The Voice Playoffs 1.3

Playoffs Episode 3, Team Usher
TJ: Tell Me Something Good
I've loved him from the beginning. I was hoping he'd do well tonight and make it to the live rounds. He did not disappoint. He has a humble, yet confident, way of performing that draws you in (unlike Sisaundra, who just keeps alienating me with each performance). Plus, he has a great smile!
My verdict: Going first is tough, but I think he has the talent needed to move to the next round. 

Gratuitous Adam Levine picture #1

 

MJ: Halo
I thought this was an excellent song choice. The only problem is that most singers can't touch Queen Beyonce. MJ sounded good, especially at the chorus, but I wanted more from her. She had a few really great moments and ended well, but all in all, I didn't like her performance that much.
My verdict: She's beautiful. She's an incredible singer, but I think the rest of her team will overshadow her and Usher will not select her. 

Gratuitous Adam Levine picture #2 (I LOVE GIFs)

How freaking adorable is this? I could watch this all day...just sayin'.

Stevie Joe: The Thrill Is Gone
First off, I don't know this song very well so it was hard for me to have a vested interest in his performance. I was a little bored. I like him, but he needs to show more personality in order for me to be a bigger fan.
My verdict: I kinda hope not.

Side note: googling "Adam Levine The Voice gifs" was probably not the best idea. I'm obsessed now. With the gifs, obviously not the Adam Levine obsession. That's been going on for YEARS <3

Omfg, Adam with a puppy. Cutest. Thing. Ever. Excuse me, it's cold shower time ;)

Bria: Wild Horses
I love this song choice. My favorite judge did an unplugged version of this song with Alicia Keys. It was amazing. And so was Bria. Her voice is so beautiful. I love the growl she has in her voice. It's so sexy and strong.
My verdict: Best performance on Usher's team so far. There's no way she won't be at the live shows. 
Side note: Adam doing stretches in front of Usher was so funny.

Okay, last Adam gif. I promise. Check out that dimple though. Oh my...

Josh: It Will RainI've been such a big fan of his since the Blind Auditions. His soulful voice is so wonderful. Josh chose another amazing song. It is one of my emo favorites - another song that I can listen to over and over again. His performance almost made me cry. The mark of a great performer is their ability to move their audience. Mission accomplished. It was so, so good.
My verdict: He HAS to move on. No ifs, ands, or buts. 

Usher's decisions: Bria, Josh, TJ

Great choices by Usher. Those three were my favorites. Excited for the Top 12 to perform!

Bye bye for now...

xoxo,
JC

The Voice Playoffs 1.1 & 1.2

Playoffs, Episode 1 - Team Blake
Audra: Broken Wing
I don't remember much about her but she chose a great song to showcase her strong and beautiful voice. She was at her best towards the end when she hit her power notes.
My verdict: I won't be sad if she doesn't make it to the live shows.

Ryan: Second Chance
I love him. He had a great voice, cute family, and seems like a great guy that you want to root for. Wasn't sure he chose the best song, but he took a risk and did such a great job. This performance made me like him even more.
My verdict: Hope to see you in the finals, dude!
Side note: Humble Adam is so fucking adorable. I watched that part at least three times. So cute.

Madilyn: Clarity

Great song that could've been so amazing with her unique sound, but she wasn't in her comfort zone. She was a little bit awkward, but this time, it didn't work in her favor. She sounded out of breath and a little too reserved (boring). She's so adorable, but it definitely wasn't as good as we've seen in previous performance.

My verdict: Sorry sweetheart :(

Jake: Anywhere With You

If you don't love Jake, you must be dead inside. He's so lovable, sweet, and all around what I expect Southern boys to be like. His voice is so perfect for country music. He just keeps improving! I'd listen to his songs for sure.

My verdict: I'm hoping his great personality gets him to the finals.

Sisaundra: New York State Of Mind

Without a doubt, she is unbelievably talented, but I kind of hated this performance. I like the song, but the way she sang it was wayyy too overdone for my taste and I did not enjoy it. People can perform a powerhouse vocal without that screechy sound that irritates my ears. Tessanne did it beautifully. I just don't like too many riffs and runs.

My verdict: Fine. Whatever. Please sing a different style in the live shows.

Side note: "Where I come from, runs are a bad thing..." - Blake Shelton

Blake's decisions: Sisaundra, Audra, and Jake <3

I'm glad Blake kept Jake, but was surprised that he chose Audra over Ryan. I finished this episode perfectly on time to start the live episode. Onto the next!

Playoffs, Episode 2 - Team Shakira, Team Adam

Team Shakira

Kristen: Two Black Cadillacs

We FINALLY get to see a full performance for the first time since Blinds. I freaking love her voice. Her look. Her confidence. The way she performs. Everything. I'm already a huge fan. She killed it. I might cry if she doesn't make it. Ha.
My verdict: Yes, please!

