THE VOICE: THE FINALS

SEASON 2 EPISODE 19

I can’t believe this journey is almost over. It is the Finals of The Voice and our 4 hopefuls looked really good tonight. Jermaine Paul and Chris Mann were wearing suits, Juliet Simms was looking extremely elegant in a red and gold gown (team cee lo repping the REDZONE) and Tony Lucca rockin the vest and a hat, like usual.  Each artist has put in so much work to get to this point and tonight one person will stand out above the rest. They will perform a solo tribute to their coaches, then they will sing a song with their coach AND sing a song that will be used for the voting proces tonight. And of course, we won’t find out who wins until tomorrow.

THE IMPORTANT PERFORMANCES

Jermaine Paul of Team Blake is first tonight. He is representing all of the background singers who want to be in the spotlight and recognized for the talented artists they are.  Tonight he sings “I Believe I Can Fly.” His vocals were steady and point, but I was ready for the choir (St. James Concert Choir) to come in because the song sounds so empty without it. There was a moment where he held the word “FLY” and it was just one of the highlights of the song.  Christina said he sings with so much heart and emotion and that is what this show is about. Cee Lo said the presentation was perfect. Adam said it was elegant and pretty. Blake said his heart is in his throat. He said he has listened to the song before but he never really heard it until tonight. 1-855-VOICE-01

Tony Lucca (Team Adam) singing 99 problems by Jay-Z. Okay I was skeptical of this but I am digging the vibe he had. This was like an O Brother Where Art Though moment. It was fun and a cool interpretation of the song. I can hear this in a movie.  Christina was hating. Haha. She said she felt it was derogatory to women. Adam tried to say that they were talking about life, not women. Then he said he loved her, took off his flannel and the black shirt underneath had Team Xtina in red glittery letters. @Kuriboi2k6 pointed out to me that Tony’s performance was actually a cover of Hugo’s version of 99 problems. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onDh4P1cE2E 1-855-VOICE-03

Chris Mann (Team Xtina) singing  You Raise Me Up by Josh Grobin. This is the perfect way for him end his time on the voice. This song is so sweet and his voice has never sounded so good. He was accompanied by the James Burrows High School Choir. Cee Lo said he was by far one of the most incomparable vocalists he has ever heard and he is so cool ending with “If I ever fall in love, please sing at my wedding.” AND he brought his coach to tears 1-855-VOICE-04

Juliet Simms (Team Cee Lo) singing Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd. She was wearing the red gown she started off in early in the episode with a long flowing cape enveloped in a red haze and she looked awesome. It felt like I was watching a performance that should’ve been at Woodstock. She was alright (performing while sick) but she got me when the end of the song came belting out the lyrics with all of her heart. Cee Lo said with Juliet Simms on his team he has NO PROBLEMS, standing up showing off the white t with black letters reading the same thing.  1-855-VOICE-02

THE TRIBUTES 

(where contestants sing their coaches songs)

Juliet Simms (Team Cee Lo) – singing Crazy. Not my favorite performance at all, but I have to remember she was sick.  I kind of grimaced through this performance. I know she can do better. FEEL BETTER JULIET!

Chris Mann (Team Xtina) –  singing The Voice Within. This guy is definitely going to have a deal. He is going to take on all of Josh Grobin’s fans. Afterwards, Christina went up on stage and said “This is a real man! That respects women!” Wow she just keeps diggin into Tony Lucca.

Jermaine Paul (Team Blake) - singing God Gave Me You. I actually liked his performance. He gave it a little southern drawl at times and he had fun with it.

Tony Lucca (Team Adam) - singing Harder To Breathe. This was the best I have heard Tony tonight.  There were a lot of words in the song and I think he ran out of breath while singing, which caused him to laugh a little bit. But he did a good job.

THE DUETS

(MY FAVORITE PART)

Chris Mann and Christina Aguilera sing a“The Prayer” As soon as Christina started singing I couldn’t  stop smiling. One, Christina’s boobs looked like they were going to spill out of her dress, and THIS DUET WAS AMAZING. Such a smart move. Chris has such a great voice when he is singing songs that are in his lane.

Juliet Simms and Cee Lo sing Born To Be Wild.  This was more in Juliet’s lane. She has a rock sound and needs to stick to it. She was rocking a black leather jacket with spikes and came in sitting on a motorcycle. This was a fun duet that had a stage set up to make it seem like a biker bar or back alley race.

Tony Lucca and Adam Levine sing Yesterday by The Beatles.  This performance reminds me of a 90’s rendition of Yesterday. I am sure all of the girls are going crazy. If Boyz II Men came out, then I would’ve gone crazy.

Jermaine and Blake sing Soul Man. These guys are tall. And they had so much fun singing this song. It was like Jermaine and Blake took us to church. I really like that Blake and Christina both went out of their comfort zones to perform tonight.

Who will take the crown as winner of Season 2 of The Voice???

Find out tomorrow.

Carson Daly also informed everyone in America that free download cards for certain songs from the Final 4 will be available at participating Starbucks. Go out and get em!

THE VOICE: SEASON 2 EPISODE 18 Final Four Cylons Revealed

No last chance performances. No saves. Each coach had 100 points to divide among their two remaining artists in however way they see fit, based on last night’s performance. This could get ugly.

