The Voice: Knockout Rounds Are Done!

By Erica 

This is it, folks…  we’re almost there!  We’re almost to the live performances that is, but it’s gonna hurt to get there. REALLY hurt. More than last week.   Monday’s last set of Knockout Rounds had some very talented folk going head to head… and with only one steal left.  Quite frankly, there were some performances and decisions that make me feel like I’ve been in a Knockout round of boxing!   I can’t imagine how the coaches felt.   Honestly, I am starting to think I couldn’t “call” a possible winner in the Blinds (like I did in the last two seasons in my head) because the artists are just that good this season.  

The Silver Lining?  After this, each coach will only have five artists on their teams which will make it easier for us to keep track of who is who.  There is also a different flavor to the live performances. First we have to get through this week, so buckle up and grab a cocktail.  God knows I need one now!

THE ARTISTS

There were some particularly heartbreaking moments on Monday’s episode.  These artists want it so much, and are willing to work so hard for it.  I’ve mentioned several times that song choice is everything.  But I realized while watching this that sometimes it is more. It is who also is on your team and whether or not you have a similar sound or genre to anyone else on that team.  If they were racing like Olympic swimmers, it could literally be a difference of one one-hundredth of a second between moving on and going home.

PERFORMANCES OF NOTE

I’m going rogue and changing my headings around.  Why?  Because in reviewing my favorite performances, two out of the three actually LOST their round.  While I agreed with the coaches on some of the decisions, it wasn’t because I didn’t think the artist going home did a bad job at all.  While some of the song choices didn’t float my boat, it was typically a singer whose genre I don’t listen to much anyway.  I’m genuinely sad that the Voice journey has ended for some of these people, because I likely won’t get to see them perform again.  On a positive note, there were a few that have moved on that made me sit up and take notice for the first time.  That is a good thing, going into the Live Playoffs. I can’t be the only one who feels that way about them!

Team Adam: Brendan Fletcher

Song Choice: Soul Shine by the Allman Brothers Band

I’ve never paid close attention to Brendan before.  He is apparently a little quiet and shy, but I sure sat up and took notice of this dark horse!  He has a classic deep raspy voice.  He clearly knows his own strengths and weaknesses, because he picked a great song for himself.  Not to sound like Alicia, but he sounded true and authentic to himself.  I wasn’t even mad that Adam picking him as the winner made Nolan go home.  Nolan was the artist that wasn’t picked in the Blinds last season only to earn a 4 chair turn this time.  A great story, but simply was out performed this time.

Team Miley: Josh Halverson

Song Choice: Whiskey and You by Tim McGraw

If Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan had a love child, who then went on to have a love child with Johnny and June’s kid – that would be Josh singing this song.  Blew me away.  I’m still thinking about it hours later.  FYI, this is one of Tim McGraw’s songs. Josh stated he didn’t know who the advisors were when he selected it.  So it is extra special advice and insight from an advisor when Tim talks about how he has always thought of this song as part of a movie, and that Josh needs to set the scene for the audience  and draw them into it.  

Here is the kicker though – Josh LOST with this performance.  Don’t get me wrong, Aaron Gibson, his round partner, gave a technically impeccable performance.  I can understand why Miley picked him, but understand why Alicia used her steal to get Josh back on her team!  Whew!!!   Josh is definitely one to watch.

Team Alicia: Michael Sanchez

Song Choice: Just the Two of Us by Bill Withers

My favorite performance of the night. Michael literally made me smile from the moment he started his upbeat performance, and I needed that based on how this week is going!  This is the HIGHEST compliment from me; Michael reminded me of Billy Joel, when he was married to Christie and Alexa Ray was young, and he was singing stuff like For the Longest Time, and having FUN with music a bit.  I hope Michael writes his own stuff like Billy does – as they both clearly know what their voices are suited for musically.

My favorite performance and a heartbreaking one as well.  Alicia went with Sa’Rayah instead of Michael, who I thought picked a weak song (by Chaka Khan, but not one I recognized)..  He was robbed.  I am so upset that Michael is gone, and no opportunity for a steal.  Why they were teamed up in the first place is beyond me.  I do think Michael got cheated by the fact he was on an inexperienced coach’s team.   I feel that Adam would have taken him in a heartbeat after that performance if he had a steal left.

TUESDAY’S REVIEW SHOW

I won’t say much about this episode as there are no new performances, other than it gives us a great review of who is left as we move into the all important live playoffs.  We even see some unseen moments of artists with coaches, mentors, and key advisors which help showcase everyone’s talents and the work they are putting into this.  At the end there are also some funny moments with the coaches – they get a little goofy during the long days on set, and I kind of live for those moments too.  Long live the bromance between Adam and Blake!