Hometown visits and coach’s choice
Michelle Chamuel
Team Usher’s Michelle Chamuel went home to Amherst, MA and was greeted by a house full of family and friends in homemade Michelle t-shirts with glasses on them. She was surprised by her friend Bob, her bandmate from Ella Riot, the band she was in in Michigan when she auditioned for The Voice. She visited the Woodstar Café, where she used to work, and also got to sing “God Bless America” at Fenway Park.
Michelle took on Zedd’s “Clarity” for her coach’s choice performance, and while Usher apparently had to fight to convince her to sing it, it was another solid performance, and proved that Michelle is current and radio-friendly. The song was perfect for her voice, as she was able to belt pretty much the whole thing, and it had enough energy for her to keep the crowd moving. The coaches, as usual, had nothing but praise for Michelle, and are getting tired of waiting for her to screw up.
Danielle Bradbery
Danielle Bradbery went home to Cypress, TX, near Houston, and was greeted at her house by a crowd of friends and family. She then went to her high school, Cypress Ranch High School, where the cheerleaders and marching band were lined up outside to welcome her. Inside, she sang for over 1,000 of her classmates, and found out she’d be singing the national anthem for the Houston Astros.
Her performance of “Please Remember Me,” for which original artist Tim McGraw had earlier sent his well-wishes, was spot-on and technically perfect, which is outstanding for someone her age. However, where her age and inexperience does begin to show is in her lack of ability to connect with the emotions of the song she is singing. Her face is expressionless as she performs, until she pulls out a big smile once the song is over. She is very talented, and very likeable, and if she masters that one little issue, she’ll be unstoppable.
The Swon Brothers
The Swon Brothers had an exciting return home to Oklahoma, as they were welcomed by their family and friends, dogs, and even Nanny Swon. They also visited their former workplace, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, which awarded coach Blake Shelton the Rising Star Award back in 2003. In a special ceremony, The Swon Brothers were awarded this year’s Rising Star Award, which was very emotional for them, and earned them congratulatory wishes from Oklahoma natives Vince Gill and Blake. Fans mobbed the streets on the way to their very own “Swoncert” at the Muskogee Civic Center, where the Muskogee County Commisioner declared June 9-13 “Swon Brothers Week.”
Blake chose Kenny Loggins’ “Danny’s Song” for the Swons second song, and it ended up being another Zach Swon solo performance. It’s hard to be upset by the duo basically becoming a solo act this week because Zach Swon was absolutely incredible in both his performances. He could very well have won this whole competition on his own, but we’re very glad he brought Colton along with him, because the family act is unstoppable. Even Blake said that this week would be looked back on as a pivotal moment in their career.
Sasha Allen
Sasha Allen went home to her hometown of New York, NY, to see her family, whom she had been missing very much. She was able to surprise her daughter, Sierra, on her way home from school, and they had a tearful reunion. The visit reconfirmed Sasha’s determination to stay in the competition in order to make a better life for her family. Sasha also got to perform at her old stomping grounds, The Village Underground, where she used to perform during college.
In a super-awkward contrast, immediately following the emotional video package, Sasha performed a sexy version of Donna Summer’s “Bad Girls.” Awkward transition aside, it was a great performance, once again focusing on the sassier side Sasha she brought to the stage with last week’s performance of “Before He Cheats.” She seemed more comfortable and at home on stage, and the performance had a vibe of her own personal Sasha concert. Or maybe it was the giant blinking letters spelling out her name behind her on stage.
Amber Carrington
Amber went home to Rockwall, TX, and was greeted by a pile-on of her biggest fans: her little brothers and sisters. She also visited The LaRue Boutique, where she used to work, and met with her supportive and emotional friends. She stopped by the Rodeo City Music Hall, where she performed as a kid, and where she was when she found out her mother had passed away. At a later concert, she was given the key to the city of Rockwall, and June 6 was named “Amber Carrington Day.”
Amber sang coach Adam’s band Maroon 5’s “Sad,” which was the perfect choice for the emotional singer. It was a simple performance, with no flashy pyro or screen graphics; just Amber by herself on a smoky stage, relying on the power of her vocals alone. She absolutely nailed it, not only giving a pitch-perfect performance, but conveying the emotion of the song, without overdoing it. Adam was thrilled, and said she sang the song better than he did.
Tune in tomorrow night to find out which three contestants will be advancing to next week’s finals. Plus, last season’s finalists Terry McDermott and Nicholas David, and season 2 finalist Tony Lucca will all be performing.
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