But in true Voice fashion, they don’t give it to us straight off the bat. No, first Season 1 alum Dia Frampton of Team Blake performed her single ‘Don’t Kick The Chair’ feat Kid Cudi. Dia looked lovely standing on a staircase decorated with chairs piled on top of each other.  She did a really good job. This song is in heavy rotation on my ipod. I friggin love it. I like that we get to hear from Season 1 in this episode.

The first reveal was Team Xtina: Chris Mann vs Lindsey Pavao. Last night my favorite performance was Chris Mann. He ripped that song to shreds. Lindsey had a really great performance and it was a little more main stream so that may work in her favor. Either way I am sure these guys are in for a wild ride in the record industry. Christina split the 100 points even between her artists (50/50). With America’s vote the scores changed: Chris -104; Lindsey -96. The first Top 4 contender is Chris Mann. I didn’t expect that at all, but I am happy for him.  That was really close. And heartbreaking when Chris and Lindsey embraced  and she sobbed into his shoulder.

I can tell this is a “bittersweet” episode. (if I may quote the judges)

Next, Season 1 alum Vicci Martinez from Team Cee Lo performed ‘Come Along’ with Cee Lo. This is again my favorite song from Vicci’s EP she just released today.

The second reveal was Team Adam: Katrina Parker vs Tony Lucca. Last night I enjoyed Tony Lucca but Katrina Parker was my favorite singer. Adam split his points giving: Katrina – 40; Tony – 60. The reason? I didn’t really understand the reasoning. It made no sense to me. It was weird. I guess he feels a connection with Tony but he feels she is still incredible. Adding America’s vote:  Katrina – 92; Tony – 108. So Tony advances. If the coaches didn’t have a vote, America’s vote would’ve stood alone with Katrina – 52 and Tony – 48. Crazy. Congrats to Tony.

Season 1 alum Beverly McCllelan of Team Xtina, performing with Cyndi Lauper “Money Changes Everything.” This was crazy. Beverly has such a beautiful voice. I was really trying to figure out if Cyndi usually performs like this or if she a little tipsy. They had a lot of fun onstage. I am not an aggressive guy and these girls were chasing each other across the stage and then there was one point Cyndi hit Bev. Again I say Crazy. Lol. Cyndi was having trouble with her in-ear as the camera caught her trying to adjust it in her ear a couple times. It was an entertaining and weird performance.

Javier Colon, last year’s winner of The Voice, was the next performer singing “A Drop In The Ocean” off of his current album. That man hit some notes in this song!!

Next up was Team Blake’s elimination: Erin Willett vs Jermaine Paul. And today is Erin’s bday. Will Blake or America give her an incredible bday present or will this be the worst birthday ever? Blake divided his points for his teammates 50/50. He explained they are both trying so hard and doing everything they can do. He didn’t want to make that decision. America’s votes added: Erin – 77; Jermaine – 123. Okay I am sure its not the worst birthday present, but it sucks. I love that she pointed at Blake and said “Let’s get drunk!!”

So far, its been all guys to make it to the Top 4.

As I type this, I am nervous for Jamar Rogers. Give me one good reason to get mad and tweet “I AM NEVER WATCHING THE VOICE AGAIN!” And that would be a lie regardless of how this decision goes. But I am crossing my fingers. Will America or Cee Lo cause me to throat chop my television set? We shall see…

Before the commercials started, Christina Milian caught up with Jamar and Juliet backstage and asked if there was anything they wanted to say anything to each other. Juliet almost broke down right there. And that caused me to be okay if Jamar gets voted off. Because she has done really well throughout this competition and ROCKED THE FUCKING HOUSE last night. And she deserves this chance like anyone else. And her breaking down reminded me when I broke down crying backstage in front of Rebecca Loebe before my Battle Round against Nakia from all of the anxiousness.

Okay.

Team Cee Lo was up. Cee Lo first said that he has said many times that he has 2 of the best contestants on the show. Jamar and Juliet started crying before the results were announced and I really felt bad for the both of them. Can’t we just allow both of them to go on?? Cee Lo divided his scores as such: Jamar – 40; Juliet – 60. He said he wanted to be honest, critical and fair. He said Juliet’s performance last night was so beautiful, striking and strong. Jamar has been so consistent and America loves him. He said he couldn’t appreciate everything that Jamar did in that song and he felt it didn’t translate completely. With America’s vote:  Jamar – 79; Juliet – 121. A resounding roar of approval for Juliet. My heart is heavy.  I know it probably only came off this way on t.v, but after the results were revealed and Cee Lo joined the two on stage, it seemed Jamar gave him the dirtiest look ever. I think he was just feeling numb.

The Final 4 artists are: Chris Mann, Tony Lucca, Juliet Simms and Jermaine Paul.

Wow. Did you think any of these guys would make it to the Final 4 when this journey first started?

Maybe.

THE VOICE: SEASON 2 EPISODE 18 The Elite Eight

Craziness. Awesome performances. This is how I would describe this episode featuring the Final 8. So let’s get into it.

