The Voice 12 Recap – Live Playoffs 1 – Live Blog (VIDEOS)

Click for Tonight’s Song Spoilers

Here are The Voice official instructions for voting. So sad West Coast! You don’t get to vote in real time as the show airs in your time zone. However, anybody in the US can vote during the voting window, which begins when host Carson Daly  (or The Voice twitter and app) gives the signal. Tweeting #VoicePlayoffsContestantName counts as a vote for that particular singer. Only ONE tweet per singer. However, re-tweeting votes from multiple accounts also works. Additionally, fans can vote a total of ten times for each contestant on the Voice smart phone App.

The Coach Comeback contestants revealed themselves today. Blake is bringing back Felicia Temple, Alicia gives Jack Cassidy a second chance. Rocker Johnny Gates returns to Team Gwen and Johnny Hays comes back to Team Adam.

Two contestants will move on to the live finals. Each coach will pick a third team member to advance. By the end of Tuesday’s live show, the Top 12 will be revealed. Get your The Voice App and twitter account ready. Let’s go!

Team Gwen and Team Adam are in the audience. Host Carson Daly announces Blake and Alicia’s Comeback artists. Casi Joy is first. Team Blake’s voting window is open.

Casi Joy – Team Blake Shelton – Parachute by Chris Stapleton – Casi chose her fiance’s favorite song. Plus, she feels Chris Stapleton represents the kind of artist she’d like to be outside of the competition. Blake notes that country needs more girl power. Well duh! Casi performing first. Hm. If she doesn’t advance, there’s a good chance Blake will save her, I think. She’s a polished and engaging singer. Casi is a great representation of the type of female artist that’s been emerging on the country season in the last couple of years. She can sing! There are a couple of wonky notes, but she’s got that yodel and an impressive range. Adam is blond again. He calls out the audience’s bad clapping. “You were awesome,” he says. “Casi Casi Joy Joy” teases Blake. REN & STIMPY SHOUT OUT LMAO. “It’s hard for me to imagine you not moving forward,” he says.  – Download at iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxKZiPZxf9s

Looks like the coaches’ comments will be brief. YAY.

Felicia Temple – Team Blake Shelton – Defying Gravity from Wicked – Oh. It looks like the coaches told their comebacks they weren’t actually eliminated right after they were cut from the Knockouts. Eh. Felicia chose the song because it tells her story and allows her to show off her vocal chops. But a Broadway song at this juncture? It’s so old fashioned. She’s also got some pitch problems going on here. This arrangement is really really ambitious and she ain’t nailing it. Former coach Alicia has been happy to watch her evolution. “I’m super proud of you.” Blake says, “You killed it…this is incredible. I’m glad to be on this journey with you.” – Download at iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_Yta6Yjo8A

Remember: Tweet #VoicePlayoffsContestantName or vote up to 10 times on the app for every Team Blake member right now. Actually, the earlier a singer performs in the show, the better, I think.  Results for both teams will be announced at the end of the show.

Aaliyah Rose – Team Blake Shelton – Brass in Pocket by The Pretenders – What the heck. This song choice. She’s only 14. She should be singing something youthful. She relates because she’s been bullied online. But still. She’s lacking control and there are many pitch problems here. There’s no way Aaliyah advances. Former coach Gwen stresses her “cuteness” and “adorableness.” Blake says “that’s your best performance yet.” Hm. Blake asks America to vote for her. – Download at iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oVmA5SN_5M

TSoul – Team Blake Shelton – Knock on Wood by Eddie Floyd – TSoul’s family has inspired him to be the best person he could be. Like the song, he feels real lucky right now. Blake compares T to Bruno Mars. The song begins with a slow gospel groove, from the middle of the audience. He’s preachin’! Eventually, he’s back on stage and the song takes on the familiar tempo. For me, there’s something about TSoul that’s compelling. He really sticks out in a sea of generic soul singers. But he’s a little too weird for The Voice. If he makes it to the finals, I’ll be surprised. He doesn’t have the best voice, but there’s a way he attacks a song–I can’t look away. Adam loves his moves. He wants Blake to try them for the larfs. “You’re amazing,” he says. “Anderson Coopers right,” Blake snarks at Adam, “That’s what performing is all about.” During rehearsal, T joked that his still glad he chose Blake over Adam in the Blinds. – Download at iTunes

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

Aliyah Moulden – Team Blake Shelton – Mercy by Duffy – Mom is a school teacher. Aliyah loves “Mercy’s” old school vibe. Blake says if Aliyah had attended his concert, he would have invited her up on stage. The song is introduced with a bit of rap and ad libbing. This is a much better song choice than last week’s “Before He Cheats.” The song is in her vocal range and shows off her upbeat youthful personality. She’s a ball of energy here. She’s got a good chance to advance. “Such a firecracker on stage” gushes Blake, “You bring a whole new youthfulness to your performance.” –  Download at iTunes 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAAypFXUq28

Lauren Duski – Team Blake Shelton – Someone Else’s Star by Bryan White – She’s good friends with season 4 winner Danielle Bradbery. The song is right at the breaking point of her range. She’s a little nervous. Good song choice for her. A lovely ballad with beautiful heartfelt lyrics highlights Lauren’s vulnerability and delicate voice. She seems a tiny bit nervous, though. Adam calls Lauren one of his favorites. He didn’t think she seemed nervous. Hm. “I agree with everything Annie Lennox said down there.” Har. Blake will be SHOCKED if Lauren isn’t voted through “by America tomorrow.” Tomorrow? Blake is momentarily confused. – Download at iTunes

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

Voting is closed for Team Blake! Voting is officially open for Team Alicia.

