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Marti here, your reporter for the day... Pat Shaw and Leslie Rawlings
just brought Slouchbusters for Jane and me to wear - they provide
lumbar support! We're trying them! Ruthanne Bell is sitting in
Laurie's seat for the time being. I'm making her count the choruses
as they walk on stage.

Emcee Marge Zimmerman says we have something in common with the
country music folks in Nashville - sequins!

Warning! Counts will be unofficial. Directors are included. It
goes without singing that all of these choruses have great sound, but
I'll try to comment... if I don't mention it - assume it was still
fabulous!

Mic-tester: Metro Nashville, Director Kim Wonders - 29 on stage
They are doing their baseball package that we saw this summer at IES.
They are dressed in old fashioned uniforms, and "civilian" clothing
of about the 1890's, complete with snack vendors, cop and umpire.
Song #1: Take Me Out to the Ballgame - they disagree with the
umpire's calls and finally go after him. The characterization on
this song is terrific - they never lose it, even if they aren't doing
choreography!!
Song #2: There Used to Be a Ball Park - we can feel the sadness of
this "crowd" about the loss of their park... what wonderful actors!


Key: WC = wild card; ## = queen
SING competitors who have "outed" themselves to Lisa Hills (thanks,
Lisa!) are listed with each contestant. We know there are lots more
who just lurk who will cross the stage today.

.1...Waikato Rivertones, #35, 52 on stage
.....Hamilton, New Zealand
.....Director: Barbara Smith
This chorus is staying in my hotel. When I left this morning, they
were singing "One Moment in Time." Gave me the goosies!
Stage Attire: Slim black skirt with a black and silver overblouse
Song #1: Original Dixie One-Step - they're giving a very
enthusiastic rendition of this all-American tune, with lots of
choreography!! Solid sound, too. Ruthanne says "crystalline" - nice
and ringy.
Song #2: If You Love Me, Really Love Me - of course, we heard this a
lot yesterday, but it seems new this morning. I am impressed with
the strides these "Kiwi" ladies are making in singing with an
American accent. I know I harp on this a lot, but it boggles my mind
that they can do it so well - if you didn't know better, you'd swear
they were from the States! Every singer is visually involved in this
story. A very strong, musical performance!


.2...Pride of Portland, #24 - 105 on stage
.....Portland, Oregon, USA
.....Director: Zoe Thompson##
SING competitors: Jean "Bones" Ashby; Lisa Balzhiser; Donna Binder;
Sally Lampe; Von Roberts
Stage Attire: Royal pants and blouse with triangular accent piece in
sequin fabric, either blue, purple or green.
Song #1: Strike Up the Band - lots of marching and other chore that
suggests the band - we can see it! All the while, the sound keeps
coming... very good!
Song #2: Band Stand in Central Park - They tell this story with a
great deal of finesse. It's good to see Zoe directing again!


.3...Sun Light, #32 - 84 on stage
.....Husby, Sweden
.....Director: Ase Hagerman
Stage Attire: Purple pants with a short dress over which has
diagonal ruffles - red going one way and yellow the other... it
probably doesn't sound as good as it looks!
Song #1: I Never Meant to Fall in Love - complete involvement; each
member is using body English as if she were the only singer, and yet
it's a total unit. The sound is clean, warm and very ringy. Oh,
yeah, and a unit... sounds like a big quartet.
Song #2: Original Dixie One-Step - again, the all-American tune is
rendered with wonderful innovations by our overseas sisters. They
come up with such "different" things to do with their bodies. They
have a Di Nero attitude with "Don't tell me to shut my mouth!" The
audience goes nuts for the obligatory kick line. Probably finals
participant! Of course, the Swedes sing our language better than we
do, anyway.


.4...Yankeemaid, #1 - 83 on stage
.....Trumbull, Connecticut, USA
.....Director: Karen Sweeters
SING competitor: Lynda Kupson
Stage Attire: White long gown with a white duster coat, silver
sparkle at the neckline of the dress and on the shoulders of the coat.
Song #1: Lookin' at the World Through Rose Colored Glasses - they
shift from coy to assertive with ease, then show sheer joy with
skipping! Darling choreography!
Song #2: I Never Meant to Fall in Love - they give this ballad a
tender treatment which suits it very well. Keepin' Score says there
are six quartets in this chorus - it pays off. Also, there are 15
newbies - 5 of whom are on their very first contest stage. Another
solid performance from one of my favorites.


.5...O. K. City, #25 - 84 on stage
.....Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
.....Director: Jim Massey
SING competitors: Betty Coleman; Jo Coleman; Shirley Fine; Emmy
Lessley; Katarina Nortz; Nancy Bagby Nortz; Sephra Osburn; Sharon
Rankin; LisaMaria Lopez
Stage Attire: Black long dress with long vest over; the vest has
vertical silver "pinstripes" and beaded fringe on the bottom
Song #1: I Miss Mother Most of All - I was mesmerized and forgot
to type. Unit sound up the wazoo. (My spellchecker says wazoo is
not a word!)
Song #2: Bill Bailey - Long pink scarves are pulled out at the very
start (new intro) and used to great effect... making the clothes line
for Mrs. Bill Bailey, and stirring the soup, hanging themselves with
"regret" for doing him wrong.... "I( know I've done your
wrong.....SO?????" A typical, wonderful, humorous performance by
O.K. City.


