The Sing-Off Season 3: Current Hits & '60s Favorites (Episode 3)

written by AL
DAM NATION, Contributor

This episode of The Sing-Off was intense!!! All the groups were so good! Right up to the end, I had no clue who was going home because each group gave at least one great performance. Even some of the groups that I had pegged as "underdogs" showed great improvement and versatility. I was shocked to see Delilah in the bottom two, and really sad to see Kinfolk9 eliminated. Although I like The Yellow Jackets, I think I would have sent them home.

Group Performance: Somewhere Only We Know by Keane

Because the competition is getting so close, no rankings this time, only song ratings. I'll leave the ranking to the judges.

CURRENT HITS

Vocal Point

Never Say Never

I am not a Bieber fan, but this performance was good. I really liked the choreography and amazingly it didn't seem to affect their singing. Really "on point." Pun intended. Deal with it. 8/10

Delilah

Whataya Want From Me

I really liked the arrangement of this song, how it started out with only one singer and then they added one after the other until building to an emotional finish. These girls are great with the dynamics; they can really belt it out but they also know when to hold back. 9/10

Urban Method

Just Can't Get Enough

Stronger vocals from this group this time around. I loved the cascading chord they sounded just before the rap, unfortunately it kind of fell apart after that. Maybe it's just me, but I thought it sounded like a lot of vocal farting by the end there. 7.5/10

Afro-Blue

American Boy

This group is all class! I loved the scatting and the jazzy opening. Their lead singer had such a pretty voice. And the remix on the final verse was tight! I agree with Shawn, "there was nothing wrong with that performance!" 10/10

The Yellow Jackets

Dynamite

I did not like the lead vocals on this song; they were all over the place. The backing vocals were good though, and they held the song together. The boys looked like they had a lot of fun, but they got a little too silly towards the end. 6/10

Kinfolk9

Price Tag
They did really well with this song. I particularly liked the second soloist. The bass line was grooving, the beats were tight, and the short rap near the end added an extra layer. I felt they really came together as a group with this one. 9/10

'60s FAVORITES

Delilah

Heatwave
So cute! I loved the '60s choreography and the little fun bits the girls threw in vocally. I thought the judges were a little too hard on them, looking for more depth in a 60s pop song. Although it wasn't their best performance, I thought Delilah showed some versatility here by doing somthing more fun than they had before. 8/10

Urban Method 

Dance To The Music
I really wasn't expecting anything like this from Urban Method. That one guy singer has amazing range; the lead girl was great, too. They really brought the energy and the fun! Knocking off a point because of the lame air guitar solo (he could have done a little more in that moment). 9/10

Vocal Point

The Way You Look Tonight
This was a very sharp performance. Not only were they dressed sharp (I love fedoras), but they also leaned towards the sharp side with their nasal instrument sounds (didn't love that so much). The lead singer was very smooth though. With at least 3 transitions, they put a lot of effort into it. 8/10

Afro-Blue

I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Another ambitious arrangement, but these singers really pull it off. It sounded like classic motown, jazz, and contemporary pop all at once. The lead singer's runs aren't as strong as some of the other singers in this competition. That's really the only criticism I can make. 9/10

The Yellow Jackets

Can't Take My Eyes Off You
I loved the instrument sounds in the beginning, they were perfect, as well as the "ba da's" in the middle. The lead's tenor was sweet. He really kissed up to Sara, though. Minus points for cheesiness! 8/10

Kinfolk9

Let It Be
This was a really emotional performance. They really sounded like a choir and their lead singer sang his heart out. I'm not sure exactly where they went wrong or why they were sent home. I guess someone had to go. 8.5/10


Next Week: Bracket 2 takes on more current hits and '60s favorites

Movie Review: No Other Woman

To be honest, I wouldn't consider No Other Woman as an excellent piece of film making - it's not even the best film I've seen about infidelity - but there was something incredibly refreshing about it.  

Maybe it was because the film didn't take itself too seriously, despite the "unfortunate" premise. I mean, just from the script alone, which I thought was insanely delicious, No Other Woman already sent a clear message that this shouldn't be taken too seriously. It was about infidelity, moral dilemmas and it's repercussions, but most of it was played out in an intentionally exaggerated way - from the dialogues to the acting - giving the movie a tone different from it's contemporaries.

Of course, that's not to say the story was anything groundbreaking because it wasn't. It was pretty much what I expected. It was predictable, sometimes uncomfortably trite, and the resolution was too convenient. However, the way the story was handled and executed to produce a nice tension notwithstanding predictability was quite impressive.

