The Voice: Top Eleven Live Show

By Erica

No rest for the weary! With the holiday and everything, I totally forgot to make song suggestions. Ooops! Did any of you make a suggestion? The one I could think of, for Ashland, would never make it. No one has heard of it and it is decidedly non-PC these days. I consider it the “anti-Jolene” song. Check out “Fist City” by Loretta Lynn sometime, on YouTube.

The stylists are bringing their A game, including with Miley and Jennifer. I have no idea if the two female coaches use the Voice stylists or not, but it is clear that they are at least talking to each other about what they are wearing.

THE PERFORMANCES

I hope they do this theme again, because the fans have excellent taste and good ears on what fits the artists’ voices.

Janice Freeman, Team Miley  Song: Shine by Collective Soul

Dayum! Janice killed it! I sort of recognized the song, and will have to look it up later. She worked that stage like a pro who has been playing with that band for ages. I think the band looked like they are having fun in this performance. Happy they put them out on stage with her. As far as Janice’s look went, I LOVE it. If Grace Jones and David Bowie had a baby, I think that baby would be Janice. Most importantly, Janice wore the look without it overwhelming her or the performance.

Red Marlow, Team Blake  Song: The Dance by Garth Brooks

Oh shit. The fans aren’t playing around with Red. This is one of Garth Brook’s signature songs, if not THE song. When I heard the title, I got slightly nervous for him. The fans picked it, but they know it so well that one minor mistake could be life or death on the show. Others have attempted it, but haven’t done it nearly as well as Red. I hope Garth is impressed, because I was! Red should think of more ballads to do. I also now have a total soft spot for Red’s big ol’ softy heart because he cried watching some of the fan videos sent to him. They weren’t even that mushy or sentimental!

Shi’Ann Jones, Team Jennifer  Song: Listen by Beyonce

Shi’Ann started to win me over last week with Vision of Love, and initially I applauded the fan choice of this particular Beyonce song. I felt she put too many cracks and runs in the song. Even Beyonce sang this one more “purely” and simply because of the meaning and impact in that part of the film. Some of those cracks sounded slightly off key, and that last note? Ooof. Maybe she is better in person, or the coaches love cracks and squeaks a lot more than I do, because apparently they all were on their feet afterward.

Adam Cunningham, Team Adam  Song: American Girl by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Another great choice by fans! Who doesn’t love Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers? Adam had fun with this and it totally showed. He needs to think along these lines again. Solid performance, but everyone else did so well tonight, who knows. He might be this season’s Aaron (On Miley’s first team, Season 11. He was on the bottom for 3 weeks!) I do find it interesting that people keep trying out rock songs for him though. There are certainly some up tempo, fun country songs. Thunder Road anyone? Friends in Low Places? On the Road Again? Whiskey River? C’mon people!

Brooke Simpson, Team Miley  Song: What About Us by Pink

No joke, I’ve already listened to this one three times. Head to toe goosebumps each time. I cried the first time. What a fantastic and great way of incorporating her people, her culture without making it too pedantic. Pink’s songs are so deeply personal to her, has anyone ever covered her stuff before? Adam is right, the way that Brooke took this and made it relate to her story was incredible. The inclusion of the house musicians on stage was great in many performances tonight, but the use of the drums in recognition of a drum circle along with the stage production was next level.

Davon Fleming, Team Jennifer  Song: I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston

Of COURSE the fans of Davon and JHud Productions picked a Whitney song for him, and an incredibly iconic one to boot. Davon’s range continues to be almost unbelievable. If you have it recorded, listen straight through, then rewind to the point where he first sings “I don’t want to close the door”. The Voice sound people are really good about totally eliminating whatever the crowd is doing. (See below about the off beat clapping). They could not completely eliminate the crowd. The screaming bled through the background at times. They must have been totally losing their shit.

Ashland Craft, Team Miley  Song: Chicken Fried by Zac Brown Band

Yay America! We heard a taste of Chicken Fried last week, but Miley and Ashland went with Delta Dawn. Delta Dawn was a good choice, but this week I loved seeing a bit of a fun side from Ashland. Miley added to it with having Ashland wearing some old school country sparkly fringe! I really do think Ashland can handle a bit of that retro look to go with her sound. My only concern with Ashland is that she doesn’t work the stage quite as well as some of the others. Perhaps she was thrown off by the crowd clapping off beat. Adam has called out a crowd before on this. I CAN’T IMAGINE trying to sing or play an instrument, keeping the beat when an entire audience is clapping OFF beat.

Addison Agen, Team Adam  Song: A Case of You by Joni Mitchell

It makes me happy that fans thought of Joni Mitchell in the first place. These days, we need a resurgence in folk songs and folk singers. Addison wasn’t even on my radar initially, and she has totally won me over. Others have done this song before, but NONE are like Addison. She has such an amazing, interesting, and unique range. This girl is 16, looks 16, but there is just something that exudes old soul out of her. It was mesmerizing, and as Adam said, moving. I don’t think Miley moved she was so captivated! You know it is a great performance when another coach like Jennifer tells the audience they must vote, vote, vote for her.

Keisha Renee, Team Blake  Song: It Matters to Me by Faith Hill

Keisha was in the Top 4 of the Country Charts last week! Say what you will about country fans, they will be loyal and they know their shit. Frankly, any Faith Hill song is inspired. Keisha is trying to cross over into country, and Faith Hill has always been a bit of a “bridge” artist who has touched on a bit of pop or soul herself. I can hear shades of Faith in Renee’s tone. I enjoyed the performance, but I think she’s still learning to be in this different lane. I’m enjoying that journey with her, and luckily out of any genre fans, COUNTRY fans will stick with someone through their climb. Oh, one more thing. THANK GOD SHE DIDN’T WEAR THE HAT. I know that style is popular, but I fucking hate it.

Noah Mac, Team Jennifer  Song: Electric Love by Børns

I am beyond excited that Noah has clearly connected with a fan base. I love this kid. Jennifer as a coach just has to sit back and let him do his thing with just a little push or pull here and there. Kudos to her for this. A coach with a more selfish ego might insist on pushing themselves on the artist. Instead, we get a practice scene where Noah is working with the band leader. When Noah says he wants a stripped down version of the song with just strings and percussions, the band guy says “I could actually have a string quartet”. The look of joy and excitement on Noah’s face was delightful. His live performance vocals are impeccable, and this is “The Voice” so that is important. Fans should be pleased. Noah is a complete package in a much deeper, meaningful way than we’ve ever been able to witness before. Noah might be bigger than the scope of The Voice, frankly.

Chloe Kohanski, Team Blake  Song: Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler

Chloe might be what Carson described as an “alternative rocker” but Chloe has been killing it by playing some of the classics. Well, classics for MY generation! Apparently people have been tweeting Total Eclipse as a suggestion since the Blinds, which makes total sense. Chloe has that Bonnie Tyler rasp that this song was made for. I find it interesting that the practice clip we see is on the actual stage, and Blake isn’t even in his coach’s seat but a director’s chair. I’m probably reading too much into it. Her live performance was phenomenal. Her raspiness actually has shades of Miley in it. How is this girl not already a professional? Perfect performance.

If I have to guess who will be on the bottom, I clearly would go with Shi’Ann. But I’ve never been wild about her. Adam was good tonight, but he was on the bottom last week and the other country people did well too. I absolutely hate to say it, but Ashland is clearly still learning while others could be professionals tomorrow. She could also be on the bottom.