Tony Lucca (Team Adam) – singing How You Like Me Now by The Heavy. This was a solid performance. For me it didn’t go up or down, it just stayed consistent. Its not the type of music I would listen to and he honestly doesn’t have the type of voice I listen to on my ipod. But I really liked his suit.  Christina said she cleared the song for Moses, but it fell into Tony’s hands. She asked if Adam taught him the dance moves jokingly. Then she said if this doesn’t work out he and Adam could start a Britney cover band. Cee Lo said it was a pleasant surprise and he became a big fan. I am tired of all the girls screaming when Adam is about to speak. Or maybe its jealousy.  But Adam said this was the perfect song for him to perform tonight.  1-855-VOICE-01

Erin Willett (Team Blake) – singing Without You by David Guetta feat Usher. This is such a crazy song choice for her but she seemed to be working it out during practice and Blake said this could be her break out performance. Her low notes starting out were not in key and some of her high notes were flat. This wasn’t my favorite performance of hers at all. I get that this is an emotional song because of the recent passing of her father.  That is a terrible tragedy. She has such a big voice and she is a very talented singer. I just don’t think this was the right song for her. Billboard’s twitter account disagrees with me. What do they know? Lol. Christina said she was proud that she was emotionally involved in a song and that Erin did an original arrangement. Blake first complimented how beautiful she was. Then he said he would give anything to have a tenth of the talent she has and to have the strength  she would have. 1-855-VOICE-02

Chris Mann (Team Xtina) – singing Ave Maria. He said this is the way he came into the competition so if he goes out, he is going to go out with a band. This was an amazing performance. I couldn’t even type while he was singing. He definitely told a story with the power of his voice. I loved this. And he isn’t always my favorite but this was amazing. Cee Lo was the first judge to comment and he said his voice is so powerful, pure and perfect and said he was the epitome of the show. Adam said Cee Lo was totally right. Christian said she felt the heavens open up and she felt so moved.  She even got up out of her coach’s chair to give him a hug. 1-855-VOICE-03

Jamar Rogers (Team Cee Lo) – singing If You Don’t Know Me By Now. This was a really great performance. I really dug it. It was a cool mix of R&B and Rock. Adam said if you just set aside the competition aspect of this, he is purely a fan. Blake said it was by far the most laid back performance from him and he said it was a really good performance. Xtina said she enjoyed his run and she was motivated to get up there and start singing. Cee Lo, affectionately calling him J-Bird, and thought this was a great performance of a stripped down version of the song. He also said the story of his life would be a best seller, because it is a success story.  Sidenote: I feel that Wardrobe (the people behind the scenes who dress the artists) have a hat filled with photos of items of clothing. They draw from the hat and whatever comes out, they throw on Jamar. He was wearing a shiny vest, bright blue blazer with tails, and the pants to a baseball player’s uniform. 1-855-VOICE-04

Teams Adam and Cee Lo performed together tonight singing “”All These Things That I’ve Done” by The Killers.  This collaboration was the best team collaboration of the season. All of these vocalists really shined and complimented each other.

Jermaine Paul (Team Blake) – singing Open Arms by Journey.  There is no denying this man can sing.  He had a really great performance. Christina said he was a crazy talented vocalist. He came in and murdered the song. Cee Lo said he did a wonderful job and he is consistently impressed by him. Adam said he would like to congratulate him because he is no longer a background singer.  Blake told Adam that Adam should’ve said Jermaine was the guy to beat all along rather than saying “another guy” in previous weeks was the man to beat. 1-855-VOICE-05

Katrina Parker (Team Adam) – singing Killing Me Softly by The Fugees. She looks like a star to me. She really does. And her voice is so effin amazing. She sounded really good but I was wondering the whole time was she going to do the really recognizable breakdown Lauryn Hill.  And she did! And it didn’t come off karaoke at all, which I was afraid was going to happen. Blake reminded her she was sitting in a cubicle months ago and marveled at how she sounds so seasoned. Xtina said she has fallen in love with her over the course of the competition. She also said if she was her coach, she would’ve tried to make the song more “Katrina Parker” rather than try to follow everything that Lauryn Hill sang. Then she said she encouraged Adam to look at Katrina because she was a star. Xtina does not hold back. Adam said at the end of the day, she didn’t sound like Lauryn Hill, she sounded like Katrina Parker so he was beyond happy. 1-855-VOICE-06

Blake Shelton performed his new singing “Over”. It was a good song. The chorus was my favorite part. Blake totally towered over everyone on stage. He is such a tall guy.

Lindsey Pavao (Team Xtina) – singing Skinny Love by Bon Iver.  She is totally an indie girl so she is going for all of those type of songs. I wish I knew the song, but I’m not too familiar with his music.  This was the first time we got to see her play the guitar onstage. This was also my type of set up. I love acoustic songs. At first I didn’t like the way she was singing, but it started growing on me. Then I realized I had heard this song before. I don’t know if that made me like it more but by the end of the song I was a fan.  Cee Lo said he wasn’t really into Skinny Love, he was more into “big love”. He also said the closer she got to the microphone the more confident she became and she did a great job. Adam said he loved that everyone is so completely unique.  Blake said it was really good, but strategy-wise he had to commend Xtina for letting both of her artists go back to how they started. Xtina said she loved seeing her in a coffee shop setting, in her element with her guitar and she really got into the song. Then she got up to give Lindsey a hug. 1-855-VOICE-07

Team Xtina and Team Blake joined each other onstage singing Edge of Glory by Lady Gaga. Jermaine started this song off and it made me wish he had sung this tonight for his song. He killed that one sentence. Haha. Erin had sweet moments. So did Chris Mann. I would actually like to hear him do a rendition of this song too. Lindsey’s voice is so different that it felt like an extreme drop in volume when she would come in. Overall a fun performance.

