Tuesday was The Voice season 11 top 12 eliminations, and frankly for anyone who tracks iTunes they held little surprise. The only mystery was which of the three that didn’t chart would end up being sent home. For a breakdown of how that happened, click here – otherwise SPOILER ALERT! It came down to Aaron Gibson singing “Lego House” vs. Se’Rayah singing “Rock Steady”, and Se’Rayah lost. Watch her exit interview below!
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Alicia, Team Miley and Team Adam Make Their Voices Heard!
Despite The Voice season 11 top 12 eliminations night not having the top 12 perform, it did have great live performances! Protest music is big American tradition, and The Voice is using that tradition well. On the live shows several of the artists used their songs to express their feelings about the election. That continued for the eliminations.
For The Voice season 11 top 12 eliminations night there were songs done by team Adam and team Miley performed, and coach Alicia Keys debuted a song from her new album, Here. Next week coach Blake Shelton will be performing with his team, as well as team Alicia.
All of the performances The Voice season 11 top 12 eliminations night were awesome! (And since team songs are not always awesome, kudos to coaches Adam Levine and Miley Cyrus!)
Alicia Keys – “Holy War”
Alicia started out with the opening from her album’s first single, “Blended Family.” That’s the first single off of her album, complete with a music video on Vevo. Doing that song on The Voice was part of the single’s marketing plan, but Alicia wasn’t having it, and she was direct about why.
“That’s my new song “Blended Family” that I was supposed to sing tonight. But due to the current climate there’s only one song that I could sing, and that’s “Holy War.”
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Alicia the prophet? This song is so perfect for what’s happening in America right now – but she wrote way before the recent election. Watching and listening to this performance – the harmonies, the lyrics, her voice weaving through all of it – you’re reminded of why this woman has 15 Grammys! Also, did you notice Adam on guitar in her number? He didn’t have to do that. Sitting in on another artist’s promotional music is always a choice. Given the song choice he made for his team it stands to reason that the message of Alicia’s song resonates with him. The song choice he has for his team gives credence to that. First though, we heard from Miley’s team.
Team Miley, “There’ll Always Be Music”
Team Miley is: Ali Caldwell, Darby Walker & Aaron Gibson
Miley had a tough week after the election. Most know she – like the majority of the country’s millennials -was devastated by the news that the president elect wasn’t Hillary Clinton. Miley is one of several celebrities who said she would move to Canada if Donald Trump was elected. (Canada’s immigration site crashed when the results became known – she was hardly alone with this thought.) So on the night of the election she sent out a emotional video message to her followers thanking President Obama and Clinton and addressing Trump.
The above message and the longer one on Facebook gives this song choice by her godmother Dolly Parton a beautiful message that manages to be one of both hope and melancholy.
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Aaron having some issues getting some of those low bass notes couldn’t take away from this sweet country music arrangement and presentation. Ali & Darby & Miley more than made up for it. Whatever else one wants to say about Miley Cyrus, if you try to argue that she can’t sing – or is anything less than a musical prodigy – you’ll lose. Her breath of musical knowledge and ability to arrange songs is way beyond her twenty-three years. I’m sure that’s one of the reasons she and Alicia – despite being so different – get along so well. No one really talks about it now, but Alicia was a musical child prodigy as well.
Team Adam – “For What It’s Worth”
Team Adam: Josh Gallagher, Brendan Fletcher and Billy Gilman
“For What It’s Worth” by 1960’s group Buffalo Springfield is one of several well-known anti-war protest songs of that era. (Even though that wasn’t exactly the writer’s intent. It was actually written about riot police moving in on a large group of peaceful young adults hanging out for a final night at their favorite bar before it shut down for good!)
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Adam’s band of bros. really nail this one. As usual, Adam’s harmonies are a perfect blend. It did feel like three rockers and pop artist, but it totally worked.
Everyone did a great job with their part. However, this my favorite performance by Brendan since his blind audition. I hope he does more music in this vein – mellow, but not so internalized. The style really suits him!
Miley & Alicia Give Back to Fans
This cute segment announcing a contest Miley and Alicia are doing to raise money for their charities was also a part of Tuesday’s show!
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Miley’s Happy Hippy Foundation and Alicia’s We Are Here are both charities that, in the face of the recent election, are needed more than ever. I hope everyone that can takes a shot at winning that visit to The Voice.
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