THOUGHTFUL RAMBLING No. 23
"A Christmas Miracle... Sorta"
Most people don't love a cappella music. It's a fact. You can look it up.
Oh, sure, most people will sit in church and listen. And on occasion, you might listen to 47 seconds of some trendy pop song on the radio before turning the station, but in general, a cappella music, that is, vocal music with no instruments, is not a fan favorite. Unless maybe you once sang in the Glee Club. If that was the case, there is certainly more of an affinity for tight harmonies and the kind of vocal resolution that in some of us, produces both goosebumps and envy.
It's not anybody's fault, really. Singing 4-part arrangements by a bunch of dead Europeans who for the most part, never heard of syncopation, just isn't that sexy. Not when compared with Rock, Pop, Jazz, Classical, Hip Hop, R&B and Rap. That said, I'm pretty sure A Cappella could still kick the crap out of polka in a fair fight. But you didn't hear that here.
Personally, I love a cappella music and am always on the lookout for really good groups. I had the privilege of singing in a 12-man group in college called "Southern Comfort" and last year around Christmas, I looked on YouTube to see if maybe the group had posted videos of their performances. They had not. But a group called "Straight, No Chaser" from Indiana University had and boy, they were smokin.
The video was of the group performing an arrangement of "The 12 Days of Christmas" in a concert more than 10 years ago in 1998. It was brilliant. All kinds of fun twists and turns with an ending set to Toto's "Africa." As I often do, I sent the link to my other singing buddies and family members who like this sort of thing, so they too could enjoy the little treasure I found buried on YouTube. But as it turns out, I wasn't the only one mining A Cappella gold.
To date, more than 8 million people have viewed the video and as a result, the group has reunited and recorded a new Christmas CD called "Holiday Spirits" that's complete with the live performance of "12 Days" plus more than a dozen other Christmas classics and at least one original piece. It's a fantastic CD and will be a holiday favorite of mine for years to come.
If you haven't heard Straight, Chaser or seen their YouTube video, check it out. Consider it an early Christmas present.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8
"A Christmas Miracle... Sorta"
Most people don't love a cappella music. It's a fact. You can look it up.
Oh, sure, most people will sit in church and listen. And on occasion, you might listen to 47 seconds of some trendy pop song on the radio before turning the station, but in general, a cappella music, that is, vocal music with no instruments, is not a fan favorite. Unless maybe you once sang in the Glee Club. If that was the case, there is certainly more of an affinity for tight harmonies and the kind of vocal resolution that in some of us, produces both goosebumps and envy.
It's not anybody's fault, really. Singing 4-part arrangements by a bunch of dead Europeans who for the most part, never heard of syncopation, just isn't that sexy. Not when compared with Rock, Pop, Jazz, Classical, Hip Hop, R&B and Rap. That said, I'm pretty sure A Cappella could still kick the crap out of polka in a fair fight. But you didn't hear that here.
Personally, I love a cappella music and am always on the lookout for really good groups. I had the privilege of singing in a 12-man group in college called "Southern Comfort" and last year around Christmas, I looked on YouTube to see if maybe the group had posted videos of their performances. They had not. But a group called "Straight, No Chaser" from Indiana University had and boy, they were smokin.
The video was of the group performing an arrangement of "The 12 Days of Christmas" in a concert more than 10 years ago in 1998. It was brilliant. All kinds of fun twists and turns with an ending set to Toto's "Africa." As I often do, I sent the link to my other singing buddies and family members who like this sort of thing, so they too could enjoy the little treasure I found buried on YouTube. But as it turns out, I wasn't the only one mining A Cappella gold.
To date, more than 8 million people have viewed the video and as a result, the group has reunited and recorded a new Christmas CD called "Holiday Spirits" that's complete with the live performance of "12 Days" plus more than a dozen other Christmas classics and at least one original piece. It's a fantastic CD and will be a holiday favorite of mine for years to come.
If you haven't heard Straight, Chaser or seen their YouTube video, check it out. Consider it an early Christmas present.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8
posted by Michael Tuggle at 11:35 AM
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