Each week of The Voice narrows down the pool of contestants, leaving us with only the best singers left. This is evident in the quality of performances we see, as everyone left has the talent that it takes to win a competition like this. So it wasn’t too shocking to see all of the Top 8 come out this week and give it their all, delivering some of their best performances ever. Usually,I can at least attempt to predict who will be going home each week, but right now, it really could be anyone, as all the contestants proved why they deserve to move on.
Up first this week was Hannah Kirby, who actually managed to pick a song that disguised her belting. Her lower register could use some work and I’m still not a big fan of her vocals, but this was probably the easiest performance of hers for me to sit through since the beginning of the season. Plus, it didn’t hurt that she brought out a choir of kids to sing the end of the song with her, dancing just as quirkily as she usually does.
After narrowly escaping elimination last week, Joshua David came out with a song he chose himself, allowing him to connect emotionally in ways he wasn’t always able to in the past. The result was an intimate performance in which Joshua returned to doing what he’s best at. The song also highlighted his warm vocals, which stand out among a sea of strong, powerful voices. Joshua sings the kind of music I like to listen to, and I sincerely hope he makes it to the Top 6.
Kimberly Nichole took the stage next and reminded me why I love her so much. She looked stunning in the dress she wore and gave a chillingly beautiful rendition of Radiohead’s “Creep.” This was the most vulnerable we’ve ever seen Kimberly, as she took a song that’s been covered a lot and put her own unique spin on it. By the time she got down on the floor, singing the last few lines of the song, everyone was holding their breath waiting for that final note and she delivered.
It wouldn’t be The Voice without occasional performances from the coaches, but after Blake Shelton took the stage, we got back to the contestants with his star team member, Meghan Linsey. She’s been one of my favorites and continues to grow stronger with each performance, this week showing off her unique phrasing in a heartfelt rendition of a beautiful song. I love Meghan’s voice so much and, like Blake, hope and expect to see her in the finals.
Picking a song that’s been overdone on singing competitions, India Carney took on “Over the Rainbow” this week. The good news is that picking such a beloved song will most likely win her another week in the competition. On the other hand, she still doesn’t seem to know who she is as an artist, and that might be a problem as the competition winds down. I’ve seen better performances of this song, but her vocals were on point, and it was evident that this song means a lot to her. That should be enough to carry her through.
Up next, more time was filled with Carson Daly reading tweets from fans, leading to some always entertainingly awkward interactions between him and the coaches. Past contestant Matt McAndrew also performed his newest song, with an energetic performance that made me a fan of his despite not having watched his season.
Sawyer is the one contestant this season on The Voice who I’m always excited to see week after week, knowing that he’s going to do something interesting and compelling. His voice is so raw and simple that all he has to do is stand on the stage and be himself, and people will vote for him. For a kid who’s so young and inexperienced, it’s amazing how he’s able to connect with everything he sings, and this week was no different. There’s no doubt in my mind that Sawyer will be around for awhile.
The last few weeks, I’ve become increasingly less impressed by Corey Kent White, who doesn’t seem to have the vocal ability that the other contestants have. Blake had him sing a rock ballad this week, taking a step away from his usual country shtick, and I think this will benefit Corey. For the first time, he sang a song that most of the audience will be familiar with, and though his vocals still weren’t mind-blowing, he gave a solid performance. Because the song was picked for him, he didn’t connect to it like he has in the past, but he did what he could with it.
Koryn Hawthorne left it all on the stage in the last performance of the night, living the dream of every contestant who tries out for the show. She started out slow in the competition, cruising through without anyone noticing her too much. When she got to the live performances, she took off with more than just one breakout performance. Aptly, she picked the song “Girl on Fire” this week, but she might as well have been singing about how she’s on fire in the competition right now. Koryn is the dark horse this season and could go all the way.
[Photo via NBC]
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