The Sing-Off (2009) s02e01 Episode Script

Season 2, Episode 1

Get ready for a whole new twist On the group singing phenomenon.
Last night's Sing-Off on nbc If you watch one show tonight, this should be the one.
NBC's the Sing-Off.
The Sing-Off is back! And this season we're taking America's only all-vocal competition To a whole new level More groups, more challenges, And more chances to take your breath away.
For the next three weeks, the nation's ten best singing groups Will go head to head for the ultimate prize, $100,000 and a Sony music recording contract.
From Internet sensations to R&B legends.
It's our time.
High-school champs to college preppies.
We're going to be expected to be great.
Music teachers to music students.
We live, breathe, and eat music.
Small town heroes to big-city all-stars.
We are ready to compete.
And Southern rockers to new Jersey jocks.
Losing is not an option.
The vocal battle is on.
Tonight two groups will fall, So they've got to impress our judges.
This is season two, and we want to hear it.
Ten teams, only one crown.
It's all or nothing.
The Sing-Off starts now.
Hey, hey! Wow.
What a way to get things started.
Welcome back to another incredible season of the Sing-Off.
I'm Nick Lachey, and we just saw The nation's ten best vocal groups come together For one phenomenal performance.
Together they sound awesome, But over the next three weeks, These groups will go head to head In an all-out battle for the Sing-Off title.
The winning group will be decided by you, America, And will walk away with $100,000 And a Sony music recording contract.
Tonight the journey begins, As each group performs their signature song.
They've each chosen a track that not only showcases their musical skills, But also shows off their personality and style.
By the end of the night, Two groups will be taken out of the competition, And only eight will be saved By our esteemed panel of judges.
He's a platinum selling artist Whose critically acclaimed album lonely Avenue is out now.
Resident musical genius, Ben Folds.
She's a superstar vocalist And a dancing with the stars champion.
I personally cannot wait to hear her brand-new album.
The beautiful and multitalented Nicole Scherzinger.
With his legendary group Boyz II Men, He's won four Grammy awards And sold over 60 million records worldwide.
R&B icon Shawn Stockman.
Great to have you guys back.
First up, a talented mix of high schoolers.
They might hang with different crowds in the hallways, But their love of singing unites them.
We touch down in Kettering, Ohio, To meet the students of Eleventh Hour.
We're Eleventh Hour From Fairmont high school in Kettering, Ohio.
We're sort of like the breakfast club, Except we didn't meet in the detention room.
We met in the choir room.
We all love a Capella music.
That's what brought us together.
In this group, we have a lot of different kinds of people.
An artsy person, a kind of computer tech guy, A jock, an honor roll student, There are homecoming queens.
It's kind of like a big collage of people Coming together to make some music.
Bobby and Kendall were actually nominated Homecoming queen and king.
Well, he didn't win, but but she did! I probably wouldn't have talked To half the people in this group If it wasn't for a Capella music.
Basing on stereotypes, especially for us, I probably would've never talked to Kendall young, Just 'cause she's, like, an intimidating person.
Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! But, you know, we got together, And now we're going out to L.
A.
It's amazing.
It's an amazing experience.
Eleventh Hour is definitely known throughout the school.
We'll sing at football games and pep rallies.
Today we have Kettering Fairmont High School's very own Eleventh Hour! Thank you so much! Being in High School makes us the youngest group on the show, So, we're excited to bring that new element to the Sing-Off And really surprise the audience With what we can give.
I definitely think this group can hang with the big dogs.
I don't feel intimidated at all.
We can definitely do anything else That anyone on the Sing-Off can do.
For the youngest group in our competition, Class is now in session.
Performing "baby" by Justin Bieber, Here's Eleventh Hour! All right, thank you, Eleventh Hour.
Why don't we go straight to the judges? Ben, what'd you think? Wow, I wish I had been that productive And focused in High School.
nice work.
It sounded like more people Then you had on stage, too, which was really impressive.
Kurt, that was you percussion.
Nice, nice work.
And who was singing bass? I was trying to Nice.
The bass and drums were really tight together.
The passing chords that were the really cool voicing Were absolutely nailed, While sometimes, ironically, some of the static stuff wasn't as nailed.
So, I know you can do those, too.
I thought it was great.
Okay.
Nicole? Wow.
So, we have, like, the real-life glee here On Sing-Off.
That's pretty cool.
um Kendall, you're a little star, you really are.
And when the beat dropped in, You guys did your thing.
I felt the groove definitely.
I think it's so cool How music really brings people together From all walks of life and all different cliques, And it's very powerful.
Thanks for being here.
And Shawn? Wow.
The fact that you guys are as young as you are, You give a fresh look to a Capella music.
Which is really cool.
So, just you being here is important Because of the fact that you're gonna give your generation an opportunity To do exactly what you guys are doing, and I agree with Ben.
