The Semi-Final The Choir

Choirmaster Gareth Malone

has got four of Britain's busiest workplaces singing.

TANNOY: Good morning, everyone.

I'm here to start the choir.

The Royal Mail in Bristol...

# We can work it out #

# We can work it out... #

..Lewisham NHS Trust...

# We all need somebody

# To lean on... #

..Severn Trent Water...

# Under pressure

# That burns a building down

# Splits a family in two... #

..and Manchester Airport.

# My light shines on

# My light shines on... #

It's now time for them to compete against each other.

For their next performance, they'll sing in front of a panel of judges.

We've been signing together for two months.

-I mean, listen to the sound of that.

-Fabulous.

-Absolutely gorgeous.

When I was learning to sing,

it was through competing with other people that I got better.

And I want that for these choirs, I want them to FEEL the pressure

and get better.

Only the best three choirs will go on to

perform at an international festival of choral music,

when one will be crowned Gareth's best workplace choir.

Months and months of work and slog come down to THAT one moment

when you're on stage - that's why I love it.

GARETH HUMS: # Sing, sing, sing

# Everybody start to sing

# Honey, I woke

# And now you're singing with a swing... #

For the semi-final there are four new songs.

These songs are songs that require a performance. They're show songs.

So they have a totally different level of complexity

and energy required.

# If they could see me now

# That little gang of mine... #

Because at the final of the contest they will be performing

to thousands of people, I think they need to step it up a bit.

They needed to learn the lessons of being on that stage in front

of those judges and performing under that kind of scrutiny and pressure.

Because it will feel like that in the final.

# To feel the rhythm of life

# To feel the powerful need

# To feel the tingle in your fingers

# To feel the tingle in your feet. #

I think it's going to be a big challenge for them.

I think they were just feeling that they knew how to do it.

And this is going to unseat them all.

In four weeks' time, all four choirs will perform in front of the judges.

Over the next week, Gareth will travel the country

to reveal their new songs.

GARETH: Hello.

ALL: Hello. GARETH: How are you?

First stop, Bristol and the Royal Mail.

We are now in the contest.

ALL: Oooh!

MAN: God!

ALL LAUGH

So...

You're going to sing a new song for the semi-final.

And that song, that the judges want you to sing, is...

Very energetic, very exciting, full of life.

It's called, "The Rhythm Of Life".

ALL: Oh! All right!

MUSIC: "The Rhythm of Life" from "Sweet Charity"

# Daddy started out in San Francisco

# Tooting on his trumpet, loud and mean

# Suddenly a voice said, "Go forth, Daddy"

# Spread the picture on a wider screen

# And the voice said,

# "Daddy, there's a million pigeons waiting to be hooked on new religion

# "Hit the road, Daddy, leave your common-law wife

# "Spread the religion of the Rhythm of Life"

# And the Rhythm of Life is a powerful beat

# Puts a tingle in your fingers and a tingle in your feet

# Rhythm in your bedroom, rhythm in the street

# Yes, the rhythm of life is a powerful beat... #

So... Sssh, sssh, sssh.

Er, that's the Rhythm of Life. It is going to be challenging.

The next few weeks are going to be really hard work for everyone.

So, I suggest we just look at the words.

The worst bit for me is "Daddy was a new sensation

"Got himself a congregation

"He built up quite an operation down below

"With the pie-eyed piper blowing While the muscatel was flowing

"All the cats were go, go, go-ing down below."

-It's quite hard.

-Whose line is that?

ALL LAUGH

Ready...and.

# ALL: Daddy started out in San Francisco... #

I quite like it Bristolian.

# Daddy started out in San.... #

OK. I'd like you to sing it out like an opera singer.

# Daddy started out in San Francisco

# Tooting on his trumpet loud and mean... #

Ready...one...and.

# ALL: Daddy started out in San Francisco

# Tooting on his trumpet loud and mean... #

It's the best sound you've ever made.

ALL LAUGH

Honestly. Yeah.

Because it was rich...and if you could do that without the faces,

it would be ideal.

ALL LAUGH

HE MIMICS CHOIR

It doesn't need that. You've got to tell this song

like it's the most important thing you've ever told

anyone in your whole lives.

# Daddy started out in San Fran... # Where?

What? Who? How did it happen?

These are the questions that the audience want to know.

Here we go...one...and.

PIANO BEGINS

Hold your sheets up.

Tell me the story. What happened?

# ALL: Daddy started out in San Francisco... # And?

# Tooting on his trumpet loud and mean... # What happened?

# Suddenly a voice said go forth Daddy

# Spread the picture on a wider screen... #

Can I...? Shhh.

-Have you ever told a story to a child?

-Yes.

Right. What do you do when you tell a story to a child?

-Do actions.

-You animate it.

You put added emphasis.

Yeah. Can you demonstrate how we animate rhythm in the bedroom?

ALL LAUGH

If you like.

-Brilliant.

-It's not like singing,

it's more like acting.

So you don't have to... It's not. You don't have to....aaah!

I can't explain it. It's more fun.

You just sing like you said, "Pretend to be an Opera."

La la la la la!

And it's easier. And I've never ever heard the song before?

-Haven't you?

-No.

What they lack in choral finesse, this choir,

I think they can make up for in terms of getting the song across.

But if they're not putting the song across, then they really are

at a serious disadvantage.

You have got to tell the story of the song.

You have got to get the meaning across.

And that is something that anyone can do,

no matter how much singing you've done.

That's not about beauty of tone or breath control,

or experience, it's simply about saying,

"These are the words. Here they are."

Gareth's next stop -

Manchester Airport.

Hello! ALL: Hello!

It's very good to see you all.

The song that you're going to sing for the semi-final

is called, appropriately, "Sing Sing Sing" by the Andrews sisters.

Do you know it? Does anyone know "Sing Sing Sing"?

Shall I play it to you?

MUSIC: "Sing Sing Sing" By the Andrews Sisters

Yeah, I know it.

-That's right up your street.

-I like it.

Got the idea?

So quite jazzy, quite fun.

This is very much a performance song.

It's a chance to show your personalities, a chance to show off.

So...let's all sing, "Sing, sing, sing..."

Ready...sell it to your audience. Imagine they're there.

Three...

# ALL: "Sing, sing, sing, sing everybody starts to sing

# Lah-dee-dah... #

ALL LAUGH

That is how it goes, "Lah-dee-dah..."

That sounded great.

One, two, three...

# ALL: Sing, sing, sing, sing everybody starts to sing...

I just think...watch you're not going, "Sing, sing, sing, sing..."

It's sing, sing, sing...

I can hear it. You can sense it.

There's a kind of lack of impact and emphasis

that you really need to address.

So we really get that attack and onset of the sound,

really strong and confident.

# Sing, sing... # Say, "Eh!"

ALL: Eh!

That's it. It's got to come from here.

Eh! Breath with me and...

ALL: Eh!

That's it. I think it's all about the "eh" of the "ing".

Stand up. Sing it then.

I want them to hear the tune. Two, three, and...

# ALL: Everybody starts to sing... #

That's great. That's really great. Much better.

I still feel there could be more excitement from some.

# Everybody start to sing... #

Yeah? That. Two...three...and

# ALL: Everybody starts to sing... #

Yeah, and "si-i-ng".

Can you hear how that's totally different?

And you can feel everyone around you breathing.

So it's something to work on.

That's an excellent point to end on.

Lots and lots of work ahead. It's game on, quite frankly.

Yeah. I think the pressure's on for the contest now, definitely,

cos it's not far away so... We've really got to get our heads on now,

and really go for it.

Yeah, we can # Sing, sing, sing, sing

# Da da da da da da da... #

It's confusing....because it tells you to do the opposite

of what we've been practising for so long,

and the real choral flavour of singing.

This song seems to do completely the opposite and it's like just...

loosen up and go for it.

At this stage in the contest, it's not the surprise factor,

it's not, "Wow, isn't that wonderful that Manchester Airport

"has a choir?" We accept that, they've got a choir.

How good are they? That's what's going to be crucial.

The demands of a song that's about performance are

very different from something that's more internal and reflective.

They've got to get out there,

they've got to show their personality.

And they've got to apply all their skill to doing that with

a piece of music that is in tune and that is rhythmically together.

And there's a lot for them to do.

200 miles further south,

Gareth's next stop is Lewisham NHS Trust in London.

Good morning!

ALL: Good morning

Hello. Erm... I've got some new music for you.

ALL CHEER

It's called "Accentuate The Positive"

Eliminate the negative.

That's the one. Erm...good. You should enjoy this, I think.

"Accentuate The Positive", here it is. Pass those round.

This is a performance song,

so you're going to have to find that within you.

So if we can do # You've got to a... # That bit.

Ready. From the top. One, two, three...

# ALL: You've got accentuate the positive

# Eliminate the negative

# Latch on to the affirmative

# Don't mess with Mister In-Between... #

OK. Right there. Immediately, I feel as if you're going to need to

twang this up a bit.

# You've gotta... # Yeah? You've gotta.

Definitely not # You've got to... # Doesn't work.

Erm...yes.

We were having a bit of a debate about smiling,

and the quality of the singing if we smile.

Are we allowed to smile? Are we supposed to smile?

Oh, God. Please smile.

It's like watching a funeral otherwise.

How can you say... Say "positive".

ALL: Positive.

Positive.

ALL: Positive.

Yeah. You can't say "positive", can you?

But let's see if we can get it in the faces.

Gents, stand up...and let's just sing to the ladies.

Just gents. So one...two...three.

# MEN: You've got accentuate the positive

# Eliminate the negative

# Latch on to the affirmative

# Don't mess with Mister In-Between... #

Aaron's just come to life.

ALL CHEER

I quite like this, "Yeah".

It's like...just this sort of bubble of joy.

Everyone. One, two, three...

# ALL: You've got to accentuate the positive

# Eliminate the negative

# Latch on to the affirmative

# Don't mess with Mister In-Between... #

Even...he almost broke into a smile!

ALL CHEER

The stuff about performance is very important -

there's no question about that.

And...if you're not a particularly demonstrative person,

then that can be a bit challenging.

That's the whole point of the exercise, really.

It's trying to do something

that you're not normally comfortable with.

We like the new song. We're just planning our dance moves...

Jim was just doing his trumpet impression.

