"Lean on Me"
For the uninitiated, it can be difficult to understand why people love a cappella. Heck, even for those of us who do actively enjoy it, it can be difficult to put into words why we enjoy this art form so. While we’ll never have a truly comprehensive list of everything cool about a cappella, 200 Reasons to Love A Cappella is our best attempt at assembling a list of what makes it great.
Reason #20: "Lean On Me"
There are few if any more traditional a cappella songs than “Lean on Me.” Simple, beautiful and iconic, the song never fails to strike a chord with audiences, warming the heart, calling upon memories of family and friends long past, channeling the power of humanity, not as a collection of individuals, but as a community. And what better platform to share such a song than a cappella—an art form based entirely on people, without the support of material instruments.
Whether it’s a cover of Bill Withers’s, or a nod to Big Daddy Kane’s hip hop adaptation, “Lean On Me” is a powerful song. While some will argue it’s overdone, and I generally wouldn’t advocate for its inclusion in a competition set, it remains a wonderful standby for most any group’s repertoire that I, for one, will always smile when I hear it presented on stage.
I love it!