University of Chicago’s Voices In Your Head - “Magic” (Originally performed by Ben Folds)
There is so much to say about this song. Whether it be the original composition by Ben Folds, the arranging creativity of Voices In Your Head, or the beauty of the human voice in general, this song is near perfection.
Lets first talk about the origins of not only this song, but of Ben Folds’ entire A Cappella album. While most artists’ idea of a “greatest hits” album is a collection of their greatest hits released in one package, Ben Folds had other plans. Ben wanted to present the culmination of his work by sharing how other musicians had interpreted and used it. In particular, Ben chose to showcase Collegiate A Cappella groups by creating a competition in which groups submitted their own renditions of Ben’s songs. Ben then chose his favorite 14, and recorded the groups personally. While much of today’s A Cappella is driven by digital effects and heavy mixing, these songs were all recorded as a group, with little to no effects. To read more about Ben’s A Cappella project, follow this link: http://www.benfolds.com/acappella
While the entire album showcases very talented A Cappella groups from across the country, this particular song is truly something special. The range of the singers (listen how low they sing!), the accuracy of the notes, and the smooth style of singing come together to create something that can only be described as Magic.
I really like this a cappella version of the Ben Folds song.
