The Sing-Off (2009) s03e01 Episode Script
Season Premiere Part I
What does it sound like to make music using only your voice? The Sing-Off is back for our biggest season ever! We searched far and wide for America's best singing groups, but only 16 earned the right to compete on the Sing-Off stage.
Now they'll wage vocal battle for the ultimate grand prize $200,000 and a career-making Sony music contract.
We want to win so bad.
Think this is it.
Every day, I lose sleep over this! Week after week, they'll leave their hearts on the stage.
I felt your energy.
I feit.
And I think everybody else felt it too.
Along the way, our groups will face challenges that will push them to the breaking point.
Some will be pitch-perfect.
Wow, wow, wow, wow.
But others will fall flat.
It felt like the entire group came unglued to me.
To stay alive in the title fight, they'll have to get past our award-winning judges That was a radical arrangement.
Your voice is beautiful.
And chart-dropping triple-Grammy nominee You know me.
Or you don't, but you're getting to.
Tonight, the nation's most original music competition kicks off with our first eight phenomenal groups.
We have to win.
It's the only way.
Which group will win Sing-Off glory? That was my favorite performance of this entire competition.
In the end, America will decide.
Music like you've never heard.
A competition unlike any other.
Season 3 of the Sing-Off starts now! Why do I do that? Hey, everyone, I'm Nick Lachey, and welcome to the season premiere the Sing-Off.
You just heard a one-of-a kind, all-vocal performance of pink's hit "perfect," and it's a perfect example of why this show is such a unique and powerful vocal competition.
Now, this season the Sing-Off is the biggest ever.
We're gonna hear the best voices in America making music unlike anything you've heard before, and the stakes couldn't be higher, because these groups are battling for a $200,000 prize and a Sony music recording contract.
Yeah.
Good stuff.
And guiding us along the way are our trio of experts, some of the most respected names in music.
Platinum piano player, a cappella aficionado, singer-songwriter, and self-proclaimed music nerd, Ben Folds! Thanks, Nick.
It's good to see you.
Nice alliteration too! I appreciate that.
Are you ready for a new season of the Sing-Off? Absolutely.
I feel like the first two seasons, we introduced a cappella music to America, and they loved it, and now you're seeing people coming out of the woodwork and pushing the art form into the future.
And that's what's happening.
I can't wait to see what happens.
All right.
He's a 4-time Grammy-winning vocal legend and member of the biggest R&B group in history, Boyz II Men's Shawn Stockman! What's up, Nick? How you doing, man? Good to see you again! Good to see you.
It's so, so good to be back.
I'm so excited because, although we've had a lot of great singers in the past, this year, we have 16 groups this time, so I'm just looking forward to seeing what flavor they're gonna bring this year.
I'm ready.
And the newest member of oSing-Off team.
She's sold millions of albums, she's been nominated for three Grammys, and she has one of the most beautiful voices in all of music, miss Sara Bareilles.
Thank you.
Of course.
Sara should be an inspiration to all of our groups here on stage 'cause, actually, while you were at ucla, you were part of an all-vocal group, and now Sara is one of the biggest recording stars in the business.
Thanks for being here.
Thank you so much.
I'm so excited to be here, you guys.
You have no idea.
I have watched the show from the very, very beginning, but from my house on the couch, so, this is much, much better.
And, um, I'm just so excited, and if I have any advice, it's just sing from your heart and enjoy the ride.
Have fun, guys! No better advice than that.
Thank you, Sara.
All right, this season we've got 16 super-talented groups, and we've divided them into two brackets of eight.
Now, tonight you'll see the first bracket perform.
Eight groups will hit the stage with their signature songs, and their fate will rest with our judges.
Only six will continue on into the next round, which means that two contenders will be eliminated tonight.
One missed note could cost them their dream.
The competition begins when we return.
The Sing-Off is on! Welcome back.
For those of you checking out the Sing-Off for the first time, tonight you're in for a brand-new musical experience.
Our groups are taking some of your favorite hit songs and completely reinventing them without a single instrument.
Now let's get it started with the first group of the season Some New York college kids with a swarm of fans on campus and around the world.
We follow the bus to the university of Rochester to suit up with the Yellowjackets.
We are The Yellowjackets from the university of Rochester! The university of Rochester's mascot is the yellow jacket, and so, back in 1956, when our group was founded, they decided to wear yellow blazers to have a little bit of fun.
This group is made up of many different kinds of people.
Some of us are athletes Row, row, row, row! Some of us are funny people.
Most of us are nerds Definitely myself included.
Something else that gives us the edge is the fact that five of us attend the university's prestigious music school, the eastman school of music, and it helps us bring our music to the next level.
Because of this group's rich history, we can do a whole bunch of different styles of music: Everything from '50s doo-wop to stuff playing on the radio today.
As a group, we just shared one of the most powerful experiences in any of our lives.
We went to Kenya to do a musical exchange.
Going to Kenya was a humbling experience for each and every one of us.
Initially, this was a musical exchange with a choir over there, but it became so much more.
We've met people that have been through things that we could never imagine.
Being on the Sing-Off stage is extremely emotional for us because that message of hope that we learned over there, we get to share that with millions of people.
Trying to share the spirit of hope with the whole world, performing a song from the world cup, "wavin' flag" by K'naan, here's the university of Rochester's Yellowjackets.
Nice.
The yellow- and-black attack is back.
Shawn, you were waving your arms.
Yeah, man.
Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow.
Man, where do I begin? This ridiculous, man.
You know, that was really, really powerful.
Let me say that that was a really cool thing that you guys did, to fly over there to Kenya and make those kids' day, but I guarantee that it was just as good for you as it was for them too.
That's something That's something that stays with you forever, and I felt that you believed the music and that you believed what you sang.
That's why I enjoyed the performance.
It was powerful.
It had range.
It went up, it went down.
It had all types of levels and things of that nature.
I mean, the solos were great, but, as a unit, you guys just showed something that, you know, it was important for the song to deliver, which was that energy.
It was awesome.
Great job.
Ben? I'm with Shawn.
It was the group effort and the choir part of it that really made you feel it on the chorus, which meant you guys were all on the same page about the message that you're putting across with the song, and that's important.
If I had to be picky, the tempo was a little fluctuating in a way that, when it was groovin', it was groovin', but there were times when it was slowing down and speeding up.
Aaron, I really dug your lead.
That was a lift.
Weighing in for the first time, Sara Bareilles.
Okay.
You know, I look at your faces, it's really emotional, and I see a brotherhood here that I think is really special and unique, and I know that having that experience of going to Kenya together is something that will always be a bond that you guys share with each other.
My favorite part of the song was sort of towards the end where it was at its apex, and we were all waving the flag with you guys.
Was really emotional.
I had written down that I wanted a more intricate sort of counterpoint in terms of the arrangement.
I wanted to hear you guys doing some different things, but I don't know if actually the song calls for that, so I may or may not be right with that.
I'm new here, you guys, I'm new.
But I enjoyed your spirit onstage.
It really It makes a difference, and so, yeah, thank you.
Well, we'll learn later if the judges sent you to the next round.
Thank you, Yellowjackets.
Great job.
If you like the songs you hear tonight, you can download them from iTunes.
When we come back, we're getting more first looks at incredibly talented groups, including a family whose got singing in their genes, plus an all-vocal group where the Sing-Off's first-ever rapper takes on an Eminem smash.
This is the season premiere of the Sing-Off.
I feel amazing! I look like I'm so sad, but I feel amazing! This is the season premiere of the Sing-Off, a competition that's not just about incredible vocal skill, it's also about how well a group can work together.
Collaboration is key, and these next contenders may have a competitive edge.
Now, we've seen some groups with chemistry before, but none that all share the same DNA! We ventured north to Hortonville, Wisconsin, to meet the eight singin' siblings of the Fannin Family.
We are the Fannin Family from Hortonville, Wisconsin.
We have a big family.
There are 11 of us.
Michael, Betsy, Nicholas, Jacob, Rachel, Christopher, Alex, Monica, Sarah, Maria, and Tony.
Growing up, music absolutely surrounded us.
I can't remember a time where someone wasn't singing or playing the piano, and so this just seems natural for us.
My personal inspiration is my parents.
They have given us so much over the years.
All of us are going onto the show with that mindset, that we want to make them proud, so they can just sit back and relax just for a while and look at what they've created.
We're not afraid of the comparisons to musical families like the Von Trapps and the Partridges and the Osmonds; we just don't want to be put into a place because of them.
When one of my brothers and sisters starts singing, I know exactly what they're going to do.
We've been doing it for so long it's just second nature to us.
Did that work? I liked that.
I kind of liked what you did.
I think people might be surprised I'm only 14 and I'm the one taking all the solos.
Maria is the youngest one in this group, and we picked her as the lead because she's one of our strongest singers.
We want to win.
Obviously, we're doing it together.
This is the biggest audience that we're ever going to sing for, and I am very nervous.
I worry about letting my brothers and sisters down.
This means everything to us.
I want to do this for the rest of my life.
Can 14-year-old Maria lead her older siblings to victory? Performing "who says" by Selena Gomez, please welcome the Fannin Family.
Thank you, Fannin Family! Your family road trips must have some serious sing-alongs going on.
Ben, what'd you think? You guys were really lucky, growing up singing.
That's not something that's done a lot.
In a place like Ireland, they just stand up in the pub, and someone will just sing, and then they'll beat the crap out of each other.
There's something really natural about it And then they sing some more! Yeah, then they sing some more! But, yeah, it's true, there is an unfair advantage.
Your blend is gonna be effortless.
I'd say that's offset by the fact that you all have similar voices, so you're going to bunch up in a certain tone where, if you had lots of different gene pools to pull from, you would have lots of different timbres to pull from.
I thought you dealt with that really well.
Maria, it was very focused, very impressive that you You know, I'm a musician.
For 14, that's very impressive, yeah.
Your unisons Is the place that you really shine.
The bass You're singing, I think, out of your range, Chris, a little bit.
You can't help it if your parents didn't sprout a bassist.
Like, that's We're not gonna criticize them for that.
All in all, really good.
Doesn't mean there's not room for improvement, but it was really a fine first delivery.
