The Sing Off’s Delilah: “… sharing a special message through music”

This week on NBC’s The Sing-Off, judges Sara Bareilles, Shawn Stockman, and Ben Folds made a tough decision and eliminated all-female group, Delilah, from the competition. After making it past Round 1 with their memorable performance of Bruno Mars’s “Grenade,” Delilah knew they had to work hard to build upon the judge’s critiques and come back a new group in future rounds! While nearly escaping elimination, Delilah knew they had to prove themselves week after week. Unfortunately, in a crop of six highly talented groups, Delilah found themselves eliminated. Earlier this week, YakkityYaks had the pleasure to participate in a media call with Hannah Juliano from Delilah. Read on to find out the story behind the group, plans for the future, and more!

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Talking About Their Hardest Challenge As a Group
Hannah, Delilah: Well, a lot of the groups on the show primarily do a genre and they are really strong in a genre, you know, say like hip hop or in jazz or in electronic type of music. And the basis of our whole group was that we not only were, you know, adapting to all these genres, all these challenges every week, but we also were just all female. It was commented on a lot obviously because it was our biggest challenge. We don’t have a natural low end like the groups that have guys do because our – physically our voices aren’t as low. So it was a huge challenge for us every week to not only reinvent these songs and represent them in a way that was true to us and, you know, as musicians and as women, but to really get around the struggle of not having that natural low end. I think that we really rose to the challenge every week. We dug deep every single week to try and beat that.

On The Judges’ Best Advice
Hannah, Delilah: Gosh, they said a lot of things. The shows are pre-filmed so a lot of the commentary was given to us. They would really talk to us a lot in the live shows so some of it didn’t really make the cut in the shows, but I do specifically remember when Ben Folds told us that when we’re making ourselves happy, we’re making everybody else happy. That was one week that it clicked for us that we were trying so hard to please ourselves and the judges and what we thought the audience was going to want and we weren’t really listening to ourselves. When we started to sing from our hearts, that’s really when everything clicked. Sara said the same thing the next week. She said that, you know, just when we tap into that true very emotional, feminine spirit that we all have and are very true to that then we were the most successful.

Thoughts On The Comments From Rock/Country Night
Hannah, Delilah: I was actually really scared about how they were going to turn out because we thought they were so awesome and so strong, we felt so connected to them both, and then they were both judged kind of harshly, so I didn’t really know what everybody else had heard. I didn’t know if it was different from what we had heard or what we had thought about it. But I am so, so happy about how they both turned out. We really were just singing from our hearts on both of the songs. Both of them were a struggle. You know, we really, really had to dig deep that week, especially on the country song. We had to rearrange that song about ten times and our last version of it was finally done. Even that day of filming we were still working on it and changing it. So listening back on it and watching the performances, I think they’re really both beautiful and, like I said, we were just singing our hearts out. And as far as pitch issues or energy issues in the first song go, I don’t know. It’s different when you’re in the group. I feel like I have a bias because I feel so strongly connected to them in the first place, but I can see what they were talking about as far as the energy issues in “Dream On” where we peaked early. And the pitch issues in “If I Die Young,” I don’t think they were as dramatic as the judges had made it seem. But when it comes down to it it’s the top six in the competition and any kind of mistake is a big deal because everybody is so talented and so perfect. So…it definitely was a blow to us though.

On What The Future Holds For Delilah
Hannah, Delilah: We are so excited and so motivated. We really just liked being on the show and it turned into something much bigger and much more special than we would have ever imagined and all of us continue to talk every single day. We unfortunately are all split up across the country right now. You know, we’re all from different places, so none of us are together save maybe two people at a time in different cities, but we are planning on continuing. Of course we want to kind of see if some offers roll in and we’re kind of waiting for all of that, but really want to do an album, tour and stay together and really continue to share this special thing that is Delilah that we found.

On Delilah’s Favorite Performance
Hannah, Delilah: Oh my gosh. Probably – oh gosh, I don’t know. Probably “Grenade” and Alicia Keys. They both were ones that just clicked and so it wasn’t as much of a struggle to perfect the song as it was or it wasn’t much of a struggle to really beat the song and try and outsmart it to really give a great performance as it was just perfecting something that kind of was great from the start. You know, a lot of our songs sprouted from us having to deconstruct it and find how to make it work for us and both of those songs just kind of naturally worked for us. And they were both just a joy.

On Which Judge Delilah Connected Most With
Hannah, Delilah: I’m going to say probably Shawn. I feel like he got our platform most of the time. We have a pretty special relationship and very different with each of the judges. With Sara being the only girl, we always felt like she was rooting for us. All of them were always rooting for us really. But there was something special about Shawn. Every time he commented on us, we always felt a special kinship with him and you can’t see it on a lot on the TV. They don’t show it, but he was always pointing to us and saying, “I’m so proud of you.” He was always encouraging us especially when we were struggling in the Guilty Pleasure week. After we had been saved the second time, he looked at us and said, “Come on, I know you can do it, ladies.” Like, I don’t know, we just – I specifically felt something with Shawn. I’m sure each of the girls have different opinions, but that’s just my standpoint. We loved all the judges so much. They were always so great to us.

On Staying Positive As A Group
Hannah, Delilah: Well, the group is really special. And we didn’t really know how special it was until we were in it, you know, because we formed for the show. So it was all very quick and we were finding our identity in real-time on the show, so that’s what I think is really interesting about the group. It kind of changes from what we thought we were going to be on the show to what we actually ended up being and what we felt a connection with. I think being in the bottom two the first time was a big shock to us because we had come out of the gate so strong in our first two songs. So after that we thought, well I don’t know. There was always a very, very positive energy about us and we were all so so close, truly a sisterhood, so we were always constantly lifting each other up. I guess our strategy was just letting it all go and remembering what it’s all about and that’s about the music and connecting to it and sharing a message with the audience. So whenever we would just kind of breath and relax and try and forget about the judges then the challenges and the competition, it really seemed to click for us. You know, we would get back to that special place of just sharing a special message through music.