All right...

HE MIMICS TRUMPET

It's so good!

Yeah. That's my trumpet.

There are some people in the Lewisham choir who are

used to performing,

but there are some who really aren't being expressive enough yet.

When they get to see the other choirs,

they'll realise how much they're giving it,

just in terms of energy and fun.

I'm just all over the place at the moment,

so many choirs, so many notes, so many miles.

At the end of Gareth's 500-mile round trip,

Severn Trent Water,

Coventry.

Hello!

ALL: Hello.

I've been thinking a lot about water.

Every time I flush the toilet, I think about you lot.

ALL LAUGH

So that's nice.

It is time, ladies and gentlemen, for you to have a new song,

something for you to sharpen your skills on.

This is a different kind of song for you.

It's a little bit more razzle-dazzle, this one,

which I think you'll enjoy.

It is a song called "If They Could See Me Now" by Connie Francis.

SONG: "If They Could See Me Now" by Connie Francis.

# If they could see me now that little gang of mine

# I'm eating fancy chow and drinking fancy wine

# I'd like those stumble bums to see for a fact

# The kind of first rate top drawer chums I attract... #

So there we go. What do we think of that?

ALL: Yeah.

Yeah? Camp.

Camp is the word.

It is high, high campery.

Gents, how are we feeling about being highly camp?

Oh, I can do camp. Oh, girlfriend, I can do camp.

ALL LAUGH

Here you are. Just pass them round.

Here we go.

I think, first off, let's look at the first page.

# LOUD: If they could see me now that little gang of mine... #

It's...come on. And...one.

# ALL: If they could see me now

# That little gang of mine

# I'm eating fancy chow and drinking fancy wine

# I'd like the stumble bums to see for a fact... #

Well, we're getting somewhere.

That's good.

So... I'm going to give you a bit of homework to do.

I think you should have some movement in this.

With movement, it has to come organically from the material.

It has to come from you.

# If they could see me now... #

Just a little bit of movement, might be that.

It's might just be a little toe tap, or it a whole...

# If they could... #

It could be...who knows?

We don't want to try and be extravagant

and not pull be able to pull it off.

I think there's a bit of an issue with it because people

don't feel confident enough in the music to concentrate on it.

I don't think we should be focussing on movement at all yet.

I think we need to at least...like...

feel comfortable with the whole thing,

the whole piece, before we start thinking about movement.

I've resisted doing movement with choirs before because, actually,

it's incredible difficult. It's really complicated.

And when you're just trying get the sound right

and you're trying to teach a choir to sing, it can be a bit much.

But our audience is there to enjoy your performance,

so you have to show them a generous spirit.

I think it's very good for them to just loosen up a bit,

start to move.

Even though it's difficult to coordinate both -

quality singing and movement.

# ALL: You've got spread joy up to the maximum

# Bring gloom... #

All four choirs will have to create their own distinctive routine.

# Have faith in pandemonium... #

They have just three weeks to prepare.

# When the music goes around

# Everybody goes to town... #

They might as do that with their arms,

you know you're going round then, don't you?

So it is you left foot and your right hand.

At the Royal Mail, accounts manager Naomi Parr

is trying to get the posties to give it some rhythm.

San Francisco, tooting on your trumpet,

loud and mean.

ALL CHATTER

Please, I promise it isn't difficult.

I promise you.

# Daddy started out in San Francisco

# Tooting on his trumpet loud and mean

# Suddenly a voice said go forth Daddy... #

So you'll be like that.

"Spread the picture on a wider screen."

Can we just do that first bit, please? Yeah?

Ready...

# ALL: Daddy started out in San Francisco

# Tooting on his trumpet loud and mean

# Suddenly a voice said go forth Daddy

# Spread the picture on a wider screen

# And the voice said brother there's a million pigeons

# Ready to be hooked on new religions

# Hit the road Daddy leave your common law wife

# Spread the religion of The Rhythm of Life. #

One more time.

The choreography I found really difficult,

cos I'm a simple man, I can only think about one thing at a time.

Erm...it's coming together now.

But we've had to put a lot of hard work in to get it as such.

Cos trying to remember the words, trying to get things right,

and trying to... For some reason, ladies do it a lot better.

-So...

-I don't know. I don't know.

I think the men are doing pretty well on the choreography, yeah.

I'm really happy with the way we worked today,

and I can't wait for the next few weeks as well.

So...it will look really effective.

Severn Trent Water.

Having initially resisted dance moves,

they're finally on their feet.

Now skip!

In the executive board room, meter reader Liam McNamara

is leading the way.

All right, guys, stop. Stop. Stop.

I think we're warmed up now.

I am.

The plan is to get the moves sorted, over and done with,

out the way, and then focus on the music.

If we start at "Top drawer first rate chums".

ALL LAUGH

That is very camp, but it looks good.

It's like he's in a boy band video.

ALL LAUGH

One, two, three, go.

# ALL: I'd like the stumble bums to see for a fact

# The type of top drawer first rate chums I attract... #

ALL LAUGH

That actually looks really good.

That looked really good.

Can we...? Shall we just make a decision on stumble bums?

Cos we were all doing that and that at the wrong point so...

