A cappella

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There are currently eight a cappella groups at Williams. This number does not include other singing groups that may perform many pieces a cappella. A cappella group performances include mid-semester concerts, end-of-semester concerts, reunion concerts, Mountain Day, and more. In addition to being musical groups, a cappella groups are often extremely social.

Many Williams students have noted that this many groups seems like a lot for a college of merely 2200, yet it is Amherst that claims the nickname of the "singing college." [1]

Active Groups

Female-only

• Ephoria
• Accidentals, a.k.a. Accis

Male-only

• Octet
• Springstreeters, a.k.a. Streeters

All-gender

• Good Question, a.k.a. GQ
• Ephlats
• Purplexity

Special interest

• Purple Rain

Former groups

• Aristocows
• Elizabethans
• Waterstreeters

Traditions

Here are some traditions of Williams a cappella in general (specific group traditions are on group pages).

Auditions

Because of the number of a cappella groups that all wish to recruit primarily freshmen, at around the same time (at the start of the fall, starting with the Purple Key Fair), auditions for all a cappella groups are usually held in two weeks. Audition times overlap, but applicants choose time slots and are given enough choices that they may try for all the groups they wish.

When applicants to groups are called back to multiple groups, they rank their order of preference of the groups they are trying for. If accepted by multiple groups during the Ephcappella member selection meeting, this ranking will determine which they join. It is unknown for a person to be a member of more than one a cappella group concurrently. Sometimes, groups will hold spring semester auditions to keep their rosters full.

Historically, the Aristocows did not hold auditions, unlike other groups. Their deactivation as of the 2024-25 academic year marks the local extinction of no-cut a cappella at Williams.

Songs Groups Should Do

Here's what the masses are demanding from Williams a cappella. Add songs it would be cool to hear. If applicable, include what group should do it, who should solo, link to an arrangement, encouraging words, etc.

3 Libras by A Perfect Circle. Dunno who should do it, but I've heard it done very well by co-ed groups before (i.e. OTB version here). Doesn't sound like Maynard James Keenan and therefore must never listened to by anyone.

Alcohol by Barenaked Ladies. Springstreeters or Octet

Bananaphone by Raffi. I could care less, but any group who did this song would officially become my favorite group

Blurry by Puddle of Mudd. Any all-male or co-ed group. Listen here

Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.

Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Ephlats or GQ

Can't Take My Eyes Off of You by Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons. Octet or Springstreeters.

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens. Ephoria or Accies. Performed by the Ephlats Spring 2006.

C'est La Vie by B*Witched. Ephoria or Accies, maybe with some Irish dancing. (Performed by GQ sometime in 2008-09).

Do You Love Me? by The Hollies. Octet.

Every Woman In The World by Air Supply. Co-Ed singers willing to sell it, and backup ready to get very teary. Anything by Air Supply, really, would be a kick.

Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me by Tism. Any group, probably co-ed.

Fat Bottom Girls by Queen. Springstreeters or Octet.

Octet just pounced that.

Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd, as performed by Phish. Either all-male or mostly male.

Hounds of Love by The Futureheads (A Kate Bush cover). Any group.

Just A Friend by Biz Markie. Springstreeters or GQ

Lady Marmalade (Moulin Rouge version. Elizabethans.) [While it would be interesting if the 'Bethans did this song, it should be noted that the Ephlats performed the "Moulin Rouge" version this fall.]

Last Night by The Strokes. Octet or Springstreeters

Love Shack by B-52s. It is a sin that no co-ed group seems to have done this yet.

Actually, GQ did this around '02 or '03. It was awesome.

Me and Mrs. Jones by Billy Paul. Octet or Springstreeters

any and every song by Meatloaf. Might have to abridge them a little . . . or not. The famous baseball announcer bit in Paradise By The Dashboard Light is a must-do; co-ed group probably required

Mr. Roboto by Styx. It'll never happen, I know. Actually, an arrangement is in the works by a certain co-ed group.

My Heart Will Go On Streeters or Octet.

The Oompa Loompa Song from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. A co-ed or maloe group making heavy use of falsetto. Maybe best for an intermission or skit piece, due to high repetitiveness, but high comedic potential no matter what.

The Memory Remains by Metallica...Metallica? Are you kidding? Actaully, the Stanford Harmonics do a pretty kick-ass rendition here Are you kidding me? Do you honestly think Metallica wants some douchy a capella group doing their songs? Don't disrespect legends of a genre that already gets too little respect as is. Uh, certain people need to lighten the fuck up.

The Reason by Hoobastank. Ephlats or GQ

The Remedy by Jason Mraz. Octet or Ephlats

There Must Be An Angel Ephoria or Accidentals.

Ultimate Cheeseburger by the Meaty Cheesy Boys. Springstreeters or Octet.

We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off To Have A Good Time by Jermaine Stewart. Lead's a smoky female voice, so any group/soloist will do, and the lyrics will not disappoint.

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? by Rockapella. 'Nuff said.

Yatta! by Happatai

Songs Groups Should Never Do/Stop Doing

Yeah, maybe that five-minute guitar solo won't really sound too hot as a human voice ensemble. Here are the songs people want to warn groups away from, for whatever reasons.

Devil Went Down To Georgia, Charlie Daniels Band. The fiddle is critical.

This person obviously has not listened to the Middlebury Dissipated Eight's version of this song. Excellent, fiddle and all.

Heard it. Unconvinced.