The Voice Season 6 Premieres Tonight

Season 6 of NBC's 'The Voice' returns tonight with the first blind auditions of 2014. Through the first five seasons, the blind auditions have been the most exciting episodes of reality television music I have seen. We briefly get to know an artist getting ready to audition, and see them walk on stage, not knowing what to expect once the music begins to play. Well, that is not entirely true, for what we have learned is that there are no bad auditions, people seeking attention even if it is for performing badly. I remember the first season, and the excitement of watching and hearing Javier Colon sing "Time After Time" and Vicci Martinez sing "Rolling in the Deep", Nakia talk on Cee-Lo Green's "Forget You" and Beverly McClellan give us some Janis on "Piece of my Heart". This is a clip of Javier Colon, the winner of Season 1, singing Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time".

In Season 4, there were several auditions that impressed me. This was the season when Shakira and Usher joined Blake Shelton and Adam Levine as coaches, which I found to be a wonderful surprise. But, as I said, several of the auditions were memorable. I loved Judith Hill, and truly enjoyed Midas Whale. The Swon Brothers intrigued me, and Sasha Allen was just so impressive. But it was the audition of Michelle Chamuel that grabbed me right away. It was a harbinger of things to come, for she was impressive all season, finishing a close second. This is Michelle Chamuel auditioning with Katy Perry's "I Kissed A Girl".

Fast forward to Season 5 of 'The Voice', and a whole new series of auditions. This season, there was only one that really stopped me cold in my tracks, making me stop, look, and listen. When Jamaican singer Tessanne Chin took to the stage and began singing the opening lines of "Try", the song by the wonderful Pink, I was instantly engaged, and wanting more. Her voice is so rich, and so strong, I knew she would be special to watch as she sung her way to the title. This is Tessanne's audition, as she sings "Try" by Pink.

Tonight the journey begins once again. Season 6 begins on February 24, 2014, at 8PM on your local NBC station. To learn more about 'The Voice', visit the official website. You can also 'like' them on Facebook, and 'follow' them on Twitter.

The Voice - Season 5 - One Last Note

Left to right: Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, and Blake Shelton.

Last night, Tessanne Chin, Will Champlin, and Jacquie Lee all gave their fans plenty to cheer about with strong performances, the type that earned them a berth in the finals. Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera also worked hard, doing duets with their artists, and beaming proudly when they were singing. Coaches Blake Shelton and Cee-Lo Green seemed surprisingly more interested than I might have guessed, despite the fact Carson Daly rarely asked for their thoughts on performances. But they stayed engaged and polite, allowing the three artists to take over center stage. And with the show tonight, we can expect less deference to them, as the producers have signed up some stars to make the evening a celebration worthy of crowning a champion.

Clockwise: Jacquie Lee, Will Champlin, and Tessanne Chin.

When all was said and done, when the last notes were sung, and the last instruments played, I came to the conclusion that Tessanne Chin had won the night, earning the title of 'The Voice', at least in my eyes. Her talent to sing every song given her this season has been remarkable, showing off her power, as well the softness and vulnerability of her voice. Her recording of "I Have Nothing" starting up the iTunes chart the minute it was released, and soon made it to #1. Her duet with Adam Levine, "Let It Be", went to #4 on iTunes at the close of voting. Jacquie Lee also scored with "And I Am Telling You", making it to #9, while Will Champlin's recording of "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" went to #10. Will and Adam's "Tiny Dancer" clocked in at #11, while Jacquie and Christina's "We Remain" went to #21. While signs might point to Tessanne being crowned, we never know for sure until the announcement is made, about 115 minutes into the 120 minute broadcast.

The show kicks off with Carson on stage with the finalists, and he introduces the coaches. He begins to recap last evening. Then he speaks with Adam, who talks about how much he enjoyed performing with his team. And Christina is just thrilled with Jacquie and her performances. But it is time to bring back all the talented singers as the Top 20 sings "Tonight Is The Night", the hit from Outasight.

The coaches seem relaxed, and happy to be there. Adam is sad a winner must be named, they were all so good. Cee-Lo remains impressed they were that good, after a long and arduous process. Christina is still excited about Jacquie's performances, and the great night it was. Blake wants to first mention he has presents for the coaches, and then makes the announcement that he can tell us who the winner will be - either Tessanne, Will, or Jacquie. And speaking of Christina's artist, she is the first one up to bring back some friends to join her. Jacquie sings with Matthew, Caroline, Cole, and James, taking on the iconic 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. The song is great fun. Then we learn that Tessanne will be singing with one of her favorite artists, when she joins Celine Dion on "Love Can Move Mountains". They are fantastic together, just electrifying. The audience goes wild! Carson is quick to point out Celine will be back on to sing again later in the program. Then we are reminded that Ryan Tedder wrote a song for the winner of the show to sing, once the announcement is made. But first, Tedder comes out with his band OneRepublic to sing their new single, "I Lived".

"I Lived" can be purchased from iTunes and Amazon. It was great the band played it totally live, and had the audience out of their seats. I cannot wait to hear the song he wrote for the winner! After a commercial break, it is time for more music, but first there is a tribute to Cee-Lo Green, and his use and occasional abuse of the English language. Ray, Preston, Matt, Nic and Josh sing a Bruno Mars song, "Treasure". They sound great, and very boyband. Nic is jamming, as expected, but while he sounds great, Ray was not buying into the dance moves. And I respect him for that. For his song, Will has asked Jonny, Cole, Caroline and Austin to join him singing "Wagon Wheel". The song was written by Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor, and perfect for this group of artists. It is a wonderful and rootsy performance. After a break, Carson talks with the parents of the finalists, and it is a sweet moment. Then it is time to pay a tribute to Christina, and the magnificent noises she can make. And then Jacquie Lee gets to sing with the band Paramore on their hit "Ain't It Fun".

This is a great pairing, and allows Jacquie to really shine. I wish she had sung some music like this during the season. Paramore's "Ain't It Fun" can be purchased from iTunes and Amazon. Carson introduces some amazing ladies for the next performance when Amber, Shelbie, Stephanie Anne, Kat, Tamara, and Grey sing Kelly Clarkson's "My Life Would Suck Without U". It is a rousing rendition, bringing the coaches to their feet. Next, we see the finalists getting a private tour of the backlot of Universal, and soon we find out all three are getting a brand new car from Kia Motors! Then we see the final confessional, and the touching words from the finalists who explain what winning could mean to them. Then it is time for Celine Dion to return to the stage to sing her new single. Celine is joined by Ne-Yo to sing "Incredible".

Their voices work really well together, and it is a lovely song. "Incredible" can be purchased from iTunes and Amazon. After the break, Carson talks to Ryan Tedder about the song to be sung by the winner. We learn Ryan will continue to work with the winner in the new year, creating more music with them. Will returns to the stage to share the spotlight with Aloe Blacc to sing "Wake Me Up", and they sound great together. This is a fantastic song, and Will seems so happy to be singing it. After a break, Tessanne brings back her friends, so she, James, Preston, Olivia and Grey sing "Hold On, I'm A Comin'", the big hit for Sam and Dave in 1966. The group has a bunch of fun, and James is a live wire! They bring the coaches to their feet once again. And it is time to pay our final tribute of the night, to Blake Shelton and his inability to dance. But it is time for out next guest of the evening, as Lady Gaga comes out to perform "Do What You Want" off the album 'ArtPop'. This is the official video for "Do What U Want" by Lady Gaga featuring R.Kelly.

