The Choir: Sing While You Work (2012) s01e06 Episode Script
The Final
1 One, two, three.
Gareth Malone has got four of Britain's busiest workplaces singing.
Good morning, everyone.
I'm here to start a choir.
Last week all four choirs competed against each other for the first time in front of the judges.
Royal Mail For the rhythm of life is a powerful beat It's a tingle in your fingers and a tingle in your feet Manchester Airport La-de-ya, whoa Now you're singing with the swing Severn Trent Water Wowee! Look at where I am! Tonight I landed, pow! And Lewisham NHS Trust.
Spread joy up to the maximum Bring gloom down to the minimum They've only been singing together for two months.
Listen to the sound of that.
Absolutely gorgeous.
After a close sing-off, it was Manchester Airport who left the contest.
Some of the notes were less distinct than others and you got just a little bit behind in two passages.
We're all upset at the moment, but it's been worth every minute.
We'll carry on.
For their final performance, the three remaining choirs will sing to an audience of thousands as they compete to become Gareth's best workplace choir.
I'm scared.
I feel really nervous.
SAM: It'd be a brave man or woman in here now to say that parts of their anatomy isn't shaking a little bit.
GARETH: Months and months of work and slog come down to that one moment when you're on stage.
That's why I love it.
In less than a month, Gareth's three remaining choirs will face their final challenge, to sing at one of the world's most prestigious choral festivals.
There are just three songs left, three choirs and one performance, and it's really getting exciting now.
I can't wait to see how they fare in front of a big crowd.
That's the ultimate test of any choir.
And I think that's where I'll find out what they're made of.
Over the next few days, Gareth will travel to each workplace to give the choirs their final song.
At Lewisham NHS Trust in Southeast London, thoughts are still on last week's performance.
WOMAN: The judges said we were very tight technically.
But being told we're the technical choir implies that we're not actually fun, and there may be one or two people who could smile a bit more.
It's been said all along, we need to learn to show our emotions a bit more.
We're naturally kind of more reserved people, as part of our jobs, I think, but, yeah, I think internally we actually are having great fun and we are fun.
I do want to work more on the fun part and I think it's important that we enjoy ourselves.
That's really what I'm going into the final to do.
GARETH: Good morning.
Hello.
So we are moving forward towards the final.
It's time for a new song.
The song that you're going to be singing is: For Once In My Life by Stevie Wonder.
ALL: Ah! Yes? Really fun, really upbeat.
Not gonna be easy.
Lots of syncopation, cross rhythms, all of that kind of stuff.
So, this is the song you will sing in front of a huge festival crowd, along with the three judges.
I know! Very exciting.
(Excited chatter) Why don't we have a little look at it? Here it is.
Shall we sort of sight-read our way through it and see how we go? Two, three (Piano plays intro) Everyone.
For once in my life I have someone who needs me Someone I've needed so long Oohs.
For once not afraid I can go where life needs me Somehow I know I'll be strong Good.
Thank you.
Let's hold it there.
Well done.
As you can see, I mean, little bit tricky.
So, let's do the oohs.
All together.
One, two, three and Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Ah, ah, ah Very clean and tidy.
Well done.
"Long.
" Long Three and one.
Long before I knew Someone warm like you Someone warm It's a love song.
Someone warm like you It's very mean when we're doing technical stuff, but it does get very Someone warm Let's do "Make my dreams".
So Make my dreams - And one.
Yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah Say "eh".
ALL: Eh.
- Think of Pavarotti.
Eh! ALL: Eh! - That's it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah I think it's gonna be great, actually.
It's lots of fun.
Really good energy.
Everybody happy with that? Yeah? So lots and lots and lots for you to do.
It's up to you now to sort of find your own identity and display that to the public.
Just think about hitting that stage with a real sense of purpose, a real sense of performance, a bit more smiling.
It's not literally just a sort of muscle movement in your mouth.
It's just symptomatic of the whole approach.
- Good.
Excited? ALL: Yes.
Thanks very much.
You may go.
EDDIE: I don't know what the other choirs are singing, but if you're gonna sing a popular song, you can't get better than Stevie Wonder.
Everybody loves Stevie Wonder.
Steve Wonder, girls, come on.
How much cooler can you get? We can get our teeth stuck into it.
It's a little bit more difficult.
Yeah, it's a bit technical.
We don't need to just sing it.
We need to perform it.
Sing, enjoy it, you know.
GARETH: I think if this choir can pull off a really connected, fun, lively performance that's in their eyes and in their faces and in their bodies, I think they're unstoppable.
Gareth's second stop, the Royal Mail in Bristol.
GARETH: I know exactly what I have to do to get them ready for the final.
I'm not worried about their sense of passion and spirit and energy.
I think that's all there.
But they are, technically speaking, weaker than the others.
I've got to get their technique up.
I've got to get a better sound.
Good morning.
I'm back.
It's Gareth.
- OK, come through, Gareth.
- Thank you.
So the song that you are going to be singing at the International Eisteddfod in Wales ALL: Ooh! in front of a crowd of thousands of people and the judges, who will be there to see you perform in front of this very large crowd, is Don't Stop by Fleetwood Mac.
(Cheering) Don't stop thinking about tomorrow Don't stop It'll soon be here There you go.
So, top of page two, please.
Stand up.
Basses.
So your part, nice and simple.
A-one, two, three and Don't stop With tenors.
One, two, three and Don't stop Good.
And now with altos.
One, two, three and Don't stop thinking about tomorrow Don't stop It'll soon be here Even when you don't know the notes, it's gotta have that level of crispness.
One, two, three.
Don't stop thinking about tomorrow Don't stop It'll soon be here It'll be here better than before Altos, on your own.
Don't stop - One, two, three and Don't stop Approaching the right area but it's gone all tentative.
One, two, three and Don't stop What I'm getting sometimes is Don't stop And it's right, but it's not right.
Don't stop is the part, but it's Don't stop Have a seat.
It's really important, this, because if you practise tentatively Don't stop Sorry.
Then what will happen is when you get to that stage, that's your default setting.
You know the thing about it'll be all right on the night? Rubbish.
It will be, on the night, it will be exactly as it was in rehearsal.
The contest is really upon us.
The final is around the corner.
Make sure you get this under your belts as quickly as possible.
We've got three weeks or so.
It's gonna be really hard work.
But this is it, this is the big push.
This is the end of the contest, so really go for it.
SAM: This is definitely a booster of a song.
I reckon it's a great choice.
I really do reckon it's a great choice.
We're gonna really take to this one and really go for it, I'm sure we are.
For us harmonising, this song is actually harder.
It's difficult.
It shows your voices off more, so we have to get it spot on.
If there's any flaws, this is where it's gonna show.
- Yeah, in the harmonies.
- So we have to get it spot on.
- Absolutely.
- Practise, practise, practise.
Definitely.
Gareth's final stop is in the Midlands, at one of Britain's largest water companies, Severn Trent.
GARETH: I think Severn Trent are looking like the underdogs at the moment.
You've got the Royal Mail, who are full of personality and great at performing.
And then you've got the hospital choir, who are technically really accurate.
And because they both have such a clear identity, it leaves Severn Trent just kind of treading water in the middle.
So for the final, that's their challenge.
They have to put on a show.
Hello! How are you feeling generally about your performance last week? I think that we can up it.
There's definitely room for us to up the performance.
It felt a little sort of stiff, a little corporate, a little kind of officey.
And I think that's the challenge for you, that it's fun, a performance, and, yes, we have technique as well.
I would much rather stand on the stage and hear the judges say, "You just gave a little bit too much" than say "Mmm, you know" It's fairly rare that people say that, you know, "It was a bit too exciting.
A bit too dramatic.
" No.
So, for the final, your song is Feeling Good by Nina Simone.
ALL: Yeah! - It's a bit cool.
Can you pull off cool? - Course we can.
- Yeah? It's an excellent song for you.
You have to feel good about Feeling Good.
You've got to just be up there loving it.
Let's get on with it.
Two, one and And I'm feeling Feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Fish in the sea You know how I feel Keep going.
River running free You know how I feel Good.
So now if we sing in this way, which is more choral, you've gotta find a way to oversell the consonants.
Don't forget, you're not singing to somebody who's stood here.
You're singing to a judge who's flipping miles away.
So let's really Feeling good Feeling Fe-Fe-Fe-Fe.
If we're gonna do an F, let's commit to it, do it, everyone does it and it's amazing.
Three and Feeling good Feeling good Feeling good It's frustrating being here, because I'm saying lots of F, please, and you all go, "Oh, right, yeah.
" You know? No.
If I'm covered in spit by the end of a rehearsal, I'm a happy man.
Two and Feeling good Feeling good Feeling good OK, Laura, I heard your F.
- Yes! - You were the only one.
And I went, "Oh, ping, it's Laura.
