The Voice 2014 - Recap - The Battles Continue, Part 3
Welcome to the live blog and recap of "The Battles Continue, Part 3" on The Voice 2014 Season 6! Which singers will advance? Which coaches will use the Steal?
Last week wasn't really a blow away, but there were some really interesting contestants who made the battles far more interesting than they might otherwise have been. In fact, there were some big surprises. Will tonight's matchups offer surprises of their own, or will they stumble in the face of last week's battles? Add your thoughts in the comments!
Let's get this show on the road!
Credit: NBC
RECAP
-We get a recap of last week's show, and reiterate that Usher is holding onto his steals for something special. So I kind of expect it's foreshadowing him stealing one of the contestants. Maybe it'll be the loser of our first matchup:
TEAM ADAM: JOSH KAUFMAN VS. AUSTIN ELLIS
-They guys are singing "Happy," and during their rehearsal in the studio, Adam notes that although the song is new, it has a wonderful, old school funk, James Brown quality to it. And I can't disagree there. Say what you will about how often it's been played on the radio, but I'd argue it's one of the best all-around chart-toppers in some time.
-Josh is worried about whether he can defeat Austin, and his concerns are mostly centered around letting down his family. I don't know what it is about The Voice that attracts dads, but it seems like every season we get "Last Chance Dad." You know, the Nicholas David or Will Champlin type for whom The Voice is pretty much it. I don't mean it as a criticism either. I love that there's a singing show where age doesn't matter, nor does having tons of previous experience.
-This isn't even close. Josh is just murdering Austin here. Sure, Austin has some nice little moments (mostly once we get to the bridge), but Josh has such amazing tone that this battle borders on being unfair. Seriously, this was a MUCH better song choice for Josh than it was for Austin, yet that's always been one of the more lopsided features of the Battle Rounds. It's rare that a song fits both contestants perfectly.
-Blake gives it up for Austin, but ultimately scores it for Josh. Usher agrees, although he thinks people should look out for Austin, since he really has something. Shakira loved the battle, and argues they both won the audience over. Lastly, Adam talks about their infectious, amazing energy. He notes that he was the only judge who turned around for Austin, while they all turned around for Josh, and he uses this as an opportunity to congratulate Austin on all he's done to get here. However, he also gives Josh his props. Which makes sense since...
JOSH KAUFMAN WINS THE BATTLE!
-Josh is congratulated by his wife and children backstage, and his little daughter is absolutely adorable.
-Austin thanks Adam for his support while also praising Josh. A class act, that guy. Usher notes, in his confessional, that while he really liked Austin, he's saving his Steal for something incredible. Man, they are REALLY building up Usher's eventual Steal. I wonder whom he'll deem worthy of it?
-Back from break with our next battle...
TEAM BLAKE: ALASKA AND MADI VS. AUDRA MCLAUGHLIN
-Ooooo, this should be a good one. Super similar styles, but just different enough to make for a very unique battle.
-The girls have been given the Linda Ronstadt version of "When Will I Be Loved," and immediately the battle is far more interesting than others, since Alaska and Madi have to decide whether they're going to sing on every line, or if they're going to split duties. On the one hand, singing together allows them to feature their harmonies, which is something Audra can't do. However, as Kimberly Perry notes, singing together means the audience could feel more attached to Audra, since they'll be more familiar with her voice alone.
-In the studio, Blake makes the obvious point that all three girls have to be at their peak for this battle. But to be fair to poor Blake, I have no idea how he'll pick between these two acts, since they seem pretty even just from the little we hear in this rehearsal. The best battles are the ones that are really close, and I imagine this is going to be one of those battles. Unfortunately, the nature of the coach lineups means I can't really envision the loser getting a Steal from one of the coaches. But hey, I've been surprised before.
