Hey Octet fans - it's time for something exciting and new. The UC Men's Octet Archives have just hit YouTube, and the archivist (an Octet Alumni) is sharing classic Octet music with YouTube. Enjoy "Wimoweh (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)" below, and then click on the link (even further below) to enjoy other Octet classics. I am SO excited for this to happen, and I hope you will enjoy all the music to come from this INCREDIBLE group.) Also, I am going to announce the official 2013-2014 Octet as soon as I know, for sure, who are in the group. I KNOW that we have 2 Kyles, and one of them is an alumni, and American Idol contestant. Oh, yeah. It's gonna be a good year.
Hey Guys and Gals. Cats and Kittens. Friends and Foes. Fans and Looky-Loos...sorry, but that patter was running through my head and escaped from my fingertips. Sooo...Silhouettes. It's a song by the Rays about a teenager stalking his woman, and he finds her in the embrace of another. He experiences violent anger. Plot twists abound. It's a quite involved song, and I can totally see how it would be popular, not only in the time of its conception and inception (and performance, originally by The Rays, a fabulous doo wop group from the 50's. Have a listen, listeners. My thoughts on the song. I like the arrangement. I enjoy the potential violence. I thought it was a song I could sway to. The plot twist was unexpected. The Rays did a great job with the original and the Octet covered it nicely.
What do you think? Hey Octet Fans! Another review piece for the "Gold" CD. This time, it's the Octet's arrangement of "Hair" from the 1960's hippy musical that goes by the same name. Since the Octet's version was my first encounter with the song, I'd like to begin by letting you see and hear the original. Well, it's from the movie...made in 1979. You can see it in the video: youth, anti-establishment, free-love, violent prison beatings...oh well, there have to be some drawbacks to having long hair, eh. It's an entertaining clip. But this was my introduction to the musical. The Octet's version actually begins with "She asks me why I'm just a hairy guy." I took the sample from a several seconds into the song. The arrangement is wonderful. The soloist has a great/strong voice, and the backing singers really make this song fly. Every time I hear this song, I'm literally bopping my head to the music and singing loudly with the Octet (much to the chagrin of those around me.)
For me, since I heard the Octet version before the movie version, I have to say that the Octo-version sounds "more correct". The perfect version. This is one of my 3 FAVORITES on the Gold CD (and, indeed, one of my favorites for all the Octet music I have or have heard.) I like all of their music. I love most of their music. But this. This is spec-freaking-tacular! So...I guess I'll just be doing spot-reviews. I did figure out what I did wrong with the uploads. No. It wasn't the computer. It was me. I take all the blame for that. And, with that, I shall review again. Possibly Friday. But I procrastinate, so don't hold me to it. These Guys & These Guys Will Be Guests of These Guys THIS WEEKEND! I wish I were going...(lower lip wibble)
The ordering information for Jason Mabie's unmastered demo CD is up on the Performing Now page. He's obviously got a passion for the music. Check it out and please support great music by buying his CD.
Please support the California Golden Overtones on gmc's "America Sings". Vote for them by going to http://www.watchgmctv.com/sing before next Wednesday (July 20). A video of their performance is located next to the voting tab on the website; so you can check 'em out before you vote.
If you're asking yourself "who are the California Golden Overtones?", they are the female counterpart of the UC Men's Octet at UC, and are terrific singers in their own right. The Twenty-Ten Octet are competing in the ICCA quarterfinals today (hosted by the California Golden Overtones - Yay Tones!). The ICCA's are the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, and the Octet are the only group to have won the championship twice! This was in 1998 and 2000. Apparently there was no winner in 1999. I'm not sure why, so I'll have to look into it. Each group performs a short set that showcases its strengths. The group is judged on musical ability as well as the overall performance of the group - including choreo - (this years "Down/Forever" should wow the judges). Break a leg, Octet...that's showbiz talk for "good luck" - unless I've been duped by childhood television...Again. Below is a performance of Down/Forever that was recorded earlier this year. I can't find the ICCA performance...it may have been removed by the poster for some reason. I have heard that the Octet will be advancing to the Semi-Finals in the ICCA's. Good luck, Octet! I'll try to get word out as to where/when, in case anyone wants to catch them live. "Double your pleasure." LOL! This may be vindication to all the people (including me, unfortunately) who were bitching that the Octet didn't sound great when the '09- '10 Octet were new. Jason Mabie set me straight - the group had one returning member, and it would take time for them to gel. Well, they're sounding pretty awesome these days! If you want to check out the Octet Art area, there have been a few additions. I added Parker today. I think I'm improving. Maybe I should have stuck with one style to show this, but hey, I go where my muse leads me.
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