Idol Chatter & Voice Views

The Voice Top 12 take the stage Monday night when the finals begin.

Check back then. I’ll be living blogging throughout the show and providing song by song grades as each singer performs.

In the meantime, here’s how I’d rank the Top 12 based on where I expect them to finish.

And if you missed my blog about the show’s social media leaders, head here.

1. Sawyer Fredericks (Team Pharrell): It’s not difficult to understand Sawyer’s appeal. He’s an excellent performer. He’s remarkably composed for his age (15 when he auditioned). He’s cute. And he’s humble. His reaction after turning four chairs in the blind audition: “Life hasn’t changed on the farm (where he lives).” Oh, and he’s been the iTunes leader every time he’s performed so far this season.

2. Joshua Davis (Team Adam): He’s the show’s oldest remaining contestant, but viewers have shown a willingness to embrace veteran performers when they produce (remember Tony Lucca?). And Joshua has produced at every stage of the competition. In fact, last week’s cover of “Budapest” might have been his best yet, and it cracked the Top 30 on iTunes.

3. Corey Kent White (Team Blake): Voice fans also love to support country singers (Danielle Bradbery, Craig Wayne Boyd) and cast members who sing country (Cassadee Pope). And this year, all of Blake’s country hopes hinge on one guy — Corey — who also happens to be the show’s reigning social media king, something that can’t be dismissed should an instant save be needed.

4. DeAnna Johnson (Team Adam): This ranking is just a hunch based on … 1. She has a wonderfully unique voice. 2. She looks like an angel. 3. Despite #1 and #2, she struggles with insecurity on stage. 4. Who can’t relate to that? 5. She has Adam Levine and his crafty song choices on her side. 6. Add a sizable fan base, and DeAnna might be the last lady still signing.

5. Kimberly Nichole (Team Christina): Christina has two ladies on her team with championship worthy voices. I’m ranking the young woman otherwise known as the Rock Ballerina first because I think she’s most likely to set the stage on fire with her personality. Last week’s ending on “What’s Up” was magnificent, wasn’t it?

6. India Carney (Team Christina): And Voice voters have been surprisingly indifferent to superb R&B singers (Amanda Brown, Judith Hill). India falls in the same category, so if I’m Christina, I serve up an endless string of surprising song choices that showcase India’s versatility. And I shy away from R&B standards that have been performed time and again on the show.

7. Meghan Linsey (Team Blake): She’s a former country singer with a yearning to perform soulful music and a real knack for doing so. And she’s singing for Team Blake. The song choices could be quite interesting. Blake handed Meghan a surprising pick for the live playoffs — OneRepublic’s “Love Runs Out” — and she slayed it.

8. Mia Z. (Team Pharrell): Hold it, I’m already at number eight and I’m just now typing the stage name for Mia Zanotti, the 15-year-old from Pittsburgh who sings the blues like she’s been doing it for 15 years? That just shows how deep and talented the Season 8 cast of The Voice is.

9. Hannah Kirby (Team Blake): She arrives on stage with a take-no-prisoners attitude and some funky dance moves. It doesn’t hurt that she’s been showcased more than the other three singers who needed saves to make the finals. And she’s got a country background, so don’t be surprised if Blake has her “go country” a time or two.

10. Brian Johnson (Team Adam): Mr. Likable says he’s actually gotten some apologies from individuals who bullied him in middle and high school since his blind audition (and his story of being bullied) aired on The Voice. Delivering emotional performances is his forte.

11. Rob Taylor (Team Christina): He’s got a wonderful falsetto and was a deserving recipient of Christina’s coach’s save during the live playoffs. But he’s also got one of the smallest social media fan bases of the remaining singers.

12. Koryn Hawthorne (Team Pharrell): She’s been one of the show’s Season 8 surprises thanks to her wonderful performances of “Try” in the knockout round and “How Great Thou Art” in the live playoffs. But she’s also going up against some incredible talent and lots more experienced performers in the finals