I didn’t particularly enjoy Clash of the Choirs as a whole, although there were parts that I enjoyed a lot. Mostly, though, it was a dud of a show. I watched the first night and the last night - and bits and pieces of the other night. I’ve never been a Nick Lachey fan, but as I watched the show, Nick came through as one of the more humble musicians. His choir sang songs that were believable. I really disliked Patti LaBelle’s rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” She shrieked through the song from the beginning - and it seemed so staged and fake. When Nick’s choir sang “What a Wonderful World” it was melodic and well performed. It was also a win for the choir - not for the celebrity.
However, I didn’t really have much hope that Nick’s choir would win. Everyone had carried on so much about how wonderful Patti was - how “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” had been so outstanding. I didn’t see it - If they hadn’t announced that the song they were singing was “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” I sure wouldn’t have known it by listening to Patti sing. The actual tune of the song was lost in all the yelling, facial contortions, shoe-throwing and theatrics.
I was pleased when Nick Lachey’s choir was announced the winner. They deserved it. They were the consistently best choir there.
Then I read about Patti LaBelle’s remarks when she realized she hadn’t won. Here’s the story:
In comments published on Philly.com, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Web site, LaBelle did not appear overly gracious about her loss.
“It was a ripoff — somebody stole it from me,” she said before backing off a bit. “I’m still a winner, you know what I mean? I’m not taking anything away from Nick Lachey … I’m 63, he’s about 2. … It’s called Clash of the Choirs, not Clash of the Popularity.”
She’s not taking anything away from Nick Lachey? Well, yes she is. She’s saying he’s too young to win and that the only reason he won is because he is popular and not because his choir was the best. She insulted him and she insulted the people in his choir. Yes, it was called Clash of the Choirs, and that’s why Nick’s choir won. Patti’s choir was all about Patti. Even though Patti’s choir contained people who weren’t African American, she selected an African American charity. What a slap in the face for her non-African American choir members. It seems to me that she was interested in Patti and Patti’s interests - and not in her choir. No wonder Nick’s choir beat her so soundly. People like Patti LaBelle who lose a competition and, instead of congratulating the winners and being gracious, criticize the winners and claim that “somebody stole” the competition from them, just illustrate their own shallow, mean-spirited and self-involved personalities.
Sphere: Related Content