The Voice 8 Top 12 Live Blog and VIDEOS

A terrific show tonight! The women RULED. Meghan Linsey’s return to country put her BACK in the game. That’s the singer I remember from her Steel Magnolia days. Also gaining ground is Kimberly Nichole, who had TWO powerful performances in a row. Mia Z continues to display her impressive vocal chops and musical smarts. Koryn Hawthorne delivered a mighty fierce rendition of “Stronger.” I think India Carney had a good performance tonight, but judging by her iTunes numbers–which continue to be low compared to her fellow singers–she’s still not connecting.

The boys didn’t make as big a splash this week, except for Sawyer Fredericks, who seems to be bullet proof at this point. Despite performing early-ish in the line up, he managed to zoom to the top of the iTunes chart. Brian Johnson, who performed second, isn’t repeating his solid chart success from last week. Corey Kent White is also languishing on the chart (as of midnight or so on the east coast) when I was SURE his Jason Aldean cover would be a hit. Maybe the country folk are focusing on Sawyer and Meghan tonight.

This week? I’d say Team Pharrell has it going on, with Mia Z, Sawyer Fredericks, and Koryn Hawthorne ALL delivering. But Christina and Blake both had team members who left their mark–Kimberly Nichole and Meghan Linsey respectively.

ETA: Forgot to mention Reba! Engaging and forthcoming, she had some good advice for the contestants–particularly on how to connect to an audience.

Blake talks about how Reba has mentored him, and how she can accomplish anything. Plus she’s a great human being! And her stepson manages him. OK, he doesn’t say that second part

Hannah Kirby – Team Blake – Edge of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks – Reba compared Hannah to…Dolly Parton? Hannah’s mom enters the room and promptly loses her mind. Blake is sure her “killer dance moves” will keep Hannah around for awhile. Yeah. That’s why she’s performing in the death spot. She’s got the black witch Stevie Nicks look going.  Someone teach this girl vocal dynamics. It still feels like she’s bellowing at me. She ends the song in the middle of the stage with a great big YELL. Not really feeling that. “Now they get it,” says Pharrell, “You put it all into perspective for everybody.” Adam says, “You’re an amazing singer…excellent job.”  Blake claims she’s set the bar high for everyone else. Her vocals blow his mind. – 1-877-553-3701 – Text Sprint #1 to 8642 –  Download from iTunes

https://youtu.be/MyoxqljVO7g

Brian Johnson – Team Adam – If I Ever Lose My Faith in You by Sting – Woah. Sting is NOTORIOUSLY hard to sing. Brian struggles in rehearsal. Reba asks Brian what it would feel like to lose his faith. Come at it from that angle, she suggests. He made the mistake of reading internet comments. OOP. His wife helps him gain faith in himself again. This song had train wreck potential, but he’s handling it pretty well. His vocal delivery is solid, emotional. But really earnest. This kid could use some edge. He might survive this week. Blake was moved by his performance. Christina is impressed that he overcame the struggles he had in rehearsal. Adam is so impressed that Brian was able to conquer a difficult song. – 1-877-553-3702 – Text Sprint #2 to 8642 –  Download from iTunes Download from iTunes

https://youtu.be/TtOVsuPx0aM

India Carney – Team Christina – Take Me to Church by Hozier – Christina believes this is a departure from a ballad. Sounds like a ballad to me. A rock ballad…but still. Reba and Christina want her to get a little dirty. Evil even. India feels the challenge is to drop her perfectionist side to mine the darker side of her personality.  Her pronounced vibrato actually works on this song. She digs in, even risking going off pitch a little to get at that dark, passionate place. She’s a little awkward when she touches hands with audience members, but it helps. He biggest problem so far has been perfect vocals, sung in a vacuum. Big points for stepping out of her comfort zone. “We’re all fans already. Like you’ve been doing it for years,” says Pharrell. “I was ready to take you to church!” says Blake. “I was going to give you ride.” Christina saw a different person on stage tonight. She connected with the audience. – 1-877-553-3703 – Text Sprint #3 to 8642 –   Download from iTunes

