(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (arr. Kirby Shaw): SSA Choral Octavo

Kirby Shaw's arrangement captures the soul and accessibility of this anthem while tailoring it perfectly for SSA voicing. The song's affirmation of self-worth carries particular resonance when sung by young women, and Shaw's writing gives every section meaningful material rather than burying voices in filler parts.

Joyful recognition mixed with quiet power. The song pulses with a steady, soulful groove while the lyrics celebrate self-worth and personal agency. There is brightness in the melody without being frivolous; this is music that feels good to sing because it affirms something true.

Treble choirs seeking repertoire that combines cultural relevance with solid musicianship demands. This works equally well in concert settings, assembly performances, or as a confidence builder for young singers exploring their voices through a song they genuinely connect with.

• Anchor the melody in the soprano line with warmth and confidence; this song lives in the space between pop smoothness and genuine emotional delivery.
• Balance the harmonic foundation carefully so the alto and second soprano parts support rather than overshadow the lead line.
• Lean into the rhythm section feel without rushing; maintaining a relaxed groove is essential to this arrangement's character.
• Shape the lyrical arc across the entire piece, treating the climactic moments with building intensity while keeping early sections intimate and conversational.

Feature this in a spring concert celebrating women in music, or pair it with other contemporary pop standards to show how current repertoire builds the same ensemble skills as traditional literature. It also works beautifully as an opener to energize an audience and set an optimistic tone for the rest of your program.

• Singing through a pop groove with rhythmic precision
• Balancing individual melodic expression within an ensemble texture
• Maintaining stylistic consistency across SSA parts without doubling
• Connecting lyrical meaning to vocal tone and phrasing
• Reading and interpreting jazz/pop chord symbols and rhythmic notation