The Sing-Off Renewed! Celebrity A Cappella Super Group Announced as First Contestants!
The popularity of the The Sing-Off has vaulted a cappella into mainstream consciousness. The genre—and the show—may ascend to new heights, though, based on dual announcements that came out this morning—the show will have a fourth season, and a crew of celebrities are assembling their own “super group” to try out for the 2012 season of the show.
Former Dawson’s Creek leading man, James Van Der Beek, who spent his undergraduate years singing with Drew University 36 Madison Avenue, has been the driving force behind the group’s formation. “I looked around and saw that there are a lot of musical talents out there that aren’t getting the attention they once did,” Van Der Beek told reporters today. “A cappella is cool now, and there’s no reason for us not to take advantage of that.”
Van Der Beek went on to describe the mixed gender coalition that is still taking shape at this point. Thus far, talents who have agreed to sign on include Meat Loaf, Ozzy Osbourne, Tionne Watkins (of TLC fame), Joey Fatone and Brooke Hogan. “These are familiar faces for the American public thanks to reality TV,” Van Der Beek said. “What better crew to bring together for a built-in TV audience that will follow us to The Sing-Off.”
Later in the day, sources close to singer-songwriter Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine confirmed that she, too, is slated to join the all-star ensemble. A friend told the press, “Florence recognized that half the collegiate a cappella community is already covering her stuff, so there are a ton of arrangements out there custom-made to spotlight her as a soloist.”
There is no confirmation yet on what the group will be called or what songs the group intends to cover. Van Der Beek was seen having lunch with members of Straight No Chaser in Indianapolis last week, and popular conjecture is that the members of the group will help the celebrity with arrangements.
“We’re going to create our own, unique sound,” Van Der Beek said. “People will remember this day, April 1, 2012, as the day when the a cappella world changed forever.”