The Voice: Season 19's Best Blinds

Before The Voice gets into the Battles, we're going to take a second look — and listen — to the Blind Auditions, picking out the 10 vocalists that we think could be real contenders.

2. Lain Roy

Twice, this 22-year-old made us check our ears: first, when he tore into Lewis Capaldi's "Someone You Loved" with a vocal that was equal parts beautiful and edgy, and second, when he chose Gwen over John to be his coach. Maybe, just maybe, Blake's fiancée is in line to score her first win.

1. Ben Allen

The quintessence of a Team Blake member, this 42-year-old couldn't have sounded any more twangtastically country on Brooks & Dunn's "Red Dirty Road" if he'd sung with a blade of a straw between his teeth. Beyond that, his voice was so rich, it left us feeling as high as if we'd just taken a shot of moonshine.

9. Carter Rubin

Definitely not your average "cute kid auditioning for The Voice," this 14-year-old delivered a rendition of Lewis Capaldi's "Before You Go" that was almost otherworldly in its power and precision. He was so solid, we would've been impressed even if he'd been twice his age.

7. Jim Ranger

Based on his cover of Keith Urban's "Blue Ain't Your Color," we suspect that this third-generation pastor could be a vocal chameleon. He started his version singing more soulfully than countrified, only winning over coach Blake when he went wild and spat the gravel out of his throat.

3. John Holiday

On one hand, we have high hopes for Team Legend's opera singer, whose stunning vocal on "Misty" convinced the coaches that they were listening to a woman. On the other, we worry he'll run out of steam early a la Mike Jerel, the Season 18 contestant who made Blake think he was hearing an old lady.

4. Kelsie Watts

Kelly was quick to admit that she rarely turns for contestants who cover her songs. But she smartly made an exception in the case of this showboat performer, whose spare, bare and emotional interpretation of "I Dare You" had, even Kelly acknowledged, "one-upped" her.

10. Larriah Jackson

On this 15-year-old's rendition of Mariah Carey's version of the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There," it was, ironically, Whitney Houston that we most often heard. In any case, Gwen was so excited to have been the only chair turn for the poised youngster that she declared, "I just won a daughter." And also, a contender.

8. Ryan Gallagher

After hearing this opera singer's tryout, eventual coach Kelly fought tooth and nail to keep "Grand Ole Opera" member Blake from recruiting him — with good reason. Not only did Ryan's version of "The Prayer" amount to a religious experience, he's as easy on the eyes as he is the ears.

6. Sid Kingsley

It was only Night 2 of the Blinds when Team Legend's gravel-throated Virginian made our ears perk up with a cover of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" that sounded so heartfelt and genuine, it couldn't be denied. Well, except by Kelly, who admitted she was likely to regret her indifference.

5. Tamara Jade

Though the coaches are prone to exaggeration, we 100-percent believed Kelly when she told this four-chair turn that she was finale-bound. If only we didn't fear that the Team Legend standout would meet the same fate that so many other Black female powerhouses on the show have.

Bonus Entry: Marisa Corvo

Maybe because she'd already overcome her Italian family's initial prejudice against lesbians like herself, this thirtysomething made conquering Pink's "Perfect" sound as easy as a kid singing "Happy Birthday." When Marisa was done, coach Kelly marveled that she has range for days. possibly even weeks.