Pitch Perfect: The Quest For Collegiate A Cappella Glory

Is Yale the "Gay" Ivy?

2009-07-17T12:12:00.000-07:00

The editors at Yale's alumni magazine are wondering.

New York magazine's blog linked to the Yale story today, offering up their own commentary: "Some would say it's all the a cappella, but then you get into the whole 'chicken or egg?' question."

The Yale alumni mag story (with references to a cappella) is here.

The New York mag blog is here.

Dick Gregory: Redux

2009-07-06T21:53:00.000-07:00

Last year, we conducted an interview with Dick Gregory—the man responsible for the original arrangement of "The 12 Days of Christmas." You know, the one that Straight No Chaser turned into a massive YouTube hit, the one that led to that group's big record deal.

Anyway: Dick Gregory and the a cappella group he started, Williston Northampton's Caterwaulers, had a big reunion in June. There was much singing. There was much revelry. Now, a video has surfaced of the men singing "The 12 Days of Christmas," as originally arranged by Dick Gregory. Check it out here!

Read more about the Caterwaulers reunion here.

Michael Jackson.

2009-06-25T22:17:00.000-07:00

Sad sad day. A tribute: Here's Cayuga's Waiters doing "Man In the Mirror."

"Dorm Life."

2009-06-23T20:38:00.001-07:00

I'm pretty sure I'm late to this. But kinda funny.

File Under Inevitable.

2009-06-23T20:30:00.000-07:00

A Capella Group Sings "I'm on a Boat" - watch more funny videos

Toto's "Africa?" Even big in Slovenia!

2009-06-19T07:51:00.000-07:00

An a cappella choir from Slovenia, Perpetuum Jazzile, along with The Real Group, perform their take on Africa's "Toto"—now officially the most overdone song in a cappella. Still, this is kind of awesome.

Serenade

2009-06-16T10:17:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, the New York Times reports, Emily Allen married Samuel Hornblower.

Why include that here? Because Mr. Hornblower's a cappella group made it into the report.

The Times describes the early days of the relationship: "Mr. Hornblower took Ms. Allen to campus parties and serenaded her onstage during a performance of the Krokodiloes, a Harvard a cappella group he belonged to. 'It was all very undergraddy,' Ms. Allen said of their courtship."

Congratulations!

The full (and very sweet) story is here.

Need An Arrangement?

2009-06-16T06:52:00.000-07:00

If you sing in an a cappella group, or would like to start one, you're gonna need a few good arrangements. There are books of arrangements out there, plus arranging services and listening tapes, etc.

And now there's a website, started by a Michigan undergrad, called Better A Cappella—which offers a database of information about existing a cappella arrangements. Does your group want to sing "Accidentally In Love?" I don't know why you would, but let's say you want to! Go to Better A Cappella. Search for the song title. Find the contact info for a dude with an existing arrangement. And shoot him an e-mail.

Of course, doing your own arrangements is a good learning experience. But for those short on time (or ear training), check out Better A Cappella.

Back to the Music.

2009-06-12T11:37:00.001-07:00

Sometimes we forget the world of collegiate a cappella is actually about the music! To that end, I offer the ladies of Divisi singing "Eugene," a great little song I'd never heard about a woman scorned.

Enter the Kleenex.

2009-05-31T05:01:00.001-07:00

Have you been watching The Alzheimer's Project on HBO? I think it's still in rotation (if not, it's available on HBO OnDemand). I'll paste below, too.

In the first episode, a 78-year-old man named Woody Geist reunites with the Grunyons, his a cappella singing group. Geist has been suffering from Alzheimer's for 14 years, and often doesn't recognize his own family. But the filmmakers capture him singing along with the Grunyons—the lyrics and vocal arrangements embedded in some untouchable corner of his mind. Clip is here, 49 minutes in. Heartbreaking.

Thank you to Mark for the tip.

'USA Today' discovers a cappella trend.

2009-05-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the shout out!

PS: I didn't know you could write "ear rape" in USA Today.

Click here to read the story in today's paper.

Honda Cappella

2009-05-21T20:31:00.001-07:00

Does someone at Honda love a cappella?

Because here's the new Prius campaign, featuring Petra Haden's "Let Your Love Flow":

And then there was this Honda ad, from two years back:

Just click on it.

2009-05-21T11:41:00.001-07:00

NBC's 'Great American Sing-Off'

2009-05-20T16:29:00.000-07:00

Details announced! NBC's a cappella competition show, now called The Great American Sing-Off, will premiere at Thanksgiving. Eight episodes. Eight a cappella groups—ranging in age from collegiate to geriatric. Want in?

For more info on applying, e-mail: Sing@McNultyCasting.com
Read more: http://www.myspace.com/TheSingOff.

Number 2 on iTunes?

2009-05-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

Yup, the Glee a cappella-ish rendition of "Don't Stop Believin'."

Glee, Again.

2009-05-19T09:05:00.000-07:00

Fox just announced that a Glee soundtrack, including a cappella renditions of "Don't Stop Believin'," will be up on iTunes. Sweet.
Read more here.

What a cappella people are Twittering about now.

2009-05-18T15:31:00.000-07:00

Glee.

2009-05-18T15:26:00.000-07:00

Glee premieres on Fox tomorrow night. I've seen it. Verdict: You'll love it.

Listen for the transitions between scenes which (on the preview copy, anyway) were scored with a cappella music. And then of course there's this:

Ball In The House on NBC.

2009-05-18T08:55:00.000-07:00

Ball In the House, arguably the hardest working dudes in pro a cappella, try out for a slot on America's Got Talent. Hopefully they'll fare better than The Fault Line, an a cappella group that made it to primetime two years ago, before getting the boot.

The Funniest Thing I've Ever Seen.

2009-05-12T16:41:00.001-07:00

There are no words. Watch a dude try to buy a house for his a cappella group. Effing amazing.

Wanna be on MTV?

2009-05-07T07:08:00.000-07:00

Folks, MTV is in the midst of casting its a cappella competition show. Think your instrument-free music group is good enough to compete?

Here's all the info you'll need to apply, direct from the casting department at MTV. Who's submitting? Let me know in the comments.

Please note: The deadline is May 14. So get on it!

THE INFO:

MTV’s A CAPPELLA CASTING
Video Submission Instructions

Thanks for your interest in our MTV casting call. We’d love for you to submit a video audition so we can get a full sense of what makes your group special!

In the video, be creative and help us get a good feel for your group and what your lives are really like. PLEASE make sure the video images are clear and the audio is good!

Part I:

Perform one full song (in stage costume, with choreography if possible)—make sure it is a song that best highlights your group’s vocal abilities.

Part II:

Choose two or three members of the group to answer the following questions on tape (one of the members answering these questions should be a soloist):

• Start off by introducing yourself and the name of the group: “Hi my name is _______ and I’m a soloist with (Group Name).
• Tell us about being part of this A Capella group:
o How often do you guys have to rehearse?
o What are some of the challenges of being part of this group?
o What are the best things about it?
o Tell us a brief story about a funny, crazy, or nerve-wracking moment while being part of the group. (for example: you were stalked by fans after a performance or a rival group tried to sabotage you)
• How would you describe your group’s image?
• Tell us why you wanted to sing with this group and what the audition process was like for you.
• Why is being part of this group important to you? Do you want to become a professional singer?
• What are your group’s strengths and weaknesses?
• Tell me about any awards or competitions that the group has been a part of? (yes, this is the time to show off so go ahead and brag!)
• Tell us some things about your life outside the group – are you part of a sorority, are you aspiring to become a lawyer, are you dating the band leader (yes tell us all the good stuff & the drama if there is any!)
• What do you hope to gain from being on MTV?

Part III:
Now that you’ve finished your interview, send it to us on a DVD along with a group photo and contact information. Or you can send a video link via e-mail to: Sandra.Phillippeaux@mtvnmix.com

Send to:

Sandra Philippeaux
ATTN: MTV’s Acapella Casting
1515 Broadway, Office 2333
New York, NY 10036
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: May 14, 2009 (packages must arrive at MTV by this date)

Paste Magazine on A Cappella.

2009-05-01T12:10:00.001-07:00

Paste magazine, a serious cred music mag, has got a nice piece on the Ben Folds a cappella album today. Folds goes track by track, discussing the album.

Check it out here.

Poker Face. Sort of.

2009-04-30T11:36:00.001-07:00

Pork Flu and A Cappella.

2009-04-29T14:15:00.001-07:00

Nothing but pork flu and a cappella in CNN's Top 5 today.

If you want to read more—about a cappella, that is—here's a link to the CNN piece.

ICCA Redux.

2009-04-28T13:00:00.000-07:00

All of this talk about the ICCAs (and MTV) got me thinking back to this pod that Current TV recorded last year. Definitely worth a second look. Or a first if you haven't seen it! This is basically a template for what an a cappella competition series could be.