Episode 8 The Big Performance

10 kids, terrified of singing in public...

Hey, don't cry.

What's the matter?

I don't want to do it.

..have just three weeks before they must perform to 40,000 people.

The challenges are getting harder and harder.

I'm still shaking and I don't know why.

Today, they've got to sing in front of the hottest boy band in the country - The Wanted.

Could you do it?

This is The Big Performance.

Top choirmaster, Gareth Malone,

is taking 10 shy singers on a musical tour of the country.

Last time, they all went ga-ga for glam rock.

A West End star left them speechless.

And they brought the house down

in front of their first paying audience.

But they're still a long way off the standard expected at Proms in the Park.

Today, the Big Performance tour bus is back in Birmingham.

It regularly plays host to music stars and it's the home of some too,

including The Streets, Jamelia and original rocker Ozzy Osbourne.

It's also home to the Big Performance singer, Isthaque.

This week, it's a music style they're really familiar with,

so I think they'll instantly enjoy it, which should really help.

It's about time they went for it 100%. That's what I'm looking for.

With three weeks to Proms in the Park, Gareth still hasn't decided

on his soloist and Jordan and Isthaque have yet to audition.

I think the soloist might be me because I grew up in Birmingham.

I think the soloist could be Jordan

because the soloist is always someone you don't expect.

Jordan, Isthaque, you're the last two possible soloists.

I want you to come down to the back of the bus.

Right, boys, it's time to reveal who's the soloist this week.

I'm not going to mess around. No suspense. I'm just going to tell you.

Jordan, you are the soloist.

I knew it!

Next week. It's you, Isthaque.

-I knew it!

-I knew it!

Feeling alright? Excited? Let's go for it.

I'm quite excited about being a soloist because it's quite exciting

to sing one part of the song by yourself.

This studio doesn't look very glam from the outside,

but it's a different story inside.

Take a seat.

This studio is yours, exclusively, for the day.

Jay-Z, Jamelia, Lady Gaga, have all worked right here.

Jay-Z stood about here and so did Lady Gaga.

And being in a place like this is a really big part

of the kind of music that you're going to be doing.

Today is pop music.

Are you excited? ALL: Yes! I am very excited.

Pop music, pop stars, pop culture.

It's all about being popular, catchy riffs and fancy dance moves.

Whatever it takes to become number one.

What makes pop music really difficult is that everyone feels like they know it,

so they've listened to it 100 times on the radio.

But that's very different to performing it.

Pop songs work so hard to get that easy feel.

It's very, very hard work, and they're going to discover that.

Has anyone heard of a group called The Black Eyed Peas?

ALL: Yes.

Does anyone know a song called "I gotta feeling"? ALL: Yes.

How does it go?

# I gotta feeling

# Woo-hoo

# That tonight's gonna be a good night. #

Right, this is going to be an easy one to learn.

# I gotta feeling. #

The Black Eyed Peas come from Los Angeles in America.

This song made number one both in the USA and the UK

and it's the most downloaded track of all time.

# That tonight's gonna be a good, good night

# Tonight's the night. #

Singing pop music is great

because it's one of the only types of music that all of us know.

It's my solo this week and I think the song is a good song.

I've heard it loads of times before. I like the song.

Isthaque, we're going to take the plunge.

Because this a song you all know, Isthaque, you're going to sing the solo straight away.

And...

# I gotta feeling. #

One, two, three, four.

# That tonight's gonna be... #

This is Isthaque's chance to impress Gareth, so he's got to stay in tune and sing up.

# That tonight's gonna be a good, good night. #

# A feeling

# Woo-hoo That tonight's gonna be... #

Looking for a soloist for the Proms in the Park means watching these guys all the time.

Not just in their performance, but in rehearsal too, in their breaks.

I'm looking at their attitude and I'm looking to see whether they're fearless.

I'm watching them like a hawk.

# I gotta feeling. #

Isthaque will be singing the solo

but they're all under the spotlight today.

So far, Gareth has given a high chance of being the soloist

to Oli, Emily, Howard and Miriyah.

Will Isthaque be next to make the grade?

At the end of today, you are going to be performing this song

in one of the UK's biggest shopping malls.

And there's a twist

because the audience this time is just five people.

But these five people are in one of the UK's biggest boy bands.

They're going to expect a pop star performance and nothing else will do.

It's the band The Wanted.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Very, very exciting.

# Praying won't do it Hating won't do it. #

The Wanted are the hottest boy band in the charts.

They reached number one with their debut single, "All Time Low",

and now, Max, Nathan, Jay, Tom and Siva,

are taking time out of their busy pop star schedule to come and see Gareth's group perform.

Talk about raising the stakes!

I think Max is like...

You know, really... Yeah. Hot!

