Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Get ready for three nights of The Voice this week, with two teams performing in the live playoffs on Monday, two teams performing on Tuesday and the results being revealed on Wednesday. Remember, two singers advance based on fan votes; then each coach selects a third singer to move forward.

By the time Wednesday’s episode ends, the field of 20 will have been whittled to 12 finalists.

Check back all three nights. I’ll be blogging live throughout.

Now for a look at the members of Team Gwen and some predictions …

Anita Antoinette

Background: From Boston, Mass., she was 24 when she auditioned. She also tried out in Season 3, but failed to turn a chair. She has also performed as Anita Fearon; her dad is longtime reggae singer Clinton Fearon.
Blind audition: Sang Bob Marley’s “Turn Your Lights Down Low” and got all four coaches to turn their chairs.
Battle round: Defeated Mayra Alvarez; they sang Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now.”
Knockout round: Defeated Craig Wayne Boyd with a performance of “Rude” by Magic! Her foe was stolen by Blake Shelton.

Bryana Salaz

Background: From San Antonio, Texas, she was 16 when she auditioned. In 2011, she made it to the Vegas finals on America’s Got Talent. She also had a job performing at Sea World in San Antonio.
Blind audition: Turned three chairs singing Ariana Grande’s “Problem.”
Battle round: Defeated Gianna Salvato; they performed “Boom Clap” by Charlie XCX in a match that wasn’t aired.
Knockout round: Defeated Sugars Joans with a performance of “Heart Attack” by Demi Lovato.

Ricky Manning

Background: From Cape Coral, Fla., he was 19 when he auditioned. Rather than going to college after graduating, he decided to try music for a year and had been playing music in the New York subways pre-Voice.
Blind audition: He sang John Newman’s “Love Me Again” and turned two chairs.
Battle round: He defeated Team Pharrell teammate Brittany Butler; they performed “On Broadway” by George Benson.
Knockout round: He performed Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball,” but the knockout round win went to Elyjuh Rene. No matter, Gwen stole Ricky proclaiming “I feel like I might have just won The Voice.”

Ryan Sill

Background: From Sterling, Va., he was 20 when he auditioned. He went to James Madison University to study engineering, but also started singing with the a cappella group Exit 245 and sang lead on an acclaimed cover of “Titanium.”
Blind audition: He performed OneRepublic’s “Secrets” and enticed two judges to turn their chairs.
Battle round: He defeated Jessie Pitts; they sang “I Need Your Love” by Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding. Jessie was stolen by Blake Shelton.
Knockout round: He defeated Beth Spangler with a performance of Ne-Yo’s “Miss Independent.”

Taylor John Williams

Background: From Portland, Oregon, he was 23 when he auditioned. He describes himself as a soulful folk singer-songwriter and released a five-track EP “Proverbial Elephant” as Taylor Williams in 2009.
Blind audition: His stripped-down version of “Heartless” prompted two coaches to turn their chairs.
Battle round: He defeated Amanda Lee Peers; they performed Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.”
Knockout round: He defeated Troy Ritchie with a performance of “Mad World” by Tears for Fears.

Prediction

Anita Antoinette has one of the most distinct voices on Season 7, so I have no doubt she’ll be in the Top 12. I’d have a better feel for Bryana Salaz if we have seen her battle round match; instead it was part of a montage.

I suspect two of the three cute guys on Team Gwen will make the finals. I’ll predict Ricky Manning, who has the biggest following on social media, and Taylor John Williams, who was superb in the blind audition and knockout round.

Go here for a look where all the contestants rank in terms of social media support.