Sarah's Ramblings: The Sing Off - Episode Three

Welcome to night three of The Sing Off!!! I was actually in the audience for this!!!!!!!! So, I'll be looking for me and Shaina when I can. Also, if I remember something from the taping, I'll mention it. So, let's get going!

The cover of “Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane was gorgeous. BTW, the opening number is the only number that they perform more than once in an evening, for camera angles, etc. Also, see the audience waving those lights? We also did a take without the lights :) And the song sounded amazing both times. I mean, wow.

Ben, Sara, and Shawn look awesome, as usual :) And Nick is looking good!

Tonight the groups are each tackling two songs - one current radio hit and a hit from the 1960s.

First up, Vocal Point. I was sad to hear that Ben's father passed away. It's obvious that the rest of the group misses him and feels for him. These guys are truly a family. :( McKay was in a boyband. Oh my heavens. And they are performing Justin Bieber's "Never Say Never." Shaina groaned at this point. No joke. But, they knocked it out of the park! Keith's lead vocal was hot (hotter than Bieber, baby!) and the choreo was fabulous. Ben Folds couldn't stop smiling, Sara loved it, and Shawn was impressed! I was screaming my rear off in the stands. See, Shaina and I had discovered THAT EVENING that this group that we already loved was in the competition when we saw someone waiting in line with a Vocal Point sign. We squealed. Literally squealed. Fangirl moment while in line to get in. :)

Next up, it's the gorgeous & talented girls of Delilah. I can't for the life of me understand why Kendall shaved the one part of her head. Anyway, they execute the most haunting version of "Whatya Want From Me" by Adam Lambert (originally a P!nk song). And a huge shout out to Jo who sings a mad bass!!! I just remember having chills when I heard it live… and the goosebumps showed up again tonight!

So, Shaina and I are sitting there watching Urban Method prep and I feel like I've seen the one guy (Troy Horne) before, but I can't place him. Until I get home and look up Urban Method and Troy. Um, HOUSE JACKS! Anyway, they are tackling "Just Can't Get Enough" by Black Eyed Peas. Not my favorite song, but they could change my mind. I don't know why I am remembering this, but I felt a tad awkward watching the dancing during the beginning of the song. Too sexy, maybe? *shrugs* Anyway, Tony is a beast on the bass. Oh my heavens. Watching this now, it actually sounds a bit better on TV than I remember it sounding that night.

I LOVED LOVED LOVED Afro-Blue from the moment they started their song this week. I'd never heard "American Boy" by Estelle before. I'm probably spoiled for the original by their awesomesauce jazzy take on it. Christie opens that song with the awesome scat and I have the best kind of shivers. And then they break it down, with their album scratch and beat and my goosebumps get goosebumps! And Shawn Stockman is a melty mess in his chair! "Do you know how hard it is to scat?" And I am in my seat wanting to yell "heck yeah, I know! It's HARD!!!" Sara is starting to let loose her potty mouth :) And Ben is being his fabulously intellectual self! Probably my favorite performance from the first set.

Side note: The Honda commercial with the family singing "Crazy Train" a cappella… LOVE. Oh my goodness! I tried to find a video to link to, but it must be too new... couldn't find one!

Shaina and I were sitting in a section filled with a bunch of yellow-shirted people. Yellowjackets friends and family :) You find yourself becoming a fan of the group because of the energy surrounding their biggest supporters. THEN, they sing. And I love them even more. Oh my heavens, Aaron Sperber has a beautimous voice. And this group has heart beyond measure! They rocked out Taio Cruz's "Dynamite", making it way fun for me, both then and now! I just remember the energy from the stage being so high. (Sara isn't exaggerating: it sounded like a track in there on that song… it was great!)

Time for Kinfolk 9. Have I mentioned that they have a "Warbler" in their group? I kinda love that he played an a cappella singer on TV, and now he's doing it for real. Anyway, they had a great groove on "Price Tag" by Jessie J, and a fantastic beat thanks to the fabulous Kari! I know I really embraced the Kinfolk after this performance :)

Our groups have done their current hits, now it's time to hear them take on some of the great hits of the 1960's… groovy! (I'm not gonna comment as much on these performances, just a word or two…)

Delilah: “Heatwave” by Martha & the Vandellas
so fun! not the most dynamic arrangement they've done, but they definitely stuck with the theme :)

Urban Method: “Dance to the Music” by Sly and the Family Stone
This one was SO MUCH FUN live! Like "dancing in my seat" fun! And, dude, Troy, LOW and HIGH in the same song!!!!! Wooooo!

Vocal Point: “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
Oh, Jake Hunsaker… you crooner. I've kinda been waiting all this time for tonight's episode to air so I can get this song on iTunes. Jazz-fabulous!

Afro-Blue: “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye
Smokin' hot. Seriously. And, being an SNC fan, the danger of a comparison. There isn't one. Two different spins. If someone thinks one is better than the other, then it's a matter of personal taste… jazz v r&b. Cause this is still jazz heavy. And awesomesauce!

Yellowjackets: “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” by Frankie Valli
Aaron Sperber, you can serenade me anytime you want to, honey. Oh mylanta. And Jamal looks so precious with his wand! I really wanted to be Sara Bareilles there at the end. Except, I probably would have become a puddle.

Kinfolk 9: “Let It Be” by The Beatles
Moi. Awesome. So, um, Moi is tha bomb. Just saying. His voice is awesome. And they kinda turned the song a bit gospel-y there behind him! Their best, by far. Oh my heavens. (yeah, I use that a lot)

This was a LONG night. After the final performance, the judges left to deliberate. And they were gone for an eternity! The groups were brought out on the stage to get set up for the elimination. And there was music playing in the room on loud speakers. At one point, "Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson was playing. The singers on stage were in their little clumps, singing (even beatboxing) to the song, as were we up in the audience. It was kinda fun. About 1 hour and 45 minutes after leaving us, the judges came back. 15 minutes later, they finally filmed this elimination. We were all exhausted. And I was soooooooooooo bummed to see Kinfolk 9 leave the show so soon. But I loved their choice of swan song - "Loser" by Beck.

If Nick looks tired to you, he is. It was a long night.

Join us next week for bracket #2 and their take on the hits of the 60s and today!