The Voice 2014 - Recap - The Battles, Round 2 Continues - Video

Welcome to the live blog and recap of "The Battles Round 2, Part 3" on The Voice 2014 Season 6! Which singers will survive the second Battle Round? Will any coaches use the Steal?

Chris Martin remains on-hand to lend his expertise to the contestants, as we gear up for the live playoffs in just one week! It's time for the coaches to finalize their teams as we get down to the wire! Will your favorites come out on top?

Add your thoughts in the comments below, and keep refreshing for analysis, thoughts, and videos of the night's big matchups! Videos will be added later. If you can't see them due to being outside the US, Rickey will be posting individual videos later that anyone can see, so check out the individual posts later if you can't see the videos in this post. Let's get this show on the road!

Credit: NBC

RECAP

-We open with the customary preview of what's to come, before heading into the first battle of the night...

TEAM SHAKIRA: CLARISSA SERNA VS. DANI MOZ

-Dani is impressed by Clarissa's voice. They both watch past battles, and Shakira notes that Clarissa needs to be a bit less dramatic. For her part, Dani loves the tone of Clarissa's voice. However, Shakira warns both about staying in pocket, which I've heard way more this year on reality singing shows than I ever have at any other time in the long zeitgeist era of these things.

-Adorably, the girls go over the list of songs, and decide to say their choice on three. They both say the same song on the count of three, to boot! "Perfect" by Pink. Also known as the song that felled MK Nobilette. (Okay, a lot of things felled MK Nobilette, but with a better song, I'm thoroughly convinced she could have gotten one more week out of Idol)

-Chris Martin tells the girls that the song is not an introspective song, that it's an anthem. So he wants to see more movement. He tells them an old anecdote his teacher told him, which is to sing to the people in the back seats and to engage them. They sound almost identical in the few portions they show.

-The girls talk with their families backstage, with Dani noting she was born with a heart defect, while Clarissa notes she left Puerto Rico behind to put it all on the line in the States. Given that these women seem pretty neck-and-neck in vocal ability, I'm inclined to root for a fellow Puerto Rican here. But that's just me.

-This is shockingly good, particularly the harmonies in the chorus. Dani is going the "powerhouse" route, while I like Clarissa's subtler approach better. Of course, the other reason I like the subtle approach is because Clarissa just can't hit the crazy power notes Dani is nailing without her voice breaking. It was apparent in the studio rehearsals, and it's apparent here. But if I had to pick, I think Clarissa's voice simply sounds nicer than Dani's. Personal preference, of course. And I swear, my preference here is unrelated to Clarissa's heritage.

-Adam warns against nerves, while Blake's comments basically amount to this having been a battle between tone and range. Usher follows suit, while Shakira is split, praising both girls but struggling to settle on a final decision. She ultimately declares she's going to go with the girl who can make the biggest difference.

DANI MOZ WINS THE BATTLE!

-No one steals Clarissa, which I suppose is a shame, but then, there's only one Steal left. So I kind of understand it.

TEAM ADAM: KAT PERKINS VS. DAWN AND HAWKES

-Kat is extremely intimidated by Dawn and Hawkes, calling them a "force" together. She's also very shy about having her battle played in front of everyone, in a cute moment. Hawkes notes that Kat has a really great voice, in her own right, calling it "perfect".

-So the battlers settle on "Suddenly I See" by KT Tunstall, and Kat is freaking out to see Chris Martin standing there. Adam, for his part, loves the song they've chosen, saying that he likes the communal nature of "a real bar stomper."

-During the rehearsal, Adam warns Kat against adding extra attitude to her performance, since she can deliver a great performance without overdoing it. Kat herself notes that she tried to combat Dawn and Hawkes by trying to be two people, which means she inevitably ends up indulging her tendency to overdo it. Adam says that Dawn and Hawkes draw charisma from their affection for each other. For his part, Chris thinks it would be wise to strip back the arrangement with just guitars, and honestly, it's a great idea. The small segment from the performance we see is MUCH better than the full arrangement from earlier. I think Chris Martin could have a permanent chair if he asks for it. Hell, I'd love to see Adam, Blake, and co. take a break while Chris Martin and Jill Scott join Pharrell and a fourth person. It would make for an interesting one-off season, I think.

