The Voice has reached the top five vocalists competing for a spot in the finale. This week featured each of the semi-finalists returning to their hometown and dedicating a special performance to everyone who is back home supporting them. Each vocalist got to perform twice, his or her coaches picked the first song, and the second was a special dedication to their hometown supporters.
Opening up the night was Nate Ruess from Fun. performing his breakout solo single, “Nothing Without Love.”
Starting off the performances was Joshua Davis from Team Adam with, “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” Shelton said that performance was just like the first time that he heard Davis sing and that is what he loves about his voice the most, the softer side. Aguilera said it was a super lovely performance and felt like a soothing lullaby. Williams said that it felt good because he made the song his own. Coach Adam explained that they have really gone their own way in the competition and he couldn’t be more proud.
Koryn Hawthorne was up next with her cover of U2’s “One.” Levine kicked off the comments by saying that she did a fantastic job and it was a really good performance. Aguilera added that she has seen Hawthorne grow leaps and bounds since she started in this competition and she is so proud of her as if she was on Team Christina. Coach Pharrell said that he has learned a lot from Hawthorne and that America needs to vote her through to the finale.
Following Hawthorne was Meghan Linsey from Team Blake who took on a more modern song from Sam Smith “I’m Not The Only One.” Williams opened up the comments by saying that it is clear that Linsey is trying to express what is in her mind and that with this platform she is really showing the world who she is. Levine added that she has been growing every week on the show and that she always connects to the song. Shelton said that every week it’s a guarantee that she does something great on stage.
Up next was India Carney from Team Christina. She sang her own version of “Gravity” by Sara Bareilles. Levine said that Carney really let the song build and told a story. Shelton added that at the end of the song when she was so soft in her vocals, it was the most powerful part of the performance. Aguilera said that Carney is a really smart singer because she knows how to control her voice and she loves her tenderness when it came to this performance.
Closing out the first round of performances was Sawyer Fredericks and sang “For What It’s Worth.” Levine said that he loved the song choice and that Fredericks gave this song justice. Shelton added that Levine took all of his comments and he ended it with a simple, great job. Williams said he based the performance off of how the audience felt and the crowd went wild when asked.
Joshua Davis from Team Adam was up next with a special dedication to home. Davis sang his own version of “When I Paint My Masterpiece” by The Band. Shelton said it is clear that Davis always has the ability to connect with a lyric because he is a songwriter at heart. Aguilera said that it was great to see Davis in his hometown and it was an awesome performance. Levine said that as a team they are doing the right stuff and he couldn’t be more proud of him.
Next up was Koryn Hawthorne from Team Pharrell who sang “Oh Mary Don’t You Weep.” Levine said that never before in the history of this show has he seen such a journey of success from a contestant. Aguilera added that years from now Hawthorne will be a massive star and she said that it was nice to see how much her hometown supported her through this process. Coach Pharrell said that this performance proved that the impossible is just a word and that what Hawthorne did proved that anything is possible.
Meghan Linsey arrived in her hometown of Nashville and her visit included some big name country superstars including Big & Rich and Naomi Judd. Linsey performed “Tennessee Whiskey” for her special dedication song to her hometown. Aguilera said that the performance was awesome and she never ceases to amaze her as an artist. Coach Blake said that Linsey engaged all of the new fans that she has made and country fans in general.
India Carney from Team Christina sang, “Earth Song” by Michael Jackson. Williams started off the comments by saying that performance, looked sound and felt beautiful and that every artist wants to feel what that is like on stage. Levine said that her performances always feel like a min-musical and that he loves watching her perform. Aguilera added that this performance is like watching a storybook unfold in real life and that Carney embodies all of that and that she was a superstar tonight.
Closing out the night was Sawyer Fredericks from Team Pharrell. Fredricks sang his own version of “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri. Kicking off the comments was Levine who said that when Fredericks gets the power of the highest part of his range the booming that take places within the auditorium is amazing it can fill any room, any size. Shelton kept it simple saying that Fredericks is the real deal. Coach Pharrell added that there is a power that Fredericks has access to with his voice and he shares that power and feeling with the audience.
TheCelebrityCafe.com will be recapping the results tomorrow night on NBC. The finalists will be announced.
Image courtesy of INFphoto.com
Image courtesy of INFphoto.com