‘The Voice’: Watch Koryn Hawthorne Belt Out Ed Sheeran’s “Make It Rain”

Caila Ball-Dionne | April 21, 2015 4:46 am

The Voice has reached David Letterman countdown territory, people! Yes – it’s Top 10 contestant time! All four coaches still have horses in the race – for now, anyway – and as former Voice advisor Ellie Goulding would say: Anything could happen.

Actually, here’s a list of things that probably couldn’t happen: It’s looking slim-to-nil for another Adam Levine victory, as neither of his two remaining contestants had standout evenings. Christina Aguilera won’t dole out undeserved compliments to anyone outside her team at this point, or really any compliments that aren’t of the backhanded variety. Blake Shelton won’t veer off the country path for Corey Kent White (and he’ll probably try to get Meghan Linsey back on that path as well). And Pharrell – well kind-hearted Pharrell won’t send anything but peace, love and good vibes to everyone around him. There’s a reason he’s everyone’s bestie.

With these exceptions to the “anything could happen” rule, the Top 10 went head to head to head to – well, you get it – in their quest for the Top 8. Some continued on their upward path with help of advisors Mark Ronson, Scott Hendricks, Dave Stewart and Ryan Tedder, while others stumbled into forgettable territory.

All, however, started in the exact same place: an obligatory group performance. The Top 10 perform two Elton John numbers: “Rocket Man” and “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.” It would have been considerably better with actual Elton John, but the ten had to save their voices for the actual vote winners.

Team Christina: Kimberly Nichole

Kimberly Nichole leads off the Top 10 with “Something’s Got A Hold On Me” by Etta James. Before helping her give the song a rock edge, advisor Mark Ronson notes that her performance of “House Of The Rising Sun” knocked “Uptown Funk” – his collaboration with Bruno Mars – out of its number 2 iTunes position last week (so, like, probably best not to advise too well). Kimberly’s nightclub career at The Box really comes into play with her sultry stage presence as she crushes another performance.

“That was lights out. That was crazy,” says Adam. “These conversations need to get real serious about you winning this thing.”

“You can do it all, and you come out here and you slay it every time,” says Christina. “You bring the house down every single time.

Team Christina: Rob Taylor

Rob Taylor shows his multiple talents during Donny Hathaway’s “A Song For You.” He plays the piano, and jumps octaves like it’s nobody’s business (except Christina’s, obviously). The only complaint here is that the song itself is a bit of a snooze compared to some of the more current (or currently arranged) songs of the night, which could hurt him with iTunes downloads.

“You came out here and you just sang it and just expressed yourself,” says Pharrell. “It was an immaculate job.”

“That really showed a different side of you, and it opened up a whole different side of vulnerability,” says Christina. “I was totally inspired and so moved.”

Team Christina: India Carney

India Carney steps onto sacred ground, which, in Voice language, means she sings either a Whitney Houston or Adele song. In this case, it’s Whitney’s “Run To You.  India sticks very close to the original, but executes masterfully.

“It was such a beautiful performance,” says her former (and probably deeply regretful) coach, Pharrell.

“Why are you so good?” says Christina. “You made the song your own beautiful thing.”

Team Adam: Joshua Davis

With every week of the competition, Joshua Davis’ eyes seem to be getting more and more hypnotizing. His performance, however, does not match the intensity in his steel-blue stare. Though his face reads sincerity, his performance of James Bay’s “Hold Back the River” falls flat vocally. Joshua struggles in his whispery lower register, and hits his stride a bit too little too late in the song for this point of the competition.

“This song vocally pushed you harder than you’ve ever been pushed on this show,” says Blake.

“We had to take a risk here,” says Adam. “In some ways, it didn’t pay off, but in the most important ways it did.”

Team Adam: Deanna Johnson

Adam is convinced that Deanna Johnson – last week’s instant save – has 60 to 70 percent more to give (in his scientific mathematical estimation). After calculating that there are only a few weeks left of the season, anyone can use Voice math to gather that this is the time to give said additional percentage. Deanna sings Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody to Love,” and – though it still doesn’t reach the full potential she demonstrated in the Blind Auditions and Top 20 – she ups it to at least 75 percent. Maybe even 80.

“That sounded pretty challenging,” says Christina. “I commend you for rising to the occasion, the challenging and pushing yourself.”

“I’m just happy that you’re going up there on live television right now, and it looks like you’re having fun,” says Adam. “That makes me feel like we’ve accomplished something very good.”

Team Blake: Hannah Kirby

It’s always fun when a new mentor meets Hannah Kirby for the first time. Her dance moves and intense stares must be even more impactful live, because they prompt Blake’s advisor Scott Hendricks to declare, “She’s possessed.”

In lieu of an exorcism, Hannah sings, “Shout” by Tears For Fears. Even for those who have yet to convert to Hannah-ism have to admit that the performance is exceptional. She fully commits to her vocal and to the military theme, and it ties together beautifully.

“You’re like growing up right before my eyes, and becoming like this superstar person,” says Christina, who compares her look to Janet Jackson circa the Rhythm Nation era.

“When it comes to singing, you truly are a freak of nature,” says Blake. “My eyeballs would have popped out of my head if I did something like that.” Now isn’t that a visual?

Team Blake: Meghan Linsey

Meghan Linsey follows up last week’s impressive “Girl Crush” performance with her own rendition of Marc Broussard’s “Home.” Her consistent improvement during the live round continues, and the performance certainly builds her momentum.

“That was not only your best performance, but that threw you way up to the top,” says Adam.

Blake is rendered practically speechless. “That was incredible, wow,” he says.

Team Blake: Corey Kent White

It’s another Oklahoma meeting of the minds when Corey Kent White works with fellow Okies Blake Shelton and Scott Hendricks. The three turn to classic country, specifically George Strait’s “Unwound.” Apparently, Corey botches the lyrics, which might have gone widely unnoticed if Blake hadn’t called it out in his comments.

“Every time it seems you get more comfortable and better,” says Adam.

“We have to talk about the lyric flub up there,” says Blake. “You didn’t get away with it, because they know this song well,” he adds of the country fans.

Team Pharrell: Koryn Hawthorne

Koryn Hawthorne bumps the competition up a notch with her Top 10 performance. She sings Ed Sheeran’s “Make It Rain,” and shows even more week-to-week improvement. Not only is it her most vocally impressive performance to date, but it’s also the most emotionally invested the young singer has appeared.

“That was your best performance yet on the show,” Christina says to her former contestant. “Tonight’s a sad night that you’re not on my team.”

“You have earned the title ‘inspirational singer,’ because this room is inspired right now. America is inspired,” says Pharrell, who will be handling class superlatives. “We all feel lifted.”

Team Pharrell: Sawyer Fredericks

Team Pharrell’s man-genue Sawyer Fredericks takes it back – ’90s style – with the Goo Goo Dolls. Sawyer sings “Iris,” a song that soared to the top of the charts before he was born. (Yes, there is a good chance Sawyer Fredericks considers “Iris” a Golden Oldie, which is only depressing if you think about it for too long.) The young singer has delivered consistently solid performances, and this one is no different.

For his sake, his Top 8 performance should incorporate an element of surprise, though, as “no different” often equals “no victory.”

“I really liked Tedder’s collaboration,” says Christina. “It’s awesome as usual.”

“Congratulations. It went totally the way you wanted it to go,” says Pharrell. “It’s crazy how you go from zero to sixty in like three seconds.”

Carson Daly announces the results tonight after group performances by Adam Levine and Pharrell’s teams, and a special performance by onetime advisor Reba McEntire. Any guesses as to who gets the axe?