Some Thoughts on Sing

It's that time of year here at good old Baylor U-the time when girls spend hours curling their hair, boys wear eyeliner, and seeing someone walking around campus in a ridiculous costume is nothing out of the ordinary. Yes, I'm talking about SING. It has been one of my favorite traditions since I came to Baylor, even though I have only performed for the past two years. I am a huge fan of Broadway shows and live performances in general, so Sing is right up my alley!

Last night was the first performance (we will do two more this weekend and then three next week). I thought I would blog what I thought about each of the acts, mostly just so I can come back and look at them later. I will try to be fair and balanced, and not mean, because I know how much work goes into these acts (well, most of them-I'm looking at you, SAE) and no matter how it comes out as long as everyone has fun doing it I think an act is a success!

(These are in the performance order from last night, Club Night)

Unfortunately, we didn't get to see Chamber, Pi Phi, or Pi Kapp, because we were the 5th group and only saw the two before and after us at dress rehearsal. From what I've heard, Pi Phi is amazing and I really hope I get to see them at some point before all is said and done.

Kappa Kappa Gamma-"Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?"

We saw this one at dress rehearsal Wednesday night. I have to say, I LOVE the wolf costumes. They are seriously amazing, and I just overall really like the wolf characters. They're scary and dark, and really set the mood for the act. This act started out really strong; I loved the mixing of 3 songs (To Grandmother's House We Go, Paparazzi, and Every Breath You Take)-it was subtle but it worked. Vocals at the beginning were pretty good. But after a really cool, theatrical beginning, this act just kind of flopped for me. Like I said, the wolves were the best part, but I felt like the song selection was lacking and didn't really help the theme at all. The ending was creative, but dragged on for too long.

Verdict: Possibly Pigskin, also might win People's Choice for Best Costumes

Sing Alliance: "Hip Hip Hooray"

I'm obviously a little bit biased, since this is my group, but I really think we have a strong act. Our choreography needs to get a little bit cleaner, for sure, but with 150+ people on the stage, and with how fast our act is (seriously, it doesn't. ever. stop.) I think it looks amazing. Plus, our energy and joy is almost unmatched, because we all just LOVE SING!

Verdict: Unknown. Seriously, I wouldn't dare jinx us by making any predictions

FIJI: "Murder Mystery"

This is the other act we saw at Dress Rehearsal Wednesday, and then we actually ran back into Waco Hall fast enough last night that we got to see it again. I will say that it was VASTLY improved from Wednesday to Thursday. On the other hand, Wednesday night I watched the entire act and still wasn't sure what the theme was. The music was not bad, I really enjoyed the Pink Panther and "Live and Let Die" (especially the 2nd soloist). But overall, this act was not very entertaining and obviously needed some more theme development (the audience should at least be able to tell what you are doing by the end of the act.)

Verdict: Not good enough for Pigskin

Alpha Tau Omega: "A Case of the Mondays"

I think this theme is really creative. I also think that I would appreciate it a lot more if I had ever actually worked in an office or had a horrible boss. The choreography was clean, especially the part where the boss is treating the employees like puppets. Really liked that part. Overall, it wasn't my favorite act, but I think it will appeal more to the older audience members (or maybe to guys?)

Verdict: Definitely Pigskin, and an outside shot at placing. Possibly a People's Choice for Theme Development

Chi Omega & Phi Kappa Chi: "Bonnie and Clyde"

It is really hard for me not to compare this act to the act Kappa and K-Sig did my freshman year (sailors and girls-like 40's theme). The thing I remember from that act was just the sheer NUMBER of people on the stage the whole time. I imagine it was probably something like people say about Sing Alliance, because our sheer size is just amazing. But while there were a lot of good things going on in this act, it didn't amaze me the way I wanted it to. The soloist at the beginning was AH-MAY-ZING, though, seriously. And I realize that (like with Sing Alliance) having that many people on stage at once makes it really difficult. But we make it work, so these groups should, too!