On a technical standpoint, it was a mixed bag. The editing lacked fluidity, especially in the earlier parts of the film, the scoring was overbearing, and the pacing could've been better. The direction was decent, the cinematography was good and the writing, while over-the-top, was impressive if a bit incomplete - whatever happened to Derek Ramsay's subplot with his father?

As for the casting ensemble, most them nailed (no pun intended) their performances. The movie was slightly heavy on beguiling the viewers of pre-judgements, so the choice of actors to play the wife and the other woman was crucial. Good thing, the film chose the right people for each role.

Christine Reyes had some seriously good moments. She wasn't consistent all through out, but she pulled off the role surprisingly well. Anne Curtis, on the other hand, unleashed her full dramatic chops. It wasn't perfect and I got a little distracted with how she over enunciate her words during the first half, but she earned my respect with this film. Her last few scenes were incredibly heartbreaking. As for Derek Ramsay, he was decent though he seemed to be little more than a decoration.

Ultimately, No Other Woman was an amusingly campy film that delivered the goods and then some. I didn't exactly think the film was a mirror of realism as it employed a couple of dramatic undertones, but it still made an impact with an understandably relevant premise.

 RATING: 8/10

X Factor US: Auditions Part 4

written by Gabriel Sierra
DAM NATION, Contributor   

Auditions Episode 3 had some pretty amazing talent. I hope tonight’s episode is the same. As always, the first 5 minutes were all recaps and intros and the same stuff we’ve seen since the beginning. I can’t wait for boot camp, I want to know which judge will lead which group!! I suppose Nicole Scherzinger will lead the groups, L.A. the boys, Simon the girls and Paula the people over 30, but that’s just my guess!

Auditions began in New Jersey; here is the recap of the best ones:

Brian Bradley, 14
Stop Looking At My Mom
This was a very interesting audition and a great way to start the show. The kid did seem talented before he sang, I wanted to hear him sing. He suddenly began going after Simon, telling him “I saw that! What’d you do that for?”, Simon and the judges looked at him wondering what was going on, but then he started singing and it was part of the show. He moved around the big stage and got the crowd going crazy after just a few seconds. After the song ended, Simon told him he was “arrogant, obnoxious but one of the most talented kids” he’d ever seen. I liked Brian, it’ll be interesting to see him at boot camp.

Kelly Warner, 22
Hallelujah
The bit that was shown was really good, I loved her voice. She got four yeses and walked out of the stage to hug her parents. I can’t wait to see her in boot camp!

Aaron Surgeon, 27
I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing
He sounded pretty good, nice vocals. But I have to agree with Simon, he was too average, nothing stood out about him. He still got 3 yeses so he went on, let’s see if he proves me wrong!!

Liliana Rose Andreano, 26
You Are My Sunshine
Simon gave her an “easy” yes and called her one of his favorites of the day. She did sing very nice and softly, I love it when girls sing with that soft tone that is just beautiful, much like Katharine McPhee. I hope she goes far!

Cari Fletcher, 17
Alone
This is a tough song to sing, but she did sing it very well. Simon thought she was boring, while L.A. Reid loved her. She got four yeses, and made it through. Oh, and this girl is beautiful, I think she’s got everything, and I think she will go all the way.

Ausem, Duet
Jar Of Hearts
A boy and a girl, both 15, bring this duo together. They sang quite well, not the best voices but pretty charming and entertaining. They got a yes from Simon and L.A. Reid very quickly, but Nicole took forever to make a choice, finally saying yes. I think they’re going to have to step up if they want to stay in the competition, their performance wasn’t really too strong. I wonder what’ll be of them in boot camp!

Tora Woloshin, 21
I Want You Back

This girl had EVERYONE screaming! She was really, really good! I didn’t expect her to be that good, the judges loved her, everyone loved her! Like Simon said, she DOES have the X factor! I think she’ll go very far, though I’ve said that about tons of people by now. Haha. I DO hope she makes it far!

The Stereo Hogzz, Group
Running (Original song)
They got four yeses, they were pretty good, but I didn’t see the X factor. If they rehearse and bring something unique, they’ll make it! I hope they do!

Brennin Hunt, 26
How We Make It (Original song)
I think Paula could’ve been floating in the clouds with this guy, her eyes were shinning all the time he was singing, besides the good looks, of course. The bad thing: too full of himself. Haha. But I think with his looks, his voice and his confidence he’ll make it really far, especially with the girl viewers. He got the four yeses, and I’m sure with him that he’ll go far. Oh, and his song was really good! Nice writing.

Paige Elizabeth Ogle, 18
You & I
Now let me just say that I absolutely LOVE this song, so at first I was a bit reluctant to accept another version that wasn’t by Lagy Gaga (or Haley Reinhart), BUT, when she sang the high notes, she won me over. Good voice, pretty girl, lots of talent. We’ll see what boot camp holds for this girl!

