The Sing-Off premieres with a bang

The Sing-Off is back and better than ever. I loved The Sing-Off’s heart in past seasons, but I loved how tight everything seemed this time around. They’ve perfected the formula of the past two years. There’s the opening number, the battle rounds, the group introductions, and the two elimination panels. Unlike other reality competitions, they don’t waste a moment. The back-stories introduce the groups without trying to elicit sympathy. And, I like the instantaneous judging without drawing out the decision. I watched the entire two hours without wishing I could fast forward.

Nick Lachey improved in his confidence as the MC, although he still delivers cheesy lines like “the swan song” as woodenly as possible. The judging panel improved on its previous chemistry. Ben Folds still gives technical feedback with a side of goof while Shawn Stockman still incorporates references to his musical background while reviewing the performers. I love that Ben and Shawn still dress like Glee club nerds despite their age. Sara Bareilles is a welcome addition to the judging table. I’m glad the X-Factor stole Nicole Scherzinger away. She really couldn’t comment on technical arrangements, defaulting to lukewarm, generic statements or repeating what the other judges said. Although Sara seemingly channeled Nicole S’s ghost multiple times, she always redeemed herself by concluding with detailed technical advice. Like Shawn and Ben, she also has an A cappella background.

The performers this year seemed even stronger (and prettier) than previous years. At first, I feared the producers had given into American Idol temptation to attract generic acts in their twenties, but when the real performances started, I realized my worries were all for naught. The Sing-off still keeps the core of A cappella at its heart while representing groups from all walks and ages of life. However, this year has included more producer-created groups than in the past.

For Round 1, Round 2, my thoughts on the groups and eliminations results, read below.

ROUND 1

• University of Rochester: YellowJackets (Song: Wavin’ Flag)
  The all-male group had a great sense of staging. They sang a Kenyan song based on their Africa 2011 tour, showcasing their maturity and talent. They had a great use of the various voices through solos. I like when a group’s singers sing well individually, as well as in a group. During the Emmys, a couple of us clackers (excluding Ivey) complained about the Canadian Tenors rendition of Hallelujah which sounded more technical than emotional. However, the YellowJackets did a GREAT job conveying emotion. I almost cried when they waved the ANC colors.
• Judges: Shawn called it “powerful” and energetic; but, enjoyed the chorus over the solos. Ben praised their choral strength but felt their tempo was partially off. Sara started with the generic touchy-feely rhetoric typical of Nicole Scherzinger, but eventually requested a more “intricate counterpart” for their arrangement.

• Fannin Family (Song: Who Says)
  They’re the self-acknowledged real life Partridge Family. I like that they don’t have individual egos and appointed the youngest as the lead because she’s the strongest. They’re an incredible singers and highly photogenic – but they didn’t have strong choral arrangements or presence. All the same, I loved their harmonies.
• Judges: All the judges loved the 14-year-old lead. Ben called their “blend” “effortless” but felt they grouped in one “tone” and lacked vocal genetic diversity. Once Sarah got past her Nicole Sherzinger impression, she stated there were “pitch” issues. Shawn felt they did a great job but called out harmony quirks.

• Howard University: Afro-Blue
  They identified themselves un-ironically as doing a diverse mixture of Jazz, R& B and Funk, which I always saw as inter-connected. They’re the stereotypical college students who are also music majors. Their sob story surrounded not wanting to become retail workers with music degrees.I always saw Jazz, R & B, and Funk as related; however, their arrangement literally sounded like a mesh of all three at once. It was mellow, but I tend to like those styles individually. Their staging was like the typical jazz club setup.
• Judges: Ben loved their sound, the lead’s “relaxed” presentation and their ability to make “jazz extensions” “accessible.”  Sarah admitted she found them all “attractive” and liked their “versatility.” Shawn called them classy, stylistic, smooth and effortless and marked the lead’s voice as “warm butter on grits.”

• Delilah
  The thing I liked about The Sing-Off is that it isn’t like American Idol or Making the Band. It doesn’t try to create the stereotypical pop group or pop singer. What makes A cappella special is it’s non-commercial aspect. People who do it are drawn together through common interests, schools, or community, not because they want fame or to become the next pop super-group. And, that unity typically comes across in their performance. I really hate the groups that keep trying to win The Sing-Off  by getting together singers from other groups  from previous Sing-Off seasons. Maybe that’s why I didn’t warm to Delilah. I didn’t feel that natural unity. Their staging didn’t impress me. It was basically pretty women making sexy titillating poses in lieu of creative movement. The lead started off with that hideous “sexy baby” pop star voice. Luckily, she improved and her presentation became really strong. Although the women supporting her sounded really nice, I didn’t hear the harmonic voice meld that I expected.
• Judges: Two of the judges gave them standing ovations. Sarah: Called it “girl power” and loved the chords they hit. Shawn “believed” the lead and called all the women “strong, passionate and sexy.” Ben verbally high-fived the bass and called the chromatic harmonies smooth.
• Elimination Round
  The other thing I like about The Sing-Off is it doesn’t delay the judges verdict. In fact, no moment of this show felt wasted. Even the back-stories provided information on the kids.
  Eliminated: Fannin Family
  Their Swan Song: The Sun’ll Come Out

For more on Round 2, continue to the next page!

