Somehow, even though we have half the number of contestants we had last week, the semi-final episode remains a two-hour extravaganza. I fast forwarded through all of the visits to "the Voice social media room" (it seems they've given up on the "V Room" moniker, unless I fast-forwarded through that, too) and focused on the performances. I don't think the episode needs to be two hours long, but the performances this week are worth the investment--in a word, amazing.

The episode begins with the results of last week's competitions; Team Adam and Team Cee Lo face the music and prepare to be whittled from four down to two. Team Adam said goodbye to the INCREDIBLE Jeff Jenkins of Jones Creek, TX--major bummer--and Devon Barley, whose mommy and daddy just want him to stay in med school. Javier Colon is America's choice and Casey Weston is Adam's choice, so these two continue on to semi-finals. Team Cee Lo bids adieu to Tori & Taylor Thompson and country boy Curtis Grimes, leaving Austin-based Nakia (Cee Lo's choice) and Vicci Martinez (America's choice) to rock another day.

Onward to the semi-final performances!

This week, the two remaining performers for each team will perform a song. The judges will score each performance, and the judges' scores will be combined with America's votes; the scores will have equal weight, and Carson Daly tells us the more we vote, the more power we have. I'm feeling pretty apathetic about that, Carson.

Team Christina

Frenchie Davis performing "Like a Prayer" by Madonna

Frenchie says she is scared and intimidated by coach Christina's song choice; Christina says she wants Frenchie to do the song "church-y and soulful." When Frenchie gets to the stage she's surrounded by backup singers in white choir robes, but the staging combined with Frenchie's leather hot pants is less "church-y" and more "Sunday Mass at Studio 54," particularly when the choir singers toss their robes to reveal wife-beater-and-suspender backup singer garb. The coaches rave about the performance, with Cee Lo calling Frenchie his "soul sister" and Blake telling her she nailed it.

Beverly McClellan performing "The Thrill is Gone" by B.B. King

Beverly is a poet, and after watching her all of these weeks, she is one of my favorite artists on the show. Her look is deceiving--there is a lot more to her than a shaved head and tattoos, and I absolutely love her voice. Her performance of this B.B. King classic is still powerful and dramatic, but it's definitely a softer side of Beverly. Christina Aguilera is mostly annoying on this show, but her instincts regarding Beverly's song choices have been spot-on. The coaches all go wild for her, and we learn that her nickname is "Killer B." YES.

Team Cee Lo

Nakia performing "What Do You Want From Me?" by Adam Lambert

Nakia is initially hesitant about this song choice, but he trusts Cee Lo. I enjoy watching these two collaborate in the rehearsals, and it seems like they have a good relationship. I don't know this song, but I know I love the way Nakia sings it, and that's all I need to know. He starts playing piano and then kicks the piano bench away, and Nakia is rocking the stage! He has incredible stage presence. The coaches are swooning over Nakia, with Blake calling the performance "award-show" quality while also being "in tune," and Cee Lo calls Nakia the next big star. I have to agree--I would buy anything he recorded.

Vicci Martinez performing "Dog Days are Over" by Florence + The Machine

Vicci Martinez is a big, big talent. She owns this song, which isn't easy because Florence Welch has a very distinct sound. Vicci has a leads a huge drum line during her performance, and the total effect is like Pet Benatar and Florence + The Machine had a love child. The coaches agree that this is the most powerful performance of the night.