Thank you.
Sara? I was sucked in, like tunnel vision, with miss Maria singing her heart out at the front of the stage, and I want to speak to how powerful I think it is that a 14-year-old girl who even admitted that she was worried that she'd be too nervous to overcome, and she wanted to really sing it out.
Well, amen, girl.
You sure did it.
You sure did.
And I loved just hearing the strength and power in the words that were coming out of your mouth.
And I want every girl in America to listen to that.
"Who says you're not perfect?" I think that's a really wonderful message.
There's something really wholesome and innocent about what you guys have to offer, and it's really refreshing.
I think there are a few pitch issues here and there, but I really enjoyed it.
I just I really was moved, so, thanks, guys! And Shawn.
Maria, you really did an awesome, awesome job, I'm telling you.
I mean, to know that you're as young as you are and for you to be in the midst of hundreds here and millions in the camera right there, and for you to nail it like you did, you should be very proud.
Your parents should be very proud.
You fought those jitters, girl, and you did your thing.
As for the family, there were some little harmony, you know, quirks here and there.
But, again, good performance.
Maria, good job.
All right, well, we'll find out soon if the judges extend your family vacation.
Thanks again, Fannin Family.
Great job.
When we come back, we'll meet a group of music majors from Howard university going old-school on a soul smash by Corinne Bailey Rae.
And, in just a few moments, the first elimination of the season.
The Sing-Off.
Keep it tuned.
There's no words to explain it.
That was amazing.
I've never experienced anything like it.
There's no words.
Welcome back to the biggest season of the Sing-Off.
When you hear a group hit a perfect harmony, it seems effortless, but any musician will tell you locking voices is harder than it looks.
As a singer myself, I know how tough it is to make four voices blend together, let alone ten, like our next group.
They're a vocal ensemble from a distinguished university bringing a rich music tradition to a whole new generation.
We swung by Washington, D.
C.
, to sample the timeless groove of Afro-Blue.
We are Afro-Blue From Howard university.
Howard university is a traditionally black university, and Afro-Blue is the premiere jazz choir at Howard.
I would describe our signature sound as a mixture of many styles, from jazz to R&B to even funk.
Howard university has such a rich musical legacy.
Artists from Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway to even P.
Diddy have all come from Howard.
Martin Luther King used to frequent the university and give the amazing speeches that we all know and love today.
I sing at the same place he stood when he spoke.
It's a dream come true.
When Afro-Blue is rehearsing, we're really focused and together, but when we're on our downtime There is crazy pandemonium.
We all have dreams, and we all want to fulfill those dreams, and to win the Sing-Off, it would put us all in a position to do what we love to do full-time, not just have a degree in music and work retail.
Being on the Sing-Off would be a major game-changer for Afro-Blue.
Everybody in the group wants a career in the music industry, and what better platform than this? We really, really need this.
Will their old-school sound be embraced by a modern audience? Performing Corinne Bailey Rae's "put your records on," here is Afro-Blue! Very nice! Thanks, Afro-Blue.
Man! Let's go ahead and hear from our judges.
Ben? That was really great.
I really love your sound.
I really love your name.
My first band was called that too.
That's not true, but I'll keep moving on.
Christie, I loved your presentation.
It's so relaxed.
You guys also have made some very jazzy stuff sound accessible, which is important, 'cause the point of jazz, jazz chords, all those extensions, is not to freak people out, it's to get the message across.
And the message is, in this song, it's about music, and it's about joy.
You guys completely delivered it.
Oh, and Reggie, nice bass work.
Excellent.
You held together.
Sara Bareilles.
I was thoroughly entertained.
I was sucked in from the beginning, of just watching your story, and I also wrote down that you're all very attractive, so Maybe I need to work on taking notes.
You're all very good-looking, in addition to sounding amazing.
It's on there.
Is on there.
I know.
Get over it.
Um I loved the story behind your group coming together and the fact that you're seeking a deeper meaning in sharing music, and the reason that that brought you together.
And that really speaks to me because that's why I play music as well.
Um, you guys show a lot of promise for a lot of versatility.
Like, I kind of can't wait to hear what you do next because you did this so well.
So, yeah, really, really well done.
I loved it.
Shawn? Let me start with what I wrote down.
"Class.
Style.
"Slick.
Smooth.
"Effortless.
And fun.
" Like, you made what is difficult for most singers look so easy.
And, Christie, man, just watching you perform Like, your voice feels like warm butter on grits.
And the way you just glided onstage, it was like you've been here before, doing your thing, and that's what made this enjoyable.
So, great first job, guys.
Great.
Good stuff.
All right, we'll find out a little later if you guys will be staying in the competition.
Coming up, an all-girl supergroup first up a Bruno Mars hit, and we're only moments away from tonight's first elimination.
The Sony music recording contract is on the line.
This is the season premiere of the Sing-Off.
This was a moment unlike any other moment I've ever experienced, and I'm so glad that I shared it with all of these wonderful and beautiful faces.
It was amazing.
I'm Nick Lachey, and welcome back to the season premiere of the Sing-Off.
A great performance on this show not only hits the high notes, but also the low notes.
They give a song its rich texture.
In the past, finding that deep-down sound has been a challenge for all-female groups.
These next girls are looking to change that.
This dream team is packed with all-star vocalists and standouts from the past two seasons of the Sing-Off.
We charged down to the O.
C.
To get a boost of girl power from Delilah.
I'm Hannah, and I sang with pitch slapped on season two.
I'm Ingrid, and I sang with pitch slapped.
I'm Kendall, and I sang with eleventh hour.
I'm Candace, and I sang on season one with voices of Lee.
I'm Laina, and I sang with noteworthy on the first season.
I'm Amy.
I sang with noteworthy on season one.
After season two ended, I got a call from Amy.
She had this really cool idea to put together a really awesome group of girls from past seasons, and then called up a couple of friends that were in the a cappella community Jo, our bass, and Gina, our beatboxer.
We definitely wanted a lot of female power.
We're here to show that has its place, a cappella and it can be really exciting.
The more that we interact with each other offstage, the better we're unified onstage.
I think it's really important that we get to know each other not just on a musical level, but on a friendship level.
It's tough when you're like, "oh, let's get eight girls together and have them sing in a group!" We're still kind of figuring out how we work musically and how to be able to work better and perform better together.
I definitely think we're probably a little bit behind.
Pitch slapped, you're gonna be going home.
Getting eliminated last season so early on definitely was a blow.
It kind of left a feeling like, oh, I wish I could go back and do more and show people what we can do.
With this group, I know that we can go all the way.
It's definitely nerve-wracking.
There's a lot of pressure.
We are just so excited to get back out on that stage and show everybody what we can do and what we've been working for.
Oh, my.
It's surreal.
Coming back for season three, this is make-or-break right here.
There's such a higher level of talent and competition.
We really, really have to step up our game.
No one ever gets a second chance at these kinds of things.
Exactly.
This time, we're gonna do it, Delilah.
One, two, three Season three! Whoo! Will they make the most of their second chance and reignite their Sing-Off dreams? Performing "grenade" by Bruno Mars, here is Delilah! Thank you, Delilah! Sara, what'd you think? Ladies! Hell, yeah.
That was awesome.
And I want to talk about girl power, and I love the idea of it, and you guys are just the kick-ass a cappella group.
That's what you are.
You're more than just a bunch of beautiful women choosing to sing together.
You guys put together an amazing group who, um, showed dynamics and versatility and emotion and a little sex appeal here and there, which is really nice.
I love that you sort of switched up the groove in the chorus.
I thought that was really interesting as a choice for an arrangement.
There were all these crazy chords you hit here and there where I kept feeling like I got slapped in the face with something, and I was like, "oh! Go girls!" I loved it.
I am so proud of you.
Well done.
Shawn? Amy.
What boyfriend did you channel to sing that? I believed it, girl.
That lead was awesome.
It cut through my darn heart.
It was off the hook, and your girls backed you up well.
I enjoyed that performance.
It was strong, it was passionate, it was sexy.
Great job, girls.
Ben, what'd you think? It was great.
I mean, it was, um You're delivering the song first.
There's no novelty to this.
An all-female group, or one person by themselves, or a whole bunch of toothless loggers could Could all pull music off, if you put your head to it, and it's all about delivering the song.
Yeah, 'cause I kind of expected, okay, the secret weapon's gonna be jo, and the bass is really great.
- I mean, you're - Yes! You're working together with Gina really well to create the low end, so we don't have a low-end issue at all.
You girls know when to drop out to allow a dynamic to happen, 'cause sometimes Amy gets to scream the hell out of something.
And everyone shut up, and that's smart.
Um "Watch me burn down in flames.
" You know what you did there with the harmonies, the chromatic stuff, some of the rubbing seconds and stuff So smooth.
Really well done.
I was so impressed that I was just writing my ass off while you guys were singing your asses off.
It was really great work.
You've really accomplished something, and welcome back, all of you that have come back.
- Yes, yes! I'm not even sure I know what "rubbing seconds" are, but I think that was a good thing, so We'll find out soon if you guys will be moving on to the next round.
Thanks again, Delilah.
Well, you've just seen four exceptional singing groups giving it everything they've got.
During the break, the judges will decide which three to save and which one's gonna sing their swan song.
The very first elimination of the season is coming up on the Sing-Off.
It was the most amazing fire on stage, ever.
It's amazing.
We done good, girls! We did! We done good! We are back on the Sing-Off.
We've still got more one-of-a-kind performances on the way, but right now I'm standing onstage with our first four groups of the night.
Afro-Blue.
Rochester's Yellowjackets.
The Fannin Family.
And Delilah.
They've moved us with their signature songs, but for one, it just wasn't enough.
I have the judges' decision right here in my hand.
For three of these groups, the show will go on.
For the other, this will be their final act.
The first two groups that will definitely move on in the competition are Delilah! And Afro-Blue! Congratulations to both of you.
Please head to your boxes.
It's down to Rochester's Yellowjackets and Fannin Family.
Yellowjackets Shawn called your performance powerful; Ben applauded your excellent lead vocal, Sara was captivated by 14-year-old Maria's solo; Shawn thought your group gave a good performance but noted some quirks with your harmonies; Ben respected your effortless blend but said because you're a family, the voices sounded too similar.
