Episode 1 Only Boys Aloud

Tim Rhys-Evans is running late.

He's the musical director of Wales' most talked about teen boy choir.

Only Boys Aloud.

They're 200 young singers from right across South Wales

who wowed the crowds last summer

at the National Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale.

Tim, now, has a new vision.

He wants to hand-pick 32 of these boys

and offer them a place in a top choral Academy,

working with the very best.

Connie Fisher!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

There'll be a tough audition and the ultimate test -

a showcase at one of the UK's leading music schools, Eton College.

The overriding success I want to see from the Academy

is that every single one of those boys has pushed themselves

or done something better than they have ever done before.

The Academy could open doors,

but only if the boys show total commitment.

If a snail could sing, it would sound like that.

The ultimate prize will be a musical boot camp

and an ambitious concert at this leading private school.

They'll face 13-hour days of six am starts, music theory tests

and note learning in Latin.

Why, why, why aren't you watching me?

Come on, boys!

Can they cut it?

To become the first ever Only Boys Aloud Academy choir?

For Tim there's no going back.

He's at BBC Wales to announce the launch of the Academy,

live to the listening nation.

This is obviously an important announcement that we're making

and you have to seize these opportunities.

Really aids the profile of the group and recruitment.

'We're very lucky to get all the attention we get

'and we've got to make the most of every opportunity.'

Tim turned the male voice choir tradition on its head

when he set up the Only Men Aloud choir 11 years ago.

He's worked with some of the biggest names in show business

and has won a Classical BRIT Award

by putting the COOL back into choral singing.

'How amazing would it be if in ten years' time one of these boys

'is playing a lead in the West End

'or is representing Wales in Cardiff Singer of the World?

'That is completely possible'

and we have to make them realise that that is possible,

it's not some pipe dream, it's actually a reality.

Funding for Only Boys Aloud and the Academy

has been secured for the next three years

to the tune of a quarter of a million pounds.

That means Tim can afford to be ambitious,

but he'll have to account for every penny.

-Nice to see you too.

-Extraordinary jacket!

Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment!

I'm not sure it was intended as one!

So this is a nine-day intensive course

at Atlantic College in St Donats,

which will enable them to have detailed and intensive training

all week long.

-And you've teamed up with Eton?

-We have, erm...

but that's all a big secret, so, thanks, Jamie!

-We know about it.

-Oh, right, OK.

The cat's out of the bag! Erm, yes.

Probably the most famous public school in the world,

former school of Prince William and Prince Harry.

Our boys will hang out with the Eton lads

and the Eton college chapel choir will sing for our boys

and we will sing for them.

So, nobody was supposed to know that

until the day when we got on the bus! LAUGHS

You can rely on us!

He just talks about the stuff, though, I don't want to talk about!

'The thing is about doing these things publicly

'is you make a rod for your own back if you're not careful,

'we've GOT to make sure that this is a success.'

And there is an element of people who are maybe expecting you to fail

or just maybe WANTING you to fail in some cases, so that can't happen.

It's not an option!

The Academy choir will be made up

of boys from right across the South Wales valleys.

Three lads from Only Boys Aloud

have set their hearts on an Academy place.

With only 32 on offer, competition will be tough.

17-year-old Ben Bateman is from Neath

and studying musical theatre at college.

'Yeah, I think the Academy could be a launching pad

'to further education or a career.'

Cos if I, maybe, I said I was in Only Boys Aloud

and I was in the Academy and I was in musical theatre,

maybe they'd think, "He's got a good background,"

so maybe they'll take me on.

Russell Jones, who's 19, lives in Cwmbran

and realises how valuable a place in the Academy would be.

'Getting into the Academy would be a brilliant experience.'

Meeting new people and learning new things

and learning different styles of songs.

Niall Hunt, who is just 16,

is already into drama and music at school

and knows the course would offer him so much more.

'It would be so fantastic that it will really help my voice

'and my singing and everything else.'

If I was successful

I would be...

I don't know, I'd be... I'd be gobsmacked, really!

Only Boys Aloud is made up of ten individual choirs

from Cross Hands to Caerphilly.

Weekly rehearsals are conducted by members of Only Men Aloud,

and they know how much the Academy could mean to the boys.

# I know that it's you I need... #

How do you say it...

'When we announced the Academy was happening

'everybody was pretty excited,

'but then we had to drop the bombshell that

'it was for over 16 year olds.'

And in Only Boys Aloud we have a high percentage of boys under 16,

so in some cases that didn't go down that well.

