The Voice "Knockouts" Recap: TKO

The Voice, Episodes 10 & 11: "Knockouts"

I'm behind.  So, I'm not going to spend too much time on these Knockouts, because, you know, what's done is done.  I'm going to list each knockout round.  I'll list the team, the match-up, who won, if the coach made the right decision, and if there was  a steal (a Knockouts first).  All right, enough talk, hit the jump and we'll dive right in.

Team Xtina

Participants: Amber Nicole vs. Josh Logan

Songs:  Amber: Jessie J's "Mamma Knows Best" - Josh Stevie Wonder's "Living For the City"

Winner:  Josh Logan

Right Decision:  I'd say yes.  I'm on the fence about Josh.  Most of the time he comes off as an Adam Levine wannabe, but this performance was his best.  Amber kicked ass too though, making it xtra difficult for Xtina.

Steal:  Yes.  Cee Lo steals Amber!  Great job, bald one.

Team Cee Lo

Participants: Kat Robichaud vs. Monika Lee

Songs:  Kat Alanis Morrissettes's "You Oughta Know" - Monika Ray Charles' "Hit the Road Jack"

Winner:  Kat

Right Decision:  Nope.  Kat is fine, but this was just like bad karaoke.  Monika had a not great battle, but she really redeemed herself.  She worked the stage, was sexy and sultry and she made the song sound like it could be on the radio today.  But, there has to be at least one female rocker in every season, so Kat wins.

Steal:  No.  Sigh.

Team Blake

Participants:  Holly Henry vs. Nic Hawk

Songs:  Holly Radiohead's "Creep" - Nic Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle"

Winner:  Nic

Right Decision:  Sure?  This was a battle of diminishing returns.  Holly was flat and off pitch pretty much the entire time.  Nic is super creepy, but that sort of worked here.  It was boy band-ish and despite my general distaste for Nic I found myself enjoying it.

Steal:  No.

Team Adam

Participants: Ashley DuBose vs Tessanne Chin

Songs:  Ashley Train's "Hey, Soul Sister" - Tessanne Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger"

Winner:  Tessanne

Right Decision:  100%, absolutely yes.  Sorry, Ashley, but even on her worst day, Tessanne still would have won this knockout.

Steal:  No

Team Blake

Participants:  Briana Cuoco vs. Shelbie Z.

Songs:  Briana No Doubt's "Don't Speak" - Shelbie Carrie Underwood's "Last Name"

Winner:  Shelbie

Right Decision:  Yes.  Briana was outclassed and outsang.  I didn't hate Briana's performance, but Shelbie's was just so good.  It sounded like she had been singing the song for years.  There is just now way that Blake would have not taken her to the live rounds.

Steal:  No.

Team Adam

Participants: Grey vs. James Irwin

Songs:  Grey Kelly Clarkson's "Already Gone" - James The Script's "Break Even"

Winner:  Grey

Right Decision:  Yes.  I've never been a big fan of James and his weird tics and general douchiness.  Grey sounded gorgeous, she made some stylistic choices that I liked, she was powerful even in the quieter moments.  It was her best performance to date.

Steal:  No.

Team Xtina

Participants:  Destinee Quinn vs. Olivia Hanken

Songs:  Destinee Carrie Underwood's "See You Again" - Olivia Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good."

Winner:  Olivia

Right Decision:  Sure.  It was a battle of the blands that left me feeling meh.

Steal:  No.

Team Cee Lo

Participants:  Cole Vosbury vs. Jonny Gray

Songs:  Cole Passenger's "Let Her Go" - Jonny The Beatles' "We Can Work It Out"

Winner:  Jonny

Right Decision:  This is a tough one, but for me, no, this was not the right decision.  There is something about Cole.  I loved the song that he chose.  It was a song I had never  heard before, but I could hear it on Cole's record.  Jonny is good, too, but there is just something about Cole.

Steal: Yes!  Never fear!  Cole is here to stay and now he's a member of Team Blake.

Team Adam

Participants:  Lina Gaudenzi vs. Preston Pohl

Songs:  Lina Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind" - Preston Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry"

Winner:  Preston

Right Decision:  Yes.  Lina sounded great, but it was Preston from the jump.  This one was kind of a no brainer.  Preston has been one of the golden children from his blind.  So, yeah, welcome to the live rounds, buddy.

Steal:  Nope.

Team Blake

Participants:  E.G. Daily vs. Ray Boudreaux

Songs:  E.G. Bonnie Rait's "I Can't Make You Love Me" - Ray Otis Redding's "Hard to Handle"

Winner:  Ray

Right Decision:  Absolutely.  Sorry, Tommy Pickles, but you were no match for Ray.  Ray is hot and that "swamp pop" style is irresistible.  No, ex-80's star/Stevie Nicks wannabe is going to beat this guy.

Steal:  No

Team Xtina

Participants:  Anthony Paul vs. Jacquie Lee

Songs:  Anthony Jason Derulo's "The Other Side" - Jacquie Serena Ryder's "Stompa"

Winner:  Jacquie

Right Decision:  Yes.  This wasn't Jacquie's strongest performance.  She is definitely a better singer than what we heard during this song, but there was no way Xtina wouldn't choose her after the train wreck that was Anthony's performance.  It was kind of sad to watch the kid crash and burn.

Steal:  No.

Team Cee Lo

Participants:  Stephanie Anne Johnson vs. Tamara Chauniece
Songs:  Norah Jones' "Don't Know Why" - Tamara Alicia Keys' "No One"
Winner:  Tamara
Right Decision:  This one is a toss up.  Both ladies made big changes to their songs.  Stephanie turned Norah's first big hit into a blues-y torch ballad.  Tamara turned "No One" into a reggae jame, which I wasn't a huge fan of, but Tamra sounded gorgeous on it.  I pitied Cee Lo on this one.
Steal:  Yes!  Xtina stole Stephanie Anne back.  The first time in the show's history where a singer went back to their original team.

Team Adam

Participants:  James Wolpert vs. Juhi
Songs:  James Boston's "More Than a Feeling" - Juhi Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine"
Winner:  James
Right Decision:  Oh yeah.  Sorry, Juhi, but there was no way you were going to win this battle.  Not against the guy who is the clearest front runner to take the whole thing.
Steal:  Negative

Team Blake

Participants:  Austin Jenckes vs. Brandon Chase
Songs:  Austin Edwin McCain's "I'll Be" - Brandon Eli Young Band's "Even If It Breaks Your Heart"
Winner:  Austin
Right Decision:  Yeah.  It's never a good sign when my first reaction to the match up is "Brandon who?"
Steal:  See ya, Brandon.

Team Cee Lo

Participants:  Caroline Pennel vs. George Horga, Jr.
Songs:  Caroline Ingrid Michaelson's "The Way I Am" - George Ne-Yo's "Because of You"
Winner:  Caroline
Right Decision:  Ugh... yes.  If you've read my previous blogs you know I'm not a huge fan of Caroline.  There was no way George would win this knock out.  He was terrible.  So, welcome to the live rounds, Caroline.
Steal:  No.

Team Xtina

Participants:  Matthew Schuler vs. Will Champlin
Songs:  Matthew Florence + The Machine's "Cosmic Love" - Will Bruno Mars' "When I Was Your Man"
Winner:  Matthew
Right Decision:  For me, no.  Matthew is a great singer, but there is something about Will.  He seems real and I loved his interpretation of the song.  It comes down to who would I buy a CD from and it's Will.
Steal:  YES!  Will re-joins Team Adam.

That's it.  Time for the first live round.  So, did you agree with the coaches decisions?  Is there an elimination that still hurts?  Your turn.