Video of a live Realtime performance of "Follow The Drinkin' Gourd" at Vaasa City Theater in Vaasa, Finland. Realtime was in Finland in May of 2008 for the sixteenth annual Vaasa Choral Festival.
I agree, I think it's beautiful music but I would say this is more of a Choral Spirirtual than a "Barbershop" arrangement. But shit man these guys have the chops to sing whatever the fuck they want ;)
I'm one of those who believe that this stuff doesn't belong in the competitions. They are barbershop competitions, therefor only barbershop needs to be sung. Now don't get me wrong, I love this style, but if people want to compete with it, they need a separate competition strictly devoted to this new style.
This song is SO not barbershop. It's far too polyphonic, it has zero seventh chords, and has a theme that's much too dark for barbershop. Someone trying to compete with this at a BBshop contest would get DQed.
Which is one of the problems with the BHS. It's good music - why can't we sing it?!
My apologies. I thought I had read that the final chord had to be major. I double checked Chapter 2 of the "Contest and Judging Handbook" and didn't see it in there. So I apologize.
In order for a song to be considered a "barbershop" song, it HAS to end on a major chord...though that is only ONE of the rules for barbershop songs, lol. This makes it kind of funny to listen to very sad song end on a major chord, lol.
@murry537 David Wright
BrotherBlood101 1 year ago
That was a sick fifth on the final chord.
piercewise1 2 years ago
I agree, I think it's beautiful music but I would say this is more of a Choral Spirirtual than a "Barbershop" arrangement. But shit man these guys have the chops to sing whatever the fuck they want ;)
Stratocaster07 2 years ago
I'm one of those who believe that this stuff doesn't belong in the competitions. They are barbershop competitions, therefor only barbershop needs to be sung. Now don't get me wrong, I love this style, but if people want to compete with it, they need a separate competition strictly devoted to this new style.
matrix86 2 years ago
This song is SO not barbershop. It's far too polyphonic, it has zero seventh chords, and has a theme that's much too dark for barbershop. Someone trying to compete with this at a BBshop contest would get DQed.
Which is one of the problems with the BHS. It's good music - why can't we sing it?!
CptnObvious21 2 years ago
realtime is partly Canadian. this song is partly about Canada... I like this!
Jastro88 3 years ago
My apologies. I thought I had read that the final chord had to be major. I double checked Chapter 2 of the "Contest and Judging Handbook" and didn't see it in there. So I apologize.
matrix86 3 years ago
By what definition of the word "Barbershop"? There have been lots of songs in BHS contests that don't end on a major chord.
murry537 3 years ago
In order for a song to be considered a "barbershop" song, it HAS to end on a major chord...though that is only ONE of the rules for barbershop songs, lol. This makes it kind of funny to listen to very sad song end on a major chord, lol.
matrix86 3 years ago
<3 Doug.
CptnObvious21 3 years ago