Don't You Want Me (arr. Val Regan): SATB Choral Octavo

Val Regan's arrangement captures the irresistible forward motion of this 1981 pop standard while making it genuinely singable across four parts. The vocal lines sit comfortably in ensemble ranges, and the iconic synth melody translates beautifully to singers without requiring extensive rehearsal time to solidify. This is a showstopper that audiences immediately recognize, yet the arrangement respects the harmonic substance underneath the hook.

Nostalgic yet immediate. The 1980s synth aesthetic feels both retro and timeless, with lyrics about longing and connection that resonate across generations. Singing this creates an infectious sense of forward momentum and shared joy in something genuinely catchy.

High school and college choirs seeking contemporary repertoire that connects with student singers and audiences alike. Directors looking for pop arrangements that maintain vocal integrity while delivering the song everyone wants to hear performed.

• Isolate the rhythmic groove early in rehearsal. This song lives in its pocket, so lock the subdivision and emphasize the steady eighth-note pulse that drove the original recording.
• Balance the lead line across your section when it's shared among voice parts. The melody should feel like a single narrative rather than competing soloists.
• Shape the dynamics to mirror the original arrangement's building intensity. Start intimate in the opening section and gradually expand to full sound in the final chorus.
• Attend to the percussion or backing track carefully if using accompaniment. The kick drum and synthesizer patterns should anchor your ensemble's energy without overwhelming the voices.

Program this as a finale or penultimate number on a pop-focused concert, or pair it with other new wave and electronic era arrangements to frame a thematic set. The recognition factor makes it ideal for garnering applause and goodwill from audiences that may be less familiar with classical choral work.

• Maintaining rhythmic precision in syncopated pop idioms
• Balancing melody and harmony in contemporary vocal writing
• Blending pop phrasing with choral technique
• Shaping dynamics across a full ensemble arc
• Interpreting text with emotional specificity in secular vocal music