Episode 5 The Naked Choir with Gareth Malone

CHOIR SINGS Hallelujah!

'It's the semifinal of my contest to find

'Britain's most entertaining amateur a cappella group.'

Great!

'Last week, intense mentoring

'culminated in a breakthrough performance

'from the Sons Of Pitches.'

# It's me, I'm Cathy

# I've come home now

# So cold

# Let me in at your window... #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE I'm moved!

Hindsy's got tears in his eyes.

# Di-doo-doo-di-doo... #

'While a cassock calamity

'cost Gospel Essence their place in the contest.'

# But life still goes on... #

Obviously we're disappointed that we couldn't go any further,

but, you know, I think we went out on a great song.

'Just four groups now remain and this week,

'I'm giving them free rein like never before.'

# Twinkle, little star... #

# Me be treated like a punk You know that's unheard of... #

LAUGHTER

I don't know what to say.

'The challenge - combine vocals, choreography,

'and a killer concept...

'..to take a capella from the stage to the screen...'

Two, one... Go.

I want to see something really new,

something that really pops out of the screen.

'..for a showdown that will divide my jury...'

Thrilling, thrilling, thrilling!

I hated this. Absolutely hated it.

-I don't know what you were looking for?

-I can tell you.

I'm looking for something that will hold my attention.

'..and decide who makes it to the grand final.'

We are that far from the final.

You are one performance away from the final.

We're at the 12th hour now, really. We've lost the 11th hour.

There is no more hours left.

We got great talent now left in the contest.

I think all of these are going to be good.

'With the intense training of a capella school behind them,

'my four remaining groups are back home.

'While it's a welcome return to normal life...'

APPLAUSE

Awww, thanks, guys!

'..the contest still remains a priority.

'We are absolutely delighted, buzzing.'

We just really want to take it all the way now

and the competition is tough,

really tough, so we have to pull out all the stops now.

'It's now a make or break point in the contest as all the groups

'compete for a place in my grand final.'

This means more to us than anything now.

It means so much to us to do well and to get to that final.

'And to make it, this week,

'they'll have to succeed in a very different challenge.'

A CAPPELLA OF "HIPS DON'T LIE" MELODY

# Shakira, Shakira... #

'This week, I want them to showcase their talents not onstage,

'but via video. One that has the potential to become an internet hit.'

There are so many big, big a capella acts

who only really got a career because of the internet.

'Groups like Out Of The Blue,

'whose tongue-in-cheek take on Shakira's Hips Don't Lie

'has been viewed over six million times.'

# So be wise and keep on reading the signs of my body... #

That is how a cappella has become as big as it is.

It's not through mainstream media, it is through the internet.

'This visually striking offering from Israeli group Voca People

'has clocked up over two million hits.'

# Say what? #

THEY BEATBOX

'I want my groups to come up with equally eye-catching concepts

'for a two minute video that people would share online.'

It's got to be simple. It's got to be memorable,

visually arresting and really interesting on the ear.

'Crucial to the success of these videos will be the choice of song.'

What they don't know at this point

is that they are going to be choosing the track

for the first time in this contest

and, as much as they'll be excited about the freedom,

it's actually a really difficult and important choice to make

cos if you get the song wrong, you don't really have anything.

-Hello!

-Hey!

-Hello!

-Hey!

Semifinalists. THEY CHEER

So, I expect you're itching

-to find out what song I've chosen for you.

-Yes.

-Yes, please.

-The song... Look at your little faces.

-Come on!

I've decided that you are going to be singing a song

that YOU'VE chosen.

-ALL:

-YES!

-THEY SCREAM

-Yes!

You have graduated from a cappella school.

It's time for you to make grown-up choices for yourself.

You can now choose your own song.

Don't get too excited because it's very much part of the challenge.

If you choose the wrong song, it could really mess you up.

You can't do a song that you have done before

so there's no dipping into the back catalogue.

I just think if we choose a bad song for ourselves or something,

we can't blame you.

LAUGHTER

-Has there been a bit of that?

-It's literally on our heads.

We've been like, "He chose a terrible song for us,

"we can't help it."

'The groups now have just one week to choose their songs, arrange them

'and devise and shoot an arresting two minute video

'before they're screened to the jury.'

-We've got a completely blank page in terms of our creativity so...

-Yes.

It's so exciting for us.

It also means there'll be more pressure on us

-to deliver because were not spoon-fed in

-any way. Yeah.

So yeah, it's going to be a very interesting week.

'It's going to be a lot of work. It's going to be a LOT of work.'

We're not only working on the arrangement,

we're working on the visual so it's like double the work.

'In Birmingham, keen to commit every spare second

'they have to rehearsals,

'all-male six piece the Sons Of Pitches are moving in together.'

-Hello, boys!

-Hey!

What we've learned from a cappella school is the more time

we spend together, the more productive we'll be.

Curled up on a single bed, just me and him, keeping each other warm.

Some spooning's going to happen, isn't it?

-Potentially going to happen.

-I'm looking forward to it.

-Mmm.

'As this group juggles commitments away from music,

'spare time is in short supply right now,

'especially for pharmacy student Mide.'

Pharmacy is the career path that I have

and I'm really enjoying it right now,

but, for the past three years,

beatboxing has been really life-changing for me.

HE BEATBOXES

To be able to make money

and do things really publicly

with beatboxing would be absolutely incredible,

but my mum would kill me.

