Finals

May 11th, 2013

I don’t even know where to start.  Let's start with the start, shall we? The Bellas have been entirely reinvented! Between Aubrey, Chloe, and myself we have changed the direction of the Bellas.  We chose to go with entirely new performance outfits (so we would no longer look like flight attendants), an entirely new song set, and great choreography!

Finals was the first time that I had seen Jesse since trying to apologize and he had not forgiven me.  The Treblemakers performed before us, and I have to admit they had me scared.  Aubrey was so intense the entire season because it’s her senior year, and her last chance to become an ICCA champion, so we really wanted to bring the title home for her.  I actually wanted to win.  Not just for Aubrey, but for myself and the Bellas.  Our mash up of Price Tag/Don’t You Forget About Me/Give Me Everything/Just the Way You Are/Party in the USA/Turn the Beat Around was, if I do say so myself, amazing. 

I have never felt more connected to the other Bellas in rehearsal and performance -  and I know we were amazing on stage.  Confession: when I watched all of the movies that Jesse claimed to be the best scored movies of all time, I ended up adding “Don’t You Forget About Me” into our music set as a step of reconciliation with him…and we made up! We’re actually a thing now, per Aubrey letting the reigns loose.  

And to top it off WE WON.

I am very glad to say that I am going to stay at Barden University.  LA can wait.  I guess my dad’s plan worked; my goal to get out inevitably led to me wanting to stay. I can't wait for next year!

Progress!

April 8th, 2013 continued

Once we got to the pool, I just felt that we needed to sing with one another, but that I needed to give Aubrey the choice of what we should sing. 

The most interesting thing that happened was that Aubrey chose “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars; the reason that this is remarkable is that Bellas traditionally only choose songs made famous by female artists, so Aubrey is changing! 

I ended up leading the group in a mash up of “Just the Way You Are” and “Just a Dream” which was led by Chloe.  Oh yeah! Because she thought the season was over, Chloe got her nodes removed over spring break.  Her doctor said she will likely never be able to sing over a G sharp ever again.  But the thing is, her voice was still great and the mash up was amazing.  It was the first time since the riff-off that we were actually listening to one another.  Now we just have a month to get ready for the national finals! With Aubrey's experience, my innovation, and the talent of the Bellas we have the potential to be amazing. ALSO: Chloe can now hit the base notes with her nodes removed, so we can round out our arrangements! WE COULD ACTUALLY WIN!

Apologies

April 8th, 2013

Spring break has come and gone (but, I finally got to play music at the radio station for the entire week!) I haven't spoken to Jesse since the semi finals, but over break I ended up watching all of the movies he wanted to watch with me, and I realized something - he might have been right about the endings being the best part. Maybe. 

BUT! So many things have happened in the last 24 hours…I don’t know where to start…but I know I’ll have to break it up into two posts again!  So yesterday I got a text from Chloe telling me that the Bellas were getting back together.

To rewind, at the semi finals the Bellas placed third – behind the Treblemakers and Footnotes – thus not advancing to the finals.  Yet, somehow in a turn of events it was revealed that the Footnotes’ new lead was in high school, thus making them disqualified…meaning that the Bellas are now given second place, and are going to finals! 

Before I went to meet with the Bellas, I figured I should make amends with Jesse.  According to him I apparently push away anybody who might care about me. He claims that he's done with us.  In order to clear my head I decided to go and talk to my dad - I finally admitted to myself that I love the Bellas. He also pointed out something painfully true, it's easier to shut people out than to get hurt, so I better go make amends with the Bellas as well. 

Back to the Bellas: Chloe invited me to join their first practice back. Once I got to the rehearsal room, I could not believe what I saw.  Aubrey, Fat Amy, and Chloe were all wrestling on the floor over the pitch pipe, Mary Elizabeth and Stacy were fighting over the seats, Selena was making angels in vomit that was all over the floor – courtesy of Aubrey letting go of control - and all of the other Bellas terrorizing one another.  

When I came in, all came to a halt and Aubrey told me to leave because I was not a Bella, and it was a closed rehearsal.  It wasn’t easy, but I apologized for changing the set and leaving, and asked her to be let back in to the Bellas. We had a moment as The Bellas to really get to know one another, and then Aubrey let me back in, gave me leadership and tossed me the pitch pipe…which then rolled into the puke on the floor.  So we went to the emptied pool on campus!

