The Voice 2, April 9: Everybody Wants to Rock

Karla Davis – “Airplanes”

Adam supports how Karla is making an unexpected song choice. As I did with Sera Hill last week, I wonder on this choice in terms of it not being a singer song. Why would you give a singer a song predominantly coated with rap? In Karla’s case, it is possibly to cover up vocal flaws. Adam says that she can also stand to bring up the energy and push herself.

Karla starts off quiet and meek. The rap parts are sung to the basic melody. There are times when I can’t hear Karla because of her breathy vocals. Unfortunately, I think the song choice paired with nerves will doom her. I also recall her very subdued performance during the Battle Rounds, which I’m sure didn’t win her any new fans.

Christina says the performance is a good job – though breathy – and that she’d have liked to hear more of the singing quality. Blake thinks Karla did as well as she could with the song. It was too wordy and didn’t allow her to explore vocal qualities. Adam says she was “in the pocket” on the song. He also says that her nerves kicked in, which is unfortunate because she did better in the rehearsal room.

Erin Martin – “Walk Like an Egyptian”

Erin comes into her rehearsal knowing her voice is an “acquired taste.” Heh. Cee Lo likes her song because it has a unique quality and that it will allow her to prove the naysayers wrong. Like Cheesa, Twitter felt that Erin should not have won during the Battle Rounds. Indeed, as the performance begins, we note that Erin is a performer who needs all the smoke, mirrors, posing, and costumes she can grab to get over. There is no way her voice competes at this level. To quote my mother, “That’s bad.”

Blake says, “here we go again with the male strippers” (see picture at the beginning of this article) and wonders what it has to do with the performance. He says she did as well as she could with that song. Christina reiterates that she loves theatrics, but “when you are up there, you’ve got to bring it.” She feels Erin could have performed better vocally and with her staging. Erin loses her pasted-on smile and stares Christina down. Cee Lo praises Erin on learning all the song lyrics but then agrees with Christina that he wanted Erin to be “more aggressive and take charge.” By this time, Erin’s true colors are showing and her face holds a scowl of death being directed at her coach.

Pip – “When You Were Young”

Pip is hoping to step outside of his typical styling and sing a rock song. He calls it a moment of “Rock 101” and says he wants to show America he can rock. Um, why? I get taking risks. But I wonder if now is the time to take it.

The song starts off feeling a little flat like he can’t hear the music. It continues to happen and I especially hear it on the chorus when he sings the “young” word low. Weird. This is a bit of a mess for me and a wasted opportunity for the talented Pip.

Christina says she appreciates his vocal ability, but it came off as “trying too hard” and was under the pitch. Adam congratulates him for taking the risk on the song, but still wanted him to be more dangerous and to get more outside of himself. They need to work more on the “intent” behind songs.

Jamar Rogers – “Are You Going to Go My Way”

Jamar is in the last spot and is billed as the “comeback kid.” Full disclosure: I’m a huge fan of Jamar from his attempts on American Idol. He has the total package of ability, connection, and believability. Plus he is down to earth and humble. And he made me cry during his Battle Round performance.

Jamar comes out fierce and owning each note and move he makes on stage. That is what shines in terms of his performance style. It is honest and filled with passion. We can believe what he’s saying and singing. I actually like this version a little better than the original, which is a testament to how good Jamar is because I also love Lenny Kravitz. In terms of the staging, I could do without the stilt walkers and the band is a little too loud.

When the performance ends, the crowd is so loud with cheers and clapping that Carson has to pause a little bit before going to the coaches. Blake flags the stilt walkers too, asking what they had to do with the performance. Heh. Blake has been a voice of set design reason for the night. Cee Lo, in football coach style, barks out questions to Jamar about if he hears the crowd, if he feels the energy he’s created, and if he feels like a winner. Jamar answers each question with, “Yes, sir.” Adam fights to speak and says that Jamar “embodied what this show is” by what he just did.

My rankings in terms of performance:

• Best of the night: Jamar Rogers, Juliet Simms
• Middle of the road: Katrina Parker, Tony Lucca, Kim Yarbrough, James Massone, Tony Vincent
• Questionable: Erin Martin, Cheesa, Mathai, Karla Davis, Pip

Jesse J will be performing tomorrow with Team Christina. William Hammon will bring you all the action and I’ll meet you back here next week!

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Barbara is a training and development manager, short story writer, budding novelist and a semi-reformed reality TV addict. Sadly, the addictions only seem to end when the shows are cancelled. Kick any questions or comments to her at bjmcdow8@gmail.com, follow her tweeting at @BMcDowellOH and visit her blog, Life Can't Drive 55.

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