So far on the Sing-Off.
16 groups journeyed to L.A. for our biggest season ever.
One by one, they fell out of the game
until only six groups remain.
Last week, the top six vocal groups in America
smashed the stage with classic rock anthems...
And then got down to today's hottest country hits.
And in a heartbreaking elimination...
The group that still has a chance is Afro-Blue.
Delilah didn't survive the night.
Tonight, the top five groups remain.
- Only one will win-
$200,000 and the coveted Sony Music recording contract.
$200,000 and a recording contract is worth fighting for.
Tonight our contenders will have to bring it twice.
We just have less time and more things to do.
First, they'll get their groove on,
performing today's hottest R&B hits.
There's just a lot of pressure to go out there and dominate.
Then they'll kick it old-school
with some of the greatest R&B classics of all time.
We're kind of freaking out. We really want it now.
And when the music stops,
one more group will leave our stage forever.
We can't go home now.
It kicks off with an incredible opening performance.
The Sing-Off is on!
Ladies and gentlemen!
The hardest-working singing groups in show business!
Please welcome to the stage
the Sing-Off rhythm and soul review!
Yes! This is history in the making.
Season three! Come on!
Sync and corrected by dr.jackson for www.addic7ed.com
Hey, everybody, I'm Nick Lachey,
and welcome to another incredible episode of the Sing-Off.
The nation's best singing groups just shook our souls
with a dazzling trip through R&B history,
and that's the kind of stunning all-vocal experience
you can only hear on this show.
The season began with 16 superstar vocal bands
Now it's down to the best of the best.
Here are the top five groups!
Charming college courtsmiths the Dartmouth Aires!
Texas vocal pioneers Pentatonix!
Masters of that classic sound, Afro-Blue!
Hitting the hip-hop harmonies, Urban Method!
Crowd-pleasing Utah boys, Vocal Point!
These groups are just two shows away
from the live season finale,
where America will decide the champion.
But, if they want to make it all the way,
they'll have to get past our respected trio of judges.
On the left,
our prolific professor of a capella, Ben Folds!
Thank you.
In the middle, the enchanting
Grammy-nominated hit-maker Sara Bareilles.
Yay!
And holding down the right,
Boyz II Men superstar tenor, Shawn Stockman.
Tonight, the top five are gonna pay tribute
to a genre that's brought us some
of the most memorable hits ever, rhythm & blues.
It's a two-part challenge.
First, they'll tackle hits from contemporary megastars
like Mariah Carey and Usher,
then rewind on some
ofof the greatest R&B classics of all time.
When the dust settles, the judges will weigh
both performances and make their call,
cutting the top five down to the top four.
These groups need to nail the groove
and lock the harmony,
or it could mean the end of their quest.
Okay, let's kick off the modern R&B
with a bunch of guys known for rocking the quad
of their Ivy-league campus.
But for a sexy R&B hit,
the Dartmouth Aires are getting ready to take it to the club.
Last week, the Dartmouth Aires
brought their trademark high energy
to an '80s rock anthem
and an outrageous country hit.
That was a Broadway ending,
and you knew what you were doing.
Nice work.
I think we did what we needed to do out there,
and we're proud of it.
Wah-ooh!
Our contemporary R&B song is remix to Ignition.
Remix to Ignition is challenging for us.
We're so used to running around the stage,
but with this one, we have to dial it back.
We don't really do sexy. We usually do high energy.
Ugh, yeah!
Right now our harmonies are not clicking,
so there's something that has to be changed.
Rehearsals this week have been pretty stressful.
We just have less time and more things to do.
Everybody say, "'round about four you gon'."
Four you got? Like, what is that?
One of the problems is there can be
too many cooks in the kitchen.
Could we try and make it just like a little less pretty?
Nick is the musical director, and it's a very hard job
because he's managing 15 people and how we as a group harmonize.
So, he gets heated from time to time.
There were too many ideas on the table. It was a mess.
Well, I can put a triplet beat on it.
It got really out of hand.
Honestly, the only thing I could do was step out of rehearsal.
We're in the top five now.
We all have to be on the same page,
emotionally and mentally.
Hoping to race ahead of the competition,
performing "Ignition remix" by R. Kelly,
here's the Dartmouth Aires!
One, two.
And one and two.
Now, uh, usually the aires don't do this,
but, uh, go ahead
and break 'em off a preview of the remix.
All right, aires!
Having a little fun with the "Ignition remix."
Very nice. Let's go and hear from our judges.
Sara, what'd you think?
I think that's a good thing.
Oh, my God.
I don't even know what just happened.
That was, like, so insane.
That was just so charming and entertaining.
Xavier, you are... You're so fantastic on stage.
It was so nice to see you come out
and then just rub your ass on national television.
That was awesome.
Yeah. That was awesome.
Overall, I really enjoyed that performance.
That was awesome.
You guys have me all flustered.
I gotta get out of here.
Shawn?
I tell you what,
like, there were so many uncomfortable moments.
Like, it was just like, I was sitting there like,
oh! Whoa! Whoa-oh-oh!
I never seen you guys like that...
Before, and I thought I knew you. See?
Um, Clark, you mentioned normally you guys...
You guys normally don't do the sexy thing?
So, you did it in a way where it was playful
and, again, very strategic on how you did it.
That's what I like about it the most,
not necessarily the arrangement.
I could've used more bounce in the drums.
Now, as things go along
we wanna be able to see if you have dimensions
and levels and layers and things of that nature.
