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Zach Newbould appeared on Monday's episode, Oct. 3, of the popular NBC singing competition and had two of the judges fighting for him to join their team. Newbould elected to sing "Use Somebody" to show off his raspy, soulful pipes, which got Gwen Stefani and Camila Cabello to spin in their chairs less than a minute into his slowed-down version.
When Newbould finished, the two female judges scolded Blake Shelton and John Legend for not acknowledging his potential.
"Are you guys drunk or something?" Cabello asked the men when the song ended. "Why didn't you turn around? That was so good."
Cabello, who appeared on "X Factor" before she became a pop icon, told Newbould he should join her team because she knew the pressures of being on a singing competition show. She called his voice "special" but said she could tell he was nervous. The "Havana" singer said she had tips to help him get through the intense spotlight of instant fame and attention.
Stefani also took a maternal approach – literally. She said she wanted to be his "momager" and guide him into a professional career.
“I think I can help you," she said. "I know that I can help you. What I heard in your voice is so much art. I don’t know what genre you’re going to end up doing because you’re only 19. I promise you if you went with me, it would be so much fun to figure out who you are.”
He chose Cabello and her promises to help him convert his vulnerabilities into strengths.
Had he chosen Stefani, Newbould would have joined Carla Brindisi from Worcester, who appeared on "The Voice" last week to rave reviews from the judges. This sets up a potential Massachusetts showdown later in the season when the teams compete.
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