“Two Sets of Lungs”: Lance Tenazas Clinches Final Team Kelly Spot With Stripped-Down Bruno Mars Cover on ‘The Voice’
Closing out the final hours of The Voice Season 30 Blind Auditions, 22-year-old Lance Tenazas took on one of the most treacherous challenges in TV vocal competitions: reinventing a song closely identified with pop powerhouse Bruno Mars. Performing “Risk It All” while accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, the Mission Viejo, California native earned a high-stakes, two-chair turn from Kelly Clarkson and Riley Green, ultimately selecting Clarkson to fill the 12th and final slot on her team
The Audition: Subverting the Bruno Mars Blueprint
Covering Bruno Mars typically tempts vocalists into imitating his high-gloss pop belt and falsetto gymnastics. Tenazas instead took an acoustic singer-songwriter approach:
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Tone & Phrasing: Leaning into an airy, breathy vocal texture in the verses, Tenazas introduced a light natural grit and rasp as he drove into his upper register on the choruses.
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The High-Stakes Clock: With Queen Latifah and Adam Levine already sitting with locked rosters, only Clarkson and Green held open spots. Both waited through the opening verses before hitting their buttons in rapid succession as Tenazas unleashed the full dynamic range of the chorus.
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The Background: Primarily trained as a hip-hop dancer, Tenazas entered the competition determined to establish his credibility as a self-accompanied vocalist and arranger.
The Coaches’ Pitch: “Urgency” vs. “Recognizable Tone”
| Coach | Reaction & Pitch |
| Kelly Clarkson | Praised his dynamic breath management and emotional drive: “I loved the urgency in your voice… you have two sets of lungs!” She emphasized that she held her final button press specifically for an artist whose sonic signature was unlike anyone else on her roster. |
| Riley Green | Focused on his musicianship and originality: “You made that your own.” Green highlighted Tenazas’s distinct timbre, noting that having an instantly identifiable voice is the single most valuable asset for a modern recording artist. |
Completing Team Kelly for the Battles
Weighing Green’s pitch against Clarkson’s track record of vocal coaching and pop-vocal refinement, Tenazas chose Team Kelly. The pick officially completed Clarkson’s 12-artist roster, slamming the door on Blind Auditions across all four teams:
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Team Kelly: Completed with Lance Tenazas (12/12)
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Team Riley: Completed with Brayden Howell (12/12)
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Team Latifah: Completed (12/12)
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Team Adam: Completed (12/12)
With the audition rounds officially in the books, Tenazas transitions directly into rehearsals for the Battle Rounds, where Clarkson will pair him in a duet matchup to defend his position on her squad.
