The Voice 7 - Live Blog and Recap - The Battles, Part 3 (VIDEO)
Welcome to the live blog and recap of The Voice 2014 Season 7, "The Battles, Part 3"!
Coaches Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Pharrell Williams, and Gwen Stefani are building their teams.
Which singers will prevail in the battles? And will there be any steals?
Add your thoughts in the comments below, and keep refreshing for analysis, thoughts, and videos of the night's battles!
Rickey will be posting individual videos as the night rolls on. So let's get this show on the road!
Credit: NBC
RECAP
-Backstage, the coaches chat. Blake says Pharrell is fooling everyone with his nice guy act, but is as cutthroat as any other coach. However, Pharrell shows that the niceness isn't an act, as he expresses worry about hurting the other coaches' feelings. Blake jokes about Pharrell's sweetness, but says he loves him for it. This was actually kind of cute, honestly. I don't know if these bits are scripted, but if they are, these coaches are natural enough that they can make it seem like natural banter.
TEAM ADAM: DAMIEN VS. KELLI DOUGLAS
-Damien can't believe he's seeing Stevie Knicks sitting next to Adam Levine, particularly since he was only a TSA employee just a few months ago. Kelli is similarly enthusiastic. However, this is a tough matchup for both performers, since they're really close friends. They're singing the Otis Redding/Carla Thomas version of "Knock On Wood," and it's an interesting song choice, since neither of them gets through it without trouble.
-In rehearsal, Kelli says duets aren't something she's used to, which is why she is having trouble. Stevie encourages her to loosen up, relating her own story of wanting to be an R&B singer in her youth. Adam loves Damien's voice, but feels something is lacking from the performance. Stevie recommends Damien and Kelli turn towards one another, and the change is instant, as they both seem to get lost in the performance. Stevie feels they both deserve to stay, and says that if someone doesn't steal the loser, she'll come back and steal them personally.
-This is a REALLY close battle, in my opinion. Both have stellar moments, not only vocally but in overall performance. I didn't know Damien or Kelli could work the stage so well. This not only works as a battle, it works as a great duet of a genuinely terrific song ("Knock On Wood" has always been a personal favorite of mine). I have no idea whom to choose. I suppose if I had to pick, I'd give the edge to Damien, but I think Adam might actually be better served taking Kelli.
-Blake feels Damien has an explosive voice while Kelli has a smoother tone, which created a nice contrast. Pharrell says Damien's voice takes him back to the 60s and 70s, and agrees with Blake about Kelli's smoother tone. Gwen, meanwhile, admits she was distracted by Kelli's body, saying she's gorgeous (Blake: "Dreams really do come true, here on The Voice."). Gwen doesn't think it was the perfect song for Kelli, but thought she and Damien did a good job with it. Adam liked the duet, saying that if you can't have fun with this song, there's a problem. He makes his choice...
DAMIEN WINS THIS BATTLE!
-Kelli thanks Adam and the other coaches and exits the stage, with no one stealing her. However, Kelli says this was a good experience and she's glad she did it. Eh, I would have liked to see Kelli stay, but I can see why she didn't. She's a good singer, but she doesn't scream "star". Then again, how many contestants on a given season of The Voice ever do?
WATCH: Damien And Kelli Douglas Sing ‘Knock On Wood’ (VIDEO)
TEAM GWEN: JESSIE PITTS VS. RYAN SILL
-Jessie is thrilled to work with Gwen and Gavin Rossdale, saying she's rocked out to both of their songs in her car. They get to work immediately on their song, "I Need Your Love" by Ellie Goulding, and Jessie is just so bubbly and excited. I love it. In a cute moment, Ryan and Jessie trick Gwen into thinking they've actually known each other for a while and are best friends. Love it. That said, Gavin feels Ryan needs to project more.
-In rehearsal, Ryan has taken the advice to heart, and is projecting so much that Jessie is having a hard time to matching his volume. Gavin isn't crazy about Jessie's different take on the melody either. But it's not as if they both don't have their own problems during the run-through, as Ryan is jokingly called out on his "boy band moves," which he feels stems from his time in an a cappella group. Gwen gives Ryan pointers on movement, while Gavin tells Jessie to focus on someone in the audience in order to project more.
