The International Barbershop Chorus Competition takes place every year. Singing ensembles gather from all over the world to battle it out in Portland, Oregon with one goal in mind. Bring home the gold.
For the Kentucky Vocal Union, they had to bring something special to the table.
They hail from Louisville, Kentucky and specialize in contemporary barbershop music.
Dozens of men dressed in black take the stage with a little surprise up their sleeves. They pace around looking all disgruntled at the fact that they can’t dance. But why? Is it because dancing is not allowed?
That’s a bummer. Why not take a page out of a guy named Ren McCormack and just… break the rules?
Footloose is always a crowd-pleaser and the Kentucky Vocal Union know it.
If you haven’t seen the movie, it is about a town that bans dancing and the new kid Ren, played by Kevin Bacon, cannot stand it and goes out of his way to change the minds of the people.
The opening is rather entertaining. Together they sing, “Gotta get out this town – need time to dance around!”
The guy in the center rips his black shirt open to reveal a white one similar to Ren in the movie.
It only gets better. The entire group breaks in to the first line of “Footloose”, a Kenny Loggins classic. IT’s like the audience knew but they still exploded.
The blending and harmonization is out of this world. And it goes with a routine and some dancing too. It’s not Footloose if there’s no dancing!
After a few moves here and there, another rips open his black shirt to reveal his green one.
It’s a very cool routine and as the guys in white and green do their thing, the others keep singing and soon, more guys rip those black shirts open to reveal their true colors. Just like in the film!
Not to mention hearing “Footloose” on a capella is another experience altogether.
The performance is original and fun and refreshing from the many Footloose routines out there.
Eventually, all the guys strip their black tops to reveal colorful shirts. Just like Ren influencing his friends from the town to break free from the established norm, the Kentucky Vocal Union interpret the plot in their own creative way.
They have to be the coolest dads and uncles out there.
KVU took home the bronze medal but the performance is unforgettable.
Barbershop singing groups are fun and unique in the sense that their passion for music is distinct and does not require the use of instruments. The Barbershop Harmony Society says that,
“In times of conflict and exclusion, barbershop inspires us to blend, to cooperate, to create beauty and to love each other.”
They go on to say that,
“Imagine its impact as a balm for wounded warriors, an intervention for at-risk youth, as a way to ease end-of-life transition, or even as a better way to rehabilitate people in our prison system.”
Hard to disagree with that when these guys are on stage.
The guys of Kentucky Vocal Union put in a lot of time and effort and the internet loves them for it. Never mind the bronze medal when they bring so much joy to their viewers.
That’s a big group to help kick off those Sunday shoes!
This very cool take on Footloose is waiting for you in the video below.
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Source: YouTube, Kentucky Vocal Union
