In anticipation of his new release, singer/songwriter Matt Zarley has been putting out cover songs, to amuse us while w e wait. Together with friend and work buddy Jeb Havens, the pair take on a familia song when they sing "Fu**ken' Perfect", the song best known as the anthem from Pink! The song was a big hit in 2010, and was written by Pink, Max Martin, and Shellback. The song can be found on the album 'Greatest Hits...So Far!'
After having to take a break, and recompose themselves, Zarley and Havens both sound ready and even meant to be singing the song. They both identify with the song, taking the them of self-acceptance to a new level. The song is bold and vibrant, and both Matt and Jeb are up to the task. This is Matt Zarley and JEb HAvens singing "F**ken' Perfect", the big hit from Pink.
If you enjoyed the song, you can download it fro FREE from Matt's Soundcloud page. There you can find this and 8 other songs, all a part of Matt's 'Covered' series. All of his covers are ready for you to download. To learn more about Matt Zarley, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook and 'follow' him on Twitter. For more about Jeb Havens, visit his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter, and 'like' him on Facebook.
It has been almost five years since Josh Zuckerman released his last album, the fantastic 'Got Love'. I know he is back in the studio, but that isn't stopping him from leaking a great cover, with that special something only Josh could add. This is a clip of Pink's "U + Ur Hand" being performed live by Josh Zuckerman, with a great assist from singer Andrez "Zee" Fredricks, guitarist Tom Briant, and Paul Galiszewski on Percussion. The song was written by Pink along with what might as well be the Swedish music mafia, Max Martin, Lukasz Gottwald, and Rami Yacoub. The song went to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. This is Josh Zuckerman with the song "U + Ur Hand".
Remembering back to when I discovered Josh's music. Back in the day that I would cruise through the listings, trying to find some new music. I would often order music from CD Baby, just on the basis of liking the cover, or listening to some previews. That is how I found 'A Totally New Sensation', his album debut. Since then, Josh has been my favorite Jersey Rocker, his growl making me catch my breath on more than one occasion. That is why I found the music video for the title track, to share with you now. This is Josh Zuckerman singing "A Totally New Sensation".
'Got Love' was the most recent release, hitting the shelves in January of 2009. It has a couple of my favorite songs on it, from the rockin' title cut to the stunning ballad "Fall In Love Again", and everything in between. 'Got Love' made me a happy man, and once again locked Josh as my favorite rocker. This is the official music video for the song "Got Love".
To learn more about Josh Zuckerman, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook and 'follow' him on Twitter. Josh is back in the studio, working on his upcoming release, 'Background Static of Perpetual Discontent'. You can lend your support by getting involved with his Indie-Go-Go campaign, and qualify for perks of all kinds, from a wristband and download of the single "The Turnaround", to an autograph copy of all Josh's releases, to a phone call from the sexy man himself. Visit Josh's Indie-Go-Go page and see what he has to offer. You can also check out his music on iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby. I've been a fan for a long time, and I don't see that changing any time soon. I hope that soon, you can say the same!
Last week, the Top 4 became the Top 3 when Amber Holcombe went home, leaving Kree Harrison, Angie Miller and Candice Glover to make the hometown visits and prepare three songs for tonight. Each young woman was assigned a song by the judges, one from Jimmy Iovine, and a third by the producers, leaving them no choice of their own. Can they make all the appearances that are scheduled, and still learn and rehearse the songs they need to perform? Only time will tell, and we are certainly doing time on American Idol this season.
Left to right: Angie Miller, Candice Glover, and Kree Harrison.
The judges were introduced, followed by Crusty, who soon brings out the Top 3. One will be crowned the new American Idol next week, and all are hungry for the win. But first, we see quick clips of them visiting their home towns, with the crowds there to greet them all. The first round will be the picks of Jimmy Iovine, and the show kicks off with Kree singing “Perfect” by Pink.
Kree comes out in fine voice, and does a great job with the song. I feel the message coming from her heart, and enjoyed it. Keith was oddly vacant in his critique, instead sort of questioning the song choice, but glad she always sounds Country. Nicki was anything but neutral, instead telling Kree she was great, and seemed more relaxed than last week. But she also suggested Kree try some flat boots so she can move around the stage more. Randy was not impressed, and felt the performance was flat, but Mariah thought she sounded good, but felt she might have been holding back a bit, since she has two more to go. After the break, it is time for Candice to perform, and Jimmy picked “One”, the U2 song also covered by the great Mary J. Blige.
Candice came out ready to give it her all. While I love her energy, and did feel like the song was a bit short, and she spent part of the time yelling at me. There were also a few bad notes in there, which is never the case. I love her, but thought that fell just a tad short. Nicki loved her, and thought she was on par with Mary J. Randy thought she was wonderful, didn't mind some bad notes, and was on her way to the finals. Mariah loved it, wants Candice to believe in herself as much as she believes in her. Keith loved it, and thought she once again proved the power of her voice. And the bad notes proved how much she wanted to win. All mentioned they loved the song choice by Jimmy, something they did not say about the choice for Kree. The final selection by Jimmy Iovine was for Angie, who will be singing Elton John's “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word”.
Right away, I am shocked she is not on the piano, for that is a shoe in for the judges' approval. She is in the middle of the stage singing amidst smoke and violinists. For me she is spending an awful lot of the song going flat, with an occasional foray into the sharp end. I thought it was a bit sloppy, and struggling. Randy started it all by questioning why she didn't play the piano. But despite that, he loved her, no matter how she sounded. Mariah loved it, and was happy for her restraint. Keith loved it, but wished she was even more restrained. Nicki thought it was a stellar vocal, but the emotions were lacking, which meant she was in it to win it. Confused, I decided to move on. Between the rounds, Jimmy is on camera, and decides the round has to go to Angie, for he thought she connected emotionally to the song. Again, I opt to move on. Now we see a bit of Candice's trip home, and she is thrilled to visit her old boss, and starts to cry as she is close to home. The streets are lined with people, all there to show their love. Candice is the first to sing the Judge's pick, as she takes on Emile Sandé's “Next To Me”.
