The Top 24 find their voice
AT LAST - the Top 24 singers have been picked on The Voice.
The final showdowns in the battle rounds took place last night, and there were some surprising selections and eliminations.
Favourite Darren Percival brought people to tears with his soulful performance, while shy singer Casey Withoos did not come out of her shell enough to impress Seal.
The show started with a battle of the backing singers between Carmen Smith and Michelle Serret-Cursio.
Coach Joel Madden pitted the women against each other to Rihanna's We Found Love.
Madden decided Smith found the soul of the song and connected the best with him and the rest of the audience.
Next up was so-called "pretty boy" Sam Ludeman and track pants wearer Kieran Fraser singing Coldplay's Viva La Vida.
Seal decided Ludeman was more likely to take direction after the two singers took very different approaches in their performances.
Sunshine Coast local Kelsie Rimmer took on Brittany Cairns with Adele's ballad Turning Tables.
It was an "emotionally moving" decision for Keith Urban, who chose Brittany Cairns as the singer who had more vocal control over the song.
Melbourne residents Matt Hetherington and Jerson Trinidad faced off on Higher Ground by Stevie Wonder, selected by their coach Delta Goodrem.
After dominating rehearsals and the live performance, Hetherington lived to sing another day.
Madden's pop femme fatales Yianna Stavrou and Sarah De Bono were tasked with singing Gossip's Heavy Cross.
The flame-haired De Bono won, with Madden praising her as someone who could take him "all the way" in the competition.
Darren Percival let his soul shine through in James Taylor's Shower the People, earning him a spot in Urban's live show team.
When asked why he hadn't had success in the music industry yet, Percival said he didn't know why but that singing was his passion.
"I feel I'm here on this planet to sing," he said.
"I don't feel I have a choice. I love it so much."
Goodrem's duo Jesse and Ashleigh faced off against Ben Bennett in Owl City's hit Fireflies.
Bennett, from Townsville, emerged victorious from the teen battle.
Seal saved the best for last, pitting Casey Withoos against Emma Louise Birdsall in Etta James' classic At Last.
The delicate song was one of the closest battles on the show, with Birdsall narrowly winning over Withoos.
"I knew it was going to be a really difficult decision to have to make," Seal said.
"Based on tonight's performance, I would have to go with Emma Louise."
The live episodes of The Voice start next Monday at 7.30pm on Channel 9.
The Voice Top 24:
Delta Goodrem
Rachael Leahcar vs Adam Hoek
Glenn Cunningham vs Matty Chaps
Peta Jeffress vs Viktoria Bolonina
Danni Da Ros vs Sarah Lloyde
Matt Hetherington vs Jerson Trinidad
Ben Bennett vs Jesse and Ashleigh
Seal
Karise Eden vs Paula Parore
Mitchell Thompson vs Fatai Veamatahau
Michael Duchesne vs Anthony Dellamarta
Chris Sebastian vs Yshrael Pascual
Sam Ludeman vs Kieran Fraser
Casey Withoos vs Emma Louise Birdsall
Joel Madden
Mahalia Barnes vs Prinnie Stevens
Ben Hazlewood vs Chris Ninni
Nick Len vs Lakyn Heperi
Mali-Koa Hood vs Laura Bunting
Carmen Smith vs Michelle Serret-Cursio
Yianna Stavrou vs Sarah De Bono
Keith Urban
Diana Rouvas vs Jaz Flowers
Adam Martin vs Abbie Cardwell
Taga Paa vs Cam Tapp
Jimmy Cupples vs Glenn Whitehall
Kelsie Rimmer vs Brittany Cairns
Brett Clarke vs Darren Percival