But for the performance tonight, Gaga is joined by Christina Aguilera, with the ladies in beautiful matching outfits. They both sound wonderful, and Christina's fellow coaches are brought to their feet. "Do What U Want" by Lady Gaga and featuring R.Kelly can be purchased from iTunes and Amazon. And after another commercial break, and 113 minutes of programing, we finally get to hear some results. The finalists are brought out on stage, and each takes a turn to thank their coach. Then it is time to learn the artist in third place, and it is Will Champlin.

That leaves Tessanne and Jacquie, and we learn that Jacquie Lee places second and the winner of 'The Voice' is Tesssanne Chin! The confetti falls, and it is time to sing her new song.

'The Voice' will return with Season 6 in February, with coaches Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Usher, and Shakira. To learn more about 'The Voice', visit the official website. You can also 'like' them on Facebook, and 'follow' them on Twitter.

The Voice - Live Performance Review - 12/16/2013

Left to right: Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera, Carson Daly, Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine.

Last week, it was revealed that Jacquie Lee, Will Champlin, and Tessanne Chin would be competing tonight for the win, and coaches Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine could not be happier. On a sad note, this will be the first season Blake Shelton will not have a finalist competing for the win. It also marks the first time someone received the 'Judge's Save' and made it to the finals. In fact, Will was saved twice, once by Christina when eliminated by Adam, and then re-saved by Adam when eliminated by Christina! In the remaining contestants, we have two female power singers, and one guy who can really be both powerful and a little quirky.

Left to right: Jacquie Lee, Will Champlin, and Tessanne Chin.

Tonight, each finalist will sing three songs, two solos, and one with their coach. One of the solos is the song that made the chairs turn in the blind audition, as well as a brand new song. In fact, if the leaks are right, Jacquie will be singing a song co-written by her coach, and sung by her for the soundtrack of 'The Hunger Games - Catching Fire'. The show begins with a montage, showing the Top 3 on their journey, from blind auditions to Finals. And they jump right in with songs, as coaches Blake Shelton, Cee-Lo Green, Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera sing "Pour Some Sugar On Me" with the help of the band Def Leppard, who had a #1 hit with the song 25 years ago.

Well, that certainly lit the fire for the night. After a commercial break, it is time for Tessanne Chin to sing the song "Try" by Pink, and all three chairs turned around, and all four judges fought to get her on their team. Before the performance, Adam remarks how he knew when he heard her she would be here in the finals, competing for the win. She is in great voice, showing both power and control. She moves with such ease and grace on the stage, showing real charisma. Adam is so proud, and tells her that he has learned so much from being her coach. Cee-Lo tells her he is a fan, and that everyone watching is as well. There is a question session, and it can't pass quickly enough. And it is time for another look back as Will Champlin sings "Not Over You" by Gavin DeGraw.

Will does seem to really thrive with this song, and he shows such great range with it. He was excellent in the audition, causing three chairs to turn. He has such a great quality in his vocals, which build so nicely as the song goes on. Adam talks about how inspiring it has been to work with Will, and how much respect he has for him. Through it all, his work ethic has kept him strong. Christina also appreciates how, like him, she can get in her own head too much, and he has managed to stay strong and good despite how tough it can be. After another break, it is time for Jacquie Lee to sing the song that introduced her to the audience, "Back To Black". The Amy Winehouse was a perfect fit for her, and made two chairs turn, including Coach Christina. She does a nice job with the song, but I must admit I am not a big fan of her voice, which as times has a harsh and shrill edge. And it does with this song, too. Christina is thrilled to be her coach, and loves to be able to support this 16-year-old. She makes Christina happy to be a part of her journey. After another break, it is time for the artists to duet with their Coach. First up, we have Tessanne and Adam to sing "Let It Be", the iconic song by The Beatles.

First up I have to say, Tessanne's dress is stunning. Looking at her actually distracted me from looking at Adam, which isn't and easy thing to do. It is an odd duet, for Tessanne's voices is so much fuller and richer than Adam's, but somehow, she makes it work. Again, she shows an ability to show a softness in her vocals, a vulnerability. When they break it down for a Reggae section, it is a great moment. After a break, we learn that Jacquie will be joined by Christina to sing "We Remain", co-written by Christina for the soundtrack of ''The Hunger Games - Catching Fire'. The song is not an easy sing, as it is as rangy as one would expect from a Christina song. Christina was quite kind, and took the very high end, allowing the full body of Jacquie's voice to take center stage. And they looked lovely in their red dresses. After a break, it is time for the final duet of the night, as Will teams up with Adam to sing Elton John's "Tiny Dancer".

Who knew the song would be great for Adam's voice? Adam keeps his vocals simple, and allows Will to take wing with his vocals. He looks so happy singing up there, smiling and moving to the beat he hears in the music. This is really much nicer than I thought it would be, for I find Will's voice to be very different than Adam's, but in both his duets tonight, Adam had made them work. After another break, and an odd moment with Blake and cakes, Carson brings the Top 3 back on stage, and they sing "I'll Be There", a huge hit for the Jackson 5 forty-two years ago. It is a sweet moment, but it really shows me that, no matter how the results play out, Tessanne has the voice that stands out to me. But the tenderness of the connection between Jacquie, Will, and Tessanne is unmistakable. There is another break, and it is time to begin the final song for each artist. The first up is Tessanne, who takes on another powerhouse when she sings "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston.

It is not easy to take on an icon like Houston, but if there is someone up to the task, it is Tessanne. Sorry, I wrote nothing while she was singing, for that took my breath way. There was brilliance and power, and such a richness, I am without words. Adam is also speechless, so blown away by her ability to take on every task, and take them to places unexpected. For him, she is the winner of 'The Voice'. I fear I have a tough time arguing with him on that one. Another break, and it is time to for Will Champlin to sing "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" by Bryan Adams. Adam works closely with him in rehearsals, and I think it paid off. His emotional connection to the song is so strong and true, it is like he is bleeding the song. And as he is wont to do, Will takes the song down roads and alleys to make it truly his own. At the end of the song, he kisses his wife and his daughter, a truly wonderful moment. He is a wonderful performer, as he has proven time and time again. Adam is so proud of him, and thinks he can declare a victory, no matter the outcome, for making it to the end despite the crap he has been through on the show. Blake always enjoys his performances, and thought it was great he kept this one simple, with no extra glitter. And now it is time for the last competitive performance of the season, as Jacquie Lee sings "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from 'Dreamgirls'. The song was originally sung by Jennifer Holliday in the Broadway production of 'Dreamgirls', which earned her the Tony Award. Later, Jennifer Hudson picked up the Academy Award for her performance in the film version. This is the live version from the 1982 Tony Awards, featuring the incredible Jennifer Holliday.

This is another huge song, one dripping with emotional hurt and and heart-wrenching pain. It is big and powerful, and comes from down deep. Most of the way through the song, I just feel this was a bad song choice. I don't feel the emotional connection to the lyric, and I am saddened by that. I know I might very well be in the minority here, but that was lacking. The song comes from the soul too much to be as karaoke as that. Christina is so proud, and feared that she is coming for her career. Blake is amazed at the journey she has made on the show, and how perfect the coach/artist pairing was for her.

For me, there is only one conclusion, and that is Tessanne Chin took this season of 'The Voice'. She has consistently shown me the range and strength of a world-class vocalist, week after week. Her connection to the material has been so right on, and I can't think of a bad turn she has made this season. She will get my votes. To vote for your favorite, you can call, purchase the song on iTunes, and go to 'The Voice' website. To call, each phone number has 10 votes. For Tessanne Chin, call 1-855-864-2301; for Will Champin call 1-855-864-2302; and for Jacquie Lee call 1-855-864-2303. To vote on iTunes, just purchase the song offered - but keep in mind, only one purchase per account will count as a vote. To vote online, just go to 'The Voice' Online, and I think you have 10 votes per email address. Voting closes at 11AM Eastern Standard Time Tuesday morning, and the results of that vote will be made public on Tuesday night, 9-11PM, on your local NBC station. The guest list for that show is looking big, with Lady Gaga and R. Kelly, Celine Dion and Ne-Yo, OneRepublic, and Paramore scheduled to appear.

