Sing off puts music spotlight on Delaware

They made it into the Top 10, but for the Deltones it was a “guilty pleasure” that did in the University of Delaware A Capella group on NBC’s Sing-off.

The theme of the night was songs that you would sing in the shower or by yourself in the car, better known as a “guilty pleasure”.  The Deltones chose “Listen to Your Heart” by Roxette.

The judges like the work of the University of Delaware group, but some felt it might not have been their best choice to move on.  One of the judges, Ben Folds, praised them for always singing the lyrics.  However, he suggested that maybe the group was too big and didn’t really have an identity.

The winner of the “Sing Off” gets $200,000 and a recording contract.  Sara Bareilles, another judge, thought the song choice might have been too serious. Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men said with 15 member he wanted more variation in style.

They all praised Cortney Penta who sand the lead.  The judges teased the senior from Wenham, Mass. for adding a little country element to the performance. The other group kicked off last night’s show was Northshore, a Boston area do-wop group.

Andrea O’Neill, President of the Deltones, said she thought the Monday competition would be their last.  Still, it was hard to go.  “We were all very upset to have to leave, mostly due to all the friendships we had formed with the other groups. That was the hardest part for me-they became like my family during the weeks we were there,” she said.

The Deltones have been a part of the UD A Capella scene for 20 years.  There are 7 groups who compete and sing on campus.  They’ve had a number of competitions this fall including one that our First/WHYY cameras recorded on October 10th.  Here’s a little known fact about the Deltones.  They say their theme song is “Love the One Your With”, the 70’s hit by Steve Stills.  O’Neill isn’t sure how that song came to belong with to the group.  However, it is their guilty pleasure to sing.