I mean, to be that focused, For you guys to be so young, is is commendable.
So, thank you.
So, we'll see you guys again at the end of round one.
Thank you again, Eleventh Hour.
Nine more teams are gearing up to hit the stage, Including a group with a viral video hit That made them YouTube superstars.
And later, the judges will decide Which group is going home first.
It's all coming up on tonight's premiere of the Sing-Off.
When Nicole said that, I was just so blown away.
That's so humbling.
She's amazing.
And to say that to me, I'm just so I'm speechless.
We are back on the Sing-Off season premiere.
Tonight, ten incredible groups are throwing down In the world's toughest all-vocal competition.
The quest for the top prize is underway, As each group tackles a signature song That captures their own one-of-a-kind style.
Our next group originally staked its claim At the university of Oregon, But these rowdy guys earned fans From all over the world, thanks to a viral video That became a web sensation.
We rolled up to Eugene, Oregon, To log on with On the Rocks.
We are On the Rocks.
From Eugene, Oregon.
On the Rocks is an all-male collegiate a Capella group From the university of Oregon.
When On the Rocks performs, it's been described As a rolling ball of contagious energy.
How many of you party-goers know the song "shout"? I would absolutely say that having fun Is a key thing to being in On the Rocks.
We hesitate to use the term "singing fraternity", But the more we are self-reflective And look at this group, that definitely is what it seems like.
We spend so much time with each other, So it kind of does have that feeling of a brotherhood.
Every Friday, we perform for free on the campus, And one of the songs we sang one week was "bad romance.
" One of our fans videotaped it And put it on YouTube.
And it just took off like wildfire.
People didn't just watch it; they watched it And they said, "check this out.
" Official count is 6,280,744.
Wow.
Getting on to the Sing-Off Will really give us a chance to prove to everyone That we're not just 15 wacky guys that can dance And pretend to be Lady Gaga.
But we are 15 singers Who can bring it every night to the stage.
And we're gonna get everything that we have Out to that audience.
And if we win, this passion, this fun We're gonna share it with the world, With anybody who's gonna listen to it.
From YouTube to our stage, Performing "bad romance" by Lady Gaga, Here's On the Rocks.
Yeah! Thank you, On the Rocks.
Now let's see what the judges think.
Shawn? When I first I saw the song selection, The fact of 15 men pretending to be Lady Gaga Was a pretty scary thought in my mind.
But, honestly, you guys pulled it off.
I mean, you guys actually made it.
You guys made it really interesting and fun and fresh, And the fact that you incorporated the choreography Along with that harmony and the singing It sounded great.
You guys did your thing.
Ben? When it's as entertaining as you guys made it, It almost alleviates some of the musical things that are going on.
But you were a little pitchy.
I think it started in the basses, honestly, And then it worked its way up.
That's totally fine on this performance, Because I don't think it bothered anyone here.
Because, as you said, you want to be more Than just another group of 15 dudes That are imitating women, so And I think you're gonna be great.
I've got high hopes for you.
I think it'll be really good.
Thanks.
And Nicole? Boys, I think Gaga would be pleased To know that she's influenced a bunch of boys From a singing fraternity in Oregon To be monsters onstage.
Um, I had a blast with it, And I love that you guys had fun with it.
And whatever you guys are on, I'll have it On the Rocks.
All right, we'll find out in a little bit If you guys advance to our next show.
Thank you again, On the Rocks.
When we return, the all-vocal hits Just keep on coming.
We'll meet a group from the same music school That trained John Mayer, Melissa Etheridge, And the legendary Quincy Jones.
This is the Sing-Off.
Stick around.
Performing in front of a crowd like this, With Ben Folds, Nicole Scherzinger, And Shawn Stockman in front of me, It's an amazing feeling.
It's the season two premiere of the Sing-Off, Where America's top vocal groups are lighting up the stage For a chance to win the Sing-Off title, $100,000, and a Sony music recording contract.
Yep.
For our next contenders, music isn't just a passion, It's a family affair.
This magnificent seven includes a father-daughter duo Who prove that singing can span generations.
We went to Seattle to see what's brewing With the jazzy guys and gals of Groove for Thought.
We are Groove for Thought! From Seattle, Washington.
One of the things that sets us apart From a lot of other a Capella groups is our jazz style.
It's something that we've spent, you know, Spent a lot of years practicing And developing as musicians.
One of the things that might be unique about Groove for Thought Is that several of us are music teachers.
We're used to having to put together music pretty fast.
I think that'll give us an edge in this competition.
I think by being on the show, We can inspire students to see that anything is possible With hard work and dedication.
Not only are we teachers, But we've recently added a family element.
Last fall, we decided we needed a new singer.
My daughter Amanda.
She was just the obvious choice.
People joked about me being in the group when I was really little, But I never thought I actually would be.
Amanda started her interest in music As soon as she could make noise.
