The Voice Elimination: This Is It

Tonight two more hopefuls had their dreams crushed tonight as The Voice put us through another hour long elimination episode. Team Usher, accompanied by Ushers inexplicable sunglasses (the stage was even dark!), performed a sassy rendition of "Always On The Run" and I really wish Josh had gone solo with this song last night. Team Shakira took on a new Shakira song called "The One Thing." Man, we are reallllly plugging this album. I'm not complaining though - I heart her and the three ladies complimented each other well. 

Results! The first person to hear their name called was Christina and she was followed by Sisaundra after another annoying suspenseful delay by Carson. Team Shakira retained Kristen and Team Usher held on to Josh. This put every coach with at least one contestant remaining, which was a relief. The next duo to breathe that sigh of relief was Audra and Delvin, and the final contestant sent to safety was Jake. This put Kat, Bria and Tess in the bottom 3. Shakira, by the way, looked devastated. 

But wait! It's not over yet! We had the Stupid Twitter Save at stake so all three artists had to sing again, hoping social media users would hashtag the hell out of them. That sounds kind of dirty. Anyway, Bria left Avril behind for a slightly better performance with "Crazy on You," while Tess went with "Who Knew." I really, really enjoyed her performance and I felt kind of bad that she was fighting for the Stupid Twitter Save two weeks in a row. Kat essentially wiped the floor with both of them though with her rendition of "Paris (Ooh La La)." I still hoped Tess would win the Stupid Twitter Save again, but Kat received the most hashtags...or tweets...or retweets...or favorites...or something, so we said goodbye to Bria and Tess tonight. 

Next week the Top 8 go at it again and Usher and Shakira should be very nervous. Each of them is down to only one contestant now while Adam and Blake still have a full team. Can they hold strong until the Top 6? Will we be faced with a Team Blake vs. Team Adam domination for the rest of the season? Can Shakira just perform in every episode? I doubt I'll get my wish on that one, but soon we'll find out who will continue this journey and who will have to hope their jobs are still available at home. Til then! 

The Voice Top 10: Ain't It Fun?

Tonight on The Voice our remaining 10 contestants take the stage again as the coaches try their best to keep their teams intact. An adorable U.K. boy band called Rixton kicks off the show. Apparently they need a little love in their lives and they also needed a little more confidence for their television debut. Holy nerves, Batman. Carson’s “welcome to the US!” shout should do the trick though....I know I would feel as though I've "arrived" with such a greeting. But enough of that - let’s get to the contestants.

Artist: Kat Perkins

Team: Adam

Song:  “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac

Kat tones it down for this performance which is a great switch for her. I do, however, wish she didn't have to rely on her lower register for portions of the song. It's not her strong suit. That being said, Kat soars during the majority of the performance and delivers an emotional, respectable cover of a classic tune. 

Coaches Say: Blake is a fan of Kat's and loved that she showed her softer side tonight. Usher comments on the value of acoustic performances and calls her rendition of the song "beautiful." Shakira didn't realize she had that in her and compliments Kat's approach to the performance. Adam is so happy that Team Adam was able to represent such an amazing song through Kat. He's also very thankful to be her coach. Awww.

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Artist: Tess Boyer

Team: Shakira

Song:  “Ain’t It Fun” by Paramore

The winner of last week’s Stupid Twitter Save is eager to prove herself tonight. I looooove this song. Tess does a great job here vocally, but she doesn't quite capture the sass that Hayley Williams exudes when she commands the stage. I mean, Hayley is borderline crazy at times...but in a weird and wonderful way. Tess gives us a solid performance though, but I doubt it will be memorable at the end of the night.  

Coaches Say: Adam says Tess' performance was very well executed and Blake thinks the performance was pitch perfect. Shakira is is proud of Tess, saying she nailed the song and calling her sassy and confident. Hmm... maybe more sassy and confident than last week?

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Artist: Audra McLaughlin

Team: Blake

Song: “You Lie” by Reba McEntire (Really just Reba. She doesn’t need a last name.)

This has always been my favorite Reba song, so when it starts, I worry that I might be overcritical. Nope, no need. Audra looks and sounds like a country music star already, and she also delivers the story of the song without overdoing it. She's got me waving my arms in the air with the audience, and I’m a HUGE fan of this performance. Just beautiful. 

Coaches Say: Usher says "it sucks that I can't do that" and tells Audra the performance took her to another level. Shakira says that Audra isn't going anywhere and will be in the Top 5 at least. Thank you? Adam thinks this was Audra's best performance by far and Blake is so excited that Audra had a "moment" on the show. 

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Artist: Josh Kaufman

Team: Usher

Song: “This Is It” by Kenny Loggins

Wait. Really? This is the best song they could come up with? Josh was one of my absolute favorites last week but I'm just not on board with this song choice. He still sings the hell out of it, and he will probably sail on through to next week, but "This Is It" really doesn't do Josh any favors in the "here's the type of album he could make" department. 

Coaches Say: Shakira thinks that soulful renditions of songs is Josh's strong point and Adam says Josh has a powerful voice with a tone no one else has. Blake calls Josh's voice "that good" that it could have been a record. Usher was blown away by the performance and says Josh executed the song perfectly. 