" OK? And I want everyone.
It's about just going, "I'm not afraid to be myself, to show a different side to my personality.
" So it's a challenge, actually, you know, maybe not individually.
Some of you are totally confident about that, but as a group, that's what's got to come across.
We're gonna take a break right there.
Thank you very much.
It's a good song.
I'm enjoying it, so It is a good song, but we've gotta get into the feel of it.
Once the words and the notes are absolutely nailed down, then we can sort of get into the feel of it.
Just gotta loosen up a bit.
We're standing there a bit like a rabbit in headlights at the moment.
I actually realised, seeing the other choirs, we're actually really tame.
We're not as lively as I thought we were.
- We're actually quite kind of - Reserved.
Yeah, well, well-behaved.
If it isn't full of character and full of life, then it's going to fail epically, not just for the contest, but as a performance.
And I'm not prepared to let them do that.
So I've got to find a way to just draw a bit more guts and a bit more determination out of them.
MAN: One, two, three, four.
Don't stop thinking about tomorrow In the run-up to the final, Gareth arranges additional rehearsals for each choir with local choir masters.
Yeah, now! Back If you wake up and don't wanna smile As each song includes a solo section, Gareth has chosen three soloists.
You'll see things in a different way For Royal Mail, postman Sam Fry once again takes the honours.
Don't stop It'll soon be here Think I've learned the words, just worry about going wrong on the big day, in front of all those people, but I don't think I will.
For once in my life I have someone who needs me At Lewisham Hospital, speech therapy assistant Natalie Beaumont will sing again.
Unafraid I can go where life leads me Somehow I know I'll be strong Good, so much better.
It just needs a massive bit of energy.
To do the solo is the most exciting yet frightening thing I think I'm ever gonna have to do.
Breeze drifting on by You know how I feel But at Severn Trent Water, it's first time for resource manager, Laura Clark.
It's a new life Yeah, good.
What you mustn't do is show any fear in the eyes.
Don't go New life Uh-oh.
Yeah? High note.
Ooh.
I think the problem with me performing, just my nerves.
- Really? - My nerves take over.
- In the moment? - Yeah.
What, you're more worried than enjoying it? - Yeah, definitely.
- Yeah.
That's not good.
- No.
No, it's not.
- No.
I always think that, psychologically, visualising that audience, thinking about how many of them will be there, what it's gonna be like, thinking about everyone behind you, really, being on your side Yeah.
and thinking, "I know the notes, I know the words", I think that can settle it.
LAURA: I think being the first one to actually sing, I've just really gotta relax and really gotta put some energy into the performance.
I don't just wanna stand still, frightened and scared.
It's now less than two weeks to the final and Gareth is heading back to Bristol.
I am worried about the technical aspects for the Royal Mail choir, because I think against the other two, who, let's face it, are a lot more technically accomplished, they do sound a little weaker, especially with the women.
It just feels like the men are starting to get it, starting to make a good, round solid sound, and the women, it just sounds sort of thin and a bit nervy.
And I think that is something I've got to address before the final.
To encourage the women to give it more energy, Gareth holds the next rehearsal in one of the largest and noisiest areas of the delivery centre.
You know what, I'm gonna send you guys away down that end, and I want you to listen.
Walkie-talkie me when you can start really hearing it, OK? It's the perfect space for them to learn how to project their voices.
Right.
Let's have a little go at "All I want is to see you smile.
" Altos.
All I want is to see you smile - And one.
If it takes just a little Ooh, ooh, ooh, ah, ah Good.
- Did you hear that? - No, we couldn't hear anything.
Sorry.
Let's try and get a bit more space.
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh, ah, ah If it takes just a little while That's half the way there, but there's just a sense of lack of commitment.
If you Lah! Lah! I want lots of "lah".
One, two Lah - That's better.
Ah, ah, ah - Are you receiving that sound? - That was much better.
- More depth to it, yeah, really good.
- We're gonna give you both parts.
OK.
Just turn, face there and really sock it out to them.
All I want is to see you smile If it takes just a little while Man, what a difference.
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ah, ah - Can you hear that? - Yeah, that's brilliant.
Hooray! It was inconceivable to me, when we started this, that you would end up making a sound like that.
And there is stuff to be done.
But it's credit to you.
You've worked incredibly hard.
Excellent.
Thank you.
Well done, sopranos, and well done, altos.
Right, ladies.
How's that? - Better? ALL: Much better.
Mum made a comment to me earlier, she went, "Oh, my God, I've opened my mouth and music's come out.
" - Yeah.
- That's what it feels like.
- Completely shocked.
- It sounds pleasant.
It's really good.
Really, really good.
I think the confidence is growing by the day, as long as we believe in ourselves.
It's the confidence to come in solidly on every single line.
- Good.
I'm glad that helped.
- Thanks, Gareth.
In London, at Lewisham Hospital, Gareth has organised an extra rehearsal session for the tenors and basses.
Concerned the men lack expression, he's designed his own special experiment.
I think the key with these guys is that I can't appeal to their emotions.
I can't make sort of passionate attempts to draw them in.
That's not how they work.
They work on facts.
They work on sense and reason and they like a scientific approach to everything.
So if I'm to draw a more convincing performance out of them, it has to be done there has to be a rationale behind it.
Whoa, look at you, mister! You look just like me! - You didn't dress for the occasion.
- No, I didn't realise.
Yes, it's fancy dress.
Hello.
You dressed up.
That's kind of you.
Hello.
Hi.
You all right? Today I wanted to think a little bit about this business of smiling during performance, so we're going to do a little scientific experiment, wherein we will attempt to prove that singing and smiling makes a better sound.
Tenors, why don't you do your lovely long line behind that curtain? So decide whether you're gonna smile or not smile amongst yourselves.
Two, three, four For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me Not like it's hurt me before For once I have something I know won't desert me I'm not alone any more GARETH: Thank you.
Smiling or not smiling? - I didn't think they were smiling.
- Not smiling? OK.
Let's hear version two.
Two, three, four For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me Not like it's hurt me before For once I have something I know won't desert me I'm not alone any more ALL: Yeah.
- Big difference or a small difference? When they're smiling, there's just altogether more energy.
OK, right, gather back together.
Let's try together.
Good, perfect.
You look so happy.
For once Two, three For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me Not like it's hurt me before Not like it's hurt me before For once I have something I know won't desert me I'm not alone any more For once I can say This is mine, you can't take it Long as I know I have love, I can make it For once in my life I have someone who needs me Look at that! Double goose bumps! Really fantastic.
Really fun.
Excellent.
I thought that was very useful, actually.
Did you? Yeah, I did.
I did find it useful.
Interesting hearing the difference between the different sounds.
You can definitely detect that.
It does make, or should make, the difference.
Good.
Job done.
Thank you very much.
See you later.
That was an excellent session, because it appealed to their scientific sensibility, that actually putting it in clear technical terms, if you smile, then the sound is better.
At Severn Trent Water, Gareth thinks the workmen may hold the key to getting a more dynamic performance from the office staff.
It feels like the guys who are quite sort of manual and out in the field, they're just not corporate.
So they don't have that reserve that I think a lot of the people who are stuck behind desks have.
I'd like to use them as a kind of inspiration to the rest.
Cos I just don't think that the choir can see just how held back their performance feels.
What I think we can all learn from is Mick.
Mick announces that he's about to sing, physically.
He sort of goes, "I'm gonna sing.
" And I think we could all do that.
It's like, "Look at us.
" Because if you stand there looking like, "Oh, God, we're in the final", you've lost immediately.
So you've gotta look ready for the fight.
Here we go.
Here's your fighting men.
OK.
One, two, one.
And I'm feeling good Blossom on a tree You know how I feel It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life for me And I'm feeling Right, do you get the idea, yeah? Thank you.
Well done.
Good.
Right, back you go.
Everyone's gotta look that involved.
Everyone, in their own way, has to use their faces, has to use their bodies, has to tell the story.
What I don't want is that we all stand there looking stiff.
MICK: It's hard for them, cos they sit with their shirts and their ties on.
They come from a more corporate sort of working environment.
So it's gotta be hard to just let that go.
Find a partner.
To get them to loosen up even more, Gareth decides it's time to get physical.
Ready? And one, two, one! Feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Freedom is mine I know how I feel It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life for me - F! And I'm feeling good Good! Right, very good.
Well done.
Right, now, let's go straight in after Laura's solo.
OK? Positions.
One, two And I'm feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Feeling good I'd like to do that again.
It looks like you're all waiting for a bus and then you go, "Oh!" Yeah? So it needs to be And I'm feeling good Yeah? So you're preparing.
I'm about to do a move.
Yeah! I'm doing a move.
Yeah? Ready? One, two, one And I'm feeling good Feeling good - You lost it.
All of you were like this.
GARETH: I don't want this performance to be nice.
