Episode 9 The Big Performance

Last year on the Big Performance, ten terrified kids found the courage

to sing to an audience of 40,000 at Proms in the Park.

# We can rule the world... #

-TERRY WOGAN:

-The biggest cheer of the night.

THEY SCREAM

But for this year's kids, the challenge is much bigger

and much scarier - singing live on BBC One

to an audience of 11 million on Children in Need night.

It's the biggest thing I've done. Even I'm scared.

With less than two weeks to go, the pressure intensifies.

Whether you like it or not is irrelevant.

You have to sing this music properly and well. That means practising hard.

-I can't do it.

-You can.

Will facing their past get them over the final hurdle

of broadcasting live on television?

The first performance by the Children In Need choir...

We've worked so hard over the last nine weeks.

But it doesn't matter

if they can't pull it off in front of live audiences.

This is The Big Performance 2.

Choirmaster Gareth Malone has spent the past eight weeks

transforming these nervous singers into confident performers.

The finale at Children In Need is now under two weeks away.

-Time is running out.

-I just don't like singing in front of people.

Last time, stage fright threatened to ruin their performance.

Oops! Oops. Oh, dear.

But the shy singers wowed the crowds at a folk music festival.

This time, only perfection will do.

No excuses. It's got to be right.

Today, the Big Performance tour bus is heading to Wales -

a country steeped in Celtic tradition.

Famed for its rugby and red dragon,

it's also home to final soloist, Tia.

We are in the land of song - a nation of singers.

They have such a proud heritage.

It's going to be great to be part of that.

Wales has produced some of the UK's most successful artists

including Charlotte Church, Marina and the Diamonds,

Duffy and Tom Jones.

I'm excited about it as they've explored many different music styles.

I think they're ready for the ultimate challenge.

As part of their training,

the group have covered a variety of music themes...

Power ballads, rock and roll,

pop, British soul, surf rock, and folk -

as well as having composed their own song.

Tia is the last person to try out for the solo spot.

Has Gareth left the hardest genre for her?

This week, the style of music is like nothing you've done before.

Why do you pick on me? What have I done to you?

THEY LAUGH

It's Welsh choral music. THEY LAUGH

-SHE LAUGHS

-I hate you!

What? It's going to be great!

I'm a really bubbly girl, but when it comes to singing, I'm so shy.

Will focusing on her national identity

help Tia find the nerve to sing Welsh choral music?

Usually sung by men like winners of Last Choir Standing, Only Men Aloud,

this style is strongly associated with the national sport of rugby.

# Fel na bwyf yn llwfwrhau... #

Its rousing nature inspires pride and tradition.

Let's go and give this a really good go. Come on!

Welsh choral music? I don't know what this is!

We should've expected it because we are in Wales and Tia is Welsh.

Please don't make me sing this!

At the moment, they think Welsh choral music

is the least cool thing ever.

To get this right, they need to have a sense of pride in who they are.

For Tia, that means being Welsh

and not being afraid to stand up and sing the music of her land.

The Millennium Centre in Cardiff

is home to the Welsh National Orchestra.

This will be the singers' base as they take on

this difficult music theme.

This is a beautiful song.

The song is called... All Through The Night.

# All through the night... #

All Through The Night is one of the most recognised Welsh choral songs.

It is often sung as a lullaby

and has been covered by numerous artists

including Welsh favourites Katherine Jenkins and Aled Jones.

# ..all through the night. #

-Can we change song?

-No.

Definitely not. This is just another style of music that many people

really are passionate about.

I wasn't expecting them all to like it straight off the bat,

but whether you like it or not is irrelevant.

You have to sing this music properly. That means practising hard.

This song is traditionally sung in Welsh,

so Gareth wants them to sing one line in the Celtic language.

So let's just try saying that in Welsh.

-Ar.

-Ar.

-Hyd.

-Hyd.

-Y.

-Y.

-Nos.

-Nos.

Ar hyd y nos.

# Ar hyd y nos. #

Who was doing that cracking rolled R?

"Ar-rrr hyd y nos." I loved that. That's great.

Let's try it again. "Sleep". Two, three and...

The Welsh choral sound is highly pronounced.

To do it well, the group need to articulate their words.