I think boy band The Wanted are hot

and I think that Max is probably the hottest.

I'm probably going to go, ooooh!

The girls have The Wanted fever, but the boys don't seem to have caught it yet.

Girls like people who can sing or have a nice face.

Or even if they can't sing and they just have a nice face, girls just like them.

Isthaque lives in Birmingham with his mum, dad and big sister.

He loves to sing along to his MP3 player but his sister has something to say about that!

Confidence and enthusiasm aren't Isthaque's problem.

That's the best thing that's ever happened!

It's the actual singing which he finds incredibly difficult.

# How I wonder what you are. #

I can't really sing properly. I can't go high and low. It's like I'm talking.

Of all the people I've met, he seems to feel like he's absolutely all at sea with singing.

But actually, he's not as bad as he thinks he is.

There is a voice there. It just feels like he's never used it.

Can Gareth transfer Isthaque's confidence into his singing?

Isthaque, come in.

And get him hitting all the notes for the very first time?

Let's have a go at your solo.

So you've got this introduction that goes...

(OUT OF TUNE) # I gotta feeling. #

That's it. Sing that for me.

# I gotta feeling. #

# I gotta feeling. #

# I gotta feeling. #

# Feeling. #

# Feeling. #

I don't know if you've noticed,

but I've moved this song to suit your voice exactly.

I know that these five notes, you're quite comfortable with,

so there should be no problem at all.

I think we should just go over and over and over it until you're absolutely confident.

-# I gotta feeling

-# I gotta feeling.

# That tonight's gonna be

# That tonight's gonna be

-# A good night

-# A good night

# That tonight's gonna be a good night. #

It's that one, isn't it? # Good. #

-Sing that for me.

-# Good. #

A little higher. # Good. #

# Good. #

A bit higher. # Good. #

# Good. #

Listen.

-# Good. #

-# Good. #

I've got something for you to help you with your solo.

I've got this keyboard.

If you get stuck with a note in a song, if you ever have to learn a song,

a really good way to help you improve is just to find out what the name of that note is

so you can come to a keyboard and keep going...

# Good. #

# Good. #

Just practise it. If you do that every single day,

eventually your brain and your muscles in here will get used to singing that note.

It's how I do it. I just practise and practise.

# I gotta feeling. #

Smile.

# That tonight's gonna be a good, good night. #

This is the first time Isthaque has ever really had to use his voice.

He'll need to give his singing muscles a good work out

if he's to get them tuned for a pop star performance later.

I think Isthaque knows when he's wrong,

but he doesn't always know how to put it right.

It's because he's simply not listening.

He's not used to listening.

He doesn't do a lot of singing. That's the problem.

There's nothing wrong with him. It's just that he's inexperienced.

This is really common.

A lot of people say, "I can't sing."

But what they really mean is, "I don't sing."

Isthaque has all the tools he needs.

It's now up to him to keep practising.

He's found a helpful singing coach in Katie.

One, two, three, four.

# I gotta feeling

# That tonight's gonna be a good night. #

I'm really determined to practise because I want to get better.

I want to do the best performance I've ever done.

# That tonight's gonna be a good night

# That tonight's gonna be... #

I think Isthaque's getting on well. His voice is really improving.

You can see a big improvement in the fact

that he's putting his confidence and how good his voice is together.

While Isthaque needs to keep working on his tuning, Emily has a very different problem.

-What happened to you?

-I've injured my ankle.

I can see that. Being a pop star is all about having the right moves.

I don't think you're going to be able to do that on those crutches.

I'll have to find a special job for her.

The next thing they're going to do is dancing but you can't do that on crutches.

A massive part of being a pop star is having the right moves,

so limber up everyone.

Your choreography is about to begin.

MUSIC: "Barbie Girl" by Aqua

No, it's not me. It's alright, don't worry. Cue the music!

MUSIC

APPLAUSE

Hi guys, I'm Sisco Gomez.

I've worked with artists such as Janet Jackson, Madonna, Alexandra Burke and Fergie.

So I know all the secrets and ingredients to what makes a good pop star

and that's why I'm here today.

To teach you choreography to make you all into pop stars.

Sisco is one of the hottest choreographers around.

He's worked with the world's greatest pop stars

and starred as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance.

If anyone can get these guys looking like pop stars, it's him.

I think kids that are shy and reserved,

when it comes to dancing, it'll help because it's an alter-ego.

They get to experiment with personalities and you forget any problems

and just exhale through dance and through music.

Here we go. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven and two...

It's all going well until they actually have to move.

Five, six, seven, eight.

When you do this, make sure you don't look like old men like this!

Two, two, three, four, five, six, seven,

and three, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

Twist, turn. And head.

Choreography is just brilliant. It changes a performance

from your rather drab and uninteresting into a real show.

Five, six, seven, eight.

And one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

Good. That's not that bad, is it? It's quite easy.

I think the moves we're doing are quite easy but we're finding it hard to do.

I think we're going to need a lot of practise

before we can do it perfectly.

One more time. Then we can start the choreography.

This is just the intro.

The intro! They've been at it nearly an hour!

Being a pop star for a day is hard work.

They thought pop music would be the easiest kind of music.

Let me tell you, it isn't. You've got to get the dancing, the rhythm, the tune, everything together.

This is going to be the hardest thing they've done.

One, two, three, four.

-So you go like that...

-Do not panic, guys.

You've just learnt it. If we start saying, "Can't, can't, can't," you won't.

Used to getting the best out of the world's greatest pop stars,

Cisco isn't making any allowances.

This way, not this way. You don't want to be birds. Yeah, focus?

Pop dancing like this is tough to master,

but just like singing, practice makes perfect.

In, left. In, add the bounce.

Are we all on the same page?

-Well done. How did you enjoy the dancing?

-It was fun.

-Yeah, good fun?

Brilliant. Well, every single pop star has a pop video, don't they?

You are going to make your own pop video right now.

It's going to be really good fun.

But there is a little bit of a competition.

The best team, as judged by Sisco,

will be the lead dancers and you part will be featured in the final video.

The other group will hit the cutting room floor.

It's a dance-off,

electro-pop winners, I Have The Power.

# I have the power... #

Versus previous runners up, A Class Rhythm.

Who will reign victorious and star in the music video?

And who will be relegated to the chorus line?

Step...

Click, step. Now you're going to step back on the right.

Things move fast in pop land.

Each group has 20 minutes with Sisco to choreograph a routine.

First up is A Class Rhythm.

They're together and going for it. They're having fun! It's brilliant!

Next up, it's reigning champions I Have The Power.

Step, tap, step, tap.

That wasn't part of the routine!

The show must go on, so Oli keeps at it like a true pro.

I've only worked with them for a short period of time,

but I can see the potential and drive and that's all you need.

The directors are here. Are the group ready for their close-ups?

'Perfect!'

# Tonight's gonna be a good night

# Tonight's gonna be a good night... #

They'll all be in the video but only the best will star.

When I look at the performances, it's confidence, personality and execution.

I want everybody looking down the lens, can you see the circle?

Right down the whole time. This is your time now

where you can add your personality.

First to hit the dance floor is Team One, I Have The Power.

Go. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven eight.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four, fix, six... Go, jump and point!

-Brilliant, guys! Well done.

-Very good, well done.

I think the other group, they've got a good move.

Some of them are out of time with the tune, but we'll beat them.

OK, places, guys.

Fighting talk from Jordan, but will his group, A Class Rhythm, even the score?

-This is different.

-Yeah.

Back. Here we go.

# Let's kick it...yo! #

Yay! Good. Well done, guys.

It's really, really close. I have a preference,

but I'm not going to give it away yet.

Well done. That is a wrap!

That looked absolutely fantastic. Well done.

Now, it is the big moment to reveal who has won.

Sisco does have a winner.

The winners of today's task is... A Class Rhythm.

-Well done!

-Congratulations!

And here it is, the debut Big Performance music video.

# I gotta feeling

# That tonight's gonna be a good night

# That tonight's gonna be a good night

# That tonight's gonna be a good, good night

# Tonight's the night.... #

Check out the moves that won A Class Rhythm the starring role.

# Let's spend it up

# Go out and smash it

# Like oh my God

# Jump off that sofa

# Let's get get off

# I know that we'll have a ball if we get down

# And go out and just lose it all

# I feel stressed out I wanna let it go

# Let's go way out, spaced out... #

Ecstatic when our group was announced the winner

cos that makes it even, it's 1-1.

Last time, the other team won,

so I was happy we got on the same level as them.

The group is starting to look and move more like stars,

but it's not all a life of glamour, as these celebrities know too well.

The hardest thing about being a pop star is making tracks

that I actually like making

and keeping the public happy at the same time.

You're always on show. Every performance you do,

you're always being judged by the audience or the media.

Later, the group will be singing in front of boy band The Wanted.

Will Isthaque be able to hold his nerve and hit the high notes?

To test him, Gareth has a very specific challenge planned.

The audience he's singing in front of in his solo challenge

don't believe Isthaque can sing.

I want him to prove that he can.

Maybe he's not the greatest singer, but he can do it.

So, Isthaque, where are we?

-Erm... I think it's my school.

-It is indeed your school.

And last time you performed at your school,

you got a fit of the giggles and weren't able to carry on.

This time, you're going to be performing to boys from school,

but I want you to carry on, whatever happens, put on a really good show.

