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RTE Bonus: The Sing Off "Live" Blog

Okay so this isn't really "live" because I'm in PST and I'm watching on a slight tape delay.  I just... felt like I had a lot to say, so I'm saying it here.  And, away we go!

THE SING OFF IS BACK!!!!!

Three notes in and I already have chills because I pink puffy heart fun. so very much.

What's that?  It's a medley?  Love it!  Oh, they're from Oakland?  That's very close to here.

I have a feeling I'm going to like Home Free, from that 2 seconds.

BEN FOLDS!!!  SHAWN STOCKMAN!!!

I am literally tearful with joy already.

NICK LACHEY!!!  Oh, I have missed you.

I wonder how many ways Nick Lachey will come up with to describe a capella this season.  Do we think he gets a kickback of some sort every time he says "with no instruments".

Oooh, Ben Folds with the "hey we weren't on the air last year" self-deprecating joke.  I didn't expect them to acknowledge the gap in seasons.  Good on them.

Jewel generally bugs me but if continues to suck up to Nick & Ben and make fun of herself, maybe she can stay.  I don't think anyone can replace Sara B. in my heart though.

Vocal Rush - "Bottom of the River" 

Holy crap, they're a high school group from Oakland.  Conceivably I could go see them.  And, umm, Oakland is the only place I have ever been, in the entire world I've felt sketched out walking after dark.  So, keep trying to make me think Oakland is not a hole, little girl.

I like the black & white & red coordinated outfits.  This girl is a really strong vocalist.  Nice dynamic shift!  They've got some strong basses.  STEP TROUPING!!  (In fairness, Beth sent me a text about the fact that there was stepping.)

Jewel, shut up.  Don't cut off Ben Folds.  See, Shawn Stockman also noticed the dynamics and the stepping.  This means I know what I'm talking about.

Home Free - "Cruise" 

This is Willie Nelson!  My mom loves this song.  Oooh, Hunter Hayes!  I love this song too.  Oh man, they perform a lot.  Let's hope they're polished.  And a corn field joke.  I definitely like them already!

These harmonies are really clean.  The lead singer is a little smarmier?  used car salesman-y in the facial expression? than I would like.  Ben Folds' "grooving" face is the best thing ever.  Oh, hahaha, the bass doing the rap part reminds me of the Chips "End of the Road" bass spoken verse thing.  Oh!! That was an awesome punch when they all went in unison and stood up.

"I'm feeling a little bit of bass in my butt."  Ben Folds.  You are my hero.  Jewel is talking about actual music things.  "Country music is a white man's R&B."  Shawn Stockman, you are also my hero.

The Princeton Footnotes - "Trouble" 

Okay, so despite what you say, you're a typical Ivy a capella group.  Haha, he said "new direction".  This paper throwing reminds of the Warblers.

I know a sweet dance fitness routine to this song, if anyone is interested.  Oooh, I liked that last long "me" in the first section.  This soloist is getting better as the song goes on.  This feels like all typical collegiate a capella, in both arrangement and choreography.  All groups should be required to sing their love for Ben; that was awesome.  Overall, this was solid, if not particularly surprising, and maybe just a little out of pocket at times?

Nick Lachey!  Are you allowed to say, "ass"?  And...they largely agree with me! Sometimes I feel so smart.

Calle Sol - "Pon de Replay" 

Puerto Rico looks beautiful.  I think I need a vacation.  They look like they're having a lot of fun.

I like the passing of the lead.  This arrangement sounds a little thin - it's like they're missing a bass or some layers at the middle/bottom.  The dance breakdown was neat; though I wish there had been a little something...else there.

Ben Folds also thinks it needs some more depth.  Where do I sign up to be a professional a capella adjudicator?  Jewel is better when she's talking about music than when she's mugging.

Street Corner Renaissance - "What Makes You Beautiful" 

Any relation to Street Corner Symphony?  Oh, these guys are awesome.  "Puh-psh-puh-duh. We don't have that."

Holy crap.  They're singing One Direction.  This is incredible.  I love this arrangement.  And, look at your snazzy dance moves!  I like the sassiest one - with the braids.  He's got some attitude.  I hope their grand-kids taught them this song.  This last guy's falsetto is also really smooth.  Oh, holy crap.  This is what this show is about.  That was awesome.  I mean, probably not the tightest vocals ever but so fun.

