The Top 8 And Variations on a Theme

“I've not been really looking forward to the performance
But there's my cue and there's a question on your face
Fortunately I have come across an answer
Which is go away
And do not leave a trace”

                --The White Stripes

There are people who like Adam and I like these people just fine.  There are people who do not like Adam and I like those people just fine as well.  I’m sure there are people who either have a shrine to or want to actually murder Adam and it’s very possible I would like those people too (OK, that is a lie).   As you may know by now, I am in the camp of those who dislike him and I want to apologize to you who are in the liking him camp because it seems like I have to write at least one thing a year about what a total dick he is (and I’m going to keep this short because we’ve all read this before) – but you saw it yourselves last week, didn’t you?  It wasn’t his usual thing about finding the perfect song that is not in his contestant’s range and then just expect them to step up and hit it, it wasn’t his tendency to make any success his contestant has be all about him (and to be fair, that is not just Adam), but this, this my friends was something far different.  This was a coach giving up, dusting his hands off and casually tossing his people under a bus.  It’s as if a football coach said “ah, fuck it” and walked out at the end of the third quarter.  It is coachus interruptus.

Picture Blake after one of his singers perform.  He is on his feet clapping like he just learned the meaning of life.  Pharrell stands and delivers his wide eyed Gaze of Wonder.  Even Xtina gives her slightly arched eyebrow of appreciation.   In contrast, Adam says “yeah, so I thought you could hit that high note with power (that you’ve never really shown an ability to hit) but it just didn’t pay off”.  What the hell.  Blake’s guy forgot a lyric and Blake called him out on it – but not until he had already gushed about how fantastic his guy was and how he knew his fans would still stick with him.  I think Joshua should have flipped him off.

Enough of that.  How’d you guys like the producers?  I liked them and saw that as a sign of just how desperate NBC is to have a breakout star come out of this show to stop the main criticism.  But they were fascinating!  I don’t know what Mark Ronson takes but man I want some.  Everything he said was like some observation he had been pondering for months.  It is very interesting to see how a good producer can shape a song and the type of craftsmanship that The Voice shows so well.  I would like to see more like that.  Also am happy that we are at the point where the songs get longer.  Mostly.

What Deb could do without is the opening medley which never fails to have her hammering the fast forward button.  Unfortunately I was jotting something down so asked her to just let the Elton John medley play, and she was DYING (to be fair, it sounded awful to me too).  When I finally told her go ahead and forward she just said “that was truly a thing of horror.”

A BRUTAL WEEK FOR HUMMINGBIRD LIGHTFOOT.  Here’s how I ranked them this week:

Nobody picked Koryn Hawthorne to be in the finals.  You have to wonder, right?  I can’t think of anyone on a higher trajectory right now, like Chris Jamison last year after he figured it out.  She was just great though the melisma bothers me a little bit.

But here’s the thing.  You’ve got Koryn, Kimberly and India as big voiced women (I’m not counting Hannah or Meghan because they are different kinds of singers).  Who cancels who out?  I don’t think there is room for all three.  For the record I had Kimberly second and India third this week – all I ever write down for Kimberly is “she is dynamite”.  I had a note that India sounded very much a stage singer this week, mentioned it to my wife who reminded me that this was the song she auditioned for the stage which I had missed because I was writing something down but it must have stuck in the back of my mind.  Anyway, she did sound like the stage might just be her niche.

Sawyer is crazy talented and was goo but that was my least favorite showing from him.  I had Meghan after that but I don’t trust anything I think about Meghan.  Was that her boyfriend in the audience?  He was goofy looking!

Despite what I say about Adam I think he did have a point with Joshua – he came off as not being able to totally let loose, and every line started out as a kind of whisper, even when the tempo picked up.  I don’t know what the hell Adam was talking about though when he said “you’ve been kind of doing older stuff all along”.  Well, except for that other new song two weeks ago, yeah, totally old stuff.  Dick.

Deb:  I want Hannah gone so bad.  I thought she was fine, but she is a performer more than a singer and for an arrangement that was trying not to be so 80’s it totally failed because that was so 80’s it made me want to find my destructed acid wash and listen to Simple Minds.

I’m worried that Rob’s dad just showed back up in his life to cash in on that sweet sweet Voice experience.  I hope not and I was sorry to see him go because he seems like a super nice kid but man, that was boring.

Cory Kent White desperately needs some grit because he looked like a fratboy trying to be an outlaw.  But BOY I loved that song!  I just wish someone else had sung it.

Finally, Deanna, she of the lovely moment a couple weeks back faded away, whether from nerves or song choice or whatever – for me it was another example of a song (and performance) I’ve heard way too many times before.  Deb is sad because she loved the outfits they had her wearing.

So Jim loses two and is down to just Meghan Linsey.  Our teams still with two remaining are Debbie Eaglesong who is just hanging behind Barry (no name changes Ed!) and Koala Fluffybaby.  THIS IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO THE WIRE MY FRIENDS!!!

STANDINGS STANDINGS STANDINGS GET YOUR STANDINGS RIGHT HERE!