You're the Top: SAB Choral Octavo

Mark Hayes captures Porter's urbane wit without losing the song's infectious energy, and the SAB voicing keeps it accessible for mixed choirs without diluting the harmony. Your singers will love performing the witty lyrics, and audiences consistently respond with genuine delight to a song that celebrates the best of 1930s culture.

A sophisticated evening out wrapped in buoyant melody. The song bounces along with the confidence of someone listing all the beautiful, fashionable things in their world, complete with Porter's trademark wit and the kind of clever rhyming that rewards repeated listening.

Intermediate to advanced SAB ensembles ready to tackle Porter's sophisticated harmonic language and rhythmic sophistication. This works especially well for choirs comfortable with contemporary arranging and groups that value theatrical repertoire alongside traditional art song.

• Clarify the rhythm of Porter's syncopated phrases by isolating them in sectionals; the rhyming text can mask tricky rhythmic placement if singers rely only on lyrics.
• Lean into the conversational style of the opening verses rather than over-singing them; this song thrives on personality and charm, not vocal power.
• Experiment with slight rhythmic flexibility in the list sections to showcase the humor of each reference without dragging the tempo.
• The recorded accompaniment can anchor the ensemble's faster passages while you focus singers on diction clarity during rehearsals.

Pair this with other Broadway standards or American popular song to build a pops concert with real musical substance. It also serves beautifully as a palate cleanser between heavier classical works, or as the centerpiece of a 1930s-themed program that could incorporate additional Porter selections.

• Syncopated rhythm reading in a contemporary choral context
• Diction clarity with rapid text delivery and complex rhyme schemes
• Interpretation of text-driven humor through musical performance
• Part independence in three-part mixed voicing with active harmonic movement