The Voice: Here I Go Again On My Own

Well, loyal viewers of The Voice, we are two weeks away from the finale, and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited about the level of competition at this point. One coach, Xtina, has already been eliminated from the competition, and tonight we find out if any other coaches will join her in phoning in the rest of the season.

Results! This is an episode with 99% filler, so let’s just get to it. Team Blake and Team Cee-Lo can breathe a sigh of relief, because Team Adam has just been eliminated. I was not sorry to see Melanie Martinez go because I was honestly surprised she made it this far to begin with. Amanda Brown, however, is another story. I think she absolutely deserved to go through to the next round ahead of Trevin Hunte and Nicholas David for sure. Too bad Amanda – it would have been nice to see a contestant from the “Coaches Steal” twist make it to the finale.

Next Monday Team Blake and Team Cee-Lo will battle it out in the semi-finals. Do we anticipate a Team Blake showdown in the finale, or will Cee-Lo’s artists stand their ground? We’ll find out next week – til then!

The X Factor: On the Edge of...Something.

Tonight The X Factor's Top 6 contestant will sing for America's votes  twice. The first round will be "unplugged," and for Round 2, the viewers have made the song choice. More importantly, Khloe’s face matches her dress this evening, and my head already hurts. I don't know how much more of our hosts I can take, but we might as well get on with it.

 

 

Act: CeCe Frey

Team: Demi

Song: “Edge of Glory” by Lady Gaga

 

Oh my. This is my faaaaavorite Lady Gaga song. CeCe is worried tonight about not having a band or dancers to mask her vocals (should she have admitted that?). I actually really, really enjoy this. We’re back to “audition CeCe” who, back then, I thought could go all the way in this competition.

Judges Say: LA thinks he may have been wrong about CeCe and is starting to become a fan. Britney still hates her. Simon does not think CeCe is worth $5 million. Demi disagrees, saying this is one of CeCe’s best vocal performances. I am inclined to agree with Demi (what?).

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Act: Emblem3

Team: Simon

Song: “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars

According to the brown haired Emblem3 member with the hat (I don't know their names. Who does?), this song “is right up our alleyway.” The blond one with the hood is kind of playing the guitar, but clearly he should not be allowed to sing alone. Ohhhhh. This is not good. The solos aren’t good, the harmonies aren’t good…no more unplugged for them. Ever.

 

 

Judges Say: LA says it was pretty good and he was impressed by their harmony. WHAT!? Britney thinks this was their best performance. Best performance tonight? What is wrong with these people? Demi doesn’t think it was the best, but she does think the group is a downgrade from the Jonas Brothers five years ago. Simon tells her she is dumb and the guys are young and relevant.

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Act: Carly Rose Sonenclar

Team: Britney

Song: “As Long As You Love Me” by Justin Bieber

 

I’m not someone who has Bieber Fever. In fact, I avoid those people as if they are part of a zombie apocalypse. This song, however, and this performance are both fantastic, and for a brief moment....I wish I new the words so I can sing along. Is there anything this kid can't do?

 

Judges Say: LA loves that Carly showed restraint and this may have been her best performance. Demi says this was better than Justin’s version. Take THAT, Mr. Reid. Simon says that finding people like her is why he loves working in America. Brit Brit thinks the most impressive thing about Carly is how she makes each song her own. See, I think the most impressive thing about Carly is how freaking talented she is for someone so young.

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Act: Fifth Harmony

Team: Simon

Song: “Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele

 

LA continues to say this group does not sing harmony, and he angers me each time he talks about these girls. Unfortunately, this performance pretty much consists of all solos….so, how are they going to be able to prove him wrong? Sigh.

 

Judges Say: LA says he didn’t hear any harmony (weird). Tonight I have to agree. Britney said it was a nice rendition but she doesn’t understand what separates Fifth Harmony from other girl groups. Demi feels that a couple of girls should just be solo artists. Um, that's what they were trying to do before The X Factor put them into a group. Simon is not happy with LA and says the girls have worked hard and gave a great performance.

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Act: Diamond White

Team: Britney

Song: “It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World” by James Brown

 

Diamond delivers on this song with all sorts of attitude. I was not the biggest fan of her "dance number" last week, but I think she is back with a vengeance here. Sure, we saw her sing this song during the audition rounds but definitely not with as much gusto. Will she be criticized for not branching out?