This is an excellent choice, and she sounds wonderful on it. But somewhere in the middle, I feel like she is off a bit, although she gathers it together at the end. Mariah leads it off, and says almost nothing about the performance, but how Candice was rejuvenated by the trip home. Keith loved the opening, and the end, and thought they were wonderful. Nicki was so moved, she only tells her she is so proud of her. Randy pats American Idol on the back, and in an afterthought, tells Candice she was awesome. Crusty goes back to Nicki, who tells Candice she loves the confidence she shows, which is tough for women of all colors to keep. Tears flow all around. Angie is up after a prolonged commercial break, and she is joined by her brother, who is growing a 'playoff' beard, not shaving until she wins. They played together while she was home, and that leads to her clips. She goes all over her home town, from her kindergarten school to her very special concert. When the tape was done, Crusty announced Angie would be singing “Try” by Pink.
To my ears, her voice still falls flat far too often. And I found this performance to be trying too hard, but going nowhere. I thought she was stiff on stage, and trying to be a bit over sexualized. I was really unimpressed. Keith loved it, and thought she never looked more comfortable on stage. Huh? Oh, and he also threw in the ubiquitous 'Boston Strong' shout-out at the end. Nicki thought the same thing, and loved her. Randy thought the judges again picked a great song, and she was at her best. Mariah also loved her, and gets her festive personality, for Mariah thinks she herself is also festive. Okay, I have no clue what the hell that means, so I just will have to move on. The final contestant for this round is Kree, and we quickly see her giving hugs as soon as she gets off the plane. Soon they visit the home she grew up in, now fallen to pieces after the loss of both parents. It was quite an emotional journey. After the clip, she sings “Here Comes Goodbye” by Rascal Flatts, and co-written by former Idol finalist Chris Sligh.
She is on her game for the song. She sounds plugged in and connected to the emotion, and in amazing form. The audience loved it, and kept the ovation rolling. Nicki was almost in tears, just saying how she was proud of her, and it was her best of the season. Randy loved it, and once again congratulates the judges for picking the song. And, yes, she was good. Mariah was clearly moved by the video and the performance, yet instead just told Kree how impressed she was with her as a person, and the purity of her voice. Keith was still a little choked up, sniffing big before thanking Kree for singing that song perfectly. Now it is time for another long break, and the ladies will be in the last phase of the night, the Producer's picks. Angie is first this time, and she will be singing “Maybe” by Emile Sandé. This is the second song poached from this British songbird, who is a talented lady indeed.
This time, Angie is at the piano, although she doesn't seem to play until the bridge. And she sounds very breathy to me. The chorus goes quite flat for me, and after knowing the original, showed a lack of soulfulness inherent to the melody. Randy loved it, and was happy she was back at the piano. Mariah loved it, and thinks she is the complete package. Keith loved it, and passed to Nicki. She thought Angie has surpassed her expectations, and loved her. She listed some of the faults of the past, like the pageant-like presentations, the failure to emotionally connect, and I just laugh that all that makes one third of the best Top 3 ever. Next! After the achingly long break, it is time for Kree to give her final performance of the evening. The producers mandate she sings “Better Dig Two” by The Band Perry.
Kree is comfortable in the strong Country sound of the song. She sounds wonderful, and I loved it. This was Country realness, served with a little Southern-Fried-Rock. She owned it, and wore it proud. Mariah didn't love it, for she likes the soulful side more. Uhm, she didn't pick the song, she just sang it. Keith thought it wasn't the right song for her, but he loves her. [Cough, Cough] Kree didn't pick the song. Nicki finally called it, and said whoever picked the song for her should be stoned. And that the judges and her fans all know she is a star. Randy goes on to insult the song, being way to plain and boring for her voice. Nice, sure they are happy they gave permission for that song, right? A long break, and we are back, and Candice is going to sing “Somewhere” from the iconic musical 'West Side Story', written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. Here is the version by Barbra Streisand.
This is a glorious song, there is no doubt about it. And Candice is an amazing singer. But that performance had some flaws, to be sure. Her voice broke on two of the runs, and seemed strained at times. I am stunned for her tonight, as for me, this was her weakest night to date. However, Keith thinks that anyone who doesn't vote for Candice needs to see the doctor, and Nicki thinks she is a shoe-in for the finals. Randy called that one of the best performances in Idol history, the second he has called so far this season. Mariah loved her, of course. Jimmy Iovine came out to explain that although he felt Angie won round 1, and Kree took round 2, with that performance, Candice won the night with her miraculous version of a tired old song. We get it. Idol thinks Candice should be in the finals, and win the season. But that is no reason to toss Kree under the bus the way they have tonight, when she clearly out performed Angie. When all is said and done, for my ears, it is Angie who should be going home tomorrow night, and Candice and Kree in the finals. That said, I will not be doing a recap for the finals next week, as I have tickets to drink in the performances of musicians I love, with nary a judge to be seen. So Tune in Thursday night at 8PM on Fox for the results, and next week for the finals. If you miss me, I will be cover The Voice for the rest of the season. Until next time, have fun, and listen to some great music of original and/or independent artists! Support musicians who create the soundtrack to our lives.
Well, we learned that the performances and voting were all for naught last week, for the Producer's Twist was that no one was going home, something many of us saw in the cards due to the remaining broadcast schedule. But in the lamest of seasons to date, the 'big' news was that the show would adhere to the schedule, and the expected non-elimination would happen. This week they asked the contestants to come up with songs that apply to the theme 'Now & Then', meaning picking a hit song from 2013, as well as a classic song from the Great American Songbook. We will find out if the new performances can change up the voting order, as last week Angie and Kree were the Top 2, while Amber and Candice filled out the Bottom 2. Can the producers and the judges convince the voters to keep the skinny girls around? Only time will tell. After all, they are going to have to send someone home this week, aren't they? Before we find out, the Top 4 will have to sing for survival...
Clockwise: Candice Glover; Kree Harrison; Amber Holcomb; and Angie Miller.
