So, let's just point out I'm still a little salty about the fact that Street Corner Renaissance went home. Especially because this group of four seems so sub-par to the first group of four.
I liked the 'My Generation' open. Not thrilled with the 'We Will Rock You' interlude but am digging the Imagine Dragons cover. That was solid. I think they maybe overused the bass guy a little - he's so jarring to hear.
"Man with a PhD in R&B". Whoever is writing for Nick Lachey is really on top of their game this year. The high tenor from VoicePlay is appropriately excited to work with Ben Folds. I approve.
I feel like for this group of four, they're putting a lot more emphasis on it being "historical" than for the first group. Plus, the DVR descriptions seem weird. I think there was monkeying with the schedule.
Home Free - "Ring of Fire"
I would not have pegged Ben Folds as bass guy's biggest influence. Can't judge a book, I guess. I don't know how I feel about this as a slow jam. It gets better when it speeds up. I'm not loving the bass guy on lead (apparently, I have a weird fixation with him today) but he did have a couple nice phrases, when he went up "like a child". I like the unison chorus and the little two step. Ooh, that's a pretty note! I totally did not get what the judges freaked out about there at the end. Was that just a really low note? That was not their strongest, I don't think. "Went from being an instrument to a human." HA! Why does Jewel say "octaves" like that? Maybe I'm just cranky because I wasn't as in love with it as the judges.
VoicePlay - "Don't Speak"
Why does that girl have an enormous golden pick for an earring? Doesn't that hurt her earlobe? That's a lot of plaid pants on one stage. Yikes. That was a pretty opening - but it was really jarring to skip the next couple of lines; this song is so well known that I feel like I just got jipped not hearing them? I like these two dueting (though maybe not his crazy pattern mixing; that is an insane outfit, dude). I like the perc on this a lot; it's holding it together while being really clean. That last phrase was really pretty. Based on what I've heard, I think that the guys should sometimes get a chance to sing lead (especially the bald guy). Fun arrangement (minus the skipped section in the first couple of lines), well executed. Whoa, Jewel busting out the language of dynamics. I dig it.
Element - "Keep Me Hanging On"
I don't know why these girls bug me so much. It makes me feel like society's ingrained misogyny has gotten to me or something but man, I just want them to shut up. Damn, that was an incredible opening. I feel like they lost the beat in the second verse a little - got a little wonky. This is a much fuller, more well-balanced sound than we've heard from them. And, that's a strong finish. Good performance, if maybe just a little sweet for the attitude of this song. Oh! Ben agrees on the "too sweet" bit. Maybe that's the thing -Jewel mentions that "female empowerment" is a big mission for them. Maybe that's what bugs me - because I don't get that at all. From the hot minute of what we've seen, I feel like these are all the ladies from high school/college that you knew that said they were "all about girl power" but were consistently defined by their boyfriends. Or, maybe I am just really cranky. I didn't hear the harmony issues Shawn's talking about but then, I don't have his ear.
"Vocal Rush" - Holding Out For A Hero
They are playing the "Generation" thing a lot more for this group? I've always said I would have been an icon as a teenage in the 80s because my hair would have been ENORMOUS. The girl singing lead has such a pretty voice, and this is a completely different shade of it than her last song. Ooh! I like the second girl singing lead too - she's throwing some attitude. Oops, that was a flub in rhythm right before the rap section. Also, I wonder if they meant to speed up or if this is a bit of rushing. Big finish! I thought that was solid - a couple mix ups, but really strong leads, some unexpected fun in the middle with the rap and a nice finish. You could hear their youth but it was a really likable performance. Ben has a good point - it's fun to watch them sing. I still love that Shawn calls them "crews". According to Jewel, it was rushing that I heard.
Bottom two? I'm calling it as Element and Vocal Rush. Dude. Are there Vegas odds on the Sing Off? I could potentially make a killing. ZOMG Vocal Rush throwing shade at Element by mocking their "Nick Lachey" thing. HAHAHAHA! Best thing ever. This girl from Element is no Beyonce...and the whiny affectation does not belong in this song. That said, Vocal Rush is rushing. Dude! I love the choreography and the the verse the guy with glasses did - that was awesome. I just hate all the cutesy affectations from Element. and Vocal Rush is killing it. I will say that was an awesome battle - both groups were prepared, well-choreographed. There was a lot of intensity and it was super entertaining. However, I think Element is done.
