So, if we’re friends IRL you may know that I fucking love a Capella music. Yeah. F-bomb. What. You may also have noticed I’m a little crazy about it lately. If you have not noticed, then, well… good for you. You probably have better things to do with your life.
At any rate, I am going to try to explain a bit about a Capella. Let me start out by saying I love music–which is the kind of statement that has lost all meaning. Because who doesn’t like music? If you know of a guy, I don’t wanna meet him. ‘Cuz that’s weird. How can you not like music? I’ve been involved and in love with some sort of musical lessons or performance for as long as I can remember: choir from Kindergarten to my final year of undergrad with just a few breaks, piano lessons from 3rd grade to senior year of high school, a semester of guitar lessons, a week or two of oboe (sorry about that one, parents) and a forlorn accordion in the corner of my loft which I cannot play but would very much like to.
There is something special to me, though, about vocal music. Maybe it’s the vulnerability–the fact that there is no instrument to lean on, nothing to blame any mistakes on. Maybe it’s the thrill of the liveness–that this is happening right now and it will never happen this way again. But when voices are combined, something really magical happens. Nearly without fail, when I hear the opening number of a musical comedy I become so filled with that magic that my breath catches, my throat tightens and embarrassingly my eyes brim with tears. Thank goodness it’s usually in the safety of a darkened theater. I have almost the exact same reaction to a really great multi-vocal performance as my twittering 16-year old self reacted to seeing my crush of the moment. (Although the latter involved far more mouse-like shrieks and hiding behind nearby objects.) It’s silly, I know, but I can’t help it! Its a reflex in me: no matter how ridiculous the situation I am always overwhelmed by the power of voices in unison. Or rather, in harmony. Because if a choir sang in unison it’d be pretty boring. Like Charlie Brown.
It follows, then, that a Capella should have a strong effect on me–it’s only voices in harmony afterall. When a group is really in their element, and you allow yourself to just listen and enjoy without judgment or questioning, “Where are the instruments?” or “What am I doing here?” or “This is so gay,” you may find yourself lost in the moment as well. You might feel like you’re the only one listening, that you’re just a breath away from the performers, you may even forget all those burdensome troubles that so burden you with their burdens and have one pure moment of being for the length of a song.
Or maybe you’ll just giggle a lot, which is sometimes what I do.
Anyway, if you haven’t already, I think you should give a Capella a chance. Go to a live show if you can–that’s the medium where a Capella really shines because you can be sure there is nothing going on but some rockingly talented singers.* I dare you not to be infected with joy. Raging, burning, pervasive joy. It’s impossible not to be happy when you see people so loving what they’re doing. If there are no badass a Capella performances happening near you soon, its not too late to watch The Sing Off**, which besides being a great showcase for a Capella is just the kindest competition on television. Plus, in what other world would Ben Folds, Nicole Scherzinger (of the Pussycat Dolls) and Shawn Stockman (of Boys II Men) be hanging out together?
To get you started on your a Capella journey, I submit to you a few of my favorite performances. I have a whole YouTube playlist full of them. You may also want to check out any recordings by my alma mater superstars Straight No Chaser (who were discovered on YouTube and offered a recording contract years after they graduated and became real adults) or the awesome album Ben Folds Presents: University A Capella!
1. Intricate rendition of, like, the most unfortunately overplayed song of all time. The lady conducting on the right is kind of annoying, but it sounds good so I should probably shut it. I’m Yours by Nonsequitur.
2. An a Capella staple from IU’s SNC, the continued student group. Not my favorite soloist but…you get the idea. Go Hoosiers! Insomniac by IU’s Straight No Chaser.
3. The Backbeats from Season 2 of The Sing Off–so emotional! I had a little–ahem–something in my eye by the end. If I Were a Boy by the Backbeats.
4. From Season 2 as well, my faves On the Rocks rocking out. I was so impressed by the delay effects. And all the jumping. (You may recognize them from such viral hits as the over-7-million-times-viewed “a Capella Bad Romance,” which is no longer available in its original version except OMG I JUST FOUND IT IN RUSSIAN. Ok not really in Russian.) Live Your Life by On the Rocks.
5. Last one from The Sing Off, I promise. I think IU’s SNC has a bumpier version, but this is pretty damn impressive. If you don’t know how hard it is to break from singing in unison to a perfectly-pitched six-part chord, well, lemme tell you. It’s hard. This Love by Committed.
*I should put a disclaimer that not all a Capella groups are created equal. If you don’t do some research, you may find yourself pinned to your theater seat in excruciating agony as a group of unfortunate souls tries to carry a tune without a bucket.
**It is, unfortunately, too late to watch the latest season of BBC’s The Choir, unless you can find it online somewhere. It is a fantastic show about choir teacher Gareth making the UK and the world a better place by creating choirs out of the most unlikely ragtag groups of people. Bonus: children with adorable British accents. Double bonus: sweet old people with adorable British accents.
P.S. Don’t even say Glee to me right now. I love it, but those “kids” are over-produced.
P.P.S. A big thank-you goes to my fiance, who has endured and humored my many musings on the healing power of a Capella for so long 🙂
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