The judges have been a little grabby during the battle rounds on “The Voice” this season. Just about every one of them has picked up their allotted steals already. The only one with a slot remaining on Tuesday’s show was Usher.
So after every round found a winner and loser, everybody looked to him. And he’d still hold off. By the time it got to the final battle, the only question is which one Shakira would retain and which one would go to Usher. Not even Carson Daly seemed to realize this.
Anyway, the one hour episode featured three featured battles and three super-chopped down ones. The producers don’t seem to realize that skimping on the time for some singers will certainly affect their scores once voting is open to viewers.
At any rate, here’s how it went down Tuesday:
Battle 1: Team Adam
Cary Laine vs. Sam Behymer
Song: “Give Me Love” by Ed Sharon
The personalities: Cary, 28, is a country belter from Citronelle, Ala., who lately is living in Wyoming, where there are few opportunities for singers. Is billed “the stay-at-home mom with big country dreams.” Sam has a more indie background with an ethereal voice that goes into breathy yodels.
Advisor’s two cents: Aloe Blacc says Cary can get pitchy at her more powerful moments and Sam’s use of breath can be gimmicky.
Last minute pleas: Cary: “I don’t want to go back to Wyoming”; Sam: “I don’t have a way to pay bills if I can’t make music work.”
Performance: It at first seems a clash of styles. Cary might have won against another country singer, but Sam has something that makes her stand out.
Judges: All seem to agree that they both did well, it will be up to Adam’s personal taste to determine winner.
Results: Sam wins. Not a surprise. Adam says later that Cary wavered a bit, and was less decisive.
Usher’s choice: No steal, though he says he thought about it “for a moment.”
Battle 2: Team Blake
Kaleigh Glanton vs. Noah Lis
Song: “Everything” by Michael Buble.
The personalities: Kaleigh, 20, of Wichita, who has another interesting indie voice, is part of a duo with her dad, a professional classical guitarist. Noah, 22, of Palmer, Mass., describes himself as “the only jazz musician in the competition,” but he’s actually just a pure crooner, which makes the song choice unfairly favor him.
Advisor’s two cents: The Band Perry advises they look at each other, which turns the battle into more of a love duet.
Last minute pleas: Noah: “I can’t go back to New England playing small gigs!” Kaleigh: The song is so ridiculously suited to the other guy “I need to make it my own.”
Performance: A kind of sweet duet, what Carson Daly calls “the nicest battle I’ve ever seen.
Judges: Shakira says Kaleigh has a nice tone, but would vote for Noah; Usher picks Noah after making confusing comments to each one.
Results: Blake says Kaleigh does one thing others can’t do and can’t be taught: including the notes she decides to go for. She wins.
Usher’s choice: Though he picked Noah as winner earlier, he holds off on the steal. he’s “not what I’m looking or,” he says. He’s waiting for “an incredible talent.
Three mini-Battles
Cali Tucker vs. Ryan Whyte Maloney
Team Blake
Song: “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” Tina Turner.
Winner: Ryan
Christina Grimmie vs. Josh Howard
Team Adam
Song: “I Knew Your Were Trouble” by Taylor Swift
Winner: Christina
Kristen Merlin vs. Lindsay Bruce
Team Shakira
Song: “Turn On the Radio” by Reba McEntire
Winner: Lindsay
Battle 3: Team Shakira
Cierra Mickens vs. Emily B.
Song: “Brave” by Sara Bareilles
The personalities: Cierra, 32, of Eagle River, Alaska, a big voiced soul singer who says it’s hard to break into show business from way up there. Emily B., 33, of American Falls, Idaho, survived brain surgery to remedy a rare malady.
Advisor’s two cents: Miranda Lambert says Cierra has pitch problems and Emily has a volume problem.
Last minute pleas: Cierra says “Law school was put on hold for this, I need this validation.” Emily says she’s “been through everything else” so she can get through here.
Performances: Billed as the performance you’ll never forget, it’s just pretty good, except at the end when they both go off.
Judges: Adam says there were problems at first but the end was good; Cierra had a good last note. Blake said the last note Emily hit as powerful.
Results: Shakira picks Emily, in part because of her spirit and determination.
Usher’s choice: Duh, of course he has to pick Cierra. It’s the last performance and he has the last slot open for steals. Of course he’s going to take her. He would have taken her had she chose not to sing at all. Usher’s been a judge on the show enough to know that having a winning team is a numbers game. Not filling all of your slots is not part of a winning strategy.
But despite all of this, he lets her almost leave the studio before he presses the button to indicate the save. Everyone acts surprised.
Next week, replacing the knockout rounds will be something called The Battle Rounds, part 2. Which will essentially be the battle rounds all over again. They can’t stand a round in which the judges can’t spin chairs or hit buttons, so each one of them will have a chance to get a single steal.
Other differences? The competitors will be named live on film (not so big a deal I wouldn’t think); they will have to agree on a song rather than have one foisted upon them.
And on a day when his divorce is being announced all over, Chris Martin of Coldplay is introduced as the one celebrity mentor who will advise every singer this round. And if they have Gwyneth Paltrow come out as a surprise for him next week, it will be that much more exciting.