The Voice 8 Recap Knockout Round #2 Live Blog and VIDEOS

It’s NIGHT TWO of The Voice 8 Knockouts! Who will be eliminated? Who will move on to the Top 20? We’re live blogging the performances and results right here! Nate Ruess of Fun. is the celebrity advisor.

THREE knockouts will be featured during tonight’s hour long episode.

Unlike last night, which had a slew of great performances, the only great singer to come out of tonight’s knockouts is Caitlin Corporal. Blake Shelton stole BACK Hannah Kirby, which isn’t a terrible thing. Consider that last year’s winner, Craig Wayne Boyd was a Blake double-steal. Not that I think Hannah could win. I don’t think she’ll make it out of the semi-finals. But we’ll see.

Cody Wickline vs Corey Kent White – Team Blake Shelton – Corey sang Chicken Fried for his blind audition. Blake and Pharrell battled for him. Cody got a four chair during the blinds.

Cody Wickline – Til My Last Day by Justin Moore – He says he’ll always be true to his country roots. Cody’s voice was a treat for Nate. He appreciates his authenticity. Blake tells him to watch the growls. Don’t use tricks. They have a chat about hair care. Not kidding. Cody’s pretty old school. He has a nice deep tone. It’s a good performance, but he doesn’t move it much beyond the original.

https://youtu.be/5vKfsmZ9b40

Corey Kent White – Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw – His grandfather is “fighting for his life” says Corey. This song means a lot to him. Corey’s singing had Nate’s hair on the back of his neck stand up. Other than a couple of pitch things, Nate and Blake only have a few small suggestions. Corey becomes emotional during his rehearsal. Cody has the better voice, overall, but it’s going to be hard for Blake to resist this heartfelt performance. Plus, Corey is young and contemporary. He gets a standing ovation from ALL the coaches. – Download from iTunes

https://youtu.be/unDrr8GJJts

Cory came out with heart and passion, says Christina, but she loved Cody’s vocals. Both are solid contenders, she says. Pharrell loved Cody’s soulful runs, but appreciated Corey’s presence. Corey’s genuine delivery made Adam a believer. H feels he won the battle. Blake thinks Cody’s sound is special. Corey’s grandfather is actually better now. But he did pour every bit of himself into the performance, and for that reason, Corey moves on. Corey wins the Knockout. Cody is eliminated. Blake says that choice really tore him apart.

Blaze Johnson vs Deanna Johnson – Team Adam Levine – Blaze was poor growing up–his dad worked in a canning factory. Deanna got a four chair turn on her second try!

Blaze Johnson – You Found Me by The Fray – The low stuff is “flawless” says Adam. But he’s having some pitch issues. Yeah. The lower notes were on point, but once he shifted into his higher register, he had pitch issues. It’s probably a combination of nerves and losing control of his voice when he gets caught up in the performance. By the end of the song, he’s VERY VERY flat on the high notes. And his voice cracks at one point. He kinda choked. NO.

https://youtu.be/3uKIk32mmMI

Deanna Johnson – Listen to Your Heart by Roxette – She’s singing an acoustic version accompanied by piano. Nate and Adam love her uniqueness, but she has to chill out. She’s wearing her nerves. She’s got to “lose it” in the song. She does have an unusual, husky tone. There’s no mistaking her for anyone else. Maybe a little bit of a Cher vibe going on there. However, she was really nervous and stuck in her head. I wanted more dynamics, more emotion from her. Nevertheless, she definitely won this battle. – Download from iTunes

https://youtu.be/3uKIk32mmMI

Blake jokingly calls Blaze “breathtakingly beautiful.” He thought Deanna had more pitch issues? NOPE. He picks Blaze. It’s a toss up for Christina. Pharrell felt her nerves got in the way and would also give it to Blaze. Hm. NOPE. Adam thought Blaze did a great job, but chooses Deanna, because of her potential. He framed it as if Blaze was too good and there wouldn’t be much to work with. On one hand, that thinking is unfair. But in this case, it’s also untrue. Deanna wins the Knockout, Blaze is eliminated. He had no intention of picking Blaze anyway.

Caitlin Corporale vs Hannah Kirby – Team Pharrell – It’s the battle of the powerhouses, says Pharrell. Hannah is the singer who he said was “swinging her purse like a southern church lady” before he stole her from Blake. Caitlin is the singing customer service rep, who you’d swear is a pro.

Hannah Kirby – Higher Love by Stevie Winwood – Nate tells her not to give away too much in the beginning. Treat a song like a kite, Pharrell says. He likes her unusual moves, driven by her spirit. Hannah is very…odd. I can’t warm up to her weird staccato phrasing and awkward dancing. She’s hard to watch. She bellows her phrases. I’m just not feeling this. – Download from iTunes

https://youtu.be/zSfL6MmKlHg

But what’s the difference. Once again, the steal was telegraphed before the break so…

Caitlin Corporale – Warrior by Demi Lovato – Pharrell can tell when she doubts. When she feels when she’s singing, she can take anyone down, says Nate. She’s got to not think so much when she sings. Caitlin could win this competition, make a record and become a star. IF somebody would put the time into her career after she left The Voice. That’s always a big if with this show. Her range is amazing. She’s got the look and a clear strong tone. She’s a super marketable singer. Will America embrace her? – Download from iTunes

https://youtu.be/nk8A4nPpmDA

Adam thinks they are both amazing, but would go with Hannah. Blake thinks Hannah is fun, he loves the way the music takes over. He doesn’t know who he would pick. Pharrell thinks they are two different kinds of singers Caitlin (inward, concentrates on notes) vs. Hannah (She lets everything out) But in the end, he chooses Caitlin. He likes her consistency. There’s more to work on, there. Caitlin wins the Knockout. Blake steals back Hannah. Blake was sorry to let her go in the first place. But he put her up against Sarah Potenza. Probably what he really means is that he’s sorry he initially treated her like cannon fodder.

The Voice 8 Top 32

Team Adam