Verdict: Pigskin for sure, will probably place just based on numbers and really strong vocals. Might win a People's Choice for Best Vocals, too, just based on the opening soloist

Kappa Chi Alpha: "A Kite's Day Out"

I really like KXA personally, probably because I know a lot of girls in the group. They are a much smaller group and don't charge ridiculously high dues like some of the other sororities. Because of this, their resources for Sing are a lot more limited (and I suspect they just have other priorities, to be honest). That said, I really enjoyed this act! It was a huge improvement over last year's Big Apple act. The soloist that sang last year was great again, and I really liked the part where the kite got stuck in the tree ("All By Myself"). Really, I feel like this group has come a long way, and I hope they keep getting better and better!

Verdict: Not Pigskin

Kappa Sigma: "Playin' Around at the Playground"

Let me say first that I really felt like K-Sig was unfairly left out of Pigskin last year-their act was better than some that did make it, in my opinion. I feel like this year's act was even better. Although I was dubious at first about a playground theme (especially from a guy's group), they really made it work for them. The three groups (bully, jock, and nerd) were brilliant, and I especially liked the nerds (the part where the kid pulled out his inhaler nearly killed me. So funny.) The song selection was good, and choreography was really clean. I hope they make Pigskin again, but I know that it might not happen.

Verdict: hopefully Pigskin, but will be fighting it out with several girls' groups so they better keep up their game or even get better

NPHC and Heavenly Voices Gospel Choir: "Dance Train"

This is a new group to Sing this year, and as their name implies, their singing was great. The choreography and theme development just weren't there, though. The dancers looked bored and I think it's probably because the moves were so slow and simple. Overall, a good first effort, and I hope they come back next year even better.

Verdict: Not Pigskin, but could win People's Choice for Best Vocals

Alpha Chi Omega: "Part of Your Balanced Breakfast"

Before we saw this act, I said it could either be really cute or super corny. Well, sorry AXO, but corn is NOT a breakfast food. Changing the words in one of your songs is OK, and even cute, but when you have to do it in every song, it becomes annoying and shows that you didn't really have a manageable theme. People think Sing is all about dancing and costumes, but when it boils down to it, the songs make the act. If you can't come up with songs for a breakfast act, then you don't have a breakfast act. All that said, I thought the costumes were cute and the girls jumping in the "toaster" in the background was a nice touch. I'm just sad that I won't ever be able to hear "Billie Jean" again without thinking about breakfast sausage.

Verdict: Not good enough for Pigskin

Kappa Alpha Theta: "A Golden Afternoon"

A flower act-not really what you would call an original theme. But by adding the weeds and especially the garden gnomes, Theta really did a good job with this seemingly basic, boring theme. I really liked the rose and sunflower costumes (not so much the pansies, couldn't tell that's what they were until the end when the markers came down). The garden gnomes were definitely my favorite, although their dancing was not very clean-a lot like the Tiffany boxes from last year.

Verdict: Possibly Pigskin, but is fighting it out at the bottom with a few other groups

Alpha Delta Pi & Delta Tau Delta: "Don't Stop Til It's Clean Enough"

Now, AXO, THIS is how you alter a song to fit your theme. Do it once, and do it well-then leave it at that. I knew from the first time I hear their title which song would be their "centerpiece", and I thought it was cute. I'm afraid, though, that adding Delt actually hurt ADPi, because I felt like the girls in this act were spot on and really good, but the boys were just bad. The dust bunnies (and "Another One Bites the Dust") were really cute, too. Good song selection.

Verdict: Another one that is on the bubble as far as Pigskin. I really think the guys may have ruined a great act for ADPi.