On Keeping Up With Delilah
Hannah, Delilah: Oh gosh, fans can find us everywhere. We are constantly online. We love checking up on the YouTube videos and answering fans there. We’re all on Twitter. We all have individual Twitters and then the actual group’s Twitter is @singdelilah. We’ve got a Facebook fan page. We’re working on getting a Web site and all that kind of fun stuff to make it kind of centralized outside of Facebook and Twitter. But we are all over the Internet. We are constantly answering fans and saying hello and thank you and spreading the love because just can’t get enough. We love them all so much.

On Who They’d Like To See Win It All
Hannah, Delilah: Afro-Blue. We have a really, really strong connection with them. They became some of our best friends. Both Afro-Blue and Pentatonix, I would say. Those two groups, we got especially close with. They’re just so talented and I love everything they do. So those are my people I’m rooting for. But, you know, obviously they’re all our best friends and we love them all.

It was so hard being in the bottom with Afro-Blue. We just – we couldn’t believe. You can see it when we all just rushed to each other and hugged each other. I don’t know if the fans really get how non-competition-like it is for the groups. We don’t even understand that it’s a competition. It’s weird to us that there’s a winner because we get so close and we truly, truly support each other in every single performance. So to be pitted against some of your newly found best friends is just heart wrenching and we – you can’t understand it, it’s so strange. So that was really hard. All of us are going, gosh, that was even worse watching it than it was being there.

Brett Ratner Steps Down as Oscars Producer

Amid recent controversy surrounding some anti-gay remarks, Brett Ratner has stepped down from producer of the 2012 Academy Awards. At a recent screening of his new movie, Tower Heist, Ratner used an anti-gay slur and later made graphic remarks regarding his sex life on The Howard Stern Show. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Tom Sherak expressed support for Ratner, but labeled his comments as “inappropriate…dumb and insensitive.” Even with the support. Ratner felt it necessary to step down and leave his post. Earlier today, Sherak released a statement acknowledging Ratner’s choice. “He did the right thing for the Academy and for himself. Words have meaning, and they have consequences. Brett is a good person, but his comments were unacceptable. We all hope this will be an opportunity to raise awareness about the harm that is caused by reckless and insensitive remarks, regardless of the intent.”

It’s still unclear as to who will replace Ratner as producer of one of the biggest award shows of the season. The question is … will Eddie Murphy resign, after being hand picked by Ratner as the show’s host?

You can read Ratner’s official statement below.

The Oscars are set to take place on February 26 from the Nokia Theater in LA.

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last few days, I’ve gotten a well-deserved earful from many of the people I admire most in this industry expressing their outrage and disappointment over the hurtful and stupid things I said in a number of recent media appearances. To them, and to everyone I’ve hurt and offended, I’d like to apologize publicly and unreservedly.
As difficult as the last few days have been for me, they cannot compare to the experience of any young man or woman who has been the target of offensive slurs or derogatory comments. And they pale in comparison to what any gay, lesbian, or transgender individual must deal with as they confront the many inequalities that continue to plague our world.
So many artists and craftspeople in our business are members of the LGBT community, and it pains me deeply that I may have hurt them. I should have known this all along, but at least I know it now: words do matter. Having love in your heart doesn’t count for much if what comes out of your mouth is ugly and bigoted. With this in mind, and to all those who understandably feel that apologies are not enough, please know that I will be taking real action over the coming weeks and months in an effort to do everything I can both professionally and personally to help stamp out the kind of thoughtless bigotry I’ve so foolishly perpetuated.

As a first step, I called Tom Sherak this morning and resigned as a producer of the 84th Academy Awards telecast. Being asked to help put on the Oscar show was the proudest moment of my career. But as painful as this may be for me, it would be worse if my association with the show were to be a distraction from the Academy and the high ideals it represents.

I am grateful to GLAAD for engaging me in a dialogue about what we can do together to increase awareness of the important and troubling issues this episode has raised and I look forward to working with them. I am incredibly lucky to have a career in this business that I love with all of my heart and to be able to work alongside so many of my heroes. I deeply regret my actions and I am determined to learn from this experience.

Sincerely, Brett Ratner

The Mystery Behind Big Brother’s Fortune Teller

Just who is Madame Broella?

It has been nearly a month and a half since Rachel Reilly took away the grand prize of $500,000 as the winner of Big Brother 13, but many fans are still discussing, investigating, and debating the identity behind the house’s iconic figure, the fortune teller? Ever since the Fortune Teller surfaced on Twitter shortly before the start of Big Brother 13, rumors have been swirling as to the identity of @BBFortuneTeller.

Before we delve any further, I’d like to point out that the theories and opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of the writer or staff at YakkityYaks. We have done our best to compile various opinions as we scour the internet and are bound to miss a few. This piece is meant to be for fun and in no way definitive about the identity of the Big Brother Fortune Teller. We’d also like to thank our exclusive Twitter sleuth, @pj_williamson, a self-proclaimed Big Brother and TV fanatic, for many of the investigative findings below.

A few key and popular theories exist about who the FT really is. Fans all over social networking sites and fan message boards (such as YY) have speculated that Madame Broella is indeed a member of production who has taken to social media sites like Twitter to give Big Brother fans just one more thing to obsess about in addition to the game. Other fans believe that a previous houseguest (popular or unpopular) from Big Brother’s past came up with a sick joke to mess with Big Brother fans. Even further, some fans believe that multiple houseguests are on a “rotation” in using the now infamous Twitter handle. The latter seems to be the most dominant and popular theory at this time.

Supporting the producer/insider theory, avid (and maybe even obsessed) “Fortunate Followers” will remember that the @BBFortuneTeller handle was able to tweet some information regarding the house and houseguests before news was made public. However, that doesn’t completely defend that theory because it is possible that previous houseguests may be privy to such information. So basically we’re back at square one.

