Girls Just Want To Have Fun (arr. Deke Sharon): SSA Choral Octavo

Deke Sharon's arrangement captures the infectious energy of the original while building in accessible harmonies that keep SSA singers engaged without overwhelming them. The piece succeeds because it bridges a real gap: students actually want to sing it, which means they'll show up prepared and eager to nail the details that make pop arrangements work.

Upbeat, playful, and unapologetically fun. The arrangement bubbles with the confidence and wit of the original, capturing that distinctive 1980s pop sensibility that somehow feels timeless. Singers get to inhabit a piece that exudes personality and joy from measure one.

Any SSA or SSAA ensemble looking for contemporary material that sparks genuine enthusiasm from singers and audiences alike. This works equally well in show choirs, concert choirs, and smaller chamber groups seeking a program closer that lands with energy.

• Lock the rhythmic precision early. Pop arrangements live or die by the groove, so establish a solid pulse in sectionals before layering in the vocal lines.
• Shape the melody with forward motion; resist the temptation to sit on sustained notes. The song's charm depends on forward-driving phrasing that mirrors speech rhythms.
• Balance the harmonic layers so the top line sings through without drowning out the supporting voices. Each part contributes to the signature sound of the arrangement.
• Lean into the contemporary vocal style; this isn't operatic or classical repertoire, so encourage natural, speech-informed diction and a comfortable, conversational tone.

Place this where you need an audience energy boost and genuine smiles. It pairs beautifully on a program that mixes classical and contemporary work, serving as a palate cleanser or closer that reminds both performers and listeners why people love singing together. Consider programming it late in a concert when audiences have settled in and singers have built their confidence.

• Singing pop idiom with contemporary vocal technique and phrasing
• Rhythmic precision in syncopated and syncopated figures
• Balancing melody and harmony in dense vocal textures
• Ensemble blend across three or four-part writing
• Sight-reading accessible modern notation and arranging conventions