Girls Just Want to Have Fun (arr. Deke Sharon): SSAA Choral Octavo

Deke Sharon and Anne Raugh have transformed this iconic pop hit into an arrangement that feels both faithful to the original and genuinely musical for choral voices. The piece gives singers a song they already love while teaching them how to construct energy and humor through harmonic layering and rhythmic precision.

Bright, propulsive, and unapologetically joyful. The arrangement captures the infectious energy of the original while giving each voice part something musical to do; you get the satisfaction of a well-crafted pop arrangement rather than a thin novelty piece.

Any choir looking to program something singable, fun, and immediately engaging for an audience. Works equally well for high school show choirs, college a cappella groups, or community choirs seeking contemporary material with real personality.

• Nail the rhythmic unisons at the top of phrases; they're what make the groove stick. Don't let singers rush ahead of the beat just because the song is uptempo.
• Balance the soloists against the background voices carefully. The arrangement depends on clear separation between layers, not overpowering each other.
• Lean into the comedic moments without turning them into parody. The charm comes from treating the hook seriously while enjoying the material.

This works best as a closer on a lighter program or as a contrast moment on a more classical concert. It rewards singers with an audience that knows the song and wants to hear it, making it an ideal choice for school concerts or pops events where you need material that lands immediately.

• Singing rhythmically precise pop idioms with clean articulation
• Balancing solo and ensemble textures in a cappella writing
• Maintaining groove and forward motion in uptempo material
• Interpreting modern repertoire with musical intention rather than novelty approach