Yes We Can Can: Choral Instrumental Pak
By Allen Toussaint / As performed by The Pointer Sisters / Arranged by Kirby Shaw
Item: 35-PK00132706
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Description
The 1973 pop hit by the Pointer Sisters offers one big blast of funk-fueled nostalgia! A super choice for show and pop groups, your singers will love to sing this great arrangement! Duration: ca. 3:20.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00132706
More about this title
About the Composer: Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint stands as one of New Orleans' most influential songwriters and producers, a musician who shaped the sound of funk, R&B, and soul from the 1950s onward. His compositions and arrangements became blueprints for artists across genres; "Yes We Can Can" exemplifies his gift for crafting infectious grooves and singable melodies that feel both sophisticated and immediately accessible to performers and audiences alike.
Why we love this
Kirby Shaw's arrangement captures everything that made the Pointer Sisters' version irresistible while giving your ensemble room to make it their own. The funk foundation never wavers, but the voicing lets singers shine without requiring virtuosic range, making this a genuine crowd-pleaser that works equally well in concert settings and show programs.
What to expect
Pure joy wrapped in a relentless funk beat. The piece swaggers with 1970s confidence while remaining playful and unpretentious. Singers feel the instant gratification of locking into a groove that audiences recognize and love.
Who it's for
Pop ensembles, show choirs, and concert groups seeking material that energizes both performers and audiences. Combos of all experience levels can tackle this; the arrangement scales from simple to sophisticated depending on how much detail you want to chase.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the groove early in rehearsal by isolating the rhythm section parts first; the pocket is everything in this arrangement, and once your singers feel it in their bodies, the vocals sit naturally on top.
- Shape the background vocals as instrumental figures rather than supporting harmonies. Each counterline has rhythmic personality that should be audible and intentional.
- Approach the dynamic arc deliberately. Resist the urge to belt throughout; let quiet moments breathe so that the big moments land with real impact.
- Nail the rhythmic precision of any syncopated passages by having singers tap and chant before adding pitches. Funk lives in the spaces between the beats.
How to use it
Position this as a set-closer or second-act opener where you need to reset the room's energy and remind people that choral music can be fun. It pairs well alongside other pop standards or as a palate cleanser between heavier classical or contemporary repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Funk and R&B rhythmic phrasing
- Locking ensemble rhythm in syncopated patterns
- Balancing multiple independent vocal lines in close proximity
- Groove-based intonation and ensemble blend
- Rhythmic independence from the melody line