Judges

[Barnesy]

I dont normally like all of the panel on these shows, but wow, i love all 3 of them! Its great to see Russell on the mend now and i really like the two ladies! Im very happy!

[Minnie]

I agree, I thought they were very well chosen to cover very different aspects of tuning, harmony, performance and teamwork, and they all seem to work really well together (though I did disagree with a couple of their decisions). Simon Cowell and his cohorts could learn a thing or two from these three.

I also loved the way Myleene threw herself into things with such obvious delight and was having so much fun with all the choirs behind the scenes. I'm reserving judgement on Nick Knowles though, I'm not sure he quite fits in with the rest of the team

[Sal-Ad Daze]

His shirt certainly didn't

[Choppy]

I only saw a bit of the show this week but I found Sharon (?)  a bit patronising  I will see what I make of her next week when I see more though 

[geogchick]

I do agree that compared to other shows the judges do seem nice but also constructively critical However, what do they now abut choral singing? Who is the blonde one? Other than her, who I don't know, Sharon and Russell are not choral singers....GRR...

[Minnie]

^ The blonde one is Suzy Digby

Suzi has an international reputation as a choral director and conductor

[geogchick]

thanks (again!) . I like her - and she is adequately qualified for me 

[Minnie]

Glad to be of service and glad to hear you approve!

I like Suzy too but I'm not really sure about Sharon yet, and much as I love Russell I worry that he's just a bit too nice

[ZodKneelsFirst]

Blonde one (Susie?) - FOX!  And as a choral singer myself, she certainly knows her stuff.
Black one - alright I spose.
Russell - bimmmmmmmmbooooooooooooo - absolutely nothing going on from the neck up.  Sorry ladies!

[geogchick]

The 'black one's name is Sharon.....just for future reference.

I don't think there is nothing going on in Russells head but he is a solo singer not a choral singer and thats a very different skill.

[ZodKneelsFirst]

So why have him on the panel then?

[geogchick]

As I've written -  I don't think he should be. But I also don't think he is a bimbo and has nothing going on in his head.

[johartuk]

^
^
Perhaps because he knows about singing?  He may not be an expert on choral singing, but they have at least one person on the panel who is, so they can afford to bring in other people who know about the mechanics of non-choral singing - both Russell and Sharon are professional singers.  They know their stuff.  Plus, they're people who the public know.  I would also hazard a guess that Russell and Sharon have done some choral singing in the past - that's how a lot of people discover a love of singing and that they are good at it.

[Rolling Stone]

I loved the way that every time Nick Knowles mentioned the Welsh choir's name, it came out differently !!! Then when Myleene said it, it sounded so effortless !!

I'm not inspired by the three judges yet....Suzi undoubtedly knows what she wants but looked a little dumbstruck in the first live show and came across as a bit dull. I've never liked Russell Watson - he's not short on self-confidence and his flirting could become a bit tiresome before long....and as for Sharon, I 'm not absolutely sure why she was picked - I would have thought that there were better qualified people out there....and if she mentions crying again...................

If that comes across as a bit harsh, then I would add that I am prepared to be "turned" by each of them over the coming weeks - but I have a feeling that it's all a bit too "nice" at the moment....................

[Barnesy]

I like all of the judges. I think its a good panel!

[Arctophile]

It seems to be the first panel of judges that actually tries to be constructive in it's comments rather than childish (as per Walsh and Osborne for example).  I hope that they keep up their even handedness.

[MIKEY4VERITY]

    ....

[ZodKneelsFirst]

Perhaps because he knows about singing?  He may not be an expert on choral singing, but they have at least one person on the panel who is, so they can afford to bring in other people who know about the mechanics of non-choral singing - both Russell and Sharon are professional singers.  They know their stuff.  Plus, they're people who the public know.  I would also hazard a guess that Russell and Sharon have done some choral singing in the past - that's how a lot of people discover a love of singing and that they are good at it.

Obviously, but surely they could have found somebody with all those qualities, AND a personality.

And btw, my opinion of RW is not based just on this show, but on his South Bank Show where he had absolutely nothing to say for himself, and all the other interviews I've heard him give.

