Right Now

This song is a lot of fun to sing. Its hip-hop style and punctuated beat will keep your singers moving around while they sing, you can be sure. If they want to add some actual choreographed movement to it, it is certainly simple enough to support it without distracting from the music.

The melody may appear challenging, but if you play the recording for your students, once they hear it, they will find it quite singable. The repetition of the syllable "na" and the use of other similar nonsense syllables lets them concentrate more on their pitch than having to sweat too many lyrics. Meanwhile, the message is coming through loud and clear. There is a pattern to the lyrics, too, which once discovered will help them retain the flow more easily.

The song is interrupted in a unique manner at measure 22. Things have been pumping along when all of the sudden, the rhythm and volume drop away. What is left is a piano, a string ensemble and an "angelic" choir singing these most important words: "Live life right now. Live in each moment, live each day. Time does not wait. Live in each moment while you may." This is the real message of the music. Hopefully, the abruptness will provide the impact needed to drive the point home to your listeners and your performers. We have suggested that you choose a select group to perform this section. It is meant to be sung in round, pure tones (hence the "angelic" marking). Singers should use their head voices - no pushing. This is in extreme contrast to the rest of the song which has a lot of chest voice activity. This is also why a separate group might be better.

If you are using a mature group for this section, you could add a harmony note for more fullness. The right hand piano part indicates a logical second part, if you so desire.

When the song goes back to measure 5 for the D.S., we have included an optional solo line. Our soloist, Katy Gentry, followed the line somewhat freely, as we encourage your soloist to do. If you would rather not use the part at all, that's fine. If you would rather use it as a duet or ensemble line, that's also fine. Or perhaps you have more than one soloist who would like to split the line. Whatever works for you is always the way to go. If you do choose to use a soloist, let her listen to Katy's interpretation. She does not have to imitate Katy exactly, unless she wants to.