-The battle is exactly as close as I expected it to be, at least in my book. One minute, I'm ready to give it to Alaska and Madi; the next, I'm all about Audra. I think Alaska and Madi made a wise choice in splitting up lines instead of singing through the whole song together. Sure, it means less time for their act to collectively sing on the track, but it allows their individual voices to shine. And both Alaska and Madi have terrific voices to complement their solid harmonies. But if it were up to me, I'd give it to Audra, who not only holds her own against the duo, but manages to stand out during that final harmony. She has a really powerful voice.
-Usher thinks the battle was incredible, and praises Audra for holding her own against two powerful singers. However, he also liked Alaska and Madi, and can't bring himself to choose. Shakira is similarly remaining neutral, to Blake's annoyance ("Come on! Help me out!" he pleads with Usher). Adam regrets not having a Steal left, since he'd love to take the act that doesn't win this battle. Ultimately, the decision comes down to Blake, who admits he doesn't even know yet which act he'll pick. But he has to make a decision, so...
AUDRA MCLAUGHLIN WINS THE BATTLE!
-Blake notes that Audra has the kind of voice that has been missing from country radio. Audra, for her part, can't believe it.
-Alaska and Madi thank the coaches while Adam AGONIZES over not being able to steal them. Everyone tries to get Usher to use his steal, but he ultimately passes. Blake admits that he was pissed when Usher didn't steal Alaska and Madi, and Adam goes as far as to walk over and confront Usher about it, arguing that those two could have won, and he let them go. Usher says he would have stolen Audra if Blake had let her go, but not so with Alaska and Madi, who break down in tears backstage. But here's Adam to console them and to let them know they're awesome, and to add how badly he wishes he could have saved them. Kind of a sweet moment, actually.
TEAM SHAKIRA: DEJA HALL VS. AYESHA "MUSIC BOX" BROOKS
-Should be a powerhouse battle. I could easily see Usher stealing the loser.
-Music Box talks about being a huge fan of Miranda Lambert, and for some reason, I'm not entirely buying all these geek-outs by the contestants. She just didn't seem all that starstruck or anything, nor did she sound all that convincing when admitting she was a fan.
-Deja is worried about Music Box's upper register, and I'm beginning to sense a theme here, in which the eventual winner of the battle is the one who expresses concern about their opponent during the rehearsals. They're singing "Eternal Flame" by The Bangles, which is a good choice, but it seems to favor Music Box.
-In the studio, Deja asks how best to channel the emotion of the song. Miranda says she could sing it to her family, or even her dog, if she wants. She just needs to pick a focal point. Shakira warns against being stiff onstage, and also cautions Music Box about her pitch. Music Box says she intends to take "everyone to church" with the final note of the song, which she's singing to her son.
-Before the battle, Shakira gives both girls a pep talk, encouraging them to be confident onstage for the upcoming battle.
-Music Box has the bigger voice, but I'd argue Deja has the nicer voice. There's just something unpleasant and unstable about Music Box's trademark grit. However, Deja's lilting vocals don't really have much substance behind them. To make matters worse, the arrangement by the band is peculiarly uninspired, to the point where I'm leaning towards just calling this battle a wash. But one must win and one must lose, I suppose.
-Adam gives it to Deja, while Blake was much more impressed with Music Box. Usher tells both girls they're going to go far, and I sense a steal in the future. Usher all but confirms it after Shakira asks him whom he'd pick, and Usher responds, "You'll see in a minute." Shakira hems and haws, but eventually comes to her decision...
DEJA HALL WINS THE BATTLE!
-Deja is stoked and hugs her family backstage. Meanwhile, back in the studio, Carson announces that Music Box is available to steal. Almost instantly...
USHER STEALS MUSIC BOX!
-He says that he sensed she was just overcome by nerves, and that she has an incredible voice that could take her really far in the competition. He sweetly adds that everything Shakira taught her will only help them more as the competition rolls on.
-Music Box is thrilled, and is excited to see what Usher can do for her as a coach. You and I both, Ms. Box.
TEAM USHER: MADILYN PAIGE VS. TANNER JAMES
-Basically, the Battle of Adorbz. These two look like they're on their way to prom, not to a battle. They're from the same town, so I wouldn't put it past Madilyn to take Tanner as her date.
