'The Voice' Recap: Team Adam vs. Team Cee Lo
Only some hopefuls prove worthy to make it into the next leg of the competition
There was a lot of "ifs." "If you make it through," "If you stick around," etc. The judges got to the judging part, and between now and the next time we meet, America will have, too.
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It was Team Adam versus Team Cee Lo, the former a fan more so of the current, and the latter someone who clearly believes every song he assigns needs to be at least a quarter of a century old. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't -- for both guys.
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Team Adam:
Katrina Parker "Tonight, Tonight": The Smashing Pumpkins hit was Levine's first time going back far on this episode, song choice-wise. With accompanying strings, and still channeling Adele (like so many here on "The Voice"), Parker made it her own. But, I agree with Cee Lo's assessment: There needs to be a catharsis when tackling a Pumpkins tune.
Tony Lucca "In Your Eyes": As far back, I believe, as Levine has ever gone. I thought Lucca killed on the Peter Gabriel classic, but clearly Aguilera thought he could've benefitted from John Cusack's boom-box. Yeah, yeah, they were Mouseketeers together -- we all know that (although I didn't realize Timberlake was being vocal about his support of Lucca, which Xtina mentioned), but she got rough on her former co-star, calling him "one-dimensional." I think there was some kissing with the Mouse ears on, and Aguilera's still sporting some heartache.
Kim Yarbrough "Rolling in the Deep": Yarbrough's voice was strong on the ubiquitous Adele smash. But, like Cee Lo said, it being so "current" could cost her.
Mathai "Ordinary People": Understated, breathy, and confident. With that said, did it wow America?
Karla Davis "Airplanes": A song much of America will not know, Aguilera called it the "surprise of the night."
Pip "When You Were Young": Giving "Bowtie Boy" a song from The Killers was another Levine head-scratcher, but lo and behold, Pip rose to the occasion. At least I thought so -- the judges not so much. He'll need a stylist to intervene at some point if he makes it through.
Team Cee Lo:
Cheesa "Don't Leave Me This Way": It was a perfect fit. "Like watching 'Solid Gold'," Shelton accurately commented. Great way to start the show.
James Massone "Don't Know Why": Again, Cee Lo showed he knows how to pick songs for his team, and this time around the song was in stark contrast to most of his picks; a Nora Jones song and not - Cyndi Lauper or Howard Jones. Massone mugs too much for my liking, but the ladies seem to like him, and Shelton even said he debated "tossing my panties on the stage."
Juliet Simms "Roxanne": If you've been following this blog at all then you know that Simms is my pick. That's why when Cee Lo gave her what I consider to be the most overrated Police song ever, I was ticked off. Seriously ticked off. But, Simms astounded. Not only did she get a standing O from Xtina, but Levine deemed it the best performance so far this entire season. Smokin'.
Tony Vincent "Everybody Wants to Rule the World": Speaking of overrated, Cee Lo's love for the '80s hurt the admittedly powerhouse yet off-putting vocalist, here restrained and visibly pained.
Erin Martin "Walk Like an Egyptian": Another cheeky Cee Lo '80s assignment, but this time with the right intentions. Cee Lo told the former model she "needed to bring it because a lot of people" felt she actually lost the battle round. She toned down the vocal quirkiness but not the preening. She's in trouble.
Jamar Rogers "Are You Gonna Go My Way?": He told Christina Milian during an interview he didn't want people to idolize him, and then told Cee Lo he was his idol. His is indeed a story of survival, but this here's about "the voice," is it not? The guy's got one. Energetic and a nice show-capper.
My prediction? The results show is going to be unpredictable.
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"The Voice" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. and Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
Please tell me how you logically come to the conclusion that perhaps I am racially motivated? That is the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard! Nothing against the song or Egyptians. It's that a.) the song is very dated. b.) it's not a song that would allow any vocalist to showcase their abilities. Again, this is a SINGING contest! These people are singing for an opportunity of a lifetime. Hello! Really?You get one shot , because on this show you must sing like any performance could be your last, and THAT'S the song chosen?
I am slightly curious how saying something reminded them of "Solid Gold" is a compliment. It's kind of like saying, "Hey that would have been great 30 years ago. Now -- not so much."
I have nothing against Cheesa, but that observation was spot on, it was very dated and why on earth was she wearing what looked like sweat pants!!
@sr3...I'm not mistaken. I guarantee you Boston dude did not pick Norah Jones or theater/eyeliner guy pick Everybody wants to rule the world. I think they can bring one and see what the coach thinks or they can probably even reject one but either way coaches can strongly suggest they NOT do a song or give them one....my point is that the coaches helped nobody last night if they heard them practice and didn't make changes or suggestions...like hey, you're not really hitting that note maybe you can try this note or you can try this other song...let's hear that. They let them go out there not ready or not performing something that would make them shine.
Most of the performances were so OTT or just plain bad that I can´t remember them. Juliet, without a doubt, was the standout of the night.
