nbsmom

As others have mentioned already, I'm at a loss as to why India's songs weren't doing better. While she was clearly nervous on Gravity, she did a lovely job on Earth Song. Not understanding all the slamming on the contestants at this point in the competition. (So "boring," etc.) Everyone does realize that these are people who have to perform on a live television broadcast, correct? Pretty sure the majority of people making that sort of comment (here on these boards and elsewhere) have forgotten that the performer is usually working on muscle memory, and no doubt just trying not to do anything too embarrassing. Taking that sort of potential for stage fright and anxiety into consideration, I am completely in awe of how much poise and resonance Sawyer (a 16-year-old boy!) and India (21?) showed tonight. (Joshua and Meghan are older, seasoned veterans, so I am still impressed but it's not quite as big a feat for them, right?) I am NOT on Team Koryn, and hope she's the one who goes home tonight.

I voted for T3N and DaNica since I really think at least 3 coaches should have finalists. (Too bad it's an either Pharrell or Gwen, not both).

As I pulled up the songs right after they loaded, and listened to all of them. I was truly shocked at how much I enjoyed TJW's version of Blank Space, but I agree with others here that the live performance didn't match the recorded version, and that he was audibly struggling at some points. A shame. I just found it irritating that CWB did The Old Rugged Cross. (Can you say "pandering"? I knew you could.) I liked Damien's version of She's Out of My Life, had no use whatsoever for the other song, however. (I also appreciated that he'd cut way back on the annoying gasping breathing tic that he did with so many other performances.) For my money (and yes, I bought When I Was Your Man tonight), I think I want to hear future Chris's take on some of these songs when he's had a little more time and coaching. Of the five left, his voice is the most natural instrument, and it's a marked contrast how quickly he's learned to really commit to the song (as opposed to CWB's phoning in a couple of his performances). [Yeah, I really don't want CWB to win, mostly because I think of the five performers, he is the most calculating and cynical and the least heartfelt.] And Matt: if Chris doesn't win it, Matt should. Didn't love his take on U2, but Make It Rain was interesting.

No joke, I really did get chills when Kristen performed Foolish Games. That song immediately became my first download this season. Definitely power voting for her. Looks as though Josh and Jake will prevail, as both of their songs are top 30 on iTunes right now. Blake will have the last laugh as he sneaks Jake into the finals with the Bryan Adams chestnut. It might be an every-judge-but-Adam finale, and I am okay with that.

Other than the pretty blatant pimping they've done with the Grimmie and the outright sabotage of Kristen, you mean? One thing I can't help but notice is by this point during S4, I had heard so much more from contestants (like Holly!) by now. With Kristen, they can't even give her a whole song without futzing with something. And it doesn't help that they added the sing for your life thing on the results show, because West Coast again is left out and we're stuck with Twitter voting based on a Monday live performance. Something else: noting the commercials as I was flipping through the show, it did occur to me that one of the underwriters of the Voice Tour—Clear shampoo—has a vested interest in making sure that at least one of the finalists from this season also has long shiny hair...not good news for Jake or Josh or Kristen...

Considering that the show has messed with Kristen's sound at least twice on the live shows, and she's been in the middle or upper third on iTunes, I'd say that she's probably the strong contender of the two. How many are eliminated next week again?

With the right arrangement (meaning, backing all the way off and almost acoustic), I'll bet Sisaundra could do a very capable job of "Glitter in the Air." With Kat, it doesn't matter, as she's probably only here for one more week. Would be interested to see what Christina would do with something like "Whadya Want from Me", which was a P!nk song sung by Adam Lambert. Kind of related: Not sure what happened to Ryan Tedder. Wasn't he supposed to be more heavily involved this season? Or is he supposed to be Adam's replacement for S7?

I'm in complete agreement with other posters that this episode was rather dull. Also that TPTB are trying to engineer a desired outcome (not really clear what that is, as I still think they'd rather have a winner come from Team Usher vs. Team Adam). Song choices were awful for most of the stronger performers (Sisaundra, Josh, Delvin) tonight. And nothing I feel I want to download or vote for. (I am the opposite of invested at this point.) Top 5 As I write this, Christina is at #6 (and Rixton, the completely boring band that opened the show is #7 and WTF was that about, why are they flogging a song by a band that has NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYONE ON THE SHOW?) Kristen did fine, but as dbell1 pointed out above, Cole Vosbury killed with that song just last season...She's at #33. It's killing me a little to see what they're doing with Josh. One week you're flying high with a Sam Smith so-hot-it's-burning-up-iTunes song, the next week you're stuck singing a so-so Kenny Loggins number that was first recorded over 30 years ago. It's at #52 as this is written. (Oddly, just one spot ahead of Jake Worthington's mangled performance.) Sisaundra: Wow, really? Journey? I'm not really surprised, because the show does not want Sissaundra to win. But that song choice was pretty blatant. (#87) Delvin: I like this guy. He's got a great voice. But that song... no. Currently #101. Bottom 5: Audra: Hmmm... I didn't see that coming, but after tonight, I'll go on record as saying that she will be the last one standing on Team Blake. Currently #42. Tess: Tess may have actually goosed Paramore's sales of "Ain't It Fun?" (Clearly it didn't help her, as her version sits at #190 as I write this.) Jake: This makes me very, very sad. Sad because he was adorable on the taped shows. On the live shows he's been wretched. Crazily enough, he's at #53. Kat: I really couldn't bring myself to listen or watch her version of a song that's been done better by Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac and the Dixie Chicks. So I'll take everyone's word for it that it was meh and scratch my head that her version is sitting at #48 right now. Bria: Bria is why they invented fast forward (thank you, DVR gods!) In the battle of the Shrieky McShriekersons (Kat vs. Bria vs. Christina), it's time for this one to go home. Currently at #157 on iTunes. My guess for B3 Tess, Bria, and Delvin (it should be Jake but the power of the Team Blake voters appears to be strong). Twitter probably saves Delvin. Not sure what was up with that stunt around Blake tweeting Adam's phone number. My guess is that they wanted to push Twitter traffic both nights. Whatever.

Looking at the current teams, it occurs to me that TPTB are trying to engineer an Usher or Shakira win. Song choice, wardrobe, show order are all key contributing factors at this point. Josh got far and away the best song and ITA with the posters above who say that Usher is a much better fit as coach. Like other posters, I've already purchased his version of Stay with Me (and I already owned the Sam Smith version.) Kristen was completely jacked last night. BUT that will help if for some godforsaken reason she ends up in B3 and needs a Twitter save. (And it will be interesting to see how effectively Shakira picks up the "you're truly beautiful" narrative from Usher's in S4 and out-Chamuel's him with Kristen in S6.) Sisaundra might have a chance if she was on Shakira's or Usher's team; but I don't see her winning from Blake's team. They did her dirty with that song choice. (So many non-Adele, non-Whitney, non-Celine songs she could sing and they gave her Elton John? WTF show?) Delvyn will probably make F6. But they need to give him music from this century. And nobody wants to see Adam win again anyway (and the more I think about it, this also may have been Adam's intent all along, choosing Delvyn over Josh). Jake: Love Jake, he's a sweetie, but he's on Blake's team. So... probably F8, maybe F6. Not sure why we're being assaulted with Kat and Bria and Christina. It's just mean. They're all shrieky McShriekersons. Just. No. Audra may last to F8. Not ready for prime time. Dani: Not sure why they saddled her with that song. And it's odd, since she's on team Shakira. Not sure it matters — if she makes it through tonight, she's undoubtedly gone next week. Tess: Also not sure why Shakira was okay with the demolition job they did on her team last night. No breaks went their way, whether it was Kristen's mike, Dani's lackluster song choice, or gorgeous Tess in that unflattering outfit. The song choice was not great, either. JT: Another hideous song choice, but he really wasn't going to be in F8 anyway. I just realized that we're about :30 away from the results since the show is now airing on the East coast. And apparently they've already saved Josh and Kristen (not that this is surprising or anything). My guess for B3: Dani, TJ, Tess. I'll vote to Twitter save Tess.