A Cappella - Music Genre Made Hot by TV Marketing and Competitions

I think this was the most fun and entertaining number performed on this year's The Sing Off, with the exception of On The Rock's fantastic Bad Romance. Only 6 months old at the start fo the season, The Backbeats combined forces from several colleges with some astounding results. A lot of buzz on the Internet is asking why Courtney the beatbox specialist was being highlighted so much ans so often on the show and on YouTube "how to beatbox" vids. Something must be up and it's exciting to speculate. Lead singer Joanna should have her own recording contract as well and Kenton is a real character that has real musical talent and determination. I hope they go on tour.

Season 2 of the reality show The Sing Off on NBC has brought high quality a cappella music entertainment, offered a range of talent within the genre, and boosted the consumer use of recorded music via CD and iTunes. Not only has it provided entertainment, but given recognition to beginning and veteran singing groups and boosted the nations economy.

In a nation in which the arts and music are cut from middle and high schools in cost-savings initiatives, The Sing Off has brought music back into America's living rooms and persuaded those that were not consistent music listeners to take up the hobby.

Personally, this 5-episode musical event was an ideal Christmas gift to me, not only as a reviewer but as a person that needs to have music in her life more often. Music is expressive, healing, and regenerative. it is many things, but it is emotional, and the stars and competing groups displayed a range of emotions that many viewers and listeners enjoyed.

Even the DEAF enjoy music, evidenced by concerts for the deaf in which they remove their shoes in order to hear the music via vibrations entering their feet. During some of these concerts, a signer (ASL) for the audience was so lyrical in movement that I became unaware of the music and caught up in the "song" of the gestures.

The best part of The Sing Off Season 2 was the inclusion of such a diverse array of talent in the competition - from the renown Yale Whiffenpoofs to UO's On The Rocks, to a Gospel group, Southern Rock, a group of 40-year veterans, a high school group from Kettering, Ohio, and a group just started 6 months before show time. In a nation that still often fobs off high schoolers, Southerners, Blacks, Asians, Christians, and Senior Citizens, this was a Christmas Miracle. A DVD of the entire season would make a top notch gift.

Who won the $100.000 prize and 1-year recording contract? - The Gospel group, Committed.

Boyz II Men's Shawn Stockman asked Jerry Lawson how his group turned House of the Rising Sun into a Gospel number. Interent chatter has been that Jerry Lawson's and Talk of the Town's performance recalled the work The Blind Boys of Alabama. I agree with that review and I live many of the Blind Boys' numbers. In fact, I enjoy their rendition of Run On, but love Elvis's version as well - two different both great.

On a long drive on business or vacation, I can stay energized by playing Run On and On The Rocks' version of Bad Romance. House of the Rising Sun would make a great entry into that playlist, along with some, of my favorite electronic music.

This season of The Sing Off was especially enjoyable, because we did not have to tune into PBS telethons to hear 15-year-old videos of Mo-Town groups. Jerry Lawson and Talk of the Town are still actve and on tour. Their finale performance with Nicole Scherzinger for Ain’t No Mountain High Enough was particularly classy enough for Carnegie Hall. It was artistic and balanced, showing off each singer and the duet of Jerry and Nicole. More good music like this would be a blessing.