The last performance of the night goes to:

Juliet Simms (Team Cee Lo) – singing It’s a Man’s World by James Brown. I started smiling when she started singing. She left the tiny gravely voice behind her and just sang. This was the perfect way to end the night. I hate that only one person from each team can go on to next week. Because she rocked the hell out of that song. The roar from the crowd sounded like a standing O. Adam said it was something special and unbelievable. He said she was the one to beat tonight. Christina said it reminded her of the Grammy performance she had when she sang that song. Cee Lo said she killed it. She murdered that record.  1-855-VOICE-08

The coaches have 100 points to divide between both of their artists. They wrote down their scores and we wont know until tomorrow after they reveal America’s vote. Who will the Final 4 be?????

 

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!

THE VOICE: SEASON 2 EPISODE 14 – The Shock Heard Round The World

I am still stunned by tonight’s episode.

Tonight Team Xtina and Team Blake performed. The catch? Each coach was going to send one of their members home immediately afterwards. Tomorrow, 2 more will go home. The coaches seemed surprised by this move.

RaeLynn (Team Blake) @RaeLynnOfficial –  Singing She’s Country by Jason Aldean. Before her performance, Blake asked her if she had a bf, to which she said no because she is a heart breaker. As of tonight, she is the only Country artist left in the competition. She has a great swagger about her when she performs. Honestly this is my favorite performance of the competition. I think her fire and spunk make her really enjoyable. This was a great way to start out the night. She still had those weird moments in her voice, but I think tonight worked in her favor. Blake said she proved to America that Country can kick ass. I agree. She has a kick ass attitude. 1-855-VOICE-01

Jesse Campbell (Team Xtina) @singjessesing – Singing Halo by Beyonce. As soon as they announced it, I was worried. Beyonce fans are harsh, and a guy singing a Beyonce song can go really wrong with all of the high notes she has in her songs.  He has a high register though, so I hope he can pull it off. I like what he was wearing, and it was cool he was standing in a huge picture frame. I still think he looks Cuba Gooding, Jr. And around him, there were photos of his daughter, as tonight’s performance was dedicated to her. It started off okay, but then as it got further into the song  this dude started really feeling it and he had some really cool moments vocally. His performance rocked the house.  1-855-VOICE-02

Jordis Unga (Team Blake) @jordismusic – She was in the bottom 3 but when she performed Wild Horses, Blake saved her. Tonight she has to prove to the world that she belongs in the competition. She is singing A Little Bit Stronger by Sara Evans. It started off a little weak. She looks beautiful in the white dress. Then her voice gets stronger when she hits the high notes. Xtina said she came out looking lovely, appreciating Jordis showing off her vulnerable side. Cee Lo and Adam agreed. Blake said its so opposite to what she does and she is a singer songwriter as well, and he wanted to show that off. 1-855-VOICE-03

Team Xtina went to Crenshaw to visit a choir and invite them to perform with her team in the live rounds.She started off singing with male strippers dancing around Blake. Then she kicked Fighter into high gear. Team Xtina looked and sounded like they were having fun. To have the chance to sing with their coach has to be an amazing experience. And The Voice band was on point as always. The choir was a really nice touch to this song.

Ashley De La Rosa (Team Xtina) @UKnowAshleyDLR – Singing Foolish Games by Jewel. When she started off, it was weak, but it quickly got better. But it was really hard to hear her. The arrangement of this song was sick though! It seemed she was lost in the instrumentation, but then she hit that note and held it. That one note was dope! Cee Lo said everyone seemed to enjoy it. He said she started out low but when she got to her feet she got into that character. Adam said he felt Cee Lo had an underwhelmed response. He then goes on to say she was the biggest surprise.  Blake said the smartest decision for this season was Xtina’s choice to save her. 1-855-VOICE-04

As soon as Adam (Maroon 5) started singing this song Pay Phone, I fell in love with it. Best quote from my friends during the performance: There’s a black guy in Maroon 5?? Haha. They bleeped something out in his lyrics though. I really want to know what he was saying that wasn’t appropriate for TV.

Erin Willett (Team Blake) – Singing Set Fire To The Rain. I wasn’t a fan of the way she started off the song. I was really waiting for her to get to the pre-chorus. The chorus was really nice. The bridge was better. That is my favorite part in the song. If you don’t know me, this is my favorite Adele song and it has been in my set list for a couple months now. I am huge fan of this song. Xtina said that Erin sang her heart out, but is always wary of when someone does a song on that record. Adam said she did great, but try working on her phrasing because Adele has great phrasing.  1-855-VOICE-05

Lindsey Pavao (Team Xtina) @lindseypavao – Singing a medley of S&M and We Found Love at first. But then they decided to change it singing Part of Me by Katy Perry. She is this season’s darling on The Voice. They did a darker more dramatic version of the song. I know so many people are going to love this version but it was kind of okay to me. Cee Lo wasn’t familiar with the song. Adam said there were really big powerful notes that were pitchy but all artists do that. Blake said he heard the pitch things as well, but he is already a fan and feels people across the country feel the same way. Xtina said she adores Lindsey. 1-855-VOICE-06

Team Blake sings Heartache Tonight by The Eagles.  Out all of the team members singing Jermaine was the best. Hands down. Though Jordis sounded much better than she did earlier tonight.