https://youtu.be/xBGFAHNlJZY

Mia Z – Team Pharrell – Miss You by the Rolling Stones – Reba calls out Mia on her DICTION. She needs to attack the words and pronounce them. Her whistle tone will return tonight. My favorite parts of Mia’s performance are her ad libs in the middle. Singing and performing is so effortless for this young artist. She’s got a natural groove, not to mention that warm tone and incredible range. The whistle tone worked, too. And, she chose the song! She’s got killer musical instincts. Adam loves the song choice, and how she sold it. Blake loves how inventive she is. Her ability is rare, he says. “It was  a perfect fit,” says Christina. Pharrell loves that she set some goals and succeeded. – 1-877-553-3704 – Text Sprint #4 to 8642 – Download from iTunes

https://youtu.be/uKLZgiIO7Xo

Deanna Johnson – Team Adam – Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) by Hillsong United – Deanna is the BIGGEST fan of Reba. They trade small town stories. Adam has assigned another Christian song. She’s a little worried about doing another. But he tells her the audience won’t notice. It’s the emotion that matters. I really love Deanna’s unusual tone. But like last week, I’m not feeling this song! Give her some pop stuff, Adam! But maybe this will be her niche. She did well on iTunes last week. There were some nice vocal moments at the end, when she moved up into her upper register to hit a big note. But she hit some clunkers, too.  Blake had a hard time hearing her first lines. But the parts he could here–she continues to gain confidence. Christina thought she sounded beautiful. “You’ve done it again,” says Pharrell. He can’t believe she was ever nervous. Apparently there were sound issues in the room. Adam loves that she’s finally understanding that she’s good. – 1-877-553-3705 – Text Sprint #5 to 8642 – Download from iTunes

https://youtu.be/anvg0Pp7dSI

Sawyer Fredericks – Team Pharrell – Imagine by John Lennon – Sawyer just had a birthday. So did Reba and Pharrell. To Sawyer, “Imagine” is a song of hope. Reba suggests that he smile while he sings. It’s just Sawyer, in a circle of lights with his guitar for the first verse.  Sawyer sings this song, like a beacon of optimism and hope. His youth helps to make the song work. He’s so pure in hope for a better world, it’s moving. He’s a young man who feels really deeply.  He changes up the melody a little–his phrasing is perfect.  Adam is amazed at how he fills the room with his voice. “You make everything you do right,” says Blake. Even when he lost his voice for a second. Christina felt he handled the missed note beautifully. Pharrell knew he’d handle the missed note brilliantly. Yeah, Sawyer went for a high falsetto, and literally NO noise came out. But he was so unfazed. It wasn’t a big deal. It just added to the rawness of the performance. – 1-877-553-3706 – Text Sprint #6 to 8642 –  Download from iTunes

https://youtu.be/3TU48M-6W3U

Rob Taylor – Team Christina – I Put a Spell on You – Christina and Reba help Rob find a way to make this classic song his own. Reba felt really connected to his performance. I honestly don’t know why America didn’t take to Rob last week, after his engaging rendition of “Earned It.” He not only nailed the vocals, but put on a hell of a show. This week he has some pitch problems, but he works the stage with an intense vocal, hitting that falsetto at just the right time. He’s such a great showman, he’s got the room standing. Christina is screaming like a school girl! I kinda want this guy to stick around. Pharrell called it a “masterful” performance. Adam feels he pulled ahead in the race. Christina is speechless! She saw him LIVING up there! That’s what being an artist is all about, she says.  – 1-877-553-3707 – Text Sprint #7 to 8642 –  Download from iTunes