Leroy Bell, 59
Lean On Me
Let me just say that I thought he was 27. He looks REALLY young, not at all his age, the way he was dressed probably helped a lot! He sang very well, really talented man. He got the four yeses and went out really happy, I hope he goes far!

The Brewer Boys, Group:
Rhythm of Love
Two boys, 13 and 17 years old. They sang pretty well in the 4 seconds they were shown, and they got four yeses. I guess we’ll see more of them later on.

Nick Dean, 14
Walk Away
Just a kid! Haha. He has such a baby face, but he had the whole crowd (mostly girls) going crazy! The judges were impressed, so he got (in Simon’s words) four big fat yeses! Girls will vote so much for him, I can tell.

Jazzlyn Little, 16
I’m Going Down
Amazing! My favorite audition of the episode! She sang GREAT! She was really nervous at first, but as soon as she started singing, it seemed the nerves just melted away and she was in her own place. She got a standing ovation from the judges and the crowd, and her family got really emotional. She got every yes she needed and went through faster than a bullet! I want to see her in boot camp!


As Simon said it, that is officially a wrap for the auditions, it’s now time for boot camp! Thank God, no more bad auditions! Haha. I’ve got to say, I’m now hooked to this show, I’m going to have to watch every single episode! The preview we got from next week was pretty cool, only 32 acts will make it through before they are divided in the four categories: over 30, groups, boys and girls! I can’t wait ‘till next week!!!!

X Factor US: Auditions Part 3

written by Gabriel Sierra
DAM NATION, Contributor  

Recap & previews of tonight’s episode. That’s how it always begins, its fun sometimes and I guess it does hook you to keep watching because it gets you curious of what will happen. After that, Steve Jones (the Host - I keep forgetting his name) gave us the intro to the show and welcomed us to the “windy city”, Chicago. The city was in a really bad weather, but thousands of people still went to audition.

The judges intro began, I wasn’t even watching the screen because it’s the same as always, until Steve said “And finally, returning for one last city… Cheryl Cole” and I jumped up to the screen! And there she was!!! It made me really happy because I like her so much! The first good thing about this episode.

The auditions began, and the ones who made it were:

Makenna and Brock, Duet
Cold Weather
Two friends that have been singing together for over 4 years. They’re voices weren’t exactly huge, but it was very nice and the harmony was beautiful. As soon as they finished singing, the crowd was going wild, and so were the judges. They got the four yeses and got very excited, it was a great moment! I hope they make it far, they seem very talented.

Skyelor Anderson, 16
Must Be Doing Something Right
At first, I thought he was another hopeful with no talent, but then, 15 seconds in, the track stopped working but he didn’t stop singing, which impressed the judges. He sang pretty well, not a huge voice either, but his enthusiasm and love for country music showed, giving him extra points. He got four yeses and couldn’t stop smiling, it was cute, I hope he goes far.

J. Mark Inman, 31
Creep
I REALLY didn’t think he was going to make it! When he got three yeses in less than 2 seconds I was so shocked I actually said out loud “Whaaat?!” Haha. He sang and moved in a very weird way, and his vocals were really bad in my opinion. I don’t know what is wrong with the judges - the only sane one was Simon who DIDN’T say yes. He didn’t say anything and he just stared at the other judges in a way that said “What the F@%*” Haha. I don’t think he’ll last that long.

Arin Ray, 15
Ain't No Sunshine
He made it through, we didn’t get to see much other than he sang a few pretty notes, so not much to say about him.

Josh Krajcik, 30
At Last
Now, this one was really surprising as I didn’t expect him to have a good voice! He sang the song in his own way and it was very good. I don’t know if he’ll make it too far, but I guess we’ll see! He got all four yeses too, and his mom was about to explode of happiness haha, it was a cute moment. Surprising too! I guess talent comes in all kinds of ways!

The first half of the episode ended, meaning that it was time for Cheryl Cole to leave again. Nicole Scherzinger was back at the judging panel. I like Nicole but Cheryl is a thousand times better in my opinion. Well, nothing we can do about it.

Drew Ryniewicz, 14
Baby
This was a very cute girl with a huge obsession for Justin Bieber. She had her family backstage while she auditioned, and her mom was going crazy all the time! L.A. Reid told her that he would be a bit tough because it was a song close to his heart. Drew sang and I didn’t know what to expect from the judges. I liked her singing a lot, I think a different song would’ve been better for her voice, but she has a nice tone and the crowd did seem to like her. Nicole was the first to judge and it was surprising when she said she liked her version better than Justin Bieber’s. Her mom could’ve died right then haha. The judges gave her compliments on her originality, and she got all four yeses. She ran out of the stage to hug her family, her dad was so emotional, it made my eyes water a bit. I liked this girl, I hope she makes it far!

