The dawn of a new competition round means new clothing, and the Knockout premiere does not disappoint. From Adam's pink My Little Pony hair to Christina's lavender-tinged platinum locks to everything Miley's got going on -- up to and including that fabulous pink fuzzy "Fake" sweater coat -- it's a visual feast so over the top that it makes Pharrell look like a suburban dad. Carson and Blake might as well have worn their pajamas for all the attention their clothes demand. (Actually, I'm not sure Blake didn't; it sort of seems like he probably sleeps in plaid flannels and jeans, no?) If this is a prelude to full-time Coach Miley, I am here for it.
Here's how the night's Knockouts Rankle from worse to first:
-
Malik Heard / "Isn't She Lovely" vs. Hannah Huston / "House Of The Rising Sun"
Malik's adorable, but Hannah's nothing short of fierce. Her growl and posturing are intimately intimidating, innate in the way that she commands the attention of the audience much like she commands the attention on her preschool class (except with much, much more fire). Her running spirit fingers get old quickly, but her vibrato merits a pass.
Winner: Hannah Huston
Team: Pharrell -
Angie Keilhauer / "Take Your Time" vs. Paxton Ingram / "Hometown Glory"
It's always, always risky to choose an Adele song, but Paxton's cover works for two reasons: the difference in his tone, and the way he emotes along with the lyrics. This song clearly means something to him. Angie's choice of a Sam Hunt song would/should be a crowd-pleaser, but her easygoing arrangement doesn't show off any of her vocal potential. Paxton doesn't have to try hard to best her, but he wisely takes Coach Miley's advice and chooses to end on a lower note, making for a major moment.
Winner: Paxton Ingram
Team: Blake -
Owen Danoff / "She's Always A Woman" vs. Ryan Quinn / "Drops Of Jupiter"
Ryan's a cutie, and he has a whole pop Josh Groban vibe, but there's just something wrong with a performance if you can't get the crowd to sing along to "Drops Of Jupiter." It's too insular, and that's even going up against a dude who literally has his eyes closed the entire time he's on stage. Still, there's something special about Owen. His vocals aren't perfect, but there's so much emotion behind them that it doesn't matter. He makes you want to be the woman he's singing about, pitch issues and all.
Winner: Owen Danoff
Team: Adam -
Alisan Porter / "River" vs. Daniel Passino / "Ain't Too Proud To Beg"
Let's not insult Daniel by even comparing these performances. He's the latest sacrificial lamb placed on the Altar of Alisan, and we all know it. That's not to say her "River" isn't great, because it is, but there's a clear preference for Curly Sue amongst the coaches and producers.
Winner: Alisan Porter
Team: Christina -
Katie Basden / "Gypsy" vs. Lacy Mandigo / "Zombie"
Both Katie and Lacy try too hard to mimic the formidable women they're covering, though they do have fairly successful results. Katie's lower register makes her a powerhouse, and she's able to carry though with excellent pacing and pronunciation, saving the best for a moment at the end of her arrangement. Lacy, on the other hand, suffers some pitch problems, and mumbles too much in quest to sound like Dolores O'Riordan. Still, her problems aren't anything that a good producer shouldn't be able to fix.
Winner: Katie Basden
Steal: Lacy Mandigo to Team Pharrell
Team: Blake -
Shalyah Fearing / "A Broken Wing" vs. Emily Keener / "Big Yellow Taxi"
Shalyah's incredible, and her vocals are developed far beyond her actual age, but sometimes it pays to be a goofball. Emily's humorous take on the cult classic "Big Yellow Taxi" is awkward and off-putting, but it's also endearing and incredibly brave -- like whenever Hufflepuffs actually win something.
Winner: Emily Keener
Steal: Shalyah Fearing to Team Adam
Team: Pharrell
What did you think of the night's match-ups? Sad to see anyone go? Assuming Curly Sue gets the win, who are you rooting for to come in second?