-Tanner geeks out over Jill Scott, continuing in the long line of Starstruck Moments I Don't Really Buy. Jill notes the tenderness in Madilyn's voice, comparing it to the fragility of china. She's also really impressed by Tanner.
-Usher gets cute by separating them at opposite ends of the room, and having them project to one another. It's clear they both want to go over to each other, and Usher and Jill later admit how badly they wish they would have. Madilyn and Tanner seem to be growing much more comfortable with each other as the session goes on.
-In the studio, Usher tasks Tanner with being Madilyn's "protector." He wants Tanner to literally act like her boyfriend, and to sing to her the way he'd sing to a girlfriend. Madilyn can't draw on the same energy, however, since she's never had a boyfriend, although she knows what it's like to like someone. (Okay, that's just ADORABLE)
-Madilyn comes out in what looks like a Danielle Bradbery costume left over from Halloween. Tanner, meanwhile, is sporting the laid-back "shirt-and-tie but not tucked-in cuz I'm cool" look.
-I don't know if it's Madilyn's choice not to sing the melody, or if it's Usher's, but I don't particularly like it. With that said, her voice is better than Tanner's, and I think she has more potential. It's a close enough battle to have some drama to it, but I'd argue there's more to Madilyn's voice than Tanner's.
-Adam compares the battle to watching "puppies frolic through fields of wheat during the sunset or something." He calls it "cuteness overload." Shakira, meanwhile, loves Madilyn but also calls Tanner's delivery "flawless." Blake admits he knew Madilyn was adorable, but is just now learning that Tanner is apparently cute too. He thinks they're both very precise in what they do, but he'd give it to Madilyn. Usher calls Tanner a "heartthrob," while he tells Madilyn he feels like she has "arrived." Usher says his decision is a complicated one since he's grown to appreciate both of them. But he has made a decision...
MADILYN PAIGE WINS THE BATTLE!
"To know that Usher wants to see me grow as an artist is huge," Madilyn says backstage.
-Tanner says his goodbyes but no one steals him. Shakira later admits that she was thinking about it, but she only has one steal left, and she already has someone in mind. Eh, I don't think she was wrong to let him go. Even if, say, he made it to live shows, I couldn't see him lasting any longer than Garrett Gardner.
TEAM ADAM: DAWN AND HAWKES VS. JOSH MURLEY
-How many "Last Chance Dads" named Josh are they trying to have on this season? Of course, I'm just messing, since Josh actually gave my favorite blind audition. It was the only single from the Blinds I actually bought, as his version of "The Freshman" is comparable to The Verve Pipe's original.
-Adam makes a great observation about Dawn and Hawkes, saying they need to dirty up their performance of "Stuck In the Middle With You" by Stealers Wheel, since the song is "sloppy and drunk". Basically, he wants them to play the part, arguing that simply because they're adorable to watch doesn't mean they have it in the bag just yet.
-In the studio, Adam recommends Josh play the guitar in order to avoid coming across as the third wheel, since Dawn and Hawkes are both playing. Aloe Blacc worries about Josh's standing, since Dawn and Hawkes naturally draw attention away from him. Adam feels the performance needs a "campfire" vibe. "It really needs to be that fun." I know I'm prepared to love this battle.
-Josh has a really nice, effortless voice. He makes it look and sound so easy. Call it sacrilege, but I actually liked him way more than Dawn and Hawkes. But this is kind of where things get complicated: Josh has a clear ceiling. Even if he's a knockout performer every week, I can only see him finishing roughly equivalent to where James Wolpert did last season. Basically, I don't think he can actually win the thing. However, while I'm not saying Dawn and Hawkes can, I could easily see a scenario whereby they're a finale act. They're much more interesting and unique than Josh, and I'd argue Adam could do more with them than he could with Josh. At the very least, he could do more of interest.
