The Voice 17 Recap Finale Top 4 Perform (Live Blog VIDEO)

For  The Voice 17 Recap Finale Top 4 Voting Rules CLICK THIS LINK. Click on the STREAM links to vote for your favorite.

The Voice 17 Top 4 Song Spoilers – What Will the Contestants Sing?
The Voice Season 17 Live Finals Top 4 Contestants Ranked!

Tonight, the Top 4 perform 3 songs: an original; a new cover; and a holiday duet with the artist’s respective coach.  The video packages feature Carson interviewing the artist and their coach ahead of their cover performance. The clip prefacing the singer’s original song finds each artist in the studio working with their coach. The duet package features the artist and the coach sharing a lighthearted moment. 

Ricky Duran – Team Blake Shelton – Runnin’ Down a Dream by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – Blake says everybody wants to know about Ricky. The singer loved having a No. 2 song–last wee’s “Let it Be.” Blake praises Ricky as a great guitar player and singer. He loves the cover pick for Ricky–it’s his story right now, Blake says. Ricky shares that his  mom’s dying wish for him was to reach his musical dreams. Blake instructs: You have to get mad at the song! He has a point. Ricky needs a fire lit under him.  This Tom Petty classic is a great song, but it’s not really a singers song. The melody doesn’t really go anywhere. The song is all about that driving guitar riff. Ricky’s shining moment here is his guitar solo. Kelly calls it her favorite finale. She likes that everybody has their own niche. John thinks it’s cool to have classic rock on the show, he calls the performance “vital, vibrant.” Blake gushes, “You never let any of us down.” Ricky was nervous about hitting the high notes, but Blake feels he got the job done.    – STREAM

Oh. Carson reveals that artists will return for “supergroup” performances on tomorrow’s finale. Check out THIS POST for a list of finale guest stars. 

Jake Hoot – Team Kelly Clarkson – Better Off by Jake Hoot (written by Jacob Matthew Hoot & David Allan Pahanish) – Kelly and Jake chat about his self-penned original tune. He’s the only finalist to record and perform his own song. Jake wrote it about his divorce. Kelly calls it “catchy and relatable.” Hm… This song is just…Ok. It’s got a catchy chorus, I’ll give it that. But I bet his “Amazed” cover charts higher. Just sayin’. Sidenote: These lyrics are kinda bitter! Whoa. His little daughter in the audience hearing “I’m better off without you” about her mother. Dang. Gwen has enjoyed him growing relaxed on stage. Kelly calls him “super humble.” She says that Jake always puts himself on the “back burner.” She loves that he had the opportunity to showcase his writing.  – STREAM

Katie Kadan & John Legend – Merry Christmas Baby by Otis Redding – I didn’t know what to expect from a duet between these two. Their musical styles are very different. But this is pretty great! John steps aside, allowing Katie to do her thing. They do a fun little dance during the instrumental break. John performed the song on tour last year.  –   STREAM

Rose Short – Team Gwen Stefani – Steamroller by Rose Short (written by Kelleigh Bannen, Scott Stepakoff & Jason Massey) – Gwen has recorded a lot in that particular Capitol Records studio. She can’t wait to get Rose in the booth. “This is literally my life,” says Rose about the song. Gwen swears she couldn’t have done something like The Voice, but she’s happy to live through it with Rose. I don’t love this song. The songwriters may be high profile, but it’s not their best work. For the most part, singing show contestants end up with songs writers couldn’t sell to anyone else.  Rose rises to the occasion as she usually does, finishing off the performance with a flurry of delicious adlibs. She can SANG, that’s for sure. Blake thinks it’s the best pairing of an artist and original song. He thinks it really showcased her voice. Gwen loved seeing Rose enjoy the moment. – STREAM

Ricky Duran & Blake Shelton – Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry – Blake picked the song without asking Ricky. Oop. But he’s perfect for it! The studio version is pretty rockin, and they manage to transfer the fun onto the live stage. Ricky plays the Chuck Berry solo! – STREAM

Katie Kadan – Team John Legend – All Better by Katie Kadan (written by Andrew Wells, Katie Pearlman & Audra Mae Butts) – Katie is excited to be recording at Capitol studios. John notes that the tune’s songwriters have worked with Kelly and Christina Aguilera in the past. Katie has learned so much from her The Voice experience–it has given her “more confidence.”  This song is a terrific fit for the bluesy singer. It’s the best original song so far, by SEVERAL MILES. Katie is delivering a fierce, sexy, gutsy performance–one of her best of the entire season. Kelly says, “OMG, you better go with that sexy vibe!” John says, “You sell that song so beautifully…you are all better!”  – STREAM