I wanna feel something.
I want to be made to feel.
I want them to reach out to the audience and grab them.
And I don't feel like some of them are very good at that, it doesn't come naturally to them, because they're a water company and they take calls and they deal with people politely.
It's not in their nature to do something raucous.
I've worked here for a long time, and it is a corporate feeling, our attitude and behaviours, you behave this way, and we've gotta sort of forget that for two minutes.
I think there's still a little bit of corporateness within the choir.
It's gonna take a bit longer to shake out, but I think most people are feeling relaxed now and getting into it.
But there's a few stiff bodies still out there that need to be improved.
For the final performance, singing to an audience of thousands, all three choirs need to look the part.
Well, hello, everyone.
Each choir must design their own outfits.
Are we trying to show that we have an NHS connection? Other than being in our uniforms, the only way I can think of is through the colours, having royal blue on its own, or royal blue and white.
Nice.
MAN: Weirdly enough for me, because I'm stuck with the men, out on the bass section, I don't get to do this sort of thing with the girls in the choir, so I actually quite like it, you know.
Bit of metrosexual coming through there, but, yeah.
GILL: We wanna reflect Severn Trent, and this song is sophistication.
You've gotta have a decent neckline, not everything hanging out.
We want to be noticed but noticed for the right reasons.
If you feel good and you look good, hopefully the performance will be good and it'll all come together.
Can we just vote? People in favour of A, which is red at the top, black, yellow.
OK, nobody.
We all come from different jobs, and it'll be great that we all join up, looking the same, being the part and being united.
C, which is black at the top and red at the bottom.
OK, fine.
C's carried, then.
Thank you very much.
We're gonna be wearing a winning outfit and we are gonna win.
With less than a week to go, Gareth has time for just one final rehearsal with each choir.
It's a last chance to fine-tune things at the Royal Mail.
GARETH: They came on so much in the last rehearsal.
I think it's worth spending a little bit of time just improving them technically, even with this short amount of time to go, and then see where we're at.
- Hello, everyone.
ALL: Hello.
Can you believe it? This is our final rehearsal.
ALL: Ooh! Listen, today, for me, is about making everyone feel good and ready.
I hope that you are ready.
Hopefully we won't get bogged down too much in notes.
Do you all feel like you know your notes? Mmm Well, we'll find out.
We'll find out.
So, it's good to practise, just performance mode, silence, audience is in, judges are sitting there, positions.
See if you can think about the sound you're making at all times, and the moves, and everything.
Welcome to choirs.
One, two, three and Don't stop Don't stop - Now richer.
Don't stop - Now let it go! Don't stop If you wake up and don't wanna smile - That was excellent.
If it takes just a little while Open your eyes Open your eyes and look at the day You'll see things in a different way - And match that.
Rich.
Don't stop Thinking about tomorrow Don't stop It'll soon be here It'll be here better than before Yesterday's gone Yesterday's gone All I want is to see you smile Give me that "All I want" and make it sound like an opera chorus.
One, two, three and one All I want is to see you smile One more time.
It could go All I want is to see you smile Richer.
One, two, three and All I want is to see you smile That's a moment where the colour it can't be too operatic there.
You can't do too much of that sound.
Because what I want is that when the judges hear you there, they go, "Blimey! They can really sing.
That's a really, really good sound.
" From a musical point of view, that's pretty near where I'd like it to be.
Excellent at the beginning.
Just so That's completely it, isn't it? So we go from nothing to everything.
But too much alto at the end, though.
(Laughter) Unbelievably, the balance between men and women is completely transformed.
The women are now incredibly strong.
They're really working hard, they're improving every single time I see them, leaps and bounds.
There's a much better sound.
There's a much better energy.
They're positive.
I'm really I'm excited.
I think just key moments today, we've heard each other singing.
Yes.
Yeah.
And I think it's just made us think, "Hang on, we can do this.
" It's a big step from performing Postman Pat in front of 30 colleagues at your audition to singing - 2,000 people.
- Exactly.
If we as a group, we look out to the audience, see people tapping their foot, nodding their head, big smiles on their faces, we've done our job, we've done our job.
Hi, everyone! Hello.
This is it, last rehearsal.
Shall we? Hi.
- How you doing? - Good.
Right, ready? Ready to rehearse? - So you're in your positions, and - (Music intro starts) That's it, just a little bit of Very cool.
For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of Long before I knew Long before I knew Someone warm like you Would make my dreams come true Yeah, yeah, yeah For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me Not like it's hurt me before Not like it's hurt me before For once I have something I know won't desert me I'm not alone any more For once I can say This is mine, you can't take it As long as I know I have love I can make it For once in my life I have someone who needs me Good, OK, so one or two just still a little bit embarrassed, like, ooh! You've gotta go for it.
You've gotta be a bit more American about it.
There's no room for polite English reserve here.
One, two, three.
For once I can say This is mine, you can't take it As long as I know I have love I can make it For once in my life I have someone who needs me OK, just the final bit on that.
For once This is the moment.
Yeah? For once in my Really, like lots of pop in that.
One, two, three For once in my life I have someone who needs me Have you got any more? One, two, three.
For once in my life I have someone who needs me I love it! Great.
It's fantastic.
Very good.
That is a really, really stonking level of musicianship, and it's a great achievement and testament to all your hard work and your talent as well.
I think you've got something fantastic to be proud of.
It really is very, very, very good.
I feel like we're done.
Off you go.
Thank you very much.
Bye-bye! I feel like we've really nailed it today in rehearsals.
It fills me with confidence, frankly.
Just had this sudden mental image of what it might be like to win and I got a little bit of like, "That'd be very exciting", so I'm quite excited.
There's nothing technical to be done, no more polishing, no more rehearsing.
It's about guts and glory and determination.
Gareth's final rehearsal is with Severn Trent Water.
This afternoon's going to be one of those rehearsals where I know within the first two minutes whether or not anything's changed and whether they're actually ready for this final.
And if they aren't, then I'm gonna do my absolute best with those few hours to get them better.
Breeze drifting on by You know how I feel It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life For me Whoo And I'm feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Fish in the sea You know how I feel Now, careful.
River running free You know how I feel You know how I feel Blossom on a tree You know how I feel It's a new dawn - More! It's a new day It's a new life For me For me I want life.
Can we say "lah"? Lah! It goes "Feeling good, feeling good, feeling good.
Oh, freedom is mine! You know how I feel!" It's that It's evangelistic, it really is.
Big.
Amen.
Hallelujah! It is that.
Ready? Here we go.
A-one, two, one And I'm feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Freedom is mine You know how I feel It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life For me And I'm feeling good I love it.
I love it with the I think you're ready and you just need an audience now.
So well done, very happy man.
That's really good.
Great.
GARETH: There was a real goose bump moment today, where the whole thing just came together.
The basses started really strongly, everyone responded and the whole machine of the choir was just working brilliantly.
And you think how far they've come.
This time last week I thought that the Severn Trent choir were the underdogs, and I don't feel like that now.
They've really notched it up and all of the choirs have a fighting chance in that final.
It just depends who does it on the day.
It's the day of the final performances and the choirs are preparing to travel to the International Choral Festival in Wales.
We're all relaxed, up for a laugh, we all wanna have fun, so hopefully no corporate faces.
We've got one chance to do it well, and we hope it's gonna be the best that we've ever done it.
Postman Pat, Postman Pat and his black and white cat The other choirs know that we are a threat.
They know that we're a threat if we get it right.
Counts up all the post bags in his van - We just want to win.
- We just do want to win.
I think everyone's good, but we're good.
JOE: We haven't spoken about the competition at all.
We're gonna go and try to keep as relaxed as possible until we get there, and then hopefully we won't be overawed by the occasion.
We've certainly come along technically, there's no doubt about that.
The next level up is doing the performance and all the rest of it, which is actually quite hard work, but we've got there, I think, or, well, I hope we'll deliver that tonight.
All three choirs will be performing on stage at the final night of the prestigious International Eisteddfod in Llangollen.
The International Eisteddfod is famous the world over for choral excellence, musical excellence, and my three very new choirs are going right into the lion's mouth.
It's going to be incredibly intimidating, that audience.
And to add to that, there's the pressure of being judged by our three judges as well.
So I think they'll all be feeling incredibly nervous about tonight's performance.
Mid-afternoon.
Just a few hours until the choirs are due on stage.
There you go.
Perfect.
MICK: I've never seen the lads looking so sharp.
Everyone's looking good, starting to feel the part.
It's exciting, I can't wait to do it, but I'm so scared.
I really am scared.
I can't wait to get out there.
I just don't wanna let everybody down.
I don't wanna start it off and for everyone to be like, "Oh, God, that sounded awful.
" Look at the bright side.
Shut up.
Stop moaning.
They're bright.
I think they'll certainly catch people's attention.
