by Todd Betzold

Things got heated on The Voice last night, as the singers battle each other in hopes of making it to the Knockout Rounds. While some are sent home, we saw the coaches use two steals to help keep singers they thought deserved to still be in the competition. Things can get ugly when the coaches are fighting to steal a singer away and that is why I love The Voice!

Team Blake: Liz Davis vs. Nicole Johnson - "Baggage Claim" by Miranda Lambert
It is a battle of the country singers, as the seasoned Liz takes on newcomer Nicole. Blake wants to weed out the best of the best with his country singers, so that is why they are up against each other. Nicole is feeling like an underdog with this battle, but she is still here for a reason. They both have great country voices and I enjoy them both. I think Liz is stronger, but I think Blake will go with Nicole because he wants to work with her and develop her more as a coach. Blake said Miranda will be proud of their effort and did great, but he goes with Liz and Nicole heads back to Nashville.

Team Adam: Alessandra Guercio vs. Kayla Nevarez - "Wide Awake" by Katy Perry
Adam paired them together because he thought this would be an incredible performance. They said that Alessandra is imprisoned on being perfect and need to let loose. I think Kayla has a very similar voice to Katy Perry, so it makes her sound very good. Alessandra does it with a little bit more roughness in her voice and it sounds weird at first, but it grows on me and I favor her. Adam said they both had their issues, but we all do. He felt Alessandra lacked confidence during the battle, which he didn't like and he picks Kayla. During Alessandra's goodbye, Christina said she had that confidence issue growing up and being part of Disney and wanting to do her own thing and she steals Alessandra away in a shocker!

Team Cee Lo: Ben Taub vs. Mycle Wastman
A quick look at this battle and it looked like a good one, so I am sad that we didn't get to see it. In the end, Cee Lo went with Mycle and Ben goes home.

Team Adam: Adanna Duru vs. Michelle Brooks-Thompson
He pairs up the R&B singers and Adam said they both impressed him so much, but he went with experience and choose 28-year-old Michelle over 15-year-old Adanna.

Team Christina: Beat Frequency vs. Laura Vivas
This is one that I am glad we didn't get to see because Beat Frequency annoyed me before. Christina saves me from having to see them again and picks Laura.

Team Cee Lo: Emily Earle vs. MacKenzie Bourg - "Good Time" by Owl City
This one is a struggle for Emily because she is a country singer and this is out of her element. MacKenzie is used to playing with a guitar or behind a piano, so he is not feeling comfortable standing up there "naked." MacKenzie is a cutie and has a cool style about him, so I am rooting for him before hearing the battle start. This is awesome and they both sound excellent. This song is so fitting for MacKenzie, but Emily puts her country twang to it and does amazing. Cee Lo thinks that MacKenzie can sing anything that he puts in front of him, so he goes with MacKenzie and Emily is headed home.

The Voice airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

(Image courtesy of NBC)

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