Episode 2 Pitch Battle

The competition to find the UK's best vocal harmony group has begun.

-That was a good rhythm!

-Can you get it on this show?

# Who-oa oh o-oh oh-oh o-oh

# Who-oa oh o-oh

# Sing! #

-# Oh...

-Oh...

# Yeah. #

You're a bit Gaxton, aren't you?

# Give you my heart... #

Tonight's winners, Leeds Contemporary Singers!

Tonight, another six groups are preparing for choral combat.

# Ooh...

# Ooh...

# Oooh... #

That was a fierce battle!

She's the queen of funk.

Chaka Khan!

-Pam!

-Pam!

Chaka Khan.

That's the first time I've tried it with these jeans on.

# Ah... #

Cor blimey.

Let Pitch Battle commence.

# Ba da da ba ba da da

# Ba da da ba ba da da

# Ba da da ba ba da da ba-ah

# Oh

# Ba da da ba ba da da

# Ba da da ba ba da da da

# Ba da da ba ba da da

# Who-oa-oa. #

# And we danced all night

# To the best song ever

# Best song ever

# Best song ever

# So don't you dare look back

# Just keep your eyes on me

# I said you're holding back

# She said shut up and dance with me

# This woman is my destiny

# She said, oo-oo-ooh

# Shut up and dance

-# What's

-Go, go

-# Go

-Go-ing

# Ing on on the floor

# I love this record, baby

# But I can't see straight any more

-# Keep

-Keep

-# It

-It cool

# What's the name of this club?

# I can't remember

# But it's all right, a-all right

# Here we go

# Just dance

# It'll be OK

# Da-da, doo-roo

# Just... #

# Get into the groove, girl

# You got to prove your love to me

# Yeah

# Get up on your feet

# Yeah, step to the beat

# Girl, what will it... #

# I can't dance

# I can't talk

# Only thing about me is the way I walk

# I can't dance but I can sing

# I'm just standing here, boy

# You can dance

# You can jive

# Having the time of your life

# Oo-oo-ooh

# See that girl

# Watch that scene

# Digging the dancing queen... #

# Nothing I can see but you

-# When you dance, dance, dance

-# I can't stop this feeling

# Feeling good, good creeping up on you

-# When you dance, dance, dance

-# I can't stop this feeling

# All these things I shouldn't do

-# But you dance, dance, dance

-# I can't stop this feeling

# Ain't nobody leaving soon

-# So keep dancing, dancing

-# I can't stop this feeling

# Got this feeling in my body... #

Go, go, everyone, everyone!

# Got this feeling in my body

# Just dance

# Got this feeling in my body

# Just dance

# Got this feeling in my body

# Don't you dare look

# Got this feeling in my body

# Just dance

# Got this feeling in my body

# Don't you dare look back

-# Just keep your eyes on me

-Dance, dance, dance

-# Just dance

-I said you're holding back

# Got this feeling in my body

-# Just dance

-Don't you dare look back

-# Just keep your eyes on me

-Dance, dance, dance

-# I said you're holding back

-Just dance

# I got this feeling

# Shut up and dance with me! #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

MUSIC: Shut Up And Dance (instrumental)

Oh!

So nice to see you all.

Thank you to all of tonight's six amazing vocal groups.

And a big thanks to the musical genius

behind the Pitch Perfect movies for that awesome dance mash up...

That's a dance mash up.

LAUGHTER

..our series musical director, Deke Sharon!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Now, tonight, six of Britain's best choirs and vocal groups are

about to engage in some fierce choral combat,

and battle it out in a series of vocal challenges.

Only one group will make it through to the live final,

where they will be in with a chance of taking home

the amazing £50,000 cash prize...

AUDIENCE: Oooh!

Thank you.

..and being crowned champions of Pitch Battle 2017!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Tonight, they must knock out their competition by impressing

our trio of melodic masters and mistresses,

our judges.

She's the Harlem choir girl turned Brit award-winning artist.

It's the amazing

Kelis.

MUSIC: Trick Me by Kelis

I grew up singing in a Pentecostal church choir.

It's charismatic and it is big.

You know, I think I really learned the love and the joy of singing,

and singing in a group.

When it's good, it's great.

And when the harmony is just right, and the pitch is just right,

it's just this one syncopated, beautiful sound, it's piercing.

MUSIC: Acapella by Kelis

So I am really excited to be able to see how creative people can get.

I want to see the different ways they use their voices.

If I love it or hate it, there is really no way to hide that.

They'll know.

Release the Kelis!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

MUSIC PLAYS

Now, please be upstanding for the Bafta award-winning choir starter.

It's Gareth Malone.

MUSIC: Symphony by Clean Bandit ft Zara Larsson

I think I've got a good ear.

-No, I

-do

-have a good ear. Why am I underselling myself?

I've got a really good ear.

# I just want to be part of your symphony. #

What is really exciting about this for me is, it's bringing the

community singing to national attention at a prime-time moment.

It's very exciting. I'm passionate about singing.

There's always a balance between the technical considerations,

is it in tune, is it in time,

and the passion, artistic side.

I want to cry, I want to feel something,

I want to laugh, I want to be taken away by these groups

somewhere really special.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

MUSIC: Guitar version of Toreador Song from Carmen by Bizet

Thank you, band. Sounding great.

-Gareth...

-This gets weirder every week.

Everyone else is going to get the really cool music,

you're going to get the slightly square music.

-Can this not...

-Sorry.

-Can this not be a thing?

I think it will be, Gareth.

That's the way it's going to be.

LAUGHTER

Now, each week, Kelis and Gareth will be joined by

a superstar guest judge.

Tonight, she's the queen of funk who has won ten, yes,

TEN Grammys, and has sold over 70 million records worldwide.

She's every woman, and more.

