Team Blake and Team Pharrell took the stage to perform live for the first time tonight, with a special performance from Coach Adam’s Maroon 5.
Maroon 5
Coach Adam and his Maroon 5 bandmates kicked off the first live show of season 8 with a performance of their new hit “Sugar.” In case you weren’t already hearing the song on every single radio station at once, now you can hear it on your TV, too. But it is a catchy song, as all M5 tunes are, and it’s always enjoyable to see Adam do what he does best.
Team Blake
Sarah Potenza
Team Blake’s rocker Sarah Potenza has found what works for her on the show: classic rock. It’s the kind of music she wants to record, and it’s the kind she sounds best performing. She kicked off the night’s performances with a powerful rendition of Lynyrd Skynryd’s “Freebird.” Outfitted in a sweet fringed jacket, she would’ve made the ‘70s rockers proud, looking like a free bird herself.
Hannah Kirby
Team Blake’s Hannah Kirby is looking to replicate last season’s winner Craig Wayne Boyd’s Voice journey, as both performers were stolen back onto Team Blake in the knockouts. Blake gave Hannah the Carole King classic “I Feel the Earth Move,” because he felt she would be able to put her own spin on it. Hannah’s an old soul, but she brought a fresh perspective to the song, and gave a really fun performance. Adam was impressed by how she is able to completely lose herself in a performance, and Blake said she gets possessed by each song she performs.
Corey Kent White
Corey Kent White is a country dreamboat, but he also happens to be Blake’s only country hopeful this season. Corey has sung a lot of current, in-your-face country so far, but Blake chose Garth Brooks’ cover of Bob Dylan’s “To Make You Feel My Love” to show a more tender, old-school side. In the performance, Corey seemed nervous, but it was also such a nice, sweet, aww-shucks performance, that one couldn’t help but enjoy it.
Brooke Adee
Blake chose Team Adam mentor Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do” for his young indie artist. Brooke was a little nervous about the song, because it was outside of her comfort zone, but she was excited to add her own flair to it. It turned out to be a great song choice for her, because she really showed how she has a great voice for popular radio. She had to work for technical perfection with this song, which will leave room for improvement with her performance.
Meghan Linsey
Team Blake’s Meghan Linsey has already had a brush with success as part of the duo Steel Magnolia, but she has had to start all over as a solo act. Blake wants to prove she’s one of the most diverse artists in the competition, so he gave her One Republic’s “Love Runs Out,” which is a more current track than those she’s performed so far. Meghan gave the song a lot of soul, and really impressed the coaches with her powerful performance.
Team Pharrell
Caitlin Caporale
Caitlin Caporale took on a big challenge for her first live performance: “Best Thing I Never Had” by the Queen B herself. She recognized the challenge, but also knew that it was the type of artist she wants to be, a pop and R&B singer. She has an excellent voice, and she by no means embarrassed herself taking on Beyonce. In fact, the high notes were so easy for her, that she went a little bit over the note.
Lowell Oakley
Team Pharrell’s crooner Lowell Oakley decided to flip the script this week after some criticism from the coaches last week, choosing to perform a current song: Nick Jonas’ “Jealous.” It was quite a departure from his previous performances, and while he does have the vocal chops to pull it off, he did not seem nearly as confident as previous weeks, and he struggled with his pitch. The coaches were very pleased that he tried something new, however, and that he seemed to let himself go a little bit more.
Mia Z
Mia Z may only be 16, but she’s got a voice well beyond her age. Pharrell made use of this talent by selecting Eva Cassidy’s version of the Bill Withers’ classic “Ain’t No Sunshine” for Mia’s first live performance. “Ain’t No Sunshine” is one of those songs that is always a pleasure to hear, unless someone is completely butchering it, and that is certainly not what Mia did here. The stripped-down arrangement was perfect for her flawless bluesy style, and she sang with so much passion and soul, you’d never know she was so young.
Koryn Hawthorne
There were big risks all over the place on The Voice tonight, as Team Pharrell’s Koryn Hawthorne took a big risk in her first live performance as well. The adorable pop songstress has chosen current pop songs thusfar, but this week, Pharrell chose the classic “How Great Thou Art,” which is quite a song to undertake. It was a big challenge, but Koryn completely rose to it, fighting off her nerves and giving an amazing performance, even inspiring Blake to already welcome her to the top 12.
Sawyer Fredericks
Sawyer Fredericks may be the youngest contestant in the competition, but there’s no question that he knows what he wants out of a performance, and out of his career. He chose Ray LaMontagne’s “Trouble” for his live performance, because it represents the kind of music he wants to sing, and the kind of music he wants to write. His performance was completely baffling for Adam, to see someone so young singing about being changed by a woman. But somehow, it works.
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