I always felt inspired to do music When I watched my dad And heard my dad sing and perform.
Way to go! Having a father and daughter in the group Has actually I think it's a lot of fun.
It sort of brings a family atmosphere.
Aww, I love you.
We worked so hard making this music that we love, And we see this as an opportunity To get to that next level, And winning would really give us that chance.
Putting a new-school twist On Stevie wonder's R&B classic "I wish," Please welcome Groove for Thought.
Thank you very much, Groove for Thought.
Now let's hear from our experts.
Ben? I think we all expected, since you're teachers, That your groove to thought ratio Would be more weighted towards the thought.
But I thought it grooved really nicely.
I thought it was really good.
And, Peter, a lot of energy.
And that was carrying it.
The other lead vocalist, really, in this case, is Jeff, the bassist.
And your lines sound great.
It had a great groove to it.
I could use a little more edge, Because your ear is going straight there.
The arrangement took it into a totally different area, Which keeps you from going toe-to-toe with Stevie wonder, Which is probably a good fight to avoid.
And I thought it was really good.
Good groove-thought ratio.
All right, Nicole? I really love your jazzy style.
I love it's just a really clean, sweet, warm sound, I appreciate it, and you all have your own swag in that.
And I say stick with what you're doing.
It's your own unique thing.
It separates you from everyone else.
And I just really enjoyed that.
That was definitely music to my ears.
Thank you.
Shawn? Yeah, man.
For your first performance on the show tonight, It was really solid.
It was just pleasurable.
And you guys remind me, actually, a lot Of one of my favorite groups, which is take 6.
So, you know, that sounded hot.
It was hot.
Good job, guys.
Good job.
All right, we'll find out later If the judges make your wish come true.
Thanks again, Groove for Thought.
On deck, we've got a vocal team With a ton of musical know-how.
These music majors can play just about every instrument, But it's their blend of voices That gives them a competitive edge.
We went to Boston's Berklee college of music To get a lesson from Pitch Slapped.
We are Pitch Slapped, and we go to Berklee college of music in Boston! We're the Ivy league of art schools.
Number one contemporary music school in the world.
We're naturally competitive.
We just got second place In the international championship For collegiate a Capella.
And it just pushes us to be the best musicians we can be.
A Capella music is a great outlet for vocalists, But we all do play other instruments, And that really gives us all an edge.
Since we are so technically proficient in music, We have an ear to blend and balance our voices.
Being at Berklee, your entire life is music, So sometimes you kind of need to take a break from that.
When I came to Berklee, I was a little intimidated.
But once I joined Pitch Slapped, I realized that everybody's very supportive of each other, And it's a great environment to be in.
Everyone's supporting like a family.
Being on the Sing-Off is an incredible opportunity To really make our Mark and set our place at Berklee For years to come.
This competition is so important to all of us.
We bring so much to the table, And this is the chance for American to hear it.
Putting their music theory into practice With cobra starship's "good girls go bad," Here's Pitch Slapped.
Thank you, Pitch Slapped.
Now let's see what our judges thought.
Nicole? I think anyone in college who's not in an a Capella group Is gonna try to start one right now After that performance.
There's some hot girls in this group.
It's like Sing-Off gone pussycat dolls.
It was a lot of fun, you guys.
I love you all, like, weren't too serious with it.
And the choreography was a lot of fun.
And our two lead vocalists were really great.
There's so many people up there, So I wanted to hear a little bit more Of the accompaniment behind the lead vocalists.
I think at times it was a little weak.
You were there sometimes.
It came in waves.
So, we could get a little bit more energy to support them.
But overall, you guys are a lot of fun.
Shawn? People don't really understand how hard it is To actually sing with no instrumentation, no band, No fireworks or anything behind you, And deliver a song where it's entertaining And people can actually see it and look at it And enjoy it for what it is.
You guys did that.
With that being said, I felt like there was a top And there was a bottom, And I didn't feel anything in the middle.
Other than that, it was pretty good.
And Ben? Some pretty Pitches going on.
Um.
It's your name.
All of you that goes for all of you.
Males and females.
Shawn's onto something with the top and the bottom.
But to me, I think it's more about dynamics.
I kind of expect a lot from you all Because you're Berklee students, And you can tell that you're musicians.
I don't think your high dynamic, your loud, Is actually your strong point, But I have a feeling that your strength is the ensemble.
I'm looking forward to that.
We'll hear the judges' final decision soon, But thanks again, Pitch Slapped.
And after a break, An ensemble of veteran crooners Led by a genuine R&B legend.
And then the judges will put their heads together For the first elimination of the season.
Who will hit a high note, and who will fall flat? It's all coming up on the Sing-Off.
The feeling that you get from doing that, Just performing for people, And everyone really cares about it.
It's just it's an experience like nothing else.
I'm Nick Lachey, and we are back On the season two premiere of the Sing-Off.
