Alicia Keys - Holy War (Audio)
The top 11 artists of the season were announced in tonights live results episode of The Voice. Coaches Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys didnt have a say in these results, which were determined by voting and iTunes downloads after last nights performance. It was all in the viewers hands. The bottom two had to sing for the instant save.
The first artist voted through to the top 11 was Team Mileys Ali Caldwell, who sang Did I Ever Love You by Leonard Cohen last night. America also saved Team Alicias young artist W Mcdonald, who gave a powerful performance of Take Me to Church by Hozier last night. Team Adams Brendan Fletcher also advanced. Fletcher sang Whipping Post by The Allman Brothers this week in one of his personal best performances.
Levine took the stage with his top 12 artists: Fletcher, Josh Gallagher and Billy Gilman. Team Adam sang For What Its Worth, with Levine, Gallagher and Fletcher all playing guitar.
Carson Daly then brought out the artists for more results. America voted to save Team Blakes Courtney Harrell, who was shocked to join the top 11. But she shouldnt have been surprised; shes Team Blakes most impressive artist. America also saved Team Adams country-turned-pop singer Gilman.
Next, Alicia Keys sang part of her single Blended Family from her new album Here but then transitioned into a performance of Holy War, also from Here. She accompanied herself on the piano and was joined by Levine on the guitar. It was a powerful performance that ended up being the most exciting part of the night.
As more results came in, Team Mileys Darby Walker advanced to the top 11, along with Austin Allsup. Walker put her own twist on Ruby Tuesday by the Rolling Stones last night, while Allsup similarly brought his own sound to Do Right Woman, Do Right Man by Aretha Franklin.
Cyrus joined Walker, Caldwell and Aaron Gibson next for a Team Miley performance of Therell Always Be Music by Dolly Parton. The harmonies were nice, but everyone sort of seemed like they were trying to outsing one another instead of singing together.
America saved Team Alicias Christian Cuevas, who sang The Scientist by Coldplay last night. Gallagher from Team Adam also advanced, which meant all of Levines artists made it to the top 11. The last artist automatically through to the top 11 was Team Blakes Sundance Head.
That left Team Alicias SaRayah and Team Mileys Gibson to sing for the instant save. Only one could advance to the top 11.
SaRayah went first, singing for her life in a performance of Rock Steady by Aretha Franklin. It was a high-energy and magnetic performance, with SaRayah showing off her bold vocals and range. Keys urged viewers to vote for her artist. Continue to walk in your light, she said to SaRayah, who seemed confident even though everything was on the line.
Gibson followed with a softer, quieter performance. He sang Lego House by Ed Sheeran. Singing a Sheeran song in the high-stakes setting of an instant save was not the smartest choice. Sheeran songs are beautiful but ultimately empty unless the artist can bring something special to it, and Gibson didnt. Would it connect with America enough to keep him in the competition? Cyrus said she was proud of him no matter what was about to happen.
With the votes from Twitter in, Gibson surprisingly received the instant save, and SaRayah went home.
The top 11 perform next week on The Voice. What did you think of tonights instant save?
This was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.
Source: http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7580398/the-voice-top-11-alicia-keys-performs