The Voice - Review - Season 5 Final 3 Revealed

Left to right: Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, and Blake Shelton.

Last night, the Top 5 on Season 5 of 'The Voice' put in their Semifinal performances, and boy, was it special! Each of the artists offered everything they had with the songs they sang, with many offering their best to date. After the show, I gave my picks for the best and worst of the night, with Tessanne winning the evening with her brilliant take on Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water", and, for me, Jacquie Lee singing Sarah McLachlan's "Angel" on bottom. On iTunes, Tessanne made it to #1 on the single chart with her single. But she was not alone, as Jacquie Lee made it to #7, and Will Champlin went to #10. Not far behind, Cole went to #12, and James to #14. However, this season I have noticed that iTunes sales has not been a great barometer for results night, and with the numbers so tight, who knows? Can James survive tonight, being the first artist to get the Instant Save and stick around the next week? Can Cole and Jacquie keep Team Adam from sweeping the three finalist positions? With appearances tonight from Season 4 Top 3 Danielle Bradbery, Michelle Chamuel, and The Swon Brothers, can they offer advice to the contestants wondering about what might come next? Perhaps we will have the answers to these questions by the end of this post.


Left to right: Cole Vosbury, Jacquie Lee, Will Champlin, Tessanne Chin, & James Wolpert.

The familiar graphic comes on the screen, and soon we see Carson Daly on stage with the Top 5, and he introduces the judges. Soon the recap begins, and Blake claims Cole was the best, while Christina says it is Jacquie Lee who stole the show. Adam thinks Tessanne gave the best performance in the history of the show. These are all big words, and we shall see what the voters thought. But it was a good night on iTunes, for the artists have #1 on the Country chart, the Pop chart, and the Alternative chart, as well as #1 on the Singles chart. But now it is time to get the entertainment started, as the Swon Brothers sing "Later On", a brand new song I couldn't find anywhere, but is a strong single. You can purchase it tonight on iTunes. The guys look great, and seemed happy to be performing on the familiar stage. And Blake looked proud as can be of the brothers. After the break, we learn Adam is just so proud of his team making it this far, no matter what happens tonight. Cee Lo offers the notion that the artists can be professionals, and that someone must lose gracefully, while someone else should win graciously. Christina is so very proud of Jacquie, and how much she has grown as a young artist. Blake is sure Cole is not only going make it to the finals, he will be winning it all!. Then we see the weekly confessional, which was a bit silly. However, it did give Adam a chance to wish everyone a 'Happy Hanukkah' with a menorah in hand. Next up, Carson breaks in to give us the name of the first artist leaving the show tonight. That person is James Wolpert.



James handles with the news of leaving well, and thanks his coach for a great time together. James gives all his fellow contestants a hug, and it truly gracious in this exit. There is a big hug for his coach, and we are off to another commercial. When we return, it is time for the second place contestant from last season, the wonderful Michelle Chamuel. She sings "Go Down Singing", a song that was featured on my blog a few weeks ago.

I like the song very much, and was proud to make it part of my music library the first time I heard it. You can purchase "Go Down Singing" from iTunes and Amazon. We come back to Carson, and he reveals the first finalist of Season 5. Tessanne Chin is the first artist to make it to next week's finals. She looks both surprised and elated, and hugs the other contestants before collecting a big hug from Adam Levine. There are commercials, including the one featuring the elfin Blake, which still makes me giggle. There is a Twitter Q&A session, but this soon ends and it is time to greet the season 3 winner of The Voice, ready to perform. Carson introduces Cassadee Pope, who sings "I Wish I Could Break Your Heart".

The song is nice, but not ultimately that special to me. "I Wish I Could Break Your Heart" can be found on Cassadee's debut album, 'Frame By Frame'. You can by the album from iTunes and Amazon. The album also features the single "Wasting All These Tears", and Blake comes out with the plaque certifying the single earned a Gold Single status, with over 500,000 downloads. That is quite an accomplishment, so a hearty congratulations is due! After a commercial break, the third former member of Team Blake returns to the stage as Season 4 winner Danielle Bradbery comes out to sing "Never Like This" off her debut album.

"Never Like This" can be found on her self-titled debut album, 'Danielle Bradbery'. You can purchase the album on iTunes and Amazon. The song was a good one, and the album is well-worth checking out. After chatting with Danielle and Blake a bit, it is time to get back to the results with Carson. The next artist making it to the finals is Jacquie Lee. She and Christina are excited, and run to give one another a hug. This leaves Will and Cole fighting for the last slot in the Top 3. Before going to another commercial, we see a promotion of the upcoming Olympics, featuring Danielle's recording of "My Day", and it looks like a great fit. After the break, we learn who will be moving on, and who will be going home. Interestingly enough, they are the final two 'steals' in the competition. Both thank their coaches, and it is time for Carson to give the last results of the evening. The last artist to be a finalist is Will Champlin, and that means Cole Vosbury is going home.



That was certainly a surprise, as Coach Blake is eliminated from the competition. Christina has one artist in the finals, and Adam the other two. Can Christina be the first woman coach to earn the win? Or can Adam earn his second win of the series? Tune in next week, when the Finalists will return to the stage to see if they can keep the dream alive! To learn more about 'The Voice', visit the official website. You can also 'like' them on Facebook, and 'follow' them on Twitter.

The Voice - Live Performances Review - 12/9/2013

Left to right: Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, and Cee Lo Green.

Last week, the voters sent home Matthew Schuler, another of the early frontrunners. It was the last time the 'Instant Save' was to be used, as this week, the results will be a tally of the votes combined with single sales. James Wolpert joined Matthew in the bottom two, but was saved on Twitter. In an interesting aside, the Twitter vote was used four times, and since the second week, the 'saved' artist of the previous week was sent home. Kat Robichaud won the first week, and was sent home week two when Caroline Pennell was saved. Caroline went home week 3, when Matthew Schuler was saved. And last week, Matthew went home, and James Wolpert was saved. Can James buck the trend, and sing his way into the finals next week? James is one of three artists making it through from Team Adam, joining Will Champlin and Tessanne Chin in the Top 5. Team Blake has Cole Vosbury, while Team Xtina has the final competitor, Jacquie Lee. Five will sing tonight, but only three will make it to the finals next week. But first, they must sing...

Left to right: Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera, Carson Daly, Cee Lo Green, and Adam Levine.

Carson starts the show announcing this is it, the semifinals. Only three artists will move forward to next week, and only the votes tonight will save them. After introducing the judges, and Blake wearing a silly beard, it is time for the contests to sing a group number. It is then the light bulb goes off, and Blake was wearing a Cole beard, supporting his last artists. They go for "The Best Day of My Life" by American Authors.

They all do well save Cole, whose microphone is having issues, and is soon turned off. It was a tech issue, not a Cole issue, but I guess we should all be grateful this happened during the group number, not while he was singing his solo. Carson tells us the first two up will be James Wolpert and Will Champlin, both members of Team Adam. And after the commercial break, it is time for James to sing, and he will be taking on a classic song from U2, "With or Without You". This is one of James' favorite songs, and one of Adam's as well. James comes out singing, sounding quite nice. But it is in the chorus when he soars, He stays on key, and has a great deal of emotion to carry the song beautifully. This was a great way to kick off the semifinals. Adam is as proud of James as he could be, and Blake thinks he might have put himself back in the competition, the vocals were so strong. Christina offers a lukewarm response, but that is to be expected. After another commercial break, we come back to Will Champlin offering another special performance. But first, Carson introduced Danielle Bradbery, the winner of The Voice Season 4, and who will be singing tomorrow night on the results show. Back to Will, Adam has given him "Carry On" by the band Fun. The song is incredibly dynamic, and a great fit for Will.

Will starts off with a softness in his voice, and you can feel the build and he pushes harder and harder, and he looks like he is having a great time out there - I don't remember seeing him look that relaxed on stage. Once again, Adam is proud, and so happy to see Will smile. Cee-Lo loved the performances, and thought it was 'swaggy'. After another break, and an interview with the judges for the next show, 'The Sing-Off', we learn that Jacquie Lee is next up, and will sing "Angel", the great Sarah McLachlan song. I am unsure of the song choice, but will give it a listen. In the first half of the song,there are pitch issues. I just don't feel the emotional connection, and when trying to be soft, the notes have issues. And she gets a bit too revved up in the middle, and I was unnerved. After she was done, Christina was proud as can be, and showing a bunch of dynamics. Christina declares her the clear winner, even before hearing two artists. Cee-Lo loved it as well, and thought it was a affecting performance. Before going into a break, Carson tells us Cole Vosbury will be singing Garth Brooks, and Tessanne Chin will be singing one of the most celebrated songs of all time. During that break, we see another commercial for the Kelly Clarkson Christmas special, and it is too funny to see Blake in an elf costume. When we come back, Carson asks everyone to give the band a well-deserved round of applause. It is time for Cole to sing "Shameless", the song by Billy Joel that was a big hit for Garth Brooks, making it to #1 on the Billboard Country chart. Cee-Lo joins Blake to talk to Cole, and tell him how proud they both are of him. Blake loves the song, as it has some Rock, some Country, and some Soul, making it perfect for Cole.

Cole starts off at the piano, without a hat on. I like that. But I must admit the first third of the song is dragging a bit, but on the second chorus, Cole comes alive when he steps from behind the piano. There are a couple of bad notes at the top of his register, which has never been his strong point, but for the most part, it went very well. Theoretically, this sealed his spot in the finals. Blake loved it, and feels Cole has really found who he is as an artist, and has really bloomed. Cee-Lo loved it, and feels Cole is a true Rock Star. On his way off the stage, Cole gets a hug from Coach Blake, and another from Co-Coach Cee-Lo. Once more, we are back in a commercial break, with only Tessanne left to perform. This is exciting, for I think she is truly an amazing and special artist. I can't wait to hear her close out the show this week. With the seemingly endless ads ending, we go back to Carson, who introduces the next singer. Tessanne sings "Bridge Over Troubled Water", written by Paul Simon and made famous by Simon & Garfunkel, being a huge #1 hit in 1970. This is an amazing song.

Tessanne is ready to give her all, and she comes out looking confident and ready. There is a lovely softness as she opens the song. But as she enters the chorus, we hear hints of her power. There is a wonderful emotional depth to her performance, such a beautiful tone to her voice. That was a remarkable performance, and the crowd is going nuts. Adam is speechless, and feels so amazed by her talent. He thought it was the most powerful and graceful performance. Blake just loves her, and is blown away by her performance. It is time to go, and time to vote. For me, Tessanne stole the night with her considerable talent. I would say the three boys, James, Will, and Cole are in the middle of the pack, although I think Will impressed me most of those three. For me, Jacquie was the weakest of the night, with that unfortunate song choice. If I were a betting man, Cole has had strong support on iTunes this season, so I would bet he and Tessanne are through, to be joined by Will or James, with the other going home tomorrow night with Jacquie. But only time, and your votes will tell. Tuesday night, 9PM, on your local NBC station, we will all learn the results.

The Voice - Review - Season 5 Top 5 Revealed

Left to right: Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, and Blake Shelton.

The Top 6 performed last night, each artist singing two songs, hoping to show a versatility that would appeal to the voters, and to the fans eager to buy good songs on iTunes. Tonight, the number of contestants moving on is five, so there will be just one artist leaving. Will Team Adam finally lose a member? Will Team Blake be eliminated from the competition? Will Team Xtina be left with just one, like Team Blake? We won't know until the last minutes of tonight's show. What we do know is at the end of voting, all 12 songs from last night made it to the Top 50 on the iTunes Singles chart, a remarkable result. While we know positions, but not sales numbers, interpreting those numbers is not easy. But it seemed like two artists lagged behind the others in sales, Matthew Schuler and James Wolpert. On the other end of the spectrum, Tessanne Chin had the top-selling single with "Redemption Song", while Cole Vosbury had the strongest night, with "Rich Girl" and "Better Man" finishing at #16 and #23 respectively. But will the sales numbers translate to votes? Last week, the bottom 3 on iTunes only supplied one of the three to make the bottom 3. So we will have to wait and see.



Clockwise: Team Adam, Team Blake, Team Xtina, and Team Cee Lo.

The show starts with Carson Daley on stage with the remaining competitors, to figure out who will be competing in the Semifinals. After introducing the coaches, Carson reviewed the performances with the videotape look at last night, touching on the many high spots of the competition. But it is time for the first guest appearance, as Kelly Clarkson is introduced as family, recalling the days as a mentor for Team Blake. She sings "Underneath The Tree" off her Christmas album, 'Wrapped In Red'.

As is always the case, Kelly sounded amazing. If case you were wondering, 'Wrapped In Red' is available from iTunes and Amazon. Kelly mentioned she has a Christmas special coming up, and reminded us all that she is pregnant. She does look like she is glowing. Carson chats with the judges, as all mention how much they love their artists, and hope their fans on Twitter are ready to support them. You can sense Adam and Christina are a bit worried. But soon Carson introduces the first group number of the episode, as Jacquie, Matthew, and Tessanne sing "You Got The Love", the song by Florence + the Machine.

They do a nice enough job, but it isn't as special as it could have been. Then again, I bet they didn't spend a great deal of time rehearsing it, either. Quickly, Carson moves to the business at hand, the results. The first person announced safe is from Team Xtina. It is Jacquie Lee. After a commercial break, we come back to a performance by Blake Shelton, and he has Season 1 contestant Xenia joining him on a holiday favorite, "Silver Bells".

They sounded great together. "Silver Bells" can be found on Blake's album, 'Cheers - It's Christmas'. It is available on iTunes and Amazon. Soon it is time to get back to the results, and it is Cole Vosbury from Team Blake who is safe, leaving Tessanne, James, and Will from Team Adam, and Matthew from Team Xtina still up for elimination. That means at least on artist from Team Adam will be up for the Twitter vote, at the very least. After a break, it is time for Will, Cole, and James to sing, as they take on Extreme's "More Than Words" with Nuno Bettencourt playing on guitar, and joining on the chorus.

The boys did a nice job, although it did show a problem or two in their higher register. Quickly Carson gets the remaining artists together, and goes back to results. The next person on to the semifinals is Tessanne Chin from Team Adam. This leaves three artists at risk, and we are close to using the #VoiceSave to help an artist. After a commercial break, the Top 6 return to the stage to sing a medley of Christmas songs. It was nice, but it is time for the last three to come to the stage. Carson tells us the next person moving to the semifinals is Will Champlin from Team Adam. That means it is Matthew and James in the bottom two. If James makes it through, Adam promises to be a better coach next week. Christina returns to "Hallelujah" to make the case to save Matthew. After a commercial break, Carson asks Blake his thoughts, and he thinks maybe James, but the predictions have always been wrong. Cee Lo isn't sure, and thinks it will be close. As the credit roll, we learn Twitter saved James, and it is the end of the line for Matthew Schuler.



Tune in next week, when the Top Four will return to the stage to see if they can keep the dream alive! To learn more about 'The Voice', visit the official website. You can also 'like' them on Facebook, and 'follow' them on Twitter.

The Voice - Live Performances Review - 12/2/2013

Left to right: Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, and Cee Lo Green.

Last week, we said goodbye to Ray Boudreaux and Caroline Pennell, and, for all intents and purposes, lost Cee Lo Green as a coach, as his team has been eliminated. I was surprised, for I thought Caroline was a front runner. And who would have thought Team Adam would still be in tact, with no one sent home? Team Christina has two artists remaining, while Team Blake has one, making the Top 6 an interesting group. Last week, Twitter saved Christina's Matthew Schuler, so he and his mentor need to figure out a way to get back to the top of the charts. And if we are to take anything from the iTunes charts last week, the Top 2 from last week were Cole Vosbury and Will Champlin, who have something in common. Both men found their current places on The Voice via a "Coaches Steal", as Cole started his journey on Team Cee Lo before being picked up by Blake, and Will began on Team Adam, was stolen by Christina, and then stolen back by Adam! Have the voters gotten behind them, or is there still work to do? Guess we need to watch to find out!


Left to right: Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera, Carson Daly, Cee Lo Green, and Adam Levine.

Carson Daly greets us onstage with the Top 6, introduces the judges, and explains the night will have each artist singing two songs, the first picked by the coaches. Only five will move on to next week, so the stakes are even higher this week. First up is Cole Vosbury, and after he gets a guitar from coach Blake, we learn he will be singing "Rich Girl" by Hall & Oates. I am surprised, for the song sits in a pretty spot in Cole's range, and he does a nice job. I wish he would have brought something more of himself to the song, for it came off a bit karaoke, at least to me. Next up, it is the first song of the night from Tessanne Chin, and Adam has asked her to sing Bob Marley's "Redemption Song".

The song is a gorgeous one, and a perfect choice for Tessanne. It is a beautiful message, and she delivers it with a magnificent ease and power. That was just a moving performance. After a break, it is time for Matthew Schuler, who sings "Story of my Life" by One Direction. Instead of a tape of his rehearsals, there is a direct message to his family, an obvious appeal to the voters. The song is an okay song, but the early part once again showcases a weakness of his voice, when the softness becomes thin and faint. Once the song takes off, and he can sing at full-throttle, he regains control, although there were a few wonky notes toward the end. I know he considers himself an Alt.Rocker, so I am confused why Christina keeps giving him Pop songs. Christina is excited, and pleads for people to support him. Adam is polite, but distracted. They spend too much time discussing Blake's Thanksgiving, but soon we learn that Will Champlin was assigned to sing "A Change Is Gonna Come", written and first sung by the great Sam Cooke. This is a great big song, and somehow, Will manages to pull it off nicely. He starts by playing the piano, before leaving it, and taking control of the room with his vocals. He seemed to lose a bit of that control near the end, but recovered nicely. Adam loved what he did with it, and Cee Lo was also impressed, and loves his heart and his soul. We get a message from James Wolpert next, telling us how his Dad has inspired him and given him the courage to do this show. He will be singing "Fell In Love With A Girl", written by Jack White and recorded by his band, The White Stripes.

This is a great song choice, and is right in his wheelhouse. He pared it back, and is performing with his acoustic guitar. He is in fine voice, and delivers a great song. There is a fumble in the middle, I am not sure if there were missed lyrics or what, but soon I forgot about it. He was solid, and brought it home quite well. Adam applauded him, and loves the way James takes on each song. Blake didn't notice a problem, but thought James was strong, and held perfect pitch throughout. After a break, it is time for the youngest artist in the competition to take her turn on the stage. Talking about wanting to connect to the soft and hard parts of the song, Christina gives Jacquie Lee the song "Cry Baby", made famous by Janis Joplin. I hope she does, for she needs to do show us depth and textures beyond 'loud'. With this song, Janis showed such tenderness, it made the hard parts that much nicer. Jacquie does an okay job, but I wish I'd heard more vulnerability in her voice. It was nice, but not as special as I would have hoped. Christina comes up to explain she has left her heart and soul on the stage, and is so very proud. Cee Lo believes she is a medium of some sort, channeling an old soul. While I liked it better than last week, I can't say I am on board the Jacquie train. After a break, it is time for Cole Vosbury to sing "Better Man" by James Morrison.

This is a wonderful song, and I have always felt this is the type of artist Cole is. He dedicated to a past love, but remained somewhat vague about the whole thing. The song is delicate and sweet, but so from the heart, and Cole delivers the goods big time. I love when Cole shows this side of himself. Blake loved it, and is so proud of him. Cee Lo is so proud of him, the way he opens up to the audience. Christina loves him, but thinks she hears something in his voice that worries her a bit. Not sure I heard that... After a break, Tessanne Chin returns to sing Katy Perry's "Unconditional". She dedicates it to family, her mom and dad, who have supported her so much on her journey. Tessanne has such depth and strength in her voice, this is a great choice. Her voice is so amazing, so fantastic, it is just soars and glides through the rafters of the stage. This was out-of-this-world great. Adam is very proud of her, and loves that she was able to sing Bob Marley and Katy Perry on the same night. Blake cuts to the bone, and tells her she is a world class vocalist, the likes of which have not been seen on this show before. Big praise, indeed. After a break, Christina is back with Matthew Schuler. She wants him to take on "When A Man Loves A Woman" made famous by the great Percy Sledge, the iconic song. This is his first Soul classic, and he wants to do well. While this is actually better suited to his range, he doesn't really have a bluesy voice. During the breakdown, I kind felt like it fell apart a bit, and he never really recovered. I was really hoping for better for Matthew, a bit of a disappointment. Christina loves him, and is so proud of him. She has plans, if people will vote for him to continue. After a break, we come back to hear Will Champlin sing "Hey Brother" by Avicii. Adam thinks it is perfect for him, as he is a fearless artist. The song defies labels, and that appeals to Adam.

Will begins the song playing the banjo, and soon is taking command of the stage and the song. This is another great performance, and Will is showing skills like few have tonight. He delivers a Bluesy and bright performance, and lays it down. His voice picks up and soars, never failing to reach for the stars. Adam is just so proud of him, and loves that he can handle whatever he is given. Blake loved the song, and thought playing the banjo was so cool! After a commercial break, we learn Jacquie Lee will sing "The Voice Within", written by Christina Aguilera and Glen Ballard, and made famous by Christina. And she dedicates it to her coach, who has inspired her to sing when she was little, singing along with this song. Right away, I hear why this song won't work for me. Jacquie has a harsh tone in her voice, even when trying to be soft. On the runs, her voice slides in awkward ways, not always nicely. However, the last two lines of the song show a vulnerability and softness I've never heard before. This didn't ultimately work for me, and was hoping for better. I'd like her to have better control over her instrument, and fear she might just be too young to do that. After the final break of the night, and it is time for James to close out the show. James Wolpert sings "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" written by Jim Steinman, and recorded by Meat Loaf. When paired together, Steinman and Meat Loaf are the kings of operatic bombast, making songs filled with high drama and huge notes that few could sing as well. James comes out on a smokey stage, a little soft and subtle, but is soon soaring and flying, floating through the airwaves with flair. His voice is so perfect for the Rock Operas of Steinman, and he once again impressed me. Adam loved it, but pointed out James was not feeling well, and lost his voice this morning. I saw no sign of that in the performance. Cee Lo was impressed, and thought they had saved the best for last.

While there wasn't a truly bad performance in the first half, I must say it wasn't the strongest showing of the season. But the second round showed great progress, allowing the vocalists to show their stuff. For most it worked to their advantage, and for a few, it didn't. At least in my humble opinion. To me, the three strongest of the night were Tessanne, James, and either Cole or Will. Tessanne was strong in both outings, my pick for best of the night. James showed a great range, and never took a step out of line. I thought Both Cole and Will were good, but not great in their first song, but quite wonderful on the second. My bottom two would be Matthew and Jacquie, but I am not sure the voters will agree with me. I would have thought Jacquie was on the bottom last week, not Matthew. Only one will be going home, and I am not sure if the show will put it up for Twitter vote again. Those are my thoughts for the night. The results are coming tomorrow night, at 9PM on your NBC station.

The Voice - Review - Top 6 Revealed -

Left to right: Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, and Blake Shelton.

Last night, I predicted Will Champlin, Tessanne Chin and Matthew Schuler were the Top 3 performances, and Cole Vosbury, Caroline Pennell, and Jacquie Lee to be the Bottom 3. A quick look at iTunes sales tells me America disagrees with me in a big way. Via iTunes at the close of voting this morning, Will's At Last led the way, followed by Cole, and James Wolpert. At the other end of the spectrum, Mathew's "It's Time" was the lowest selling by far, followed by Ray Boudreaux and Caroline. On the Rickey.Org poll, the Top 3 vote-getters when asked about going home were Ray, Caroline and Cole. The only thing that proves is no one knows what will be happening tonight! If iTunes holds true, and Matthew, Ray, and Caroline are in the bottom, who will be saved by Twitter? Only time will tell, and it must in the next 60 minutes! Because I honestly a not sure what will be happening tonight!

Clockwise: Team Adam, Team Blake, Team Xtina, and Team Cee Lo.

As is always the case, the show opens with host Carson Daly, on stage with the Top 8 and introducing the coaches. That quickly led to the recap clips, and how happy the coaches were with their charges. #1 on the Rock charts, #1 on the Reggae charts, and #1 on the Country charts, and one who landed in the overall Top 10, the contestants were making their voices heard. Since the show began, they have surpassed 15 million iTunes downloads. And even more exciting, they have musical guest Ellie Goulding to sing her latest hit, "Burn", with James, Matthew and Will.

Once that performance is finished, it is time for a commercial break, and then time to see who are the first people safe. The coaches are worried about who might be going home, and think their artists were great last night. Carson announces he will be asking random questions tonight, and starts with Tessanne, asking her about her mentor. She loves him, and holds him in such high esteem, for all the support he offers both on and off camera. But it is time for business. The first artist safe tonight is from Team Adam, and it is Will Champlin. That is no surprise, he was the on with the Top 10 placement, the most downloaded song of the week. After a break, Carson chats with Ellie Goulding, and she is a sweetie. Then it is time for Top 8 to get together and sing "Will The Circle Be Unbroken (By and By)", the song made famous by the Carter Family, and later by June Carter Cash and husband Johnny Cash.

They did a nice job, but soon it is time to get back to the results. First, Matthew is asked about his Coach, Christina, and he loves her, and the way she pushed him to be a better artist. Now we learn the second person saved by the votes this week, Cole Vosbury from Team Blake is safe. Interestingly enough, the two safe so far are both artists procured with a 'Judge's Steal'. After another break, Carson chats with Adam and Blake, to kill time so Cee Lo Green could prepare to team up again with Big Gipp and the Goodie Mob is back! They sing "With Amy".

After that, it is time for the coaches and contestants to do quick impressions, which are obviously not their forté. But there are six artists wanting to find out who is safe, so Carson tells us it is Jacquie Lee from Team Xtina. She and Christina have a big hug, but there are still three artists who are not leaving that are sweating bullets up there. And a big group of fans wanting to know it they have to save their favorite via Twitter, with the #VoiceSave and the first name of a singer. After a break, we learn Ryan Tedder, of One Republic fame, will be writing a song with the final three, who will then sing it live on the finale! They are so excited, the Top 8 sing the OneRepublic medley, starting with the hit "Apologize".

As soon as they are done, Carson calls them into a line to announce two more as safe. Tessanne Chin is the next artist called to safety. That is followed by the final save from last night, and it is James Wolpert, making Team Adam clean once again. That leaves Ray, Matthew, and Caroline in peril. Blake, Cee Lo, and Christina ask for the fan's support of their artists, and it is time for the Save. Carson asks Adam about who he thinks will be saved, and he thinks it might be Matthew, but he loves and supports them all. America saved Matthew Schuler, and Ray Boudreaux and Caroline Pennell are sent home.

Tune in next week, when the Top Six will return to the stage to see if they can keep the dream alive! To learn more about 'The Voice', visit the official website. You can also 'like' them on Facebook, and 'follow' them on Twitter.

The Voice - Live Performances Review - 11/25/2013

Left to right: Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, and Cee Lo Green.

Last week was another time of great competition, and we saw two more artists packing their bags and heading home. Austin Jenckes and Kat Robichaud left the competition, leaving Team Cee Lo with just one artist, Team Xtina and Team Blake with two, and Team Adam complete with three. But it is Thanksgiving Week, and there are still eight artists ready to sing, filled with gratitude to make it thus far. But there are still two who will be leaving tomorrow night, not so eager to go home for the holidays. Will Team Adam finally lose a singer? Will Team Cee Lo be eliminated altogether? Can Team Blake prove it still has the magic that won three seasons in a row? They have to sound their best tonight, and see where that gets them with the voting public tomorrow.

Left to right: Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera, Carson Daly, Cee Lo Green, and Adam Levine.

As is always the case, the show opens with host Carson Daly, to tell us about the night. But first he introduces the Top 8, and you can see a mixture of happy and tense on their faces. They might love performing, but this is a competition, and perhaps the nervous energy sneaks though. Before going on, Carson welcomes back a former adviser to contestants on the show, Robin Thicke. He comes out and performs his latest single, "Feel Good".

James is very excited to sing his choice this season, Queen's classic, "Somebody to Love". This is yet another side to the man who has never rested on his laurels, but has continually stretched and reached for the brass ring. While it might be daunting for many, James is up for the task, and sound great on the song. None of the slight hitches of prior weeks, from breath control to over exuberance, surfaced tonight. Clad in a tuxedo, James is on stage, and in the audience, and never looked nervous or confused. Great way to start the show. The judges loved it, but Christina got a bit lost in some cloning daydream that lost me. After a commercial break, it is time for the second member of Team Adam to perform, Tessanne Chin. She sings No Doubt's "Underneath It All" featuring Lady Saw.

Gwen Stefani and the boys from No Doubt were known for the Reggae influences, and this seems like a perfect fit for the Jamaican woman. There is such joy and love in this performance, it spills over to the audience. They sing along, and give her a long ovation. Her voice was expressive, subtle, bold, and sweet, so perfect for the show. She has been so strong from the audition, I have loved watching and hearing her. Cee Lo loved her, and Xtina gives a weird critique I think was both complimentary and a subtle dismissal of prior performances and Adam's coaching. After a break, it is time for the last artist on Team Cee Lo, 17-year-old Caroline Pennell. She wants to do something surprising, and they pick the Indie Alternative vibe of Florence + the Machine, "Dog Days Are Over".

Caroline starts off with a softness and sweetness that is nice to see. She adds strength and energy to the chorus, and really picks it up. She did a nice job, although at the end seem to be swallowed a little by the hugeness of the song. She was good, but fell a bit short of great, which I thought was very possible. I want her to have a break out moment, but she seems to stop just shy of the mark. After a break and an interview with Robin Thicke, who credits 'The Voice' fans for helping make "Blurred Lines" for big, having introduced it last year on season 4. Next we have a group performance with Cole, Ray, Tessanne and Will singing "One Day" by Matisyahu, giving us a bit more Reggae for the night. After another break, Cole and Ray go with Blake to the Jay Leno show, a chance to taste the good life, to see what they can achieve. After that, we learn Cole love Country music, and will be singing, "I Still Believe in You" a big Country hit from Vince Gill, co-written by Gill and John Barlow Jarvis.

Blake wants Cole to have a bit of desperation on the song, and I think Cole delivered on that. It is tough to compare with Vince Gill, whose voice is so crisp and clean, but Cole delivers his own performance for the song. There is grit in his voice, and it serves him well here. Blake is so proud, and thinks he does a great job. Christina loved him to, thinking it was a great quiet moment for him. After another break, Team Xtina's Matthew Schuler steps up to his turn on the stage, singing "It's Time", a song written and performed by American alternative rock band Imagine Dragons, which made it to the Billboard Top 10 in 2012. Christina wants to do a military theme on this number, and Matthew feels inspired by it. She loves that he has an Indie Rock base, and plans to utilize it on this song. During the performance, he soars in the chorus, but tends to get lost on the verse, garbling a little bit. The chorus is spectacular, but the performance does get a bit muddy in between. Of course, he brings it to a magnificent close. Christian loves him, and loves what he did with the song. Which was, of course, dictated by her... After a break, it is time for Jacquie, James, Matthew and Caroline to perform, singing "Lego House".

This is a wonderful song, but a very uneven performance. I would prefer to listen to the original above, and move forward. All four had nice moments, and times when I wondered what they were thinking. After another break, it is time for Will Champlin to join us. Will is singing a 1941 song written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the musical film 'Orchestra Wives', made popular by the late, great Etta James. It is, of course, "At Last". Will considers Etta to be an influence, and he wants to make it a memorable moment for him. I must admit, I find her performance mesmerizing. He uses power, range, and adds a rough hewn quality to his voice, sweetening the tea. It was a great moment for Will, and the audience acknowledged it with a long and loud ovation. Adam just loved it, and just loves working with Will. Christina also loved it, knowing how tough it is to sing the song. After another break it is time for the final artist from Team Blake, handsome Ray Boudreaux. I must admit I am a fan of Ray, but am not sure Blake has been able to give him the songs that showcase his sexy voice. This week, Ray will be singing "Gimme Some Lovin'", made famous by the Spencer Davis Group, and written by members Steve Winwood, Spencer Davis and Muff Winwood. It is interesting, Ray's voice is reminiscent of Steve Winwood, the smoky edge on a strong voice. From the start, Ray is rocking the song out, bringing us back to a soulful time in Rock music. I am not sure this was a great song for the competition, but it reminded me why I've liked Ray from the beginning. His bluesy roots were definitely showing. The coaches loved him, with Cee Lo and Christina giving him high marks. The last performance of the night will go to the youngest performer of the lot, 16-year-old Jacquie Lee, a member of Team Xtina, Tonight, Jacquie will be singing "Who's Lovin' You Now", the Motown song written in 1960 by William "Smokey" Robinson, and made famous by his group, The Miracles. It was also recorded by Diana Ross and the Supremes, as well as the Jackson 5. Christina wants Jacquie to cut loose, and get out of her own way. As far as I can tell, we are getting back to shouty Jacquie, and I am not that enamored with her. For me, she is out of her league with this song, and she is a little girl imitating others. There is no subtlety in the performance, she is just singing at full volume from start to finish.

So that is the Top 8, all trying to make it through another week on 'The Voice'. My Top 3 for this week would be Will, Tessanne, and Matthew, with strong performances. My bottom three, would be Cole, Caroline, and Jacquie. I thought both Cole and Caroline could have used a bit more energy, more life in their performances, while Jacquie could have used a bit less. I can't say I am 100 percent sure the voters will agree with me - perhaps Ray could slip in there, but I actually thought he was quite strong tonight. Could James and Tessanne have issues, singing up front, it is tough to be sure. But those are my thoughts for the night. The results are coming tomorrow night, at 9PM on your NBC station.

The Voice - Review - Season 5 Top 10 Results

Left to right: Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, and Blake Shelton.

Tonight Carson Daly will let us all know who the Top Eight will be, announcing the results from the vote. Last night was an interesting night on 'The Voice', with some of the frontrunners not giving their best, making this voting a telling week. Will the frontrunners votes be affected by the performance, or will they be in jeopardy? It is always a more interesting season when the momentum shifts from week to week, really driven by performances. Last night, I picked my bottom three to be Austin Jenckes, Kat Robichaud, and maybe either Jacquie Lee or Ray Boudreaux. In truth, I thought Ray had a very good performance, but I am not sure how well it resonated with the voters. And I would also be surprised if two artists from Team Blake would be in the bottom this early. There is room for a few to be nervous. The bottom three in iTunes sales were Austin, Kat, and Jacquie, so it we have to see if that is an indicator. And who will win the Insta-Vote on Twitter? There is a lot to learn from tonight's results.

Clockwise: Team Adam, Team Blake, Team Xtina, and Team Cee Lo.

Carson Daly greets us, and quickly introduces the coaches, with Adam, Blake, and Cee Lo in their seats, while Christian was getting ready to perform. There is a quick recap, the coaches all giving props to their charges. With a recorded growl, the performance of Team Xtina begins, as Christina, Matthew and Jacquie sing Janet Jackson's "Black Cat", off the album 'Rhythm Nation 1814'. They also took on the Janet/Michael duet on "Scream", and Michael's "Bad". But for a distraction, here is Janet dancing to her "Black Cat".

After a commercial break, Carson reminds us there is a Twitter vote coming up. He also announces that Adam has been named the Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine. Then Carson chats to the coaches, asking about how they are feeling going into the results show. Adam talks about how the coaches all fall in love with their artists, and wish them only the greatest success. There is an odd moment when Blake tells Adam it is what's on the inside that counts, and they hug. This makes Christina hug Ceee Lo, and then a group hug ensues. And hopefully, we are done with that for the night. We soon get to the results, and we learn that the first person to the Top 8 is James Wolpert, from Team Adam. Carson tells us that America also saved Matthew by their votes. After a commercial break, Will, James, and Kat join forces to take on Fall Out Boy, singing their 2005 hit, "Sugar, We're Going Down".

Before the applause is over, Carson calls the remaining eight contestants to the stage to learn who is safe. The third person safe tonight is Ray Boudreaux from Team Blake. Then we go back to Team Adam, and Will Champlin is announced safe. After a break, Team Blake takes to the stage, offering their take on ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man". It is interesting, as all men on stage have strapped on their guitars for the performance, whatever that means.

While that was an okay performance, I must admit it was musically pretty strong. But there is no time to dawdle, and Carson will reveal two more safe contestants. First up, Tessanne Chin is safe, meaning all three from Team Adam are safe! In a surprise announcement, we discover that Jacquie Lee is safe, leaving Austin Jenckes, Cole Vosbury, Kat Robichaud and Caroline Pennell waiting to hear more news. When the show returns, Carson is in the Sprint Skybox, chatting about the show, like the fact there is a dozen humans in the rafters working the follow spots! Carson brings out Tessanne and Caroline, who sings "Royals" by Lorde.

This could be my favorite performance of the night, for Caroline and Tessanne worked surprisingly well together. Once that is over, Carson calls the four remaining artists, to get to the Insta-Save. But first, we learn that America saved Cole Vosbury, so Austin, Kat and Caroline are in the bottom three. I am truly surprised, for I thought Caroline would be safe, even with her anemic performance. And she was the fourth-ranked in iTunes sales. Undoubtedly, I think she should be saved, the best of the three contestants. But I must remember that is not the way I saw it last week, when Kat was saved, and Jonny was sent packing. To kill time while the voting is ongoing, Carson asks Adam what he thinks. He loves them all, but thinks Caroline has been magic. The voting is closed, and America saved Caroline, and Austin Jenckes and Kat Robichaud are going home.

Tune in next week, when the Top Eight will return to the stage to see if they can keep the dream alive! To learn more about The Voice, visit the official website. You can also 'like' them on Facebook, and 'follow' them on Twitter.

The Voice - Review - Season 5 Top 10

Left to right: Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, and Cee Lo Green.

Last week, we had a couple of firsts. It began with the first chance the public had to vote, having complete control over the outcome. There were no "saves" for the coaches, only a voting process. Once the bottom three was announced, a five-minute voting period on Twitter saved one of the contestants, sending the other two packing. The bottom three were Josh Logan, Jonny Gray, and Kat Robichaud, and it was Kat who was saved, leaving Team Cee Lo and Team Xtina each down a member. Team Adam and Team Blake sailed through the first week, free and clear of potential dismissal. The week began with 12 contestants, 8 men and 4 women. The numbers are coming into parity, with the men now at six, and the ladies remaining at four. Can Kat use the momentum of the Twitter Save to pull herself out of danger? Can Team Adam and Team Blake continue to dominate the competition? We shall see as they take to the stage this evening.

Left to right: Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera, Carson Daly, Cee Lo Green, and Adam Levine.

The evening tonight started out with a recap of the performances from the Top 10, looking at and listening to the performances from last week. As the show kicks off, Carson Daly introduces the coaches, and reminds us that tomorrow night, two more contestants will be sent home as a result of tonight's vote. The evening starts with the Top 10 joining forces to sing "Say It, Just Say It", the song by The Mowgli's. This is unfortunate, for the song doesn't really work for any of the artists singing it. The solos were a bit of a mess, but at least in unison, they sounded in tune. Now let's just move on. Before heading to a commercial break, Carson tells us that Austin Jenckes will be starting off things with a song from the 1980s. It is most certainly true, for he sings "Your Love", a song by the British band The Outfield from 1985. Blake hopes to show the voters that Austin is a singer with power. The original is big and bold, a big rock anthem. Austin pares is back, to build toward an ending. That ending is a bit blown out to me, and I just felt the rest of the performance was a bit washed out, the heart weak. After a chat with runner Usain Bolt, there to promote his new book, it is time to introduce the youngest contestant on the show, Jacquie Lee. Coach Christina has her perform the song "Clarity", the 2013 hit from Zedd. The song is a quiet, more introspective song, and I am glad to hear her take it on. The song starts off a bit slow, with some pitch issues for me, and was also a bit rushed. But it seems it might have been nerves, for the last half of the song she found herself, and the song. While it was great for her to try something new, and avoid getting shouty, I wish it was a bit smoother. To my surprise, Cee Lo, Blake, and Adam heard that same thing. Next up, we will hear Will Champlin, and he will be singing "Love Me Again" by John Newman. The British song hasn't really made it here in the States yet, so this is a great chance for a standout performance.

Will starts off with a soft soul, but soon is giving us full-throated Pop. I thought he sounded great, and so at home with the song. There was a fire inside, keeping the song hot. I think it was his best performance to date, and the song that best suited him as an artist. And once again, the judges agree with me. Hmmm. After another break, it is time for Caroline Pennell, who will be singing "Leaving on a Jet Plane", written in 1966 by John Denver, and made popular by Peter, Paul & Mary. It is a favorite of Caroline's, although Cee Lo is not sure about it. I have to agree with Cee Lo on this one, the choice is odd. As she starts singing, you can hear that voice, it is lovely and interesting, but it does seem a bit wasted on this song. She is better than this performance, which felt a little lethargic. I truly hope she will be sticking around despite this. After yet another commercial break, we learn that Cole Vosbury will be singing "To Be With You", the huge hit by Mr. Big from 1991. Cole loves the song, a fact Blake didn't know when he picked it for him.

It seems it is almost impossible to not sing along to this song. It seems a great match for Cole, who allows his voice to really open up as the song goes on. This is a wonderful bar-song, and gives such a warm feeling. While I don't think it was the grand statement Blake was looking for, I think it was tight and strong. Blake was proud, and just loves Cole. Adam loves him too, but manages to talk about the artists, and not the performance. After another break, and an odd minute or two with Carson, it is time for Tessanne Chin to take her turn on the stage. Adam picked "If I Were Your Woman", the iconic song by Gladys Knight & the Pips from 1970. It is scary to take on a voice as amazing as Gladys, but if anyone can, it would be Tessanne. She starts off so quietly, but soon brings the power, and delivers a gorgeous version of the song. She is so on form, so right on every step of the musical journey, this was show-stopping. This went beyond a 'moment', to something really special. We move from Jamaica to Louisiana, as it is time for handsome Ray Boudreaux to perform. When I heard he was going to sing "You Are The Best Thing" by Ray LaMontagne, I was immediately excited.

I don't think the song choice last week was a great one, but this is so on track. There is a beautiful soulful quality in all of his vocals, and it suits this song so well. He gave an excellent vocal, and he seemed so comfortable up on stage, and delivered the goods. I loved it. The judges seemed to like it muchly, too. Carson tells us that James Wolpert will be up next, taking on a great Power Ballad. It turns out he will be singing "Without You", the iconic song written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of British rock group Badfinger, and recorded by the band in 1970. It was made famous in 1971 by Harry Nilsson, and again by Mariah Carey in 1994. This is a big song, so James will have to deliver big time. He begins with a soft vulnerability, and brings the power on the chorus, with an edge of desperation. While compressing the song in the 90 seconds allowed by the show is tough, James did a fantastic job with it, taking it over a bit. He allowed it to soar, and gave it is creepy edge. The judges liked him, although Christina mentioned a pitch problem at the end I didn't hear. Kat Robichaud is the next to take the stage, and she will be singing "We Belong", the phenomenal song by Pat Benatar, a huge hit in 1984.

I think this is a far better choice for her, allowing her to get in front of the music, instead of hidden by it. Unfortunately, she just sounds nervous during the verses, and only comes alive on the chorus, although a tad wobbly at times. I don't know if the pressure got to her, or the song was just too big for her. Cee Lo was so proud, and tells her it was "a performances that will live forever". Adam was so glad she finally became the performer they wanted her to be. Obviously, I am a tad confused. After the commercial break, we come back for the final performer of the night, Matthew Schuler. Christina chose the song "Beneath Your Beautiful", an interesting song by Labrinth featuring Emili Sandé.

There is a softness to the beginning of the song, a little too wispy for me. But thankfully, he picked it up on the chorus. He ended so well, with such a strong sound, this was a hit for him. For me, this was his strongest song so far from him. Christina loves him, and is blown away by him. Adam loved him, too. But it is time for the show to come to a close, and voting will be open until 11AM EST Tuesday morning. Remember, you can also place a vote by buying a single on iTunes. This wasn't the strongest show to date, but not a bad one either. There were some strong performances, and a few misses. Last week, I did pick bottom three, but missed on who would earn the save. This week, I am not as sure. My bottom three would be Austin Jenckes, Kat Robichaud, and maybe either Jacquie Lee or Ray Boudreaux. I don't think Ray did badly, but I am just not sure if his performance was not big enough. Jacquie started off nervously, but gained her footing by the end, so I fear she might be vulnerable. Heck, for that matter, Caroline's sleepy performance could leave her is a troubling position. I think the Top 10 are the strongest so far, and a mistake with song choice or an off performance can send someone home. We will find out the results at 9PM on Tuesday night, and see if my predictions hold true.