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NBC’s Sing Off Christmas Special “OK” - But America is Still Singing the Afro Blues

NBC takes it where it hurts for Judges’ snafu - Panorama, take note
 

Pentatonix
Pentatonix 2011 Sing Off Champions

Global - According to TV Guide, the November 28 two-hour finale of “The Sing-Off” plummeted 37 percent in the coveted demo from a year ago - and lost some 20 percent in viewership.  No surprise there.  You don’t have to be a brain surgeon to figure this one out.  Once Afro Blue was eliminated by the judges a week before finals - it was good night!  Folks always want to see the best against the best. It was a pre-forecasted tidal wave - all over the internet, facebook and the blogs.  Some Sing Off watchers said point blank - “we are not watching the finals” and they didn’t care who won once Afro Blue wasn’t part of the mix.  It’s not like they all wanted, or even expected, Afro Blue to win.  But it seems like everyone just intrinsically knew the group belonged in the finals.  And the judges’ voting them out off the finals somewhat killed the show.

Controversy

Last week when we re-iterated that the judges’ several calls for what is aptly termed the “dumbing down” of Afro Blue’s performances during the season, would contribute to the lowering of America’s musical IQ, there were a few who were in a huff and a puff.  

Remember in WST’s last post - my colleague told you she was not going to watch the finals; as a musician, she’s written off the show, actually.  And this writer said, I in turn was only watching out of professional courtesy.  Like we said previously, NBC did serious damage to the Sing Off brand.  You simply can’t fool all the people all the time. The elimination of Afro Blue was a dumb business decision, a dumb artistic decision and a fatal music decision that had absolutely no musical merit.  Moreover it put fans’ trust in the musical integrity of the adjudicators in jeopardy.

Oh, yea, I almost forgot; in the spirit of the yuletide season, this evening’s Christmas show was okay and enjoyable.  It featured past Sing Off champions from season one and two - Nota and Committed, along with this season’s champion Pentatonix.  Other groups also participated.

The Sing-Off Christmas Show Live "Afro-Blue and Committed"

On the joint performance of the classic “Ooh Child” by Afro Blue and Committed, judge Ben Folds’ comments - “I think everyone, not even so secretly, looks up to you two groups as the standard. You guys are absolutely amazing.”  A severe case of too little, too late - you think?

Additionally, many of the audience favorites were on hand from the past three seasons. They all delivered great live performances. After all these weeks of intense competition it was good to see everyone clearly enjoying each other’s company, working together and just having lots of fun. It was indeed a great way to end Sing Off’s season and usher in the holidays, while simultaneously taking the edge and sting out of the last two weeks. Everyone had their moment and chance to thank their fans. Shawn Stockman’s performance with Nota (first season winners) was special.

All the groups performed very well.  It was like the old “Champs in Concert” held in Trinidad and Tobago after the steel orchestras’ panorama finals competition.

With a $311,604 USD dollar first price in the balance, the annual 2012 Trinidad and Tobago National Steel Orchestras Panorama Competition will soon commence in earnest.  We are looking forward to a great season with lots of awesome music creations by the participants - and of course, sans any Afro Blue-like surprises.

 

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