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Artist: Christina Grimme

Team: Adam

Song: “Hold On, We’re Going Home” by Drake

So, this song would not even be on my radar in terms of tunes Christina might cover on this show. She puts her own spin on it though, playing the piano to start and really giving herself to the lyrics. Christina leaves the piano (and the realllllllllllllllly dark stage) behind about half way through the performance, and then she just wails on the song. Well done, kid. 

Coaches Say: Blake says Christina has reached the point everyone strives toward where she goes from a singer to an artist. Usher thinks Christina made Drake proud and thinks she deserves a spot in the finals. Whoa. Really? There's still 10 people left, buddy...I wouldn't go that far. Shakira calls this Christina's best performance and then Adam talks for a very, very long time. To sum it up - he's a fan, this performance was entirely her idea, and he's inspired by her as an artist. 

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Artist: Jake Worthington

Team: Blake

Song: "Run" by George Strait

Jake never thought he would be on iTunes (or "ah-tunes" if you're Jake) and I just love this guy. I've heard this song before but I'm not super familiar with it. Jake is a bit drowned out by the backup singers and band at times...or at least I think he is. Maybe he's just not singing loud enough. Either way, the audience loves him and he's someone I would like to see stick around on this show for a while. 

Coaches Say: Usher says it's tough to be on a show like The Voice and still give a performance like that, but he did it. I'm not sure if that's a positive review? Shakira thinks Jake has come a long way during the competition and says he's still here. Yes. Yes he is. Where are we going with this? Adam tells us Jake is a pleasant guy and thinks he tells a great story. Blake says Jake gave a solid, great performance. 

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Artist: Bria Kelly

Team: Usher

Song: “With You” by Avril Lavigne

Oh. No. Just…no. I’m not sure whether she is too loud, too screechy, too pitchy, or whether she is legitimately in a lot of pain right now. Like the microphone is some kind of acid eating away at her hands. Like she’s the wicked witch on Once Upon A Time and the spotlight is actually the “light magic” that can kill her. This is just...not good. 

Coaches Say: Shakira thinks the song allowed Bria to challenge herself and says Bria put her heart and soul into it. Adam tells Bria she is one of his favorites but thinks she was not connected to the song. Was her connection to the song a problem or was it the connection of my speakers to my TV? Blake doesn't provide a whole lot of positive vibes but Usher thinks Bria really grew in that performance. 

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Artist: Delvin Choice

Team: Adam

Song: “Bright Lights” by Gary Clark, Jr.

Delvin doesn't really have a tough act to follow here but it doesn't matter. He totally owns this song. Delvin looks 100% at home on the stage and with the audience...and I even enjoy the (perhaps) over the top ending. Keep smiling, dude. You've earned it. 

Coaches Say: Blake says Delvin keeps taking it to the next level and compliments his power and passion. Usher thinks Delvin brings out the gospel in every song whether it's gospel or not. Adam says this performance had one of the most electric endings of any song on the show. 

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Artist: Kristen Merlin

Team: Shakira

Song: “Let Her Go” by Passenger

So, as I shamefully admitted during an American Idol episode a few weeks ago, I hate this song. I know I’m in the minority, but I seriously hate it. Lucky for Kristen, her mic stays on and she switches the song up in a way that makes her sound like an angel. Her rendition of "Let Her Go" isn't delivered like a lullaby...it's really more of an anthem and I actually really like it. 

Coaches Say: Adam congratulates Kristen on another great performance and Blake says this was Kristen's best performance so far. Shakira loves everything she saw on stage tonight and compares Kristen to an onion with all of her layers. I think Shrek would beg to differ on that one, but let's allow Kristen to have her moment.

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Artist: Sisaundra Lewis

Team: Blake

Song: “Oh Sherrie” by Steve Perry

Not surprisingly, Sisaundra gives this 80s rock song the Sisaundra treatment and that's fine by me. There are some folks who think she goes overboard with every performance. That might be true, but if anyone can get away with it, Sisaundra can. Her energy is out of this world and she sure knows how to close a show. Would I have picked this song for her? Probably not. Did she bring down the house anyway? I say she did. 

Coaches Say: We're running out of time, but everyone loved it. 

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Tomorrow we will lose two more contestants and the Top 8 will be revealed. Can Shakira and Usher hold on to their contestants? Am I the only one who thinks Bria bought herself a ticket home with her not-so-Avril "yeaaaah, yeaaaahs?" Will Jake's lovable personality keep the votes coming even if he is not destined to win this season? Can Stupid Twitter Save Tess avoid needing the Stupid Twitter Save this week? All will be revealed during the results show. Til then!

American Idol Elimination: Ain't Nothin' Better

Tonight the Top 5 were revealed on American Idol and thank goodness things unraveled as they should have. I'm still really digging this 30 minute results show thing and here's how it all went down... 

I was confused at first because the judges were all dressed up as if they were crowning a winner this evening. Did we decide to just cut our losses and move straight to the finale? Hey, I'm not complaining...they looked fantastic. I'm now keeping my fingers crossed for a top hat and tails segment when we get to that last show a few weeks from now. 

Results! The first person to appear on the screen of safety was Sam. Caleb joined him, putting C.J. in the bottom 2. I wonder if C.J. had one of those stools delivered to his room in the Idol house so he could practice the walking and sitting routine? He's gotten quite good at it. When the remaining three contestants took the stage, Jena and Alex's faces flashed on the big screen, sending Jessica to have a familiar seat next to C.J. (misery loves company?).  Clearly between these two I wanted C.J. to go home. Hell, between C.J. and anyone...I would have wanted C.J. to go  home. When the results were finally read, we did say goodbye to the man with the big heart and it was very emotional for everyone on the show. 

We are moving ever so close to the 2014 finale at this point and these five hopefuls are running out of chances to win over America. Is Jessica bound to go home next week or can she hang on long enough to at least make the Final Four? Should Alex get another free pass even though there are no free passes....except for when there are? Will Sam do something completely crazy and make eye contact with the audience TWICE during his next performance? We'll find out when the contestants take the stage again. Til then!

American Idol Top 6: Here We Go Again

Tonight we are back to 12 performances as the remaining six contestants take on two songs. We have a “little bit country, little bit rock n’ roll” theme this evening…which could either show off the contestants’ versatility or cement their status as a one trick pony. Will anyone be able to knock it out of the park during both rounds? Let’s find out!

ROCK N’ ROLL ROUND

Contestant:  Jena Irene

Song: “Barracuda” by Heart

I love that Jena gets to start off the evening because she is bound to put me in a good mood going into these dozen performances. This is a great song choice for her, and she handles the tall order of taking on a Heart song with no problem. Jena looks more and more like a pro with each performance and this is a fantastic way to start the show.

Judges Say:  Keith says the song is perfect for Jena’s voice and she has really set the bar high with this performance. JLo thinks Jena has a real chance at getting to the finale, and Harry encourages her to think about how she can let go a little more.

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Contestant:  Sam Woolf

Song: “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons

The song title sums up what I've been thinking for weeks about Sam’s stint on the show.  He at least has a little bit of attitude tonight and does not make me want to turn on a pot of coffee to get through the rest of the evening.  Oh, but don’t mistake attitude for charisma. He’s still not commanding the stage in any way…he just doesn't look lost or wounded in this performance.

Judges Say:  JLo got goosies from the performance and I don’t understand how…unless Harry is grabbing at her from under the table.  Harry, by the way, thinks Sam could easily put that song on a record and sing in a concert. He thinks Sam is blossoming. Keith says Sam tapped into something different this evening and asks Sam to always use emotion when he performs.

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Contestant:  C.J. Harris

Song: “American Woman” by The Guess Who

Oh dear. Dude still cannot start a song in tune and it just kills me. When I think of this song, my brain immediately goes to the Lenny Kravitz cover, and I would give my next paycheck to see the look on his face if he is watching the show tonight.  There’s no attitude in C.J.’s performance, and really…the usual “you wore your heart on your sleeve for that song” vibe everyone always praises is gone tonight as well.

Judges Say: I'm incredibly tense wondering what kind of critiques I'm about to hear. I'm just so tired of the C.J. sugar coating. Here we go. Harry thinks this was a good performance (what the hell is going on with the judges tonight?). He does mention tone issues again…which, um, should automatically take this performance OUT of the “good” category, Harry. Keith says C.J. was fighting his sweet side to try to tap into his badass side and there was a disconnect between the two. Yeah, there was also a disconnect with the pitch and the sometimes playing the guitar convincingly move he was trying to do. Just sayin. JLo makes an excuse about C.J. not being a rock n’ roll guy…and I have to fast forward through the rest.

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Contestant:  Alex Preston

Song: “Animal” by Neon Trees

Um, I think it’s safe to say that rock n’ roll is not in Alex’s wheelhouse…not unless he is allowed to put a spin on the tune to make it a classic in Amsterdam…or I guess Colorado these days. Should we go ahead and make an exception for him as well though? This definitely isn't one of Alex’s better performances.  He seems to spend the majority of the song just trying to catch up to the speed of the music.  He’ll be far better suited for round two.

Judges Say:  Keith says Alex didn't dominate the song at all and the audience “boos” him. JLo thinks there was something missing from Alex in terms of energy. Harry says at this point in the competition no one gets a “pass,” but then he says Alex gets a pass because he’s so good all the time. I feel like I’m in the freaking twilight zone tonight.

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Contestant:  Caleb Johnson

Song: “Sting Me” by The Black Crows

Caleb does exactly what we expect him to do here…totally rock this performance.  He drops the mic at one point but recovers quickly as the drummer is doing his thing. The camera even seemed to cut away on purpose. Can’t have our front-runners making mistakes on screen huh? Either way, Caleb looks like he should already be on tour, and the majority of the other contestants should take note of his energy and stage presence.  

Judges Say:  JLo says “that was some real rock n’ roll!” She points out that Caleb dropped the microphone…it rolled to the back…then Caleb picked it up and sang right on point with the music. Ahhhh okay. We didn't get to see the whole thing. She calls him a true performer.  Harry thinks coupling the perfect song choice with an incredible performance is virtually impossible to beat. Keith comments on Caleb’s microphone recovery as well – apparently Caleb slid to the back of the stage to retrieve the mic. Awesome.

