The Sing-Off Delivers the Best Holiday Special This Year

The Sing-Off manage to do what every reality competition tries. Instead of ending the season solely with the season’s finale, NBC’s acapella singing competition invited back groups from all three seasons for one of the most pleasant holiday specials of the season.

Not only was tonight’s special respectful to all who have participated in the show, but it was a funny tribute to fans who often lose track of contestants from seasons past. Unlike other holiday specials this season, The Sing-Off provided different interpretations of the same holiday songs.

All three Sing-Off winners, Pentatonix, Committed and Nota, kicked the program off with a fun version of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” The classic recorded by artists ranging from Jon Bon Jovi to The Eagles, was a toe-tapper. Soon after Delilah, from the third season, and The Backbeats, from second season, took on Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas.”

Committed returned to stage with third season’s Afro-Blue for “O-o-h Child,” the perfect song for any acapella group. Brothers from The Collective and Street Corner Symphony delivered a beautiful rendition of “Hallelujah” soon after.

North Shore from this season arrived on stage with a near show-stopping version of “Little Saint Nick,” that gave even The Beach Boys a run for their money. No Christmas classic (or soon-to-be classics) were neglected as Pentatonix showed just what helped them win this year’s competition with Justin Bieber’s “Under the Mistletoe.”

If you weren’t dancing up to this point, Dartmouth Aires, On the Rocks and The Beezlebubs got the house rocking with “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” Urban Method managed to give the crowd a chill with a deep, eerie version of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” shortly after. The Collective returned to tackle one of the most commonly recorded classics, “Santa Baby.” It’s songs like this that make you forget NO INSTRUMENTS are used!

Nota took stage next with Shawn Stockman to show just what made them champs. The group and mentor gave one of the best performances of “This Christmas.” Nick Lachey and Vocal Point surprised crowds immediately after with a Sinatra-esque “Let it Snow.”

Perhaps the most unique performance of the night was the song that lacked most holiday cheer. Urban Method and Pentatonix joined Flo Rida on stage for his hit, “Good Feeling.” The most shocking part of this performance was easily that the rapper never heard of acapella groups before this performance.

The show concluded with a touching performance of “Happy Christmas” with all 14 groups. With everyone on one stage, it was heartbreaking to realize that The Sing-Off is done until next fall!