I Only Have Eyes for You: SSA Choral Octavo

Mark Hayes' arrangement captures the essence of big-band swing while keeping the voicing accessible for SSA choirs. The scat singing section and syncopated jazz figures give singers genuine stylistic vocabulary to work with rather than simply singing a standard straight, and the contemporary twist referenced in the title adds a playful dimension that connects with modern singers without undermining the song's timeless appeal.

Sophisticated and playful in equal measure. The arrangement swings hard with snappy syncopations and a conversational scat section that feels conversational rather than overly arranged, yet beneath it sits the elegant harmonic foundation of a song that has survived nearly a century for good reason. There's room for personality and interpretation throughout.

SSA choirs at the intermediate to advanced level who want to perform a standard with genuine jazz vocabulary and contemporary wit. Singers need comfort with swing interpretation and syncopated rhythms, plus the confidence to handle the scat section's rhythmic specificity.

• Establish a clear swing feel early in sectional rehearsals by having singers listen to the recorded accompaniment while marking the backbeat; the groove needs to feel relaxed rather than metrically rigid.
• Shape the scat section as genuine improvisation over the form, not as recitation. Let singers breathe naturally and lean into the playfulness rather than treating it as technically demanding passage work.
• Balance the melody prominently when homophonic passages occur, but allow the upper harmony parts to breathe independently during the syncopated sections so the rhythmic independence reads clearly.
• Keep the tempo flexible through the bridge if needed; this standard benefits from slight rubato that emphasizes the harmonic shifts without losing the underlying swing pulse.

Pair this with other standards from the Alfred Pop Choral Series to build a full jazz-inflected concert set, or feature it as a standalone showstopper that demonstrates your choir's range beyond classical repertoire. The contemporary humor also makes it ideal for a spring pops concert or a program celebrating American songwriting.

• Swing feel and jazz articulation
• Syncopated rhythm reading and independence between parts
• Scat singing technique and rhythmic freedom within structure
• Harmonic sophistication in a contemporary performance context
• Stylistic interpretation of a standard-era composition