Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

The Sing-Off

 The Sing-Off
type
TVTItem
 The Sing-Off
label
The Sing-Off
 The Sing-Off
page
TheSingOff
 The Sing-Off
comment
The Sing-Off is an American Reality TV singing competition featuring a cappella groups. It premiered on NBC on December 14, 2009, and was cancelled for a couple years after its third season.A cappella groups are chosen by audition and advanced in the competition based on judges' eliminations until the finale, where the winners are determined by viewer votes. Season 4 changed this to the judges choosing the final winner. The winning group receives a cash prize and a Sony Music recording contract.Unlike many other music-based TV competitions, all the groups viewers see from the start of the season are made up of excellent musicians, and the entertainment value comes from the music itself rather than schadenfreude over poor performers. The judges (especially Ben Folds) often offer in-depth musical critiques, making the show a treat for knowledgeable musicians as well as general fans. Various wrinkles have been introduced into the formula, such as a genuine "Sing-Off" where two groups collaborate and compete on the same song. Season 5's wrinkle was that the entire "season" was a two-hour special, aired in its entirety on December 17, 2014; of the six groups featured, half of them sang only one song before being sent home.It's hosted by Nick Lachey (formerly of the Boy Band 98 Degrees); with judges Ben Folds, Shawn Stockman (of the R&B vocal group Boyz II Men), and various women in the third seat: Nicole Scherzinger in Season 1, Sara Bareilles in the second and third seasons, and Jewel in Seasons 4 and 5. For Season 5, Folds was not available due to his touring obligations; Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump was brought in instead.
 The Sing-Off
fetched
2024-03-25T18:46:05Z
 The Sing-Off
parsed
2024-03-25T18:46:05Z
 The Sing-Off
processingComment
Dropped link to AmericanIdol: Not a Feature - ITEM
 The Sing-Off
processingComment
Dropped link to JohnnyCash: Not a Feature - IGNORE
 The Sing-Off
isPartOf
DBTropes
 The Sing-Off / int_177a6464
type
Genre Shift
 The Sing-Off / int_177a6464
comment
Genre Shift: Can happen during the Ultimate Sing-Offs in season 4, due to the groups singing two halves of the same song, each in their own style. Calle Sol's battle with the acoUstiKats had the song shift between calypso and pop, and Filharmonics' battle with Street Corner Renaissance had the song shift between pop and doo-wop.
 The Sing-Off / int_177a6464
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_177a6464
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_177a6464
 The Sing-Off / int_18d15922
type
Title Drop
 The Sing-Off / int_18d15922
comment
Title Drop: Season 3 introduced the first official "Sing-Off," in which the two lowest-ranked groups battled each other for elimination, each performing the same song for the judges. This became the new method of elimination in season 4, with the two groups mock-dueling each other by singing different parts of one song for the judges to make their final evaluations.
 The Sing-Off / int_18d15922
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_18d15922
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_18d15922
 The Sing-Off / int_26eb6287
type
Funny Background Event
 The Sing-Off / int_26eb6287
comment
Funny Background Event: After the first elimination in the first episode of Season 3, while Nick Lachey is introducing the next four musicians, Shawn Stockman and Ben Folds start waving and posing for the camera behind him.
 The Sing-Off / int_26eb6287
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_26eb6287
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_26eb6287
 The Sing-Off / int_3618ebb9
type
TheSixties
 The Sing-Off / int_3618ebb9
comment
The '60s: The subject of another one of the theme episodes.
 The Sing-Off / int_3618ebb9
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_3618ebb9
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_3618ebb9
 The Sing-Off / int_37499c8
type
OnceAnEpisode
 The Sing-Off / int_37499c8
comment
Once an Episode: After about three episodes, you'll know roughly when Nick is going to say "This is a vocal competition using only their voices" and his other stock phrases.
 The Sing-Off / int_37499c8
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_37499c8
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_37499c8
 The Sing-Off / int_3a6c4ee
type
Reviewer Stock Phrases
 The Sing-Off / int_3a6c4ee
comment
Judge Stock Phrases: "Pitchy," "beatboxing," "you did your thing," and any instance where the singers are described like non-vocal instruments. This was lampshaded in season 4 with the "A capella dictionary" gag used in the finale.
 The Sing-Off / int_3a6c4ee
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_3a6c4ee
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_3a6c4ee
 The Sing-Off / int_3d897748
type
Do Not Go Gentle
 The Sing-Off / int_3d897748
comment
Do Not Go Gentle: The "Swan Song" invokes this trope, particularly when the group being eliminated isn't likely to outlive the show; even though they are already eliminated from the competition, you can still expect a heartfelt performance as they walk off the stage.
