Weekend Listomania: Special "The Glory of the Human Voice" Edition

[This is a revised version of one of the very first Weekend Listomanias ever (I originally posted it in early 2007, which as you know is several centuries ago in dog years.) As is my wont, I have done some re-writing, substituted some different video clips, and added two new entries, in part to have something actually recorded in the current century. Enjoy!!! -- S.S.]

Okay, kids here's a fun project for us all to contemplate:

Best or Worst post-Elvis a cappella Pop/Rock/Soul/Country/Folk/Hip-Hop Harmony Song -- by which we mean either totally a cappella, or with a cool a cappella section of whatever length!!!

And also -- I don't just mean doo-wop. Group harmony is group harmony, okay?

Okay -- and my totally Top of My Head Top Ten is:

10. Pentatonix -- Video Killed the Radio Star

Wow, that sucks.

I should add that I had no idea who those clowns were till a few days ago, when a Gen Z friend of mine informed me that there was actually a big shot no-instruments band in the current larger Top 40.

In any event, they're basically Manhattan Transfer without the sincerity and the street corner soul roots. I mean -- yuck.

9. Steeleye Span -- Gaudete

I don't know what's more amazing -- the Span's stunning medieval harmonies on this or the fact that at the time it was recorded, the band were actually pop stars in England with hit records on the charts. I should add that I was lucky enough to see them do that live. Heh.

8. Petra Haden -- I Can See For Miles

The Who's power pop classic done solely with mouths turned to eleven. Utterly mind-boggling.

7. Fairport Convention -- Percy's Song

The Dylan song, and the brief acapella intro for this is one of my all time favorite things; amazingly enough, the performance gets even better as it goes along.

6. The Beatles -- Because

Of all the reasons to hate the Fabs, the fact that they were -- on top of all their other talents -- absolutely astoundingly good harmony singers may be the most plausible.

5. Big Daddy -- Eye of the Tiger

The Survivor song recast as street-corner doo-wop, as it probably always deserved. The traffic noises at the top are a particularly droll touch.

4. The Benzedrine Monks of Santa Dominica -- (Theme from) The Monkees

Big Daddy again, but doing business under a Medieval nom du chant.

3. Crosby Stills and Nash -- Find the Cost of Freedom

The a cappella at the end is pretty spine-tingling, I think. One of their better songs, although the a-side -- "Ohio" -- sent the same message somewhat more forcefully with loud guitars.

2. The Beach Boys -- Their Hearts Were Full of Spring

A straight cover of the Four Freshmen's original, but if it doesn't bring a tear to your eye, I probably don't want to know you. And this despite the immense dickitude of Mike Love.

And the number one all-time top acapella pop/rock madrigal is ----

1. Imogen Heap -- Hide and Seek

I first heard this in late 2006 when it was used in a montage at the end of an episode of the short-lived Ray Liotta TV crime show Smith, although I'm told it had also figured earlier on The O.C. In any case, I remember practically falling off the couch at the time and thinking it's the most bizarrely haunting thing I'd ever encountered. It's almost a whole new genre -- Android Doo-Wop, anybody?

Alrighty now -- what would YOUR choices be?

And have a great Thanksgiving weekend, everybody!!!