Friday, October 12, 2012

Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory by Mickey Rapkin

Great movies come from great books, and Pitch Perfect (now in theaters) is no different. Way back in 2008 a book called Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory by Mickey Rapkin gave us an inside look at the world of college a cappella groups. The current movie takes these stories and creates a fictional word based off of the adventures of three very different groups.

Divisi, from the University of Oregon, were denied a national championship, and want to win what was theirs in spite of turning over most of their members. The Beelzebubs of Tufts university are feeling the burden of a rich history, and have to top their last album, Code Red which was called "game changing". Finally it showcases the Hullabahoos of University of Virginia who are more like fun loving frat boys who want to be more successful. Each group's story is told in alternating chapters, along with facts and history of collegiate A Cappella.

Whether you already saw the movie, or just are looking for a good book that highlights an interesting subculture, Pitch Perfect will have you looking up YouTube clips of past shows, and singing.