Deja: Battlefield

She sounded wonderful, but it was still a little boring. I know the coaches mentioned that it's good that she is growing, but I wanted more personality and attitude. She is going to be famous beyond this show though. She's too talented not to.

My verdict: She will go far, but this is the end of the line for her on the show.

Tess: Human

First off, she's beautiful. Second, she can SING. That note she held in the middle - WOW. Her performance was so impressive. I really like her now, she never stood out too much to me before.

My verdict: She definitely deserves to make it to the next round. 

Side note: Adam impersonating Blake was so funny. One of the best bromances on TV, alive and well. This is one of my favorite moments of Season 6.

Patrick: Trouble 

Excellent choice! This song is so emotional and I think it's perfect for a strong, gravelly voice like his. I had high hopes for his performance and he did not let me down. The passionate way he sang the song drew me in and I loved it. 

My verdict: The show needs a voice like his. I hope Shakira picks him. 

Side note: I could watch a show of Blake and Adam just arguing and talking shit to each other for an hour. I love them. I think we need another picture now. 

Omfg, they are just too cute.

Dani: The Edge Of Glory

I thought it was great that she played the piano while singing. I'm definitely not coordinated enough for that. The first part of the song was lacking excitement for me. Her voice is so good and I'm glad she showed it towards the end. So much emotion and passion, how could you not enjoy that?

My verdict: Great way to end the Team Shakira performances, but I don't think she'll go through to the next round.

Shakira's decisions: Tess, Kristen, and Dani

I wish she would've kept Patrick over Dani, but I see why Shakira chose her. The live shows are going to be so good!

Team Adam

Delvin: Let's Stay Together

Hearing Adam singing a few lines of this song made me so happy. Cold shower needed, stat! ;) Delvin's voice is so smooth and buttery rich. I could listen to him all day. He just has that soulful and soothing sound that reminds me Motown R&B. I LOVE HIM.

My verdict: I will lose my shit if Adam doesn't choose him. 

Jake: She Will Be Loved

First off, he's so freaking hot. Second, he's singing Maroon 5. 

I think part of the appeal with Jake is when he gets into that part of his voice when he sounds like Justin Timberlake. It's something that not all singers can do, so it's so lovely when you hear that special tone.

My verdict: Please? Please! Please. We need a hottie in the next round.

Kat: Open Arms

Oh my...Open Arms is perhaps one of my favorite love songs ever, if not my #1. Steve Perry absolutely sang the shit out of this song. I had VERY high expectations from Kat. She has a great voice, but I think she sounded a little flat in some parts. I think what's missing for me is the softness in her lower register. She's always on full throttle. I wish there was a little more vulnerability to her voice. It sounded more like Heart than Journey. I wanted to hear her performance and feel something and I did not. Having said that, she is an undeniable talent. She rocks!

My verdict: She deserves to move on. I want more Kat.

Morgan: Stay

I like that he picked this song and showed a different side of his personality. He sounds great, but he can't compete with the rest of his team. They are all just too amazing. Nonetheless, Morgan should continue down the country path. That's definitely his niche.  I'd like to see if he can continue to improve.

My verdict: He won't make it to the live shows, but I think he needs to definitely continue to pursue a singing career.

Christina: I Won't Give Up

Another awesome choice. Jason Mraz's voice is so unique and wonderful. Christina definitely didn't disappoint. She put her own spin on it and was so beautifully invested in the song. I almost cried, she was so very good. She has what I feel Kat and Dani are missing - she can sing high, low, soft, loud, powerful, and tender. Top contender!

My verdict: She needs to be in the live rounds. I think she could definitely win.

Side note: Blake and Usher making fun of Adam's "smallness" was hilarious. I think this calls for another gratuitous Adam Levine photo. Don't judge me.

And because I chose a fully clothed one, this delectable treat is for the ladies. And me, of course. 

Adam's decisions: Christina, Delvin, and Kat

Excellent choices by Adam, they were definitely the top three on his team. I can't wait for the finale of the playoffs with Team Usher. 

xoxo,

JC

The Voice Battles, Round 2.3

Dani vs Clarissa: Perfect

I LOVE P!nk. So much. Great song choice. Clarissa has a growl in her lower register that makes her sound sexy and unique at the same time. Dani has a nice voice too. There's a rich sound to it, but I prefer the tone of Clarissa's. 

My pick: Clarissa

Shakira's pick: Dani

Kat vs Dawn & Hawkes: Suddenly I See

I didn't recognize the other song options they had, so I'm glad they picked the KT Tunstall song. Interesting pairing, but I'm excited to see who will come out on top since I love them both. Dawn & Hawkes are so amazing, but Kat definitely overpowered them. There's something about her that irritates me though.

