Clash of the Choirs, Review Part 3

NBC TV
BBC Worldwide

by Peggy Oliver

No time is wasted as two more choirs are sent to the bottom two status.

Tonight’s musical fare will include a Christmas favorite and the celebrity judges/directors step to the microphone easing the pressure to use other soloists.

The closest to Gospel was represented with the Carrie Underwood Country smash, “Jesus Take The Wheel”, performed by Team Patti LaBelle. Lead vocalist Liimu McGill is gorgeously surrounded by dripping notes and assured harmonies.

However, Team Nick Lachey decides to gamble on an extremely ambitious ride on “Flight Of The Bumble Bee”. By the way, this is the first acappella arrangement, inspired by Lachey’s high school performance of the same. Sopranos and altos handled the medley as all parts zigzagged without stumbling and maintaining pitch throughout. The risk was worth it.

Back to the bottom two, as Team Bolton bids farewell. With another chance, Team Shelton delivers “Home”, but even though the soloists sang with gusto, it was overall disappointing, and sometime the harmonies weren’t gelling.

Back to Team LaBelle flipping the musical script a bit with “The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”, thanks to Patti’s musical director turning this waltz into a warm but effective R&B jam.

Mariah Carey’s Christmas hit, “All I Want For Christmas” was tackled by Team Lachey, and while not as challenging as ‘Bumble Bee’, the harmonies were fun, and most soloists were technically sound and passionate.

Next, Team Sheldon performed an ill-advised medley “Joy To The World”, the hymn, and “Joy To The World”, the Three Dog Night version from the sixties.

Finally the celebrities interact with their choirs singing their signature pieces. All registered well, but let’s face it, Miss Patti stamped her arousing pipes for “Over The Rainbow”. Team LaBelle, without a doubt, were no vocal slouches and kept up with her step-by-step.

Whew, the finale is on tap tomorrow. Hopefully, the judges will turn up the critical heat by then.