Msg #7: Wherein I create the world's smallest controversy

The Useful Links are at the bottom of this letter.

Useful Observation
I attended the first of Fred Kingsbury's bi-weekly run-throughs last night, and Fred made many smart observations - one of which I want to share with you. (Fred, thanks for hosting.)

Paraphrasing - treat the breaths in songs just like the notes in songs, and learn them with the exact same accuracy.  Don't try to learn them later - and have to unlearn the breaths you have already memorized.

This observation came about during our singing of "I Can't Give You Anything But Love", but it applies universally.

On a personal note - I often arrive at a run-through confident, find myself questioning everything in the middle, and go home full of renewed desire to succeed. In my opinion, we should do our best to face our imperfections honestly, accept them gracefully, and then beat the snot out of them in home rehearsal. :-)

Useless Observation
It's too soon to worry a lot about what to wear for the rally, but as you do your shopping over the summer, keep an eye out for a few things on sale (if you don't already have them).

• If you are going to the Friday performance opportunities, some kind of Hawaiian shirt.
• For the Saturday night performance, you'll need:
• white dress shirt
• black pants, black socks and black shoes
• Simple is better, avoid complex patterns.
• Uniforms are uniform. :-)
• Also for Saturday night, a solid color tie. You don't have to spend a lot on them....
• I once found solid color ties at Ocean State Job Lot for $5, and bought four. I tend to bring them to rallies to help out guys that forgot.
• Boring colors are boring. :-)
• I recently purchased a new Brigade tie for $2 in a used clothing store. (Not boring)
• I have found excellent ties for as little as $1 at Goodwill-like thrift stores.

Come Fly With Me

You know how Frank Sinatra had a way of finding and singing all the good songs of his era? Well, this one was his too - because it was written for him.  It was for a concept album of the same name - an “around the world tour” through music. The album was nominated for Album Of The Year at the first ever Grammy Awards.

The song was penned in 1958, and airline travel was a much different and bigger deal than it is now.  This was no “let’s pack up the kids and see Grandma in Sacramento”. Going on a flight to a vacation destination was increasingly popular but still out of reach of most. The press used the term Jet Set - wealthy people for whom luxury was not out of reach, and who used those new jet airplanes to travel to exotic destinations.  A “flying honeymoon” would have been a beautiful luxury.

This song has been covered and covered again, with minor lyrical changes over and over.  OC Times (whose version we are using) made some minor changes to the lyrics and timing as well - even if you know this barbershop version, look for the changes. (Yeah, I got caught on the changes.)

And now for some NEHB barbershop controversy. I know that OC Times (and Michael Buble) pronounce the word "llama" as "Lame-muh". I will climb my soapbox and say "that's wrong". :-) Consult any dictionary, and the proper pronunciation is "Lah-muh". BUT the rules of New England Harmony Brigade are that the learning track is in control, so let's all sing "Lame-muh". Especially when you sing with OC Times at the rally. (You want to).

• Here’s Old Blue Eyes from the original album
• Seth MacFarlane (yes, the guy who writes and voices Family Guy etc)
• Our guest quartet, OC Times, shows us how this version is done, with Lay-Muh.

A poem by Ogden Nash

The one-l lama, He's a priest. 

The two-l llama, He's a beast.  

And I will bet a silk pajama 

There isn't any Three-l lllama.*

  *The author's attention has been called to a type of conflagration known as a three-alarmer. Pooh.

Useful Links

• The NEHB Preparedness Blog.
• Critical Information About The Rally
• Run Through Calendar
• Tools for recording yourself
• Map of participants
• If you have to withdraw (before Aug 1, 2018)
• Additional learning tracks available to attendees, order from Music VP Will Johnson
• $15 per part, electronic only
• $17 per part, electronic + CD plus $3 shipping per order
• It's not too late to add the Challenge Song "Victr'y Road".
• Contact Joe Dempsey for more information.