BY GUEST BLOGGER, JOHN NAZARIO
Last week of Quarters, just when you think a huge hump has been conquered, a bigger and steeper one comes along. All four coaches have done great, and in my opinion made great decisions. I have agreed with all their eliminations picks, including Christina’s elimination of Jesse Campbell, probably the most controversial decision this far, but a correct one because of his lack to evolve and develop from week to week. But this week Team Cee Lo, and Team Adam perform to see whom the coaches will eliminate, and who the public will vote to remain safe. Never a doll moment on The Voice.
Jamar Rogers singing It's My Life
Team Cee Lo started the night on Monday with Jamar Rogers, a fan favorite who can easily win this competition. Jamar sang Bon Jovi’s It’s My Life, and did a good job. His energy was great, and his stage presence his undeniable. However this wasn’t his best performance, he killed it last round when he performed Are You Gonna Go My Way, but this week he slurred a lot of the words, due to the emphasis on the long vocal notes which also resulted in him pushing more, and thus pitchy as the song went on. But it can be argued that he was in the moment with a very excited crowd. Either way this week wasn’t his best. James Massone on the other hand had a bumpy performance this week. James sang Just The Way You Are by Billy Joel, it’s not by accident that after his last performance, James’ job was to go out and sing for the females in the audience. His popularity with the crowd got him through the last round, but I’m not sure if it can help him this week. His performance was okay, but not great.
Katrina Parker singing Jar Of Hearts
Team Adam decided to start the night with Katrina Parker, singing Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri. And wow, she impressed, and blew everyone away, even Christina Aguilera is now a believer. Katrina did great, and has really put herself in a position to compete until the end, but will the public agree? Mathai was Team Adam’s second singer on Monday night, and she was asked to perform I’m Like A Bird by Nelly Furtado. Similarly to Nelly Furtado, Mathai has a very unique head voice, which made Adam Levine love this song selection. However, Mathai slurs her words from note to note, every cool style but can make it very difficult to understand what she’s singing. It was a very good performance, she made it her own, and able to differentiate from the original version. But does she have what it takes to beat her teammates?
Juliet Simms singing Cryin'
Cheesa was the third singer for Team Cee Lo, and was asked to perform, the very difficult, I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston. Cheesa stood her ground, and delivered a good performance. Again, I’m not trying to sound like a broken record, but Cheesa not only slurred a few of the words when they count most, but she also has this forced lower resonant tone that comes not from her diaphragm but between her lower throat and upper chest cavity which sounds forced, and unnatural. However, Juliet Simms is all diaphragm, with some throat which adds the distinct raspy tone in her Voice. I have to agree with Blake Sheldon, Juliet is the most consistent performer in the competition. Juliet has loads of experience touring, Warped Tour being one of those experiences, with her band Automatic Loveletter. And it shows! Juliet sang Cryin’ by Aerosmith, and she killed it, a very strong and perfect song for her voice. But she is going up against fan favorite Jamar Rogers, so it won’t be easy.
Tony Lucca singing ...Baby One More Time
Tony Lucca was the third singer for Team Adam, and made the most impact on the night, with his performance of …Baby One More Time by Britney Spears. He hit it out the park. He decided to embrace his time in the Mickey Mouse Club, and performed a very popular single from that generation. It was different, cool and well done, he even impressed Christina Aguilera, who called him one dimensional during the last round. The last performer on Monday night was Pip, and going in he was also the weakest. Pip sang Somewhere Only We Know by Keane, and it was probably the weakest performance of the night. He struggled, and couldn’t stay in tune, but he still may get the public vote if Adam Levine decides to eliminate someone else before the vote.
Before the public could chime in, and declare their pick to stay safe from the coaches’ elimination, the coaches must eliminate one contestant each. Cee Lo Green decided to eliminate James Massone, no surprise in that decision. Adam Levine eliminated Pip. Setting up a very interesting Tuesday night to see who would move ahead to the Semi-Finals.
On Tuesday, the public decided to keep Jamar Rogers safe from elimination on Team Cee Lo, and on Team Adam the public voted for Tony Lucca. Setting up Juliet Simms to perform against Cheesa in Team Cee Lo, and Katrina Parker against Mathai on Team Adam.
Katrina Parker singing Perfect
Mathai decided to sing Cowboy Casanova by Carrie Underwood, making Blake Sheldon happy to see her embrace country music. Katrina Parker decided to sing Perfect by Pink. Mathai did well, but not better than Katrina who came out confident, and with the upper hand, since she had been in the bottom facing elimination during the last round. Adam decided to pick Katrina and eliminated Mathai.
Cee Lo Green picks Juliet Simms
Cheesa sang Already Gone by Kelly Clarkson, and Juliet Simms sang Torn by Ednaswap and later covered by Natalie Imbruglia. Cheesa knew what she was up against, she fought to impress the way she did in the last round when she was facing elimination, but this time she was facing Juliet Simms. Cee Lo picked Juliet to move ahead to the Semi-Finals, eliminating Cheesa.
Although your heart, and feelings toward a particular contestant may sway you to lean in their direction, the coaches’ decision has to be made from a technical, more professional point of view. Truly separating The Voice from any other singing competition out there, giving the viewers a way to vote, while the coaches pick the strongest performers.
With eight contestants left, the best is yet to come from The Voice.
John Nazario is an award winning international producer/engineer who has worked with such great artists as Nelly Furtado, Jack Johnson and Alexisonfire. Mr. Nazario writes these blogs on behalf of MusicSkins.com. The Voice television show, Warner Brothers and NBC have no affiliation or association with Mr. Nazario or his blogs. The opinions expressed by Mr. Nazario are solely his own.
