The Voice Semi-Finals Results: I Don't Know How It Happened

Tonight we find out which four artists will make it through to the finale and which poor soul juuuust missed the boat. At this point Pharrell is the only coach who is guaranteed representation in the finals, as he had two semi-finalists this week and the other coaches are each hanging on by a thread with one contestant left. Will he lose one of his hopefuls tonight? If not, which coach will be bitterly cheering on another team next week? Let's find out...

Business in the front, party in the back.

Snoop Dogg is in the house tonight and I'm thrilled that the whole Snoop Lion thing was short lived. He and Pharrell perform "California Roll" which, by the way, is not about sushi. The "Shut Up and Dance" guys also join us this evening for some live entertainment. They were nice enough to time travel from the 80s to perform their song, which I will admit is on my iPod and getting a lot of play time. 

The contestants also take the stage during the elimination hour and Koryn, Meghan and India pull off a beautiful rendition of "Faithfully." Joshua and Sawyer then sit right in their element with "Drift Away." I guess it was smart of the producers not to pair Joshua with those other voices he's not really competing with. 

Results! The first name announced in the final four is Sawyer, which is no surprise given how he's been practically shutting down iTunes. He is followed by Meghan (yay!) but then Carson tells India that she's in the bottom 2. This leaves Joshua and Koryn wondering their fate...and Joshua is sent to safety. Wait, what? I'm soooo unhappy about this. And the Stupid Twitter Save is still a thing at this point? Twitter can put someone through to the FINALE that might have had the lowest number of votes? Well, I guess I'm pulling for India then, mainly because I'd like Xtina to be represented in the finale. This was really her season to lose before Kimberly was eliminated. 

India sings Kelly Clarkson's "Dark Side" but the song is so short, she's pretty much singing the first verse and doing a bunch of rifs. Kind of odd. She's visibly feeling the pressure. Koryn goes with "If I Were a Boy" and struggles a bit in the beginning of the song. Then of course she starts violently shaking and delivers killer vocals for the rest of the performance. And with that, India does not get the Stupid Twitter Save and Team Xtina is no more. 

I'm bummed about the results because I think both ladies deserved to make it through. This was like the Kimberly/India face off all over again. Sigh. Next week is the first of what I assume are several 2015 finales for The Voice and the remaining four contestants will fight for the title. We've got two mellow dudes and two powerhouses remaining. Can Meghan (who I will be voting like crazy for) pull off a victory? Is Sawyer's coronation a foregone conclusion? We have only two more episodes to find out. Til then!

The Voice Semi Finals: There's Something Happening Here

Tonight the semi-finalists take the stage as we are just one week away from the big finale. Each of the five remaining contestants will take on two songs tonight -- one song is the coaches' pick and the other is the contestant's choice as a dedication to their hometowns. Each coach is still represented in the competition at this point and the Stupid Twitter Save votes have been getting closer and closer each week. We're down to the wire now - let's see who has the upper hand this evening. 

ROUND 1

Artist: Joshua Davis

Team: Adam

Song: "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt

I looooove this song and it's so well suited for Joshua's voice. However, Joshua doesn't knock the whole storytelling thing out of the park here. I'm not really buying that he's a heartbroken mess, but he does sound lovely. If you want to see a stellar performance of this song though, check out Tony Lucca's version from way before his stint on The Voice (but well after his MMC days).  

Coaches Say: Blake loves the softer side of Joshua's voice the most and he's glad Joshua got back to that with this performance. Xtina liked the performance and says his voice is soothing like a lullaby. Pharrell thinks Joshua understands how to make his voice fill up a song. Adam notes again that Joshua has to go his own way and not compete with the big voices in the competition....even though it's a competition with big voices. Is he just supposed to compete against Sawyer?

----------------------------------------

Artist: Koryn Hawthorne

Team: Pharrell

Song: "One" by U2

Koryn is in a tunnel of light bulbs with other light bulbs behind her. I'm already intrigued and she's barely started singing. Koryn goes into her really intense shaky thing while she sings, and she does a really good job with the song, but I definitely think she's had stronger performances than this. Pharrell was going for a "moment" here that Koryn got close to...but just fell short.    

Coaches Say: Adam says "One" is one of those songs everyone should want to sing (huh?) and thinks it was in really good hands tonight. Xtina loves Koryn and mentions how much she's grown on Pharrell's team. Pharrell says he's learned more from Koryn than she's learned from him. Awww. 

----------------------------------------

Artist: Meghan Lindsey

Team: Blake

Song: "I'm Not the Only One" by Sam Smith

Miss Meghan leans solemnly against a shadowy wall with a very restrained opening to the song, which is really nice. Her voice is soothing and lovely to start. As the lights come on and we see the band behind her, the volume kicks up a ton but I'm honestly good with it. Meghan has some critics out there who harp on how loud she is, and there have definitely been a few times when I've agreed with them...but tonight I think her vocals and emotions are going hand in hand and the performance is really great.  There's no "moment" here either though, so Round 1 is still up for the taking. It's on India and Sawyer now to step it up.

Coaches Say: Pharrell tells Meghan she just reminded people how many other sounds and characters live in Nashville and says she gave a great performance. Adam commends Meghan for singing each song as if it's her last song on the show. Blake thinks each time Meghan takes the stage, the performance is guaranteed to be something great. He says she's "vintage" and thanks her for being on his team.  

----------------------------------------

Artist: India Carney

Team: Xtina

Song: "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles

Speaking of toning things down, India also got that memo tonight. The opening of "Gravity" is subtle and the entire performance is very controlled, hitting peaks at just the right time. I'm still bitter that she got the Stupid Twitter Save last week over Kimberly (and bitter that Kimberly had to fight for the Stupid Twitter Save to begin with), but India bounces tonight with gusto and emotion and I am a huge fan of this performance. 

Coaches Say: Adam says India's progression throughout the song was really amazing. Blake calls the performance powerful and says India showcased her artistry. Xtina thinks there is something to say about a singer who has control and says India is a very smart singer in terms of when to pull back and when to push forward. She says India's performance took her to an emotional place. 

----------------------------------------

Artist: Sawyer Fredericks

Team: Pharrell

Song: "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield

This is a brilliant song choice. I never would have thought of this tune for Sawyer...mainly because he's 16 for crying out loud...but his voice and style brings "For What It's Worth" to 2015 with no problem at all. Hopefully an entirely new generation will take notice of this song and the power Sawyer brings to it. Round 1 definitely goes to Sawyer. 