# ALL: I'd like the stumble bums to see for a fact

# The kind of top drawer first rate chums I attract

# All I can say is wow-ee looka where I am

# Tonight I landed pow right in a pot of jam... #

That looks... That does look really good.

I think the frustration last week

was we were just chomping at the bit.

We'd just got our hands on the music,

and we just really wanted to learn the music.

So...that's where we thought our focus should be.

Whereas this week we're kind of like,

-"OK. We're getting there with that bit, let's..."

-I think so.

I think it'll work.

Well done, Liam, not an easy task.

ALL APPLAUD

That was harder than I expected it to be.

At the NHS in Lewisham, Gareth's checking on progress.

The men are rehearsing on one of the wards.

They're doing their dance moves.

I'm only smiling cos I just cannot imagine these guys dancing.

I think it could be quite entertaining.

# ALL: You better accentuate the positive

# Eliminate the negative

# Latch on to the affirmative

# Don't mess with Mister In-Between No.... #

-Other way.

-Oh, that way. Sorry.

Hello!

ALL: Hello.

That's great. How's it going?

-Erm...

-Yes...

-Oh, that well(!)

Good. Excellent.

The dancing is badly undermining the singing.

-Is it really?

-Oh, yes.

Can I see it in its current state?

# ALL: You've got accentuate the positive

# Eliminate the negative

# Latch on to the affirmative

# Don't mess with Mister In-Between.

# Don't mess with Mister In-Between

# No don't mess with Mr In-Between... #

Everyone looks really bored.

Oh, God! It was like a load of convicts.

One, two, three.

# ALL: You've got to spread joy up to the maximum

# Bring gloom down to the minimum

# Have faith in pandemonium

# Liable to walk upon the scene... #

Yeah. It just looks like... I'm thinking, "One step, and two step,

"accurate, then change and do this." It can't be like that.

It's got to come out of the music.

It's all about your communication with the audience.

You've got to reach out to them.

Aaron did a cool thing, just then.

When he did the # No don't mess... #

He kind of did a little bit of cheeky lean,

and a bit of a foot fling.

It would be nice if everybody had a thing with their neighbour.

Yeah. Do you want to just show us what you did, Aaron?

Ready. One, two, three...

# ALL: No don't mess with Mister In-Between... #

Look at the hand.

You know, why not? Just like a little...yeah.

# Between... # You are allowed to move.

I think that's the thing.

You can have little individual gestures like that.

I think it's really nice.

Yeah! Yeah! Why not?

You can touch, you can move, you can lean on someone,

or you find a little pose.

It's not...you can't separate out the emotion from music -

it's part of it.

And it just does, at the moment,

look like they're doing it by numbers.

# You gotta... #

You can just see it in their eyes.

And getting to that point where they can just have fun and really

be out their singing to the audience is a challenge.

With less than two weeks until the choirs must perform to the judges,

Gareth heads back to Manchester Airport,

to help put some swing in their routine.

Hey! How are you all? You all right?

Good.

OK. One, two, three.

# ALL: Sing, sing, sing, sing... #

Each one of you... I want to go...

I want to see you say to the audience, "I'm right here."

So stand like that. Does that not come easily?

Cos that... I mean, I don't think this is a...

# Sing, sing, sing, sing... # type song.

It's a # Sing, sing, sing... #

It's a bit of a loose-y goose-y. Is that a technical...? Whoo!

There's no stopping you now, is there?

Let's just watch these three.

One, two, three, and...

# Sing, sing, sing, sing everybody starts to sing

# CHORUS: Lah-dee-dah woah

# Now you're singing with a swing

# When the music goes around

# Everybody goes to town

# Here is something you should know

# Woah, baby, woah

# Sing, sing, sing, sing

# Everybody starts to sing

# Lah-dee-dah woah

# Now you're singing with a swing

# Sing, sing, sing... #

So you're like, "I'm here. I'm here."

And Daz just does that naturally.

-All the time.

-All the time.

Exactly. And this is the once occasion in your life, probably,

when it's actually useful and an asset.

I think other people who find it hard to smile...

I'm always smiling so...it's easy for me.

Second nature. But other people that I've noticed...

There are a few, probably, quieter people in our choir,

-that have just got to relax a bit.

-Yeah.

That's the trouble, I think.

I think once you actually get up there and perform,

that might be hard for some of them.

OK. Now everyone. One...two...three...and.

# ALL: Sing, sing, sing, sing

# Everybody starts to sing... #

I'm concerned that they're just holding back a bit,

and that personality that is so great,

isn't coming through in their singing.

# Music comes around everybody goes to town... #

If there isn't a sense of grabbing and audience

and grabbing each phrase by the horns,

it's just not... There's going to be no impact.

# ALL: Everybody starts to sing

ALL: # Lah-dee-dah woah now they're singing with a swing. #

There's just a week to go before the judging,

and Gareth's back at Severn Trent Water for their final rehearsal.

I'd like to see what you've come up with.

I'd like to see your moves.

Are you ready to bust out a few moves for me?

Yeah? Here we go and...

# ALL: If they could see me now

# That little gang of mine

# I'm eating fancy chow and drinking fancy wine

# I'd like the stumble bums to see for a fact

# The type of first drawer first rate... #

Ta...ta...ta...top drawer... I'd like to go back

to "I'd like those stumble bums".

