A cappella – it runs through our veins…

So here’s my obligatory post about a cappella at William & Mary. Maybe I’m alone here, and maybe I’m not, but I was looking for a school that had a cappella. My older sister (shout out, Rebecca!) attended the University of Richmond where a cappella was ever present on campus and I am not ashamed to say that when you look on my iTunes, there may or may not be 30 songs by the Richmond Octaves, the all-male group that she was friends with. I spend significantly too much time on YouTube in general, but I would say that at least 50% of that time is spent looking at a cappella groups from colleges and universities across the country (I’ll put some of those for your viewing pleasure at the end of this post – I know you will want to watch them!).

For a university with only around 5,800 students, having as many a cappella groups as we do is pretty impressive. If you were wondering, we have 11. What? Yeah, that’s right 11. You can read all about them on William & Mary’s a cappella council’s website. A cappella is a culture at William & Mary – everyone participates, regardless if you’re a member or not. I’m a member of Passing Notes, an all-female a cappella group, and it has been one of the most interesting and fun experiences of my time at William & Mary. One of my favorite experiences has been Wren 10’s – which each a cappella group has the chance to participate in every semester. Literally every Wednesday night at 10 on the Wren portico (hence the name Wren 10), you will find a different a cappella group jamming out. The adrenaline that I get as I’m running up those stairs is something that I crave and look forward to every semester. It’s usually the place where Passing Notes debuts their senior song (a particular song that features the vocal stylings of every graduating senior!) and where we make every new member free style a little bit. My freshman rap was one of my favorite things – it was short and sweet, but here it is – for your enjoyment.

On the porch is a queen, now listen to me sing,

My name is KP and it ain’t no thang,

I hail from Barrett, almost six feet tall,

I like to bake, and I know how to ball,

Yeah, I’m a southern belle, but I got mad flow,

So holla at me lata if you wanna hear some more.

Now that I’m positive that that has brightened your day, please enjoy the vocals of other ballin’ a cappella groups across the country (including mine!).

JMU Overtones – guilty pleasures medley (my friends Emily and Michael are in this group!)

Richmond Octaves – the way you move (this is from their 20^th reunion concert – go Carlisle!)

University of Illinois X-tension Chords – i just can’t wait to be king (pretty ballin’, right?)

Emerson Noteworthy – doo wop (that thing) – favorite a cappella cover ever, girl has MAD flow

W&M’s Gentlemen of the College – that thing you do (they’re pretty sweet right?)

W&M’s Stairwells – weezer medley or stand by me (love the vibe of the Stairwells)

and finally…

W&M’s Passing Notes – feels like home or wade in the water (both oldies, but goodies!)

There’s your a cappella knowledge for the day (or the week, or maybe, the month). Just shows you how much I love a cappella and how much William & Mary loves it too.

Enjoy as much as I do –

Kylee