The Voice, Battles Pt. 2. a.k.a. Pitchy isn't a real word

Once again, we are watching and greatly enjoying The Voice. It's the ~Battle Rounds~ Round 2! Live blog! Ding Ding Ding!

Our first matchup, Team Cee Lo!
Battle #1: Nakia vs. Tje a.k.a...

..."So much hair"

Because we've had copious name problems in the past, we decided to forgo real names and just give them our own.


Z: ty and nikea?
L: yup
Z: is that how you spell that man's name?
L: Nikea? lol wat is that really his name?
Z: i guess so.
Z: i call him growly bear.
L: omg we're gonna have name problems again
L: ok yeah, growly bear and afro! that's their names.

And later:

L: "Nakia"?!
L: omg Ty's name is spelled "Tje"
Z: lol. i forgot about that!
Z: i would not think to pronounce it that way
L: our names are better for them.
Z: agreed

Cee Lo only needs one color to look fabulous

L: i was like, "omg Cee Lo's wearing red again!!!"
Z: LOL
L: but i think it was the same day lol
Z: it's the same day

As for this battle, we had some problems with it. Namely, that it wasn't very good.

Z: it sounds so forced from growly bear
L: .....i don't like either of them
Z: this song is supposed to be smooth
L: yeah, i do think that Tje is doing better with the song, but I don't find his voice that strong
L: there are some bum notes there.
L: Maybe Nakia is more in tune? But more shouty.
Z: yeah. none of them are wowing me.
L: Not my favorite battle.

We ultimately sided with Cee Lo however on his pick of Nakia

do the chicken suits come with the contract?

L: Who would you take?
Z: based on technicality?
Z: nakia
Z: tje is kind of blah, but he may be more moldable.
L: i would pick Nakia though, I think. Not based on the performance, but thinking about what he could do in the future.
L: he's more unique.
Z: i have a feeling cee lo is going to go with the people who are more 'out there'.
L: I could imagine Kia wearing a chicken suit.

Next up, we go to the side of my new favorite judge, Blake!
for Battle #2: Jared vs. Elenowen a.k.a...

...Daughtry-lite vs. Duo-who-ruined-Falling Slowly (a blogger never forgets!)

At first we called shenanigans! We found it unfair that Poor man's Daughtry had to go up against TWO singers. 

Z: how the heck is this going to work?
L: it's like 2 voices against 1. not fair.
Z: i know. and this song is for two people already.
Z: what's that guy gonna do? 
L: i am concerned for him
L: except the duo kind of sucks
Z: DON'T DESPAIR DAUGHTRY LITE!

But oh yeah, there was really nothing Blake could have done, so we got over it:

Z: it DOES seem a little unfair, blake!
Z: why are you doing this?!
L: but then again, there were no other duos on his team. what was he gonna do?
Z: true
L: i guess he had to put them up against somebody

Zozizzle really really likes REBA:

REBA

Z: REBA!
L: REBA's name must be written in capslock
Z: YES
Z: LISTEN TO REBA

Z: KEEP THAT SPOTLIGHT ON YOU
Z: LISTEN TO REBA

Z: REBA KNOWS ALL
Z: REBA
Z: she's looking for stage presence

In the end we found we were rooting for...Daughtry-lite? (we also called him "Baldy". We really are terrible with names). Someone who we never would have rooted for normally, but we got behind him because of the underdog factor.

L: I like that he has little girls. that's cute :D
Z: it is! he's like this rough looking biker dude, and he probably has to play tea party with them.

L: lol i'm rooting for Daughtry-lite
Z: i am, too
Z: he's kind of the underdog here
L: work it out, baldy!
L: baldy daddy
L: Baldy's got moves
Z: he does!
Z: go baldy!

Also, Elenowen? We weren't that impressed

maybe if we just shout really loud...

L: the guy is pretty good
Z: he sounds nice
L: girl is the weak link!
Z: yep
Z: she seems awkward
Z: she could've gone higher there
Z: some of those harmonies were nice
L: their sum is better than their parts.

We ended up enjoying the battle regardless though. They found a way to compete fairly and to show off their ~skills. And our favorite rocker pulled it out! This is still 10 times more interesting than any early round on that Shamericanidol show.

L: that was actually better than i thought it would be
L: and more balanced too
Z: mmhmm
Z: JARED!!!!
L: YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Z: GO DAUGHTRY-LITE!
L: W00T W00T
Z: he worked it
Z: good for him
L: He fought the power!


Next it was time for Team Adam
In a battle we like to call, Battle #3: Javier vs. Angela a.k.a...

...no brainer

Sorry Angela, but everyone knew there was no way you were going past Javier. Even though I actually liked you, Javier has been the ~contestant to beat ever since he first appeared.
I mean c'mon now: Amazing voice? Check! Adorable family? Check! Cool rearrangements? Check! Cute? Check! Humble? Check! Plaid? Check!
Dude's got it in the bag right now.