 The Sing-Off / int_3d897748
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_3d897748
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_3d897748
 The Sing-Off / int_44cf7d2c
type
Incredibly Long Note
 The Sing-Off / int_44cf7d2c
comment
Incredibly Long Note: During a literal sing-off with another group, Michael from the Dartmouth Aires managed to belt out a high A-flat for so long it messed his own group up.
 The Sing-Off / int_44cf7d2c
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_44cf7d2c
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_44cf7d2c
 The Sing-Off / int_57cfcbdd
type
Meta Twist
 The Sing-Off / int_57cfcbdd
comment
Meta Twist: The first four seasons crowned a group that contained five members and wasn't associated with an institute of higher learning. This led viewers of the fifth season to assume that The Exchange, which fit the mold, would clinch the title. Instead, Vanderbilt University's Melodores, 14 strong, took home the prize.
 The Sing-Off / int_57cfcbdd
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_57cfcbdd
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_57cfcbdd
 The Sing-Off / int_5d753b19
type
The Smurfette Principle
 The Sing-Off / int_5d753b19
comment
The Smurfette Principle: Despite five seasons, PTX member Kirstie Maldonaldo is the only woman to have been in a winning group.
 The Sing-Off / int_5d753b19
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_5d753b19
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_5d753b19
 The Sing-Off / int_6627695f
type
Author Appeal
 The Sing-Off / int_6627695f
comment
Author Appeal: More like Judge Appeal; most of the judges have a background working with a cappella (Ben produced an album of covers of his songs done by college a cappella groups, Sara was in UCLA Awaken during her college years, and Boyz II Men and 98 Degrees still regularly perform songs this way).
 The Sing-Off / int_6627695f
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_6627695f
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_6627695f
 The Sing-Off / int_8135d194
type
Elimination Catchphrase
 The Sing-Off / int_8135d194
comment
Elimination Catchphrase: In seasons 1-3, this was variations on "And now please raise your mics one final time for your Swan Song."
 The Sing-Off / int_8135d194
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_8135d194
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_8135d194
 The Sing-Off / int_8862b001
type
Cross Counter
 The Sing-Off / int_8862b001
comment
Cross Counter: Used (at least, a stylized slo-mo version) by Home Free and The Filharmonic in the middle of their sing-off.
 The Sing-Off / int_8862b001
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_8862b001
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_8862b001
 The Sing-Off / int_94be6b61
type
Coordinated Clothes
 The Sing-Off / int_94be6b61
comment
Coordinated Clothes: The members of each group are given coordinated outfits each week, though they switch it up so as to prevent people from identifying the group with just one particular color.
 The Sing-Off / int_94be6b61
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_94be6b61
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_94be6b61
 The Sing-Off / int_9aaf8eca
type
Crippling Overspecialization
 The Sing-Off / int_9aaf8eca
comment
Crippling Overspecialization: After the least technically proficient groups have been weeded out, the groups that are very skilled in one particular style of music and have a hard time adapting that style to incorporate other influences are usually the next eliminated, as versatility is something the judges value very highly.
 The Sing-Off / int_9aaf8eca
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_9aaf8eca
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_9aaf8eca
 The Sing-Off / int_a0af3dcf
type
Elimination Statement
 The Sing-Off / int_a0af3dcf
comment
Elimination Statement: In seasons 1-3, each eliminated group gets to perform a "Swan Song," one last tune as they leave the stage.
 The Sing-Off / int_a0af3dcf
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_a0af3dcf
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_a0af3dcf
 The Sing-Off / int_abb9ebaa
type
Dramatic Pause
 The Sing-Off / int_abb9ebaa
comment
Dramatic Pause: Go ahead, time Nick when it comes down to seeing which of the bottom two groups is to get eliminated.
 The Sing-Off / int_abb9ebaa
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_abb9ebaa
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_abb9ebaa
 The Sing-Off / int_aff29d6f
type
Beauty, Brains and Brawn
 The Sing-Off / int_aff29d6f
comment
Beauty, Brains, and Brawn: Nick describes Jewel, Ben, and Shawn as the beauty, brains, and brawn in season 4. Nicole and Sara could also qualify as the beauty in their respective seasons.
