The Voice 8 Recap Blind Auditions #2 Live Blog and VIDEOS

We’re live blogging the 2nd night of The Voice 8. Tonight, it’s The Blind Auditions #2. Will Adam Levine finally lure a contestant on to his team? Join the discussion below.

Maybe a four hour premiere week is too much, because halfway through tonight’s show, I really wanted it to be over. And I didn’t feel that way last night at all. Or maybe it was the talent. Tonight’s best were first and last–soul crooner, Anthony Riley and pop chanteuse, Deanna Johnson, respectively. In between those two there was a whole lotta meh.

Pharrell is doing his thang, charming singers on to his team. Let’s just hope that he learned from his early defeat last season, and will be a better coach. Because, like last year, he’s kicking off with an awesome team of singers. He’s got the best team so far. But if history repeats itself, he’ll fritter away his talent, and be left with nothing. Blake has the second best team. And since he’s in it to win it, Pharrell better watch out. Poor Adam. His team so far is pitiful (Deanna, notwithstanding). Next week is four hours as well, so hold on to your hats, kids.

Anthony Riley – “I Got You (I Feel Good) – This Philadelphia boy loves his motown. He’s been singing constantly all of his life. Just ask his family. His dad, a train conductor, suggested that he busk. It’s a tough gig, but sometimes the energy is amazing. He was arrested once for disturbing the peace! He’s won Best of Philly top street performer. This dude knows how to win a crowd over. Can he win over the coaches? He got 4 turns almost immediately with his butter rich take on this James Brown classic. Oooh. He’s got a nice rasp and he knows how to use it. Also: DANCE MOVES. Very entertaining. All 4 coaches give him a standing ovation. Blake realizes he may be in over his head. Ya think Blake?. Christina is impressed with the way he works the audience. She thinks they can make magic. Pharrell loves soul music and is certain he can help Anthony. Adam insists he’s already got a plan to bring Anthony to the end. Anthony chooses Pharrell, which isn’t a surprise. I figured either him or X Tina. He decided on Pharrell because of his pedigree as a genius songwriter and producer. Anthony chooses Pharrell

http://youtu.be/f9gAl7ir8qo

Gabrielle Wolfchild – 26 – “Don’t Think Twice” – Is it mean that I’m kinda laughing at this guy and his hippy dippy family? The parents are such flower children, that they allow their kids to choose their own names at some event called the “Rainbow Gathering.” His brother goes by “Lion Trutheart.” His parents run a non-denominational church. He describes his music as “indie folk.” Gabrielle’s voice isn’t outstanding, but he does put a completely unique spin on this Bob Dylan chestnut. He’s a good arranger. But the old school folk vibe seems very limiting. Pharrell didn’t think he had a chance, so he didn’t turn. Adam, getting desperate, is babbling now, professing his love for Gabrielle. He’s totally lost his mojo. Blake summons the perfect come on line: Gabrielle doesn’t sing into people’s ears, he sings into their hearts. Whoa. Gabrielle confesses he WOULD have chosen Pharrell if he turned around. Christina promises that she’ll get to know Gabrielle so well, that she’ll tailor a plan just for him. That wins him over. Gabrielle chooses Christina.

http://youtu.be/3qywmIJbeBs

Christina gives her fellow coaches hippie names. Blake is Inbred Moonshine, Pharrell, Happy Gray Hat and Adam, Little Man Child

Brooke Adee – 16 – “Skinny Love” – Seeing the musical, Annie, when she was a kid turned her on to performing. There aren’t many music programs at her high school, so she sings at local restaurants. The family moved from Georgia to Florida because of her mom’s Lupus. This girl is surprising. She has a mature, confident presentation. Her tone is pure and pitch perfect and she knows how to phrase a song. Her emotional delivery is convincing. She definitely has potential. Only Blake and Adam turned, so this should be good. “YOU’RE DEAD” says Adam to Blake. Brooke is in tears. Blake loved her pitch, and the little yodel in her voice. She’s a future star! “You guys remind me of Tom and Jerry” says Brooke. Adam called her performance amazing. He thinks she could win. The crowd is shouting BLAKE BLAKE BLAKE as he instructed them to do while Adam was taking a leak. Heh. OMG BROOKE PICKS BLAKE. ADAM IS STILL SHUT OUT. She chose Blake because she admires his coaching. Brooke picks Blake.

http://youtu.be/u5TCMHN8Ygc

Adam Levine STILL HAS NO TEAM MEMBERS.

Dylan Dunlap – 18 – “Talk Dirty” – His dad is a film composer. Financially there for him, but not emotionally. He was at Berklee when his dad decided not to pay for his schooling. He busked to make money, and that’s where someone from The Voice found him. Really? He flips the Jason DeRulo song, which Pharrell co-wrote, accompanying himself on a small travelers guitar. He’s pretty good. Why is no one turning around? I would have turned around for that guy. He had some pitch problems, but he has a great tone and is obviously musical. Adam thought he lacked control. Pharrell liked his vibrato, but feels he needs more discipline. Christina could feel his body jerking with his guitar. Next time, leave the guitar at home, she says. They’ve turned for worse, so I don’t get it.

