NBC's early Christmas gift

I missed out last year. I waited and waited and didn’t hear a thing. 

So this year, I tried to be especially good, knowing that it would count when I contacted Santa.

And the dude in red did not disappoint.  After a two-year hiatus, NBC’s The Sing-Off returned this Christmas for seven episodes over a two week period.

Yes, American Idol, it can be done.

For those who figure this is just another singing competition, hit pause on that thought. 

The Sing-Off is for a cappella groups. In other words, there are no instruments. 

And you’d never know it. Every percussion, synthesizer, sound effect and note is made with vocal chords, teeth and tongue.  And they have some mad skills!

There’s no auto tune to correct the flats or sharps. No producer to tell them what to do. The groups have to write their own arrangements for every song they cover.

In an industry that is more focused on Miley Cyrus’ 10-year old boy boobs and butt than her music, the purity of the voices in The Sing-Off isn’t only refreshing, it’s like a spiritual cleansing.

The 10 groups range from high school national champions to a group of retired street corner doo-woppers.  But the respect is there on both sides. 

As for the judges … there are no complaints of karaoke-like singing.  (Whatever that means, Simon.)  No “cool” or “dawg” to describe a performance. 

Instead, there are discussions about an individual who shifted from a bass to a tenor-one during a song or the number of vocal octaves women have compared to men. 

These judges know the technical side of singing. Even the host is a former singer rather than just a pretty face with a Colgate smile. 

This is not to suggest they take themselves too seriously. A big bubba-boy from the U. of Kentucky proudly sang falsetto like a little girl while he did a bump-and-grind for judge Jewel. 

A couple of gals seem to be competing for the biggest hair award.  And one night, there was even a marriage proposal.  (It was real. She said yes. Whew!)

And the majority of them are … well … nerds.  But in a cool way.  Judge Ben Folds is an amazing musician – but Mr. Smooth, he is not.  Even Boyz II Men’s Shawn Stockman has embraced his inner geek and made it stylish.

Everyone involved in this show loves and respects music, but wants to have fun. 

Of course, there’s also a record contract at the end of the series. And yes, it does help. 

Last season’s winners, Pentatonix, have done very well for themselves with a series of videos.  Check them out on YouTube.
My only complaint is it only lasts two weeks and the first is already gone.

So this year, give yourself a gift from NBC. You’ve only got a few episodes left before The Sing-Off finale on Dec. 23. 
And then, like Santa himself, it will be gone until next Christmas.