The country's best vocal groups are taking their first step In the quest for $100,000, a recording contract, And the Sing-Off title.
It's an intense five-night battle, And in the end, you will crown the champion.
The final group of the first round Brings a deep abiding respect for the a Capella tradition.
With a soul legend at the helm, Their seasoned harmonies are a warm reminder Of the hit records from back in the day.
We sailed to Oakland, California, For a blast from the past With Jerry Lawson & talk of the town.
We are Jerry Lawson & talk of the town, from Oakland, California.
I'm Jerry Lawson.
I've been singing for 61 years.
Singing is my life.
I started singing in the persuasions.
We were really, really big.
With the persuasions, I've been everywhere in the world.
We recorded 24 albums.
But I walked away from a Capella After 40 years.
I fell on some pretty hard times.
With faith in God, I just lift my head up And I walked into talk of the town.
When I first heard talk of the town singing, I was sold.
I knew that I had to sing with them.
Talk of the town has been singing Persuasion music for 30 years.
And when we met Jerry Lawson, It was like a dream came true.
We didn't invent a cappella, But we sort of feel like the godfathers, you know? There's a saying that you're born again.
I feel like being a part of the Sing-Off, I'm born again, And this is my comeback.
Yeah! Yeah! Keeping musical history alive With the drifters' "save the last dance," It's Jerry Lawson & talk of the town.
Thank you guys very, very much.
Let's go ahead and check with our judges.
Shawn? Oh, man.
Let me say this First of all, Jerry, you're an inspiration To everybody in this room.
Everybody.
You are a living testimony That second chances do exist.
And for you to be in it as long as you've been in it Me being a performer, all of us being performers We just respect the fact that you're here, And that all of you are here.
You present a certain type of style and class That only experience can groom and teach you.
Ben, your thoughts? For the brief review, I could've just rolled up my sweater And you'd see the chills.
Yeah, man.
That pretty much says it all, I think.
You know the story behind the song.
Doc Pomus wrote the song.
He was in a wheelchair from polio, And his wife could dance, but he couldn't.
So, he always told her to save the last dance for him, And that made it more poignant to me.
The unfair advantage that you have Is that you own your genre, And you're sitting in it.
That's not fair.
So, as the competition goes along, I'll be really interested in seeing If you're gonna show all the kiddies what you can do With something more modern.
I'm riveted.
Thank you.
And Nicole? Wow.
Um.
I don't know what to say.
You can't touch the real thing.
You all are the real thing.
You can't buy class like that.
You just can't buy class like that.
And I think tonight we're just honored To have the godfathers of a cappella with us.
Thank you.
Thank you, judges.
Gentlemen, thank you.
We'll see if you make it to the next round.
Okay, five incredibly talented groups Have all just given their all, And now our judges have a tough task ahead of them.
They can only save four.
It's decision time, Coming up on the Sing-Off.
On the road, night after night, Trying to promote an art that was dying.
And now, 45 years later, To be on a show with these kids It's just too much.
Welcome back to the season two premiere of the Sing-Off, America's first ever all-vocal competition.
And I'm joined on stage by the first five groups Who all just sang their hearts out Eleventh Hour On the Rocks, Groove for Thought, Pitch Slapped And Jerry Lawson & Talk of the Town.
I have the judges' results in my hand.
The judges chose four groups Who will pick up the Mike on our next show.
The other will have to say good-bye.
The first two groups With a guaranteed spot on our next show are Jerry Lawson & Talk of the Town! And Eleventh Hour! Congratulations to both of you.
You've earned your spots in the opera boxes.
On the Rocks, Groove for Thought, Pitch Slapped.
Two of you are moving forward.
One is moments away from leaving the stage forever.
The next group chosen by the judges to advance is On the Rocks! Congratulations! You're coming back.
It's down to Groove for Thought And Pitch Slapped.
One of you will be taking the stage next time.
The other group is about to be taken out of the competition.
The group that still has a chance To become the Sing-Off champion is Groove for Thought! Congratulations! We'll see you guys next time.
That means that Pitch Slapped We all really loved having you here, but I'm sorry.
You're gonna be going home.
If you could pick up your Mikes one last time.
Each group has chosen a song For their final exit off of our stage.
We call it their swan song, And they'll sing it as they say good-bye.
So, for the very last time, here's Pitch Slapped.
That was Pitch Slapped, saying good-bye With "na na hey hey " by steam.
Okay, we've seen five incredible vocal groups Show us everything they've got.
Now, five more of America's finest singing groups Battle it out for a shot at the Sing-Off crown.
Our next competitors carry on the storied tradition Of the first ever college a cappella group.
With over 100 years of history behind them, These Ivy league singers are keeping the legacy alive While making their Mark in the 21st century.
We headed to Yale university To study up on the Whiffenpoofs.
The Whiffenpoofs were founded in 1909 By a group of Yale students.
