True Colors (arr. Mac Huff): SATB Choral Octavo
True Colors (arr. Mac Huff) Sheet Music Preview

True Colors (arr. Mac Huff): SATB Choral Octavo

By Tom Kelly / By Billy Steinberg / As performed by Cyndi Lauper / As performed by Phil Collins / Arranged by Mac Huff

Item: 35-DS00148122
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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 11
SKU: 35-DS00148122

More about this title

About the Composer: Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly co-wrote some of the most recognizable pop songs of the 1980s alongside Billy Steinberg, establishing himself as a songwriter who understood how to craft melodies that stick with listeners across generations. His work across pop, rock, and film soundtracks demonstrates a gift for emotional directness paired with sophisticated harmonic choices. In the choral education space, Kelly's compositions continue to resonate because they honor the emotional core of a song while remaining singable for mixed voices.

Why we love this

Mac Huff's arrangement strips away the synth production without losing the song's warmth and immediacy. The voicing sits comfortably across all four parts, which means your singers can focus on emotional delivery instead of wrestling with awkward ranges. Cyndi Lauper's original is already a staple of pop culture; this version lets your choir claim it as their own.

What to expect

Honest and unguarded. The song moves through vulnerability and self-acceptance without sentimentality, and Huff's arrangement reinforces that emotional authenticity through clean voicing and strategic use of space. Singing this feels like being part of something genuine rather than performing a novelty.

Who it's for

Choirs seeking contemporary pop repertoire that avoids triteness and offers genuine musical substance. This works equally well for concert settings, pops programs, or sectional development when you want to build blend and balance with material singers already love.

How to get the most out of it

  • Treat the melody with restraint in the verse. The power of this song lives in simplicity, not volume. Let the harmony parts provide support without overwhelming the line.
  • Balance the alto and tenor parts carefully during moments where they carry counter-melody. These lines deserve clarity so the full harmonic picture emerges.
  • Shape the dynamic arc across the full arc rather than sitting at one volume. The buildup toward the emotional payoff works only if you've left room to grow.

How to use it

Pair this with other pop arrangements or use it to anchor a contemporary music concert where it can sit alongside both standards and current hits. The 11-page score is manageable for rehearsal time, making it ideal for adding a contemporary piece to your season without derailing your rehearsal schedule.

Skills your students will build

  • Blending vowels across four-part harmony in a contemporary idiom
  • Sustaining emotional intention through understated dynamics
  • Balancing a primary melody against supportive harmonic voices
  • Interpreting pop song phrasing within the constraints of written music

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