I can't very well have a list of these things because each has its own category...for now.
Thing I want to do before I die:
- Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro (hopefully before the snows are gone)
Thing I want to do before I have children:
- Go to Israel
Thing I want to do before I am 35:
- Study at Oxford
Friday, November 14, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Din zho doh...really, Jack?
Last night was the proverbial gauntlet in Gaston Hall known as DCAF 2008 - DC A Cappella Festival. It featured the Georgetown Phantoms, Georgetown Gracenotes, Georgetown Superfood, the NYU N'Harmonics, and the UGA Accidentals.
For those not well versed in Georgetown a cappella culture, DCAF is the concert of concerts in Washington in the fall, if not the entire year. Set lists are chosen in August, music is arranged, and all the work up until the very last 'doo' is put toward around 15 or 20 minutes on stage in front of 800 people.
Basically, people care a whole heck of a lot about it. Groups feud about which of one them gets to sing a particular new Coldplay song, and singing songs designated as "DCAF" is totally taboo before the actual concert. We rehearsed for 5 weeks, starting from a blank music staff. Who knows how many hours we all spent arranging. Between squinting at syllables like "din zho doh zho doh din din zho doh..." and huddling around a piano for a 3.5 hour rehearsal two days before the concert to perfect every last vowel, the reason why we do this sometimes escapes our minds.
But then we have the privilege to stand in an awkward semi-circle on the stage in Gaston Hall - a privilege only afforded to us once in this semester - and we remember. We stand behind a little gingery freshman wearing a fake lip ring screeching "All The Small Things," and we remember. We swell on a perfect B flat minor chord at the beginning of "Hometown Glory," and we remember. We clap along with the audience on a 3-part harmony chorus of "Show Me Love," and we remember. We belt the soaring counter-melody at the end of "Viva La Vida," and we remember.
Recently I've been listening to a lot of Christmas a cappella (it's NOT too early!) by this group from Indiana called Straight No Chaser. Actually, they were from Indiana about 10 years ago. Now they have a major-label record deal and they have released a Christmas album. Their website has pictures of each thirty-something fresh face, experienced and polished. On YouTube, however, Straight No Chaser lives in all their college glory. Some of the guys are barely recognizable as their 2008 real-world selves. But they are having SO much fun.
And really, I think, that's what a cappella is. It's not trying to sound so perfect that you can win international competitions, perform at the White House, or land a deal with Atlantic Records. It's just so...collegiate. It's rocking out to Blink-182 with an inflatable guitar. It's every single note placed on a Finale file with care. It's watching at least 40 Phantoms alumni all singing "Africa." It's drawing this amazing sound out of 16 people, who, when you tell them not to swell on the final chord of that intro, leave a faint haunting note resonating in Gaston Hall before the driving piano comes in.
This doesn't exist anywhere else. It's a precious 4 years we get.
For those not well versed in Georgetown a cappella culture, DCAF is the concert of concerts in Washington in the fall, if not the entire year. Set lists are chosen in August, music is arranged, and all the work up until the very last 'doo' is put toward around 15 or 20 minutes on stage in front of 800 people.
Basically, people care a whole heck of a lot about it. Groups feud about which of one them gets to sing a particular new Coldplay song, and singing songs designated as "DCAF" is totally taboo before the actual concert. We rehearsed for 5 weeks, starting from a blank music staff. Who knows how many hours we all spent arranging. Between squinting at syllables like "din zho doh zho doh din din zho doh..." and huddling around a piano for a 3.5 hour rehearsal two days before the concert to perfect every last vowel, the reason why we do this sometimes escapes our minds.
But then we have the privilege to stand in an awkward semi-circle on the stage in Gaston Hall - a privilege only afforded to us once in this semester - and we remember. We stand behind a little gingery freshman wearing a fake lip ring screeching "All The Small Things," and we remember. We swell on a perfect B flat minor chord at the beginning of "Hometown Glory," and we remember. We clap along with the audience on a 3-part harmony chorus of "Show Me Love," and we remember. We belt the soaring counter-melody at the end of "Viva La Vida," and we remember.
Recently I've been listening to a lot of Christmas a cappella (it's NOT too early!) by this group from Indiana called Straight No Chaser. Actually, they were from Indiana about 10 years ago. Now they have a major-label record deal and they have released a Christmas album. Their website has pictures of each thirty-something fresh face, experienced and polished. On YouTube, however, Straight No Chaser lives in all their college glory. Some of the guys are barely recognizable as their 2008 real-world selves. But they are having SO much fun.
And really, I think, that's what a cappella is. It's not trying to sound so perfect that you can win international competitions, perform at the White House, or land a deal with Atlantic Records. It's just so...collegiate. It's rocking out to Blink-182 with an inflatable guitar. It's every single note placed on a Finale file with care. It's watching at least 40 Phantoms alumni all singing "Africa." It's drawing this amazing sound out of 16 people, who, when you tell them not to swell on the final chord of that intro, leave a faint haunting note resonating in Gaston Hall before the driving piano comes in.
This doesn't exist anywhere else. It's a precious 4 years we get.
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