As the air gets cooler and finals draw near, the event that many Loyola students wait for all semester finally arrived: Chordbusters. On Dec. 4 and 5, two of Loyola’s a capella groups, the Belles and Chimes, took to the stage in McManus Theater to perform a variety of songs, both old and new.
It’s clear that the time for Chordbusters has come when you notice a line at the box office that stretches throughout The Student Center. Hundreds of people eagerly waited in this line to buy tickets, knowing how fast they go.
In their opening skits, the groups proved that they aren’t just talented singers, but they’re also pretty good comedians. The Belles began the night with a lip-sync rendition of the song “Back Home Ballers,” from an SNL skit about the joys of going home for the holidays. Rocking cheetah print, big bling, and some very furry vests, the girls reminded us college students of how great it feels to go home to our families who obviously love us so much that they’re willing to let us get away with almost anything. This was a clear indication that the Belles would be providing some excellent entertainment and attitude later in the evening.
The Chimes’ skit was up next, causing the crowd to continue their laughter. The theme of the boys’ skit was a take on “Who’s Your Daddy?,” which allowed the audience to meet each crazy member of the group. It included appearances by Siamese twins, Barack Obama, senior Ryan Glass as himself, and even one of the members adorning a dress. Dirty jokes were thrown around, references were made to nights at Zen West, and in the end it was revealed that there was no father because there was actually never a baby.
As the laughter finally died down, microphones were arranged on stage and the Belles were back, this time sporting beautiful dresses and heels. They started their set off with “Elastic Heart,” the popular song by Sia, followed by other chart toppers such as “Hold My Hand,” “Riptide,” and “Trumpets.” When it came time for “Trumpets,” Alexis Alviggi ‘19 held nothing back, making the audience whistle and cheer at her sassy moves and flawless singing. The group slowed it down with songs like “Fire and Rain” by James Taylor, and “Fly” by Maddie & Tae, dividing their set with a mixture of pop and country songs. Almost every girl was given the opportunity to show off her skills with a solo, proving that their talents covered all ranges and song styles. The Belles finished their performance with an outstanding rendition of Adele’s “Hello,” setting the bar high for the Chimes to follow.
As always, the Chimes managed to bring great talent and humor to their performance. They opened with a mash up of One Direction’s “Drag Me Down” and Taylor Swift’s “Trouble,” continuing to show that mixing it up is something they do best. Other songs from the set included Hozier’s “Someone New,” Elvis’ “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” and Hall and Oates’ “Rich Girl,” before bringing it back to the present day with one of the summer’s biggest hits, “Cheerleader.” The Chimes’ ability to hit high and low notes, along with plenty of synchronized dance moves, definitely proved their worth and gave the crowd a show. They kept the audience on their feet by not sharing their set list ahead of time, making each song a surprise that welcomed cheering and laughter.
The two groups reunited at the end of the show to bring the audience some Christmas cheer by singing “Baby Please Come Home.” The seniors donned Santa hats and one very stylish Santa coat. Whether or not you were able to attend this semester’s show, be sure to hit up the box office in the spring for round two.