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Contestant:  Jessica Meuse

Song:  “Somebody to Love” by Jefferson Airplane

See, this song should be a home run for Jessica – it’s completely perfect for her voice.  However, there’s still something missing here. I realize this isn't the type of song where you can have a blast and show off your fun side, but man…I just want Jessica to look like she’s fighting to win this competition. The voice is there and it’s awesome. I just find myself leaning forward, holding my breath, waiting for a “moment,” but it never arrives.

Judges Say: Harry compliments Jessica’s vocals and says Jessica presented her voice in the best possible way tonight. Keith agrees that the performance was vocally strong and then uses the word “release” for the 100^th time tonight.  JLo says there has to be a freedom to each performance and sometimes Jessica does not look like she feels everything she’s singing.

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COUNTRY MUSIC ROUND

Contestant:  Sam Woolf

Song: “You’re Still the One” by Shania Twain

First thing’s first – Sam performs this song without a guitar and I give him credit for taking a step out of his comfort zone. He also FINALLY walks up to some teenage girls and touches their hands.  Thaaaank you. Aside from these two big steps, this rendition is totally boring. I think Sam is flat during the choruses and I don’t buy for a second that he’s telling a story here.

Judges Say:  Keith looks around and says the girls are going crazy. He then tells Sam to relax more. Yes, Keith. I think that's one point we can all agree on. JLo talks about how cute Sam is…and how the girls just love Sam...and how cute Same is....and that’s pretty much it. Harry thinks Sam needs to worry less about singing the song perfectly and more about delivering the lyrics. Thank you, Harry for an actual critique.

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Contestant:  Caleb Johnson

Song: “Undo It” by Carrie Underwood

Carrie had tweeted earlier that she heard a couple of contestants were singing her songs tonight, so I was already eager for this.  The thing about this theme though is nothing precludes the contestants from making the song their own…and Caleb does so in a way that the song hasn’t a shred of country left when the performance ends. Don’t get me wrong - Caleb still gives us a good rock version of the song, but he already fulfilled the rock song request during the rock n’ roll round earlier.

Judges Say: JLo says Caleb did a great job but his earlier performance was “epic.” Harry agrees, saying the second song was forced but the first song was magic. Keith says he can’t wait to hear what country song Caleb does later. HA!

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Contestant:  Alex Preston

Song:  “Always On My Mind” by Willie Nelson

Personally, I have always preferred the Elvis Presley version of this song, but you can’t argue that Willie Nelson isn’t awesome. The guy is 300 years old and is still cooler than 90% of artists today.  But onto Alex. He completely redeems himself here and I’ve almost forgotten about his first performance altogether. This rendition is touching, original, and powerful without any belting.

Judges Say:  Harry feels very lucky to have heard Alex perform that song in the competition tonight. Keith says the song is heartbreaking but didn't feel that from Alex. Really? Maybe Alex should have released more? JLo thinks the performance was beautiful.

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Contestant:  Jena Irene

Song:  “So Small” by Carrie Underwood

I love this song. I also love Carrie, and nobody does it better than Carrie. That being said, Jena is pretty amazing here.  There’s no diva-ness in her performance, no attention drawn to the band, no effects…she just sings from her heart and the result is breathtaking. I can’t help but smile the entire time and I’m a bit sad when the performance ends.

Judges Say:  Keith puts his head in his hand and says “Jena, baby, you are such a good singer,” and I swoon.  He always has me at “baby.” JLo thinks the power of the vocal and story made the band disappear. She has the goosies again. Harry didn't really know where the performance was going…he says something weird about sheet music and melodies and interpreting Carrie’s interpretation of melodies.

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Contestant:  C.J. Harris

Song:  “Whatever It Is” by Zac Brown Band

This is another situation where the song title is just perfect. I have no idea what this is…but whatever it is, it’s not good.  That’s all I have.  

Judges Say:  JLo says she expected a bit more from C.J. since this round should have been more his style.  Harry agrees and encourages C.J. to pick songs that will kill. Keith doesn’t add anything new to the critique.

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Contestant:  Jessica Meuse

Song: “Jolene” by Dolly Parton

Jessica is closing the show tonight and I’m nervous, thinking pleaseletherdowell , pleaseletherdowell. This is another great song choice for her and she seems very comfortable with it. I’m not sure that I love the arrangement, but I think Jessica makes definite improvements with this performance. There’s more feeling to her voice and I’m totally invested in the song from start to finish. I think Jessica earned the pimp slot tonight and I really hope she makes it through to next week. Well done.

Judges Say: Harry felt that Jessica was thinking about the lyrics and the delivery and he tells her she gave another strong performance. Keith hated the arrangement and says the song didn't need all of that darkness. JLo thinks the vocal was really strong and she noticed a difference in Jessica’s eyes and demeanor.

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And with that, the evening is over. Given how high the stakes are and the constant reminders that people need to “bring it” each week, I thought the judges were soft on the weaker performances tonight. We should be beyond the point of “Sam is cute” and “C.J. has heart” by the Top 6 week. Between the two of them though, I really hope we bid adieu to C.J. tomorrow. Sam’s voice is at least typically pleasant to listen to…but I don’t think I can go through another week of C.J. giving pitch his best try. Will he prove me wrong and survive the elimination? Will Jessica find herself on the chopping block again? We’ll find out during the results show. Til then!