Tidy enough? We've just gotta hope that it comes together on the night, you know.
It's gonna be scary.
We're performing in front of thousands of people, which we've not done before.
It'd be a brave man or woman in here now to say that parts of their anatomy isn't shaking a little bit.
For once I can say This is mine, you can't take it As long as I know I have love, I can make it For once in my life I have someone who needs me Yay! The adrenaline has set in.
Little shakes.
Butterflies in the tummy.
But I'm sure once we're on stage, the nerves will just disappear and we'll just deliver the song the way we're supposed to.
Just 15 minutes to go.
Amongst the audience of thousands are the three judges.
Manvinder Rattan, renowned conductor and champion of workplace choirs.
Competition's stiff, and it's gonna be a matter of tiny degrees, between these choirs, as to who wins.
Ralph Allwood, esteemed choirmaster and former head of music at Eton College.
They're coming together to compete at the highest level, so we judge them at the highest level.
And Ruby Turner, internationally acclaimed gospel and soul singer.
It's not gonna be easy to pick a winner, but, you know, we will pick one tonight, and, hey, may the best choir win.
(Choirs sing voice exercises) Before they're called to the stage, a final warm-up.
As soon as you're on that stage, grin from ear to ear, smile.
That's all I ask, is that you love it, you enjoy it.
Don't get intimidated by that audience.
They love music.
They want you to do well.
They want to enjoy it.
Let's do it.
First to sing will be Bristol's Royal Mail.
I'm nervous now.
I wasn't before, but I'm now nervous.
If it takes just a little while Months and months of auditions and work and slog come down to that one moment when you're on stage.
That's why I love it.
It's my very great pleasure to introduce a special guest to you this evening.
Please welcome Gareth Malone! (Cheering) (Speaks Welsh) That's it for the Welsh.
I am honoured to be invited here to the International Eisteddfod.
Thank you very much for having me.
Yeah, we're on.
Over the last few months I have been travelling all over the country starting up choirs in workplaces.
Why workplaces? Well, I believe in the power of singing to bring people together, no matter what the circumstances, and it doesn't matter to me whether you are the company director or the man that makes the tea, you have a place in a choir.
This is one of their first performances, so please be kind.
I'm delighted to introduce you to our first choir, the Royal Mail from Bristol! (Applause) (Cheering) Don't stop Don't stop Don't stop Don't stop If you wake up and don't wanna smile If it takes just a little while Open your eyes Open your eyes and look at the day You'll see things in a different way Don't stop thinking about tomorrow Don't stop It'll soon be here It'll be here better than before Yesterday's gone Yesterday's gone All I want is to see you smile If it takes just a little while If your life was bad to you Just think what tomorrow can do Don't stop thinking about tomorrow Don't stop It'll soon be here It'll be here better than before Yesterday's gone Yesterday's gone Ooh Ooh Don't look back Ooh Don't you look back Don't look back (Cheering) Brilliant.
Well done, mate! Yeah! The reaction we had out there was fantastic.
I could not smile any more.
I enjoyed it so much.
I just got this rush of this adrenaline, the buzz.
It was amazing.
I thought the sound we made was great.
The blend we had in sound was great.
We hit the notes and I thought our choreography was really good as well.
We've given ourselves every chance.
He's happy.
I felt like everyone hit what they needed to.
It felt good up there.
They reached a level that they'd not done before, and that was great.
Next to perform, Severn Trent Water.
Can I just say one thing before we go on stage? If we don't win this, if another choir wins it, I wouldn't swap places with any of them because you have all been absolutely fantastic fun to be with.
Love you all.
It really is brilliant.
Aw! Let's do this! I'm scared.
I'm scared, but I feel Oh, God, I feel really nervous.
Ladies and Gentlemen, our second choir, Severn Trent Water.
(Cheering) Birds flying high You know how I feel Sun in the sky You know how I feel Breeze drifting on by You know how I feel It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life For me Ooh And I'm feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Fish in the sea You know how I feel River running free You know how I feel You know how I feel Blossom on the tree You know how I feel It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life For me For me And I'm feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Freedom is mine You know how I feel It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life For me And I'm feeling good Mate, come here.
Oh! A big water services hug and a cuddle! Wicked.
The buzz I got off that.
- Absolutely brilliant.
- We delivered.
That was awesome.
Probably the best performance we ever gave.
It's what it's all been for, isn't it? Brilliant.
Just exactly what I'd asked them to do.
Really beautiful singing all round.
Last up, Lewisham NHS Trust.
"great devotion, who spends himself" Before they take to the stage, some stirring words from consultant surgeon Eddie Chaloner.
"And who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.
" So let's get out there and do it.
I feel like we're going off to war.
I feel quite serious at the moment.
I'll try and lighten up a bit as I walk on stage.
- You've gotta get your show face on.
- I know.
Sarah just came and asked me to smile and I did this, so that's a problem.
We're gonna smile so much our faces are hurting.
That is what we're going for.
Our third and final choir, the Lewisham NHS Trust.
(Applause) (Cheering) For once in my life I have someone who needs me Someone I've needed so long For once unafraid I can go where life leads me Somehow I know I'll be strong For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of Long before I knew Long before I knew Someone warm like you Could make my dreams come true Yeah, yeah, yeah For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me Not like it's hurt me before Not like it's hurt me before For once I have something I know won't desert me I'm not alone any more For once I can say This is mine, you can't take it As long as I know I have love, I can make it For once in my life I have someone who needs me For once in my life I have someone Someone who Who needs me (Mouths) We done it! - Very well done.
- Thank you.
It was fab, really fab, and we all came together and everyone sung their best.
We did do well.
We did do well.
Yeah.
I think there was a good buzz out there.
I enjoyed myself.
I know everyone else enjoyed themselves.
God, that was amazing.
These guys are just amazing.
I'm gonna cry.
- You're amazing, Natalie.
- Wow! Wow.
- You all right? - Yeah.
What I loved about it, was it felt like a show.
It was not laid back at all.
It was really fun, energetic.
I thought they did a cracking job.
That's it.
All we've gotta do now is pick up the trophy and bugger off home.
Performances over, the choirs gather for the judges'decision.
For me, they stepped up this time round.
MANVINDER: Yes, you're right.
RALPH: When they sang low in their register, and quiet, that's a really difficult thing to do, isn't it? MANVINDER: I thought the balance was better.
Harmonically speaking, it was tight.
They walked on there looking like a choir.
The harmonies were beautiful.
They did something that was technically quite hard to do.
Shall we just say who we think should win and see if we say the same one? - And if not, we'll just have to - Negotiate.
So, after all this time, it comes down to this.
This is the moment we've all been waiting for, the moment where we find out which choir has won the contest.
But before we find out, the judges are going to tell us a little bit more about what they thought about your performances.
Royal Mail.
Really very, very impressive.
What I really liked was your very first chord, which is very quiet.
And one of the hardest things you ever ask choirs to do is to sing quietly as a group and still have impact, and you really did still have impact.
Severn Trent.
You looked so assured as you came on that stage, so confident, as though you knew exactly what you were going to do.
And then you proved that you did know exactly what you were going to do.
It was some fantastic singing.
Really this was a very polished and accomplished performance.
Lewisham, I heard you in the semi-finals, you walked on there, you blew me away.
Tonight you came back, you did it again.
Absolutely amazing.
You sung one of my favourite songs, Stevie Wonder, For Once In My Life.
Absolutely fabulous.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
This is a celebration, this trophy, of a fantastic achievement.
And with some degree of nervousness, I hand over to Ruby to tell us who has won.
It was unanimous.
And the choir that we've chosen is Severn Trent.
Severn Trent, I believe this belongs to you.
Congratulations.
Congratulations! Well done.
Well done.
TIM: You dream you're gonna win it.
You're wishing you're gonna win it.
To set yourself, you know, a goal that high and come away with it, fantastic.
- Very well done.
- Thank you so much, mate.
That's brilliant, honestly.
I'm astonished.
I can't believe we've done it.
I'm not disappointed at all.
We've done really well.
And on the night, that team, they were better than us and that's the way it goes.
Yeah, maybe we didn't have it on the night, but we will have it other nights.
We're definitely gonna continue.
There's no way we're stopping now.
We had a point to prove, we know that we were the underdogs, and we went out there for the first time ever and actually showed everybody what we are.
Everybody had that belief.
That's what's worked for us.
At least we can say we're not corporate.
I don't think the others lost it.
I think Severn Trent won it.
It was a harmonious performance.
Just everything worked.
And that's hard to beat.
There is undoubtedly a place for choirs within the workplace.
I think we proved that tonight.
My life flows on in endless song Above Earth's lamentation I hear the real though far-off hymn That hails the new creation No storm can shake my innermost calm Whilst to that rock I'm clinging I hear an echo in my soul How can I keep from singing? I hear an echo In my soul How can I keep from Singing? Ooh January 2017
Gareth Malone has got four of Britain's busiest workplaces singing.
