Alabama’s never had a winner on “The Voice,” but with two singers from the state in the top eight, things are looking up this season.
D.Smooth, an R&B stylist from Birmingham, and Ryley Tate Wilson, a teen phenom from Montgomery, earned spots in the live semifinals on Monday’s episode of the NBC reality series. Both have been standouts throughout Season 23, thrilling all four coaches with performances that show talent, confidence and personality.
On Monday’s program, Wilson, 15, offered a tender and supremely controlled rendition of “When the Party’s Over” by Billie Eilish, earning applause and effusive kudos. His coach, Niall Horan, predicted that Wilson would have a great future in music.
(Watch Wilson’s performance of “When the Party’s Over” in the video below.)
“He’s a super-gifted, talented 15-year-old,” Horan said. “He’s still able to get up there every time and sing the emotional songs with the most passion. Ryley Tate is Future Boy.”
“Wow, Ryley Tate. You’re amazing, dude. You surprise me every week,” said Chance the Rapper. “I think it would be a shame if you didn’t move to the next round.”
“You are so good,” Kelly Clarkson said. “(Singing) those big open notes, it was like the perfect amount of drama. It was, like, nice.”
“It was unbelievable,” Blake Shelton said. “All the different parts of your voice are just incredible.”
Wilson, a member of Team Niall, was the first artist Horan chose for inclusion in the top eight. Singer Gina Miles, who performed “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak, also made it through to the live semifinals.
Niall Horan, center, a coach on "The Voice," is flanked by the top two artists on his team during Season 23: Ryley Tate Wilson, right, and Gina Miles. (Trae Patton/NBC)
D.Smooth, on Clarkson’s team, offered a creative cover of Khalid’s “Location” that made his coach stand up and cheer. D.Smooth’s performance was showcased in advance by “The Voice,” via a sneak-peek video released on Friday, May 5.
“I love D.Smooth’s voice because it reminds me of the ‘90s,” Clarkson said. “He’s one of those singers that can just really tell you a story and break your heart. Do all the things. His voice is incredible. D.Smooth is my silky smooth singer.”
The other coaches were impressed by D. Smooth, as well.
“That was insane,” Chance said. “There’s a lot of improv in it. You started making it your own song. I could, like, picture you in front of hundreds of thousands of fans screaming while you do your little improv runs. I see the vision. This is really the first time I ever felt, like, smoke from any other team. Like, I have really not been worried at all until right now. I thought it was awesome.”
“I don’t know that anybody’s ever lived up to their name quite like you, man,” Shelton said. “And whatever trickery that was with the microphone there, at the end, I’m going to be doing that now, just so you know. I’ll give you credit.”
“D.Smooth always giving the people what they want,” Horan said. “It was like one of those performances that I can imagine you would never do the same twice. ... Your best performance of the show so far, for sure.”
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(Watch D.Smooth’s performance of “Location” in the video below.)
D.Smooth was the first artist chosen by Clarkson for the live semifinals in Season 23. Holly Brand, who covered Jo Dee Messina’s “Bring On The Rain,” also made the top eight on Team Kelly.
Kelly Clarkson, center, a coach on "The Voice," is flanked by the top two artists on her team during Season 23: D.Smooth, right, and Holly Brand. (Trae Patton/NBC)
Wilson and D.Smooth will compete again on the May 15 episode, vying for viewer votes and a spot in the finals. Five singers will move on and three will be eliminated that night, based on voting results that will be announced at the end of the program.
Other singers in the top eight are Grace West and NOIVAS on Team Blake, and Ray Uriel and Sorelle on Team Chance.
If you watch: “The Voice” airs on Mondays at 7 p.m. CT on NBC. Early episodes of the show were filmed in advance. The next two episodes will be broadcast live.