Jermaine Paul (Team Blake) @JermainePaul – Singing Against All Odds by Phil Collins. This is the chance that Jermaine has been tweeting about. To show a softer side of him. The dude has a voice on him. This was nice version of the song. He sounded a little like R Kelly in the chorus. Xtina said she feels he is a phenomenal singer. She said he is her favorite. Cee Lo said he looked sharp and he said Phil Collins is one of his favorite singers. He also said he is definitely one of the strong contenders in the competition.  Adam said I love you 3x time think at this point. (not playing the @shieldsbrothers drinking game tonight and very grateful). Blake said tonight’s performance tonight was a turning point. From that, I feel Jermaine is not going home tonight. Or he is sending him home and he was just telling him to remember his performance. That would suck. 1-855-VOICE-07

Chris Mann (Team Xtina) @IamChrisMann – Singing Viva La Vida by Coldplay. I am a huge fan of Coldplay. I saw them perform at ACL and the ACL theater. He seemed a little nervous about singing current music. I am still very iffy with Chris Mann. I dont listen to Josh Groban either. Not to say they dont have great voices, but he just dont pull me in. But the oh’s were really good. It just seems like the wrong song for him. The thing is, I don’t think they have found “the right” song for him. Adam said he looked sharp, and being a huge fan of that song, he really wanted to be moved by the song in that way, but he wasn’t moved. Adam said he would rather hear him sing opera. Xtina says he is showing growth and she thinks he is great. 1-855-VOICE-08

So…

Xtina is the first coach to eliminate. First she says she says some people are more open to advice then others. Then she says is going to make enemies tonight from her decision but the person going home is: Jessie Campbell. I am in shock. I didn’t think this at all. Crazy. But maybe he is not open to taking her advice and she just wasnt feeling his attitude. Xtina said she was going to make some enemies tonight. Nothing worse than a diva scorned. Or ignored.

Team Blake eliminated Jordis Unga tonight.  He said he was basing his decision on her performance two weeks ago. I think that is a terrible reason to eliminate someone. Not a good reason at all. Adam Levine was even shaking his head when both artists were eliminated.

Tonight was definitely a shocker. Do you agree with the decision the coaches made tonight?

THE VOICE: SEASON 2 EPISODE 13 LIVE ELIMINATIONS

2 Artists hit #1 on the pop charts from Mondays performances: Tony Lucca and Juliet Simms. Will this be enough to save them?

We won’t find out until after Jessie J finishes performing “Domino” with Team Xtina. I love when they have artists that can actually SING on these singing competition shows. Sometimes they have artists that are just performers with terrible vocals. Not tonight. Jessis J is an amazing vocalist. When Team Xtina joins her onstage, you can tell they are their to have fun lending background vocalists. Afterwards we catch a glimpse of Arsenio Hall in the audience. Cool.

America’s Saves for Team Adam: Mathai, Tony Lucca and Pip Andrew, leaving Kim Yarbrough, Katrina Parker and Karla Davis to sing for the save.

America’s Saves for Team Cee Lo: Juliet Simms, Jamar Rogers, and James Massone, leaving Erin Martin, Chessa and Tony Vincent to sing for the save.

Team Adam

Kim Yarbrough singing “Spotlight” by Jennifer Hudson – this is a perfect song for her. I feel her and Jennifer Hudson have similar styles of singing. She gave a solid performance but I really don’t don’t think this performance is going to save her. The stress was very apparent on her face.

Karla Davis singing “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt – I think this is Karla’s best performance. This is a familiar song as Lex Land sang this for her Blind Audition. Karla showed better control of the melody than last night’s performance. It was a really good rendition that left Adam smiling.

Katrina Parker singing “Don’t Speak” by No Doubt – she again looks and has an Adele feel about her. I think this was an awesome song choice. Her delivery was clean and she was extremely consistent.  And towards the end her vocals hit a very cool point.

Coaches Picks

Blake – Katrina; Xtina – Katrina; Cee Lo – Katrina

The final decision is for Adam Levine. He tells them that its huge that millions of people have seen them perform. He admits that if he was on the show, he doesn’t know if he could win it. He says he isn’t going to be emotional about it and he announces Katrina Parker has the win. He rushes up there for one last hug with Kim and Karla. Karla’s last words are for the people behind the scenes: hair and makeup and the band, Kim thanks everyone for an amazing experience.

Team Cee Lo

Tony Vincent singing “Sweet Dreams” by Eurythmics – This gives me a dark Manson vibe. He would be perfect as Jack Skellinton in a Nightmare Before Christmas live action broadway play. I feel like for him, though his vocals are on point, this is too dark for this type of a reality singing competition.

Chessa singing “All By Myself” by  Eric Carmen – This time I feel like her low register works for her. She is singing an awesome ballad. I still don’t know if this will work out in her favor. She belts out this song and totally kills it. She also got aggressive, which is something that Cee Lo loves.

Erin Martin singing “Your Song” by Elton John – this is the best performance she has given in this competition. And she looks amazing. I didn’t recognize her without all of the fancy hairdos. Favorite line is “I know its not much but it’s the best I can do.” She has probably gotten the worst rap during this whole competition, with people saying that she didn’t belong in the competition. But she has her fans folks and they do support her. Tonight I will say this was her best performance. She really does have a chance in the industry.

