Things We Learned from The Voice (from TV Guide)

TV Guide posted this... and I stole my favorites. Head over to the original article to read the full list.

• You don't need two months of useless, over-produced and usually insulting auditions to hook viewers.
• Bald is beautiful for men and women.
• Social media works best online, not on TV. Sorry, Alison Haislip.
• The Battle Round idea isn't as awesome as it sounds.
• The Blind Audition idea is.
• Adam Levine and Blake Shelton were the sexiest men on Tuesday TV, not Matthew Bomer.
• Asking a cute contestant to take off his pants? Funny. Asking it twice? Creepy.
• Only Cee Lo can get away with dressing like a cracked-out drag queen from Middle Earth.
• Group sing-alongs don't have to be painfully cheesy.
• Age, size, race and sexual preference don't matter.
• Talent does.

The Voice: Semifinals

Team Cee Lo: Vicci vs Nakia

I'll be honest. I like both of them, but I literally had to go to the website because I couldn't remember them. Not good. I don't really care who goes on from these two.... I had never heard Nakia's song (yep, call me Adam) and wasn't blown away, but on the other hand, I don't think Vicci did Florence + The Machine justice. The judges seemed to like it.... but eh. 

Team Adam: Javier vs. Casey
This was actually the first week that Casey impressed me. I really want to download her song... but I'm waiting for the voting to be over because I want Javier to beat her. Sorry, Case. Also sorry you had to wear cowboy boots with that pretty dress and ruin the whole look. Javier's voice is just so good. He's been a favorite from the beginning and I think will have no problem beating Casey.

Team Blake: Dia vs Xenia
I love Blake. I love Blake's team. I love that he's this giant poppa bear. I want him to bear hug me..... I digress. I love both these girls, but Dia will obviously win (and rightly so). I might actually be rooting for her to win the whole thing.... GO DIA!

Team Christina: Frenchie vs Bev
Now here's a tricky battle. I actually LOVE both of these ladies. Bev is what the show is all about. She isn't your typical music star in terms of looks... I mean, she's bald. By choice. And she's a she. But damn, can she sing. And Frenchie.... how awesome would it be for The Voice to beat American Idol in likeability, in ratings, and have one of their former (kicked off) contestants win the show? I mean... you can't write a better end to that story. I have no idea who of these tow I want to go on....

And my pick? The Voice edition.

The Voice's battle rounds are over and the final teams are set. Who are my favorites? I don't know. It changes every time they perform for sure.

I really liked this handy little run down of the teams from TV Guide, and went ahead and added in my thoughts on who I would pick to win.

Christina Aguilera
Her all-female team is made up of power singers top to bottom. They are Broadway and Idol alum Frenchie Davis, hard rocker Beverly McClellan, pint-sized Jersey Girl star Raquel Castro and Lily Elise.
The best: Beverly. Her tough take on Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart" was a little too yell-y and angry for our taste, but she completely sold us during the battle round when she let loose and wailed at all the right moments during "Baba O'Riley."
Watch out for: Frenchie. She could put her mighty voice to better use (i.e. avoiding range-less pop songs like "I Kissed a Girl.) With the right ballad, she could very well blow voting audiences away.
And my pick? Frenchie. duh. I read an interview with her at how shocked she was people still recognized her from Idol and she said something like 'I was on that show for two minutes ten years ago.' Quite an impact she made because as soon as they showed her on The Voice I knew it was her too. 


Cee Lo Green
His four are as eclectic as the "Forget You" singer's own musical repertoire. He's chosen fiery soul singer Vicci Martinez, the versatile blues man Nakia, sisters Tori and Taylor Thompson, and deep-voiced country guy Curtis Grimes.
The best: Nakia. The shaggy-haired Texan's got game! He infused Ne-Yo's dance hit "Closer" with such an intensity and focus that we really believed him when he growled, "I just can't stop, no, no."
Watch out for: Vicci. Her "Rolling in the Deep" was a bit out of control at times, but she reined in her throaty vocals in the battle round duet of Pink's "F---in' Perfect." What Vicci might lack in technique, she more than makes up for in her raw performances. She sells the song every time.
And my pick? Vicci wins for 'most likely for me to actually buy her CD'. I'm a fan of those raspy, broken voices. 


Adam Levine
The pickiest of our celebrity coaches, Adam was forced to take two second-chance contestants before the battle rounds. Nevertheless, he emerges with a very strong and diverse roster including family man (and arguably series frontrunner) Javier Colon, the Levine-esque Devon Barley, aspiring country crooner Casey Weston, and humble-but-big-voiced country boy Jeff Jenkins.
The best: Casey. At this point, it's probably considered sacrilege to pick anyone but Javier as Adam's — or even the show's — one to beat, but Casey's great "Leather & Lacey" made her the most memorable contestant of the series. Her voice — part Dolly Parton, part Stevie Nicks — is quite unique. She's a solid performer, too, and isn't that what this show is all about?
Watch out for: Javier. His "Time After Time" and "Stand By Me" were smooth like butter, no doubt.
And my pick? Gotta admit. I'm the most underwhelmed with Adam's group. Blame it on the second chances. I actually had to look up Devon on YouTube to even remember who he was. I guess I'll go with Javier just because he can do no wrong. Jeff Jenkins is freakin' adorable though. Like a big cuddly teddy bear.


Blake Shelton
Listen good, contestants: Blake doesn't like singers who oversing. Thus, his team is made up of the belly-warming consistency of country guy Patrick Thomas, rocker and songwriter Jared Blake, shy school teacher Dia Frampton, and equally shy teen Xenia Martinez.
The best: Jared. Not only does he have the comeback story to end all comeback stories — a recovering drug addict with six kids and several near-brushes with the big time — he's proven that he can sing anything well, from the Dixie Chicks' "Not Ready to Make Nice" to the Motown classic "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."
Watch out for: Xenia. She's young and perhaps too shy to win against the show's more seasoned contestants, but the texture of her voice — not unlike a younger Corinne Bailey Rae -- is undeniable.
And my pick? I would buy CDs from Xenia and Dia in a heartbeat. Sadly, I don't think they will open up enough to win America's vote. 

Second Chances

I'm not sure I was a fan of the second chances on The Voice last night.... on one hand, these people already tried, and failed. Let's find some new people. On the other hand, I felt bad for people near the end because the judges were being tougher as the realized their spots were limited.

The whole time (and especially in the second chance round) I was wondering if I would have rather gone in the beginning or the end. In the beginning, the judges had less people to compare you to, so they might think you are great. BUT they also might be hesitant while they wait to see what is coming after you. And if you go at the end, you bank on a judge needing to fill a spot.... but it could also backfire as they are being picky.

OR what if they don't even make it to you?! Last night in the second chance round, I'm really curious as to {1} how they picked which 8 got a do-over, {2} how they picked the order and {3} how those other people felt when they didn't get to go sing their do-over. That must have SUCKED. 'Hey, you. You were humilated in front of a bazillion people when your idols didn't turn around and pick you, but want to try again? Oh wait, nevermind.'

Sorry this blog post was mostly rambling.