The Sing Off Season Two: Let's Stand On Some Shoulders

I can't tell you how pleased I am to see the changed approach to season two of The Sing Off. Hats off to Deke Sharon for his hard work and to NBC for taking a solid step towards the one-on-a-part format. Not surprisingly, when people hear the likes of Committed and Groove For Thought they appreciate the rich harmonies, blend, and style. Hearing the amazed reactions from the fans warms the heart if you have been a fan of this music for many years.

So what next? I hope The Sing Off will strive to bring awareness to the recording groups who have paved the way in this genre. With millions of fans watching, why not feature one of these groups at the end of each show, and/or have them coach the groups? There's a whole new generation of consumers out there who are falling in love with vocal music, how about we increase awareness of the artists who brought us here! Who am I talking about?

Take 6

New York Voices

The Real Group

The Idea Of North

Rajaton

And many others. As wonderful as a few of the groups on The Sing Off are this year, it's a shame that most fans don't realize there are major recording artists out there who have worked for decades to bring this genre to this point. Wouldn't it be great for those groups to see an influx of new fans? Let's get on their shoulders, not just their coat tails. Frankly, they've earned this moment in time.

1 response
My only beef with The Sing Off is the same as Australia's Battle of the Choirs. The producers make the participants sing watered down, generic versions of songs, instead of getting them to sing their own songs.

Last year's Sing Off top 4 included Maxx Factor, who just became Sweet Adelines' International Champs (international women's barbershop organization). They weren't allowed to sing their own arrangements, and so wound up singing a weird sort of doowoppy version of "Rehab", instead of a great ringing barbershop number. They might not have won with barbershop either, but at least they would be showcasing their own music.

Imagine the travesty of doing this to some of the amazing groups listed above!