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.
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Hi Octet Fans,
Tiffany here. I am asking any fans of Jason Mabie's music, the UC Men's Octet, collegiate a cappella or just goodness in general to help raise funds for the cost of his funeral. Click on the image and follow the link, or just click the url below. http://www.youcaring.com/memorial-fundraiser/jason-mabie-fund/74162 You can also send a check to his surviving spouse. The information is in the link. Thank you, in advance, for helping pay this cost. Please, also, spread the message, and help pay down the cost of this funeral. Best, Tiffany 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. Click on the picture and become a fan of Jason Mabie on Reverbnation!!! You can do this through your facebook account! You can also hear some of his music! All the exclamation points are proof of the awesomeness!!!
I will also post the link on the Performing Now page!!! Hey Octet fans. I just realized that the blog is 2 years old! Yay!
Folks, I have to tell you something. I am a fan of the men of the UC Men's Octet. By that, I mean that I am genuinely fanatical about these guys. I proselyte people to the UC Men's Octet. When you think "fan" think Trekkie (I used to be one) or screeching Beatles fangirl. Yep, that's me. Ladies and gents, even though these guys aren't celebrities, they do have fans. I know this for a fact. They have lots of fans all around the world, because they are that talented. When I started the fan page, it was meant to be dedicated to the 2002-2003 group, because they were my favorites. The page was meant to be dedicated to that group only. It was a decision made after much consideration and worry that I might get my pants sued off. After watching this Octet perform on YouTube over and over again, I thought - these guys deserve a fan club. They were that talented. After some correspondence with Jason Mabie aka gobears236 on YouTube, I asked if I could ask some questions about the Octet. I said in the message that I was considering making a fan page and he seemed genuinely pleased with the idea (if he had seemed put off by the idea or dissuaded me in ANY way, this page would not have been.) The idea that it was okay with him caused me to plan the website in earnest, and as I was planning the questions for this upcoming fan interview, I began making notes of what I wanted to do with the page. I had a yellow spiral notebook filled with doodles and notes about what the fansite was going to contain. Editing, time and (lack of) talent on my part shaped the page into what you see. In two years, and through this page, I have met wonderful people, heard wondrous a cappella music, and became a more fanatical fan. My appreciation of the Octet has grown from admiring this one year of Octet a cappella to the entire institution of Octet-dom. From "Blue and Gold" to Cal Spirit to Go Bears...all of it. I've gotten to hear the group grow and musically evolve into what it is today. And this year's Octet is FANTASTIC! What a talented group of men. And can you believe it - the '02-03 Octet HAD A REUNION?!?! and an online concert!!! How awesome was that! I didn't even think to wish for that! Thank you YouTube! Who knows what the rest of 2011-12 will hold. I hope it's a wonderful year for the Octet. I know I'll be watching and cheering for them. Go Octet! Back again! Didja miss me? Hello? Is this thing on? I was gonna post "Bohemian Rhapsody" next, because that's the Big Daddy of Octet videos and is nearing the 1.5 million mark, but I think I'll wait until it hits or passes 1.5 mil and then post some kind of victory post. For now, Jordan's cover of "Let's Stay Together". (((Sigh)))
This is one of the songs that I prefer to the origninal. Heh. Sorry, Al Green. Jordan and the guys are smoother than you. (My opinion, Al Green Fans. Just my opinion.) This video also confirmed the fact that "I like boys!" Jordan has a wonderful voice and harmony in the backs are just as cool to listen to! Not Pretty Enough introduced me to the Octet. Let's Stay Together made me fall in love with them. :) That's all for now. Hope to hear from some Octet Fans soon. See Ya Later, Tiff-a-nater. |