‘The Voice’ recap: Blind auditions are now twice as nice

Last week, in the first two rounds of blind auditions on “The Voice” this season, what seemed especially remarkable about new coaches Pharrell Williams and Gwen Stefani was how well they were able to slip into their new roles and play the game, meeting Adam Levine and Blake Shelton on their own terms.

On Monday, however, it seemed clear that this season’s new coaches may actually be changing the game -- making it both nicer (Williams) and more fun (Stefani), lowering the sense of cutthroat competition, and using their own chill vibes to their advantages.

“We’re going to have so much fun,” Stefani repeatedly tells contestants before handing those who choose her sparkly Team Gwen T-shirts, as if she’s inviting them to a slumber party. Williams, meanwhile, can often be heard pointing out things a rival coach can offer a contestant, even while appealing to that vocalist to join his team.

“I know what to do with that” voice, the “Happy” singer told a singer for whom both he and Shelton had pushed their buttons, “and you know what? So does Blake. So you can’t go wrong with either one of us.”

“You’re doing it again. You’re poisoning me or something …. You can’t be that nice all the time,” Shelton said suspiciously.

“I am being nice,” Williams replied.

“I guess I’m just used to Adam,” Shelton said, sending a lighthearted verbal jab his favorite sparring partner’s way.

So which coach did the singer pick? Williams.

Levine and Shelton were not unaffected. At one point, Levine told a contestant for whom he himself was not vying that Shelton would be a good choice for him.

“I helped Blake. I felt dirty afterward,” Levine later said.

Yep, it’s going to be a nice, fun season.

Here’s who made it through on Monday night:

John Martin

The 25-year-old from Chicago who looks like a model and works the forklift at a shipping company spun Shelton, Stefani and Williams with his take on “Sweet Pea.” Williams called his voice “great” and said his “identity came through,” and Stefani called Martin “the full package.” But Shelton, with Levine’s help, prevailed. “I don’t really know for sure, but I’m thinking this is a good-looking man,” he said after Martin had finished singing, adding that there was “something so cool and so laid back” about Martin’s style and he was “so on-board with it.” Noting how tall Martin was (about 6 feet 2 or 6 feet 3), Shelton said, “these others are too short for you.” Apparently Martin agreed.

Jessie Pitts

This 18-year-old from Birmingham, Ala., who works at a record company while attending University of Nashville turned Stefani and Shelton superfast with her version of “The Story.” Stefani told Pitts her voice was “like an angel … so pretty” and promised to help her learn to own the stage even more. Shelton said the song had been his wedding song and compared Pitts’ voice to a bowl of Lucky Charms, “marshmallows only.” The comparison apparently wasn’t magically delicious enough for Pitts. She chose Stefani. “Girl power,” Pitts said afterward.

Ricky Manning

Nineteen years old and from Cape Coral, Fla., Manning skipped college, moved to New Jersey to live with his dad rent-free and has tried to catch a break busking on the streets of New York City. His imperfect “Love Me Again” captured the attention of both Williams and Shelton. But it was Williams’ niceness or perhaps his praise -- he told Manning that his “runs were consistent every time” and that he’d gotten admirably “lost in his moment” -- that carried the day.

Kelli Douglas

This 31-year-old single mom, who left her career as a middle school teacher to pursue music, considers herself a “late bloomer.” Her rendition of “Danny’s Song” showed a few nerves, but still earned her the chance to choose from among Levine, Stefani and Shelton. Stefani complimented Douglas on her “raspiness” and her looks. Shelton called her tone “mysterious” and “haunting” and admired the “breaks” in her voice. But Levine, who had pressed his button well before the others, won Douglas with honesty, noting her nervousness and promising to help her overcome it. She had “some things we’ve got to work on,” the Maroon 5 singer told Douglas, “and I’m excited.”

Blessing Offor

This 25-year-old Nigeria-born singer, who lives in New York, was born blind in one eye and lost the sight in his other at age 11. A songwriter, he had hoped to turn Shelton with his “Just the Two of Us,” on which he also played piano. Initially, it appeared that no one would turn. But at the last minute, all four coaches turned their chairs for Offor. Stefani said his tone “sounded a lot like Pharrell’s voice” and praised his personality and confidence, saying she’d love to work with him. Levine said Offor had been off-pitch, but then had recovered, giving him “the utmost confidence” in his ability; he also praised Offor’s passion. Williams said he knew “a couple things about mixing genres.” “Blake, tell me anything,” Offor begged. But apparently Shelton’s promise to connect him with “that Nashville songwriting community” wasn’t something enough. Offor picked Williams, later saying his “track record” was “undeniable.”

Troy Ritchie

Stefani was the only coach who turned for this 21-year-old California native’s “Out of My League.” Noting that they were “stuck together” and saying she’d like the way he moved from his head to his chest voice, Stefani reassured Ritchie it was “going to be so much fun.” Mostly, Ritchie just seemed stunned.

Mia Pfirman

A 19-year-old California community college student, Pfirman said she wanted to fulfill her parents’ musical dreams by nabbing a coach with her “Unconditionally.” She had her pick of all four coaches, though none of them liked her song choice all that much. Shelton pledged to help her get more “finesse.” Stefani said she’d help her figure out who she was. Williams liked the way she’d taken “a lot of chances vocally” and sung like it was her “only moment.” But Levine proved the most persuasive, telling Pfirman that while “moments that were really spectacular were really spectacular … world-class spectacular,” she needed “refinement.”

In a few barely glimpsed auditions, Levine picked up Alessandra Castronovo, Williams nabbed Jordy Searcy and Shelton scored Kensington Moore.

Bree Fondacaro

Although she was a one-chair turn -- ending up on Team Blake -- Fondacaro’s rendition of “It Ain’t Me, Babe” earned praise from several coaches. Stefani admired her vocal “originality,” but said she already had a singer in her lane. Shelton said she had a “rawness” in her voice that was unique to the competition and predicted Fondacaro, whose father is a piano and vocal teacher, as well as a little person, would be the kind of singer who “sneaks up on people.”

Anita Antoinette

The last blind audition of the night was a heart warmer. This talented reggae singer, born in Kingston, Jamaica, and living in Boston, had given a lovely audition in Season 3 that had mystifyingly turned no chairs. She had been invited back, but apparently had struggled with “severe stage fright” in the intervening years. Still, “if I start something, I just have to finish it,” she said.

This time, she returned triumphant, earning a standing ovation and spinning all four chairs -- first Shelton and Stefani, then later Levine and Williams -- with her buttery take on Bob Marley’s “Turn Your Lights Down Low.” Stefani said she would have picked Antoinette the first time around. Levine reminded her that he’d won the show with another reggae singer, Tessanne Chin. Williams said he wanted to help her “make music that touches people.” Shelton vowed to help her tell stories. Stefani, though, really seemed to feel the love most, and Antoinette sensed that as well. Later, the No Doubt singer appeared with her son Kingston, whom she’d named after Antoinette’s hometown. “Anita and I are meant to be,” Stefani noted. “I thought I was going to go with Adam,” Antoinette later remarked, “but I felt more of a connection with Gwen in that moment.” Aw, a love match. They’re going to have so much fun.