HE BEATBOXES

I'll make sure I'm a pharmacist and then, come two years' time,

once that's in place and that's locked in,

then I think beatboxing could potentially take over.

HE BEATBOXES

Thank you. Hello!

-This is very civilised.

-How are you?

Thanks for standing up.

'I'm checking in on The Sons Of Pitches' initial ideas.'

Hello, hello.

'On hand for moral support, girlfriends Kasia and Caris.'

OK, well, what have you come up with?

A good gimmicky thing would be just choose a simple song

-and do it in some different genres.

-OK.

-Changing the genres every 20, 30 seconds.

-Lots of different styles.

There's lots of things going on.

We talked about how people on the internet

have quite a short attention span

and if there's lots of things going on

and they are going to be anticipating

-what the next genre is...

-It keeps them engaged.

-Exactly.

Genres, OK, that's good.

So, different styles of music. What have you got?

As far as genres go, we are pretty comfortable

with quite a lot of genres.

-Can I put that to the test?

-Yeah, of course you can.

-Great.

-Why don't we try and find a simple song?

-OK.

-Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star?

-Oh, OK, all right.

OK, I've got to have opera, please, can I have an opera?

-HE SINGS OPERATICALLY:

-# Twinkle, twinkle

# Little star... #

Reggae.

-HE SINGS IN A REGGAE STYLE:

-# How I wonder what you are

# Up above the world so high... #

Jazz.

-HE SINGS IN A JAZZ STYLE:

-# Like a diamond in the night

# Twinkle twinkle, little star... #

Can we have death metal, please?

THEY IMITATE A DEATH METAL RIFF

HE SCREAMS: # TWINKLE!

# TWINKLE!

# LITTLE!

# STAR!

# TWINKLE! TWINKLE!

# LITTLE STAR! #

Hooray! Are you all right? Are you ever going to be able to sing again?

So you need a song, don't you? Do you have any immediate thoughts?

Mmmbop by Hanson.

# Mmmbop, bop, mmm... #

-I don't know the words.

-Yeah, there's no words.

Cos we're expecting it to be quite a silly video, in a way,

and with the genre change,

we really want a happy, uplifting song

that's got a good pace to it.

I like Mmmbop, that's fun. It made you all smile.

All those in favour of that one...

-I will see you in a week. Get to it.

-Cheers, Gareth.

Thank you very much, see you later.

'The basic idea made them all happy.'

It made their girlfriends happy and it made me happy

so that's a good start.

ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC PLAYS

'A typical summer evening in east London

'and I've joined the Stratford East Singers on the hunt

'for a location for their video.'

-Is it always like this?

-Every night, more or less, yeah.

CHEERING

THEY CHANT IN TIME

'Over the course of the contest, this group's developed a sense

'of self-confidence that reached a peak in their last performance.'

# I cried my tears... #

'This self belief has brought about new opportunities

'for many in the group,

'including 19-year-old Abbi, who took the lead in the last round.'

# Don't get mad at me

# If you liked it, then you should have put a ring on it

# Don't you love me? #

'She's just won a place at the prestigious

'Guildhall School Of Music And Drama.'

# ..a ring on it

# If you liked it... #

Wow! I didn't think I'd be able to get in because I didn't have any,

like, qualifications that I could put on paper and, erm,

certificates that could prove I had done so and so.

I only had my passion and my experience

and I guess those two helped me a lot to get in.

# Stylin', wilin'

# Living it up

# Come on! #

Music is absolutely massive...

It IS my life, basically. It's not even a part of.

It is my life. It is who I am.

SHE BEATBOXES

-Awesome!

-Thank you. Thank you.

It would mean the world, I think, for us to win, especially coming

from where we come from, being a community choir.

We love to sing. We love to sing and perform for other people

and make other people happy, the way music makes us happy.

DANCE MUSIC PLAYS

-It's like being somewhere on holiday!

-Yeah!

-So, it's definitely going to be Stratford?

-Yeah!

Why? We are Stratford E Singers. It has to be Stratford.

-It sounds like you are going for something community based.

-Yeah.

I think that will be the message, in two minutes.

Yeah, it's really good. It's really cool, it's really community...

Good energy round here.

Crucial question - have you got a song or...?

-ALL:

-Yes!

-..or a shortlist, at least?

-We have got one song.

-One song. What is the song?

-Emile Sande's Wonder.

-How does it go?

# Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh

# Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh.

# We ain't falling under... #

I like it.

-ALL:

-Yay!

We are full of wonder. Stratford, dancers...

I love it.

Bashment... Whatever that is?! Brilliant!

I like it. I think it's really good.

They've not got to marry all this excitement and colour

and life that they got in Stratford

with technical precision. Now, it's getting really difficult.

The other groups are very, very technical and...

they are going to have to really up their game.

In Glasgow, the wind of change is blowing through university group

Choral Stimulation.

It's the end of term.

Sort of, everyone's finished exams and everyone's, sort of,

kicking about, moving flats, a bit homeless, a bit out of kilter.

It's so hard to pin us down.

Future plans and fledgling careers are in the offing

for many in the group, including junior doctor Calum.

I'm Dr Fraser. How are you feeling?

Not bad. I'm not getting home today, but, yeah, happy.

'It's a priceless moment when you see'

a mother holding their child for the first time.

It is quite a nice thing to see and quite a rare thing to see.

It's one of the best parts of the job, I think. Balancing work

with Choral Stimulation's been a real challenge.