One of you will survive to sing again on this stage.
The other is about to sing your swan song.
The group that still has a chance to become the Sing-Offchampion is Yellowjackets! Congratulations.
You're moving ahead in the competition.
Fannin Family, I'm so sorry.
It's been wonderful to watch your family support each other.
You all are a one-of-a-kind family, and we certainly wish you the best of luck.
Thank you, guys.
We ask each group to choose a song for their final exit from our show, so please raise your Mikes one last time.
Singing their swan song, here is Fannin Family.
That was Fannin Family saying goodbye with "tomorrow," from the musical Annie.
We're only halfway through our first bracket, and there's still so much great talent ready to hit the stage.
We've got the Sing-Off's first-ever rapper, plus finalists from the biggest college all-vocal competition.
The Sing-Off.
Stay tuned.
It felt really good to have people in the music industry tell us that we were doing something right.
Absolutely great experience.
Coming up the Sing-Off Four phenomenal vocal groups take the stage for an all-new hour of voices-only competition.
And later, one more group will be cut from the competition for good.
I have the results right here.
The season premiere of the Sing-Off continues next.
We're back on the season premiere of the Sing-Off, the show that's riding the wave of a whole new musical movement.
We just saw the judges eliminate the first group of the season.
The fire has been lit, and now tonight's four remaining competitors have to summon all their vocal might to survive.
Next up, professional musicians who have spent hundreds of hours in the recording studio.
Now they're dropping beats live on stage, injecting a cappella with a little hip-hop.
We hit the streets of Denver to catch the downtown sound of Urban Method.
We are Urban Method! And where we from? Denver, Colorado! Whoo! I'm Tony.
I run a recording studio, and over the years, I've met a lot of amazing singers.
I've pulled all of the best of them together to make Urban Method.
There it is.
Urban Method means that we go for something that's more edgy, more on the street, in the dance and hip-hop genre.
One of main things that we have that's gonna set us apart is we have a rapper.
And I think that, um, that immediately sets us apart.
I've been rapping since about fifth grade, and that's an element that you don't hear too often in a cappella, especially in Colorado.
There's not really a rapper from my city that's doing it at a large enough level that you would really know his name.
I'm trying to be that for my city.
I feel that pressure every day.
I lose sleep over this, every day! I love this, and I believe I was meant for this, and I believe everyone in my group was meant for this.
I think we have a really good chance of taking this thing home.
Can Myke reinvent his career as an a cappella mc? Performing "love the way you lie" by Eminem and Rihanna, here is Urban Method.
Yeah! Very nice.
Thank you, Urban Method.
Shawn, what's your take on rap-a cappella? I was a young 'un when hip-hop was born, so I saw it go from where it was to where it is, and me and my homies back in southwest Philadelphia, we used to, like, beatbox and, you know You know, that whole thing? And and the thing was, was thathat was a cappella, and, you know, my boys would rap over it, and somebody would hit a little bass note and whatever to our favorite rap songs, so, to me, that's not too far from what I know.
So, I'm glad that someone actually was smart enough to do it on the Sing-Off, so I-I consider it cool.
It's amazing how y'all backed him up because that didn't even sound like a cappella.
That sounded like a track.
Like, it was so dope.
Like, the bass, the kick drum, and how you guys switched at the end of it, you know, from the snare to the rim shot.
That was hot.
That was crazy.
Myke, I believed you was legitimate with the whole thing, you know what I'm sayin'? Hopefully, Eminem is watching this right now.
All right.
Sara? Well First of all, I'm not going to beatbox.
Just wanted to clear that up for everyone.
Um, Myke, you have a real star quality to you here.
You guys are all so gelled, and I loved the theatrical quality that was happening out in front between Katie and Myke.
Um, you guys were so committed to your performance.
That was really impressive.
And I loved how, Katie, you took your time in the very beginning.
You sort of waited for a second, and then you You began, and it had so much stride and confidence to it.
It was really, really wonderful.
And, Tony, wonderful job in putting together this awesome group.
What a wonderful collective of individuals.
One of my favorite parts of the song was the very, very end, where the arrangement shifted into another gear.
I thought that was just totally amazing.
You guys did a fantastic job.
Ben? The sense of novelty never occurred to me.
If we hadn't had the preview to tell us, "oh, well, this is different 'cause it's rap-a cappella," I would have never thought of that.
I think the producer aspect is really important.
I mean, sometimes a great band comes along that's just truly informed by the studio.
And you've got a star in Myke too.
I mean, he's totally delivering the song.
And it's a poignant song.
I mean, it's a really moving song.
I will say that, that's a lot of words, and it's hard to keep that articulate.
Troy, the bass was actually shaking my ass.
It was Great group effort.
Nice first job.
Thanks, y'all.
Well, we'll find out soon if you all are advancing to the next round.
Thank you, Urban Method.
We're seeing a ton of extraordinary talent, but if you've got a favorite group or groups, you can check out their blogs, videos, and tweets at nbc.
Com.
And when we return, a group from America's heartland tackles our Hollywood stage.
And later, our judges huddle up once more to decide who gets the go-ahead and who gets left behind.
This is the Sing-Off.
Being up there in front of all those people and just, like, singing my heart out was just, honestly, and with all you guys, like, it was amazing.
I feel good right now.
Wanna go behind the scenesat the Sing-Off? Check out nbc.
Com and follow Internet sensation Sam Tsui as he takes you up close and personal with all our groups.
Thank you, guys! Yeah.
We're back on the Sing-Off.
We're experiencing something remarkable tonight as all these amazing groups redefine vocal performance in their quest for the $200,000 prize and a Sony music recording contract.
Now, you know most of our groups form because of their shared passion for singing, but few have managed to turn their passion into a profession like this next group.
We hustled over to Branson, Missouri, to meet our showbiz pros, the Cat's Pajamas.
One, two, three, four.
We are the Cat's Pajamas from Branson, Missouri.
If you're the Cat's Pajamas, you're the hip of the hip, the coolest of the cool.
Our show is extremely high energy.
When I'm performing onstage, I'm in the zone.
The Cat's Pajamas, we were doing cruise ships for about two, three years, and we got sick of sloshing around on the Atlantic, so we decided Branson, Missouri, would be perfect.
The Cat's Pajamas.
Come and check us out.
It's a city with 40 different theaters, 120 shows.
Eight million people visit here every year.
Branson is known as the live music show capital of the world.
There's no better place that I know of in America.
Are y'all ready for a good show today? The Dutton theater picked us up a couple of years ago, and now we do over 200 shows a year.
We kind of tailor our set to be more '50s, '60s, '70s.
We try to do it in a fresh, new, funkier way.
We're very, very excited to show America what we can do and what we've already established in Branson.
This is the chance that we've been waiting for, to take us to the next level.
Because we're starting to get the hang of it, being in Branson, such a small town and going out to the grocery store and getting recognized, we're really excited to go out to Los Angeles and win the hearts of everybody watching at home.
Can the pride of Branson make it big on a Hollywood stage? Performing grand funk railroad's "some kind of wonderful," here's the Cat's Pajamas.
Very nice! Thank you, Cat's Pajamas.
Ben, can they get a witness? Yeah! Yeah! Wow, I mean, that was really strong, and the 200-shows- a-night shows.
I mean, it's Uh, 200 shows a year.
It might feel like 200 shows a night.
There's nothing to be said about the musical impact of what you did, but then I think the next step for you guys is to take risks and be a little more vulnerable and, um, the artistry part.
There is art in covering other people's material.
Ykill the technical part.
Your voices are beautiful and amazing.
They completely gel.
You're selling it.
Everything is totally there.
How powerful would that be if you said something about yourself in the song? Shawn? First, I'll shout out Mr.
Skinner on the double-duty thing with the beat and the bass.
He was keeping it moving, and, um, Chris with the beautiful lead and the million-dollar smile, and I thought I saw your teeth gleam for one second! You guys are definitely entertainers.
Soon as you step onstage, someone throws some Mikes at you, you just exude it, like "bam!" It was fun.
It was entertaining.
You sold the song.
But, again, how does it translate to the listener when they're not seeing you? It's just them and the cd, or the download.
And if you advance to the next round, let's see what else the Cat's Pajamas Can do.
All right, Sara.
Well, you guys are pitch perfect.
You're all smiling ear to ear.
Tons of energy onstage.
That is a super-tight package.
Weird.
- Is that weird? - Yes! She said "package.
" Awkward moment! That was some self-censorship there.
I know! Well, you know me.
Or you don't, but you're getting to.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Yay! Moving on.
Please, everyone, come with me.
Um, I thought it was amazing that you have created this business in Branson.
Two hundred shows a year? Do you know how hard it is to do that if you're traveling everywhere, much less stickin' put and having people come visit you? That is an amazing accomplishment, so, congratulations to you on that.
I'm with the boys.
I want to see versatility here.
I just want to see what you guys look like in jeans and a tee-shirt.
And I don't mean that in a weird way either, but I just meant you're so slick and showy, I want to see a different side of you as well.
So, um, I'm excited to see that.
I gotta get outta here! I think Sara wants to actually see you in your Cat's Pajamas.
Great job, guys.
We'll find out soon if you made it to the next round.
We've heard jazz, rap, and now classic rock.
These singers are taking on every kind of music, and we've still got two more exciting performances before tonight's final elimination.
It's all coming up on the Sing-Off.
They want to see versatility, and we will give that to them if they give us the chance.
Bareilles wants to see us in tee-shirts.
And jeans.
I'm not mad.
I-I can handle that! I'm Nick Lachey and thanks for checking out the season premiere of the Sing-Off.
We've got bands from all over the country who have journeyed to our stage bringing only one instrument Their voice.
Our next group considers themselves the underdogs in the competition.
They're a band of struggling artists who joined together to try a cappella for the first time.
We stayed local in L.
A.
To get the lowdown on Kinfolk 9.
We are Kinfolk 9, from the City of Angels! I put Kinfolk 9 together, and it's made up of some of my best friends and my extended family.
Kinfolk came out of several different friendships.
