The Voice 10 Recap – Battle Rounds Part 4 – Live Blog and VIDEO

For singer pairings and song choices, click for ALL of tonight’s Song Spoilers.Coaches Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Pharrell Williams and Christina Aguilera all have battles tonight, joined by their advisors, Tori Kelly, Gwen Stefani, Diddy and Patti LaBelle respectively.

First we see a preview of Miley Cyrus as Key Advisor in the upcoming Knockouts. Actually, she turned out to be a decent mentor on Idol back in season 9. If she manages to dial it back for a minute or two, her years of experience in show business should make her a useful advisor.

Team Adam is up first. “I just remember what it felt like being 16 and having gone through a competition show,” said his advisor, Tori Kelly, alluding to her time as a contestant on American Idol, where she was cut just shy of the Top 24. “What I love about The Voice is that it focuses on vocal ability. I’ve been a fan since the first season.” Ohhh. IDOL SHADE FROM TORI KELLY!

Laith Al-Saadi and Matt Tedder – Team Adam – Honky Tonk Woman by The Rolling Stones – Download from iTunes

Mentor session: The two roots rockers on Adam’s team. They are both gifted guitar players. Laith has been touring and singing FOREVER–much longer than Matt who been living in Nashville for only a couple of years. Adam thinks Matt is more reserved. Maybe he’s a little intimidated. Laith feels he and Matt are upping each other’s vocal games. Adam talks about filling the space “with a lot of stuff.” He pushes them to dig into their vocals more. The guitar playing, at least on The Voice, can’t overtake the singing.  FUN FACT: Laith and season 8 singer, Joshua Davis are buddies!

Performance: The two trade off lead guitar licks and vocals. Laith is the more dynamic of the two, for sure. His presence takes up the space. Matt is talented, but it’s tough for him to shine here. I can’t imagine Adam not choosing Laith.  Blake respects both as musicians, he notes how Laith takes over the room, therefore he’d choose Laith. He’s also Christina’s pick. Pharrell would go for Laith, but also thinks Matt is a star. Adam congratulates Matt on being teachable. He hints that he might go for the younger one for that reason. But then, Adam chooses Laith anyway. Matt is eliminated. Poor Matt. Christina didn’t steal him because she felt he was more of a guitar player than a singer. “Go make a record,” is Pharrell’s parting advice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQvF4YdEEig

Caity Peters and Joe Vivona – Team Pharrell – Honesty by Billy Joel – Download from iTunes

Mentor session: She comes from a family of professionals and considers herself a black sheep. She was a 4 chair turn. Joe left his family amusement park business to pursue music.  Pharrell loves Caity’s rasp. Joe is really nervous. Pharrell and Diddy work on helping him feel comfortable. In the final rehearsal, Diddy gives the nervous Joe a big hug. But the singer is still pretty terrible. “Joe made improvements,” says Pharrell. Hm. Not really. Diddy gets real with both. He says to Caity that she’s better than her performance. Diddy is so patient with Joe. He bestows some instant swag on him, like magic fairy dust. Heh. Their second go round is better. Diddy compares Caity to Stevie Nicks.

Performance: Joe is wearing a 3 piece suit. No lie. He still seems really nervous.  These two have zero chemistry. There’s Caity and her gutteral noises and weird phrasing. Joe isn’t much better to be honest. Can we send them both home? This gets my vote as the worst battle of the round. It’s hard to believe there isn’t a montaged battle that was better. Adam calls their voices “distinct.” That’s one way to put it. He likes their “rough” quality. Nope. Blake thought they were both unique. He’s a fan of Joe’s “cracks and squeaks.” Really? Christina obviously didn’t like it. She felt Caity was the least strained (that’s not saying much). Pharrell has empathy for both, understanding they struggled. Pharrell Chooses Caity He “went with his heart” on that one. Eh. Joe is eliminated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNzv9G_A3bU

Montaged Battles

Gina Castanzo and Peyton Parker – Team Blake – Borderline by Madonna – Blake Chooses Peyton – Download from iTunes 
Ayanna Jahnee and Joe Maye – Team Christina – I Knew You Were Waiting for Me by George Michael and Christina chooses Joe – Download from iTunes
John Gilman and Owen Danoff – Team Adam – Runaway by Del Shannon – Adam Chooses Owen – Download from iTunes

So we missed a performance of “Runaway” by Del Shannon. One of Adam’s more bizzaro song choices.I mean…thousands of song choices, and that’s the one? For two folk dudes? (John sang 50’s rock. But still).

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

Brittany Kennell and Trey O’Dell – Team Blake – The Chain by Fleetwood Mac – Download from iTunes

Mentor Session: Brittany plays country clubs in Nashville. Trey started performing at a young age. He’s a business major in college, but dreams of a music career. Gwen and Blake talk about how Gwen stole Craig Wayne Boyd, spiffed up his appearance before before giving him back to Blake for the win. Unlike that time, Blake promises to share any win with her. Blake warns Brittany about her constant smiling and Trey about appearing bland next to her. But after he sings, Blake feels he really improved since the blinds. In the final rehearsal, Gwen decides to take away their microphone stand. It intensifies the emotion. WATCH OUT FOR THAT STEAL!

Performance: Two rousing performances from these two. I love Brittany’s tone and her phrasing. Trey’s rangey voice slides beautifully into a falsetto.  He also has an appealing rasp. I think I’d choose Brittany. Her voice cuts through like a knife. But they both deserve a spot in the Knockouts. Pharrell and Christina loved Brittany’s vibrato. Adam was also partial to Brittany’s, feeling her performance was looser. Christina compares Brittany to Gwen. Uh wut? An observation that conveniently gave her and Adam the opportunity to tease Blake about “having a GIRLFRIEND.” Blake feels Trey’s vocal improved from his blind audition, but Brittany is the singer who offers the challenge he’s looking for. Blake Chooses Brittany. Christina Steals Trey.

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

Advancing to the Knockouts:

Laith Al-Saadi – Team Adam
Caity Peters – Team Pharrell
Brittany Kennell – Team Blake
Trey O’Dell – Team Christina steals from Team Blake
Peyton Parker – Team Blake
Joe Maye – Team Christina
Owen Danoff – Team Adam

Eliminated

Matt Tedder – Team Adam
Joe Vivona – Team Pharrell
Gina Castanzo – Team Blake
Ayanna Jahnee – Team Christina
John Gilman – Team Adam