The Voice – Blind Auditions Part 2 – Recap and VIDEOS

I finally sat down and really watched this show for the very first time (only caught the videos last week) and I think Mark Burnett shot his wad talent-wise last week. Really, Adam, the talent you pass up on the Voice is only good enough for American Idol?

This show is gimmicks and bigger production values. The talent is no better than what you find on Idol. In fact, there are so many plants and retreads (and a few Idol rejects. Last week there was Frenchie, this week there was Emily Valentine who called herself Emily Wynn Hughes during Idol season 8. She only made it as far as Hollywood) that there is a slight whiff of desperation in the air you mostly don’t find on Idol.

The judges are the best thing on this show. Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton have fantastic chemistry and are really fun to watch.  The competition between the teams will likely be the most interesting aspect of The Voice. But from my perspective, if the talent is dull, I will eventually lose interest because ultimately, these shows succeed on the talent of the contestants.

Lukas Rossi the winner of the second season of Rock Star reportedly auditioned and was rejected, but we never got to see that.

Live blog and VIDEOS after the JUMP…

I’ll be live blogging The Voice HERE! Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton pick more contestants for their individual teams

Cherie Oaklie – Nashville TN 29 – Gunpowder and Lead by Miranda Lambert – She toured with Carrie Underwood and Gretchen Wilson as a background singer. She’s a songwriter too–she wrote Reba’s “Turn on the Radio”.  Also, there’s some super dishy gossip about how she began dating her husband–who was married at the time–when she sang backup and he played guitar in Carrie’s band. WHOOPS. Well, you know Blake Shelton is engaged to Miranda. She sings for awhile.  It takes a bit, but Christina turns around finally. She’s the only one. Blake says she’s stepping into some big shoes, , and didn’t feel she measured up. ” You have such a big voice coming out of such a bitty little thing, ”  says Cee lo. Adam thought her voice was almost too aggressive. Christina picked her because she was “attacking” it. – Christina’s Team – VIDEO

Devon Barley – 19 – Mattapoisett MA – “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz – Devon is in med school. His parents really want him to become a doctor. He took time off from med school, much to their dismay. Nobody is turning around! There’s nothing special about him. Maybe he should go back to med school. Ohhh. There goes Cee Lo and Adam. Christina didn’t spin around because she thought Adam would be a better fit. Adam loves tone. He thinks there’s a lot of character in Devon’s voice–a lot to work with. Blake agrees on the tone issue, but felt Devon was missing the pitch at the end of his phrases. Cee lo thought he was awesome. Adam tries to woo Devon….and he chooses goes with Adam. Adam’s Team VIDEO

Joshua Scott Hand – 29 – Palm Beach FL – “Paparazzi” by Lady Gaga – Scott, apparently, is a funny guy (I’ll take your word for it). Sads. Nobody turns around. Blake was thrown off by the Lady Gaga deal. Christian felt like Adam had more to offer. Adam didn’t know what the song was til the chorus. It was a little shaky. “Follow your heart or don’t do it at all, ” says Cee Lo. That performance was messy. Like Adam, I had no idea what he was singing at first. REJECTED VIDEO

Raquel Castro – 16 – “Bleeding Love” – She claims not to be very experienced, though it’s been a dream since she was 4. Oh. But she’s not such a newbie afte rall. She’s got an interesting quality to her vocal. Christina turns her chair. Good thing Christina turned before she went for that horribly off-key melimsa. Yikes. Adam gives her props for courage at her young age. Blake really thought Christina was a better fit. “Great things come in small packages, ” says Christina. Good luck Christina. This girl obviously needs a lot of work. Christina’s Team VIDEO

Emily Valentine – 23 – Hollywood, CA – “Sober” by Pink – She got a big raspy rock voice, but oooohhhh PITCHY. Cee lo and Blake turn around. Christina was dying to see what she looked like. “You’re beautiful, ” she says, but felt a few moments were pitchy. Cee Lo calls Pink a friend. Adam gives him sh*t “Let me pick up that name where you dropped it….” Heh. Blake picked her because he loves the rasp in her voice. “Cee Lo I would be really honored to work with you, ” says Emily. Yeah. That’s a better fit. Emily Valentine was Emily Wynn Hughes on Idol Season 8. Here’s her spoiler, Hollywood solo, and a recap of the group song that ended her run in Hollywood.   Cee Lo’s Team VIDEO

Nicky Dawson sings “Teenage Dream” and joins  Cee Lo’s Team (We don’t get to see her audition, really)

A singer named Sara Oromchi sings “Imagine” and is winds up on Blake Shelton’s Team

Tim Mahoney – 39 – Minneapolis, MN – “Bring it on Home to Me” by Sam Cooke – So many record label showcases! He came close, but no cigar. He feels like it’s his last shot. Adam turns around quickly, and is enraptured by his performance. Adam thought he was “a chick”. LOL. “Clearly you are not a woman. I need a woman for my team, and sadly you have a penis.” Adam isn’t sorry he picked him, however. Blake was going to push his button if Adam didn’t “You guys are going to make a great couple, ” says Blake. Adam’s Team VIDEO

Julie Eason – 18 – Palos Verdes, CA – “Mercy” by Duffy – A soccer player, she’s scared her nerves will get the best of her. But they don’t Julie’s bluesy stylings get the panel’s attention right away. Cee Lo turns first, Christina follows. Blake says she deserves to be in this competition. He would have turned if nobody else did. Christina says she would LOVE to work with Julie. Loved her runs and her ad libs but more than that Julie has soul. Cee Lo is impressed by her ability to be smooth and assertive at the same time, and that she’s graceful under pressure. Julie eventually chooses Christine. Young Julie definitely has potential. – Christina’s Team VIDEO

Angela Wolf – 25 – Metter, CA –  “The House That Built Me” by Miranda Lambert – She really wants Blake to turn around. Risky picking a Miranda song! “I’m going to stop following you on twitter! Blake is smiling as she begins the song. She sounds very professional. Awww. NOBODY TURNED AROUND. Sads. She’s really hot too. “That was really tough for me. There’s so much history…I kept waiting for it to go somewhere, but they didn’t go to the right places.” Adam feels like he’s already picked too many people (but don’t you need some chicks?) Note to female country singers: DO NOT SING MIRANDA LAMBERT. REJECTED VIDEO

Tyler Robinson – 20 – Folsom, CA – “Hey Soul Sister” by Train – HE’S GAY. Out out out. Hooray! His dad is not supportive of his music. He hasn’t told his dad he’s gay. Ooops. Blake turns around. Why do I find that hilarious? Hm. I like this guys voice. really interesting tone, nice phrasing, good pop voice. Me likes despite singing the song I HATE MOST IN THE WORLD. Cee lo did not think he stood out. Blake thinks he has a solid, full voice. Was expecting to see Drew Carey. “Tyler, you’re on my team.” HE SURE IS BLAKE. HAR. Blakes Team VIDEO

Some singers may be brought back! DRAMA.

Nakia – 36 – Austin, TX –  “Forget You” by Cee Lo Green  – Token fugly guy! He’s gay too, but doesn’t make a big deal of that fact–just mentions a partner he’s been with for a long time. He’s got a growly rock voice and a nice falsetto. CEE LO TURNS AROUND. Dude is good. Casey Abrams, this is how you sing with a growl! Blake turns around next, and laughs when he sees the big burly and bearded singer. He sorta looks like Brian Wilson when he lived in a sandbox in his living room. “You have great taste in music, ” says Cee Lo, “Like me, I think you could be an exception to the rule.” Christina thinks it took “guts and balls” to do a Cee Lo song. But, she was taken a back by the aggression. “You had the crowd going, says Blake, You look nothing like I expected. You’re a big old white guy singing a Cee Lo song–that makes you unique.” Nakia picks Cee Lo, of course. Cee Lo’s Team VIDEO

Sarabee sings “Son of a Preacher Man” and is picked for Blake’s Team

Casey Desmond sings “Born This Way” and ends up on Adam’s Team

Justin Grennan on Christina’s Team (her first guy!)

The people we don’t turn around for could be on American Idol…but we’re looking for something extra – Adam Levine.  Melinda Doolittle asked me on twitter what Adam said, I repeated it and added that he obviously never heard her sing.  Melinda would effing blow away every single person who auditioned tonight off that stage.

Dia Frampton – “Bubbly” by Colbie Callait – Whoa that didn’t take long. Blake turns around immediately. She’s pretty. Nice phrasing. She got a smokey tone and does little things with the song that make it unique. She’s also in a band with her sister and has put out albums WIKI.  Cee Lo eventually turns around. “Hey pretty girl, ” says Cee Lo. “When I heard your voice I started to smile. You have that earthy thing about you that has in common with country music. That’s why I could work with you, ” says Blake. Cee Lo thinks she looks cozy and cuddly. She picks Blake. Wise choice, obviously.  Blakes Team VIDEO

Two auditions left with six spots open. What?

Curtis Grimes – Hillbilly Bone by Blake Shelton – Blake looks like he smelled something bad. Nobody is turning around. Cee Lo finally turns around. Aw… Curtis really wanted Blake to turn around, but he did not. Blake didn’t think he nailed the cocky attitude of the song, but he’s glad Cee Lo picked him. Curtis is trying to hide his disappointment. Cee Lo is looking forward to writing a country song. Alrighty then. “It will be interesting, ” he says. I thought he was a bit of a poser. Cee Lo’s Team VIDEO

Tori and Taylor Thompson – 17 & 19 – “Stuck Like Glue” – Twins finishing each other’s sentences. The duo act like they just fell off the turnip truck, but I bet they didn’t. (In fact, these two competed on American Juniors. Ugh)  So cutsey poo–pretty annoying. For some reason. Adam says it was adorable. So did Christina. Inexplicably, Cee Lo picks them. Cee Lo’s Team VIDEO

Cee Lo has his team in place. But the others still need members. They’ve run out of contestants. After the break, they will re-audition people they passed over.

SECOND SHOT – Hm. I guess we’re assuming the coaches have REALLY BAD MEMORIES.

Lily Ellse – 20 – San Anselsmo “If I Ain’t Got You” – Christina regretted passing her initially. Christina turns around and is very very happy. She gives a crying Lily a hug. Christina’s Team. VIDEO

Christina and Cee Lo’s teams are full.

Sonia Rao – “Chasing Pavements” – 24 – Freehold, NJ –  She’s pitchy and mumbly. Will Blake or Adam turn around? Adam doesn’t want her. Nobody turns around. SCORNED TWICE. That’s gotta suck. REJECTED VIDEO

Jared Blake – 32 – Star City AR – “Not Ready to Make Nice” – Blake turns around. Jared has a soulful, Darius Rucker sound. He’s good. I’m glad Blake turned around. Blakes Team VIDEO

Adam is the only coach with an open spot.

Casey Weston – “Stupid Boy” – Will Adam turn around? YES HE DOES. Casey’s got that Jewell country folk vibe. Very nice. – Adam’s Team VIDEO

Angela Wolf – “Rolling in the Deep” – Blake may not have wanted her, but Adam is willing to take her. Liked her better on the Adele song, actually. Adam’s Team VIDEO

Battle Rounds next week. New time: 10 pm.

About mj santilli 34841 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!