It’s time for me to come clean about something. I have a strange affinity for college a cappella groups. Not in any perverse way (at least not in the traditional sense), but for someone who can’t sing worth a damn, is often scared of theater-y people (Sarayu being a very notable exception) and is way out of college, it’s probably not the norm. I didn’t really even know about these groups until law school when my cousin Andy’s group from Carleton came down to perform with other groups at the UW. I was totally floored. How can it not be fun to see kids singing the Safety Dance making all sorts of kooky noises that force an instant giggle? Well, Terry & Steve were loving it, too, and we fell in particular love with a group from Northwestern. So, what to do when this happens? Naturally, we find out their schedule, pack up the car & Maggie and drive down to Evanston for a nice supper and a show. Of course, we were certainly the only non-Wildcats in the small, kwonset hut-like space for the performance. It was kinda awkward. I was beginning to think that we had gone too far and sort of shut that chapter in my life for awhile. Until today! I am coming back out of the closet as someone who thinks these groups are weirdly cool and uber-enjoyable. What sparked my return to my love today, you ask? You know that commercial for some Windows thing that may or may not be called Mojave? It has a song in it that every time I hear it, I think it’s going to be that Bodeans “Oh no no, don’t pass me over” song, but then it’s not. And then I instantly have an unsatisfied craving for that Bodeans song. Well, today I decided to do something about it! I decided to download it on itunes, only I had to first figure out what it was called. The first site google took me to (and you really have to love google for this — I feel it was playing cupid) was this. And from there I was hooked again. And now I bring you this. So fun! Right? Please say right.
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life and puppies 
OMG- I love a capella! Good a capella, bad a capella canbe pretty scary, as scary as theatre people. Also, can I just thank you for reminding me of two songs I totally forgot about! Super fun, and super adorable! Also, sometimes I can’t help but giggle about Andy from the “Office” and his a capella group at Cornell. He’s pretty funny about it.
I also love a cappella groups. In fact I was in one, but it was High School not college.
I love Andy! One of my favorite episodes is the season when Jim moved to the other branch and someone in the office was singing some really annoying pop song. Then it cuts to Andy doing his a cappella/singer type hand gestures.
This is not the best description I realize, but it’s really very funny.
When I was in Boston for a while on a college exchange program, one of my links to food while I was a poor art student was the Harvard mess hall…thanks to, of all people, Aaron Mandel.
I played to death the Harvard A Capella group tape he gave me in that time, which also included a great pop medly (including Baby-Got-Back)
It’s something I enjoy but don’t seek out.
I think in “In Beauty” by Zadie Smith (which also takes place in Boston) there is a character who simply can’t hold together his composure/laughter when faced with a solomn a capella choir.
Yeah, we just read On Beauty in book club and it’s the dad – he just loses it. But the dad is such an ass in that book, I really don’t think Smith was trying to rain on my parade.
You know another thing about that On Beauty part to which you’re referring…I don’t think it mentioned what song they were singing. And I feel like they were in black tie. Not that that necessarily means anything, but the fact that people were staring at him while he laughed doesn’t sound like the kind of dorky/cool a cappella I’m talking about. I mean, you’re SUPPOSED to smile and laugh. It’s not supposed to be serious serious. Right?
Happy holidays, all! Be safe and merry.
You’re right. I think he was unable to control himself in the face of “earnest” a capalla and choral arangements…and he was quite the ass.
Just trying to make myself feel better. He really was a jerk store, though.
Nothing wrong in liking a capella!
We all learn to come to terms with our freakish musical appreciation. I, for one, have learned not to hate bluegrass.
Holy crap. We all forgot to wish Rose a super happy birthday!! Where’s my head? Something about Christmas being in the middle of the week and me being back at work today has me all over the map. Happy birthday, Rosie!
Kayt, does your dad still play in a bluegrass band? I, for one, actually like bluegrass. Very much sometimes, in fact.
http://www.sparetimebluegrass.com/
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=5527843
They won a MAMA (Madison Area Music Award) last year…and I think this year as well but they are rubish at updating the site. He currently owns 5 banjos.
The second clip is a cover of Honky Tonk Woman, my father is doing the vocals. He had throat cancer a year before I came to Japan, so his vocal chords are pretty ripped up now…but there is no way he’ll stand down from doing Stoens covers.