The Voice Elimination: Who MAKES These Rules?

Tonight we said goodbye to two contestants on The Voice. At least I think we did. There was a stupid Twitter save, and maybe an online save, but not a coaches' save...oh hell. I don't understand how this elimination worked at all and I'm not sure the coaches did either. Here are the highlights from the hour. 

Adam performed Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" with his team and Team Blake (featuring Blake) took on "Put Some Drive In Your Country." The real treat of the night though was Shakira's performance of her new single, "Empire," complete with fire, wind, and some barely there attire. She's a total badass though. Sitting through all of the filler was totally worth it to see Shakira do her thing. 

Results! Josh, Kat, and Kristen all made their way to safety first, though they all could have grown old and died in the time it took Carson to read the results. Audra, Delvin and Jake also moved on to the Top 10, and they were not so quickly followed by Bria, Christina and Sisaundra. This left T.J, Dani and Tess in the bottom 3. There was an instant save up for grabs, but not really instantly because all three contestants performed again. 

T.J. went first, choosing a very dramatic, very awesome version of "I'll Be." Dani hoped that "Turning Tables" would be her ticket to the instant (but later) save...and poor Shakira had tears in her eyes the whole time Dani performed. The best "save me" song though had to be Tess' rendition of "Dark Side." Yes, I actually enjoyed this cover even though I am typically unreasonable when it comes to critiquing Kelly Clarkson songs on these shows. 

When it's time for the stupid instant online Twitter save thing, Tess "wins" and T.J. and Dani were eliminated. We were barely able to say goodbye to them though because the credits had already rolled at that point. The way this hour was drawn out is down right ridiculous. I actually counted 20 seconds during one of Carson's "America saves....from Team...." announcements. Dare I say it? They should take a note from American Idol and make this episode 30 minutes. It's the best change FOX has made since announcing Glee's final season.

Worst time management ever. 

Next week the Top 10 will compete again with all of Team Blake and Team Adam still in tact. Usher and Shakira are each down one contestant now, so our rotating coaches are once again the underdogs. Can they even out the numbers next week? Will Tess be able to win over American now that she's been able to momentarily win over Twitter? We'll find out during the next round of performances. Til then!

The Voice Top 12: Dark Horse

Welcome to the liiiiiiiiiiiive episodes of The Voice 2014! Tonight the Top 12 contestants take the stage for a shot at superstardom…or at least a shot of being the person to win this season’s title. How’s Javier Colon these days?  Anyway, these contenders have made it through the blind auditions, the battle rounds and the playoff rounds, and they are ready to get things going. Let’s see how they do!

Artist: Bria Kelly

Team: Usher

Song: “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele

Yeah, so I’m already annoyed. I don’t care if Bria wants to show her “soulful edge.” If you are going to sing an Adele song, you better be doing something phenomenal with it. Bria goes with a kind of, sort of rock version and the first half of the song is wayyyy too low for her. She hits some pretty cool raspy notes at the end, but this performance does not work for me at all. 

Coaches Say: Shakira says taking on an Adele song is a challenge but if anyone can do it, Bria can. Adam thinks Adele tunes are a tall order and it takes a lot of courage. He also mentions that the key was too low but compliments her for trying something different. Blake loved the rock edge and Usher praised Bria's soulful delivery of a contemporary song. He tells Bria that she had fire in her voice tonight. 

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Artist: Delvin Choice

Team: Adam

Song: “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers

During the rehearsal video Adam encourages Delvin to sing like he’s dying, which is appropriate given how popular this song was when Ghost was released. As I understand it, pottery classes experienced an enrollment boost as well.  Back to Delvin. Dude has a beautiful voice. I would have loved to hear him sing the entire song because I don't necessarily love the way this version is cut up for the time limit. Delvin loses his breath in some areas, but he is putting 100% of himself into the song and really trying to connect to the audience as well....so overall, I really enjoy this.  

Coaches Say: Blake says Delvin sang the crap out of the song and Usher thinks Delvin made a sad song happier. Not sure if that's a good thing? Adam believes Delvin had a "moment," saying the performance gave him goosebumps. Okay...it wasn't THAT good, Adam. 

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Artist: Dani Moz

Team: Shakira

Song: “Just Give Me a Reason” by Pink and Nate Ruess

My mind immediately goes to Michelle Chamuel’s cover of this song in the first 2013 season, as well as the unfortunate contestant duet on American Idol recently. I dunno…maybe it’s just me, but why don’t these coaches/contestants choose something different? There HAS to be a plethora of songs to pick from, so why not put your own spin on a tune the voting audience probably has not heard a ton of recent covers of? Dani sounds angelic and wonderful during the first verse but then as she gets to the chorus, it's a bit all over the place for me. She's soooo talented though - I would really like to see her survive the week. 

Coaches Say: Adam says Dani did a great job with a song that does not allow a lot of breathing time. Shakira compliments how "measured" Dani's performance was and Blake thinks the big notes that Dani hit changed everything. 

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Artist: Audra McLaughlin

Team: Blake

Song: “Angel of the Morning” by Juice Newton

Go ahead and read that song choice again and let it sink in for a minute. Yup. That's what we're going with tonight. Audra starts out really shaky on the verse but she has some rather pretty vocal moments during the chorus. The only real problem here is...Audra does not really enunciate. If I didn't already know the words to this song (don't judge me), I wouldn't have had a clue as to what she was singing about. 

