Tonight was The Voice UK’s results shows before the Semi-Final, and the show’s bosses must be glad, given the controversy over recorded results, falling ratings and last night’s technical glitch that has taken the shine off the show’s successful start.
This evening's show summed up one of the show’s paradoxes – that the more average the singers, the more compelling the results show. This is because when there are a couple of stand-out talents on a team we all know who’ll be smiling when the results are read out.
The night began with performance from Ruth and Leanne (Tom’s Team) of Florence and the Machine’s ‘Shake It Out’. It may be because that particular song has been everywhere for so long, but it’s the first time we’ve felt slightly underwhelmed by Ruth. Still, better for her to have a bad week when it doesn’t matter a jot.
Next we saw who on Jessie’s team wouldn’t have to sweat it out in the V Room, which seems to be a bit like death row for TV talent show contestants, but with an inappropriately happy Reggie Yates and a giant Twitter screen. Avoiding all this was Vince Kidd, who the public voted through despite looking like the ghost of the year 1992.
Paloma Faith then performed her new single ‘Picking Up The Pieces’. We’ve seen Paloma before of course, in the Battle Rounds, and she had a few choice words to say about the show afterwards. Putting her differences aside, she was pretty darn good actually.
After Paloma’s welcome interlude, it was Danny’s team’s turn to face the public, and Bo Bruce made it through ahead of Max, Aleks and David. Bo progressing could be a good indicator as to how the final rounds play out, as it showed that the public don’t resent her for being unfathomably posh and already a music industry insider. In other words, people aren’t voting on cuddly backstories and easy charm.
The most tension filled moment of the night of course comes when we say goodbye to the acts, and this week it was especially interesting as no one really stood out. Jessie J picked Becki Hill over Toni Warne and Cassius Henry, probably the right choice due to the teenager’s appealing feistiness.
On Team Danny Max Milner was chosen over David Julien and Aleks Josh. He could have picked any of the three and we probably wouldn’t know the difference, except Max wears a hat, which obviously swung it. Aleks, the youngest, looked utterly devastated.
However Tyler and Jaz Ellington showed why he shouldn’t be too upset: their version of The Police’s ‘Roxanne’ was evidence of exactly why Max is likely to be little more than cannon fodder next week. will.i.am, their coach, rightly looked rather smug.
After these troubled few weeks it is rather a relief to reach The Voice's Semi-Finals and a real contest between the coaches again. With the exception of Bo, who seems to have overcome her negatives, will.i.am and Sir Tom Jones and their contestants appear to be sitting pretty.
What did you think of tonight's show?
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