It's the incredible Chaka Khan!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

MUSIC PLAYS

I've always been very keen on harmonies.

From the time I was a small girl, I used to listen to my

favourite artists sing and I would harmonise with them.

It's very powerful to hear many voices coming together.

It's not easy.

# I'm every woman... #

When you're singing with a lot of people,

that has to really be sharp and have a good ear.

One bad apple can swallow the whole bunch.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

It's this week's superstar guest judge, Chaka Khan!

MUSIC: I'm Every Woman by Chaka Khan

-Now, Chaka Khan.

-Yes?

Chaka Khan.

AUDIENCE: Woohoo!

SHE RAPS: Chaka Khan, let me tell you what I want to do.

Do you feel for me the way I feel for you?

Chaka Khan, let me tell you what I want to do.

I want to love you, want to hug you, want to squeeze you too.

And I've forgotten the rest of the rhyme.

LAUGHTER AND CHEERING

Chaka.

That is the biggest fan I think I've ever seen.

Can you please display your fan? Look...

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

It's not as big a fan as I am, though, Chaka Khan.

LAUGHTER

Thank you.

This is nonsense, I'm sorry, Chaka.

Listen, thank you so much, judges.

We will let the choral combat commence.

Our first two groups are about to perform their show stopper -

that's a song that sums up what they're all about -

before going face-to-face in a very dramatic riff-off.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

It's then down to the judges to decide who goes through

to tonight's solo battles.

Facing off first, from Loch Lomond, it's ScotSoul.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

And from Oxford, it's Out Of The Blue.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

ALL: We are ScotSoul.

We're five best friends from Loch Lomond in Scotland.

We've known each other for over 20 years.

-Ah!

-Too long!

I think what makes this group work is all the history we have.

Me and Louise have been married for 13 years.

He won me over with his singing voice.

# Oh o-o-o-oh. #

My 15-year-old daughter, who's trying to study for her exams,

gives us a telling off for being too loud.

Can yous be quiet?

Can yous go to Jim's house?

Some people rehearse in proper studios.

But we have to work around the rowing machine and...

-And the neighbours!

-And the neighbours.

Pitch Battle is the first time we've ever performed together as a group.

We are more than ready to step out of that garage

and get onto that big stage.

# Who-oa-oa. #

# Yeah, yeah... #

We are...

ALL: Out Of The Blue!

We're an all-male a cappella group from Oxford

and Oxford Brookes University.

We're the latest in a long line of students who've had the honour

of donning these blue suits.

Just to clarify, not the same suits.

They'd smell really quite bad.

# Ah, ah, ah, oh... #

We've become really popular online.

We've racked up maybe 15 million hits.

We've been lucky enough to tour the US, quite a few times.

We've developed a pretty solid female fan base.

Largely because they like the accents, I think.

I guess we're kind of the One Direction of a cappella.

# Let's go crazy, crazy, crazy... #

For our show stopper, we're going to be oiling up our hips

and preparing a Latin number, which we hope the judges are ready for.

This is our biggest performance ever,

so we're leaving it all on the stage because there are no second chances.

# Tonight, let's get some...

# And live while we're young. #

# Who-oa-oa. #

Up first, and performing Castle On The Hill,

it's our vocal harmony group,

ScotSoul.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# I was six years old when I broke my leg

# O-o-oh

# I was running from my brother and his friends... #

So cute, I love them.

# Found my heart, broke it here

# Made friends and lost them through the years

# I've not seen the roaring fields

# In so long

# I know I've grown

-# I can't wait

-To go home

# I'm on my way... #

Yeah!

# Driving at 90 down

# Those country lanes

# Singing to Tiny Dancer

# And I miss the way

# You make me feel

# It's real

# We watched the sunset

# Over the castle on the Hill.

# I'm on my way

# I still remember

# These old country lanes

# When we did not know the answer

# And I miss the way

# You make me feel

# It's real

# We watched the sunset

# Over the castle on the hill. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

I love the kind of feel and the warmth.

Oh, strong work from ScotSoul, very strong.

Up next, and performing their show stopper, Livin' La Vida Loca,

it's our a cappella boyband, Out Of The Blue!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

One, two, three, four!

-# Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo

-Ba, ba, ba-da-da, ba, ba

-# Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo

-Ba, ba, ba-da-da, ba, ba

-# Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo

-Ba, ba, ba-da-da, ba, ba

-# Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo

-Ba, ba, ba-da-da, ba, ba

# She's into superstition

-# Black cats and voodoo dolls

-Cha-ra, cha-ra, ba-da-ba cha

-# I feel the premonition

-Cha-ra, ba-da-ba cha

-# That girl's going to make me fall

-Cha-ra, ba-da-ba cha

-# Make you take your clothes off

-Oh

-# And go dancing in the rain

-Lo-o-oca

CHEERING

# She'll make you live her crazy life

-# She'll take away your pain

-Lo-o-oca

-# Like a bullet to the brain

-Ba-da-ba, ba-da-ba

# Come on!

# Upside inside out

# Livin' la vida loca

# She'll push and pull you down

# Livin' la vida loca

# Her lips are devil red

# And her skin is the colour of mocha

# She will wear you out

# Livin' la vida loca

# She'll make you live her crazy life

-# But she'll take away your pain

-Lo-o-o-ca

-# Like a bullet through your brain

-Ba-da-ba, ba-da-ba... #

Come on, now!

-KEY CHANGES

-# Upside inside out

# Livin' la vida loca

# She'll push and pull you down

# Livin' la vida loca

# Her lips are devil red

# And her skin is the colour of mocha

# She will wear you out

-# Livin' la vida loca

-Ba-ra-da-ra-ba

# Livin' la vida loca. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

That was just amazing!

Amazing all round.

Now, Out Of The Blue, I feel confused.