Coaches Picks

Adam – Chessa; Blake – Chessa; Xtina – Chessa

The final pick goes to Cee Lo. He says how much they mean to him and he apologizes to everyone for not being able to say enough. He throws out the word “veteranism”. He says his mind says Tony but his heart says Chessa.  I think saying it that was was a little dirty. It made Tony think that he was in the competition. Cee Lo ends the night with an “I love my people”

We have 16 artists left in the competition! Tonight was sad to see more artists go.  I wish them well.

Do you agree with the decisions the coaches made tonight?

Who has the strongest team now?

I am going to have to go with Team Cee Lo and Team Xtina on this one.  But who knows? We will find out next week!!

 

THE VOICE: SEASON 2 EPISODE 11 : 4 GO HOME

Tonight for Team Blake and Team Xtina, America saved 3 people, and then the remaining 3 get a chance to sing again to save themselves.  The coaches will then only be able to save 1. 2 people from each team will end up going home.  And who will the lucky artists be tonight?

The guest band performing tonight was Gym Class Heroes singing Ass Back Home.  Most tweets during the performance were “WTF is the girl singing with GCM wearing??” and none of them were about the performance being terrible so I think they succeeded.

Blake talks to his team about the first time he heard his song on the radio.  They get to watch him in action during the radio show. He announces an acoustic concert April 5 in L.A.  AGAIN, Blake is such an awesome coach, going above and beyond.

Christina brings her team to The Tonight’s Show and they get to meet Jay Leno. Then they are paired together for songs and they perform on the show. Amazing experience for all of them.

 

America’s Saves for Team Blake: Erin Willett, Jermaine Paul, Rae Lynn

Leaving Naia Kete, Charlotte Sometimes and Jordis Unga to compete for Blake’s save.

 

Naia Kete – If I Were A Boy by Beyonce.  She looked very beautiful and I really dig her hair. She was singing her heart out but I don’t know if this performance is going to save her. She was understandably nervous and her voice was shaky. I also think Blake already saved her once by taking her to the Live Rounds when even she knew she won with experience versus performance.

Charlotte Sometimes – Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls.  I love this song.  Hard moment for her, I could tell is when she sang “I just don’t wanna go home.”  Singing this song her voice broke a little and you could tell the possibility was breaking her heart.  She gave a solid performance. Again, not sure if it was good enough to save her.

Jordis Unga – Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones and she sang incredibly well.  Hands down. AND earlier in the show, it was announced she was the only one to hit Number 1 on the iTunes Charts on the Rock Charts,

Coaches Picks

Xtina – Jordis

Cee Lo – Jordis

Adam – Jordis

In the end, Blake chooses JORDIS!!

 

America’s Saves for Team Xtina: Jesse Campbell, Lindsey Pavao, Chris Mann

Leaving Ashley De La Rosa, Sera Hill and Moses Stone to compete for Xtina’s save.

 

 Ashley De La Rosa –  Oh La La La (Paris) by Grace Potter. And she is ripping into this song.  This girl has vocals! And I can actually hear her sing tonight!  Wow she did really well. This may have saved her.

Sera Hill – Vision of Love by Mariah Carey. Her first note was shaky but she quickly fixed it and started hitting those notes. She had an awesome riff towards the end of the song,  and despite how well she did through out I don’t think this will save her.  I feel Xtina is in love with Moses being the first MC and Ashley did a great job too.

Moses Stone – Breakeven by The Script. He did really well. I cant say that enough. I don’t know if I am judging him fairly like everyone else but I really enjoyed it. I hated that he was singing ‘posed’ instead of ‘supposed’ but other than that the dude rocked it. I do feel like it may not have been good enough.

Coaches Picks

Cee Lo – Sera

Adam – Ashley

Blake – Ashley

The decision is of course to Xtina. And Xtina picks…. ASHLEY!!

Next week Team Adam and Team Cee Lo go against each other performing live for the first time on Season 2. Now they know what to expect. Wishing everyone luck! I will miss Sera and Moses!!! A Lot!!!!

So what do you think about the results of America’s vote so far?

What about the coaches pick?

Anyone you are going to miss?

Who will win?

UPDATE***BEST REACTION OF THE NIGHT GOES TO RAELYNN WHEN SHE SCREAMS OH SHIT IN SURPRISE!  Thanks Rickey.org or VoiceAmbrosia on Youtube for this:

THE VOICE: SEASON 2 EPISODE 10 THE LIVE SHOWS BEGIN

First of all it is really hard for me to watch this show with people. I love my friends, but people are always talking too much and I miss what is going on.  LOL.  I have to take a step back and think is it really that serious.  No.  Okay yes it is! It’s the first time The Voice Season 2 goes live and it is that serious! Tonight only 2 coaches’ teams perform: Christina and Blake.  12 contestants who all deserve many congratulations for their success. Adam and Cee Lo’s teams are able to sit back and watch what happens. Lucky them.

