Hey, Voicers, you know what we haven't done yet this season? Talk about Carson. Our blue-eyed baby is looking a little worse for the wear lately -- his face, in particular, is looking puffy -- but his spirit remains lively enough to take a few potshots at Blake, so I guess we can keep him for now. Another thing we can keep? Belle Jewel, who finally manages to make her on-air debut in this, the middle of the season. Better late than never? Or something the producers should look into fixing next season? You tell me. In the meantime, here's the Rankling:
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Billy Gilman / "Fight Song" vs. Ponciano Seoane / "I See Fire"
Ponciano's cover is fine, if luckluster, but Billy's still the one that manages to deliver a statement song without emphasizing the statement. Still, it's pretty likely that one day he'll be hired to perform this very arranagment of this very song on a pantsuit-themed cruise ship and yeah, #imwithher.
Winner: Billy Gilman
Team: Adam
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Belle Jewel / "Don't Dream It's Over" vs. Christian Cuevas / "Superstar"
As said above, this is the first official time that we get to see Belle perform this season, which is weird, considering how unique her style is amongst the current lineup. Her tone is distinctly airy, and she carries the song with a measured cadence. Christian's tone is the opposite -- smooth, yet raspy -- but his delivery is similar in terms of being very measured and controlled. It's a toss up, but not necessarily a blowout either.
Winner: Christian Cuevas
Team: Alicia
Steal: Belle to Team Miley
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Bindi Liebowitz / "Son Of A Preacher Man" vs. Courtney Harrell / "River Deep, Mountain High"
Before you make like Carson and double-check, yes: this is a Team Blake matchup. Shocking, I know, but let's move past his hilarious attempt for team diversity and on to the judging of the performers themselves. Bindi's great, though quaint, which is disappointing given her "swampy" song choice (Faith Hill's description, not mine); she never really goes for the grit. Courtney, on the other hand, is boldly terrific, starting with her hands on her hips in a daring showdown with the audience. Her vocals are great -- her belts, in particular, are fantastic -- and she wears a smirk on her face throughout her entire performance. She moves and takes up space even while standing still, though there's still a sense that she's holding herself back, delivering the performance she rehearsed instead of letting go and giving the audience a performance fueled by their energy. It's understandable, given the stakes, but would otherwise have been killer.
Winner: Courtney Harrell
Team: Blake