“The Voice” semi-finals didn’t disappoint, offering a potent cocktail of predictable outcomes, the occasional surprise, and just enough tension to propel us into next week’s finale. Four artists sailed through on the good ship America’s Vote, while the remaining hopefuls clawed and crooned for that last Instant Save lifeline.
Let’s break it down. Team Bublé’s Sofronio Vasquez and Shye secured their spots early, hardly a shock given their consistent performances. Sydney Sterlace, representing Team Gwen, also advanced, giving Stefani another shot at the coveted title after a less-than-stellar showing last season. And Jeremy Beloate’s advancement marks a solid debut for first-time coach Snoop Dogg, proving he can nurture talent in this arena.
Then came the bloodbath, or as close to a bloodbath as this family-friendly show gets. Five artists — Christina Eagle, Adam Bohanan, Jan Dan, and Danny Joseph — duked it out for the Instant Save, a format designed to maximize viewer engagement (and tweet volume). Each artist delivered a solid performance, featuring a range of styles from Eagle’s country twang to Bohanan’s R&B runs to Jan Dan’s heart-wrenching delivery to Danny Joseph’s gritty rock edge, which is always a bit of an advantage in these shout-fests. In the end, it was Joseph who clinched the final spot, giving Reba McEntire one last horse in the race alongside Bublé’s two remaining contenders.
But let’s not forget the filler, I mean, the “special performances.” Reba belted out “Consider Me Gone,” Stefani treated us to “Somebody Else’s,” and Snoop Dogg’s protégé October London offered up his tune “3rd Shift.” Were they memorable? Debatable. Did they pad the runtime? Absolutely.
So, there you have it. The final five are set. Will it be Team Bublé, Team Gwen, Team Reba, or Team Snoop taking home the prize? Tune in next week to witness the vocal fireworks and find out. As for this week, the semi-finals did their job: they winnowed the field, generated a bit of drama, and reminded us that while talent matters, on “The Voice,” fan votes are king.
“The Voice” airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC.
