The Voice – Vicci Martinez for the win?

Tacoma rocker Vicci Martinez seems to me to have a good shot at winning tonight’s The Voice contest, even though last night’s solo wasn’t her strongest performance. Her original song “Afraid To Sleep” (written for her, not by her) may prove to be a great song, but it was hard to hear that on a first-time listen.

On the upside, Martinez should benefit from the fact that her showstopping duet with Cee Lo Green was the final number of the evening. The outlandish Road-Warrior-themed production number guarantees voters won’t be forgetting about Martinez anytime soon.

If I were to rate the four finalists solely on last night’s “original” solos, I’d say Dia Frampton had the best song, with Beverly McLaren a close second. Martinez and Javier Colon were solid with unremarkable material.

Rating them on their duets instead, I would reverse the order. Martinez the best, then Colon, McLaren, and Frampton bringing up the rear.

According to host Carson Daly, the voting is supposed to be based on last nigth’s solos only, but my hunch voters will disregard his strictures.

Although I find myself rooting for Martinez because of her local ties, a Beverly McLaren win would most clearly separate The Voice from its rivals. No way would a bald, tattooed 41-year-old have a chance on American Idol. (Dia Frampton, on the other hand, might be a shoo-in Idol.)