Tonya Boyd-Cannon – 35 – “Happy” – She came up singing in the church. She works at a prison and leads the choir comprised of inmates getting ready to be discharged. She is inspired by the stories of the men she works with. A New Orleans native, she and her husband lost EVERYTHING in Katrina. She cries talking about it. Her performance doesn’t liven up until near the end, which is why it takes Christina and Pharrell a bit to turn. Adam, who still has no team members, hits his button quick. Christina calls the performance fun, but I thought it was mostly pretty boring. Pharrell loved the run at the end. Adam’s pitch? “It makes no sense at all to go with me, which is why you should.” Wut? What the hell kind of reason is THAT?” says Blake, chastising the audience for clapping. Oh. Result after the break! She picks Adam. Which makes so little sense, that I have to wonder if the producers nudged her in Adam’s direction. Tonya claims that she is attracted to Adam’s “risk taking.” Tonya chooses Adam

http://youtu.be/neVeA9kCPb0

Joe Tolo – 21 – “To Love Somebody” – He’s American Samoan and the youngest of 8 children. They all play instruments. His parents are divorced. He cries as he recounts how his dad abandoned them. He did some The Voice Camp thing with Extra. That’s how he got on the show. Christina turns first. His pitch is all over the place. He gets Blake to turn around with a high note. Bleh. That was a sleepy, pitch impaired performance. Not impressed. Even Adam wasn’t desperate enough to turn. Blake thought it should have been a four chair turn. Nope. Christina asks him to sing a high note and she joins in. Blake is definitely out of luck here. He pulls the “I’m a winner” card. But it’s not enough. Joe Chooses Christina

http://youtu.be/A72IrdCK3RA

Drew Parker – 23 – “Workin Man Blues” – He’s from a small Georgia town. He wanted to be a ball player, but turned to music. Now, he’s working as a medical tech. He loves to help people. Nobody is turning! He’s not bad, but nothing special either. You could find a ton of guys like that in bars all over America. The break in his voice at the end of his song probably sealed his fate. Blake didn’t like that he turned a Merle Haggard classic into a party song. Xtina and Pharrell were looking for something unique. There was definitely a “the lights are on but nobody’s home” vibe going on with that guy.

Mia Z – 15 – “The Thrill is Gone – She comes from a family of musicians in Pittsburgh and at the tender age of 15 leads a blues band. She really wants Christina to turn. Blake is the first to hit his button. When she hits a crazy high note, she gets Pharrell’s attention. Aw. No Christina. She regrets not turning after she learns Mia’s age and where she’s from. Blake loves her wide range. Adam thinks she’s a bit affected, and I agree with him. She’s still a young girl imitating other singers. Pharrell thinks the thrill…is right here! She loves the blues. Blake reminds her that the blues and country are first cousins. Pharrell promises he can take what she does to the next level. And Mia chooses Pharrell.

http://youtu.be/zoaB7jY2zv8

Blaze Johnson – 23 – “How to Save a Life”- He moved to Columbus from Nassau with his family when he was a kid. It was tough. Adam turns first. Ohh. Pitchy stuff all over the place. He’s got some nice rasp on his upper end, but his lower register is weak. I’m not impressed. Blake turns, so this will be a little battle. Blake is impressed that he gives everything he’s got. Adam loves him because he exists outside the box. – Blaze chooses Adam

http://youtu.be/_cCtEn1vFZ4

Bryan Pierce – 39 – “Rocket Man” – His dad left the family when he was two and his mother raised him in poverty. They pitched tents and ate out of garbage cans. He worked construction for awhile, and now he hosts karaoke. Nobody turns around for his performance, because his shouty singing is consistently under pitch. This is rough. Dude is going to have to go back to construction, sadly. The coaches think he did some things well, but struggled with his transitions.

Deanna Johnson – 18 – “All I Want” – She auditioned for Season 5, but got no chairs to turn. She was very nervous and inexperienced at the time. She struggled initially after her rejection, but eventually she began singing again in church. Dad, also a musician, has been working with her, helping her confidence. I don’t remember her from last time. But here, she sings with assurance. She’s got a lovely, lilting alto, but she’s got grit too. Gorgeous phrasing. This time, it’s a four chair turn. “There’s nobody in the world to compare you to,” says Blake, laying on that hyperbole. Also “You’t not bad looking.” What is that supposed to mean? He likes her boots, though. Christina demonstrates her ability to speak with an accent, just like Blake. Pharrell approaches her like a southern gentleman, hat off. “I wasn’t here,” he says of her last audition, “I wouldn’t have let you get by.” Christina says she owns it like a rock star. Adam’s goal is to make her better. Deanna Chooses Adam.

http://youtu.be/KZkFoCfpMDM

Adam finally has a good one. Deanna says she ALMOST chose Blake.

The teams so far!

Team Adam