Week of Dec. 8-14
‘The X Factor’ vs. ‘The Voice’
On “The X Factor,” Emblem3 got the ax this week, as Carly Rose Sonenclar, Tate Stevens and Fifth Harmony moved on. During “The Voice,” Trevin Hunte was sent home, leaving Nicholas David, Terry McDermott and Cassadee Pope to duke it out.
Has America made the right call? Cast your vote for the top performers below and see what our experts had to say about how “The Voice” and “X Factor” contestants compared this week.
Roll over the photos below to watch the performances. Explain your vote in the comments and you could end up featured.
Chris Barton
Music Writer
Todd Martens
Music Writer
Amy Reiter
Television Writer
Your Favorites
13,504 votes
Nicholas David
Rocking on
"YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL"
Nicholas David taking on Joe Cocker is an obvious choice, but let's not quibble, the guy nailed it. Whatever "indifferences" went on behind the scenes with his coach, David is still the front-runner, baffling rocking chair and all -- David sure knows how to accessorize.
Terry McDermott
Letting it be
"LET IT BE"
In a nervy choice (who wants to be compared with McCartney?) McDermott acquitted himself nicely with this classic, even though the lighter-lifting arena rock bombast ran a little thick. Just keep him away from "Yesterday" -- the Beatles are now officially off limits.
Cassadee Pope
Not so 'Stupid'
"STUPID BOY"
Like many singing competitors, the adventurously spelled Cassadee Pope struggles with sounding like a real, live human instead of a note-copying karaoke robot. But after an opening that sounded more petulant than passionate, this Keith Urban song suited her well.
Tate Stevens
Watch the fumes
"BONFIRE"
Oh, how country music loves its songs about people who love country music. While wondering if the ever-understated "X Factor" could do any more to underscore Stevens’ working-class roots, you have to give him credit for belting this out in the midst of a tire fire. That’s not easy.
Carly Rose Sonenclar
Cracks in the armor
"YOUR SONG"
You know what’s fun? Hearing a 13-year-old sing about buying a house. While chances are this will really happen once this competition is decided, the possibly human Carly Rose 3000 overreached a bit with Elton John. Still, her unnervingly mature programming stands out.
Nicholas David
Slow-dance maestro
"YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL"
A glasses-free David had the waterworks flowing big time. Though the song is instantly recognizable, David has a knack for making everything feel lived in, as if his version is the one that's cropping up on weekend weddings for decades.
Cassadee Pope
No longer a blank slate
"STUPID BOY"
Finally, Cassaddee Pope's appeal started to make sense. The former rock 'n' roller has been gradually made over into a country hopeful by coach Blake Shelton. Her amendable anonymity has found a comfort zone.
Carly Rose Sonenclar
Piano, too?!?
"IMAGINE"
Sonenclar and her coach Britney Spears should be punished from bringing out this singing-competition staple. The little prodigy also overdid it, opting for beauty pageant flourishes rather than simplicity. But wait, she can play the piano too? Give her the prize, already.
Fifth Harmony
'X-Factor,' princess edition
"ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN"
The last stand from destined-to-go-home girl group Fifth Harmony was all sugar and sparkles. The five-piece looked like cake figurines for a Disney princess-themed party, and the sound was equally confectionery.
Trevin Hunte
Wrong song!
Trevin was a goner after getting all obvious with this ballad. No one deserves to advance if they're going to sing a song most of us associate with "Beaches," but it was still a shame to see Hunte, one of the more impassioned vocalists, leave the show.
Terry McDermott
Mother Mary, he can sing
"LET IT BE"
The production values were over the top -- stained-glass projections, celestial lighting -- for McDermott's take on the Beatles' classic, but there was nothing overwrought about his singing. His voice was pure and powerful, his performance altogether arresting.
Cassadee Pope
Semifinals, smartly played
"STUPID BOY"
Pope hasn't been among my favorites on "The voice" this season. Something about her vibrato sets me on edge. But on this Keith Urban song she harnessed that nervous flutter to fine emotional effect, and crescendoing to full voice, rendered it a non-issue.
Nicholas David
Beautiful, but not up to his usual standard
"YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL"
I've been pulling for David to win, but something was a bit off here. Was it the odd set, the panicked look on his "girl's" face as their toddler fussed, or something ailing the singer? All I know is, this wasn't David's best, but even on an off night, he ain't bad.
Emblem3
Love the way they have fun onstage
"BABY, I LOVE YOUR WAY"
It was fun to see these three ebullient young men do their loose-limbed thing on their mom's favorite Peter Frampton song. They seemed to get a real charge out of taking the song apart and putting it back together with a reggae beat and a rap – so we did too.
Tate Stevens
Firing up his fan base
"BONFIRE"
After so many ballads, it was a pleasure to see this country boy kick up his heels and raise a cup to good times with his buddies. The stage effects -- heaps of tires, bursts of flame, a platform that went up and down -- were rather much, but Stevens stood up to them and shined.
Nicholas David
3,632 votes
@dtbeard79: "@thefeelin soul and emotion has worked beautifully for you so far, keep it going!"
@Alirosefisch: "If Nicholas David doesn't win the voice...I will eat my own face. #thevoice"
Carly Rose Sonenclar
2,685 votes
@VaynZayn: "Carly Rose Sonenclar is so talented it's unreal"
@DareRius: "#letspretend that The other contestants of Xfactor do not exist because the only Winner of Xfactor would be @CarlyRoseMusic"
Cassadee Pope
2,480 votes
@ksolhjoo: "Cassadee Pope's rendition of Keith Urban's "Stupid Boy" is utterly incredible. #marryme #dreamgirl @CassadeePope"
@tankythefranky: "I want to buy all of Cassadee Pope's songs on iTunes. All. Of. Them."
Terry McDermott
2,188 votes
@NBCTheVoice: "I think @TerryMacMusic is a guy that can make classic rock cool & current again." @blakeshelton
@Peachk26: "Watching reruns of The Voice on demand. @TerryMacMusic is just a perfect picture of cool! I love him!"
Trevin Hunte
1,026 votes
@JordansBlog: "Honestly... Your voice is of an angel @Tamor_11 and you are incredible! Such a bright future ahead for you!!!! :)"
@DevynDeLoera: "I love you @Tamor_11. You are a TRUE talent. You are such a star..."