We are the first a cappella group in history.
We invented it.
It's a really big honor To be in this exciting, prestigious group, But it's also a big responsibility.
It's kind of on our shoulders to uphold this tradition And sing the music with the same quality That's been preserved for 100 years.
When the Whiffenpoofs started in 1909, They wore white tie and tails.
And this is something that has continued to the current day.
My favorite thing in the entire world Is to dress up in my tux.
It feels so inordinately powerful.
There's a really strong sense of group camaraderie.
We'll all go eat together, we hang out together, We have fun together.
Hey! And they're all good singers too.
Well done, sir.
Thank you.
Good round.
The Whiffenpoofs have a reputation For a particular style, And so we're excited to both showcase our style, And also try out some new music.
If we won the Sing-Off, I think it would validate the institution.
So, there's a high bar for us.
Everyone will be expected to be good.
The Whiffenpoofs are going to be expected to be great.
Showing their Ivy league savoir-faire With Mika's "Grace Kelly," Here are the Whiffenpoofs.
Somewhere out there, George W.
Bush is smiling.
Thank you, Whiffenpoofs.
Now let's go to our judges.
Ben, did they make the grade? Oh, yeah, absolutely.
I thought it was great.
And it's burned in my brain now.
You can't un-see something.
Brennan, that was a sassy performance.
Very sassy.
Very sassy.
Very cool.
And about the ensemble It's really refreshing To hear the things that you're not doing That are considered conventions In modern-day a cappella.
And there was no Which I like sometimes.
But it's nice that it's not there, Because it still grooved.
The arrangement was fantastic.
And Nicole? Oh, my little Whiffenpoof Penguins.
I honestly didn't know what to expect When I saw you all in your little penguin suits And your white gloves, And I don't know what just happened.
But it worked, and it was brilliant.
I thought it was brilliant.
And Shawn? Well, first of all, Stefan, I'd like to thank you and the Whiffenpoofs For inventing a cappella.
Thank you so much.
Oh, thank you.
We would not be here if it wasn't for you.
And we appreciate you gracing us With your presence.
But you know what? Honestly, the dynamics I mean, decrescendos, crescendos, Soft, loud, big, small.
That was, like, drama.
That was like a move condensed in, like, two minutes.
It was just fun to watch and to listen to.
You guys are off the hook, man.
Well, later on, we'll find out If you all graduate to the next episode.
Thanks again, guys.
And when we return, a gang of young guns Who prove you can be a jock and still know how to rock.
Season two is heating up, and when it's done, America will choose the champion.
One team is already gone, and one more will follow.
Stick around.
It's the Sing-Off.
We've come such a long way since we've gotten here.
I think tonight was the culmination of that.
I could not be prouder of everyone.
Oh, my God.
Absolutely.
Welcome back to season two of the Sing-Off.
Tonight, the top ten vocal groups in America Are going to head to head in battle of harmony, And only eight will survive the night.
Up next, whether it's on the baseball diamond Or the basketball court, This group of athletes has a hunger for competition.
We visited their hometown of cherry hill, new Jersey, To check out the game plan with Men of Note.
We are Men of Note, from cherry hill, new Jersey, And we serenade the ladies.
We love to go to the mall, and when we go there, We'll just sing for the fun of it.
If we see girls there, We'll wa right up to them and sing for them.
We just have a good time.
Who can't resist a bunch of guys singing for them? The girls go crazy.
We're not just singers.
We're also a bunch of athletes.
Ohh! Our group's extremely competitive In everything we do.
Set, go! If you bring the competitiveness That you have in sports to music, You can't be beat.
Come in.
Come right in.
Definitely one thing that's given us an advantage Is having a mentor like Mrs.
Bass.
Okay, let's get to this.
Six, seven.
Yeah.
Christine bass is our former choral director from High School.
She played a really big part in the three years That we won the best of high school a cappella competition.
Don't wait for that.
I think the thing that sets these guys apart from other groups Is that they're all real singers.
Each one of them can open up and sing.
There you go.
That's it! I'm so proud of you! Every time we're on that stage, everything is at stake.
And if we're not bringing it 100%, we can go home.
And that's not a risk that we're willing to take.
Serenading all the ladies With Billy Joel's "for the longest time," It's Men of Note.
One, two Bring it home, now! All right! Thank you, Men of Note.
Let's go ahead and check in with our judges.
Nicole, did they score? uh, great job, boys.
I love this song, So I was excited to hear you all do it.
Richard, you did a lovely job on it.
Boys, you sounded really good.
I think you could've been a little tighter.
Overall, it felt a little thin to me.
I felt like there could've been more bottom, And it could've been a little bit more Of a richer, warmer sound, especially with this song.
But overall, I think that you made your teacher Mrs.
Bass proud.
Shawn? It's funny because you guys remind me so much of my group, Because when we were in High School, We used to do the same thing.