Good morning, everyone.
I'm here to start a choir.
Last week all four choirs competed against each other for the first time in front of the judges.
Royal Mail For the rhythm of life is a powerful beat It's a tingle in your fingers and a tingle in your feet Manchester Airport La-de-ya, whoa Now you're singing with the swing Severn Trent Water Wowee! Look at where I am! Tonight I landed, pow! And Lewisham NHS Trust.
Spread joy up to the maximum Bring gloom down to the minimum They've only been singing together for two months.
Listen to the sound of that.
Absolutely gorgeous.
After a close sing-off, it was Manchester Airport who left the contest.
Some of the notes were less distinct than others and you got just a little bit behind in two passages.
We're all upset at the moment, but it's been worth every minute.
We'll carry on.
For their final performance, the three remaining choirs will sing to an audience of thousands as they compete to become Gareth's best workplace choir.
I'm scared.
I feel really nervous.
SAM: It'd be a brave man or woman in here now to say that parts of their anatomy isn't shaking a little bit.
GARETH: Months and months of work and slog come down to that one moment when you're on stage.
That's why I love it.
In less than a month, Gareth's three remaining choirs will face their final challenge, to sing at one of the world's most prestigious choral festivals.
There are just three songs left, three choirs and one performance, and it's really getting exciting now.
I can't wait to see how they fare in front of a big crowd.
That's the ultimate test of any choir.
And I think that's where I'll find out what they're made of.
Over the next few days, Gareth will travel to each workplace to give the choirs their final song.
At Lewisham NHS Trust in Southeast London, thoughts are still on last week's performance.
WOMAN: The judges said we were very tight technically.
But being told we're the technical choir implies that we're not actually fun, and there may be one or two people who could smile a bit more.
It's been said all along, we need to learn to show our emotions a bit more.
We're naturally kind of more reserved people, as part of our jobs, I think, but, yeah, I think internally we actually are having great fun and we are fun.
I do want to work more on the fun part and I think it's important that we enjoy ourselves.
That's really what I'm going into the final to do.
GARETH: Good morning.
Hello.
So we are moving forward towards the final.
It's time for a new song.
The song that you're going to be singing is: For Once In My Life by Stevie Wonder.
ALL: Ah! Yes? Really fun, really upbeat.
Not gonna be easy.
Lots of syncopation, cross rhythms, all of that kind of stuff.
So, this is the song you will sing in front of a huge festival crowd, along with the three judges.
I know! Very exciting.
(Excited chatter) Why don't we have a little look at it? Here it is.
Shall we sort of sight-read our way through it and see how we go? Two, three (Piano plays intro) Everyone.
For once in my life I have someone who needs me Someone I've needed so long Oohs.
For once not afraid I can go where life needs me Somehow I know I'll be strong Good.
Thank you.
Let's hold it there.
Well done.
As you can see, I mean, little bit tricky.
So, let's do the oohs.
All together.
One, two, three and Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Ah, ah, ah Very clean and tidy.
Well done.
"Long.
" Long Three and one.
Long before I knew Someone warm like you Someone warm It's a love song.
Someone warm like you It's very mean when we're doing technical stuff, but it does get very Someone warm Let's do "Make my dreams".
So Make my dreams - And one.
Yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah Say "eh".
ALL: Eh.
- Think of Pavarotti.
Eh! ALL: Eh! - That's it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah I think it's gonna be great, actually.
It's lots of fun.
Really good energy.
Everybody happy with that? Yeah? So lots and lots and lots for you to do.
It's up to you now to sort of find your own identity and display that to the public.
Just think about hitting that stage with a real sense of purpose, a real sense of performance, a bit more smiling.
It's not literally just a sort of muscle movement in your mouth.
It's just symptomatic of the whole approach.
- Good.
Excited? ALL: Yes.
Thanks very much.
You may go.
EDDIE: I don't know what the other choirs are singing, but if you're gonna sing a popular song, you can't get better than Stevie Wonder.
Everybody loves Stevie Wonder.
Steve Wonder, girls, come on.
How much cooler can you get? We can get our teeth stuck into it.
It's a little bit more difficult.
Yeah, it's a bit technical.
We don't need to just sing it.
We need to perform it.
Sing, enjoy it, you know.
GARETH: I think if this choir can pull off a really connected, fun, lively performance that's in their eyes and in their faces and in their bodies, I think they're unstoppable.
Gareth's second stop, the Royal Mail in Bristol.
GARETH: I know exactly what I have to do to get them ready for the final.
I'm not worried about their sense of passion and spirit and energy.
I think that's all there.
But they are, technically speaking, weaker than the others.
I've got to get their technique up.
I've got to get a better sound.
Good morning.
I'm back.
It's Gareth.
- OK, come through, Gareth.
- Thank you.
So the song that you are going to be singing at the International Eisteddfod in Wales ALL: Ooh! in front of a crowd of thousands of people and the judges, who will be there to see you perform in front of this very large crowd, is Don't Stop by Fleetwood Mac.
(Cheering) Don't stop thinking about tomorrow Don't stop It'll soon be here There you go.
So, top of page two, please.
Stand up.
Basses.
So your part, nice and simple.
A-one, two, three and Don't stop With tenors.
One, two, three and Don't stop Good.
And now with altos.
One, two, three and Don't stop thinking about tomorrow Don't stop It'll soon be here Even when you don't know the notes, it's gotta have that level of crispness.
One, two, three.
Don't stop thinking about tomorrow Don't stop It'll soon be here It'll be here better than before Altos, on your own.
Don't stop - One, two, three and Don't stop Approaching the right area but it's gone all tentative.
One, two, three and Don't stop What I'm getting sometimes is Don't stop And it's right, but it's not right.
Don't stop is the part, but it's Don't stop Have a seat.
It's really important, this, because if you practise tentatively Don't stop Sorry.
Then what will happen is when you get to that stage, that's your default setting.
You know the thing about it'll be all right on the night? Rubbish.
It will be, on the night, it will be exactly as it was in rehearsal.
The contest is really upon us.
The final is around the corner.
Make sure you get this under your belts as quickly as possible.
We've got three weeks or so.
It's gonna be really hard work.
But this is it, this is the big push.
This is the end of the contest, so really go for it.
SAM: This is definitely a booster of a song.
I reckon it's a great choice.
I really do reckon it's a great choice.
We're gonna really take to this one and really go for it, I'm sure we are.
For us harmonising, this song is actually harder.
It's difficult.
It shows your voices off more, so we have to get it spot on.
If there's any flaws, this is where it's gonna show.
- Yeah, in the harmonies.
- So we have to get it spot on.
- Absolutely.
- Practise, practise, practise.
Definitely.
Gareth's final stop is in the Midlands, at one of Britain's largest water companies, Severn Trent.
GARETH: I think Severn Trent are looking like the underdogs at the moment.
You've got the Royal Mail, who are full of personality and great at performing.
And then you've got the hospital choir, who are technically really accurate.
And because they both have such a clear identity, it leaves Severn Trent just kind of treading water in the middle.
So for the final, that's their challenge.
They have to put on a show.
Hello! How are you feeling generally about your performance last week? I think that we can up it.
There's definitely room for us to up the performance.
It felt a little sort of stiff, a little corporate, a little kind of officey.
And I think that's the challenge for you, that it's fun, a performance, and, yes, we have technique as well.
I would much rather stand on the stage and hear the judges say, "You just gave a little bit too much" than say "Mmm, you know" It's fairly rare that people say that, you know, "It was a bit too exciting.
A bit too dramatic.
" No.
So, for the final, your song is Feeling Good by Nina Simone.
ALL: Yeah! - It's a bit cool.
Can you pull off cool? - Course we can.
- Yeah? It's an excellent song for you.
You have to feel good about Feeling Good.
You've got to just be up there loving it.
Let's get on with it.
Two, one and And I'm feeling Feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Fish in the sea You know how I feel Keep going.
River running free You know how I feel Good.
So now if we sing in this way, which is more choral, you've gotta find a way to oversell the consonants.
Don't forget, you're not singing to somebody who's stood here.
You're singing to a judge who's flipping miles away.
So let's really Feeling good Feeling Fe-Fe-Fe-Fe.
If we're gonna do an F, let's commit to it, do it, everyone does it and it's amazing.
Three and Feeling good Feeling good Feeling good It's frustrating being here, because I'm saying lots of F, please, and you all go, "Oh, right, yeah.
" You know? No.
If I'm covered in spit by the end of a rehearsal, I'm a happy man.
Two and Feeling good Feeling good Feeling good OK, Laura, I heard your F.
- Yes! - You were the only one.
And I went, "Oh, ping, it's Laura.
" OK? And I want everyone.
