Their vocalization methods are an amazing instrumentation on itself already. Which among these following A Capella groups can you declare as the best there is?
SoCal VoCals
Sub-genre(s): pop, rock, jazz
Founding year: 1995
This group is not just a group per se, but a musical institution. It is the first of nine a cappella groups from the University of Southern California. Founded in 1996, this award-winning group comprises between 13 and 19 male and female students who arrange and sing songs from multiple genres. The group’s greatest achievement is being the first a cappella group to win four titles in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. Very few groups have done that, meaning only very few are on the same level as SoCal VoCals.
The King’s Singers
Sub-genre(s): classical pop
Founding year: 1968
The group has always consisted of six singers in total, with their membership changing over the years. While most music artists are just busy with their stage performances and recording sessions, the King’s Singers have also committed themselves to education, often participating in master classes and workshops. As world-class performers, they have an assortment of awards to boast about. This includes a Grammy and an induction to the Gramophone Hall of Fame – one of the most distinguished award giving bodies in the field of choral-oriented achievements.
Vocal Point
Sub-genre(s): pop
Founding year: 1991
They operate under the Performing Arts Management of the university where they belong, but it is a known fact that the group itself was founded by talented students. Not contented with their popularity as a college music group, they used their school’s resident record label and published their craft in to a bigger audience. In 2011, Vocal Point competed as part of season 3 of NBC’s reality TV series, The Sing Off in which their fame is bolstered even more. Members of the group claim that whenever they do their thing, it’s not only about giving honor to their school, but also about expressing their faith and beliefs.
The Real Group
Like most choral groups, this bunch also got assembled in a school. They are from Sweden, and while most international artists often sing only in English, they still show their love for their own language by including Swedish songs in their repertoire. Over the years, they have established a great legacy for their own country as well as among their fellow artists too. They tour and record relentlessly, in addition to the mentoring that they do to other aspiring a capella enthusiasts.
Sub-genre(s): vocal jazz, pop
Founding year: 1984
Pentatonix
Sub-genre(s): pop, R&B, soul
Founding year: 2011
If you’ve seen Pitch Perfect 2, you may have caught this group in a cameo role. They are named as such due to the suggestion of their leader Scott Hoying. The pentatonic scale, a musical mode with five notes per octave represent the five members of the group, thus the name Pentatonix. Capable of performing a variety of songs that range from the classics to the very modern albeit in a very innovative vocal arrangement, Pentatonix is believed by many analysts to be the best artist yet to ever emerge from the a capella category.
Home Free
Sub-genre(s): folk-rock, country
Founding year: 2000
Although they were often regarded as a group that employs “country-style music,” they professed to being an all-purpose a cappella group, singing in a wide variety of styles, of which country was only a minor one. For much of the group's history they worked with many talented bass singers. Before their attainment of mainstream success, Home Free was already touring at fairs and festivals across the US, as well as stints on cruise ships. Today, they still continue to grace the fans with their “country-rock approach,” though they don’t utilize instruments for such an undertaking.
Naturally 7
Sub-genre(s): orchestra-pop
Founding year: 1999
These New Yorkers simulate the sounds of an instrumental band using only their voices, mouths and distortion effects. It is their means of staying true to their mantra which is according to one of their members, "the art of becoming an instrument using the human voice to create the sound."
When the group was invited to sing at a major a cappella competition in New York City, they won and moved onto the nationals before they took two more wins in the competition. As A cappella performers, they have proven to be naturally crafted for voice arts indeed.
Rockapella
Sub-genre(s): pop, R&B, rock
Year founded: 1986
The founding members of Rockapella consisted of New York’s Brown University alumni. After their graduation, they decided to form a distinct A cappela group. They band began performing on New York City street corners in 1986 with a hat at their feet and a song repertoire that consisted of a mix of what they call “barbershop arrangements.”
Their a cappella renditions of classic pieces evolved to focus less on oldies and barbershop and more on contemporary rock music. Although no longer as active today as they were, most of the former members of Rockapella have remained in the singing business since their departures.
Straight No Chaser
Sub-genre(s): choral, carol-pop
Year founded: 1996
They were known as a collegiate group, and continues still to be recognized that way. The group formed at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Their band’s name was inspired by the title track of Thelonious Monk's 1967 album, Straight, No Chaser, and is a conscious evocation of the popular American slang phrase often employed in requesting a drink.
Their 1998 video of "The 12 Days of Christmas", went viral with over 8 million views and subsequently led to a five-album record deal. Such was the key element of the worldwide success they now continue to enjoy.
Take 6
Sub-genre(s): urban gospel, vocal jazz
Year founded: 1980
Their first single was a cover version of "Change the World" by Eric Clapton and debuted on the Contemporary Jazz Song chart in the top 30. They have shown excellence in integrating jazz with spiritual and inspirational lyrics. Take 6 has received Grammy Awards as well as Dove Awards, a Soul Train Award and nominations for the NAACP Image Award.
As members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Religious group, they are very well-versed in the importance of setting a good example to the community, in addition to their good singing skills.
Which do you think among these groups should be ranked as number 1?
I am not familiar with any of those, guess I'll have to check their songs later😁