As the season went on, it appeared that not only did the FT seem to have some inside scoop, but she (or he?) was willing to sporadically send out clues regarding it’s identity. The clue giving has continued on to this day, as fans continue to investigate this mystery. First up, the FT’s twitter description previously included “#TeamAlumni = #TeamBox.” As we mentioned, it has been believed for some time that the person behind the FT was a previous housguest, hence team alumni (or previous houseguest) = team box (or person inside the box, aka person in control of the FT). However, is there more to this clue that what we see on the surface? In the past week, the FT has released not one but TWO anagrams with the first being “OctoberThirtyFirst.” After much deliberation, the jury is still out on how to decipher this. The names Robert and Eric can be pulled out in two different deciphers (but then not much can be done with the other letters). Robert Roman appeared on BB4, but there’s not much more to go from there. However, Eric Stein was America’s Player on BB8, so … The second anagram was “Never Doubt Broella” and the FT let us know “Ellen” was the first world. Since “Ellen8million” was a trending topic that day, we are led to believe this does not signal any clue as to the identity of the FT. So, let us move on. We want to know if you’ve come up with any other ways to decipher these anagrams.

As we begin yet another week, the Fortune Teller ominously teased her Fortunate Followers regarding a #ManicMonday. Just what is Manic Monday and what does it have to with this Big Brother mystery? It’s clear now that #ManicMonday dealt with a new “Treasure Hunt” in collaboration with @MichelleBB10. As to what the hunt entails and what its reward will be, well, that’s anybody’s guess.

Additionally, the FT uses the term “EyE” rather than “I” with its random capitalization. It is more than likely that the “EyE” may simply refer to a.) The BB eye, b.) The CBS eye or c.) A fortuneteller’s all-seeing eye or even d) all of the above.

Even so, the story behind the Fortune Teller isn’t all fun and games. There was a point in time where fans seemed to get frustrated with Madame Broella and speculation grew that the identity of the tweeter was nothing more than a fan messing around and having fun with obsessed Big Brother fanatics. It was also even speculated that a major Big Brother blog and message board might be behind this social experiment. Some angry tweets were thrown her way, but it’s pretty obvious that the FT can handle angry tweets. She did live in the house with some interesting folk, after all. Plus, she’s probably still flattered with Shelly’s compliments from inside the house. These such theories didn’t hold much weight anyways and weren’t focused on as much by many Big Brother fans, but they did exist and we feel as if they should be pointed out as a reminder.

If there’s one thing EyE know, it’s that this Twitter handle, whether real or experimental, has made waves in social networking with one of the summer’s biggest reality shows. EyE think this could and will open doors for Big Brother next summer … the question is, my personal Fortunate Followers, just who is Madame Crystal Broella?

To follow along the speculation, join in our FORUMS and be sure to follow the Yak on Twitter and Facebook. Of course, don’t forget that you can follow Madame Broella on Twitter as well, so you’re not left in the dark on this mysterious yet enjoyable mystery. EyE know U won’t regRET it!

‘Survivor:’ The Yak Chats with Stacey and A Surprise Guest

Hey Survivor fans! YakkityYaks got a pleasant surprise when interviewing Stacey Powell, our latest Survivor castoff. Jeff Probst decided to stop by for a chat and a TOUT! Jeff was riddled with questions regarding the last episodes “pulled pork” challenge as well as his observations and opinions on several survivors from this season.

Jeff said that initially the “challenge guys,” the people who set up the challenges, had left the pigs fully intact on the spit. They included the head, the feet, the tails, every part of the pig. Jeff said considering that this was going to be viewed at 8:00 p.m. he thought it was just too disturbing and he couldn’t approve it. He said after they trimmed the pigs, they slapped some BBQ sauce on them and put cameras inside the baskets for a more graphic view. He said that fan response to this challenge was HUGE!

The Yak: Jeff, at the end of the challenge Ozzy had the entire pig in his mouth. Do you think this resulted in his jaw being dislocated?”

Jeff Probst: Absolutely! In fact, Ozzy made a case to the producers that he had the entire pig in his mouth when time was called, he wanted to know why he wasn’t allowed to place the entire pig in the basket. I don’t know why, it was just a production call.”

Jeff described Ozzy as an amazing player, fantastic in challenges but lacking the social awareness that is needed in his camp to keep tabs on what is really going on. Jeff said that Boston Rob, who stopped by last night, said you can think you are NOT going home, but you can never let them see that you think you might. It’s all about awareness, who’s talking to who, etc. Jeff said that Boston Rob was one of few people from Survivor that he considers a close friend.

Jeff was asked why Cochrane is still in the game. Jeff replied “Because he hasn’t been voted out. Not a lippy answer but that’s the game right there. He’s withstood the storm so far.” Jeff went on to describe Cochrane as someone who, with his albino legs and weak physical appearance, could make a compelling argument in the end to win Survivor.

Jeff talked about Stacey and said that it is extremely difficult to be a minority in Survivor. He said that Stacey has an amazing personality and that her redemption island speech alone was not in any way scripted. He said if that had been turned in as an audition tape she would have been cast immediately. Jeff loved her character, said she was incredibly aware of what was going on and she knew too much. Therefore her tribe had to vote her out. He said that Stacey and Semhar just didn’t fit in. He said Survivor can become homogenized and it’s difficult when you have nothing in common with others. He did say that he could see no one other than Semhar to be the first voted from her tribe. He said that Stacey is definitely one of a kind. We got the impression that Stacey may someday be asked back on Survivor.

Jeff answered questions regarding his own observations and ratings of the players. Jeff said that his initial impressions of the Survivors are just about as accurate as anyone else’s. He said he doesn’t have a better intuition than the normal fan of who is going to win.

Jeff then asked if anyone is interested in the new social media experiment – Tout. Jeff said that the interview was being “touted.” Touting is similar to tweeting, however it is in video format. You can take a 15 second video and post it or MSN to others, etc. Jeff is interested in all social media and is experimenting with Tout. The Yak was able to go to Jeff’s tout and watch the interview after it occurred!