So, I would like to see more of that, but that was fun.
Good job.
Ben?
Always entertaining.
The group as a whole was grooving.
It just, uh, Shawn's right,
the bottom end, the bass and the drums
isn't and hasn't been really your forte.
You're singers.
And so, uh, you know, you get the feeling sometimes
you're like, well, we gotta do this beatbox and bass thing,
so let's throw it in. As a group you held your own.
And, I mean, I'd like to see you do like all ten of them,
all of R. Kelly's "Trapped in the closet" series.
You're giving us you each time.
Like, that was R. Kelly and you found a way
to make it sort of funny, make it entertaining.
And you always could look at each one of you and know
that you're being yourselves, and that's really refreshing.
Nice work.
Thanks, judges.
We'll see the Dartmouth Aires again
for their classic R&B number. Thank you, gentlemen.
When we return, the street kings of Urban Method
try to knock out their opponents
with some Keri Hilson and Kanye West.
And at the end of the night,
one group will be singing their swan song
and exiting the competition.
We're just getting started. It's the Sing-Off.
We feel really good.
We were a bit nervous with this song,
but we knew we had to lock in on that R&B feel
and I think we did a good job.
The pressure is building on the Sing-Off
as the top five have to pick up their mics
twice tonight to escape elimination.
Right now, they're banging out
some of the hottest contemporary R&B on the planet.
Next, an all-vocal crew that brings a hip-hop flavor
every time they take the stage.
Even though Urban Method's R&B song seems
tailor-made to their style,
their star soloists Myke and Katie
have to live up to high expectations.
Last week, Urban Method delivered
two incredible performances,
led by Katie's breakthrough powerhouse vocals.
No!
Katie, the way you sang that song,
I feel like I'm meeting you for the first time tonight, and it's awesome.
I've never had to really sing like that in my life.
My group had to pull a lot out of me
to get to that point.
It just gave me the confidence to go out there and do great.
For our contemporary R&B song,
we're doing "Knock you down" by Keri Hilson.
At this point, I've gotten to rap Eminem, Dre, Jay-Z,
and now I get to rap Kanye West. I'm feeling pumped.
This song we can relate to.
This competition has knocked us down.
We've been in the bottom two,
and we got right back up because it's what we love.
Hold up. Hold up. We fell apart. We fell apart.
This week, I'm really feeling the pressure.
My voice is really tired.
And I feel like the spotlight's on me.
I have to do well. I cannot let my group down.
We're trying to do something huge,
something that is going to show our versatility to the Max
and show the judges that we're meant to go to the finals.
Hoping to knock it out of the park
with "Knock you down" by Keri Hilson
featuring Kanye West, here's Urban Method.
Urban Method!
Pumping it up!
Shawn, what'd you think?
First of all, I would like to say
how proud I am of you guys.
We've watched you grow and develop
and had your rises and some falls and things of that nature,
but you guys kept fighting and you're here today.
And, Katie, man! I'm so happy.
I'm happy for you because of this experience
on this show that you found out some things about yourself.
Out of everybody on that stage tonight,
you've grown the most and I'm so proud of you, okay?
And I also wanted to say, Myke...
You said that, you know, you had a chance to,
a little bit of Jay and em,
and now Kanye and things of that nature,
but the cool thing about what you do
is that you still give those raps your own flare
and your own style where it's like you don't, like...
Where even though everybody knows those raps,
you never, ever not deliver,
and that's what I like about you, man.
You know what I'm saying?
Great performance.
I love seeing you guys do your thing.
Ben?
You always know you're in good hands
with you guys from the first beat.
It's always really, really solid.
Richard, you're one of the best beatboxers on the show.
You've got a lot of low end,
and you never question the groove ever with you.
There were some interesting arrangement things in there.
I would look up and see Liz going ta-ta tick-tick-tick-tick.
I like that kind of stuff out of you guys,
when the arrangements are just slightly bizarre like that.
I think you run into trouble a little more
with just straight ahhs.
There were a couple of swells
where I heard three different dynamics at once,
and they unlocked for that period of time.
So, I'd love to see you guys just grab
some of that simple singing stuff together.
Other than that, a lot of heart.
You're stars. Sounded great.
Sara, what'd you think?
You know, Urban Method,
you are like the little engine that could.
You know what I mean?
Like, I have been blown away every week
by your depth and complexity
and how much you guys are evolving on this show.
I thought that was a really strong performance,
and I loved seeing you guys play with the arrangement.
I loved that you were making the choice
to let people sit out for a second.
And I think there was a part where Troy and Richard...
Or Tony and... it was the bassist and the beatboxer,
um, but you guys had a moment
and everybody else laid out for a second.
That was really cool.
You're finding ways to create suspense in your arrangements.
That's a really smart way to be an a cappella group.
You guys are rad. I love you.
Thanks, judges.
And Urban Method will be back in a bit
for their second R&B performance.
Thanks, guys.
Don't forget, all of the fantastic songs
you hear tonight are available for download on iTunes.
Coming up, the reserved men of Vocal Point
break out the running man and the Roger rabbit
on a Bobby brown dance hit,
and later, all five groups pick up their mics again
on some of the most unforgettable R&B ever recorded.
The Sing-Off sings on.
Tonight, we've turned the Sing-Off stage
into an R&B nightclub
as the top five groups in America
go face to face for $200,000
and a Sony Music recording contract.
Next up, nine tight-knit friends from Provo, Utah,
with an upbeat, polished style.