 The Sing-Off / int_aff29d6f
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_aff29d6f
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_aff29d6f
 The Sing-Off / int_bb660963
type
Color-Coded Characters
 The Sing-Off / int_bb660963
comment
Color-Coded Characters: The members of each group are given coordinated outfits each week, though they switch it up so as to prevent people from identifying the group with just one particular color. Though groups with colors in their names (e.g Afro-Blue, The Yellowjackets) tend to wear the same color each week.
 The Sing-Off / int_bb660963
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_bb660963
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_bb660963
 The Sing-Off / int_bc103f8b
type
Subverted
 The Sing-Off / int_bc103f8b
comment
Finally subverted in the finale of season 3, when Nick joined forces with Pentatonix to perform (you guessed it) a 98 Degrees song, "Una Noche." In Season 4, 98 Degrees (who had reunited to tour with New Kids on the Block at that time) performed in the finale.
 The Sing-Off / int_bc103f8b
featureApplicability
-0.3
 The Sing-Off / int_bc103f8b
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_bc103f8b
 The Sing-Off / int_bcb313b3
type
UnCancelled
 The Sing-Off / int_bcb313b3
comment
Un-Cancelled: After taking a year off, it was brought back for a fourth season in 2013. The year after that, the entire season was a 2-hour special which only involved 9 performances by competitors, six in the first round and three in the second after half the groups had been sent home. (YouTube has some video of the Cut Songs from those three groups.)
 The Sing-Off / int_bcb313b3
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_bcb313b3
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_bcb313b3
 The Sing-Off / int_bdbfd01c
type
Perfectly Cromulent Word
 The Sing-Off / int_bdbfd01c
comment
Perfectly Cromulent Word: Ben Folds is probably the worst offender, but all of the judges use words that sound like they're either music industry insider lingo or ones they just made up ("pitchy," borrowed from American Idol, seems to be the most popular).
 The Sing-Off / int_bdbfd01c
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_bdbfd01c
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_bdbfd01c
 The Sing-Off / int_c6b75b76
type
A cappella
 The Sing-Off / int_c6b75b76
comment
A Cappella: The show features only these groups.
 The Sing-Off / int_c6b75b76
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_c6b75b76
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_c6b75b76
 The Sing-Off / int_c6fb9ebc
type
Piss-Take Rap
 The Sing-Off / int_c6fb9ebc
comment
Piss-Take Rap: While remarking on a performance by "rapapella" group Urban Method, Ben Folds called back to a song by his old band Majosha with an extremely nerdy rap. Hilarity Ensued.
 The Sing-Off / int_c6fb9ebc
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_c6fb9ebc
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_c6fb9ebc
 The Sing-Off / int_c7079bc8
type
GuiltyPleasure
 The Sing-Off / int_c7079bc8
comment
Guilty Pleasure: The theme of a Once a Season episode, giving the groups a chance to perform some slightly embarrassing favorites (such as pop hits from The '80s).
 The Sing-Off / int_c7079bc8
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_c7079bc8
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_c7079bc8
 The Sing-Off / int_d1affec1
type
That Came Out Wrong
 The Sing-Off / int_d1affec1
comment
That Came Out Wrong: Sara Bareilles has a few "why did I just say that" moments in the first episode of Season 3. In season 4, Jewel had a huge moment of this when evaluating The Filharmonic.
 The Sing-Off / int_d1affec1
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_d1affec1
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_d1affec1
 The Sing-Off / int_da0eeab5
type
Breakout Character
 The Sing-Off / int_da0eeab5
comment
Breakout Character: Season 3 winners Pentatonix have become very popular in their own right, and are part of the reason why the show eventually did end up being brought back for a fourth season.
 The Sing-Off / int_da0eeab5
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_da0eeab5
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_da0eeab5
 The Sing-Off / int_e7fd5cdc
type
Brain Bleach
 The Sing-Off / int_e7fd5cdc
comment
Brain Bleach: In season 3, Shawn says he needs this after the Yellowjackets perform "Wannabe" by Spice Girls.
 The Sing-Off / int_e7fd5cdc
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_e7fd5cdc
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_e7fd5cdc
 The Sing-Off / int_ef3d1b57
type
Technician Versus Performer
 The Sing-Off / int_ef3d1b57
comment
Technician Versus Performer: Some elements of this, particularly with various college groups falling under the "technician" umbrella.
 The Sing-Off / int_ef3d1b57
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_ef3d1b57
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_ef3d1b57
 The Sing-Off / int_f16f631d
type
Crowd Song
 The Sing-Off / int_f16f631d
comment
Crowd Song: The opening number in each episode is done by all of the groups (in seasons 3 and 4, this was changed to all of the groups in that week's bracket when appropriate). Happened literally when Ben Folds and the Dartmouth Aires performed Ben's song "Not the Same" in season 3.