4Shore, Group
End of the Road
These four guys sang a song written by L.A. Reid, and even before they began you could tell L.A. Reid was going to be harsh about it if they didn’t do it well. But they sounded really good and got all the yeses they needed to go through. They seem talented, I’d like to hear them sing an upbeat song. I hope they make it far!

Elaine Gibbs, 53
You’ve Got A Friend
This woman didn’t seem her age, she seemed younger. She got all four yeses after they heard her humongous voice, really amazing. I hope she can sing that amazing all types of songs, cuz if she can, she’ll make it really far. Good one!

Francesca Duncan, 17
Hero
I didn’t think she had an amazing voice, but it was good enough and she got all four yeses. The bad thing was it was only shown for a few seconds, so there’s not much to tell. Right after she sang, another 3 auditions were shown in a few seconds were they all made it through, though we didn’t even get a name of the people auditioning.

Tiger Budbill, 42
What’s Going On
He pretty much just did a big note and got two yeses from the girls, one no from L.A. Reid, so it was in suspense because it was Simon’s decision. But Simon said yes and Tiger went crazy about it! It was fun, though I don’t think he’ll go too far.

Phillip Lomax, 21
Fly Me To The Moon
This guy sang amazing, I loved it. I think he’s talented but I don’t see him making it too far. He got the four yeses, let’s see if he proves me wrong.

Tiah Tolliver, 19:
Impossible
They definitely saved the best for last. Not the best singer, but the best moment! This was crazy and I had to wait over an hour to know what happened!! The power went out and I wanted to know what happened so badly! So Tiah walked out and started singing. Simon LOVED her, and L.A. liked her too, BUT the girls didn't. So, she got two no's and two yeses. Simon literally begged the judges to give her a chance, so they asked Tiah to sing another song. She sang another song and Paula was still not convinced. Nicole gave her an advice to get better and FINALLY gave her a yes! So it’s three yeses, Paula looking pissed and Simon in glory! Haha. It was awesome, I think this girl can sing so I wanted her to make it! Great moment!

I loved this episode, much more talent than last week’s episodes put together! I can’t wait to see the talent for the next episode.

Glee Music 3: Asian F

Dreamgirls. Fame. West Side Story. Coldplay. Beyonce. Jennifer Hudson. That's a good mix no? Last week, I was bitching about the songs being too "Broadway", but somehow Glee finally got it right with a good mix of music this week. Enjoy!

Cool
Hmmm.. It's a good first solo effort from Mike Chang. It's kind of a "talking" type of song, but he does have a nice enough voice. It's fine. Of course, I expect dance moves to go along with this. Haha. 6/10
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Fix You
I initially thought that the key was a little too high and possibly near the very end of Will Schuester's range, but he sounds wonderful in this song albeit a little strained. The second verse is all kinds of stunning and when the bridge kicks in, I get chills! Who knew I'd LOVE anything that has to do with Mr. Schue? Just beautiful! 9/10 

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It's All Over
WOW! I didn't expect to hear as many people as I did. This was pretty brilliant!! Everyone - well, except for one - sound fantastic! Mercedes sounds great, but Santana rips this piece wide open. As for Kurt, he single-handedly ruins the song with his screeching. Dying cat anyone? Seriously. Why do they feel the need to get him to sing a verse in this track? Or at the very least, keep the key so high for him to sing? Anyway, I'm really curious with the context of this song. 9/10
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Out Here On My Own
Is this the next Defying Gravity on Glee? I sure hope so! I mean, no one can deny the fact that both Mercedes and Rachel are phenomenally talented. I love hearing the softer parts of Mercedes' voice and, as always, Rachel's great emotional connection to the song. True, the song, unfortunately, is dragged down by the fact that Rachel is obviously better on this song than Mercedes, it I appreciate it for what it is. 9/10
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Run The World (Girls)
I didn't expect Glee to cover this song, but they did and it's kind of ineresting. I like the marching band sound of it and I know the dancing will be awesome! Brittany will surely be bringing the swag. Oh, and I always love a Brittany-Santana performance so this is candy for a big kid like me. 7/10
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Spotlight
To be honest, I kind of prefer Mercedes' tone over Jennifer Hudson's on this song, but her version isn't as engaging. Jennifer Hudson has a lot more energy and passion in her recording compared to this. Sure, Mercedes sounds technically amazing, but she's not as into it as the original artist. Just saying. 7/10
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(all 6 songs)