Delta Delta Delta: "Just Imagine It"

I knew Tri-Delt was going to work really hard this year after not placing at all last year (basically unheard of in recent Sing history). They had a lot more theme development this year, starting off with the little girl and having her mom coming in at the end. That was really well done. I LOVED the peacock costumes, and the monkeys on roller skates were cute, too. I felt like the zebra costumes just looked like re-purposed barracudas from last year, though, which kind of bugged me. Vocals were strong, but choreography was not as clean as it has been in the past. (Of course, last year when we watched them at dress rehearsal I literally was in awe of their clean lines, so coming down from that is not so bad, but still). I feel like they made the choreography harder this year, and then weren't quite able to pull it off at their normal level of greatness. Overall, a great act. I really enjoyed it, even if it was pretty formulaic. It's traditional, pure Sing, and they do it better than anybody else.

Verdict: Definitely Pigskin, strong chance at placing. Possible People's Choice for Choreography, Backdrop, or Costume (or all 3!)

Sigma Alpha Epsilon: "Stay-At-Home Dads"

Since Sigma Chi was kicked off campus last year, SAE is the last remaining group that just obviously doesn't care about Sing and treats it as a total joke. That said, I was actually really surprised that their backdrop was really good! But that's about all I can say in their favor. I mean, they were dancing in boxers and bathrobes, for goodness sake. The rap was amusing, but is kind of old news because they did the same thing last year. Just seems like a waste of space in a show that's already 4+ hours long. Take this one out and give us 15 minutes of our lives back.

Verdict: obviously not going to Pigskin, and they know it.

Zeta Tau Alpha: "Keep On Rollin'"

Aside from the fact that the title of the act is the EXACT same as a Sing Alliance act from 5-6 years ago that is commonly referred to as "The Train Wreck", I really enjoyed this act. First of all, their costumes were adorable-loved that they were not overly girly, since it is a railroad act, but they had a little bit of sequins to add flair. The vocals were strong, especially the a capella trio at the beginning. Choreography was good, if really simple. Theme development was OK, not great but not terrible either. Just kind of "there". Overall, a HUGE improvement over their depressing, confusing act last year.

Verdict: Could make Pigskin, but is fighting for one of the bottom spots. People's Choice for Costume? That's probably just me.

And last, but not least...

Kappa Omega Tau: "The Show Must Go On"

First, I will admit that I built this act up to almost unattainable perfection in my mind before I saw it. Their toy act last year is probably my favorite Sing act of all time, and is about as close to perfection as an act can possibly get. So I was expecting great things. The act is getting great reviews from most people I've talked to/read online. BUT. I didn't like it. Now, let me clarify. As a spectacle, as a performance, as a piece of modern art-it was amazing. But as a Sing act, it just didn't work for me. I know they were trying to push the envelope and do something completely new and different, but for me it was just too far out there. For one thing, the costumes were all completely haphazard (I think there were two of each costume, so probably 30 different ones). This made it look super disjointed, and even when they were dancing well and cleanly, it looked messy. The music was all very rock-and-roll, and I had a hard time understanding most of their words. Also, there just wasn't very much group dancing. I know there is a certain time of group singing that each group has to meet, or we lose points, so I would assume the same goes for group dancing. I'm not sure that KOT had more than 2 minutes in the whole act where the group was all dancing together "Sing style" and doing the same thing. The ringleader character was amazing, and the jester who sang "Circus" was good, too. The blacklight part was incredible, probably my favorite part. But overall, to me it was just TOO different from what a Sing act "should" be, and I can't say that I liked it. I would like to see it again, because I feel like if I wasn't saying "Huh?!?!" the entire time I would enjoy it a lot more.

Verdict: Despite my personal opinion, I'm pretty sure it will place, and probably get 1st. People's Choice for something or several things, I just don't exactly know which.

Wow! If you are still reading, I applaud you. Mostly I just wanted to get down my thoughts before I forget all of them. Here are my final standings:

1st: KOT
2nd: Phi Chi-O
3rd: Tri Delta

Pigskin:
Sing Alliance
ATO
Pi Phi
Kappa
Kappa Sig (what I hope, but will probably actually be Theta or Zeta, or even ADPi-Delt)

People's Choice (Well, MY choices really):
Backdrop: Tri Delt
Choreography: Sing Alliance
Costumes: Tri Delt
Song Selection: Maybe ADPi-Delt? Or ATO? I really don't know on this one. I felt like I didn't know nearly as many songs in the acts this year.
Theme Development: ATO
Vocals: Phi-Chi-O

Counting Down...