-I wish they'd kept the piano arrangement from the first rehearsal, but I can't really complain with what Jessie and Ryan do with it, vocally. I seriously didn't remember Ryan's voice being this so clear and lovely. That said, I still prefer Jessie's voice, personally. She just has such a wonderful, ghostly tone. This is a terrific battle though, as both deliver really solid vocals, Ryan with the power and Jessie with the subtlety. Did anyone else think they were going to kiss at the end?
-Blake praises Ryan for his skill and feels the song favored his voice, but he actually prefers Jessie. Pharrell loved the duet, calling it the most dramatic battle they've had yet. He even wondered if they were going to start making out at the end! I KNOW, right? Adam, meanwhile, thinks the song actually favored Jessie, although he liked both vocalists. Gwen loves Ryan's attitude and Jessie's "sparkliness", saying they both touched her. Gwen makes her choice...
RYAN SILL WINS THIS BATTLE!
-WHAT?! That's crazy! Not necessarily in an awful way or anything. I'm just surprised, since I thought Jessie really had this one in hand. Carson lets the coaches know that Jessie just told him, "I'm so happy for Ryan," drawing an awwww from Gwen. Jessie thanks Gwen for all the nice things she's said as she prepares to leave the stage. But it's not over yet...
BLAKE SHELTON STEALS JESSIE PITT!
-She nearly falls over when he hits his button, sitting on the stage and crying. It's a beautiful moment, and Jessie is incredibly thankful to Blake. He feels Jessie can win this thing, and while I wouldn't necessarily go that far just yet, I think she has way more potential we've yet to see. So I'm stoked Blake kept her around.
WATCH: Jessie Pitts And Ryan Sill Sing ‘I Need Your Love’ (VIDEO)
TEAM PHARRELL: BLESSING OFFOR VS. KATRIZ TRINIDAD
-Katriz, who's leading Blessing into the room by the arm, is practically bowled over when she sees Alicia Keys. Blessing recognizes Alicia just by her voice, which impresses her. In a confessional, Blessing is excited to get to work, saying Pharrell is one of the best artists in the business right now. They get "Do I Do" by Stevie Wonder, and Pharrell wants Blessing to push it, and wants Katriz to get into it more. She says she isn't used to singing songs like Stevie's, since she's used to the more diva-type songs. However, Pharrell feels Katriz is more than just a balladeer. He sets her nerves at ease by noting that if you take the drums out of the track, it's pretty much a balance. After Katriz and Blessing leave the room, Pharrell and Alicia discuss the artists, with Alicia saying Katriz needs to listen to the song until it's practically a part of her, while Pharrell feels Blessing has to avoid oversinging.
-In the rehearsal, Pharrell warns Blessing about getting too far away from the melody, and Alicia tries to get Katriz to loosen up and work the stage. She shows her some moves that she can do away from the mic stand, and Pharrell encourages her by saying this is her moment (noting that this is not a "high school talent show"). Pharrell feels it's a battle of technique that can be a classic if they both "surrender to the moment."
-This is kind of a strange battle. They're both good, but in such different ways that it creates this weird style clash. Katriz sounds like a radio-ready pop singer, while Blessing sounds like a throwback to the soul sound of the early 70s. It's such an interesting mish-mash that I'm having a hard time figuring out who should win. The song is a better fit for Blessing, but Katriz is the better singer.
-Gwen says both contestants were shocking for different reasons: Katriz has surprising power to her voice, while Blessing has wonderful tone. Adam thought the song was more in Blessing's wheelhouse, but thought Katriz stepped up admirably. Blake agrees, saying Katriz really rose to the challenge. Pharrell is conflicted, but he's made his choice...
KATRIZ TRINIDAD WINS THIS BATTLE!
-But Blessing is hardly into his farewell speech before...
ADAM HITS HIS BUTTON!
Adam feels he and Blessing are meant to be, since his wife's name translates to "Blessing". However, right as Blessing is about to officially join Team Adam...
