HEALY LAWN- Claiming that The Georgetown Chimes’ recent outdoor performance “reached new heights,” audience members praised the a cappella group’s recent performance featuring surprise guest vocalist, a Boeing 747.
The Baltimore-bound American Airlines flight joined the Chimes on Healy Lawn Thursday evening shortly after departing Ronald Reagan International Airport and stayed for the duration of the group’s signature song, “Georgetown Girl,” and took the lead on roughly half of Daniel Powder’s “Bad Day.”
Devoted Chimes fans are familiar with the often featured commercial airliner, whose soulful JT9D-7A high-bypass turbofan engine adds remarkable texture to the 9-man arrangements.
“When Boeing 747 joins the mix, the performance is automatically elevated, thanks to its skill as a brilliant contrabass,” said jumbo jet pilot Michael Faraday, noting that this is the Boeing 747’s three hundredth time joining a cappella groups during outdoor performances, “Those harmonies really take off when it arrives.”
Many of those present for the performance were reportedly captivated by the commercial jet airliner’s sheer musical power. Audience member Peter Frankle (SFS ’17) said that he was particularly entranced by the intensity of Boeing 747’s performance.
“I’ve heard the Boeing 747 a million times now, but this one with The Chimes was so raw,” said Frankle before an Airbus A318 briefly entered and exited our interview. “It was such an immersive experience that, for a moment, I forgot any other Chimes were singing. It was like I couldn’t hear them at all over the plane’s melodious roar. The Boeing 747 may be called the ‘queen of the skies,’ but I think the ‘king of a cappella’ would be more fitting.”
Chimes president Connor Joseph (COL ’16) echoed the sentiments of many audience members, stating that he was impressed by the Boeing 747’s range and ability to project.
“I bet you could hear that performance for miles,” shouted Joseph as he adjusted his recently acquired hearing-aid. “I wasn’t sure how the regular Chimes’ harmonies sounded over the Boeing 747, but I wasn’t going to stop the music to adjust. It’s a once in a performance opportunity to sing with such a dynamic plane. It’s a grounding force. We have to take what we can get.”
Joseph added that Chimes fans should stay tuned, as an upcoming performance outside of Lauinger Library is likely to feature guest performances by a Boeing 787, drunk screaming freshmen, and a truck backing up.