As anyone who has been watching the most recent season of The Voice knows, it’s been an incredible season so far.
On the one hand, it’s definitely true that adding John Legend as a judge has spiced up some of the proceedings.
More than that, though, there’s simply so many talented performers this season that have blown all of the judges away. Although it’s always been comparatively rare to have every judge on stage turn for you, it seems like it’s happening more and more lately.
And the performance we’re talking about today is no different.
As always, this one started with the judges’ backs turned and everyone waiting for the song to begin.
Right from the beginning, judge Blake Shelton has his hand hovering over the buzzer—he must’ve had an instinct that it was going to be good!
A few moments later, the singer starts into an incredible cover of “I Smile,” a Gospel song originally made popular by artist Kirk Franklin. Before the lyrics even start, the performer does a soaring vocal run just to warm himself up.
Without needing to hear anymore, Shelton smashes his buzzer and turns around.
Though the singer has already got one judge, the performance only gets better from there.
After singing for a just a few more seconds, it’s clear that the person on stage is a master—and obviously, judge Adam Levine has to try to block Shelton at every turn, so he hits his own buzzer as well!
Although these auditions are usually pretty stressful, the most striking thing about this one is just how at ease he is on stage and while performing! When he finally hits the chorus, he does it with such a delicate touch and perfect delivery that it’s already all over.
With that, judges Legend and Kelly Clarkson both hit their buzzers as well—and the singer’s family goes crazy!
Though he hasn’t been performing for very long, he already has all four of the judges facing him!
There’s still plenty of song left and he keeps giving it his absolute all. At the very end of it all, there’s a huge key change that he nails effortlessly. After all that, he does one final vocal run to bring it home.
When it’s all over, the judges and the audience gives him a standing ovation and Levine throws his shoe on stage in honor of past judge Jennifer Hudson!
Needless to say, everybody watching is fired up!
When all that is over with, the singer introduces himself as Matthew Johnson from Jacksonville, Florida.
Before long, Legend is telling Johnson how much experience he has singing Gospel music and growing up in the church. After that, judge Levine gives his own pitch—and then Shelton explains just how quickly he hit his buzzer! Ultimately, it looks like it’s going to come down to who has enthusiasm and who has actual church experience.
At the end, Johnson has a difficult choice to make.
After some deliberation, he finally makes his decision: he’s going to go with John Legend!
Of all the four chair auditions that have happened on the show recently, this one is a real standout. While many of the performances that win everybody over are emotionally powerful in a sad or painful way, Johnson’s song is so joyful, triumphant and casual at the same time! It just goes to show that music is such a versatile art form and that big emotions will always win the day.
Congratulations to Matthew Johnson for getting on Team Legend! Be sure to watch the whole audition in the clip below:
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
