Last Choir Standing

27th August 2008

Get all the backstage gossip with Myleene's weekly blog:

 

Here she gives us her tips on how to look after your voice, tells us how she copes with a busy schedule and what she thinks about the remaining three choirs.

 

 

"Hi everyone! Wow, I've literally just got off stage and my heart must have stopped beating about ten times! I'll try and be articulate but my nerves are shot to pieces!

"I was really excited all week as it's the semi-finals, sadly, of course, one of the choirs has to go and this week it was ACM Gospel Choir.

"ACM's determination was incredible. They went from rehearsing two hours a week to 24 hours a week. That really is a lot of singing, especially for people who haven't sung for that long before. They obviously wanted it very badly.

Be kind to your voice

"When you're singing that much, the most important thing to do is to rest your voice when you don't need it. People think it's good to whisper but it's not, so if you need to speak, just speak. Now I don't like honey, but it's good for your voice as are lemon and ginger. Also, make sure you drink lots of water at room temperature, nothing too cold!

Confession time!

"I have a confession to make about why the judges were so full of song on Saturday! Before we went on stage I offered Russell one of these mints I have that are like pure sugar... explorers use them when they're climbing Everest! Well Russell had about four or five which is the equivalent of 10 spoonfuls of sugar, and when he got on stage he just seemed to be so full of energy and kept bursting into song when he was giving the choirs his feedback! So when he started singing, that made Sharon start singing and suddenly it was like a face-off between the judges. Then Suzi was singing too and they were all at it!

Mum, model, musician and TV presenter

"I do have a really busy schedule, but I think I find a way to make it work for myself. The best thing is that I have amazing friends. I can talk to friends who don't have kids about the 'real world' and then I talk to my 'Mummy' friends to get tips on this, that and the other!

"I'm very lucky in that I have a healthy, beautiful baby, and I have a lovely partner who's very supportive. I'm aware I have more than many and I count myself very lucky.

"But at the same time I work really hard, because I don't want to become complacent, so I work every hour that I possibly can. I'm lucky that I get to bring my daughter into work. She conducted the choirs on Friday! She stood there and they were all singing and laughing as she clapped along!

The grand final

"The three remaining choirs are so different; Revelation sing from the soul and with so much heart. They have people in the choir who were 'born with soul'. Their rhythm is so true and every word hits home, they understand and mean every word they're singing. Plus they've gone from three-part harmonies to five and six-part... they've done so well and come so far.

"Only Men Aloud! have so much professionalism and I really admire that. They learn their pieces, they're dedicated and they have a really good understanding of music - their MD really does sprinkle the light and shade. Their dynamics and control are phenomenal. They also have some really strong individual voices, but they remain a group - a tight knit band of brothers. Everything you'd want from a male voice choir, they've got!

"Ysgol Glanaethwy are a young choir with a very mature approach. They're so very dedicated and very versatile. Sometimes the older you get the more you get set in your ways, but with them - one week it could be a bit of jazz, the next some rock 'n' roll and then another day they do something like 'O Fortuna'! Plus they have such a youthful exuberance - they're amazing to listen to!

"I'm sooo looking forward to the final, it's the choral showdown! Power, passion and performance - it's going to have that and more, and that's just from the judges! Make sure you watch it on Saturday at 6pm!

Love

Myleene x

"P.S - Don't forget to find out what Nick thought about the semi-final show in his weekly blog!"