"Children take notes."  I like the likening to classic do-wop to pop, salient point.  I love that Shawn Stockman was so pumped about these guys.

I think it's either Princeton of Calle Sol in the "ultimate sing off".  Let's see how I do.  Oh, yup, they're the bottom two.  Is there another college group?  Because then that makes sense.

Ten - "Tell Me Something Good" 

Oh, they're all background singers.  Interesting.  Haha, I like the bit mimicking the phone calls.  Heh on the "higher the hair" joke.

I love the Dave Matthews version of this song.  That one lady's ugly white wedge sneakers are distracting.  This soloist has a voice, huh?  The blend on the background sounds off - like it needs to be tighter?  Oooh - the wall of sound on the chorus was awesome.  I wish she hadn't wailed on the last phrase - the harmony was really pretty.

See, Ben also wanted her to wail less.  I love that Shawn Stockman calls them "crews".  See!  It does need to be tighter!  Seriously.  I could do this professionally.

Oh, yay!  Pentatonix!!  I love that they've done so very much since their time on the show.

Element - "Burn"

Something about their clip package felt "off".

Oh, this is really pretty - I like how it started sparse then got really full.  Ooh, it sounds a little off on the high part of the second chorus - like the two of them weren't doing what they meant to do in tone. There was also a little flubbing of the rhythm in the middle?  This was better than I expected.

Did Nick Lachey just make a chemistry joke?  I wonder if this was taped in November and that's why Shawn has a mustache.  Maybe Ben hit it - they were so focused on "we're girls in a man's world" and they should instead be focused on "we're awesome at this".

VoicePlay - "Feel This Moment"

I love that they're theme park singers.  Does everyone who lives in Orlando work at a theme park?

Oh sweetie, you are not Christina - that first phrase was rough.  The guy lead is doing a good job.  I feel like this is lacking in some needed intensity - like, this needs to be more of a party and it's not.  Oh!  This break down section is cool.  Good job on the vocal perc too.  I just thought the middle was lacking... in something.

Shawn Stockman agreeing on my assessment of the vocal perc and the middle section.  Seriously, Ben Folds is the best thing ever.

The Filharmonic - "Treasure"    

These guys seem funny.  "They complete me.  I didn't mean that."  Any reference to boy bands is obviously a good thing.  I like that they've assigned themselves personas.

This is a BIG sound for a smaller group and they  hit that opening hard.  Oh, these guys are adorable.  This arrangement is pretty straight-forward but the performance is so good.  Is this rushing just a little bit?  The second lead really does kind of have the Voice of God.  The perc is also really on point.  I loved that.  Fun, engaging, well-performed.  Really tight on the vocals.

Personality - that's a good word for it.  Ben Folds!  Talking about hitting it hard at the open and the rushing!  I really am feeling smart tonight.  "Motown Manilla."  Nick Lachey, you are out of control.

The acoUstiKats - Blurred Lines

Oh, man.  These guys are so cheese-tastic.  Also, that's a whole lot of boat shoes in one frame of film.
Was that a feather duster?  This is 100% what I expected from these guys.  This dancing is ridiculous.  And awesome.  I'm distracted from the high level of musicality by all the cheese-tacticness.

"Responsible fun."  "acoUstiKatastrophe."  I like that everyone is having fun with this and that the judging is as ridiculous as that performance was.

I think it's VoicePlay or Element in the ultimate sing off.  Nailed the bottom two again!  I think I would have sent Element to the sing off.  But, this makes sense too.

"Vocal jabs and hooks."  Nick Lachey, I reiterate, you are out of control.

HA.  "Bye Bye Bye"

I appreciate Princeton's dedication to N'Sync's choreography.  Wait, what was that flying somersault?  VoicePlay is kind of kicking their butt - much more original.  And not quite so over the top ridiculous.  I would give that to VoicePlay.

Can we get Nick Lachey nominated for an Emmy for this?  He's crushing it.

Called it!  Plus, they only need one all male college group.

BEST SHOW ON TELEVISION!!  

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