Jul 14
HARRY POTTER PREMIERE TONIGHT!!!! SO EXCITED!!! EVERYTHING MUST BE POTTER!!
Jun 25
Classy, old-school show choir. I feel like I’ve posted this before, but I can’t find it. If I have, I’m sorry, but this is good stuff right here. It can never be posted too much!
The other reason for posting is that my swing dancing roommate has been playing this song all day. It’s burrowing into my brain!!!
Jun 24
I have a confession to make. I am a giant nerd. Lightsabers, Time Lords, space westerns, I love them all. Star Wars holds a particularly dear place in my heart, so when I saw this show’s theme, I initially was incoherent with geeky rapture. Show choir fused with Star Wars??? JOYOUS DAY!!!
Honestly, though, I was a bit underwhelmed by this performance. Maybe it’s because Powerhouse has gotten increasingly more funky with each year and this year just couldn’t top the madness of last year. Maybe I’m getting jaded. Whatever the reason, though, this show didn’t do too much for me, aside from the sheer novelty of “ha, ha, look! They make Star Wars references!”
Jun 10
Greetings, show choir people! It’s been a long, long time since I’ve posted, but my summer project is to get better at this whole blogging thing. Also, as a peace offering, I present something pretty cool.
Over this past spring break, I had the awesome opportunity to go see “In the Heights” with my mom. I always love seeing live shows, and this one was particularly awesome. The sheer energy of it was phenomenal… and who doesn’t love the song 96,000? So, without further ado, I present North Central Counterpoints (yes, the North Central Counterpoints of the crazy soloist and the strange song transitions) and their rendition of 96000 (In the Heights.)
I really enjoyed their twist on the song, for the most part. The rapping was solid, and the dancers had serious skills. Even the introduction, of which I was initially skeptical, worked in context. It was unusual for me to hear Vanessa’s part sung so timidly… I could go for a little more belt from the female soloist. I thought that the choir did a pretty good job conveying the piece, but I wish the choreography had been a little more Barrio than jazz hands. Other than that, well done!
May 17
In the midst of finals, and THEN show choir YouTube glory can recommence. :)
Mar 24
!!!!!!!!!
John Burroughs 2011!!!!!!
(Just because my life is crazy hectic doesn’t mean that you guys should be lacking in show choir goodness. Enjoy!)
Sadly, though, this isn’t their top group. Still good stuff, though.
Mar 03
You know, rather than try and recall all the details of different shows, I can now start putting YouTube clips up so you guys can see what I’m talking about, and enjoy the shows with me.
First of all, I post this because well, it’s Bemidji, the group that showed me that it is totally possible to have a director’s crush on an entire ensemble. Secondly, this was a good opener. Thirdly, this soloist has the sexiest 80’s rock belt I’ve heard in a long, long time. Mmm. This is good show choir, my friends. Good. Show. Choir.
Feb 23
PS- I occasionally get questions, messages, etc. from awkwardlove, and I am very grateful for that… keeps me on track and remembering that I own a blog and that I have a spot to spout my opinions. It would be nice to hear from others of you out there… you guys are there, right? Feel free to message me with video requests, things that I say that you think are complete crap, anything. I’m happy to answer and talk.
Feb 23 Reblogged
one of my faves from the day.
An exception to my previous angst regarding flat hair and tight dresses. Waconia Power Company, you rocked old school show choir style, with twirly skirts, curly hair, and pretty fantastic gold (!!!) character shoes.
PS- those dresses are lovely!!
Feb 23
Winterfest Post #1 (or, my general ravings on the day)
Ok. So, my prose is honed, my razor-sharp wit polished. This post is going to mainly be an overview of the tone of the day, groups that were missed, and emerging patterns in show choir based on the day’s performance.
It was nice to see Bloomington-Jefferson, a group that had not been to Winterfest in a few years. Hastings was notably absent, a sensible yet disappointing move; sensible in that the group frequently would perform well in prelims, and not place well after finals, disappointing in that Hastings always manages to put on a fun and interesting show. Totino-Grace, after pillaging and taking Grand Champions, Best Vocals, and Best Choreo at Winterfest last year, was also absent. Their prep group came, but they really aren’t Company of Singers (or my personal preference, THE TESTOSTERTONES.) North Saint Paul came for the first time in many years, which was new and interesting, but more on them later.
My friends and I noticed a few trends throughout the day, things that seem to be shifting in the show choir world. First of all, the number of soloists used during the shows has greatly increased, overall. I don’t know if it’s a result of the music being used now, if it’s because Glee arrangements lean so heavily on soloists (see my opinions on Glee here,) or something else entirely. I’m not sure I’m a fan. Sure, it demonstrates the high level of talent that some of these choirs have, but I think as a whole it weakens the momentum of a group sound. Secondly, my old-school show choir look, my favorite show choir visual, is slowly disappearing. Girls no longer wear curls. Many groups simply had the women pull their hair back into pony-tails, if they had them do anything at all. Where is the glamour in stick-straight hair? THERE IS NONE. It looks like rehearsal hair to me. To that same end, dresses have been slowly getting, for lack of a better term, skankier. I mean, I have worn my fair share of short and tight dresses, but there’s something to be said for the knee-length dresses with skirts that actually twirl pleasingly when girls execute a spin. Most of the dresses the women were wearing were short and tight, and honestly, they didn’t look easy to dance in. Hmmm…
Pleasantly, I didn’t hear any songs grossly overdone. Usually there are one or two that, by the end of the day, have been sung ad nauseaum and no longer hold any appeal. Hooray for directors who actually are picking songs that have some originality! However, let it be noted that Bloomington-Kennedy sang “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished” again. Their prep group sang that 6 years ago, and I have a suspicion that it was done again more recently, even though I couldn’t give you an actual year. That song I could have done without, I think.
