Posted on 10/01/2012 by Todd in The Voice
by Todd Betzold
All of the coaches on The Voice currently have 14 acts, so this looks like it could be it tonight. The coaches complete their teams tonight and then take a look back the Blind Auditions this season tomorrow night on NBC. Let's just get to the Battle Rounds, right?
The first singer tonight is Nathalie Hernandez, who is 15 years old from Dunedin, FL. She has a decent voice, but it isn't anything special to me. Blake and Christina seem to think different and they turn around right away. She gets better as the song goes on and Adam turns around for her as well. Blake said she sold the story and she has a unique ability to make people believe the lyrics she is singing. Adam said she has what a lot of people don't have, which is the ability to connect. Christina said she thinks she is a great storyteller. Nathalie goes with Team Christina.
Is The Voice where old boy band members go to try and make a comeback? It seems like we have had a few this season and here is another one: Rod Michael, who is 31 years old from Allentown, PA. He was part of B3 in Europe and was famous, but then came back to the U.S. and no one knew him. He sounds good enough to make it any boy band that is out there right now, but Adam comes close to hitting the button, but he doesn't and that is it, as no judges turn around.
The next singer is Caitlin Michele, who is 20 years old from Boston. She suffers from Extreme Panic Disorder and she has panic attacks where she feels like she is going to die, but that is where she discovered her love of music. She feels most comfortable when she is on stage. She does a great job and has a great and powerful voice. Both Blake and Adam turned their chair around. Blake said she could hang on the note and she should be hanging out with him. Christina said she should go with Adam, which is shocking. Caitlin goes Team Adam.
Next up is Nicole Johnson, 18 from Denham Springs, LA but living in Nashville now. It looks like we have another addition to Blake's team. She has that country twang and has a good voice and sings a Kelly Clarkson song, so I like her! Cee Lo attacks the button and turns around...no rush Cee Lo, there is time. Don't fall out of your chair. She gets Blake to turn around, but as the song went on she got more and more pitchy and was rough in spots. Cee Lo said he wants the best people on his team and she sounds like the best. Blake said technically she is a great singer and she had him at thang and he would be honored to be her country music coach. Nicole goes with Team Blake.
Since Cee Lo has no artists tonight, it is his turn? Kameron Corvet is 32 years old from Cincinnati, OH, and he is a middle school French teacher. The song he chooses seems to be more spoken than singing and when he has notes to hit, he nails them. I enjoy him and he seems to have it in him, but he chose a bad song and none of the judges turned around for him. Christina said it had a great consistency, but she was looking for something to break out of it. I think he could be back next season?
Next up is Chevonne, who is a backup singer and her last gig was working on Lady Gaga's Monster Ball Tour. She is hoping to move from the back to the front of the stage and she is not looking back. She sounds good, but it is very much like the original. Blake is screaming for Cee Lo to turn around, but they both wait until the very end to turn around. Blake said he has had some pretty good luck with background singers (Jermaine Paul from last season was a backup singer for Alicia Keys and won while being on Team Blake). Cee Lo said she has great control and felt pain in her voice, which she said is because she grew up with eating disorders and self-image issues. Chevonne goes with Team Cee Lo, so one hour to go and one more needed for each team!
The next singer is Kayla Nevarez, who is 17 years old from Mission Viejo, CA. Here is another sob story, as her Dad is battling cancer and her biggest fan, so he couldn't make it to the audition. Because he is sick, they had to sell their house and now living in a two-bedroom apartment and she sleeps on the couch. She sounds good and has a nice tone to her voice. I am enjoying her and so is Adam, as he turns around right away. Christina and Cee Lo join him shortly after and Blake sits back and enjoys. Christina said I am your couch and you need to be with me and she has to have her on her team. Cee Lo said he was really impressed and her voice sounds seasoned. Adam said he turned his chair around early and without a doubt, he knows she is the one that needs to fill his final spot. She loves Christina to death, but she shockingly goes with Team Adam, so he is the first coach to complete his team.
Celica Westbrook is a third generation singer and at 16 years old, she was close to making it big when she was 14 years old. They wanted to sign her to a contract and put her on the Justin Bieber tour, but it all fell apart. She comes out and has a very strong voice with a good range to it. She gets the remaining three judges to turn around, including a standing ovation from Christina. Cee Lo said he would love to have her on his team. Christina said she needs to be on radio right now and would love to have her on her team. Blake said they saw a 16 year old earlier in the auditions who needed four or five years to go, but she needs four or five days to go. Celica goes with Team Christina...I thought she might go with Blake. Christina now has a full team and it is down to Blake and Cee Lo.
After a look at some singers that didn't make the cut for Cee Lo and Blake, we get a chance to see Jessica Cayne, who is 26 years old from Grayson, GA, take the stage. She has grown up with music, but her biggest issue is her own insecurities. Tonight is the night of eating disorders, as Jessica battled weight and eating disorders growing up. I thought she was amazing and so fun to watch. She has a great voice, so I want to slap Cee Lo and Blake. Cee Lo said she did make a connection with people, so that is something. Blake was amazed at how well she did. Even though she didn't make it, she had an amazing moment and loved every second of it. Then we see Cee Lo talking in a private interview with that damn cockatoo walking on his head!
Rudy Parris is up next and he has had dreams of being on the road and playing music, but he got married and had a child at the age of 25. His parents were divorced when he was three years old and never had a Dad, so he wanted to be in his child's life. He worked small gigs by his house. His daughter is now 22 and he has a grandson, so it is now his chance to take on his music career. He looks like a rocker, but comes out singing country and has a good voice. He is pretty consistent and gets both the coaches to turn around, so it is a battle for Rudy. Blake said he doesn't look country, but country is still in there. Cee Lo said he sounds great and really wants him. Rudy goes Team Blake, so Blake has completed his team now.
This is it folks...one spot to fill and one more singer to impress Cee Lo Green. Cody Belew is 27 years old from Beebe, AR. He grew up on a farm and around the rodeo. His Dad discovered he could sing when he was cutting the grass, as he would sing and do chores together. He said in a past life he was an elderly black lady! He thinks he can win this with Cee Lo. He hasn't even hit the stage and I am liking this guy. He is over-the-top like Cee Lo and seems entertaining. He does a really good job and sings great and is very entertaining. Cee Lo turns around at the very last second, which Cody missed. He then was told and he rushed Cee Lo and was screaming and broke out into a lot of swear words. I loved it and they are a perfect fit!
Cee Lo is done and we have 16 acts on all the teams! That is an end to the Blind Auditions. Tomorrow, they will show us the best of the Blind Auditions and then the Battle Rounds kick off next week!
The Voice airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC.
Follow Todd on Twitter: @tbetzold
NBC's 'Making It' Season 3 Winner is Crowned
CNBC's 'Jay Leno's Garage' Season 6 Premieres Sept. 22
Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles” Season 13 Premieres Sept. 2
NBC's 'American Ninja Warrior' Season 12 Premieres Sept. 7
Season Two of 'Backyard Envy' Premieres August 4 on Bravo