The Lariat reviews All-University Sing

It’s that time of the year again. Over the next 10 days, the Baylor community will turn its attention to the timeless tradition that is All-University Sing. Months of planning, rehearsal and critiquing will make themselves known under bright lights of the Waco Hall stage.

The Lariat is well aware of the time and effort that goes into creating a Sing act. And for that, we congratulate all Sing participants on the execution of such a gargantuan task, especially while taking classes, working jobs and participating in other extracurriculars. That being said, Sing reviews are meant to recognize the outliers, those who perform extraordinarily well. Let this be a place where exceptional energy and creativity can be freely celebrated.

Baylor Chamber of Commerce

“Time for the Show”

2.5/5 Stars

Sing_RH-February 17, 2016-32.jpg

 

Jazz hands – jazz hands everywhere! Chamber gave the audience a simple but chipper welcome to the annual tradition Baylor has come to love. The act, plain in choreography and wardrobe, was a lovely way to start the night and achieved its purpose of quickly getting the ball rolling.

 

Chi Omega

“Lunch Lady Land”

4.5/5 Stars

Sing_RH-February 17, 2016-73.jpg

 

Chi Omegas make for the cutest lunch ladies in all the land. The act brought to stage one of the freshest ideas Sing has seen in a while. Channeling the ’60s with Keds and cat-eye glasses, the ladies gave their sassy take on the school icon we’ve come to love. Solid vocals, solid choreography and a solid theme means Chi Omega served up a great act.

Kappa Chi Alpha & Beta Upsilon Chi

“Wonderful World”

3/5 Stars

Sing_RH-February 17, 2016-356.jpg

 

The expectations are set pretty high with the opening song – a dramatic take on “It’s a Wonderful World.” But instead of solid commentary on the apathy that can come with living in the suburbs, like the act set out to do, the audience was met with subpar vocals and dull choreography. Granted, there was one guy who was clearly a talented dancer, leaping and twirling in ways that would throw out most people’s hips, but the entire act can’t rest on one person.

 

Alpha Chi Omega

“The Alpha Chi Coal Mining Company”

4/5 Stars

Sing_RH-February 17, 2016-455.jpg

The coal miner-themed act brought some of the strongest vocals of the female acts. The choreography wasn’t impressive, but the act included one of the most dynamic backgrounds of any act, utilizing a moving mine shaft. The best thing about this act? The fact that it didn’t end with a jazz hands huddle at the center of the stage.

Kappa Omega Tau

“Setting Sail”

4/5 Stars

Sing_RH-February 17, 2016-729.jpg

 

All aboard the S.S. KOT. There was no shortage of good vocals, energetic choreography or smoke machines with KOT’s act. There was even a crow’s nest onstage to complete the theme of a ship, a captain and his crew. With sure moves and a forceful presence, the guys of KOT command the stage in a way most other acts don’t, and it makes for a great time.

 

Sing Alliance

“Two Tickets Please”

3.5/5 Stars

Sing_RH-February 17, 2016-897.jpg

 

Every act should include a singing hot dog. Sing Alliance’s routine used the narrative of a young couple’s date to the movies. Kudos to the act’s leads for singing while hustling across the stage for the duration of the performance. Vocal quality wasn’t consistent between performers, but the use of a fun storyline, primary colors and quick-moving feet helped compensate for some of this.

 

Delta Tau Delta

“Lost in the Jungle”

2.5/5 Stars

Sing_PJS-February 17, 2016-69.jpg

 

The best way to describe this act is Tarzan-meets-frat-daddy. Fittingly, the act started with a number from Disney’s “Tarzan,” and featured a Tarzan character who protected his ape family from a dangerous hunter. Although vocals and choreography weren’t the strongest, humor carried the act home.

Beta Theta Pi

“Derailed”

2.5/5 Stars

Sing_RH-February 17, 2016-1152.jpg

 

The act was reminiscent of Phi Chi’s “Dustbowl Days” from last sing, which isn’t necessarily a good thing. This year, the narrative of struggling frontiersmen wasn’t communicated very well, and subpar vocals and choreography didn’t help. On the upside, the act’s use of an onstage train car made the set interesting.

 

Kappa Alpha Theta & Sigma Chi

“Sincerely Yours, Thetasig”

3.5/5 Stars

Sing_RH-February 17, 2016-1332.jpg

 

So. Much. Plaid. With some of the best costumes and energetic choreography of the night, the story of high school stereotypes and young love made for a fun time. One of the nerds even did a handstand. Best of all, performers ended the act with their backs to the audience and a fist in the air, paying homage to the cult-classic movie, “The Breakfast Club.”

