Recap | The Voice on Channel 7 and 7plus (21 August)

The Voice on Channel 7 – Aussies vs internationals rivalry heats up. Guy and Rita go head-to-head to secure extraordinary voices.

Tonight on Channel 7 and 7plus,The Voice superstar coaches Jason Derulo, Rita Ora, Guy Sebastian and Jessica Mauboy took no prisoners as they fought to secure more incredible artists on their teams.

Folk music legends The Bushwackers took to The Voice stage hoping to appeal to a new generation. Performing I Am Australian – a song that Bushwackers member Dobe Newtown co-wrote with Bruce Woodley from The Seekers – they turned four chairs before the coaches and audience joined in to sing along to the iconic anthem.

Jess was stunned to be reunited with the duo after 20 years, relaying that when she was 14, The Bushwackers became her impromptu band and helped her win a country music competition in Tamworth. After securing the duo on her team, Jess exclaimed: “I can’t believe this is happening, it’s a full circle of my life.”

Guy also thanked The Bushwackers for their song, revealing when he moved to Australia in 1988: “I had a Malaysian accent, my culture was pretty different… whenever I felt like I didn’t fit in as a kid I would sing that song.”

Elsa Marilyn’s stripped back take on Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell floored the coaches, turning all four chairs. Rita commended the 17-year-old from NSW, gushing: “That for me was a perfect audition. There was not one flaw,” while Guy called Elsa his “favourite voice that I’ve heard on The Voice 2023.”

Elsa chose Rita as her coach, with Guy regretting he didn’t block rival Rita.

Twenty-seven-year-old New Zealand performer Marley Sola came straight from the altar to serenade The Voice coaches. Cheered on by his new wife, the music school owner earnt four chair turns with his knockout performance of Ribbon in the Sky by Stevie Wonder; the same song that kickstarted Guy Sebastian’s career. After choosing Team Guy, Marley was joined by his idol for a special duet of the song.

Victorian music teacher Elly Poletti gave the coaches A Million Reasons to turn their chairs with her Lady Gaga cover. With four coaches in her corner, Rita and Guy went head-to-head again, with Rita declaring the 32-year-old’s voice “perfection”.

Not willing to lose another artist to Rita, Guy blocked her mid-pitch, before convincing Elly to join his team.

Avid birdwatcher Jade Talbot swapped tweeting for tunes with Celine Dion’s It’s All Coming Back to Me Now. The 25-year-old Victorian turned Jason’s chair, progressing to the next round.

Rita and Guy both turned their chairs for extroverted accountant Gabby Asta, 22 from Victoria, who performed a gritty interpretation of Tate McRae’s She’s All I Wanna Be. Pitting the coaches against each other, it was Rita who emerged victorious.