If crowd reaction is an indicator of success on “The Voice,” neither Michelle Chamuel nor Sasha Allen has anything to worry about come Tuesday’s results show. Both proved that vocals, while obviously essential to “The Voice,” are not all a contestant needs to electrify the live audience.
Through intense, emotional renditions of two pop-country smashes, the two contestants each worked the live crowd into frenzies, achieving the showing of affectionate excitement normally reserved for major stars.
With approval from Taylor Swift herself, Michelle Chamuel’s rendition of “I Knew You Were Trouble” spared no grit, enabling the quirky Team Usher contestant to showcase the unique edge that sometimes gets lost beneath her squeaky-clena vocals. Musically, this was far from Chamuel’s best performance, but the combination of headbanging energy and unironic drama assured it will reign as her most memorable.
But for as dim a shadow as “Trouble” cast, Sasha Allen proved more than capable of locating her own light on a jazzy version of Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats.” Allen’s overwhelming vocal attack occasionally clashed with the melody, as it often does on pop songs, but when the opportunity came to belt, Allen proved why she’s the true powerhouse of “The Voice” Season 4.
Unlike her past few stabs at contemporary pop, Allen also demonstrated far more comfort, oozing an enviable mix of sex appeal and charisma in an immensely poised and confident performance. “Before He Cheats” would not have been the most natural choice for Allen had this been a radio competition, but with the stage in play, it could not have been more valuable to her run on “The Voice.”
Earlier in the night, Allen focused more prominently on the vocal side of her game with “Ain’t No Way.” Musically, the breathtaking vocal masterclass was one of the best performances of the season, and though it definitely comes with the risk of dating Allen–and thus alienating her to younger voters–it was a strategic necessity after last week’s “Without You” disappointment.
The powerhouse “Diva” element of Sasha’s game definitely comes with a ceiling, one that might be too low for victory on “The Voice,” but it’s also her truest advantage over the other contestants and her best weapon for standing out.
Chamuel, meanwhile, likely kept her fans happy with a safe, reliable rendition of “Somewhere Only We Know.”
Though Allen and Chamuel reigned as the evening’s MVPs, Danielle Bradbery did little to hurt her standing as the competition’s truest frontrunner. With an endearing version of “Shake the Sugar Tree” and an epic conclusion to an otherwise-respectable rendition of “A Little Bit Stronger,” Bradbery played the Top 6 round entirely safe but firmly within the preferences of her fanbase.
Following last week’s show-stealing “Skyfall,” Amber Carrington again proved that her sweet spot is in the area between country and jazz. A surprisingly-sloppy delivery prevented “I Remember You” from properly resonating, but her later take on the iconic “Crazy” showed an impressive combination of vocal control, emotional mastery and irrefutable authenticity, giving her the edge over Holly Tucker, whose attempts at “When God-Fearin’ Women Get the Blues” and “My Wish,” though vocally decent, felt flat and disconnected.
No one would confuse The Swon Brothers for the show’s strongest vocalists, but it is even less likely one would dare question their charm. Neither “Wagon Wheel” nor “Okie from Muskogee” will ever enter a conversation about iconic “Voice” performances, but as far as fun moments go, both delivered as desired.
Only five of the six acts will survive Tuesday’s results show. Performance highlights follow: