The Voice coaches Blake Shelton and Chance the Rapper advanced four acts -- two each -- to the live semi-finals round after their entire teams performed during the Season 23 episode that aired Monday night on NBC.

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After Team Blake and Team Chance took the stage one at a time for The Playoffs round, Blake and Chance could only choose two acts each to represent them in the live semi-finals at the end of the two-hour episode.

Of his five team members, Blake chose to save Noivas, a 30-year-old from Hutto, TX, and Grace West, a 19-year-old from Canton, MI.

Blake therefore eliminated Kylee Dayne, a 20-year-old from Carrollton, TX; Mary Kate Connor, an 18-year-old from Ashburn, VA; and Rachel Christine, a 22-year-old from Delavan, WI, from his team.

"I would've quit a season before had I known [I'd have to make this choice]. That's how bad this sucks," Blake said, referencing how this is his last season on The Voice.

The original and longtime The Voice coach added, "We're going into the Lives now, and I think the winner is on Team Blake."

Of the five acts on his team, Chance decided to send Sorelle, a trio of sisters from Lexington, OH, and Ray Uriel, a 25-year-old from Gary, IN, into the next round.

"Wow, why is this so hard for me? Literally [I've] been freaking out about this," Chance announced.

But he concluded, "I'm beyond excited going into Live Shows. We're in it for the gold, we're trying to take it all the way!"

By advancing Sorelle and Ray to the next round, Chance ousted Jamar Langley, a 37-year-old from Andrews, SC; Kala Banham, a 24-year-old from Windermere, FL; and Manasseh Samone, a 23-year-old from Dallas, TX, from the Season 23 competition.

Blake and Chance made their decisions after each artist -- or trio, in Sorelle's case -- performed on the show for The Voice coaches, including Kelly Clarkson and Niall Horan.

For Blake's team, Grace West sang "Love Is Alive" by The Judds.

Niall admitted he's "a massive fan" of Grace and she'll definitely have a career because she's so authentic. Niall asked Blake to send her through.

Chance complimented Grace's control and strong sense of self, adding, "If I was Blake and I wanted to win the show, I would probably... go with Grace."

Kelly said Grace has country music in her bones but the song didn't showcase the best of her and do her talent justice. Blake gave Kelly a hard time for her criticism and said Grace had done an awesome job.

Noivas took the stage with "Come Together" by The Beatles.

Niall said he "put on one of the best performances we've seen on this show," and Chance complimented Noivas' use of background vocalists.

"If it was up to me, I'd send him right ahead," Chance said.

And Kelly agreed, "I have no idea how you don't make it... I think I'm going to see you in the finale. I'd be shocked if I didn't."

Blake said there's "an eruption" when Noivas performs and his wild stage presence works for him.

Kylee Dayne performed "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus.

Chance said Kylee showed every week why she deserves to be on the show, and Kelly gushed about her effortless runs and solid performance.

Niall pointed out how Kylee challenges herself with newer songs and always brought something different to the table, and Blake asked Kylee not to beat herself up over missing a couple of notes at the end because she did a great job.

Mary Kate Connor sang "If I Die Young" by The Band Perry.

Kelly said Mary Kate is a great storyteller, as if she's relaying a little secret to the audience, and Niall could see how much the song meant to her.

Chance admitted Mary Kate's pitch was "a little off" at times but her ability to show great emotion made it his favorite Team Blake performance for the night. He praised her for trusting her gift and predicted she'll "kill it" in the Lives.

Blake added how Mary Kate delivered a real and authentic message.

And Rachel Christine serenaded the crowd with "The Only Exception" by Paramore.

Chance thought Rachel had great control over the stage but her voice got a little pitchy a couple of times. Kelly said she loved how "big and open" her voice is, and Niall agreed it was beautiful and theatrical.

Blake said Rachel "threw a monkey wrench" into his plans because she did an incredible job and he was "blown away" by her.

And on behalf of Team Chance, Ray Uriel performed "Essence" by Wizkid featuring Tems.

Kelly said Ray sounded like an angel and he has such a "broken" but "sweet and smooth" tone.

Blake announced, "I want you to make it as an artist... There's something very nineties about how you sound, and you've got to put this guy through."

Niall dubbed Ray "unbelievable" and had goosebumps from his voice, and Chance noted how he was so proud of Ray's "astronomical" growth throughout the competition.

Sorelle sang "Something's Got a Hold On Me" by Etta James. They sang Christina Aguilera's version of the song.

Blake joked about how Sorelle was "cheating" because their performance was "too perfect."

Niall said the energy coming off the women was "insane," and Kelly complimented the singers' tight harmonies and "fresh" take on music.

Chance thanked Sorelle for being so receptive to his notes and blowing the audience away.

Jamar Langley performed "The Thrill Is Gone" by BB King.

Kelly called Jamar "incredibly cool," and Blake advised Chance to move him forward in the competition. Niall also said Jamar's voice sounded "familiar" to him, "in the best way possible."

Chance said Jamar had "shown up" and made a really strong case for why he should survive the Playoffs.

Kala Banham impressed with "My Funny Valentine" by Ella Fitzgerald.

Blake thought the performance was "actually perfect," and he told Chance, "You have to put her in the next level. It was unbelievable. You have to. It's my show, so you have to do what I say."

Kelly and Niall agreed Kala had made the song her own, with Kelly saying it was "dark and inspiring."

Chance couldn't believe Kala had slipped through two other coaches' fingers.

And Manasseh Samone took the stage with "Speak The Name" by Koryn Hawthorne.

Niall said he could sense Manasseh's nerves at the beginning but her stage performance overall was better than he had ever seen it.

"It looks like a finale moment right now, what's happening on that stage," Kelly told Chance. "I don't know how you're going to choose."

Blake praised Manasseh for cutting loose and putting the song together in the end, and Chance complimented his artist for coming this far after previously being sent home in the Blind Auditions. Chance thought her performance was "the coolest thing" he had seen thus far.


About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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