Under Pressure

That was great, but I kept yelling to Xtina and Adam "Take out the ear feed thingies, they are off!!". And of course CeeLo and Blake did. I love this show and the judges are a big part of that.

LAST EDITED ON 06-28-11 AT 09:23 PM (EST)

Duets with their Coaches, Solo Original Song (which is what the voting is supposed be voting on...)

Pitbull/Ne-yo and Brad Paisley will be musical guests tonight.

All based on the votes this week, viewers' choice. Have to say I like the voting format part of the Voice.

Drink of the night

Lynchburg Lemonade

snack of the night

Popcorn with olive oil, sea salt and a dusting of black truffles.

*takes a spot on the snack couch*

LAST EDITED ON 06-28-11 AT 09:20 PM (EST)

They are gonna take the Top 8 on tour after all!

First stop's in LA on July 27th and tour details at nbc.com

Solo Original Song: Stitch by Stitch

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Puzzle pieces on the monitors.

Quite lovely, and his best effort at stagecraft yet. Still needs work on presentation.

I thought it was boring. I think he is probably in last place for who I want to win. I just wouldn't buy his music.

Not my cup of tea either, although I appreciate good song and music when I hear it. But I think you're right in that the comp will probably outdo him.

Javier comes out with an acoustic (capo on the 5th, I think, but they showed none of the guitar play close up) and he plays it for the first half of the song. Very nice, enjoyed this original song and the way Javier sang it. I closed my eyes for a brief spell and enjoyed it even more. He could work a bit on his stagecraft, but as far as music and song goes, quite good. Thumbs up.

Duet Song: I Won't Back Down

Gears on the monitors.

Both in suits, guitars and sunglasses... same for backup band.

LAST EDITED ON 06-28-11 AT 09:33 PM (EST)

Very Blues Brothers, in your face. I love me some Blake Shelton, I do. Not the usual Dia "Breakfast at Tiffany's" performance.

eta: I wish Beverly was on Blake's team.

I enjoyed that. They made me smile.

Dia rocks! *swoon* She comes out with Blake, both playing rhythm electrics, dressed in black and they get right to it. Backed by a lead guitarist, bass, and drums, it's the perfect arrangement and stage setting. The crowd loves it. Dig it!

Solo Original Song: Afraid To Sleep

Fog's rolled in for her. Extreme close-up for a bit, showing the Swaybots now have flashlights. Video monitor decides to go from blue backtround shapes to red diamonds...

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There also was a shot that nearly had the icon statue showing only one finger...

Started out shaky for me, but built nicely.

She did a pretty good performance, but it seemed like she still wasn't able to get everything out that she wanted to. Big voice for a petite gal, for sure. She seemed quite caught up in it, to the point where there was no eye contact with the camera (and the viewing audience) at all. So for all the obvious effort she put into it, the rewards won't be stellar. I'll give her a pass, at about the same level as Javier.

I thought it was OK. But I don't think it was good enough to give her the win.

Christina is just one deep breath away from a clothing malfunction.

Give Me Everything

Green glow-sticks in the crowd, backup dancers on the two side walkways.

Video monitors have two different scenes: Side monitors have dashing through city/car lights, main monitors/floor monitors have various lighted boxes moving in rotation...

It's bad when the Voice contestants sound better than the guest singers & band. I walked out for a smoke break.

I didn't care for it either.

I glanced up and thought Pitbull was Beverly.

you know, pitbulls have a bad enough rep as it is

LAST EDITED ON 06-28-11 AT 10:02 PM (EST)

Duet Song: Beautiful

Everyone's sitting down with guitars.

No monitors lit up for this one. Dark studio save for the stage and the statue.

LAST EDITED ON 06-28-11 AT 10:04 PM (EST)

Tears. Not ashamed. Tears.

I could feel the words meant the same to each of them.

A truly amazing duet, just amazing. These two soar in harmony and rhyme. Backed by four acoustics and three what appear to be cellos, the arrangement is quite mellow, with Bev also on an acoustic. Their vocal expression of the lyrics rose above all that in an incredible performance.

Of course Christina would pick one of her own songs to spotlight herself more.

But I really enjoyed it.

She'll be on a show this Winter called 'Smash' with Steven Spielberg directing.

LAST EDITED ON 06-28-11 AT 10:12 PM (EST)

I have a visceral reaction to Katherine McPhee. Sounds like a great concept show, but seriously, "Introducing, Katherine McPhee". Seriously.

eta: and dammit, way to undermined a stellar performance with this ...person. Jeez.

I call it another potshot at AI.

She is just gorgeous. I hope this show is a success for her.

Solo Original Song: Inventing Shadows

She's at a piano by herself, curtains blocking visual of the band area this time... Close-up 360 ends with Blake in the background before they go to the other side.

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Curtains light up to reveal dancing 'shadows' and the monitors show a cityscape.

LAST EDITED ON 06-28-11 AT 10:20 PM (EST)

For me, Dia would be great in an intimate club doing a mix of her original songs and classics.

eta: I'd buy a ticket, just like I did for Melinda Doolittle. And.I.Loved.It. thankyouverymuch.

I liked her solo alot more than Javier or Vicci's. I think she has a hit with that one.

Yup, yup.

I love Dia's unique, lilting, cheerful, melodic voice. I could wake up to her song and be smiling the whole day just because of it. Superb performance and stellar song. Again, *swoon*.

I like Dia and I like the song. But the song certainly doesn't make me smile. It kind of makes me want to stab myself in the face. Not cheerful.

Whoah, there! Put that knife down on the table... that's right... easy does it...

I guess one reason for all the variety there is in music and song is the variety of personal tastes for it! I listened to her song, audio only without the video, and liked it as well if not more than the first time. To each their own, as they say.