GWEN HITS HER BUTTON!
-So now we have a battle, as Blessing has to make a choice between Adam and Gwen. Gwen feels they can work together, while Adam insists he knows what Blessing likes. Blessing makes his choice and...
BLESSING OFFOR JOINS TEAM ADAM LEVINE!
-A great choice by Blessing, in my opinion. There aren't many old soul-type artists in this competition, and Blessing will immediately stand out on Adam's team. I don't know how far he has the potential to go, but I'm glad we're not saying goodbye to him yet.
WATCH: Blessing Offor And Katriz Trinidad Sing ‘Do I Do’ (VIDEO)
TEAM ADAM: ETHAN BUTLER VS. MATT MCANDREW
-Matt says he's excited to work with a rock legend like Stevie Nicks, and Ethan is just as eager to perform "Yellow" by Coldplay, noting that this song is one of his favorites. However, both men get notes from Adam and Stevie, as Matt has to pull away from the mic a bit while Ethan needs to get closer.
-In rehearsal, Stevie tells both men they need to avoid getting too loud, since they're more than just rockers. Adam feels the tenderness of their voices together is incredibly pretty, and he notes that sounding good taking such a subtle approach can be hard to do. He's really impressed, and honestly, so am I. I wouldn't have thought to pick this song for them, but it already sounds like a potentially great choice.
-I love this song so much, and I'm always thrilled to hear new interpretations of it. This is no different, as Matt and Ethan deliver a really engaging rendition, with subtlety and tenderness. They both have stunning falsettos to go along with the rock power that rests behind their respective voices. I think Ethan did a better job with the song, but I feel like Matt has a certain X factor to him that would make him the better pick. I absolutely loved this.
-The coaches are uniformly high on this battle, with Pharrell, Blake, and Gwen praising the way the two men blended together (Blake even goes as far as to say they'd make a great duo). Adam feels it was never a good idea for him to put the two together, since he was going to end up losing out. He makes his choice, and it's fairly blunt, like ripping off a band-aid...
MATT MCANDREW WINS THIS BATTLE!
-Ethan isn't stolen, which isn't really all that surprising. He's a talented artist, but I'm not sure he's the kind of performer that could take any of the other coaches far into the competition. Still, I thought he did a great job here, so he should hold his head high.
WATCH: Ethan Butler And Matt McAndrew Sing ‘Yellow’ (VIDEO)
-We then get a brief preview of Gwen's new single, "Baby Don't Lie", and...yeah, the less said about this thing, the better.
TEAM BLAKE: BREE FONDACARO VS. TAYLOR BRASHEARS
-Taylor loves Little Big Town, saying they have powerhouse vocals. She feels honored to have five superstar talents coaching her, and she feels she made the right choice going with Blake as her coach. Blake gives them "You're No Good" by Linda Ronstadt, making a great point about how this is a song you could hear at a country show or a rock show. This plays into both their voices, as Bree has a subtler, smokey voice while Taylor has a more powerful tone. They're told to keep their volume in check, and to keep their phrasing tight. However, it's believed that this could be a showstopper, and I don't disagree.
-In rehearsal, I'm not really feeling it, as both girls feel like they're holding back. Taylor says her biggest challenge is hitting all the notes without giving up on the song. Blake notes that Linda delivers the chorus with an angry power, while delivering a sultry, smooth quality during the verses. Bree feels she needs to bring her grittiness to the forefront if she's going to compete with Taylor.
-Thankfully, the actual battle itself is far better than indicated by the rehearsals. That said, it's not a showstopper. I generally like Bree's voice, but I think her upper register is actually kind of obnoxious. Taylor runs away with this, in my opinion. She has a much more sultry, silkier tone, and she'd be a valuable artist for Blake to have, since I would imagine she could do rock every bit as well as she does country. This feels like tonight's only super-obvious result.