It started in Greenroots, this group we started, to foster a great environment for the artists within the artists' community.
We're all artists trying to make it.
We've all had our struggles, and we thought that the Sing-Offwould be a great opportunity for us.
To the journey ahead! You'll be the first one ever.
Yeah, that was really classy! Becoming part of Kinfolk 9 is what brought me to the Sing-Off.
I think as a father and as a husband, there's more at stake.
A few years back, I had to move my wife and my kids into a friend's garage.
That one.
Okay, ask me.
As a man, you analyze What should I have done better? Where did I not cross my "T" and dot my "I"? So, there's a huge part of me that doesn't take all of this for granted and that wants to give a hundred percent so that I can look at my boys in the eyes and say, "hey, I was working really hard for you guys.
" We all understand what we've given up to be here, and since I put Kinfolk 9 together, there's a lot of pressure that I've put on myself because I definitely don't want to let my group down.
Now we've come to a point where it's like, "you guys, we have to do this for each other, "and we have to win.
We have to win.
It's the only way.
" We want to make it worth it.
Ha ha! Trying to move one step closer to the life-changing grand prize, performing one Republic's "secrets," it's Kinfolk 9.
Nice job, Kinfolk 9.
Sara, what'd you think? Well, I can see that this is very emotional for you guys.
I get the sense and the feeling that there's a lot riding on this for you, and, uh, well done.
That was a really good performance.
Moi, you are a really great front man, and you have a wonderful, wonderful lead vocal, and, um, I can really imagine what's going through your mind, knowing you've got family at home, and working hard, and I love the idea that you guys have all come together to really achieve something bigger.
You know? That's partially what I love about Los Angeles, is that this is a dream-chaser city.
You know what I'm sayin'? People come here to aim for something big, and I think there's something really beautiful in that.
The bass.
Daniel.
Wow! It was almost overpowering for me, but you're all powerhouse singers, it's very obvious, so, well done.
Ben, your thoughts? Well, first of all, Moi, beautiful voice and great delivery.
Nice work.
Um Jenilee, great job of a&r'ing the group and putting together a group of talented singers.
It's gonna take some time to get this blend together, I think.
I know that you're all wanting to get out of the garage, but I-I have the sense that you're doing it 'cause you love music, and it's generous, and so that's what I'm feeling out of it.
I mean, if you get your way and you make it, then you're gonna be on a tour bus, which is a lot less real estate than the garage, even.
And I saw the fancy washing machine.
You don't have one of those on the tour bus.
You're gonna have to give that up, but I think it's gonna be okay.
I think you're gonna do great out on the road.
And, yeah, emotional performance that just needs to come together a little bit, technically, with your blend.
That's just a matter of time and work, and I know you've got it in you.
- All right.
Shawn? Definitely some harmony quirks here and there that I did hear, but I think it's because I can sense the hunger.
Like, I can sense the desire.
Sometimes you can maybe overshoot.
You want to hit this note so good that it might be too loud, or it might clash as far as the harmony thing.
That comes with time.
I have to point out, Moi, I felt your energy.
Felt it.
Isn't it amazing that struggle tends to bring out the best in who you are? It-it's the irony of life.
Without struggle and without the means of going through something, you never really know how powerful your spirit can be.
You can always fix the technical stuff, but reserve the feeling and keep that feeling alive in you.
Keep that hunger.
Thank you.
We'll find out if the judges are your not-so-secret admirers in just a minute.
Thank you, Kinfolk 9.
After the break, a fun-loving group is gonna get the crowd jumping with a big band hit, and tonight's final elimination is just around the corner.
Three more groups will see their chances heat up, and one will be left out in the cold.
The pressure's on when the Sing-Off returns.
Welcome back to the Sing-Off.
We've got America's top vocal groups facing off for a career-making Sony music recording contract.
Our final group of the night is another great example of why this competition is unlike any other.
These Utah boys are known for their charming sense of humor and their energetic style.
We touched down in provo to share some laughs with BYU's Vocal Point.
One, two, three, four! - We are - Vocal Point, from BYU! Vocal Point is the most fun that nine clean-cut mormon guys can have onstage.
Whether we're singing a spiritual song, a fun song, a goofy song, whatever the case may be, our goal is to make somebody smile.
Stereotypes that we get as mormons? Probably that we can't do anything.
But, yeah, we like girls; Kissing girls, also.
Something pretty big in the mormon culture is when we go on group dates.
When we have our group dates, we get to sing and show off our talents a little bit to the ladies.
We have something that these ladies need to know.
Every day we're performing different crowds, which I think is gonna be a great preparation for this competition.
This competition's really important for Vocal Point.
We've given a lot to be here, and we plan on staying.
Ben got a phone call informing him that his father, who has leukemia, is not doing very well.
And Ben's going to travel home to Australia to be with his father because he doesn't know how much longer his father's going to be around.
I'm actually going to have to miss the first performance.
But obviously, this is the most important thing, to be with him at this time.
It's tough losing Ben, fill out our sound.
But more than that, he's part of us We're a brotherhood, we're friends, and we feel like we're losing someone that's really important to us.
But he needs to be with his family right now.
We just have to stay focused and work really hard, because we owe it to Ben to stay in this competition.
Can they stay in the game long enough for Ben's return? Singing Brian Setzer orchestra's jump, jive and wail, here is Vocal Point.
A-one, a-two, a-one, two, three, four! All right! Thanks, Vocal Point.
Great job.
Let's go ahead and go to the judges.
Ben, under the desk, were you tapping your feet a little bit? They get you goin'? Oh, yeah, I was dancing.
I only dance with my heels, but, yeah That's good enough.
It was first of all, the groove was great, so that was there.
The standing ovation you got was earned by the high note at the end, and I believe that was Keith.
That's the kind of That's the kind of stuff that drives it home, and it's smart, it's really great.
The high hat Your beatboxer, Tanner.
Tanner.
In this kind of swing music, it is the cymbal that makes it groove, and not, like, the snare and the bass drum, and it sounded like a high hat in the verses.
That's bizarre.
I haven't heard that yet.
That was really great.
The bass lines were wicked.
Great bass lines.
That sounded really good.
I think it's just gonna be better when Ben's here, and I wish for you guys that he was here.
I'm sure he's watching it, and you did a great job.
It was awesome.
All right.
I have one more thing to say, Nick.
I didn't mean to cut you off, man.
That's okay.
I want to teach the kids at home what modulation is.
That's when you go up a step, and you modulated very well.
Ben, anything else you want to add? Well, I wanted to talk about my childhood But we don't have time for that.
Shawn, what'd you think? Man! How much fun was that? 'Kay.
Where you at, big baby? Way to sell the lead, man.
You did your thing, you held it down, and you kept us entertained.
That modulation Twice, actually Was off the hook.
You kept it together, man.
That's hard to do.
Even in the midst of you guys moving and dancing, you guys still kept the key, although Ben, who isn't here, I kind of missed him a little bit, 'cause he is the baritone, and although it was nice to hear the high horns and all that other stuff, it would have been nice to just fill it up.
But, other than that, you guys have so much infectious energy, and it was just entertaining.
I'm sure everybody here enjoyed it too.
Sara? You have so much personality.
I feel like I just got to know you guys, in a way, and it was really cool.
I feel like we got taken on this awesome ride.
It felt like act one, two, and three.
It kept morphing into this new thing, and I was like, "where are they going to go next? This is awesome.
" You guys obviously have such a close bond.
Your blend reflects that, which is so nice.
This was that classic, collegiate, doo-woppy a cappella that I just I really love.
I'm such a fan, and when it's done right, like you guys did, there's nothing better.
I do want to say, yes, we're all thinking of Ben and wishing him and his family the absolute best.
I know you made him so proud, and I'll look forward to seeing him join you guys.
Thank you.
In a minute, we'll see if you guys are swinging into round two.
Thanks again, Vocal Point.
Great job.
Well, it's gonna be tough to see any of these groups go home, but during the break, the judges will make another heartbreaking decision Who will carry a tune on the next show, and who will be dropped from the competition.
This is the Sing-Off.
Our goal is to conquer the world with happiness, and we felt a lot of happiness out there.
At least onstage, we were having so much fun.
So much fun.
And today it was For Ben.
For Ben.
For Ben.
I'm Nick Lachey, and we're back on the Sing-Off.
Joining me onstage are the final four groups from the first round of competition Urban Method, the Cat's Pajamas, Kinfolk 9, and Vocal Point.
These guys are all such impressive performers, but, unfortunately, one group has to go.
I have the results right here.
Three of these outstanding groups have earned another performance, but one group is about to sing their last tune.
The first two groups to secure a spot in the next round are Vocal Point And Urban Method! Congratulations.
You're both safe.
Head on back to your boxes.
That leaves Cat's Pajamas and Kinfolk 9.
Cat's Pajamas Sara called you guys pitch perfect; Ben complimented your technique, showmanship, and energy, but challenged you to take more risks; Shawn thought your soloist sold the song, but questioned whether your polished sound would translate to the radio.
Kinfolk 9 Sara said you were all powerhouse singers and highlighted Moi as an incredible front man; Shawn thought you had some technical issues, but still found your performance moving; Ben felt your passion and generosity, but pointed out that, as a group, you need time to work on your vocal blend.
One of you will step ahead in the competition, the other will be stepping off our stage for good.
The group that still has a chance to win the Sing-Off title is Kinfolk 9! Congratulations! You're still in the competition.
Cat's Pajamas, you guys are consummate professionals, and I know all the fans back in Branson are extremely proud, but I'm sorry to say it's time now to raise your Mikes to perform your swan song.
Saying so long to the Sing-Off is Cat's Pajamas.
That was Cat's Pajamas singing "bye-bye, love" by the Everly Brothers.
And, don't forget, you can download any of the songs you heard tonight on iTunes.
Well, I'd say season three is off to a boomin' start, don't you think? We've seen six unforgettable groups make it past the first round, and they're still in the race for the recording contract and the championship.
Next week, our second bracket of eight take the stage, including a doo-wop dynasty, an Ivy league powerhouse ensemble, a group of rising stars from Nashville, and a brotherhood of African refugees brought together by the power of song.