 

Judges Say: LA says Diamond brought attitude this week and he liked it. Demi thought it was risky, but she pulled it off. Simon says the performance was a little screechy in parts and wish she had chosen a different song. Britney tells Diamond she killed it. I wouldn't go that far...

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Act: Tate Stevens

Team: LA

Song: “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi

 

This is LA's song choice for Tate, and it's just all wrong. Tate does not look comfortable with it, and he isn't really on the same page with his backup singers. Perhaps they shouldn’t be going so high on the chorus when Tate is singing so low? Sorry, cowboy - this just doesn't work for me.

 

 

Judges Say: Britney feels he is getting away from what he does best. Demi believes she will buy his album someday, but she was bored and disappointed by him not taking on the high notes. Simon tells Tate he needs to choose the material from now on. LA disagrees and says he did a great job.

 

 

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Act: CeCe Frey

Team: Demi

Song: “Part of Me” by Katy Perry

 

Leopard print face is back! Woohoo! I wonder how Ke$ha feels about this performance. All CeCe is missing are the over sized glasses and bottle of Jack. This is better than “Lady Marmalade” last week for sure, and her confidence is....admirable? Is she the best left in the competition? Nah. Is she often fun to watch? Definitely.

Judges Say: LA says it was a karaoke performance. Britney was very entertained and loved it. Wow! Simon says she was defiant throughout the performance. He also says if she goes home, he’ll miss her. Demi thinks if Britney, who is "the Princess of Pop," said CeCe did a good job, she must have done a good job. Faulty logic?

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Act: Emblem3

Team: Simon

Song: “Forever Young” by Alphaville

 

This is clearly why Emblem3 needs background music, lights and screaming girls. The performance comes off sooooo much better that way. I still don't think the buff one with blond hair needs to have a solo....for any reason, but at least when they perform this way I can see the appeal.  I don't love the performance, but it's better than their first.

 

Judges Say: LA thinks they nailed it, and Brit Brit says it was a superstar performance. Demi wishes they would work the stage more. Simon says Demi gives silly criticism, and Emblem3 has landed.

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Act: Carly Rose Sonenclar
Team: Britney
Song: “If I Were a Boy” by Beyonce
 
Love it. Posting it. I hope she wins it all. Seriously.

 

 

 

Judges Say: LA says as a fan, she never lets him down. Demi calls it a phenomenal vocal but wants to hear something more upbeat. Simon says Carly has had a phenomenal night tonight (phenomenal is a popular word this evening). Britney thinks Carly is the definition of The X Factor. Mario says “Carly is Gnarly,” and I die a little inside.

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Act: Fifth Harmony

Team: Simon

Song: “Give Your Heart a Break” by Demi Lovato

 

I’m not just saying this because Demi often annoys me with her commentary…I like this version better than Demi’s. I think this group can be just as relevant as Emblem3, and at this point, I actually prefer them. Simon would probably be better off investing his time with Fifth Harmony at this point. Well done, ladies.

 

Judges Say: LA says this was Fifth Harmony's best performance. Woohoo! Britney thinks the performance was very good. Demi says this should have been their song instead of hers. Yes! Simon believes Fifth Harmony is a legitimate girl group.

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Act: Diamond White

Team: Britney

Song: “Diamonds” by Rihanna

 

Diamond is singing “Diamonds” in a giant diamond coming down from the ceiling. I guess they were really concerned we wouldn’t remember what the song was called. I feel like Diamond is trying to sing “Diamonds” exactly like Rihanna, and unfortunately for Diamond, she is not from Barbados and has a hard time mimicking Rihanna's phrasing. Maybe we should call in Melanie Amaro?

 

Judges Say: LA did not love Diamond’s rendition of “Diamonds.” Demi believes she did the song justice. Simon thinks the production was amazing, but the second half of the song was better than the first. Brit Brit says the song was made for her. See what she did there?

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Act: Tate Stevens
Team: LA
Song: “If Tomorrow Never Comes” by Garth Brooks
 

Annnnnnd, we're back. This song is perfect for Tate, and this is the type of music he should be singing. I'm not sure why LA threw us for a loop earlier with the Bon Jovi song, but this is a great way to close the show.

 

Judges Say: Pretty much everyone welcomes Tate back to the competition (he had been gone for about an hour and a half), except for LA who never thought he left to begin with.

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This week's results show will feature another double elimination, and we are only two weeks away from the finale at this point. Any of the judges could be swept away from the competition tomorrow, but is it likely that each one will be represented in the Final Four? Can Demi's "Lovatics" and CeCe's "Warriors" keep her in another week? Will the touting of Emblem3 hurt Fifth Harmony? We'll find out tomorrow - til then!

The Voice: Just Enjoy the Show

Tonight’s episode of the voice will feature our Top 6 contestants performing twice - one song they chose and one song chosen by their coach (all coaches except for Xtina….she has no teammates remaining). She is ready to sit back and just watch the show (phone it in?) tonight, and she endorses Blake’s contestant, Cassadee Pope.  Enough filler. Let’s get going!

 

 

Contestant: Nicholas David

Team: Cee-Lo

Song: “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire

 

This was Cee-Lo’s song choice for Nicholas, and I can definitely see why he thinks this would be a good idea. However, Nicholas does not go for any of the higher notes, letting the backup singers take care of that portion, which I think is kind of a cop out. This is probably my least favorite performance of his.

 

Coaches Say: Adam says he wanted to hear Nicholas sing the chorus, but he is still a fan. Blake says Cee-Lo is the only person that turned around for Nicholas and that makes him feel dumb because Nicholas is so talented. Xtina wants to see Nicholas go a bit more adventurous, and I agree. Cee-Lo understands some of the coaches’ criticism, but he still loves Nicholas. Well, we didn’t think he loved Nicholas any less, did we?

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Contestant: Cassadee Pope

Team: Blake

Song: “Stand” by Rascal Flatts

 

I am a bit distracted by the glow sticks in the audience. Some of them are swaying, some fist pumping…there should have been a memo. Otherwise, I really like this performance, and she has really come a long way. Initially I was not a fan and had hoped she would be eliminated instead of others.. She is now a constant standout in the competition.

 

Coaches Say: Blake and Xtina give standing ovations. Xtina says Cassadee won her over (me too!) and she loves how Cassadee connects with her songs and the audience. Adam is a fan but wants to see something a little different from her. Blake is grateful that Cassadee took his song choice and made it her own.

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Contestant: Amanda Brown

Team: Adam

Song: “Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin

Amanda has had her ups and downs in this competition, and she is hoping to seal the deal on a Top 4 spot with this song. Her vocals are fantastic in this performance,  so much so that I could care less about the staging, the piano or the backup singers. They were all there and working hard, but this is allllll about Amanda.

 

Coaches Say: Blake says Amanda is a world class singer. Cee-Lo loves, appreciates and adores all women. He also enjoys her performance. Nothing from Xtina – looks like she has been drawing in her notebook. Adam gave Amanda a standing ovation and says this has the best she’s been since week 1.

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Contestant: Terry McDermott
Team: Blake

Song: “I Want to Know What Love Is”

 

Rocker Terry is going to strip this song down and sing just with a piano and cello. The extreme close-ups the cameras are doing are strange and unnecessary. Could he have killed this song with a full on band? Sure. But this is so vulnerable and so incredibly awesome. I love this guy.

 

Coaches Say: Blake and Xtina give a standing ovation. Xtina is really sucking up to Blake this week, saying Blake has the strongest team. She thinks Terry is amazing. Cee-Lo thinks it was a very strong, moving performance. Adam says it was a tough song and Terry slayed it. Blake wants America to know how hard it is to do what Terry just did with that “big violin thing.” Duly noted.

 

 

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Contestant: Trevin Hunte

Team: Cee-Lo

Song: “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves

 

Um, what? I get that Cee-Lo is trying to take him out of his comfort zone, but this doesn’t really work for me. I’m not sure he has the lyrics right in the first verse, and while I appreciate his energy, I just don’t think it was the right song.

 

Coaches Say: Adam thinks this was a genius move by Cee-Lo. Blake loves the moments when Trevin hits the big notes. Seems we still don’t care about Xtina, so Cee-Lo jumps in and says Trevin did a great job.

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Contestant: Melanie Martinez

Team: Adam

Song: “Crazy” by Gnarles Barkley

 

Taking on a coaches’ song is risky. Even more risky? Melanie sits next to and plays a miniature piano flanked by mannequins with guitars.  When she asks “Does that make me crazy?” I say “yes” out loud. This is weird, but oddly entertaining.  

