The 5s

The 5s: The A Cappella Book

By Mike Chin on February 17, 2012 in The 5s

In The 5s, an ACB contributor breaks down an a cappella related institution by breaking it into lists of 5. In this edition, we consider Five Reasons You Should Make a Pledge to The A Cappella Book Kickstarter campaign.

1. It’s like the blog, but bigger and better. If you’ve enjoyed reading ACB event reviews, interviews, and columns, you’re going to love this 200+ page manuscript about the ins and outs of a cappella performance, networking, group management, and more. We’re pulling on all of our experience attending shows, talking to people in the know and ruminating on the many facets of a cappella. This book will truly be our manifesto and masterpiece. You won’t regret helping to make it happen.

2. Get it before anyone else and for less money. One of the great parts about donating through Kickstarter rather than just giving us money is the rewards component. Do you think you would buy The A Cappella Book when it comes out anyway? For just $10, you’ll get an e-copy, and get it before the official release date. Pledge five bucks more, and we’ll throw in a bargain, early edition hard copy to boot. Bump up the pledge to $35 and you’ll get two copies, both of them autographed, both in plenty of time to make awesome Christmas gifts for friends and loved ones.

3. Be in the book. At the $35 pledge level, you get not only the two signed books and the e-copy, but also will have your name or your group’s name permanently added to the a cappella canon by appearing in the acknowledgements of the book. $100 will get you or your group a black and white photo in the book—a far lower price than advertising in Varsity Vocals or most festival program books, and a chance for your face to become a permanent image in the history of a cappella. Really big spenders also have shots at getting whole chapters written about them, or even being pictured on the cover!

The 5s: Five ICCA Quarterfinals to Keep an Eye on in 2012

By Mike Chin on January 27, 2012 in The 5s

In The 5s, an ACB contributor breaks down an a cappella related institution by breaking it into lists of 5. In this edition, we’re gearing up for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, which kicks off this Saturday in St. Louis. We present to you (in chronological order) Five ICCA quarterfinals to keep an eye on in 2012.

1. January 28, Washington University of St. Louis The ICCA season is slated to kick off with a serious bang at WashU. This quarterfinal will include perennial ICCA threats like University of Illinois No Strings Attached and University of Minnesota 7 Days. In addition, those in attendance will hear the reigning Midwest ICCA champions, The Stereotypes, at home as they begin to defend their regional crowns and set their sights on a return trip to the biggest stage in collegiate a cappella—the ICCA Finals. The twist in our story? A little all-male outfit from Nebraska known as Rocktavo. The group competed in its first year in existence back in 2007 and not only won the ICCA Midwest, but placed second in The Finals. Now, the guys return to the tournament for the first time since that debut year. The entire group should have turned over by now, but the institutional memory should remain, which likely means we’re in for an opening round shoot-out wild, wild (mid)west.

The 5s: Five Songs to Convince a Non-Believer

By Mike Chin on January 26, 2012 in The 5s

In The 5s, an ACB contributor breaks down an a cappella related institution by breaking it into lists of 5. We recognize some of you are looking to recruit new a cappella fans to join you for an upcoming ICCA quarterfinal. We’ve got your hook up. In this edition, we’re gearing up for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, which kicks off this Saturday in St. Louis, and presenting you with five songs to convince a non-believer to that a cappella is cool.

Hit them with the bad boys of collegiate a cappella…

“Through With You” by Rutgers University Casual Harmony, Spring 2005

… come at them with the drama…

“Crazy Ever After” by The University of Southern California SoCal VoCals, Spring 2010

The 5s: What To Do and What to Avoid in the ICCAs

By Mike Chin on January 24, 2012 in The 5s

In The 5s, an ACB contributor breaks down an a cappella related institution by breaking it into lists of 5. In this edition, we’re gearing up for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, which kicks off this Saturday in St. Louis. We present to you Five Points to Avoid in the ICCAs and Five Keys to Success in the ICCAs.

Five Points to Avoid in the ICCAs

1. Don’t imitate. YouTube is the devil. Now that virtually every winning ICCA set from the past year is online, it’s tempting to look up every past success story, mold your set after it, and expect the same results. The thing is, champions aren’t made based on any individual song selection, choreography choice, or arrangement—they are built upon the gestalt of these factors, and tailoring them to the precise talents of the group at hand. Groups that try to emulate what others have done before saddle themselves with the disadvantages of drawing immediate comparisons, and limiting themselves to, at best, a Xerox of the original. Regardless of the quality of your photocopier, that copy will never shine quite as bright.

The 5s: The A Cappella Holiday Season - Gift Ideas & Video Selections

By Mike Chin on December 12, 2011 in The 5s

In The 5s, an ACB contributor breaks down an a cappella related institution by breaking it into lists of 5. In this edition, we’re taking a look at The 5s of the a cappella holiday season..

Five Gifts for the A cappella Enthusiast In Your Life

1) A pitchpipe or tuning fork. An out of tune a cappella group rarely sounds pretty, and unless a group is fortunate to have someone with perfect pitch, they’ll need one of these doo-hickeys.

The 5s: Why You Should Watch The Sing-Off Instead of Dancing with the Stars Tonight

By Mike Chin on September 19, 2011 in The 5s

In The 5s, an ACB contributor breaks down an a cappella related institution by breaking it into lists of 5. In this edition, we’re taking a look at Five Reasons You Should Watch The Sing-Off Instead of Dancing with the Stars tonight.

1. Emerging stars. One of the reasons why people watch Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) is the familiarity of the cast of characters. You remember David Arquette as Deputy Dewey in the Scream movies or used to while away your afternoons watching Ricki Lake’s talk show. Something about revisiting these familiar faces gives you a sense of comfort.

Stop living in the past.

I enjoy a good nostalgia trip as much as the next guy, but if you’re going to spend two hours watching TV tonight, why miss the meteoric rise of phenomenal new talents in favor of a cast made up of B-list celebrities you may never hear from again? With just a few exceptions, the budding stars of The Sing-Off are younger, higher energy and—what the heck, I’ll say it—more talented than the folks you’re going to see on DWTS.

2. See a show you’ve never seen before. While DWTS features a revolving door of professional dancers performing in styles that longtime fans may have seen on TV as many as 12 times prior to this point, The Sing-Off all but guarantees fresh, new material. The a cappella form, itself, has been far less exploited in the mainstream than ballroom dancing. On top of that, if you have yet to hear Sonos, Vocal Point, or other top acts, I assure you that, by watching The Sing-Off, you will be taking in an a cappella experience the likes of which you’ve never seen (or heard) before.

3. Curiosity. One of the biggest draws to DWTS is the curiosity factor. I know Ron Artest can play some serious defense, but can he waltz? I know Nancy Grace can communicate at least 10 different degrees of indignation in an hour of her show—but how’s her east coast swing? The American public will always be fascinated with the prospect of a familiar fish, flopping out of water. But isn’t it cooler to see someone legitimately excel in his her field of choice? It may be more interesting to see Ron Artest on the dancefloor than in a routine, run of the mill Lakers game, but when he has a truly break out performance, wouldn’t you rather see one of the NBA’s top power forwards snagging rebounds by dozen, as opposed to stumbling through a box step?

The Sing-Off is all about celebrating excellence. In a me-first era of reality TV in which producers shove individual contestants down our throats as underdogs and dream chasers, how about a show that actually showcases people who have worked together toward a dream for a sustained period of time? Take North Shore—a group of five men who won The National Harmony Sweepstakes 20 years ago and have kept singing together ever since, despite flying under mainstream America’s radar. Isn’t it time we celebrate that level of dedication and commitment to excellence? I think so.

4. Shake up the system. DWTS has been an ABC fixture since 2005. In that time, just how many stars has the show created? You can argue DWTS made the judges and professional dancers into household names, and that the show helped inject some life into the careers of a few celebrities of yesteryear. But when you take a look at The Sing-Off, there are literally dozens of people who have had their lives changed through appearances on the show, whether its winners Nota or Committed releasing CDs on major labels, alumni from Street Corner Symphony and The Backbeats touring with Ben Folds, The Beelzebubs voicing The Warblers on Glee, or the number of other groups that have had new invitations come up to perform across the country and even abroad. The Sing-Off has accomplished all of this in just nine episodes to date.

Will The Sing-Off continue to make new stars? The answer to this question may rest in the hands of the TV-watching public. If the ratings for the show's upcoming 11-episode run are strong enough, we’ll see the show again in 2012—and perhaps for even more episodes. The ability to shake the system is going to have a lot to do with what we all do with our remote controls tonight.

5. Ben Folds. Has there ever been a more likeable reality TV personality than Ben Folds? Combine an expert knowledge of music, a keen eye for criticism and an authentic kindness, and you have the winning combination that makes Folds the perfect fit as a reality TV show judge. What truly makes Folds transcendental, though, is the childlike wonder he brings to his role. Watching Folds respond to a great performance reminds us of what it was like when we heard really good a cappella for the first time—awe-struck, intrigued, and ultimately swept up in the power of the music. Likeable as some of the DWTS personalities may be, they just can’t compete with this guy.

Author’s note: I recognize that many of The A Cappella Blog’s regular readers won’t need reasons and justification for making this choosing The Sing-Off over Dancing with the Stars tonight. Consider this an open letter to those who might be on the fence, or for you to forward to your friends for proselytizing purposes.

The Sing-Off airs tonight, Monday, September 19, 8/7C on NBC.

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