Your First A Cappella Show
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 #57: Your First A Cappella Show
So you don’t have anything to do on a Saturday night, and nerdy girl next door insists that you come to see her a cappella group perform. With a bite of your tongue and a roll of your eyes, you come along, expecting to hear a bunch of cumbaya-ing and maybe, if you’re lucky, a rendition of “Stand by Me.”
Lo and behold the group opens with a song by Lady Gaga, complete with attitude and suggestive choreography. They go on to cover Coldplay, Muse, and Imogen Heap. Midway through the show, you find that you’ve started clapping not out of obligation, but actual enjoyment and appreciation of what the group sings!
Sure, Pitch Perfect and The Sing-Off have removed a little of the mystique of a cappella, upping expectations and taking away some of the surprise of contemporary song choices. Nonetheless, seeing a college act take on songs relevant to the college audience, made up of group members who you actually know remains one of the treasures of collegiate a cappella and it’s never more impressive than the first time you come upon it.
I love it!