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'The Sing-Off' premiere: Competition really starts with The Backbeats, climaxes with Committed
The talent in the Season 2 premiere of "The Sing-Off" seemed heavily weighted in the second half of the competition. After a controversial Group 1 dismissal, the show bounced back with several moving performances in the second group.
In the first group of five, traditional soul a capella group, Oakland's Jerry Lawson & Talk of The Town, dominated with a song that was fairly within their comfort range, "Save The Last Dance For Me." They coasted into the second round and deserved it.
We were frustrated with who the judges decided to eliminate, though. They gave a pass to Eugene, Oregon YouTube stars, On the Rocks, who not only did the Lady Gaga song that made them popular on the video site, but whose sound seemed a bit "one-trick-pony" to us. In their stead, Boston's Pitch Slapped were sent packing despite their crowd-pleasing performance of Cobra Starship's "Good Girls Go Bad."
In Group 2, the competition really started. First, The Backbeats, a group that were apparently engineered from several California a capella groups (including two singers who competed in Season 1) to specifically win "The Sing-Off," set the bar for the competition. Their strongest asset being their lead singer on Beyonce's "If I Were a Boy."
Then, just when you thought this competition was a wrap when Southern gospel singers, Committed, admitted that they had never done Top 40 (which we prematurely judged them for). The Alabama boys surprised us all when they took Maroon 5's "This Love" from pop rock song to a soulful jam. Nicole Scherzinger ("Dancing with the Stars," The Pussycat Dolls) described fellow judge Shawn Stockman's (Boyz II Men) reaction to the boys as a "musical orgasm." And Ben Folds (Ben Folds Five), easily the most technically-minded judge, summed the group's performance up succinctly with "neat." Control yourself, Ben.
In the end, New Jersey's Men of Note were sent packing and, unlike the earlier elimination, we were at peace with that decision.
Round 2 of "The Sing-Off" airs Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
Did you agree with the judges? Do you think our tin ears wouldn't know good a capella if it "pitch slapped" us? Sound off below!
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Photo/Video credit: NBC
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I wasn't unhappy with the elimination of Pitch Slapped at all. Their leads seemed weak despite their self-professed musical progeny, though the backing vocals were strong. They do have the best name ever, though.
On the Rocks isn't a one trick pony, from what I've seen on YouTube. It should be interesting to see where they go.
I didn't see all of the second half, but from the first half, my favorite was Groove For Thought. They were strong on both the lead and backing, and really seemed tight overall.
I wasn't happy about Men of Note being eliminated and I can't figure out why the Whiffenpoofs are even IN this competition since everybody has heard of them and I'm pretty sure they've made a record before.
But the judges made it obvious - they criticized one group of each five and then eliminated that group.
I think On the Rocks had a lot of showmanship and will continue to be fabulous. I think Pitch Slapped was weak and should have been eliminated. The two to beat are Backbeat and Committed.
Backbeats and Committed's only real competition are each other
Is a decision controversial when only one person disagrees with it?
It was pretty obvious that Pitch Slapped was better, but probably voted off because of their cockiness.
I think the first group was pretty tough to pick one that didnt fit. They probably should have eliminated 11th Hour, but I think the show values that story too much to cut them loose at this point.
I was impressed with Ben Folds' technically-minded judging. I wish he was added to American Idol instead of Steven Tyler.
The Sing-Off is a fab.show! We love The Backbeats soulful sound. Their beatboxer is Amazing!They are definitely the best group. I think Pitch Slapped was voted off prematurely this week.
maybe ben folds should learn to get in key because he tries to convince AMERICA that a few badly written songs give him the right to elimimate people more talented than he will ever be