Pharrell Doesn't Pick The Voice, He Picks The Nice People

Some people speak in descriptive paragraphs, channeling every minute detail of their being into a verbal storm, while others let their actions speak for themselves. Pharrell is one of the latter people, continually crowning Battle and Knockout champions based on their potential, and not necessarily on their stagework. He's a nice guy -- the one coach who wants to let the artists know that it's okay for them to be themselves, to show vulnerabilities, and to take chances with their artistry. It's an interesting play, but it's already gotten him one winner, so maybe, maybe he can pull out a W again this season too (...so long as Curly Sue chokes along the way). And as for Coach Miley, well, she only needs one word to sum up everything she's about:

Moushumi: ...How are you?

Miley: Radical.

Here's the Rankling of night's Knockouts:

Adam Wakefield / "Bring It On Home To Me" vs. Peyton Parker / "Travelin' Soldier"

Peyton's song seems like it could be super-sad, but you'd never know it because her rushed delivery obscures the lyrics; there's neither intonation nor cadence in her performance. She has a nice tone, and her beaded peasant top is cute, but Adam easily knocks her out with little more than a twang and a cowboy hat to his credit. (What does Christina even see in him?)

Winner: Adam Wakefield
Team: Blake
Moushumi / "New Americana" vs. Nick Hagelin / "Lost Without U"

First things first: Nick's a former professional ballerino, and I don't think we've properly acknowledged/made fun of that yet. But that's pretty ironic, given how stiff he is on stage, right? When even Adam knows to critique someone for not moving, it's pretty bad. Also, his pretty boy face is extremely punchable, which just kills all of the good will that his incredible falsetto generates. Oops. Anyway, Moushumi is great, her tone is clear, and her song choice is perfectly poignant to her life right now. It's pretty cool that Pharrell chooses to save her knowing that she still has a lot to learn, but she definitely has the raw talent.

Winner: Moushumi
Team: Pharrell
Maya Smith / "No One" vs. Tamar Davis / "Lay Me Down"

Maya's Blind audition definitely wowed, so it's surprising to see her have pitch issues this late in the game. Maybe it's a case of nerves, or maybe it's because she's trying too hard to show off parts of her range that aren't fully developed, but her case isn't helped by comparison; Tamar brings a ton of vocal theatrics, overworking what should be a simple arrangement. Christina says it best, though she means it in a good way: Tamar "didn't just sing that song, [she] murdered that song."

Winner: Tamar Davis
Team: Christina