ROUND 2

• Urban Method (Song: Love The Way You Lie)
  I snorted when the kids introduced themselves. I couldn’t believe a seemingly majority white group of kids from Denver, Colorado, gathered by a producer, would call themselves Urban Method. Whenever a group claims they’re edgy, they’re typically milk toast. When a group calls A cappella rapping original with a straight face, I typically snort and point at the 500 zillion other faux rappers. However, their entire presentation surprised me.They actually were edgy, talented and passionate. Their rapper was Slim Shady good, the lead female had smooth vocals, and all of the members did really good beatboxing. Normally, I hate it when Glee clubs do love story re-enactment, but their story was so emotional and physical. Watching the leads push each other was unsettlingly awesome.
• Judges: All 3 gave them standing ovations. Shawn demonstrated his kick-ass beat-boxing skills. He lauded the group for sounding less A cappella and more like a “track” with effortless switching between percussion instrumental sounds. Sara felt the lead rapper had a star quality, loved the “theatrical quality,” and enjoyed when the final “arrangement” “shifted” the song “into another gear.” Ben acknowledged the bassist and liked the “group effort.”

• Cat’s Pajamas (Song: Some Kind of Wonderful)
  The Cat’s Pajamas were straight up professional a cappella. I don’t know if they belonged on The Sing-Off, considering they had a strong professional a cappella career. Their voices sounded kind of cheesy. They held the crowd-pleasing tone typical of dinner theatre, amusement park entertainers, or cruise boat singers. They provided a smooth presentation, but it lacked energy and emotion. It reminded me of the Canadian Tenors’ Hallelujah presentation, technically good, but lacking actual empathy.
• Judges: Ben advised them on showing vulnerability and to keep artistry in mind when doing cover songs. He admired their technique, but felt emotion could make them powerful. Shawn called them strong “entertainers.” Then, he gave them finger pistols (or what looked like finger pistols). And, that was basically it. In giving the blandest kudos possible he not-so blatantly gave his opinion. Sara called them “pitch-perfect,” “super-tight,” “slick,” and “showy” but wanted to see more “versatility”  and “vulnerability.”

• Kinfolk 9 (Song: Secrets)
  This is another non-organic group. However, I have less of an issue with them because they’re joined by the common struggling artists goal and basically had acquaintanceship with each other through friends of friends. They did a great rendition of Hallelujah during their back-story. It took the lead a while to get into the song, but once he did it worked. He didn’t harmonize well with the first female lead. I know she put the group together, but they should’ve used someone else. Overall, the group improved its harmony as the song continued.
• Judges: Sara liked the performance, felt the lead was a good front man, called out the bassist, and liked the presentation but also called it overpowering.Ben liked the lead’s voice and their emotion. However, he felt it would take time for the group to blend, and believed they it needed more technique. Shawn felt there were “harmony quirks,” but felt their hunger for success caused them to “overshoot.”

• Brigham State University: Vocal Point (Song: Jump, Jive and Wail)
  You know how most reality TV contestants typically talk about their hospitalized father or their newborn child, yet refuse to go home to see them? Well, I loved that one of Vocal Point’s members, decided that seeing his father suffering from Leukemia meant more than appearing on a reality TV show.The lead had a great Brian Setzer-esque voice. However, they sounded a little high. I felt they needed deeper tones to balance the higher pitched voices. They pulled out all the stops, demonstrating great old time choreography while filling the stage. Their voices were really shrill in parts.
• Judges: 1-3 of the judges gave them a standing ovation (I couldn’t count quickly enough). Ben liked the “groove,” loved the concluding high note, liked their beatboxer who didn’t just do cymbals and felt they modulated well. Shawn also acknowledged the tow modulations. He felt they kept key despite moving and dancing. He liked the “infectious energy.” Sara enjoyed their “personality,” felt their “blend” reflected a bond with the “classic Collegiate a cappella doo woppy” sound when done well.
• Elimination Round:
  Eliminated: Cat’s Pajamas.
  Swan song: Bye Bye love. It was a great swan song. Honestly, they sounded like they had just won.

Quotes:

Sara: Well … You know me … Well, you don’t. But, you’re getting to.

Nick: Ben, anything else?
Ben: Well I want to talk about my childhood. But, we don’t have time for that.

Clacked by An Nicholson
on Sep 20, 2011 @ 10:41 EST5EDT