The first live results show was just as painful as we expected. But now that the band-aid’s been ripped off, who’s going on to the top 12?
We learned the fate of each team, one by one. Carson revealed the top two contestants, based on America’s votes, and then the coaches were left to choose one contestant to save from their remaining three. So who stays, and who goes?
Team Blake
Team Blake kicked off the night with a group performance of The Dream Academy’s “Life in a Northern Town.” It was a great choice for Team Blake. It’s always great to see team members interacting onstage, and they all really seemed to be enjoying themselves. However, the harmonies on that song are normally so tight, and Team Blake’s just weren’t. Taylor Brashears in particular seemed to fall a little bit short, and all the beautiful harmonies just never really settled in.
When it came time for Team Blake to be cut down from five to three, it was revealed that Reagan James and Craig Wayne Boyd received the most votes, leaving Blake to choose between Taylor Brashears, James David Carter, and Jessie Pitts. Blake is never more serious than when he has to eliminate the contestants he’s come to care about a great deal, and tonight was no exception. In the end, he chose Jessie, meaning the end of the road for Taylor and James David.
Team Pharrell
Team Pharrell took the stage together to perform Sam Smith’s “Money On My Mind,” ensuring that we have heard the entire Sam Smith catalog over the last three days. The five vocalists really blended together very well, which is always a good sign. They all sounded great, and they sounded great together. Too bad two of them have to go home.
Pharrell did very well handling his first live elimination. He makes a very inspiring coach, and would probably make a great life coach as his next career. America chose Luke Wade and DaNica Shirey as their favorites, meaning Pharrell was left to choose between Elyjuh Rene, Jean Kelley, and Sugar Joans. Unfortunately for everyone that’s not Sugar, there was no question who Pharrell’s favorite was, and Pharrell himself didn’t even make a big deal out of choosing Sugar.
Team Gwen
Team Gwen performed Vance Joy’s “Riptide,” which was the perfect happy song for the fun cheery team, lead by fun cheery Gwen. They all had tambourines, and there’s nothing cuter than that. This song also revealed that Gwen has a team chock full of singers with really good voices. They’re all textbook talented, and it all comes down to whoever America has taken a shine to.
No one expected sweet Gwen to handle this elimination well. She didn’t do too bad, though she did say she was nursing, so she was a little emotional. America saved Taylor John Williams and Anita Antoinette, so Gwen was left to choose between Ricky Manning, Ryan Sill, and Bryana Salaz. Gwen started to flounder a bit, referencing Pharrell’s inspiring speech, and promising to keep in touch via email, but finally she chose to save Ryan, who seemed the most shocked of all.
Team Adam
Team Adam was the last to take the stage, performing Nico and Vinz’s “Am I Wrong.” Man, is Team Adam ever stacked. Can we just for once keep all five contestants, and get rid of some other people? The performance was unsurprisingly awesome, by all five contestants, and they looked like they were having a blast together. They even waded into the audience, and it looked like a few of them might get lost.
Adam certainly had a tough choice to make. America saved Damian and Matt McAndrew, leaving Adam the impossible choice of choosing between Chris Jamison, Mia Pfirrman, and Taylor Phelan. He said at the top of the show that it would be a game time decision, but it was still a shock when he chose Chris. Granted, Chris is super talented and also dreamy, but Mia is ridiculously talented and Taylor freaking Phelan is one of the best performers The Voice has ever seen. Is it possible to start a write-in campaign? #SaveTaylor
The Voice season 7 top 12 contestants will perform live next Monday at 8 p.m. on NBC.