Thank you Jeff Probst for the surprise interview! Your time is appreciated!

Interview with Stacey Powell

Stacey is a 44 year old mortician from Texas. She lost the Redemption Island duel to her friend Christine.

Q: Stacey, how glad were you that you didn’t have to compete in the pig challenge?

Stacey: I’m a southern girl and and I love me some pork! I would have eaten that pig and loved it!

Q: Stacey, why did Coach rub you the wrong way?

Stacey: Benjamin? You mean Benjamin? He came in to our tribe and played his little games and told his little stories and I wasn’t buying any of it. In the meantime he was controlling, lazy and greedy. He’d go on and on about his loyalty trip and I just got tired of listening to him while the others just ate it up and idolized him. The younger group held on to his every word. Edna was like a child around him hanging on to his coattails. He didn’t want anyone wandering off looking for the immunity idol; he watched everybody. When he wanted to look for the immunity idol everyone just let him wander off by himself because he said he was meditating. No, I never meditated with Benjamin!

Q: Stacey how did you feel about Brandon, and do you think he should have disclosed his relation to Russell Hantz earlier in the game?

Stacey: Brandon was OK. I didn’t think that Brandon had to disclose his relation to Russell at all. Brandon was not playing for Russell he’s playing for himself. He was ok, I didn’t have any problems with Brandon.

Q: How was Redemption Island with Christine?

Stacey: Oh, it was girl’s night out! We drank coconut juice and water and just talked and talked. She’s just a wonderful, caring person and I want her to win the game.

Q: When you watched the episode that depicted you walking right by the idol clue what did you think?

Stacey: Oh I was so mad I just about killed myself! I was right there and I missed it!!

The Yak: Stacey, if you had the opportunity to do Survivor again would you and if so, would you change your strategy?

Stacey: I’d be back like the roadrunner! Yes, I’d love to do Survivor again. I would definitely change my social game. I would play so differently inside the game.

The Yak: Stacey, you did so well in the weight challenge. Was survivor harder or easier, the same or different than you imagined?

Stacey: I can survive. The conditions are harsh, but I had no problem with that. It was so different than I imagined. I had no idea the social game would be so difficult. I met Christine and we hit it off and I didn’t really think far enough ahead to making alliances, etc. Benjamin immediately started the game playing and social workings. To see it on TV is one thing, being there is so much more difficult.

Q: How did you come to apply for survivor.

Stacey: I wasn’t really a big Survivor fan. I watched a few seasons. We had open casting here and I decided to apply I said “I’m gonna do this!”

Stacey was great fun to talk with as she has an exhuberant personality and a great sense of humor. She, like other ex-survivors, says it was a profound, exciting experience for her that taught her many lessons that she carries on throughout her daily life. When the Yak told her that she was one of the best “eye-rollers” ever, she laughed and said “Wait until I start my finger pointing!!” She thinks her expressiveness is why she was selected to compete on Survivor. That and telling it like it is. She certainly, like Jeff said, is one of a kind.

Thank you Stacey! Best of luck to you!

The Sing Off’s Sonos: “If [music] makes you happy, it’s doing its job”

Last night on NBC’s The Sing-Off, judges Sara Bareilles, Shawn Stockman, and Ben Folds made a tough decision and eliminated Award-winning Sonos from the competition. After making it past Round 1 with their performance of Chris Issac’s “Wicked Game,” Sonos knew they had to work hard to build upon the judge’s critiques and come back a new group in the next round! Unfortunately, in a crop of highly talented groups, Sonos found themselves eliminated. Even with their awards from the A Cappella Recording awards and the A Cappella community awards, Sonos wasn’t able to wow the judges enough to stick around. Earlier today, YakkityYaks had the pleasure to chat with Chris Harrison from Sonos. Read on to find out the story behind the name, plans for the future, just what those effects pedals really are and what’s up next for the latest talented group to be eliminated!

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The Yak: Hey Chris, thanks for taking the time to talk to us today. We’re happy to talk to you but not happy at the same time. {laughs}

Chris, Sonos: {laughs} Haha, ya. Thanks, and no problem.

The Yak: So, let’s start with the name Sonos. Can you tell us a little bit about where that came from?

Chris, Sonos: Sure. It actually comes from a book I saw one day in the library. Before we even became a group, I had been in the library and this green and orange book popped out at me on the shelf. The name of the book was Sonos. So, being the nerd that I am, I went and opened to book since the title intrigued me. Well, the book was written in French. I don’t speak French, so that just made it more mysterious. When I got home, I googled “sonos” and didn’t find anything about the book I picked up, but I did find a Greek meaning of the word, which related to sound. I thought that was cool and the name can be flipped around without changing it’s spelling. So when it came time to pick a name for our newly formed group, I threw it out there and everyone dug it. We really like the mystery and meaning behind the name.

The Yak: Wow, that’s really cool. What a good message to encourage kids to go the library. Look at where you ended up from picking up a book. {laughs}

Chris, Sonos: {laughs} Ya. Never thought of it that way. Haha

The Yak: So did you know that Sara Bareilles was going to be a judge before you auditioned or was that a total coincidence that you two had worked together in the past?

Chris, Sonos: No, we agreed to do the show and then several weeks later they announced that Sara would be the replacement judge. I kinda laughed about it. It makes sense with her a cappella background and the community loves her music.

The Yak: How did you find being on the other side to where she was judging you instead of working with you on stage?

Chris, Sonos: It was surreal. It was kinda funny and strange because it’s someone I know. But at the same time it’s someone’s opinion I really respect. In college we sang in an a cappella group together at UCLA and she has an ear and a brain for this kinda stuff, so I really enjoyed it.

The Yak: Did you guys get a chance to be mentored by the judges or were the critiques and feedback all that you had to go off of to better yourselves in the competition?

Chris, Sonos: No, there was no mentoring sessions. The only time we ever interacted with the judges at all was when we sang for them and heard their comments. That was all the exposure we got.

The Yak: How does that affect your planning on what you’re singing for the week and how you’ll approach it?