We would see a girl in the gallery mall in South Philly, And as soon as we would do that, we'd go And we'd just start harmonizing out of nowhere.
So, that's good.
I can relate to that.
As far as the overall performance, It felt a little stiff at first, But by the third verse you warmed up.
You guys felt more comfortable as you went on.
Perry, you mentioned competitiveness, And that's actually a good trait to have In a group competition like this, Because you have to have that type of edge And that unity that a team would have.
It's the same importance that a harmony group should have.
If you guys loosen up just a little bit, A little quicker, it would be a lot better.
- Thank you.
- All right.
And Ben? You've all got beautiful voices.
That you have going for you.
You've got a lot of tenors, I think, Which is probably why we may feel that it's a little And they're good tenors We might feel it's a little thin sometimes.
That's gonna be an arrangement issue, I think, for you.
But I think the song was just rushed.
I think if you were to do it again and let it breathe, You'd have something that would engage the audience completely, And I expect you to do that next time.
Well, we'll find out if that performance Was good enough to keep you guys in the game.
Thanks again, Men of Note.
And when we return, We'll meet a vocal band of brothers from Tennessee On a quest for Hollywood glory.
And later, our expert judges will huddle up And decide who gets an encore And who's getting the curtain.
It's all coming up on the Sing-Off.
I feel like we put for that particular song Everything on the table.
And hopefully it was, you know, enough To get us to the next week So we can sail through to this competition.
Hey, everybody.
I'm Nick Lachey.
Tonight on season two of the Sing-Off, The nation's finest vocal groups Are showing off their signature songs, Hoping to bowl over the judges And knock down the competition.
Next up, a group of guys who hail from Nashville, Music city, U.
S.
A.
With gospel, country, rock, And bluegrass around every corner, It's no wonder why their sound is shaped By a wide variety of musical styles.
We strode down to Tennessee To kick back with the seven gents Of Street Corner Symphony.
One, two, three.
We are Street Corner Symphony From Nashville, Tennessee.
The group has a unique background.
We all appreciate the roots, From bluegrass to Southern gospel.
We want to show everybody How a Capella can b influenced by Southern music.
We're just some laid-back Southern guys.
We like to fish and hang out, And we like to un-practice.
We get together, And not only do we not practice, but we drink beer.
Hit the local watering holes.
Kind of made an art out of getting things accomplished And having fun while doing it.
Hey-oh! Nashville's great.
There's music everywhere.
You just walk down the street, And every bar there's a band.
It's really inspiring to us.
Musicians come here to live and die.
I moved to Nashville seven years ago, Signed a record deal, and worked very hard.
But the label I was with They weren't releasing anything I was writing.
I've kind of been through the wringer With the music industry for a while, And this will be a really great breath of fresh air for me.
I feel like this tv show reignited my passion for music.
Whether we win or lose, We're gonna be there just having a great time.
What a good experience, you know? To be with amazing people, good friends, and singing songs.
We want to rule the a cappella world And we will.
And we will.
Turning on their Southern charm With "everybody wants to rule the world" By tears for fears, Here's Street Corner Symphony.
One, two, three, four! All right! Thank you very much, Street Corner Symphony.
Well, Ben, did they rule your world? Yeah, y'all know some skynyrd? That was good.
That was just really good, From just the first half of the first beat Which we can all relax and just listen to music.
Dynamics, outstanding.
The groove was great, Because you don't have extremely strong basses.
So, you know that.
And then they get to be musical.
So, the bass singers sound really good.
I have one pet peeve about beatboxes, And that's the cymbals.
I don't know why.
And it's not against the law.
But in the bridge, When some dude walks in and goes, "pssssss!" It's the only thing that took, like, A perfect score down on the beatbox To, like, 99.
999.
And it was fantastic.
Otherwise, I mean, the unison at the end Was just a great thing to do.
I'm proud to live in Nashville, Hearing you guys do that.
All right.
Shawn, what'd you think? The funny thing about this business, Jeremy Life is full of second chances.
You know what I'm saying? And that's a beautiful thing That you're here tonight to Yeah.
You're here tonight Doing what I know that you feel you were born to do.
And that's all that matters at the end of the day.
All those things that happened in the past, You can throw them away now, 'cause you're here.
You're on national tv.
You're on the Sing-Off, baby.
You know what I'm saying? But, um, I love you guys' honesty.
I love the fact that you guys are just down-home Southern cats that just like to sing some harmony And just hang out.
And it's a cool thing, and you can tell That you guys un-practice very, very well.
And Nicole? When y'all started, I was looking around to see who else was singing.
I couldn't believe there was only six people up there.
And the instruments that your voices were making And, Jeremy, you have such a beautiful voice.
I can definitely empathize with you, Having been in the business for a minute, And just wondering if you're gonna get your break Or if people really understand you as an artist.
But the most important thing Is that you don't give up.