Semi-Finals

March 30th, 2013 continued

Once we were safely at the semi-finals, we had our second blow of the day when the Footnotes – another a cappella group that Aubrey said we did not have to worry about – apparently had a new lead who was amazing.  At that point we were faced with the impossible: beating both the Footnotes and the Treblemakers in order to advance to the finals.  Once we were on stage, we sang the same old tired set and, I kid you not, the audience started falling asleep.  

So in a last-ditch attempt to save our chances I improvised a little bit.  All I really did was start singing “Titanium” to mix it with “The Sign” for something a little new.  It really was only a one-part harmony to make it a bit more exciting, and it didn’t really mess anybody up.  Once we were offstage though, Aubrey let loose. She said I was making it the “Beca show” and that I was trying to sabotage the other Bellas – really? Like, she had to of been joking.  AND to top it all off she accused me of hooking up with Jesse – a Treblemaker – and thus breaking that silly oath! Obviously I haven’t been, but she had the nerve to call me out just then, when of course the Treblemakers were passing by so Jesse could jump in and try to defend me! So, I snapped at him again. 

I don’t need Jesse, and I surely don’t need the Bellas.  

So, I quit.  I can find some other way to buy my time at Barden for my dad.  Besides, I don’t care about the Bellas.  Right? 

Bus Ride

March 30th, 2013

I don’t know how we made it, but the semi-finals were today.  I would want to do one entry for the entire day, but so much has happened it must be two.  For the first part, getting to semi-finals was interesting to say the least.  We rented some bus for the day, and apparently Fat Amy can drive it? Either way, on the way we had to stop to pump gas, and on her way to fill up the tank, Bumper from the Treblemakers threw a giant burrito at her from their moving bus, sending us all into a frenzy.  Once that was under control, we were on our way.  Now usually, our rides together are spent in like an awkward time of isolation and silence (where we all just do our own thing) – and this ride totally started out that way.  That is, until Chloe started singing “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus – and the Bellas had a moment.  

Somehow we all started harmonizing and sang the song together – like a true a cappella group! But then, nothing good really lasts since we ran out of gas; apparently Fat Amy forgot to fill up the tank in her burrito mess.  Lucky for us, we got to ride with the Treblemakers since they were also on their way – yay us. Yet, we got there in one piece.  The other catastrophe of the day is yet to come.  I can’t even process it right now, so I’ll have to write tomorrow.

Regionals

February 24th, 2013

Regionals was yesterday and I’m not sure I’m too crazy about a cappella competitions, but I guess I have to deal with it if I’m going to stick around.  We ended up getting second place overall, which means that we will advance to the semi-finals. However, Aubrey was not happy with the results because our score sheet showed that we barely beat the Sockapellas – a group that I kid you not sings with sock puppets on their hands – and that just shows how bad we actually were.  Aubrey somehow attributes this near-failure on Fat Amy for adding her own flare to her solo – and thus stepping one toe out of Aubrey’s control even though we sang that boring old set again.  I personally think Fat Amy's excitement is what enabled us to beat the Sockapellas.  

On another note, the Treblemakers placed first because they always execute new exciting mixes. So, we are advancing to the semi-finals alongside the Treblemakers.  BUT the cherry on top for the evening was when Fat Amy entered into a physical altercation with some old man a cappella group, I stepped in to help her, accidentally broke a window, and was arrested.  

But wait, the best is yet to come! 

After I was arrested Jesse of all people came to the police station to bail me out, only to tell me that my dad had bailed me out because he called him! I mean, who does he think he is? I mean, yeah I was grateful that he tried to help, but my dad was so not necessary in that situation. I didn't ask him to help me, he's not my boyfriend! I kind of snapped at Jesse, but I have yet to feel bad about it – the reason being that my dad said, and I quote: 

“If you think I’m paying for you to go to LA after a stunt like this, I'm not.” 

I was "making memories" like he asked me to, sticking up for my friends! So now I’ve put all of this time and energy into this joke for what? However, a small amount of redemption came when I came back to my dorm and all of the Bellas stayed up for me - for Aubrey to berate us more.  

Riff-off

November 17th, 2012

…so I know what a riff-off is now.  It was actually pretty cool at first.  It’s a game between all of the a cappella groups on campus where we gather in the emptied campus pool and have an a cappella battle.  Now it sounds lame when I really think about it, but it’s like a test for your group’s musical spontaneity. A category is chosen, and then groups must sing songs within that category, stepping in on words that other groups are singing.  For example in the category “Ladies from the 80s” and the Treblemakers sang “Hey Mickey” and on the line “You’re so fine” the BU Harmonics jumped in with the line “fine, and you’re mine” from Madonna’s “Like a Virgin”, thus taking control of the round.  That continues to happen until groups can no longer think of songs, sing a song out of category, or the line that they match is not correct.  What was so amazing about the experience is that as a group, the Bellas and myself were listening to one another – and doing well. 