The show starts out with a clip of the non-elimination last week, and the emotions it brought out. Judges were hugging contestants, and they were hugging one another. But it means it is time to get down to business, for the performances tonight and next week will decide who is going to the finals. The announcer brings out Nicki Minaj, Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey, and Keith Urban, followed quickly by Crusty, who announces not only will the energy be up this week, but the ladies will be coached by Harry Connick, Jr, and Crusty also tells us the two themes for the night; first the ladies will sing a hit song from 2013, and then will follow that up with a song from yesterday, a classic standard. Connick certainly has a history with both, having gained popularity as a crooner, as well as making music of his own. The performances kick off with Angie Miller singing “Diamonds” by Rihanna. She tells Harry she will be mixing it up, and putting her own spin on it. But first, let's hear Rihanna singing "Diamonds".
Angie and Harry are cutting it up, but it went on a bit too long. For the performance, the production is stripped back, with Angie on the piano to make the judges happy. I am not loving the arrangement, for the song was sluggish enough without adding to it. While she stays in tune for much of the song, toward the end she starts to strain, and falls off key. Keith didn't love the performance, felt it didn't go anywhere. It felt too stripped back for him. Nicki felt it was lackluster, like she was playing more to the cameras than from her heart. Basically, Randy and Mariah agreed, although Mariah refused to say she agreed with Nicki, prompting more articles about the panel, and not the singers, I am sure. Pardon me while I roll my eyes. After the commercial break, we see Amber Holcomb meeting with Harry, telling him she will be singing “Just Give Me A Reason”, originally sung by Pink and Nate Ruess. Amber forgets the words as she was singing for Harry, but he doesn't care, he just loves her voice. This is Pink and Nate Ruess singing "Just Give Me A Reason".
The song starts off in a nice place for her voice, showing some nice support. But the performance overall is a bit hollow, with the chorus being just a bit too staccato, almost sing-song. She did stay on key better than usual, although there were a few notes that strayed. It was fairly dull, and seemed like the wrong choice of songs to sing. Nicki didn't love it either, and felt it was lacking. Randy thought she looked nervous, or maybe preoccupied. She admits to being nervous about the lyrics. Mariah tried to brush off the mediocrity, looking forward to the next song. Keith loves her voice, but didn't love the performance. After what seemed like an endless commercial break, Crusty brought out Candice Glover for her first song of the night. In the video, Candice tells Harry she will be singing “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars. She wants to tell a story, not be the subject of the song. Well, cause she's not a man. Harry is trying really hard to be funny, and seems like he is trying too hard. But soon it is over, so let me share Bruno Mars singing "When I Was Your Man".
She is in exceptional voice, and plans to show that to everyone. The first verse sounds a bit nervous, but that soon disappears, and she delivers the goods. She puts an R&B spin on it, and really is able to soar on it. Randy loved it, and so did Mariah. She thought it was exceptional, and Keith didn't care about the gender bending, she sounded great. Nicki thought they were remiss for not giving her a standing ovation, and so Randy and Keith joined her in one for Candice. After they were done, Mariah stood to flicks some glitter at her, getting her own moment. Frankly, I thought Candice deserved more attention than the judges... Crusty tells us that after the break, it will be time to see Kree Harrison, who will be singing a song that Carrie Underwood sang on that stage just a few weeks ago. In the video clip, Kree tells Harry she will be singing “See You Again”. After she sang it for him, he loved it, and told her not to change a friggin' note. Here is Carrie singing "See You Again".
She begins the song with a sweet and warm tone to her voice, and it stays there. She sounds fantastic, and the song reacts well to her sparse arrangement. This allows her voice to be front and center, and she sounds amazing. I thought she was brilliant, and put Kree and Candice in a dead heat after the first round. Mariah loved it, and felt she was magnificent, and sounded so authentic. Keith didn't agree, and felt there was a disconnect between the song and the performance. Nicki thought Kree was totally connected to the song, and she loved it. Randy agreed, and thought her voice was flawless. Even Harry Connick, Jr, had to come out to say how much he loved the performance. As he was announcing the numbers, Crusty called her Kreedom, as if Nicki was now giving them all new names... If the first four performances featured the music of 'now', the next four will feature the music of 'then', as the contestants picked a classic standard from the Great American Songbook, just so we don't get to thinking they can seem current the whole show. As we start the rotation again, Angie is back with Harry, and tells him she will sing “Someone To Watch Over Me”. It was composed by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin from the 1926 musical 'Oh, Kay!', where it was introduced by Gertrude Lawrence. This is a recording by Sarah Vaughan from 1958.
Angie dedicates it to her Mom, who used to sing it around the house. She does a simple arrangement, soft and sweet. She begins nicely, but soon the slowed tempo of the song reveals her voice to be a bit uneven, and at times get covered by the band, while at other moments strains too be over the top. There were times her vibrato got a little abrasive, battering. Keith loved it, even if it did feel so old fashioned. Nicki thought she was like a Disney Princess, and how she only seemed engaged during the high end of her voice. Randy loved her vocals, even if he hated the arrangement. Mariah tried to disagree with Nicki, and lost the singer in the mix. After a break, Crusty reminds us the votes from last week are being added to those of last week for the results tomorrow night. In the video clip, Amber tells Harry she is singing “My Funny Valentine”, first recorded by Mitzi Green in the MGM Musical 'Babes In Arms'. It was written for the 1937 Broadway show by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. When she starts singing, Harry recognizes she doesn't understand the song at all, so he explains it to her. Connick thinks she has a beautiful voice, and hopes she connects with (and understands) the song in performance. But before that, give a listen to this recording by Ella Fitzgerald from 1956.
As she starts singing, I don't really see a difference. She has plenty of vocal tricks, but again they seem more like a crutch than an expression. It was very paint by numbers, but I didn't feel it coming from her heart. It was fairly hollow. Of course, the judges greeted her with a standing ovation, and they loved it. They thought it was great the first time she sang it (with no understanding of the lyrics whatsoever), and even better now (after Harry explained it to her). She cries a little, and they try to lift her up. But they do seems to have come to the realization she was the weakest of the night, and stands a good shot at going home. Crusty chats with Harry in the audience, and he disagrees with the judges, and felt the run at the end of Amber's performance distracted from the song. Soon we see Candice going to see Harry again, telling him she will be singing “You’ve Changed”, originally written by Bill Carey and Carl Fischer in 1941. It was first released by Harry James's band with vocals by Dick Haymes. Harry helps her to simplify her performance, to mean what she is singing. Listen to this amazing version of the song recorded by Billie Holiday in 1958.
She comes out in perfect voice, and connects with the lyrics. She is singing from the heart, and her emotions are on her sleeve. There is an ebb and flow to the performance, and it was fantastic. Even when she brought some runs in the end, they were tied to emotion, not acrobatics. Randy loved it, and took the moment to tell Harry he is wrong (when he wasn't), and doesn't know what he is talking about (even if Connick was brought in as the expert mentor). Mariah thought it was brilliant, so touching and textured. Keith loved it, and Nicki thought no more was needed, and tossed it to Crusty. He reminded us that we still have Kree to sing tonight. In her clip with Harry, Kree tells him she will be singing “Stormy Weather”, a song written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler. Ethel Waters first sang it at The Cotton Club night club in Harlem in 1933 and recorded it that year. He tells her to cut the pyrotechnics, and sing the damn song. The song became a signature song for great Lena Horne after she sang it in the 1943 film of the same name, so enjoy her performance here.
She comes out looking beautiful, and sounded fantastic. Her tone is so crisp and so clear, and she sticks to the melody for most of the song. She puts in some embellishments toward the end, and gave it a Country feel to it. I thought it was stunning. Mariah is unsure it was the right song, going for something more bluesy. Keith thinks it was the wrong song as well. Nicki has a problem with Harry, and with song choice. Randy basically says Harry was wrong and taking them in a wrong direction, and she must be herself. And that means doing the Etta James version of the song. Harry gets hilarity of that statement, and even Nicki does, but it still seems lost on Randy. I am not sure, but I think Harry just nailed his audition to be a judge for American Idol Season 13. After all was said and done, they talked Kree down, while telling her her vocals were stellar. After a break, the ladies came down the aisles with their own dancers in two, and they were singing “Wings” by Little Mix.
This was nice, but sure sounded not live. It had a very 'Up With People' feeling, and not really connected to the rest of the show. It is time to recap, it comes down to the fact that Candice and Kree were the two best for the night for me. It wasn't close. There is a big gap, and then Angie's performances. At the bottom is Amber, who I suspect will be leaving tomorrow night. No amount of blowing smoke is going to make it sound any different to me. Of course, one never knows until the results are read on Thursday night, at 8PM. Well, to be honest, at 8:55PM on your local Fox station.
The Season 4 Knockouts began last night, as Team Adam and Team Shakira brought their numbers down to four each, as Adam picked Amber Carrington, Caroline Glaser, Judith Hill, and Sarah Simmons for the finals, and Shakira picked Garrett Gardner, Kris Thomas, Karina Iglesias, and Sasha Allen. Tonight, Team Blake and Team Usher will be center stage, and their coaches are hoping they will be at their best. By the end of the night, all four teams will be down to four acts each, just right for the finals. It is time, ready or not, for the last of the Knockouts.
Left to right: Adam Levine, Usher, Blake Shelton, and Shakira.
Team Blake kicks off the night with Savannah Berry and Justin Rivers, two Country performers. Both will be finding their inspiration in Pop music, as Savannah will be singing Justin Bieber's "As Long As You Love Me" and Justin will be taking on Miley Cyrus' big hit, "The Climb". Blake loves him some Savannah in rehearsal, but worries about Justin, wanting him to show his range without adding in too many runs. Should be interesting. Let's hear Justin Bieber with "As Long As You Love Me".
Savannah is the first up, and I am not loving what she is doing. I feel lots of whine in her version of the song, and not much else. It just felt muddled and murky. Justin comes out to sing "The Climb", and is right on with his glory notes, but a tad off otherwise. But honestly, I would most likely go with Justin, although both were a bit underwhelming. I was surprised to hear Usher, Shakira and Adam suggest they would pick Justin, and finally, Blake agreed. Justin is going to the finals, and a teary Savannah is heading home. So it is time for Team Usher to show their stuff, and Usher picks Josiah Hawley and Jess Kellner to be the first Knockout round. Handsome Josiah will be singing "Back To Black" by Amy Winehouse, while Jess will take on James Morrison's "You Give Me Something". Usher wants his acts to show sincerity, and a vulnerability to the audience. Jess really needs to be careful, as she sings the song with her alcoholic mother in mind. But before we begin the competition, here is Amy Winehouse singing "Back To Black".
I am happily surprised for Josiah, for I thought he sounded great, with a wonderful tone to his voice. I really enjoyed that. Jess came out, and I was not real impressed. I thought she had a problem staying on key, and she flailed at times on the song. Now I was pretty surprised to hear both Blake and Adam favored Jess in the round. As Usher was making the decision, it felt like he might be swayed by the other judges, but finally picked Josiah to go to the finals. Josiah is pleased to be moving one, while Jess a bit sad to be heading home. After a commercial break, we learn that Blake will be sending Holly Tucker and Luke Edgemon to the ring. Blake wanted to see how his power vocalists would do one on one. Holly will be singing "Live Like You Were Dying", made famous by Tim McGraw, while Luke changes up Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" to make it his own. In the rehearsals, Blake pushes Holly just to have more confidence, for he thinks she has the talent. At first he is unsure about Justin's song choice, but soon is enjoying it so much. Here is Katy Perry with "Teenage Dreams".
Holly starts off with the Country Pop tune, and she does a nice job, but it exposes her voice as a bit thin, at least for me. I think she could have been helped by relaxing some, for she seemed tense. It also seemed fairly karaoke to me, with little originality in the performance. Luke comes out with a slowed-down take on Katy Perry, and I am loving it his R&B spice. His voice sounds fantastic, and he has owned this song, completely. He easily showed artistic range, and yet Usher didn't like it very much. But Shakira and Adam disagree, and thought Luke was the clear winner. Blake thought it was a tough decision, and finally picked Holly, which confuses the hell out of me. I have yet to be impressed by her, and have been so enjoying Luke. Wow, that was really disappointing, for I thought Luke was the strongest voice on Blake's team. Well, time to move on to Usher, who is putting up Audrey Karrasch and Michelle Chamuel, his two indie artists. Audrey will be singing "How To Love" by Little Wayne, but during rehearsals, it wasn't pretty. She was having trouble, and needed much more work. Michelle will be singing "Raise Your Glass" by Pink, and her only problem during rehearsals was having the air to complete the song. Quickly, she and Usher are doing pushups on the stage! Here is Pink singing "Raise Your Glass".
Audrey is a train wreck from the start, somehow both straining and missing the notes. The only really positive thing I could say is she looked nice. Michelle came out like gangbusters, and stayed on top of the song, and giving it her own twist. She was moving all around the stage, giving an active performance. The coaches all enjoyed Michelle, and thought she won out. It seemed like and easy decision to me, but Blake made it clear there was no clear answer. So I was quite pleased when Usher said Michelle was the winner. Blake comes on to announce the next pairing, as he pits youngsters Danielle Bradbery and Taylor Beckham for this round. Blake thinks they both could use a bit more confidence, and hopes one will really step up. Danielle will be singing "Jesus Take The Wheel" by Carrie Underwood, while Taylor will be singing Rihanna's "Russian Roulette". In rehearsal, he loves Danielle's voice, and just loves her. When Taylor is done, he encourages her to invest more in the song, and really get him to buy the song. Before they perform, here is Carrie Underwood singing "Jesus Take The Wheel".
Danielle is the first to perform, and while she has a lovely voice, it feels like this is weaker than the rehearsal, and the ending has a few rough notes. It just felt to me that she let her nerves get the best of her. To be honest, I was a tad disappointed. Next it was time for Taylor to sing, and the opening bars were a little rough, but she seems to gain confidence, and really comes alive. She struggles with some pith issues along the way, but really sells the song. I kinda favored Taylor. However, Usher felt differently, and thought Danielle stole the show. Shakira and Adam agreed. It was time for Blake to decide, and he picks Danielle to go to the finals, and Taylor heads home. Afterwards, Blake admits it was an easy choice for him, for he didn't like Taylor's song choice, although he really liked her. So on to the next Knockout, as Usher announces he wants to see C. Perkins and VEDO competing, for he only has room for one R&B singer. C. Perkins will be singing "She Ain't You" by Chris Brown while VEDO takes on the Bryan Adams ballad, "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You". While C. Perkins seems to struggle a bit in rehearsal, VEDO seems to connect well to his song and deliver the goods for his coach. Give a listen to Bryan Adams on his wonderful song, "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You".
Right out of the gate, C. Perkins struggles with pitch, and you can hear how tentative he is in his vocals. This is just not an enjoyable performance for me. I was happy when it was over. VEDO came out ready to go, and since it was dedicated to his late mother, and the emotion showed in a great way. Shakira, Adam, and Blake all thought it was VEDO who took the battle. While I think it was very clear, Usher takes time to consider before announcing that VEDO will be moving on to the finals. After a commercial break, Blake has his final Knockout, as Grace Askew and The Swon Brothers take to the stage. This will be an interesting battle, for they both have a Country sound, big and bold. The Swon Brothers sing "Drift Away", the great song made popular by Dobie Gray, while Grace will be singing "I Can't Stand The Rain", originally sung by Ann Peebles, and later covered by the great Tina Turner. Check out Tina's version of the song.
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Grace is up first, and seemed eager to show her Memphis Blues, but have to say that was her weakest vocals to date, at least for me. I was so looking forward to hearing her, and I was disappointed. The Swon Brothers were right on form, picking a great song, and bringing the audience with them. I thought they were the clear winners of the battle. Usher loved the Swon Brothers, while Shakira and Adam thought it could go either way. After some contemplation, Blake picks The Swon Brothers to go to the finals. And that leads us to the final Knockout Battle of the night, and the last of the season, as next week they all move on to the live finals. Team Usher closes out the evening when Ryan Innes and Cáthia are called to the stage. Usher is looking forward to hearing the two emotional singers going head-to-head. Cáthia will be singing "Mr Know It All" by Kelly Clarkson, and in rehearsal, Usher helps her with the stage moves, getting her more comfortable. Ryan will be taking on Gavin DeGraw's big hit, "I Don't Want To Be". Here is Gavin's original version.
Cáthia is up first, and I am confused by the tempo of the song, as her phrasing seems to be fighting it. She gains control in the chorus, but it seems to come and go a bit. I found this vocal to be sloppy, more about the vocal tricks than communication. Ryan comes out and shocks me, as the soulful singer turns in a shouty, soulless performance that seemed more angry than musical, with some rough notes to be sure. So very disappointing. Adam and Shakira both mentioned being disappointed with Ryan's performance, and Blake preferred Cáthia as well. When it came time to pick the winner, Usher went with Cáthia, who was better on the night. But it is a shame that the better performer was not given the coaching he needed to have a better showing. But the teams have been picked, and Team Blake turned out to be all Country singers, with Justin Rivers, Holly Tucker, Danielle Bradbery, and The Swon Brothers flying his banner. Team Usher will be Josiah Hawley, Michelle Chamuel, VEDO, and Cáthia, all eager to take their place in the spotlight. They will join Team Adam's talented Amber Carrington, Caroline Glaser, Judith Hill, and Sarah Simmons, and Team Shakira's bold competitors Garrett Gardner, Kris Thomas, Karina Iglesias, and Sasha Allen.
In the fourth season of 'The Voice', the show welcomes two new judges to the panel, Shakira and Usher. Both have slipped into the revolving chairs of Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green, respectively, with a real ease. They join returning judges Blake Shelton and Adam Levine, winners in three finals between them. The auditions are over, and 48 acts have found mentors in the coaches, each of whom will bring 12 members of their teams into the battle rounds. And as he has for all three previous seasons, Carson Daly will be handling the duties of host, keeping things moving between the singers and the judges. At the top of the show, Usher tells us his teams will blow out mind... Each coach has great support, as Adam brings in Hillary Scott, lead singer of Lady Antebellum, while Blake has Sheryl Crow, Shakira has Joel Madden, lead singer of Good Charlotte and coach on The Voice Australia, and Usher has Pharrell Williams. They will all be on hand to help out with out next level of competition, the Battle Rounds.
Left to right: Shakira, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Usher, and Carson Daly.
Team Adam is the first to fight in the ring, as Amber Carrington and Sasha Allen will be singing "Try", by Pink. Amber is a Country singer, while Sasha has more of an R&B tone to her voice. Both tackle the song strongly, but I have to say there is more color to Amber's voice. Neither shied away from taking a strong line on the song.
The other coaches all loved them both, as did Adam. He mentioned that he thought Sasha would walk about with this battle, as Amber had so little experience. After deliberation, Adam picks Amber. As soon as Carson began speaking to Sasha, Usher pushed in for the steal, followed quickly by Shakira. Both plead to be her coach, and she picks Shakira, a real surprise. Especially to Usher, who was speechless. But all ended in hugs. And it is time for Team Shakra, with Garrett and J'Sun. They will be singing "How You Like Me Now" by The Heavy.
During the rehearsals, they go hard at work, and immediately react to notes from Shakira. Joel likes them both, too. But even before they take to the ring, Shakira is already worried about the position she put herself in with this battle. The boys do sound great, although so very different. J'Sun has that R&B sound, like Garrett has a gravelly Rock growl. J'Sun kicks off the song, and is in great voice. But Garrett surprises, and comes back so strong. The performance was greeted by Usher with a standing ovation, Shakira bowing to them both. Adam loved them both, Blake thought it was Garrett who won, while Usher picked J'Sun. This didn't help Shakira, who was unsure show to pick. After the commercial break, she chose Garrett, and I must agree with her. J'Sun is sweet to Shakira afterwards, and no coach hit the button for him. Holly Tucker and Michelle Raitzin are the first to come in and meet with Sheryl Crow. They will be singing "Blown Away" by Carrie Underwood, and Blake is afraid Holly's gorgeous voice is so sweet, maybe too sweet. And Michelle might be struggling with pitch. At the end of the second rehearsal, Blake is quite happy with both, but is sure he will not have an easy decision.
Both girls seem a bit nervous, feeling the pressure of the night and reminding them of what they need to prove. Holly started the song with a vocal that was on point, and was joined beautifully by Michelle. But on the chorus, Holly really took control of the battle, powering through the notes. Usher loved them, and Shakira thought they were fierce. Adam loved them, but thought Holly gave the best tonight. Blake loved them both, and struggled with his decision. But he went with Holly, but thought it was oh-so-close. Michelle took her bows, but left the stage with no coach. Team Usher is up next, with Jess Kellner and Taylor Beckham taking on "You Know I'm No Good" written and performed by the late Amy Winehouse. There is some concern after the rehearsals, for neither girl was really on top of her performance. While Winehouse had the voice for the song, she also had that special something that told you she not only understood, but also lived her song.
The performance starts out nicely, but doesn't really go anywhere. The coaches were nice, with Adam and Shakira picking Taylor, while Blake liked Jess. For Usher, it was Jess who took the night. As Taylor was saying a tearful thanks to Usher, Blake pushed his button and saved her. Which leads us to the next battle, as Team Blake will take the stage. Christian Porter and The Swon Brothers will be taking on Tom Petty's "Won't Back Down". After the first rehearsal, Christian is needing to put in some hard work. With the second rehearsal, Christian did the work, and it seems like the Swon Brothers didn't. So when they come back for the Battle Round, who will deliver the knock out punch?
In the ring, it is Christian who leads off on the song, and he sounds great. He is joined by the Swon Brothers, who had auditioned with a Tom Petty song, so we know this is in their wheelhouse. The battle is an odd one, with one voice trying to compete with two. For me, Christian sounded great, and took command of the stage. He also put his own spin on the song, while the Swon Brothers sounded like a cover band. Usher was non-committal, Shakira picked the Swon Brothers, and Adam preferred Christian. Blake is unsure, feeling neither really owned the performance for him. I will admit, neither seemed like a real threat to win the competition. After a break, he picked the Swon Brothers, once again using the excuse of sticking with Country artists. Christian said his goodbyes, and left the competition. For the final battle of the night, Team Adam returns to the stage, with Judith Hill and Karina Iglesias entering the ring. They will be singing "It's A Man's, Man's Man's World" made famous by James Brown and written by Brown and Betty Jean Newsome. The song is just so iconic, tackling it will not be easy. During the first rehearsal, they need a little bit of what the other has. Karina could use a little bit of subtlety, while Judith needs more to find the emotional core of the song. After the second rehearsal, Adam is regretting his choice of pairing them together, knowing one will be ripe for the steal.
On the night of the show, both are feeling confident and ready to sing, and bow to one another before the song begins. Karina kicked off the vocals, and Judith came in strong. They are both in top form, and this is definitely the performance of the night. They were wonderful, but I would have to go with Judith, who had such wonderful nuance in her vocals. The judges gave them a standing ovation, and couldn't find much to complain about, save the silliness of Adam putting them together. After much contemplation, he picks Judith, and we know what is coming. As Karina speaks to Adam, Shakira uses her final steal, and is excited to add Karina to her team.
After the first night of Battle Rounds, with six battles completed, three singers have been eliminated, and three have new teams. Adam didn't use a steal, and has both still available. Usher has both his steals waiting for the right artists. But Blake used one of his, while Shakira has used both.
The show opens in Principal Figgins' office, as Santana is being held accountable for slapping Finn last week. When a 2 week suspension is discussed, Finn explains he was never really hit, and everyone was fooled by a stage slap. Afterwards, when Santana wants to know why he lied, he explains he thinks she is fabulous, but spends part of the time hiding it. And he wants the New Directions and the Troubletones to work together to prepare for sectionals. Part of that is them all celebrating Lady Music Week, when everyone will prepare songs sung by ladies, for ladies. Rachel is worried that Kurt will not be able to win the election, as Brittany is bribing voters with Pixie Sticks. She talks to Kurt, who suggests he might need to cheat to win. He suggests, like JFK, he might need to stuff the ballot box. Rachel tries to convince him it won't be necessary.
Coach Beiste talks about how stretched she was, with the election coming, and her infatuation with Cooter. Mr. Schue and Ms Pillsbury offer her help with the election. It is then we learn that Coach's idea of a date is pumping iron with the hunk. Back in the Glee room, Kurt and Blaine are the first to sing Lady Music, and they dedicate Pink's F*kin' Perfect to Santana.
Sue wants a man. Although she might seem to live a lesbian existence, she wants a man. And hopes, of course, it will help her election results. While going through her list of men, she bypasses Matt Lauer, a Baldwin brother, and Dan Quayle. But she decides on her next lover... Quickly, we are in the Glee room, and Puck sings Melissa Etheridge's I'm The Only One.
Puck sings the song, staring at Ms. Corcoran, but dedicates it to Santana to divert attention. Quinn flirts with Puck, and wants Puck to come over. He turns her down, saying she is kinda crazy and scary, and he would rather 'raw dog a beehive.' In the hallway, Finn tells Santana he loves he, he really cares. If something happened, he would not forgive himself. He sings Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just Want To Have Fun.
After Coach Beiste catches Sue and Cooter on a date at a restaurant she is shaken. At the gymnasium, while the voting is going on. Sue is making out with Cooter, obviously rubbing it in Coach's face - Becky delivers a Polaroid, saying just that. Mr. Schue tells her to be patient, for when Sue loses the election, things will be different. Coach Beiste sings Dolly Parton's Jolene.
Santana is hit on at her locker by some Rugby ass, thinking she just hasn't found the right man yet. Santana starts to say something, but is joined by Rachel, Quinn, Mercedes, Tina and Brittany, who all girls sing Katy Perry's I Kissed A Girl.
Santana came out to her family, and they were okay with her. She just needs to talk to her abuela, hopefully before she sees the commercial. Principal Figgins comes in the Glee Room, and needs to see Kurt. Kurt's father is in the office, and we learn he is leading the exit polls over Sue. And we learn Kurt won the election, with more votes than students. Figgins thinks Kurt did it. He is crushed, and ran to talk to Finn and Rachel. After he leaves to find Blaine, Rachel admits she did it, for she wanted him to win so bad. Finn tells her to turn herself in, but she doesn't think she can...
Math class. Quadratic equations. Puck answers correctly. Everyone is stunned. He explains he has math covered, doing his own books for his pool care company. And he is like the beautiful mind guy, without all the crazy. But he is called out of class, and rushes to Ms. Corcoran. It seems Beth had a fall, and is at the hospital. He halds Shelby, and helps her through it. After they have sex, she asks him to leave, and he is not happy as he storms out. His feelings are really hurt. Santana has a talk to her Abuelita, her grandmother. She tells her how she only discovered love with Brittany, and her inner war to express herself. Her grandmother asks her to leave, and to never contact her again. Santana is crushed.
Quinn and Puck are making out, and Puck pulls back when he remembers he doesn't have a condom. He is shocked when Quinn wants to go forward, and have another baby. She wants to replace Beth with a new one. He tells her he understands how she has had it rough to three years now, and wants to be there for her. He sees her someplace warm, sunny and glamorous. Like Miami, Los Angeles, or Toronto. They lay there spooning, and Puck decides to share a secret of his own... Sue discovers she lost the election. In fact, she finished in third, out of three candidates. Coach Beiste walks in to ask where the relationship between Sue and Cooter is. Sue She tells Cooter she loves him, and will fight for him. Cut to the Glee room, and we find out Mr. Hummel won the election, and Kurt lost to Brittany. Rachel is not there, and Finn mentions she has something to do. Soon, Santana sings kd lang's Constant Craving.
She is joined by Ms. Corcoran, thinking about her relationship with Puck. They are also joined by Kurt, who is thinking about his dashed hopes to attend NYADA. And as the trio sing, we see a distraught Rachel walking in the hallways. After the song, she arrives at the choral room. She has an announcement. She told Principal Figgins she tried to fix the election, and was being suspended for a week. And that she was banned from competing at Sectionals. Oh no!
In a preview for next week, we see that Sam will be making an appearance, and a scantily dressed one at that!
The generic announcer's voice intros the judges, and then Crusty, the host. With Paul gone, the quirk-factor of the line-up has dramatically decreased. This leaves a season that is bathed in boring and swaddled in mediocrity. Speaking of which, they surprise us with a performance from the eliminated Idols to date, proving that the audience isn't particularly partial to women or, well, minorities. Ashthon, Karen, Pia, Thia, Naima and Paul performed Pink's song Rockstar.
Wow, seeing Paul and Pia singing together was just so train-wrecky... Such an odd way to start the show. After a break, Scotty was the first one to take to the stage, singing Swinging by LeAnn Rimes. If there was a safer, more predictable move for Scotty, it would have him breaking out some Josh Turner... He sang it with little missed notes, and less emotion. Oddly, the judges kind of agreed, calling it safe, and a bit boring.
James is next, and he chose to sing Muse's Uprising. Opening the song in a lower register wasn't the slickest of moves for James. The chorus rings in his sweet spot, and soon he is jumping around his falsetto for no apparent reason. He added little to the song, and rather paled in comparison to the original. Jennifer and Randy nominate it for best of the night, and Steven found it to be wonderful, like T-Rex. Huh?
Before the break, we are told Haley is taking on Adele, and I visibly cringe. Oh, how I love Adele's sophomore album, and fear what is to come. When we return, Crusty is overheard telling the marching band they are being paid, and he plans to use them. They play him on to the stage to introduce Haley. She is singing Rolling In The Deep, and again I have fear. I sit here stunned, as I think she is doing a nice job with it. I have to laugh, as the judges have a lukewarm response to her.
