Last week on The Voice, Team Christina and Team Blake went head to head for all of America to see. Each member of both teams had a moment in the spotlight, singing a song of their choice with a full fledged production (and their celeb coaches) behind them for support. Some proved worthy to make it into the next leg of the competition, but, of course, there were those who failed to compare. Four contestants were sent home.
Well, the party has kicked off again this week! Tonight we will hear from Team Cee Lo and Team Adam. They’ve had time to sit back, watch and see how things go. Could this give them the chance to wow us more than what we witnessed last week? Only time will tell! Carson, let’s do this!
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Adam: “I just urged them all to really push to.. to obviously be their best.”
Cee Lo: “If anything, I’m just trying to encourage their own individuality.”
I’m just glad that Cee Lo isn’t upstaging anyone with some absurd outfit. A red suit still stands out, but it’s workable. Blake on the other hand only dresses up for the CMAs.
Blake: “This is how much I don’t give a crap about your teams.”
Adam: “It’s perfect because it looks like crap!”
Alright, boys! Simmer down!
Team Adam
Artist: Katrina Parker
Song: “Tonight, Tonight” by Smashing Pumpkins
Smashing Pumpkins meets Adele? That’s literally what this is. Katrina looks a splitting image of Adele in old-school garb and a side ponytail. She doesn’t sound as fantastic as that Grammy award-winning Brit, but I’ll give her an A for effort. I believe another song would have suited her better. This just … underwhelms. The audience seems to love it, though.
Christina: “At first I was wondering what your connection would be with this song …” I agree! “There were a few pitchy notes, but overall I thought you did a great job.”
Cee Lo: “There’s something so genuinely … um … tortured about Billy Corgan’s voice …”
Adam: “You’re a woman with a beautiful voice … Overall, you killed it.”
Team Cee Lo
Artist: Cheesa
Song: “Don’t Leave Me This Way” by Thelma Houston
First impression of song choice is that they could have gone in a completely different direction. Sure 70s tunes are fun to laugh about, but when has a song from this era helped anyone win a talent competition? Cheesa’s vocals are powerful, there’s little doubt about that. Is it enough to keep her in it, though? I really can’t say. Cee Lo sure is showing off those pearly whites, though.
Blake: “That was like watchin’ Solid Gold!”
Adam: “I think the only problem is that there’s so many great singers … what’s gonna make it so distinct that it pops out?”
Cee Lo: “I thought that it was wonderful! I enjoyed it and I think the people did as well!”
Christina Milian is back in the Spring Lounge with Jamar Rogers who tells us, “I don’t have fans, I have family.” I like that guy!
Team Adam
Artist: Tony Lucca
Song: “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel
I have to mention Tony’s hair! It is so tall and fluffed out. Okay, focused. I just had to go there. He sounds good, though, like a 90s throwback artist. I would say that he should connect more. He’s singing about “in your eyes,” yet his eyes were closed the whole time. I’m confused.
Christina: “I find you to be very one dimensional.” She mentions the whole MMC bunch supporting Tony, yet she also believes that “there’s better voices on the show” than celebrity sway, so to speak.
Adam: “That was honest!” It was … unlike another show that’s been on way longer than need be, but we won’t go there.
Team Adam
Artist: Kim Yarbrough
Song: “Rolling In the Deep” by Adele
Seriously, everyone is going after Adele now! This particular singer has the pipes to attack those songs, though. She doesn’t have to do anything but stand there, open her mouth and put on that “Diva look.” I think it’s one of those instances where vocal pitch doesn’t ALWAYS mean everything. Her passion and emotion sold it.
Blake: “I think that since she’s such a powerful singer that it tends to go sharp.”
Cee Lo: “I think that he should have told you to go otherwise because it’s such a current song.”
Adam: “Adele – she’s a freak. I know that this sounds negative, but I don’t disagree with what everyone’s said. This wasn’t perfect, but nothing ever is.”
Team Cee Lo
Artist: James Massone
Song: “Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones
Calm yourselves, ladies! James sits on a park bench with leaves scattered around the stage. All the guy has to do is smile and he instantly has all the girls’ votes. I can’t even hear him sing because of the screams. Overall, it was cute.
Blake: “I almost threw my panties on the stage.” HILARIOUS!
Christina: “I like the more subtle approach coming from you.”
Cee Lo: “First thing’s first. Ladies!!” The girls go WILD! “You did a great job. So cool, calm and collected because you’re solid. The only criticism I could give you is that maybe you paid a little too much attention to the ladies …” Uh, you think?! That’s all he did!
Team Cee Lo
Artist: Juliet Simms
Song: “Roxanne” by The Police
As I’ve said before, Juliet holds a place in my heart. She looks awesome standing with a microphone stand in the middle of a stage filled with fog. Vocal Olympics and THEN the beat kicks in. The lights come up and she starts to work the crowd. By the time the song ends, she has a standing ovation not only from the crowd, but Christina and Cee Lo!
Adam: “This just pisses me right off! I really wanted you on my team … You’re the best performance I’ve seen so far.” He even put his own team beneath her performance!
Christina: “Your voice is DOOOOOOPE!”
