Choir songs for non singers

[Fishfacefour]

I need to get some non singers together to try to pull together a song as a team building thing in 3 hours. 

About 50 people, many will be highly cynical. What song should we sing? 

 

 

What suggestions can the great bass chat hive mind come up with? 

Piano accompaniment only. 

Edited October 24, 2023 by Fishfacefour

[mr4stringz]

Depends partly on the age range of the participants potentially, certainly if there are a load of young ‘uns. If there’s a mix of ages ‘classics’ have to be the way to go, as I’d say you need something ridiculously well-known that everyone is at least familiar with at the onset for you to have a cat in hell’s chance in 3 hours. Think simpler Abba or Queen songs perhaps, or even bloody Sweet Caroline, much as it pains me to say that one in particular. Easy to sing and everyone seemingly knows it.

[Fishfacefour]

Yeah age range from 20s to 60s. 

I'm terrible with mainstream knowledge so was thinking beatles or even a simple folk song. Might have a look at ABBA though. 

[Dad3353]

Three hours, you say..? Team building..? It's a canon that you need, and what better than 'Frère Jacques', a song they will all know, but don't know that they know it. Get them all to do the melody line together, then split them into two groups, then three, then four, to build up the whole canon. If there's time, or one or two 'better' voices, pop a harmony line in there, too. Everyone will enjoy it, guaranteed. 

[Fishfacefour]

Yeah keep it simple!

[Baloney Balderdash]

The Beatles, as you thought about yourself, is you answer.

 

Everyone knows them, most people have a hard time hating them, and most of their songs aren't overly complicated either. 

 

Edited October 24, 2023 by Baloney Balderdash

[Dad3353]

1 hour ago, Fishfacefour said:

...About 50 people, many will be highly cynical...

 

If trickery is allowed, and to get the cynics 'on side', have some of the participants learning instead to canon 'Three Blind Mice', as discretely as possible. Once both songs are ready, have them sung together, to the same tempo. Three Blind Mice is longer, so their juxtaposition will become quite interesting as this ensemble progresses. Hard core..? Maybe...