Chris, Sonos: Well, when we performed Wicked Games in our first episode, the feedback was really helpful. It was things we already knew coming on the show, like putting away our effects pedals. We have five voices, three female and one beat boxing leaves out a low end. That was our primary concern in the first place and well, they figured out that was our primary problem. {laughs} So it forced us to be more creative in our process on the show.

The Yak: Now you brought up the effects pedals, but a lot of people are questioning why audition or sign on for a show like this when you can’t use the effects pedals if they’re one of your strengths in making music.

Chris, Sonos: Well initially, we were informed they weren’t going to be a problem and that we could use them. When we first had conversations about auditioning, we were being encouraged to do it exactly as our own live show as we’re used to. They were very supportive about what we were making and the way that we make it. At our actual audition, we used our pedals and they liked it. After discussions the network was having with themselves, they decided it would be a little too unfamiliar for the audience to see 16 groups singing and one of them comes out with these boxes on the floor and the sound is different. It’d be confusing, they thought. It wouldn’t look quite right with no explanation. It was put to us that we think you’re wonderful but if you could put them down when you’re on the show, you’re welcome to be a part of it. You know, when a band or lead singer puts down their guitar and does a stripped version of the song, you don’t get the full effect as they intended it, but you get a piece of it. If that’s something you like, you’ll go look into something they do as a full band and we thought that’s what we’d do. If you decided to search for us on the internet, you’d see what we actually do. From the get go, we didn’t think of the show as a competition. We knew we were fish out of water on the show and we didn’t think we’d win. We thought it’d be a good opportunity to showcase what we do. We were honored to be invited.

The Yak: It was our pleasure to listen to you guys! So is there a song you wanted to do that would help share your story?

Chris, Sonos: I feel like “I Want You Back” did that as much as possible. It’s one of our signature songs. It sounds relatively close to how we sound in our live show. That drastic type of reworking of the songs is what we do to set ourselves apart and gets people thinking “wow that’s weird. I kinda like it.” I’m trying to think … Hmmm … The song we were planning on doing for the guilty pleasure episode was “Video Killed the Radio Star,” and our friends at Pentatonix went ahead and did that one that week and gave us a shout out. It was kinda sweet.

The Yak: You mentioned being happy performing “I Want You Back,” but ironically it may have led to your elimination. {laughs} Was there an internal struggle among the group to perform it as your signature performance vs infusing the familiar tune the judges said they missed?

Chris, Sonos: {laughs} Good one. We personally didn’t struggle at on. We’re grateful the show exists; it’s healthy for the a cappella world. In a round about way, we’re an a cappella group even if we use random pedals on the floor. In the context of the show, we knew either we’d be drowned out by the sheer size or energy level of the other groups. The approach of the show is Top 40 Pop songs that everyone will know, which makes perfect sense because it’s a TV show for everyone, so we’re this group who does quiet, weird, strange reinventions of lesser known songs. We’re kind of like the boutique band of a cappella. The likelihood of us sitting here and thriving isn’t great. but isn’t it nice that they opted to take a shot and hear what we had to say. I think we’re much more satisfied that we said what we had to say the way we had to say it. We just had to leave things behind and appeal to the competition.

The Yak: Can you talk more about the effects pedals actually? A lot of people may not know they play a role in the evolution of a cappella this day in age.

Chris, Sonos: Oh, absolutely. I’d be more than happy to. The philosophy in the beginning in using them was, as you know coming from a nerdy recording mixing engineer, when any group makes a record, in almost every situation, they are inplementing effects like this. They’re implementing an octave pedal for the bass, letting the guy sing bass reaching the depths and hit notes the human voice can’t hit. That gives it the lower end that’s strong and sturdy as rock records. In the chorus, you splash background with a delay, something to add to the texture of the sound. You really flush it out and give recording more highs, lows and extra richness. I was doing that with my livelihood until we put the group together. I knew how to take this level of production to a live show, so I wanted to do just that. There’s no point in not doing that. If you sing badly, its not gonna hide that if it’s affected. For the first year, I think it was very difficult for the group to listen and tune and blend the way a group that’s completely a cappella would. But we pushed through and did it and it’s an essential part of our live show. The things we use in our live show, the things we were naked without, was the octave pedal. It takes the incoming note and lowers it one octave. In our case, it allows the women to sing bass. In our live shows, in “I Want You Back,” Kathy sings bass with an octave pedal. She’s a fantastic alto to begin with. She’s probably our best bass actually. {laughs} Another key pedal we had to leave behind was a loop station. That really helps when you have 5 people. In certain songs, it loops 2 bars per beat. You would do vocal percussion for 5 seconds or something, kick the pedal twice and it’ll play back what was just done in time. You can sing over it, so you can sing a second male part in our case with Ben. You can turn it on and off depending on the section. That really helped us to have more voices handy. Without that, it’s like wow, we’re just 5 people.

The Yak: Thanks for elaborating on that. As a musician, that was really cool to hear. I’m sure others will enjoy that. Are you rooting for anyone in particular?

Chris, Sonos: We feel a kinship with Pentatonix. We gravitated to them early, as they’re in our bracket. Scott, the tall blond guy, went to school and sang in the same a cappella group as Rachel in our group, so there’s a brother/sisterhood there. We’re really impressed with them. They’re not only the sweetest & most fun, wacky kids on the show. They’re a blast. They’re very impressive and they’re all about reworking song too. They do really drastic reworking of songs they cover and they’re really good at it.

The Yak: What’s next for you guys?

Chris, Sonos: When we left, we went right back to work. We’re in Seattle right now for our tour. We were in Alaska just last week. Tomorrow we’ll be in Idaho then moving on to Athens, Georgia, I think. We’re working on a record with all original songs. We’re about half way through that now. It’s really fun writing original songs. It feels a little trailblazery. There are certainly some, but there aren’t a whole bunch of bands making records of just original songs.

The Yak: When can we expect a release?

