Stellar Moments

Where it Went Wrong

Score /10

• Her connection to the music was very evident and strong.

• The transition in the music’s energy from the drum and guitar solos added spunk to a slow start.

• Rice took advantage of the entire stage and took appropriate measures within the music to stage herself.

• Too many of her notes were breathy and lacked diction and volume.

• While this rock side was different from past performances, it was not a good fit for her.

• I could not understand what she was saying, the beginning was way too slow and the energy was in the instruments, not her vocals. Not a top performance.

5.5/10

Stellar Moments

Where it Went Wrong

Score /10

• The trumpets, saxophones, and Western feel on the keys added a fiery Motown spirit to the piece.

• The stop and start of the instruments before the final chorus allowed her to call upon her lower breath and dig deep for her higher notes.

• Her performances “keep getting better,” according to Coach Stefani, and it is still hard to believe that she’s only 15.

• She overdid the growling on her notes, which took away from their raspiness and uniqueness.

7/10

Stellar Moments

Where it Went Wrong

Score /10

• The arrangement of the drums, flute, and background vocals was a great choice for him.

• Starting his performance on the piano and transitioning with the other instruments (while “getting lost in the moment”) was unlike anything I’ve seen this season.

• Tsoul’s choice to lay on the ground was cool, but his falsetto was very flat and disconnected from his air flow.

• His vibrato in the beginning was shaky and distracted from the quiet introduction for which he was going.

6/10

Stellar Moments

Where it Went Wrong

Score /10

• Her manner of trickling down on her notes was classical and extremely jazzy.

• The setting behind her fit the mood of the song well, and the saxophones & trumpets complemented her voice too.

• The show’s host, Carson Daly, said that if felt like the beginning of a James Bond movie.

• At times, her vocals felt monotone and less energetic than the music behind her.

• Passero’s falsetto faltered from time to time.

6.5/10

Stellar Moments

Where it Went Wrong

Score /10

• Plake’s falsetto was spot on and had a subtle contrast from the pounding of the piano keys behind him.

• His arrangement, allowing the high energy drums into the piece after the second verse, was brilliant and gave his soft tones an extra boost of soulful power.

• You could hear a pin drop in that place. Plake may be in the Top Four.

• He was hard to hear every once in awhile due to his diction getting a bit messy.

8/10

Stellar Moments

Where it Went Wrong

Score /10

• Her staging was calm, collected, and beautiful. It was very appropriate for the song choice as well.

• Ferguson had a special hint of gravel and grit in her high notes during the final chorus.

• She was pushing down on her higher notes, which needed to have more space.

• The musical arrangement did not carry the energy and momentum that Rihanna’s does.

6.5/10

• Removing the bass and piano was an intelligent move that isolated the classic and delicate feel of Duski’s voice.

• The strings, acoustic guitars, and male background vocals gave the piece a sense of hope and peace.

• According to her coach, she is “important to country music,” and according to Levine, she “will be in the finale.” Duski is a top dog for sure.

• Her vibrato got away from her at a couple of moments.

• Duski did not take advantage of the final measures of the piece in which she could have added an extra run or smooth note.

• Isaiah commanded the melody and worked his way around the tricky rhythms of the piece.

• The mix of synthesizers, acoustic guitars, and shakers brought forth instrumental diversity from his previous songs.

• Stefani only complimented him for remembering the words. That’s it.

• He was pushing the notes out, rather than letting them flow smoothly. Major breath control issues.

• Notes in his upper register were flat and not in sync with the music behind him.

• Larson did a solid job of sticking to the piece’s dark theme and haunting vibe.

• The electric guitar chords and downbeat of the drums guided him throughout transitions between the verses and choruses.

• His ability to toggle with his vocal spectrum was stylish and very effective in displaying his vocal capabilities.

• The first portions of the song’s melody and tempo felt way too slow.

• It was low on energy — like most of the night’s performances — so it didn’t stick out to me as one of the best.

• The violins and background singers brought a sense of intimacy and tranquility into this soulful country song.

• Brown’s falsetto added a feeling for the desire to escape, which is exactly what the song’s message is.

• Brown put on one of her top performances of her season so far.

• Some of her notes in the beginning verse and second half were overly breathy.

• She struck out in the final chorus by choosing to flip into her head voice rather than power through with a belt on the lyrics “teach my feet to fly.”

• Blue’s strength and charisma lit up the audience with passion and a surge of energy.

• His scratchy belt and electric falsetto were completely shocking and fantastic additions to this classic and world-renowned song.

• This was one of the top performances of the entire season.

• His falsetto went flat upon its first arrival but was quickly evened out.

• Staging-wise, he left the mic stand too soon. Another line or so more in the second verse would have been better.