But to tap into a dance club favorite,
the guys of Vocal Point have gotta unleash
some R&B swagger and shake their moneymaker.
Last week, Vocal Point let loose
to the kinks' classic hit, "You really got me."
That was awesome.
You actually showed another side to the boys from provo.
And continued to impress the judges
with a dynamic rendition of a country hit.
But how will they handle R&B week?
R&B music, to me, it's all about getting into the groove,
and, like, how you get into it, right?
Can we all just do this for a second?
We need to bring someone in to teach me how to groove naturally.
When you think of Vocal Point, the first word
that pops into your brain probably isn't soulful,
but I have soul; Even in this little white body of mine,
I wanna just... show America that I have some soul.
This week, we're going to be singing Bobby Brown's "Every little step."
I don't think we're gonna try to be Bobby Brown.
We're just gonna take Vocal Point's interpretation of his song.
Bobby brown, back in the day, used to dance his face off,
and one struggle that we've had with "Every little step"
is putting the choreography and the music together.
Going down or something?
We're struggling with the choreography.
It's more intense than we had bargained for.
It's jumping the tempo.
We're at the top five,
and that's brought on a lot of stress.
We're sacrificing sleep and schoolwork
because at this point in the competition
there's no room to not bring it.
We have to bring it every week,
or you don't know what will happen.
Showing they can get down and dirty,
performing "Every little step" by Bobby Brown,
here's Vocal Point.
One, two, three, four.
Oh, yes.
Girl, I've been taking you for granted.
But when you look at me,
it makes me want to show my dance moves.
Wow. Vocal Point!
Seeing that performance kind of took me back
to my parachute pant days, you know?
And I used to rock 'em.
Ben, I know you used to rock a pair, too, didn't you?
I'm wearing them under the desk. You can't see.
What'd you think of the performance?
Oh, that was really good.
That was a lot of fun, and, uh, wow.
Uh, Tanner, were you doing...
That was all you for a second, right?
Singing and dancing and then doing the beatbox
all at the same time, and everyone else shut up, right?
Choreography's not normally my thing,
but wow, that you did that and sang all that stuff
at the same time, guys, is really impressive.
That's really amazing.
I really like Keith's voice a lot.
The timbre of your voice cuts really nicely.
And everything else was killer.
Thumbs aloft, gentlemen.
Sara?
My jaw was on the floor with the fact
that you guys just tackled that enormous bout of choreography
in addition to really delivering really well
a super cool arrangement of that song.
I can't believe that you...
The breath control that that takes
and just like the mental capacity.
You guys just kicked butt on that.
McKay, you do have soul in your little white body.
For me, there were a couple of moments
where I thought that I was hearing
some tuning issues on the chorus,
but, um, it was fleeting.
It was really entertaining.
Um, you guys are just a riot. That was hilarious.
Great job. Thanks, guys.
Shawn?
Man, that was impressive.
Like, y'all had the whole, you know, new edition,
coordinating the steps here and there and every...
Walking and going that way and what not.
Robert...
Now see, now see, you know...
I see how that goes. You know what I'm saying?
The whole low-voice-talking thing.
I had a guy in a group that did the same thing.
I couldn't stand it because I'm singing my head off,
and all he had to do is say, "yeah."
You know what I'm saying?
Nah, but I gotta give you props, man.
That was a great breakdown.
I love the ways you guys... Again, you made it your own.
That was impressive, guys. Truly, truly impressive.
That... I was... Good job.
All right, judges.
And Vocal Point will be back in a bit with their R&B classic.
Thanks, guys. Good work.
When we come back, the music majors of Afro-Blue
add their throwback style to a Mariah Carey hit
that was the biggest song of the decade.
And later, a game-changing elimination.
One group's dream will be cut short on the Sing-Off.
All the work we put in, it's super rewarding
to get comments like that from the judges.
I have soul! Sara Bareilles said so!
I'm so happy!
Today's R&B singers seduce us
with their evocative style,
and tonight the top five vocal bands in America
are bringing that signature sound
to our Sing-Off stage.
This next group's classic vibe
seems well suited to capture R&B's
deep heart and spirit.
And after narrowly escaping elimination last week,
the savvy musicians of Afro-Blue
are hoping an emotional performance
will keep them safe tonight.
Afro-Blue's heady interpretation
of "American girl" missed the mark...
I don't think it had anything to do with the song.
But their emotionally charged rendition of "Need you now"
struck a chord with the judges
and saved them from elimination.
Afro-Blue!
We only get opportunities like this once,
and we're just happy that we all get to share them together.
We're just two steps away from the finale,
and pressure is deep.
We're rehearsing the neyo song "closer."
It's just not working for us.
We're not executing it well enough
as I think we could do another song.
Three...
"We belong together" by Mariah Carey
just sounds so much more like us.
We can be more emotional,
and we can give a lot more of ourselves.
I'm excited about singing lead, but I'm very nervous
about remembering all the words.
Uh... Aw!
Come on, girl!
The way that the lyrics move is, like, really hard to catch.
With this last-second switch, I hope we can,
like, get everything together as we truly need.
We've just put so much work,
time, energy, effort into winning this.
Going home would completely crush me at this point.
Trying to move one step closer to the title,
performing "We belong together" by Mariah Carey,
here is Afro-Blue.
One, two, three.
Afro-Blue!
Afro-Blue doin' it!
Sara, what'd you think?
Oh, I love you! I love you!