[geogchick]

You're entitled not to like him if you don't want to. But the man can sing. And on the basis of his singing he has been offered TV programmes. If the general public thought he was useless, I'm sure he wouldn't be asked back

[OldHandChoralist]

Sharon D. Clarke has grown up singing in gospel choirs.  Her biography includes being the first, the original, and by far the best Killer Queen in the West End musical 'We Will Rock You', a stint as Mamma Morten in 'Chicago', Rafiki in 'The Lion King' and a number of other West End musical theatre roles.  She's a highly intelligent, extremely experienced singer, both on the choral and solo levels.
She knows her onions, in short, and when Sharon says 'You were FLAT', she's speaking truth.

Russell 'The Voice' Watson gained fame through having a fine natural singing voice. He did not train as a classical singer. He has populist appeal as a soloist, but that doesn't mean he knows anything about good choral singing. 

I know nothing about the little blonde but she does look decorative, a nice visual counterpoint to the splendid Sharon. She seems also to know what she's talking about, although she's not good at expressing it in the milliseconds she's allowed to speak.

The presenters are professional lightweights who are able to hold a microphone, remember their lines, and deliver them to camera on time. They need be no more than this.

[Arctophile]

The" little blonde" one as you so scathingly call her has probably got more choral experience than the other two put together.

Suzi Digby

[johartuk]

Perhaps because he knows about singing?  He may not be an expert on choral singing, but they have at least one person on the panel who is, so they can afford to bring in other people who know about the mechanics of non-choral singing - both Russell and Sharon are professional singers.  They know their stuff.  Plus, they're people who the public know.  I would also hazard a guess that Russell and Sharon have done some choral singing in the past - that's how a lot of people discover a love of singing and that they are good at it.

Obviously, but surely they could have found somebody with all those qualities, AND a personality.

And btw, my opinion of RW is not based just on this show, but on his South Bank Show where he had absolutely nothing to say for himself, and all the other interviews I've heard him give.

Russell does have a personality!  He also knows about singing (not choral singing, but there are two panelists with that specific knowledge, so they can afford to have a third panelist without the choral knowledge, but with knowledge of of singing).

[MIKEY4VERITY]

I like Old HandChoralis's point of view... 

I've NO idea who the blonde Judge lady is...... and neither do 99% of the British Public 

   Go on ... I dare you to disagree... 

We all know that Russel/Nigel whatever is name is...WATSON.... is known as the voice.... but ... ....  97% of the British Public don't give one hoot about him.....    .... Controversial......  ...  ... but I'm SURE I'm right.

The other Judge Sharon has apparently sung loadsa LEAD parts.... and I half value HER opinion..

I like CRUD...sorry... quality singing elimination shows like this....  ....  the more fool me.... the judges opinions in THIS show will CERTAINLY not influence me.........

We have our finalists....... may the best CHOIR win......... 'cos I think it was a great idea for a show.....   and I'm Not Sure what the winners receive....... ... It isn't a Million pound recording contract.... and it isn't a spot on the Royal Variety Show.... so what is it........ ... Last Choir Standing Trophy...  ... well deserved... but ... 

It brings back memorie for me of that BONKERS arlene philips v bruno something group competition that no-one knew the meaning of... or the result of ....       

[Minnie]

I've NO idea who the blonde Judge lady is...... and neither do 99% of the British Public 

  Go on ... I dare you to disagree... 

OK here goes

Does it matter that the majority of people had never heard of Suzy Digby before this show? I had no idea who she was either, nor did I know who Sharon D Clarke was (and what's wrong with calling herself plain Sharon Clarke anyway? ) but having read her profile on the BBC's Last Choir Standing website I am more than happy to accept Suzy's qualifications as a judge on the show, and having seen and heard her over the past few weeks nothing has made me think otherwise. I did have reservations about Sharon D, and having seen and heard her too over the past few weeks I have found her more and more annoying. In fact if anything were going to make me stop watching this show it would be shouty Sharon "Give me D passion" Clarke.

[Rolling Stone]

What I can't understand is how "The Voice" can have such a nasal voice when he's not singing..............