So Long Sing-Off Thank You for the Inspiration

So long great acapella singing and congratulations Committed.  Thank you for your inspiration and looking forward to more great music in 2011.  God bless and all the best.

The Sing-off Shines

Last night's superstar medley's and judges song pics showcased 2010's final four a capella groups on NBC's the Sing-off.  Although our Univ. of Oregon mens glee club, On The Rocks, has proved their artistry and their full-tilt fun, their Elton John medley didn't quite compete with Committed's razor sharp smart sounds, Street Corner Symphony's smooth Nashville blend, The Backbeats' smart and talented Oh! Oh! leading ladies and supportive men with California cool sounds and looks, plus Jerry Lawson and Talk of the Town highly respected class and the sound of Oakland's best.

For the judges choice, Committed once again moved me in my chest with Al Greene's "Let's Stay Together" with smart face to face, person to person interchanges, quality arrangement and first classness.  Their unique quality of spot on blend and unique togetherness makes me feel like a better human being, and gets 3 of my early internet votes.

Street Corner Symphony's "Down On The Corner" by Credence Clear Water showcased a great sense of owning the song with their country twist of a capella arrangements.  Hope they win best new country artist, best vocal group, and are booked at the Berrien County Youth Fair so I can be one of the first to buy a ticket to their concert.

The Backbeats "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac took us to a melancholy place and nicely changed the pace of the show.  Beautiful people singing beautiful songs to make us so glad to be alive. Nice work and I hope you all get to work doing this kind of artistry.

Jerry Lawson and Talk of The Town's "House of the Rising Sun" by the Animals was another classic rendition of a meaningful song with a gospel sound and a sweet smile ending.  Keep on singing as long as the Good Lord blesses you with songs to sing.

America can be pleased with these final four a capella groups representing us to the world from our 2010 NBC The Sing-off competition.  Vote up to 30 times with 10 internet, 10 text, and 10 call ins.  I will also be watching youtube for who we want to hear again and again.

Long live lovely groups gracing us with wonderful music showcasing how people can  work together to bring us the glow of gorgeous, the fun of family, and memorable moments of joy.

The Greatest Gift Is Patience

Finally some Christmas spirit with the Glee group.
Still too much "fun" destroying a perfectly good tree for their hallowed Grinch.
Yet the miracle of movement, whether snowflakes or two legs to walk, made my day.

The greatest gift IS patience.

No present like time.
No time like the present.

Thank you Jesus Christ for being patient with us.
Please come soon so we can all be gleeful, and no more grinching.

That's Life at The Sing Off

I'm dancin'
Turin' up the sound an'
Then groovin'
Dreamin'
Oh yea! I dreamin' of you
Show me the fashion
Please me
Sing me somethin' true
Don't stop believin'
You should be creamin' the charts with this thoughtful groovin'
Swingin'
Meanin' pleasurin' the ears and eyes and  polishin' the shoes
They would be fine just listenin' to you...

I will be forever groovin' with Groove for Thought based on this simple songwriting while they sang
"You Make My Dreams Come True"
The Seattle group of music teachers had me wanting to dance in the library--what gives good judges?

I have to agree On The Rocks chose well and performed with fun and fabulousness on "Kyrie".
When are they and the Whoofs teaming up for a live concert?  But their Def Lepard "Pour Some Sugar" reminded me of a midnight Joe Boxer underwear contest at a Relay for Life cancer research fundraiser--somewhat similar to the winning entry, but not something I need to see again.

Committed's "Every Breath You Take" from the Police had a great groove--a nice rock beat--but they were too nice, needing to change the diction and style like they were singing "Climbin' up the rough side of the mountain". Loved the surprise ending. 

Street Corner Symphony chose an obscure song for their Guilty Pleasures.  They are the fun guys next door, but I am not sure they are what Sony and the world stage best gets yet.  Radio Heads "Creep" showcased their unquestionable talent as the kings of country a capella, including subtle and brilliant gestures for choreography and makes me want to smile all the way to Nashville and back.

The Backbeats are our Post-modern college-age pros giving rock star a capella with Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name"  Yet I am still looking for a sense of world class singing.  This certainly was ready for
Las Vegas.  For "Love Shack" from the B52s I thought of Pee Wee Herman at the start, then decided I would enjoy a television show hosted by The Bbeats--Cali cool with classy funk and great legs gals.

Jerry Lawson and Talk of the Town gave me chills from the simple sounds during practice.  I want to be able to sing  like each member and sing every note from every part.  The Commodores "Easy" was like smooth sailing with a perfect landing of a mighty jet plane.  The Rolling Stones " I Can't Get No Satisfaction" included nice pacing a great whoo who, true bass sounds, and loads of fun.  I grasped my heart and wished
Michael Jackson was alive to open for these guys:-)!  Now I am shopping for a cool blue jacket and tie, and loved the blue and white rose lapel boutineer.

Finally, Committed's "I Want It That Way" from the Backstreet Boys sounded like you should sign them up right now for both sacred and secular world class a capella singing--with a two person big heart--call them on your speed dial.

Thank you Ben, Nicole, Shawn, Joel Gallen, and NBC team.

Barbara Walters Owns Oprah Inspiration

Mindful television owes a great debt to Barbara Walters and Oprah Winfrey.  Thanks you both for masterful telling of stories with television panche.  I look forward to value centered inspirational programming on OWN-- exploring with Oprah the heart, soul, depth, and richness of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.  I will continue to weave the true tapestry of who I am with the daily threads of my authenticity. 

