And you know I work the night shift
December 16, 2022 11:32 AM Subscribe
Straight No Chaser released a new song, Christmas Night With You. The men's acapella group, which formed at Indiana University, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. A YouTube video of the group's first performance of The Twelve Days of Christmas in 1998 went viral after being posted to YouTube in 2006.
As the original group graduated, new students joined to replace them, and Straight No Chaser continued at IU. After the success of the viral video, eight of the original members and two later members reformed the group to record Holiday Spirits in 2008. The group has been recording, performing and touring since then. Four of Straight No Chaser's founding members are still with the nine-man lineup.
For a time, the name "Straight No Chaser" was used by both the student group at IU and the professional touring group. In 2012, the student group changed its name to Another Round.
Previously
As the original group graduated, new students joined to replace them, and Straight No Chaser continued at IU. After the success of the viral video, eight of the original members and two later members reformed the group to record Holiday Spirits in 2008. The group has been recording, performing and touring since then. Four of Straight No Chaser's founding members are still with the nine-man lineup.
For a time, the name "Straight No Chaser" was used by both the student group at IU and the professional touring group. In 2012, the student group changed its name to Another Round.
Previously
When I was in college (the 1980s) these acapella groups were all the rage (Yale's Whiffenpoofs have been at it for more than a century) and there were regular "sing offs" between my college's group and "rivals" from others. It's all very ivy league (or little ivy, in my case). Best thing I ever heard was a rival singing U2's "Running to Stand Still," mostly just one woman belting it out. Chilling, stirring.
posted by chavenet at 1:30 PM on December 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by chavenet at 1:30 PM on December 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
I remember those guys! I even heard them do that Twelve Days of Christmas.
The great thing about Bloomington is that largely because of the music school, the town punches far above its weight in music of all types. That spilled over into other realms too, at least when I lived there. It was a good time and place, with lots of people playing music or practicing other arts at a high level with a lot of zany energy.
posted by tangerine at 3:50 PM on December 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
The great thing about Bloomington is that largely because of the music school, the town punches far above its weight in music of all types. That spilled over into other realms too, at least when I lived there. It was a good time and place, with lots of people playing music or practicing other arts at a high level with a lot of zany energy.
posted by tangerine at 3:50 PM on December 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
My wife and kids have seen them live and the show is, I am told, quite good.
I also went to college in the early 90s and heard so much a capella -- but it's OK because these guys are light hearted and talented.
posted by wenestvedt at 5:57 PM on December 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
I also went to college in the early 90s and heard so much a capella -- but it's OK because these guys are light hearted and talented.
posted by wenestvedt at 5:57 PM on December 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
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I am now going to have to spend the day checking out the rest of their videos.
(Something I only learned in the last few years: Indiana University is home to Jacobs School of Music, one of the best music programs in the country, with a number exceptional alumni, from Booker T. Jones to Michael Brecker to Alexandra du Bois to Leonard Slatkin.)
I am so glad to know about these videos and about Straight No Chaser/Another Round. Thank you so much for posting these, brentajones!
posted by kristi at 1:12 PM on December 16, 2022 [1 favorite]