Coaches Say: Usher says Audra has a powerful voice and calls the performance wonderful. He then makes a comment about how he has to pee when he holds notes as long as Audra does. Good to know. I will definitely be on the lookout for those types of accidents in Usher's future performances. Adam loves Audra and Audra loves Adam and I'm glad we got that squared away. Adam says "I'm not gonna get too technical" so he just tells her he is a big fan and calls it a day. Dude. It's your job to get technical. Blake believes Audra has a unique sound and she is meant to make music. He then says she is one of his favorite country singers. Wait. Ever? On the show? Elaborate!

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Artist: T.J. Wilkins

Team: Usher

Song: “Waiting on the World to Change” by John Mayer

“Waiting on the World to Change” has been covered on these singing competition shows for several years now and I've kind of grown tired of hearing it. However, T.J. has a soulful delivery of the song and I believe that he believes every word he is singing. He is a really likable guy with great energy and stage presence. In terms of start to finish vocals, this one is probably the best we've seen so far. 

Coaches Say: Shakira is always rooting for T.J. because he is extraordinary, and Usher says we saw a different side of T.J. tonight. He calls T.J. a leader with a cool hair cut. 

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Artist:  Christina Grimmie

Team:  Adam

Song:  “Dark Horse” by Katy Perry

Um, yes and yes.  I find Christina to me mesmerizing in this performance. She's confident, she has the vocals to back it up, and she looks like a veteran performer already. I wasn't too sure what to think when I heard the song choice, but Christina may have just labeled herself the dark horse of this competition. Hot damn. 

Coaches Say: Blake says Christina is 100% proof that dynamite comes in small packages. Shakira then gives a shout out to tiny people and I am reminded how much I love Shakira. Adam is surprised and impressed by what Christina is capable of...in a good way.  

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Artist: Sisaundra Lewis

Team: Blake

Song: “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me” by Elton John

I feel like my spell check is going to break as I type Sisaundra’s name each week....but you better believe I will be typing her name each week. She's not going anywhere. As she sings, I think "Elton who?" because she owns every bit of this song. Sisaundra is a powerhouse and she is definitely one to watch in this competition. Get it, girl. 

Coaches Say: Usher says every time Sisaundra comes out on stage she blows everyone's socks off. Adam thinks Sisaundra's restraint was the best thing about the performance. Blake hopes that she is taking all of this in and enjoying everything that is happening to her right now.  

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Artist: Kristen Merlin

Team: Shakira

Song: “Stay” by Sugarland

Oh Kristen. This poor girl gives it her all with this Sugarland cover….but as she sings, her microphone cuts out. Has this ever happened before? I know contestants like to blame their ear piece thingies when someone tells them their pitch is off, but have the technical difficulties ever been THIS bad? She handles herself incredibly well though all things considered, and she really deserves a free pass this week. 

Coaches Say:  Everyone gives her a standing ovation. Adam says Kristen had to overcome an adverse situation and handled it so gracefully, it was as if nothing had happened. Blake tells Kristen that what we could hear was great and Usher thinks the song allowed an intimacy to her voice. Shakira was moved by the performance and thinks Kristen delivers her songs with sincerity. She's very proud of the way Kristen carried herself tonight. 

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Artist: Kat Perkins

Team: Adam

Song: “Magic Man” by Heart

This is a great song but I’m concerned that Kat might be overreaching by tackling Heart. Those women are composed of just sheer badass power. Kat, however, does have rock star quality and I am pleasantly surprised by how well she does here. She has the audience (as well as the guitar player) in the palm of her hand, she sounds fantastic, and she works the stage as if there are no other performers tonight but her. Awesome.

Coaches Say: Blake comments on Kat's former life as a nanny and that gives me a giggle. Usher says Kat's voice is "dope." Is that still a thing? I feel like I am always behind on what's still in and what's out. I better consult with Heidi Klum. In the meantime, Adam thinks Kat took on an impossible song and sang it with the same charisma Heart did. I'll give him that one. 

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Artist: Jake Worthington

Team: Blake

Song: “Anymore” by Travis Tritt

How adorable is this guy? No really, I just want to squeeze him. This song could have easily been a bit of a snoozer, but Jake puts all of his emotion into this performance and I can't bare to look away for a second.  I don't even know the guy but I'm so proud of him. 

Coaches Say: Shakira calls Jake the most endearing contestant on the show. She thinks he is showing that honesty goes a long way. Blake says Jake tells a perfect story with his performances and he is a very proud coach. 

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Artist: Tess Boyer

Team: Shakira

Song: “I’ll Be There For You” by Bon Jovi…no, not the Friends them song that I will now have stuck in my head for the rest of the night.

This is an interesting song choice, but I'm really happy that Tess and Shakira chose a Bon Jovi song that has not already been done to death on these shows.  Tess draws from her previous relationships to help her with this performance and she does great job.  This isn't a standout moment or anything, but I think Tess my favorite contestant on Team Shakira. 

Coaches Say: Blake could not be happier to see Tess doing so well. He thinks she is going to go so much further in her career. Shakira says Tess has grown so much and thinks she nailed the performance. She also takes every note, digests it, then executes it.  I don't think I've ever heard a singer quite described that way, but I like it. 

