Sweating
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 #110: Sweating
Years back, I had ongoing, tongue-in-cheek debate with a friend about whether a cappella could be considered a sport. Certainly, the form has plenty of common ground with the sports world, what with breath control, the increasingly physical world of choreography, teamwork, and the emphasis many groups place on competition.
And then there’s sweat.
Sweating may not seem like an integral part of a cappella and, indeed, when groups sings just one or two non-choreographed songs, in a cool environment, perspiration may never come into play. But when the stakes are high, the movement is frenzied, and the sheer effort is there, I wholeheartedly believe that a cappella performers should sweat. It’s a reflection of hard work. It’s a demonstration of how much a group cares. And while it may not appeal to conventional visual or olfactory aesthetics, it’s a natural byproduct of so many great performances.
Groups that let loose and give their all to a performance sweat.
I love it !