The Sing Off: Do you agree with eliminations?

The Sing Off never seems to disappoint me.  They deliver some really great music from energetic musicians every season.  This season the stage is seeing lots of talent and the groups are impressing the judges and audience.  

First up was The Dartmouth Aires a group founded back in 1946 from the University of Dartmouth.  The came on stage with the best combination of colors, style and sound ,functioning like a unit of very close friends.  The lead singer lead the group through a great rendition of “Higher Ground” by Stevie Wonder.  Shawn Stockman said It was a great rendition with a great front man.  Sara Bareilles thought the marriage of physicality and breath control was spot on.  The group was spot on and will move on in the competition.

Pentaonix from Arlington, Texas sang Katie Perry’s “E.T.” decked out in black and pink.  Sara told them that they each had a moment to shine on stage which they did in style.  She saw the dimension in them all.  They were given the go ahead to continue for another week.

Messiah’s Men are a group from Minnesota that are all about gospel and afrocentric soul music.  They are comprised of refugees from Liberia’s civil war.  They started singing to create a center for joy in the mist of their struggle.  One of the “Men” said “Singing is like setting a caged bird free.”  They made us feel that feeling of freedom as they sang “People Get Ready.”  Ben Folds told them they had a big sound that was interesting with a refreshing groove.  Shawn praised their storytelling voices and Sara reassured them that we all felt their emotional connection.  Unfortunately, they won’t be moving on.

Sonos is a group that likes to take a song and turn it on it’s ear.  They sang “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak and Shawn thought it was an ambitious song but “overall pretty good.”  Sara loved the arrangement saying it was sexy with kick ass beat boxing.
Ben thought they were dead on but asked them to come out a little more confident next time.  There will be a next time for them.

The Collective is a group comprised of solo singers out of Nashville Tennessee.  They decided to collect their efforts in one group which is working out very well for them.  The judges were impressed.  Ben liked their solid sound and that Ruby Amanfu owned the lead.  Sara said their blend was solid gold and Shawn though their voices were thick and rich.
They got the OK to move ahead.

Soul’d Out is a high school group from Wilsonville, Oregon and they sang “Let The Sun Shine In” from the Broadway classic “Hair.”  Shawn told them they held their own and that they captured the feel and essence of the song.  Sara declared they showed a lot of maturity and Ben thought the first half was much better than the second half.  He said they didn’t drive it home and it blew up in the end.  Not good news for these kids.

North Shore hails from Boston Mass. and this group has lots of group experience (30 years) singing back up for the Temptations and Frankie Valle and on the street corners of Boston. The performed “Runaround Sue” with infectious enthusiasm.  Sara told them she was in love with them all and Ben thought they were relaxed and hung on to the groove all the way through.  They were given a pass to the next round.

The Deltones are from the University of Delaware.  They chose “Feels Like Home” by Randy Newman.  Sara thought the arrangement was beautiful and Ben said they had a slow build that was very artful.  Shawn liked their sincerity and praised the leads beautiful voice.  In the end he said “You (the group) have lots of potential” They will come back for another go around.

The two exiting group sang their swan songs with style and flare.  Messiah’s Men sang “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” and Soul’d Out sang “Mama I’m Coming Home” as their farewell.

Do you agree with the eliminations?

Tera Simons