Chris, Sonos: We’re in the middle now. Should we get to 12 songs and we see its taken a turn to the left and its now of this fiber, we need interstitials. We need to write, it almost feels like a concept album. Let’s take it that much further and fill in the spaces there. Our hope is to finish principle recording later this year. Hopefully very early next year.

The Yak: With The Sing Off bringing a cappella to focus in America, do you have any advice for groups or aspiring singers/songwriters?

Chris, Sonos: Ya, I think if you love it enough and you’re thinking about it all the time, do it and love it and don’t worry about criticism. Take the constructive aspects and interpret that. If it makes you happy, it [music] is doing its job.

The Yak: If The Sing Off did a season of all stars would you guys consider doing it?

Chris, Sonos: If they invited us back. We’d be honored.

The Yak: We can only hope then.

Chris, Sonos: Thanks man. It was nice talking to you.

The Yak:Thanks, Chris. Same to you. Good luck!

If you want to keep up on all things Sonos, you can keep up with them on their website, http://sonosings.com/.

The Sing-Off airs Mondays at 8pm EST on NBC. Next week, the brackets merge and the Top 10 take a shot at advancing. Two groups will be eliminated!

Big Brother Victory House: Meet the Cast!

The Big Brother fun at YakkityYaks doesn’t end when the hit CBS summer reality series closes its door. This weekend, YakkityYaks is proud to be the exclusive sponsor of Big Brother Victory House! Big Brother Victory House–named after the location’s former party nickname–is a scaled down, North Carolina-based reality game that will see the likes of twenty people compete in a house cut off from the outside world. With no cell phones, no televisions, no music and no Internet access, these houseguests will encounter the nearest thing possible to a stay in the real Big Brother house.

This will be Big Brother Victory House’s ninth season, and it will feature several of the game’s most notorious players from the past, alongside partners with whom they share dynamic relationships in the “real world.” This crop of dynamic duos range from relatives to coworkers, and from romantic partners to life-long friends, but despite how close they are, they will ultimately have to face off against one another.

Like CBS’s Big Brother, fans may watch a 24/7 live feed broadcast from inside the Big Brother Victory House compound. Viewers may choose between two cams, and they may also chat about the game with other viewers.

Read on below for houseguest bios and vote for who you think will walk away victorious on our poll! (Duos listed from left to right in reference to the picture below.) Don’t forget the LIVE 24/7 feeds are available at Big Brother Victory House!

Alan & Jon
LIFELONG BEST FRIENDS

Alan: A server and college student of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His favorite sport is tennis, and he is inspired by Barack Obama and Andre Agassi.

Jon: A New Jersey native who describes himself as self-actualized, motivating and unique. He enjoys sky diving and plans to use that love of adventure to excel in competitions.

Anna & Skyler
FRIENDS

Anna: A manager of a four diamond hotel, she is no stranger to diplomacy. She plans to make only one reservation in the house, however, and it’s for herself.

Skyler: Describing himself as kind, loyal and charismatic, this former runner-up hopes to finally win. He sums up his strategy in one word: “Slaychel.”

Jessica & Steph B
LIFELONG BEST FRIENDS

Jessica: This former cosmetologist and current server possesses a quick wit and sharp tongue, but plans to not show her cards.

Steph B: A hospitality leader in the restaurant industry, this Washington DC resident has never met a stranger, and plans to use her social skills to take home the gold.

JaLisa & Micah
COWORERS

Jalisa: A proud member of the National Guard, she describes herself as straight to the point. Working with her partner, she hopes to demolish the competition.

Micah: Being a huge enthusiast of the game and show, this former third-place finisher and aspiring politician hopes to use his communications skills to finally make it to the final two.

Shelbi & Peter
COWORKERS

Shelbi: Free-spirited and artistic, this young server firmly believes that “life isn’t about finding yourself; it’s about creating yourself.” She plans to make unexpected alliances to keep a target off her back.

Peter: This sever knows how to have a good time, but he isn’t planning on an experience of just fun and games. He is ready to destroy those who stand in between himself and the grand prize.

Jeremy & Caroline
ROOMMATES

Jeremy: This Illinois native describes himself as clumsy, loud, and optimistic. A former runner-up to the game, he says his strategy to take home the gold is to only look out for himself but to keep his eyes wide open.

Caroline: A magna cum laude graduate of theatre, this newcomer proudly proclaims that she has met the love of her life. She proudly proclaims she is inspired by her mother, and wants to play the game as trustworthy as possible.

Maxx & Kayla
FRIENDS

Maxx: A server and student of entertainment technology, this single (“but not for long”) guy describes himself as funny and wild, and he plans to “take no mercy.”

Kayla: She describes herself as ninety fiesty and fabulous pounds of fun. Leaving a long-term boyfriend behind, Kayla will do anything to win. She jokes that her strategy is simple: Get rich or die trying.

Chad & Brantley
ROOMMATES

Chad: He is a dean’s list art student with a morbid sense of humor and a vast horror film collection. Being an athletic person, Chad plans to lie low to avoid being seen as a threat.

Brantley: A former winner of the game, he plans to utilize his original winning formula: act like he’s just having a good time so people do not find him as a threat. He is a senior associate for a high-end retailer.

Chris & Stephanie M
COWORKERS

Chris: A former news correspondent and current freelance writer, this former winner will use his brains and charm to take him to the finish line once again.

Stephanie M: An evening news producer who prides herself on her morals, which she believes is instilled by her mother–a woman of Chinese descent.

Michelle & Ryan
FRIENDS

Michelle: A loud and proud feminist, this pharmacy technician will use her logic and lovable nature to excel in the game. She is an avid ‘Doctor Who’ and ‘Harry Potter’ fan.

Ryan: Describing himself as dependable, loyal and competitive, this staffing coordinator and former runner-up to the game hopes to win by aligning with strong players and having them do the dirty work.