So, congratulations on being on this show right now, boys.
We are a heartbeat away from finding out If you guys made the cut.
Thanks again, Street Corner Symphony.
And when we come back, a Los Angeles super-group Will show us their West coast swagger.
Only two more performances to go Until the judges make another difficult decision.
Who will go big, and who will go home? Stay tuned to the Sing-Off.
I feel like we Minus the cymbal crashes it's a perfect ten.
I feel really good about it.
We're back on season two of the Sing-Off, America's first all-vocal competition.
From East and West, North and South, The country's best vocal groups are battling For $100,000, a Sony music recording contract, And the title of Sing-Off champion.
Yeah, it's big stuff.
We've got two more groups performing Their signature songs.
Then the judges will make a difficult decision And send someone home.
Next, these West coast natives used to go head to head In competing vocal groups, But now these college all-stars Are hoping to turn old rivalries Into winning harmonies.
We met up in L.
A.
To see if the Backbeat's brand-new blend Can take them to the top.
My name is Kenton Chen.
I'm from Los Angeles, California.
I just graduated from USC As a vocal jazz major.
Music is my whole life.
When I first saw the Sing-Off on tv, I was, like, "yes!" When I heard there was gonna be a second season, I just had to be on it.
So, I picked up my phone And called my best friends, who are in a cappella, And I said, "okay, let's get a group together.
"let's get the best people we know in a cappella and audition for the show.
" Kelley and I were lucky enough To be on the last season of the Sing-Off, And we were super excited when Kenton called us To join this amazing group of singers.
L.
A.
's best is now Backbeats! We come from various rival groups, And now we're coming together to create This new group that has to be united.
To get our group sound together and to blend, We're gonna have to spend a lot of time together.
So, we decided to get out of the city And come down to the beach.
You guys ready? Let's go! Yeah! We're gonna try to connect with each other on a more personal level So we can have a sort of sense of unity as a group.
Right from the get-go, we have to learn to come together With these different musical styles.
Yeah, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah! Having competed against each other in the past, And then now working together, Is such a really cool experience.
Because before, you had all this competitive nature in you, And now you get to relax and just make good music.
When we hit that stage, we want to show everybody out there That we are contenders on the show, And we are ready to compete.
Joining forces on the Sing-Off stage, Performing Beyonce's "if I were a boy," The Backbeats.
One, and two, and three, and four.
Wow.
Very nice job, Backbeats.
Nicole, what'd you think? This is really a competition now.
And I think y'all just set the bar.
Joanna, girl, you shut it down.
You shut it down, girl.
That was so moving and so powerful from all of you That it was just really, it gave me goosebumps.
Kenton, you worked it out.
You assembled an amazing group.
All right.
Ben? That was moving.
That was really, really good.
It goes to show When you choose a song that really means something, That's a real plus.
And then you made it mean more than, to me, I had heard it mean before.
The arrangement is always accentuating The basic melancholic sense in the song, And you held onto that the entire time.
You can see how effective that is When someone uses dynamics emotionally.
Great.
Okay.
And Shawn? First of all, I'm a sucker for altos.
And, joanna, for you to do that, Like, do you know how hard Do y'all know how hard that is? You were somewhere else, And everybody was with you.
I had chills up and down my back.
Like, it was drama.
And you did it with your voices.
Off the chain, y'all.
Great job.
We'll see if those marks Are enough to earn you a spot in the boxes.
Thank you, Backbeats.
When we return, we'll meet our final contenders, A group of young gospel singers Making the bold move from the comfort of their church To our Hollywood stage.
We're just one performance away From another heart-stopping elimination.
It's make-it-or-break-it time on the Sing-Off.
It was incredible.
There's nothing like it.
The whole experience was surreal, And I could not be happier.
I'm Nick Lachey, and we're back On season two of the Sing-Off.
So far, nine dynamic groups have been put to the test, And in a few moments, We'll find out who made the cut.
When our final competitors hit a high note, They always do it for a higher power.
Six spiritual friends have banded together, Mixing gospel roots with contemporary beats.
We took a trip to Alabama To get a glimpse into the heart and soul of Committed.
- We are - Committed! And we're from Huntsville, Alabama.
We came up with the name "Committed" Because we're Committed to God, To our music, and to each other.
We started aa young age.
From birth, we were listening to hymns, Inspirational music, going to church.
I'm so happy to have this orning Committed with us.
You can do so much with gospel.
You can affect people in so many different ways.
That puts gospel ahead of other gens.
Committed is very blessed to have awesome supporters And people who believe in us, Especially various churches in the area Who give us opportunities to sing.
I've been able to watch them grow and mature.
I'm just excited for them.
I can't wait to see how this thing turns out.
Guys? I love you.
Awww! We love you, too, man! Committed is a gospel group.
We haven't been singing top 40 pop music long.
This is a completely new experience for us.