My pick: Dawn & Hawkes

Adam's pick: Kat

0 for 2 so far. Ha.

Music Box vs Melissa: Girl On Fire

Umm, her name is fucking music box. I can't. I just can't. These girls are going to bring the passion and attitude to whatever they sing. Music Box has a crazy strong voice, but I like the soft tone that Melissa brings to the song. Plus, she has a very powerful voice as well. I was excited to see their battle. Melissa always kicks up the glamour on performance day. She is gorgeous!

My pick: Melissa

Usher's pick: Melissa

Side note: As Usher was contemplating who to pick, Blake said "What would the fox say?" SO funny. I love that man.

Kaleigh vs Ryan: Easy

This is one of my favorite emo/depressing songs. Ever. I listened to it on repeat for longer than I'd like to admit after a break up a couple years ago. I still LOVE this song so much. And it still brings up weird memories of pain, hurt, and sadness but it moves me nonetheless. I was really hoping they'd do this song justice. After watching their entertaining performance, it's safe to say that I prefer the Rascall Flatts and Natasha Beddingfield version. I've also slipped into the shallow end of the depression pool. Ugh, stupid song. I thought both singers were mediocre at best. They sounded better in rehearsal.

My pick: Ryan

Blake's pick: Ryan

Brittney vs Jake: Climax

I think Jake is so cute, but there's no way either of these talented singers will sound anywhere as amazing as Usher. This song oozes so much sexiness, and I think both of them are missing the point. They didn't sound good together in rehearsal. Jake sounded decent with his falsetto, but his lower range was better. And oh-so-sexy. Brittney is beautiful, but I don't like her weird facial expressions when she sings.

My pick: Jake

Adam's pick: Jake

Side note: LOVED when Usher sang us a few lines of this song with his super sexy voice. GPP.

Bria vs Madilyn: I'll Stand By You

They chose my senior prom theme song. I feel old. I love this song though. Aww, remember the innocence and fun of high school? I miss that. Being an adult sucks sometimes. Usher is a great coach. His critiques and suggestions are usually so helpful. Bria has a great voice but she's too loud all the time. She doesn't have much range. I prefer the soft, yet strong, and sweet sound of Madilyn more. She has something special. I love her.

My pick: Madilyn

Usher's pick: Bria

Side note: I squealed with joy when Blake decided to steal her. Not that there was any doubt considering it was the last performance and he still had a steal left. 

Excited for the playoffs tomorrow! Top 20.

xoxo,

JC

The Voice Battles, Round 2.2

Still jockeying for that job at EW.com as a TV recapper, obviously. Here we go!

Biff vs Sisaundra: It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World
These two powerhouse vocalists picked the perfect song for them to showcase their amazing gifts. I was excited to see this battle! Bummed that Sisaundra wasn't wearing HUMONGOUS earrings again. Those were a sight to behold. From the 1st note to the very end, this was one of the best performances I've seen on this show, ever. Biff and Sisaundra are so good, I'm almost at a loss for words. They BOTH deserve to move onto the playoffs. Fingers crossed for a steal for whomever Blake doesn't pick. Like Usher, their performance gave me chills. I watched it twice. WOW.
My pick: Biff
Blake's pick: Sisaundra
Side note: I was super sad that Adam didn't steal Biff :( I'm a little heartbroken. Congratulations to Sisaundra though. She truly is a once in a lifetime talent.

Ddendyl vs Deja: Say Something
I'm not a huge fan of Christina Aguilera, but her voice on this song was so beautiful and haunting. The best part is how subdued her voice was for once. These poor girls were both so nervous that I felt bad for them. The whole time I kept thinking that they both need to sing a little louder because I could barely hear them. It might have been the wine. It's hard to hear this song and not want hear an XTina level voice, or at the very least that duo that won X-Factor.
My pick: Deja
Shakira's pick: Deja

Emily vs Kristen: I Can Love You Better
Shakira's pick: Deja
Side note: We didn't get to see this battle in it's entirety. I hate not seeing more of Kristen. She's my underdog favorite artist.

Stevie Jo vs Morgan: Story Of My Life
Morgan had a sexy rasp to his voice, but when I wasn't watching and was only listening, I enjoyed Stevie Jo's voice more. Morgan had some terrific moments though. This one is a toss up for me. Not a fan of 1D, so I definitely agree with Adam's assessment that this manly version was better.
My pick: Stevie Jo
Usher's pick: Stevie Jo

Side note: Adam was so cute when he stole Morgan. I'm glad he's getting one more shot. That leaves Blake with the only steal left.

Looking forward to next week's episodes - one more round of battles and then playoffs! 

xoxo,

JC 
 

The Voice Battles, Round 2.1

I LOVE that Chris Martin is the mentor for this round of battles. Also, earlier this week, it was announced that Pharrell Williams is joining the show, taking Cee-Lo Green's vacated judging spot for the next season. I think that was an excellent choice. He's relevant, young, fun, and you can be damn sure that he'll be wearing some interesting outfits...especially the hats! 

And try as I might, that damn Happy song inevitably gets stick in my head at least once a day. Ugh.

Slightly embarrassing fun fact about me: I read the TV Recaps on EW.com of the shows I watch. I have my favorite recappers, while some are absolutely horrible. The ones I don't like generally are very negative about the show they are writing about, which leads me to wonder if they are even a fan in the first place. So, if the sports writing thing never pans out, I'd love to be an official episode recap blogger. Watching TV for work would be pretty epic, right?

Onto the battles! 

Audra vs Megan: The Climb

I love this song. She's bat shit crazy, but I love Miley Cyrus (2nd embarrassing fun fact revealed in this post). These girls sounded good, but I was kinda bored because I checked Faceook during their battle.  I thought Audra was a little sharp on a couple of her power notes.

My pick: Megan

Blake's pick: Audra

Side Note: Usher's hat...I mean, just look! Only a superstar with a sexy voice and body like his could wear that and still be adorbs (totes macgotes!).

T.J. vs Cierra: Get Here

Beautiful song selection, but I selfishly hoped that they would pick One More Night by Maroon 5. Adam Levine gives me GPP. Not the Urban Dictionary definition, my own special definition. Follow me on Twitter and you'll probably pick up on what I mean ;) Cierra is a great singer, but she's missing a little bit of the It Factor for me. I love T.J.'s smooth soul voice. He reminds me of some of the great R&B singers of the 90's that I enjoyed so much.

My pick: T.J.

Usher's pick: T.J.

Side note: I love that both Usher and Adam are wearing short sleeve shirts. Sexy, muscular, tattooed arms. Delicious. Sorry, I'll go take a cold shower. 

Jake vs Tess: Have A Little Faith In Me

Am I the only one that wants to give Jake a big bear hug? I bet he gives the BEST hugs. Country music always makes the mushy side of me come out. Jake's voice is a classic country voice. Even if he doesn't win The Voice, I predict he'll eventually record an album. Tess is a freaking rock star. Her voice is so powerful, yet so beautiful. I pick Jake though because I'm a sucker for country singers. 

My pick: Jake

Blake's pick: Jake

Side note: The cold shower did NOT help. Rawrrr.

I'll stop now, I promise. Adam, Shakira, and Usher all tried to steal Tess. Usher singing Reunited was so cute. Tess ultimately chooses Shakira.

Christina vs Sam: Counting Stars

Ryan Tedder will always be one of my favorite mentors on this show, he is an incredible talent. I thought this was such a weird song choice. I loved Christina in the Blind Auditions. We haven't seen much of her since which leads me to think that she's been less than stellar. Sam has such a unique sound. It's quirky but so wonderful.

My pick: Sam

Adam's pick: Christina 

Patrick vs Josh: Run To You

I'll admit, I'm not that familiar with this song. I like Bryan Adams, but mostly his ballads. It's interesting to note that this battle showcases two "rejects" from Team Adam (Shakira stole them both). Chris Martin did some of his best mentoring with these two guys. Plus, hearing his directions and suggestions with his sexy British accent is a big plus. Considering I didn't know the words, Patrick's emotional growl was awesome. Josh has a great voice too, but I found myself more interested in Patrick's parts of the duet.

My pick: Patrick

Shakira's pick: Patrick

Side note: I just noticed Patrick's right eye. Is it glass? Probably not. I'm just a dick. I have a wonky eye sometimes too, I shouldn't judge.

Delvin vs Josh: Signed, Sealed, Delivered...I'm Yours

They just HAD to show Josh's battle from round 1, didn't they? Pharrell's Happy will continue to haunt my subconscious. Delvin and Josh, wow. Both of these guys are AMAZING vocalists. Adam put himself in a tough situation by pitting these two against each other. Easily the best of the night. It's not hard to see why they were featured at the end of this episode. I must admit, Delvin not rocking that big pompadour allowed me to concentrate on his voice more. We all know both of these singers will move on because the "loser" of this battle is too good to not be stolen.

My pick: Delvin

Adam's pick: Delvin

Side note: I watched this battle TWICE because it was that good. I'm glad that Usher stole Josh. I think he'll be able to help elevate his performance style.

Can't wait to watch the continuation of the 2nd round. Being behind sucks but baseball comes first. I also want to watch HIMYM again (more on that later, still bummed about the finale), plus catch up on Revenge and find a way to feed my addiction to Arrow. Plus, Game of Thrones starts up again soon. There is just not enough time in the day for all the shows I want to watch! First world problems.

xoxo,

JC