-Dawn and Hawkes note that if they lose, they'll end up back in Austin, playing small venues. They talk about how Kat has such a powerful voice that they can't slack off, because Kat won't. For her part, Kat states she really doesn't want to go back to her job as a nanny after coming this far, so she's going to do everything she can to stay.

-I dunno if anyone has noted this, but Dawn looks A LOT like Whitney Cummings.

-With that out of the way, I'm partial to Dawn and Hawkes, even though it's mostly because I find their dynamic more compelling than Kat's. She has a great, rock-tinged voice, but I feel like the competition already has plenty of singers like that, whereas Dawn and Hawkes are relatively unique. It's unfortunate, and maybe even a little unfair, for Kat, since I'd probably be picking her to win if she were paired against just about any other act. But I think the Dawn and Hawkes dynamic is just too good to pass up, especially since this performance was probably their best so far, vocally. Which isn't to say Kat didn't do a killer job, herself. I was really impressed, actually. But I think Dawn and Hawkes win this one. That said, Blake really should think about picking up whichever act doesn't win this battle.

-Blake said that as good as Dawn and Hawkes sounded, he couldn't stop watching Kat. He says he felt as if Dawn and Hawkes were just backing her up. He gives the battle to Kat. Usher feels Dawn and Hawkes need to take command of the stage a bit more, since they have an energy between them that not everyone gets to see. He then tells Kat that although she had some low moments, he felt her spirit was still there, and so he ultimately gives the battle to her. Shakira is customarily effusive with her praise, as is Adam. Seriously, I don't think either said much more than "You're both outstanding." I mean, I guess he told Kat she was one of the most underrated singers in the competition, so that's kind of big. He does note that he still feels he hasn't seen the best either act has to offer, as much as he likes both. He makes his choice...

KAT PERKINS WINS THE BATTLE!

-Kat says she made the best decision of her life the day of blind auditions, and resolves not to let Adam down.

-Dawn and Hawkes thank Adam for the opportunity. In a confessional, Adam says to be a duo to make it to live playoffs, you have to blow everyone away. Blake, meanwhile, says he's still saving his one steal for something special. For their part, Dawn and Hawkes vow this isn't the end for either of them.

TEAM USHER: MELISSA JIMENEZ VS. MUSIC BOX

-Melissa Jiménez is super stoked to be paired with Music Box, of whom she's a huge fan. She says Music Box has a grit and attitude, and adds, while watching her battle, that she ends her songs with real soul. Music Box, meanwhile, feels that Melissa is just as impressive, noting that she's in for a tough battle.

-Usher gives Melissa and Music Box the list of songs, and it's a really tired-ass collection of overdone choices: "What A Girl Wants" by Christina Aguilera, "Girl On Fire" by Alicia Keys, and "Only Girl in the World" by Rihanna. Just blech to all three. And because we can hardly go a season without either hearing "Girl On Fire" or "Try" by Pink, they giddily choose "Girl On Fire".

-In rehearsal, Chris stresses the need to take ownership of the performance. He says that while it's a really hard thing to do, both Melissa and Music Box need to "inhabit the lyrics". Usher is eager to hear the individuality come out, telling the girls that if he wanted to listen to Alicia Keys, he'd go backstage and play the song. Ultimately, he says the win will go to the girl who connects more.

-Both girls chat with their families backstage before the battle, and how they're even able to smile amid all the nerves, I'll never know.

-I'm not going to pretend these girls can't sing, because they very clearly can. Just not with this song. Seriously, I don't think there was a single moment in this battle I enjoyed, and it all came down to song choice. This did nothing to accentuate the tremendous tone and control they both have. It was just a shrill bit of business that really disappointed, and I hope the coaches have sense enough to make note of it, as neither woman was up to her A-game. Then again, this show is "The Singing Competition of Tireless Positivity." So I'm not exactly expecting they'll say anything other than "Man, what a battle!"

-And immediately, I'm hilariously wrong. Shakira says she thought it was a battle with great moments, and moments that weren't that great. She notes this is because she knows Music Box from having her on her team, and knowing that Music Box can do better. Which is true. Adam says he sang this song with Alicia before and knows how difficult it can be. He basically says it's a matter of picking which singer had the most good moments, and so for that reason, he'd pick Melissa. Blake is conflicted, and thinks both had good moments. Usher, meanwhile, feels they both made the song their own, which is why his decision is so difficult. But he has made a decision, and he's based it on whom he's looking forward to teaching...