 

Coaches Say: Xtina loved the props and says the lullaby tone was cool. Cee-Lo says Melanie has great taste in music and she did a great job. Adam thinks there were some pitch issues, but who cares? He said that. I mean, it’s just a singing competition...why worry about the vocals?

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Contestant: Terry McDermott

Team: Blake

Song: “Stay with Me” by Rod Stewart

 

Yessssssss. This is Blake’s pick for Terry, and it’s the perfect song choice. Terry has a lot of fun with it, working the stage and the crowd, and I really hope he makes it to the finale. I would buy his album in a heartbeat.

 

Coaches Say: Cee-Lo says Terry is “the real thing” when it comes to rock n’ roll. Adam thinks Terry is the most consistent singer in the competition. No pitch problems? Blake is blown away by the key Terry started the song in, saying Terry makes it look effortless.

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Contestant: Trevin Hunte

Team: Cee-Lo

Song: “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” Originally sung by Jennifer Holliday

 

Gutsy, but I like it. I much prefer this performance to Trevin’s first. The man is a powerhouse when he wants to be, and he sings the hell out of this song. Woo! Get it, Trevin.

 

I can’t go on without asking: remember when this happened on American Idol? I love Jennifer Holliday.

 

 

Coaches Say: Standing ovations from Cee-Lo and Xtina. Competition aside, Adam says he is just enjoying Trevin’s God given talent. Blake calls the performance a “two minute moment.” Xtina says the notes are all about emotion, and he is magical. She offers to take him on the road with her if he does not get a record deal. Cee-Lo hints that the competition is over, but I disagree.

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Contestant: Amanda Brown

Team: Adam

Song: “Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake

 

Amanda is hoping to have another “Dream On” moment with this song, but I’m not sure that is possible. I agree that it is time for another rock song though, and I love what she does with it. I don’t necessarily love the outfit she chose but the vocals are on, the dancers are a nice touch, and I know I would absolutely be rocking out if I were there right now.

 

Coaches Say: Xtina doesn’t know who the song is by, so I can’t listen to the rest of her critique. Cee-Lo thinks Amanda is as fierce as ever. Adam says she kicked everybody’s ass.

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Contestant: Melanie Martinez

Team: Adam

Song: “The Show” by Lenka

 

Adam wants Melanie to show a lighter side and enjoy herself. She is 17 after all. I don’t know this song at all, but luckily there are a ton of moving props to help me not listen to the song at all. What the hell is going on? Absurdity at its best? I don’t get it.

 

 

Coaches Say: Blake says it was definitely different. Xtina thinks the production value was cute, and then she calls Melanie out on not even looking at her during the critique. She then sings a lot of examples of how Melanie could sing. Ha! Cee-Lo enjoyed the performance because it was colorful and inventive. Adam is happy with the song choice and the performance and thought she pulled off a care-free vibe. But is that the vibe she needs to move forward?

 

 

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Contestant: Cassadee Pope

Team: Blake

Song: “I’m With You” by Avril Lavigne

 

Cassadee’s voice can be a dead ringer for Avril’s at times, so I worry that this song comes off as more of an Avril tribute than a Cassadee performance. Yeah, that’s pretty much what happens, but hey – she sounds damn good, and this IS a singing competition.

 

Coaches Say: Cee-Lo says Cassadee has an impressive track record and never ceases to amaze him. Adam says this was his favorite performance of hers. Blake tells us you can’t teach someone how to connect with a song or lyric, and she was blessed with being able to tell a story with music.

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Contestant: Nicholas David

Team: Cee-Lo

Song: “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland

 

Nicholas gets the pimp slot tonight, and he has taken on a big song. He starts off the song staying true to the melody then switches it up midway through. I really want to like this, but I can’t quite get there. It’s pleasant to listen to…but that’s all I got.

 

Coaches Say: Adam says he is genuinely a fan of Nicholas’ music. Blake says the performance was magic and beautiful. Cee-Lo thinks Nicholas did a wonderful job and thanks him for giving that performance.

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During the results show we lose 2 more contestants, and it’s possible for another coach to be knocked out of the competition completely. I agree with Xtina that Blake has the strongest team at this point. Should Adam and Cee-Lo be scared? We’ll find out tomorrow. Til then!