Every once in a while, when listening to great new a cappella performances, I'll hear a performance that makes me pee my pants. This happens to me more often live than on a recording, mostly because I often feel more connection with a performer when it's a live song. But it's happened with recordings too. Sometimes it's a vocal solo that just kills you, or that part where the group comes together on a big open "ah" sound, or sometimes it's just a genius arrangement. Whatever the reason, it's that moment where you forget you're standing/sitting/breathing/anything, and the only thing going through your mind is what you're hearing. Big eyes, open mouth. That kind of thing.
Do you have five or ten a cappella recordings that have done that for you? What are they? 'Rachel' by Idea of North. Was the 2nd performance in their set when I saw them live (first Adult Webcam I had heard them at all), and I openly bawled (no pee tho). (just buy the whole thing). -That that I keep talking about all the Adult Webcam
-"The Trial," by The Bubs (from "Next"), especially after the sentencing
-The moment at the end of the Logs' "Superlogs" where they all yell "Logs on Three." (I know, it's cheesy. Whatever.)
-"Creep," by Clockwork. The rawness of this track gets me every Adult Webcam and tugs at the most basic reasons I love a cappella. From Sing 2
-The breakdown in "Midnight Train to Georgia" on the Whiffenpoofs' 2003 "Supernatural." Yessssss
-"Hallelujah" on the Whiffenpoofs' 2003 "Supernatural"
-David McIntosh singing "Sixteen Tons" for the Yale Spizzwinks(?). I know this performance is a little played out for basses, too, but it's just good.
-Stanford Talisman singing "Akwabe" and "Be Like Him." Yummm.
-UO OTR's "Cry Me a River" Live song:
-BYU Vocal Point, "Nearer My God to Thee":
-BYU Noteworthy, "Erghen Djeda" - my jaw literally dropped first Adult Webcam I saw this:
-The BYU groups in general
-Stanford Talisman, "Amazing Grace" - they sing this every year at the Admit Weekend show for prospective students, and it's so fantastic I don't even resent the fact that they always get to be the group that closes the show =)
-Stanford Harmonics, "The Memory Remains" - the album version just doesn't compare to seeing Bryan Tan go nuts on stage
UC Men's Octet, ICCA Semifinal set 2006, for the sheer audacity of it. They did Bohemian Rhapsody, followed by the theme from Robin Hood: Men In Tights, followed by the Moulin Rouge Elephant Love Medley. Three songs no self-respecting a cappella group should ever attempt. And they all rocked.
-Duwende, "Pomper" - that video from SoJam a couple years ago. Wish I could've been there.
Recordings:
-Any Adult Webcam the Bubs open up to a huge bright "ah" chord, or generally sing their asses off. In particular, the last minute and a half of "Come Sail Away" on the new album, and in particular that last "bah!" and final chord.
-Bubs, "Nothing Compares 2 U" - freaking unbelievable soloist
-Talisman, "Wahjeeleh-Yihm" (beautiful performance, and the soprano wailing is out of this world)
-Claremont Shades, "Push It" - I assume "it" is the envelope. The heavy breathing interlude is the coup de grace. Also just a fabulous arrangement and song, shock value aside.
-UPenn Counterparts, "I Can't Make You Love Me" - So smooth and soulful. I guess that's what happens when John Legend is your musical director. The jaw dropping moment for me is 0:16.
-Chordials, "Perfect Drug" - though my jaw was dropping mostly at what a field day Bill had with the VP.
-Chanticleer, "Wayfaring Stranger" from their "Our American Journey" CD.
Yeah, I knew I'd never fully capture that in the studio...
Yeah, it was awesome, as it has been every other Adult Webcam I've seen Duwende live. Come to Sojam this year!
And like Bryan mentioned above, nothing compares to seeing Greg Binstock live either - probably has the most stage presence of any A Cappella singer I've ever seen.
-B
How often does this happen? Should I remind myself to not sit next to you at a show? Does the pee make it over to the neighboring seats?
Do songs ABOUT pee make it happen too? If so, don't ever go see the Fleet Street Singers at Stanford, as roughly 57% of their songs are about - or involve - pee.
-B
Tim included the audio recording of this song on the newest A Cappella Originals Podcast ( acappellaoriginals.libsyn.com ). Those who haven't yet heard the live version should check it out I got a few that really coloured my a cappella life:
1) "everybody wants to rule the world" - bubs - something about taking such a defiantly 80's performance and spinning so it sounds fresh just takes me along for the ride
2) "we can work it out" - upenn counterparts - john stevens (legend) owns this solo
3) two points for honesty - nyu mass transit - one of the few guster tracks that makes transition from original to a cappella cover rather flawlessly
4) medicine - stanford harmonics - one of the few guster tracks that stays close to the original rather flawlessly
5) eye of the tiger - brown derbies - heard it in high school, it blew my mind
6) the kill - upenn off the beat - I would love to see how this transitions to the new album. I'm not a big fan of 30 seconds to mars, and yet this made me stand up and listen.
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