I feel like I'm in the presence of One Direction,

but also my bank manager.

LAUGHTER

Can you do your jacket thing? That is... Oh, hello.

AUDIENCE: Ooh!

That works. That works.

Now, let's find out what the judges thought. Kelis?

ScotSoul?

You guys, yeah, I love, love, love that moment

when Des and Louise, you guys come together.

Like, you really feel that, it's such a beautiful, honest moment.

You guys made me feel kind of like

Ashford and Simpson meets, like, ABBA.

I think my one note would be, trust yourselves, because you've got this.

APPLAUSE

You guys are so solid, and you sound amazing.

So don't doubt yourselves, I think would be my one thing.

And then, Out Of The Blue, you guys are technically fantastic

and I think you show really polished.

My favourite thing about you was watching you guys right after

you were done, just kind of, like, the joy and the hugging and,

like, there's something really genuine and honest about it

that I do think we miss in the performance,

because you are so polished.

So maybe kind of, in the riff, sort of

be mindful of that and bring a little bit more of the heart.

Because you guys, I mean, just seeing you here,

you're adorable. It's really cute.

Now, Chaka, what are the thoughts from Ms Khan?

You guys are at the top of your games

in two different areas.

-Being a retired hippie...

-LAUGHTER

..I really love ScotSoul.

You know, you took me back, you know?

And that warmth, and that love, peace

comes out in your music,

you got a really tight family going on

-and it's beautiful.

-Yeah.

-It's beautiful.

APPLAUSE

OK, Out Of The Blue.

You put on a show. You're really good musically.

But you also have a sense of, you know... Pam! You know...

Showmanship.

Yeah, showmanship, that's the word I'm looking for.

-I liked "Pam!"

-Yeah!

LAUGHTER

You can have that on your poster, guys.

"'Pam!' - Chaka Khan."

LAUGHTER

Now, Gareth, I noticed that you were very much up on your tootsies

at the end of that.

I... I did...

Because I know the skill involved

in creating a cappella, it's not easy.

And I think some people hear a cappella and think,

"Well, it just, it's a load of people just making noises."

But getting it together to that degree is very, very difficult.

So I actually, I stood

-because we have the same tailor.

-Yes!

LAUGHTER

You could be in the group!

I thought maybe, if the soloist goes down,

if you lose your voice, I'm available.

LAUGHTER

If I have one small thing, it was just one dynamic, really.

So going into the riff-off, I want to see more colours,

more gradations of your sound.

And I would agree with Kelis, I'd like to see a bit of heart.

Because that's what you gave me, absolutely amazing!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Really, I was very moved by the duet.

It was like when me and my wife sing together.

-Do you sing together?!

-Oh, yeah.

-Do you?

Well, I won't go into the details, but we do sing together.

LAUGHTER AUDIENCE: Aww!

That's so... Well, that this is a husband-and-wife team, Gareth.

That chemistry was very natural.

You can't fake that, and between all of you, really enjoyed that.

It's a lovely blended sound.

Your tone just goes together.

It's like luxurious, it's totally not manufactured joy, which I love.

No, it was... It was organic joy. 100% natural.

Organic, blended joy. LAUGHTER

Now, one of these groups is about to be knocked out.

And deciding their fate is, of course,

the dramatic riff-off.

CHEERING

OK, team.

Rise like the cream as we reveal the theme.

# Da, da, da, da, da, da

# Da, da, da, da, da, da da! #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Wow.

And the theme is famous people.

Let's find out whose Hollywood stars

are going to align for them tonight.

Very, very good luck, guys, all of you.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Let's Marvin Gaye and get it on

# You got the healing that I want

# Just like they say it in the song

# Until the dawn, let's Marvin Gaye and get it on, babe

# You got to give it up to me

# I'm screaming mercy, mercy please

# Just like they say it in the song

# Until the dawn, let's Marvin Gaye and get it on. #

APPLAUSE

# And it goes like this

# Take me by the tongue and I'll know you

# Kiss me till you're drunk and I'll show you

# All the moves like Jagger

# I've got the moves like Jagger

# I've got the moves like Jagger

# I don't need to try to control you

# Look into my eyes and I'll own you

# All the moves like Jagger I've got the moves like Jagger

# I've got the moves like Jagger. #

APPLAUSE

# Ra-ra Rasputin, lover of the Russian queen

# There was a cat that really was gone

# Ra ra Rasputin, lover of the Russian queen

# They didn't quit, they wanted his head

# Ra-ra Rasputin, Russia's greatest love machine

# And so they shot him till he was dead. #

Oh, those Russians.

# Starry starry night

# Paint your palette blue and grey

# Look out on a summer's day

# With eyes that know the darkness of my soul

# For they could not love you but still your love was true

# And when no hope was left in sight on that starry starry night

# You took your life as lovers often do

# But I could have told you, Vincent

# This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you. #

That ending was beautiful.

# You tried to be like Grace Kelly

# But all her looks were too sad

# So I tried a little Freddie

# I've gone identity mad

# I could be brown, I could be blue

# I could be violet sky

# I could be hurtful, I could be purple

# I could be anything you like

# I could be green, gotta be mean

# Gotta be everything more

# Why don't you like me? Why don't you like me?

# Why don't you walk out the door?

# Getting angry doesn't solve anything. #

# Vogue!

# Greta Garbo and Monroe

# Dietrich and DiMaggio

# Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean

# On the cover of a magazine

# Ooh, you've got to let your body move to the music

# Ooh, you've got to just vogue, vogue, vogue, vogue. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

That was a fierce famous battle!

ScotSoul led that whole thing off with those classic doo-wop

harmonies, the Marvin Gaye.

And then they shifted gears into Mika singing Grace Kelly with

a round robin of soloists - very impressive.

