We are inching closer to the finale at this point and there are nine artists remaining in the competition. The stakes are high for Team Pharrell tonight as Hannah is the only member of the team remaining. Team Xtina and Team Blake remain untouched and Team Adam is still hanging in there with two contestants. Will the tides take a dramatic turn after tonight? Let's take a look at the performances.
Team: Blake
Artist: Paxton Ingram
Song: "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" by Whitney Houston
Why? Just why? If you're going to take a big risk and sing a Whitney song...pick one of the songs with a payoff! Paxton sucks the fun out of this song by removing anything dance-y and performing it under lighting reminiscent of a Kenny G concert. There are some questionable notes and dude never leaves his tiny platform. Not sure how he'd ever "feel the heat" that way.
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Team: Xtina
Man I hope the performances start getting better soon. Fresh off of the Stupid Twitter Save, Nick is looking to put his own spin on this Drake song and win back the voters he needed after last week's performance show. While I do appreciate the acoustic opening, I can't appreciate the shirt he's wearing or the moments where his voice disappears in the low notes. He better watch himself with that song title...
Coaches Say: Pharrell tells Nick he has a tendency to sing a little bit "thin" but thinks his performance got stronger when he put the guitar down. Adam thought the performance was really cool and Xtina says Nick pulled out all the stops tonight. K.
Team: Pharrell
Team: Blake
Artist: Mary Sarah
Song: "My Church" by Maren Morris
So Mary Sarah is taking on another song I'm not familiar with tonight and I'm not sure how gospel-y it's supposed to be. She's kind of laid back throughout the performance and it seems like Mary Sarah's backup singers are giving the song more power than she is. This is just okay for me - I think Mary Sarah has had far better performances than "My Church."
So Mary Sarah is taking on another song I'm not familiar with tonight and I'm not sure how gospel-y it's supposed to be. She's kind of laid back throughout the performance and it seems like Mary Sarah's backup singers are giving the song more power than she is. This is just okay for me - I think Mary Sarah has had far better performances than "My Church."
Coaches Say: Pharrell starts by saying Mary Sarah had more freedom to emote tonight and have fun. Adam agrees, saying this was her best performance so far. I think I'm taking part in opposite day and no one told me. Blake is so happy for his contestant and says tonight is Mary Sarah's "moment."
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Team: Xtina
Artist: Nick Hagelin
Song: "Hold On We're Going Home" by Drake
Man I hope the performances start getting better soon. Fresh off of the Stupid Twitter Save, Nick is looking to put his own spin on this Drake song and win back the voters he needed after last week's performance show. While I do appreciate the acoustic opening, I can't appreciate the shirt he's wearing or the moments where his voice disappears in the low notes. He better watch himself with that song title...
Coaches Say: Pharrell tells Nick he has a tendency to sing a little bit "thin" but thinks his performance got stronger when he put the guitar down. Adam thought the performance was really cool and Xtina says Nick pulled out all the stops tonight. K.
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Team: Pharrell
Artist: Hannah Huston
Song: "Say You Love Me" by Jessie Ware
Pharrell's last remaining is not going down without a fight. Hannah's challenge tonight is not only to deliver the vocals, but also really deliver the heartbreaking story the song is telling. Consider that challenge met. Hannah's performance is subtle but totally on point. I'm sold on every word she is singing and I think the presumed front runners of this competition have just been put on notice.
Pharrell's last remaining is not going down without a fight. Hannah's challenge tonight is not only to deliver the vocals, but also really deliver the heartbreaking story the song is telling. Consider that challenge met. Hannah's performance is subtle but totally on point. I'm sold on every word she is singing and I think the presumed front runners of this competition have just been put on notice.
Coaches Say: Blake says this was Hannah's best performance of the season and tells her she looks like a superstar. Xtina sees so much growth and confidence in Hannah and thinks the song gave Hannah power when she needed it and vulnerability when it counted most. I couldn't agree more. Pharrell tells Hannah she was amazing and says the dynamics Hannah used tonight made her a great storyteller.
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Team: Adam
Artist: Shalyah Fearing
Song: "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke
First and foremost, thank you Adam for not having Shalyah sing "No More Drama" this week. I was sooo not looking forward to that. Instead Adam gives her this huge song by Sam Cooke and I'm not sure she's ready for it. You know when the coaches' advice in the pre-performance package consists of "this song is not about you singing perfectly," chances are there are some pitch problems on the way. There are. Lots. However, the kid has some bright moments too and throws herself into the song so much that I think she definitely deserves a spot in the Top 8.
