A cappella variety spices up life
Wesleyan Argus- November 9, 2001
by Anna Talman, Contributing Writer


More than eighty of Wesleyan’s finest a cappella singers came together for a stunningly varied performance, impressing students and parents alike at the fall concert on Sunday afternoon.

Eight student a cappella groups performed, each of the groups singing two to three pieces from their repertoire before the packed Crowell audience. The material spanned the musical spectrum, from folk songs to U2 to the Wesleyan fight song.

The show began with Vocal Debauchery’s “Protest Show,” for which its members donned hippie clothing and entered the concert hall chanting “No more bad stuff.” Beginning with “All I Want to Be Is a Paperback Writer,” originally by the Beatles, and drawing from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” and popular singer Dido for their material, Vocal Debauchery impressed the audience with its enthusiasm and talent.

Onomatopoeia followed, wowing the audience with the intricate harmonies of the Indigo Girls. The twelve women sang that band’s hit, “Galileo,” as well as “Wanting Memories,” composed by Sweet Honey in the Rock, and the sultry “Real Love,” which featured many soloists.

The New Group (which, despite its name, actually has a decade-long tradition at the University) rendered impressive versions of David Bowie and Billy Joel numbers. They also sang a lively rendition of “Come on Eileen,” originally by Dexy’s Midnight Runners.

“The New Group is awesome ’cause the people in it are great, we sing really good songs, and we throw sweet parties,” said Mark Schindler ’04, a member of the group.

Next came a renditions of “Uninvited,” a Grammy winning song originally by Alanis Morissette, and a compilation of “What’s Going On” and “What’s Up,” arranged and performed by Quasimodal, the University’s oldest a cappella group.

“There’s a great energy within the group when we’re performing. It’s really rejuvenating and fun to sing together,” said Jessica Jacobson ’05, another member of Quasimodal.

The Cardinal Sinners, the oldest all-female group on campus, performed a folk song titled “When I’m Gone,” as well as “Matter of Time” by Tina and the B-Sides and Paula Cole’s “I’m So Ordinary.”

“We all enjoy making good music, and we have a lot of fun doing it. I look forward to singing with them. Everyone is really talented and really likes [to perform],” said Mariah Klaneski ’04, a second-year “sinner.”

“They were really impressive,” said Ruth Chaffee ’05. “The harmonies were great.”

Each group featured several soloists along with group harmonies and innovative arrangements. Several groups also introduced their new freshman members.

The Mazeltones, a Jewish a cappella group, sang “May the Words” and “Bashana habaah” in Hebrew and English.

Emma Friedlander ’05, a member of the Mazeltones, said that she appreciated the closeness of being in an a cappella group.

“Not only is it like being in your own musical, but it’s also like having another family. We’re like the Partridge family “only Jewish,” Friedlander said.

The Wesleyan Spirits, the only all-male group on campus, concluded the performance with a medley of college fight songs (many of which they acted out), and the Beatles’ ballad “Yesterday.”

The Spirits ended the performance by asking the audience to join them in singing the Wesleyan fight song.

The audience responded warmly to the performances.

“It was great. It’s amazing that such a high percentage of the population is involved in a cappella,” said Fred Doleac, father of Quasimodal singer Benjamin Doleac ’05.

“I thought that it was really impressive to see how everyone came together,” said Michelle Atwood ’05.