'The Voice' recap: Blake Shelton tests Jacob Rummell

Sometimes, “The Voice” doesn’t feel exactly fair, and Tuesday night's set of battle rounds definitely had that feel.

Yes, life isn’t fair. And yes, this is a television show, but come on.

The episode had a weird pace, leisurely rolling out three battles for much longer than usual and then delegating three battles into a montage. Then, there was Blake Shelton’s choice to pair country singer Corey Kent White and pop singer Jacob Rummell and then give them Hunter Hayes’ “I Want Crazy.” That’s a country song, no matter how pop Blake claims it is. While the coaches have challenged their teams like this pretty often, it is rare for them not to call it what it is.

“Jacob, it was cool to see you coming from a Bruno Mars song, stepping into this country-driven hoedown situation and you got it done,” Christina Aguilera said. “You have quite a range.”

Both Aguilera and Pharrell recommended that Shelton take Corey because they clearly had a “creative rapport.”  

Of course, Blake’s frenemy Adam Levine was even blunter. “Corey, this was in your wheelhouse,” he said. “I would go with Jacob because he toed the line between these two extremely different songs so well.”

Shelton went with Corey. Maybe that’s part of music business reality, too. But Pharrell stole Jacob, so this battle will continue in the knockout rounds.

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Here’s how the rest of the night shook out:

TEAM CHRISTINA: JEREMY GAYNOR vs. ROB TAYLOR, “Animals”

Turning the Maroon 5 hit into more of an R&B hit was a smart idea from Christina. Jeremy and Rob did a great job with it, but there wasn’t enough difference between them to make an actual decision. Jeremy may have a bit more power, but Rob had a bit more finesse. “I don’t think you can go wrong,” Blake said.

CHRISTINA PICK: Rob

SHOULD’VE PICKED: Rob

TEAM PHARRELL: NOELLE BYBEE vs. SAWYER FREDERICKS, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?”

The teenagers’ voices don’t really fit well together at all on the Creedence Clearwater Revival classic, even though they are both kind of adorable. Sawyer’s power, though, was undeniable at the end. “Both of you have really pretty hair,” Blake said. Pharrell complimented them both for the performance. “Sawyer, to be as good as you are and have zero ego takes a lot,” Pharrell said.

PHARRELL PICK: Sawyer

SHOULD’VE PICKED: Sawyer

MONTAGE – TEAM CHRISTINA: KORYN HAWTHORNE vs. VANCE SMITH, “Love Me Harder” (CHRISTINA PICK: Corinne); TEAM BLAKE: BAY BROOKS vs. BROOKE ADEE, “Style” (BLAKE PICK: Brooke); BREN’NAE DeBARGE vs. LEXI DAVILA, “Unwritten” (ADAM PICK: Lexi)