-Blake thought it was a solid performance, but notes there were no standout moments, which will make Adam's decision much harder. He says he's not going to say anything, but Adam pleads with him to add his input, saying he likes hearing input from people he respects. "I don't like ya, but I respect ya!" Adam tells Blake. And so he goes with Dawn and Hawkes because Dawn is the prettiest of the three. Usher, meanwhile, gives the battle to Josh. Shakira notes that while she doesn't drink, the performance made her want to throw back a beer with them. She adds that she's never heard that song before (I'm guessing she's never seen "Reservoir Dogs" then), which has Adam incredulous. For his part, Adam says he's taken everything into account, and based on what he feels he needs to do, moving forward...
DAWN AND HAWKES WIN THE BATTLE!
-Adam says he loves their chemistry, and feels they have something. Josh thanks Adam for the opportunity, and walks over to hug him. Just as he's about to leave the studio, however...
SHAKIRA STEALS JOSH MURLEY!
-I didn't know you could steal an artist that late! I figured you basically had until they stepped down from the main stage. Ah well, it's not like they're going to deny Shakira if she wants to use a steal. And hey, I'm stoked for Josh. I really like him.
-Josh says Shakira waiting until the last minute to use her Steal was a smart tactic if she wanted to scare the daylights out of him. But he's simply thankful to still be in the competition. Totally happy for him.
TEAM USHER: BRIA KELLY VS. TESS BOYER
-They're singing "Piece of My Heart" by Janis Joplin, and it's a decent choice for their voices, all things considered. Of course, I wouldn't have pegged either as a rock singer, but that doesn't preclude either from knocking this out of the ballpark.
-Usher and Jill want Bria to dirty it up, and pronounce "Come on" as "come own," with a bit of swagger on it. Basically, they want her not to be so proper, since the song is about desperation.
-In the studio, both girls show fire, although Bria takes a bit of a risk by adding a note at the end. Usher warns her of the risk, cautioning that she'll have to keep track of her pitch to make sure she can actually nail the notes she's going for. Both girls seem about even, although the edit seems to favor Bria, unless they're going with the notion of Tess as an underdog, which I could totally believe since she's totally under-the-radar.
-Usher gives both girls a pep talk backstage, prepping them for "the real thing," and reminding them that it's all on the line now. No pressure though.
-Tess takes the early lead, really outshining Bria. But about midway through, Bria starts to get gritty with it, making for a really impressive vocal. Seriously, kind of loving this battle, which I wasn't expecting to, going in. If I had to pick, I'd go with Bria. Her voice has more character to it. Tess, while possessing a pretty, pleasant voice, doesn't seem to offer much more than a belter's voice. And I'm not sure that's what voters are going to be looking for in the competition so soon after Tessanne Chin's win. Although that presumes people actually take weariness of archetypes from previous seasons into account when voting, which I'm not really sure they do.
-Shakira loved the battle, and Adam mentions Bria breaking his heart by going with Usher. Blake, meanwhile, thinks Tess took the battle. It's basically neck-and-neck as we go into Usher's critique. He tells Tess she made him proud, and feels it's proof that their work together has helped her as an artist. He tells Bria that he wanted to hear the grit and power of the vocal. However, he's having trouble making up his mind one way or the other.
BRIA KELLY WINS THE BATTLE!
-He explains that while he loved both performers, he felt Bria connected with the song more. Backstage, Bria says that Usher is an amazing, unique coach.
-Tess is already in tears, as Adam and Shakira begin coaxing Blake to use his steal. And he does!
BLAKE SHELTON STEALS TESS BOYER!
-He says he was stoked to have the opportunity to steal Tess, since she's the kind of artist he's been looking for. Granted, he seemed like he was begrudingly hitting his button (albeit in good humor), but I don't think he made a mistake here. He might be able to shape her into something special, and more unique than just another pop/rock singer. I'm digging the variety on Team Blake this season.
-And that's a wrap! What did you think of tonight's battles? How about the steals? Sound off in the comments and check back later for videos! Thank you so much for hanging out. It's been fun! I'll see you back here tomorrow night as the Battle Round concludes.