.6...North Metro, #16 - 167 on stage
.....Toronto, Ontario, Canada
.....Director: June Dale
SING competitors: Linda Keyes; Kelly Pappel
Stage Attire: Black dress with velvet bodice and black skirt, gold
accents at the neck, gold ruffled petticoats. June's dress has a
gold skirt.
Song #1: Once Upon a Time - the intro knocks you out of your chair
and they pull right back into a tender soft... this chorus
overwhelms. Every single member is totally selling the song. The
finesse and inflection show why they are A-rated.
Song #2: Dixie Medley - Robert E. Lee, All Aboard for Dixieland...
Typical wonderful North Metro choreo - we get seasick when the boat
rocks! How June keeps this gang in such perfect synchronization is a
wonder to me! The gauntlet has been thrown down!!!


.7...Sound of Sunshine, #9 - 98 on stage
.....Orlando, Florida, USA
.....Director: Nancy Lewis
SING competitors: Gina Anton; Paula Barnett
Stage Attire: Copper sparkle fabric top with sweetheart neckline
over black scarf hem skirt
Song #1: Bye, Bye Blackbird - the funny little bird lands on the
floor and they all get down to listen... "He says, 'Follow North
Metro!" "OH, NO!" They lament and then they change the song to
"Bye, Bye Metro! "Here's an anchor - no big deal." This bit is
hilarious and I wish I could get it all down - you need to come next
year (that's my first time to say that, isn't it??) so you can see
for yourself.
Song #2: Bye, Bye Baby - the front row is vamping and the director
is mocking them, then they just push her to the rear to get her out
of their way. She stumbles out front again in time to do finish the
song! This chorus has a whole buncha fun and take us right with
them. And all the while, the sound is right there! They took great
advantage of a tough spot in the line up for today!

Note: During the break, I found out that Erin Howden, June Dale's
daughter and North Metro's choreographer, helped Sound of Sunshine
with their wonderful spoof, and they had the chance to perform it FOR
North Metro last night. What fun!


.8...River Blenders, #5 - 106 on stage
.....Chesterfield, Missouri, USA
.....Director: Diane Huber##
SING competitor: Cindy Hegle
Stage Attire: Royal blue double-breasted pantsuit with white shell
and rhinestone trim on lapels.
Song #1: If You Love Me, Really Love Me - it has to be difficult for
the choruses who chose this song when they now know we have heard it
a LOT, but they are selling us all over again. They ring the snot
out of the tag!
Song #2: Big Bad Bill - Diane starts them and jumps into the front
row to just sing! She directs every once in a while, but is mostly a
performer and the chorus is just a great big quartet. I love it when
a chorus knows their plan well enough to perform with so little
direction! They have a very young girl on the second row - what a
cutie!


.9...Mission Valley, #12 - 75 on stage
.....Palo Alto, Calfornia, USA
.....Director: Shirley Kout
SING competitor: Julie Tyson
Stage Attire: Black velvet pantsuit with sheer sleeves and
rhinestone buttons and trim. Shirley wears a dress with black velvet
bodice and floaty skirt.
Song #1: Come Take Your Place in My Heart - Shirley's skill as a
voice teacher is evident in the full, rich sound of this chorus.
They convey the nostalgic mood of this lovely song very well.
Song #2: After You've Gone Medley - Nyaaaaahh! That's the pitch!
That sets the tone for this song. He's gone, but they're not so
sure they really miss him... poor thing. Good characterization!
Monster tag chord.


10...Pacific Empire, #12 WC - 106 on stage
.....Petaluma, California, USA
.....Director: Jan Gervais; Maureen Rhee Gibson; Paula Murphy Vance
Stage Attire: Red short, straight sparkle fabric skirt, black velvet
vest, sheer red sleeves.
Song #1: Red, Red Robin - they present this number with a real
jazzy feel and lots of womanly assertiveness. Everyone is having a
lot of fun with the dance steps and moves of the plan, too.
Song #2: From the First Hello - One of my favorite songs... this is
a different arrangement than I am used to and they have a lovely
interpretative plan going.


11...Spirit of the Gulf, #9 WC - 125 on stage
.....Fort Myers, Florida, USA
.....Director: Karen Breidert##
SING competitor: CarolAnn Bagley
Stage Attire: Purple pantsuit with silver beaded scarf. Karen wears
a dress in the same fabric with the scarf front and back.
Song #1: I Promise You that I'll Love Again - this is a new one for
me and quite lovely.
Song #2: This Joint is Jumpin' - This choreo is so busy (in a GOOD
way) that you don't know where to look! Karen comes up through the
floor! They take four beats for catch their breath before the tag!!
CarolAnn looks great up there - especially for an old Queen! (She
told me I could say that!)


The photo link for this year is:

http://www.sweetadelines.net/files/nashvillesing


--
Marti Lovejoy for the SING Reporting Team
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SweetAdelinesScores/messages
Life Member, Reg 10, TX, USA (30 years so far)
LovejoyMar @ att.net <--remove spaces