We are a little nervous.
Pop music isn't our bread and butter.
Those are genres that we've never actually tried.
We can give it our all and see what happens.
What if we did a Lady Gaga song? Nah.
Nah.
This is gonna in front of millions of people.
So, I mean, it's a lot of people.
It is kind of nerve-wracking.
It's definitely a whole new world.
But we're up for the challenge, And we're ready to do this.
Putting a soulful twist on maroon 5's "this love," Here's Committed.
Thank you very much, Committed.
Ha ha ha! Great job.
Why don't we hear what our judges thought? I think I know the answer to this already.
ButShawn? Were you feeling it? Are you still feeling it? All right, let me Let me break it down real quick.
Sing-Off is the best show As far as a display of pure, raw, Unadulterated talent.
D.
J.
, you mentioned about, you know, Not diving into the secular music too much.
But I think that you've realized, by doing this, That it's not much of a stretch.
You still gotta come from your heart and soul with it.
That's the tie that binds it all.
And you guys did that with a maroon 5 song?! Like, I would have Like, therry Dude, your voice is so butter.
Like, your tone, Ur vibrato It's so ohh, man.
All right, I'm gonna pass it on, man.
Y'all know.
Y'all know what's up.
All right.
Nicole, your thoughts? You know, boys, it's just a shame That people don't like you, you know? I'm just joking.
I mean, Shawn over here was having a musical orgasm.
I don't know if I'm allowed to say that on Sing-Off.
But that's a good thing.
Y'all were crazy, son! Y'all were crazy! That was so I'm sorry.
I love the name of your group and what it stands for.
And God is good, And he shines his light through your voices And through your talent.
Just stay Committed, 'cause he's gonna keep you shining his light on all of us.
Thank you.
You know I'm so happy.
I told you musical orgasm.
I'm excited.
I'm sorry.
Go, Ben.
Talk.
Ben, take it away.
Okay.
Um, actually, This is what I've been waiting for on the show.
Um, because things come together for you guys That I haven't quite heard come together yet.
And, one, you're backing up your name, totally, Which is the most important part.
But as outsiders, you're coming in And taking a different perspective on the music That's really unlocking it, The way you guys made it all work together.
And the arrangement was really artful.
The bell tones were killing.
Those bell tones were just so neat.
Thank you for being on the show.
Once again, great job, And we will soon see if you guys will be singing on the next episode.
Thank you, Committed.
Well, it's decision time.
Five more groups have rocked the Mike, But only four will roll to our next show.
One group will sing their swan song When the Sing-Off returns.
Shawn said my voice sounded like "butter".
that's it for me.
I was floored, I was excited, I was humbled.
All of the above.
If you want to learn how to download the songs You heard performed tonight, go to nbc.
Com/singoff.
We are back on season two of the Sing-Off, And it's time for our second round of groups To learn their fate.
Joining me on stage are Men of Note The Whiffenpoofs Street Corner Symphony The Backbeats And Committed.
During the break, the judges chose their top four.
The bottom group will be going home.
I have the results right here.
Four of these talented groups Will sing again in the next episode.
But, for one group, the music ends tonight.
The first two groups To lock down a spot on the next show are Committed and the Backbeats! Congratulations! You're both safe.
Men of Note, the Whiffenpoofs, Street Corner Symphony.
Only two of you will make it through.
The next team saved by the judges is The Whiffenpoofs! Nice work! You guys can go ahead and take your seats in the box.
That leaves Men of Note and Street Corner Symphony.
One of you will be taking your place In the final box.
The other will be taking the Mike For your swan song.
The group that still has a chance To win the Sing-Off title is Street Corner Symphony! Congratulations! We'll see you guys back on stage In the next round.
Men of Note, great job, But unfortunately this is the end of the line, so You guys take your Mikes for the last time.
Each group has chosen a swan song to perform As they leave the Sing-Off stage.
So, now singing their farewell to the competition, It's Men of Note.
That was Men of Note Singing "take a bow" by Rihanna.
The judges have spoken.
Ten groups have now become eight.
They're all still in the hunt for the $100,000 prize, The Sony music recording contract, And a chance to become the Sing-Off champion.
Big stuff.
Next time, The spotlight will be even hotter, When the groups put their spin on big hits, Those chart-topping tracks That have been ruling the airwaves.
Now let's ask each of our groups for a sneak peek At the mega hits they'll be taking on next time.
Why don't we start with Eleventh Hour! On the Rocks! Groove for Thought! Jerry Lawson & talk of the town! The Whiffenpoofs! The Backbeats! Street Corner Symphony! Committed! Wow.
That is gonna be a great show.
The competition is heating up.
As the season continues, the challenges will get harder, The harmonies will soar higher, And each group will push themselves to the limit.
In the end, America's vote will decide who wins it all.
For now, I'm Nick Lachey, Signing off from the Sing-Off.

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