by Todd Betzold

 

They have arrived...finally! After much hype, talk and promotion, the live shows are here for The Voice.

 

The coaches kick off the show with a performance of Queen songs, including Christina in a very skimpy outfit...showing off a lot of leg.

 

For this episode, singers from Team Christina and Team Blake will perform. From each team, two members will move on, one by an audience save and one by a coach's save, and the other two members will be sent home.

 

Raquel Castro from Team Christina is up first singing Blow by Ke$ha. This song had a lot of energy and was very upbeat. The stage is very futuristic and so much going on up there, including backup dancers for Raquel. For me, that took away from her performance. She worked the stage and seemed to have fun and sang well, but I feel her tiny frame was overshadowed on that stage by everything going on.

 

Side note: the coaches all gave wonderful, loving, positive comments after each performance, so I'll save you from talking about that every time.

 

Next up, Jared Blake from Team Blake singing Use Somebody by Kings of Leon. Jared starts out playing the guitar, but eventually got rid of it and he worked the stage and crowd and looked like a true rocker up there. It was a good performance and a great song choice for him.

 

Beverly McClellan from Team Christina hits the stage next singing I'm The Only One by Melissa Etheridge. After some worry in rehearsal of a cold getting in the way of her singing, Beverly showed everyone that was not going to be a problem. She had great stage presence and showed some great vocals in a great song choice for her also. She was so calm on stage and you could tell she loved being up there.

 

The shy Dia Frampton from Team Blake gets her chance when she sings Heartless by Kanye West. Blake puts her behind a piano for this performance because that is where she is comfortable and can get past the nerves, which was a wise choice. She has such a soulful and different tone to her voice and she makes this song her own. She hits some big notes and we got to see why she is in this competition.

 

Up next, a look at Christina having some quality bonding time with her team and then they all hit the stage to perform Lady Marmalade. Very fun, upbeat and entertaining.

 

Now time for my new love, Xenia from Team Blake singing Price Tag by Jessie J. Picked by Blake to show off her youthful side, Xenia came out of her shell for this song and looked absolutely beautiful. She has always been shy and timid, but they worked that out of her for this performance. She has a unique voice that I absolutely love, but this performance gave me chills. Xenia was up there smiling and you could tell she was having fun...for me that brought a smile to my face. After her performance, Blake said that America is watching a star being born and I couldn't agree more.

 

Lily Elise was up next for Team Christina as she sang Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie. She has some range with her vocals and she showed that off in this song. She was able to work the stage and the crowd and showed some emotion while singing the song. Another time when the backup dancers may have taken away some of the limelight from the singer, but Team Christina was using them big time tonight.

 

Now, a look at Blake and his team as they share dinner at his place and then they come out for a performance of This Love from Maroon 5. Good performance and it showed the unity and uniqueness of his team.

 

The last member of Team Blake, sexy cowboy Patrick Thomas, takes the stage to sing I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack. He dedicates this one to his little sister, in honor of her always being his biggest fan. With cowboy hat on, Patrick puts on an amazing performance. This guy can sing. He has an amazing country voice and you could tell he had some emotion in him as he sang the lyrics. He ends it by blowing a kiss to his sister in the audience.

 

Last, but not least, is Frenchie Davis from Team Christina singing When Love Takes Over by David Guetta. This was a great vocal performance, yet again. So much control in her voice and so much range. A very upbeat song and gets the whole place up and moving. Very entertaining way to end the show.

 

We find out next week who makes it and who gets sent home and we get to see Team Adam and Team CeeLo perform.

 

 

The Voice airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC.

 

(Image courtesy of NBC)

 

 

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