Jacob sings Dance With My Father, the Luther Vandross song. He lost his father at a young age, so this song means a lot to him. He has an odd shrill quality to his voice tonight, a little heavy on the head voice. They all think the emotion was great, but the performance less than stellar. Wow, they are actually going there. And then Randy says he needs the old Jacob to bring the church back. Well, Randy, you crazy!
We return to see Casey on the stage, and he will be singing the Maroon 5 song Harder To Breathe. I love this song, and am a bit fearful once again. And once again, I am surprised, as it is not as bad as I had feared. Well, until the end of the song, when Casey takes it off the rails. And when he goes to Jennifer at the table and kisses her, I just sigh. He ladled the gimmicks on the song, and I just think he lacks musicality. The amazing syncopation utilized by Adam Levine is totally lost on Casey, as that section comes across winded and vacant. Next!
Of course, the judges feel the exact opposite. They love him, and think he is this jazz genius. I am at a loss. Thankfully, Stefano is up next, and will be singing Neo, the hit song Closer. Wow, he managed to take all the dance out of a Neo song, that ain't easy. Vocally, it comes closer to muddled mess than it does to music. His dancing wasn't good, but I have to let it go. Of course, the judges thought it was very good. And they are trying to sell him as this sex God. Really? I mean, I know this isn't a pretty group, but can't you just let that go this year?
Lauren closes out the show, returning to country. She is singing Born To Fly by Sarah Evans. The song is rather generic, but she is singing the crap out of it. She has more depth in her voice than all the men combined. She was really good tonight. Unlike the men, however, she doesn't have an over-inflated view of her abilities. The judges love her, and tell her to believe in herself. I would agree with them.
With the recap, I am reminded that for me, the two girls ruled the night. Lauren and Haley were the strongest, and the boys a bit of a huddled mass on the floor. My bottom group would be Jacob, Stefano and James, with Stefano finally hitting the road. But then again, I have been really off the last few weeks!
Music by Pink, Paul McCartney, the Hey Mondays, Sonseed, and Maroon 5.
Once again I am recapping the latest episode of Glee, only using the videos of the original songs rather than the made-for-TV covers. Hope you enjoy.
The show jumps immediately into Blaine and the Warblers singing Misery, a song by Maroon 5.
Blaine announces that this will be the lead song for competition. Finally Kurt steps up and says something about the fact that when the Warblers have a song, it is really Blaine with his back-up boys. It gives Blaine pause.
Rachel is singing a new song for Finn, called Only Child. Indeed it is better than the last song, Headband, but it is still fairly awful. Quinn was watching, and mentions that she worries Finn must be damaged to have the relationship with Rachel, but she still loves him. After all, he is the best way for her to be named Prom Queen.
Kurt is in his room, when Pavarotti gives his last tweet. Kurt rushes down to a contentious Warblers meeting to announce the parakeets passing. And, of course, breaks into song. He sings Blackbird, written by Paul McCartney for the White Album, but credited as usual to Lennon/McCartney.
The My Chemical Romance song is out, as Sue has made sure the band won't give the rights. Back in Glee Quinn steps up to say they will shine because of using original songs, and offers to write with Rachel. In fact, all the kids want a chance to write, and perhaps they will do all original songs.
Santana and Brittaney are having a moment, witch Santana being quite hurt. They are interrupted by Coach Sue, who threatens them, and makes Brittaney's locker explode. Santana shows up to sing a song she wrote with Tina about cute Sam, called Trouty-Mouth. Sam stops it, feeling self-conscious about the theme of the song being his mouth. Puck steps up to sing the song her wrote for Lauren, My Girls Gotta Big-A$$ Heart.
Blaine announces he does not want to sing everything, or the team will lose. He wants to do a duet, and do it with Kurt. The Warblers agree. After a commercial, Blaine says he wants to sing Candles by Hey Monday. Kurt is impressed it isn't a Top 40 selection, and Blaine says how he is inspired by Kurt. Soon, Kurt gets his first kiss, or at least one that isn't driven by rage or self-loathing. It is a lovely moment.
Mercedes sings her entry, Hell to the No. It is the best one so far! Although it is a great song, Mr. Shu isn't sure it is regional material. He mentions some of the best songs were written out of pain, and maybe the kids should think about that. Quinn and Finn are sneaking around, but only because Finn wants to spare Rachel's feelings. Quinn isn't as eager for that. When she and Rachel meet to write the song, Rachel asks about Quinn and Finn, and Quinn goes for Rachel's throat, telling her Quinn will win, and Rachel needs to go away. The songwriting team is over, and Rachel goes to write her song.
Sue meets Shu before they leave for the Midwest Regional Championship, and there is trash-talk happening.
The first group, Oral Intensity, sings a reggae version of Jesus Is A Friend Of Mine. Oh, my, this was a real song...
Next up, it is the Dalton Academy Warblers, and Kurt and Blaine singing the lead on Candles.
They immediately follow that with Pink's Raise Your Glass by Pink. The song is written by Pink, Tre' Shon Jenkins, Max Martin and Shellback. Of course, Blaine sings the lead vocals.
Finn tells Rachel to break a leg, and she tells him something right before they go on. We don't get to hear what she had to say. Rachel is singing the lead on the first original song in the competition, Get It Right, is a ballad composed specifically for Lea Michele. It is a good song, and tailored for Rachel's voice. She brings the crowd to it's feet. They immediately break into another original song, Loser Like Me. The own their experience as a loser, the slushies, the locker shoving, everything, and are bigger than it all. They end with glitter slushies for the audience, and with a heartfelt glance from Finn to Rachel. Quinn is not impressed.
The judges meet and are a wild group, going in every direction with their talk. However, it is the New Directions who take home the trophy. Sue can't help herself, and punches out the announcer. Back at school, Kurt buries Pavarotti, and is sad about losing. Blaine points out, however, that They got one another, much better than a silly trophy. They start holding hands. Back at McKinley, Rachel is named MVP by a unanimous vote, and gives a sweet speech, and they all hug. A sweet and happy ending. You know that can't last. Wonder what it up for next week...
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