We are less than 10 minutes away from the Tayl- errr I mean THE VOICE. The Voice. I hope you like Taylor Swift because she is going to be all up in your tv screen for the next two hours. =)
It’s the Knockout rounds! It’s a fan favorite, and I love it because the contestants get to choose their own songs. Can’t wait to hear their picks!
For those unfamiliar with these rounds, the coaches must cut their teams in half and will be pairing their own team’s contestants against each other.
Each coach will get ONE steal only!
The first to go is Team Gwen’s Sugar Joans and Bryana Salaz. Gwen chose them because they need to figure out what kind of artist they want to be. Taylor Swift LOVES Gwen and well, who can blame her?!
Bryana freaks out over meeting Taylor Swift. She’s singing Heart Attack by Demi Lovato. Taylor says she has the pipes to belt the song, but that she needs to feel the lyrics and not just show off. They’re missing the rawness and want her to go soft on some of the notes.
Good call by Taylor to have Bryana show restraint on the song. It sounds pretty good!
I am still curious about Sugar Joans. She’s excited to be on Team Gwen because of how nurturing she is. She will be singing Love on Top by Beyonce. Taylor says she is a stunning performer. Gwen wants her to not use the growl as much, she wants her to tone it down.
The Performances:
Heart Attack is a tough song to sing (I attempt to sing it in my car and I can barely breathe by the end lmao). Is Bryana ready for this competition? She’s got a really good voice, she’d fit the pop princess mold pretty well. She is hitting notes even Demi Lovato can’t hit! Interesting.
Here comes Sugar. She has definite star quality when you look at her. Great styling too. I think I’m starting to get why people like her so much. And barely any growls! Pharrell is on his feet for her, aw!
Adam says that having to choose between the two girls is going to be very very difficult. Blake says it’s not normal for someone Bryana’s age to sing like that. Pharrell says Bryana should do things that feel original for her. He’s upset that he didn’t turn around for Sugar but would LOVE to steal her!
Gwen is conflicted. She loved Sugar’s key changes in the song and how she held back the growls. She’s proud of Bryana’s dynamics in the song too.
The winner of this knockout is…Bryana Salaz!! (wow not expecting that. Does Gwen dislike Beyonce orrrrr?) – Download from iTunes
And there goes a steal from Pharrell! Welcome to Team Pharrell Sugar Joans! – Download from iTunes
Next up is Team Blake’s Griffin versus James David Carter. I’ve been a fan of James’ since his blind audition. He’s singing You Got A Friend by James Taylor. Blake is surprised by this song choice because it normally doesn’t push someone vocally. Taylor liked how he delivered the sentiment of the song. He needs to hit a powerful note to put him over the edge.
Griffin is new to Team Blake, he was previously on Team Pharrell until Blake stole him in the battle rounds. He’s singing As Long As You Love Me by Justin Bieber (say what?). Blake says he can make this song his own. Taylor would love him to incorporate the audience into the song. Hmmm. This could potentially be a hot mess.
The Performances:
James reminds me a tad of David Cook. Anyone else see it lol? Pharrell and Gwen look like they’re enjoying it. He’s got such a nice voice for country and this song shows his showmanship. Lots of substance.
Griffin looks like a priest (?). Not loving the club vibe of this song either. Ahhhh I don’t know what else to write because I didn’t like it lol.
Pharrell said he brought his own flavor to the song. Gwen would have gone with James. Adam liked James and thought that Griffin’s song choice this time around was safe.
Blake said he was wrong about how he felt about James doing that song. He says he stands corrected!
The winner of this knockout is James David Carter! – Download from iTunes
Next is Team Pharrell’s Danica Shirey and Katriz Trinidad. Ugh this is going to be hard because I like both of them. Danica is singing Saving all my love for you by Whitney Houston. She owes everything in her career to her, Whitney inspired her to sing. Pharrell and Taylor are super impressed. Taylor says Danica’s insecurity fuels her talent. Pharrell says she is connecting in such an incredible way.
Katriz will be singing Superwoman by Alicia Keys, and wants to dedicate it to her mom. Taylor says her voice is polished and powerful. Pharrell sees a lot of training in her but wants her to not be so delicate with the singing. They want her to be grittier. Pharrell wants to see some personality from her too.
The Performances:
God I love Danica’s voice, it’s so beautiful. Her styling is much better than the battle rounds too. She definitely deserves to be in this competition and with that voice, heck she could win this whole thing.
Katriz’s voice reminds me a little of Stacie Orrico. It’s crazy how young she is. She needs to pace herself, she’s running a little bit behind the melody. This is the most personality yet that I’ve seen from her so it looks like she’s been following Pharrell’s notes.
Gwen said Katriz had a lot of stage presence this time. Adam said that Danica sang the crap out of that song, but that it’s going to be hard to raise the bar each week. Blake said Katriz definitely stepped up and that she couldn’t look any cuter. He admired Danica’s control and says she’s a perfect singer.
Pharrell has watched Katriz grow. He says Danica is like a unicorn (lol what) and that her transformation has been amazing.
The winner of this knockout is…Danica Shirey!! – Download from iTunes
Next up is Team Adam’s Toia Jones and Damien Lawson. They’re both great singers. Damien is singing How Do I Live by Leann Rimes (really? hmmm). He’s always been an emotional singer, so I hope he does well. Taylor likes his vulnerability. Adam says he felt every word.
Toia is singing Crazy in Love by Beyonce. I’m cool with her doing this song, I love her voice. Is it too upbeat for her though? Adam says there are big gaps in the hooks when she’s singing. Taylor wants her to turn into someone else, and to be more theatrical in her performance. They want her to be more true to the melody and with less runs.
The Performances:
Gah Damien. His voice tugs on my little heart strings. He reminds me of all the late great r&b music of the 90’s. He sounds so good on this song though.
Toia’s being fun and sassy on this song. She can sing absolutely anything and it would sound incredible. Pharrell is standing up and dancing in his chair lolll. Adorbz.
Blake said that Toia’s runs were great. He loved Damien’s version of that song, but that he would give the knockout to Toia. Pharrell said Damien’s performance was flawless but that he didn’t bring all the guns out. He said that Toia tore the place down. Gwen said Damien’s voice was beautiful and showed a different side but that Toia shocked her.
Adam said Damien’s song choice was very smart. He was skeptical of Toia’s song choice but that she gave an incredible performance. He thinks they both are fantastic.
The winner of this knockout is…Damien Lawson!! – Download from iTunes
Nobody is stealing Toia? Wah. =(
Next is Team Blake’s Tanner Linford and Jessie Pitts. Jessie had gotten stolen by Blake in the battle rounds. She’s singing Your Song by Elton John. Blake says it’s perfect for her voice. Taylor loves that she is using Ellie Goulding’s version of the song. She wants Jessie to relax on her “comfort moves.” Blake wants her falsetto to be projected a little more loudly.
Tanner is grateful to be in this competition. He trips meeting Taylor Swift lol. He’s doing Calling All Angels by Train. Good song choice, surprising choice too. Taylor says he has a good voice but needs to sell a message, sell a feeling. She wants him to make eye contact with the crowd. Blake says he’s starting to come out of his shell.
The performances
Jessie still sounds just like Ellie Goulding. It’s pretty and pleasant, she puts the emotion into the song. Gwen looks like she’s going to cry.
Tanner is so adorable, I can’t even. He’s improved so much from last season. I’d pick Tanner.
Pharrell said that Tanner made him look at the song differently. He likes Jessie’s dynamics in the song but that both of them have bright futures. Gwen said Tanner’s voice is so powerful and can work the stage. She said Jessie’s was off the chart. Adam said that Tanner has an angelic presence and that Jessie is a great singer.
Blake says that Jessie’s voice sounds like it’s straight out of the studio. He’s very proud of Tanner.
The winner of this knockout is…Jessie Pitts!! – Download from iTunes
Awwww man Tanner. Poor kid. He has such a good, positive attitude though.
The last knockout of the night is Team Pharrell’s Luke Wade and Taylor Phelan. Luke is one of my favorite contestants. He’s going to be singing Rich Girl by Hall & Oates. Taylor Swift loves his tone. Pharrell wants him to give people variations of his voice. She’s giving him advice on working the stage.
Taylor Phelan is going to be singing Rather Be by Clean Bandit. Taylor says his guitar is his teddy bear, so he’s putting his guitar away for this performance. Pharrell likes how he takes chances but he needs to loosen up and show more emotion.
The performances
Luke’s tone is just $$$$. Love him. He has such an old soul, he’s the real deal. This is going to be so hard for Pharrell to choose. Weird ending to that song lol…it just sort of ended oddly.
Taylor is interesting, a real genuine wild card on the show. Edgier that most in his song choices.
Gwen liked both of them. She said Luke had great command of the stage. She liked seeing Taylor move on the stage. Adam said both of them are major losses to them in the blinds. He liked seeing this new side of Taylor. Adam feels like there’s no clear winner and whoever doesn’t win, they’re coming to his team lol. Blake said there was a lot of adlibbing in Luke’s performance so he would go with Taylor.
Pharrell said Taylor let the world in, and that Luke went with his feelings.
The winner of this knockout is…Luke Wade!! – Download from iTunes
Gwen and Adam both push to steal Taylor Phelan! – Download from iTunes
Ahahaha and Blake does too!
I love how Adam never talks back to Pharrell lol. He knows better.
Taylor picks…Team Adam!
Here are the Teams as of right now:
Team Adam:
Taylor Phelan
Blessing Offor
Matt McAndrew
Damien Lawson
Mia Pfirrman
Alessandra Castronovo
Chris Jamison
Rebekah Samarin
Team Blake:
Jessie Pitts
James David Carter
Allison Bray
Taylor Brashears
Reagan James
Grant Ganzer
Team Gwen:
Craig Wayne Boyd
Ryan Sill
Bryana Salaz
Taylor John Williams
Beth Spangler
Troy Ritchie
Anita Antoinette
Team Pharrell:
Sugar Joans
Luke Wade
Elyjuh Rene
Danica Shirey
Jean Kelley
Menlik Zergabachew
Ricky Manning
I sadly won’t be live blogging tomorrow night but I leave you in good hands. :) Have a good one everyone!
xo
Kelly
