THE VOICE: SEASON 2 EPISODE 17 AMERICAS SAVES

The results are in. America voted based on last night’s performance and 2 more people are headed home. Last night my favorites were Jamar and Katrina. So I am optimistic about tonights results, as America always votes like I do… Okay not so much. But who goes home?

First,  Florence + The Machine performed No Light No Light. I have never really listened to her music. The only song I know she has performed was a version of Drake’s Take Care and while that was cool to hear live, it wasn’t my favorite interpretation. Her style isnt really my thing. It was cool to see Team Cee Lo in the background performing though. Jamar’s clothes were dope. He looked like a ninja. And ninja’s kick ass.

Team Adam was the first up to reveal America’s top vote, but not before Carson asked Adam about the reaction he received after eliminating “fan favorite” Pip Andrew. Adam said he received hate mail and several people tried to kill him, but he also shared that it was hard for a coach to let go of someone on the spot like that. Who was America’s save? Tony Lucca. No surprise there.

Team Cee Lo was next up and Carson addressed Cee Lo’s elimination of James Massone. Cee Lo said he had a bittersweet day but told his team that they all deserved to make it that far and he is sure America has good taste. The camera showed each face on Team Cee Lo and they all looked really worried. Who was America’s save? Jamar Rogers! His mom looked like she caught the holy ghost!

Mathai (Team Adam) – singing Cowboy Casanova by Carrie Underwood. She sounded much better than last night! I guess she knew she had to bring it. It was a really great vocal performance. You could tell in her eyes she was emotional. Blake said it was hard not to love her because she is so cute and she embraced the hillbilly side. Xtina said she was happy she got to show the aggression in the song. Cee Lo said he loved the aggression that conveyed she wanted to stay.

Katrina Parker (Team Adam) – singing Perfect by Pink. She sounded great on this song! I couldn’t stop thinking about the amazing Battle Round between Niki and Vicci from Season 1. But she sang it like she meant it. Afterwards, Blake said he knows that Tony got the vote from America but Katrina is the best singer on the team. Xtina said she 100 percent agrees with Blake and she said out of everyone on Adam’s team she is most excited to hear original music from her. Cee Lo said he thought it was a great song choice and he commended her for a great performance.

Who stays? Blake said Katrina. Xtina picked Katrina. Cee Lo picked Mathai. Adam first said Mathai had a spark and energy everyone loves about her; with Katrina he felt she was an unpolished diamond, but throughout the competition he felt both surprised him. He said it boils down to who he has seen more from so far and he really didn’t think Katrina was going to make it as far as she did. With Mathai, he has kept waiting for her to explode and he knows she will do it, show or no show, but his decision is Katrina. (YES!)

Cheesa (Team Cee Lo) – singing Already Gone by Kelly Clarkson. I really liked how soft she started out and then when the chorus kicked in she started belting it out. There were a few moments were she wasn’t totally in key, but there was one final note that was killer! Blake said he enjoyed her a lot, especially that note, but she was a little pitchy and the rest of the coaches agreed.

Juliet Simms (Team Cee Lo) – singing Torn by Natalie Imbruglia. When she started, she had this weird gravel tone, but as soon as she got to the chorus you could feel the pain in the song and the growl fit perfectly. Blake said he was the only one that didn’t hit the button because he wasn’t a believer and week after week she comes out and he loves her. He also called her an acquired taste that he has now. Xtina said she was a fan or her voice, but the softer voice she has used isn’t her favorite place for her voice to be, but she wants to hear another song similar to when she performed Roxanne.

A sad decision for Cee Lo. Who gets the save and who goes home? Blake said he picked Juliet. Xtina picked Juliet. Skipping Adam, Cee Lo had to make a decision. He asked to see both of them smile, but the effort seemed to almost break Juliet and Cheesa. Cee Lo said he loved Cheesa so much and she had a voice that sounds classically trained, so it would be ironic for her not to go on because the show is called THE VOICE. With Juliet her voice is like art imitating life, and life isn’t perfect. He feels America is invested in her so he can’t go against that, so in the end he picks Juliet.

This episode was a little sad to me, but I am happy that my some of my favorite folks are still in the show.

Who are my Fantasy Final 4?

