SoulTube, Video SoulBounce
Afro-Blue Is Our Favorite Color
On 'The Sing-Off'
With the Real Basketball Housewives of Newlosatlantamiamijersey Shore and what not regularly on my television screen, I'm a little "reality" showed out right now, but I do love a good singing competition. No, I'm not talking about The X-Factor (I said good, not over-hyped), but SoulBounce favorite The Sing-Off, the a cappella group competition series that premiered last night on NBC. Viewers of the season three premiere were treated to the first batch of 16 groups, and the stand out performance for me was delivered by 10-person co-ed troupe Afro-Blue. Much like last year, when I fell head-over-heels in love with eventual winners Committed the first time I heard them sing, I'm all over Afro-Blue. Originating from Washington, DC, the vocal jazz ensemble is comprised of Howard University students and their sound is like a soulful Manhattan Transfer with way more sugar and spice. They performed an exciting rendition of Corinne Bailey Rae's "Put Your Records On" to rave reviews from the celebrity judging panel who sailed them through to the next round. After watching this clip of them and their unique take on this song, you'll see why and will probably get sucked in by their sound as well. They'll be back on The Sing-Off in two weeks, so be sure to tune in for more of their vocal magic.
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Afro-Blue Are Two For Two
On 'The Sing-Off'
Vocal troupe Afro-Blue solidified their place as our favorite contestants on this season of NBC's The Sing-Off earlier this week with two more stellar, just-crown-them-the-winners-already performances. The jazz group had to switch gears and come out of their comfort zone a tad when asked to perform a current radio hit for their first selection. After stating that "Afro-Blue does not perform pop songs at all" in their pre-performance video, I was on the edge of my seat when they started singing Estelle's "American Boy." Any fears were instantly quelled, however, when different members of the expertly color-coordinated ensemble started scatting, beat-boxing, and harmonizing. They were in a zone, taking Estelle's song to unheard of heights with their original arrangement. Once again, the judges agreed that they were the cat's meow, but some criticism came later in the show after Afro-Blue performed Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" for their '60s classic selection. Admittedly not as strong as their first song, it seemed to me that the judges were a little nit-picky in their critiques. Nonetheless, the judges did get it right when they advanced Afro-Blue on to the next round at the end of the episode. If you missed them on Monday night, watch them in action below and after the bounce, and see why they are the ones to beat -- which will be very, very hard.
>via: http://soulbounce.com/soul/2011/10/afro-blue_is_two_for_two_on_the_sing-off.p...