The Voice Recap: Girl Named Tom, Wendy Moten — Top 8 Performances - TVLine

Jim and Sasha Allen (Team Ariana), “Mrs.

Robinson” — Grade: C | In rehearsal, the father/son duo sounded like they were going to deliver a perfectly lovely cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s classic, which they attributed to the support of their loved ones and their coach (who apparently spent hours deliberating their song selection with them).

Jershika Maple (Team Legend), “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me” — Grade: A | Talking through the song choice with her coach, Jershika explained that she saw the sun in the title as her dreams — if it/they went down, well, how bleak would that be.

She flexed and flexed till you — or at least I — was just like, “Holy crap!” Every step of the way, she was a portrait of presence personified.

Wendy Moten (Team Blake) and Paris Winningham (Team Blake), “Change the World” — Wendy’s grade: B, Paris’ grade: B+ | OK, so the contestants were all going to be paired up to duet on ‘90s songs.

Lana Scott (Team Blake), “Something in the Water” — Grade: C- | After the competition’s one and only remaining country vocalist dedicated her Carrie Underwood cover to her biggest supporter, aka Mom, she picked up her mic and… aw, dang.

Not sure if even being a country girl on Team Blake can save her this time.

Hailey Mia (Team Kelly), “Someone You Loved” — Grade: B+ | The 14-year-old’s coach said in rehearsal that she was sure that this Lewis Capaldi number was going to get her to the finale.

Jim and Sasha Allen (Team Ariana) and Lana Scott (Team Blake), “Hold My Hand” — Jim and Sasha’s grade: C, Lana’s grade: B- | Sasha kicked us off on the trio’s Hootie and the Blowfish duet (three-et?) in grand style — he wasn’t just his usual charismatic self, he was in fine voice, too.

Girl Named Tom (Team Kelly), “River” — Grade: A+ | Kelly told the siblings in rehearsal that she was particularly psyched about their Joni Mitchell cover as she felt like it let them show off their vocals as individuals as well as as a group.

Jershika Maple (Team Legend) and Joshua Vacanti (Team Legend), “Hand in My Pocket” — Jershika’s grade: B+, Joshua’s grade: B- | After an intro package in which Joshua seemed to confuse the colorful ‘80s with the grungy ‘90s, he and Jershika took to the stage to perform an Alanis Morissette classic that… [Scratches head] Didn’t play to either of their strengths.

Wendy Moten (Team Blake), “You’re All I Need to Get By” — Grade: A+ | In rehearsal, Wendy revealed that she was dedicating her Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell cover to her husband.

Girl Named Tom (Team Kelly) and Hailey Mia (Team Kelly), “Hold On” — Girl Named Tom’s grade: B, Hailey’s grade: B+ | My brain almost couldn’t comprehend what I was seeing on this team-up.

It reminded me of Up With People — silly and earnest and cheesetastic.

Paris Winningham (Team Blake), “Close the Door” — Grade: B+ | Happily, for his Top 8 performance, Paris went back to what he called his “bread and butter,” the old-soul sound embodied by this Teddy Pendergrass smash.

His coach encouraged him to have some fun — as Paris interpreted it, show some teeth instead of tears.

But — and this is a big “but” — this didn’t feel like a surefire “Going to the finals” performance like Jershika, Wendy and GNT’s did.

Joshua Vacanti (Team Legend), “Ashes” — Grade: A- | Joshua was particularly excited to be singing Celine Dion’s ballad because it was co-written by Season 9 winner Jordan Smith.

In the moment of truth, he sang like a freakin’ angel?

Not the most exciting number in the world, so also not Joshua’s most thrilling performance ever — but extremely good nonetheless.