You're the Top: Choral SoundPax

Mark Hayes's arrangement captures the playful energy and rhythmic sophistication of Porter's original while making it accessible for choral singers. The SoundPax format with recorded accompaniment and optional instrumental parts gives you flexibility in how you present this Broadway classic, whether as a concert feature or a fun showcase for your ensemble's comedic timing and blend.

Playful and sophisticated, with the urbane wit of 1930s New York running through every bar. The song bounces along with charm and humor, inviting singers and audiences alike into Porter's clever world of cultural references and rhyming surprises.

This arrangement works for intermediate to advanced high school and college choirs, as well as community and semi-professional ensembles. Singers need secure rhythmic control and the ability to articulate rapid text clearly while maintaining ensemble blend.

• Keep the text crisp and conversational. These lyrics sparkle when singers treat them like witty speech set to music rather than formal singing.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to lock in the rhythm and style; the swing and bounce of the original recording will guide your ensemble's interpretation.
• Balance clarity of the list lyrics with forward melodic motion. Singers should punch the clever rhymes without sacrificing legit vocal production.
• Shape phrases musically even during rapid-fire text passages. The charm comes from both the words and the melody working together.

This works beautifully as a standalone feature in a concert celebrating American musical theater, or as a palate cleanser between heavier classical works. The novelty and humor also make it an excellent choice for spring pops concerts or programs built around Broadway standards, where the recorded accompaniment can support a more theatrical presentation.

• Clear diction and articulation in rapid-text passages
• Rhythmic precision in swing-influenced accompaniment
• Lyrical comedy and theatrical interpretation
• Maintaining vocal quality while executing complex rhythmic figures