Accoustix I'm Afraid the Masquerade Is Over

Another Acoustix piece that is very entertaining

[@chrisring123]

This was THE song from the 1990 contest. Everyone there knew they just saw and heard a history-making contest-winning performance. In my opinion, what made Acoustix so noteworthy was how there had been a long season of years where lead-bass blending and matching was what it was, but then the darker-tone Middaugh-Oxley pairing in Acoustix amazed us and made great overtones. To me, it legitimized darker tone color to be as worthy of the gold as bright tone color, which we'd had a run of.

[@sonyahannah]

Gently slammed my heart and mind back into my youth, hearing my mother sing this about my father, whom she never ceased to love. . .

[@hifiestyone]

i got goosebumps... these guys are amazing! i love how the tenor backs off for balance... in my choir, the tenors are... well... bold...

[@2sing4u2]

the lead/bass match is reminiscent of my all-time favorite quartet... "Boston Common". I was in the audience when "Grandma's Boys" were boo'd for scoring more than the BC. I'm afraid that even though I was from the Illinois District, in my heart I agreed with them.

[@bigbadbrownybadger]

Props. I love his blessing ofthe Max Q song "Somebody stole my gal." Absolutely amazing. Barbershop's very own Zeus.

[@cicinunez2767]

The lyrics are moving enough, but the way it is sung...with so much love and heart makes me cry everytime =)

[@barrysolomon9394]

cici nunez I

[@merryohg]

Wide range indeed! Check out his solo on "Moondance" with Max Q and also "You've Got A Friend In Me." He does the entire solo for "Moondance" AND the scat bass part in the middle. He has a HUGE range. Plus, he sometimes fills in on LEAD for Acoustix! He is amazing.

[@ShaunWhisler]

It definitely is Jeff, even listed in the CD insert and I also talked to Gary and Jeff about it. He is the bomb.

[@douglas2437]

The writing and performance of this is insane. I think every chord from 3:08 is absolutely optimally written and sung. 3:23 is such an excellent preparation for the tag part. What a listening experience!

[@juancillo6064]

When comparing Acoustix and Max-Q i'm not going to say which one I think is better. Just remark that as I listen to them the greatest difference i hear is the bass singing technique. I think Jeff has gradualy changed his way of singing (in barbershop) from a more lyrical (more round sound, with more low harmonics) to a more "fit-to-the-style" technique. This fact affects the sound quality of the whole in each case. It's just different, but both superb ;)

[@loudentetley7391]

Oh my goodness I love this song it is amazing

[@mywhitt]

you can view the 1990 International contest scoring summary at the harmonet reporter website and then click on SPEBSQSA contest scores, then 1990, etc. The judging categories were different back then compared to today's categories. They won by 20 pts.

[@DanGross_MusicJournalism]

I found this interesting... I would also attribute this to the fact that Oxley sang opera in college, so his style is very round and "big". There's about a fifteen year difference between Acoustix's championship year and Max Q's arrival, so one could also attribute that as he got older, he may have lost the ability to project in the same way, or as you said, changed his resonance because of experience.

[@Indexter]

Their exit from the stage is also perfectly coordinated, and the judges take note of that sort of thing. How many times do you practice that to get it perfect for comp? These guys were so polished.

[@Icyveins906]

Oh my god, my chorus is doing this exact arrangement. Masquerade tenor/lead parts can be so difficult because it sits on the break area in addition to note synergy being difficult. These guys are too perfect.

[@NikoPorter]

Jeff really does make it look easy

[@barbershopjohn]

Right?

[@svengilson]

Dude, so do you!

[@NikoPorter]

@@svengilson hahaha! Well, I’ll take it! Thanks Steve! I can’t make it look as easy as Oxman does, but I Can Dream Can’t I? Lol

[@jonvaughn7125]

Wow this is amazing. Julien Neel and Sonny Vande Putte did a collaboration of The Way You Look Tonight and it sounded much like this. Props

[@largefella]

I know this is a year later, but I have an answer for you. There are three rounds. Quaterfinals (approx 50 quartets), semi's (the top 20), and finals (the top 10). The scores are added to each other each round. That is why there is such a difference between 10th and 11th place.

[@Allinfun6789]

You cannot compare scores from year to year. I have judged singers on a muti panel system for 15 years. Each year, the group or person with the highest score wins, that is all. It is simply a matter of opinion from that particular panel. The panel of judges differs each year, so how can the score from one year be compared to any other?