Just a few important dates for ya...

7 Days...until Sing begins!

23 Days....until we leave for Belize!

93 Days...until Graduation!

Life is just flying by, it seems!

Snow Day-Waco Style

So, the 30 Day Challenge got the best of me. I just don't have the time to blog every single day, plus some of the upcoming prompts were really lame. There are a few that I liked, so maybe I will just use them as ideas for future posts.

But what I really want to tell you about is the SNOW DAY we are having in Waco today! All week it has been miserably cold (I don't think the temperature has been above 30 since Tuesday morning). I have worn about 5 layers of clothes just to keep warm. To this Houston girl, it has been pretty bad! Tuesday was OK, it was kind of a new adventure to have to go to class in such cold weather. Then Wednesday morning everyone woke up to no power because of rolling blackouts due to an energy shortage. Well, everyone that is except for Baylor-we-produce-our-own-power University. Classes were still on. Ugh! So we got ready by candlelight and drug our sad little butts to class. Thursday was more of the same, freezing cold and windy, still having class because unlike the great majority of North Texas, no actual snow or ice had accumulated in Waco. BUT! There was hope for snow on Friday, so that made everything a little more bearable.

WELL. Long ago, my Belize Spring Break missions team had planned for last night to be our movie/pizza/work on making materials night at our professor's house. Which is about 20 minutes south of Waco. Before I left, I knew there was a chance it would be snowing later that night, but I figured the snow wasn't supposed to start until at least midnight, we would be home well before that. So I went out there and we had a great time. Really good team bonding time, plus cupcakes to celebrate Jason's birthday. Around 9 o'clock, we looked outside and realized their deck was covered in SNOW! We all ran out to check, and sure enough, it was coming down pretty hard. I don't think it had started snowing in Waco yet, because I hadn't gotten any excited texts or facebook updates. Soon after that, we packed up and headed out. I had driven myself, thinking that snow wouldn't be an issue. I had never driven in snow before, so I was kind of freaked out, but I figured I would just go really slowly. It was definitely an adventure. The hardest part was stopping, because every time I started again the wheels would have to find traction again. I slid a few times, mostly closer to home, but I made it, and it was actually kind of cool. I can cross "Drive through a snow-storm" off my bucket list. Although I don't really think it was there to begin with.

So I made it home, tried to park my car sort of between the lines in the parking lot which I could no longer see because they were covered up by snow, and walked up to my apartment. But my roomies were nowhere to be found! At first I thought they had all gone to bed, because only one light was on. But it was only 10:30, and I knew they knew it was snowing! I thought they were crazy-for about a minute. Then it dawned on me that they were probably out playing in the snow! So I called them and went back out on campus to meet with them. We spent probably an hour just walking around campus, making snow men and snow angels, and taking pictures. So much fun.
















Roomies in the snow


My snow angel!

The only downside was, we still weren't sure if we would have school today or not. Once we got home, I read a few chapters in a book I was supposed to have finished by today for my Religion in America class. It's actual sermons and documents from the Great Awakening, so basically, snooze-fest. I read for a while, then decided I was done, and went to bed. When my alarm went off this morning, to my great joy, my phone told me that we did NOT have school! And there was great rejoicing. Except not right then, because I went straight back to bed. Eventually we all woke up and took another walk around campus, through the now-melting slush/snow.

















Gorgeous tree in front of the SUB Snow on our steps-
about 2 inches, I'd say!

Then we went to McAlister's for some yummy soup to warm our cold bodies, and HEB to get supplies for chili and berry cobbler, which we are about to start making. All in all, a great end to a COLD week here in Waco!