The Voice 11 Live Blog and Recap Blind Auditions 2 VIDEOS

Host Carson Daly is back to keep things moving. Also returning to The Voice are veteran coaches Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. But for the first time ever, the panel will be an equal mix of males and females as Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys join the group.

Here we go. Night 2. 

Sa’Rayah – 28- Drown in My Own Tears by Ray Charles/Aretha Franklin – She’s a single mother from Chicago and was raised in the notorious project, Cabrini Green. Her mother was a crack addict, but eventually got sober and they moved to the suburbs. She plays gigs, working to make music a full time career. Girlfriend’s got a STRONG voice with an incredible range. Miley and Alicia turn. She’s got a few tuning issues here and there, but she’s got a fierce growl and sings with a ton of passion. Adam and Blake don’t turn because they believe she belongs to Alicia. So now the women will battle it out. “Music is the ability to share truth, the right the real!” declares Alicia. Miley promises she’ll work hard if Sa’Rayah chooses her team. Wow! Sa’Rayah Chooses Team Miley! I wasn’t expecting that at all.  “She’s out of the box,” she says about Miley. “That’s what I’m about.” – Download From iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6keiMS-0Mw

Ethan Tucker – Roxanne by The Police – After convincing the Steve Miller Band he was the opening act, Ethan played a 45 minute set. Ballsey! He’s got ambitioun and confidence. When thevsinger’s not on the road, he takes care of his elderly grandma. He’s amping up the reggae flavor on this classic. I’m not sure about the fake Jamaican accent? It’s contrived. But he’s got an appealing gravelly rasp. At the last minute Adam and Blake hit their buttons. Alicia wanted to hear more in his voice. Adam believes he has chops. Blake loved the touch of jazz he brought to his arrangement. Blake brags about his major Ska connections. Wink. Wink. Ethan Picks Team Gwen! Erm I mean Team Blake. Ha Ha. Blake laughs in Adam’s face. – Download From iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djrdby7-h1M

Katie Colosimo – 22 – Stone Cold – She works at a doggie daycare in Nashville. She’s a Belmont grad. She’s been doing the Nashville grind since she graduated. She’s nervous, a little wobbly, but a solid big voiced singer. Nobody turns. The look on her face at the end. Poor thing. Adam felt the performance was uncontrolled. Miley says to work the pitch. Alicia urges her to keep growing. – No Turns

Wé McDonald – 17 – Feeling Good – OH HEY. Wé was previewed in the Post-Olympic special which aired in August. Click for that.  Here’s what I wrote: Miley is the first coach to turn, then everyone else in short order. Well, Adam is last, actually. Wé sings with a burnished, muscular alto. She’s got a very unusual quality to her voice. But then, her speaking voice turns out to be MUCH higher pitched than her vocal! Interesting. I’m intrigued. Miley says, “You are a total star!” Alicia calls the singer beautiful and perfect. Wé reveals she was bullied in school. “You’ve got a friend in all of us!” declares Miley. Blake says he’d do anything to be her coach! The family claps at that. Heh. Adam calls her performance “remarkable.” He’ll throw her a party if he chooses her! “You came to this show to meet me! I’m not playing,” insists Alicia. “I don’t want to be like anyone else. I don’t want YOU to be like anyone else.” Wé’s family joins her onstage at this point. Alicia has game! And of course, Wé Chooses Team Alicia She picked Alicia because “everything felt honest and real.” –  Download From iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSTw1Eji7B8

Andrew DeMuro – 25 – Vienna by Billy Joel – He quit a job teaching to pursue music full time. He’s a huge Billy Joel fan and convinced the icon to duet with him at a college Q&A. A Billy Joel wannabe, Andrew needs to sped time figuring out who he is as an artist.  Adam turns first and then Blake at the last minute. His vocal was rough and he didn’t embody the emotion well. No wonder the girls didn’t turn. Adam notes character in his voice. Blake plays the “I know how to win” angle. The two battle with hands raised, like school children. Blake says Adam’s track record sucks! Nevertheless Andrew Chooses Team Adam –  Download From iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNuAHV3nQ2M