Coaches Say: Adam applauds both Pharrell and Sawyer for the song choice and Sawyer's ability to do it justice. Blake can't say anything because every time he opens his mouth, Adam interrupts. Pharrell lets the crowd speak for how good the performance is with their claps and cheers. 

----------------------------------------

ROUND 2

Artist: Joshua Davis

Team: Adam

Song: "When I Paint My Masterpiece" by Bob Dylan

So, I'm definitely more of a fan of this performance than the first, but Joshua is definitely not wowing me tonight. I don't have much to say other than he sounds great and looks like he's having a lot of fun. Good for him?

Coaches Say: Blake doesn't know the song (Ha! I love it when he doesn't know songs) but says Joshua's version is the version he wants to know. Xtina gives Nate, the drummer some compliments and says "It was really, really awesome. Great job." Not sure if she means Joshua or Nate, the drummer. Adam says the performance was even better than he thought it would be and calls Blake an idiot for not knowing the song.   

----------------------------------------

Artist: Koryn Hawthorne

Team: Pharrell

Song: "Oh Mary Don't You Weep"

Good Lord. Literally. This girl can't possibly still be in high school. She can't be. What she does in this performance is something only a seasoned diva veteran singer should be able to accomplish. From her look, from her voice, from her body language, from her emotion, and from the freaking awesome choir behind her, the result is an absolutely PERFECT performance. This is the best one Koryn has given by far...and also the best performance of the night. Just wow. 

Coaches Say: The coaches are standing long before the song ends and Pharrell has tears in his eyes. Adam says never before in the history of the show has there been such an unbelievable journey like Koryn's. Xtina is scared of how good Koryn is going to become and says that she fights with passion in every performance. Pharrell tells Koryn that dreams can come true and anything is possible when you put God first. I love Pharrell. I really love him. 

----------------------------------------

Artist: Meghan Lindsey

Team: Blake

Song: "Tennessee Whiskey" by George Jones

Meghan takes on her own big song (Koryn is a reallllly tough act to follow right now) and she still manages to blow me away with "Tennessee Whiskey." She sits surrounded by flaming barrels and gives a controlled performance that seems effortless. I believe every word of her story and I'm loving it. Her "Amazing Grace" performance last week is still her ringer, but this song should put her through to the finale for sure. 

Coaches Say: Xtina says everytime Meghan comes out, she's a showstopper. Pharrell thinks Meghan continues to prove who she is and why she deserves to be here. Blake can't stop smiling. He says the performance was so special and she engaged every country music fan throughout the country along with her new fans.

----------------------------------------

Artist: India Carney

Team: Xtina

Song: "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson

Wow! Another huge undertaking in Round 2. These girls aren't playing around tonight. This is one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs. He had some powerful tunes in his songbook but the build and explosion of this one always gets me. I wish India had enough time to perform the entire song, but for what she does perform, she's amazing. When she launches into the "What about yesterday?!" part I immediately get goosebumps. She absolutely did this song justice. 

Coaches Say: Pharrell says she looks beautiful and sounded beautiful. Adam thinks every performance India gives is like a mini-musical with a long list of emotions. Xtina is all about watching a story unfold and says India always brings those moments to life. 

----------------------------------------

Artist: Sawyer Fredericks

Team: Pharrell

Song: "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri

This is a very quiet end to the show and I'm wishing that one of the ladies had gotten the pimp slot tonight. This song always makes me think of Twilight, and given everything we just witnessed, the last place I want my brain to be right now is with Kristen Stewart. Shout out to Anna Kendrick though for being in the audience tonight promoting Pitch Perfect 2. I have to wonder if she mentioned her Oscar nomination and extreme leading actress box office success on her last day of Twilight shooting in her very minor character role. What are the rest of Bella's friends up to these days? How off topic am I at this point? Sawyer's voice is beautiful here...it's just not a show closing performance for me. Round 2 goes to Koryn. 

Coaches Say: Adam tells Sawyer that the highest part of Sawyer's register is powerful and special. Blake says Sawyer is the front-runner and there's no question in anyone's mind about that. Oh yeah? I'm still kind of questioning it. Pharrell thinks Sawyer has a power in him that he shares every week and looks forward to hearing it again in the finale. 

----------------------------------------

And with that, the semis are over and the fate of these five artists is in America's hands. I can tell you that I'm going to think about those big Round 2 songs for weeks to come. I can't remember the last time there were three back to back performances that were so powerful. However, one person will be eliminated tomorrow, leaving a four artist finale in the coming week. I still think it's Joshua's time to go. I would much rather see a Sawyer vs the ladies showdown and in my mind, they've earned it. Will he take a Final Four spot away from one of the big voices he's not supposed to compete with...except for he is? We'll find out during the elimination hour. Til then!

American Idol Finale Part 2: Champion

If you had asked me when the season started if Nick Fradiani would break the Top 10, I would have said "no." If you had told me he would have staying power over Joey Cook and Tyanna Jones, I would have told you that you were insane. If you had bet me $1,000 that Nick would win American Idol, I would have placed my bet against you immediately...most likely in the form of an IOU. But lo and behold the Season 14 winner is Nick Fradiani and he's had quite an amazing journey leading up to his victory. We had a jam packed show of stars (or people who might someday compete on Dancing With The Stars) tonight and here are the highlights from the 2 hour finale. 

There were a tonnnn of guest performers tonight, including Fall Out Boy who opened the show along side Clark and Nick with "Centuries." Tyanna performed a medley of hits with The Jacksons (three of them anyway) and I loved it. She looked like she was having such a good time and she deserved it. I'm also a huge fan of The Jackson 5 songbook so I mayyyyy have been dancing in my living room. 

Ricky Martin was in the house as well with his new song but the night took an unexpected (for me anyway) turn when he busted into "Livin La Vida Loca" with the Top 5 guys. Yes that's right. Qaasim and Quentin both had solos and I was worried that Qaasim might spontaneously combust when "The Cup of Life" started. On the flip side, Clark was on the cusp of getting into these songs but never quite got there. He sure did smile a lot though. 