Thanks to best friends like Gayle and Stedman, I want to be the father everyone should have, the brother everyone wants, and the friend everyone desires and should have. 

Dear God,
Keep on using me until you use me up.

Here's to more photos with Dad and Mom!

More Music Notes from The Sing Off

Give it up for Groove For Thought and their spot on vocals and a capella arrangements--especially We Three Kings/O Come, O Come Emmanuel--full of surprises and my early vote for an album.  Committed Angels We Have Heard On High creates breathtaking sound with bell tone harmony.  The Whiffenpoofs God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen includes nice vocal colorings and smart pacing.

The second round included more energetic fun from Univ. of Oregon's On The Rocks; smooth, charming southern sounds with a surprise arrangement from Street Corner Symphony; a delightful smile and light touch percussion with a great song choice from Eleventh Hour--hope to be smiling back at Kendall Young again soon; this Motown music lovin' man loves my Cali cool guys--Jerry Lawson and Talk of The Town--long live longevity.  Mercy!

The Backbeats showed plenty of artistry and honesty, taking a risk with a not so feel good song.  I still want more lyrics harmonized.  Nice surprise on the breathing moment.

The Whiffenpoofs may have sung their Swan Song, yet they are my choice for trying to get to a live concert in 2011.  Nice use of the stage, and enjoyable variety of feature voices and a great song choice.

Groove for Thought's "Cooler Than Me" IS the definition of cool. Like a ferry boat ride to Victoria, B.C. on a sunny day, they continue to satisfy my groopie-ness and showcase sensational sound from top soprano to bottom bass.

Yet the one group that took me to another world and hit me with emotional meaning was Committed's "Apologize" with bell tone arpeggios and great harmony.  Sweet singing of a soad song, leaving Ben Folds almost speechless.  You truely have the power to move people.

Former President Clinton Cheers Plant-Based Diet

U.S. News & World Report gives the plant-based diet #1 statis for improving our lives in 2011.  I am happy to make smarter diet choices right away, especially with former President Bill Clinton shedding 20 plus pounds eating beans, lentils, vegetables, fruits and nuts.  Okra and eggplant are now must must have green and red. Pomegranits and avocados.

With #2 "Let's Move" Michelle O and I up and going.

#3 Good by belly fat--I am dressing in layers and using suspenders rather than belt notches. 

More sleep, sipping water, cleaning my kitchen, heart healthy fats, even doing some tax planning for the super frugal.

Journaling helps me focus some creative genius, helping me smile and laugh.

Here's to dreaming and working toward a sensible hybrid car, couch surfing and vacationing on a farm.

All Out Effort for Christmas Cheer

After a sweltering hot summer, and the most gorgeous autumn I can remember, I am glad to live in a place that inspires an all out effort for Christmas cheer.  Thanks to the growers and delivery folks of fresh flowers I continued to experiment with  live tree and bush greens, red carnations and white mums.  Add some parsley for a fun arrangement for Daybreak Cafe;  kept the white with white theme and a blue bird for a bucket to go to The Renaissance International Restaurant; delivered a Jones soda photo of Santa jumping arrangement to Hardings to say thank you; tested a match the color and theme by putting the foil wrapping inside the glass vases; then took an old crock, put a pine brach in it with the red and green flowers, topped off with some LED battery powered lights from Michaels.  I still needed more materials and found great bargains at the 1839 Courthouse Museum shop to make more Lady Christmas.

We've Got The Music During The Sing Off

In a land where casting is everything to keep T.V. viewers, NBC hit the mark with season 2 of The Sing Off.  Starting with history's first a capella group, The Whiffenpoofs from Yale; to glad to have you back Jerry Lawson and Talk of The Town from Oakland, CA; to the sound of American youth Eleventh Hour from Kettering, Ohio; this is a competition to watch and enjoy and mark 2010 with great singing.

After casting comes song choice, and again The Whiffenpoofs choice of "Grace Kelly" proved spot on with their par excellence singing and clever choreography to make me laugh and see the performance more than once, plus check out the lyrics for great songwriting.

Committed's "This Love" by Maroon 5 also proved smart, along with their razor sharp well-matched blend and red sweater clean cut stage presence. 

Jerry Lawson and Talk of the Town had soft-shoe charm and seasoned ease proving a capella singing has longevity and joy.  Nice cha cha cha ending.  I will be shopping for a nice grey suit, lavender shirt and purple paisley tie.

Seattle's Groove for Thought is the group I want to listen to all day and all night.  They make a capella singing look easy and have a best balance of the full range of sound.

On The Rocks from University of Oregon is highly entertaining --a stage full of sing off beasts from the nicest state and they have a see it again factor.

Eleventh Hour, our only high school group, from Kettering, Ohio are spot on with cute, fun clothes, a nice sound, an interesting group of singers, and talent to swing the vote their way. Baby, baby!

The Backbeats "If I Were A Boy" has a Southern California classy look and fine arrangement sound, but I want more range of show me what you can do from deep base to soaring sopranos.

Pitch Slapped  poor choice of "Good Girls Go Bad" proved their exit moment.  The song was like a trip to Cancun on spring breat, yet we were hoping for a world class acapella Christmas treat.

Street Corner Symphony chose a good song "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" yet looked a little sloppy and showed no big surprise with a pitchy low note.

Men of Note have the lead with the goods, but also had a bit of a slouch, sloppy style and no solid bass.  Loved the creative ending.

Over all we have an enjoyable host, Nick Lachey, smart judges, especially Ben Fouds, with plenty more world-class a capella singing to come.