Tuesday:
Showcase ’98 – 8:00pm
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Tuesday Morning -
The day has gone wonderfully so far, starting with an early arrival,
and an easy trip to the Convention Center, then eventually checking into
my hotel, without a hitch. Then I ran into some chorus mates of my
roommate, Tracey, from the River Raisin Chorus in Michigan. We hadn't
met before but enjoyed a nice lunch together at Shoney's
The Nashville arena is connected by a tunnel to the Renaissance Hotel and the Convention Center. I entered the Arena area, and, since I was pulling the computer and paraphernalia on a luggage cart, I opted to seek out the elevators. The first gentleman I asked was of little help, even though it appeared he worked there. Then I happened to see Classic Edition up ahead. I intercepted them and introduced myself to Susan, whom I have chatted with a time or two. (Gee, that's was a long time ago, - just prior to international LAST year!) They were disoriented, so we traded information. They showed me the way to the elevators, and I directed them back to the Convention Center. I then found my way to the floor level and located Anita Larson easily. Practically the first words out of her mouth were that we needed to scout out another spot because the location they had selected for me was just too far back. (AWRIGHT! I was hoping they wouldn't be too hard to persuade in that direction, but I didn't expect it to be THIS easy!) Amidst their discussions with several other people concerning several developing emergencies of the hour or minute, as it were, I went off to locate my choice of place to set up camp. I decided on an area that was agreeable to the camera angle (with none of the video cameras win the way) and within the range of my zoom lens. From this seat which is off to the side and about mid way down the floor I would have a good view of even the largest chorus and also be able to zoom in on the quartets (Section 116, row AA, seat 7 & 8) When I presented this suggestion to Anita, she checked the seating chart and said those seats were reserved for staff, so it shouldn't be a problem getting a couple! Excellent.
I must say right up front that I have been delighted with the support and cooperation with everyone from the staff. They have gone out of their way to make sure I have what I need. Thanks Anita, Peggy and Cindy and all the rest!
Having gotten my "nesting area" squared away, I headed back to the Harmony Bazaar to shop around and see who I could find. A few sightings of queens, a quick hello to Joel Rutherford, and Stretch (another VM'er) and Jack Ware. Naomi's recent surgery won't stop Acclaim from competing tomorrow. That's great news! I snagged Julie Tyson and watched her devour a bag of mini-donuts while I waited, having already arranged to have dinner with a friend. Julie and I tried to get caught up on things but we would need a few more hours to do that.
Dinner was in the "Sweet Adeline Restaurant" adjacent to the Harmony Bazaar. They could probably seat about 2000 people in that dining room and the food was a very good homestyle buffet. At $7.25 it wasn't too bad, expecially since we didn't have to venture too far to get it. They were showing last year's chorus finals on the HUGE video screen, and during the contest sessions they will have a LIVE-feed from the Arena. Wonderful idea! Now, there's no reason to starve just because you just HAVE to sit through every competitor and don't have time for real food!
Ok, time to head to the Arena. I went over early to verify the power supply they were supposed to bring down to the section I chose. Sure enough, they didn't fail me! I got the tripod set up, attached the camera and booted up the computer, so I was ready to go!!
(Just before the show started, we realized that the seats I got from SAI didn't cover the Showcase, and someone just arrived at the last minute to claim those seats. I convince the head usher to allow us to sit on two chairs just in front of the allocated seats, and they didn't have a problem with it after checking with the SAI staff to make sure it was alright with them!)
-------Showcase '98 ----
Debbie Connelly, Diane Huber, and Tori Postma are our emcees for the
evening and they come out engaged in a discussion about how an interest
in music actually makes a student do better in other subjects! This
progressed through some interesting turns before we realized it wasn't
going anywhere, but was instead, just a cute diversion while the Melodeers
took the stage! They looked gorgeous in teal suits with iridescent
collars and burst into song almost as soon as Jim Arns joined them onstage. 
They started with "Rocky Top," a Jim Arns arrangement, complete with
washboard, banjo and a few other hillbilly instruments I couldn't identify.
[note: I know it was a Jim Arns arrangement, because Anita Larson, PR professional
that she is, provided me with a listing of all of the entertainers on the
show, what they would sing, and the arrangers. This list was assembled
for the copyright clearance that is required but it was wonderful to have
it in advance. That way I knew all of the correct song titles, as well
as the names of the performers!] Well, that's certainly a nice lively way
to get the show started and make sure your audience is awake!
They followed that with an equally lively arrangement by David Wright's
"Floatin' Down to Cotton Town" and then "You Keep Coming Back Like
a Song." NICE! The next song was introduced as
one originally done by a quartet from Louisville KY, call the Bluegrass
Student Union. "The Auctioneer" started with a featured
spotlight soloist, but I'm afraid I don't know her name. (she wasn't listed
in the press info I got!) She did an excellent job with the
auctioneer's spiel!
Associate director, Bonnie Pressley was introduced as a lady who
"rises" to the occasion (Bonnie is at least 6 feet tall.) She directed
"You Made Me Love You".
Then the Elvis Medley wan introduced, which started with a very interesting
"2001- A Space Odessey starts "Elvis is here in Nashville!"
Jailhouse Rock! - Heartbreak Hotel. - (they flashed the fuschia linings
to their jackets. Then Elvis took off his sweaty scarf and the chorus
"crowd" went wild. Always a popular set, this crowed showed their
apprecation as Elvis took another bow from the top of the risers. 
The introduction was beyond my abilities to transcribe but it was undeniably FRED. They said they are the "former Second Greatest Quartet in the world!" Oooooooeeeeeeeaaaaaahhhhhh...meeee youuuuuuu... Oeiou! I've never heard the pitch taken quite like this, but then what should I expect from FRED? If you haven't seen them OR heard them, this description probably won't do you much good, because about 50% of their humor is visual.
The first song, "I Got Rhythm" started out totally deadpan, which got
the audience instantly as they sang "I'm feeling so excited, and oh so
delighted." Oh, and did I forget to mention that they are wearing
Goucho style fake nose and glasses?? Until this night, the only FRED
I've seen has been their International contest packages for the past two
years. THIS is what I've been hearing about, but never experienced!
Now I understand! Priceless! I would venture to say that more
than half of this SAI audience has never seen FRED, and possibly never
heard of them prior to the publicity for this show. They are loving
it! I love the "ding-dong" bell chord! At beginning of the
last chords, Pookie gets carried away with his hand movment and falls to
the floor. The others notice and so they all FALL after they sing
the last chord. I'm guessing Pookie sang his part from the floor. 
"Fit as a Fiddle" This time Jared (yeah, I do know HIS real name, but I still get the Bass and Lead mixed up) picks up his moves from Bob and then keeps doing them until he gets a new one. Simple schtick but it works!
Jared: "Thanks very much folks please be seated." (Whispered
to him "Nobody's standing.") Well that lady's standing.. oh..
she's leaving. I'm sorry!"
"This Fred is one taco short of a combination plate!"
Then they start into "Sweet Adeline". Complete with a classic barbershop
pose
"Just an old fashioned song that we love to sing in the good old barbershop
style. (Nods to each other - more "bell chord" nods )
"Just a good old tune of a good old girl that sure to make you smile."
"Sweet Adeline... My Adeline... For you I pine." Leaving out
the "echo" throws off the entire lyric and they have to bluff their way
through the rest of the song, occasionally making up words to fill in the
holes. Then they really get stuck and have to pause for some discussion,
and Pookie ends up on the floor again. As they get to the end,
they have one line of notes left over, singing, "We're out of words!"
"Lets' use our hats. Okay-lets-take-our-outside-hands"
"and-slowly-move-up-to-our-heads-and-remove-our-hats.."
"This is a wonderful convent... tion"
"Renee Craig arranged this song."
"It's been really a nightmare."
"(Quick... Think of something that rimes with nightmare!!!)"
Of course, Pookie again comes to the rescue, filling in: "I've got
no hair!"
[BTW, this is really tough trying to describe something that 90% of you have already seen!]
"Now we'd like to do a number from those fabulous Ink Spots... but we
don't know any of their stuff so we'll do the first big hit by the Mills
Brothers."
"Tiger Rag." They start into what could conceivably be an endless
repetition of "Hold that Tiger," but soon they do venture forward into
the rest of the song, including some great scat, which Clay lets get the
best of him all too frequently! 
"We do have some recordings for sale in the Harmony "Brigade." We know there will be a lot of folks up here tonight asking you to buy their CD's. Just remember we asked you first!"
"Just a Closer Walk With Thee." I guess this is the first time I've heard them do anything serious. Very nice! I'm very impressed! I knew they had the singing ability because they could never have gotten as far as they have on comedy alone. Wow.. they did a great job on that!! I like the tag.
F.R.E.D song:
"We've travelled all around the world
and everybody wants to know what the heck does FRED stand for
F is cause there's only four you see.
And R is for respectability
E is very extraordinary
And D is doing more than any one you've seen before,
and FERD..." 
At this point, the letters they have attached to the tops of their
hats never seem to end up in the right arrangement to spell FRED, so they
just go with whatever appears, such as: DERF... is that we haven't
got a clue. 
This continues through half a dozen variations or more, and they finally
conclude by arranging them on Pookie's head, hands and a foot, in their
proper order, to spell FRED! 
Debbie Connelly, Tori Postma and Diane Huber return to the stage and do a brief plug about The Real Group who will be on the Showcase '99 in Atlanta. I hope to see this group, as I've been enjoying their music for a long time. They showed a brief video introducing the group that hails from Sweden, made up of three guys and two girls. Debbie says they sing a cappella, but only because they couldn't find a bass player!
Then Debbie tells about a Harmony Cruise that she heard about which
this next quartet was invited to go on. She got an idea, and called
International, asking to speak to Somebody Important" When Somebody
Important got on the line, she said, "Hello.. this is Susan from Classic
Edition, and we are just not going to be able to go on this cruise you
have planned, however, we do think you should offer the opportunity to
our good friends, Showtime!. Well, I did all right with it until
she asked me to do that song that Susan does SO well…. "Hit me with a Hot
Note." Well, she had me then, because Nobody can sing it like Susan,
so I had to relent, and THEY ended up going on the cruise!
So, now, help me welcome Jana (Brown), Susan (Ives), Donna (Kready), and
Sheila (Martinez)... Classic Edition!"
They took the stage wearing beautiful red zig zag-fringed dresses…
and those gorgeous crowns! Great combination! Their first song
is "Red Red Robin" and they emphasize the appropriate word when they some
to "I'm as happy as a QUEEN!" to the delight of the audience.
Their set was mostly songs, with little dialog, but they sing so well,
that wasn't terribly hard to take.
"For Sale, One Broken Heart" is a lovely ballad that is new to me and
very pretty. I just realized this is the first time I've heard these
gals live. I guess I've heard bits and pieces and have heard 'about'
them so long that I just felt like I already knew them.
"Can I Have This Dance, For The Rest Of My Life," featuring bass
Nancy Shumard.
Don't Break the Heart That Loves You. - I heard a bit of
that "jazz" that Susan is becoming famous for, but it's not until
she goes in to "Hit Me With a HOT Note!" that I get a real dose of it.
What a perfect vehicle for these girls! I love it!
29% of the men do the laundry weekly.. and only 8% of he women trust
them to do it correctly!
Not enough people sing to their children. Take time and sing
to your neices, grandchildren.. or any children you may come in contact
with, maybe this song:
"Twinkle Twinkle ….. Where Are You Little Star"…
Wonderful!!
"South Rampart Street Parade" the bouncy parade song transports
us all to the street in New Orleans as we see the parade come by!
Well, there's no question that these gals deserve the crowns they wear so well.
The King's Singers.
(1998 is their 30th anniversary! - I'm guessing that is NOT with the
same members, as a few of these couldn't be much older than 30!)
(David Hurley, Nigel Short, Paul Phoenix, Philip Lawson, Gabriel Crouch,
and Stepen Connolly)
"Bonnie Bobby Shaftoe" was a lively English folk tune that got things
rolling.
They said they've been looking forward to coming to this convention
for a long time, as the manager assured them they would be surrounded by
thousand of beautiful women who loved singing! "We arrived after
a twenty hour flight, and were serenaded in the lobby... And the restaurant...
And the elevators...And the bar... And when we finally went to bed it was
with 15 women! Singing next door!
Greensleeves, (supposedly written by Henry VIII?)
These guys consist of (according to the media info I was given: two
counter tenors, one tenor, two baritones and a bass. These fellows have
a beautiful blend and their voice float seamlessly together.
"Blow the Morning Dew" and "The Oak and the Ash" were two more English
ballads. Pretty, but they didn't strike me as terribly memorable.
My "assistant" and have been trying to determine which of the voice parts usually have the melody, and it appears that "generally" it is one of the baritones, and apparently they stand in order of their voice ranges, as listed above.
"Widdecombe Fair" One of the gentlemen explains, "This next song is about a fellow named Tom Pierce who's headed to the fair, but his grey mare halts along the way and then he sees the old mare making her will, after which, she promptly took ill and died. And Tom he set down on a stone and he cried. I'm telling you all of this because we're going to sing this song with an authentic Devonshire dialect, so you won't understand it! (someone in the crowd calls out to him.) Well, except for that guy over there. Now I'm going to be nervous." The song that followed was great, but he was right... not much of it was recognizable!