Billy Gilman – 28 – When We Were Young by Adele – Sony signed Billy at 10 years old. And as you all know, “One Voice” was a hit for him at 12. He was the youngest country singer to have a Top 40 hit. After his voice changed, Sony dropped him. He moved back to Rhode Island. Then, he had to come to grips with being gay. His parents are SUPER SUPPORTIVE. “We stick with him, we love him,” his dad says tearfully. Billy chokes up. As he came to grips with his sexuality, Billy figured out he wanted to sing pop rather than. Switching to pop is probably his best option as an openly gay artist, sadly. Click for Billy’s Preview His voice is so pure! When he hits a high note, Miley turns. Blake and Alicia turn at the last minute. 4 chair turn! Miley wants to help Billy make the transition. CLIFFHANGER. Back from break. Billy Chooses Team Adam. See? During his package he was all about Team Miley.  –  Download From iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkJrShaOaz0

Natalie Vincent –  Hold Back the River – Her sister passed from Sickle cell. It runs in her family. The loss was huge. She gathered the courage to sing at her funeral.  There are pitch and breath issues and she whiffs the high note. Aw. She’s nervous. The coaches don’t turn. She knows she messed up. Adam and Miley take the stage to give her a big hug. They encourage her to come back and try again. “I get scared,” says Adam. “We all get scared.” Alicia congratulates Natalie on her bravery. – No Turns

Sophia Urista – Come Together by The Beatles – Sophia works a burlesque show in New York City. She was pre-med! Carson traveled all the way to NYC to interview her. She must be good. ROCKER CHICK! She’s got some odd vocal inflections. It’s a bit distracting? Miley and Alicia turn. I could imagine Sophia fronting a rock band. She’s got presence and power and SWAG. Important stuff. Blake found her growly voice intimidating. Alicia believes that as a team, they can continue to scare the men in the world. Alicia makes comparisons to Janis Joplin and Tina Turner. Miley calls her a “rock n roll Dolly Parton.” Miley rolls a video of Dolly commanding hopefuls to choose her goddaughter! And that did the trick.  Sophia Chooses Team Miley –  Download From iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQFqGmvU8dY

Brendan Fletcher – 26 – Jolene by Ray Lamontagne – Brendan is also a New Yorker. Carson interviews him in the bar where he works. He’s been in at least 12 bands and played a ton of genres,  But has gone solo recently. It’s now or never, he says. The singer’s rootsy voice is filled with emotion. There are some marked similarities to Ray. Brendan needs to forge his own path. Three chairs turn–but not from Blake. I’m a little surprised. Alicia sees his authenticity and says she can help the singer reach the pinnacle. “I think you’re radical,” says Miley. “This voice can be The Voice!” Adam insists, explaining that singing “8,000 notes” isn’t necessary to win.  Sawyer Fredericks anyone? Hopefully Adam will allow him to take a few risks.  Brendan Chooses Team Adam –   Download From iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRj7QYKbodE

Dan Shafer – 56 – Marry Me by Train – The oldest in the competition, Dan used to sing commercial jingles But when his son was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, he put music aside forva good job and medical insurance. He works in a cover band, currently. The coaches will be shocked when they turn. He doesn’t sound like his age at all.  His falsetto is beautiful! He’s taken care of his voice over the years. Very nice tone. He coulda been a stah in the 80s. Blake turns and he literally does a double take. Adam regrets not turning and compliments his tenderness. Miley shares that her dad got off the road after she was born. Blake notes how young he sounds. Only Team Blake Turns –  Download From iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aSc2PwYP1A

Lauren Diaz – 24 – If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys – She’s a vocal teacher who travels from home to home providing private lessons for students. She and her boyfriend have a son. Lauren is OBSESSED with Alicia and idolizes her. She won “World’s Most Talented Kids” years ago and of course, nothing happened afterward. Alicia immediately SMACKS her button “SING SING!” she yells. Lauren is elated. Miley turns too. Uh oh. Blake turns at the last minute. That girl has a powerful voice. She breaks down in tears afterward. Alicia hugs her. Adam and Miley realize it’s over. Blake is still gonna fight for her, though. “The sky is blue, the grass is green, this girl is on Alicia’s team!” says Adam. Blake don’t care. Alicia won’t accept her choosing anyone else. To make her point, she sings the song back to Lauren. “If I Ain’t Got You Lauren…!” No brainer. Lauren Chooses Team Alicia “She’s singing the song better than me!” says Alicia. AND THEN HER BOYFRIEND PROPOSES BACKSTAGE SO YEAH. Happiness all around. – Download From iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wikX3P4eBbQ