Now put in the moves. OK. Here we go. One, two, same.

# ALL: I'd like the stumble bums to see for a fact

# The kind of top drawer first rate chums I attract... #

Oh, we've got a bit of tuning there, so can I just do your whole line,

basically. One, two...one.

# I'd like the stumble bums to see for a fact

# The kind of top drawer first rate chums... #

That's totally not it.

Just give me your first note. One.

# Top.... #

# Top.... #

I think the movement has really unseated them, actually.

I think they're struggling to get the movement

and the singing together.

And I think they've taken a step back.

Do actions, keep the actions in. Here we go. One, two, one.

# ALL: All I can say is wow-ee look at where I am

# Tonight I landed pow right in a pile of jam... #

That...aargh! There's one. I can't go through every single bar

and make it like it was... You've got to use your own sense.

We're not singing the words together

We should have come in with # If they could... #

Just nobody singing.

-The moves make it harder.

-They do.

We'll just have to sing it on the coach on the way down all the time.

Bit of an eye-opener, this rehearsal with Gareth.

Realising what parts we're doing wrong

and which parts we're getting right...

They're right, but they need to be a bit better.

I've had moments in rehearsal with this choir where I've thought,

"Yes, this is great. Sounds great.

"They've got a really good male section,

and they've got a really good strong sound at the bottom."

But I think there is a danger, if they sing on Tuesday

like they sang at the beginning of the rehearsal today,

I think it would be goodnight, frankly, cos it wasn't good enough.

Hoping to impress Gareth in their final rehearsal, the Royal Mail.

We think it's good,

but we don't know whether Gareth will think it's good.

So...I hope we do sing well.

I'll be gutted if he thinks it's horrible,

because it's a bit late to change it now.

Morning. It's the last rehearsal.

Thank you.

-So, have you got some moves for me?

-Yes we have.

I'm really excited. I'm looking forward to seeing this.

I hope that this is ready for the judges,

because we're now three days away from the semi-final.

So let's see it.

# ALL: Daddy started out in San Francisco

# Tooting on his trumpet loud and mean

# Suddenly a voice said go forth Daddy

# Spread the picture on a wider screen

# And the voice said brother there's a million pigeons

# Ready to be hooked on new religions

# Hit the road Daddy leave your common law wife

# Spread the religion of The Rhythm of Life

# And The Rhythm of Life is a powerful beat

# It's a tingle in your fingers and a tingle in your feet

# Rhythm in your bedroom rhythm in the street

# Yes The Rhythm of Life is a powerful beat

# The Rhythm of Life is a powerful beat

# Yes The Rhythm of Life is a powerful beat

# The Rhythm of Life is a powerful powerful beat... #

Wow! Very, very good, well done! I'm really impressed!

I have to say you absolutely knocked my socks off with that first bit.

Well done.

I would be just really cautious about doing that out the front.

So if you just cheat it out ever so slightly on an angle.

That's a bit more jazz, and this is a bit more Nazi.

LAUGHTER

So, just be... I'd hate for that to be

what everyone remembered about your performance.

I'm impressed. I think they've done very, very well

in a very short space of time. It's not perfect, it really isn't.

But I think it's pretty good.

In the final run up to the contest

all the choirs put in extra practice.

-# ..In between... #

-Turn!

# You gotta spread joy to the maximum... #

Of course I want to win this cos I want to show everybody

how passionate we are and how hard we've worked to get where we are.

# Sing sing sing sing everybody's... #

BOTH: # Sing sing sing sing everybody start to sing... #

# When the music rolls around

# Everybody goes... # This way.

# The rhythm of life is a powerful beat

# It's a tingle in your fingers and a tingle in your feet

# Rhythm in your bedroom Rhythm in the street

# The rhythm of life is a powerful beat. #

I think people now know that we've got to step up to the plate really,

and we've got to work really, really hard,

cos none of us are talking about going home, we don't want to go home.

It's the day of the performance,

when all four choirs must sing before the judges

at Bristol's prestigious Colston Hall.

It's the first time Gareth's choirs will compete.

'I'm feeling very edgy, actually.

'I'm really happy about the choirs. I think they're really good.

'Each choir has its own individual personality and I'm looking forward

'to seeing how that comes through, because everything else is the same.

'The amount of time I've spent with them,

'the arrangements are very similar.

'It's down to them and their individual personalities.

'I can't wait to see them all lined up.

'All the posties in their shorts and all the nurses in their uniforms.

'I think it'll be great, really lovely to see them

'and just to think that Britain's workforce is coming together.'

It's the calm before the storm at this point.

I'm ready.

After three months of rehearsals...

-It's not doctors and nurses, is it?

-No, probably not, not doctors.

That's an airport, look at that.

..the choirs are finally coming together.

-I'm Liam.

-Jamie.

-Jamie. Have you enjoyed being in the choir?

-Yeah.

The best thing to come out of it,

sort of finding out about other parts of the company

and the people that you would never have come across in your life.

Each of the choirs will perform in front of three independent judges

chosen by Gareth for their musical expertise.

Renowned conductor Manvinder Rattan is a champion of workplace choirs.