Here's a sneak peak of what's to come.
I'm Nick Lachey, signing off from the Sing-Off.
Good night.
Now they'll wage vocal battle for the ultimate grand prize $200,000 and a career-making Sony music contract.
We want to win so bad.
Think this is it.
Every day, I lose sleep over this! Week after week, they'll leave their hearts on the stage.
I felt your energy.
I feit.
And I think everybody else felt it too.
Along the way, our groups will face challenges that will push them to the breaking point.
Some will be pitch-perfect.
Wow, wow, wow, wow.
But others will fall flat.
It felt like the entire group came unglued to me.
To stay alive in the title fight, they'll have to get past our award-winning judges That was a radical arrangement.
Your voice is beautiful.
And chart-dropping triple-Grammy nominee You know me.
Or you don't, but you're getting to.
Tonight, the nation's most original music competition kicks off with our first eight phenomenal groups.
We have to win.
It's the only way.
Which group will win Sing-Off glory? That was my favorite performance of this entire competition.
In the end, America will decide.
Music like you've never heard.
A competition unlike any other.
Season 3 of the Sing-Off starts now! Why do I do that? Hey, everyone, I'm Nick Lachey, and welcome to the season premiere the Sing-Off.
You just heard a one-of-a kind, all-vocal performance of pink's hit "perfect," and it's a perfect example of why this show is such a unique and powerful vocal competition.
Now, this season the Sing-Off is the biggest ever.
We're gonna hear the best voices in America making music unlike anything you've heard before, and the stakes couldn't be higher, because these groups are battling for a $200,000 prize and a Sony music recording contract.
Yeah.
Good stuff.
And guiding us along the way are our trio of experts, some of the most respected names in music.
Platinum piano player, a cappella aficionado, singer-songwriter, and self-proclaimed music nerd, Ben Folds! Thanks, Nick.
It's good to see you.
Nice alliteration too! I appreciate that.
Are you ready for a new season of the Sing-Off? Absolutely.
I feel like the first two seasons, we introduced a cappella music to America, and they loved it, and now you're seeing people coming out of the woodwork and pushing the art form into the future.
And that's what's happening.
I can't wait to see what happens.
All right.
He's a 4-time Grammy-winning vocal legend and member of the biggest R&B group in history, Boyz II Men's Shawn Stockman! What's up, Nick? How you doing, man? Good to see you again! Good to see you.
It's so, so good to be back.
I'm so excited because, although we've had a lot of great singers in the past, this year, we have 16 groups this time, so I'm just looking forward to seeing what flavor they're gonna bring this year.
I'm ready.
And the newest member of oSing-Off team.
She's sold millions of albums, she's been nominated for three Grammys, and she has one of the most beautiful voices in all of music, miss Sara Bareilles.
Thank you.
Of course.
Sara should be an inspiration to all of our groups here on stage 'cause, actually, while you were at ucla, you were part of an all-vocal group, and now Sara is one of the biggest recording stars in the business.
Thanks for being here.
Thank you so much.
I'm so excited to be here, you guys.
You have no idea.
I have watched the show from the very, very beginning, but from my house on the couch, so, this is much, much better.
And, um, I'm just so excited, and if I have any advice, it's just sing from your heart and enjoy the ride.
Have fun, guys! No better advice than that.
Thank you, Sara.
All right, this season we've got 16 super-talented groups, and we've divided them into two brackets of eight.
Now, tonight you'll see the first bracket perform.
Eight groups will hit the stage with their signature songs, and their fate will rest with our judges.
Only six will continue on into the next round, which means that two contenders will be eliminated tonight.
One missed note could cost them their dream.
The competition begins when we return.
The Sing-Off is on! Welcome back.
For those of you checking out the Sing-Off for the first time, tonight you're in for a brand-new musical experience.
Our groups are taking some of your favorite hit songs and completely reinventing them without a single instrument.
Now let's get it started with the first group of the season Some New York college kids with a swarm of fans on campus and around the world.
We follow the bus to the university of Rochester to suit up with the Yellowjackets.
We are The Yellowjackets from the university of Rochester! The university of Rochester's mascot is the yellow jacket, and so, back in 1956, when our group was founded, they decided to wear yellow blazers to have a little bit of fun.
This group is made up of many different kinds of people.
Some of us are athletes Row, row, row, row! Some of us are funny people.
Most of us are nerds Definitely myself included.
Something else that gives us the edge is the fact that five of us attend the university's prestigious music school, the eastman school of music, and it helps us bring our music to the next level.
Because of this group's rich history, we can do a whole bunch of different styles of music: Everything from '50s doo-wop to stuff playing on the radio today.
As a group, we just shared one of the most powerful experiences in any of our lives.
We went to Kenya to do a musical exchange.
Going to Kenya was a humbling experience for each and every one of us.
Initially, this was a musical exchange with a choir over there, but it became so much more.
We've met people that have been through things that we could never imagine.
Being on the Sing-Off stage is extremely emotional for us because that message of hope that we learned over there, we get to share that with millions of people.
Trying to share the spirit of hope with the whole world, performing a song from the world cup, "wavin' flag" by K'naan, here's the university of Rochester's Yellowjackets.
Nice.
The yellow- and-black attack is back.
Shawn, you were waving your arms.
Yeah, man.
Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow.
Man, where do I begin? This ridiculous, man.
You know, that was really, really powerful.
Let me say that that was a really cool thing that you guys did, to fly over there to Kenya and make those kids' day, but I guarantee that it was just as good for you as it was for them too.
That's something That's something that stays with you forever, and I felt that you believed the music and that you believed what you sang.
That's why I enjoyed the performance.
It was powerful.
It had range.
It went up, it went down.
It had all types of levels and things of that nature.
I mean, the solos were great, but, as a unit, you guys just showed something that, you know, it was important for the song to deliver, which was that energy.
It was awesome.
Great job.
Ben? I'm with Shawn.
It was the group effort and the choir part of it that really made you feel it on the chorus, which meant you guys were all on the same page about the message that you're putting across with the song, and that's important.
If I had to be picky, the tempo was a little fluctuating in a way that, when it was groovin', it was groovin', but there were times when it was slowing down and speeding up.
Aaron, I really dug your lead.
That was a lift.
Weighing in for the first time, Sara Bareilles.
Okay.
You know, I look at your faces, it's really emotional, and I see a brotherhood here that I think is really special and unique, and I know that having that experience of going to Kenya together is something that will always be a bond that you guys share with each other.
My favorite part of the song was sort of towards the end where it was at its apex, and we were all waving the flag with you guys.
Was really emotional.
I had written down that I wanted a more intricate sort of counterpoint in terms of the arrangement.
I wanted to hear you guys doing some different things, but I don't know if actually the song calls for that, so I may or may not be right with that.
I'm new here, you guys, I'm new.
But I enjoyed your spirit onstage.
It really It makes a difference, and so, yeah, thank you.
Well, we'll learn later if the judges sent you to the next round.
Thank you, Yellowjackets.
Great job.
If you like the songs you hear tonight, you can download them from iTunes.
When we come back, we're getting more first looks at incredibly talented groups, including a family whose got singing in their genes, plus an all-vocal group where the Sing-Off's first-ever rapper takes on an Eminem smash.
This is the season premiere of the Sing-Off.
I feel amazing! I look like I'm so sad, but I feel amazing! This is the season premiere of the Sing-Off, a competition that's not just about incredible vocal skill, it's also about how well a group can work together.
Collaboration is key, and these next contenders may have a competitive edge.
Now, we've seen some groups with chemistry before, but none that all share the same DNA! We ventured north to Hortonville, Wisconsin, to meet the eight singin' siblings of the Fannin Family.
We are the Fannin Family from Hortonville, Wisconsin.
We have a big family.
There are 11 of us.
Michael, Betsy, Nicholas, Jacob, Rachel, Christopher, Alex, Monica, Sarah, Maria, and Tony.
Growing up, music absolutely surrounded us.
I can't remember a time where someone wasn't singing or playing the piano, and so this just seems natural for us.
My personal inspiration is my parents.
They have given us so much over the years.
All of us are going onto the show with that mindset, that we want to make them proud, so they can just sit back and relax just for a while and look at what they've created.
We're not afraid of the comparisons to musical families like the Von Trapps and the Partridges and the Osmonds; we just don't want to be put into a place because of them.
When one of my brothers and sisters starts singing, I know exactly what they're going to do.
We've been doing it for so long it's just second nature to us.
Did that work? I liked that.
I kind of liked what you did.
I think people might be surprised I'm only 14 and I'm the one taking all the solos.
Maria is the youngest one in this group, and we picked her as the lead because she's one of our strongest singers.
We want to win.
Obviously, we're doing it together.
This is the biggest audience that we're ever going to sing for, and I am very nervous.
I worry about letting my brothers and sisters down.
This means everything to us.
I want to do this for the rest of my life.
Can 14-year-old Maria lead her older siblings to victory? Performing "who says" by Selena Gomez, please welcome the Fannin Family.
Thank you, Fannin Family! Your family road trips must have some serious sing-alongs going on.
Ben, what'd you think? You guys were really lucky, growing up singing.
That's not something that's done a lot.
In a place like Ireland, they just stand up in the pub, and someone will just sing, and then they'll beat the crap out of each other.
There's something really natural about it And then they sing some more! Yeah, then they sing some more! But, yeah, it's true, there is an unfair advantage.
Your blend is gonna be effortless.
I'd say that's offset by the fact that you all have similar voices, so you're going to bunch up in a certain tone where, if you had lots of different gene pools to pull from, you would have lots of different timbres to pull from.
I thought you dealt with that really well.
Maria, it was very focused, very impressive that you You know, I'm a musician.
For 14, that's very impressive, yeah.
Your unisons Is the place that you really shine.
The bass You're singing, I think, out of your range, Chris, a little bit.
You can't help it if your parents didn't sprout a bassist.
Like, that's We're not gonna criticize them for that.
All in all, really good.
Doesn't mean there's not room for improvement, but it was really a fine first delivery.
Thank you.