And on the other side,

Out Of The Blue put down their a cappella pitch pipe and sang with

the band, leading it off with some pop rock, hitting it hard,

and then they shifted gears and gave us a whole choral sound with Starry Starry Night.

They're both clearly going to be famous,

but is one of them on the fast track?

Oh, Deke, the Grandmaster.

APPLAUSE

Now, Des, did I really see you do the splits then?

I think so.

That's the first time I've tried it with these jeans on.

Gareth, which group's claim to fame really stood out for you?

I really genuinely liked both groups very, very much.

I think you've just got so much heart.

It should be cheesy but it isn't cos it's very, very sincere.

You've got fantastic tone, it was a really gutsy performance,

and you're fun.

You take it lightly which I really, really enjoyed.

But Out Of The Blue - I just know how hard that is.

You had great energy.

I thought Starry Starry Night - there were some lovely moments of harmony there.

Not absolutely 100% perfect, a couple of moments of flatness.

But still very, very good.

You did, however, steal my signature dance move -

the Running Man.

-Can we see a little bit of Malone Running Man?

-Yeah.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

CHEERING

I can do this for hours.

Now, Kelis, was that a good clean fight?

Yeah, it definitely was. You guys all gave it your all.

I do agree with Gareth -

you guys are so natural and there's such an ease about it that I love.

I think the blend is fantastic.

I love all the harmonies and everything about it just feels really good.

APPLAUSE

Out Of The Blue, I loved the vogueing.

I think that was a really cool thing, I thought it was really fun. I love that.

In the Riff, I was able to see more of your playful side which I

think is really important.

It's hard.

Chaka, hard for you too?

Yeah. I really don't know what to do

because you guys are fantastic in one way

and you guys in your way are fantastic, and everybody was putting it down, you know.

Out Of The Blue, you reminded me of a freaked-out glee club.

Which I love.

That's good, they'll take that.

You guys took fraternity to another level.

Cor blimey. Who'd have thought? I loved you all.

Well, only one of these groups is going to go through to

tonight's Solo Battles.

So, Chaka, which group would you like to go through to tonight's

Solo Battles?

I have to say ScotSoul.

APPLAUSE

Gareth, which group do you think deserves to go through

to the Solo Battles tonight?

You've heard from us how much we like both groups but I'm going to make a decision.

I am going to go with...

..Out Of The Blue.

APPLAUSE

Really? I'm surprised.

OK, guys.

Tense times.

One each. So, Kelis.

OK. It was really hard obviously.

I do love you both, I think you both have something so special.

I usually go with my heart and my heart says ScotSoul.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

So many congratulations to you, ScotSoul.

I think you touched everyone's heart strings.

Out Of The Blue, thank you so much for your spirit, your good vibes,

and for making everyone in this room extremely happy.

Thank you so much.

APPLAUSE

Who is going to join ScotSoul in the Solo Battles?

Well, it's time for Battle Two.

It's the City Academy Songbirds...

..and Soul Train.

ALL: We are the City Academy Songbirds.

We are an all-ladies group who meet up in the heart of the

West End to share our passion for music.

A ladies choir tends to be a lot older, whereas this choir, it's a group of friends, it's fun.

We've all got these little necklaces you can see to show that we love

to sing together and we're proud to be the Songbirds.

When we're not singing, we have been known to congregate at my house.

Oh, oh, oh, Bridesmaids!

ALL: Yes.

Our Showstopper happens to be from one of our favourite chick flicks.

So for Pitch Battle, we're going to give it everything we've got, aren't we, girls?

ALL: Yes!

We are Soul Train.

We are different to the typical because we I think we bring

a bit of an urban sound to vocal harmonies.

We've grown up together.

Like one big family.

We know each other so well, our singing is almost instinctive.

Whether we are rehearsing or not, it's cool to hang out.

For this battle, we've been working really hard, doing loads and loads of rehearsals.

We want to be ready and raring to go.

We are all just really good friends, so when it comes to battling,

no-one is going to touch us.

ALL: Soul Train!

Choo-choo.

APPLAUSE

Up first, with their Showstopper, Hold On, it's our all-singing, all-dancing show choir.

It's the City Academy Songbirds.

APPLAUSE

# I know this pain

# Why do lock yourself up in these chains?

# No-one can change your life except for you

# Don't ever let anyone step all over you

# Just open your heart and your mind

# Is it really fair to feel this way inside?

# Some day somebody's gonna make you want to

# Turn around and say goodbye

# Until then, baby, are you going to let them

# Hold you down and make you cry?

# Don't you know?

# Don't you know things can change

# Things'll go your way

# If you hold on for one more day

# Can you hold on for one more day?

# Things'll go your way

# Hold on for one more day

# I know that there is pain

# But you hold on for one more day

# And break free from the chains

# Some day somebody's gonna make you want to

# Turn around and say goodbye

# Until then, baby, are you going to let them

# Hold you down and make you cry Don't you know?

# Don't you know things can change

# Things'll go your way

# If you hold on for one more day

# Hold on. #

Very tight.

Fabulous.

Oh, delicious!

But before we hear from our judges, let's hear from the competition.

Singing their Showstopper, Human, from London, it's Soul Train.

APPLAUSE

# What can you see

# Is it clear or are you deceived by what you believe

# Cos I'm only human after all

# They're only human after all

# Don't put no blame on me, don't put your blame on me

# Maybe I'm foolish, maybe I'm blind

# Thinking I can see through this and see what's behind

# Got no way to prove it so maybe I'm blind

# Cos I'm only human after all

# I'm only human after all

# Don't put your blame on me

# Don't put your blame on me

# Don't put your blame on me

# Don't put your blame on me

# Some people got the real problems

# Some people out of luck

# Some people think I can solve them

# Lord heavens above

# I'm only human after all

# I'm only human after all

# Don't put your blame on me

# Don't put your blame on me

# Don't put your blame on me

# Don't put your blame on me

# I'm only human, I make mistakes

# I'm only human that's all it takes

# Don't put your blame on me

# Don't put your blame on me

# Don't put your blame on me

# Don't put your blame on me

# Take a look in the mirror What can you see?

# Is it clear? Are you deceived by what you believe?

# Cos I'm only human after all, they're only human after all

# Don't put no blame on me

# Don't put your blame on me. #

APPLAUSE

Come on, my loves.