They're going to be quite tough for us to judge,

which means that we're going to drilling down to very fine detail

to differentiate between choirs today.

The key thing I'm looking for is technical skills.

I'm looking forward to hearing some really good quality singing.

Ruby Turner is an internationally acclaimed

soul, gospel and R&B singer.

I've sung with choirs, I've heard choirs sing

and so I kind of know what I want and what to expect.

I'll be looking for the passion in the sound.

I want to be moved by it, I want to be uplifted by a piece

and feel connected and feel like I want to join in.

Esteemed choirmaster Ralph Alwood

is the former head of music at Eton College.

We're asking these guys to do an extraordinary thing.

We're asking them to get things right

that people who have been singing in choirs for years and years

still often don't get right. Ultimately something,

which is technically perfect, delivered with flair.

The choirs will be judged on technical excellence

and emotional impact. One choir must leave the contest today.

Gareth will have no say in the decision.

It's now getting difficult because one of these choirs is going to go

and it's really painful actually. I look at their faces

and they're really trusting in me and I, you know,

I have to build them up and someone's about to be knocked out.

Getting ready to perform, the Royal Mail.

We've practiced and practiced and practiced, we've come a million miles

and I think the only thing is that we just need to do ourselves justice.

I'm still so excited and yet so nervous at the same time.

It's strange. Strange sensations.

-No-one wants to make a mistake, do we?

-No. It's like your wedding day!

-It is like your wedding day.

-Really exciting.

It's been tremendous hard work to remember when to come in

with the right facial expressions and get that story right,

I've been practicing in front of my wife and son.

You know, expressive with the eyes popping out and the rest of it.

And the little wink on the end and things like that.

Believe me, this is not going to faze me today.

I'm ready for this, I really am. So excited and ready.

-Hi! Hello!

-Sshh!

-How you feeling? Ready for this?

-Yes.

-Good.

Just go for it. You're supposed to be having fun. OK, go. Good luck.

-You're going to be great.

-Bring it on.

-Yes! Come on, Sam, come on!

# Daddy started out in San Francisco

# Tooting on his trumpet loud and mean

# Suddenly a voice said Go forth, Daddy

# Spread the picture on a wider screen

# And the voice said Brother, there's a million pigeons

# Ready to be hooked on new religions

# Hit the road, Daddy Leave your common-law wife

# Spread the religion of The Rhythm Of Life

# Oh the rhythm of life is a powerful beat

# Puts a tingle in your fingers and a tingle in your feet

# Rhythm in your bedroom Rhythm in the street

# Yes the rhythm of life is a powerful beat

# To feel the rhythm of life

# To feel the powerful beat

# To feel the tingle in your fingers

# To feel the tingle in your feet

# Daddy spread the gospel in Milwaukee

# Took his walkie talkie to Rocky Ridge

# Blew his way to Canton then to Scranton

# Till he landed under the Manhattan Bridge

# Daddy was the new sensation Got himself a congregation

# Built up quite an operation down below

# With the pie-eyed piper blowing while the muscatel was flowing

# All the cats were go go going down below

# Oh the rhythm of life is a powerful beat

# Puts a tingle in your fingers and a tingle in your feet

# Rhythm in your bedroom Rhythm in the street

# Yes the rhythm of life is a powerful beat

# To feel the rhythm of life

# To feel the powerful beat

# To feel the tingle in your fingers

# To feel the tingle in your feet

# The rhythm of life is a powerful beat

# Yes the rhythm of life is a powerful beat

# The rhythm of life is a powerful powerful beat. #

MOUTHS: Well done.

Thank you. You may leave the stage now.

-Nailed it!

-Fantastic, fantastic!

-Magic! Brilliant! Loved it!

Oh, fantastic! It was great!

It was good. I think we nailed it actually.

-I want to do it again, now.

-Yeah, I want to do it again.

Did you see when we went like that,

they all started writing, the judges.

They either were writing "Excellent," or "Rubbish."

It brought a smile to my face. The energy once they got on that stage.

There was a real determination to entertain there, wasn't there?

Well, I just found that their impact was remarkable

because they came on and sang quietly to start with

and grabbed our attention and that's quite difficult to do.

And I liked it very much.

Yeah, they told a story. What also was wonderful, you know,

they were enjoying being there and I enjoyed watching them.

They were telling the story, it was great.

However, the balance wasn't quite right

between the male and the female voices.

I never thought they'd pull off a performance like that.

That just had real heart.

I was swept away by it, and I had to really think,

"Oh, no, must keep conducting." I was just listening to them,

thinking "Wow! You've improved so much!" I was really proud of them.

They definitely had moments they were not quite together,

but I think they might get away with it.

Next on stage Manchester Airport.

We need to shock the judges, we need a bit of wow factor.

We all need to come together as a choir.

I think we're good, we just need to show

cos we get one chance today to prove ourselves.

My hands are shaking, I've got butterflies.

I'm going to pray now for five minutes. Before the performance

I'll pray to God.

God, help us! This time we should not be on the negative list.

-Hello!

-Hello.

-Everyone OK?

-Yes.

-Ready for this?

-Yes.

All I'd say is just sizzle out there.

Your asset for me has always been your personality. OK.

Good luck, off you go.