-Ah.

-Ah.

-As in "ah-pple".

# Ah... #

# Ah... #

Choral singing is all about getting the vowels

to be completely smooth and even.

"Ah" for "apple". "Eh" for "egg".

It's going back to primary school almost to get pure vowels.

That's how you do it.

-# Ahhh.

-Ahhh.

-# Ehhh.

-Ehhh.

-# Ahhhh. #

-Good sound. Sit down again.

It sounds beautiful

when all the voices come together as one. It's like magic.

# Ar hyd y nos... #

But it's a difficult song for soloist Tia to master.

This is the moment. Here we go. Here's the introduction.

PIANO INTRODUCTION

-No? OK.

-It's too high.

-Well, the first phrase isn't.

I know, but I just can't do it.

LINE PLAYED ON PIANO

Tia is having a meltdown about this.

It's just about her overcoming her fear.

This is well within her capability. She just doesn't believe it.

-Tia, it's time.

-I can't do it.

You can. You can!

My biggest worry is the whole song

because I just don't like singing in front of people.

Everyone else has had a similar challenge. Everyone's got through it.

I know you're feeling emotional, but you'll be all right.

For the last eight weeks, nervous Tia has avoided singing alone

during the performance challenges, today there's nowhere to hide.

You are going to need to do a really good job

because there are going to be about 300,000 people watching you.

Oh!

But the good news is that you won't be able to see them

because we're singing this live on television on Points West.

With Children In Need night so close, performing live

on this BBC news show will give an indication of what's ahead.

I'm not sure I'll be able to do the performance on the BBC news.

I'm really, really scared.

When they sing, on the news, that's over 250,000 watching.

They'll expect it to sound like a proper choir.

No excuses, it's got to be right.

No strangers to singing live on television are Only Boys Aloud,

an all-male singing group putting a new spin on Welsh choral music.

Can their enthusiasm inspire the reluctant group?

# Living in a lonely world... #

Only Boys Aloud were really awesome because

they sang one of my favourite songs, as well.

# Street light, people

# Oh, oh, oh, oh... #

Even though they were singing Welsh choral music,

they showed us that boys are good singers, too.

# Street light, people

# Oh, oh, oh... #

Their commitment shines through their performance and has an effect

on Welsh soloist, Tia.

It makes me so proud to be Welsh.

Good, that's great that you're proud to be Welsh.

It's important to be proud. That's the big lesson from this week.

If we can get this Welsh choral thing going.

It's powerful stuff, it really is.

A huge round of applause.

Thank you, guys.

Feeling a little more inspired about this unusual style of music,

the group practise their Welsh pronunciation.

# Ar hyd y nos. #

Whilst Gareth calls in soloist, Tia, for some much needed extra training.

Will she actually sing in this session?

Everyone's really confident now and there's me in the corner, crying.

Tia is so frightened of singing and people hearing her voice.

She's got to get over this fear. I'll have to work hard with this

and find some of that courage.

Tia is a popular girl with bags of personality,

confident in all aspects of her academic, sporting and social life.

But when it comes to singing, she has a complete mental block.

I obviously can't do it, it's too high.

From day one, Tia's been too shy to stand out.

# One can have a dream... #

Can't do it? OK, sit down.

This is her chance to prove to Gareth and herself

she can conquer her nerves.

We all get frightened,

but I don't let it stop me doing what I want to do.

I get the feeling you're letting the fear control you.

We've got to get over this and we need to do it NOW.

This is crunch time.

Here we go.

Come on, Tia.

Tia clearly finds singing difficult

but she's desperate to get over this hurdle for a very good reason.

What's the matter?

My mum, she's got a brain problem.

I just want to make her proud and put a smile on her face.

Oh, Tia, I am so sorry.

So you're doing this to make her proud.

That is really, really sweet of you.

If I got the confidence to sing I would make myself really proud.

I think my mum would be really proud, as well.

But Tia's a long way off from achieving her dream.

Her extreme nerves are preventing her from uttering a single sound.

When you're breathing you need to use a lot of puff and muscles.

This is your vocal chords here. All the air in your lungs goes, ah...

That's all there is to singing.

Like there's a little balloon in your tummy.

Even this is too much, so Gareth tries something a little easier.

I want you to blow through the straw and make that move across the piano.

Are you ready?

Good, so it's using this and not this.

Just go, shh, shh, vuv.

-All right.

-Really loudly.

The breathing exercises have calmed Tia's nerves

but can she take the next step and actually sing?

This is the introduction.

Get yourself ready.

Go.

I can't do so high a note.

It isn't high. You have got to sing.

All right, so you're never going to get over this fear. Look proud.

It just won't come out.

It's not going to come out if you don't make it come out.

She is so fearful. I'm beginning to wonder if she's able to do it.

I sound stupid.

You don't sound stupid. I promise you, faithfully,

if you go for this, you will only get respect from people.

Come on, make Wales proud.

Let's do it.

# Sleep my child and peace attend thee

# Ar hyd y nos... #

Yes! Right, do it again.

That's the first time I've heard her let her voice out.

What's the problem? It's just fear.

# ..are creeping

# Ar hyd y nos #

Now, Tia, what you have just proved to me

is that you can do it.

I'm still scared about the performance

but I'll give it my all and try my best,

even if I do make a fool of myself and get all the words wrong.

We can't afford to have a failure this week.

If she breaks down it could be a real setback.

To pull off today's Welsh choral performance,

the group must sing with a real sense of pride

which means accepting themselves for who they are.

We've all talked about how we've been bullied at one time

and how that's affected our ability to perform with confidence.

I want you to think about how far you've come.

It feels like I'm a different person.

I feel like the old James is asleep and the new James is awake.

I just cracked open a new shell and I'm not that shy person any more.

I was stuck in a box and it was a Sellotape of shyness.

I've finally broken out of that box and I feel confident with myself.

The important thing is to be proud of who you are.

You can't change who you are.

It's simply not possible. You can accept it and be proud.

To help the shy singers realise just how far they've come,

Gareth wants them to celebrate the insecurities that held them back.

Over here are some T-shirts. I want you to write one word

on these T-shirts and I want that word to be

the one thing that you really didn't like about yourself

and maybe about which you were bullied.

This is about celebrating, being upbeat.

It's about saying, "Yeah, that's me! Like it or lump it."

I dressed differently to people at my school.

I try and be an individual and then I'll get called freak.

Everyone has something they don't like,

you have to find a way to be proud of it.

I'm proud of being a freak, really, cos it's who I am.

I'm writing Ginger because of my hair colour.

It's taken so many years for me to get over it,

come to terms with the bullying and say, "Stop it.

"I've got ginger hair. Is that a problem?"

These are personal things but it's only by talking about them

and by facing up to it, that you feel better about yourself.

I've written "keen" cos I was always keen to do things in school,

I was first to put myself forward.

That's what I got bullied for so I'm putting that on there to say,

I don't care what you think of me any more.

I'm just making a statement that I am a singer, I like to sing.

I may sound like a girl but I don't care about that.

What they're doing is incredibly brave and difficult.

It's a big achievement. It shows how far they've come from week one.

It's turning a negative thing into a positive.

I've written small.

Normally I'm not so open about my feelings.

I feel a lot prouder of who I am now that I'm writing it on the shirt.

I'm writing posh because I got a lot of bullying for being a bit posh.

I like the way that I sound. I like my voice. I like who I am.

I put outsider

cos people used to call me weird and different and stuff

but now I don't really care.

There's always going to be bullies as all long as there are people

but you have do not let it worry you.

You have to find a way to be proud of yourself and stand up for yourself.

T-shirts finished, it's time to banish

their old insecurities for good.

This is something we should really celebrate.

We should go on a march,

wearing our T-shirts proudly, through the streets of Cardiff.

Yes.

Parading up and down in front of the public,

hopefully will make them feel like, you know what, it's OK.

This is a big world, there's room for everyone.

Let's go!

Let's do it.

Let's just be proud. Come on, let's do it.

After all these weeks, I am a whole new person. I'm more confident.

I really don't know what's happened. It's liked someone's just flipped

the "I'm not nervous" switch and suddenly I'm working on overdrive.

'It is the best feeling.'

I think I've changed dramatically.

Now I'm just like being myself whatever happens.

