The Voice has ever had, did her best to make these aspiring singers feel at ease. And clearly she succeeded, when one of Kelly Clarkson’s hopefuls, Melinda Rodriguez, opened up to Taylor about the health struggles of her brother, Chris — who just so happens to be a mega-Swiftie.” data-reactid=”26″ type=”text”>So of course, as the paired-up contestants filed in to the rehearsal room Monday and suddenly spotted Taylor in all her tousled-lobbed, iridescent-pantsuited glory, they all made instantly GIFable surprised-faces that didn’t look all that dissimilar to the gaping-mouthed, Keane-painting-eyed, clasped-hands-to-chest expressions that Taylor usually makes every time she wins another award. None of these aspiring pop stars felt any need to calm down, understandably. But Taylor, one of the best Key Advisers or Mega-Mentors or whatever-you-want-to-call-‘em that The Voice has ever had, did her best to make these aspiring singers feel at ease. And clearly she succeeded, when one of Kelly Clarkson’s hopefuls, Melinda Rodriguez, opened up to Taylor about the health struggles of her brother, Chris — who just so happens to be a mega-Swiftie.
Taylor is really good at giving gifts) and demanding that she, Melinda, and Kelly engage in an impromptu group hug. “Melinda told me the most touching story, and it was this really unexpected, beautiful moment,” Taylor gushed.” data-reactid=”30″ type=”text”>Taylor stood there in shock, before asking for an address to send Chris some gifts (Taylor is really good at giving gifts) and demanding that she, Melinda, and Kelly engage in an impromptu group hug. “Melinda told me the most touching story, and it was this really unexpected, beautiful moment,” Taylor gushed.
1989 all over again on Tuesday’s all-Taylor, all-Knockouts, one-hour eposide.” data-reactid=”35″ type=”text”>Before Taylor showed up in the second hour of Monday’s show to share her wisdom and good vibes, however the Battle Rounds concluded. This was followed by a few other Knockouts. The disjointed formatting made Taylor’s mid-episode appearance all the more jolting and dramatic, but let’s go through it all chronologically. Then get ready to party like it’s 1989 all over again on Tuesday’s all-Taylor, all-Knockouts, one-hour eposide.
Team Gwen: Caroline Reilly vs. Jake Haldenvang, “Just Like a Pill”” data-reactid=”41″ type=”text”>Team Gwen: Caroline Reilly vs. Jake Haldenvang, “Just Like a Pill”
WINNER: Jake” data-reactid=”43″ type=”text”>WINNER: Jake
for his age (come on, this isn’t The Voice Kids), and John eventually picked Preston anyway. I suspect that this outcome had already been decided, no matter what, because Preston is supposed to be this season’s golden child. I thought Mendeleyev was more ready for prime time.” data-reactid=”47″ type=”text”>It was crooner versus the hippie, and while both were strong singers (and both were four-chair contestants in the Blinds), Mendeleyev was obviously much more in his element. He interpreted James Taylor’s weepy classic with gravitas and grit and grief, while Preston seeme3d, as John Legend put it, “wooden.” While all four coaches had marveled at how mature the 15-year-old had sounded during his Blind Audition, Preston just couldn’t connect to a deep, heavy song about suicide, depression, and addiction and in this performance, his youth and inexperience showed. The coachews went way too easy on Preston, however, saying he’d done a great job for his age (come on, this isn’t The Voice Kids), and John eventually picked Preston anyway. I suspect that this outcome had already been decided, no matter what, because Preston is supposed to be this season’s golden child. I thought Mendeleyev was more ready for prime time.
Team Gwen: Brennen Henson vs. Calvin Lockett, “Yellow”” data-reactid=”52″ type=”text”>Team Gwen: Brennen Henson vs. Calvin Lockett, “Yellow”
WINNERS: Ricky, Calvin” data-reactid=”54″ type=”text”>WINNERS: Ricky, Calvin
this was not a montage. A contestant who had to try out seven times to even get past the open calls, up against some very green tweens? It seemed like it would be a disaster. This Battle wasn’t disastrous — Hello Sunday — had vastly improved since their unimpressive audition, and Lauren proved that all that practice had paid off — but it was just silly that Kelly chose to go with the cute kids. Thankfully, Blake gave Lauren yet another chance. Maybe the eighth time will be the charm for her.” data-reactid=”58″ type=”text”>I am actually surprised this was not a montage. A contestant who had to try out seven times to even get past the open calls, up against some very green tweens? It seemed like it would be a disaster. This Battle wasn’t disastrous — Hello Sunday — had vastly improved since their unimpressive audition, and Lauren proved that all that practice had paid off — but it was just silly that Kelly chose to go with the cute kids. Thankfully, Blake gave Lauren yet another chance. Maybe the eighth time will be the charm for her.
Team Blake: Cali Wilson vs. Marina Chello” data-reactid=”63″ type=”text”>Team Blake: Cali Wilson vs. Marina Chello
Haley Reinhart’s Lady Gaga-mentored American Idol Season 10 version. I thought this was actually very American Idol Season 1… and since Kelly seemed to really appreciate this, maybe I was right!” data-reactid=”64″ type=”text”>Marina has a massive set of lungs, but everything about her “I Who Have Nothing” performance, from the song choice itself to the styling, was fusty, old-fashioned, cabaret fare. I also didn’t feel much emotion in her delivery – it was all vocal acrobatics and fake, heightened drama. If you want to see this song done right on a singing competition, look up Haley Reinhart’s Lady Gaga-mentored American Idol Season 10 version. I thought this was actually very American Idol Season 1… and since Kelly seemed to really appreciate this, maybe I was right!
Cali’s “Wicked Game,” on the other hand, was an elegant, tasteful, and exquisitely restrained. Not a note wasted or overdone. I wasn’t into her kickboxing shtick before, when she seemed to be attacking the song just for attacking’s sake, but she showcased a new vulnerability here that John called “perfect” and Gwen called “magical.” The winner here was obvious. The kickboxer pulled off a TKO with this Knockout.
fearless performance.” data-reactid=”72″ type=”text”>I will say right now that Katie is my favorite to win this season – she has been since her Blind Audition, which kicked off off the Season 17 premiere – and if she gets the Swifities in her corner, she may be unstoppable. Taylor is apparently a massive Katie fan, describing Katie’s audition as “quirky and fun and funny and ballsy” and telling her, “You morph into a superhero onstage.” Taylor was not kidding. Katie brought the super-power and heroics to her Knockout Rounds performance of Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart,” an absolutely ferocious and, no pun intended, fearless performance.
But the party was not over for underdog Max, whose rendition of Billie Eilish’s “When the Party’s Over” was as delicate and ethereal as Katie’s performance was wild and uninhibited. His falsetto was spectacular, his emotion was raw authentic, and his sense of dynamics was impeccable. John was a damn fool to pit these apples-and-oranges contestants against each other (Steals still exist during the Knockouts, but Saves do not, so he could not avo-d losing one of his best team members).
WINNER: Katie / STOLEN: Max moves to Team Kelly” data-reactid=”75″ type=”text”>WINNER: Katie / STOLEN: Max moves to Team Kelly
vhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfz1sTNWquU&list=PLlYqpJ9JE-J-BuzHYeUuPtiliDKzTNbFM&index=7&t=0s
