‘The Voice’ recap: Top 11 look to advance

“The Voice” Top 11 performance show on Monday night kicked off with a somber, straightforward tribute to Prince. Purple-hued and somewhat perfunctory (had any of the coaches actually met Prince? Blake Shelton, for one, admitted that he had not), the coaches one by one expressed their admiration for the late, groundbreaking, hit-making resident of Paisley Park.

Adam Levine said Prince had been one of his “most profound musical influences.” Pharrell Williams relished his childhood memories of listening to Prince’s seminal album “Purple Rain.” Aguilera admired his genuineness and “passion for artists and artists’ rights.” Shelton said Prince’s music always boosted his mood.

And with that it was on to the Top 11 performances …

Shalyah Fearing (Team Adam): Looking fab in a two-tiered skirt and fashion-forward heels, the 16-year-old powerhouse traversed new (non-gospel) ground with an emotionally potent take on Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb.” Shelton said the song reflected Fearing’s own ascent. Aguilera said Cyrus would be proud. Williams said the teen singer had likely inspired other kids with dreams. Levine said Fearing’s talent was “so unbelievably advanced” and declared that she had “it all.”

Daniel Passino (Team Pharrell): The artist they’re calling the “comeback kid” sought to show his “vulnerable” side with Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” and delivered the song nicely, connecting well (grasping lots of hands) with the audience. Shelton praised not only Passino’s vocal strength, but also his “smoothness” and “coolness.” Aguilera, who had, for a time, been Passino’s coach, commended Williams’ coaching, calling it “spot on.” And Williams said Passino had taken his time, “worked the room,” made “signature” note choices and made the performance his own, reiterating his standard refrain for Passino: “Damn, Daniel.”

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Paxton Ingram (Team Blake): Last week, Williams suggested that Ingram, who leads worship at his Miami church but had performed pop songs on the show, tackle a spiritual song, which “The Voice” voters seem to eat up. So he did, pouring all his passion into Tasha Cobbs’ “Break Every Chain” and earning a standing ovation from all four coaches. Williams called it “an unleashing of power” and said he had never seen Ingram seem as free. Levine complimented Ingram’s “soulfulness.” Shelton told Ingram it was the first time he had “opened your heart up to everyone out there.”

Owen Danoff (Team Adam): Danoff, who was nearly sent home last week, tried to earn the audience’s regard — and perhaps its sympathy — with James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain,” which he dedicated to a childhood friend who was deployed as a Marine and “didn’t make it back.” Alas, although the story behind his choice was moving, Danoff’s performance was not. Aguilera called him a “great storyteller,” able to keep it “simple and still strong.” Levine said Danoff represented “something different” in the competition and said he was “always proud” of him.

Mary Sarah (Team Blake): Shelton was hoping this young country singer would earn some iTunes support with her rendition of Heidi Newfield’s “Johnny and June,” a relatively recent song that, he said, was also a “tip of the hat to old school.” Aguilera called Sarah “consistent” and “strong.” Williams praised not only the young singer’s vocals, but also her sparkly, form-fitting dress, which he said was “very distracting” in a “very pleasant way.” And Shelton seemed to feel his team member had done what she’d set out to do. (And strangely yearned to hear her yodel.) “This is your moment,” he said.

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Alisan Porter (Team Christina): This season’s front-runner seemed to extend her lead with her tastefully theatrical performance of Lorraine Ellison’s soulful “Stay With Me Baby,” earning yet another four-coach standing ovation. Levine said that, although he liked to win, he also liked to be right, and so he was willing to again declare that Porter was “going to win this thing,” adding that she deserved it. Shelton congratulated Porter on “owning this moment.” Aguilera commended Porter on going for her dream and making her family proud, calling the singer’s talent “phenomenal” and “out of this world.”

Bryan Bautista (Team Christina): Bautista sweetly dedicated Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are” to his little sister, to whom he had sung the song at her Sweet 16 party and whom he brought to tears with it again. Williams called the performance “effortless” and hailed the “crazy” power Bautista had in his upper register, predicting that he was headed for a successful pop music career. Levine said Bautista had the “greatest range” of all the singers currently on the show and had “all the tools” to make it in music, even beyond the show. Aguilera commended her team member’s “super silky smooth” style, choices and accuracy.

Adam Wakefield (Team Blake): Shelton predicted that Wakefield’s fans would “worship him” after his spot-on performance of Journey’s “Lights” — and certainly the coaches seemed to do so. Williams said he had a “classic voice that sounds like it’s straight out of Southern rock in the ‘70s” and said Big Machine Records should have its eye on him because he was “ready, ready, ready.” Levine said Wakefield could “do it all.” Shelton said he couldn’t even think some of the notes Wakefield had sung.

Nick Hagelin (Team Christina): The charming ballet dancer continued to show his charisma with John Mayer’s “Your Body Is a Wonderland.” Shelton commended him on picking his guitar back up saying it had “centered” him and calling it one of Hagelin’s “better performances.” (He noted, too, Hagelin’s resemblance to Matt Damon as Jason Bourne.) Aguilera said Hagelin had the “best energy” and was “just lovable,” adding that she understood why he had “such a following.”

Hannah Huston (Team Pharrell): The appealingly down-to-earth, gorgeous-geeky preschool teacher from Nebraska gave one of her best performances to date with Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” which suited her voice perfectly. Levine expressed admiration for the “unique character” in Huston’s voice. Williams called the performance “eloquent.”

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Laith Al-Saadi (Team Adam): The impressively bearded guitarist and singer showed why America had kept (and likely would continue to keep) him around — despite the fact that, as he observed, he was neither “the prettiest looking” nor “the youngest” singer in the competition — with his soulful, gritty performance of Ed Sheeran’s “Make It Rain.” Shelton said the coaches eagerly anticipated Al-Saadi’s performances each week and called him a “breath of fresh air.” Levine told Al-Saadi he was “amazing.”