-Do you think you can do that?

-Yeah.

If you do this, I'll know you're ready for the performance later.

Shall we give it a go? Come on.

Will Isthaque have the courage to stay on stage no matter what?

I'm nervous about performing at my school

cos last time, I messed up, so... I'm hoping I don't mess up now.

But I'm kind of, like, a bit scared.

He needs to remember all Gareth's taught him about pitch and timing

to get through this challenge OK.

# I got a feeling

# That tonight's gonna be a good night

# That tonight's gonna be a good night

# That tonight's gonna be a good, good night

# A feeling

# Woo-hoo

# That tonight's gonna be a good night

# That tonight's gonna be a good night

# Woo-hoo.#

Well done. Well done.

Really good. Bravely done.

Before you came in here you were worried that people would laugh.

-But you can see, he's got your support, right?

-Yeah.

What do you think?

Just sing the song and enjoy himself.

Couldn't put it better myself. Sing the sing and enjoy yourself.

That's the best advice.

This was the first time that I've been scared on this show.

But I've got through it and I've done the song.

I think I'll be able to do the challenge later.

Isthaque held his nerve in front of the boys at his school.

But his tuning really suffered.

How an earth will he fare when the stakes are much higher?

The group's next performance will be in the middle of the UK's biggest shopping centres,

in front of the hottest new pop band in the country, The Wanted.

# Prayin' won't do it Hating won't do it

Can they keep their cool or will the pressure of impressing celebrities

prove too much to handle?

I'm feeling really, really terrified about this performance

because The Wanted are here and they're the best.

The Wanted are amazing and I love them, so,

it's probably not going to go too well.

Hopefully, it will do, though. Please!

# When you gonna let me When you gonna let me out?

# Out...#

Listen everyone, they are pop stars but just get over it.

Relax, take a deep breath.

You, today, are pop stars.

-Are you ready?

-Yes!

-Have fun, have a really good time.

Just hope the girls can keep it cool.

They seem really excited and they might jump around

and go, "Ah! The Wanted!"

They'll all need to share Chris's focus if they want to impress

their pop star audience.

I'll be looking for someone who goes for it.

I want to see someone who proper owns the stage.

Regardless of how confident you are, I want them to put on a show

and show us what we can do.

At school, if there's people who don't see you as cool

cos you sing, as long as you're enjoying it and you can concentrate on that

then it don't really matter.

I used to get really, really nervous. I didn't believe in myself.

When you start to believe in yourself, the nerves get less

every time you go on stage. Siva was quite nervous.

He does get quite nervous.

Always before I go on stage, all these nerves.

Once you get on, you feel the energy of the crowd

and it goes away.

It's crunch time. Will they perform like stars?

Or just be star struck?

# I got a feelin'

# That tonight's gonna be a good night

# That tonight's gonna be a good night

# That tonight's gonna be a good, good night

# Tonight's the night, Let's live it up

# I got my money Let's spend it up

# Go out and smash it Like, oh, my gosh

# Jump on the sofa Let's get get... off

# I know that we'll have a ball

# If we get down and go out And just lose it all

# I feel stressed And I wanna let it go

# Let's go way out, spaced out Losing all control

# Ch-ch-ch, fill up my cup Mazel tov!

# Look at her dancing Just take it off

# Ooh-hoo.#

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

What did you think? Do you want to let them know.

Erm... Do you know what? I think you were amazing.

I thought it was wicked.

The longer it went on the more confident you got.

You were enjoying it more the longer it went on.

You were jumping around which is what we were looking for. Wicked.

It's really good to see you all enjoying it.

For you who took the mic, absolutely smashing.

It's a really brave thing to do.

It felt really, like... There's no words to describe it.

They're famous and done it loads of times and they know what good is.

I felt really excited and it made my day.

The group are on a high but Gareth's not quite so enthusiastic.

It wasn't as good as Glam Rock week because the singing wasn't as strong

because they put movements in.

To get it ready for Proms in the Park they've got to have the whole package.

Enjoyment, everything. We're not there yet.

After the success of last time, today's performance is a set back.

In three weeks, they'll singing in front of 40,000 people.

There's a lot of room for improvement.

Isthaque's really good on stage, he's great in the group and brave

but he isn't the strongest singer so for that reason

I'm going to give him a low chance of doing the solo in the Big Performance.

Next time, the Big Performance tour bus is in London.

The group are introduced to classical music

by teenage singing sensation, Faryl Smith.

I really, really, really, really, really hate classical.

Some home truths are revealed over afternoon tea.

-I personally believe our behaviour on stage is disgraceful.

-Do you?

Football fan, Jordan, takes to the pitch

for his biggest challenge yet.

I'm scared about that moment when we go out

and there's 15,000 people there.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail [email protected]