Still The One (arr. Kirby Shaw): SSA Choral Octavo

Kirby Shaw's arrangement captures the warmth and accessibility that made the original a radio staple while giving your singers something genuinely enjoyable to perform. The SSA voicing sits naturally for most groups, and the pop idiom keeps rehearsals energized. A song this well-known gives students the satisfaction of performing music their families actually want to hear.

The song radiates sincerity and warmth, with the kind of melodic hooks that lodge themselves in singers' hearts from the first rehearsal. Moments of unison vulnerability give way to fuller, richer voicing, creating a journey that feels both intimate and celebratory.

SSA and SSAA choirs looking to expand their pop repertoire with a piece that combines musicality and audience connection. This works equally well in contests, concerts, or informal settings where contemporary music makes sense programmatically.

• Lean into the conversational quality of the melody in verses; treat it like you're singing to someone, not at them.
• Balance blend carefully during the unison sections so the line reads with clarity rather than disappearing into a wash.
• Let the arrangement breathe during softer moments; this song relies on dynamics to build its emotional arc.
• Support the rhythm section's groove with confident, locked rhythmic attacks on repeated figures.

Position this alongside other accessible pop or rock arrangements to balance a concert built on longer classical or jazz selections. It's ideal for spring concerts or community performances where you want to showcase your singers' versatility and connection to contemporary music.

• Executing pop phrasing with appropriate articulation and breath placement
• Maintaining rhythmic precision in syncopated passages
• Balancing blend and tuning across three or four-part writing
• Interpreting dynamic shape to convey emotional narrative in popular music