 

Pi Kappa Phi

“The Lost City”

3.5/5 Stars

Sing_RH-February 17, 2016-1567.jpg

 

The act had one of the clearest original storylines of the evening, following the citizens of Pompeii as the volcano erupts. What the act lacked in vocals, it made up for with theatrics. Falling rocks to simulate the volcano’s eruption, lightning effects and dream-like screens made the story come alive.

Kappa Kappa Gamma & Kappa Sigma

“Come Dance with Me”

4.5/5 Stars

Sing_RH-February 17, 2016-1710.jpg

 

This act was clean, and not just because it featured maids and butlers. With changing sets, highly varied costumes and great choreography, it was clear that lots of hard work had been put into the act. The vocals were consistently strong and, at one point, beautifully complemented ballroom dancing couples. The act ended with jazz hands, but I can’t even be mad about it.

 

Delta Delta Delta

“Can you Dig It?”

4.5/5 Stars

Sing_RH-February 17, 2016-2105.jpg

 

You can never go wrong with a movie-inspired act, and Delta Delta Delta knows this well. It quickly became clear that the act was a take on the book-turned-movie, “Holes.” The act featured comical dirt-smudged delinquents digging holes at a juvenile correctional camp under the direction of a crooked camp warden. Vocals, costumes and choreography were all executed well. They may have been doing time, but there was surely no crime in producing an act this good.

Phi Kappa Chi

“Workin’ on a Building”

4.5/5 Stars

Sing_PJS-February 17, 2016-22.jpg

 

Just like last year, Phi Kappa Chi had the best male vocals of all the acts. However, they tried to ride on the success of their 2015 act, “Dustbowl Days,” again singing a hymn at the peak of the story. “Working on a Building” was much less dramatic than “Dustbowl Days,” raising the question of whether a hymn was really the best route to take. Although their use of the same blueprint was unimpressive, there’s no denying that their spine-tingling harmonies and bold energy are unmatched by any other all-male act.

 

Zeta Tau Alpha

“We Have Awoken”

3.5/5 Stars

Sing_PJS-February 17, 2016-31.jpg

 

The act opened with a beautiful a cappella rendition of Sia’s “Chandelier.” However, the rest of the act didn’t match the tone that was set with the opening song. Although the act wasn’t bad, it didn’t deliver the expected punch. It was clear, though, that Zeta has a pretty nice supply of singers and dancers. Perhaps a different song repertoire would have solidified the act.

 

Alpha Tau Omega

“The King of Promise”

4/5 Stars

Sing_PJS-February 17, 2016-49.jpg

 

This medieval act was the quintessential tale of a knight after the heart of his queen. “The King of Promise” had the most impressive use of props and set design of all the acts, complete with a giant dragon puppet. The storyline was cute (there was even a sword in a stone), the song choices fit the narrative well and the chorus of knights brought tons of energy to Waco Hall.

Alpha Delta Pi

“Keep on Survivin’”

2.5/5

Sing_PJS-February 17, 2016-54.jpg

 

This “Jumanji” themed act brought the infamous board game to the Sing stage. The act utilized songs that complemented the act’s narrative, but the choreography felt jumbled, vocals were iffy at times and there wasn’t much depth added to the original story line. In the end, Jumanji is a risky game, and I don’t think I want to play again.

 

Phi Gamma Delta

“The Dancing Dead”

2.5/5 Stars

Sing_PJS-February 17, 2016-55.jpg

 

Of course, there had to be zombies. The guys of Fiji made stiff zombie dancing look as good as one possibly can. Unfortunately, vocals were lacking and moments that could have lent themselves to clever character transformations were overlooked. Fiji wins points, however, for humor and the obligatory “Thriller” dance routine at the end.

Pi Beta Phi

“Meet Me in Ze Alps”

5/5

Sing_PJS-February 17, 2016-63.jpg

 

From the ladies who brought you nuns comes a one-of-a-kind act about … goats. Pi Phi made the life of a milk maiden in the Swiss Alps look a lot more fun that it probably is. The act, which opened with a yodeler (that’s a first), utilized excellent costume design and energetic moves to keep the audience engaged. Additionally, every song lent itself to the flow of the act. It was an incredible way to finish out the night.