 Media Credit: Sakura Kelley
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Eight spotlights. Six microphones. Three amplifiers. Thirteen boys. Two sometimes hilarious but mostly tremendously awkward Macbook home movies. One voice.
The Ramblers, Fordham's all-male a cappella group, serenaded a four-fifths full Collins Auditorium on Friday night. "Spice Boys" was the theme of the show, though the Ramblers thankfully limited the Spice Girls references to a "Tell Me What You Want" inspired intro, a mock VH1 special and a few spice puns. Andrew Mastanduono, FCRH '09, was "Nutmeg Spice." Their first album was supposedly called Spice Rack. You get the general idea.
When I say the resources were limited, I am in no way complimenting the Ramblers on a tasteful theme applied sparsely but well. Of course, senior Grant Glidden's expert film editing did beautifully portray an unfortunate Rambler falling to his death from a top floor in Walsh. I am merely grateful that they did not sing any Spice Girls songs.
Well, they actually did sing one Spice Girls song, and it was really good. At least no one dressed like Posh Spice.
One of the opening highlights was the Ramblers' performance of Shaggy's "Angel," featuring soloists Neil Beckman, FCRH '08, and Emmanuel Ramos, FCRH '10. Beckman sang the chorus with his signature expressivity and super-fun dance moves, while Ramos shaggified the audience, perfectly imitating the Jamaican's style.
Beckman, who was singing his last concert, was very happy with the show.
"At some point through the show I was able to just relax into the performance, which is the best part of a cappella - being able to both sing and enjoy it at the same time," he said. "It was a wonderful note to go out on."
Beckman also shined vocally and connected beautifully with the audience during the Ramblers' very tight performance of "Happy Together."
All the soloists displayed vocal skill, though the Ramblers' strength lay in how they sung as a unit. The Spice Girls' hit "Two Become One" was especially good. The Ramblers needed love like they never needed it before, and everyone in the audience was ready to give it to them. On that number and many others, the Ramblers created the perfect background sound that set the stage for the soloists. It also helped that every one of the 13 Ramblers was clearly having a great time, and the audience responded well.
The singing was great all night, but the gimmicky bits were more of a hit or miss. Hits: the tight choreography and disco lighting in the last number, "Heat of the Moment," and much of Glidden's movies. Miss: the extraordinarily feminine and awkward dancing by three Ramblers who will remain nameless (you know who you are) during "Tempted" and the part of Glidden's movie with the half-naked Ramblers.
Glidden spoke about the movie after the show.
"The initial inspiration for the video was obviously the recent Spice Girls reunion, and from there I just tried to parody your typical music documentary," he said. "We usually start with some corny pop culture reference and try to make it funny."
He said it would be posted on YouTube soon for anyone who missed out or who wanted to relive the experience.
The Columbia Metrotones, a small all-female group, were featured midway through the show. They had some pitch problems, though this may be nitpicky and more of a result of having listened to the Ramblers all night, who were usually spot on. The audience did not respond all that well to the Metrotones' performance of "Sexual Healing," though they were most likely saving all their lovin' for the Ramblers, who deserved every bit of it.
2008 Woodie Awards
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