When two readers, Anjani Thomas and Neil Ellis, sent me (independently, I’m assuming) the link to this performance of The Twelve Days of Christmas by Straight No Chaser, a men’s a cappella group that began in 1996 at the University of Indiana,1 I had to pay attention.
They sing, as one would expect of a men’s a cappella group, in sprightly tempos and close harmonies. They even move on stage as one would expect of that category of performers – they swing, they sway, they gesticulate, they shimmer, they shuck, and, in equal proportion, jive.
And, in this case, that style and sound work.
It’s not only the singing, however. The arrangement of the number, interspersing a double handful of songs, some seasonal and some not, and styles into the traditional 12 Days Of Christmas lyrics is also key to the enjoyment of this video.
Darned if the implicit recommendations from Anjani and Neil weren’t right. The Straight No Chaser version of 12 Days of Christmas has, in fact, become my new favorite.
Note: Originally posted Dec 21, 2007.
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