Let It Shine. Gary Barlow's bare chest...and some singing

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Let It Shine. Gary Barlow's bare chest...and some singing

January 10, 2017 - 16:41
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Okay, it’s not really different, because Andrew Lloyd Webber’s already done it. Has anyone else on the internet mentioned that in their review of Let It Shine? No, didn’t think so…

Let It Shine

By Anna May @AnnaMayMight

Here we are again. The search for a star begins. Hang on…no…this is different. Five West End stars!

Okay, it’s not really different, because Andrew Lloyd Webber’s already done it. Has anyone else on the internet mentioned that in their review of Let It Shine? No, didn’t think so…

So, what are my first impressions?

Well…from a parent’s point of view, it’s a safe enough show to watch with children…and there are some nice touches. In particular, the anticipation of the scores as the stars light up towards the singer. I like that…and we did (I don’t care) sit drum-rolling our thighs until the final star was lit. Bear in mind we didn’t catch up on the show until about 11pm on iPlayer. By that time, I’d had a fair whack of mulled wine and was totally up for anything really. What can I say…I’m easy.

Needless to say, as the biggest star under each successful contestant illuminated, we couldn’t help but effect the obligatory skyward punch and wait to further fist the air with excitement in the event that even more stars lit up on the stage around them. Like I said…I don’t care. I have kids…I have to do these things…they make me do these things.

Time will tell if the judges are up to the job. Obviously, Gary Barlow has given himself something to do on the show. Mostly smiling smugly, but I don’t think he can help it and that’s just the way his face is. It's a nice face...let's be honest. Martin Kemp obviously holds appeal for middle-aged viewers and upwards…and it makes perfect sense to include Amber Riley in these first stages, given her involvement with Glee. If anyone knows what the singers are up against, it’s her. Dannii Minogue is already in the music industry and has past experience as a talent show judge, but I’m not so sure about her awkward flirty behaviour with one of the much younger contestants. Bit cringe.

Graham Norton, as always, brings the right presenting attitude to these types of shows. His flamboyant campness fits in very well with the overall theatrical theme. Anyone less forward and confident just wouldn’t work.

I do like Mel Giedroyc as a presenter, but feel she’s just been brought in as a bit of light entertainment between auditions and as a kind of mumsy to the nervous hopefuls as they squirm in their beanbag chairs backstage…I don’t know. I’d have liked to see her used better here. Early days, though. I’ll admit, I had to Google Mel’s surname…and can confirm you can pretty much type any seven random letters after the G and she’s there. I spent ages having fun with that. Handy hint, I know.

Talking of backstage…it’s all a little bit higgledy-piggledy, isn’t it. Are they trying to appear far less flashy and money-guzzling than the competition? Or…are they just going for the more authentic feel of a backstage area, where there’s no time to sit down…just change and get back on stage? If so…they also need to work on a few things where centre stage is concerned.

For a start, what’s with the softly-softly approach? I read beforehand that the series wouldn’t be following the trend of similar shows, which is to humiliate the less talented contestants. Yeah, I get that, but there’s a limit.

Is it really a good idea for the judges to be sitting there smiling and nodding at these adults (YES ADULTS), before treating them to fluffy comments about their performances? Surely, giving necessary wake-up calls is far more helpful in the long run, than providing standard lip service across the board.

On the one hand, the show is giving completely new singers the chance to audition alongside those more experienced, which is pretty common in the real world. That’s fine. Everyone has to start somewhere, right? Absolutely!

On the other hand, though, the harsh rejection those novices would have to stomach in that same real world, before they even got anywhere near their dream, is so far removed from the kind smiles and careful comments being handed out here. They’re not auditioning for a school play, for crying out loud.

Furthermore, has Gary Barlow ever met the internet? No? Okay then…

Gary…meet the internet. This is where it doesn’t matter how much you praise a less than perfect singer on camera, because as soon as their performance is aired they’ll be ripped to shreds by millions on social media before the first note has even left their mouth. Chances are, they’ll be sitting at home, eagerly waiting for Twitter to erupt with delightful comments about their highly-praised efforts, but instead have to suffer the cruellest of attacks on every aspect of their existence.

But at least Gary Barlow said they had great energy and looked like they were having fun, right?

I think, if anyone’s going to have trouble keeping their opinions to themselves, it’ll be Martin Kemp. His feedback wasn’t quite as in keeping with the ‘praise the good behaviour, ignore the bad’ rule we’ve been primed to expect. If he’s ‘allowed’ to keep that up, his less critical comments will hold far more credibility. Someone has to be bad cop…and if the judges are firm, but fair, that’ll do.

So far we’ve been presented with a handful of yes, no, maybe acts…before being wowed at the very end by someone clearly pinpointed as a front-runner. Enter Jason Brock, who has already appeared in the stage version of Thriller, so is well used to the pressures of an eight-show-a-week production. Not only that, it helps that his voice is ridiculously good! Not surprisingly, my daughter decided it was time to divorce the husband she’d only just married from The Voice earlier…and immediately marry Jason. How fickle.

The burning question is…should Gary be allowed to audition acts who already have West End stage experience? Of course he should! He’s looking for five of the best singers he can find so his musical can become a huge success and earn him lots of money. Don’t be silly and slate him for putting absolute nobodies up against people such as Jason Brock. He’s giving them airtime and audition experience…and a right slagging off on Twitter. You can’t top that!

All in all, the show is worth a watch. Yes, it’s yet another singing competition, but it’s not exactly like The Voice or X Factor…in that these singers are competing for a job that will see them touring with Gary Barlow’s new musical about a boy band and having to perform day in, day out for a year. There is no record contract…it’s an actual job. Not too shabby, I’d say…and you have to give Gary credit for coming up with such a punchy name for the musical. It must have taken weeks…even months…no, years…to come up with the catchy title of ‘The Band’.

As for his introduction to the show, with that song-type-dance-type-acting-type-thing…as polished and professional as it all looked and sounded, I really don’t want to see his bare chest at the start of every show. Although, after I’d let out a cringing, “Oh my God!” as it began, my teenage daughter exclaimed, “Oh my God, I know, I love it!” Hmmm…

There is 1 Comment

Llwynog45's picture

I agree about the stars thing. I liked that too. Just get a feeling I've seen it before! Is it Guitar Hero, the game? I only watched about a third of it before getting bored, but that's good for me. Lasted about 5 minutes of the voice, before Jennifer Hudson started shrieking. Great review as always.