First of all, coming off of last week's performance
and really feeling like we all had a breakthrough with you,
I'm really glad to see that your emotional connection
to the song is becoming a part
of the reason you gravitate in one direction or another.
Christy, great job. Just great job on the lead.
That is a really tough lead to sing.
And I felt, initially, you might have been thinking...
You were up in your head a little bit,
and by the end of the song you were soaring.
And I can't not give a shoutout to Brian on vocal percussion.
There you are.
And Reggie, good Lord, man.
You are just... you are in-sane, you're insane.
Um, anyway, great performance, guys.
Thank you.
Ben?
Yeah, I feel like we're really getting somewhere now
'cause you're using,
uh, the things that you know how to do,
and you just pull them out of your back pocket when you want to.
Like the bell tones coming down on seconds...
That's not easy for a group to do.
And you guys just do that...
It just shimmers when you do that.
You're not just a jazz group when you do this.
You're, you're a group that has jazz at your disposal.
When the song is coming out that clearly now,
you can now afford to put back some of the stuff
that you might feel is signature to you.
I completely believed it the whole time.
Great work, guys.
Shawn?
I think you guys are starting to understand
the, the method behind arranging.
Sometimes you don't have to do a lot to be affective.
A lot of times it's just locking in
and letting everybody in the room enjoy the ride.
This is what this thing is all about,
not letting the song own you, but you owning the song.
And you guys did that. Good job.
Very well said, judges.
And Afro-Blue will sing again in the second half of the show.
Thanks, guys. Good job.
After the break,
Pentatonix puts their cutting-edge groove
on an Usher radio mega-hit.
We're taking one step closer to the season finale
where America will cast its vote.
Stay tuned to the Sing-Off.
It was nice seeing what they said,
especially coming off of last week,
and kind of being down.
We're trying to figure out where exactly to place
what we feel is our sound.
It was nice to hear them have such positive comments.
Welcome back to the Sing-Off.
So many kinds of music we love to listen to
have been influenced by R&B.
You can find those steady grooves
and soulful hooks in everything from hip-hop to techno.
And these next contenders are masters of a genre
that's borrowed heavily from R&B... modern pop.
Now the five singers of Pentatonix
are gonna have to create a massive sound
to take on a hit known for a big vocal chorus.
Last week, Pentatonix delivered stirring performances
of both rock and country numbers.
You made great choices in keeping it simple
and singing the song the way it is. Really well done.
We took genres that weren't our typical type of music,
and we made it work,
and then now, we're going to have to keep up
with that Pentatonix strength.
This week we're performing "OMG" by Usher.
It's a really good song for us
because it kind of has that electronic,
clubby vibe with it.
I'm sorry. It's just you guys know my beliefs,
and the hard thing with this song is the lyrics.
It's difficult for me to do this song
because the lyrics are pretty explicit,
but I don't want to create conflict in my group
because we really don't have time.
With Kevin's religious beliefs,
he's having trouble because it's so provocative.
We're kind of freaking out because we need everyone
to connect to the song and believe in it
in order for us to succeed.
Without one person, we'll just fall apart.
We should take out the booty line.
We just are kind of changing up lyrics,
but we haven't really thought of something
that would work with Kevin's religion.
If I'm not feeling a song,
I can't give a hundred percent to the performance.
I would be devastated if this journey ended this week.
I don't know what I would do.
Showing the judges they want it all,
performing "OMG" by Usher, featuring Will. I.Am,
here's Pentatonix.
Pentatonix!
Droppin' it like it's hot.
Shawn, how'd they do?
I'm tired of saying that you're good.
Avi did something with his voice that will. I.Am
actually needed eqs and outboard gear
in the studio to do
and the, the let the...
I can't... I don't have it.
Um...
It's about dynamics with this particular song,
so I liked the fact that you kinda laid it in
all the way up, darn near till the end.
It was just a nice smooth ride even down to the chorus and...
Like the way, the way, the way you...
The way you kinda like rolled with it,
like a smooth house-type record. You know what I'm saying?
How you arrange everything is just so smart.
And you always tend to accent your strengths,
which, again, I love the three of you guys in the middle.
Y'all hold it down vocally,
but those two dudes on the end...
Kevin and Avi are freaks of nature.
Seriously.
You guys, to me, are the meat and potatoes of Pentatonix.
Like, you guys are, uh, just amazing.
I ha... I can't say anything bad.
I can't say anything bad.
Sara, anything bad?
Oh, yeah. I didn't care for that at all.
You know it was good when we all laughed, like,
"yeah, that was joke, you know."
"Oh, I didn't like it. Ha ha ha."
You know what you've done early in this competition,
you set the bar really high for yourselves.
So our expectations have really been through the roof
the whole ride, and you don't disappoint.
You keep finding ways to inject your personality
into these arrangements, and that is really exciting.
You lose any piece of this puzzle,
and it falls apart, but it's so locked in,
just as a group and as an ensemble.
You guys are great. Thanks.
Ben, what'd you think?
Shawn hit the right word, "smart," smart arranging,
'cause you've got your drum and bass thing going on
and then a vocal.
And then Mitch and Kirstie are accenting those points,
and that just gives it another dynamic.
You hit some really interesting chords together, too.
So then, suddenly you're singing,
you know, it's, it's choral thing just for a moment.
Then, again, you think you're done with your bag of tricks,
we think you're finished, wrong.
You came back in and, and took it up one notch.
Kevin you're, you're an insanely talented young man.
That's just so good.