'But we don't know at the moment how many are going to apply,

'who's going to apply, but luckily, in Cwmbran,

'we've got boys who are over 16

'and guys who are really quite talented.

'So, hopefully, they will apply and they'll get onto the course

'and it'll be great for me to see them develop in that more intensive environment.'

'I just love being surrounded by music,

'the vocal training is great and I go to every rehearsal.'

Not every day you can say you've been on the same stage as Tim Rhys Evans

and Only Men Aloud and Katherine Jenkins and Shirley Bassey.

'I think the choir does provide a safe bubble for a lot of the boys.

'They feel safe in their surroundings,

'but all we can do as an organisation,

'is just provide them with an environment that'

makes them feel comfortable and they can be who they want to be really.

There's only one of me, really. There's only one Niall, I think.

'I think my friends would say that I'm quite funny and quite witty.

'As long as I've made someone laugh I've had a good day.'

So, yeah, that's kind of me, kind of.

One off, out of the box and fabulous!

-Yee-ha!

-Hoe-down!

In these serene surroundings,

the Academy choir boys will face long days of singing lessons,

performance skills and dance classes.

There'll be surprise celebrity guests,

and a 6am fitness session.

The boys don't know anything yet and Tim wants no distractions.

We have had some news that during the week of the Academy course

there are some teenage Argentinean GIRLS

who are on a course here as well.

Erm, so, I don't know how I feel about that.

I think I'm a little bit scared to be honest with you

cos there's these 32 Valleys Boys...

and really it'll be great in the spirit of the international community

that they can talk and get to know a little bit about each other

and they'd better not do any more than that!

At the Only Boys Aloud weekly rehearsal in Neath,

the boys know that a place on the Academy course

is only on offer with an 80% attendance record.

It's down to each conductor to make sure the boys keep turning up.

Let's try again. So, it's the hardest, actually, for you guys...

'I suppose there is a lot of pressure on us

'for this to be successful and, you know,'

the name of Only Boys Aloud is at stake, really,

because if it is a disaster

then people will be, sort of, rethinking the whole scheme.

'Because a lot of these boys, they don't have musical background,

'so if we can find a middle ground

'where we can really teach them some complexities of music theory

'and some more complicated vocal technique, but keep it fun,

'then hopefully we'll have done our job.'

# She said love, love, love

# She said love, love, love

# She said... #

Ben's been coming to Only Boys Aloud rehearsals since the very beginning.

He makes time for music in a very busy schedule.

'I've been boxing since I was nine

'and I have won the Welsh Championships three times'

and I've won a Bronze in the British Championships.

So, yeah, I really enjoy everything, but I'm so busy.

Keeps me off the street corners, doesn't it?

I always hoped that we would not only engage with those boys

that already have an interest in music and singing,

but those who might just think, "Oh, well,

"I'll let my guard down enough to at least give it a go."

'And it's great to see rugby lads and boys who love boxing

'just sitting side by side with guys who are doing A level music.

'I think that's what makes the rehearsal so much fun.'

Back in the office,

the deadline for the applications to the Academy choir has just expired.

Some of the names they were hoping to see aren't on the list.

'There's reasons people haven't applied. A lot have things on.

'Quite a few have booked a holiday which is a pain for us.'

Other people are a bit scared to do it.

That's a big thing we've found, which surprises us

cos we work with these guys every week

and they're like, " I don't want to do an audition."

They're just out of their comfort zone.

# I've given you sunshine

# And water to sip... #

The boys' first challenge is to find a song

which will show off their vocal ability.

Niall's friend Emily has been roped in to listen.

# Oh please grow for me... #

'I'm thinking of singing a song from Little Shop of Horrors

'because I was Seymour when we did it in our school

'and I know the words to that and I know the song

'because I didn't really want to do a pop song,'

if you did one by Beyonce

you might have to sound like Beyonce

and I don't sound like Beyonce.

-Are you going to do an American accent...

-I don't know.

..as if you're being Seymour?

I might do.

It depends, like, if I'm in the American mood when I get there.

'Obviously Niall will go away for a week in July

'if he is accepted for the Academy.'

He's been away before, I'm sure he'll settle down,

he'll meet with the boys, some of them, hopefully, he'll know.

It'll be good for him.

We'll have a bit of peace and quiet

and he can sing to his heart's content

from early morning till late at night!

Russell can't decide.

His favourites are songs from the swing era,

but he wants to make sure he chooses the right one.

# Fly me to the moon

# Let me play among the stars... #

'I'm really excited, excited but nervous.

'Just trying to work on a really good song that'll shine.

'Hopefully they'll like it.'

