Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Hunter Plake (left), Brennley Brown and Troy Ramey pose with Gwen Stefani. All three members of Team Gwen are in the Top 6 in this week’s Voice View rankings. (NBC Photo)

The Season 12 finals begin Monday night on The Voice.

Shania Twain will serve as adviser for all the contestants and, from what I understand, voting is back to normal.

That means it begins at the end of the show and ends at noon eastern time on Tuesday. And be sure not to download those tunes from iTunes until the show ends. If you download earlier, it won’t count as a vote.

One member of the Top 12 will be eliminated Tuesday night. And one will receive an instant save from fans via Twitter.

Here are the Voice View rankings of the Season 12 Top 12.

Disagree? Agree? Let me know by commenting below.

And be sure to follow along with the live blog Monday night beginning at 8 p.m. I’ll be grading all the performances as soon as they end.

1. Hunter Plake (Team Gwen): He’s topped everyone from the show on iTunes for the last three rounds, so I think it’s safe to proclaim Hunter the Season 12 favorite. And he’s doing it by using the David Cook strategy from American Idol Season 7, putting his own spin on classic hits. We all remember how well that worked for David.

2. Lauren Duski (Team Blake): For a country singer who hasn’t released music of her own, Lauren has an impressive fan base. And she’s the only Season 12 Voice contestant to crack the iTunes Top 200 in all fours rounds so far. Plus, she’s got the proverbial ace in the hole — Coach Blake Shelton, who’s been down this road with a country singer a time or two.

3. Brennley Brown (Team Gwen): She’s got a great smile, an engaging personality and she’s riding the wave of two superb performances. And, remember, she’s one of the Season 12 contestants who would have been too young to audition in any past season. Please, Gwen, keep her in the country lane. And if Blake whispers song suggestions, listen. And take the advice.

4. Chris Blue (Team Alicia): Talk about on-stage charisma — well, this guy’s got it. He’s also got the talent to win the show. He proved that again in the live playoffs. If he falls short, it might have more to do with Voice fans’ music preferences than any lack of ability on his part.

5. Stephanie Rice (Team Alicia): Love her back-story. But, more importantly, she’s backed it up with a series of solid, emotion-filled performances. And did you notice how she put down the guitar and slipped behind the keys in the playoffs? She’s the female on this list I’m most eager to hear new music from post-show.

6. Troy Ramey (Team Gwen): And this is the guy I’m most eager to hear from post-Voice, partly because of my appreciation of the music he’s already released. Based on those originals, I don’t think we’ve seen Troy’s best yet. Another note to Gwen: Let Troy pick the songs. That “Nothing Compares 2 U” selection for JChosen was downright scary.

7. Vanessa Ferguson (Team Alicia): She delivers spot-on vocals and performs like a seasoned pro every time she steps on The Voice stage. The only reason she’s this low in the rankings is because Voice viewers have an absolutely woeful history when it comes to supporting female R&B singers past age 20.

8. Jesse Larson (Team Adam): During his interview with the media following the blind audition, Jesse said The Voice required a different mindset. That he’s not used to the limelight; he’s used to sharing it with a group of singers. But, dang, he looks so comfortable in that limelight, doesn’t he?

9. Aliyah Moulden (Team Blake): For all the talk about The Voice’s youth movement, Aliyah is one of only two minors in the finals. Could she finish higher than this? Oh, yeah. She’s got a big voice, Blake as a coach and every bit as much star power as past finalists Koryn Hawthorne, Jacquie Lee and We McDonald.

10. Lilli Passero (Team Adam): She lands here not because of any vocal shortcomings, but because of the throwback music she prefers and the fact that her performances tend to be more subtle. Subtlety isn’t always rewarded on televised singing competitions. That said, fans voted her into the Top 12. And put her playoff song in the iTunes Top 200.

11. TSoul (Team Blake): This guy has tons of fun on stage and is one of the show’s more unique performers. He also has one of the biggest followings on social media. Which is why I was baffled by the fact that he needed Blake’s save to make the finals. He needs an outstanding Top 12 performance to prove he’s a contender.

12. Mark Isaiah (Team Adam): I understand Mark’s appeal to the show. He’s a young male pop singer in a Top 12 that doesn’t have another. But his last two vocals, frankly, were not finals worthy. That needs to change come Monday. One factor working in his favor: He, too, has a large social media following. And his hometown Pa. fans will be watching in prime time if a Twitter save is needed.

Jesse Larson (left), Mark Isaiah and Lilli Passero pose with Adam Levine on The Voice. (NBC Photo)

Stephanie Rice (left), Vanessa Ferguson and Chris Blue pose with Alicia Keys of The Voice. (NBC Photo)

Aliyah Moulden (left), TSoul and Lauren Duski pose with Blake Shelton on The Voice. (NBC Photo)