I've got more confidence and I think I'm just up for anything.

# Baby I was born this way... #

I was worried a couple wouldn't do this, but actually,

that's the strength of the team.

Everyone's doing it, everyone's in this together.

Look how proud we are. Look how confident we are.

Look how much we're not bothered by these things. We are ourselves.

# Baby I was born this way. #

-Outsider!

-Keen!

-Singer!

-Small!

Cute and cuddly!

-Posh!

-Geek!

Ginger!

-Different!

-Freak!

Embracing their insecurities in front of the general public

demonstrates just how far this once timid group have come.

Different!

'The old Sasha couldn't have done this, but the new Sasha,'

I'm dead pleased with the new Sasha, she's amazing. I love her to bits.

'Singer! I didn't notice people watching me.

'I'm just standing, chest up, marching through the streets.'

-I'm just too proud of myself.

-Cute and cuddly!

'I feel brilliant cos it's part of who I am,'

that's why I'm standing here doing this.

Geek.

'You've just got to be proud of yourself

'cos you can't change what you are'

so just embrace it, basically.

They've nothing to fear, they just need to come together.

I think that's really going to help in the performance.

CHEERING

The once bullied singers have discovered a belief in themselves,

but when it comes to performing, can they find the same strength?

Soloist Tia is about to find out.

You told me at the auditions that you really wanted to sing

to make your mum and your dad proud.

Inside there is your nan, your mum and your dad

and I want you to sing for them.

I'm really, really scared. I'm not sure if I can do it. I hope I can.

I just want to make my mum and my dad proud.

I just want to show them I can do it.

If you can get through this challenge, you can tackle anything.

After you. Let's go in.

To get over fear, you have got to be really determined. I'm about

to find out whether she's got what it takes.

I've never heard Tia sing at all. She tends to be very shy.

I'd be so proud to see Tia singing confidently.

It would be absolutely amazing.

Hello.

-Hello.

-Hello.

During her earlier session with Gareth,

Tia couldn't complete the song.

This is when she needs to start believing in herself.

# Sleep my child

# And peace attend thee

# Ar hyd

# Y nos... #

Her crying threatens to ruin her performance.

Can she stay strong to achieve her dream?

# Ar hyd y nos

# Soft...

# Are creeping

# Hill and vale

# In slumber sleeping

# I my loving

# Vigil keeping

# Ar hyd y nos. #

Well done.

You did it! You sang!

'It was lovely to hear her singing a Welsh song'

and I'm so proud of her.

I can't explain it because...

I don't know, she's just wonderful.

It was lovely to hear her sing. I'm so proud, so proud.

I feel really good now... Adrenaline and buzz.

For the performance later, Tia has to focus on those high notes.

She's got to get through it. It's in her voice. She can do this.

It's now simply mind over matter. She just has to focus like crazy.

Later today, the singers will be debuting their Welsh choral song

on live television.

They must conquer their stage fright once and for all

because they can't afford to forget the lyrics this time.

To ensure this doesn't happen again, Gareth pulls them together

for an emergency rehearsal.

If they don't pull off a fabulous performance today,

how are they going to do it on Children in Need?

It would take a miracle.

# Breathes a pure

# And holy feeling... #

If they know the song inside out,

they stand a better chance of conquering their stage fright.

Well done, boys!

The hardworking boys have got it but will it be the same for the girls?

#Ov'r thy spirit... #

THEY STUMBLE OVER THE WORDS

# Visions of delight... #

They need this performance to be good.

There's no more time to get better.

This is not the first time the girls have become

distracted from the music.

-Everybody has to have a say.

-Just get on with it.

I want you to look good. I don't want you to stand their live going...

Looking at the ceiling.

The girls still need help getting into this classical style.

Blake are a Brit Award winning harmony group

who sing a mix of classical and pop.

They've performed at concerts and sporting events all over the world

and know exactly how to deliver this traditional music with style.

Will a last minute visit from these special guests

help to focus the girls?

THEY SING IN HARMONY

It's about confidence. It's about enjoying it and feeling it.

It gets better through practise and experience.

If you feel good at what you do,

when you go onstage, it's no problem.

If you're going onstage and don't know what you're doing,

you can understand why people get nervous.

