I'm Still Standing (arr. Dirk Kokx): SSSAA Choral Octavo

Dirk Kokx has crafted an arrangement that honors the song's defiant energy while opening it up for five-part women's voices. The SSSAA voicing allows for rich harmonic layers without overshadowing the iconic melody that audiences recognize instantly, making this a crowd pleaser that also engages singers with real musical substance.

This is resilience set to music. The piece carries an unmistakable sense of standing firm, of moving forward despite obstacles, with a musical character that's both tender in its verses and unshakeable in its resolve. Singers feel the shift from vulnerability to strength as they perform it.

Choirs seeking contemporary repertoire with proven emotional resonance will find this arrangement accessible yet substantive. It works equally well for secular community choirs, school choirs wanting a confident showstopper, or any ensemble looking to program something audiences genuinely connect with.

• Build the dynamics gradually through the verses rather than starting at full volume. This arrangement works best when it grows from conversational confidence to anthemic power.
• Emphasize the rhythmic precision in the accompaniment. The song's punch comes from locking in the groove, not from pushing the tempo.
• Keep the soprano line singing through full voice even in the lower-register moments. The piece needs its brightness front and center to maintain the triumphant character.
• Balance the upper three soprano parts carefully against the alto voices so the harmony stays transparent rather than muddy.

Place this as a closing number on a concert celebrating resilience, perseverance, or contemporary song. It pairs well with other pop or musical theater selections and provides a moment of genuine uplift that audiences remember long after the concert ends.

• Singing sustained lines while maintaining rhythmic precision with accompaniment
• Balancing multiple independent melodic lines (five-part texture) without losing blend
• Interpreting dynamic contrast and emotional storytelling in contemporary music
• Maintaining vowel consistency across changing register and energy levels
• Responding to the groove and forward momentum of pop-influenced phrasing