-- I can´t remember his name, but the guy that sang to the girls in a fasetto was horrible. He didn´t hit the notes, he screeched them.
--When Erin Martin auditioned, I rather liked her voice because it was different, but last night her lack of genuine talent came through. She must have thought she was still on the catwalk because her attitude screamed "Look at me!" instead of "listen to me!" She needs to go and take her overblown ego with her. Beauty fades. I hope she saved up because singing isn´t going to pay her rent.
--I really think that Tony Vincent is being sabotaged. If you listen to his audition and first song, he´s got a real voice, but the song choice last night was stupid--Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Really? That was the best that could be found for him?
Finally, when, oh, when is Christina going to stop using a spackle for her makeup and put on a top that´s actually tasteful and made for her size? We know she had a boob job; it doesn´t have to be in the camera lens every five minutes. Unfortunately, she thinks her size is 30 pounds ago. What´s frustrating is that she´s neither fat nor unattractive, but she´s doing everything she can to look like a low-rent hooker.
Juliet Simms hands down was the best of the night, but I admit I have been a fan of her band for years now. Hush is a fantastic song and I wish they would let her sing it but I doubt it will happen.
Cee-Lo is killing his team with the over the top production. Jamar was LOUD and BRIGHT, he brought nothing new to that song and I was disappointed. Kind of karaoke to me.
Erin, please God let her go tonight. My ears cannot take her voice and I hate her snotty attitude.
Right now there are only 2 who I think can win. Jesse and Juliet. Jordis maybe but she thinks too much and sabotages herself. She did the same thing on Rock Star: INXS.
from Boston but thought Massone was so so...when he couldnt reach the high notes he bent down to shmooze with the ladies..even C Lo hinted to that......
The background band and noise.....too much...drowns out all the singers..... NBC needs to really deal with the sound system/accoustics. The girl that ORIG sung like Janice joplin..... didnt go for her..but agree..she was the best last night. Dissappointed with the woman who sung Adelle.. There are a few that sing like Adele and a few that sing like Macy Gray...YOU NEED TO BE DIFFERENT AND BREAK OUT...!!! Chessa..youre just loud... if you want to be loud.... be on American Idol.
Katrina Parker I love her voice but she did not deliver this song properly. Billy Corgan has a certain vibe in this song that she did not capture.
Tony Lucca He didn't hit the falsetto (two notes, that's it), but all in all I was pretty impressed. No doubt Xtina is nothing but a jilted lover because her comments were WAY off base.
Kim Yarbrough She is an incredible singer, and I thought she did better than the judges gave her credit for. Still, can people PLEASE stiop singing Adele songs? They are so overdone now as it is.
Mathai It's a sad song that she sang with a smile. She's a little too cocky for me. Honey, you're not a star yet. I'm liking her less and less.
Karla Davis Pack your bags, babe. You picked a song that 10 people in the whole world know and didn't do a good job with it at all, so how are people supposed to relate to your performance of it? You blew it.
Pip First of all, Pip What? Sorry kid, you've got a last name (and I'm doubting that Pip is your real first name), so until you're selling millions of records, ala Cher, Prince, Madonna, the one-name thing ain't gonna work. As for last night, he chose a song that had way more power than he could bring to it. He may be safe, but if he continues his self-indulgence, he won't be too long for this competition. Oh, and ace the bowtie, please?
Cheesa Same as Pip, Cheesa What? Her performance was WAY too Solid Gold, and I thought it was a bit too Chees-y.
James Massone Was I watching the same show? His falsetto was all over the place, and most of the time he was flat. I really do like this guy, but last night's performance was awful for me.
Juliet Simms The song is from a guy to a girl, so unless Juliet swings "that way," the song choice was wrong, or perhaps she should have changed the words a little. The performance, however, worked for me BIG time. Best of the night.
Tony Vincent Dude, really? You're 37, you wear mascara, you look like Nosferatu, and you could stand a few visits to Five Guys. The song was way bigger than he brought. Tony should stay in the theater, grow his hair back, and give his wife her mascara back. I'm not a fan at all.
Erin Martin Can she PLEASE go home now? What a joke! The only thing I can say positive about her performance is that she toned down the "Billie-Holliday-right-before-she-died" sound, but still, she can't sing. Anyone want to bet that Cee-Lo saves her?
Jamar Rogers I don't care about your story, I care about how you sing, so quit telling us about it. Probably the other best performance of the night, though I thought he pushed it a little too much. He's safe.
All in all, last night's show was so much worse than the previous week's show, I think that both Team Adam and Team Red are doomed.
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Deanna Barnert | Los Angeles, Calif.
Entertainment journalist Deanna "TVDeeva" Barnert visits sets, interviews industry players and critiques the final product. Buzz's daytime TV queen covers it all for MSN TV, but loves her sitcoms, soaps and any juicy drama that doesn't call itself Reality TV.
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