With two contestants left to perform and two open slots remaining, there was little suspense ahead of Tuesday’s final “The Voice” Knockout.
Regardless of who officially won the duel between Matthew Schuler and Will Champlin, both were very obviously advancing into the final round.
But if one interpreted the absence of suspense as a reason to withdraw his eyes and ears from the proceedings, he greatly missed out. Both Schuler and Champlin dazzled in their performances, erasing any doubt that NBC’s show, now in its fifth season, is home to America’s most talented music competition contestants.
In once again mixing his flair for compelling song selection with his relentless vocal conviction, Schuler turned “Cosmic Love” into an undeniable showstopper. On a night with more than its fair share of vocally powerful and emotionally poignant performances, Schuler combined both to create one of the season’s most memorable moments.
Champlin, however, was not one to accept defeat. His raspy, rock-leaning voice gelled brilliantly with the spirit of Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man,” resulting in a performance that felt distinct from–yet every bit as special as–the superb original. Schuler set the bar high with his uniqueness, but Champlin’s undeniable vocal talent thrusted him right to that level.
In the end, Coach Christina Aguilera awarded the round to Matthew Schuler. Adam Levine, however, used his “steal” to reunite with Champlin, assuring both had an opportunity to compete in the live rounds.
Results of Tuesday’s “The Voice” Knockouts, this year’s Top 20 and videos of the performances follow:
Team Adam Levine
Preston Pohl def. Lina Gaudenzi
James Wolpert def. Juhi
Team Blake Shelton
Ray Boudreaux def. EG Daily
Austin Jenckes def. Brandon Chase
Team Christina Aguilera
Jacquie Lee def. Anthony Paul
Matthew Schuler def. Will Champlin
**Adam stole Champlin
Team Cee Lo Green
Tamara Chauniece def. Stephanie Anne Johnson
**Christina stole Johnson
Caroline Pennell def. George Horga, Jr.
The Voice’s Top 20
Team Adam: Preston Pohl, James Wolpert, Tessanne Chin, Grey, Will Champlin
Team Cee Lo: Tamara Chauniece, Caroline Pennell, Amber Nicole, Kat Robichaud, Jonny Gray
Team Christina: Jacquie Lee, Matthew Schuler, Stephanie Anne Johnson, Josh Logan, Olivia Henken
Team Blake: Ray Boudreaux, Austin Jenckes, Cole Vosbury, Nic Hawk, Shelbie Z