Flashdance...What A Feeling (from Flashdance) (arr. Kirby Shaw): SAB Choral Octavo

Kirby Shaw's arrangement captures the propulsive drive of the original while tailoring it brilliantly for SAB voicing. Your singers get to inhabit a genuine pop anthem that audiences actually want to hear, complete with opportunities for dynamic contrast and ensemble precision that keeps everyone engaged.

Exhilarating and driving, with that infectious 1980s pop sensibility that somehow remains timeless. The arrangement pulses with forward momentum, built on a foundation of tight rhythmic interplay that makes singers feel the groove as much as sing it.

Any choir seeking a high-energy contemporary selection that connects with audiences while still offering genuine musical substance. This works equally well for secular community choirs, high school concert choirs, or college ensembles looking to flex different repertoire muscles.

• Build intensity gradually through the verse sections rather than hitting full volume from the start. The arc matters more than the loudness.
• Treat the rhythm section entrances as a cohesive moment. Lock your syllable articulation so the consonants land together across all three parts.
• Shape the melodic line with clear phrase breathing. Let your sopranos breathe at musical moments, not mechanical ones, so the line feels continuous.
• Experiment with dynamic layering in the chorus. Try bringing the altos in slightly softer than the sopranos on certain repetitions to add textural interest.

Position this as a contrast piece in a concert that spans musical styles, or build an entire set around pop and film music standards. It works particularly well as a closer when you want audiences leaving energized and satisfied, or as a bridge piece between more classical selections and contemporary works.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated pop-influenced patterns
• Layered vocal blend where three distinct parts maintain independence while locking together
• Dynamic shaping and phrasing within a driven, contemporary context
• Sustained legit singing over rock and pop accompaniment styles