dirActing

Mac song is doing nothing for me, sorry. Okay vocal, not perfect, but pretty good, BUT the progression felt very linear, to ne. He needed more to be sure shot for the PV.

NGL, that was heck yeah good! Outro was unfortunately a little off, BUT otherwise the harmonies throughout were REALLY good. Solo parts were nice too, and cue pick ups were snappy and on point. And even if Jordan's tone isn't for me (kinda like Mini Mouse on helium), it is a character voice and I guess it added greater variance to 3 already very different voices. Those 3 voices blended so sweetly though. That was really good, but for the last bit, so: Nini/Mara/Jacquie > BIAS/Ruby/Jordan > Lila/Huntley/Mac

She giving it her all, as Mara always does, and that counts for a lot, but she's only about 90% there with the big notes. Not a bad batting average per se, but four go home and there isn't much room for error (unless you're team country). Also, not quite the perfect match of singer and song, and she's one of those on the cusp that kinda if needed that.

Niall is a REALLY good coach. That was a stellar coaching session. He really went into the weeds with Huntley on that one, and it paid dividends in the performance. IMHO, the first nailed dead-on confirmed finalist of the night. Maybe that never really was in doubt, but tbh Huntley's exile vocal was noticably subpar by his usual standards. This erases that, and then some.

Ladies SLAYED that >>> Exile (the best song of the three, imo, so that's how good I thought that was). Also, tells you something when Jacquie was marginally the least powerful singer of the three (or maybe she was holding back and/or not familiar with singing ad libs). Mara and Nini carried the performance with the mad as libs, but I will say that Nini was noticably more accurate with her runs, so... Nini > Mara > Jacquie But all 3 were phenomenal.

This song alone could book at least 2 of these into the finale. This is smack in Lila's sweet spot. A couple of wonky notes from Huntley, unexpectedly, and Mac kinda went off the rails near the end Lila > Huntley > Mac

Huntley, Mac and Lila get the best trio song....

Really strong opening, that was memorable, but didn't fancy the hokey banjo arrangement as much as minivan probably will. Again, opening apart, not her best vocal. Sounded strained at the top end, plus minor tuning issues. That opening though... That was good, and gets her in the final.

"On the nose" song choice for Ruby. Hopefully she sings the heck out of it, or risk getting lost in the shuffle

Taylor trios are gonna be interesting! Fan week, here we go y'all !!!

I'm seeing the wisdom in this. A popular country song with God in the title, and a Blake Shelton fans pleaser to boot. If done well, and I don't see why not, would be hard for the Shelton voting contingent (that's still watching) to ignore. The song is strongly associated with Miranda Lambert though, and while I don't see Gwen having too big of a problem with that, I could actually see Blake vetoing/advising against the choice in favor of "Nobody But You" (has a prominent God reference in the pre-chorus) instead. And yes, I do believe, despite his public statements, that Blake is shadow advising Gwen this season (her strategy this season is very reminiscent of Blake's in the past, e.g. lives = 1 country singer + 1 teen + 1 AA R&B/Soul singer). In any case, the two songs seem to be equally popular, 100M and 90M YT views respectively, and it might work in the latter song's favor that it is the more current song (but yet has been around long enough to be an established favorite among his fan base, and country fans in general).

Alphabetically (Top 9 song / TRIO song --> IS song) : BIAS - "Nobody But You" (Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani) or "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan) / TRIO w/Team Legend: "exile" (Taylor Swift ft. Bon Iver) --> IS: "Gratitude" (Brandon Lake) or "Thank God I Do" (Lauren Daigle) or "Amazing Grace" (Traditional). Lila Forde - "Glory Box" (Portishead) or "I Miss You, I'm Sorry" (Gracie Abrams) / TRIO w/Team Gwen: "exile" (Taylor Swift ft. Bon Iver) --> IS: "Lover, Acoustic Piano Version" (Taylor Swift) or "A Case of You" or "River" (Joni Mitchell). Huntley - "Three Little Birds" or "Redemption Song" (Bob Marley) / Team Niall TRIO: "Don't Blame Me" (Taylor Swift) --> IS: "Trouble" (Ray LaMontagne) or "Through the Valley" (Shawn James). Nini Iris - 'Us" (Regina Spektor) or "Running Up That Hill" (Kate Bush) / Team Niall TRIO: "Don't Blame Me" (Taylor Swift) --> IS: "Welcome to the Black Parade" (MCR) or "Happier Than Ever" (Billie Eilish). Mara Justine - "Bennie and the Jets" (Elton John) or "Only Love Can Hurt Like That" (Paloma Faith, Xmas Mix) / Team Niall TRIO: "Don't Blame Me" (Taylor Swift) --> IS: "Suspicious Minds" (Elvis Presley) or "Don't Speak" (No Doubt). Ruby Leigh - "Walkin' After Midnight" (Patsy Cline) or "Stars" (Grace Potter & the Nocturnals) / Team Reba TRIO: "Mean" (Taylor Swift) --> IS: "Baby, Now that I Found You" (Alison Krauss & Union Station Version). Jordan Rainer - "Down to the River to Pray" (Alison Krauss & Union Station Version) or "Wade in the Water" (Eva Cassidy Version) / Team Reba TRIO: "Mean" (Taylor Swift) --> IS: "This Town is Killing Me" (Caityn Smith) or "Trouble" (Ray LaMontagne). Jacquie Roar - "Barracuda" or "Alone" (Heart) / Team Reba TRIO: "Mean" (Taylor Swift) --> IS: "Save Me" (Jelly Roll). Mac Royals - "Hell N Back" (Bakar) / TRIO w/Team Gwen: "exile" (Taylor Swift ft. Bon Iver) --> IS: "Jealous" (Labrinth) BIAS Lila Huntley Nini Mara Ruby Jordan Jacque Mac TAYLOR TRIOS (Teams Gwen+John/Niall/Reba)

We see what you did there.

How much time and work was put into those IS performances? That was a disaster, NGL. I know there are nerves, and it's all easier said than done, but that's what rehearsals are for. That's where you put in the work. Either that, or maybe the ear monitors weren't functioning or at the correct levels? How do you go from last night to tonight?

Social data aggregation just about predicted the bottom 4 correctly?

YASSS!!!! NINI !!!!!

Oh my... They're making Nini wait???? WTH!

I liked both Gwen's and Reba's new songs. Singers in their 50s and 60s hardly ever get hits, but they're blessed to still be doing what they llove, which is making music. Good on them!

Not sure tbh, you'd have to ask the haters. Maybe you'll get some responses ..

I actually liked Gwen's new song, which IDF predictably hated. Let's see what the response is to Reba's .. and when was Reba's last hit? Gwen had 2 #1s just a couple of years ago, and her last proper solo album (2017?) went to #1 on the Billboard 200...

Yes, Lila!

Mara deserved. All 3 of Team Nialll tbh

Now I need Nini safe .

Gratz BIAS and Ruby. Deserved. Both will step it up next week.

YASSS!!!! BIAS!!! Alright, alright, alright!