The Voice 11 Live Blog and Recap Battle Rounds 4 – VIDEOS
We’re LIVE BLOGGING The Voice 11 Battle Rounds 4. If you’re wondering who is singing what, Click for The Voice Song Spoilers. Host Carson Daly is back to keep things moving. Celebrity advisers join the coaches including Sammy Hagar with Adam Levine, Bette Midler with Blake Shelton, Joan Jett with Miley Cyrus and Charlie Puth with Alicia Keys.Three more Battles to go before the Knockouts begin next week. Blake Shelton has one more steal.
Austin Allsup vs Preston James – Team Blake Shelton – Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater – Download from iTunes
Preston’s mother is a high powered country music publicist, while Austin’s musician father just missed getting on Buddy Holly’s plane back in 1956. Preston is only 16. Bette compliments the duo on their fresh sound, but feels they need to dig into the doomsday message. Bette notes their weak harmonies. Preston feels a little unconfident against the seasoned Austin. In the final rehearsal, they present a slowed down, rootsy version of the song. Bette is satisfied! Blake declares the duo his favorite battle.
Preston has potential, but the young singer is outclassed by the seasoned Austin. Boy am I going to be mad if he loses the battle. Austin has a distinctive sound–his voice has a mixture of rasp and growl that cuts through like a knife. If Blake picks Preston, it will be his age and youth appeal driving the decision, rather than his talent. Alicia notes Austin’s strong sense of self. But she would pick Preston. WTF? She likes his “swag.” Whatever. Miley can’t choose! Adam also thinks they are both great. Austin Wins the Battle. SANITY PREVAILS. Preston is Eliminated. I wonder if the duo knew there was no chance for a steal? Or maybe there were steals remaining and that stuff was edited out of the clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCNOzF7K078
Gabriel Violett vs Whitney & Shannon – Team Alicia Keys – More Than Words by Extreme –Download from iTunes
Gabriel starred in the original production of Spring Awakening on Broadway, and has been pursing a music career ever since. Sisters Whitney & Shannon are back to performing as a duo after a separation. Gabriel feels a little intimidated up against the “pitch perfect” Whitney & Shannon. Gabrielle is warned not to overthink his parts. Alicia notes Gabriel’s fear of out-singing the soft-spoken sisters. But in the end, she says, “Somebody’s swallowing someone.” In the final rehearsal, Gabriel gets tips on his falsetto. Charlie tells the sisters to “embrace the space.”
I tend to feel sorry for solos pitted against duos. Particularly in this case. The sisters are so keyed into each other. The two acts barely have a connection. The sister bond is difficult to penetrate! Gabriel has a nice range and falsetto, but he’s got some pitch problems. The sisters are perfect. Nice harmonies at the end from all three. Miley is speechless. She felt Gabriel knew how to use the stage, but she’d choose the sisters. Ditto Adam, although he felt Gabriel was also fantastic. Blake thinks Gabriel isn’t getting the credit he deserves for his incredibly elastic voice. Whitney & Shannon win the Battle. Gabriel is Eliminated. Of course. Gabriel was cannon fodder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgMm2q-gBvM
The next battle? Adam will keep one, and Blake will steal the other.
Bindi Liebowitz vs Brendan Fletcher – Team Adam Levine – Home by Marc Broussard –Download from iTunes
Bindi’s mother is a cancer survivor. Brendan has worked a ton of open mics while bartending on the side. Bindi is wearing a bindi. Hm. Adam calls the duo his two “super unique” singers. Adam and Sammy encourage Brendan to open up. He suffers from nerves. Bindi is having difficulty with her transitions. In the final rehearsal, Bindi is still having problems with the high notes. She needs to adjust. Brendan is still being a little timid. Sammy compares Brendan’s voice to a big old tree stump.
Bindi’s gritty soulful alto can’t be denied. Brendan is holding his own, but I am consistently drawn to Bindi’s charismatic performance. Blake learned the most about Brendan in the battle. He can’t pick a winner. Alicia was really taken by Brendan’s voice. She wanted more fire from Bindi. Ohh. They wanted some high notes from her. Oop. Adam told her it wouldn’t be necessary to reach the notes, and now she’s being called on it, accusing her of slacking more or less. Adam compares Bindi to Rihanna. He makes the point that great voices don’t need to be rangey. He calls Brendan’s voice “thunderous.” Brendan Wins the Battle. Blake Steals Bindi. I disagree with the coaches about Bindi. I thought that vocal was terrific. High notes aren’t everything.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wXFdmLLtVk
Next Monday (Oct 24) the Knockouts begin, with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill serving as Key Advisers. Check out the preview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiHVUeuLlcU
Advancing to the Knockouts
Austin Allsup from Team Blake
Whitney & Shannon from Team Alicia
Brendan Fletcher from Team Adam
Bindi Liebowitz stolen from Team Adam by Team Blake
Eliminated
Preston James from Team Adam
Gabriel Violett from Team Alicia