Songbirds. Soul Train.

Lovely to be in a beautiful, melodic horseshoe with all of you.

I would love to do a sleepover with all you girls.

Do you all have the same onesies?

I bet you do.

We should actually. We should.

Why haven't we done that before?

Songbird onesies with maybe little wings,

little feathers.

Just a thought, gang, just a thought.

Soul Train, a first-class performance.

You all ran on time.

And there was a great buffet car in there as well...

I couldn't really continue with that, but it was blooming excellent.

How was it for you? What do you think of the competition?

It was absolutely fantastic. We had the best time, I hope that came across.

The competition were absolutely brilliant, it was so much fun to watch.

APPLAUSE

But it does just mean we're going to have to bring our A-game in the next round.

Fighting talk. Fighting talk.

Gareth, did the Songbirds set your musical heart a-flutter,

or were you on board the Soul Train?

I thought both groups were great.

Songbirds, I thought that was a very engaging opening.

It was something simple, something light, a little amuse-bouche for us

and I am looking now to see something with a bit more depth to it.

Just a couple of moments the tone got a little bit harsh so don't let

the excitement of this wonderful place make you shout and push.

Stay cool, girls.

But it was a great start.

And Soul Train absolutely was on tracks right the way through. Well done.

I got very excited because I just thought how far choirs have come

in this country that we can have a group like this

and a group like this, all styles are available.

I think that's really exciting and it's really what we want

to see in this contest.

But the detail absolutely has to be there.

-Gareth, can I just check one thing?

-Please.

Did you use the word amuse-bouche?

LAUGHTER

I... Yes.

He basically described you as a snack.

It was a musical souffle but now I'm looking for the main course.

Literally digging himself in with the food metaphors. Kelis.

Songbirds, first of all I love your bird logo.

It reminds me of my first album and I have a tattoo of that so I love that.

-Have you got a tattoo of a bird, Kelis?

-I do.

-Where is it? Where?

It's right here.

-Not now!

-Later, later.

People kind of overlook how hard it is to sing in unison and you guys

really come off as a unit and I love that.

I do agree with Gareth, I want to see what your depth is and what else

you guys have but I think that was a really fantastic start.

And, Soul Train, I love how individual you guys are. I think that's really important.

I'd like to see you guys really kind of listen to each other and move as a unit.

Pulling back a little, pushing, just so there is a more cohesive sound.

But otherwise I think the energy was great.

-Chaka Khan.

-I'm lost.

Chaka Khan, you're in Manchester, you're in Manchester.

It's the north-west of England.

Thank you.

Lost in that.

Both of you guys were just fantastic.

I know how hard it is to get up in front of all these people

and still come off really relaxed and you did it beautifully.

APPLAUSE

Now only one of these groups will go through to the Solo Battles tonight.

The other is about to be knocked out.

It all comes down to the themed Riff-Off.

APPLAUSE

Let's reveal what your theme is.

Ah. How lovely.

The theme is friendship.

Listen, remember this is only a theme -

I don't want to see any palling up between the groups.

No chummy behaviour.

Remember, this is war-bling.

Best of luck.

Everybody, best of luck.

APPLAUSE

# Ooh ooh ooh ooh

# Yeah yeah

# You can count on me like one two three

# I'll be there

# And I know when I need it I can count on you like four three two

# You'll be there

# I'll be there for you

# Cos you're there for me too

# I'll always be there for you

# It's like you're always stuck in second gear

# When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month

# Or even your year

# I'll be there for you when the rain starts to pour. #

# Under my umbrella, ella, ella

# When the sun shines, we'll shine together

# Told you I'd be here forever

# Said I'll always be a friend

# Took an oath I'ma stick it out till the end

# Now that it's raining more than ever

# Know that we'll still have each other

# You can stand under my umbrella

# You can stand under my umbrella, ella, ella

# Eh, eh, under my umbrella, ella ella, eh, eh. #

# What would you do if I sang out of tune

# Would you stand up and walk out on me?

# By with a little help from my friends

# Try with a little help from my friends

# By with a little help from my friends

# Ooh ooh ooh. #

# Can your friends do this?

# Can your friends do that?

# Can your friends pull this out of their little hat?

# Mr Aladdin, sir, have a wish or two or three

# I'm on the job, you big nabob

# You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend

# You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend

# You ain't never had a friend like me

# You ain't never had a friend like me. #

# I know that I've been messed up, you never let me give up

# I'm a pain, I'm a child, I'm afraid, but yet you understand

# That they don't stand a chance because

# When I'm with you

# I'm standing with an army

# Standing with an army

# Through the dark times, you would always find the bright side

# I'm amazed by the things that you would sacrifice

# Just to be there for me

# How you cringe when you sing out of tune

# But yet it's everything. #

Wow, the City Academy Songbirds let off with some beautiful

high resonant harmonies.

You can really feel their friendships.

And then they spun it full Disney show choir when they brought out

Aladdin's genie, right. Awesome.

And on the other side, the Soul Train took us on

a ride through pop and rock and took a left turn

at Ellie Goulding's Army.

I think the judges just got about 35 friend requests.

Will they be accepted or denied?

Oh, Deke, we all salute you.

Salute the Deke.

The Archdeke.

Now, Louise, the Umbrella dance was absolutely magnificent.

