'The Voice' Top 12 Revealed: Not All of the Cool Kids Make It Through

Wednesday night, on a Very Special Episode of The Voice, the top 12 semifinalists were revealed, during the first live results show of Season 7. Three contestants from each team — two voted through by America, one saved by that team’s respective coach — advanced, and with the exception of Team Gwen, all of the coaches’ picks were jaw-droppers.

Is the suspense killing you? Some of the eliminations are killing me. Here’s what went down…

TEAM BLAKE

America’s Picks: Reagan James, Craig Wayne Boyd

I’m 100 percent on board with these choices… so thanks, America, for getting it so right! These two easily gave the best Team Blake performances of Monday night. Reagan, despite being the youngest contestant of the season, wowed with her sophisticated and gorgeous number, and Southern-rock showman Craig was such a pro, he practically made everyone else on the stage look like rank amateurs. Either of these contestants could win Blake his fourth Voice trophy.

Blake Shelton’s Pick: Jessie Pitts

OK, this was a shocker. It wasn’t necessarily a bad choice, just a very unexpected one. I assumed that Blake would show loyalty to his fellow country good ole boy and save James David Carter. My hope was that sassy food-truck filly Taylor Brashears would get a reprieve. But instead Blake went with his one non-country option, because he thought Jessie could “thrive the most in this environment.” I think maybe he just didn’t want to give Craig any serious competition. But regardless of his real reasoning, Blake has ended up with a strong and diverse team.

TEAM PHARRELL

America’s Picks: Luke Wade, DaNica Shirey

Luke was no surprise. His sex-ay rendition of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” heated up millions of living rooms on Tuesday night; in nine months’ time, a bunch of babies named Luke will likely be born, just in time for next fall’s Voice Season 9 premiere. As for DaNica, I knew she had a fanbase (and talent), but I’d feared that her semi-obscure Joni Mitchell cover would hurt her chances. Apparently it did not.

Pharrell Williams’s Pick: Sugar Joans

Oh. This was my first big heartbreak of the night. I knew Pharrell has a sweet spot for Sugar and might save her if she didn’t get through via the public vote… but I never thought he’d save her over the stupendous Elyjuh René, whose tour de force “Latch” cover was one of the finest performances of the entire week. I like Sugar, but I think Pharrell made a major, major mistake here. It’s difficult for me to imagine this season’s top 12 without Elyjuh, and I think in one fell swoop, Pharrell gutted his team and damaged his chances.

TEAM GWEN

America’s Picks: Taylor John Williams, Anita Antoinette

Taylor’s “Stuck in the Middle” this week was a breakout performance that established him as a true artist, not just some cute, coffeehouse-dwelling WGWG with an impressive hat collection. And Anita’s “All About That Bass,” while a bit corny, established her as one of the most fun and likable performers of the season. America got it right here, too.

Gwen Stefani’s Pick: Ryan Sill

Meh. I don’t have much of an opinion about this one. I’ll save all my rage for the Team Adam results coming up in a couple paragraphs. All three of the Team Gwen also-rans (Ricky Manning, Bryana Salaz, and Ryan) delivered largely underwhelming performances on Tuesday night. I probably would have gone with Ricky, but if Gwen was looking for more girly-baiting heartthrob material to round out her team, I suppose the boy-band-ish Ryan was the best choice.

TEAM ADAM

America’s Picks: Damien, Matt McAndrew

OK. Deep breaths, deep breaths. First, the good news. Matt McAndrew rules and totally needs to win this show and then release a track-by-track remake of the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds as his first album for Republic Records. So thank you, America, for recognizing his awesomeness and voting him through. As for Damien, that’s another solid pick, and he’ll add some diversity to Adam’s team.

Adam Levine’s Pick: Chris Jamison

Annnnnd here’s when I get angry. I have nothing against Chris, of course; he’s talented, plus he’s incredibly marketable. And it was sort of a done deal for Mia Pfirrman; I don’t think anyone expected her to get through, not even Mia herself. But I am absolutely gob-smacked to even be typing these words: Taylor Phelan did not advance to the top 12. I repeat, TAYLOR PHELAN DID NOT ADVANCE TO THE TOP 12.

I was worried that Taylor’s song choice this week, Echosmith’s “Cool Kids,” while cool indeed, might thwart his chances because of its relative obscurity. But I assumed that Adam would see a kindred spirit in Taylor and save him anyway. I assumed wrong. If Adam dumped Taylor because he wanted to clear a path for the similarly indie Matt, Taylor’s chief rival, then fine — I guess I can excuse this distressing decision. But if Adam had any other reason… well, then, I’m about as mad at him now as Christina Aguilera was in Season 2.

So there you have it. I must admit that even with the sad absence of Elyjuh and two of the Taylors (Brashears and Phelan), this is a pretty strong top 12. And now, with no more team quotas in place, only the strongest will survive moving forward. Below are my rankings going into next week’s semifinals. Am I in for more heartache, or will my favorites prevail? You never know with a show as wildly unpredictable as The Voice. See you next week.

MY TOP 12 RANKINGS:
Matt McAndrew
Taylor John Williams
Reagan James
Luke Wade
Craig Wayne Boyd
Anita Antoinette
Damien
Chris Jamison
Jessie Pitts
Sugar Joans
DaNica Shirey
Ryan Sill

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