Monday night means The Voice! Last week, the live shows brought us performances from Team Christina and Team Blake. As the competition nears its second season end, the stakes have been raised higher than ever before. With the newly implemented instant eliminations, fans of the nationwide talent show have been losing their favorite contestants left and right. It’s the name of the game, though, baby!
On tonight’s live show, Team Adam and Team Cee Lo will battle once again for America’s votes, this time, in week 2 of the quarter-final rounds. Carson should toss some welcome surprises our way as the celeb coaches perform alongside their team members. Will they hold their own next to fame? Or will they fall and tumble miserably? Let’s find out!
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Okay, wow … So the show starts off and even Carson Daly is wondering why the coaches are all laughing. Adam announces, “something’s going on back there,” while waving back towards the audience. Cee Lo finally declares, “I’m nervous. I have gas.” Then proceeds to bring out his battery operated fan. Later Adam says, in response to Christina’s “Follow your heart,” “Just follow your fart!” Wow.
More importantly …
Blake: “People are pissed!” In reference to RaeLynn being cut from the competition. She’ll be taken care of, though, and this is a competition, so people will be let go.
Plus, Carson announces that tonight will showcase the reunion performance of Cee Lo’s debut group Goodie Mob with their brand new single!
Team Cee Lo
Artist: Jamar Rogers
Song: “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi
Blake won’t like the theatrics addition. There’s a dark alley scene, complete with fire onstage behind Jamar. His vocals are amazing, though. There isn’t a way that one could focus on anything else. He’s added a heavy soul feel to the rock song. Along with his personal link to such lyrics, the performance is already one of the best tonight.
Adam: “Jamar, you’re just so amazing.” He explains that Jamar was the first voice they heard in “the blinds.”
Blake: “I don’t know that there’s ever been a better pairing of a song with a person.”
Christina: “You truly sang that like it was your life on the line.”
Cee Lo: He advises his team member to “listen to the love.” The crowd goes INSANE! Jamar breaks into tears. “Your love has very little to do with me,” says Cee Lo.
Sprint Lounge
Christina Milian is live with Jamar and his mother. “It was very moving, inspirational,” his mother mentions how excited she is that Jamar lives to see his 30th birthday after the struggle he’s been through with drugs.
James Massone is also backstage with Christina basically smiling all he can to get the girls’ votes.
Team Adam
Artist: Katrina Parker
Song: “Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri
Katrina stands inside of a heart, outlined in neon pink. She looks like “Adele Barbie” with long flowing blonde hair. While everything comes across as cheesy and trying too hard, Katrina actually sounds really good with this song choice. I’m pleasantly surprised by this one. Good job, Katrina!
Blake: “I’m more interested to know, what are you gonna do now Buddy (Adam) because that was, that was great!”
Christina: “I say you are Katrina Parker and own that … You are who you are and you did a fantastic job.”
Cee Lo: “Yeah, Christina I know what you mean. Many times I’ve been in the airport and people are like, ‘Brad Pitt!'” Yeah, his nerves are definitely getting to him.
Adam: “You were not one of my favorites on my team in the very beginning … You’ve evolved so much!”
Team Cee Lo – Performance
“Dancing in the Streets”
Carson starts things off in black and white as a retro talk show host, presenting the team and their celeb coach. Cee Lo appears with Cheesa and Juliet Simms in an old-school television. While they’re in black and white, Jamar and James run out in full technicolor. It’s seriously an adorable spectacle, I must say. Plus, Cee Lo has a bob haircut. Aside from the looks, everyone sounds fairly good. James could probably use the most work, but it’s fun nonetheless.
Team Adam
Artist: Mathai
Song: “I’m Like A Bird” by Nelly Furtado
Adam went with a more simple stage presence for Mathai tonight, as usual. Well, that’s until the ribbon dancer appeared, hanging from drapes extended down from the ceiling. You know, that surprise is parallel to that of Mathai herself. She looks cute and unassuming, but then she starts singing and you just can’t stop listening. That was great.
Blake: “I could’ve done without Captain America, swinging through there.”
Christina: “I didn’t feel like you truly connected with the song … It sounded a bit force fed.”
Adam: “Minus the sketchy dude … I thought that it was great.” Apparently he didn’t like the surprise flying person who suddenly popped out of nowhere either.
Sprint Lounge
Christina M. walks up on Pip and Tony Lucca playing Rock, Paper, Scissors. Pip apologizes to his fans for not wearing a bow-tie and Tony gives insight on what it’s like to be Pip’s roommate. Who cares?
Team Cee Lo
Artist: James Massone
Song: “Just the Way You Are” by Billy Joel
Dubbed as “Lady Killer #2,” James stands on the steps of a random swooning girl’s doorstep. He might look like a cute, tiny little mouse, but he is a pretty smooth cat. He sounds good, I just wish he would kick it up a few notches. Break out! Dance, even if you can’t. Take some risks! Each of his performances are always so predictive and one note.
Blake: “You sang that song great, I just don’t know how I feel about that. It just kind of laid there for me.”
Christina: “I would have wanted something a little different.”