MELISSA JIMENEZ WINS THE BATTLE!

-A tearful Melissa claims she gave all her heart on the stage. Music Box, meanwhile, says that everything she does on this stage is for her son.

-Usher thinks Music Box has been introduced to the world, and her son can be very proud of his mother. No disagreement there.

TEAM BLAKE: KALEIGH GLANTON VS. RYAN WHYTE MALONEY

-Both singers are absolutely thrilled to see each other, and they waste no time gushing about one another's abilities. However, Blake is quick to note that Kaleigh gets pitchy in bigger notes, while Ryan has trouble with breath control.

-Together, Kaleigh and Ryan choose "Easy" by Rascal Flatts, and this is the best choice any of the contestants have made for themselves tonight. With that said. I still wish Knockout Rounds had still been a thing at this stage, since I'd prefer both artists to get a chance to perform songs of their choice, without having to take another singer into consideration. We shouldn't really have to wait until Playoffs to get the first whiff of what kind of artist these people want to be. Granted, the argument then is that a true artist can show artistry doing anything. But not really when you have to modify your performance to accommodate the fact that you're singing the song with someone else.

-The studio session features some interesting coaching from Chris, as he talks about some "oooo" parts in their vocals that he feels can be adjusted and highlighted. I really like him as a mentor, and again, I do really believe he could be a great potential addition to the series, long-term.

-Kaleigh wants to have a future in the industry, while Ryan is doing it all for his kids. They both prepare backstage as if heading out there for a title fight. I do enjoy the "big fight atmosphere" here.

-Ryan starts out, and sounds absolutely fantastic. We really haven't seen nearly as much of Ryan as we should have, given that he was montaged in the last Battle Round. Dude has serious pipes. Of course, so does Kaleigh, which has me wondering if Blake can use his one Steal on one of his own acts, because I think he could go pretty far with either one of these performers. Kaleigh actually pulls ahead towards the end of the battle. Her tone is just gorgeous. However, Ryan gives her a run for her money with grit that borders on hoarseness. It's a really tight, close battle. I'd give it to Ryan, but both should be proud of what they've accomplished here. Best battle of the night.

-Usher loves the song choice and asks why they picked the song. Kaleigh said it was because the song would be a challenge for her, and she loves to take challenges. Usher loves that, before commenting on how much he adored Ryan's lower register. He felt Kaleigh was a bit nervous and pulled back, contrasting with her dominance in her past performance. He says he knows she has the voice, but because of her nerves, he's giving it to Ryan. Shakira also gives it to Ryan, saying it felt a little more effortless from him. Adam says performances don't have to be perfect in the battle round, but adds that there's just something about Ryan that he'd want to stick with. This leaves the decision up to Blake, who says he has no clue about this decision. He respects that they chose this song, since it shows that they're setting out to prove something. He says Kaleigh goes places with her voice that most people don't even think about going, while Ryan's voice is just plain power. Blake notes that Ryan did a Tina Turner song, for crying out loud! But he has to make a choice, and so he's going with "overall consistency"...

RYAN WHYTE MALONEY WINS THE BATTLE!

-Blake says Ryan always comes out with 150% confidence, and notes that he already has so many song choices in his head for Ryan. Kaleigh, meanwhile, thanks Blake for being the most amazing coach over, before exiting the stage with a hug. Blake says if Kaleigh ever learns to control her nerves, she'll be unstoppable. Backstage, a tearful Kaleigh says she's looking forward to apply what she's learned from this experience.

TEAM ADAM: JAKE BARKER VS. BRITTNEE CAMELLE

-I like how authentically nervous they seem to be to be paired against each other. It usually means a great battle, because the opponents bring out the hunger and fire in one another.

-Adam notes that these are his two steals, so he's anxious to see how they pair up. He clearly is enthusiastic about both, but notes (particularly to Jake) that, as singers, they need to rein in what they do and not try to do too much with every performance.

-We get our first real disagreement in the song choice, as Jake wants to do "Climax" by Usher, while Britnee wants to do "Beautiful Soul". It's about time we got a real difference of opinion.

-Arriving at the studio for rehearsal, Jake is utterly starstruck, talking about how he's gone from doing YouTube covers to suddenly performing in front of Chris Martin.

-Adam is stoked when they announce they've chosen "Climax," since this is one of his favorite Usher songs ever. But Brittnee seems exasperated when she announces it, as if to say, "Yup, 'we' chose 'Climax'. Yes, the 'both' of us. *Eyeroll*"

-Jake isn't used to the microphone, while Brittnee isn't comfortable with the song just yet. But practice makes perfect. Chris Martin thinks the key is to inhabit the song, stating that it's a very sensual song. "The more you're together on this, the better it's going to be."

-Adam already regrets pairing them together, because he doesn't want to lose either singer. I can see where he's coming from, although I think this is a bad song choice for them. They just sound incredibly sharp. Maybe that'll change once they're actually out there performing, but I was NOT feeling this. At ALL. And that's unfortunate, because I like both singers. Jake more than Brittnee, but still.

-It's a better battle than I was expecting. I still didn't think the song choice was great, but there was so much passion that I couldn't help but be won over by both. But if I had to pick, I'd go with Jake. Brittnee was too sharp in places for me to really get behind her.

-Usher talks about how stoked he was to have his song performed, while the other coaches mostly gush over the two singers, which is par for the course. But still, it's not like I can exactly blame them for fawning over these two. They both have real skills. But one did better than the other, of course, so Adam makes his choice...

JAKE BARKER WINS THE BATTLE!

-No steal for Brittnee unfortunately, and she thanks Adam for the opportunity before heading on her way. Blake is still saving that Steal for someone special.

TEAM USHER: MADILYN PAIGE VS. BRIA KELLY

-I really like this pairing. It's sweetness with clarity vs. sweetness with grit, and it should make for an interesting battle, if nothing else.

-Usher basically reads my mind by noting that Madilyn has a very sweet voice, while Bria has a bit of a grittier voice. He's very impressed that they chose "I'll Stand By You" by the Pretenders, which honestly, is SUCH a great choice. Far better than going the expected route, as "Red" by Taylor Swift and "The First Cut Is the Deepest" by Sheryl Crow are the other two songs on the list, and those could have been a cakewalk for either of them. This, however, is far more of a challenge, I think.

-Usher and Chris take the girls through breathing exercises, and I really can't stress how much I love these two as coaches/mentors. I think Usher takes this job way more seriously than any reality show singing coach/judge I've seen, right up there with Harry Connick Jr. Of course, they both produce far different results, but I feel the point still stands. And Chris just adds so much as a mentor. I'm psyched for this battle, even though the show's previews before commercial breaks have made it obvious that the loser gets stolen. The question, however, remains: which singer will be leaving Team Usher for Team Blake?

-I really enjoyed this battle. I mean, yeah, Bria sounds horrified when the song starts, falling out of pitch in places. But she recovers very quickly while Madilyn picks up the slack with a very beautiful take on the verses. In the choruses, she does some interesting things with melody, veering from the standard course, while Bria digs in with the big notes. Her vibratto reminds me a bit of Carmen Rasmussen from American Idol Season 2. You know, except a little less goat-like. (Sorry, Carmen! Hey, you got much better though) This battle is far from perfect, but I like the unpolished, slightly askew quality of the performances.

-Shakira thought it was a solid battle, while Adam notes that Madilyn continues to surprise and impress. He likes Bria a lot, but was hoping for more from her. Blake agrees, and says he's seen both sides of these girls, and thinks they could both do better. Usher says both girls gave their all, and agrees that while it wasn't their best, they both can learn and grow so much. He wants to teach, but he can only pick one, going forward. He makes his choice, saying "There's no bad decision here."

BRIA KELLY WINS THE BATTLE!

-No sooner has Bria left the stage than Blake hits his button.

BLAKE SHELTON STEALS MADILYN PAIGE!

-Blake says her confidence stands out more and more every time she hits the stage, and so he wants to work with her. Madilyn is simply thankful to have been saved. I get the sneaking suspicion Usher just handed Blake a finalist. Usher notes he's a little scared, "Not gonna lie!"

-And that's a wrap! The live playoffs kick off tomorrow! Which performers will make it to the Top 12? SO EXCITED!

-That's it for me! What did you think of tonight's show? Did the right performers make it through? Sound off in the comments! Until tomorrow, thanks for joining me in this live blog! You guys have been great.

GOODNIGHT!