But of course, nothing can be fun since we lost when I said “it’s” instead of “it”, and Aubrey was mad.  I almost saw her loosen up a little bit, but once we were “cut-off” (disqualified), she was back to business on the old stuff. It’s like she’s scared of change or something; I mean I know she has experience that the rest of us don't, but she can't be afraid of anything new.  Since school is still a thing to take care of, I probably won't be posting again until after finals and the holidays. We out!

"Movie-cation"

November 5th, 2012

As if Bella rehearsals are not enough, Jesse from initiation night has decided to become chummy with me. Have I mentioned that he is also an intern at the radio station? I couldn't even avoid him if I tried.  I mean, yeah he’s cute and everything but so not what I need right now. If anything, he would just turn into a distraction that I do not need.  In order for me to convince my dad that I’m trying to enjoy college, I need to survive Aubrey and the Bellas.  In order to not be miserable, we need to keep Aubrey happy and not suck.  Thus, I don’t have time for Jesse with his juice pouches and film theories.  

He actually told me today that I need a “movie-cation” because I don’t like movies.  I mean, come on, they’re predictable.  And with his crazy impression that he needs to be in my life, he made me watch the last like two minutes of the Breakfast Club because I don’t watch the ends of movies, and he calls it the best movie ending of all time.  And then…we had like an almost moment…but let’s just get beyond that. Also, what on earth is a riff-off?

Sounds like Failure, Looks like Failure.

November 3rd, 2012

I have no idea what I’ve gotten myself into.  Today was the performance at Sigma Beta Theta's Annual Fall Mixer – really, frat houses? – and it could not have been more abysmal.  Aubrey has us rehearsing two hours every day, plus cardio, and we were not even close to being ready to perform.  To make us go from bad to worse Aubrey is not letting us sing anything other than The Sign/Eternal Flame/Turn the Beat Around set – with the same old choreography that could make anyone fall asleep. And to make it all worse we looked like flight attendants in those silly Bellas uniforms. 

The most humiliating part of the day was that once our performance started to really go downhill the president of the frat house made us stop mid-set and leave.  ALSO he said he was not going to pay us!  At that point I really thought that things could not get any worse.  However, I was proved wrong once again; while Aubrey was berating us Chloe let us know her “terrible news” – she has been diagnosed with vocal nodules (The rubbing together of vocal chords at above average rates without proper lubrication) and finds herself not able to sing at her full potential for the rest of her life – let alone our season.  She is the second in command for our group and the only reason Aubrey is a dictator and not a raging tyrant.  Chloe was our only hope that Aubrey would hear from the voice of reason, and she just put more strain on Aubrey, thus making the season much more difficult for the rest of us. Selfishness aside, I feel really bad, she's pretty nice and now cannot fully commit to her passion. 

First Rehearsal

October 27th, 2012

So…first Bellas rehearsal today…not sure how I feel about this whole a cappella thing. After initiation night last night, Aubrey has kicked out Corey and Mary Elise for sleeping with Treblemakers.  Apparently she’s “Dixie Chicks serious” about that silly oath we took yesterday.  I mean, it doesn’t really affect me since I have no romantic interest in Jesse anyway, but come on.  To make the first rehearsal even better, we had to run cardio, practice silly mouth exercises, walk around in outdated pumps, and learn some cookie-cutter choreography. 

I honestly feel like we were being tested to see how much ridiculousness we could put up with.  It seemed as if this was the real initiation.  If that was not enough, Aubrey had us run the same old tired song set from the performance that made them lose at the ICCAs last year.  Chloe hinted at the fiasco, when none of the new Bellas knew anything about it, and we ended up watching the most disgusting video on YouTube. Selena pulled the video up on her iPad and we watched the debacle where Aubrey out of nervousness threw up on the first three rows of the audience.  So, in an interesting turn of events, we all know why Aubrey is crazy: it’s her senior year, and now her year of redemption.  So because of that, I'm about to lose 14 hours of my life every week until Aubrey gets that title.  Better yet, she suspects that Jesse and I are interested in one another, try again. She's delusional, I don't have any desire to be close with anybody; I just want to bide my time and get out of here. She needs me more than I need her.