You sounded gorgeous.

Presumably though, inside, cold-blooded ruthless determination

to see Soul Train just crushed.

Do you know what, it's not really. It was more the nerves, we've never really danced before.

So we were just, like, "We need to get through it."

It's all about being here together and having an amazing time.

What do you mean you've never danced before?

We step and click sometimes but not always successfully.

I step and click, I need a hip replacement.

I'm clicking all over the shop when I step.

It looked fantastic, your dancing was really, really good.

Now, Soul Trainers. Young Ali, that voice...

Are you the sort of ace card that is going to be played here?

I mean, I wouldn't call myself the ace card.

I think the best part of our group is that we are all so good individually.

Any of these people could have stood up and done the solo.

So it was really an honour that they asked me to do it.

-Were you quite pleased it was you?

-Of course.

LAUGHTER Well done, Soul Train.

So, Kelis, it's not going to be easy, is it?

No, it's not, because they're so different.

And you guys both did a fantastic job.

Songbirds, you guys are a unit and you sound and look like...

What do you guys say here, is it "hen do"?

-A hen do?!

-Is that it?

Kelis, love, hen do is more sort of furry cuffs and...

What is it called?

Like a very sophisticated hen night.

It's like you want to hang out. You guys are so girlie, it's fun.

I do feel like there were moments when I wanted to see you kind

of, like, give us a different kind of vibe.

Louise, though, your voice is fantastic. I want to say that.

APPLAUSE

Really good.

And for Soul Train, you guys are all fantastic.

My one note - sometimes if I'm on stage I need my people with me so I'm not belting,

cos that will kind of make me lose the quality of my voice.

The other soloist, you have a wonderful, belty,

high register voice, so when she's singing, you guys can, like,

kill it, you can go in.

When Ali is singing I think it's like you have to make

adjustments for that because she does have

a really beautiful velvety voice but it is definitely

low register and it's smooth and sexy which we love.

So just kind of keep that in mind.

Now, Gareth, who put up the best fight? Come on.

I thought that was an excellent battle.

Songbirds, I thought great energy.

The moves were great.

If you've not been doing that, that's got to become a part of your act cos I think it's really good.

They move naturally. Really fun to watch.

I was looking for that extra note.

I'd like to see something gutsy from you, something deeper, some attitude.

It's very nice, and nice is good, but singing needs to show

all parts of your personality and heart.

Soul Train, I think Kelis is right,

it's tremendous what you're doing,

but ensemble is your biggest challenge.

I struggled to hear everything at times so you need to really watch

that you're listening to each other and getting out of the way of each other.

But you have got tremendous presence and it really crackled.

It felt very modern. I liked it.

Only one of them can go through to the Solo Battles later on.

Kelis, which group would you like to see going through to the

Solo Battles?

Well, it has been a very hard decision.

I am going to have to go with Soul Train.

Soul Train. Thank you very much, Kelis.

Well done, gang.

Gareth, which group do you think really deserves to go through

to our Solo Battles?

This is very difficult because I thought both performances

were pretty much equally successful.

Not much in it.

But the group that I would like to put forward to the solo round are...

Soul Train.

APPLAUSE

Chaka, who would you like to have seen go through?

I voted for Soul Train.

APPLAUSE

We're very, very sorry to see you leave, Songbirds.

There's only one place left in the Solo Battles.

Who is going to join Soul Train and ScotSoul?

Get ready for battle number three.

It's the Flyboys...

..versus the Noteables.

We are the Flyboys,

a harmony group specialising in swing and jazz with a modern twist.

We are called the Flyboys because we spend most of our lives

jetsetting around the world working on some of the biggest cruise

liners that are out there.

What we do is a bit of a tip of the hat to some of the absolute

classic crooners

like Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, but we offer it out to a new generation.

There's nothing quite like travelling and performing

with your best mates in the world.

We end up with a lot of free time when not performing

and on the sea is where we've actually honed our act.

One, two, three, spin.

We've got a big Showstopper number coming for you and it

is a really good fusion of vintage and modern.

-We are ready for battle, aren't we, boys?

-Yes, we are.

We are the Noteables.

We are a pop a cappella choir based in London.

Most of us have really serious jobs so we just love to let go and

sing our hearts out.

In our choir we have actuaries, solicitors,

teachers, people who run their own businesses, but actually we

are all secretly choir geeks.

To be in the Noteables you absolutely have to have a sense of humour.

Other choirs might think we don't take ourselves too seriously

but we can focus when we need to.

So watch out.

We'll take you down.

LAUGHTER

To actually compete head-to-head with a group,

I think it's going to be a huge challenge.

We're just going to go out there, give it our all, and bring it.

-ALL:

-Yes.

Prepare yourselves for something completely different.

Performing their unique version of some classics for their

Showstopper, it's our Rat Pack group, the Flyboys.

APPLAUSE

# He's a boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B

# Tommy used to work on the docks

# Union's been on strike He's down on his luck

# It's tough, so tough

# Gina dreams of running away

# When she cries at night

# Tommy whispers "Baby it's OK, someday."

# He's in the army now a-blowin' reveille

# He's the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B

# Whoa, we're halfway there

# Whoa, livin' on a prayer

# Take my hand, we'll make it I swear

# Whoa, livin' on a prayer

# Sister What-ya-call-em what you doin' tonight

# Hope you're in the mood because I'm feeling all right

# Ev'rybody must agree the dancin' has charm

# When you have the certain one you love in your arms

# Steppin' out with you will be a sweet interlude

# A builder-up with that will put me in the mood

# Whoa, we're halfway there

# Whoa, livin' on a prayer

# Take my hand, we'll make it I swear

# Whoa, livin' on a prayer

# Livin' on a prayer. #

-So good.

-Amazing.

