All Star: TTB Choral Octavo

Jack Zaino's arrangement captures the infectious energy of the original while making it genuinely singable for developing TTB choirs. The vocal breakdown with syllables and optional whistling gives singers a chance to engage with contemporary arranging techniques, and the song's message about authenticity never feels preachy, it just feels good to sing.

Infectious and fearless. From the first moment, the steady rock groove and punchy vocal lines create a sense of forward momentum that builds into that iconic stadium-sized hook everyone knows. The arrangement balances accessibility with moments of harmonic color and rhythmic sophistication that keep singers engaged and audiences on their feet.

Any choir director seeking a contemporary piece that lands with teenagers and adult singers alike. This works for concert choirs at the secondary level and up, college programs looking to program recognizable pop, or any ensemble that needs to remind audiences (and themselves) that choral music is alive and rooted in real culture.

• Lock the rhythm section into a rock-solid backbeat from the opening. The groove is the heartbeat of this arrangement; if your lower voices nail the pulse, the soloists and upper voices will sit on top naturally.
• Lean into the attitude of the lyric. Encourage singers to feel the confidence and playfulness behind "break the mold" and "just be yourself." This isn't a power ballad; it thrives on swagger and directness.
• Prepare the breakdown section carefully so the vocal syllables (if present in your voicing) feel intentional and rhythmically locked rather than experimental. Run through this section multiple times to build unison precision.
• If using the optional whistling, rehearse it separately first so soloists feel secure. A clean, in-tune whistle can be surprisingly tricky when sung alongside other parts.

Use this as a centerpiece of a contemporary pop concert, or pair it with other '90s and 2000s hits to create a cohesive set that speaks to audiences across age groups. It also serves well as a spring concert closer or finale that sends the audience out smiling and humming. The recorded accompaniment makes it an ideal piece for pops concerts or community performances where a live band isn't available.

• Rock rhythm and groove stability, especially in the lower voices
• Pop phrasing and conversational lyrical delivery
• Rhythmic precision in syllabic vocal passages
• Flexibility across multiple voicing options (TB/TTB/TBB/TTBB)
• Confidence and character in ensemble singing