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Artist: Josh Kaufman

Team: Usher

Song: “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith

I’m not super familiar with this song, but I can assure you that I love it now. Josh's voice is just amazing. He could perform for an additional hour and I would happily stay up to watch the show. This is the perfect way to end the night, and I think Josh is in it for the long haul this season. 

Coaches Say: We're running out of time but Shakira jumps in really quick and calls Josh very clever. She says he is understated and contained but still manages to knock it out of the park. Blake calls Josh the guy to beat on Team Usher. Josh's coach says Josh uses every bit of his dedication to his family to command that performance. 

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Tomorrow night we will say goodbye to two contestants and based on the performances tonight, it's hard to say who should be really worried. At this point, I can barely remember the folks from the beginning of the 2 hour extravaganza, and really, Kristen is almost the most memorable because of the mic nonsense.  Josh, Sisaunda and Christina own the night for me though, and I think the teams were fairly even in terms of stronger/weaker performances. Will any coach have to say goodbye to more than one contestant tomorrow? Will Shakira's pending performance bring the house down? Is there a she-wolf in the closet? We will find out the answer to two out of these three questions during the results show. Til then!

The Voice 2014

It seems like only a few months ago that we saw Tessanne take home The Voice's title during a pretty fantastic finale. Oh...that's because it really was recently, wasn't it? I have to say that I am growing weary of the back to back seasons of The Voice. It's still my current favorite of the reality TV singing shows, but I do think they should be careful not to overdo it. With CeeLo and Xtina on hiatus this season (and next season apparently), Usher and Shakira join us again in 2014 to take some attention away from the Adam and Blake bromance, which is just fine. I really do love Shakira as a coach. She embraces the competitive spirit of the show, but she also seems to love every minute of her work as well. She gives me a smile each episode. The live shows begin this week as each team is down to three finalists. After watching all of the preliminary rounds, I'm not sure that any team has an advantage at this point, but it will be interesting to see if either of our two rotating coaches can walk away with the title this year. I'm excited to see how everything plays out, and I will begin posting recaps when the Top 12 take the stage. Til then!

American Idol Elimination: Sail Away

Another contestant left the competition tonight on American Idol, revealing this season's Top 6. There really weren't any surprises tonight (though Ryan had promised surprises), but here's how the elimination episode played out...

Results! The giant screen of safety flashed Jena's face first and Alex soon followed. Dexter, at that point, was sent to the stools of doom. After a commercial break we went back to the big screen, where we saw C.J.'s smile as he too made it to the Top 6. Sam was the last person announced safe...and Jessica joined Dexter in the bottom 2. Based on how awful the judges are to Jessica each week, I thought she would be heading home for sure as Dexter is just more lovable. I was wrong though. Dexter had the lowest number of votes and he was sent packing tonight. As he sang "Lucky Man" I was reminded of how much I still want to give him a great big hug. I'll miss Dexter for sure. 

Next week we will see the Top 6 duke it out as we are starting to inch closer to the finale. Jessica is going to need to wow some folks next week because we clearly can't count on Sam and C.J. to hang out in the bottom 2 anymore. Will she be able to make it happen? Will Alex be able to put himself in "front-runner" status with Caleb and Jena? We'll find out next week when the contestants perform again. Til then!

American Idol Top 7: You're So Very Special

Tonight on American Idol, the remaining seven contestants will take on songs chosen by their competitors. I'm actually really excited about this theme. Thank you, Idol, for switching things up a bit this week. Will the contestants choose songs in their competitor's wheelhouse or will they try a subtle sabotage instead? Let's find out...

Constant: Caleb Johnson
Song: "Family Tree" by Kings of Leon (chosen by Alex)

Apparently Caleb and Alex went to a Kings of Leon concert recently and totally fell in love with this song. Caleb relies on his upper register for the entire performance, and I think he proves with this song that he can be a contemporary rock star. Don't get me wrong, I love the classic rock tunes that he has performed on the Idol stage. With a Kings of Leon song though, we get to see what a 2014 Caleb album might sound like...and I think it would sound fantastic. 

Judges Say: The crowd is going crazy and Keith has to wait a minute before he can begin the critique. He tells Caleb that he is a consistent, dynamic performer week after week. JLo's got some serious lipstick on tonight. As she speaks I can really only focus on her mouth....like her lips are doing the solo Rocky Horror Picture Show thing. Neat. Anyway, JLo looooooooooves Caleb. She says it's dangerous to put Caleb first because now everyone else has to raise their game. Harry believes this was a great way to start the show and he really "digs" that Caleb did his own thing with the song. 

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Constant: Jessica Meuse
Song: "Gunpowder & Lead" by Miranda Lambert (chosen by Sam)

Oh how I love this song. And I love Miranda. I don't think I love this version of the song though, which is a bummer. Jessica starts out really well, but when the band really kicks in, we lose her a bit. The wind machine is a nice touch and I love that she is trying to have more stage presence...but she still doesn't let loose in this performance. If you've ever seen Miranda perform this song and the energy she brings to it, you'll know that this rendition greatly paled in comparison. 