https://youtu.be/F1-cb9gVrCo

Corey Kent White – Team Blake – Why by Jason Aldean – Blake wants Corey to show a little bit of a bad boy side. Reba really likes his sincerity. It’s a convention of Oakies! I’m going to be shocked if this tune doesn’t fly up the iTunes charts. He sang that better than Jason. There’s a sincerity there that’s so appealing. His raspy drawl is a plus. Yes, there were nerves and pitchy spots, but he knows how to connect to the audience. Christina says he’s totally got the girl vote. Adam feels he’s ALMOST there. He could be peaking at the right time. Blake says he didn’t sing perfectly, but he delivered the song perfectly. “You are a threat to win this show.”– 1-877-553-3708 – Text Sprint #8 to 8642 –  Download from iTunes

https://youtu.be/sL7HaTlh1lE

Koryn Hawthorne – Team Pharrell – Stronger by Kelly Clarkson – Koryn chose the song. She did not know that Kelly is Reba’s daughter in law. She also arranged it. Koryn impressively takes charge of the band. She sounds GREAT in rehearsal. WOW YOU GO GIRL! This is a fierce performance. She’s pouring her heart out. Girl’s got kind of a rock vibe when she attacks a song. A couple of the high notes were harsh. She needs to work on control, but this gal is a ball of untapped potential. Incredible  “Welcome to the Top 10” says Blake. Christina loved the song choice and her increasing confidence. She compares her to Tina Turner. Pharrell is in such AWE of how grounded she is, and the way she projects in a performance. – 1-877-553-3709 – Text Sprint #9 to 8642 – –  Download from iTunes

https://youtu.be/KtaoUWCMHlU

Joshua Davis – Team Adam – America by Simon & Garfunkle – Reba thinks he has a cute smile! Adam persuades him not to play guitar–for the first time. Adam is trying to coax a less internal performance from the singer. I love Joshua’s raspy vocals, but his voice is so…soft. I wait for him to bust out some how. And he does break out during this song, in spots, during the chorus most notably. But I’m still looking for more vocal dynamics from him. BLAKE DOES NOT KNOW THIS SONG. Wow. Blake says he performs a song as if he’s written it. Christina admires the way he stepped out of his comfort zone. Pharrell thought it was his best performance yet. “Magical,” he says. Maybe you had to be in the room to appreciate that performance? I’ll bet Joshua is awesome in a small club.  Adam babbles for awhile before calling the performance “perfect.” 1-877-553-3710 – Text Sprint #10 to 8642 –  Download from iTunes

https://youtu.be/31Arv88BfjY

Meghan Linsey – Team Blake – Girl Crush by Little Big Town – Ha. Smart to give her a buzzy song. “Girl Crush” has been the talk of the blogs. I’m kinda glad she’s singing country again. Meghan’s first cassette was a Reba album. WOW. This is Meghan’s best performance yet. She should be singing country with a soulful edge. That’s where she excels. She’s singing this song from somewhere deep in her gut. All that heartache she has experienced in life is serving her well. “You’re living the dream,” says Pharrell. Adam is just jealous she’s on Blake’s team. “I hate you Blake. I love you Meghan.” Blake thinks she just had a breakout moment. 1-877-553-3711 – Text Sprint #11 to 8642 –   Download from iTunes

https://youtu.be/q4WigosCgK4

Kimberly Nichole – Team Christina – House of the Rising Sun – Kimberly NAILED it in rehearsal and she’s absolutely sensational on stage. Powerhouse vocals, she makes this classic song her bitch, basically. Kimberly seemed so pro and disconnected earlier in the competition, but she is REALLY finding her place in this competition. Pharrell is standing “You can see the charts and see what you’ve just done.” Blake calls Kimberley a contender “Christina could win her first season of The Voice,” he says. Christina has NEVER heard that version of the song EVER. She’s off to download the song. 1-877-553-3712 – Text Sprint #12 to 8642 –   Download from iTunes

https://youtu.be/TSRa6F4lhHM