Director Donny Rose is teaching us Mood Indigo in true barbershop style … and just in time for our June 15 “Big Show” in Bellevue. Will you be there?

Can’t wait that long? Then click through to hear us rehearse the song made popular by Frank Sinatra.

He can be blamed for my introduction to “shredding.” In this context, to “shred” is to take an otherwise perfectly good video, remove its audio track, and replace it with something audibly painful.

In this Northwest Sound video, we aren’t technically shredding, but it sure sounds like someone took our harmonies and threw them out the window!

You see, as part of our warm-up, Donny likes to play this game with us.

He pits one part of the chorus against the other, starting us off at intervals sure to create extreme discordance. The point of the exercise is to see if we can carry our assigned parts, even as chaos envelopes us.

It’s hard! Click through to hear us, if you dare.

For more on shredding, see this page from the Cheezburger network. The KISS video is particularly amusing.

Here’s what Ron had to say about Northwest Sound, director Donny Rose, his background, and a short explanation between what singing versus music judges (he’s been both) look for in a performance.

But first his quote of the day:

Q: When can we breathe?
A: Before and after rehearsal!

Taking a short break from our contest set, Ron taught us the tag, “When I Leave The World Behind.”

We may be gifted songmen but not always the best planners.

Exhibit A:
The Singing Valentine Tragedy of ’08

A lovely lady ordered our popular singing valentine package for husband John.

Your “gifted” chorus forgot to ask, “John who?”

So we turned up at a much-bigger-than-we-thought building and they were, like, “Um? Which John? We have, like, 10 Johns here.”

Shown: Bass Bob Thomas delivered a rose, hand-written card, and “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” to (sorry) “John.”

Important Lesson Here, People

When you order your Singing Valentine today, tell us your beloved’s last name!!

Valentine’s Day is THIS THURSDAY!

Email us at Valentines@NorthwestSound.org now. Hey, we’re just making sure you can sleep inside the house come Thursday night.

Or call our Valentine’s Day Captain, Bass Jim Corey at 512.565.2923.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Everyone!

What a treat!

In addition to performing for the Fairwinds Retirement Community last night (first video), we got a visit from KJ McAleesejergins from Lunch Break. He picked up three new President’s Council members ($1,000+ donation to the Harmony Foundation and seven new Ambassadors of Song ($10 per month).

KJ explained the explosion in barbershop interest from teenagers … and the necessary campaign to fund the free music, learning tracks, and travel to contests. To learn more, see http://harmonyfoundation.org.

Then KJ taught us a great barbershop tag (second video).

Singing for Fairwinds

Joe’s mother-in-law said it was “the best entertainment we’ve had here in three years. I expected you guys would be good, but I didn’t expect THIS!” (Should we perform for you?) The best part of the video is the end, with the teary resident we touched in song.

Barbershop Tag with KJ

Apologies. I sang off-key into the recorder (It was too fun not to sing the tag!).

If you can endure me, you’ll be mesmerized to watch KJ teach all the parts.

It’s really fascinating to watch.

Also see this awesome photo from 1977!

Did you know him? Tell us about him in the comments. And if you have a link to his famous “Wizard of Oz” set, share it. I’ve never seen it.

^JDH

P.S. We have a new calendar on the site. Let us know if we can add your barbershop news to it.

Speaking of afterglows, how about joining us next Wednesday night after rehearsal at long-time sponsor Pegasus?

If you don’t know the back story, Max Q was a “powerhouse” quartet comprising three gold medalists from other quartets. When they hit the International scene, everyone said, “Oh, Max Q will easily win.”

But they didn’t. They came in second. Three years in a row!

In 2008, their fourth try for the title, they sang his parody of the song, “Here’s to the Winners.”

Just fantastic. Lyrics below.

Here’s to the winners
All of us can be
Unless you finish second place …
Three years in a row!

Well, here’s to those who love to sing
But may not always do their best
Here’s to those who try to make the grade
But just can’t pass the test

(And) here’s to those who don’t sing for a score
But because they have a ball
Here’s to the losers (oh, yeah)
Bless us all (oh, bless us all)

(And) here’s to each quartet who works all year
but just can’t make the cut
Here’s to those who never made it here
But try no matter what.

(And) here’s to those who’d love to move up just one place
then we’d stand tall
Here’s to the losers (oh, bless)
Bless us all (oh, bless us all)

Jeff, Tony, and Gary,
We were first long ago
Those silvers we carry
Are Greg’s fault you know (oh oh, it’s so)

Here’s to those who go for high notes
Even when they’re past their prime
Here’s to every bass who has an ego
Half as big as mine

Here’s to the guy who bet the last three years
That Max Q would win it all
Here’s to the losers (yeah)
Bless us all (oh, bless us all)

You know it’s true
That two, two, two
Has been our due
In this venue

We’ve never been in front
We should have cheated … once

This time we almost sang our songs in tune
Didn’t we, boys?
This time, we worked before the month on June

(Thank you. Thank you very much.)
(Jelly donut?)
(No! No!)

Didn’t we, boys?

A heart full of joy of gladness
Is not our first wish
For what’s ahead

We’ve looked for three years
At silver linings
We’d rather have gold medals instead

So listen one more time

Here’s to the Nighthawks and the Pacificaires
We love that Sundowner song (love that song)

To the Vagabonds and all of the greats
That never won the crowd

Here’s to everyone that’s done their best
But seen their fortunes fall

Here’s to the losers (here’s to the losers)
Bless us all
Here’s to the … LOSERS!

(Loser. Loser. Loser. Loser.)
(Winners!)

Bless us all!

Tony is a loser and it’s plain to see
He can’t win without Joe Connelly

Greg is a loser and his dad was clear
He said, Don’t come home without gold this year

Jeff’s not a loser
He’s a real cool guy
If you ask him
He’s happy to tell you why

Terry is a loser (wait, I think it’s Harry)
Harry is a loser (uh, Jerry?)
Jerry is a loser (No! It’s Gary. Gary Lewis! This hurts me deeply.)

I’m sorry, Perry.

Bless us all
God bless us all!

The program covers the foundation of singing, connecting with the emotion of song, and show performance. Special thanks to instructors Don Rose, Nikki Blackmer, Amy Rose, and Ted Chamberlin for making this happen.

The singers, fine men from all walks of life and skill level, did a great job assimilating the information and material. Their final exam? Joining Northwest Sound stage, singing the three barbershop-styled Christmas songs they learned.

If you – or a special Pacific Northwestern man in your life – loves song, then Northwest Sound is the place for you. Email our Community Manager or each Don “Fergie” Ferguson at 206.229.SING for information.

Meet the Class of 2012:

So beautiful.

Congratulations to Neal Booth & Company!