Jake Hoot & Kelly Clarkson – Wintersong by Sarah McLachlan – Jake reveals that he’s a big opera fan! He almost studied it in school! They both love Christmas. Team Kake! Or Team Jelly. I’m not really loving this as a country song? It’s not meant for a twang. Jake does hit an amazing high note, though. It’s a beautiful song, backed by strings and a harp. Kelly sounds lovely. Fun fact: Jake picked the song!  – STREAM

Rose Short & Gwen Stefani – My Gift is You by Gwen Stefani – It’s the first Christmas song Gwen has ever written. Gwen notes their wildly differing styles. The stage is set up like a 60s dance show.  It’s a cute homage to Hairspray.  Unfortunately, the stage setup is the best thing about this performance. Gwen chooses her own song, which allows her to shine, rather than her team member. On the studio version, Rose recedes into the background, while Gwen hams it up. My eyes are rolling.  –  STREAM

Jake Hoot – Team Kelly Clarkson – Amazed by Lonestar – Yes, Jake is a one chair turn, which is amazing. Carson brings up Jake’s notable chart success on the show. “Desperado” was No. 1 overall on iTunes last week. Katie calls “Amazed” “such a finale song.” She’s got a point! Jake’s girlfriend is in the audience, he’ll be dedicating the song to her. Jake shares thae he’s a missionary kid. I’m surprised he didn’t go Christian for the finale. Jake is wrapping up really early. It’s only 9:21 and he’s done. Will wrapping up so early hurt his chances? Jake delivers a crowd pleasing performance. But his best performances are behind him, I think. Gwen loves his familiar and comforting voice. “I love you Jake Hoot,” exclaims Kelly. She calls him subtle, classic, magical. – STREAM

Katie Kadan– Team John Legend – I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith – THIS SONG REALLY C’MON. It’s one of the most overdone songs on singing shows. John promised fans a ballad, and this is it. Oh well. At least it’s not “Hallelujah.” Katie grew up in a Pentecostal church–it’s where she began singing. She was 30 before she took the stage for real. Songwriter Diane Warren will be watching tonight, promises John. Katie pushes her way through the song’s treacly sentiment. I am unmoved. Pro tip: Singing loud doesn’t improve this song. Her original should have been her last song. The crowd won’t stop yelling. Blake calls her “unbelievable” and “there’s nothing else to say.” John is honored to work with her. “You’ve just been incredible every single time…magical working with you.” – STREAM

Ricky Duran – Team Blake Shelton – A Woman Like Her by Ricky Duran (written by Charles Kelley, Eric Paslay & Laura Jeanne Veltz) – Ricky thinks the song is an authentic representation of who he wants to be. He compares the storytelling to something Dylan would do. Blake mentions the country writers on the song. He’s just hinting! As a woman, I find these lyrics kind of condescending. Men looking for their manic pixie dream is not my thing. But the melody is beautiful. Ricky shines on work that allows him to connect. In that regard, this song is a good pick for him. Ricky reminds Kelly of Bruce Springsteen. “Such a perfect song,” she says. John is jealous he wasn’t pitched the song. He thinks it will be the most streamed original song of the night. Wow. John being honest, here. Blake on the other hand, insists Ricky’s last song is his best performance of his entire run. Naw, that would be “Let it Be” from last week. Blake begs America to vote for Ricky. Fun fact: Charles Kelley is a member of Lady Antebellum, set to perform  tomorrow.  – STREAM

Rose Short – Team Gwen Stefani – Border Song by Elton John  – The two talk about their connection. Rose truly believes she and Gwen are the perfect pair. Carson LOVES Rose’s lively family. Rose used to work as a prison guard. The job felt abusive, and when she quit, Rose felt released. After Rose closed the show last weeks with “I Wanna Know What Love Is,” Foreigner complimented her on social media. Rose is performing the Aretha Franklin version of “Border Song.” This is SUCH A GREAT TUNE. It’s one of my favorite EJ songs. It’s a rousing, soulful performance from Rose. The perfect way to end the show. She deserves the pimp spot! This cover makes up for that mediocre original song. John calls it a “beautiful message for the final song. That was very special.” Gwen believes Rose has known exactly what she wanted to do on this journey. But when it comes to Rose, God added a little extra drop of cool and talent, she says. Gwen begs America to vote for Rose.    – STREAM