Big Brother 13 Winner, Rachel Reilly: ‘Look at me now…’

The Yak had the pleasure of speaking with Rachel this afternoon, less than 24 hours after being crowned winner of Big Brother 13! Keep on reading what she has to say about her victory, the summer, and what she really thinks about her fellow houseguests. Our chats with Porsche and Adam will be up later!

Editor’s Note: It was a real pleasure talking with Rachel. Her bubbly personality was infectious and she was extremely friendly and genuinely happy!

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The Yak: Congratulations on the win! It must feel amazing! We are very proud of you…

Rachel: Awwww thank you! I WON BIG BROTHER! {laughs}

The Yak: You stayed real strong after Brendon’s 2nd eviction, told him in your goodbye message you were going to do this, and you got it done! How do you feel right now?

Rachel: Feels AMAZING! I can’t believe I won Big Brother. It’s surreal, considering everything that I had to go through in that house. It’s such a great feeling, especially knowing how many fans I picked up. I’m still trying to get used to that.

The Yak: You seemed to be a big fan of Big Brother… were you a fan before your original season? Did you watch the show and feeds or only the show?

Rachel: I was a fan of Big Brother for a long time. I never watched the live feeds but I always watched the CBS shows. I always told myself how I wanted to make it on this show, end up competing like Janelle, play a great social game, make the right alliances, etc…Things didn’t turn out so well in my season so I told myself that if I was ever asked back, I’d do it differently. When I was asked back this season, I made sure that Brendon and I adjusted our social game. I think we did a good job of it going in, considering we had no idea if any other veterans would be joining. The second we saw Jeff and Jordan, we knew we had to join with them and work on our social game from the get go. The competitions would come later.

The Yak: How do you think the vets changed the dynamic this year?

Rachel: The vets totally changed the dynamics this year. Not only did we have targets on our back, but we knew that we’d be picked off one by one if we didn’t join forces early on. It was a great idea to have fans and new people play with us, but it was also dangerous for us. Then Daniele had to go and ruin our game making a terrible move by going against our alliance. I’m still not sure why she did it, but it put us in danger and it wasn’t the smartest move Daniele has ever made.

The Yak: Looking back on the first few evictions the vets decided, is there any that you think you would do differently now?

Rachel: Well, you can’t really play the “what if” game. But I think evicting Keith was a great idea. I think evicting Cassi was a great idea. Looking back, I had no idea Shelly was playing a Dr. Will type game early on. Maybe voting her out instead of Dominic would have been a good idea for my alliance, but then maybe Dominic would have teamed up with Cassi or Dani or whoever was around and that would have hurt us in the end.

The Yak: Well and don’t forget that keeping Shelly a little longer got her to jury which gave you the victory …

Rachel: {Laughs} Exactly! That’s why you can’t really play the “what if” game here. Maybe then I wouldn’t have won.

The Yak: You’ve mentioned Daniele a few times already, is it safe to assume that we won’t be hearing of a Rachel and Dani friendship anytime soon?

Rachel: Probably not. Well {laughs} you never really know. Look at me now. Ragan and I are best friends, so I guess it could happen, but probably not.

The Yak: What was going through your mind when she made her comment as she cast her vote last night?

Rachel: I FOR SURE thought I had her vote, which would have meant I won the game. I didn’t think that she’d make a dig at me and vote for Porsche at the same time. I was really shocked when I saw that she voted for Porsche, and I was even more shocked when I saw that Shelly voted for me.

The Yak: Yeah, we saw it in your face. Did you know that you won at that point?

Rachel: Oh for sure. The second I saw Shelly’s key, I knew I won this game and I don’t even remember what was going through my head at that point. I was SHOCKED.

The Yak: Before that point, was there any other moment in the game where you thought you might win it?

Rachel: I honestly didn’t realize I was going to win this game until after I won the final HOH. I went to the Diary Room after I won and that’s when I first thought to myself that I could actually have just won Big Brother.

The Yak: You mean not once before last night did you think you might have a shot at this game?

Rachel: Nope, not at all. Considering how big of a target I and the other vets had on our backs, I knew that I’d have to step up my game; but every single week I thought that I’d be the one walking out that door. After Brendon and Jeff left, I for sure didn’t think I’d win this thing. Even if I took Jordan to the F2 I think she would have beat me, but I knew that her and I needed to make it there, so I knew I had to fight for it.

The Yak: If you had won the final 4 POV, who would you have evicted and why?

Rachel: If I had won…well, my hope was that Jordan would win the F4 HOH and I won the F4 POV. At that point, I would have evicted Adam for sure. My gut feeling was that Adam just wasn’t with Jordan and I 100%, and I was starting to think of ways for us both to make it to the Final 2.

The Yak: Speaking of Adam, what do you make of his vote last night?

Rachel: I was SHOCKED. I knew that Brendon, Jeff and Jordan would vote for me and that Shelly, Kalia and Dani would vote for Porsche.

The Yak: Right? Who would have known that Shelly would have been the deciding vote?

Rachel: I KNOW! It really hurt to see that Adam voted for Porsche. Before I evicted him, he stood up and made that speech and called Porsche a floater. Adam had always told me that if I won the final HOH, he’d vote for me to win because I deserved it. After all that, I’m surprised he voted for Porsche.

The Yak: Did you get to ask Adam about it since last night or no?

Rachel: I did. I actually confronted him in the backyard last night and he told me that he knew I had won the game. He told me that somehow he saw Shelly’s vote. I don’t really believe it; it seemed more that he was angry I evicted him.

The Yak: A lot of people were confused about the vote, but you still won! … If you were on jury instead of in the final two, who would you think deserved to win the game the most (other than Brendon) of all the other Houseguests?

Rachel: Jeff 100%. If Jeff made it to the finals, I would have voted for him for sure. He plays a great social game, he’s a nice guy, and I would have loved to see either him or Jordan win this game if Brendon or I couldn’t.

The Yak: Throughout the season, we obviously witnessed a lot of lows for Rachel, especially after Brendon was evicted the second time. Other than an underlying motivation to win the game, what do you attribute climbing out of those lows to?