'It's, no doubt, what I wanted to do and, you know, you make sacrifices,

'you make time. It's like anything.'

Everyone has been really good about it. It's been a balancing act,

but it's been absolutely worth it.

All these demands on the group's time is causing a headache for the group's

musical director, Tony.

Did you run from London?

LAUGHTER

It's been a bit of a roller coaster, like,

in terms of getting everyone organised for the whole thing,

making sure everyone's in Glasgow.

Hello!

Hello!

My maths are rudimentary, but are we missing a few people?

-Yes.

-Who's missing?

Calum is back in hospital, working - saving lives.

Who has got work commitments now?

Or are you all... Can you all really focus on this?

-I'm away most of this week.

-You're away?

-I came back...

-This week? Now? From when?

-I came back from Belfast

last night, to be here today.

-I am going back to Belfast tomorrow.

-What's happening in Belfast?

-I'm in the studio.

-You recording a solo album?

-No, the band's back on.

You've got the band back together. OK. Out of the eight days that

-you have got to do this challenge, how many are you away?

-Six.

-Six?!

-Oh, my God!

Yes, it's not ideal to do things in three days.

Genuinely, are you worried about Tony not being here?

-Are you going to be able to...

-I, personally, am.

This is really not good. Tony is the secret to Choral Stimulation's

success - thus far in this contest - because his arrangements,

sometimes his solo voice and certainly his musicianship

is what makes it work. It's a massive deal to lose your music director

at this stage of a contest. Did you not realise that this

would be a week where it was going to be fairly pivotal?

-I don't think anyone realised it was going to be...

-Really?

-..so full-on

-this week.

-The band at home. Are they guys you've known a long time?

-Yeah. Since before I came to uni.

-So, you don't want to let them down.

-Yeah.

-But you have also got a, kind of, family here.

-It's just the fear. It's the fear of letting people down.

-Yeah.

You know, and that's the thing with Choral Stimulation.

-If you mess it up, you are letting nine people down.

-Yeah.

-And they're your friends.

-Yeah.

With Tony's departure looming, the group must choose a song

'as quickly as possible.'

Can we move these chairs over there? What do you want to do?

What goes well on the internet?

I really want to do Reach For The Stars, but it's so sad.

-No!

-We're not doing S Club 7!

-Why not?

-In a minor key, though.

THEY SING

-Jess Glynne?

-I haven't heard that song in ages.

-Pardon?

-Jess Glynne.

-Jess Glynne.

-She's the one.

70 million hits on Spotify.

# Standing in a crowded room and I can't see your face... #

That makes me happy, that song.

It will, kind of, arrange itself, this one. Obviously, you will want

to put some Choral Stimulation touches in it, but I don't think you

need to throw the book at this. OK, well, good luck.

I am looking forward to seeing it. Don't forget that you are

one performance away from the finals, so give it your all.

I think this is a good song choice. I think it is a really...

It's contemporary, it's an energetic song, it's well written.

And they liked it. There was a bubblyness about them.

I think it is going to be really fresh.

-We're on to a winner.

-Yeah.

-(Fingers crossed.)

MUSIC: In The Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg

Southampton students, Restless Symphony,

have been quick off the mark choosing their song and are already

-in rehearsals...

-OK, three, four...

..led by musical director, Esther.

'I am the Mummy of the group.'

I look after them. I, kind of, do the, sort of,

the backbone of arrangements

and I will, sort of, draw the line on the yes or the no.

I'm the yes or no-er!

As pop performance students, they have made a surprising -

and brave - decision, in Grieg's orchestral piece,

In The Hall of the Mountain King.

THEY SING

We just really wanted to try and do something that pushed us

out of our comfort zone. We have a policy of trying everything.

We really want to try and put in some beatboxing

and fresh sounds and just make it sound really original.

Thank you.

THEY SING

Wow! Hello!

-ALL:

-Hello!

That's quite eerie.

There is good news and bad news, for me. The good news

is that the arrangement feels really interesting all the way through.

There is loads of variety. The only thing that is missing, for me -

and it is a major thing - is dynamics. There are no dynamics.

There is, literally, loud or not singing.

I saw Esther go "quiet" and you went that much quieter.

What you are trying to do is something really quiet...

and spooky? And creative.

And it's not. It's just like # NAHHHH!! # the whole time.

HE SINGS GENTLY

Not...

HE SINGS LOUDLY

It is really shocking to see you go back into that,

"Yeah, I can just do that!" No, you mustn't. It's all about control.

Get the harmonics and match, so that you are all in the same place.

We're going to do...

HE HUMS SCALE

Two, three and...

THEY HUM

Can you hear how...

Just look at each other's mouths. You are all going at different times.

Literally, just... I only want to hear all of you.

I don't want to go, "Oh, it's Anita's solo."

Not in a moment like this. Really attentive to it.

It's the semifinals.

This was a great, brave decision to do Grieg, but...

I don't know if they have got... I don't know if they are up to it.

Anyone can go like...

SHE HUMS THE GRIEG TUNE

It's how we turn that into something that is actually really impressive.

It could sound just like we're, kind of, singing along to the piece.

THEY HARMONISE

'They are not thinking about the overall sound.

'They are only thinking about what part they do.'

It's only marginal, but it's obvious in my ear and it will be obvious

in the jury's ear.

Songs chosen, my semifinalists now have just four days to perfect

their arrangements, master choreography and bring their concepts

to life on camera, before their videos are screened

in front of the jury. Chairing this week,

Joel Fishel, a member of Oxford's group, Out of the Blue,

whose Shakira tribute went viral.