-How many of you know what adrenaline is?

-It's a bit like a little rush.

Yes. It's actually a chemical that goes through your body.

It's designed to make you run away when you get scared.

In actual fact, what really good performers do

is use that chemical inside their body

to make them perform even better.

So if you're feeling a bit on edge and you can feel your skin tingling,

that means you'll do your best performance.

And now's the time that all that work,

all the belief from your friends and family, this is when it'll show.

You either run away or you fight.

You don't stand in the middle, going, "Errrr".

I thought Blake were fantastic.

They absolutely understood where those guys are

because they were there themselves once.

They gave great advice.

Meeting Blake was absolutely awesome.

I love Blake! I've heard them before and I really liked them.

When they came in, I was, like, "Oh, my God, they're there".

'Singing an unusual style of music can be daunting,

'but these celebrities know it's all about staying true to your roots.'

If you're doing something different to what other people are doing,

people may or may not like it, but you've got to be yourself, really.

When I was having to sing in front of my year group,

they must have thought I was mad.

I was the only one singing classical music when I should've sang pop.

In fairness to them, they were really supportive.

With only moments to go until their live debut on BBC Points West,

Gareth and the group are called to the studio for a dress rehearsal.

# Sleep, my child... #

This is the first time they've performed in a live TV studio.

Everyone is feeling the pressure.

Fidget, fidget, fidget the whole time.

-Taylor, are you listening?

-Yeah.

-Look at me.

You're looking at all this stuff. None of this stuff matters.

The only thing that matters is All Through The Night. That song.

'We've worked so hard over the last nine weeks.

'But it doesn't matter a jot'

if they can't pull it off in front of live audiences.

Ultimately, this is all about a TV audience.

Going live on BBC News is, oh, really scary!

We have to concentrate and just think it's us and the camera.

As every celebrity has told us, bad rehearsal, good performance.

I just hope that's the case.

It's a live show and you've got to put on something good

people will find entertaining.

Whether it's 300,000 or 11 million, it's got to be something good.

This is it. As the local news goes on-air,

the group nervously wait for their cue.

They have a huge challenge to sing live on national TV

in front of millions of viewers on Children In Need night.

They'll get through it, they'll sing it,

but would it make someone who is Welsh have a tear in their eye?

Would it be something to be proud of?

That's what I'm interested in. I want it to be excellent.

Now, a real first. The first performance on live television

by the newly-formed special Children In Need choir.

All of them have something in common.

They are terrified of performing.

'In their first choral session, Tia couldn't sing in front of the group.

'Now she must find the nerve to lead them.'

Have a good evening, from all of us here. Over to you.

# Sleep, my child, and peace attend thee

# Ar hyd y nos

# Soft the drowsy hours are creeping

# Hill and vale in slumber sleeping... #

Tia makes it through her solo without faltering.

A huge achievement.

Can the rest of the group maintain it?

# O'er thy spirit gently stealing

# Visions of delight revealing

# Breathes a pure and holy feeling

# Ar hyd y nos. #

THEY CHEER

What a result! The once desperately shy soloist Tia has led the group!

Pulling off their most difficult challenge to date.

So, so, so, so awesome!

-Hip-hip!

-ALL: Hooray!

-Hip-hip!

-ALL: Hooray!

-Hip-hip!

-ALL: Hooray!

-Well done! Well done!

Argh! I just want to scream more!

I'm just so hyper right now!

I'm buzzing off it!

Ooo! Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!

Yes! I am so happy about that! Brilliant!

They're starting to really enjoy performing.

Look how much it affects their confidence!

They are on the ceiling with excitement!

And feeling full of personality, they feel like individuals.

They've put the bullying behind them. A long way behind them.

Today saw Tia try out for the solo spot on Children In Need night.

How does Gareth rate her chances?

I honestly did not think that Tia had it in her.

Because she pulled off such a fantastic performance

and can be relied upon,

her chances of being the soloist at Children In Need are now high.

Next time, Gareth must make his final decision.

Today, I'm going to be picking the soloist for Children In Need.

After weeks of hard work, who will it be?

-I've messed it all up now.

-You haven't messed it all up.

The person singing solo

live on Children In Need is...

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