Jermaine Paul (BLAKE) singing Living On A Prayer (Bon Jovi) - Before he even starts singing I am excited by this song choice.  It reminds me of growing up. Jermaine starts off this song rising from the ground. He is singing really hard, riffing, growling and hitting every note. I wonder what he thought of this song because I don’t think it was the best song choice for him. Xtina didn’t understand how it connected to him. Blake said he thinks that Jermaine’s song will be on iTunes in the Top 10. We shall see. Jermaine has such a good voice I don’t think we were really able to hear him in this song. He seemed drowned out by the music. VOTE: 1-866-U-LOVE-01

Chris Mann (XTINA) singing Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon and Garfunkel) – Not sure when they announced it if it was going to be a good choice for him. When he started singing, I didn’t feel the piano sounded as dramatic as his voice.  The guy can sing and it got stronger as the song progressed. It was a really pretty version, but it seemed like a version that would be performed during the Tonys. The guy stayed true to himself. Cee Lo, said he came to be completely critical tonight, especially to the ones not on his team, but he thought it was great. Xtina said he owned it. VOTE 1-866-U-LOVE-02

RaeLynn (BLAKE) singing Wake Up Call (Maroon 5) – She looked cute, and she can growl but I didn’t like this performance.  She had the attitude but her voice wasn’t really there for me.  Xtina said RaeLynn had awesome stage presence, and Adam said she did “darn good” but no one said anything about her voice. VOTE 1-866-U-LOVE-03

Moses Stone (XTINA) singing Stronger/Power (Kanye) - He really brought the energy and I don’t really understand how they are going to judge this.  It would’ve been a respectable performance.  The dude was wearing a kilt i think? LOL. Adam said he feels he has a better chance as a singer than a rapper, and Xtina’s face got dark.  Blake says he sounds like a better singer and singing is what this competition is about. Xtina said he makes her so excited, and others that are the type of vocalist he is (which could go over people’s heads) use auto tune, and he didn’t.  VOTE 1-866-U-LOVE-04

Naia Kete (BLAKE) singing Turning Tables (Adele) -  I love this song so much. She did a really good job. Much better than in her Battles.  And singing Adele is a smart move. I did want more from her. Adele has such a strong voice. Naia was shaky in some parts, and she didn’t have the power, but like Blake said, her tender moments were awesome. VOTE 1-866-U-LOVE-05

Lindsey Pavao (XTINA) singing Somebody That I Used To Know (Gotye) – Another favorite song! The creepy masks were interesting and freaky. Lindsey has this whisper when she sings and the song was cool but I am not sure if it showed off her versatility. There weren’t any moments that really pulled me in. I think I wanted some power and more high notes. But overall the girl is good! VOTE 1-866-U-LOVE-06

Jordis Unga (BLAKE) singing Alone (Heart) – The beginning of the song was okay to me, but when it got to the chorus, she really hit those high notes. I feel like the music sometimes drowns the artists out though. Her family was wearing some interesting garb in the background.  Blake was talking about her tender moments, but I didn’t really feel her tenderness in the song was the greatest. Maybe it was too low for her. Her strength was definitely in those high notes. VOTE 1-866-U-LOVE-07

Sera Hill (XTINA) singing Find Your Love (Drake) – This performance really reminded me of something Mary J Blige. She has a great voice and she was bringing it.  I couldn’t help but smile when she was singing. She made this song her own and I love the arrangement. She had this Lady Marmalaide look about her tonight. Xtina put her stamp all over this. VOTE 1-866-U-LOVE-08

Erin Willett (BLAKE) singing Living For The City (Stevie Wonder) – I didn’t know this song. I am not familiar with a lot of Stevie Wonder’s music. But she has a voice on her. And she plays the piano!  She has a really strong voice. I think she is going to be a top contender. Definitely my first favorite performance of the night! Blake said he felt she was the best vocally and technically of the night. VOTE 1-866-U-LOVE-09

Ashley De La Rosa (XTINA) singing Right Thru You (Alanis Morissette) –  It was hard to hear her tonight because the music was too loud. The band is awesome but I couldn’t hear her.  It was like being in a bar with a bad sound system. This might be bad for her. I know she has a great voice, but it was hard to hear her. Adam said he felt she was the most improved; how we could see the 17 year old in past performances but tonight we see a woman. Xtina agreed. I understand she is 17, but I feel like they beat us over the head with this. VOTE 1-866-U-LOVE-10

Charlotte Sometimes (Blake) singing Misery Business (Paramore) –  Okay this girl eliminated my friend. I don’t know how I feel about it. Well, yes I do. Tonight I am pretending this is the first time I have heard her. She looked pretty and the strings where a really nice touch. This song has to be a difficult one because of how low it starts off.  I don’t think this is her best performance. I think she can do better.   VOTE 1-866-U-LOVE-11

Jesse Campbell (XTINA) singing What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong) – He started off as one of my favorites and then he eliminated Anthony Evans Jr. And I was back and forth.  I don’t know. I feel people feel he is Season 2’s Javier Colon, and I disagree. He just happens to be black, bald and have a high range. HAHA. Its like the show wanted the last song to be dramatic and moving.  Jesse can sang though! Xtina was moved to tears. Cee Lo said his voice is almost as beautiful as his hair.  LOL.  The rest of the coaches seem to think he is the one to beat. VOTE 1-866-U-LOVE-12

My favorites of the night: Erin Willett, Moses Stone, and Sera Hill.

I am obviously not an authority on all things “The Voice”  or music, but I am so friggin addicted to this show! Can’t wait until tomorrow.

Who do you think is going home tomorrow? 

Who do you want to stay?

The Voice Season 2 Episode 6 – Battle Rounds

Tonight was the first episode featuring the Battle Rounds. And I have come to the conclusion that I am not a good coach. I picked 2-6 of the artists correctly. There were really amazing performances and there were some songs I didn’t enjoy as much as I wanted to. But let’s dig in!