'It's really important that you find'

a nice balance between great vocal performance and great music,

but also something a little bit cheeky, a little bit funny.

Also among these a cappella experts, renowned performance coach,

-Andrew Panton.

-I think one of the most important things that I am

looking for is originality. There is no point in a group that is

just a carbon copy of something you have seen before.

Again, that comes down to the personalities of the group

and that strength of communication. Do they really know who they are

and what they want to say to the world?

HE SINGS HANSON'S Mmmbop

HE JOINS IN

HE ALSO JOINS IN

With their vocals shaping up nicely,

The Sons of Pitches are homing in on choreography.

Hi, folks!

-ALL:

-Hiya!

To help, I'm recalling my a Cappella school mentors,

Voice Festival patron, Dominic Peckham,

and music theatre director, Katherine Gant.

So, why not start in the line we are currently in?

-What a line.

-As lines go, it's up there with my favourite!

She is going to help the group match moves to their changing genres.

THEY SING

OK, great.

It's all quite laid back. You need to really use your knees

and get down a bit. Yeah. It just feels like you should be like,

just sat down, chilled out, with a cocktail!

Yeah. That'll work.

But then, I think, you guys need to be feeling like you're

just, kind of, on for a stroll. Maybe, a...hat and a cocktail.

Sorted!

'It's really interesting to see them now, post-a cappella school'

and seeing that they seem to be really invested, not only in

the vocals, but also in their storytelling.

And same with choreo and movement and things. They are just...

I think they are in a much better place then they were

a couple of weeks ago, without a doubt.

THEY HARMONISE

LAUGHTER

Oh, my God!

I think, just watching that now, I genuinely think this is funnier,

-if you're not doing anything.

-No pressure, but every part of this

has to be so slick and so well done, so that it's the wow factor

of a viral video.

Just don't throw the kitchen sink at it. It is more clever than that.

Like The Sons of Pitches, all my groups should now be working

on choreography, but back in London, The Stratford E Singers have

called me in over doubts about their musical direction.

THEY SING

Hi! Hello, Stratford! How are you?

Basically, we have got a Plan B that we think is now our Plan A.

-Right. Oh, changing it up.

-Yeah.

-OK. All right.

Last time I saw you, there was a sense of joy and jubilation

and you were going to do Emile Sande's...

# We are full of wonder. #

The first issue was that it wasn't a worldwide hit,

-like Shakira or...

-Sure. It's not Shakira.

So we thought, "OK, there's that."

So, we thought about what else could we do and we just thought

the alternative was to go with a song that's really, kind of,

-out there. We thought we'd change the song.

-OK.

-What have you got?

-Shall we sing it or tell him?

-Go on, sing it.

# As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

# I take a look at my life and realise there's nothing left

# Cos I've been blasting and laughing so long

# That even my mama thinks that my mind is gone

# But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it

# Me be treated like a punk You know that's unheard of

# You better watch how you're talking and where you walking

# Or you and your homies may be lined in chalk.

# Living in a paradise

# Living in a paradise

# Living in a paradise

# Living in the gangsta's paradise

# Oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh

# Oh, oh-yay. #

Gangsta's Paradise.

HE STIFLES GUFFAW

LAUGHTER

I mean, I'm sorry, Suzanne, it's not you, personally.

It's you as a rapper that I am struggling with.

Shall we get some fresh air. I just need to think about it.

Oh, gosh!

Oh, gosh!

I don't know what to say.

I am really stuck for words.

It's just... It's not what I was expecting.

I am a bit disappointed. I was expecting something really fun

and...life-affirming.

It's such a miserable song, Gangsta's Paradise.

It's all about...

"As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death."

That's really uplifting.

Right. Look at you all. You like you are in detention!

You've been very, very naughty! I feel like this song is not

enabling you. I didn't feel it from you.

Eugh! Can I hear the Emile Sande? Have you anything you can sing to me?

Yeah.

SHE BEATBOXES

# I am full of light

# I am full of wonder

# Full of wonder

# I am full of wonder. #

Were you just yanking my chain or something?

I think that is so much better.

It feels like you.

That song, although I don't know it particularly, is very immediate.

And the Gangsta's Paradise, you risk alienating people, I think.

It is quite downbeat, it has quite dark lyrics.

I'm really glad you had another one up your sleeve.

LAUGHTER

Byron, you are the leader. What do you want to do?

I think... Yeah, I think we should go with Wonder.

I appreciate your feedback.

-You have always been spot-on, so...

-Sorry, Suzanne! You're fired!

It's OK!

LAUGHTER

Right, you now need to go and seriously, seriously polish it.

I think you have lost a couple of hours here, at the very least,

if not a couple of days. So, go away, practise it.

We are that far from the final.

You are one performance away from the final.

'I think they have had a crisis of confidence.

'I think they just felt that they were going to do wasn't enough,'

wasn't glitzy enough, clever enough. But what they do is beautiful

and worthwhile and lovely. And totally about this place

and simple!

It's clear. People will understand when they watch that video that

it is a lovely group of people singing together for the benefit

of the community. What's not to love about that?

In Glasgow, Choral Stimulation are sticking with their choice

of Jess Glynne's Hold My Hand.

I guess, as Tony's not here, we now have this new role

of the video, which we have never done before.

But a concept is proving elusive.