-Pharrell wishes Bree had lost herself more, saying he prefers artists who show more conviction. He says he's not the best singer in the world, but he can get away with it because he believes in it. That said, he does feel Bree is a good singer. Gwen likes both singers, and loved the song choice since it's such a deceptively simple melody. Adam makes an interesting comparison, saying he felt like Bree was alone in her room, reflecting on how the guy was no good, while he felt Taylor was actually singing the song right at the guy, telling him he's no good. For that reason, he's siding with Taylor. Blake makes his decision...
TAYLOR BRASHEARS WINS THIS BATTLE!
-Bree gives her thanks for the experience, and talks about how much music means to her. No one steals her though.
WATCH: Bree Fondacaro And Taylor Brashears Sing ‘You’re No Good’ (VIDEO)
TEAM PHARRELL: DANICA SHIREY VS. TOIA JONES
-The women will be singing 'Halo', which is a tall order for both of them. Alicia feels Beyonce sings this song in such a specific way, they'll need to find a stronger connection to it. When Alicia asks them whose halo they feel is over them, they both cite their father. DaNica cries, recalling her father and how much she misses him. Pharrell wants both women to tap into that emotion and bring it out in their performance.
-In rehearsal, Pharrell is underwhelmed. He tells DaNica and Toia that they're standing there like background singers when they're really stars. Alicia tries to encourage them, but Toia breaks down in tears when trying to do the song, overcome by the emotion of the song. Alicia hugs her while Pharrell notes that it's good that this emotion is coming out, since she now knows that connection is in there. Alicia relates her experience being a woman and seeking acceptance, and the women use that in their final run-through, resulting in a greater emotional connection that ends in both women crying and hugging like it's one of those episodes of Maury where long-lost relatives are reunited.
-The instrumental arrangement sounds like a cheap karaoke knockoff you'd find on a cassette on a rack next to the sheet music at Sam Ashe. That said, these two elevate this into a hell of a performance just by the sheer force and passion of their vocals. They're two of the best pure vocalists in the competition, and this was the battle of the night, for my money. If I had to pick, I'd give the nod to DaNica, but both women would be worthy choices.
-Gwen: "That was crazy. ... It's so mindblowing that you both can do that with your voices." Adam, meanwhile, notes that taking on a Beyonce song is like trying to slay a dragon. He says not only did they slay the dragon, they slapped the dragon to make sure it was dead. Adam says there are two winners up there tonight. Blake felt DaNica brought a softer edge, but he seems more impressed by Toia ("Where did you come from?"). Pharrell wishes he could choose both women, but he can't, so...
DANICA SHIREY WINS THIS BATTLE!
-DaNica celebrates with her family backstage, while Toia remains onstage. She doesn't even get to say one word before...
ADAM HITS HIS BUTTON!
-Pharrell is thrilled that Toia has been saved, and shakes his hand for saving her. However, before she even gets to embrace Adam...
GWEN HITS HER BUTTON!
-For the second time tonight, it's a face-off between Adam and Gwen. Gwen tries to play on the girl connection by singing the opening line from "Hollaback Girl". Adam, meanwhile, jokes that she shouldn't disappoint her family by going with Gwen. Toia makes her decision...
TOIA JONES CHOOSES TEAM ADAM LEVINE!
-So Adam uses his final steal, noting that both his steals came from Team Pharrell. He thanks Pharrell for the steals, and...well, that's a wrap for tonight's show!
WATCH: DaNica Shirey And Toia Jones Sing ‘Halo’ (VIDEO)
-To recap, here are the results for tonight's show...
Team Adam: Damien def. Kelli Douglas
Team Gwen: Ryan Sill def. Jessie Pitts (Jessie Pitts STOLEN by Blake Shelton!)
Team Pharrell: Katriz Trinidad def. Blessing Offor (Blessing Offor STOLEN by Adam Levine!)
Team Adam: Matt McAndrew def. Ethan Butler
Team Blake: Taylor Brashears def. Bree Fondacaro
Team Pharrell: DaNica Shirey def. Toia Jones (Toia Jones STOLEN by Adam Levine!)
So what did you think of tonight's show? Were the right acts chosen? Were the right artists saved by the steal? And which acts were you excited to see move forward? Sound off in the comments! Until tomorrow, thanks for joining me!