It's about just going, "I'm not afraid to be myself, to show a different side to my personality.
" So it's a challenge, actually, you know, maybe not individually.
Some of you are totally confident about that, but as a group, that's what's got to come across.
We're gonna take a break right there.
Thank you very much.
It's a good song.
I'm enjoying it, so It is a good song, but we've gotta get into the feel of it.
Once the words and the notes are absolutely nailed down, then we can sort of get into the feel of it.
Just gotta loosen up a bit.
We're standing there a bit like a rabbit in headlights at the moment.
I actually realised, seeing the other choirs, we're actually really tame.
We're not as lively as I thought we were.
- We're actually quite kind of - Reserved.
Yeah, well, well-behaved.
If it isn't full of character and full of life, then it's going to fail epically, not just for the contest, but as a performance.
And I'm not prepared to let them do that.
So I've got to find a way to just draw a bit more guts and a bit more determination out of them.
MAN: One, two, three, four.
Don't stop thinking about tomorrow In the run-up to the final, Gareth arranges additional rehearsals for each choir with local choir masters.
Yeah, now! Back If you wake up and don't wanna smile As each song includes a solo section, Gareth has chosen three soloists.
You'll see things in a different way For Royal Mail, postman Sam Fry once again takes the honours.
Don't stop It'll soon be here Think I've learned the words, just worry about going wrong on the big day, in front of all those people, but I don't think I will.
For once in my life I have someone who needs me At Lewisham Hospital, speech therapy assistant Natalie Beaumont will sing again.
Unafraid I can go where life leads me Somehow I know I'll be strong Good, so much better.
It just needs a massive bit of energy.
To do the solo is the most exciting yet frightening thing I think I'm ever gonna have to do.
Breeze drifting on by You know how I feel But at Severn Trent Water, it's first time for resource manager, Laura Clark.
It's a new life Yeah, good.
What you mustn't do is show any fear in the eyes.
Don't go New life Uh-oh.
Yeah? High note.
Ooh.
I think the problem with me performing, just my nerves.
- Really? - My nerves take over.
- In the moment? - Yeah.
What, you're more worried than enjoying it? - Yeah, definitely.
- Yeah.
That's not good.
- No.
No, it's not.
- No.
I always think that, psychologically, visualising that audience, thinking about how many of them will be there, what it's gonna be like, thinking about everyone behind you, really, being on your side Yeah.
and thinking, "I know the notes, I know the words", I think that can settle it.
LAURA: I think being the first one to actually sing, I've just really gotta relax and really gotta put some energy into the performance.
I don't just wanna stand still, frightened and scared.
It's now less than two weeks to the final and Gareth is heading back to Bristol.
I am worried about the technical aspects for the Royal Mail choir, because I think against the other two, who, let's face it, are a lot more technically accomplished, they do sound a little weaker, especially with the women.
It just feels like the men are starting to get it, starting to make a good, round solid sound, and the women, it just sounds sort of thin and a bit nervy.
And I think that is something I've got to address before the final.
To encourage the women to give it more energy, Gareth holds the next rehearsal in one of the largest and noisiest areas of the delivery centre.
You know what, I'm gonna send you guys away down that end, and I want you to listen.
Walkie-talkie me when you can start really hearing it, OK? It's the perfect space for them to learn how to project their voices.
Right.
Let's have a little go at "All I want is to see you smile.
" Altos.
All I want is to see you smile - And one.
If it takes just a little Ooh, ooh, ooh, ah, ah Good.
- Did you hear that? - No, we couldn't hear anything.
Sorry.
Let's try and get a bit more space.
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh, ah, ah If it takes just a little while That's half the way there, but there's just a sense of lack of commitment.
If you Lah! Lah! I want lots of "lah".
One, two Lah - That's better.
Ah, ah, ah - Are you receiving that sound? - That was much better.
- More depth to it, yeah, really good.
- We're gonna give you both parts.
OK.
Just turn, face there and really sock it out to them.
All I want is to see you smile If it takes just a little while Man, what a difference.
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ah, ah - Can you hear that? - Yeah, that's brilliant.
Hooray! It was inconceivable to me, when we started this, that you would end up making a sound like that.
And there is stuff to be done.
But it's credit to you.
You've worked incredibly hard.
Excellent.
Thank you.
Well done, sopranos, and well done, altos.
Right, ladies.
How's that? - Better? ALL: Much better.
Mum made a comment to me earlier, she went, "Oh, my God, I've opened my mouth and music's come out.
" - Yeah.
- That's what it feels like.
- Completely shocked.
- It sounds pleasant.
It's really good.
Really, really good.
I think the confidence is growing by the day, as long as we believe in ourselves.
It's the confidence to come in solidly on every single line.
- Good.
I'm glad that helped.
- Thanks, Gareth.
In London, at Lewisham Hospital, Gareth has organised an extra rehearsal session for the tenors and basses.
Concerned the men lack expression, he's designed his own special experiment.
I think the key with these guys is that I can't appeal to their emotions.
I can't make sort of passionate attempts to draw them in.
That's not how they work.
They work on facts.
They work on sense and reason and they like a scientific approach to everything.
So if I'm to draw a more convincing performance out of them, it has to be done there has to be a rationale behind it.
Whoa, look at you, mister! You look just like me! - You didn't dress for the occasion.
- No, I didn't realise.
Yes, it's fancy dress.
Hello.
You dressed up.
That's kind of you.
Hello.
Hi.
You all right? Today I wanted to think a little bit about this business of smiling during performance, so we're going to do a little scientific experiment, wherein we will attempt to prove that singing and smiling makes a better sound.
Tenors, why don't you do your lovely long line behind that curtain? So decide whether you're gonna smile or not smile amongst yourselves.
Two, three, four For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me Not like it's hurt me before For once I have something I know won't desert me I'm not alone any more GARETH: Thank you.
Smiling or not smiling? - I didn't think they were smiling.
- Not smiling? OK.
Let's hear version two.
Two, three, four For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me Not like it's hurt me before For once I have something I know won't desert me I'm not alone any more ALL: Yeah.
- Big difference or a small difference? When they're smiling, there's just altogether more energy.
OK, right, gather back together.
Let's try together.
Good, perfect.
You look so happy.
For once Two, three For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me Not like it's hurt me before Not like it's hurt me before For once I have something I know won't desert me I'm not alone any more For once I can say This is mine, you can't take it Long as I know I have love, I can make it For once in my life I have someone who needs me Look at that! Double goose bumps! Really fantastic.
Really fun.
Excellent.
I thought that was very useful, actually.
Did you? Yeah, I did.
I did find it useful.
Interesting hearing the difference between the different sounds.
You can definitely detect that.
It does make, or should make, the difference.
Good.
Job done.
Thank you very much.
See you later.
That was an excellent session, because it appealed to their scientific sensibility, that actually putting it in clear technical terms, if you smile, then the sound is better.
At Severn Trent Water, Gareth thinks the workmen may hold the key to getting a more dynamic performance from the office staff.
It feels like the guys who are quite sort of manual and out in the field, they're just not corporate.
So they don't have that reserve that I think a lot of the people who are stuck behind desks have.
I'd like to use them as a kind of inspiration to the rest.
Cos I just don't think that the choir can see just how held back their performance feels.
What I think we can all learn from is Mick.
Mick announces that he's about to sing, physically.
He sort of goes, "I'm gonna sing.
" And I think we could all do that.
It's like, "Look at us.
" Because if you stand there looking like, "Oh, God, we're in the final", you've lost immediately.
So you've gotta look ready for the fight.
Here we go.
Here's your fighting men.
OK.
One, two, one.
And I'm feeling good Blossom on a tree You know how I feel It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life for me And I'm feeling Right, do you get the idea, yeah? Thank you.
Well done.
Good.
Right, back you go.
Everyone's gotta look that involved.
Everyone, in their own way, has to use their faces, has to use their bodies, has to tell the story.
What I don't want is that we all stand there looking stiff.
MICK: It's hard for them, cos they sit with their shirts and their ties on.
They come from a more corporate sort of working environment.
So it's gotta be hard to just let that go.
Find a partner.
To get them to loosen up even more, Gareth decides it's time to get physical.
Ready? And one, two, one! Feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Freedom is mine I know how I feel It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life for me - F! And I'm feeling good Good! Right, very good.
Well done.
Right, now, let's go straight in after Laura's solo.
OK? Positions.
One, two And I'm feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Feeling good I'd like to do that again.
It looks like you're all waiting for a bus and then you go, "Oh!" Yeah? So it needs to be And I'm feeling good Yeah? So you're preparing.
I'm about to do a move.
Yeah! I'm doing a move.
Yeah? Ready? One, two, one And I'm feeling good Feeling good - You lost it.
All of you were like this.
GARETH: I don't want this performance to be nice.
I wanna feel something.
I want to be made to feel.
I want them to reach out to the audience and grab them.
And I don't feel like some of them are very good at that, it doesn't come naturally to them, because they're a water company and they take calls and they deal with people politely.
It's not in their nature to do something raucous.
I've worked here for a long time, and it is a corporate feeling, our attitude and behaviours, you behave this way, and we've gotta sort of forget that for two minutes.
I think there's still a little bit of corporateness within the choir.
It's gonna take a bit longer to shake out, but I think most people are feeling relaxed now and getting into it.
But there's a few stiff bodies still out there that need to be improved.
For the final performance, singing to an audience of thousands, all three choirs need to look the part.
Well, hello, everyone.
Each choir must design their own outfits.
Are we trying to show that we have an NHS connection? Other than being in our uniforms, the only way I can think of is through the colours, having royal blue on its own, or royal blue and white.
Nice.
MAN: Weirdly enough for me, because I'm stuck with the men, out on the bass section, I don't get to do this sort of thing with the girls in the choir, so I actually quite like it, you know.
Bit of metrosexual coming through there, but, yeah.
GILL: We wanna reflect Severn Trent, and this song is sophistication.
You've gotta have a decent neckline, not everything hanging out.
We want to be noticed but noticed for the right reasons.
If you feel good and you look good, hopefully the performance will be good and it'll all come together.
Can we just vote? People in favour of A, which is red at the top, black, yellow.
OK, nobody.
We all come from different jobs, and it'll be great that we all join up, looking the same, being the part and being united.
C, which is black at the top and red at the bottom.
OK, fine.
C's carried, then.
Thank you very much.
We're gonna be wearing a winning outfit and we are gonna win.
With less than a week to go, Gareth has time for just one final rehearsal with each choir.
It's a last chance to fine-tune things at the Royal Mail.
GARETH: They came on so much in the last rehearsal.
I think it's worth spending a little bit of time just improving them technically, even with this short amount of time to go, and then see where we're at.
- Hello, everyone.
ALL: Hello.
Can you believe it? This is our final rehearsal.
ALL: Ooh! Listen, today, for me, is about making everyone feel good and ready.
I hope that you are ready.
Hopefully we won't get bogged down too much in notes.
Do you all feel like you know your notes? Mmm Well, we'll find out.
We'll find out.
So, it's good to practise, just performance mode, silence, audience is in, judges are sitting there, positions.
See if you can think about the sound you're making at all times, and the moves, and everything.
Welcome to choirs.
One, two, three and Don't stop Don't stop - Now richer.
Don't stop - Now let it go! Don't stop If you wake up and don't wanna smile - That was excellent.
If it takes just a little while Open your eyes Open your eyes and look at the day You'll see things in a different way - And match that.
Rich.
Don't stop Thinking about tomorrow Don't stop It'll soon be here It'll be here better than before Yesterday's gone Yesterday's gone All I want is to see you smile Give me that "All I want" and make it sound like an opera chorus.
One, two, three and one All I want is to see you smile One more time.
It could go All I want is to see you smile Richer.
One, two, three and All I want is to see you smile That's a moment where the colour it can't be too operatic there.
You can't do too much of that sound.
Because what I want is that when the judges hear you there, they go, "Blimey! They can really sing.
That's a really, really good sound.
" From a musical point of view, that's pretty near where I'd like it to be.
Excellent at the beginning.
Just so That's completely it, isn't it? So we go from nothing to everything.
But too much alto at the end, though.
(Laughter) Unbelievably, the balance between men and women is completely transformed.
The women are now incredibly strong.
They're really working hard, they're improving every single time I see them, leaps and bounds.
There's a much better sound.
There's a much better energy.
They're positive.
I'm really I'm excited.
I think just key moments today, we've heard each other singing.
Yes.
Yeah.
And I think it's just made us think, "Hang on, we can do this.
" It's a big step from performing Postman Pat in front of 30 colleagues at your audition to singing - 2,000 people.
- Exactly.
If we as a group, we look out to the audience, see people tapping their foot, nodding their head, big smiles on their faces, we've done our job, we've done our job.
Hi, everyone! Hello.
This is it, last rehearsal.
Shall we? Hi.
- How you doing? - Good.
Right, ready? Ready to rehearse? - So you're in your positions, and - (Music intro starts) That's it, just a little bit of Very cool.
For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of Long before I knew Long before I knew Someone warm like you Would make my dreams come true Yeah, yeah, yeah For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me Not like it's hurt me before Not like it's hurt me before For once I have something I know won't desert me I'm not alone any more For once I can say This is mine, you can't take it As long as I know I have love I can make it For once in my life I have someone who needs me Good, OK, so one or two just still a little bit embarrassed, like, ooh! You've gotta go for it.
You've gotta be a bit more American about it.
There's no room for polite English reserve here.
One, two, three.
For once I can say This is mine, you can't take it As long as I know I have love I can make it For once in my life I have someone who needs me OK, just the final bit on that.
For once This is the moment.
Yeah? For once in my Really, like lots of pop in that.
One, two, three For once in my life I have someone who needs me Have you got any more? One, two, three.
For once in my life I have someone who needs me I love it! Great.
It's fantastic.
Very good.
That is a really, really stonking level of musicianship, and it's a great achievement and testament to all your hard work and your talent as well.
I think you've got something fantastic to be proud of.
It really is very, very, very good.
I feel like we're done.
Off you go.
Thank you very much.
Bye-bye! I feel like we've really nailed it today in rehearsals.
It fills me with confidence, frankly.
Just had this sudden mental image of what it might be like to win and I got a little bit of like, "That'd be very exciting", so I'm quite excited.
There's nothing technical to be done, no more polishing, no more rehearsing.
It's about guts and glory and determination.
Gareth's final rehearsal is with Severn Trent Water.
This afternoon's going to be one of those rehearsals where I know within the first two minutes whether or not anything's changed and whether they're actually ready for this final.
And if they aren't, then I'm gonna do my absolute best with those few hours to get them better.
Breeze drifting on by You know how I feel It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life For me Whoo And I'm feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Fish in the sea You know how I feel Now, careful.
River running free You know how I feel You know how I feel Blossom on a tree You know how I feel It's a new dawn - More! It's a new day It's a new life For me For me I want life.
Can we say "lah"? Lah! It goes "Feeling good, feeling good, feeling good.
Oh, freedom is mine! You know how I feel!" It's that It's evangelistic, it really is.
Big.
Amen.
Hallelujah! It is that.
Ready? Here we go.
A-one, two, one And I'm feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Freedom is mine You know how I feel It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life For me And I'm feeling good I love it.
I love it with the I think you're ready and you just need an audience now.
So well done, very happy man.
That's really good.
Great.
GARETH: There was a real goose bump moment today, where the whole thing just came together.
The basses started really strongly, everyone responded and the whole machine of the choir was just working brilliantly.
And you think how far they've come.
This time last week I thought that the Severn Trent choir were the underdogs, and I don't feel like that now.
They've really notched it up and all of the choirs have a fighting chance in that final.
It just depends who does it on the day.
It's the day of the final performances and the choirs are preparing to travel to the International Choral Festival in Wales.
We're all relaxed, up for a laugh, we all wanna have fun, so hopefully no corporate faces.
We've got one chance to do it well, and we hope it's gonna be the best that we've ever done it.
Postman Pat, Postman Pat and his black and white cat The other choirs know that we are a threat.
They know that we're a threat if we get it right.
Counts up all the post bags in his van - We just want to win.
- We just do want to win.
I think everyone's good, but we're good.
JOE: We haven't spoken about the competition at all.
We're gonna go and try to keep as relaxed as possible until we get there, and then hopefully we won't be overawed by the occasion.
We've certainly come along technically, there's no doubt about that.
The next level up is doing the performance and all the rest of it, which is actually quite hard work, but we've got there, I think, or, well, I hope we'll deliver that tonight.
All three choirs will be performing on stage at the final night of the prestigious International Eisteddfod in Llangollen.
The International Eisteddfod is famous the world over for choral excellence, musical excellence, and my three very new choirs are going right into the lion's mouth.
It's going to be incredibly intimidating, that audience.
And to add to that, there's the pressure of being judged by our three judges as well.
So I think they'll all be feeling incredibly nervous about tonight's performance.
Mid-afternoon.
Just a few hours until the choirs are due on stage.
There you go.
Perfect.
MICK: I've never seen the lads looking so sharp.
Everyone's looking good, starting to feel the part.
It's exciting, I can't wait to do it, but I'm so scared.
I really am scared.
I can't wait to get out there.
I just don't wanna let everybody down.
I don't wanna start it off and for everyone to be like, "Oh, God, that sounded awful.
" Look at the bright side.
Shut up.
Stop moaning.
They're bright.
I think they'll certainly catch people's attention.
Tidy enough? We've just gotta hope that it comes together on the night, you know.
