Three-way battle beckons for next stage of 'The Voice of Ireland'
One judge on ‘The Voice of Ireland’ picked an 11th member for her team tonight, raising the prospect of a three-way battle in the coming weeks.
‘The Voice of Ireland’ blind auditions stage drew to a close tonight, with more acts joining the team of Dolores O'Riordan.
The new coach added an extra person to her team despite the chance that Anna O’Hanlon could face a three-way battle.
Next week will see the first of four battle shows…with a new twist. Now there is a lifeline for those who don’t get picked by their coach. If any of the remaining coaches really like an act the can steal them for their team.
First to face the coaches was 18-year-old Laura O’Connor from Dublin, despite being nervous and quite shy her performance impressed Bressie and Kian Egan.
“That’s a quintessential female pop vocal, you need to believe in that,” said Bressie. “You are through be happy, I totally bought it.”
Kian said: “You got the full package, you’re really cute, lovely person, I think I could do some great things with you. You are a natural pop star in the making.”
Kian’s words convinced her to choose him.
Peter McGrory, 28, from Donegal had a cancer scare and this is what gave him the strength to audition for the coaches. Singing a Pearl Jam song ‘Black’, none of the coaches turned.
“Black is my favourite song you didn’t get the emotion across,” said Kian.
Peter Whitford, 24, is originally from the UK, has been living in Wicklow for 10 years. His acoustic version of The Spice Girls’ ‘Viva Forever’ impresses all four coaches.
Dolores said: “I loved it, very alternative sounds, it’s very unique you have massive potential.”
Peter decided to go with Dolores bringing her team to 10.
“I don’t think I have got the best team I know I have,” she said.
Craig McMorrow from Leitrim, came back to Ireland from the UK following a car accident. Singing Ed Sheeran’s ‘Give Me Love’, Kian and Jamelia hit the button.
Craig said: “I had two coaches in my head at the beginning - Bressie and Kian, so am gonna stick with Kian.”
This bring Kian’s Team up to 10 artists.
“I have some big contenders in there, I fell I have the strongest team I have ever had,” he said.
None of the coaches turn for 19-year-old Saira Loughlin, and she is visibly upset.
“It’s no use having a powerful voice if I can’t understand what you’re saying,” said Jamelia.
Leah McConnell, 27, travelled from Antrim, singing ‘Summertime Sadness’, at first it looks like nobody is going to turn, but Jamelia and Kian both pitch for her!
Leah decides to go with Jamelia she now has full team. “It’s fantastic,” she said. “I am not interested I any rubbish, I am a lot more serious about winning. You have to be the best!’
Paddy Reilly, 34, from Finglas, played electric guitar from an early age. He puts his own acoustic spin on ‘Ring of Fire’, Bressie turning near the end.
“That was really beautiful, you got better and better and better, welcome to my team,” he said, now with a full team.
“ I want singers who are different unique there’s one or two people on my team who could win the show,” he said.
With 10 acts now on every team, 19-year-old Anna O’Hanlon sings ‘Cry Me a River’. Just as the music stops, both Jamelia and Dolores turn.
Dolores said: “I thought it was lovely, perfect pitched - your vocal style is more like Jamelia’s style.”
Jamelia said: “I am strongly against putting anyone on my team in a three way battle, but you are that good. Your voice is unique you made me forget about the original.”
Dolores said: “I have nobody like you, so you would be very unique. My team is the crème de la crème, the cream of the crop you see I didn’t know the rules. It’s an amazing opportunity for you. I want you on my team.”
Her words are enough to convince her to join Team Dolores bringing her total to 11.
Team Dolores: Kellie Lewis (20) Cork / Thomas Kinney / Sean Sunderland (19) Dublin / Pauric McLoughlin (26) Meath / Mariah Butler (22) Galway / John Hogan Jr (31) Wicklow / Michelle Revins (25) Tipperary / Jamie Stanton (23) Cork / Nella Dwyer (26) Cork / Peter Whitford (24) Bray / Anna O’Hanlon (19) Dunshaughlin
Team Jamelia: Gavin Murray (22) Dublin / Kelly Hannon (18) Tallaght / Catherine Hughes (29) Armagh / Emma Collins (21) Tipperary / Remy Naidoo (19) Dublin / Martin McInerney (26) Cork / Malachy Gaughan (19) Mayo / Laura May Leneihan (21) Sligo / Daisy Venezuela (28) Dublin / Leah McConnell (27) Antrim
Team Kian: Danica Holland Cork / Jay Boland (21) Athlone / Jamie Hartigan (23) Limerick / Dagan Vickers (25) Dublin / Aisling Connolly (24) Dublin / Christopher Stoodley (31) Tipperary / Paddy Molloy (22) Donegal / Daragh Kiely (24) Dublin / Laura O’Connor (18) Dublin / Craig McMorrow (28) Leitrim
Team Bressie: Caoin Fitzpatrick (21) Dublin / Kedar Friis Lawrence (18) Donegal / Ciara Donnelly (25) Waterford / Roel Villones (41) Tralee / Heather Stuart (19) Clontarf / Padraig Byrne, Wexford / Brendan McCaughey, Monaghan / Sarah Sylvia (23) Dublin / Emma Walsh (25) Galway / Paddy Reilly (34) Dublin.
Through the next five weeks each coach will pick their perfect 10 acts in the blind auditions and pit them against each other in the battle stages.
They must then make the decision which of the two they will take through to the live shows.
