“The Voice’s” Top 10 took the stage to perform for America’s votes! (Photos property of NBC)
By: Jacob Elyachar
Tonight, three performers from both Team(s) Adam and Blake and two from both Team CeeLo and Christina performed for your votes!
Which artist steamrolled past the competition? Which acts might need the Instant Save? Read on to find out….
Before the melee began, the Top 10 united to perform the Mowgli’s “Say It, Just Say It!” I am so happy that the artists performed this song! I think my friends Colin Dieden and the Mowgli’s would be proud of that performance!
Team Blake’s Austin Jenckes kicked off the solo performances with a surprising cover of the Outfield’s “Your Love.” He put a smile on my face and I think Austin’s version of the song could be very radio friendly! I am glad Blake gave him that song choice because he shined tonight. B+
It is very risky to perform a song that has already been performed on the show. Last season’s runner-up, Michelle Chamuel, tackled Zedd & Foxes’ “Clarity” to critical acclaim. This time, the youngest contestant left in the competition…Jacquie Lee performed the dance hit. I was very hesitant with the song selection but I was happy that Christina and Jacquie took the softer approach. However, Jacquie was very shaky and pitchy during the duration of the performance and it was very hard on my ears. D+
I think Will Champlin is a dark horse! He has been severely underestimated by other entertainment bloggers since his Blind Audition and I think his performance of John Newman’s “Love Me Again” will finally win over his critics. He delivered a spicy performance that featured fiery vocals and impeccable conviction that hopefully take Will to the latter stages of this competition (and beyond that…the charts). A
For the first time in five seasons, a contestant tackled Peter, Paul and Mary! While Caroline Pennell’s cover of the song was very airy, she connected with everyone in the Universal Studios Hollywood soundstage. I think the ghost of Mary Travers is smiling down on Caroline…I hope to see you in the Top Eight, Caroline. A-
Cole Vosbury has transformed from a dark horse to frontrunner! The three-time winning coach chose Mr. Big’s “To Be With You” for Cole to tackle. The Louisiana rocker breathed new life into the 80s anthem and it should be featured in his debut studio album. A
If there was one woman to tackle the Empress of Soul…it was Tessanne Chin. Team Adam’s Jamaican beauty tackled her 1970 hit with the Pips…”If I Were Your Woman.” She made the Soul legend proud as Tessanne unleashed outstanding vocals and took everyone to church! A
If there was one singer that was losing steam before tonight…it was Ray Boudreaux. I thought that once we got into the Live Rounds…he lost his edge. Well, Ray…congrats, you proved me wrong! I think “You Are The Best Thing” was his best performance on this show. I am now back on the Ray bandwagon. B
James Wolpert is someone that I have not connected with this season! I don’t know if it was the fact that he defeated two of my favorites (Will Champlin and Juhi) or that America keeps sending him through. I think that his version of Badfinger’s “Without You” was the worst performance of the night. I heard lots of screeching and I think that there is a possibility that he could go home tomorrow. D
Team CeeLo’s Kat Robichaud is my firecracker of this season! Last week’s first receiver of the Instant Save tackled one of the greatest rock songs of all-time: Pat Benatar’s “We Belong” for Top 10 night. Kat delivered a quality vocal but I wished that CeeLo did not take a page from The X Factor’s playbook because the dancers were so distracting. B
Matthew Schuler closed the show with Labrinth and Emeli Sande’s “Beneath Your Beautiful.” This was an interesting song choice to say the least…but Matthew proved that he could take a song and transform it into his own. I think Matthew Schuler could be the show’s equivalent of Joshua Ledet. The only thing that I am worried about is that he does not suffer the same fate he did a year ago on Idol with an early elimination. A+
Tomorrow night, two more artists will get the boot!
