![]() The show follows the titular character and former Treblemakers leader Bumper Allen as he moves to Germany in pursuit of fame this Peacock original presents the chance for more a cappella content in the mainstream, but invites fears that the Pitch Perfect name is being milked for clout, especially given lackluster reviews for the third movie installment. The franchise’s expansion to other cultures is set to continue this month with the recently released series, Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin, whose entire first season is available to stream on Peacock. “You realize that we are the standard bearers for this, and that pushes you to elevate the content you’re making … and to be a better musician generally.” “I would say that at almost every school across the country, you can find some sort of South Asian fusion a cappella group,” Albert Gu (C ’23), Masala’s music manager, recounted. Due to the series’ success and their own influence, they’ve been happy to see other groups like them appearing across the country. Masala doesn't place responsibility for all of their popularity on Pitch Perfect’s help, but the movie was groundbreaking for catapulting them to stardom. “I distinctly remember watching Pitch Perfect 2 and when the segment came on with a South Asian a cappella group singing, I did not know it was Penn Masala, but it stuck in my mind that representation global stage,” Gali says. “The group got reached out to by Elizabeth Banks … and we got invited to come on out and perform a segment of the movie as a guest act,” Sachit Gali (C ’23), Penn Masala’s business manager, recounted.īefore Gali even knew that Masala was an a cappella group at Penn, the representation of his culture on the big screen was very important to him. The movie was huge in propelling the group to the stardom and fame they currently have, as well as inspiring current members to join the group when the film came out seven years ago. Penn Masala, Penn’s South Asian fusion a cappella group, was featured in Pitch Perfect 2, representing India in the world ICCA final. Off the Beat, for example, has released almost 30 albums.īut the links between Penn and the movies go beyond mere similarities. Instead of competitions, groups focus on performances and recording music. Equally, the series’ emphasis on single–sex groups is great for generating drama, but isn’t reflected in the prevalence of co–ed organizations at Penn. Groups here don’t tend to compete in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, which is the central theme of Pitch Perfect. ![]() ![]() Others highlighted how the a cappella community at Penn is much less high–stakes and competitive than that of the movies. “It’s more of a community than a cutthroat environment.” “Auditions can be competitive … but all of the groups are so different in their niche that everyone gets to be a part of the group that they feel like they most fit into,” Greenawalt explained. And I’ve really enjoyed that,” he says.Īllegra Greenawalt (C ’23), president of Dischord-which focuses on pop and R&B a cappella-agreed that much like with the diversity of the groups at Barden, everyone at Penn can also find a group where they fit in. “A cappella for me was not about the cutthroat … much more of a family, because we’re a smaller group and a lot closer. Nonetheless, Soloway feels that he eventually found a home in the Shabbatones, just like how the Barden Bellas became a family for Beca in the film. They want you to be a social fit as well as a musical fit, and you go through several rounds of auditions.” And it’s kind of a cutthroat process-that’s a parallel with the movie,” Soloway said. “I ended up auditioning not just for, but for a bunch of a cappella groups. A decade since the first film and with a new Pitch Perfect spinoff TV series releasing on Peacock, Street asked some of Penn’s a cappella community about their thoughts on the film itself, its legacy, and how similar the a cappella scene it portrays is to ours here at Penn. However, there are bound to be some mistakes, misconceptions, and exaggerations about college a cappella in the film. The romance, drama, and incredible performances introduced all of us to this wild atmosphere for the first time. The film follows Beca (Anna Kendrick), a first year at Barden College in Atlanta and aspiring DJ, who gets caught up in the vibrant, dramatic, and high–stakes world of collegiate a cappella. It’s been ten years since Pitch Perfect hit theaters for the first time, and it has quickly evolved into a sleeper hit. “I think one of the reasons that it was so successful is that there’s nothing like college a cappella … and there’s just something about it that draws people into it.” “I honestly think Pitch Perfect did wonders for college a cappella,” Victoria Conroy (C ’24), music director of the pop/rock a cappella group Off The Beat, told Street.
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