Who Said Acapella Was Dead?
Last night’s season three premiere was JAM PACKED with talent as 8 acapella groups blasted off the most unique and one of a kind singing competition show, “The Sing-Off.” This being my first time ever tuning in, I wasn’t quite sure what I was preparing myself for, but I found, right off the bat, that i was clapping along in amazement at the fact that these crews sounded amazing with absolutely NO music! All 8 of them sounded like a way better, less corny, more polished episode of Glee, with people I actually liked! The judges: singer Sarah Bereillis, music junkie Ben Folds, and “Boyz II Men’s” Shawn Stockman are actually pretty bearable and more to-the-point than the “Idol” judges I am so accustomed to.
Kicking the show off was the group “Yellow Jackets” who sang a song about a flag. They were tight, controlled, and OK, which was good enough to save them for next week.
Next up was Osmand-like-family “Fannan Family” who were god awful! They sang Salina Gomez’s “Who Says,” and I was not shocked at all when they got the boot. On their way out they sang a melancholy version of Annie’s Tomorrow. Maybe if their modo was “today” they would have stuck around a bit longer.
After Fannan Family came “Afro Blue” who I actually liked. They were the stereotypical (almost all black) jazz group. They did, however, have the best base out of all the groups. And, as Sarah Bereillis wrote down in her notes, for the most part they were all attractive. They lived to sing another week. “Girl Put Your Records On,” was the song of their choice.
To top the first half of the premiere episode off was my favorite group, “Delilah” which is composed of all past female contestants, with a couple new additions. At first I thought this was unfair, but after I heard them sing a KICK ASS version of Bruno Mars’s “Grenade” I was in love. The arrangement of the song, paired up with the lead vocals and backup gave me the chills. I was standing to my feet cheering and clapping, alone, in my living room. They moved onto the next round.
Next came “Urban Method” who sang Eminem’s and Rihanna’s “Love the Way You Lie.” So what? They can rap! Who cares. I hope they do not continue to do all rap songs because I will get really bored, really fast. Despite my immediate hesitation with them, they moved onto the next round.
After “Urban Method” was The “Cat’s Pajamas” who I REALLY liked! They were a group comprised of all guys who sung 50’s and 60’s style “doowap” songs. They were voted off for being too “showy” yet they were competing on a show. I don’t get it, but oh well.
“Kinfolk 9” was who I thought should have been voted off during the second half. Yes they have the passion. Yes they have a story But the harmonies were not good, plus the lead front man needs a new hairstyle pronto! They sung One Republic’s “Secrets.”
Ending the night was an explosively energetic number by “Vocal Point,” my second favorite group. This, all Mormon men group is hilarious and, just as “Afro Blue,” has an amazing basest! They sung “Jive and Wale” after loosing one of their group members for the premiere night so he could be with his dying father in Australia. (Insert sad “awe’s” here.) Both “Kinfolk 9” and “Vocal Point” were saved by the judges and will compete in two weeks with the rest of their fellow “Part 1” contestants.
Next Monday is “Part 2” of the premiere competition where we will be introduced to the other 8 groups and lose 2 more, just as we did last night. I REALLY like this show and if you have never seen it, NOW IS THE TIME TO START!
Watch last nights episode here at: http://www.nbc.com/sing-off/
And if you REALLY like what you hear, you can download all the song performances on iTunes.
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