The Battle Rounds are winding up this week on “The Voice,” to make way for the slightly different Knockout Rounds next week (when competitors on the same team go up against each other singing different individual songs).
For now, each two competitors have to support the other in duets, creating some pretty good performances but often nonexistent battles. Many of the duets Monday were entertaining, but hardly out of this world. On the other hand two were from Mars (Bruno that is).
By now, some judges have already filled their slots of steals and can only watch as their rivals shape their teams. And by the end of the episode only one will still have that option.
Here’s how Monday’s battles shaped up:
The battle: Jessica Childress vs. VEDO. Team: Usher. The style: R&B. Hard luck qualifier: She quit her job for this competition; his mother, who was suffering from cancer when last seen in the blind auditions, has since died. The song: “Locked out of Heaven” by Bruno Mars. Rehearsal issues: Is the key too high for Jessica or does she just think it is? The result: Tough decision, both praised, but it’s won by VEDO (did he always have this single-named all-caps monkier?). No steal for Jessica, who goes back home and presumably tries to get her old job back.
The battle: Luke Edgemon vs. Monique Abbadie. Team: Shakira. The style: pop soaring. Hard luck qualifier: she’s a teen star whose career has since flagged; he’s somebody nobody quite remembers seeing before, including the judges. The song: “You and I” by Lady Gaga. Rehearsal issues: Can Monique live up to Luke? The result: All the judges praise Luke but Shakira picks Monique as winner – perhaps because she wants to impart girl power on her, or is the judge sincere when she says it’s a strategic move so that other judges will pick up Luke? At any rate, both Blake Shelton and Usher vie to steal Luke, he chooses Blake.
The battle: Savannah Berry vs. Jacqui Sandell. Team: Blake. The style: Upbeat country. Hard luck qualifier: Jacqui’s got a nose ring and isn’t country; Savannah doesn’t have experience. The song: “Little White Church” by Little Big Town. Rehearsal issues: Can Jacqui get the growl out of her voice? Can Savannah keep time? The result: The younger singer, Savannah, gets the nod from Blake; nobody picks Jacqui for the steal.
The battle: C. Perkins vs. Kris Thomas. Team: Shakira. The style: R&B. Hard luck qualifier: Grocer with an initial for a name vs. a guy with a voice so high most thought he was a girl during blind auditions. The song: “It Will Rain” by Bruno Mars. Rehearsal issues: C’s got self doubt and is pitchy; Kris doesn’t get to use falsetto. The results: Judges say both were holding back; Shakira picks Kris; Usher steals C. at the last minute.
The battle: Midas Whale vs. Patrick Dodd. Team: Adam. Hard luck qualifier: Terrible duo vs. terrible hair. The song: “Burning Love” by Elvis Presley. Rehearsal issues: Harmonies of trio actually work better than separate duo. The results: Adam says he’s never had a harder decision and makes an incorrect one: The duo, who sound like the Free Credit Score guys, get the nod; the more unusual vocalist Patrick goes home. He’s not saved by a steal.
The battle: Orlando Dixon vs. Ryan Innes. Team: Usher. Hardship qualifier: Orlando was chosen only at the last minute; Ryan suffered after a failed engagement. The song: “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers. Rehearsal issues: Orlando won’t show his emotion; Ryan shows too much. The results: Host Carson Daly calls it the epic battle of the night; it’s really only the concluding one for the episode. Usher can’t quite decides but ultimately picks Ryan; Adam picks up Orlando for his team.
By the end, only three have been eliminated; another three have been saved by the steal. And the only judge who can still steal one singer is Usher, giving him no competition for those not chosen in the final four battle rounds Tuesday.
Who’s got the best team so far?