The original groove, with the delays,
like you had delays in your, uh,
in your, in your percussion track,
you had backwards cymbals, all this stuff,
and there was space for it all.
It was really, truly amazing.
Yeah, that was brilliant. Nice work.
Thanks, panel.
An Pentatonix will be back later
for their second song of the night.
Thank you, guys.
All right, the top five got it going
with current radio jams,
and now it's time to kick it old school
with epic hits from the past.
When we return, the Dartmouth Aires
hitch a ride on the classic "Midnight train to Georgia."
The Sing-Off... Can you dig it?
I'm feeling great. We just went out there and had fun.
We knew it was a fun song, we just wanted to show that.
It was awesome.
I'm Nick Lachey, and tonight the Sing-Off
is the hottest R&B club in town.
Our top five groups already cranked up the beat
on modern radio hits,
and now they'll try to get a witness on classic tracks
from the golden age rhythm and blues.
First up, a group that's avoided the bottom two all season
with full-tilt energy and a big rockin' sound.
Let's take a look at how the Dartmouth Aires
went from Ivy league favorites
to The Sing-Off top five.
The Sing-Off has been the most amazing experience.
From the very beginning, we just wanted to sing and have fun.
You guys had me from the beginning to the end.
I couldn't stop moving my feet.
Doing the show has given us a lot of confidence
about what songs we can do as a group.
We have learned that we can do a lot of different genres.
We have put so much of our hearts and soul
into every song that we've done.
That was my favorite performance
of this entire competition.
Original we wanted to do it for the fun of singing.
Now that we're in the top five,
our goal is to win this competition.
We wanna win the Sing-Off so badly.
With so few groups left and having gone through so many weeks,
the end is kind of in sight.
We've had to work really hard to get here,
but since we're so close,
I think it's just gonna motivate us
to give that last push and make it to the finale.
There has been no all-male collegiate group to win the Sing-Off,
so we want to be that group that holds that title up.
Welcome to "earned a ticket to the next round"
with 'Midnight train to Georgia'
"by Gladys Knight and the Pips,"
here's the Dartmouth Aires.
Dartmouth Aires.
Gettin' deep on that one.
Let's go ahead and go straight to the experts. Ben.
Nice work, guys. That was really nice.
You're all working together really well
to support Michael.
And, you just got such a timeless style, Michael.
You're like... you don't think it's this year or that year.
It's just you. Nice.
Dan, nice work on the low end.
I know we've been beating you up about your low end sometimes,
and that was good. It was tasteful.
Really nice, really nice work.
There were times, I think, where Michael was really belting
that I felt the pitch was coming
a little unglued some of that time.
Emotionally we were still there.
The lead vocal and the bass held on relative to the song.
It was all good. So, well done.
Shawn?
Michael, sometimes emotion overrides perfection,
if you know what I'm saying.
And that performance was what mattered.
I believed it.
Somehow you locked into the actual song.
And you had a moment where you sang the song,
you kept it close to you, and then there were moments
where you shared it with everybody else.
And that's what makes people stand up
and clap and say, "wow."
You understand what I'm saying?
You guys did what y'all needed to do with that record.
Sara, what'd you think?
That was beautiful. That was just really beautiful.
Um, from the restraint you chose to show
in terms of the arrangement...
I think you guys really paid attention to that song.
Michael you're, you're just a delight.
I really appreciate what you give to each performance.
And all of you boys, my goodness,
you backed him up so earnestly
and, and just so whole heartedly.
You were committed to your position in that performance
each and every one of you was, so that was really.
I think, uh, for me,
I could've used a, a few more dynamics in that song.
I think especially in the beginning,
to give it somewhere to go.
But the blend was great.
You showed refinement in, in a really classic, timeless way.
So, that was a wonderful performance.
Thank you.
All right, thanks, judges.
And we'll see if the aires will advance
in just a few moments. Thanks, fellas.
Remember, if you love the songs you're hearing tonight
you can download all of them from iTunes.
After the break, Urban Method puts their hip-hop stamp
on an Isley Brothers classic.
And when the R&B stops,
we'll find out which groups struck a chord with the judges,
and which group will be striking out.
The Sing-Off is on.
One of the reasons R&B became so popular
is the way its funky drum breaks and catchy lyrics
set the mood for any party.
Right now, we're watching the Sing-Off groups
get super bad on classic night club anthems.
Next up, a group of studio musicians from Colorado
on a mission to bring a whole new style of music the Sing-Off.
Let's check out how the streetwise singers
of Urban Method introduced America to rap-apella.
We're here, ready to bring it.
Representing Denver, baby, what's up?
Urban Method!
This has definitely been a journey for Urban Method.
I look at it like a marathon.
Shawn, what's your take on rap-apella.
You guys bring it every time, you own it.
This is who you guys are, and y'all show it
with each performance so far.
The Sing-Off right now is like my defining moment in hip-hop.
This competition has knocked us down.
We've been in the bottom two, and earlier I didn't realize what I was capable of.
Katie, I wish it was just a bit stronger.
I wanted more from you, too.
Being in the bottom two, feeling the desperation
of wanting to stay in this competition
really brought the best out of our group.
The whole process of the Sing-Off
has taught me a lot about myself,
that really I can do anything I put my mind to.
I'm so glad all three of you girls
have shed those insecurities
that I felt like I was seeing before.
We really want to win the Sing-Off,
not only for our benefit, but to show that if you have a dream
that it is possible.
This is only the beginning.
If we win the Sony contract,
that's just another chance for us to fulfill our dreams at a bigger level.