For Team Blake – Jermaine Paul/Erin Willett … ugh this is a hard decision

Team Xtina – Lindsey Pavao

Team Cee Lo – Jamar Rogers

Team Adam – Katrina Parker

But who knows? My picks may change by their performances next week. But I don’t think so.

How do you feel about this week’s eliminations?

Until next week,

Tje Austin

THE VOICE: SEASON 2 EPISODE 15 AMERICA’S SAVES

Tonight’s episode of The Voice began with the brit boy band The Wanted performing “Chasing The Sun”. I have just started listening to their music but I didn’t even know it was a group until I saw a video. It was really cool when Team Blake came out and sang the last chorus, but it also came off to me like it was a last minute addition to the show.

Carson first addresses the elimination of Jesse Campbell and asks the other coaches how they feel about it. Adam said he was shocked but it was Xtina’s decision. Cee Lo said he didn’t understand her decision but he has also been under fire for decisions he has made and he still stands by those. Xtina said she was no stranger to controversy and she never backs down for following her heart and staying true to herself. She also said she doesn’t want to distract from her extremely talented team tonight.

America’s Save for Team Xtina: Chris Mann. I am surprised by this. But Chris gives great performances. I just don’t relate to his song choices. That leaves Ashley and Lindsey to sing for the save.

America’s Save for Team Blake: Jermaine Paul. When they announced this, I yelled. This is one decision in the past few weeks that I agree with! That leaves Erin Willett and RaeLynn to sing for their save. I am such a fan of Erin Willett, so I hope she does well tonight.

Ashley De La Rosa is first up from Team Xtina and she sang “You and I” by Lady Gaga and when she started I was confused because she was singing in a different accent and she was very nervous. Adam said it wasn’t his favorite and Blake said based on her past performances he would definitely go with her. So I guess that means tonight she didn’t come off as confident.

Lindsay Pavao sang Please Don’t Go by Mike Posner and she killed it. She played up on her strengths and she even made Christina cry. Cee Lo said he thought it was wonderful and he sees so much charm in her. Blake said though she isn’t one of the big vocalists of the competition, there is still something so mysterious about her that people are drawn to, but he is sticking with his decision of picking Ashley.

This is where we take a break from the drama and Justin Bieber came out to introduce a clip from his new music video “Boyfriend”.  They really only showed a clip. It was a blip and then it was gone. Then Justin announced the date for his album Believe which comes out June 19^th. I am sure the world went crazy and Bieber was trending for quite a bit on twitter. Carson then officially invites the Beebs to perform Boyfriend on the season finale of The Voice. Smart move for ratings. **side note: every time the song starts out, it reminds me of The Whisper Song by The Ying Yang Twins. Are they still making music?

This is where Christina had to make a decision for who was staying and who was going home.  She said she has a special connection with Lindsey’s voice and Ashley is such a dynamo performer. But as always she has to go with what is in her heart and she has to go with Lindsey Pavao.

Now we focus on Team Blake. They showed what happed at the Fonda Theater when he took his team to do an acoustic set on April 5^th. I think Blake is such an awesome coach for having a show with his team, because he wanted them to “steal” his fans.  I would’ve loved to see that.

Erin Willett starts of for Team Blake singing “Proud Mary” by Tina Turner. And this girl was giving it to the coaches. She has an amazing and powerful voice. I couldn’t help by smile really big while she was singing.  Xtina said she made an amazing effort for being in the bottom 2 and I agree.

RaeLynn sang If I Die Young by The Band Perry. I just feel Blake might not send her home because she is cute and she is the only Country singer, but also tonight, she is doing one of her better vocal performances. She has an interesting voice and a growl that many people adore. Adam said this wasn’t his favorite vocal performance. He is always quick to point out people he wishes were on his team.

Blake has to make a decision and he is torn. He said that he has a bond with both of his girls. He said wished RaeLynn had done something different and Erin just came out and did it. In the end, after much prompting from Carson, Blake blurts out Erin. This dude surprised me because I know he is a die hard RaeLynn fan.

Do you agree or disagree with the decisions tonight? Not as rough as last night. Still reeling from Jesse’s elimination, but I’m almost over it. Haha

BTW check out my most recent single RIGHT FOR YOU on youtube or itunes!