Sara? I was sucked in, like tunnel vision, with miss Maria singing her heart out at the front of the stage, and I want to speak to how powerful I think it is that a 14-year-old girl who even admitted that she was worried that she'd be too nervous to overcome, and she wanted to really sing it out.
Well, amen, girl.
You sure did it.
You sure did.
And I loved just hearing the strength and power in the words that were coming out of your mouth.
And I want every girl in America to listen to that.
"Who says you're not perfect?" I think that's a really wonderful message.
There's something really wholesome and innocent about what you guys have to offer, and it's really refreshing.
I think there are a few pitch issues here and there, but I really enjoyed it.
I just I really was moved, so, thanks, guys! And Shawn.
Maria, you really did an awesome, awesome job, I'm telling you.
I mean, to know that you're as young as you are and for you to be in the midst of hundreds here and millions in the camera right there, and for you to nail it like you did, you should be very proud.
Your parents should be very proud.
You fought those jitters, girl, and you did your thing.
As for the family, there were some little harmony, you know, quirks here and there.
But, again, good performance.
Maria, good job.
All right, well, we'll find out soon if the judges extend your family vacation.
Thanks again, Fannin Family.
Great job.
When we come back, we'll meet a group of music majors from Howard university going old-school on a soul smash by Corinne Bailey Rae.
And, in just a few moments, the first elimination of the season.
The Sing-Off.
Keep it tuned.
There's no words to explain it.
That was amazing.
I've never experienced anything like it.
There's no words.
Welcome back to the biggest season of the Sing-Off.
When you hear a group hit a perfect harmony, it seems effortless, but any musician will tell you locking voices is harder than it looks.
As a singer myself, I know how tough it is to make four voices blend together, let alone ten, like our next group.
They're a vocal ensemble from a distinguished university bringing a rich music tradition to a whole new generation.
We swung by Washington, D.
C.
, to sample the timeless groove of Afro-Blue.
We are Afro-Blue From Howard university.
Howard university is a traditionally black university, and Afro-Blue is the premiere jazz choir at Howard.
I would describe our signature sound as a mixture of many styles, from jazz to R&B to even funk.
Howard university has such a rich musical legacy.
Artists from Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway to even P.
Diddy have all come from Howard.
Martin Luther King used to frequent the university and give the amazing speeches that we all know and love today.
I sing at the same place he stood when he spoke.
It's a dream come true.
When Afro-Blue is rehearsing, we're really focused and together, but when we're on our downtime There is crazy pandemonium.
We all have dreams, and we all want to fulfill those dreams, and to win the Sing-Off, it would put us all in a position to do what we love to do full-time, not just have a degree in music and work retail.
Being on the Sing-Off would be a major game-changer for Afro-Blue.
Everybody in the group wants a career in the music industry, and what better platform than this? We really, really need this.
Will their old-school sound be embraced by a modern audience? Performing Corinne Bailey Rae's "put your records on," here is Afro-Blue! Very nice! Thanks, Afro-Blue.
Man! Let's go ahead and hear from our judges.
Ben? That was really great.
I really love your sound.
I really love your name.
My first band was called that too.
That's not true, but I'll keep moving on.
Christie, I loved your presentation.
It's so relaxed.
You guys also have made some very jazzy stuff sound accessible, which is important, 'cause the point of jazz, jazz chords, all those extensions, is not to freak people out, it's to get the message across.
And the message is, in this song, it's about music, and it's about joy.
You guys completely delivered it.
Oh, and Reggie, nice bass work.
Excellent.
You held together.
Sara Bareilles.
I was thoroughly entertained.
I was sucked in from the beginning, of just watching your story, and I also wrote down that you're all very attractive, so Maybe I need to work on taking notes.
You're all very good-looking, in addition to sounding amazing.
It's on there.
Is on there.
I know.
Get over it.
Um I loved the story behind your group coming together and the fact that you're seeking a deeper meaning in sharing music, and the reason that that brought you together.
And that really speaks to me because that's why I play music as well.
Um, you guys show a lot of promise for a lot of versatility.
Like, I kind of can't wait to hear what you do next because you did this so well.
So, yeah, really, really well done.
I loved it.
Shawn? Let me start with what I wrote down.
"Class.
Style.
"Slick.
Smooth.
"Effortless.
And fun.
" Like, you made what is difficult for most singers look so easy.
And, Christie, man, just watching you perform Like, your voice feels like warm butter on grits.
And the way you just glided onstage, it was like you've been here before, doing your thing, and that's what made this enjoyable.
So, great first job, guys.
Great.
Good stuff.
All right, we'll find out a little later if you guys will be staying in the competition.
Coming up, an all-girl supergroup first up a Bruno Mars hit, and we're only moments away from tonight's first elimination.
The Sony music recording contract is on the line.
This is the season premiere of the Sing-Off.
This was a moment unlike any other moment I've ever experienced, and I'm so glad that I shared it with all of these wonderful and beautiful faces.
It was amazing.
I'm Nick Lachey, and welcome back to the season premiere of the Sing-Off.
A great performance on this show not only hits the high notes, but also the low notes.
They give a song its rich texture.
In the past, finding that deep-down sound has been a challenge for all-female groups.
These next girls are looking to change that.
This dream team is packed with all-star vocalists and standouts from the past two seasons of the Sing-Off.
We charged down to the O.
C.
To get a boost of girl power from Delilah.
I'm Hannah, and I sang with pitch slapped on season two.
I'm Ingrid, and I sang with pitch slapped.
I'm Kendall, and I sang with eleventh hour.
I'm Candace, and I sang on season one with voices of Lee.
I'm Laina, and I sang with noteworthy on the first season.
I'm Amy.
I sang with noteworthy on season one.
After season two ended, I got a call from Amy.
She had this really cool idea to put together a really awesome group of girls from past seasons, and then called up a couple of friends that were in the a cappella community Jo, our bass, and Gina, our beatboxer.
We definitely wanted a lot of female power.
We're here to show that has its place, a cappella and it can be really exciting.
The more that we interact with each other offstage, the better we're unified onstage.
I think it's really important that we get to know each other not just on a musical level, but on a friendship level.
It's tough when you're like, "oh, let's get eight girls together and have them sing in a group!" We're still kind of figuring out how we work musically and how to be able to work better and perform better together.
I definitely think we're probably a little bit behind.
Pitch slapped, you're gonna be going home.
Getting eliminated last season so early on definitely was a blow.
It kind of left a feeling like, oh, I wish I could go back and do more and show people what we can do.
With this group, I know that we can go all the way.
It's definitely nerve-wracking.
There's a lot of pressure.
We are just so excited to get back out on that stage and show everybody what we can do and what we've been working for.
Oh, my.
It's surreal.
Coming back for season three, this is make-or-break right here.
There's such a higher level of talent and competition.
We really, really have to step up our game.
No one ever gets a second chance at these kinds of things.
Exactly.
This time, we're gonna do it, Delilah.
One, two, three Season three! Whoo! Will they make the most of their second chance and reignite their Sing-Off dreams? Performing "grenade" by Bruno Mars, here is Delilah! Thank you, Delilah! Sara, what'd you think? Ladies! Hell, yeah.
That was awesome.
And I want to talk about girl power, and I love the idea of it, and you guys are just the kick-ass a cappella group.
That's what you are.
You're more than just a bunch of beautiful women choosing to sing together.
You guys put together an amazing group who, um, showed dynamics and versatility and emotion and a little sex appeal here and there, which is really nice.
I love that you sort of switched up the groove in the chorus.
I thought that was really interesting as a choice for an arrangement.
There were all these crazy chords you hit here and there where I kept feeling like I got slapped in the face with something, and I was like, "oh! Go girls!" I loved it.
I am so proud of you.
Well done.
Shawn? Amy.
What boyfriend did you channel to sing that? I believed it, girl.
That lead was awesome.
It cut through my darn heart.
It was off the hook, and your girls backed you up well.
I enjoyed that performance.
It was strong, it was passionate, it was sexy.
Great job, girls.
Ben, what'd you think? It was great.
I mean, it was, um You're delivering the song first.
There's no novelty to this.
An all-female group, or one person by themselves, or a whole bunch of toothless loggers could Could all pull music off, if you put your head to it, and it's all about delivering the song.
Yeah, 'cause I kind of expected, okay, the secret weapon's gonna be jo, and the bass is really great.
- I mean, you're - Yes! You're working together with Gina really well to create the low end, so we don't have a low-end issue at all.
You girls know when to drop out to allow a dynamic to happen, 'cause sometimes Amy gets to scream the hell out of something.
And everyone shut up, and that's smart.
Um "Watch me burn down in flames.
" You know what you did there with the harmonies, the chromatic stuff, some of the rubbing seconds and stuff So smooth.
Really well done.
I was so impressed that I was just writing my ass off while you guys were singing your asses off.
It was really great work.
You've really accomplished something, and welcome back, all of you that have come back.
- Yes, yes! I'm not even sure I know what "rubbing seconds" are, but I think that was a good thing, so We'll find out soon if you guys will be moving on to the next round.
Thanks again, Delilah.
Well, you've just seen four exceptional singing groups giving it everything they've got.
During the break, the judges will decide which three to save and which one's gonna sing their swan song.
The very first elimination of the season is coming up on the Sing-Off.
It was the most amazing fire on stage, ever.
It's amazing.
We done good, girls! We did! We done good! We are back on the Sing-Off.
We've still got more one-of-a-kind performances on the way, but right now I'm standing onstage with our first four groups of the night.
Afro-Blue.
Rochester's Yellowjackets.
The Fannin Family.
And Delilah.
They've moved us with their signature songs, but for one, it just wasn't enough.
I have the judges' decision right here in my hand.
For three of these groups, the show will go on.
For the other, this will be their final act.
The first two groups that will definitely move on in the competition are Delilah! And Afro-Blue! Congratulations to both of you.
Please head to your boxes.
It's down to Rochester's Yellowjackets and Fannin Family.
Yellowjackets Shawn called your performance powerful; Ben applauded your excellent lead vocal, Sara was captivated by 14-year-old Maria's solo; Shawn thought your group gave a good performance but noted some quirks with your harmonies; Ben respected your effortless blend but said because you're a family, the voices sounded too similar.
One of you will survive to sing again on this stage.
The other is about to sing your swan song.
The group that still has a chance to become the Sing-Offchampion is Yellowjackets! Congratulations.
You're moving ahead in the competition.
Fannin Family, I'm so sorry.
It's been wonderful to watch your family support each other.
You all are a one-of-a-kind family, and we certainly wish you the best of luck.
Thank you, guys.
We ask each group to choose a song for their final exit from our show, so please raise your Mikes one last time.
Singing their swan song, here is Fannin Family.
That was Fannin Family saying goodbye with "tomorrow," from the musical Annie.
We're only halfway through our first bracket, and there's still so much great talent ready to hit the stage.
We've got the Sing-Off's first-ever rapper, plus finalists from the biggest college all-vocal competition.
The Sing-Off.
Stay tuned.
It felt really good to have people in the music industry tell us that we were doing something right.
Absolutely great experience.
Coming up the Sing-Off Four phenomenal vocal groups take the stage for an all-new hour of voices-only competition.
And later, one more group will be cut from the competition for good.
I have the results right here.
The season premiere of the Sing-Off continues next.
We're back on the season premiere of the Sing-Off, the show that's riding the wave of a whole new musical movement.
We just saw the judges eliminate the first group of the season.
The fire has been lit, and now tonight's four remaining competitors have to summon all their vocal might to survive.
Next up, professional musicians who have spent hundreds of hours in the recording studio.
Now they're dropping beats live on stage, injecting a cappella with a little hip-hop.
We hit the streets of Denver to catch the downtown sound of Urban Method.
We are Urban Method! And where we from? Denver, Colorado! Whoo! I'm Tony.
I run a recording studio, and over the years, I've met a lot of amazing singers.
I've pulled all of the best of them together to make Urban Method.
There it is.
Urban Method means that we go for something that's more edgy, more on the street, in the dance and hip-hop genre.
One of main things that we have that's gonna set us apart is we have a rapper.
And I think that, um, that immediately sets us apart.
I've been rapping since about fifth grade, and that's an element that you don't hear too often in a cappella, especially in Colorado.
There's not really a rapper from my city that's doing it at a large enough level that you would really know his name.
I'm trying to be that for my city.
I feel that pressure every day.
I lose sleep over this, every day! I love this, and I believe I was meant for this, and I believe everyone in my group was meant for this.
I think we have a really good chance of taking this thing home.
Can Myke reinvent his career as an a cappella mc? Performing "love the way you lie" by Eminem and Rihanna, here is Urban Method.
Yeah! Very nice.
Thank you, Urban Method.
Shawn, what's your take on rap-a cappella? I was a young 'un when hip-hop was born, so I saw it go from where it was to where it is, and me and my homies back in southwest Philadelphia, we used to, like, beatbox and, you know You know, that whole thing? And and the thing was, was thathat was a cappella, and, you know, my boys would rap over it, and somebody would hit a little bass note and whatever to our favorite rap songs, so, to me, that's not too far from what I know.
So, I'm glad that someone actually was smart enough to do it on the Sing-Off, so I-I consider it cool.
It's amazing how y'all backed him up because that didn't even sound like a cappella.
That sounded like a track.
Like, it was so dope.
Like, the bass, the kick drum, and how you guys switched at the end of it, you know, from the snare to the rim shot.
That was hot.
That was crazy.
Myke, I believed you was legitimate with the whole thing, you know what I'm sayin'? Hopefully, Eminem is watching this right now.
All right.
Sara? Well First of all, I'm not going to beatbox.
Just wanted to clear that up for everyone.
Um, Myke, you have a real star quality to you here.
You guys are all so gelled, and I loved the theatrical quality that was happening out in front between Katie and Myke.
Um, you guys were so committed to your performance.
That was really impressive.
And I loved how, Katie, you took your time in the very beginning.
You sort of waited for a second, and then you You began, and it had so much stride and confidence to it.
It was really, really wonderful.
And, Tony, wonderful job in putting together this awesome group.
What a wonderful collective of individuals.
One of my favorite parts of the song was the very, very end, where the arrangement shifted into another gear.
I thought that was just totally amazing.
You guys did a fantastic job.
Ben? The sense of novelty never occurred to me.
If we hadn't had the preview to tell us, "oh, well, this is different 'cause it's rap-a cappella," I would have never thought of that.
I think the producer aspect is really important.
I mean, sometimes a great band comes along that's just truly informed by the studio.
And you've got a star in Myke too.
I mean, he's totally delivering the song.
And it's a poignant song.
I mean, it's a really moving song.
I will say that, that's a lot of words, and it's hard to keep that articulate.
Troy, the bass was actually shaking my ass.
It was Great group effort.
Nice first job.
Thanks, y'all.
Well, we'll find out soon if you all are advancing to the next round.
Thank you, Urban Method.
We're seeing a ton of extraordinary talent, but if you've got a favorite group or groups, you can check out their blogs, videos, and tweets at nbc.
Com.
And when we return, a group from America's heartland tackles our Hollywood stage.
And later, our judges huddle up once more to decide who gets the go-ahead and who gets left behind.
This is the Sing-Off.
Being up there in front of all those people and just, like, singing my heart out was just, honestly, and with all you guys, like, it was amazing.
I feel good right now.
Wanna go behind the scenesat the Sing-Off? Check out nbc.
Com and follow Internet sensation Sam Tsui as he takes you up close and personal with all our groups.
Thank you, guys! Yeah.
We're back on the Sing-Off.
We're experiencing something remarkable tonight as all these amazing groups redefine vocal performance in their quest for the $200,000 prize and a Sony music recording contract.
Now, you know most of our groups form because of their shared passion for singing, but few have managed to turn their passion into a profession like this next group.
We hustled over to Branson, Missouri, to meet our showbiz pros, the Cat's Pajamas.
One, two, three, four.
We are the Cat's Pajamas from Branson, Missouri.
If you're the Cat's Pajamas, you're the hip of the hip, the coolest of the cool.
Our show is extremely high energy.
When I'm performing onstage, I'm in the zone.
The Cat's Pajamas, we were doing cruise ships for about two, three years, and we got sick of sloshing around on the Atlantic, so we decided Branson, Missouri, would be perfect.
The Cat's Pajamas.
Come and check us out.
It's a city with 40 different theaters, 120 shows.
Eight million people visit here every year.
Branson is known as the live music show capital of the world.
There's no better place that I know of in America.
Are y'all ready for a good show today? The Dutton theater picked us up a couple of years ago, and now we do over 200 shows a year.
We kind of tailor our set to be more '50s, '60s, '70s.
We try to do it in a fresh, new, funkier way.
We're very, very excited to show America what we can do and what we've already established in Branson.
This is the chance that we've been waiting for, to take us to the next level.
Because we're starting to get the hang of it, being in Branson, such a small town and going out to the grocery store and getting recognized, we're really excited to go out to Los Angeles and win the hearts of everybody watching at home.
Can the pride of Branson make it big on a Hollywood stage? Performing grand funk railroad's "some kind of wonderful," here's the Cat's Pajamas.
Very nice! Thank you, Cat's Pajamas.
Ben, can they get a witness? Yeah! Yeah! Wow, I mean, that was really strong, and the 200-shows- a-night shows.
I mean, it's Uh, 200 shows a year.
It might feel like 200 shows a night.
There's nothing to be said about the musical impact of what you did, but then I think the next step for you guys is to take risks and be a little more vulnerable and, um, the artistry part.
There is art in covering other people's material.
Ykill the technical part.
Your voices are beautiful and amazing.
They completely gel.
You're selling it.
Everything is totally there.
How powerful would that be if you said something about yourself in the song? Shawn? First, I'll shout out Mr.
Skinner on the double-duty thing with the beat and the bass.
He was keeping it moving, and, um, Chris with the beautiful lead and the million-dollar smile, and I thought I saw your teeth gleam for one second! You guys are definitely entertainers.
Soon as you step onstage, someone throws some Mikes at you, you just exude it, like "bam!" It was fun.
It was entertaining.
You sold the song.
But, again, how does it translate to the listener when they're not seeing you? It's just them and the cd, or the download.
And if you advance to the next round, let's see what else the Cat's Pajamas Can do.
All right, Sara.
Well, you guys are pitch perfect.
You're all smiling ear to ear.
Tons of energy onstage.
That is a super-tight package.
Weird.
- Is that weird? - Yes! She said "package.
" Awkward moment! That was some self-censorship there.
I know! Well, you know me.
Or you don't, but you're getting to.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Yay! Moving on.
Please, everyone, come with me.
Um, I thought it was amazing that you have created this business in Branson.
Two hundred shows a year? Do you know how hard it is to do that if you're traveling everywhere, much less stickin' put and having people come visit you? That is an amazing accomplishment, so, congratulations to you on that.
I'm with the boys.
I want to see versatility here.
I just want to see what you guys look like in jeans and a tee-shirt.
And I don't mean that in a weird way either, but I just meant you're so slick and showy, I want to see a different side of you as well.
So, um, I'm excited to see that.
I gotta get outta here! I think Sara wants to actually see you in your Cat's Pajamas.
Great job, guys.
We'll find out soon if you made it to the next round.
We've heard jazz, rap, and now classic rock.
These singers are taking on every kind of music, and we've still got two more exciting performances before tonight's final elimination.
It's all coming up on the Sing-Off.
They want to see versatility, and we will give that to them if they give us the chance.
Bareilles wants to see us in tee-shirts.
And jeans.
I'm not mad.
I-I can handle that! I'm Nick Lachey and thanks for checking out the season premiere of the Sing-Off.
We've got bands from all over the country who have journeyed to our stage bringing only one instrument Their voice.
Our next group considers themselves the underdogs in the competition.
They're a band of struggling artists who joined together to try a cappella for the first time.
We stayed local in L.
A.
To get the lowdown on Kinfolk 9.
We are Kinfolk 9, from the City of Angels! I put Kinfolk 9 together, and it's made up of some of my best friends and my extended family.
Kinfolk came out of several different friendships.
It started in Greenroots, this group we started, to foster a great environment for the artists within the artists' community.
We're all artists trying to make it.