We're fighters and we're fighting to win this thing.
Puttin' their fresh spin on a classic groove,
performing "It's your thing" by the Isley Brothers,
here's Urban Method.
Urban Method doin' what they wanna do.
I like it. Shawn?
I wanted it to keep going.
Honestly.
I thought it was gonna, you know,
thought Myke was about to break into something crazy
and there was about to be a party in this mug,
but, um... It felt good.
Myke, you said this is a defining moment in hip-hop,
and you're right because it can only go
but so many places unless someone like you guys
take it to that next level,
you know, a level that a lot of people...
Yeah.
I think you're ahead of your time
because of the fact you that you guys figured out that hip-hop
can be even done this way.
You guys taking it to the next step
and you become pioneers in the process.
So, with that, I applaud you.
You guys have always shown passion and heart
and you guys show something that people can connect to.
So, good job on that one.
Ben?
Well, you recognized the challenge of the song
'cause it only has two chords in it the whole time.
One, four, one, four, one, four the whole time,
and it makes it all about the vocal delivery.
You were smart in what you did,
which is you re-harmonized some of it
to, to move it along. That was good stuff.
And you featured your bass and your vocal percussion
and then you just made it insane at the end
with everything going.
Kim, I thought you came the closest to capturing,
uh, the feeling of the song.
You made it your own, no, no doubt.
Like Shawn said, it could've gone on longer.
You just were getting warmed up, and, that's, uh,
it's always good to leave people wanting more.
Um, I think that was a really great job. Nice job.
Sara?
I thought that was a really strong showing for you guys.
I, I loved when you showcased Tony
on your, your bongo break down.
Um, and Troy, your upright bass was amazing.
And, yeah, Richard on your vocal percussion,
that was just really, really special.
And ladies, you're stepping out and finding your voice.
And it's really, really cool.
Kim, that was awesome. That was awesome.
Good job, you guys.
Thank you, judges.
We'll see if Urban Method will move on to next week's show.
Thanks, guys.
When we return,
the Utah charmers of Vocal Point
make their case with a Temptations classic.
It's all countin' down
to the live finale on November 28th
where your votes will crown the champion.
The music does not stop on the Sing-Off.
That was so much fun.
Seeing the people's faces in the front row just...
You know? Light up, and it gave us the energy,
and it was a ton of fun.
The Sing-Off is truly a marathon
for these exceptional groups.
With multiple new songs, arrangements,
and tough choreography week after week,
it's a grueling fight to stay energized
and deliver phenomenal performances every night.
Next up in the classic R&B round
is a group known for their tight harmonies
and even tighter friendship.
Let's see how the men of Vocal Point
overcame every obstacle to make it
within striking distance of the championship.
When we arrived in California
to begin the whole Sing-Off experience,
we came here from Provo, Utah, small town.
We had no idea what to expect.
The Sing-Off is such an awesome opportunity
to uplift as many people as possible
through the music we sing.
I feel like I just got to know you guys,
and it was awesome.
We're all thinking of Ben,
and I know you made him so proud.
At the very beginning, Ben had to leave when he lost his father,
and that brought us closer together,
it was also a moment of crisis.
I'm happy with the decision to come back to the Sing-Off.
You know, my dad probably was my biggest fan,
and he enjoyed so much listening to me si,
and being a part of this is something he really wanted.
We're glad we have Ben back
'cause that's really adding a lot.
We want to win this competition so bad,
we're sacrificing sleep, we're sacrificing family,
we're sacrificing schoolwork
so that we can give our message of happiness
and the joy in music to America.
And making it to the finale and winning this competition
is the only way that we see that we can do that for people.
Now 're in the top five.
We need to switch our mentality from...
We need to stay in the competition
to we have to be the best.
It was entertaining from beginning to end. Great job.
Making their plea for a spot in the next episode,
performing the Temptations classic
"Ain't too proud to beg,"
here is Vocal Point.
Vocal Point.
Takin' us all the way back to Motown.
Sara, what'd you think?
Oh, that was sweet. That was really sweet.
You know, Ben, that was a great lead vocal.
That was a... such a great lead vocal and...
It was really nice to hear your song.
You know, we've heard you in a more emotional context
and this was, um,
I was worried about this song for you,
but I thought that was a really great showing.
It did feel like you were trying a little bit.
It's not necessarily a bad thing,
but I couldn't quite
just lose myself in the performance with you.
You were delivering all the notes
and I really appreciated
that you were just going for it.
Overall, this arrangement and this performance
felt a little disjointed, in a way, for some reason,
but you guys always put a smile on my face.
I just... I love you to pieces.
I love you and your purple ties.
Shawn?
Let me shout out, Tanner and Robert,
for keeping the groove.
Tanner, I think you are also
one of the baddest beatboxers
in this compe... Like you, you're crazy.
Ben, you have a very beautiful voice,
but with that being said, David ruffin,
who originally sang this record,
his voice wasn't beautiful.
As a matter of fact, when he sang it,
it was like a sermon. You know what I'm saying.
Like, it was like church.
You have a beautiful voice,
but that's what I wanted to feel.
I wanted to feel that like... Down on my knees
begging you please type of situation.
You understand what I'm saying?
Like that's what I was missing out of the performance.
It's about taking on the character of the record.
You guys always sound good,
but now, it's about those other things now
that you gotta pull out
in order to stay in this competition.
That's it.
Okay. Ben, your thoughts.
Well said, Shawn.
