Prior to the final round of The Voice, the remaining contestants had never actually competed against each other. Consider it: any time their coaches or the American audience had to vote, it was always on the sub-groups of the teams, leaving them to feel free to bond as friends. Each one-- Vicci Martinez, Javier Colon, Beverly McClellan, and Dia Frampton-- rose to the top, the cream of their respective crops, and had to face off against each other live on-stage in Los Angeles during the final round.
To make the challenge even more complicated, but also memorable, each of the four were given an original song to perform-- a track written for them that audiences wouldn't be able to sing along to at home. Not at first anyway. But each one was so catchy that by the second time the chorus rang out, it was easy to imagine you had been hearing the songs on the radio for months, if not having grown up with them.
Take a look back on The Voice finalists' journeys here.
The four coaches changed their own song choice at the last minute and ended up taking the stage to perform a very fitting "Under Pressure" (see video to the left!). How do you follow the theatrics of Cee Lo Green, the natural ease of Blake Shelton, and the high note power of Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine? It was a tall order, for sure, but one that Colon handled quite well, if you ask us.
Colon performed "Stitch by Stitch," starting out with his guitar but ultimately tossing it behind him so he could head over to the pit and slap hands with his fans. Listening to him perform was just as smooth and inspiring as it has been since day one, when he auditioned and got all four judges to turn their chairs. But hearing him own a brand new song took it to another level.
Levine's proud papa moment: "You finally did it, man!" he beamed. "Everyone knows you're an amazing singer, but what they may not know is that you're such an amazing guy...It [would be]hard for me to root for someone that I don't genuinely love so much, but I'm so excited for you and the amazing things you're going to do in your career." Levine even got a bit choked up at the end...
Martinez went second, accompanied by a dry ice fog and just her unique and truly passionate energy, dancing and jumping around the stage as she belted "Afraid to Sleep." The song started out slow and haunting in Martinez' usual guttural style, but thankfully it sped up and she was allowed to come a bit more alive.
Green's proud papa moment: "I belive in you as a person and as a personality. I think you are going to be a force to be reckoned with...I love you so much!"
Frampton returned to the piano for "Inventing Shadows," a catchy tune that seemed tailor made for her voice and which all four judges agreed would probably shoot up on iTunes, competition or not. And true to form, just a few minutes after the performance finished, the song title was trending on Twitter. Maybe in season two Tweets will be factored into the complicated voting formula, too!
Shelton's proud papa moment: "You know what else is going to be distracting to 'em is when they turn on their phones here in about thirty minutes and look at iTunes and see you sitting way above their records...iTunes domination!"
McClellan closed the solo performances with a soon-to-be new rock anthem "Lovesick," using her piano more as a prop but still getting the crowd on their feet and jumping around with her.
Aguilera's proud mama moment: "We all know you're an amazing performer, and you just get up on that stage and you kill. I loved getting up on the piano; that was amazing; you rocked that...What I love so much about you is you have a great work ethic. You always show up; you're always ready to work; your heart is so big; you make me smile."
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Of course there were the special duets, as well as a performance by Brad Paisley and Coach Shelton, as well as one from Pitbull and Ne-Yo sprinkled throughout the two-hour mini-concert. Shelton and Frampton took on the classic "I Won't Back Down," starting out as a multi-sex Blues Brothers but adding their own special flair with festive guitars and stage stance. McClellan and Aguilera performed "Beautiful" with a number of musicians, including songwriter Linda Perry, on what turned out to be a stripped down, but still full of runs, jam session. Colon and Levine kept it simple in black suits, no fanfare, and Michael Jackson's classic "Man in the Mirror," getting the studio audience on their feet before their rehearsal clip package had even finished rolling. And Green and Martinez brought down the house (along with some adorable child dancers) with a fiery version of Pat Banatar's "Love is a Battlefield."
All four of these finalists have turned The Voice into a party we feel privileged to be invited to week after week; how will we ever choose just one!?
The Voice will air its live results show, featuring unique performances from all four finalists and the announcement of the first-ever winner on Wednesday, June 29th at 8pm.
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