[@Allinfun6789]

It is very difficult to produce the sound they have. Each singer is just perfect for their part and possess extreme skill in blend and harmony. The bass is always the anchor of the group. And I have yet to hear a bass with the range he has. He could make it on Broadway if he can act.

[@gordonice]

acoustix...................... oh my gosh.

[@jakethewoz]

i am pretty sure that the bass solo is all Gary. i know Ox has a low D like nothing, and the voice in the solo really bottoms out way higher than that. he sings a low D in the intro to You Can Fly.

[@Allinfun6789]

Maybe so. But I was not comparing scores, I was comparing the sound of the Accoustix with the sound of MaxQ. That was my original complaint about MaxQ..even though they share the same bass.

[@chumbley1]

Man,some of you guys msut be on drugs, I agree with you schlagboy, still no one quartet has ever assembled, sang together for a mere 6 months and then go on to win the gold. The best barbershop will ever have!!!!!!! Sheeeeeeeeeee

[@apreston2]

anyone know what acoustix scored to win? I've been trying to compare MaxQ's recent blow out to some of the dominant quartets of their years like Platinum who also won by about 400 pts.

[@bassgirlie41]

Who care what note he can sing...Jeff is yummy....no matter what he is singing...

[@merryohg]

Nope. I have emailed Greg Clancy on this in the past. Jeff sings the solo AND the bass solo. Sorry. Listen to the end of the bass solo and how, while the other three parts are holding over, he goes to the high "Can I just have one more..." It is Jeff all the way.

[@philbegas]

fuckin awseome and im a rap fan

[@largefella]

I think that is probably the most ridiculous thing I have EVER heard. The only reason Max Q might have had issues in the early 90's is the changes in the categories. They would of had to "dumb down" their repitoire, but would of KILLED with the stuff like "If I had my Way"...etc.

[@Icyveins906]

@crwv in my opinion acoustix has the better blend, but Tony DeRosa simply is beyond all reproach. Him plus Oxley was just unfair to all competition XD.

[@schlagboy]

and you really need to practice on paying respect to the best barbershop quartet in the history of acapella =S

[@schlagboy]

Jeff Oxley is God.

[@jcirmsa]

haha!

[@merryohg]

Oh really? Because I thought you were saying that Max Q wouldn't place in the early 90's. My bad for reading the words and not knowing what you intended to say.

[@merryohg]

I am just saying that scores aren't based on the competition. Max Q's scores wouldn't go down if they had better competition, and that is what you seemed to be implying in your earlier post. You said Max Q scored so high because they had no real competition. That is an erroneous statement at best. I am saying that even if Max Q had AMAZING competition in Denver this year, they still would have scored the same from those 15 judges.

[@lilmateo91690]

the ending tag progression isnt special...which is why at first i wasnt expecting anything..but the way these guys lock just blows me away. forEVER will they be one of the best quartets to be

[@plumbarb]

Try not to mix up the various singing and performing styles and genre. If you like to sing and perform, find a barbershop chorus near you and join them. Review this video in six months and see how you feel then

[@Icyveins906]

The damn "tap, tap" noise in some places in the vid is killing me. Can you clean the vid? Awesome nonetheless.

[@merryohg]

And if you can't compare scores, how can you say that Max Q wouldn't have even placed in the early 90's? I thought we can't compare scores? Hmmm.... And again, Max Q would easily place in the early 90's. Look at who placed back then.

[@Allinfun6789]

You do not know what you are talking about. The arm and hand gestures are a part of the barbershop tradition. The "poll up their ass" as you call it, is their attention to blend. The way they move actually indicates their level of professionalism. Bottom line, they won the International Quartet Champions of SPEBSQSA. That means the best barbershop in America.

[@Allinfun6789]

Looking at the numbers is irrelevant. Each year the talent level is so different. Some years are tougher than others. Listen to the top three quartets from 1988, 89, 90 and the top three in 2005. 06. 07 and you will see (hear) why MaxQ scored so high, they had no "real" competition. If you transported MaxQ back in time to the heavy competition in the early 90's they would not have even placed.

[@merryohg]

Are you telling me that Max Q wouldn't have beaten the 139th Street Quartet, Bank Street, The Ritz, The Naturals,`Joker's Wild, Yesteryear, Marquis, or Standing Room Only? WOW! I think you need your ears checked for sure! Also, scores aren't given based on competition, they are based on a scoring system. Even if the Platinum and Four Voices were in the competition this year, Max Q still would have scored the same. Learn the system before you talk.

[@plumbarb]

Clearly don't know what you are talking about!