"Chanson D'amour" This song was done in French (or maybe it was
just a realy good French accent!)
"Who is Sylvia" If we've figured out he voice parts correctly,
this starts out as a Tenor solo, and then progresses through the first
baritone and then the second baritone. (I'm not saying there's two
parts here just that one of them sang before the other one!)
Comment from the assistant:
"They sing beautifully, but they sure aren't getting any points from
the Presentation Judge" (translated from SPEBSQSA to SAI lingo: Showmanship
Judge)
The next two songs were preceded with the notion that since they are singing in America, they really should do a few American "folksongs."
Creole Love Call - This song features several voice instruments,
including the finger burble! 
All jazzy and really cool.. but I never understood a single word.
The bass played his bass fiddle very well both visually and acoustically,
and then he switched to playing the snare drum. Neat. The crowd
finally came to life with that one, and offered a smattering of standing
ovation.
"Our Love is Here to Stay." Okay, for some reason I expected to hear an intro on this song, a la BSU, but alas they dove straight into the song and did it marvelously. Still, I think I'll stick with Kinnyray's version, if given a choice.
[BTW, Charlie Hill brought up an interesting topic! Maybe we should start something similar to the Bolton Landing Tradition and any time a Harmonetter's name is mentioned in these reports he /or she gets to donate a dollar to the HR Fund.]
From the bass, Stephen:
"Women have had a pretty rough time of it. From the Garden of Eden
and the very first pluck of the fruit to more recent times with certain
affairs in Washington. I use the term "affair" in the broad sense
of the word ... and I use the term "broad" in the loose sense of the word. But it has been said theat behind every successful man, there stands a good woman. The fact that his wife doesn't know about it... nor is she standing behind him... nor, indeed is she standing...
But we shant concern ourselves with that riight now...
We want to focus on the Garden of Eden... the first pluck .... Of the apple. So for our serious portion of the show we offer a piece... (he finally gives up and leaves the stage briefly, during the laughter.)
(continuing) ...A piece about the downfall in the garden.. that it
wasn't the plucking of the apple, nor the fig leafs that led to the downfall of man. Alas, it was in fact, the wrist watch.
We find Adam and Eve in the Garden where everything is good, and looking cool.
Eve, played in tonight's performance by Nigel, asks Adam, played by
me, what he's wearing on his wrist. At this point, all hell breaks loose. At this point we reach a climax. We reach a musical climax... (in defeat he leaves the podium and joins the group to begin the song)
"Time Piece."
(The sparkle ball starts in the complete darkness. Then red lights spot the group, as they sing tones reminiscent of the monolith in 2001.) Here's the gist of it, transcribed as quickly as I could type it. 
Adam and Eve were doing fine, 'til Eve asked Adam, The time.
And there shall be peace.
And there was no time for a long time!
Beatles - A girl from the north of England to Hollywood to be a movie
star
"Honey Pie, Come back to me" Is this a Beatles song? I've
never heard this one before. Interesting, but different from what
I expected from them.
"We English are not very good at the hard-sell. But I'll give it a go."
(Insert requisite plug for the CD's) "We'll take our pens and
scribble-dibble all over anything you put in front of us.
So, we'll see you out there, ladies... and guy.
Finale: "Overture to the Barber of Seville"
I only know one set of words to this, and these aren't them (from Showtime) but that's okay cause they didn't use any words that I could spell. Well, I did catch a tiddly-poo here and there. OH.. there's a tiddly bom, too! Towards the end baris and bass struggle for breaths trying to work them in when they can, with great heaves of the shoulders as they finally manage to find a place to breathe!
The unanimous standing ovation eventually brought them back for another bow, but it appears that the show is over ... No, wait they finally came out and took yet another bow, and then removed the microphones from their stands, so I guess they are going to sing another one! Good!
"It would appear that we have another piece to sing for you. We couldn't come down to Nashville and sing without doing some country music for you. This is a tune by "Alabama" and loosly translated into English, it goes, "If you're Going to Play in Texas, you really ought to have a violin in the orchestra."
Starting with "The Eyes of Texas" they move into the song. (oooh... that was an INTRO!)
The Showcase '98 is over now, and a good time was had by all... except maybe for the one guy I overheard as I was packing up the computer. He said, that last song was the only one I really enjoyed! (though he didn't sound seriously disappointed.)
That's it for now. Catch you after the Quartet Semi's.
Debbie Warwick