Bryan Jaymes delivered one of the most memorable Blind Auditions of The Voice Season 30 when his soulful rendition of “Every Time You Go Away” earned three chair turns, a standing ovation and a coach-selection moment that left Adam Levine completely fooled.
The 39-year-old Louisiana native stepped onto the stage with plenty of musical experience behind him, but with the coaches facing away, none of that mattered. He had only his voice to convince them that he deserved a place in the competition.
It didn’t take long for Adam to hear something he liked. Levine became the first coach to turn for Bryan, reacting early to the smooth tone and impressive upper range he brought to the Hall & Oates classic.
As Bryan continued, Queen Latifah and Riley Green joined Adam, giving him a three-chair turn. Kelly Clarkson was the only coach who didn’t press her button.
Bryan continued building the performance, showing off the contrast between his warm lower notes and the higher register that had initially grabbed the coaches’ attention. By the end, the reaction in the room made it clear that he had made an impression.
Another surprise arrived when Bryan began speaking to the coaches. His naturally deep speaking voice sounded dramatically different from the voice they had just heard singing, prompting another round of reactions from the panel.
Then the real competition began. Adam, Queen and Riley each wanted Bryan, and Adam appeared especially confident after being the first coach to recognize his voice.
Levine leaned on his experience and his understanding of singers with wide vocal ranges as he tried to convince Bryan that Team Adam was the right choice.
Queen Latifah, however, had clearly connected with Bryan’s soulful style as well. She made her own case for what the two could accomplish together, while Riley remained firmly in the battle.
Eventually, it was time for Bryan to make his decision — and that’s when things became hilarious.
Bryan began his answer by addressing Adam, causing Levine to believe he had been chosen. Adam immediately started celebrating before Bryan had even finished speaking.
But Bryan was setting him up. He continued his announcement and revealed that he was actually choosing Queen Latifah, instantly turning Adam’s celebration into disappointment as the other coaches laughed at the perfectly timed fake-out.
Bryan walked away as the newest member of Team Queen, but his audition gave viewers more than just a powerful vocal performance. Between the three-chair turn, the coaches’ enthusiastic reaction and an unforgettable fake-out at the very end, Bryan made sure his first appearance on The Voice would be difficult to forget.
