A Night to Be Their Valentones
Screenshot
Image Courtesy of MaggieMae Dethlefsen
By Raymond Seeley
Whether you were single, taken, heartbroken, or in love, the Valentones performance on February 17 was phenomenal to watch! It was a night of enjoyable and creative entertainment where many talented performers wished to impart their magnificent skills. Skills that created a warm, cozy atmosphere where the audience felt comfortable and relaxed. The night consisted of various songs performed by different a cappella groups, ranging from beautiful, passionate music to sad, somber romantic music.
However, it was not just the singers who made the night exhilarating, for the MCs, too, added their fair share of flair. Their dramatic, but playful sense of humor lightened the audience’s mood, keeping them both attentive and excited for what was to come next. It was quite fascinating to observe the keen but smooth transition between the MCs and each performance. The night’s entertainment was crafted in a unique way to offer the audience a special treat.
These treats consisted of a multiplicity of performances from the Washingtones, Redline, and Takenote groups. In addition, an all-boys subgroup called Gentletones gave a barbershop quartet performance that touched the crowd. To add to these fantastic moments, Takenote also debuted a subgroup at last night’s performance called Sparknotes, which was an all-girl subgroup. Finally, the audience was able to give their sentimental farewells to the Washingtones senior singers, who all performed songs like Betty to Set Fire to the Rain. Each piece was a marvelous piece of art and truly demonstrated magnificent talent and skill!
Yet, it was more than just watching people sing and listening to the beautiful harmony. What made this performance and event so unique and thrilling? At first glance, one may say the refreshments always add to the exhilaration of the night. One might say this particular song or that particular musical piece, which may be true in some sense, with no doubt that these songs have some meaning to that particular person. However, there was something deeper and more meaningful than just these niche moments. Each of these moments, without a doubt, played a crucial role in the collective whole in making the night something so special. This distinctiveness offered by the event was the atmosphere of camaraderie.
Though the night’s entertainment focused principally on the various a cappella groups singing, it was a night that fostered a deep sense of camaraderie and connectivity. It was a night where the Washingtones invited each person to share in the joys, but also the sorrows of love. This invitation called every person in the audience to join their voices and even their hearts with those around them. So in this way, whether you were heartbroken, lonely, taken, or in love, each person could share one thing in common—the camaraderie of sharing one’s heart, singing together.
It was profound to observe the reality that every person desired to share their hearts with each other. This Valentones event opened this capacity for one to share their hearts through the power of singing. It was not just the singing, which the performers excelled at, but it was singing from the hearts of everyone in the room that made the night so exhilarating and transformative. Of course, it was a night of romance and beauty, but love and music brought men and women together, and so did the Washingtones’ night performance!
If you like simple but fun entertainment, the Valentones event was just the right event to attend. So come February next year, do not miss the perfect opportunity for fun and entertainment which the a cappella groups will inevitably provide for those who come!