So, we should come up with lots of concepts, I reckon, and then

whichever fits the music best, we'll run with that.

If it was a nice day, we could go on one of them tour of Glasgow buses.

One Direction have done that.

I think we shouldn't do it. Why not play hide and seek around the uni?

The hand-holding idea is very literal, but that is, kind of,

-what we do with lyrics.

-We can make it funny.

We can make it funny and touching, which I think would be nice.

The group have come up with a hidden camera concept

that involves approaching strangers and clasping their hand.

Hannah, I think you should try one of the handholding things now.

-See if it works.

-OK.

SHE LAUGHS

That was weird.

LAUGHTER

That's the exact reaction we don't want.

Yet again, we've now got to change our idea,

and there's still only five of us.

This is really hard.

What about the paint thing?

Plain blank room, completely blank room,

the soloists in the middle.

We just start, like, splattering the wall with paint.

That would be quite a nice idea.

It's just annoying, because there's not enough of us here

to come up with something that everyone will be happy with,

and I mean, changing the song now would be nuts.

We haven't sang the song all together yet.

It's kind of two steps forward, one step back, every time.

It's like, really, really slow.

It's just two days now until the video shoot,

and Choral Stimulation aren't the only group

on shaky ground with their concept.

We're starting with Red Riding Hood, putting a modern twist on it,

and that's where we're at.

What's the modern twist?

We are the wolves, and we have this girl, Red Riding Hood,

who we are trying to convert into our sort of cult-type thing.

-It's a wolf cult?

-Yeah.

We've got our capes and everything, and then...

Your capes and everything?

-And everything!

-LAUGHTER

What...you've got... Well, hang on. Firstly, what capes,

and secondly, what is "everything"?

THEY SING

Erm...

I suppose it's hard to imagine it in here, because this is a very...

This is just a very dull space, it's a dance studio.

And where are you planning on recording it?

-In the vaults.

-In a vault?

Yes. I just... I don't get...

Little Red Riding Hood from it.

I just think conceptually, it's a bit of a mess.

It's like you can see a version of it that's terribly clear to you.

I don't think people are going to get it.

It's not a feature film.

It's a two-minute viral.

You got to have one thing where everyone goes, "Oh, that's good."

You never know. They have done it before. They've turned it round.

If they simplify their video, if they get their harmonies in tune,

it could be great. It could be really good fun. But it just...

I just never know with them.

We just need to make sure this is as good as it can be.

It's a brave choice, and we don't want it to flop.

And you know, it can go either way at the moment.

Back in Glasgow, with just 48 hours until the cameras roll,

Choral Stimulation's musical director Tony

has finally returned to the fold.

Just, everyone's a bit stressed out.

We've got about 100 ideas, and they're all pretty crap.

Technically, the whole group hasn't sang the song yet once.

Not one single time.

Which we are waiting to do in the next few minutes.

With the group finally all together,

I've sent in help in the shape of mentors Dominic and Catherine.

-Hello.

-Hi, guys.

-Hi.

-Hi.

Excited? How you feeling? Yeah.

Happy, now that you're here.

-Has it been a difficult couple of weeks?

-It's been a tough week.

-Tough week.

-A really tough week.

Where are we at with the arrangement now? Are you completed?

We've just tied it all together, I think.

OK. And have you sung it all the way through?

-No.

-Not at the moment.

-Not as a nine, not as a nine.

-This will be a debut performance, then.

-Yeah. Do you want to

give it a go, so we can have a listen to what you've got?

-Why not?

-SHE LAUGHS

# Standing in a crowded room and I can't see your face

# Da-da dum-dum dum dum

# Da-da dum-dum dum dum

# Ah-ahhh

# Put your arms around me, tell me everything's OK

# Da-da dum-dum dum dum

# Da-da dum dum-dum-dum da-da

# In my mind, I'm running round a cold and empty space

# Oooh

# Tell me would you hold my hand? #

-OK.

-Can I just ask you this point, do we have a concept for this?

-Yeah.

-Mmm.

-Er...

Oh, OK, so we've got a "yes", and we've got a "hmmm".

-We still keep talking about it, so it's not...

-It's clearly not there.

He was still hanging around till 2am in my flat last night like,

-"I'm not happy."

-OK.

We've now pinned it back to a plain either white or black room,

us, and paint.

With the final, emotional climax being what?

-OK.

-It feels like this group is slightly fractured today.

-Yes.

Yeah.

Which it didn't at a cappella school at all,

and it's purely because you've been apart from each other.

You haven't been together as a group,

and I think that's making the whole thing

-a little bit negative towards your own ideas.

-Yeah.

I think we need to just get rid of all that.

Yes, the arrangement's just about done,

but we are in the semifinal of a UK competition.

They should be a little bit more sorted than this.

One, two, three, four...

THEY SING

"Oh." Stay there.

# The rising tide will rise against them all... #

Once more, please, from the same place.

Trust me on that "oh", OK?

# The rising tide will rise against them all... #

What is missing is that magic which they got at a cappella school,

when it was very intense, and they had to be with each other.

We're starting finally to all kind of be on

roughly the same page. Roughly.

Choral Stimulation like to leave it late, so it's our speciality.

We seem to peak at the right moment,

so there's no need to change that now!

As Catherine and Dominic continue their 11th-hour efforts in Glasgow,

my other two groups who have fallen behind are also playing catch-up.

Five, and six. Good.

Now, when you turn, make sure you show your face on camera first.

And then you're in a straight line to the back, so that's one.

Mentor and West End choreographer Jason Pennycooke is simplifying

Restless Symphony's left-field interpretation of Red Riding Hood.

We're back here with our hoods down...

That session with Jason just went really well.

His energy was, like, it just really picked us up,

and he gave us some really good ideas.

Working through it was kind of one of those things where the idea

-evolved along with his choreography.

-Yeah, yeah.

# Whoa-oh-oh

# We ain't going under...

Space out so we can see you back there.

He's also helping 15-strong community choir

Stratford East Singers perfect a routine

that will see them move as one slick unit.

# Whoa... #

See how easy that is to do?

So, your next section, you're going to "Whoa-oh!"

You'll have another piece of movement, yeah?

That goes somewhere else.

ALL SING LOW NOTE RISING TO HIGH NOTE

We had so many different ideas about the video,

but we weren't sure how to kind of pull it into one stream,

and I think Jason kind of done that within the space of an hour,

so really, really, really happy with the idea,

and I think it's going to go well.

The time for rehearsing is over.

Each group now has one day to produce their two-minute video.

I've given them access to a professional camera crew,

but the concept, arrangements and performances are all their own.

They've got all the tools now.

They've got to reach through the lens to grab the audience.

And I think Stratford East could be quite good at this,

because they've shown themselves to be very good at being creative

and putting on a show, and getting all those 15 people

is actually quite an asset for once in this contest.

Could look really great in a video.

OK?

I've tried to rein in the Sons of Pitches' instinct

to be funny all the time,

because I think it was important that they stretch themselves.

Maybe this is time for them to return to their core area.

They are funny, they're good at entertainment,

and I think that's probably what they need to do.

Restless Symphony went all out with their staging in the last round,

but the actual arrangement really wasn't that exciting,

so they've got some work to do on both fronts.

I don't know what Choral Stimulation will do.

They've moved us all to tears,

and then they've shown us that they can be sort of cool and sexy.

I don't know what they're going to do with this. It'll be interesting.

Cut. Well done, mate.

-APPLAUSE

-High-five!

That's a wrap!

CHEERING

Shoots wrapped, the videos are now ready to be screened.

The groups are arriving in London,

where they, as well as an invited audience of friends, family,

and members of the public will enjoy their efforts on screen

for the first time.

We've still got the nervous energy, but normally,

you put that into performing, whereas tonight,

it'll just be...you know, I don't know what to do with it.

My fear is, it's going to go down like an absolute lead balloon,

and everyone's going to think it's really weird.

-All the best. Good luck.

-Cheers.

-Good luck.

-Fingers crossed.

The real challenge of this is choosing the right song.

I think they thought that that was going to be a blessing,

but I think it's been a curse for some of them.

And tonight will tell.

The only opinions that really count tonight are those of the jury.

I'm really excited to see these videos today.

I'm really hoping to feel a wide range of emotions,

perhaps a laugh, maybe shed a tear, but at the end of the day,

I want to see something different.

Today, the jury will appraise not only vocals and choreography,

but how my groups embraced the creative control I've given them

to devise something original, potentially viral.

This is such a tricky test.

We need to see a strong song choice, an interesting arrangement,

great a cappella singing, and an engaging video.

If just one of these elements is off, they could be in trouble.

With the jury in place, the screening can now begin.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to this glittering mini-premiere

at the heart of London's exclusive Mayfair.

Popcorn at the ready, as I introduce you to the first of our contenders.

It's the Sons Of Pitches!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Baby

# Mmmbop

# Da-ba doo-wop

# Ba-du bi-da-ba doo-wop

# Bi-da-ba-doo

# Yeah, yeah

# Mmmbop

# Bi-da-ba doo-wop

# Ba-doo bi-da-ba doo-wop

# Bi-ba-da ba-doo...

-SLOWER, IN REGGAE STYLE:

-# You've so many relationship in this life

# Only one or two will last

# You go through all the pain and strife

Hear me now!

# You turn your back and it gone so fast

# So fast So fast

And it's gone so fast

-FASTER, IN PUNK STYLE:

-# So hold on the ones you really care

# Cos in the end, they'll be the only one who's there... #

I thought this was hilarious.

# ..Losing our hair

# Tell me who will still care? #

This absolutely screams viral to me.

-DRUM'N'BASS-STYLE BACKING

-# Mmmbop

# Doo-wop

-# Mmmbop

-AUDIENCE LAUGHTER

# Do-do-do-do

# Ding ding ding... #

THEY SING INSTRUMENTAL IN COUNTRY STYLE

They did something which I think is very important in viral videos,

which is that they gave us five-second attention spans.

Yee-haw!

IMITATES TURNTABLE SCRATCHING

I like things to be fast, like, "Oh, that's something there,

"Oh, that's something there."

This is... This is how it's put together.

And I really liked it.

-IMITATING OLD SCHOOL RAP:

-# ..Which one grows

# It's a secret that no-one knows

-METAL GROWL:

-# It's a secret no-one knows!

THEY SING IN FUNK STYLE

SCAT SINGING

Get up!

SLOW CHORAL STYLE

# Do-bi-da-wa doo-wop

# Bi-ba-da-ba-dooo

# Ba do-be-da-ba

-IMITATING TURNTABLE SLOWING:

-# Dooo. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

That was well done. That was well done.

Hats off. I can't believe they did that in a week.

That is ridiculous.

In a two-minute frame, to get all of those genres in, I think

it shows very clever musicality.

