The Tide Is High (Get The Feeling): SSA Choral Octavo

This arrangement captures the infectious groove and ear-friendly melody that made the original a cross-generational hit, while the SSA voicing makes it accessible to most high school and community choirs. The song's steady momentum and memorable hook keep singers engaged and audiences delighted, offering the rare pop selection that feels both contemporary and genuinely fun to rehearse.

Buoyant and propulsive, with the kind of effortless energy that makes you want to move. The melody sits naturally in the voice and the arrangement supports it without cluttering the texture, leaving room for the song's underlying warmth and charm to shine through.

High school and community choirs seeking contemporary material that balances accessibility with genuine musical interest. Singers benefit from learning how to shape and sustain a pop groove, a skill that transfers directly to many modern styles.

• Anchor the rhythm section early and stay locked in place; the groove depends on rock-solid time that never rushes or drags.
• Bring out the hook melody without oversinging it. The charm lies in the catchiness, not in belting.
• Layer your harmonies to create space rather than thickness; pop arranging thrives on clarity between the parts.

Pair this with other pop or rock selections to create a concert section that speaks to contemporary audiences, or program it as a standalone opener that sets an upbeat, engaging tone for the evening. The familiarity of the tune also makes it an excellent choice for recruiting singers who think choir might not be for them.

• Maintaining steady groove and subdivision in a pop context
• Balancing melody projection with harmonic support
• Shaping phrasing in a contemporary style
• Reading simple rhythmic patterns that sit above the beat