The idea for today’s Top 5 comes from a good friend and singer/song-writer Janine Talbot. It should be noted that she thought of it way before “Glee” premiered.
A cappella. A force for evil? Probably. But there’s just something about it that brings out our inner geek, and it seems to be undergoing a renaissance. Ben Folds recently released versions of his music performed by university a cappella groups, and Fox’s “Glee” appears to be making waves.
What’s the reason for this (dare we call it) fad? Who knows. What made swing music so popular briefly in the late ’90s? Much like what goes on inside the head of Glenn Beck, it’s a mystery.
Top 5 songs sung a cappella:
1. “Star Wars (John Williams Is The Man),” John Williams; performed by Corey Vidal
There’s a lot of these multitrack videos circulating on YouTube, but Vidal seems to have struck gold by singing dialogue from the original Star Wars films to the melodies of the better-known John Williams scores.
2. “Spider Pig,” Hans Zimmer; performed by the Dordt College Concert Choir
How else could you possibly improve one of the best parts of “The Simpsons Movie”?
3. “Bitches Ain’t Shit,” Dr. Dre; performed by UC Berkeley’s DeCadence
“Bitches Ain’t Shit” began life as a salvo in the ongoing feud between West Coast rappers Dr. Dre and Easy E. In 2005 Ben Folds released a more melodic version, but it’s only when performed by UC Berkeley’s DeCadence that “Bitches Ain’t Shit” achieves its fullest flower. Warning: The following contains some very bad words.
4. “Stacy’s Mom,” Fountains of Wayne; performed by the Colby College Blue Lights
There is an unsettling number of YouTube videos of college a cappella groups performing this Fountains of Wayne tune, likely as part of some conspiracy that will lead to the destruction of western civilization. Enjoy!
5. Themes to “Speedracer,” “Underdog,” performed by The Blanks
One of the more charming recurring gags in the sitcom “Scrubs” was The Blanks, Ted’s a cappella group which started out singing cartoon themes before moving on to other genres.
What songs do you dig, instrument-less?
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Well, the dog days of summer are officially here. Eggs are frying on the sidewalks, smog is being inhaled with great enthusiasm by the tourists atop Cadillac Mountain, and constant humidity has rendered our brains into a silly, putty-like substance. So cool off with the final entry of Duets Week:
What is it about The Postal Service’s “Such Great Heights” that inspires nearly everyone to cover it? Perhaps it’s that the lyrics are sweet and brilliant, with phrases that run together with the stream of consciousness that only seems to occur when you’re truly in love. For whatever reason, it’s worthwhile to pause and reflect upon: