Top Ten Favorite 2010 Makin' Music Moments

I did not take this picture. I'm guessing that Kristi Montague did? 

You can see more here.

Oh, there are soooo many things I want to post about these days...Jeremy and I have been digging in the dirt all weekend - and though it's been quite tiring, I've loved every minute of it. We constructed and planted a container garden, which I am beyond excited about. If you've never heard of a container garden, you may be wondering something along the lines of, "You're growing containers??" - like my friend Ashley thought. Well, it seemed like a good idea...we're always losing those lids to our Gladware containers - and now we'll have an endless supply!

Just kidding. ;) But wouldn't that be cool?? I'll answer that. It would. It would be very cool.

I'm going to keep you in suspense, though, about what a container garden reeeally is (well, except you...you Googler! *Disclaimer below) a little longer. Because what you want to know FIRST is what I thought about Makin' Music this year. Right? Am I right?? Maybe not. I had no comments on that last post. ;) But I did have lots of comments on Facebook when I posted it last year, so here goes nothing!

Top Ten Favorite 2010 MMM:


1. The finale! It sounds funny to talk about the finale first, but I can't help it. It was unbelievably awesome. I'm posting the link again for the Finale sneak peek - though I'm hoping they'll put up the real thing later! Hint, hint. It might have been the best finale ever. Throughout the show the hosts and hostesses sounded just fantastic - separate AND (most of all) together. Tight harmonies, the whole bit. It was seriously impressive. I have not watched American Idol this year, but from what I've heard...any of the six Makin' Music hosts and hostesses are faaar better than any AI contestants this time around. 

2. The theme. Well, actually I loved the description of the theme the most. It was so nice to hear one of the emcees read the words of the two student coordinators. It made me extremely proud of my alma mater.

"This year, our theme is love.

Love is just one of the gifts God has given us, as beings created in His likeness. And we are commanded to love - to love ourselves, our families, each other, our God - even, to love our enemies. It is at the heart of Christian living. Love requires nothing and, yet, requires all. Neither wealth nor success is necessary to love. Everyone can love. And nothing can keep us from showing our love. It is love - a Christian love - that ensures our students, staff, and community understand what guides our lives. So, in love, the students have chosen to make a donation to a worthwhile organization in our community.

'And now abideth faith, hope, love these three; but the greatest of these is love.' (I Corinthians 13:13) Love is the thing that holds us together and ensures that we help others along the way. Love is the reason we have hope for an eternity with our God.

We dedicate this program to love - love for all those around us, love for all things good and right, and love for God. Show your love for others throughout the coming year. 'How 'bout love?' We can't live without it.

We love you all. Thanks for sharing this experience with us."

3. The videos were quite hilarious. I enjoyed 'em all! Most of them starred the emcees and they really did a great job with them. Funny stuff. Never heard of that Nate kid before but I'm gonna be looking out for him from now on! Jeremy thought he was hilarious, too. That Dr. Phil impersonation! I'm giggling right now. To see some of these videos - and deleted and behind-the-scenes stuff, spend some time here: Backstage Stuff.

Now, "The Swing" short wasn't hilarious - it wasn't meant to be - but it was moving. I admit it...I teared up. Over a swing. It was too cute. I'm positive it had something to do with the background music from "UP" - and the sweet girls and their mama who starred in it. Surely they'll put them online soon! I gotta say (or maybe I don't gotta, but I think I'm gonna) that I enjoyed the videos more than the onstage emcee skits. Is that bad? I think the audience as a whole would prefer the videos interspersed in the show and then have the emcees just announce things live at the appropriate times. Just a thought...;)

4. The club shows, as a whole. I love the idea of them...the idea that these kids work for a year on each club production. They think up funny lyrics...they pick awesome songs to insert funny lyrics into...they scour fabric stores for the perfect costumes...they make up synchronized choreography...they teach their whole club to sing in harmony. And then the whole cast practices for HOURS on end to get everything just so. If you're never actually gonna be in a Broadway production, this is a stinkin' great way to pretend for a little while! Or if you're never gonna be a NY tourist, this is a stinkin' great way to pretend you are.

ALL of the clubs worked so hard. I commend every single cast member of every single show...it was a thoroughly entertaining production! =)

5. Chi Beta Chi's "Ear-Replaceable." This was my pick to win first place - and they totally did! The farmer's daughter had an amazing voice (loved the song from Wicked), the scarecrows were adorable, the moves of the cornstalks mimicked a real cornfield, and the tin men machines had appropriate sharp choreography, too.

Yes, I am a proud former member of XBX, it's true. But I can admit it if one of their shows just doesn't measure up. (By the way, I do not believe in the possibility that only one club has the ability to win every single time. Whenever I hear that someone else has a differing view, I often feel the desire to instruct them to, "Get a grip!" That may not be helpful. I don't think I've ever actually said it. But I've thought it...oh, I've thought it.)

Anyway...beside the point...this year's Chi Beta show made me smile a big, goofy grin the entire time they were onstage. They looked perfect, they sounded perfect, their moves were perfect, their plot was perfect. Basically, if you hate perfection, you would hate their show. You may be telling ME to "Get a grip!" right now. That's O.K. if you are. But it was more than perfection...I happen to know that the cast members totally enjoyed their show this year...and that they would still have enjoyed it and have been proud of it even if they hadn't won. I strongly believe in enjoying yourself during Makin' Music. If you're not having fun with it, something is wrong.

6. My other favorite was the new club - Theta Nu Epsilon. If Chi Beta didn't win, I knew Theta Nu was going to. The costumes were beautiful and I loved their songs. I thoroughly enjoyed the fireflies (they had blinking lights...don't try to tell me that wasn't just cool) and wished their intro. to the Justin Timberlake song could have been longer. The "Mason jar" that the nerdy "little boy" "caught" them in was awesome - "No Air" was the best song for that instance. (Boy, there were a lot of quotation marks in that sentence. All warranted.) Mason is the real name of the "little boy" and he was so funny. Loved it all! The grasshoppers, the butterflies, the ladybugs...great Makin' Music show!

7. Sigma Rho's song and choreography to "Thriller." It was a superb ending to their show and the audience ate it up. Excellent job!

8. LOST references in Gamma Tau Omega's "Cruise Control" show. Those guys made me very happy when I saw that their cruiseliner was named Oceanic. ;) Clever.

9. The showband. Seems like they had fewer members in it this year, but they sounded fabulous! Nice cameo by Dr. Kippy Myers in "Sweet Home Chicago," too!

10. The entire cast and audience holding hands and singing "A Common Love" at the end of the show, as usual. It wouldn't be the same without it. It sounded sooo pretty that I thought of Heaven...and how the singing will sound there...and how we're all trying to get there...together. Which is the whole point of Freed Hardeman's existence. 

11. There's a number 11 that's trying to sneak past me...alright, I'll give in. ;) The awesomeness of this show would not be possible without these three people: Tony Allen, the producer; Kim Scott, the clubs director; and Peggy Weaver, the host and hostess director. And numerous students who worked on the program, the merchandising, and so on and so on. Once again, I applaud these people for the sheer amount of time and energy and creativity and just plain hard work that they put into this show. Thank you.

*"Googler" is actually a very positive term, in my book. I am a proud Googler! When I think back to the days of bound encyclopedias, I just shake my head...now, I'm not for getting rid of books altogether. I'm not sure I could enjoy a book on Kindle as much as holding one in my hot little hands. I mean, my dad is a book publisher...so buy books! Buy lots of books!!! But just not encyclopedias. I love Google. End of disclaimer.

I Heart Makin' Music

Photo courtesy of Becky Welch

There are NEW 2010 video updates below...

It is almost time for Makin' Music at FHU...if you know me at all, you probably know just how happy this makes me! Sure, sometimes the happiness stems from the fact that I don't have to do anything but buy tickets and show up...instead of HOURS of practice instead of doing other (more studious) things, numerous bruises and sore muscles, and a hoarse voice (because invariably I - and lots of other people - would get sick about a week before the actual show....they don't call it "Makin' Mucus" for nothin' ;) AnyWAY, I loved it even then. Even though it took everything I had to memorize that choreography. Seriously, people, I'm just not very coordinated, no matter how much I wish I were. But I worked for it and my arms and feet would finally submit and do what they were supposed to do...what our XBX directors told them to do. And the singing - now that came more easily. I love to harmonize and I love singing with a big group of people! And though I was in some winning shows, which was sigh! wonderful, I cherished singing "A Common Love" at the end of each show with the audience and whole cast every bit as much as performing on stage.

The whole experience is something I already look forward to the next year...while I am exiting Loyd Auditorium after Saturday night's final show of that year. It happens every time. Now, I admit, there have been some years where I looked forward to the next year's show because a certain show didn't really come together like I had been hoping. BUT! Not last year. The past few years have gotten better and better and BETTER. I was never more proud of Makin' Music as a whole than I was last year - the 2009 show. That's why I'll be watching this year's Makin' Music three times, hopefully. (Still looking for two good tickets for Saturday night. Anyone?)

Now, here are three fun behind-the-scenes videos (from 2010) I just came across on YouTube. I am not usually one for spoilers for any TV show I watch, but somehow I am O.K. with this kind of spoiler. Actually, it only makes me more excited. =)

Club show previews

Emcee preview

Finale preview

To make this a superlong post...this next Ode to Makin' Music was written after last year's show and I'm reposting it from Facebook...hope you enjoy!


I Heart Makin' Music...especially the 2009 edition

There’s a great sense of pride for me that my granddaddy, then FHU (actually FHC) President – Dr. E. Claude Gardner – had a part in the creation of this student-based show that’s become bigger than anyone ever thought it would. I mean, I guess that’s true. I reeeally don’t think anyone could have predicted that a small student production that started out in Bader Gym would eventually turn into a musical extravaganza with professional-style lighting and sound, a stunning showband, and hundreds of exceedingly talented students entertaining audiences of thousands. Have you ever seen footage of the really old shows?? It’s literally mind-blowing (alright, not literally – but I needed to stress the point) how much has changed since the inception of Makin’ Music 31 years ago.

But on to the good stuff…I remember, with great fondness, going to as many Makin’ Music shows during a weekend as I could possibly get tickets to. The singing college guys were swoon-worthy, and I couldn’t wait to one day have a costume of my own as I choreographed in sync with my castmates. Sigh! Make fun if you will, but there’s just something about it…the time, the energy, the over-the-top sequined costumes, the finally-getting-it-right feeling that washes over you when the show is ready to be shown. It’s truly something you’ll never forget. Especially that drawn-on fake mustache if you’re a girl and blonde wig if you’re a guy…

Not every year of Makin’ Music is exactly great. I have been let down a few times, but there were always redeeming qualities about each year and always the hope of “next year,” so I was never too horribly disappointed that I couldn’t recover my excitement in time for the next edition. But I don’t want to focus on the less-than-stellar years. I don’t even want to focus on the past years that I truly LOVED. I want to talk about THIS year. I cannot convey to you how impressed I was with Makin’ Music this past weekend. From the beginning to the end, I was loving the feel, the look, and the sound of this year’s production. I saw it twice – Friday night and Saturday night. And I would go watch it again if Tony Allen said, “Just kidding! One more time…Tuesday night at 7:30.” Oh, yeah, I’d be there.

The club shows have always had me mesmerized. (I like synchronized swimming and skating, too…) For years, I have daydreamed about writing a Makin’ Music club show…just for fun. If any of my readers are future directors and need an idea, ask me privately. XBX get first dibs, though. ;) Anyway…Bradley Gean, I didn’t even recognize you the first night! What a great idea that Chi Beta had this year…a black and white TV show becoming color. Clever, clever! I’m very proud of you guys and know you all are pleased with your first place in the sweepstakes.

All of the club shows were great this year – there were none that I was like, “Oh, bless their hearts” about. One shock I got was that Sig didn’t win first place in costumes…they were beautiful. And I liked the “Nursery Rhyme” theme you guys did a lot. And GTO, those cafeteria “ladies” had me cracking up. Nice makeover! I liked it even better the second time I saw it. One thing I firmly believe is the judges should see at least TWO shows. You can’t possibly pick up on everything watching it only once. That’s my two cents about judging.