I, I, I agree with everything Shawn just said.
You guys are, are always on it.
And you're still in it because we love what you do.
You started out with some promise
that I keep wanting to see come back,
which was a little bit of risk-taking, musically,
a little bit of dynamics, musically.
I feel like you've been playing it safe for a little while.
You're a great group, and next time
I'd like to see you step up the dynamics
and where over the course of the show
it's kinda been going along like this.
I'd love to see something out of you where you just,
like it was your last day, just, just kill it.
So, I hope to see that.
Thanks, guys.
Well said, guys.
And Vocal Point will learn their fate in just a bit.
Thanks, gentlemen.
I you want to check out behind-the-scenes videos,
blogs and tweets from all your favorite groups,
go to nbc.com.
After the break, the sophisticated singers
of Afro-Blue boogie down on the "Best of my love."
We're closing in on tonight's do-or-die elimination.
Four groups will be tuning up for next week's show.
One group will be tuned out.
The Sing-Off... It's on.
The Sing-Off is getting down
to the best R&B songs in music history
as the nation's top five vocal groups
try to outsing each other for $200,000
and a Sony Music recording contract.
Next, a group that honed their signature vintage sound
at Washington, D.C.'s Howard University.
For the singers of Afro-Blue,
the journey from their hometown to Hollywood
has been truly unforgettable.
Class...
Style...
Smooth...
And fun.
Here is Afro-Blue.
It's so amazing that Afro-Blue
has come this far in the competition.
Just watching you perform
feels like warm butter on grits.
We have a very, very humble beginning.
We're a class at Howard University.
We never imagined we'd make it to the Sing-Off,
and now we're in the top five... that's crazy.
This journey has been so amazing.
Just opening doors for Afro-Blue on many levels...
Musically, career-wise.
I'm excited to see how far we can get.
If we were to win the Sing-Off,
it could just really change everything for Afro-Blue.
Music is my life. It's what I love to do.
It's so amazing that I get to share this with the world.
To win the show, that would be...
You know, that would just be so amazing.
Last week was the first time
that we ever really truly connected emotionally
onstage as a group.
I am emotional right now,
watching you guys get emotional.
Because we've worked so hard and come so far,
because we've come so close as a group,
we can't go home now.
Aiming to be the best of the best,
performing "Best of my love" by the Emotions,
here's Afro-Blue.
Ha ha ha.
Afro-Blue.
Nicely done, guys.
Ben, what do you think?
Nice work, y'all.
Danielle you're a great singer, such a great singer.
Total star.
You guys had a lot of fun on that one.
There were some holes in the chorus for me.
Uh, I think it's just a matter of, uh,
maybe not being so staccato with it.
It wasn't exactly percolating like I know that you can do,
but it was a lot of fun.
And you grabbed on to the groove.
You never let it go.
You guys are upholding an American tradition.
And it's really one of the great American art forms,
which is, which is jazz music.
We so easily wanna let that go
and throw it away for something else,
but all that other something else wouldn't be here
if it wasn't for what you guys embrace.
I think now you have a license to come back a little bit more,
uh, to, to Afro-Blue,
and I think you'll have cracked the code then.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Nice work.
Sara?
You are a group full of, of total powerhouses.
I mean, each one of you is such a strong singer,
and we've been really lucky
to get to know Danielle and Christie as lead vocalists.
And, and, Danielle,
when I think about you I think about personality.
You're a little bright, shiny star on stage.
It's really, really fun to see you up there.
Overall, that was a really solid performance,
but I was missing a little bit
of what, what Ben was talking about, too.
So, I think you got that leeway
to sort of come back to the party a little bit.
All right, Shawn?
To think that you guys started out as a class at Howard.
Now look at you.
You're in L.A.
On the Sing-Off, national television,
displaying just a wonderful gift that all of you have.
And, uh, you should be proud of yourselves just for that.
As far as just the overall performance,
I love the performance.
I felt like in certain spots, it kinda came undone.
But overall it still felt good.
Um, you guys know how to deliver a record overall.
You guys still know how to have fun.
And I just wanna give props to my boy Reggie Reg.
Afro-Blue, I love you. Thank you.
All right, thanks, panel.
In just moments, we'll see if Afro-Blue
will make it into the next show.
Thanks, guys.
When we come back, techno wizards Pentatonix
get us hot and bothered with a sexy Marvin Gaye slow jam,
and we're moments away from elimination.
Only four contenders have what it takes
to keep their dream alive.
One group's quest will end tonight.
The Sing-Off is heatin' up.
Welcome back, everyone.
Now, when I think R&B,
I think love songs.
You feel me, ladies?
Love songs.
And tonight, our singing groups are getting romantic,
making our hearts beat to vocal versions
of R&B's sultry sound.
For our next contenders, the quest for the title
started with three small-town friends.
Now, their shared passion and the added talents
of an innovative rhythm section
have taken Pentatonix
all the way to the national stage.
It's pretty insane that just a year ago
we were putting up a little YouTube video,
and now we're kind of succeeding
on a national television show.
I think you guys were sent back from the future
to save a cappella, and do it in a futuristic way.
For them to say that, we realized,
"Oh, wait, this might be something big."
One of the things that we're known for
is the bag of tricks that we have.
Shh!
We always try to take big risks each week.
We've been lucky because they have paid off well.
But there are only five groups
in the competition now,
and we're taking bigger and bigger risks,
and that makes me really worried.
People are kind of expecting an atomic twist on the song,
and it's getting harder every week
'cause we want to think of new stuff
and try to improve and improve and improve
and impress the audience more and more.
It's, like, really heartbreaking
to think about this all ending.
For one thing, we wouldn't be together anymore
because we all live in different places.
But getting the recording contract would be so amazing.
To be doing this and be together,
it would mean the world to all of us.
We didn't even know we would make it this far,
and we're kind of freaking out. We really want it now,
and we really feel like we can win.
Hopin' to get some lovin' from the judges,
performing "Let's get it on" by Marvin Gaye,
here is Pentatonix.
Pentatonix!
Man!
Very smooth!
I have a feeling I don't even need to ask this question,
but, Shawn, were you feeling it?
It was a'ight.
Man... um...
I can't express enough how incredible that was.
Like...
That was a... an incredible rendition
of one of my most favorite singers of all time.
Like, he is my dude.
Like, Marvin's my guy.
And... and the way that you guys did that, man...
Like, you make it your own, and...
I really can't talk.
Thank you very much. Good night.
Ben?
I love it when Shawn gets that way. That's always good.
Um, I think that, you know,
there's gonna be a suspicious bump
in the birthrate in nine months.
They'll be named Scott and Kirstie and...
We'll know why.
I mean, that song pretty much sums up
what R&B is about. It's brilliant.
And, Mitch, what a better way to start the song.
That was... that was killer. The "wah-wah" was awesome.
That was... beautifully in the pocket.
And, uh, it was great.
I-I can't do it justice with words either,
but we'll look after that statistic in nine months,
and we'll see if my theory holds up.
Sara, what'd you think?
Oh, good Lord.
That was un-believable.
Um...
You guys are incredibly professional
and incredibly polished at what you do,
and it is a joy to hear you perform every single week.
You are so bad-ass.
And when I am at a loss for words,
um, I usually break out a swear word or two,
and that was just... Awesome.
Yes!
Thank you, judges.
And we'll find out soon if Pentatonix
will move ahead to the next round.
Thank you, guys. Great work.
Okay, our top five just put it all on the line
with today's R&B hits and timeless classics.
Now each group's fate lies with the judges.
They can only save four contenders
to continue on the hunt for the cash prize
and the recording contract.
For one group, their hopes will fade forever.
The Sing-Off... Hold that note.
We're back on the Sing-Off.
Our top five contenders just delivered
two incredible R&B performances,
proving once again why they are
the best vocal bands in America.
Let's hear it one more time for the Dartmouth Aires...
Urban Method...
Vocal Point...
Afro-Blue...
And Pentatonix!
They left it all on the stage,
but for one of these groups,
the music is about to end.
I have the judges' results in my hand.
Four of these contenders
will sing again in the next episode,
but one is a heartbeat away from singing their swan song.
The first two groups definitely moving ahead
in the competition are...
Pentatonix!
And...
Urban Method!
Congratulations! You're safe,
and you can head back to your boxes.
Three talented vocal bands stand before you,
but only two will survive the night.
The next group that is definitely coming back
for another week is...
Dartmouth Aires!
You made it through. Good work!
That leaves Vocal Point and Afro-Blue.
Vocal Point...
All season, you've delivered unmatched showmanship
and jaw-dropping performances.
Tonight started strong, with the panel
calling your first R&B number
"totally tight" and "truly impressive,"
though Sara did notice some tuning issues.
But the judges thought you played it too safe on your classic hit,
and it lacked the grittiness of the original.
Afro-Blue...
All season, you've delivered sophisticated and captivating vocals.
Your first performance tonight was an emotional ride
that proved to the judges
you're not just a jazz group anymore.
On your second song, the judges called
Danielle's lead "stellar,"
but felt the song's chorus had holes
and was missing the Afro-Blue signature style.
One of these groups will keep the rhythm going into the next episode,
the other group is gonna be singing the blues.
The group that still has a chance
to make it to the Sing-Off finale is...
Afro-Blue!
Congratulations.
You're still in the competition.
Go ahead and head to your box.
Vocal Point...
Come on down, guys.
You guys were amazing entertainers on our stage every week,
and we will truly miss your energy and your positivity.
You guys are great.
Before you leave our stage, do you have any final thoughts
you'd like to share with everyone?
We are so grateful for the chance we had to be on the Sing-Off.
We feel like we've grown immensely as a group,
and to be able to share our music and our talents
has been a dream come true.
And thank you to the judges for this opportunity,
for all of the fans in America...
It's been a blessing.
Well, we were honored to have you all here.
Thank you guys so much.
Now I'll ask you to raise your Mikes one last time.
Leaving the Sing-Off stage with their swan song,
here's Vocal Point.
One, two, three.
That was Vocal Point
singing "Home" by Michael Bublé.
And don't forget, you can go on iTunes
to download any of the Sing-Off songs
you heard in tonight's show.
In one week, our top four groups
pick up the Mikes for the fight of their lives.
First, they'll push the limits of a cappella
with hit song "mastermixes,"
combining multiple chart-toppers
into one seamless performance.
Then they'll tackle the all-or-nothing judges' choice,
a track chosen specifically for each group
by our panel of experts.
And at the end of the show the voting lines open
and you can cast your vote
to push your favorite group to the top.
It's all leading up to our live finale
in two weeks, on November 28th,
when the new champion will be crowned.
Until next time, I'm Nick Lachey,
signing off from the Sing-Off.
Sync and corrected by dr.jackson for www.addic7ed.com