After a while, I realised, something's missing in this video,

and what I thought could have really mixed it up really well was,

different locations, maybe. They just had the one white background.

Even though they were great.

They knew how to pitch tonally the humour,

how to work with the camera, I thought,

in quite a sophisticated way.

Only negative thing I could say was, I wanted to hear more genres,

because they could do it.

Next up, Glasgow University's Choral Stimulation.

THEY SING INTRODUCTION

THEY SLOW DOWN

# Standing in a crowded room and I can't see your face

# Da-da dum dum dum dum

Da-da dum dum dum dum

# Ta-da

# Put your arms around me, tell me everything's OK

# Da-da dum dum dum dum

# Da-da

# Dum dum dum dum da-da

# In my mind, I'm running round a cold and empty space

# Dum dum dum dum da-da

# Dum dum dum dum... #

They didn't draw me in in the first five seconds.

They didn't draw me in in the first ten seconds.

They drew me in 15, 20 seconds along the route.

# You won't see me fall Oh-oh-oh

# The rising tide will rise against them all

# Oh-oh-oh

# Darling hold my hand Won't you hold my hand?

# Yeah, Yeah... #

I really liked this. I thought it was daft. I thought it was a bit stupid.

Throwing paint over people, that's funny.

# So, Darling won't you hold my hand?

# Don't want to know that feeling when I'm all alone... #

I wouldn't share it.

I wouldn't watch it again.

They have nothing behind the eyes

'and I thought, they don't believe the concept they've come up with.'

# Darling hold my hand

# I'm ready for this There's no denying

# I'm ready for this You stop me

# I don't want to walk on my own any more, won't you understand?

# Won't walk alone

# Darling won't you hold my hand? #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

I think that they were well below their potential for this

and I was very disappointed.

I thought they were having great fun.

We were watching people that you got a sense of group identity together.

I loved it. It made me smile. It made me smile.

I didn't get that at all. I didn't get any sense of group identity.

I got a sense of people who were panicked by the remit.

They just come up with, "Well, let's splash some paint."

-And I didn't think that was enough.

-Splashing paint is funny.

It made me laugh. And it was a good upbeat song.

I don't what you were looking for deeper than that.

It was a really good fun vocal. It was a nice concept.

I can tell you what I'm looking for if you're interested.

I'm looking for something that's going to hold my attention.

Splashing paint does not do that.

With two groups down, it's the turn of Restless Symphony.

-WHISPERED:

-You ask us who we are... In the hall of the Mountain King...

WHISPERS OVERLAP

Restless Symphony.

SHE VOCALISES MELODY

BACKING VOCALS HISS

CHORAL BACKING VOCALS

When I first saw the video I was like, "This is going to be amazing."

It captivated me instantly but then it didn't go anywhere.

SHE VOCALISES COUNTER-MELODY

BACKING VOCALS CARRY MELODY

I thought it was ambitious to take an orchestral arrangement

and bring it to vocal works, which is a really interesting idea.

However I don't think their

arrangement entirely articulated all the intricacies.

# In the hall of the Mountain King Mountain King, Mountain King

# In the hall of the Mountain King Mountain King, Mountain King

THEY VOCALISE

-WHISPERED:

-# In the Hall of the Mountain King

# Mountain King, Mountain King

# In the hall of the Mountain King Mountain King

# Do-do-do-do Ooh-ooh. #

SHE SCREAMS

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

It built really well but there were a

few moments that vocally weren't quite tight enough.

Thrilling, thrilling, thrilling. I was on the edge of my seat.

I was holding my breath. I had goose pimples up and down my body.

I hated this. Absolutely hated it.

There were some really deep-seated flaws with that performance

both in its structure and in its execution.

That's not something that gets past your everyday Joe on the street.

It's not something that they don't see or don't recognise.

-An everyday Joe wouldn't notice.

-You can tell it's out of tune.

You can tell it's out of time,

that it doesn't fit with the standard...

-No.

-Everybody knows that.

If I was to share that it would open up possibly the classical

world to those who may not have ever ventured into the classical world.

I was so disappointed. It sounded raw. It sounded amateur.

It was finished in unison which gives it a feeling of just being

someone singing in the shower.

This was about making something that got your

attention very quickly whether it was for the right or wrong reasons.

-And they fulfilled that remit in a really weird way.

-Yes.

I have seen wackier and weirder things enter the viral market.

Sometimes you do have to get a little wacky

and a little weird to be wonderful.

APPLAUSE

Ladies and gents, our red carpet extravaganza is almost finished.

And now to bring matters to a close the Stratford East Singers.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Do-do-do-do-do

# Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na Na-na-na-na-na

# I can beat the night

# I'm not afraid of thunder

# I am full of light I am full of wonder

# Let me hear you sing

# La-la-la-la-la-la-la Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

# I ain't falling under

# La-la-la-la-la-la-la Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

# I am full of wonder... #

I thought this was a beautifully layered arrangement.

I thought it was solid delivery. It was confident.

Again they have risen to the challenge.

They captured that community essence,

that community spirit. It's spot on.

# No way we gon' break

# Cos we are full of wonder

# Whoa-oh

# Whoa-oh

# We ain't falling under

# Whoa-oh

# Whoa-oh... #

I really like the way that they were so clear

about who they were from the get-go.

