Rhythm Is Gonna Get You: SAB Choral Octavo

Eric VanCleave's arrangement captures the irresistible drive of the original without losing the Latin percussion grooves that made this song a chart sensation. The three-part voicing sits comfortably across mixed voices while maintaining the energy and attitude that make this tune a genuine crowd-pleaser. Show choirs will find the rhythmic propulsion and accessibility a recipe for audience engagement.

Driving and irresistible. The Latin percussion pulse runs throughout, anchoring the melody with an infectious groove that makes standing still nearly impossible. This is music built to move listeners, with bright harmonic color and a forward momentum that energizes every measure.

Show choirs and pop-focused high school or middle school choral programs looking for repertoire with genuine commercial appeal and built-in audience energy. Ensembles comfortable with contemporary rhythms and rhythmic precision will find this arrangement rewarding to rehearse and exciting to perform.

• Lock the rhythm section (bass and percussion parts) early in rehearsal. The groove is the foundation everything else builds on, so get the pulse secure before layering the vocal parts.
• Balance the three voice parts so no single line dominates. SAB writing can mask weaker sections if you're not careful with blend and volume control.
• Lean into the syncopation. This arrangement thrives on rhythmic clarity and precision, so mark the offbeat accents and make sure your singers understand where the energy peaks.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to lock in the tempo and feel. This song has a specific pocket that the recording nails perfectly.

Use this as a closer on a pop-heavy concert or as the centerpiece of a show choir showcase where energy and contemporary style are assets. The 16-page arrangement gives you room to add staging or choreography if your program supports that direction, making it equally strong as a standalone showstopper or part of a larger thematic program.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated pop idioms
• Balancing three voice parts with equal clarity
• Singing with Latin percussion grooves and syncopation
• Ensemble cohesion in high-energy, rhythmically complex material