It's gonna be scary.
We're performing in front of thousands of people, which we've not done before.
It'd be a brave man or woman in here now to say that parts of their anatomy isn't shaking a little bit.
For once I can say This is mine, you can't take it As long as I know I have love, I can make it For once in my life I have someone who needs me Yay! The adrenaline has set in.
Little shakes.
Butterflies in the tummy.
But I'm sure once we're on stage, the nerves will just disappear and we'll just deliver the song the way we're supposed to.
Just 15 minutes to go.
Amongst the audience of thousands are the three judges.
Manvinder Rattan, renowned conductor and champion of workplace choirs.
Competition's stiff, and it's gonna be a matter of tiny degrees, between these choirs, as to who wins.
Ralph Allwood, esteemed choirmaster and former head of music at Eton College.
They're coming together to compete at the highest level, so we judge them at the highest level.
And Ruby Turner, internationally acclaimed gospel and soul singer.
It's not gonna be easy to pick a winner, but, you know, we will pick one tonight, and, hey, may the best choir win.
(Choirs sing voice exercises) Before they're called to the stage, a final warm-up.
As soon as you're on that stage, grin from ear to ear, smile.
That's all I ask, is that you love it, you enjoy it.
Don't get intimidated by that audience.
They love music.
They want you to do well.
They want to enjoy it.
Let's do it.
First to sing will be Bristol's Royal Mail.
I'm nervous now.
I wasn't before, but I'm now nervous.
If it takes just a little while Months and months of auditions and work and slog come down to that one moment when you're on stage.
That's why I love it.
It's my very great pleasure to introduce a special guest to you this evening.
Please welcome Gareth Malone! (Cheering) (Speaks Welsh) That's it for the Welsh.
I am honoured to be invited here to the International Eisteddfod.
Thank you very much for having me.
Yeah, we're on.
Over the last few months I have been travelling all over the country starting up choirs in workplaces.
Why workplaces? Well, I believe in the power of singing to bring people together, no matter what the circumstances, and it doesn't matter to me whether you are the company director or the man that makes the tea, you have a place in a choir.
This is one of their first performances, so please be kind.
I'm delighted to introduce you to our first choir, the Royal Mail from Bristol! (Applause) (Cheering) Don't stop Don't stop Don't stop Don't stop If you wake up and don't wanna smile If it takes just a little while Open your eyes Open your eyes and look at the day You'll see things in a different way Don't stop thinking about tomorrow Don't stop It'll soon be here It'll be here better than before Yesterday's gone Yesterday's gone All I want is to see you smile If it takes just a little while If your life was bad to you Just think what tomorrow can do Don't stop thinking about tomorrow Don't stop It'll soon be here It'll be here better than before Yesterday's gone Yesterday's gone Ooh Ooh Don't look back Ooh Don't you look back Don't look back (Cheering) Brilliant.
Well done, mate! Yeah! The reaction we had out there was fantastic.
I could not smile any more.
I enjoyed it so much.
I just got this rush of this adrenaline, the buzz.
It was amazing.
I thought the sound we made was great.
The blend we had in sound was great.
We hit the notes and I thought our choreography was really good as well.
We've given ourselves every chance.
He's happy.
I felt like everyone hit what they needed to.
It felt good up there.
They reached a level that they'd not done before, and that was great.
Next to perform, Severn Trent Water.
Can I just say one thing before we go on stage? If we don't win this, if another choir wins it, I wouldn't swap places with any of them because you have all been absolutely fantastic fun to be with.
Love you all.
It really is brilliant.
Aw! Let's do this! I'm scared.
I'm scared, but I feel Oh, God, I feel really nervous.
Ladies and Gentlemen, our second choir, Severn Trent Water.
(Cheering) Birds flying high You know how I feel Sun in the sky You know how I feel Breeze drifting on by You know how I feel It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life For me Ooh And I'm feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Fish in the sea You know how I feel River running free You know how I feel You know how I feel Blossom on the tree You know how I feel It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life For me For me And I'm feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Feeling good Freedom is mine You know how I feel It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life For me And I'm feeling good Mate, come here.
Oh! A big water services hug and a cuddle! Wicked.
The buzz I got off that.
- Absolutely brilliant.
- We delivered.
That was awesome.
Probably the best performance we ever gave.
It's what it's all been for, isn't it? Brilliant.
Just exactly what I'd asked them to do.
Really beautiful singing all round.
Last up, Lewisham NHS Trust.
"great devotion, who spends himself" Before they take to the stage, some stirring words from consultant surgeon Eddie Chaloner.
"And who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.
" So let's get out there and do it.
I feel like we're going off to war.
I feel quite serious at the moment.
I'll try and lighten up a bit as I walk on stage.
- You've gotta get your show face on.
- I know.
Sarah just came and asked me to smile and I did this, so that's a problem.
We're gonna smile so much our faces are hurting.
That is what we're going for.
Our third and final choir, the Lewisham NHS Trust.
(Applause) (Cheering) For once in my life I have someone who needs me Someone I've needed so long For once unafraid I can go where life leads me Somehow I know I'll be strong For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of Long before I knew Long before I knew Someone warm like you Could make my dreams come true Yeah, yeah, yeah For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me Not like it's hurt me before Not like it's hurt me before For once I have something I know won't desert me I'm not alone any more For once I can say This is mine, you can't take it As long as I know I have love, I can make it For once in my life I have someone who needs me For once in my life I have someone Someone who Who needs me (Mouths) We done it! - Very well done.
- Thank you.
It was fab, really fab, and we all came together and everyone sung their best.
We did do well.
We did do well.
Yeah.
I think there was a good buzz out there.
I enjoyed myself.
I know everyone else enjoyed themselves.
God, that was amazing.
These guys are just amazing.
I'm gonna cry.
- You're amazing, Natalie.
- Wow! Wow.
- You all right? - Yeah.
What I loved about it, was it felt like a show.
It was not laid back at all.
It was really fun, energetic.
I thought they did a cracking job.
That's it.
All we've gotta do now is pick up the trophy and bugger off home.
Performances over, the choirs gather for the judges'decision.
For me, they stepped up this time round.
MANVINDER: Yes, you're right.
RALPH: When they sang low in their register, and quiet, that's a really difficult thing to do, isn't it? MANVINDER: I thought the balance was better.
Harmonically speaking, it was tight.
They walked on there looking like a choir.
The harmonies were beautiful.
They did something that was technically quite hard to do.
Shall we just say who we think should win and see if we say the same one? - And if not, we'll just have to - Negotiate.
So, after all this time, it comes down to this.
This is the moment we've all been waiting for, the moment where we find out which choir has won the contest.
But before we find out, the judges are going to tell us a little bit more about what they thought about your performances.
Royal Mail.
Really very, very impressive.
What I really liked was your very first chord, which is very quiet.
And one of the hardest things you ever ask choirs to do is to sing quietly as a group and still have impact, and you really did still have impact.
Severn Trent.
You looked so assured as you came on that stage, so confident, as though you knew exactly what you were going to do.
And then you proved that you did know exactly what you were going to do.
It was some fantastic singing.
Really this was a very polished and accomplished performance.
Lewisham, I heard you in the semi-finals, you walked on there, you blew me away.
Tonight you came back, you did it again.
Absolutely amazing.
You sung one of my favourite songs, Stevie Wonder, For Once In My Life.
Absolutely fabulous.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
This is a celebration, this trophy, of a fantastic achievement.
And with some degree of nervousness, I hand over to Ruby to tell us who has won.
It was unanimous.
And the choir that we've chosen is Severn Trent.
Severn Trent, I believe this belongs to you.
Congratulations.
Congratulations! Well done.
Well done.
TIM: You dream you're gonna win it.
You're wishing you're gonna win it.
To set yourself, you know, a goal that high and come away with it, fantastic.
- Very well done.
- Thank you so much, mate.
That's brilliant, honestly.
I'm astonished.
I can't believe we've done it.
I'm not disappointed at all.
We've done really well.
And on the night, that team, they were better than us and that's the way it goes.
Yeah, maybe we didn't have it on the night, but we will have it other nights.
We're definitely gonna continue.
There's no way we're stopping now.
We had a point to prove, we know that we were the underdogs, and we went out there for the first time ever and actually showed everybody what we are.
Everybody had that belief.
That's what's worked for us.
At least we can say we're not corporate.
I don't think the others lost it.
I think Severn Trent won it.
It was a harmonious performance.
Just everything worked.
And that's hard to beat.
There is undoubtedly a place for choirs within the workplace.
I think we proved that tonight.
My life flows on in endless song Above Earth's lamentation I hear the real though far-off hymn That hails the new creation No storm can shake my innermost calm Whilst to that rock I'm clinging I hear an echo in my soul How can I keep from singing? I hear an echo In my soul How can I keep from Singing? Ooh January 2017