# This light, light, light light, light

# This light is contagious

# Go, go tell your neighbours

# Just reach out and pass it on

# Ooh, yeah

# This light is contagious

-# Go, go tell your neighbours

-Wonder

-# Just reach out and pass it on

-Wonder, wonder, wonder... #

It was quite plain in its arrangement,

and I would've liked a little bit more spice in the harmony.

# Ooh

# Everybody sing

# Whoa-oh

# Whoa-oh

# We ain't falling under

# Whoa-oh

# Whoa-oh

-# We are full of wonder

-Wonder

-# Whoa-oh

-Wonder

-# Whoa-oh

-Wonder

-# We ain't falling under

-Wonder

# Wonder

-# Whoa-oh

-Wonder

-# Whoa-oh

-Wonder

-# We are full of wonder

-Wonder.

-#

AUDIENCE CHEERS

It's got heart. Yeah, brilliant! Really happy.

I felt this was just a very joyful video.

The energy - all the ways that everyone in the group

was interacting, the way they arranged it,

it just felt like a really joyful performance.

It was really fun.

One thing I would've liked to hear more from was Abbi,

because she has such amazing vocal technique,

and she was holding back so much.

I guess it was so she could allow everyone else in,

it was such a unified piece, so, it was amazing, still.

It felt a bit like an advert...

which is funny, because they're trying to show community

and inclusivity and heart and soul,

and yet they did something that looked very commercially polished.

Did I feel that the video was witty, inventive or creative?

No, not particularly.

I thought it was a lot of fun

and the community aspect really came over -

but I don't know if it's a video that I would share.

I would share that, because it made me feel good,

and I would send it to somebody who needed to feel good.

That's why I liked it.

I thought it was witty and snappy and fun,

and engaging, and I just loved what they did.

It's been a wonderful night - I've been grinning from start to finish.

I haven't stopped smiling through everybody's video.

I think it's impossible not to be nervous,

having seen the calibre of those videos.

I think the jury will have a tough deliberation tonight.

It started there,

and then just kept going down and down and down and down.

I felt that they'd taken a step back.

They muddied and they smudged, and it really exposed

the lack of classical singing training that these people have had.

It wasn't a gamble for me - I absolutely loved it.

OK, very interesting points, but I think it's time to vote now.

It comes down to taste,

it comes down to who's sort of got the edge in their ideas,

who's chosen the right song, and that's very subjective.

Ladies and gentlemen of the audience,

the jury have returned, and I have the result -

I am ready to reveal who will be going through to the grand final.

For the benefit of the groups,

I want to point out that these results are in no particular order.

The first group to have secured a place in the final is..

..The Sons Of Pitches. AUDIENCE CHEERS

Very well done.

Whoo!

Yeah! Oh!

The next group who'll survive to sing another day is...

..The Stratford East Singers. AUDIENCE CHEERS

Whoo!

# Da-da, da, da, oi! #

We have made the final!

ALL CHEER

Two groups remain, now -

Choral Stimulation and Restless Symphony,

but there's only one place left in the grand final.

Choral Stimulation,

your concept divided the jury,

with some finding it fun and others unsure.

Restless Symphony,

while they recognised the ambition in your song choice,

there were moments when they didn't think that you pulled it off

in terms of tuning and harmony.

The group that they felt had earnt their place in the final is...

Choral Stimulation. AUDIENCE CHEERS

Congratulations, Choral Stimulation.

ALL CHEER

So, Restless Symphony, that means it's the end of the road for you -

and what a road it has been.

You worked so very, very hard,

I will be very sorry to say goodbye to you.

Let's hear a huge round of applause for these guys.

AUDIENCE CHEERS

We're in the final!

Oh, man.

I don't even know what to say. We're in the final, that's insane!

-That's well nice, man.

-That's so nice.

To be in the finals, I mean, we're so near to the winning goalpost,

it's like we've almost won.

Because it was such a level playing field,

especially between us and Restless,

I think tonight it was so hard to call.

So, I'm so glad the jury obviously saw something in us

that we can bring to the final - which we absolutely can.

-Well done, you. Thanks.

-Thanks for the opportunity.

-Nearly!

Nearly, nearly. Not quite there.

Thank you all for the effort you've put in.

-We've had our moments, haven't we?

-Yes! Yes, we have.

But you've always come back from them,

-you've always taken the criticism on the chin and worked hard.

-Yep.

I think, you know, just a couple of points - tuning.

It's just practice.

-Time and hard work.

-Yeah.

You know, it's not the end of the world, and it's not like a sad end -

-it's not even an end.

-It's not an end, it's a beginning!

-It's a brand-new beginning for Restless Symphony.

-Yes.

It's genuinely been life-changing, you know?

I thought it'd be life-changing for the guys,

I didn't realise it'd be life-changing for me, as well.

I feel like I just have discovered this group of sensational people.

I'm sad to see Restless Symphony go,

because they have made such incredible progress

through this whole thing, but I think it was their time -

it wasn't good enough.

ALL CHEER

I think that the best groups in the contest are in the final.

I think it's a really good line-up.

I think it's very, very difficult to tell between them - you know,

they've all got weaknesses, they've all got strengths.

They're all going to have to be on their mettle.

They're going to have to produce performances that entertain

on a much bigger level.

It's going to be great.

Next time...

AUDIENCE CHEERS

Hello, London!

London's prestigious KOKO hosts my grand final...

..where the three remaining groups perform one last time...

..all hoping to be crowned my series champion.

I have a dilemma here about who really should be the winners.

Let's vote.

The winner of The Naked Choir is...