Welcome to the semi-finals! Tonight the Top 8 contestants have to leave it all on the table in order to snag a spot in the 4 person finale. Team Blake remains fully in tact, Alicia and Gwen each have 2 contestants remaining, and Team Adam has been left with one man standing. Will any of these hopefuls have that "moment" they all long for tonight? Let's get to the performances and find out.
Artist: Hunter Plake
Team: Gwen
Song: "With Or Without You" by U2
Kicking off the show tonight, Hunter is performing song that had to have been a challenge to obtain permission to use. Instead of flipping this song to put a Hunter spin on it, he sticks to the original arrangement and seems to do his best Bono impression. The performance is fine and Hunter sounds great, but I miss the old Hunter. I feel like tonight was the night to really shake things up, ya know?
Coaches Say: Blake says this was Hunter's best vocal performance. Alicia felt totally swept away and Adam liked Hunter's classic take on the song. Gwen wants America to realize how talented Hunter is and says he has heart and personality. She thinks the performance was incredible.
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Artist: TSoul
Team: Blake
Song: "Ain't No Way" by Aretha Franklin
Blake says TSoul is swinging for the fence this week and really...taking on an Aretha song is almost swinging for the parking lot. Covering a female artist for the first time this season, TSoul doesn't hold anything back with this performance. At times I feel like his runs are a little much, but it's not like Aretha Franklin is big on subtlety either. All in all I feel like this guy has done enough to earn himself a finale spot.
Coaches Say: This song is one of Alicia's all time favorites. She says TSoul has a showmanship about him and she really likes it. Blake congratulates TSoul and tells him he's soooo proud of him.
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Artist: Brennley Brown
Team: Gwen
Song: "Suds In the Bucket" by Sara Evans
Tonight Brennley tackles a song that forces her to have fun and it's about time. She works the stage, smiles, belts, and really enjoys herself. Brennley tells this story with sass and I love it. There are a few vocal issues in the verses, but man I really hope this kid is still around next week.
Coaches Say: Blake loved seeing Brennley's personality come through and feels like first the first time we were watching a 15 year old tonight. Gwen is a little teary and says Brennley was brave and did a great job.
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Artist: Lauren Duski
Team: Blake
Song: "Ghost In This House" by Shenandoah
Lauren is back to the storytelling ballads tonight and this story is a sad one. The stage is fogged, the other musicians on stage are all dressed in white, and Lauren is in kind of an off-white dress making the whole vibe very somber. She sounds great once again, emotes, and has me memorized from start to finish. I think she has had better performances throughout the season, but this should get her to the finale, right?
Coaches Say: Adam thinks that simplicity and grace seem to be going out of style and he loves that Lauren's performances are pure and genuine. Blake tells Lauren that what she just did was monumental and he can't wait to see how country music fans react on iTunes.
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Artist: Chris Blue
Team: Alicia
Song: "Take Me To the King" by Tamela Mann
Chris is returning to his church roots tonight and wants to show America the side of him that makes him feel like he's home. He sings this song at the top of a box with screens that have rolling clouds that change color over time. I'll be honest and say I'm taken in from the very first note. This performance is emotional and wonderful and I'm clapping long before the choir even comes out on stage to join Chris for the final chorus. Best of the night so far. This guy is on track to win it all next week.
Coaches Say: Seems everyone stands but Adam. Gwen and Alicia are emotional, but not half as emotional as Chris. Poor guy keeps pacing on stage to collect himself. Alicia doesn't even sit down as she commends him for everything he just did. "You just got out of your way and let the Source come through you and it was so moving."
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Artist: Vanessa Ferguson
Team: Alicia
Song: "Superstar" by Luther Vandross
Vanessa is looking to bounce back from her stint in the bottom 3 last week and do this song justice. She's in a classy, gorgeous gown tonight and looks a little teary right from the first line of the song. The arrangement is awesome, the performance builds, and it's all just wonderful to watch. I'm torn on Vanessa. Going into tonight I pretty much had my mind made up on the final four. She is not one of my original picks but I'll never argue she didn't earn a spot if she gets one.
Coaches Say: Alicia "woos" a lot and says she was losing her mind because we saw Vanessa completely tonight. I love Alicia. So. Much.
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Artist: Jesse Larson
Team: Adam
Song: "I Was Wrong" by Chris Stapleton
Team Adam's lone contestant brought his wife to rehearsals this week because she just told him he's about to be a daddy! Aww. Tonight he takes on a song that reminds him of his dad who passed away just over a year ago. Jesse's connection to this song allows him to give his best performance to date. He may have just peaked at exactly the right time.
Coaches Say: Adam says Jesse is "the best we've got" and I can't listen to the rest of it.
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Artist: Aliyah Moulden
Team: Blake
Song: "I Can Only Imagine" by MercyMe
After Aliyah's emotional performance last week, she gets the closing slot tonight (no pressure) and she and Blake have chosen a big song to end the show. This one got to me. I don't think I was emotional because of the message of the song or the choir or the big beautiful set. I cried watching the joy on this kid's face as she sang (and believed) this song. The way she lit up when other kids took the stage? Stick a fork in me. Bravo.
Coaches Say: Blake says he has been with the show in 2011 hoping he would someday be able to work with someone like Aliyah. "You are the model Voice contestant, bar none, that we have ever seen on this show."
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There were some duets tonight as well this evening with Chris and Vanessa taking on "If I Ain't Got You." I sure as hell would be intimidated to be on Team Alicia singing Alicia's song in front of Alicia, but these two made it look easy. Aliyah and Hunter paired up for a lovely version of James Bay's "Let It Go" and Jesse and TSoul joined forces for a funky (in a good way) performance of "I Wish." The final duet and best of the night had to be Lauren and Brennley's collaboration on "Good-Hearted Woman." I LOVE these two singing together. If neither of them take the title this season, they should totally consider becoming a duo.
Tomorrow night is the semi-finals slaughter where half of these artists will be eliminated. My picks (and hopes) for the final four are Lauren, Chris, TSoul and Brennley, but really it's anyone's game at this point. These folks are almost evenly matched across the board after tonight so I have a feeling tomorrow will be nerve-wracking! Will one or more teams be completely ousted from the competition? We'll find out during the elimination hour. Til then!
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