Judges Say: JLo seems to have reapplied that lipstick. She calls Jessica's vocals "off" and says Jessica looked uncomfortable. Harry thinks there is a lack of rhythmic delivery in Jessica's performances and suggests that she put on some funk music and watch herself dance in front of a mirror. He says she has some sync issues which I don't necessarily disagree with. Keith says Jessica didn't tap into the anger of the song. He tells her she is really going to have to start committing to the lyrics she's singing to be able to stay in the competition. 

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Constant: C.J. Harris
Song: "Gravity" by John Mayer (chosen by Caleb)

Caleb picked this song because he thinks C.J. can take us to church with it. As long as he takes us to "in- tune-ville" I could care less about how religious the experience is. Truthfully, this is C.J.'s best performance. I haven't really been a C.J. fan this season, and I'm still not a C.J. fan. But I want to give credit where credit is due, and he really delivers with this performance. Well done. 

Judges Say: Keith loved the song choice and thinks the performance was a bulls-eye. JLo is very proud of C.J.and wants him to look for more moments to lift the crowd. Harry thinks C.J. has a gift of connecting with the audience whether it's a good performance or a bad performance. Harry then says this was his best performance to date. 

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Constant: Dexter Roberts
Song: "Muckalee Creek Water" by Luke Bryan (chosen by C.J.)

This song reminds Dexter of home and C.J. thinks the song suits Dexter perfectly. Really, the song does suit Dexter and he sounds fantastic. He's rocking out and having a great time. JLo is also having a great time, as evidenced by the fact that she gets more camera shots than the contestants do during the performances. The only thing I worry about with Dexter's performance is...and this seems to be a broken record on this show...he doesn't do anything different with the song at all.  

Judges Say: Keith liked the song but cautions Dexter about letting the adrenaline pull him out of key. I must have missed that. JLo thinks we saw a different, darker side of Dexter and she loved it. She does say that he and the other contestants really need to step it up though because we are getting down to the wire. Harry comments on Dexter limiting himself by copying the vocal and not making the song his own. Yup. Saw that one coming.

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Constant: Alex Preston
Song: "The A Team" by Ed Sheeran (chosen by Dexter)

Alex did this song for his online audition and Dexter thought it would be great for him to revisit it. Done and done. Alex is completely in his element here. I wince sometimes when he does the little marching steps, but fortunately the camera rarely lingers on those (again, why put the camera on the contestants when JLo is always ready for her closeup?). He does a great job though and I hope Alex will make it to the Top 6. 

Judges Say:  JLo says this was the perfect song choice for Alex and he deserves all of the applause he is getting, Harry agrees, saying this is his favorite performance of the night. Keith compliments Alex on his ability to turn cover songs into Alex songs and says the performance was great. 

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Constant: Sam Woolf
Song: "Sail Away" by David Gray (chosen by Jessica)

Jessica is hoping this song will help Sam connect with the audience a little bit more (especially with the ladies) because he has such a shy personality. While I don't know that the performance does exactly what Jessica wants it to do, Sam at least has confidence when he sings tonight and has discarded the deer in headlights look we've been seeing so much of lately. I hesitate to say he is "back" because I still don't rank him above most of the remaining contestants, but I did enjoy the performance and even found myself bopping a little bit on my couch. 

Judges Say: Harry says Sam is a work in progress and he is progressing...in his progression. Keith thinks Sam is starting to get comfortable and JLo feels that Sam is "really trying." Sigh. Moving on.
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Constant: Jena Irene
Song: "Creep" by Radiohead (chosen by Caleb)

I have always loved this song and I have heard many covers of it since it came out in the early 90s. I feel like I am definitely dating myself with that admission, but I've got my fingers crossed that Jena's rendition is a stand out when compared to the numerous other versions. No worries there. She starts this performance at the piano with a beautiful, haunting tone to her voice. Jena stays at the piano when the band comes in, which I LOVE, and she owns this performance. She hits notes that I didn't realize she had in her and Jena easily wins the night. Just amazing. 

Judges Say: Keith and JLo give her a well earned standing ovation but we are running out of time. Keith loved her fearlessness and JLo thinks Jena can sing anything. Harry tells Jena that she is a phenomenal talent and then says some BS about how his version of "judging" does not include standing ovations. 

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The contestants also brought the duets back tonight, with Alex and Sam giving an up tempo performance of "Let Her Go." That song has annoyed me for quite some time now and these guys really made me enjoy it again. Caleb and Jena have the duet of the night though with their version of "Gimme Shelter." Seriously, are these two dating? If not, can we make that happen immediately? Thank you. The remaining three contestants, Dexter, Jessica and C.J. took on "Compass," which is one of my favorite songs at the moment. The performance was pleasant enough, but the trio didn't have much chemistry and song was cut up and staged in a way that didn't make much sense to me. Oh well. 

Tomorrow we say goodbye to another hopeful and we're at a point where no one should feel safe. The weaker contestants have had some shining moments in the past couple of weeks, so those fans might come out swinging when the voting starts this evening. Will Jessica's consistent lack of energy be her undoing? Can Dexter make it through to another week to finally attempt the "make the song your own" thing? Will Sam ever acknowledge the young girls who are trying to take selfies with him from the audience? We'll find out in the coming episodes. Til then!