The Real "Glee"

So I watched Glee for the first time the other night.  Afterwards I was informed by people who'd know that it wasn't the best episode and probably not a good one to start with. I imagine they're right.  But still - and with all apologies to my "Gleek" friends out there - I'm just not feeling it.  That's okay, though, because you thought I was nuts for getting into Battlestar Galactica, didn't you?  So we're even.

I imagine that a big part of my ambivalence has to do with the fact that I was actually in our school's Glee club.  And in the same way that football players couldn't get into Friday Night Lights or I never found much reason to read the At Home in Mitford series (about a small-town pastor), it's hard to get excited about a fictional situation that bears a striking resemblance to your real life.  You're already "living it," you see, so what's the point?

We actually called ours a "show choir," which I think sounds better than "glee club."  Think of it as a solid choral ensemble meeting Dancing With The Stars.  We worked equally hard to perfect our four-part vocal arrangements as we did the dancing/choreography.  Trust me, it's a lot harder than it sounds.  And it was a big deal in our school, with around 200 kids in three or four ensembles.  "Carolina Spirit" was the top group and involved a significant time commitment.  It was also a pretty well-traveled group.  I'm not talking about the annual appearance at the local mall, either.  Every year we participated in a regional event in Harrisonburg, VA.  There was also a trip to Pasadena, CA my junior year (including a performance at Disneyland), and another one to Chicago my senior year - both national competitions, both in which we placed in the top three.  

All of which looked nothing like what folks see Wednesday nights on Fox.  There was weight training involved - important when the guys were lifting girls in the air and swinging them around (they tend to prefer that you not drop them).  I already mentioned the hours and hours of rehearsals - not just with vocals but with choreography, down to standing in front of a huge mirror to make sure that thirty-some people have their movements perfectly synched.  And unlike the current TV show (at least the little I've seen of it), there was actually harmony with the jocks, and we had some members of the gridiron in our fold.  So there were no purple slushies.

Here, see for yourself - a video of Carolina Spirit doing their thing a few years after my time (okay, more than a few :)

(note: if you're subscribing to this blog via email the video may not show up - so check it out here).

I realize open talk about this sort of thing typically invites some level of ridicule, especially toward the guys.  Go ahead if you must - it's nothing I haven't heard before.  Chuckle at the sequins and stage makeup, at the dancing and the white shoes.  To which I say a heartfelt, "Whatever."  The fact is that I wouldn't trade this time in my life for anything.  I made some of the best friends in my life, many of whom I keep in touch with to this day.  Thanks to this experience the stage is a second home to me rather than a source of anxiety - something that comes in handy doing the music thing these days.  I'm quite at ease in front of groups, which means I'm pretty comfortable behind the pulpit on Sunday mornings (but sorry FPCMA folks - no jazz hands).  And the vocal techniques I acquired in all those years of training have proved invaluable in keeping my singing voice going strong.

So watch "Glee" if that's your thing - I may tune in from time to time.  But forgive me if I don't jump on the bandwagon.  The real thing is a whole lot better.

PS - I know there are a lot of show choir folks out there, including some "Carolina Spirit alum," and I'd love for you to share your stories in the blog comments below.  What are some of your memories?  How has your show choir experience translated to things you do in your adult life?  Let's hear 'em!

Comments

[Mike Anderson]

I tell you about time commitment. I played for all 4 show choirs AND marched at Broughton. I think it was right at 8 or more hours everyday behind a drum of some sort in addition to school and homework. Played first period, marched 4-5 period, 2 or so hours marching after school then drumline for 3 hours every other night. Then I left there and went to show choir rehearsals. Those two organizations were the best run most well rehearsed origanizations in the country, hands down. Hard work, we all loved it!!!!

[Aimee Wallis Buchanan]

Dear Steve, First of all, I just wish that video was more clear, because I would get to see my hubby, Bill, dancing in his PINK sequins. He calls them fucia, but fucia is just a shade of pink!

Second, your blog sounds just like something Mr. Shew (sp?) would say if he was someone who watched Glee instead of being the one Glee was about!

Love ya! Peace, Aimee

[Dana]

Nah, it was fuchsia, definitely not pink! Our groups in the 80's were very good, but when Andy Haynes started doing the choreography, the group became jaw-droppingly incredible. There were little kids standing in the aisles trying to do the choreography with the group. Spirit inched its way up over the years before winning in Chicago, finally. Once it did, though, Carolina Spirit was undefeated in worldwide competition for SIX YEARS.

I like Glee because it reminds me if the early 80's, in early days of the Broughton group. I've only watched the first two episodes, but the pilot actually showed a clip of a "rival" group at a contest that was pretty darned good.

My story is: I was in the band for 4 years. I hated chorus in my first two years. People would come out of that chorus room singing down the hall like we really gave a crap. In Math class I'd have to listen to them sing the same 16 bars over and over again, which was really annoying. So, as a rising Junior, I was the #2 trumpet player at Broughton, and had a chance to play in the chorus' back up band. Now THIS was fun, especially the Chicago trip! As the year progressed I realized that I could sing well enough to get by, and get into Carolina Spirit. Wow. I couldn't believe how my perspective had changed.

Broughton had an extremely strong music program, especially given that it wasn't a magnet school. These were all natural-district students, which is a real testament to the chorus and band directors, Kraig McBroom and Jeff Richardson.

Showchoir was a dying art form at the turn of the century, though, so I am really happy that Americal Idol and Glee are popular and getting children interested in singing again.

[Lisa Permar Ham]

Here's what I'm thinking about Glee, Steve, to try and put this in perspective. You're not supposed to be watching it and comparing it to your high school years. You are supposed to be Mr. Schuster. See, he experienced what we experienced at Broughton. Very well orchestrated, polished show choir with all of the practices, strong singing and later very strong dancing and always close friendships. When Mr Schuster was in HS, showchoir was not a geeky thing to do - he was proud of his accomplishments and not afraid to say he wore sequins! But when he returns to teach at his alma mater, home of champion show choirs of the past, he finds that the program has crumbled and the only thing "cool" left in school is cheerleading and football. In Glee they parody those two groups so that it will be easy to pull for the underdog - the fledgling new glee club. Sadly, that's kind of what Broughton has gone through the past 10 years. The program sustained on reputation for a few years (the Ragtime Band video you posted was the last McBroom year), and then has turned back into into a fairly regular chorus. Now I have a daughter coming up on high school and I do wish they would find a quality of faculty that could bring back those glory days that we had. But I'm not holding my breath. So yes, the Glee you have jumped into is not supposed to remind you of your high school years. What Mr. Shuster wants to achieve is the high school that we remember. Those are my Glee thoughts - it's been pre-empted by baseball tonight - oh well.
Lisa
PS - If you watch the first episode you'll see the new glee club (membership: 6) attend the performance of one of Mr. Shuster's old rivals (maybe like a Midlothian, Va or Tennesse group from our years) and they are blown away at what they see. What they see is what Carolina Spirit would have cranked out - there's your high school years!