It Had Better Be Tonight: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Alan Billingsley's arrangement brings Mancini and Mercer's suave standard into the contemporary choral sphere without sacrificing the heat of the Bublé recording. The piece swings, grooves, and gives your ensemble a genuine crowd-pleaser that sounds professional and feels genuinely fun to sing. Programming a track this stylistically confident signals to your audience that your singers command more than classical repertoire.

A sophisticated nightclub energy in four-part harmony. The Latin percussion and brass-tinged accompaniment create immediate atmosphere, while the vocal melody floats with the kind of urbane charm Mancini perfected. It's the sound of a singer leaning into a microphone with confidence and allure.

Choirs with intermediate to strong singers who are ready to tackle syncopation, jazz harmonies, and stylistic nuance. This works equally well for show choirs seeking accessible contemporary material and traditional choirs expanding their repertoire beyond classical and spiritual traditions.

• Anchor the Latin rhythm section early in rehearsal; lock the percussion and bass line before layering in vocal parts so the harmonic movement sits naturally over the groove.
• Shape the vocal lines with swagger and ease rather than forcing the legit sound. The arrangement works when singers commit to the style; too much classical reserve flattens the vibe.
• Study the Bublé recording for phrasing and attitude, then find your own interpretation. The syllabic, rhythmic passages benefit from conversational delivery, not strict metronomic precision.

Pair this with spring or winter concerts where contemporary jazz and pop repertoire lifts the mood and broadens your programming arc. It's substantial enough to anchor a set and accessible enough that audiences unfamiliar with choral music will connect immediately. Consider programming it near a more classical selection to showcase your ensemble's stylistic range.

• Jazz phrasing and swing feel in a choral context
• Syncopated rhythmic reading across multiple parts
• Singing with stylistic authenticity in Latin and jazz idioms
• Part independence while maintaining ensemble groove
• Ensemble balance in arrangements with prominent rhythm section