So, on to PKA…lucky for you to have gotten Miss Kimberly as your queen – she was a beautiful soloist. (You know, I was impressed with all of the soloists this year. I am so proud of the talent of the FHU student body.) And there was this twist at the end of your show that was a little unexpected, so kudos. =)

Xi Chi, you have a Jeremy Hicks, too, so I love you just for that. And I want one of those Chinese dresses. I might even wear it in public! When have I ever said that about a Makin’ Music costume?? Pretty sure I haven’t. The flashlight fireworks were a nice touch, too.

The showband was awesome this year! At first I wasn’t sure what I thought about not having an all-student showband, but it didn’t take me long to come around. It was pretty cool to still have the Dean brothers involved and there were some students who apparently played with their group, so that was good enough for me.

As for the emcees, I liked the grouping of three…great job, Phillip and Garrett! And I don’t know Whitney, but she did well with the guys. I enjoyed that the scripts were coordinated with the club shows and other stuff. The whole show seemed cohesive, which was super nice. I also loved, loved, LOVED the video work. The Bachelor at FHU…great stuff. FHU Cribs? Brilliant! Of course, I was pretty proud of my dad showing off his “ride.” I laughed out loud many times during Makin’ Music this year and, well, I really like to laugh. That’s one reason I married Jeremy Hicks (mine – not Xi Chi’s/Leslie Oxendine’s) and that’s one reason I loved Makin’ Music this year. There are multiple reasons for both and I’m getting to another major reason why I loved MM ’09…

The hosts and hostesses…brilliant selection of each one. There have been some great voices that have graced the stage of Loyd Auditorium in the past, but not every one of their owners has had “stage presence.” Each one of the kids this year had it. (I can call you “kids.” I’m over 30.) But where were the solos this year? Wait, did I miss them? Oh…nope, I didn’t. I was much too enthralled with the harmonies of all of them singing together. When I heard “Boondocks” last year, I thought it was the most genius host/hostess song I’d ever heard. And apparently, the Powers That Be thought so, too, because we had many more songs along the same lines this year, which made me incredibly happy. I downloaded “Distraction #74,” “Life in a Northern Town,” “Bleeding Love,” and “Home” after I saw Friday night’s performance. (I already owned “Come Home.”) Seriously, I made my own Makin’ Music soundtrack. I’ve got to dig out my Beatles CDs and add ‘em to it. Now if they’ll just do Mindy Smith’s “Tennessee” sometime…it’d be apropos.

Now to choreography…the smooth (and un-dorky) “moves” of the hosts/hostesses have steadily improved other the years and this year was perfect. The Stellar Six (as opposed to the Fab Four…) rocked it out (have I ever used that phrasing in my life?? Probably not.) and had SO MUCH FUN. I could tell. I loooooved that. And I enjoyed that the guys all played instruments and I want to copy the girls’ wardrobes for myself. Of course, it didn’t hurt that they were all handsome and pretty to look at. I knoooow that looks should not be that important, but one time I watched a stage version of “Romeo and Juliet” and Juliet was short, dumpy, and unattractive - and Romeo was tall, gangly, and unattractive. I was so bored, I couldn’t wait for the play to end! That being said, there’s definitely more to “looks” than actual physical looks – I guess it all goes back to stage presence. Yeah, I just consulted my memory and there have been some “attractive” hosts and hostesses in the past that haven’t had “it.” So, ignore my last point. I’m not going to take it out, though, because compliments are nice…but Emma, Madison, Sarah, Jeremy, Aaron, and Glenn…you’ve got more than looks. And don’t you forget it. Please tell me none of you are graduating in May because I am already looking forward to next year’s production…

Thank you to Tony Allen, Peggy Weaver, Frank Bell, Kim Scott, and Jarred Clayton (and EVERYONE else who did anything at all for MM – I don’t know all of you) for creating such a great experience for the cast and audience of Makin’ Music this year. It really was everything (and more) that I always envisioned it could be. I’ve loved Makin’ Music for as long as I can remember, and I’m completely thrilled that it’s growing into the very best version of itself. Keep up the fabulous work!