The four coaches of The Voice — Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera and Cee-Lo Green — are perhaps the unlikeliest quarter to ever share a stage.
And the truth is, they didn’t always click in the several performances they gave to open or close episodes of the show. The result was about as disjointed as you’d expect it to be.
But this performance, of Cee-Lo’s big hit ‘Crazy’ (which he recorded as part of Gnarls Barkley) was a case where the four coaches really meshed.
The producers of The Voice, as well as the studio heads of the various record labels who release the music these four make, would be happy to hear that I’m a fan of each of them thanks to this show. I don’t know that I’ll buy any of their albums but you can bet I’ll be tuning in the next time they take the stage together.
I remember when I lost my mind
There was something so pleasant about that place
Even your emotions have an echo in so much space
And when you’re out there without care
Yeah, I was out of touch
But it wasn’t because I didn’t know enough
I just knew too much
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Possibly
And I hope that you are
Having the time of your life
But think twice
That’s my only advice
Come on now, who do you
Who do you, who do you, who do you think you are?
Ha ha ha, bless your soul
You really think you’re in control?
Well, I think you’re crazy
I think you’re crazy
I think you’re crazy
Just like me
My heroes had the heart
To lose their lives out on a limb
And all I remember
Is thinking, I want to be like them
Ever since I was little
Ever since I was little
It looked like fun
And it’s no coincidence I’ve come
And I can die when I’m done
But maybe I’m crazy
Maybe you’re crazy
Maybe we’re crazy
Probably
Meet Me In Montauk 
If I recall, this was one of the very early episodes, and this performance helped get me excited for the entire series.
I disagree that they haven’t been effective singing each other’s songs, though. “Crazy” is a particularly great song, and great songs hold up best to different interpretations. Another successful performance was when Blake and his crew performed Maroon 5’s “This Love.” I’ll include it here in case you’re not going to feature it this week. If you plan to feature it, feel free to delete my comment/video 🙂
Watching Adam Levine’s reaction as country crooner Blake rips into his song is just delicious. I defy anyone not to fall in love with Adam right then and there.
But back to today’s SOTD… I love how each mentor retains what makes him (or her) distinct and loved by fans, while serving the song. I doubt I’ve ever enjoyed Christina more. This performance also brings back all those moments when an odd group of musicians come together for a cause or because they happen to be honored during the same year in The Rock Hall. Watching people who are professional and packaged and polished thrown together with other equally professional and packaged people (Mr. Popper’s Peguins would be pleased by this alliteration) somehow makes them all seem more vulnerable and scads more talented.
Love it!
I will be featuring ‘This Love’ next week, when I’m focusing on contestants (and the occasional coach).
It’s when the four coaches sang together that I found some of the performances wanting, though that was often due to the material as much as anything. The Queen medley, for example, seemed disjointed.
Great song, great performance. Cool to see Adam on drums, though I would have liked to have heard him singing (or singing more) on this one, as I think he would have done an interesting interpretation.