Wrangler Dani

Oh, it’s a beautiful thing, ain’t it? The Sing-Off’s a capella jams are back, and so is Ben Folds’ cute head-nodding habits. Let’s get to it!

Speaking of Ben Folds, he’s totally like a professor that I would’ve had a very inappropriate crush on in college. Nicole Scherzinger is back, with nothing but cotton candy between her ears and not quite enough crazy to make her entertaining, unlike lovable Paula. Shawn Stockman is also back and he is rocking Ben Folds-esque specs and a yellow tie, which I find endearing.

Oh, Nick Lachey is also back. Last year I was worried about his heart health because of the abundant mayo-induced puffiness, but this year he appears to be friends with the outdoors again, so that’s good. Ok, let’s sing!

Opening medley. Fun. Exactly what you’d expect. Not Earth-shattering, though.

First up…

Eleventh Hour (from Ohio? I think?) “Baby” – They are in high school and they don’t like to talk about it. JK, they want to talk about it ALL the time, like OMG.  They sing “Baby” by Justin Bieber because they like stereotypes. They’re cute and sugary and very “Glee”.

On the Rocks from University of Oregon – “Bad Romance”. I love them immediately. I love anything that satirizes pop culture and they do that just by existing. Anybody who has even seen Lady Gaga in passing knows that she needs to be taken down a peg, and 15 clean-cut frat boys goofily writhing on stage ala Gaga’s shirtless dancers get kudos from me. Also, they are actually really good vocalists. They had at least four dudes grab the leads and they were all believable in their own right.

Groove for Thought from Seattle – “I Wish” – I’m sorry, but I’m already bored. They seem likable as people. I like their yellow shirts. That’s about all I got.

Pitch Slapped (haha) from Berkelee Music School in Boston – “Good Girls Go Bad” – Timberlake wannabe starts us off. Their outfits are cute. They have like a hundred people on stage, and it’s sounds like only five. Nicole stumbles through how “Pussycat Dolls” the chicks are, and that’s kinda all we get.

Jerry Lawson and the Talk of the Town from Oakland, California – “Save the Last Dance” – Aw, old fellas! They’re cute and classy and likable like old fellas nearly always are. Part of me is slightly bothered though – Jerry Lawson made 29 albums with the Persuasions – do they really need to take a chance at a contract from an up-and-coming group?

Elimination time! I love this show. No long waits or fake drama. Just cut ’em and let’s move on.

Pitch Slapped is eliminated. It’s OK, JT. Lachey says “Pick up yo’ mikes” which tickles me.

The Whiffenpoofs from Yale University – “Grace Kelly” – They are cocky and insufferable in their video, even going so far as asserting that they “invented a capella”. I’m grossed out almost instantly, but their performance is actually really good with a Broadway swagger. Maybe they’ll be more likable next week, since I’m pretty sure they’re way too good to be sent home. (Although, awesomely, Shawn calls them out, thanking them profusely for “inventing a capella”. Ha.)

Men of Note from New Jersey – “For the Longest Time” – They sing to pick up chicks at the mall and assert that they are athletes. They’re cute and seem destined to go home rather soon, even though I really like them and want to feed them a good dinner. (I can’t help it, I feel motherly toward waifish boys.)

Street Corner Symphony from Nashville, Tennesee – “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” – They are scruffy, aging hipsters and I’m a bit skeptical, especially when the lead singer chooses a terrible pair of cut-off shorts for his video interview attire. However, within half a measure I’m won over. They are LEGIT. I love them.

The Backbeats, from everywhere, because they are completely mercenary and created just for the Sing-Off – “If I Were A Boy” – It seems too low for the lead, and I just can’t get over the fact that this group was put together just for the show. Doesn’t that kind of spoil the Cinderella story of the whole thing? They are good, don’t get me wrong. I just don’t love them.

Committed, from Huntsville, Alabama – “This Love” – Gospel singers! They sing in their church and their pastor is shown grilling roughly 50 chickens and expressing his excitement for their opportunity on the Sing-Off. They’ve never done Top 40 songs before, but they pick “This Love” by Maroon 5. Pssst! Boys! Do you know this song is about sex? Ah well. They work it out, y’all, red sweaters and all. It’s only six dudes and it sounds like 20. Nice. Shawn looks like he’s about to faint.

(As an aside, I love seeing the other groups grooving to each other’s music. Also, the judges are fantastic – critical without being cruel, funny without selling out. This show is so sweet it’s gonna give me cavities.)

Elimination! Men of Note are headed home. Aw. I’ll make you a pot roast.

See y’all Wednesday! Sing-Off season is the most wonderful time of the TV year.