L: I think I remember Angela. she was a country singer
Z: ooo stand by me
L: i remember liking her actually
L: but Javier was DEFINITELY the best
Z: yes. this.
L: like, DEFINITELY
Z: i loved his version of 'time after time'
L: I even got his studio!
Z: oh, nice!

You know who else we kind of love a lot? Adam Levine.  We want to be on your team, Adam!

and i'm good looking too!

L: The thing I like about Team Adam, is that i feel like he's so knowledgeable. He's done so many things right in the music industry, and I would feel really confident in taking his advice.
L: He also has such a unique voice, so he can help all kinds of voices out.
Z: yeah, definitely. i think he's the most well-rounded judge up there.


Once the battle round started and Javier started singing, we got a little carried away

girlfrand was impressed too

L: uggghghalsdkf his voice
Z: sounds so good!!!
L: sounds so good in my earsssss
Z: i almost want to marry it

And in the most obvious decision ever,

Z: the winner is....
Z: javier!
Z: yep, an obvious choice
Z: i'm liking adam's team so far
L: i feel like Javier could win the whole thing
Z: his was the only audition i absolutely loved

We were not without a little bit of concern, but we still have faith in our boy: 

L: except for the fact that he also feels like one of those contestants who are really amazing at first and everyone thinks they are going to win....and then they end up never living up to that first amazing performance
L: i get that vibe lol
Z: oh, yeah
Z: the classic plateau effect
L: right
Z: or in terms of AI--the hollywood week effect
L: exactly lol
L: he still does have a great voice though. can't deny that. i hope he continues using it well.
Z: he seems to be a good musician; that could be his best asset when it comes to arranging and such
Z: and adam is a good coach; he'll keep javier from making bad musical choices.

Our last battle of the night came from Team Christina!
Battle #4: Beverly vs. Justin a.k.a...

...shouty rocker lady vs. lone male diva

We were kind of perplexed by this matchup. Not only did we not remember Justin, we're still trying to figure out if Bev is actually any good.

L: don't remember Justin at all
Z: i do not remember justin
Z: BABA O'RILEY????
Z: wow
L: this favors the woman!
L: Beverly was actually not that good lol, but her enthusiasm was great
Z: it's a big song
Z: that could really help her

We were also skeptical about Christina's coaching methods. Although there's no denying girl can SANG (and for the most part we're enjoying her as a judge), she certainly likes the sound of her own voice.

step aside, fools!

L: oh Christina
L: haha "if you want to make it better just sing it just like me"
Z: "just do what i do!"
L: Christina really does know how to SANG though. i would listen to her advice as well.
L: well....most of her advice
L: she can lay on the melisma a little too much at times.
Z: no, for real. that is like her crutch sometimes
Z: she sings too many notes sometimes
L: i don't really care for singers like that, tbh
L: in fact, i enjoy Sia's voice more
Z: i'm a little wary of her as a judge sometimes; i think her divaness comes so naturally that i feel like when she tries to explain how to improve to her team members, she can't really thoroughly explain it.
L: lol right. like, she doesn't give advice she's just like, "sing it like meeeeee" *does a million runs*
Z: lol yes

The actual battle ultimately came down to a competent singing Justin against a loud, shouty Bev. We actually sided on Team Justin in this regard.

Bev would probably win in a real boxing match against you, Justin

Z: bev's voice is better suited? at this point.
L: i....actually like Justin better
L: he's really going for it!
Z: you think bev's over singing?
L: yeah. kind of a lot
L: it's just...shouting at this point
Z: it's going to come down to who shouts in tune

In the end, Bev won the night by being quirky and shouty and Justin got cut because he was a boy. We look forward to seeing Bev do very well in the competition though.

L: don't know who is going to be picked :O
Z: it's a tough one
L: Bev has more ~character
L: isn't Justin Christina's only boy? lol
Z: i think so
Z: the lone male diva
L: lol yeah
Z: bev
L: I would have chosen Justin actually
L: People will totallllly vote for Bev though
Z: yep
L: it's the ~personality thing
Z: absolutely

We leave this episode of The Voice with only happy thoughts and look forward to more to come! If the judges are going to continue to be insightful and helpful and the contestants are going to continue to step it up? I'm ready to go to the end of the season!

L: so......yay the voice!
L: still liking it
L: many things to enjoy once again
Z: yeah. the battles are fun; they're not dragged out
Z: there's not too much unnecessary drama
Z: it's about the singing
L: they have a little bit of convo w/ the contestants, but they go pretty quickly into the battles
L: i like that
L: and the coaches don't talk for that long afterwards!!!
L: praise jesus
Z: OMG
Z: yes
Z: no one's saying 'in it to win it'