# Sing sing sing sing

# Everybody starts to sing

# La dee da woah oh

# Now you're singing with a swing

# Sing sing sing sing

# Everybody starts to sing

# La dee da woah oh

# Now you're singing with a swing

# When the music goes around

# Everybody goes to town

# Here is something you should know

# Woah baby woah oh

# Sing sing sing sing

# Everybody starts to sing

# La dee da woah oh

# Now you're singing with a swing

# Sing sing sing

# Everybody starts to sing

# La dee da woah oh

# Now you're singing with a swing

# Sing sing sing

# Everybody starts to sing

# La dee da woah oh

# Now you're singing with a swing

# When the music goes around

# Everybody goes to town

# Here is something you should know

# Woah baby woah oh

# Sing sing sing sing

# Everybody starts to sing

# La dee da la dee da

# Woah oh woah oh

# La dee da woah oh

# Now you're singing with a swing

# Sing sing sing. #

You can leave the stage now.

Well done!

-Oh, God!

-Very emotional. Very, very emotional.

It's all right.

Always come prepared. Fire service.

I told you! I told you!

They had much more connection with their audience

than they've ever had before. They really looked out from the beginning

when the altos come in. It was a real sense of them all looking out,

enjoying the song. They looked like they were having fun.

I hope they liked it.

There were many characters on that stage that really grabbed me

from the outset, but there were, if I'm going to brutally honest,

some discrepancies there as well.

But very lovely harmonies were happening there

and I loved the end bit. The crescendos was great, a great ending.

Overall, I thought it was pretty good. My only little concern

was just that it was a little bit hesitant occasionally. A bit unsure.

The middle section, a little bit after the beat,

just slightly behind the piano. They needed more impact with the rhythm.

Next up, Severn Trent Water.

It's starting to feel real now.

You know, sitting here waiting to go out and perform.

I'm not nervous but I worry that I'm going to walk onto that stage...

And fall apart.

..see the space for the first time, and my knees

are going to buckle or something.

-Hello.

-Hello!

-Everyone OK?

-Yeah!

-Good. OK.

Right, my only advice to you is just to have a really good time.

OK, off you go.

# If they could see me now

# That little gang of mine

# I'm eating fancy chow and drinking fancy wine

# I'd like those stumble bums to see for a fact

# The kind of top drawer First rate chums I attract

# All I can say is wowee Look at where I am

# Tonight I landed pow

# Right in a pot of jam

# What a set up

# Holy cow!

# They'd never believe it If my friends could see me now

# If they could see me now

# My little dusty group

# Traipsing round this million dollar chicken coop

# I'd hear those thrift shop cats say, brother, get her

# Draped on a bed spread made of three kinds of fur

# All I can say is wow Wait till the riff and raff

# See just exactly how he signs this autograph

# What a build up

# Holy cow!

# They'd never believe it If my friends could see me now

# They'd never believe it They'd never believe it

# They'd never believe it They'd never believe it

# To think the highest brow Which I must say is he

# Should pick the lowest brow Which there's no doubt is me

# What a step up Holy cow!

# They'd never believe it Never believe it, never believe it

# If my friends could see me now. #

Thank you. You may leave the stage now.

-We nailed it.

-That's was amazing!

-That was wicked. Oh my God.

-Hey!

-Well done.

I got all my dance moves right.

That was awesome.

-Considering there was only three people there...

-Yeah.

That felt like the performance of our lives.

That was amazing.

That was definately the best time we've ever done it.

I think it connected with the audience.

I thought pretty good. It wasn't perfect.

We didn't quite come together in a gorgeous sort of sumptuous harmony.

There was a real excitement on stage,

but I don't know how that translated to the judges.

See what they have to say.

They made me smile and it's great. Their attitude was good.

-I loved the vibe of it.

-I thought they were great.

They were clearly enjoying themselves,

it's their presentation, which was not a problem before

but could have been improved and they clearly have.

I think they made progress there,

but there's a little bit more to be had.

Last to take the stage - Lewisham NHS Trust.

An independent survey of everybody in this room

says that we are the best.

We're just going to go out there, smile, sing and do our best.

The slightly more difficult bit for me

is the facial expression and all that kind of stuff.

And, at the same time,

trying to put all the feet moves in the right place at the right time.

Well, actually, now we're here, I'm really nervous!

My legs, like walking down those stairs, were like shaking.

Hi, everyone. Shhh.

Hello.

For you, what you should really focus on going out there

is your expression.

Make sure you really sell it big.

OK. You're on.

Big smiles, big smiles. Yeah? Go on.

# You've got to accentuate the positive

# Eliminate the negative

# Latch on to the affirmative

# Don't mess with Mr In-Between

# You've got to spread joy up to the maximum

# Bring gloom down to the minimum

# Have faith or pandemonium

# Liable to walk upon the scene

# To illustrate my last remark Jonah in the whale

# Noah in the Ark

# What did they do

# Just when everything looked so dark?

# Man, they said we'd better accentuate the positive

# Eliminate the negative

# Latch on to the affirmative

# Don't mess with Mr In-Between

# No, don't mess with Mr In-Between

# You've got to accentuate the positive

# Eliminate the negative

# Latch on to the affirmative

# Don't mess with Mr In-Between

# Don't mess with Mr In-Between

# No, don't mess with Mr In-Between. #

Thank you. You may leave the stage now.

