JUST GONNA STAND THERE AND HEAR ME CRY: Zooey Deschanel may have some competition in the adorkability race with Sara Bareilles' addition to The Sing-Off, and I reckon our local experts in singing without accompaniment might want to weigh in as to the favorites ought to be.
I just kept waiting for that family to run off to escape the Nazis.
ReplyDeleteI haven't really watched this show before but I really enjoyed it.
My first impressions and thoughts:
ReplyDelete- I love Sara B., and I also loved the level of musicality that the judges discussed on the show tonight. That is the way to introduce people to music theory and the mechanics behind singing.
- I was disappointed but not surprised that Cat's Pyjamas went home over Kinfolk 9. Kinfolk 9 was a group that was put together by the producers of the show. Unfortunately, they chose that over the pure technical ability of Cat's Pyjamas, who were musically superior.
- The "lead singer" (McKay) of BYU VocalPoint tonight graduated from BYU at least 4 years ago and has been their director ever since.
- I really wanted to hate Delilah, but they were awesome. I don't even like all-female a cappella, but they were passionate and rock-solid.
Everyone should look out next week for SONOS. Based on my knowledge of them outside of the Sing-Off world, they will KILL IT.
I thought Kinship 9 was boring.
ReplyDeleteWas Delilah also a show-sponsored group? They kept talking about how you don't get second chances, but hello, didn't a whole bunch of people get a second chance last year too?
Loved the urban group and Delilah.
I was pleasant surprised by Afro-Blue. A few weeks ago, I stayed at the hotel where the groups were staying and I heard them getting chastised for being really behind the other groups. (I'm not sure at what point in the competition they were filming, but they seemed disorganized and all over the place).
ReplyDeleteSara Bareilles is a huge upgrade over Nicole and a great addition to the panel. I thought her personality and "adorkability" helped balanced out some of Shawn Stockman taking himself and the competition too seriously.
Cat's Pajama's were clearly technically superior but also totally lacking in anything beyond that surface. For being so sharp and so polished and so together they were also kind of lifeless and soulless, like singing robots. OMG they're cylons!
ReplyDeleteI really liked Delilah. I agree with Saray - they were so good. One quibble, though: the show kept saying that "there are no second chances" etc., and that's clearly not true. Wasn't there another "supergroup" made up of alums from season 1 on season 2? It seems like the Sing-Off is all about second chances.
ReplyDeleteAlso liked the rapping group from Denver.
I was really unimpressed with Kinfolk 9. I thought they were just boring. I was sorry that they went home over Cat's Pajamas (even though CP was definitely soulless).
The 14 year old from the family group is so going to show up on the Voice/Idol/X Factor/Etc. one of these days.
If the family group had chosen a song/arrangement that was within the vocal range of the 14 year old lead singer they would have had a much better chance of staying in the competition.
ReplyDeleteI was most impressed by Urban Method -- they aren't just a one-trick pony, as the non-rap portions of the song were done beautifully. The arrangement was good, the blend, and female lead's singing -- and most of all the acting of the song, done perfectly. They were fully committed to the performance and the intensity, but also kept the musicality top-notch. I will be interested to see them do a song without rapping, just because they can't do it for every song, but they don't seem like that will be a problem.
ReplyDeleteAlso very impressed by Delilah -- my husband who usually doesn't care for all-female a cappella (something about the vocal balance, he thinks) thought they were terrific, and I think everyone was strong and their balance was beautiful. Terrific soloist.
Afro-Blue did a really good job (go DC!), and I hope they stay strong. Liked the boys from BYU (reminiscent of the Oregon Ducks last season).
We thought Kinfolk 9 was going home for sure -- their arrangement was poor (why on earth would you leave out that beautiful cello intro from Secrets? and why change the notes of the melody to something less interesting?) and their blend was really bad, despite some good voices. I guess the judges thought they had more potential to get their technical act together than Cats' Pajamas had to get any interesting arrangements or some soul. I hope it wasn't that the judge felt bad for Kinfolk based on some sad stories, and felt Cats' Pajamas had a good gig to return to.
The family group was sweet but just not technically up to the three groups they were up against. Talented people, though.
I expected Sara Bareilles to be a big improvement above Scherzinger, but she is MILES above. So, so glad to see her there. Positivity (all three judges are big on positivity and giving the compliments first, which I'm fine with) but also real technical knowledge and constructive comments. And fun to boot.
That's funny re the "lead singer" of BYU VocalPoint. So he or she (I didn't watch) is Will Schuester.
ReplyDeleteThe humanoid Cylons were not robots. They were Cylons. [REDACTED], [REDACTED], and [REDACTED] might not be able to sing, but it wouldn't be because they lacked emotion. And did Caprica Five not feel?
ReplyDeleteThis show is such a joy!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the informed commentary.
Thank you for redacting that because I am only midway through season three. And also, point take.
ReplyDelete