We've all had our struggles, and we thought that the Sing-Offwould be a great opportunity for us.
To the journey ahead! You'll be the first one ever.
Yeah, that was really classy! Becoming part of Kinfolk 9 is what brought me to the Sing-Off.
I think as a father and as a husband, there's more at stake.
A few years back, I had to move my wife and my kids into a friend's garage.
That one.
Okay, ask me.
As a man, you analyze What should I have done better? Where did I not cross my "T" and dot my "I"? So, there's a huge part of me that doesn't take all of this for granted and that wants to give a hundred percent so that I can look at my boys in the eyes and say, "hey, I was working really hard for you guys.
" We all understand what we've given up to be here, and since I put Kinfolk 9 together, there's a lot of pressure that I've put on myself because I definitely don't want to let my group down.
Now we've come to a point where it's like, "you guys, we have to do this for each other, "and we have to win.
We have to win.
It's the only way.
" We want to make it worth it.
Ha ha! Trying to move one step closer to the life-changing grand prize, performing one Republic's "secrets," it's Kinfolk 9.
Nice job, Kinfolk 9.
Sara, what'd you think? Well, I can see that this is very emotional for you guys.
I get the sense and the feeling that there's a lot riding on this for you, and, uh, well done.
That was a really good performance.
Moi, you are a really great front man, and you have a wonderful, wonderful lead vocal, and, um, I can really imagine what's going through your mind, knowing you've got family at home, and working hard, and I love the idea that you guys have all come together to really achieve something bigger.
You know? That's partially what I love about Los Angeles, is that this is a dream-chaser city.
You know what I'm sayin'? People come here to aim for something big, and I think there's something really beautiful in that.
The bass.
Daniel.
Wow! It was almost overpowering for me, but you're all powerhouse singers, it's very obvious, so, well done.
Ben, your thoughts? Well, first of all, Moi, beautiful voice and great delivery.
Nice work.
Um Jenilee, great job of a&r'ing the group and putting together a group of talented singers.
It's gonna take some time to get this blend together, I think.
I know that you're all wanting to get out of the garage, but I-I have the sense that you're doing it 'cause you love music, and it's generous, and so that's what I'm feeling out of it.
I mean, if you get your way and you make it, then you're gonna be on a tour bus, which is a lot less real estate than the garage, even.
And I saw the fancy washing machine.
You don't have one of those on the tour bus.
You're gonna have to give that up, but I think it's gonna be okay.
I think you're gonna do great out on the road.
And, yeah, emotional performance that just needs to come together a little bit, technically, with your blend.
That's just a matter of time and work, and I know you've got it in you.
- All right.
Shawn? Definitely some harmony quirks here and there that I did hear, but I think it's because I can sense the hunger.
Like, I can sense the desire.
Sometimes you can maybe overshoot.
You want to hit this note so good that it might be too loud, or it might clash as far as the harmony thing.
That comes with time.
I have to point out, Moi, I felt your energy.
Felt it.
Isn't it amazing that struggle tends to bring out the best in who you are? It-it's the irony of life.
Without struggle and without the means of going through something, you never really know how powerful your spirit can be.
You can always fix the technical stuff, but reserve the feeling and keep that feeling alive in you.
Keep that hunger.
Thank you.
We'll find out if the judges are your not-so-secret admirers in just a minute.
Thank you, Kinfolk 9.
After the break, a fun-loving group is gonna get the crowd jumping with a big band hit, and tonight's final elimination is just around the corner.
Three more groups will see their chances heat up, and one will be left out in the cold.
The pressure's on when the Sing-Off returns.
Welcome back to the Sing-Off.
We've got America's top vocal groups facing off for a career-making Sony music recording contract.
Our final group of the night is another great example of why this competition is unlike any other.
These Utah boys are known for their charming sense of humor and their energetic style.
We touched down in provo to share some laughs with BYU's Vocal Point.
One, two, three, four! - We are - Vocal Point, from BYU! Vocal Point is the most fun that nine clean-cut mormon guys can have onstage.
Whether we're singing a spiritual song, a fun song, a goofy song, whatever the case may be, our goal is to make somebody smile.
Stereotypes that we get as mormons? Probably that we can't do anything.
But, yeah, we like girls; Kissing girls, also.
Something pretty big in the mormon culture is when we go on group dates.
When we have our group dates, we get to sing and show off our talents a little bit to the ladies.
We have something that these ladies need to know.
Every day we're performing different crowds, which I think is gonna be a great preparation for this competition.
This competition's really important for Vocal Point.
We've given a lot to be here, and we plan on staying.
Ben got a phone call informing him that his father, who has leukemia, is not doing very well.
And Ben's going to travel home to Australia to be with his father because he doesn't know how much longer his father's going to be around.
I'm actually going to have to miss the first performance.
But obviously, this is the most important thing, to be with him at this time.
It's tough losing Ben, fill out our sound.
But more than that, he's part of us We're a brotherhood, we're friends, and we feel like we're losing someone that's really important to us.
But he needs to be with his family right now.
We just have to stay focused and work really hard, because we owe it to Ben to stay in this competition.
Can they stay in the game long enough for Ben's return? Singing Brian Setzer orchestra's jump, jive and wail, here is Vocal Point.
A-one, a-two, a-one, two, three, four! All right! Thanks, Vocal Point.
Great job.
Let's go ahead and go to the judges.
Ben, under the desk, were you tapping your feet a little bit? They get you goin'? Oh, yeah, I was dancing.
I only dance with my heels, but, yeah That's good enough.
It was first of all, the groove was great, so that was there.
The standing ovation you got was earned by the high note at the end, and I believe that was Keith.
That's the kind of That's the kind of stuff that drives it home, and it's smart, it's really great.
The high hat Your beatboxer, Tanner.
Tanner.
In this kind of swing music, it is the cymbal that makes it groove, and not, like, the snare and the bass drum, and it sounded like a high hat in the verses.
That's bizarre.
I haven't heard that yet.
That was really great.
The bass lines were wicked.
Great bass lines.
That sounded really good.
I think it's just gonna be better when Ben's here, and I wish for you guys that he was here.
I'm sure he's watching it, and you did a great job.
It was awesome.
All right.
I have one more thing to say, Nick.
I didn't mean to cut you off, man.
That's okay.
I want to teach the kids at home what modulation is.
That's when you go up a step, and you modulated very well.
Ben, anything else you want to add? Well, I wanted to talk about my childhood But we don't have time for that.
Shawn, what'd you think? Man! How much fun was that? 'Kay.
Where you at, big baby? Way to sell the lead, man.
You did your thing, you held it down, and you kept us entertained.
That modulation Twice, actually Was off the hook.
You kept it together, man.
That's hard to do.
Even in the midst of you guys moving and dancing, you guys still kept the key, although Ben, who isn't here, I kind of missed him a little bit, 'cause he is the baritone, and although it was nice to hear the high horns and all that other stuff, it would have been nice to just fill it up.
But, other than that, you guys have so much infectious energy, and it was just entertaining.
I'm sure everybody here enjoyed it too.
Sara? You have so much personality.
I feel like I just got to know you guys, in a way, and it was really cool.
I feel like we got taken on this awesome ride.
It felt like act one, two, and three.
It kept morphing into this new thing, and I was like, "where are they going to go next? This is awesome.
" You guys obviously have such a close bond.
Your blend reflects that, which is so nice.
This was that classic, collegiate, doo-woppy a cappella that I just I really love.
I'm such a fan, and when it's done right, like you guys did, there's nothing better.
I do want to say, yes, we're all thinking of Ben and wishing him and his family the absolute best.
I know you made him so proud, and I'll look forward to seeing him join you guys.
Thank you.
In a minute, we'll see if you guys are swinging into round two.
Thanks again, Vocal Point.
Great job.
Well, it's gonna be tough to see any of these groups go home, but during the break, the judges will make another heartbreaking decision Who will carry a tune on the next show, and who will be dropped from the competition.
This is the Sing-Off.
Our goal is to conquer the world with happiness, and we felt a lot of happiness out there.
At least onstage, we were having so much fun.
So much fun.
And today it was For Ben.
For Ben.
For Ben.
I'm Nick Lachey, and we're back on the Sing-Off.
Joining me onstage are the final four groups from the first round of competition Urban Method, the Cat's Pajamas, Kinfolk 9, and Vocal Point.
These guys are all such impressive performers, but, unfortunately, one group has to go.
I have the results right here.
Three of these outstanding groups have earned another performance, but one group is about to sing their last tune.
The first two groups to secure a spot in the next round are Vocal Point And Urban Method! Congratulations.
You're both safe.
Head on back to your boxes.
That leaves Cat's Pajamas and Kinfolk 9.
Cat's Pajamas Sara called you guys pitch perfect; Ben complimented your technique, showmanship, and energy, but challenged you to take more risks; Shawn thought your soloist sold the song, but questioned whether your polished sound would translate to the radio.
Kinfolk 9 Sara said you were all powerhouse singers and highlighted Moi as an incredible front man; Shawn thought you had some technical issues, but still found your performance moving; Ben felt your passion and generosity, but pointed out that, as a group, you need time to work on your vocal blend.
One of you will step ahead in the competition, the other will be stepping off our stage for good.
The group that still has a chance to win the Sing-Off title is Kinfolk 9! Congratulations! You're still in the competition.
Cat's Pajamas, you guys are consummate professionals, and I know all the fans back in Branson are extremely proud, but I'm sorry to say it's time now to raise your Mikes to perform your swan song.
Saying so long to the Sing-Off is Cat's Pajamas.
That was Cat's Pajamas singing "bye-bye, love" by the Everly Brothers.
And, don't forget, you can download any of the songs you heard tonight on iTunes.
Well, I'd say season three is off to a boomin' start, don't you think? We've seen six unforgettable groups make it past the first round, and they're still in the race for the recording contract and the championship.
Next week, our second bracket of eight take the stage, including a doo-wop dynasty, an Ivy league powerhouse ensemble, a group of rising stars from Nashville, and a brotherhood of African refugees brought together by the power of song.
Here's a sneak peak of what's to come.
I'm Nick Lachey, signing off from the Sing-Off.
Good night.