# In other words

# Hold my hand

# In other words

# Baby, kiss me... #

But with just over a week to go before the audition,

Ben can't decide either.

What songs are you singing?

We only need to sing one song, but I haven't made up my mind yet.

There's two songs, there's Anthem from Chess

and Stranger In This World from Taboo.

'The judges will be looking for confidence

'and how you hold harmonies'

and keep them and stage presence

and hopefully I've got what it takes to get into the Academy

cos it's one thing I really want to do.

Everyone who applies will get an audition.

What have we got?

-How many applications so far?

-We have 46 applications.

-Right, OK.

I think that's all, I think that's final.

You might have two more coming in.

I'm still waiting on two. They said they'd send them to me last night,

-but I haven't received them...

-The total will be whittled down to 32.

It's a great spread of voices

and it's a great spread of people from where they're from.

We've got a good cross section of everywhere.

Tim and the team are looking for the most motivated,

committed boys to make up the choir.

'We're giving everyone the same opportunity.'

And then of course it's, it IS down to talent,

but it's also down to hard work.

No matter how talented you are,

if you haven't got determination, it's not going to happen.

The boys have had to write a personal statement

explaining why they're after a coveted place among the 32.

When you read the section why they want to be a member...

"I have enjoyed every second of Only Boys Aloud

"and the experience is at the best and biggest venues in the country.

"I would work hard, listen to information

"and deliver my best efforts

"as well as setting an example. Many thanks." That's a lovely form.

32 boys away from home, it'll be...

HE LAUGHS

I can imagine it being a bit messy...

"And this academy could really open my eyes as to what

"it's like to study and train as a professional musician."

I think that's what we've got to get across, is the intensity.

..a bit chaotic...

"I will work so hard

"and be grateful for every chance to improve my existing ability."

I'm going to be in tears in a minute, reading these.

'I don't know how Tim will cope.'

Shocked at how wild everyone is, but I'm sure he'll get through.

Russell lives at home with his mum and three sisters

and they're a very close-knit family.

On Boxing Day 2009, Russell's dad died of cancer, aged just 53.

'Being the only boy is quite special, being the only one,'

especially having the same name as my dad.

That was quite special to be named after my dad.

'I think my dad influenced me at a young age.

'He taught me how to sing and he taught me all the basics.'

It's Russell's love of swing music that comes from his dad.

the Rat Pack era of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Nat King Cole.

He gets regular gigs singing all the old favourites

at his local old people's home.

# She was a picture

# In old Spanish lace... #

'Me and my dad, we used to go to the workmen's clubs and halls

'and stuff like that and watch singers that were not too good'

and we used to laugh and stuff and say, "Oh, God, they're terrible!"

We used to come from there

and my dad was always, "I can do better than that."

# You tell me the time you work with

# With minstrel shows... #

'When my Dad died I wanted to really make him proud

'and keep the music flowing, keep the music alive, keep him alive.'

And every time I'm doing a show I always think he's watching me

and watching over me.

# They would travel about... #

Music has got some ability to speak at the very deepest level.

I think it speaks directly to the soul.

'It's got an unbelievable ability to unlock parts of you

'that you didn't know were there.'

'With music, it's the thing that gets me through good times

'and bad times, and it's the thing that helps me.'

When I sing I get such a good feeling all in my body

and I just want to get out there and make people happy!

'As long as they've got a smile on their face I don't care.

'I just think of music and good times.'

# Baby, kiss me... #

50 miles west in Neath,

Ben's chilling out with family and friends.

# So please don't, please don't Please don't

# There's no need to comfort me... #

But he won't be distracted from the drive he needs to succeed.

Boxing, and now music have become his life.

# I'm yours. #

'There's nothing much for teenagers around here

'and I think that being in Only Boys Aloud has stopped me

'from going down the road like other people I've seen.'

They maybe started alcohol and drugs when they were my age

and now they're growing up it's getting worse

and some people are dying. That's not a road I want to go down.

'So I think music takes me away from that

'and keeps me on the straight and narrow.'

# Well, open up your mind and see like me... #

'He sees those boys hanging around on the streets, doing nothing

'and getting up to mischief.'

While he's enjoying himself, doing what he likes,

in a choir that he likes.

They haven't got a life have they, really?

So, who's the winner out of them?

The chance to try for a place in the Academy choir

means everything to Ben.

Two years ago, he travelled to Cardiff with his dad

to audition for a major TV talent show.

But Ben's dad, who suffers from claustrophobia,

got into a lift with him and collapsed.

The audition was abandoned.

'I didn't care about anything as long as my father was OK.'

He felt that he was disappointed I didn't go for my audition

and he felt that it was his fault, but it's not his fault at all.

It's the morning of the auditions.

Russell's arrived and there's an entourage.

'Today they'll have to sing one song

'and I really don't care if it's Happy Birthday.'

It's got to be something that they feel shows them off.

Russell's already had an early morning ear bashing.

'They're all nagging me, "Oh, you've got to wear this,'

"you've got to wear this, colours and co-ordination,

"you've got to look the part," but that's what families are like.

Each boy will face a panel of judges,

for a 20-minute vocal grilling.

'The voice is such a subjective animal.'

I might absolutely love one voice and somebody else could detest it.

'Doesn't mean that that person is a less good singer.

'So, just having three opinions is good.'

I get the casting vote, of course!

'Tim's probably the Simon Cowell character of the panel

'although he does encourage them, he will just be honest with them.'

If they need to improve, he'll go up and help them do that.

It's more of a quite a productive session from Tim,

but he's the one they've got to impress.

# A flash of light

# A crash of drums

# Tonight, tonight

# You fall in flames

# But you hold every card

# The very words that they had sung... #

Good deep breath now.

-# Make h... #

-HE SQUEAKS

There you are, you've cracked!

There has been some negativity

to the fact that we have auditioned boys for the Academy,

'but I really stand by our decision to audition

'because I think it's life, actually.

'Everything you do, whether it's a job interview, whether it's an exam,

'there is a bar you have to meet.'

I think we would be dishonest to the boys

if we just made out that it was always as easy as just turn up.

Russell's audition is just minutes away,

but the advice from the entourage just keeps on coming.

BOY SINGS SCALES

Next door, Tim's pushing the boys hard.

VOICE CRACKS

OK, OK, stop.

-VOICE CRACKS

-No, no.

-Don't worry!

And nerves are getting to some of them.

# Always been there... # Uh.

# He is young! #

-Ohh!

-All right, son?

'You are willing everybody to succeed'

and you are willing boys to do so well

and you can see that they're feeling uncomfortable, or...

Oh, my heart really goes out to them because I was...that person.

I hated auditions.

I was very nervous, really,

I just thought it was a bit of a disaster

that I'd forgotten my lines, but, er, yeah!

Russell's moment has arrived

and he's hoping the swing song he's chosen will impress.

Right, OK.

Outside, his biggest fan is willing him on.

# Don't you know you fool

# You never can win... #

Russell's showpiece is one of his and his dad's favourites.

# Wake up to yelling

# And each time I do

# Just the thought of you

# Makes me stop before I begin

# Cos I've got you

# Under my skin... #

Tim gets straight to work changing Russell's posture

to improve his vocal technique.

That's very American songbook.

You know that, sort of, very cool, probably a cigarette in one hand

and a double bourbon in the other...

'It's weird when somebody walks into a room

'or you have an idea of what you imagine they sound like'

and there've been several times today

when the voice doesn't really match the body.

'So, that's been interesting.'

The longest 20 minutes of Russell's life is now over.

-All right?

-That was gorgeous. How did it go?

Yeah, it went really well, yeah.

-It was quite good.

-Proud of you.

Ben hasn't had a great start to his day, either.

'I didn't think I'd get here'

because there were police and riot vans in my street.

Blocking the street because there was armed response, dogs everywhere

because someone was pointing a shotgun at a policeman.

I don't know what happened altogether

'but I started getting stressed and I got upset as well

'because this is something I really wanted to do

'and I've been working on it for ages.'

But he gets right into his audition and impresses the judges.

# My heart. #

-Bravo, Ben.

-Cheers, Ben.

-Really, really lovely.

It's not an easy song

because of you're boxing you work out a lot and stuff.

So, I have to battle with this,

with my ripped washboard stomach all the time, as you can clearly see!

Tim's relaxed, but Niall isn't!

'My worst nightmare would be if either I forgot the lyrics

'to the song that I was going to sing'

or my voice just suddenly went pear-shaped,

like if I was trying to get that high note

and it just went all shaky and I'd be like, "Oh, no!"

The biggest block to a successful audition

is the dreaded sight-singing.

The boys have to sing a piece they've never seen before,

in tune and in tempo.

# La la la la la. #

From the top.

Just do this part again.

-You're not doing badly at all, though.

-I can't do it!

-You can do it, you're doing it.

-I'm not!

My mother always used to say to me, "There's no such word as can't."

'The sight-singing is messing with some of their heads,'

but if only they stopped telling themselves they can't sight-sing

and just have a go.

The best sight-singing auditions this morning

have been people that have just had a go at it.