Team Adam – Tony Lucca and Chris Cauley singing Beautiful Day

Adam brought in some powerhouse advisors this season in Robin Thicke, who assists with Chris and Alanis Morissette for Tony. Both offer great advice for each respective artist for the upcoming battle.

As they perform Beautiful Day during the Battle, both of these guys sound really good. But I feel swayed by who I feel the underdog is and Chris has my vote for vocal performance.

Coaches Picks

Blake – Chris

Xtina – Tony

Cee Lo – Tony

 Ultimately, the vote is Adam’s and he chooses Tony Lucca.

 

 

Team Blake – RaeLynn and Adley singing Free Falling

RaeLynn’s advisor is Miranda Lambert, who I know she really wanted to meet; and Adley’s advisor is  Kelly Clarkson, another amazingly talented vocalist in the game.

For their Battle Round they sing “Free Falling”.  Rae Lynn has a very sweet and interesting way of pronouncing her words, but she was a little shaky during her performance. Adley has a very beautiful quality about her voice too with a little more power and confidence.  In this performance, Adley had my vote.

Coaches Picks

Xtina – Adley

Cee Lo – Adley

Adam – RaeLynn (and here he says he knows Blake is searching for interesting voices)

 Ultimately, the vote is Blake’s. I thought he was going to go with Adley but he instead picked the beautiful RaeLynn (TEXAS STAND UP!)

Did Adam sway Blake’s vote?

Team Xtina – Chris Mann and Monique Benabou singing The Power of Love

When Xtina announced this battle, Monique looked visibly uncomfortable.  Chris’ classically trained background clearly intimidates her. Xtina also seemed surprised during practice when Monique nailed a high note causing her to view Monique in a different light. Did that mean she didn’t expect her to perform as well? Chris Mann’s advisor was Lionel Richie and Monique’s advisor was Jewel. Both seemed really nervous about the battle and it showed in their practice performances.  The Battle was nice. It showed off how powerful and sweet both singers could be. Chris has great tone and control when he sings. In this performance, Monique had my vote.

 Coaches Picks

Cee Lo – Chris

Adam – Chris

Blake – Monique

 In the end Xtina picks Chris Mann.

Team Cee Lo – Angie and Cheesa singing Total Eclipse of the Heart

Definitely feeling some tension between these two as soon as Cee Lo announces this pairing. During practice, Cheesa prompted Paul (the pianist) to raise it higher, so Angie agreed half a step. But then Angie suggested raising it further, which causes Cheesa to strain.  Cheesa’s advisor is Babyface and he tells her she should take advantage of the money notes, which she continues to have difficulty hitting. Angie’s advisor is Ne-Yo and he advised her to go for Cheesa’s throat. Both started of shaky singing Total Eclipse of the Heart, but as the song progressed they both showed out. Everyone knows these two girls have power and emotion. Cheesa did some stomping and head banging which we all know Cee Lo loves. In this performance, Cheesa had my vote.

Coaches Picks

Adam – Cheesa

Blake – Angie

Xtina – Angie

In the end, Cee Lo chooses Cheesa.

Team Blake – Jordis Unga and Brian Fuente singing Ironic

Brian’s advisor is Kelly Clarkson. Blake and Kelly advised he commit to his notes and not be so hesitant. Brian said that he is just used to having a band behind him (THE VOICE BAND IS BACKING U BUDDY! J) Blake said he can’t have one ounce of timidness, else Jordis is gonna take it from him. Jordis’ advisor is Miranda Lambert and during her session, Blake said she was into her head too much. Jordis appears to be intimidated by Brian’s talent. She asked him what he is going to be looking for during the Battle Round. Blake let her know he is going to be listening for who out sings the other. This Battle was my least favorite. It wasn’t the singers, I think it was just the song choice. Ironic is a great song, but it didn’t translate well in this battle.  In this performance, Jordis had my vote.

Coaches Picks

Xtina – Jordis

Cee Lo – Brian

Adam – Jordis

 In the end, Blake chooses Jordis. Blake again took a note from Adam tonight and picked the same person he suggested. Do you think Blake is listening to Adam because he wants to win soooo bad?

Team Xtina – Anthony and Jesse singing If I Ain’t Got You

This Battle feels like the first true battle of the night to me.  I know we have seen a lot of them in the commercials leading up to this week and I have been sweating bullets all week.  During practice Anthony feels Jesse is using intimidation tactics. Jesse’s advisor is Lionel Richie and he and Xtina both suggested to ‘milk your moments’. Anthony’s advisor is Jewel and she suggested don’t let a single note out that he doesn’t mean; to make sure he means what he sings. This battle is the battle where I HATE that someone has to go home. Especially so early on in the competition when vocally both of these guys dominate against other members of their team. And THIS PERFORMANCE BLEW MY MIND.  I loved both of these guys. My favorite has been Jesse since I saw his Blind, but Anthony fought for this one and I think I would’ve chosen him as the winner. But again, Jesse is one of my favorites and he is solid. No doubt about it. I am just a sucker for the underdog. Xtina knows how to pick em.

Coaches Picks

Adam – Jesse

Blake – Jesse

Cee Lo – (I honestly missed what he said.)

In the end, Xtina went with Jesse Campbell. The Cuba Gooding Jr. of the Voice.

Thoughts?

Any anger?

Do you agree or disagree with how the Battles ended tonight?

VOTE: Which Coach has the strongest team so far?