When you hear that NBC, the network that brought you Clash of the Choirs, is planning an eight-episode reality competition show for a cappela groups, you think, seriously? And it’s not because you’re anti-a cappella. Though admittedly, I do have a love-hate relationship with it. I love the sound — unless I’m being sung to in public. See: a group from Penn State performing at my high school and serenading me in front of the entire band (just because as a flutist, I was in the front row), and a group from Yale serenading me at an Olive Garden in Times Square nine or 10 years ago (just because the coworkers who took me there for a birthday or goodbye lunch found out that they were at the next table and didn’t want to go back to the office).
But then, a colleague randomly sends you a clip of the group Naturally 7 performing last night on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno — with a note saying, "Don’t ask me how I stumbled on this; I haven’t watched the show in months" — and you begin to think there’s a way for NBC to do an a cappella show in primetime that won’t put people to bed early.
Will you tune in if this is the kind of performance you’ll be seeing?
My favorite part is the guy who air-drums while providing the percussion line.
YES I will be watching this show!! I loved Clash of the Choirs and I am so happy NBC is bring choir music to mainstream television… this sounds like an awesome idea for a show.
omgomgomgomgOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!!!!!!
Translation: Yes, I am definitely on board, with pitch pipe in hand. As a lapsed Sweet Adeline, I’m a huge fan of a cappella music. Hmm… wondering if NBC’s regretting getting rid of Scrubs (The Blanks – Ted’s band) now!
They were good, but too me, noone will ever be as good as Take 6 when it comes to acapella singing. BTW, didn’t they have a acapella group on AGT?
Yes, The Fault Line. They performed at our high school a couple of years ago.
I sooo much agree with you!!! Take 6 are the orignitors and the best!!
Could there be an a capella group any better than the one on Scrubs (Ted’s band)? The episode when it was all TV theme show songs was one of my favorites.
I actually thought Clash of the Choirs wasn’t a bad way to kill a holiday season week usually stuffed with reruns.
HECK YEAH, I will watch this. I’m a huge a cappella fan. As long as they show pro or semi pro groups, there’s a laundry list of wonderful groups out there, including Take 6, Rockapella, M-Pact, Basix, etc.
I won’t watch the show, because I don’t watch reality programming, but damn that was a really impressive performance!
lame?
when was the last time you saw any a cappella, mandi? a cappella isn’t your grampa’s barbershop. it’s AMAZING. the voice as true instrument. it is a work of sheer art.
your snarky opening just made me sick. go back to watching american idol and cheering for sanjaya and thinking THAT is real music.
i’ll be watching this. and kudos to NBC for putting this on.
Auditions were held this weekend (9/12)Great group from UCONN Extreme Measures among those trying out! Good Luck to them
I recently recieved an invitation from NBC to audition for the acapella sing-off. I was jusr curious about how you got my name and the name of my quartet (Spare Parts), since we’re only known locally. Ken Reish
Genius: this isn’t an NBC web page, it’s a story about the show.
[...] to reports, A Capella is on the musical rise. Entertainment Weekly’s Popwatch says that after NBC brought you the Clash of the Choirs, now they are going to try and redeem themselves with [...]
Too bad some of the best and brightest stars of collegiate acappella were unable to audition knowing that success on the TV show would mean their semester could not be completed. Case in point: University of Rochester Midnight Ramblers with plenty of YouTube appearances who opted out of this opportunity of a lifetime. Give these guys some credit for their difficult decision.
This show will make me a fan if they reverence the group Take 6 as the pioneers and trailblazers of this style of singing..Take 6 are the masters of this singing artform
Again I would like to educate you who think Take 6 were the pioneers. Please read up and share the knowledge. Discover Jerry Lawson’s Persuasions. They kept the dying art alive for decades. They made 22 albums. 4 original members are alive. Their first
a cappella CD was released in 1970. Their last in 2003. They paved the way. They stayed together 40 years. They are African American. Most Black folks don’t know who they are. Radio and Labels told them that a cappella was a novelty and that that 5 guys with no band would not appeal to many.Their lead singer, arranger & producer Jerry Lawson has a new
a cappella CD: Jerry Lawson & Talk of The Town. An a cappella masterpiece. Please help educate the young one.
Rodney, I love Take 6 and all, but they were neither pioneers nor trailblazers, except perhaps in their popularity. The musical form has existed for a very long time. Take 6 was a beautiful example of it, but they are only a tiny part of vocals-only music.