Blake: “I just feel like I actually heard you sing for the first time. It’s really good.”
Adam: “Even old Crap Jacket liked you over there!”
Cee Lo: “You did such an amazing job! Way to go, Julie!”
THAT’S RIGHT, JULIET!!!
Christina Milian is back in the Sprint Lounge with James Massone. “James loves the ladies and the ladies love James.” That’s all I got out of that, too Christina.
Team Adam
Artist: Mathai
Song: “Ordinary People” by John Legend
Green light floods the stage as she starts the song off a-capella. She sounds great. The guitar comes in under her and it’s a chill, laid back vibe. I like this girl, too. She has really good range and an interesting flare about her voice. It’s all effortless. Oh, wait. I see some swagger coming through!
Christina: “It was a little loungey for me but I still think you made it your own.” She just wants to see her amp it up some. Can’t blame that.
Blake: “The thing I love most about you is your confidence.”
Adam: “I think you’re so kind of magical … I really couldn’t possibly be any happier with that moment that I just witnessed.”
Team Cee Lo
Artist: Tony Vincent
Song: “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears
I love 80s throwbacks! Tony is dressed up tonight in a grey suit along with black eye-liner. Can’t leave home without it! He stands up on a podium while the dancers, without faces, dance below him like soldiers. Genius. Something about his vocals make the song more rock and roll, or maybe more modern rock. He gets a standing ovation from his celeb coach.
Carson decides to ask Tony about his new duties as a dad. Now back to what’s relevant.
Blake: “I don’t know how to feel about the thing that was happening up there. I was so wrapped up with whatever that was that it was hard for me to focus.”
Adam: “That was perfectly vague.”
Christina: “I’m from the pop world! That’s why I love Cee Lo. Production value was great.”
Cee Lo: “I appreciate art for its originality.” Definitely original Cee Lo, good job.
Team Adam
Artist: Karla Davis
Song: “Airplanes” by B.o.B.
She’s standing on the wing of an airplane! And somehow she’s out of breath already. I really like the arrangement, singing the entire song. I just think it’s bigger than she is. The song has taken off and Karla is still on the runway. I like the girl, but she needs to take a breath to catch up, poor thing.
Christina: “I was definitely surprised by the song choice and the cowboy boots … it was good.” She singles out the ad-lib that Karla threw in there which was really impressive.
Blake: “I think you did as good as you could do with that song.”
Adam: “Sometimes when you get up there, it’s not as good as it was in the room … so you could have been better …” Nicely put, Adam.
Christina is on point tonight with these comments. Perhaps it has something to do with her toned down look. She looks gorgeous! It’s quite a step forward from the poof of hair and tiny saucer on top of her head.
Team Cee Lo
Artist: Erin Martin
Song: “Walk Like an Egyptian” by The Bangles
Erin is wheeled out in a chariot by “Egyptians” showing off their muscles. The spectacle is somewhat impressive, but the vocals come across as flat. I don’t think that such unique vocals should be hidden by a song that has so much background … stuff, for lack of a better word. It’s as if Cee Lo played into the fact that she’s pretty.
Blake: “Here we go again with the male strippers.”
Christina: “WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
Blake: “I think you did as good as you could do with that song.”
Adam: “I think Blake just bought a one-way ticket to boner town” Wow! Moving on.
Christina: “You definitely could have brought it harder.”
Cee Lo: “I must commend you because it’s almost like a rap song, basically.” Okay, rappers get up on stage and WORK their performance as did The Bangles when they performed the song originally. Erin did not.
Team Adam
Artist: Pip
Song: “When You Were Young” by The Killers
Adam suggested Pip not make the song sound too “smooth,” but it sounds like that’s exactly what he’s doing. Even his growl sounds pretty. The kid is cute, though. He sounds good, he’s working the crowd, he’s trying. I just don’t find it very believable. Too clean cut, you know?
Christina: “Aww, Pip! I appreciate your vocal ability. You came off as trying too hard for me.” Yes, exactly!
Adam: “I think that as far as how it went, I still wanted to feel like … I didn’t want to trust you … something a little grittier, you know.” He started laughing at his own words because for awhile he just simply wasn’t making any sense!
Team Cee Lo
Artist: Jamar Rogers
Song: “Are You Gonna Go My Way?” by Lenny Kravitz
It kicks off with high energy with female guitarists on stilts! Jamar brings powerhouse vocals along with an R&B/rap/rocker-style persona. He’s the perfect mesh of so many genres. Jamar sure does move around a lot, but those vocals stay in tact. The last note is all you need.
The coaches cannot even hear Carson to know when to speak because the crowd is so loud!
Blake: “There is not a person in America right now that doesn’t know what in the hell those stilts had to do … Jamar is too good …”
Cee Lo: “Did you hear that crowd?” Enough said.
“Now, it’s time for you to vote!” says Carson. You’ve seen my opinions and those of the coaches, but what do YOU think? Call in or text your choice in order to save them from being cut tomorrow during the live elimination show. Tune in tomorrow night at 9/8c to The Voice in order to see which four contestants will be leaving the show.
Jilliane Johnson
Contributing Writer
(Image courtesy of NBC)
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