Swing-a-ding-dong.

Well done, the Flyboys.

But now, ready for battle, and performing their Showstopper,

Some Nights, it's our pop choir, the Noteables.

# Some nights I stay up cashing in my bad luck

# Some nights I call it a draw

# Some nights I wish that my lips could build a castle

# Some nights I wish they'd just fall off

# This is it, boys, this is war What are we waiting for?

# Why don't we break the rules already?

# I was never one to believe the hype

# Save that for the black and white

# I try twice as hard and I'm half as liked

# But here they come again to jack my style

# And that's all right I found a martyr in my bed tonight

# She stops my bones from wondering just who I am, who I am, who I am

# Well some nights I wish that this all would end

# Cos I could use some friends for a change

# And some nights I'm scared you'll forget me again

# Some nights I always win I always win

# But I still wake up I still see your ghost

# Oh, Lord I'm still not sure what I stand for

# What do I stand for? What do I stand for?

# Most nights I don't know

# Oh, come on, oh, come on

# Oh, come on!

# Oh, come on!

# Oh. #

The vibes are so strong and so good.

Can I just say I did love your performance

in both Con Air and Captain Corelli's Mandolin?

Are you getting it?

Have people told you you look like Nicolas Cage?

Yes, actually quite a lot.

If the singing fails then I can become a lookalike...

The singing is never going to fail, Flyboys, thank you very much.

Is there anything on the end of this chain? I was slightly...

Oh, no. It's all attached.

I'm so sorry. Sorry.

That's very good.

Noteables. Can I just say, you look...

Don't they look just absolutely gorgeous?

You're all slightly matching in a beautiful way.

It's slightly Von Trapp.

But, no, but in a very cool...

In a very cool way. How was that for you, my love?

That was amazing, Mel, my heart is still beating.

I hope it is still beating,

otherwise we have a little bit of a problem on our hands

for the paramedics.

So keep it beating, OK, just keep it beating.

Chaka. Chaka Khan.

Whose Showstopper stopped the show for you?

The barbershop guys, I loved that.

That's a lost art today.

And the fact that you guys are keeping it alive, you know,

down to the spats.

The spats are great.

I love that.

And with the Noteables?

You guys have found I think a good chemistry amongst each other

and it shows. It really does.

I love you both, I love what you both have to offer.

Chaka, thank you.

Now, Gareth, are you leaning more towards one group than the

other at this point? What's going on in the Malone mind?

It's all going on in the Malone mind as ever.

There were some very exciting moments there.

Noteables, I have a couple of notes.

It was good. Difficult arrangement, it's a hard song to sing, a big, feisty song,

and it's a hard thing to fill and I think you just about got there.

It's tough in an amateur choir, you said you come together once a week.

I know how much practice these things take, so very well done.

You need to really take care of those harmonies and you had

that ninth chord, that was really good.

But in the Riff-Off I'd like to see a little more care of those

harmonies and making sure they're absolutely bang in tune.

I have to say that was a fantastic job, Flyboys.

That was a bit of a show stealer.

I love that it's barbershop but it is barbershop with

a bit of cool and swing in there.

I thought your technique matched the style really well.

All the vowels were right and nicely turned together.

You came together, that blend was there.

I want to see more.

-Now, Kelis.

-Well, the Noteables, you guys are so endearing.

It does feel very Von Trapp in the best way.

I just want to sing, "Do, a deer."

I really want to break out into song.

I do agree with Gareth, I think that there are moments where it is

a little bit chaotic I think sometimes,

because there are so many parts.

I think my notes for the Riff-Off would be just to kind of

focus on each other and make eye contact, I think that helps a lot.

That would be really helpful.

I love all the red lipstick too, by the way,

that's like a really good pop, I love that.

And then, Flyboys, I feel like this is exactly what I was looking for.

Everything was stylised and you guys had these really beautiful

kind of vintage American harmonies that I love.

For me I think the one thing I want to see is what else do you

have in your arsenal? Is it just this vintage style

or can you do something else? That's what I'm looking for.

I think that is going to be the challenge is to take that

into other styles of music, how you're going to handle that.

Flyboys, what do you have in your arsenal?

That's the question...

One group will join Soul Train and ScotSoul in the Solo Battles,

but it's final curtains for the other.

There's only one way to decide which is which -

it's the Riff-Off.

APPLAUSE

So let's reveal what your theme is.

Guys, begging.

Begging, interesting.

Very, very good luck, guys, seriously. Go for it.

APPLAUSE

# I'm begging... #

Not good, not good.

# I'm begging you Put your loving hand out baby

# I'm holding on I can't fall back

# I'm just a man about to fade to black

# Beggin', beggin' you Put your loving hand out baby. #

# You think that I'll be the other girl

# Just like there's nothing in this world

# I wanna have fun Gonna get me some

# I just don't know where you're coming from

# You got me beggin'

# Mercy, show me some mercy

# I want you, please

# I want you, please

# I'm beggin' you for mercy

# Yeah. #

# La la la la Please, please don't leave me

# Baby Please, please don't leave me

# I'm always saying how I don't need you

# But it's always gonna come right back to this

# Please don't leave me. #

# Please don't go, please don't go

# Please don't go, please don't go

# Babe, I love you so

# And I want you to know

# That I'm going to miss your love

# The minute you walk through that door

# Please don't go, don't go

# Please don't go, don't go

# Please don't, please don't go

# Hey, I need your love

# I'm down on my knees

# Beggin' please Please, please don't go. #

# Aah ah ah

# Don't leave me this way

# I can't exist I will surely miss your tender kiss

# So don't leave me this way

# Oh, baby, my heart is full of love and desire for you

# Cos only your good loving can set me free

# Baby! #

# Please, please tell me now

# Is there something I should know?

# Is there something I should say?

# That would make you come my way

# Do you feel the same cos you don't let it show

# No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

# Please, please tell me now. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

These groups are down on their knees, begging you.

The Flyboys started out. They swooped down and brought those

classic Four Seasons close harmonies, right.

Then they pulled up and sang Pink! Who was expecting that?

Meanwhile The Noteables on the other side led with those Motown

harmonies by Duffy and then did a full 1980s pop vocal thing

with Duran Duran, right.

All I know is this audience is begging for more, am I right?

CHEERING

Dekers...

Thank you for your thoughts.

Now, guys, there was some exceptional riffing going on.

There was a lot of this and a lot of that and a lot of everything.

Yes, sorry, love. I'm sorry.

Now, were you trying to make them laugh, basically, to distract them?

Laugh? We were taking that very seriously.

If they were finding that funny, that's incredibly offensive.

LAUGHTER

It was excellent, on all fronts. We loved it.

-Now, Jess? How are you doing?

-I'm all right, actually.

-Really, really enjoying it.

-I need to just check with your colleague...

Sorry. Yes, still beating. Still beating.

Yeah, we're good. They are good. We're absolutely good.

Now, Chaka, they were quite literally on their knees at times.

Begging.

What do you think?

Oi, oi, oi...

Oggi, oggi, oggi.

LAUGHTER

Sorry, it's just a thing.

You are like this beautiful United Nations kind of thing going on.

Yeah.

You know what I mean? I wanted to hear more cohesive parts.

You guys are like, from another era.

You represent a wonderful post-war beautiful harmony and the way

that you look, Fly Boys...

yeah, I can relate to that.

She's about to pick up her fan, Fly Boys.

I think that's what's happening here. There she goes.

-You made her hot!

-Oh, there's a little bit of flirtation going on there.

Now, Gareth, after all that pleading...

-Oh!

-..did they manage to break through that stone choral heart?

LAUGHTER

I'm a very warm individual.

-I know.

-Yeah, it did.

I really enjoyed Notables, you went up a gear there.

You know I love a community choir.

I love what you guys are about, it's fantastic.

I'd love to come down, have a cup of tea and sing along with you.

And that is great. You have brought that energy tonight.

It was really joyous. I thought the Duran Duran was fantastic.

The unison stuff was really good.

Simple is best, for you guys.

It's so important that you work just within yourself.

And I think at times, what let you down was you were trying to stretch,

"Hey, look, guys - we can do these harmonies!"

And you are up against these guys who are more adept at harmonies

and that is where I think you are challenged.

However, Fly Boys, you fluffed the beginning big-time.

It was really out of tune right at the start.

That dominant seventh chord came from the band and you didn't catch it.

If your main thing is vocal harmony,

be really careful of slips like that.

Made him sweat.

I was quietly dying, here.

My heart actually stopped for a second.

Now, Kelis, don't hold back.

Notables, I do have to agree with Chaka and with Gareth.

I do feel like there were some moments where I wanted you guys

to really rein it in.

But I think you really do feel the vibe.

You guys look like you are having so much fun.

Like you rapping and everything.

Where did that come from? I was not expecting it.

It was great.

And then, with Fly Boys, I was surprised by that first chord,

that harmony was intense, for me.

You eventually pulled it together.

This is going to be hard.

-Yeah.

-You guys really gave it off.

Now, there's only one spot left in the next round.

Who will take it?

Chaka? Which group would you like to see going through to the solo battles?

This is not fair.

I'm sorry, Chaka.

It's the format, I'm sorry.

LAUGHTER

-KELIS:

-Fan, fan.

-Oh, my fan.

-My fan, right.

Um...I have to go...

..with...

..the more cohesive group of people.

I have to go with Fly Boys.

CHEERING

-Gareth?

-Yes.

Which group do you think deserves to go through to the solo battles?

I'm excited to see what's going to happen in the solo battles.

And the group that I really want to see in that...

Despite a very good fight, I'm going to go with the Fly Boys.

CHEERING

Kelis, what would you have done?

Oh, I was Fly Boys.

You were Fly Boys.

You guys were... I love you guys, but you guys, I had to go that way.

Oh, Notables, we have so enjoyed having you here.

Keep the heart beating, that's important.

LAUGHTER AND CHEERING

One last time, please give it up for both The Fly Boys and The Notables.

The groups through to the solo battle are Soul Train...

Ensemble is your biggest challenge.

-Really got to show the unity that we have...

-But we have, anyway.

-..on and off stage.

-ScotSoul...

-You guys are fantastic.

-We just gave absolutely everything.

-So good.

-We made ourselves proud.

And the Fly Boys.

This is exactly what I was looking for.

What else do you have in your arsenal?

That was our secret weapon, just have fun.

If we're having fun, hopefully that carried across, which I think it did.

Well, we started with six, now we are down to three.

And this is when the pressure really bites.

The fate of each group now lies on the shoulders of one person

who must step forward to perform in the solo battle.

Once all three have performed, the judges will decide which two groups

will go through to tonight's final battle.

Deke, one of these groups is about to leave completely empty-handed.

Do you think, so far, the judges have made the right decisions?

I think they have made the right decisions, but it's tough because

the truth is, a cappella is my world and one of the greatest male

collegiate a cappella groups in the world are the boys right there.

Out Of The Blue.

-You've got to love them.

-CHEERING

They're so good. They're so good.

Gentlemen...

But they're young.

They'll have bright futures and they are going to Oxford,

so I'm sure in about three years I'll be working for all of them!

I will be.

Now, um...

Deke, what advice would you give to the groups going forward now,

to the soloists? There is a lot on their shoulders, isn't there?

The judges have heard the group harmony, they've heard different styles.

Now it's about telling a story. It's about the song.

And each person now needs to step forward and crystallise the lyric