Yay for Vocal Rush! I enjoy them. And now, I can stop being irritated at Element and then irritated with myself for being irritated with them.
I liked the 'My Generation' open. Not thrilled with the 'We Will Rock You' interlude but am digging the Imagine Dragons cover. That was solid. I think they maybe overused the bass guy a little - he's so jarring to hear.
"Man with a PhD in R&B". Whoever is writing for Nick Lachey is really on top of their game this year. The high tenor from VoicePlay is appropriately excited to work with Ben Folds. I approve.
I feel like for this group of four, they're putting a lot more emphasis on it being "historical" than for the first group. Plus, the DVR descriptions seem weird. I think there was monkeying with the schedule.
Home Free - "Ring of Fire"
I would not have pegged Ben Folds as bass guy's biggest influence. Can't judge a book, I guess. I don't know how I feel about this as a slow jam. It gets better when it speeds up. I'm not loving the bass guy on lead (apparently, I have a weird fixation with him today) but he did have a couple nice phrases, when he went up "like a child". I like the unison chorus and the little two step. Ooh, that's a pretty note! I totally did not get what the judges freaked out about there at the end. Was that just a really low note? That was not their strongest, I don't think. "Went from being an instrument to a human." HA! Why does Jewel say "octaves" like that? Maybe I'm just cranky because I wasn't as in love with it as the judges.
VoicePlay - "Don't Speak"
Why does that girl have an enormous golden pick for an earring? Doesn't that hurt her earlobe? That's a lot of plaid pants on one stage. Yikes. That was a pretty opening - but it was really jarring to skip the next couple of lines; this song is so well known that I feel like I just got jipped not hearing them? I like these two dueting (though maybe not his crazy pattern mixing; that is an insane outfit, dude). I like the perc on this a lot; it's holding it together while being really clean. That last phrase was really pretty. Based on what I've heard, I think that the guys should sometimes get a chance to sing lead (especially the bald guy). Fun arrangement (minus the skipped section in the first couple of lines), well executed. Whoa, Jewel busting out the language of dynamics. I dig it.
Element - "Keep Me Hanging On"
I don't know why these girls bug me so much. It makes me feel like society's ingrained misogyny has gotten to me or something but man, I just want them to shut up. Damn, that was an incredible opening. I feel like they lost the beat in the second verse a little - got a little wonky. This is a much fuller, more well-balanced sound than we've heard from them. And, that's a strong finish. Good performance, if maybe just a little sweet for the attitude of this song. Oh! Ben agrees on the "too sweet" bit. Maybe that's the thing -Jewel mentions that "female empowerment" is a big mission for them. Maybe that's what bugs me - because I don't get that at all. From the hot minute of what we've seen, I feel like these are all the ladies from high school/college that you knew that said they were "all about girl power" but were consistently defined by their boyfriends. Or, maybe I am just really cranky. I didn't hear the harmony issues Shawn's talking about but then, I don't have his ear.
"Vocal Rush" - Holding Out For A Hero
They are playing the "Generation" thing a lot more for this group? I've always said I would have been an icon as a teenage in the 80s because my hair would have been ENORMOUS. The girl singing lead has such a pretty voice, and this is a completely different shade of it than her last song. Ooh! I like the second girl singing lead too - she's throwing some attitude. Oops, that was a flub in rhythm right before the rap section. Also, I wonder if they meant to speed up or if this is a bit of rushing. Big finish! I thought that was solid - a couple mix ups, but really strong leads, some unexpected fun in the middle with the rap and a nice finish. You could hear their youth but it was a really likable performance. Ben has a good point - it's fun to watch them sing. I still love that Shawn calls them "crews". According to Jewel, it was rushing that I heard.
Bottom two? I'm calling it as Element and Vocal Rush. Dude. Are there Vegas odds on the Sing Off? I could potentially make a killing. ZOMG Vocal Rush throwing shade at Element by mocking their "Nick Lachey" thing. HAHAHAHA! Best thing ever. This girl from Element is no Beyonce...and the whiny affectation does not belong in this song. That said, Vocal Rush is rushing. Dude! I love the choreography and the the verse the guy with glasses did - that was awesome. I just hate all the cutesy affectations from Element. and Vocal Rush is killing it. I will say that was an awesome battle - both groups were prepared, well-choreographed. There was a lot of intensity and it was super entertaining. However, I think Element is done.
Yay for Vocal Rush! I enjoy them. And now, I can stop being irritated at Element and then irritated with myself for being irritated with them.
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