Adam: Interjects with, “I loved it a lot.”
Cee Lo: “Blake’s an old man, Christina’s a woman, Adam’s a lady killer, too, so he gets it.”
Guest Performance
Cee Lo and Goodie Mob
“Fight to Win”
Not only do Cee Lo and his groupmates sport some gold, metallic armor-like outfits, but they each have glowing grills. Yes, their teeth glow. They sound good, they look … well they look interesting. The song is like a hip-hop, rock infused theatrical thing. I don’t know, it’s cool.
Team Adam
Artist: Tony Lucca
Song: “Baby, One More Time” by Britney Spears
Talk about sticking with your roots! Tony is channeling his former Mickey Mouse co-member, Britney with her first hit. I admit, as a Britney fan, I like the slowed down jazzy/bluesy feel he lends to the tune. The dancers behind him are dressed in what looks like nun robes and could really have been left by the wayside. Tony has brought down the house!
The coaches can’t even talk because the crowd is giving a standing ovation.
Carson: “That was like Bieber loud!”
Christina: “Let’s get Britney out on stage and have a real Mickey Mouse Club reunion!”
Blake: “It pisses me off ’cause that was really smart.”
Adam: “God, I love you! … You just embraced it and you did something refreshing and I’m so proud of you.”
Sprint Lounge with more random-ness
Tony Lucca now sits with Christina M. and he says “I thought we’d … put this MMC thing to bed.” Juliet Simms sits on the other end of the couch, a mere nervous hopeful in comparison to Christina’s over-excited ball of random questions.
Team Cee Lo
Artist: Cheesa
Song: “I Have Nothing” by Whitney Houston
All she needs is a microphone and the spotlight. Well Cheesa is given that and even more spotlights because that’s the kind of moment she’s building up on the stage. Her voice is PERFECT for this song. No, not as perfect as the late, great Whitney, but I would definitely say she’s worthy of trying. Job well done!
Christina: “I have to applaud you for some courage … I loved it! … This week, Team Cee Lo is where it’s at!”
Cee Lo: “Cheese! … This is a grown woman’s song. Not no auto-tune Tinkerbell, this is some home-grown from the gut stuff!” I think we get where Cee Lo’s going with this one.
Team Adam
Artist: Pip
Song: “Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane
Pip takes to the piano for this selection. He sort of looks as if he’s wearing pajamas, but I digress. Just when we all figured it would be a pretty hum-drum performance, the drum kicks in. Pip grabs the microphone and hops up, making his way around the stage. This could be good or bad because he’s losing his breath. His vocals are failing and those last few notes are just a train-wreck. I’m sorry, Pip, but you might be in trouble.
Blake: “Where in the hell is the bow tie. That’s like me and alcohol!”
Adam: “There were a couple moments that weren’t perfect, but nothing’s perfect.”
Sprint Lounge … Again!
Cheesa’s brother sits with Cheesa and Christina M. on the couch and has some words of praise for his sister. “You killed it … You represent not only your family, but you represent God.”
Team Adam – Performance
“Instant Karma”
Adam sits at the drums, Pip has the keyboard and Tony, of course, has his guitar in hand while Katrina and Mathai stand in front with microphones. I think this is a really odd choice of song for the group. I understand that picking a song for such a diverse group is tough, but this just isn’t the one, Adam. Tony sounds the best.
Team Cee Lo
Artist: Juliet Simms
Song: “Cryin'” by Aerosmith
Sporting wings, yes feathers, Juliet stands with the light hitting her back. She looks awesome! How does she sound? Her voice was made for this type of a song. The blues growl that comes from deep down boasts from her mouth and takes you back to retro, classic rock when it was new! Then as if that wasn’t enough, a wall of white feathers cascades down from the ceiling in full on rock-star style. A bit over the top? Maybe, but it works.
Blake: “That was double awesome for me. One because you sounded great and two because it reminded me of last fall, duck season.”
Christina: “I love the way you kind of ROOOAR on stage and you just give it all you got.”
Cee Lo: “What’s up Julie, my little electric guitar, my little red corvette.” He holds his team in high regards, to say the least.
Instant Eliminations
Team Cee Lo
Cee Lo has written a speech on his cell phone, so you can just imagine how profound and long his words have to be. He does end with, “Red ’til I’m dead,” though. So with that said …
Going Home
James Massone – That’s a respectable decision.
Still in the Running
Jamar Rogers
Cheesa
Juliet Simms
Team Adam
Adam: “This is a stupid thing that we have to do this, but unfortunately it’s part of the job.”
Going Home
Pip – Yeah, that crazy, wild note was just no good.
Still in the Running
Katrina Parker
Mathai
Tony Lucca
I must say that I am very much okay with tonight’s eliminations. I don’t believe there were any surprises unlike last week. Don’t forget that two people, one from Team Adam and the other from Team Cee Lo, are still in danger of being eliminated as a result of America’s votes. Make sure you tune in tomorrow for The Voice live elimination show to see a performance by Florence and the Machine!
Jilliane Johnson
Contributing Writer
(Image courtesy of NBC)
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
