top Five.
Cassadee Pope: Arguably the best career of anyone from the Voice.
dream on by amanda brown is hands down my all time favorite performance by any voice contestant, ever! she was such a force of nature that she had christina quaking in her boots (as seen by her stank face when amanda absolutely obliterated the song’s climax).
Gina Miles
Wicked Game
is my favorite of all time
Don’t know how it’s not on the list.
Kimberly Nichole – Creep
Dream On was a masterpiece.
Surprised Tessanne Chin’s Bridge over Troubled Water wasn’t listed – I thought that was pretty special
What about Ruby Leigh singing Long Long Time. That performance brings me to tears every time I watch it.
Cassidy Pope – Over You
I prefer her Stupid boy performance – one of my most favorite performance on this show to this date.
No Tessanne Chin, Judith Hill, Jacquie Lee or Danielle Bradbery?
What are we doing?
This list makes me so nostalgic. Seasons 3, 5 and 6 are peak Voice and all get some recognition here. Amanda Brown still gives me chills over Dream On. That top 6 elimination episode still haunts me.
And Matthew Schuler is probably an all time favorite. His Cosmic Love-Wrecking Ball-Hallelujah run will never be topped and Christina Grimmie immortalized HOWGH.
Not mentioned is Juliet Simms shattering Roxanne and later Free Bird. Michelle Chamuel had a string of greats too but I Knew You Were Trouble comes to mind. And I generally don’t vibe with country largely because it’s painfully overrepped on the show and season 4 might be the worst offender, but Danielle Bradbury’s Maybe It Was Memphis was iconic.
Sofronio Vasquez – “If I Can Dream”
I believe he did Elvis proud that day. (“Crying” could also be a good pick)
Chloe Kohanski song for her Blind Audition was “The Chain”, also by Fleetwood Mac. Her Knockout song was “Landslide”.