Have I lost the ability to hear? Have I been jamming the Q-Tips into my ears a little too deeply with the result being I can no longer fathom what is good and what is bad when it comes to singing? Or, forget that … what is bad and what is worse? Because I came to that conclusion when the first half of last night’s The Voice was finished.
The first three battles from Teams Adam, Blake and Christina featured, respectively, match-ups between contestants Chris Cauley/Tony Lucca, Adley Stump/RaeLynn and Monique Benabou/Chris Mann. Listening to all three groups perform I picked the former of each group. The coaches? They chose the latter of each to advance. I was miffed at the first choice, flabbergasted at the second and vocally barked at my television set at the result of the third. Shall we dissect a bit?
Chris Cauley and Tony Lucca didn’t do half bad on U2’s “Beautiful Day” with Chris working a better song than his counterpart. He had the richer, more refined voice. In the end I chose him to win the round, but Adam responded with a nod to Tony instead. Strike one, Michael.
Adley Stump and RaeLynn butchered the bejeebers out of “Free Fallin'” as if they were awkwardly wielding rusty, butterknife-dull machetes. Ouch. This was no contest whatsoever. The youngster evident in RaeLynn really detracts from her singing and neither of them could hold the “freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee” note that’s so iconic in the song. Even Adam mentioned the notes were hard to hold. Of the two, Adley was head and shoulders above RaeLynn. But Blake chose the youngster. Strike two, Michael.
So I’m left with one more opportunity before I throw in the towel. Christina’s members Monique Benabou and Chris Mann successfully gave new meaning to the word “awkward” in committing slaughter to “The Power Of Love.” Wow. Talk about a your monkey business. Neither was good. Chris’ so-called technical skills worked against him giving a slight edge to Monique, who I thought was (barely) the better of the two. But again, apparently I’m wrong because Christina honored Chris with the advancement over Monique.
My jaw was on the floor. Strike three, Michael. You’re out.
What the hell? I’m not that off that I go 0-3 out the gate! But … it’s clearly evident I am! Again: What the hell … ?!?? But I soldiered on and kept to keepin’ with the next three battles … and I conquered. Much as I don’t like Cheesa (who I will now refer to as “Cheez Whiz”) from Cee Lo’s team, I picked her because she had the stronger performance, regardless of the fact she looked timid and bullied during the auditions with Angie. And I swore I would be a monkey’s uncle if Jordis didn’t pass the test when she and Brian sang “Ironic.” (She did.) Lastly, I came out on top with the my choice of Jesse over Anthony on the boring competition piece they both duetted on. I have enough wherewithal, however, to realize the pairing of those two yielded the best performance of the night.
So in the end, for those who are keeping score, I went 3-6. I’m not happy with that result. I’ll get over it, though.
Still … it has me wondering what some of the coaches are thinking during The Battle Rounds. Adam obviously sees something more in Tony than he did in Chris. Does Blake believe he can really tutor RayLynn into someone who can best the others in her group? And Christina has her hands full as far as I’m concerned with Chris and his operatic structures. That will be interesting going forward.
Notes:
Clacked by Michael Noble 
on Mar 06, 2012 @ 15:03 EST5EDT
I was okay with most of the coaches’ decisions except Adley not getting chosen. That was absolutely shocking to me.
I don’t like Chessa (there’s a tone to her voice that is not at all appealing to me), but I could see her winning that round. And I loved how Jordis and Adam were completely aware of how trainwreck that battle was.
I must agree to disagree with you, Michael. I was fine with most of the coaches’ decisions, though I think that unlike last season, some of these could have gone either way. They were that close. And I agree with Ann that Adley’s elimination was shocking.
What really cheeses me is that NBC is only putting up winner’s versions of the duet songs, not the actual DUET. That seems totally unfair to A) the audience who wants the song they heard on-air and B) the losing artist who sung their heart out. WTH.
And forget Christina’s cleavage, what was that thing on her head?
*POST AUTHOR*
. . . . .
Tell me more, Brittany.
Can you honestly tell me Tony, RaeLynn and Chris deserved their advancements?
Go back and listen to RaeLynn’s performance – I dare you not to screw up your face less than 5 times …
Oh, as I said above, I was shocked at Raelynn moving forward. I would have chosen Adley.
But I loved what Chris did with “Power of Love” (no pun intended). And I think the Tony/Chris battle could have gone either way, so I’m not losing sleep over it.
*POST AUTHOR*
. . . . .
“… I’m not losing sleep over it.”
Nor am I. As I know my heart will go on.
(Yes. Cheeze-tastic Celine reference …)
https://www.instantrimshot.com
I haven’t seen last night’s episode, but hate the way the battle rounds are structured. Nothing good about it. I could care less that the teams are paired against each other, as it comes down to the judges choice. Totally throws their incentives in disarray when building their team. Their selecting 12 people that will allow them to get their best 6 to the finals.
Last year’s Battle Rounds included some jaw droppingly stupid dismissals as well.
I’m going to guess and say you mean Kelsey Rey there, Ivey….? Because I’d say that too.
She was the one that I was a biggest fan of, but there were others I half remember thinking were pretty stupid.
I must admit that I never once grasped the appeal of the Thompson sisters. (Also, I kept calling them the Thompson Twins. Eep.)
I liked their blind audition song, and was pulling for them, but they didn’t deserve to make it past the battle rounds, something they proved in the next round (on something that they should have nailed).
I personally have no problem with operatic structures. There’s just not much money in it. Can Chris become the pop artist Christina wants? Not if he means what he said in his original audition about being what he truly wants to be. Should be interesting.
I wish I had a scorecard to compare to yours, Michael, but our local station apparently had “technical difficulties” and I recorded an entire show’s worth of black screen Monday night. Between technical difficulties and local priorities to college basketball, I may be reduced to website feeds most of the season.
I dont think either in the first competition did anything to beat the other, but I’ve been a Tony Lucca fan since before the show, so he got my vote. I like RaeLynn when she’s in her comfort space, so we’ll see how that goes.
I liked Angie more, and was disappointed to see the star of one of my favorite Adele covers on YouTube get axed.
Then dreck so bad the coach couldn’t find anything to say.
I think i enjoyed the last song much more than you. That performance exemplified everything wrong with this round. There’s no way either of them should have gone home given ther performances earlier.
I’m not sure why everyone thinks that Tony Luca should not of won ,everyone I talked to was voting for him and I think the remarks that Christine and Blake made about him were wrong and should have been addressed who is Christine to tell Adam that Kristen was the best of the two that was adams choice not for her to say and for Blake to say the public voting was wrong when tony won he is wrong Im not sure why Tony would want to stay on that show He is a great singer and I think Christine has some issue with him from the Mickey Mouse club she should get over it and worry about her people .