Spring Break
The Daily OrangeAll-vocal group Rockapella concludes parent's weekend at SU
By Ben Tepfer
Posted: 11/3/08, 4:23 AM EST Section: Feature
Gyasi Barber said he melted inside when he first heard George Baldi III's voice.
Baldi, the bass singer for Rockapella, performed Sunday with the rest of his group at the Schine Student Center as a conclusion to SU's Family Weekend.
Rockapella also listened to on-campus a capella groups Orange Appeal and The Mandarins.
"They were so tight, and it was hard to tell who was singing what," said Barber, a junior music education major and bass singer for the all-male Orange Appeal a cappella group.
Barber said Orange Appeal learned how to use their voices to keep the group together from Rockapella.
"I want to bring that back to our group, which might be tough since there are 15 of us in Orange Appeal," he said.
Rockapella performed a series of songs from their past albums,
while mixing in some brand new ones. It was not just the flow of their dynamic voices that brought Rockapella to life; it was their fluid choreography that made the concert more of a theater performance.
Scott Leonard, the high tenor and main songwriter of the group, said the combination of their movements and vocal techniques define the originality of Rockapella.
"One of the reasons we work so well together is that we aren't trying to sound exactly like instruments," Leonard said. "We're human, so why not fit in words that add to the song and doesn't necessarily replicate the sounds of a drum set or bass guitar."
The group performed their own classics, like "People Change," as well as famous covers such as "Stand by Me." The group has not recorded a studio album six years, but they have still been writing new material, said mouth-drummer Jeff Thacher.
The group showcased "California Sad-Eyed Girl" Sunday; an unrecorded song that has grown in popularity among fans via live shows and the Internet.
Rockapella also performed their classic "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" which was followed by a standing ovation from the audience.
Baldi, the bass singer for Rockapella, performed Sunday with the rest of his group at the Schine Student Center as a conclusion to SU's Family Weekend.
Rockapella also listened to on-campus a capella groups Orange Appeal and The Mandarins.
"They were so tight, and it was hard to tell who was singing what," said Barber, a junior music education major and bass singer for the all-male Orange Appeal a cappella group.
Barber said Orange Appeal learned how to use their voices to keep the group together from Rockapella.
"I want to bring that back to our group, which might be tough since there are 15 of us in Orange Appeal," he said.
Rockapella performed a series of songs from their past albums,
while mixing in some brand new ones. It was not just the flow of their dynamic voices that brought Rockapella to life; it was their fluid choreography that made the concert more of a theater performance.
Scott Leonard, the high tenor and main songwriter of the group, said the combination of their movements and vocal techniques define the originality of Rockapella.
"One of the reasons we work so well together is that we aren't trying to sound exactly like instruments," Leonard said. "We're human, so why not fit in words that add to the song and doesn't necessarily replicate the sounds of a drum set or bass guitar."
The group performed their own classics, like "People Change," as well as famous covers such as "Stand by Me." The group has not recorded a studio album six years, but they have still been writing new material, said mouth-drummer Jeff Thacher.
The group showcased "California Sad-Eyed Girl" Sunday; an unrecorded song that has grown in popularity among fans via live shows and the Internet.
Rockapella also performed their classic "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" which was followed by a standing ovation from the audience.
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