I thought it was very technically assured. I loved it.

I have to say I thought it had absolutely spellbinding moments.

I think we really nailed it today. I think we got it on point.

It was great. I really did enjoy it. Quite happy to do that again.

-It sounded so good this time.

-It was good.

I'm pumped now. All right, what next? Time to save the world.

I found the blend really good.

They were all singing with the same kind of light voice,

with a kind of American accent, all making the same sound.

They were connected.

It's kind of interesting

because they've only been singing for a very short time.

They were all together. It was really quite sweet.

It was an engaging performance.

It was really good, but just remember all of them need to smile.

I actually genuinely think it's a really tough decision that

the judges have got to make between the choirs.

I don't think there's much in it...

in terms of performance.

I can't call it.

The choirs and Gareth wait for the judges' verdict.

It's been a good day.

I'll be very sad at the end to see somebody go.

I think it's going to come down to who made a convincing

performance for the judges. Only the judges can say that.

They were much further back than me, I was on stage,

I was caught up in the music and conducting everyone.

They were able to sit back

and listen I think it will come down to who made an impact on them.

I feel...I feel a bit...

..I don't know. I've set this whole thing up,

set the wheels in motion,

and now it's up to the judges I feel a bit pointless.

This is completely out of my control.

I agree with you, Ralph. This was really hard to judge.

There was some really good singing going on.

Technically speaking...

OK, so you're dealing with the technicalities of things?

That's what I'm going to judge on first.

Mmm.

If we left today, I know I speak for everybody in our team,

we'd be absolutely devastated.

We came out of that hall on such a high.

I can't imagine having that amount of high if we were the worst.

Do you know what I mean?

I hope we're not going home.

If you think...

Yeah, a few of them were really absolutely confident

and knew exactly where they were going.

The entire hospital, the entire Trust know about us competing in this.

Going back and facing people saying,

"Actually, we didn't get through to the semifinals."

That would be tough to take.

Just waiting to find out. I don't like this bit.

This much time they are taking -

it means there is definately a tough competition between all four of us.

It's extremely difficult that bit -

a shame they didn't absolutely nail that one.

So, um, have we made a decision?

-Yeah.

-We've come to a call that we can all be happy with.

-Yes.

May I just say a very big thank you to all of you for an amazing

evening of fabulous singing.

You worked very hard, and I know it's only been three months

or so that some of you sung for the first time, but believe me,

outstanding work - absolutely outstanding work.

We're going to run through each choir and what you did for us today.

Severn Trent.

Wow! We thought that was a really spirited an engaging performance.

Well done.

Manchester Airport.

Particularly good ensemble singing, group singing,

there was a wonderful sound.

Lewisham NHS Trust. Well done.

We thought, technically speaking,

that was a really impressive performance.

Royal Mail. Wonderful.

I particularly liked your quiet singing - that had a real impact.

But this is where it gets very difficult.

It was a very hard decision, because you were all so very, very good.

We were split as judges.

Judgement was based on performance and technicality.

Unfortunately tonight, one choir

didn't quite meet the two criterias.

Sadly that choir is...

..Manchester Airport.

Manchester - in terms of performance,

some of the notes were less distinct than others,

and you got just a little behind in two passages.

You were behind the piano. That took away from the impact.

Sadly, one choir had to go.

Good luck.

Chins up, eh?

We're all winners for getting where we came so...

Personally, I think it's been worth every minute. Every minute.

Manchester, what can I say? You've been absolutely brilliant.

You've just got such energy and spirit.

I think once you've wiped the tears away, you'll go home and think,

"Actually, we did ourselves proud. We did a great job."

It was a cracking performance. They were all cracking performances.

I think it would have been very difficult.

I would not have liked to have chosen between them.

Be proud of everything you have achieved.

Terribly sorry to see you go. I really am. Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes, we lost it today, but we are not losing it for ever.

We're all upset at the moment.

We're all a little bit down but we'll carry on.

I don't think we'll make Top of the Pops now.

We'll have to go back to the fire station

and sing to the lads, won't we?

I really feel that Manchester can have their heads held high.

That was a great performance.

They just weren't quite good enough today.

As much as there is a downside to a contest,

because somebody has to leave, there's no doubt in my mind that

it was the contest, it was the fear of losing, the fear of going home

tonight that made everyone work hard and made everyone sing as they did.

I think everyone is now going to go forward feeling that they've

earned their place.

I'm looking forward to seeing what the other choirs are going

to achieve next. I think it's going to be very exciting

and they will work extremely hard for that final.

In the final, it's a public audience of 3,000 people.

People who know about singing.

I think that's going to make them work incredibly hard

and we'll get something magical on that stage.

Next week...

This is THE moment.

..all three choirs take to the stage.

It would be a brave man or woman in here now to say that parts of their

anatomy isn't shaking a little bit.

I'm delighted to introduce you to the first choir.

The adrenaline has set in. A little shakes. Butterflies in the tummy.

I'm scared. I feel really nervous.

But only one will become Gareth's best workplace choir.

The choir that we've chosen is...

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd