Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Riley Biederer performs during the knockout round on The Voice while Regina Love looks on. (NBC Photo)

Twice, Riley Biederer has been on the verge of elimination on The Voice.

Twice, she’s been rescued.

The Team Pharrell member is hardly complaining about the close calls. She says tough battle and knockout round matches have better prepared her for the live playoffs, which begin Monday.

And she says she benefited from her short time on Team Gwen in ways we didn’t see on TV.

In Monday’s final knockout round matches, Riley was pitted against R&B powerhouse Regina Love. She received high praise for her performance of Beyonce’s “XO,” but Gwen Stefani declared Regina the victor.

Pharrell saved Riley with his only knockout round steal, allowing the young woman from Atlanta, Ga., to rejoin the team on which she started Season 9.

“I’ve been put up against two really, really, really amazing performers so it has been a little bit intimidating and nerve-racking,” Riley, 19 when she auditioned, said Tuesday. “But at the same time it really helps me up my game and give it everything I’ve got.

Riley Biederer performs “XO” during the knockout round on The Voice. (NBC Photo)

They’ve also left Riley somewhat uniquely positioned entering the live playoffs. The Voice Top 20 is loaded with minors (six) and country singers (five). There are three female singer-songwriter types.

Riley is just one of two females — and certainly the most experienced — who would label herself a pop performer. And that helps explain her knockout round song choice.

“I sat in my house and I just sang through literally like 50 songs. And I wanted to capture something that was kind of the genre that I’m really trying to do,” she said. “The type of music that I really want to make is pop music, but it has the R&B, more soulful influence.”

That meant something by Beyonce — as challenging at it might be — would be perfect. And Riley said “XO” is one of her “more poppy songs.”

The result was Riley’s best performance to date and a cover that cracked the iTunes’ singles chart.

Riley said she cherished the feedback she got from both Gwen and Rihanna, saying they definitely helped her musically.

As for that special advice from Gwen that we missed out on …

“I was having a little bit of trouble figuring out my style — you know, the fashion aspect,” Riley said. “We spent a good 10 minutes talking about that. They were like, ‘I get you and I know what you want to wear.’ I went back and I changed my entire wardrobe like the day before (the knockout round).

“I think that’s the main thing I’m so grateful for. I just have a little bit more confidence now that I’m in outfits and stuff that I really love. It really helps me to be more confident on the stage and sing and focus on the music.”

Check back Monday for live blogging as the Top 20 perform on The Voice.