The Voice season 12 Knockouts 2 air tonight. Team members go head to head with a solo song of their own choosing. Their coach picks which singer will move on to the Live Playoffs. The remaining contestant is eliminated UNLESS stolen by another coach. Each coach–Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Alicia Keys and Gwen Stefani–has one steal each.
Only winning and stolen contestants have songs uploaded to iTunes, so the song spoilers are REALLY spoilery. Please keep ALL spoiler talk in tonight’s Song Spoiler post or the Top 20 Spoiler post. Don’t make me bring out the ban hammer, ya’all! Heh.
This season there are no celebrity Key Advisers for this round. The coaches will mentor solo. Additionally, the pairs will watch each other rehearse.
Anatalia Villaranda vs Dawson Coyle – Team Alicia Keys
Anatalia Villaranda – Two Black Cadillacs by Carrie Underwood – She was a Top 51 contestant on American Idol 15. Alicia paired them up because the are both teens with similar singing styles. Alicia is surprised, by pleased by Anatalia’s song choice. She considers herself a soul singer, but believes she has a little country in her too. She doesn’t perform it like a country song though. And at 16, there’s a lot of shouting, but very little understanding of the song’s subject matter. Carrie’s songs are good picks for any singer with a big voice. – Download at iTunes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q5UEqOWlkA
Dawson Coyle – Demons by Imagine Dragons – This 18 year old high school senior was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome at a young age. Music has helped him deal with his challenges. Alicia stole him during the Battles. His house burned down last year. Whoa. That’s just like Hunter Plake! He and 16 year old Anatalia are best friends. Alicia had coached him on breathing in the right places. Dawson struggles in that regard during his performance, but he sings with heartfelt passion. There’s something really likeable about this guy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7TLJtEZlWc
Gwen loves Dawson’s voice. She admires Anatalia’s confidence and power. Adam thinks Dawson chose a really tough song. He’d give the knockout to Anatalia. Blake let Dawson go in the Battles and calls him one of his biggest regrets. “It’s fun to be in the same room as you,” he says of Anatalia. Alicia chooses Anatalia. Dawson is Eliminated. I understand why Alicia chose Anatalia, but I wish somebody had stolen Dawson, despite his flawed performance.
TSoul vs Enid Ortiz – Team Blake Shelton
TSoul – These Arms of Mine by Otis Redding – TSoul has spent the last several years on the road. He chose Blake because “soul and country are cousins.” TSoul becomes emotional after rehearsing the song. It reminds him of his late grandmother–it’s her birthday on the day of rehearsal. Blake warns him not to allow his emotion to derail his performance. I’ve never heard this song sung quite like this. He’s holding out super long notes without any vibrato or vocal runs. He’s really sticking to the era as far as vocal style is concerned. Honestly, the performance could have used a little vibrato, he sounded underpitch on those long notes. His stage presence odd but fascinating. An odd duck, but there’s nothing wrong with that. – Download at iTunes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy1uxisihJ4
Enid Ortiz – When We Were Young by Adele – Enid has the skin condition, Vitiligo. She also has a very loving fiance. She tackles Adele again (She sang her in the blinds). Hm. I’ve said it before I’ll say it again. Nobody under 50 should be singing When We Were Young. Having said that. Enid is a good vocalist. But she hasn’t differentiated her own style beyond her idols (Adele). Blake rightly warns her that she needs to do more than hit the big notes. In any case, she’s basically a lamb to slaughter against the unique and talented TSoul. She astutely calls him a “Unicorn.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd2kYtI1VE4
Alicia loved TSoul’s long notes and was blown away by Enid. Gwen really loved TSoul’s retro quality. Enid appreciates Enid’s lower register. Adam would choose TSoul, but felt both singers were too imitative. Blake Chooses TSoul. Enid is Eliminated
Aaliyah Rose vs Brennley Brown – Team Gwen Stefani
Aaliyah Rose – Like I’m Gonna Lose You by Meghan Trainor – She’s found fame on the You Tube with a Meghan Trainor cover. So is covering Meghan Trainor her thing? Because I don’t think I can take it. There’s something super pageanty about Aaliya, like she spends her days practicing in the mirror. Again, she’s another young singer with potential. Not yet, though. She’s only 14 – Download at iTunes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh2ratXVPS0
Brennley Brown – Up to the Mountain by Patty Griffin – Gwen stole her from Blake. She comes from a family of hairdressers. Also, she was eliminated at the judges cuts during last summer’s America’s Got Talent. Ha. She calls this a “Kelly Clarkson song” Well not quite. She’s only 15 years old and Gwen notes she’s not really interpreting the lyrics. Brennley also has potential, but she’s farther along than Aaliyah. Her phrasing, intonation and control are really good for a singer her age. And Gwen did a good job guiding her interpretation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3iK0uqEzoY
Adam thinks Brennley gave a Grammy performance. He thinks Aaliyah needs more time. Blake is a little sorry he let Brennley go. Alicia felt were Aaliyah was coming from, while Brennley’s performance was impactful. Gwen chooses Brennley. Blake Steals Aaliyah. WHY steal the 14 year old super-pageant-bot? If he wanted an interesting singer with potential, he should have stolen Dawson back. Gwen’s so happy, she gives him a hug. – Download at iTunes
Moving on to the Playoffs
Anatalia Villaranda – Team Alicia Keys
TSoul – Team Blake Shelton
Aaliyah Rose – Team Gwen Stefani
Brennley Brown – Team Gwen Stefani – Stolen by Team Blake Shelton
Eliminated
Dawson Coyle – Team Alicia Keys
Enid Ortiz – Team Blake Shelton
