By Daniel Johnson-Kim, Editor in Chief
Men’s Division: GSP should win, but underdog Frats loom
1. Gamma Sigma Phi
After a runaway Galaxy train ran over the magic men of Gamma Sigma Phi’s hopes to extend their Sing Song winning streak to seven in 2008, GSP’s Peter Pan themed ’09 show, “Second Star To The Right and Straight On To Moody” may be the fairy dust the Kinsmen need to fly to the top of the Sing Song judges’ score sheets once again. Although I was let down by the absence of a “RUFIO!” chant somewhere in their arrangement, GSP’s loud vocals, Neverland props and well-timed choreography should earn them a title once again. Whether they were belting out the You Can Fly! song from Disney’s rendition of J.M. Barrie’s classic children’s tale or pointing out their not-so-flattering leggings while singing a comical tune from Robin Hood Men in Tights, GSP’s sound is consistent and their diction is clear. If they’re lucky, maybe Wendy will give them a thimble kiss to go along with another Sing Song victory.
2. Frater Sodalis
GSP may need some extra help from Tinkerbell and the Lost Boys if the criminals of Frater Sodalis have anything to do with it. A clear underdog – Frater Sodalis has not won a Sing Song competition since 1982 and has less than 30 members in its show – the Frats’ “Go Directly to Jail” show is chock full of hilarious pop-culture references, and their vocal quality and range is something worth singing about.
Despite having the least number of men on stage, the Frats sound as loud as the bigger men’s clubs, while maintaining perfect pitch and clarity. A cornucopia of songs that include Greensleeves, Timbaland’s Apologize, Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues and even the throwback Coolio ballad Gangsta’s Paradise make up the Frats’ arrangement. But they do not lose their pure sound while jumping from genre to genre. Throw in a dash of references to the recent economic bailout and former celebrity inmates Martha Stewart and Paris Hilton, and the Frats clearly have a crowd-favorite arrangement on their hands. What are their only weaknesses? A lack of numbers and sloppy choreography that may dwindle these criminals’ chances of breaking out of the winless prison cell the Frats have been in for more than two decades.
3. Galaxy
Beautifully designed props and good-looking costumes were not enough for me to feel the love for Galaxy’s show, “Gondoliers: You Know, The Guys in Venice With The Boat and Pole and Hats.” The show about the men who float the waters of Venice, Italy, was original but did not have the same affect on me as it would if I did not have a Y chromosome.Although I thought their costumes, which included blue, red and white striped shirts and straw hats, were among the best in the show, their song choice and lyrics did anything but make me feel like they were from the land of olives, pasta, wine and creepily forward Italian men. Their rendition of That’s Amore felt more like I was watching Lady in the Tramp than riding a boat in the Venetian canals. Galaxy’s show was entertaining, but I doubt the Moonies can paddle past two strong shows from GSP and Frats.
Women’s clubs: Kojies have winning scent, Kaios close behind
1. Ko Jo Kai
The smell of a repeat lingered when the curtains dropped on the skunks of Ko Jo Kai after their show, “It Wasn’t Me…OK…Maybe It Was.”When I heard the announcer say the Kojies were next on stage, the aroma of their winning bee-themed show from 2008 filled my memory and hardened my expectations.
After transforming the Moody stage into a lush, green forest complete with trees and a nearby skyline, the whiff of a winner reached my nostrils after I saw the detail and quality of the Kojies’ costumes and caught myself laughing at the predictable smelly jokes lingering throughout their songs that included the appropriately putrid lyrics of Jon Bon Jovi’s It’s My Life. The Kojies’ vocals weren’t the best in the show, that award belongs to Alpha Kai Omega, but the overall strength of the show and the climax of what includes a heart-pounding costume change makes me sure my prediction of a Kojie repeat is not a stinker.
2. Alpha Kai
The chorus of Alpha Kai Omega’s red polka-dotted army convinced me that Sigma Theta Chi’s reign as the queens of clean vocals may now belong to a chorus of Minnie Mice. The vocal variety and quality was the strength of Alpha Kai’s tribute to the queen of Walt Disney’s castle, “Move Over Mickey,” but I felt it didn’t match up to the overall quality and strength of Ko Jo Kai’s show.
The Kaios dotted their show with classic Disney ballads and characters from any American’s childhood VHS collection, and the spinning teacup on the side of the stage and Dumbo the elephant helped the nostalgia set in. The Mickey, You’re So Fine song choice was perfect and a guaranteed laugh. But it was the only laugh generated. If the rumors are true and this year’s show will be more about vocals, then Alpha Kai has a legitimate shot at snagging its first Sing Song win in the club’s history. But when compared to Ko Jo Kai, Alpha Kai left me smiling, but not amazed. I have always been more of a Bugs Bunny guy anyway.
3. Sigma Theta Chi
Where in the world is Sigma Theta Chi? Not in the running to win the show this weekend. Although I played the Carmen San Diego computer game in elementary school and watched the game show and cartoon as a child, I was not impressed by the Carmen San Diego-themed show, “Who said Carmen was in San Diego?” After bowling a 7-10 split as bowling pins in 2008, I was hoping for a Siggie strike in 2009. Sadly, the show I saw Wednesday did not have the cross-generational appeal needed to make an impact on judges and the audience. In addition to the catchy Carmen San Diego theme song, the Siggies incorporated several spy-related songs in their show – the Pink Panther theme and Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal to name a few – and the vocals were on key, but I had trouble making out most of the diction. If the Siggies clean up their diction and return to their winning ways, I’m sure this reporter will disappear as fast as Carmen San Diego did in the cartoon series I used to watch.
Class acts: Kojies have winning scent, Kaios close behind
1. Freshman Class
A clever show with a title built on a cliché that Freshmen aren’t the brightest bunch has me going against my instincts by relying on freshmen to do something right and win the mixed-voices Sing Song this year. My laughter began when their clever Geico Insurance inspired title, “It’s So Easy, A Freshman Can Do It” and the laughter continued when the Freshmen sang the Four Seasons song Walk Like a Man. The laughter ended when I saw their well-rehearsed choreography and on-key vocals, which outshone the rest of the mix-voiced competition.
2. Junior Class
The Junior Class act, “Be Leaves,” was the most obvious pun of the show, and their lyrics and costume changes, while moving through the seasons of Sing Song, wasn’t enough for me to fall for the Juniors. The majority of their show was singing about their past losses; a tactic that worked for the Junior class two Sing Songs ago.Maybe this year it will work again.
3. Sophomore Class
A good story is always key to a quality Sing Song show. The Sophomore class’ show “Flight of the Sophomores” tells a quality story of birds hatching and the show even includes R. Kelley’s I believe I can Fly. They have strong vocals, but I fear the limitations of their egg costumes put on their choreography may hatch third place for the Sophomore birds.
