'The Voice' Live Playoffs, Pt. 2: Team Xtina & Team Adam Earn It

After an amazing start to the Live Playoffs Monday with Teams Blake and Pharrell, on Tuesday it was time for Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera’s contestants to compete. But this wasn’t as entertaining an episode, mainly because it was such an imbalanced episode. Because almost all of the night’s standout singers were on Team Xtina.

Really, since only six of these 10 singers can make it through to the top 12, I would be perfectly happy if four or five of Christina’s contestants advanced, joined by just one or two of Adam’s. But unfortunately, until we get to the top 12, team quotas still apply on this show. Which means, sadly, that a couple very worthy singers will head home this week.

Oh well. Let’s get to the recapping, shall we?

TEAM ADAM

Tonya Boyd-Cannon – I’m sorry, but I’ll never be able to dissociate Elton John’s “Take Me to the Pilot,” at least in the reality-television world, from American Idol Season 11’s freaky-deaky finale performance by Fantasia and Joshua Ledet — you know, the one with ‘Tasia in a recklessly ripped catsuit and flat-ironed Cher wig, and Joshua ad-libbing his face off. That was some good TV, and that was some sanging. Tonya’s conservative version was merely singing. There was nothing wrong with it, and she hit every note, but somehow the fire was missing. She did not take me to church, or even to the pilot, for that matter. The coaches were praising, but when Christina told Tonya, “I’m glad you had that moment,” it sounded like a goodbye. I don’t think this will be enough to get Tonya to the top 12. Maybe she should have worn a unitard and Cher wig…

Joshua Davis – Joshua seemed happy with his song assignment, George Ezra’s “Budapest,” saying its relative obscurity would allow him to put his own stamp on the song. But I think “Budapest” is already seeping into the nation’s consciousness; George Ezra performed it on SNL just 10 days ago. And because it’s so known for its distinctive, almost Adam Sandler-esque yodel, I think Joshua was in quite a pickle here. If he imitated Ezra’s signature yelp, it would be silly and copycatty, but if he avoided it altogether, the song would lose some of its whimsy and charm. Joshua did his best here — his performance had a certain pleasant Paul Simon vibe — but this wasn’t exactly a wow moment. In short, it was not better than Ezra.

Brian Johnson – Obviously I’ve watched too much television in my lifetime, and I associate too many songs with specific TV moments. But sometimes an association can be a good thing. Come on, who doesn’t get all mushy inside remembering Family Ties’ Alex P. Keaton and Ellen Reed slow-dancing to Billy Vera & the Beaters’ “At This Moment”? Everyone was rooting for that NBC sitcom odd couple back then, and when Brian sweetly sang Vera’s heartbreak ballad on NBC’s The Voice, 30 years after Alex and Ellen’s fateful first kiss, everyone was rooting for Brian. (“That brought me right back to Family Ties,” Blake Shelton gushed nostalgically.) Surely even people too young to remember Family Ties, or who just didn’t consider that show to be must-see TV back in the day, must’ve been moved by Brian’s soulful performance this Tuesday. Pharrell Williams called Brian “masterful,” and Blake said he was a “perfect vocalist.” At this moment, Brian seemed like a shoo-in.

Nathan Hermida – I’m not sure why Adam, the coach with arguably the weakest team of Season 8, would want to bus Nathan, arguably his most interesting contestant. But that’s what seemed to be happening here; I could practically see the tire tracks on hapless Nathan’s cute baby face. The nerdy boy first made an impression by strumming a guitar, but just as Pharrell tried to change loungey crooner Lowell Oakley on Monday by making him sing Nick Jonas’s “Jealous,” on Tuesday Adam tried to change Nathan by making him sing… Nick Jonas’s “Chains.” Why is everyone this season trying to turn Voice contestants into Jonas clones? Just stop it already. Not everyone is cut out to be an R&B/pop heartthrob, you know. Nathan seemed so uncomfortable singing this dark and sexy song, at best coming across as a poor man’s Josh Kaufman or Chris Jamison, and at worst just seeming like a scared little boy (especially when his missed the money note). Adam really did wrong by him with a song so outside his wheelhouse — and on the kid’s first live show, yet. Pharrell said, “It’s a whole different Nathan, and that’s a good thing,” but I think Pharrell was just trying to be kind. Adam praised Nathan, a totally inexperienced performer, for overcoming his nervousness, saying with a shrug, “That was all I was looking for.” Hmmm. That sounded like a kiss-off to me. “Chains” broke this kid, indeed.

Deanna Johnson – Deanna is another young and insecure contestant who’s struggled with nerves. (“You have to be unafraid of being judged,” Adam told her… right before the first night that she literally got judged. OK, then.) However, Deanna seemed surprisingly calm, cool, and collected doing Alison Krauss’s “Down to the River to Pray” this Tuesday. I would not say this was a “flawless” performance, as Adam claimed (Deanna did not wake up like this), mainly because the song didn’t really go anywhere and allow her to have a climactic moment. But this was a pretty strong showing, with a serene Florence/McLachlan vibe. And the coming-from-behind, conquering-her-fears underdog story that the producers and coaches kept hammering and yammering should keep Deanna safe. “I have to admit I had my doubts about what would happen with you in these live rounds… but man, that was outstanding,” said Blake. “This is the Deanna that we all turned for,” said Pharrell. It’ll probably be the Deanna that America votes for, too.

TEAM XTINA

Sonic – Sonic’s voice is not a perfect voice, and on occasion she struggled during her cover of Rose Royce’s “I’m Going Down.” But this was one of the most emotional performances of the evening, with all the fire that the above-mentioned Tonya lacked. Sonic was feeling this! And the coaches were feeling this too, even if they sort of backhandedly complimented her, repeatedly mentioning her vocal issues (which, to be fair, are largely due to her hearing loss) while simultaneously applauding her for not giving up. “I love the confidence; when things felt funny to you, we could see you hunkering down and getting into core of the note,” said Pharrell. “It was very easy to get lost there, and you came back,” said Adam. “It’s almost not worth talking about those little things, because your attack is so powerful,” said Blake. Christina proudly raved about how Sonic has become a role model for girls with hearing problems and other disabilities. Will those girls vote for Sonic? I don’t know, but if Sonic ends up going down on Wednesday’s results show, at least she didn’t go down without a fight.

Kimberly Nichole – Christina sure is doing a lot of Linda Perry name-dropping lately. She referred to the legendary songwriter/producer as her “dear friend” on Monday’s show, then mentioned on Tuesday that she’d personally emailed Linda this week so that Kimberly could cover 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up,” a song never previously cleared for The Voice. (Side note: The Voice is great, but the best music-competition TV show in recent memory was VH1’s The Linda Perry Project. I wish more people had watched it. Maybe all this Linda name-dropping will convince VH1 execs to greenlight a second season.) Anyway, I am very glad that Christina sent that email. Clearly Linda was just waiting for the right singer to come along and “destroy” this song, as Adam put it. Such ferocity, such intensity, and such vocal control, all wrapped up in such an awesome leather tutu skirt! (Second side note: I need that skirt in my life.) And making the moment even better was Kimberly’s adorable 91-years-young grandmother in the audience, wearing a sparkly Aretha inauguration hat and making a sentimental Kimberly cry happy tears. (Third side note: I need that hat in my life.) Pharrell accurately called Kimberly “PER-FECTION.” Fourth side note: I need Kimberly in this season’s top 12.

Lexi Davila – Well, damn. No one can say Lexi didn’t try her hardest doing Eric Carmen’s weeper “All By Myself” this Tuesday. But did she try too hard? I think so. I could totally see the effort here. The dreaded “focus face” that Christina mentioned Monday when critiquing Brooke Adee was really noticeable with Lexi. This performance seemed so labored, and watching it exhausted me. Yes, Lexi’s money note towards the end was impressive, but it felt like a show-off stunt. I was impressed, but I wasn’t moved. I didn’t think the emotion seemed genuine. Adam, Lexi’s former coach, told Lexi, “I am so proud of you,” but secretly, he probably didn’t regret letting her go in the Knockout Rounds.

India Carney – OK, this was emotion done right. I believed India when she sang Christina’s own “Hurt”; in fact, India had me wondering what, or who, was on her mind during this incredibly raw and intense performance. Yes, there were a few minor vocal imperfections, but those hiccups at least seemed to come from a place of pent-up, choked-up passion, so I didn’t mind. A four-coach standing ovation ensued. Really, this was so good, I was actually shocked that Christina even let India do this song, because India almost showed Christina up. “I don’t know what else you could have done to make that any better,” marveled Blake. “That was like watching a film… You just closed this show… Honestly, the credits should be rolling right now,” said Pharrell. I felt very, very sorry for the contestant who’d have to follow this.

Rob Taylor – Actually, not so fast. Don’t roll those end credits just yet! Probably the only singer that could’ve successfully followed India’s tour de force was this superfly guy. He not only had the coolest song of the night, the Weeknd’s “Earned It,” and he not only looked like a rock star with that long braided faux-hawk, but his falsetto was everything. Everythang. He took Christina’s advice to “D'Angelo this” (kudos to Christina for inventing an awesome new verb), and the result was incredibly fierce. Pharrell wouldn’t/couldn’t stop raving about Rob. Adam enthusiastically imitated how Rob “put his whole body into it” by awkwardly dry-humping the air. (I am sure there are a thousand GIFs of Adam’s pelvic mime-thrusts on the Interweb already.) Rob earned it, all right — his spot in the top 12, that is.

So now, it is prediction time. Which four contestants will advance to the top 12 via the public vote, and which two will be the coaches’ picks? For Team Adam, I think the top vote-getters will be the unrelated Johnsons, Brian and Deanna — and if that’s the case, then Adam will definitely save Joshua. Team Xtina is a tougher call, because she really has such a strong team. But I’ll go with Kimberly and India as the top two, with Christina picking Rob.

Tune in Wednesday for a special live results show to find out if I’m right! See you then. In the meantime, enjoy this Tuesday Voice appearance by former show adviser Sia, singing her hit “Elastic Heart.” Even without her usual gimmicks (no Maddie, no Shia, no Kristen Wiig), and even with her face completely obscured, she showed all of the top 20 how to give a stunning performance:

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