First and foremost, thank you Adam for not having Shalyah sing "No More Drama" this week. I was sooo not looking forward to that. Instead Adam gives her this huge song by Sam Cooke and I'm not sure she's ready for it. You know when the coaches' advice in the pre-performance package consists of "this song is not about you singing perfectly," chances are there are some pitch problems on the way. There are. Lots. However, the kid has some bright moments too and throws herself into the song so much that I think she definitely deserves a spot in the Top 8.
Coaches Say: Blake thinks this performance brings her back to the amazing moments she had during the playoffs and says she did great. Xtina loved how the song started off but thinks Shalyah still needs to work on her lower register. Adam reminds us that Shalyah is 16 (thanks) and says that she feels everything that she sings.
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Team: Adam
Artist: Laith Al-Saadi
Song: "We've Got Tonight" by Bob Seger
Laith brings back his musicianship from last week but goes with a song that has more singing and less focus on any musical instrument. He also chooses a tender ballad that showcases his voice perfectly. I love that Laith ditched the guitar tonight and gave us some serious vulnerability. The tears his girlfriend is shedding in the audience says it all. Love this guy.
Laith brings back his musicianship from last week but goes with a song that has more singing and less focus on any musical instrument. He also chooses a tender ballad that showcases his voice perfectly. I love that Laith ditched the guitar tonight and gave us some serious vulnerability. The tears his girlfriend is shedding in the audience says it all. Love this guy.
Coaches Say: Pharrell says America needs to vote him through every week because he is a contender, and Adam tells Laith that his voice filled the room and the mood was so beautiful throughout the performance.
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Team: Blake
Artist: Adam Wakefield
Song: "Love Has No Pride" by Bonnie RaittAdam answers Laith's lovely piano performance with his own and does so in front of a string of flames. He gives us the passion we are used to at this point and this is another solid performance. I'm not sure that we're seeing anything different from Adam tonight though, so in terms of tickling the ivory, I think Laith had the better performance.
Coaches Say: Pharrell and Blake are on their feet pretty quickly. Xtina calls the performance fiery (see what she did there?) and Blake says this was Adam's best performance so far.
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Team: Xtina
Artist: Alisan Porter
Song: "Cryin'" by Aerosmith
One of my favorite The Voice contestants ever is performing one of my favorite songs ever. I should be thrilled right? Unfortunately my level of excitement dwindles throughout the performance as my beloved Alisan really just starts screaming at me...and not awesome Steven Tyler type screaming. Just screaming. Sigh. Alisan is definitely still my fave but this was not one of her better performances.
One of my favorite The Voice contestants ever is performing one of my favorite songs ever. I should be thrilled right? Unfortunately my level of excitement dwindles throughout the performance as my beloved Alisan really just starts screaming at me...and not awesome Steven Tyler type screaming. Just screaming. Sigh. Alisan is definitely still my fave but this was not one of her better performances.
Coaches Say: The place is going crazy! Pharrell thinks Alisan tapped into her inner rock star tonight and Xtina says Alisan is a superstar.
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Team: Xtina
Artist: Bryan Bautista
Song: "1 + 1" by Beyonce
Bryan gets the pimp slot tonight and closes out the show with a sexy number by Beyonce. Xtina wants him to attack this song "full throttle" and he definitely does. I think Bryan is really coming into his own in this competition. When we reached the Top 12 I really thought his days were limited, but he might be peaking at just the right time.
Bryan gets the pimp slot tonight and closes out the show with a sexy number by Beyonce. Xtina wants him to attack this song "full throttle" and he definitely does. I think Bryan is really coming into his own in this competition. When we reached the Top 12 I really thought his days were limited, but he might be peaking at just the right time.
Coaches Say: Xtina and Pharrell give him a standing ovation and we are running out of time. Adam says Bryan sounds effortless when he reaches his upper register and Xtina reallllllly wants Beyonce to do a duet with Bryan. Your move Queen Bey.
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Tonight we also witnessed the premiere of Gwen and Blake's new song "Go Ahead and Break My Heart." I'll admit that I've grown tired of their PDA and the way they gush over one another...but I do like the song. Maybe the couple's cuteness will also give Team Blake a boost tonight. Can he hold on to all three of his peeps? Will Paxton's misfire put him in the bottom 2? Will Nick's pitchy performance put him in danger? Will Beyonce actually duet with Bryan? My guess is no, but we'll find out who goes home tomorrow during the elimination hour. Til then!
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