Rachel: 100% Jordan. Jordan was my life saver in this game. She knew I needed her and she needed me. Our men were in the Jury house and we were left behind to keep on. Jordan and I HAD to make it to the final 2 and I knew that I couldn’t sit around crying too long or we’d be sent out next. For sure, I attribute much of my success to Jordan helping me through. I SO wanted to bring her with me to the finals, but obviously that wasn’t possible.

The Yak: America was totally team Jorchel as I’m sure you now know. Much of America would have loved that F2 as well, but you still did what you sought out to do so congrats!

Rachel: I know, I can’t believe it!

The Yak: A couple of fans at our site first want me to tell you how much they LOVE you! They would like to know… if you could say one thing to those people that put you down last season, what would it be?

Rachel: Uhh {Laughs}, Look at me now. {Laughs}

The Yak: Before we let you go, Rachel, we just wanted to say that when everything mellows out for you, you must check out our coverage on your trash bag wedding. That must have been a blast!

Rachel: Ohhhhhh! YES! I’d love to see pictures. That night was so much fun. I’ll definitely check it out.

The Yak: Well, it was a pleasure talking to you Rachel. You’re such a sweetheart Thank you so much for your time. You’ve definitely redeemed yourself this year with A LOT of people, and have so many fans now it’s incredible! Good luck with everything!

Rachel: Awww, thanks! It was SO much fun talking to you. Thanks so much!

Yak’s Reality Roundup: Inaugural Edition

Welcome to our inaugural edition of Yak’s Reality Roundup. The usual installments of this weekly feature at YY will usually appear on Mondays, however, we thought it would be a good idea to premiere one of our new features today as summer reality TV comes to an end and fall reality TV begins its domination. Each week, we’ll take a look at what’s in store for us on some of our favorite reality shows. We’re not limited to which shows we include, so if you have a request, please let us know below in our comment section or in our forums! Don’t be shy … we listen to you! Without further adieu, time to round up the Yak’s reality picks of the week!

Big Brother 13

After a long and grueling summer, starting with someone leaving the game before the show’s network premiere, Big Brother 13 comes to an end and will crown it’s winner tonight on the season finale on CBS. The finale tonight airs immediately after the season premiere of Survivor: South Pacific at 9:30/8:30c. The finale three contestants, Rachel, Porsche, and Adam, battle it out in a 3-part competition for the final Head of Household, earning the right to pick who they will sit with when they face the jury. The finale will also revisit the jury house one last time as Kalia makes her way there. We’ll be getting a peek at the jury deliberations as they discuss who they believe should win Big Brother 13’s $500,000 cash prize. Don’t miss tonight’s cast reunion show, as well, where secrets are bound to be exposed and personalities will clash. Who do you want to see walk away with the grand prize? A Big Brother vet or a newbie? Fear that you’ll already miss Big Brother? No worries … rest assured the show will be back in the summer of ’12 with an all-new season! And don’t miss our EXCLUSIVE interviews with the runner-up and winner of Big Brother 13 later this week!

America’s Got Talent

Tonight, NBC boasts a night full of surprises and special guests as the peacock puts an end to it’s staple (and successful) summer alternative program, as the network calls it. The live two-hour season finale boasts some of the biggest names in music and entertainment taking the stage with the show’s finalists. NBC has just announced that performers Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, LeAnn Rimes, Cobra Starship with Sabi and OneRepublic will join previously announced performers Tony Bennett with Queen Latifah, Season 5 finalist Jackie Evancho, Def Leppard and Cirque du Soleil. Wonder, LaBelle, Rimes and Cobra Starship with Sabi are slated to perform duets with POPLYFE, Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., Silhouettes, and Team iLuminate respectively. One of the four finalists will be crowned the winner. Who would you like to see take home the crown? Watch tonight’s finale with fans right here in our forum! AGT’s final airs TONIGHT at 8/7c on NBC!

Survivor: South Pacific

Last season, Survivor added a new game-changing twist…Redemption Island. This season, Survivor brings Redemption Island back, promising new twists along the way. Not only is Survivor bringing back Redemption Island, but they’re taking a page out of their book from last season and bringing back two former contestants to help “guide” the new castaways. Ozzy the ultimate physical competitor and Coach the “Dragonslayer” make their way back to life on a stranded. The theme of the season appears to be changes as the immunity idol will also pick up a change or two in how it’s claimed by a player this season. Are you looking forward to the return of Ozzy and/or Coach? Which new castaway are you rooting for pre-show? As always, join us in our forums as we discuss each episode together when it airs! Survivor, hosted by Emmy winner Jeff Probst, premieres TONIGHT at 8/7c on CBS!

Watch an exclusive preview of the first minute of tonight’s premiere below!

America’s Next Top Model

Top Model returns this season with 14 of your fan favorites from season’s past. This new all-star competition season will not only feature familiar competitive faces, but you can expect the likes of the Kardashians, Nicki Minaj, Kathy Griffin and more celebrity guests judging the competition. In addition to exposure to prolific fashion-industry gurus and successful entrepreneurs, the finalists will compete in complicated catwalks, ambitious fashion photo shoots and work to carefully craft their public personas, all under 24-hour-a-day surveillance of the cameras that chronicle every move. Which former contestants are you excited to see back competing for the title. Watch with fans HERE in our forums as we discuss the season’s happenings. Plus, look our for our season’s first interview with Season 5’s Lisa Damato, as she prepares to return to the catwalk this fall! ANTM premieres tonight at 9/8c on the CW!

Top Chef: Just Desserts

While this Bravo hit isn’t premiering or ending tonight, the competition continues on with yet another grueling week at impressing the judges with quality and incomparable desserts. The chefs have the test of their lives as they work together to replicate the world of wonka. As the original cast of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory grace the small screen as guests of the latest installment of the Emmy winning reality competition, the chefs are forced to stretch their imaginations to the limit. Who will succeed and who will fail miserably? Which chef will be asked to pack up their knives? Find out TONIGHT at 10/9c on Bravo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHJBatMKxek