Spoiler Alert! THE VOICE Recap for Blind Audition Night Three 9/29; Full Results!

The first two nights of THE VOICE's Blind Auditions last week, presented us with a lot of ups, but a few uncharacteristic downs from a show that prides itself on having the best singers on reality TV, and the third night wasn't much different. That being said NBC's megahit still provides the most compelling audition process on TV, and makes other singing shows (cough AMERICAN IDOL) look like the minor leagues in terms of talent.

Coming into tonight's episode, there have been 16 singers picked, with Adam Levine claiming three (Clara Hong, Damien, and Joe Kirk), Gwen Stefani selecting four (Bryana Salaz, Menlik Zergabachew, Sugar Joans, and Taylor John Williams), Pharrell Williams coaching five (DaNica Shirey, Elyjuh René, Luke Wade, Maiya Sykes, and Taylor Phelan), and Team Blake Shelton claiming four (Allison Bray, James David Carter, Reagan James, and Taylor Brashears).

One thing that I am really enjoying that THE VOICE is doing is releasing a performance or two each day to whet your appetite.

I will be back all night to update this article after every performance with basic info and a Three-Word Review. Then after the show is over, I will provide extended reviews of each singer. Throughout the night, let me know what you think in the comments below, or on Twitter @BWWMatt.

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Contestant: John Martin
Three-Word Bio: Smooth Preacher's Son
Song: "Sweat Pea" by Amos Lee
Chair Turns: Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Pharrell Williams
Coach: Blake Shelton
Three-Word Review: Smooth, Total Package

John is a solid way to start the show. His voice is extremely smooth, and there was little technically wrong with his performance. He didn't have a lot of extraordinary moments, but if he sticks in the "cheesy love song" lane, like he said thathe wants to, his "creamy vocals" (Gwen's words, not mine), and good looks, will get him a lot of votes from the traditional teen girl voting blocking.

Contestant: Jessie Pitts
Three-Word Bio: Confident Burn Victim
Song: "The Story" by Brandi Carlile
Chair Turns: Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton
Coach: Gwen Stefani
Three-Word Review: Turned Too Soon

Huh... like a few last week, I just didn't get this one. Gwen and Blake turned fairly quickly to Jessie's overly breathy, wobbly pitchiness. She had no breath support on the bottom of her range, and it made her sound like a far-less talented Jewel wannabe. Mark it down, she will be pitted against one of Gwen's best singers in the Battle Rounds, and she will be THE VOICE's version of a pro wrestling jobber, one and done. Proverbial Battle Round cannon fodder.

Random Hope and a Prayer: Please tell me that the Jewish cantor is going to sing "Devil Went Down to Georgia" in Yiddish...

Contestant: Michael Stein
Three-Word Bio: Presidential Jewish Cantor
Song: "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by Charlie Daniels Band
Chair Turns: No turns
Three-Word Review: No, no, no

A) There is very little singing in this song.
B) The singing Michael did showed a very tenuous relationship with the song's notes.
C) His back-phrasing consistently put him behind the rhythm, which on a song that is practically a Gregorian Chant, that's not a good thing.

Contestant: Ricky Manning
Three-Word Bio: Time-Limited Busker
Song: "Love Me Again" by John Newman
Chair Turns: Pharrell Williams, Blake Shelton
Coach: Pharrell Williams
Three-Word Review: One Dimensional Runner

Nothing about Ricky's performance was either awful, or extraordinary. Yes, his runs were kind of cool, but that's all he really did, and he kept doing it, over and over and over again. I have a feeling that Pharrell hit is button fairly early, but, after hearing more, was regretting his choice, so he tried to talk up Blake's coaching ability to adversely influence Ricky's decision. No luck "Happy" man, you're stuck with this one.

Contestant: Kelli Douglas
Three-Word Bio: Stage Freight Teacher
Song: "Danny's Song" by Loggins and Messina
Chair Turns: Adam Levine, Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton
Coach: Adam Levine
Three-Word Review: Untrained, but Talented

You could tell that Kelli was insanely nervous during her performance, and it influenced her vocals. Her vibrato became even more warbely, and, at times, her hyperventilating made it sound like she didn't have any breath support. However, she clearly was extremely talented, and had moments when you could see the potential hiding behind her fear. Adam clearly heard that early on. She could be a darkhorse in the Battle Rounds.

Contestant: Blessing Offor
Three-Word Bio: Blind Music Prodigy
Song: "Just the Two of Us" by Bill Withers
Chair Turns: Very Late Four Chair Turn!
Coach: Pharrell Williams
Three-Word Review: Disappointing, but Impressive

Blessing had such an amazing attitude toward the difficulties he has faced in his life that I was really hoping he was going to blow me away. Unfortunately (as Adam pointed out), he started out a half-step flat, and took a while to get back on pitch. One of the things that I didn't care for was that he slowed down the song, but still maintained the original melody. The problem with that is that the notes were meant to sung to the original faster tempo, so by slowing it down, it made the song extremely simple, and didn't leave Blessing with a lot to work with. However, I am extremely happy that he is going to get the opportunity to work with Pharrell. He is a guy that I can look forward to rooting for.

Contestant: Troy Ritchie
Three-Word Bio: Former Metalhead Impressionist
Song: "Out of My League" by Fitz and the Tantrums
Chair Turns: Gwen Stefani
Coach: Gwen Stefani
Three-Word Review: Whoa! Not Bad

I really thought I was going to hate this guy, and I might just get annoyed with every word that comes out of his mouth, but I actually really enjoyed his performance. He took a pretty big risk with his song choice, and even though no one else turned around, Gwen seems like the perfect coach for him. His voice wasn't great, and he had some control issues around his break, but with song choice and his first ever voice lesson, he could deliver a cool performance or two.

Contestant: Cole Wilkinson
Three-Word Bio: Farm Boy Bander
Song: "Classic" by MKTO
Chair Turns: No turns
Three-Word Review: Just not ready

Dude was insanely nervous, his hand was shaking and he was out of breath throughout the entire song, but that didn't hurt him as much as his song choice did. He picked a song with a four-note range, so there were very few chances for him to show his skill.

Contestant: Mia Pfirrman
Three-Word Bio: Second Generation Singer
Song: "Unconditionally" by Katy Perry
Chair Turns: Four Chair Turn!
Coach: Adam Levine
Three-Word Review: Hold the Runs

Mia's performance started out really rough for me. She opened with far too many runs, and the ones she did had far too much going on in them. However, as she got comfortable, she settled into the song and hit some cool notes. While I'm not sure that she knows the meaning of subtlety, she has some pipes. I already know that I'm not going to like her style, but if Adam can wrangle in her in, she could become a teeny-bopper favorite.

Contestant: Bree Fondacaro
Three-Word Bio: Music Love Child
Song: "It Ain't Me Babe" by Bob Dylan
Chair Turns: Blake Shelton
Coach: Blake Shelton
Three-Word Review: Unusual, Raspy Coolness

Bree had a very unique, raspy quality that makes her unusual for reality singing competitions. Very rarely do you hear Bob Dylan songs on these shows, and even more rarely do you hear somebody embody a Bob Dylan song with their own specific artistic vibe. Is Bree the best singer in the competition? No. But she has an artistry and an authenticity that makes her very interesting to me. I'm excited to see what Blake can do with an artist of this style. I hope she isn't simply led to the slaughter in his quest for another country champion.

Contestant: Anita Antoinette
Three-Word Bio: Jamaican Return Contestant
Song: "Turn Your Lights Down Low" by Bob Marley & The Wailers
Chair Turns: Four Chair Turn!
Coach: Gwen Stefani
Three-Word Review: So Much Better!

Wow, the amount of improvement that Anita showed between her previous audition and tonight's Blinds is remarkable. While this performance won't bowl you over with vocal gymnastics, what it will do is make you feel. She so believed every syllable of her lyrics, and every note of her melody, that it seemed like this classic reggae song was something she wrote in her bedroom. I believed every ounce of emotion that she was putting onto the stage. Her vocals were flawless, and her performance was even better. Mark me officially as a fan!

Check out Anita's incredible performance from tonight's episode:

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So, did you see any potential winners tonight? Let me know what you think in the comments below, or on Twitter @BWWMatt. Also, don't forget to follow @BWWTVWorld on Twitter and Like us on Facebook for all of the latest TV news, reviews, and recaps.

Photo Credit: Tyler Golden | NBC

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