BYU’s own Vocal Point amazed the judges from “The Sing Off” with a rendition of Justin Bieber’s hit single, “Never Say Never.”
“I’ll never say again, that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to enjoy Justin Bieber being sung by a bunch of Mormons,” said Ben Folds, one of the judges of “The Sing Off.”
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The all-male a cappella group advanced again Monday night on “The Sing Off.” The group is now one step closer to winning $200,000 and a Sony Music recording contract.
[/media-credit]- Vocal Point performs on NBC’s “The Sing Off.”
The members of Vocal Point competed against five other talented a cappella groups. Each group was required to sing a top ’40s hit and a classic from the ’60s. Vocal Point sang a classic Frank Sinatra title and did their best imitation of a ’90s boy band as they sang Justin Bieber’s top hit.
Although Vocal Points’ rigid dance moves were hardly comparable to Bieber status, the group’s musical arrangement wowed the judges. With each performance, the audience and judges have become more enamored with Vocal Point’s talent and heart-warming story.
Ben Murphy, lead vocalist for Vocal Point, flew home to Australia to be with his father before his passing. Murphy has missed all of the group’s performances on the show up to this point.
Tyler Sterling, a mechanical engineering student from Renton, Wash., who sings baritone for Vocal Point, said the group fully supports Murphy in his decision to be in Australia during the show.
“He was not able to perform with us this week,” Sterling said. “Of course it wasn’t the same without him. We are a group of nine. We always have been and always will be. To be missing a member takes a toll on what we are able to accomplish but at the same time we love and support him in his decision to be with his family at this time.”
In a pre-performance video, members of Vocal Point had the opportunity to demonstrate their faith on national TV as they knelt down as a group to pray for Murphy and his family.
Although BYU’s talented group has faced serious hardships along the path, members of the group have enjoyed the surreal experience.
“It’s been an amazing opportunity to represent Vocal Point, BYU and even more so, the Church to other contestants and especially our viewers and fans,” Sterling said.
Jake Hunsaker, a pre-management major from Ogden, said the experience has been tiresome but incredible.
“We put in a lot of hours,” Hunsaker said. “Every week we have to arrange, learn, memorize, choreograph, stage and perform multiple songs. Many times we’ll have a call time at 7 a.m. and not get home until 1 a.m. the next morning. It’s stressful, but it’s the good kind of stress. You’re having so much fun that you forget how hard you’re working.”
The hard work paid off for Hunsaker on Monday night when he took the lead and sang Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight” like a true member of The Rat Pack.
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Star Hall, who sang for Vocal Point in ’93 and ’94, is proud of the accomplishments his former group is making on the show.
“The group is doing excellent in both the delivery of the music and representing the image of BYU,” Hall said. “After every performance the judges comment on the goodness, values and brotherhood that the group stands for. It’s amazing that they’re accomplishing so much without Ben Murphy, who is not just one of the guys. Murphy is the really solid baritone and crucial to the team.”
If Vocal Point advances to the finale, the TV audience will choose the winners of the competition by voting at home. Hall said he believes the group has what it takes to win the whole competition but is counting on the members of the Church to vote for Vocal Point, who are stalwart examples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
