In the inevitable comedown from the strong premiere, blind auditions continue, though much of the talent is more solidly in the middle of the "meh" to "amazing" spectrum. It's a little (a lot) bit country, a little (not enough) bit rock n' roll, and also, thanks to one very excited redheaded redneck, a little bit scandalous (of course, by scandalous, I don't mean the kiss between Kata and Christina, so much as I mean to call out Pharrell's over-the-top, stereotypical astonished male reaction, BUT I DISGRESS). On to the Rankling!
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Theron Early
It's hard not to like a guy who smiles while singing one of the most romantic songs of all time, but Theron's just not ready to compete. He's close, but he's not there yet.
Song: "Amazed"
Team: N/A -
Natalie Clark
Natalie's adorable, her lipstick is on point, and her husky tone is unexpected, but -- on this side of the pond, at least -- it takes more than a cameo from Richard Branson to overcome her vocal control issues.
Song: "All Right Now"
Team: N/A -
Caroline Burns
I really don't remember Caroline from last season, but according to my notes, she was just as pitchy and only slightly shorter. Yet, for some reason, Carson is all about her. He's extra-excited once Adam's chair turns, literally hugging Caroline's mom while jumping up and down, shouting, "We got it, we got it!" One might almost be moved to ask: who is paying who for this girl's place?
Song: "So Far Away"
Team: Adam -
Angie Keilhauer
Angie's interesting, if the third definition of "interesting" is "clearly destined to do well on Team Blake." She's got a fight in her, and the slightly husky vocal to match, but she's definitely a performer who will either be made or rejected based on song choice.
Song: "I Hold On"
Team: Blake -
Adam Wakefield
Wakefield's fine as far as country music goes (he has a lot of heart, but not a ton of vocal ability), but the actual argument his performances sparks between Adam and Blake is both important and interesting, especially given that its timing coincides with Super Tuesday. Whereas Adam tries to woo him with a passionate speech about how music, regardless of genre, is about touching as many people as possible (not literally), Blake defends Ye Olde Country Club and its exclusivity. In the end, though, it seems like an easy call for Wakefield, as he chooses to find safety in the establishment of Team Blake.
Song: "Tennessee Whiskey"
Team: Blake -
Laith Al-Saadi
Laith makes a big deal about being excited by the blind audition because he doesn't think he sounds the way he looks (he looks like a country Ben Franklin), but then he opens his mouth and he totally sounds like a country Ben Franklin, if country Ben Franklin had also played 300 gigs a year for the past twenty years and could shred on guitar. Looks-wise, he has an uphill battle (voters are vain), but he really is incredibly talented.
Song: "The Letter"
Team: Adam -
Joe Vivona
Joe's not the cutest guy in the room (though he is cute), nor is he a pitch-perfect singer (though his tone is unique), but he has this thing about him where he makes the audience think he is both; it mainly has to do with his seemingly effortless intonation. It's a great trick, and if he can get past his obvious nerves to land just one breakout moment, he'll likely go far.
Song: "Dreaming With A Broken Heart"
Team: Pharrell -
Emily Keener
Emily's...well, Emily's Emily. She sings with what Pharrell refers to as a "tapestry of vocal cords," using every part of her impressive range to really tell the story of her song. She's best when using the middle-to-lower part of her range -- her first transition into falsetto is rough -- but the raw talent is there to be molded.
Song: "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"
Team: Pharrell -
Shalyah Fearing
How cute is fifteen-year-old Shalyah? I don't think I've ever heard anything more earnest than her pre-audition declaration "I'm going to go out there, get a button pushed, and I'm going to be the happiest person alive." It's a big promise, but with her vibrato and control, there's no questioning the ease with which she safety achieves her goal. How Christina ends up being her only chair turn is a mystery, but she's definitely in good hands.
Song: "What Is Love"
Team: Christina -
Kata Hay
What is there to say about Kata Hay? The redhead looks, and sounds, and acts like a wilder version of Amber Tamblyn's character from Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants, and I honestly think I mean that as a compliment. She proudly proclaims herself to be a redneck and mumbles her way through her performance, only to end on a HUGE note that gets chairs turning. She practically assaults Adam out of excitement (sidenote: doesn’t it seem like that should happen more often?), flirts with Pharrell, and finally gives Christina that same-sex primetime kiss she's been after ever since a little event known as the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. It's a huge introduction that's bigger than her actual talent, but that doesn't mean it's not awesome nonetheless.
Song: "Redneck Woman"
Team: Adam
As always, honorable mentions to the montaged Lacy Mandigo (Team Christina), Jonathan Bach (Team Pharrell), and Katherine Ho (Team Adam). Maybe we'll get to you know someday.