Whatever Lola Wants (Lola Gets) (from the musical Damn Yankees): SSA Choral Octavo

Sally K. Albrecht's SSA arrangement captures the swagger and swagger of this 1950s showstopper while giving your treble choir a chance to claim its own version of Lola's unforgettable charm. The arrangement preserves the song's rhythmic drive and character-driven melody, making it equally effective as a solo feature for strong singers or a full ensemble moment. Its Broadway pedigree and built-in theatricality mean rehearsing it feels less like drilling exercises and more like mounting a scene.

The piece radiates theatrical confidence and playful charm. You'll feel the 1950s glamour and sass in every phrase, with Lola's personality shining through the melody. There's a lightness and swagger to it that invites audiences to smile and tap their feet.

This arrangement works for SSA choirs with singers who enjoy character-driven material and can handle a brassy, confident musical personality. It suits choirs wanting Broadway repertoire that feels age-appropriate and dramatically engaging for middle school through adult ensembles.

• Establish the swagger early: the rhythmic precision of the accompaniment depends on your singers locking into a relaxed but steady pocket, especially in the verses where syllabic clarity drives the attitude.
• Shape the melodic phrases with intention rather than mathematical evenness; Lola's confidence lives in conversational phrasing and slight rhythmic flexibility, not metronomic delivery.
• Layer the harmony gradually if you have the recorded accompaniment available, bringing in additional voice parts as the song builds so the sassy quality stays front and center.
• Commit fully to the character and storytelling; singers who treat this as a dramatic moment rather than simply a pretty song will unlock its infectious energy and audience connection.

Pair this with other theatrical selections to build a Broadway-themed concert, or feature it as a show-stealing moment in a mixed-era choral program where you want something that lands with comedic and musical impact. The movement and staging options also make it an excellent choice for concert productions or choir tours where visual interest heightens audience engagement.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated and driving accompaniment patterns
• Character-driven vocal expression and storytelling through melody
• Blend and balance across three voice parts in contemporary harmonic language
• Performance confidence and stage presence in solo-feature and ensemble contexts