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There are seven a cappella groups at Williams, which does not include other singing groups that may perform many pieces a cappella. Many Williams students have been cried that this seems like many for a college of 2000, yet it is Amherst that claims the nickname of the "singing college" [1].
The seven are:
Female-only: Ephoria, Accidentals
Male-only: Octet, Springstreeters
Co-ed: Good Question, Ephlats
Special interest: Elizabethans (co-ed)
Contents
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, 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.
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
- Alcohol by Barenaked Ladies. Springstreeters or Octet
- C'est La Vie by B*Witched. Ephoria or Accies, maybe with some Irish dancing.
- Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me by Tism. Any group, probably co-ed.
- Fat Bottom Girls by Queen. Springstreeters or Octet.
- 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.
- 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
- My Heart Will Go On Streeters or Octet.
- The Reason by Hoobastank. Ephlats or GQ
- The Remedy by Jason Mraz. Octet or Ephlats
- There Must Be An Angel Ephoria or Accidentals.
- 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.
- 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.
- And So It Goes, Billy Joel. At least, not strange choppy arrangements.
- 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.]