Joey joined Echosmith for "Cool Kids" which is a song I grew very tired of on the radio but enjoyed very much tonight, and Rayvon was paired with Jamie Foxx for "In Love By Now." NKOTB was kind enough to take Daniel in and teach him some classic choreography for another medley that I would have loved so much more if it was just the NKOTB boys. Their appearance made me want to bust out my cassette tapes and torn jeans...which are somehow back in style. 

And maybe I should be ashamed, but I had no idea who Vance Joy was before tonight. His "Riptide" duet with Quentin, however, was definitely cool...they were the cool kids I wish I could be like. See what I did there? The Pitbull/Chris Brown/Qaasim performance was odd but mostly entertaining and the Clark and Michael McDonald dueling pianos performance of "Takin' It To the Streets" was a really great pairing for my boyfriend. Nick had his own duel with Andy Grammer over who could look more happy and excited to be performing "Honey I'm Good." Seriously. Their cheeks had to have been sore for hours after all of the wide smiles. 

The best duet of the night though was absolutely Steven Tyler and Jax's rendition of "Piece of My Heart." 1) I love this man. 2) He's amazing. And 3) The energy he and Jax had together was absolute magic. They even laid on the freaking judges table together WHILE they were singing! Just watch the video from American Idol's YouTube page. It's awesome. 

All 3 judges also took the stage during the show, with JLo performing alongside Prince Royce and Pitbull (dude is everywhere) and Keith going solo. Keith is just sexy as hell and I don't care what he sings, but I am a big fan of "Even the Stars Fall 4 U." Harry joined both of them later for a rendition of "Diamonds" and "Locked Out of Heaven" which was an awesome collaboration.   

Results! Ryan put all of the tension to rest at the 2:02 mark by announcing Nick as the winner. He tearfully sang through "Beautiful Life" as the confetti came down...and the season is over. I'm happy for Nick. While I would have looooved for Clark to be this season's winner, I can't deny that Nick has been one hell of a competitor. Here's hoping we here some great things from him (Caleb Johnson hasn't exactly been lighting up the Billboard charts) and good God I hope someone signs Jax. 

We have a long wait until the craziness returns in January for the final season. I will surely be sad to see American Idol go, but it's probably time. The show had been on a steady decline in recent years with a complete nosedive a couple of seasons ago. I'm looking at you, Nicki Minaj. I've read that many familiar faces will return for the curtain call and I will be happily tuned in to see how it all plays out! 

American Idol Finale Part 1: Beautiful Life

We've reached the American Idol finale of 2015! We've sadly also reached the second to last American Idol finale...it was announced this week that the 2016 season of the show will be the final season. I have mixed feelings about the cancellation, but those feelings will be set aside tonight as we find out which contestants have made it to the Final 2 and which pour soul was thisclose to having a shot at confetti. This is only an hour long episode (thank you) so let's see who the lucky performers are!

Cue dramatic music and ominous lighting. Clark, Jax, and Nick hold hands center stage as Ryan receives the results envelope as if he were about to announce the paternity results on (fill in the blank's) Talk Show. The vote came down to less than .4%...and...Jax is eliminated. Wait. Ryan. It sounded like you just said Jax is eliminated and that CAN'T be right. It CAN'T be! Sigh. Jax is awkwardly sent to go cry in her family's arms while the opening credits play and the show starts all over again. Both guys will perform three songs each in this hour and I'm still pissed about the way Jax was booted so let's just get going. 

ROUND 1: Contestants' Encore

Contestant: Clark

Song: "Georgia On My Mind" by Ray Charles

From the opening notes I'm closing my eyes and moving my head back and forth like Steven Tyler. This is such a great choice and Clark killllllllls it. Ownnnnns it. Slaaaayyyyyys it. You get the picture. His voice is unbelievable, he's performing with ease, and he's got personality to boot. This is a true finale worthy performance and an excellent way to kick off the show. 

Judges Say: Keith says the performance was like a whole mess of flap jacks drenched in syrup. I'm suddenly starving. JLo sees how far Clark has come and thinks he is singing to win. Yes. Yes he is. Harry says the performance was a great example of how Clark is always trying to "push it" as a performer. 

-------------------------------------------

Contestant: Nick

Song: "Bright Lights" by Matchbox Twenty

When I think back on Nick's performance, I'm not sure that this was the total standout song of the season. That being said, he makes the song a standout moment tonight. While the band is certainly present, Nick is not the front man for this performance - he's a solo artist. I love this. I do. But for me Round 1 goes to Clark. His vocals were just SO freaking good.  

Judges Say: JLo says Nick is what the show is all about - a true American Idol. Calm down, Jenny. The competition isn't over yet. Harry tells Nick the performance was great and wants everyone to vote tonight. Keith says it's not just about the vocal or the performance. It's about whether the audience can relate to Nick and they definitely do. Soooo are the judges going to be this Nick heavy all night or is this just a Round 1 thing?

-------------------------------------------

ROUND 2: Simon Fuller's Choice

Contestant: Clark

Song: "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers

Yessssssss. Clark accompanies himself on guitar and gives an acoustic performance of the song that always makes me think about the seasons changing in Notting Hill. Great flick. Tell me you didn't want to immediately subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine after seeing the movie. Anywho, Clark gives another amazing performance here and I have to watch it twice. He's tapped into the lyrics and I feel like he's absolutely missing someone so much that it's making him crazy. I will be buying this song tonight. 

Judges Say: Harry says Clark gave an inward, soulful performance and Keith makes a Bill Withers joke then calls the performance fantastic. JLo asks Clark, "Who is she? Who were you singing to?" Clark blushes and JLo says the performance was awesome. 

-------------------------------------------

Contestant: Nick

Song: "I Won't Give Up" by Jason Mraz

This is my absolute favorite Jason Mraz song (and he's got some pretty phenomenal tunes). Nick takes a turn at the piano for this performance which is great to see, but I notice that when Nick is tethered to a stationary instrument, his head shaking, side mouthy thing is amplified by a million. Luckily the producers realize this about half way through the song and stop the extreme closeups. Nick brings the house down though so I'm going to call Round 2 a tie even though I really, really want to give it to Clark. 

Judges Say: Keith had no idea Nick plays the piano and says Nick has so many more colors to him that we haven't seen yet. JLo says it's really hard to choose between Clark and Nick and Harry tells Nick that his strongest attribute is his ability to leave it all out there. 