 The Sing-Off / int_f16f631d
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_f16f631d
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_f16f631d
 The Sing-Off / int_f1d3f0c9
type
Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness
 The Sing-Off / int_f1d3f0c9
comment
Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness: Ben Folds sometimes employs it for laughs. "Thumbs aloft, gentlemen." He even lampshaded it in Season 4: "Are you calling me a sesquipedalian?"
 The Sing-Off / int_f1d3f0c9
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_f1d3f0c9
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_f1d3f0c9
 The Sing-Off / int_f2877d9e
type
IncrediblyLamePun
 The Sing-Off / int_f2877d9e
comment
Incredibly Lame Pun: Nick spouts one in his introduction for every performance, normally relating to the song's title. He'll often pull another once the song is done.
 The Sing-Off / int_f2877d9e
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_f2877d9e
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_f2877d9e
 The Sing-Off / int_f3c5ae29
type
Constructive Criticism
 The Sing-Off / int_f3c5ae29
comment
Constructive Criticism: The preferred method, by far, for the judges' criticisms; they are very complimentary of the groups' strengths and, while they do point out mistakes, are never harsh or mean about it.
 The Sing-Off / int_f3c5ae29
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_f3c5ae29
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_f3c5ae29
 The Sing-Off / int_f511ea9b
type
Product Placement
 The Sing-Off / int_f511ea9b
comment
Product Placement: They are not shy about notifying folks as to when any of the judges are about to have another release.
 The Sing-Off / int_f511ea9b
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_f511ea9b
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_f511ea9b
 The Sing-Off / int_f870d50
type
Consolation Prize
 The Sing-Off / int_f870d50
comment
Consolation Prize: Averted in the conventional sense, but while Season 3's finalists sang in the finale with the judges (and Nick Lachey), almost-finalists Afro-Blue got to sing with Smokey Robinson. That's got to count for something.
 The Sing-Off / int_f870d50
featureApplicability
-1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_f870d50
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_f870d50
 The Sing-Off / int_fc451ba4
type
Follow the Leader
 The Sing-Off / int_fc451ba4
comment
Follow the Leader: While much different in tone, plus the a cappella gimmick making it distinct, it's unmistakably following in the mold of American Idol. In an in-show example: Season 4's Home Free's performance of "Ring of Fire" made a big impact with the audience and judges with the ending, when their basso profundo Tim Foust hit (and sustained) a floor-shaking F# on the last "fire". In later episodes, a lot of their competitors started tapping their basses to do similar things.
 The Sing-Off / int_fc451ba4
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_fc451ba4
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_fc451ba4
 The Sing-Off / int_ff9e9dde
type
Once a Season
 The Sing-Off / int_ff9e9dde
comment
Once a Season: Although you can't always exactly predict when, you'll also see Nick bemoan the fact that nobody wants to sing a 98 Degrees song (usually after someone does a song by a different Boy Band). Finally subverted in the finale of season 3, when Nick joined forces with Pentatonix to perform (you guessed it) a 98 Degrees song, "Una Noche." In Season 4, 98 Degrees (who had reunited to tour with New Kids on the Block at that time) performed in the finale.
 The Sing-Off / int_ff9e9dde
featureApplicability
-0.3
 The Sing-Off / int_ff9e9dde
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_ff9e9dde
 The Sing-Off / int_ffad4e9f
type
Shown Their Work
 The Sing-Off / int_ffad4e9f
comment
Shown Their Work: Ben Folds in particular will show off his familiarity with the mechanics and techniques of a cappella singing, the other judges as well if less frequently.
 The Sing-Off / int_ffad4e9f
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_ffad4e9f
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_ffad4e9f
 The Sing-Off / int_name
type
ItemName
 The Sing-Off / int_name
comment
 The Sing-Off / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Sing-Off / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
The Sing-Off / int_name
 The Sing-Off / int_name
itemName
The Sing-Off

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
A cappella / int_eddedb16
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
Calling Me a Logarithm / int_eddedb16
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
Constructive Criticism / int_eddedb16
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
Coordinated Clothes / int_eddedb16
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
Elimination Catchphrase / int_eddedb16
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
Elimination Statement / int_eddedb16
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
Guilty Pleasures / int_eddedb16
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
Measuring the Marigolds / int_eddedb16
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
Piss-Take Rap / int_eddedb16
 The Sing-Off
hasFeature
White Male Lead / int_eddf5336
 TheSingoff
sameAs
The Sing-Off