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Awesome A capella 'Africa'

G-Fafif Jul 09 2009 09:10 PM

Slovenian vocal group does Toto. Very enchanting. <object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yjbpwlqp5Qw&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yjbpwlqp5Qw&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 09 2009 09:20 PM

The snapping kinda was silly but such a great song.

Frayed Knot Jul 09 2009 09:32 PM

The snapping was the rain just as it was starting man! Almost as good as Ted's a capella band from 'Scrubs' doing the theme song from 'Under Dog'

G-Fafif Jul 09 2009 09:46 PM

And who could forget Chock Full O' Notes from Newsradio? Baseball-flavored a capella fever courtesy of the moderately successful Nylons: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/E2Qh5gc6-J4&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/E2Qh5gc6-J4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Number 6 Jul 09 2009 11:15 PM

I was in an a cappella group in college (it was much, much smaller than this one). "Africa" was sort of our signature song; it's been passed along through many iterations of the group and recorded on several CDs. Like a game of telephone, the arrangement changed significantly over the years, but not so much that we couldn't sing a huge, drunken version at our all-ages reunion a few summers ago. Normally, this is a song that I probably wouldn't care much for, but I've become very emotionally attached to it; it shakes the dust off of some great memories. There's no substitute for music.

metirish Jul 10 2009 04:54 AM

props to Swanie for sending me an audio version of this <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8OdvB_MINCg&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8OdvB_MINCg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Edgy DC Jul 10 2009 05:34 AM

That's great that Number 6 did it. The life I love is making music with my friends. Don't listen to Bucket. The snapping was great. If anything was silly, it was blue tie guy. But it's part of what makes a capella great. If they're willing to do the work, the dorkiest of folks can find a home in an a capella group and do some pretty impressive stuff. Such groups are declarations of independence from music's tyranny of cool.

Fman99 Jul 10 2009 06:43 AM

Great song, great rendition. I approve heartily.

Edgy DC Jul 10 2009 07:02 AM

The Nylons one is a little too busy, don't you think? More complex than the sentiment.

bmfc1 Jul 10 2009 07:06 AM

Praise from the composer! From the Perpetuum Jazzile website: ----------------------------------------- Greetings! My name is David Paich. When I wrote Africa I never dreamed of hearing such an innovative rendition. All I can say is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am truly honored that you not only would arrange a choir version of the song but the time and effort into creating REAL MAGIC! I have NEVER received so many emails from artists friends and colleagues on a singular performance of a song. My hats off to all of you. I know my co-writer Jeff Porcaro would have shared the same feelings. I know my band TOTO does. Again, thanks you for such a wonderful gift.I would love to meet everyone sometime soon and maybe work together. Regards.........David

Edgy DC Jul 10 2009 07:12 AM

You know that's really David Paich because he makes a point of typing out TOTO in their trademarked all-caps style. Mint Juleps in their awesome late eighties styles of multi-layer full-color Cosby Kids-meet-Punky Brewster action. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9cosvQfbgAA&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9cosvQfbgAA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Number 6 Jul 10 2009 10:17 AM

="Edgy DC":3142kd5y]Such groups are declarations of independence from music's tyranny of cool.[/quote:3142kd5y] Well put. Edgy DC Jul 10 2009 10:34 AM ="David Paich "]I know my co-writer Jeff Porcaro would have shared the same feelings. I know my band TOTO does. Just re-reading this now and realizing that Paich's implication is that Jeff Porcaro is no longer around to speak for himself. Checking wikipedia. <blockquote>Jeff Porcaro died of a heart attack on August 5, 1992, at the age of 38. He was spraying insecticide in his garden and inhaled too much of the spray, triggering the attack. An autopsy revealed a serious heart condition that had been previously undiagnosed.</blockquote>That's crappy, but check out the credits from so short a life. <blockquote>...he shot to national prominence as the drummer on the Steely Dan album titled Katy Lied. His other studio credits include "Beat It," "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)," "Welcome Back," "Dirty Laundry," "I Love L.A.," "Forever Man," "New York Minute," "Heal The World," and many others. He is also famous for his performance on the song "Rosanna."</blockquote>That's a heck of a run. Made some friends, also: <blockquote>A memorial concert took place at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles on December 14, 1992 with an all-star line up that included Boz Scaggs, Donald Fagen, Don Henley, Michael McDonald, George Harrison, David Crosby, Eddie Van Halen and the members of Toto. The proceeds of the concert were used to establish an educational trust fund for Porcaro's sons.</blockquote> Willets Point Jul 10 2009 10:48 AM Would be cooler if they got Michael McDonald to sing backing tracks. Swan Swan H Jul 10 2009 11:21 AM Speaking of dorky, I've attended the International Championships of College A Capella for the last seven or eight years. It's always held in New York, most recently at Alice Tully Hall. We even hit a regional final when it was at Fordham three years or so ago. I'd guess that my wife and I are among the very few attendees who are not involved in the organization that produces the event, families or alumni of the competing groups, or performers from other schools. We just appreciate the performances, the enthusiasm, and the obvious effort that has gone into the work the finalists do. Most of the songs that are done at these cometitions are covers of pop hits, but some do original work or parodies, and a few stray a bit farther afield (a high school group from Michigan, among their three songs, did Dar Williams' Iowa and a lounge number called Taylor the Latte Boy. Not exactly Beyonce.) dgwphotography Jul 10 2009 11:35 AM This is awesome. Just awesome...