-------------------------------------------

ROUND 3: The Dreaded Original Song

Contestant: Clark

Song: "Champion"

Ugggghhh. Really? "Champion?" That's what Clark is saddled with as his first single? Shame on you Idol. Clark does the best that he can do vocally here but the song itself is just meh. Paging "No Boundries" and "This Is My Now." Your table's ready. 

Judges Say: JLo asks Clark how it feels to sing his first song and tells him he sounded great. Harry thinks Clark did a good job and Keith felt inspired by the song. I wonder if someone told him to say that...

-------------------------------------------

Contestant: Nick

Song: "Beautiful Life"

I immediately call shenanigans on this. Nick's song is SO much better than Clark's. Like, Taylor Hicks vs Carrie Underwood better. It's going to be stuck in my head just like "Home" was when P Squared won his season a few years ago. Nick takes over the entire stage and performs as if he's doing an encore at his own stadium concert. Dude has had an amazing night and Round 3 definitely goes to Nick. 

Judges Say: Harry really enjoyed the performance and says Nick is lucky because "it sounds like that song was tailored for you." It sure does. Shenanigans. JLo's favorite part was seeing Nick taking it all in while the audience did the arm waves. Keith says that's the type of song that people will buy and want to see him sing in concert. 

-------------------------------------------

And that's that. I can't help but wonder what Jax's songs were for tonight and if she would have run circles around either of these guys.  I hate that she prepared herself for the finale only to be sent away in tears in the first two minutes. They should have added an elimination half hour last Thursday. 

Anyway, I think the competition was very close tonight. Personally I would like to see my boyfriend Clark take the title and I will be voting for him tonight, especially given the clear nonsense between his "coronation" song and Nick's. However, Nick has had this slow build momentum working in his favor and I could see him winning it all. We'll find out who gets the confetti shower and the glory tomorrow during the star-studded 2 hour finale to the finale. Til then!

American Idol Top 3: It's A Beautiful Day

Greetings! We've reached the Top 3 reveal on American Idol and we are ONE WEEK from the finale! Instead of the immediate, awkward elimination we put Tyanna through last week (still bitter), tonight each contestant performs three times before the season's 4th place finisher heads home. The contestants also had their hometown visits this week, leading to tears and more tears, so at least the person eliminated tonight had some glory before their Idol journey ended. There's a lot to get through this evening so let's keep our fingers crossed and hope for a good show.

ROUND 1: Mentor Scott Borchetta's Choice

Contestant: Rayvon Owen

Song: "Want To Want Me" by Jason Derulo

Jason Derulo has recently performed this song on talk shows as well as this show and he's done so with a confident, sexy attitude that matches the song 100%. Here, Rayvon just sings. He sings really, really well. But if I were someone not listening to the lyrics, I would assume this is just a happy tune with a good beat and not so much an "I'm taking a cab in the middle of the night to seduce you" song. But again, Rayvon sounds amazing. 

Judges Say: Keith says the song choice was great and thinks Rayvon gave a strong performance. JLo tells Rayvon he looks like a superstar and Harry says this was Rayvon's best performance of an up tempo song. 

---------------------------------------------------

Contestant: Clark Beckham

Song: "Beautiful Day" by U2

Love this song. Scott was hoping Clark would totally rock this performance and while Clark is absolutely no Bono, he lets go during this song  much more than he's done in any other. The opening verse is a little too low and he hits a couple of squeaky notes in the chorus, but man it's nice to see him throw himself into a song and really have fun. 

Judges Say: JLo thinks the song was really suited for Clark's voice and says he gave a good performance. Harry notes that the band was superb (totally agree) and wishes Clark would have been as loose during the first part of the performance as he was in the second half. Keith agrees, saying Clark could have risen up a little more. Ryan then jumps in to remind everyone that the last person to cover that song on the show was Lee DeWyze and he won! He did, but he's not one of the winners any of the finalists hope to mimic career-wise, Ryan.  

---------------------------------------------------

Contestant: Nick Fradiani

Song: "Because the Night" by Bruce Springsteen

I'll be honest and say that I heard to 10,000 Maniacs' version of this song long before I heard Springsteen's. The 90s were awesome. Just sayin. Nick doesn't do anything different with the song, but the performance is solid. Dude is bringing a ton of energy with him tonight and has become an awesome front man for the Idol band.

Judges Say: Harry thinks the performance was fantastic and feels like he's really starting to get to know Nick as an artist. Keith loved the song choice, but JLo thinks Nick was not connected to the lyrics. 

---------------------------------------------------

Contestant: Jax

Song: "My Generation" by The Who

Scott Borchetta was completely on point with this assignment and it's his best choice of the night. This is such a perfect song for Jax. She's all decked out like a British rock star...or just a teenager in a shredded shirt...but we'll go with the former...and she's alllll over this tune. For people in Jax's generation who have not heard "My Generation," I'm hoping they listen up and understand what an awesome song she's performing. Jax sells the song in a way that makes it seem current and I absolutely love it. Aside from the fact that Jax is a total natural, she's also a total star. Round 1 goes to Jax.

Judges Say: Keith has to yell above the crowd and says the performance was freaking awesome. JLo tells Jax she killed it and Harry says this was by far Jax's best performance. 

---------------------------------------------------

ROUND 2: Contestant's Hometown Dedications

Contestant: Nick Fradiani

Song: "Back Home" by Andy Grammer

So, I actually don't know this song. I feel ashamed. It's awesome. Nick has totally let go and embraced his chance at fame and fortune and it's wonderful to watch. This is a song he connects to and he shares his joy with the audience as if this was his concert and they were there just to see him. Love it.

Judges Say: JLo says this was another great song for Nick and Harry doesn't even think a critique isn't warranted. Keith loved the performance as well and gives a shout out to Nick's dad, who happens to be a big Keith Urban fan. Aren't we all? 

---------------------------------------------------

Contestant: Clark Beckham

Song: "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding

Clark is back behind the piano for this performance and looking right at home. I love the arrangement and I love Clark's voice. Rob Taylor sang this song on The Voice a few weeks ago and it was "meh." He was eliminated soon thereafter. Clark's version tonight is way more dynamic. Is it a "sing for your life" performance? Maybe not, but it allows him to remind us just how good he is when he is totally in his element.

Judges Say: Harry feels like he got to know Clark a little bit more with this performance. Keith says Clark needs to struggle more...because sometimes it's too good. Huh? Harry leads the crowd in a very loud "boooooooo." I don't even know what Keith means by that. "You should suck sometimes so we realize when you're doing better?" Sillyness. JLo says this performance is who Clark is and tells him she felt his soul during the song. 

---------------------------------------------------

Contestant: Rayvon Owen

Song: "As" by Stevie Wonder

While I can't completely get behind the outfit Rayvon has on (some sort of hooded jacket with rolled up pants and shoes I can't quite identify), I'm 100% behind the performance. He sounds great, he's having fun, and it's a song he throws himself into. Well done.

Judges Say: Keith says Rayvon sang the song effortlessly and JLo loves his look. Of course she does. Harry says the joy and physicality of Rayvon's performance was strong tonight. 

---------------------------------------------------

Contestant: Jax

Song: "My Immortal" by Evanescence

Jax goes the piano route for this performance and strips the song down completely with no band behind her. It's fantastic. Her voice is lovely and haunting and I'm such a fan. For me, Round 2 also goes to Jax.

Judges Say: JLo loves that Jax kept the song intimate and says Jax has such humility and heart. Harry says the performance was fantastic and Keith doesn't have time to get a word in. 

---------------------------------------------------

ROUND 3: Judges' Choice

Contestant: Clark Beckham

Song: "Earned It" by The Weekend

I never would have thought I would hear "Clark Beckham" and "Fifty Shades of Grey" in the same sentence. But tonight Clark is covering a tune from the hit soundtrack and he's trying to bring sexy back. JLo is definitely into it and so am I. This song brings out every note Clark has in his bag of tricks and suits him perfectly.

Judges Say: Harry immediately tells Clark the performance could have been better if he'd brought intensity in the beginning. The crowd boos him and so do I. Really Harry? The first words out of your mouth are "So, one of the things you could do to make that even better....?" Ugh. Keith says he saw, heard and felt things from Clark that we haven't seen yet. JLo agrees, telling Clark she's proud of him. Apparently the end of the performance gave her the goosies. It gave me hot flashes. 

---------------------------------------------------

Contestant: Rayvon Owen

Song: "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker

The judges did a good job with song selection for Rayvon as well as it plays to his vocal strengths. Unfortunately, the performance is pretty boring to me. There should have been a 100% passionate delivery here and I can't tell you who or what Rayvon thinks is beautiful when the song ends. He's only worried about the notes in this performance.

Judges Say: Keith says it was a beautiful song with a beautiful arrangement. JLo wishes he'd sung to someone and expressed emotion. Harry disagrees with JLo and feels that Rayvon did emote during the performance. Shut up Harry. 

---------------------------------------------------

Contestant: Jax

Song: "Misery Business" by Paramore

I absolutely squeal with joy when this song choice is announced. This should be a home run, right? Jax, for whatever reason, de-rocks most of the rock that makes this song awesome. The first chorus (the part that every Paramore fan waits anxiously to head bang to) is chopped up and I'm just very unhappy with this. There's very little energy and she seems to have trouble keeping up the pace with the fast lyrics. But hey, the guitar player does a pretty good job.

Judges Say: Keith says it was an odd arrangement but she sang beautifully. He doesn't think what the band was doing and what Jax was doing went together at all. JLo explains that they chose the song because they expected her to rock out and nail it. She says that to pull it back that far was kind of a let down. Totally agree. Harry tells Jax this performance wasn't as strong as the other two (duh) and says she needed to command the stage more. 

---------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------
Contestant: Nick Fradiani

Song: "I'll Be" by Edwin McCain

Hmmm. Out of all the songs the judges could have possibly chosen for Nick, this is the one they want him to close the night with? They thought this would be his ringer? His show stopper? Don't get me wrong - Nick does a great job vocally and the band sounds great as always, but there's no excitement, no change to the arrangement, and no "moment." I think the judges could have definitely done better by Nick. For me, Round 3 goes to Clark.

Judges Say: Harry says Nick gave a great vocal and tells Nick he nailed it. Keith says Nick could release the song as a single and it would be a hit. JLo says the performance was amazing. 

---------------------------------------------------

After 12 performances we've finally reached elimination. To my great surprise and relief, Rayvon goes home tonight, leaving Jax, Nick and Clark to duke it out on Tuesday. We have the two part finale to look forward to next week and a true competition to go with it. Will Nick's ability to peak late in the game slingshot him past Clark and Jax? Will Clark's attempt to embrace the sexy solidify his spot under the confetti? Does Jax still have it completely in the bag? We'll find out very soon. Til then! 

The Voice Top 6 Eliminations: Everybody Hurts

Tonight we will find out who the Season 8 semi-finalists are as we say goodbye to one more artist on The Voice. Blake or Adam could go into next week with no team members remaining, while Xtina and Pharrell are both guaranteed representation in the semis. Will we lose a big voice tonight or a subtle competitor? Let's see how it plays out...

Some former contestants return to The Voice this evening as we welcome back Vicci Martinez, Avery Wilson, Jacquie Lee, and Craig Wayne Boyd's hair. What? You don't recognize all of these names? Can't imagine why... though I will admit that my first iTunes download from The Voice was the Vicci Martinez/Niki Dawson battle of "Perfect" in Season 1. Ah, memories. I wish the coaches had the "steal" back then. It would have been a game changer.

Results! Sawyer makes his way to safety first (duh) and he is quickly followed by Meghan (yay!). After some performances and commercials, Koryn and....Joshua make it through to the semi-finals. This leaves India and Kimberly in the bottom two and both are Xtina's artists. I know this is a tough one for her, but for me it's simple. Save Kimberly. Whatever song she performs...save Kimberly. 

India goes with "Perfect" for her "save" song (please see the above Vicci/Niki link for awesomeness). She does a really great job but I'm wishing Vicci would just rush the stage and start a battle. Wouldn't that be neat? Regardless though...save Kimberly. Kimberly needs to be saved. She chooses "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes, going for another rock moment like she had last night...when America didn't vote enough...even though "Dirty Diana" was freaking amazing. I also love Kimberly's performance and attitude tonight, though I wish she'd had the band on stage with her. It's tough to take on a song like that standing alone in the middle of a huge stage. Did I mention #SaveKimberly? Because Kimberly belongs in the finals, never mind the semi-finals. Save. Her. 

In the end, God help me, India is gets the REALLY stupid Twitter save, that should NOT still be in play going into the semi-finals, and Kimberly goes home even though she's probably one of the most talented, badass contestants this show has seen in a long time. There goes Xtina's chance to win this season. Damn it.

Next week the remaining five contestants will fight for a spot in the finale and the chance to take home the title. Does India have a chance considering her recent save status these past two weeks? Is the competition Sawyer's to lose now or can Meghan or Koryn pick up Kimberly's fans and race to the finish line? We have only a short time before the winner is crowned, but I will definitely be less enthusiastic going into next week without that fabulous stank face and attitude to look forward to. Here's hoping the remaining contestants put on a hell of a show in the semis. Til then!

The Voice Top 6: I Am The Thing That You Need

We're back to that point in the competition where we have 12 performances to (hopefully) look forward to as our Top 6 each take on two songs tonight. One song is the artists' choice and the other will be dedicated to the artists' mothers in honor of Mother's Day. I'm guessing we are in for an extremely emotional night so let's get those tear-jerkers going!

Artist: India Carney

Team: Xtina

Song: "Glory" by John Legend and Common

Whoa. Just whoa. India's balls grow even bigger every week and she's kicking off the show with a song that had the majority of stars at this year's Academy Awards crying in the audience. India chose this song for her mom because it embodies hope and strength, which are qualities she has learned from her mom. Overall, India does an amazing job. The parts that Common usually raps are a little strange when sung, but I wouldn't have wanted to hear her try to bust those rhymes. This performance doesn't pack as much emotional punch as John Legend and Common's version, but I would argue that this is India's best performance of the season, and she's had some pretty great performances leading up to tonight. Good for her. 

Coaches Say: Pharrell congratulates India on having an incredible comeback just now. Adam thinks India really stepped it up tonight and Blake didn't know the song at all. Where the hell has he been?!?! He says she did some great melodies and called it a great song. Yes Blake. It is a great song. Xtina says what India did was pretty remarkable and tells India she rose to the challenge tonight. 

---------------------------------------

Artist: Joshua Davis

Team: Adam

Song: "Desire" by U2

Adam's last man standing decides to go up-tempo for his first performance of the night, complete with a few back up singers and a some trumpets and trombones behind him. I'm not a fan. This song is supposed to be uber sexy and the performance is anything but. Maybe I will enjoy performance #2 more, but I'm happy when this one ends. 

Coaches Say: Pharrell says this was Joshua's best performance because he was doing something different, with a production, and having a good time. Adam is impressed by Joshua because he's so focused on making great music and having the time of his life. K. 

---------------------------------------

Artist: Koryn Hawthorne

Team: Pharrell

Song: "Everybody Hurts" by R.E.M.

This song is going out to Koryn's mom because she's been through so much and has taught Koryn that she can handle anything. Koryn is emotional when the song starts and uses those emotions to deliver one hell of a performance. Sometimes her vibrato is a little much for me but I don't care tonight. Her last belt of "Everybody hurts" moving into the "hold on" chants gives me the chills. Amazing.  

Coaches Say: Blake says either Koryn is the world's greatest actress or she is so invested in the songs that even her body starts to lose control (in a good way). Pharrell is humbled to be her coach and thinks the Spirit moves through Koryn. 

---------------------------------------

Artist: Kimberly Nichole

Team: Xtina

Song: "Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty

Kimberly says her mother is her idol and chooses "Free Fallin'" because her mom had left a small town when she was younger to follow her dreams. I'm not going to knock a song choice that reminds Kimberly of how amazing her mother is, but I don't think this is one of Kimberly's better performances. For me, she sings the song way too high and doesn't leave a lot of room for her usual range and awesomeness. Just me. 

Coaches Say: Adam says Kimberly can sing any song and do it in an amazing way. Xtina gives a shout out for Kimberly's mom and says the performance allowed Kimberly to be free and express her joy. 

---------------------------------------

Artist: Meghan Lindsey

Team: Blake

Song: "Steamroller Blues" by James Taylor

Oh my... I'm loving Meghan's strange, sparkly shirt but she's SCREAMING at me right now. Like, scary screaming. This happens through the entire performance and as she walks toward the front of the stage, I almost scoot over further away from her on my couch because I'm terrified. However, no one can say Meghan doesn't have an unbelievable voice. I love her so very much....I'm just worried she will no longer have that unbelievable voice after this performance is over. 

Coaches Say: Xtina says Meghan left her heart and soul out on the stage tonight and Pharrell enjoyed the performance because Meghan pushes through every week. Blake is excited and says Meghan sang the crap out of the song and doesn't know what else to say. Pharrell jumps in and says everyone in Nashville should vote for this girl right now. 

---------------------------------------

Artist: Sawyer Fredericks

Team: Pharrell

Song: "Shine On" by Daisy May Erlewine

I've never heard this song before, but Sawyer dedicates it to his mom because it's about pulling through during tough times. His mom is crying in the audience throughout the performance, I'm crying, and this is my favorite Sawyer song. He is completely vulnerable and his voice is even more beautiful than it usually is. 

Coaches Say: Adam tells Sawyer he is a really special kid and says this is one of his favorite performances of the night. Blake thinks it's hard to put into words what Sawyer does when he's on stage other than "real" and "powerful." Pharrell says no one can deny the power Sawyer had with his performance. He calls this boy wonder inspirational and I totally agree. 

---------------------------------------

Artist: Kimberly Nichole

Team: Xtina

Song: "Dirty Diana" by Michael Jackson

Yesssssssssssssssssss. Oh man. Any issues I had with Kimberly's performance earlier tonight have gone quickly down the drain. There's no better song for that awesome stank face than this one.  So angry. So wonderful. Kimberly sings her freaking face off and she has the staging and special effects of a superstar. Best of the night so far. I have to watch it back a few times before I can even think about moving on to the next performance. 

Coaches Say: Pharrell congratulates Kimberly on having her first official rock n' roll moment on the show. Xtina says she always knows Kimberly will be electrifying when she takes the stage each time and believes Kimberly is the contestant that could be really successful coming out of this show. I sure hope so - The Voice realllllly needs to boast a success story at some point soon. 

---------------------------------------

Artist: Joshua Davis

Team: Adam

Song: "In My Life" by The Beatles

Great song. One of my favorites from The Beatles. Joshua gets back to his smooth voice and storytelling vibe with his second performance.  His vocals are lovely and his performance makes me sway back and forth on my couch as he sings. It's a little boring at times, but I think it's way better than what I had to sit through earlier. 

Coaches Say: Blake says that song means something to everyone and compliments Joshua's control during his performance. Adam calls Joshua a class act and says the performance was mesmerizing. 

---------------------------------------

Artist: Koryn Hawthorne

Team: Pharrell

Song: "Dream On," by Aerosmith

No. No more singing this song. How can we get Steven Tyler involved to make covering "Dream On" illegal? Koryn does her best with it. I'll give her that. But she doesn't enunciate and the way she is stretching her voice is stressing me out. It's okay kid - the verses aren't meant for nervous breakdowns. Save that for the chorus. 

Coaches Say: Xtina thinks Koryn did a great job and Pharrell says Koryn's performance should inspire people to dream harder. 

---------------------------------------

Artist: India Carney

Team: Xtina

Song: "Lay Me Down" by Sam Smith

Thank goodness India's first performance was so strong. The first verse of this song is rough - she's out of breath and barely audible. The chorus is a bit better but once she starts really throwing herself into the song, her pitch is all over the place. I still love her though. I just hope voters remember how she opened the show tonight. 

Coaches Say: Adam thinks this was India's best performance on the show. What? Really? Has he seen all of her other performances? Xtina says India stepped out of her comfort zone and killed it.

---------------------------------------

Artist: Sawyer Fredericks

Team: Pharrell

Song: "Take Me To the River" by Al Green

Woohoo! Sawyer can nail an upbeat song! He even has the backup dancers from "Shake a Tail Feather!" Okay, not really. Those girls are super distracting, but I'm loving the vocals and how comfortable Sawyer looks without the guitar tonight. He has a huge smile on his face as he walks the stage and I'm starting to understand why TV critics have been betting Sawyer will win this thing.

Coaches Say: Blake never realized how perfectly still Sawyer stands until someone put 100 dancers around him. Pharrell says Sawyer worked the stage and tells America they need to vote for this guy. 

---------------------------------------

Artist: Meghan Lindsey

Team: Blake

Song: "Amazing Grace"

Meghan chooses this song to dedicate to her mom, who grew up in a house with a dirt floor and not a lot of food. She's a fighter and Meghan's inspiration to sing. Let me start off by saying this performance is fantastic. Meghan sings the first verse a capella and it gives me the chills. An organ joins her as she moves into the rest of the song but the organ player may as well not be there -- all I'm focused on is Meghan. I'm incredibly moved by her performance and will be downloading her version of "Amazing Grace" immediately.

Coaches Say: Xtina says she can tell how much the song means to Meghan and calls the performance gorgeous. Blake feels like the whole world stopped to listen to Meghan's performance. I would hope that anyone watching at home was completely stopped in their tracks when she opened the song. I thought it was the best of the night (with Kimberly's "Dirty Diana" very, very close behind). 

---------------------------------------

Tomorrow we will find out which artists will make it to the Semi-Finals. We only lose one contestant this week, adding to the drama for sure, and the coaches have to be nervous now about whether or not they will be represented in the finale. For me, it's Joshua's time to go. Love those eyes. Love that soothing voice. But Sawyer runs circles around him and I'm partial to the women. Will Adam's last team member make it through? Will Koryn's super ambitious "Dream On" cover turn off any of her voters? Will the fans of the powerhouse voices split the votes and doom the ladies? We'll find out during the elimination hour. Til then!

The Voice Top 8 Eliminations: There's A New Wind Blowin'

My how this season has flown by...or maybe it feels that way because all of the seasons run together. Either way, we have already reached the Top 6 reveal and the finale is only weeks away now. We had some seriously stellar performances last night and I'm going into this elimination a bit nervous for my girls. I just love them so. Are all of those big voices going to make it through to the next round? Let's find out.

Jason Derulo is in the house tonight and he invites India and Kimberly to join him for "Want To Want Me." Neat. Rozzi Crane also performs, representing Adam's label 222 Records with her single "Psycho." I know very little about her but I do enjoy the song. And finally, Corey accompanies Lee Brice for a duet of Lee's single "Drinking Class." Uh, technically Corey isn't old enough to drink but we'll overlook that. 

Results! Carson begins sending contestants to safety and Joshua's name is announced first. Team Adam lives to see another day. Joshua is joined by Sawyer and Meghan, and after some commercials and filler, Kimberly and Koryn make it through to the Top 6. This leaves Hannah, Corey and India in the bottom 3 and vying for the stupid Twitter save. 

Hannah sings "Radioactive" as her "save me" song and it's just okay for me. Corey goes with Keith Urban's "Somebody Like You" and it's the best performance he's given in weeks. I guess song choice is key? India performs "Human" by Christina Perri and brings the house down even though the the opening of the song is rough. The results of the stupid Twitter save are incredibly close, but India wins it in the end. I'm very happy with how this played out.

So Blake loses two of his contestants tonight and the Top 6 consists of artists from each team. Xtina and Pharrell have two people left in the competition and Blake and Adam are down to one each. Next week these hopefuls will perform once more, all of them with their eyes on the prize.  Can India win America over next week? Will Sawyer's fans propel him ahead of the remaining women in the competition? Does Joshua have a hope in hell of winning at this point? All will be revealed in the coming weeks. Til then!

The Voice Top 8: I Can Face The World

We are inching closer and closer to The Voice season finale and eight contestants remain in the competition. Tonight they take the stage again, hoping to make it through to the Top 6 and have yet another chance to win over America. Blake still has all of his contestants, while Xtina and Pharrell have held onto two each. Adam only has one artist left and he's hanging on by a thread.  Several former (and future?) coaches return tonight as mentors which is an awesome and welcome surprise. Will Cee Lo, Gwen and Usher be able to shake up this competition? Let's get to the performances and find out. 

Artist: Hannah Kirby

Team: Blake

Song: "We Don't Need Another Hero" by Tina Turner

Hannah kicks off the Top 8 songs by doing a less shouty performance than last week, so I'm already thankful. It takes a ton of personality to take on a Tina song and Hannah is about 70% there. Her lower register is struggling during the opening verse but she's pretty spot on once she hits the chorus. The main part of the performance that I don't really care for is (don't hate me) the dancing children's choir. I think the performance would have been much stronger without the tiny sparkling jean jackets. Just me. 

Coaches Say: Xtina says Hannah had powerhouse vocals but encourages her to work on her lower register a bit more. Xtina also loved the kids. Pharrell likes that Hannah sings what she wants to sing and does what she wants to do every week. Adam says he was distracted at times by the adorable kids but tells Hannah she is always great. Blake thinks Hannah sang every syllable and note perfectly. Huh? What was he doing during the first 20 seconds of the song? 

-----------------------------------------------

Artist: Joshua Davis

Team: Adam

Song: "Fields of Gold" by Sting

Sting is getting some serious attention this season. I'm a huge fan of this song though and I'm also a huge fan of Joshua's version. This performance could have easily been snoozy, but Joshua sings beautifully and completely sells the story. Those eyes could also probably convince me of just about anything. 

Coaches Say: Blake says it's refreshing to see Joshua get back to what he's best at and tells Joshua that tonight's performance proves why he should still be here. Adam loves that Joshua did something completely different from the powerhouse vocalists and did so with class and elegance. Well, Joshua kind of had to do something different from the powerhouse vocalists since, you know, he's not a powerhouse vocalist. 

-----------------------------------------------

Artist: Kimberly Nichole

Team: Xtina 

Song: "Creep" by Radiohead

Hmmm. See, this song was covered brilliantly by Jena Irene on American Idol last year, so I'm slightly skeptical when the performance starts. However, Kimberly changes the arrangement, turning this into a theatrical performance, and it's freaking awesome. That stank face she gets when she really feels something should make audience members everywhere stop what's they're doing and watch her. Not just listen...but really watch her. This woman is amazing and in a class all of her own. Kimberly's performance tonight is one of the best in the many seasons of The Voice...maybe even THE best one.  

Coaches Say: Pharrell was standing in the first 30 seconds of the performance and the other coaches join him when it ends. Pharrell stands throughout his "critique" and tells Kimberly she had masterful control throughout the song. He seems emotional and I love him. Adam says Kimberly's version of "Creep" was dramatically different and it worked. Blake thinks this is the type of performance that should have taken months to perfect, and Xtina says Kimberly is an artist who embodies what the competition is about. 

-----------------------------------------------

Artist: Meghan Lindsay

Team: Blake

Song: "Something" by The Beatles

Meghan is excited to sing this song because it's about true love and she's currently in a happy relationship. The staging of the performance is really cool, but if she hadn't said she was in a happy relationship, I wouldn't have known it. She's got her "Girl Crush" face on and not so much an "I'm overjoyed and in love" disposition. The vocals, however, are crazy good and I want to see this woman in the finale. 

Coaches Say: Adam says the performance was awesome and calls her a badass. Blake thinks Meghan is classy and he also expects to see her in the finale. I'm glad we're on the same page. 

-----------------------------------------------

Artist: India Carney

Team: Xtina 

Song: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland

Ballsy. Following up Whitney Houston with one of the most iconic movie songs ever? You've got guts, lady. She starts off a capella and it's lovely. The piano comes in softly, then the strings, and then the big notes. Not all of them are perfect but the message is clear. India is pretty much living this song and I have zero complaints about her choosing it tonight. 

Coaches Say: Blake says the performance had magic in it and Xtina is happy to see India take on that song and embody it. She says the performance was gorgeous. 

-----------------------------------------------

Artist: Sawyer Fredericks

Team: Pharrell

Song: "Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd 

Sawyer branches out a bit this week and walks around the stage, greeting his fans and looking slightly uncomfortable. The band is overpowering at times as well but Sawyer's vocals and investment in the song never waiver. He's just so unique and so endearing that it's almost impossible not to root for him each week. 

Coaches Say: Adam loves the purity of Sawyer's voice, saying it doesn't need to be anything other than it is. Pharrell wants every Sawyer fan to vote tonight because he's a guy who inspires any teenager out there with big dreams who may be a little different. 

-----------------------------------------------

Artist: Corey Kent White

Team: Blake

Song: "When I See You Smile" by Bad English

I'm reliving my youth now and am ignoring the fact that Corey wasn't even alive when this song came out. Completely ignoring it. And it also doesn't matter exactly how old I was. Not even going to dwell on it. Corey is at a point in the competition where he has to do something pretty great and not rely on that adorable, cute, dreamy face of his to get him through to next week. This isn't it. He struggles vocally here and there and then doesn't actually get into the song at all until just before the last chorus. Bummer. 

Coaches Say: Adam says the performance was great but says the song was low for a little too long. Blake thinks this was Corey's best performance of the season and calls it the breakout moment he's been waiting for. Whaaaa? I love you Blake, but I couldn't disagree with you more. 

-----------------------------------------------

Artist: Koryn Hawthone

Team: Pharrell

Song: "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys

Woohoo! Koryn gets the pimp slot to close out the show tonight! In my mind she's totally earned it and this performance proves why. Koryn is a little too tense and shaky at times in the beginning of the song, but the build up to the second half of the performance probably had her so damn excited that she couldn't help herself. By the time she makes her way down those diva stairs and reaches center stage for the big finish, Koryn might as well be on fire herself (see what I did there?). What a great performance. I wouldn't have called it at the beginning of the season, but Koryn is quickly becoming a serious contender for the title.

Coaches Say: Everybody stands for Koryn and we're running out of time. Adam says Koryn has gone from a girl to a grown ass woman on the show. Xtina agrees, noting that at this point in the competition people either make it or break it. She says Koryn is thriving. Pharrell pleads for America to vote for his inspirational artist. 

-----------------------------------------------

And there you have it. The competition is starting to get fierce now and I have no doubt that we are going to start seeing some surprises in the bottom 3 in the next couple of weeks. I still think the women have the upper hand here with the guys trying like hell to keep up. Did Joshua do enough to keep himself out of stupid Twitter save territory? Does America agree with Blake on Corey's performance? Does America feel the same way I do about the kids in Hannah's performance? I guess we'll find out soon enough. Two more artists will go home in tomorrow's elimination hour and the Top 6 will be revealed. Til then!