The Voice 4 - Top 8 Results, Recap and Videos Live Blog

ELIMINATED TONIGHT! Sarah Simmons and Judith Hill from Team Adam!

I completely miscalculated the strength of Holly Taylor’s fan base. I just assumed she was splitting votes with the other country acts and would end up with the short end of the stick this week. But it appears there are enough country votes to go around for EVERYONE. Because at this point–out of 6 acts FOUR identify as country. Although, I have a feeling Adam will continue to push his sole remaining act, Amber Carrington, into pop and soul to avoid competing with mighty Blake and his Nashville triumvirate.

Judith Hill’s elimination will be viewed as SHOCKING by some, but not by me. She hasn’t sold well on iTunes and I think her super-polished act just did not seem relevant. And I TOLD YOU GUYS. CRAZY HAIR =ELIMINATION. Believe it! Also, performing first on a two hour show, when there were probably folks joining late after a day of Memorial Day activities, couldn’t have helped her at all. Even if she had gotten by this week, Judith wasn’t going to win.

However, I was surprised by Sarah Simmons elimination. True, she wasn’t very good this week, but she’s had some great performances, and sold some iTunes. I assumed she had a fan base that would carry her through a tough week. Not meant to be. Other than Michelle Chamuel, the folks who remain are pretty conventional talents. Thinking about it more, it makes sense that a sweet, apple cheeked, Jesus loving college student would have broad support, vs an edgy indie type artist with a bold style. I am hoping Michelle can hang on and keep waving her freak flag. This competition needs her! The good news, is that she and Usher appear to have a mutual admiration society going on between them. And as his only team member, Michelle seems to be receiving plenty of time and attention from her mentor. So far it’s working. Next week I start voting on The Voice

Speaking of coaching. As much as I love Shakira’s presence on the panel–she’s smart, funny, gorgeous and TOTALLY adorable–it’s become clear that she’s not a very good coach. She picks the wrong songs for her team members, and doesn’t appear to give them very good advice. Actually I LIKED Sasha’s song this week, I thought she sounded relevant. But obviously, I am in the minority. To sell more iTunes, she’ll have to stick to soul and blues for as long as she stays in the game. I have a feeling, though, that her number will be up next week.

Poor Adam seemed to be the coach to beat this season. All 4 of his female vocalists were strong talents. But I think Blake is in sync with the heartbeat of America. While Adam is able to make himself and his band commercially accessible, he’s not transferring those skills to his coaching gig. I would say, so far, he’s doing right by Amber. But by not presenting the singer as the artist she is, he’s not helping her post The Voice career. Still, I think she’s got a shot to make it at least to the Top 4.

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Who will be leaving the Voice tonight? Watch as 8 becomes 6. I’ll be liveblogging right here. Sheryl Crow will perform tonight with Team Blake.

But first, a recap of last night’s show. Which, if you watched the clip show? YOU’VE ALREADY SEEN. Next Sheryl Crow hits the stage with Team Blake to perform her single “Easy,” a sweet breezy summer song. Blake sings along as his team perform solos and supply background vocals.

Now it’s time for a fillerific Q&A with the coaches. Adam thinks it’s very important for the contestants to continue to take risks. Shakira didn’t realize that the coaching thing was SO DAMN HARD. She’s thinking she made a mistake picking a song for Sasha. If she goes home tonight, it’s NOT Sasha’s fault. Usher believes SOOOO MUCH in Michelle. She’s been an incredible example of believing in oneself, he says as he put his Michelle specs back on. Blake says it’s important for the contestants to have special moments at this stage of the game, but it can be difficult to determine how to do that.

Carson pimps the concert for Oklahoma, which will air on NBC tomorrow night at 9 pm, featuring Usher, Miranda Lambert and more. Starbucks is donating $250,000 to kick off the donations. And if you donate to the cause at Starbucks tomorrow, you’ll get a FREE coffee in return!

Judith Hill and Michelle Chamuel join forces to sing “Sweet Nothing” by Calvin Harris ft. Florence Welch and it’s really good, despite their styles being so different. I’d totally download this if it were on iTunes. Judith should be singing contemporary music that suits her style. Michelle is totally fab as always.

Carson announces that there will be duets all night.

But in the meantime…RESULTS. The first artist saved by America is…Michelle Chamuel. HOORAY.

Next, Sasha Allen and the Swon Brothers sing “Don’t You Wanna Stay” by Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson. This is such an odd pairing. It’s not terrible or a trainwreck, but it’s still kind of bizarre. It comes off like one of those random WTF battle round performances thrown together by the coaches. Like “REALLY YOU PUT THESE TWO TOGETHER REALLY?” A country power ballad that gives the lead female the opportunity to belt was their best bet. It could have been worse.

MORE RESULTS. America HAS SAVED…Danielle Bradbery. OF COURSE. I bet she and Michelle were the Top 2 this week. Now, it’s time to promote America’s Got Talent. Nick Cannon dons a James Brown costume to sing and dance to “Living In America” surrounded by all the crazy acts we’ll see this summer. Whoopie. Howie Mandel is naked. Erm. We’ll be covering AGT right here beginning next Tuesday at 8/7c pm.

Christina Milian sets my teeth on edge. She’s up in the skybox or whatever, interviewing Michelle and her mother who is super super nervous. Christina puts on a pair of Michelle specs before she throws back to Carson.

Next, Danielle Bradbery and Sarah Simmons sing A Thousand Years by Christina Perri. Hm. The two voices don’t blend well at all–there are background vocals on the track to augment. This is pretty terrible. And for the first time, Danielle is NOT comfortable. She’s pitchy and unsure–out of her element. Sarah is the stronger performer here.

Next the contestants and coaches reveals their guilty pleasures.

MORE Results. America saved…Sasha Allen! Shakira completely flips out at this point, running onto the stage to hug her remaining team member. She obviously feared that Sasha would go home tonight, the victim of Shakira’s crappy coaching.

Amber Carrington and Holly Taylor sing “Does He Love You” by Reba. Two belty country gals give the tune everything they’ve got, as they sing a melodramatic song about being the OTHER WOMAN.

MORE Results. America saved…The Swon Brothers. There you go. The first female finalist will go home tonight.

America saved...Amber Carrington from Team Blake. It would have been crazy to eliminate her after the performance she gave last night. And the final save is…..Holly Tucker!!!!!! Holly crap. I was SURE Holly was heading home. Watch out for the Jesus card next week!

ELIMINATED TONIGHT! Sarah Simmons and Judith Hill from Team Adam! Blake keeps his entire team. Adam is down to one. Just. Like. That.