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It's been surprisingly exciting over the last few weeks to watch Tacoma's Vicci Martinez rise through the ranks of NBC's singing competition, The Voice. It's been must-see TV, from those first electrifying moments in her audition when she nailed Adele's "Rolling in the Deep," to her precedent-setting duet on Pink's "Perfect" in the battle rounds, and on through her rendition of "Jolene" which took her to the top eight. Last week, Martinez destroyed Florence + the Machine's absurdly catchy "The Dog Days Are Over," securing a space in the final four.
Tonight's episode - which will air at 9 p.m. Pacific Time - marks the first of a two-part season finale. After the final four perform tonight, we'll all vote, and the results will be revealed on Wednesday's show (8 p.m. Pacific Time).
Look, I know that I've badgered all you guys to vote, and it seems like you've done so in spades. Let's take that as read.
In preparation for the final two episodes of this season of The Voice, I'd like to sum up the complicated feelings I have for the show.
1. Christina Aguilera does not enjoy seeing other people succeed. But, if they do, she would prefer they sing and act exactly like her. I'm not saying she's a sociopath, but, well, maybe I am.
2. I'd like to see any of the judges on American Idol take the time to write and read a poem for the contestants, as we saw Cee-Lo Green do last week. Even a poem as clumsy-although endearingly sincere-as Cee-Lo's will never come anywhere close to passing the lips of Randy Jackson or Steven Tyler. Granted, Jennifer Lopez seems like the kind that might send a conscientious fruit basket, or something, but it's not quite the same.
3. Contestants who perform as duos on The (singular) Voice are cheaters, and were thankfully treated as such. Go back to your creepy, farmers-market-performing family, Thompson sisters. And don't get me started on the husband/wife team of Elenowen. That husband totally dodged a bullet when they didn't advance to the next round. His wife was miles out of his league and was visibly counting the seconds until she could shake the dust of her husband's parent's basement from her feet and run off with, I don't know, Carson Daly.
4. Was it the rest of the judges' plan the whole time to force Adam Levine into looking like an asshole? It seems to me that Levine was the only one who approached the singing competition like a competition. What, with the rest of the judges splitting their points 50-50 among their proteges and Levine splitting them 65-35 (for reasons too complicated to even approach), they chicken-shitted their way to looking like sweethearts, while leaving Levine out in the cold. I'd expect something like this from noted sociopath Christina Aguilera-but you, Blake Shelton?
5. From the very beginning, Vicci Martinez was ahead of the pack. As the weeks dwindled down, this only became more apparent. Regardless of who takes the prize, the producers of the show seem to recognize the talent they have in Martinez from the start, and it feels like she'll be well taken care of in one way or another in the aftermath of this show. Even so! Let's make her number one, people! After tonight's performance, you will have four ways to vote, and ten votes per method. That's forty votes apiece. I think we can make this happen
And if-however unlikely it is-Ms. Aguilera's representatives are reading this, please don't destroy me. I have a strong back and low self-esteem, should you need me to join her army.
LINKS
APRIL 27: Vicci Martinez shows America her voice -- an interview
MAY 11: Vicci Martinez advances to next round NBC's The Voice
JUNE 7: Tonight: NBC's The Voice opens things up to viewers
JUNE 14: Vicci Martinez needs your vote on tonight's The Voice