“Something’s Got a Hold on Me” by Mechelina is played in an enthusiastic manner.
Age has little to do with talent, especially creative ability. Performers above the age of sixty can compete on The Voice Senior against people their own age. This finally draws attention to their incredible sounds.

Contestants on Singing Seniors not only get to show off their abilities and sing in front of the entire world, but they also receive one-on-one vocal coaching from prominent judges as they progress through the program and compete to be declared the champion.

On “The Voice Senior,” we’ve seen several genuine competitors who outperformed many professionals. And, unlike many younger vocalists, these elderly ones don’t employ “auto-tune” to “fix” their bad sounds. What you hear on “The Voice Senior” is genuine vocal ability.

Mechelina, 63, is no exception. Most younger people would have assumed Mechelina was simply an “ordinary” grandma or great-grandmother when she took the ‘The Voice’ stage. She is a grandma and a great-grandmother, yet she, like most grandmothers, possesses a superpower: a strong voice.

Mechelina appears on stage before the music begins in the video below. She may be concerned, but who wouldn’t be? She takes a few deep breaths, shuts her eyes, and begins to sing a well-known Etta James song, captivating both the audience and the judges.

“Something’s Got a Hold on Me” has been recreated and sampled by a number of contemporary performers, but never like this. Mechelina’s rich, sparkling voice caresses the words with a vintage 1960s sound that wraps around the audience and transports them on an emotional journey.

“Let me tell you right now, I’ve never felt anything like this before.” Something has me by the neck and won’t let  go.”The song “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” was written by Etta James, Leroy Kirkland, and Pearl Woods. It contains elements of soul, blues, and gospel. “That song was written by us, and it was based on a church song,” James once stated. The spiritual song was titled “Something’s Got a Hold on Me; It Must Be the Lord.” The song was an instant smash, peaking at number four on the Hot R&B Sides list. The song also charted at number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100.

So, when Mechelina took the stage of “The Voice” Senior, she had a lot to live up to, especially given her song selection, and the fact that many were familiar with Etta James’s gospel/blues voice made it easy to compare her to Etta. Even if the judges disagree, we believe Mechelina did an excellent job and hope she will return soon to try out again. We’d want to hear more of her lovely voice.