'I don't actually think anyone taught me to sight-sing,

'but I never told myself I couldn't.'

# La la la la la. #

OK, now I feel that you can do the whole thing.

-Ah!

-THEY LAUGH

Niall's moment has arrived,

but right at the start of the audition

Tim tells him he's got an extra challenge -

he'll have to sing his entire song in character,

as Seymour from the Little Shop Of Horrors.

The poker faced Wyn will pretend to be a plant that won't grow.

# I've given you sunshine

# I've given you dirt

# You've given me nothing

# But heartache and hurt

# I'm begging you sweetly

# I'm down on my knees

# Oh, please grow for me... #

'The rehearsal room is, for me, the most exciting place on earth.'

It's where the magic happens,

that's where you can try things out and when those ideas become reality.

That's very exciting.

# Oh, Pod, how you tease

# Now please grow for me! #

And there's an extra surprise for the very talkative Niall.

Good, good. Erm...

-You've got quite a big tongue.

-Oh-ha!

THEY LAUGH

It's quite far back in your throat.

So, if you've got your throat and if you've got your tongue

and it's back, it's getting in the way of the sound.

Can you make sure the tip of it is in contact with your bottom teeth?

OK, yeah.

HE SINGS SCALES

Good, next one.

I've never really noticed that I had a big tongue.

I've got a big mouth, I can talk a lot,

but I didn't think I had a massive tongue.

I mean, I can't touch my nose with it, so it can't be that big!

# All round our nest

# Far as the eye can pass... #

'I believe that there are some of the boys that have real potential.

'There are some lads there

'who are some of the most talented boys I've come across'

and in some cases it's an untapped, natural talent,

that God has just put this voice in there, or this innate musicianship.

'So I really hope that the training they get in Only Boys Aloud,

'the experience they get and then the more advanced training

'they'll get in the Academy is going to be something they really value.'

# This I swear by the stars. #

Not sure we're going to be able to...

Auditions are over...

Erm...

..the 48 now have to become 32.

-Let's start with the basses.

-Yeah, OK, right.

-So, definite.

-Yeah.

-Definite.

-Yeah.

It's a very good voice.

-Yes.

-This one was good, no, it's lovely.

There's a good voice, if you can strip it back.

Once the selections have been made,

each boy will sent an individual letter from Tim and the team,

with good or bad news.

-Got our 32.

-We have, well done. Cheers.

'Ni, you better come down,'

-there's a bit of post for you by the look of it.

-Oh, OK.

All right?

Well, it's addressed to you, so it must be yours.

Ooh, ooh.

Morning. Let's have a look.

At last, eh? You've been waiting a while for this!

-"Dear Niall, congratulations."

-Ah!

-"We are happy to inform you..."

-Yes!

"..you have been successful in your audition

-"at the Only Boys Aloud Academy."

-Ha-ha-ha!

Russell's letter has arrived too.

"The panel feel you have a charming personality

"and an obvious passion for music.

"However, we still felt we didn't hear the real Russell.

"It is more important that we each

"find and sing with our own true voice

"and this is the reason why we feel,

"at present, you're not ready for such an intensive course."

Yeah, I was a bit disappointed,

I worked hard on it, but I think down to it, it was the song, really.

I think I done the wrong song.

'I'm going to still carry on with my music and my shows,

'keep the music alive, yeah.'

'Some homes are going to be filled with the sound of cheering and congratulations

'and in others some tears

'and it's what's like in the real world, full stop.'

There are always yeses and noes

and it's how we deal with those noes that makes us who we are.

Next time...

the Only Boys Aloud Academy Choir meets for the first time

and Tim's expectations are sky high.

Spread out a little bit, boys.

'Just as long as they're fantastic singers, great musicians,

'loads of energy and with 150% commitment,'

that's all I'm asking.

But the boys struggle with the ambitious repertoire.

-HE SINGS

-Oh, no that sounds awful!

'It's like eating prunes, or whatever.'

-It's good for us, but we might not want to do it!

-Home truths at a crucial rehearsal.

We just all need to make sure that

if you've written something on your score, you do it

and if you haven't, why not?

A journey to Eton College is an eye-opener

for 32 boys from the South Wales Valleys.

'When I go there,'

I want them all to be as if they've just come out of an Enid Blyton book

and all they're all like, "Oh, spiffing, tally-ho!"

And a week-long musical boot camp kicks off,

but the boys have no idea what's in store.

'Whether they're ready to be working what is nearly 13 hours a day'

I don't know, but it's a tough world this music business!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail [email protected]