Chris Blue – Team Alicia Keys – Love on the Brain by Rihanna. Chris is singing the song in Rihanna’s key. Sure, she’s an alto. But still! He sings in his falsetto. It’s an interesting way to attack the song. On the bridge he sings in full voice. Wow. He’s really making this song his own. Adding all sorts of interesting ad libs and vocal twists. He sounds both old school and completely contemporary. HE’S KILLING IT YA’LL. Dang. “It’s unbelievable what you do,” says Gwen. “It’s so natural and incredible.” Alicia says, “You obviously made it completely your own…you are a beautiful soul.” She asks the audience to vote for Chris Blue. – Download at iTunes

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

Anatalia Villaranda – Team Alicia Keys – Stand by Me by Ben E. King – She’s going to dedicate the song to her family and supporters. Alicia thinks the song reveals a side we haven’t seen yet. Wait. Alicia is meeting her mom for the first time? Anatalia starts out in the pit. More offbeat clapping. Yay. This a strong vocal on a song that’s been sung A LOT on singing shows. Good, but I’m not up out of my seat. Maybe I’m sick of the song. KEY CHANGE! She sings it like a power ballad, rather than the heartfelt soulful song that it is. Alicia loves that she’s always a burst of energy. Actually, that’s the problem here. She’s frenetic no matter what she’s singing. Her rendition needed a measure of tenderness. – Download at iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3s-8p7_HlU

Jack Cassidy – Team Alicia Keys – Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me by Elton John – Alicia feels America hasn’t seen the best of what Jack has to offer. She thinks he’s only at 70% when he performs in front of an audience. He’s been singing this song for years. But you’d never know. His timing seems screwed right off the bat. Eep. This isn’t very good. He’s shouty and nervous. His tone is terrible and he’s off time AND off pitch. Dude. The sun is definitely going down on you. Whoa. CHOKE. He’s only made it this far because he’s from a famous family. Full stop. Alicia thinks he pulled off “greatness.” Ok then. “You did it!” Hm.  – Download at iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiDLvmk0dAo

Vanessa Ferguson – Team Alicia Keys – Lean On by DJ Snake, Major Lazer – Vanessa tears up talking about Alicia. She wants to make her proud. It’s risky to pick an EDM tune the general audience probably doesn’t know. Vanessa isn’t the best singer. Her range isn’t huge. But like TSoul, she’s an original. There’s something about her that’s completely unique. I’m rooting for her. But I don’t think this song choice is going to do it for her. Maybe Alicia will advance her if America doesn’t. Adam feels Vanessa is READY to do this now. Vanessa loves they way she breaks all the rules. She has her own swag and her own style.  – Download at iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWyA7xVkDmg

Ashley Levin – Team Alicia Keys – I Can’t Stand the Rain by Tina Turner – When Ashley arrived at rehearsal, Alicia was singing her song. Her mom is from Hatia. Interesting. “Get more desperate,” Alicia’s go to suggestion! A good song choice for Ashley–it brings out her soulful side. Alicia says Blake would have never thought of it. She really lets loose on the chorus. She’s got a few control issues, but her range is pretty impressive. “I love you bringing that song to the world like that,” says Alicia. – Download at iTunes

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

Stephanie Rice – Team Alicia Keys – Every Breath You Take by Sting – Ohhh. It’s the stalker song. Hooray.  Stephanie’s family disowned her 10 years ago when she came out gay. But her brother reached out to her after the blinds. That’s good news. She did her own arrangement, on the piano. Alicia loves that she wears her emotions on her sleeve. She performs the song like a tortured soul. It’s a completely fresh take on a song that can be off-putting. Stephanie actually makes me feel compassion for her poor obsessed soul. She still has a tendency to oversell in spots, though. Still. Show stopping. That performance should get her through. Former coach Gwen promises she hasn’t stopped thinking about her. She thinks Alicia has been a good coach. “Every time you perform, you transport me…you are a pure beautiful artist,” says Alicia. –  Download at iTunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDDDMR59-C8

Voting is still open for Team Alicia. HOWEVER it’s time to reveal the singers moving on from Team Blake. Adam would choose Lauren and Casi. America saved…Lauren Duski! America also saved…Aliyah Moulden. No surprises here. But then Blake saves TSoul. REALLY? He didn’t save Casi!!! What the hell? I guess because he already had two girls and a country singer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXT09kNi5DY

Voting for Team Alicia is closed. Voting is open. Gwen compliments everybody. If she had to choose, she’d choose Chris and Vanessa. America saved Chris Blue. America also saved Vanessa Ferguson. YAY! Alicia hoots and hollars. Alicia chooses Stephanie.

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

The Voice 12 Top 12

Lauren Duski – Team Blake – America saved
Aliyah Moulden – Team Blake – America saved.
TSoul – Team Blake – Blake Saved
Chris Blue – Team Alicia – America Saved
Vanessa Ferguson – Team Alicia – America Saved
Stephanie Rice – Alicia Saved

Eliminated:

Casi Joy – Team Blake
Felicia Temple – Team Blake
Aaliyah Rose – Team Blake
Anatalia Villaranda – Team Alicia
Jack Cassidy – Team Alicia
Ashley Levin – Team Alicia