Midtown • Still Hurting (from The Last Five Years) • arr. Theo Hicks • 2023 Quartet Semifinals

[@connerrock1164]

I would like to point out. This song is the highest scoring song in the singing category, not only of the contest, but in all of the modern scoring in BHS. And it shows. Truly just spectacular all around. Love Midtown

[@MommeeMadre1]

So, literally the GOAT of all GOATs! Wow!

[@BrunnyBeatbox]

It was, until 3.5 Men smashed it this year with a 96.5 in the finals, beating Midtown by just 0.1. However, that being said, this is still an unbelievably well controlled and tender song, performed amazingly by Midtown.

[@crying10]

Pop quiz: A) Theo Hicks is pure gold and should just arrange every single song B) when Nick cranks out his secondary note at 4:24 he lit the world on fire C) these guys are changing barbershop as we know it for the better D) this performance is the greatest ever (Sorry Lucky Old Sun) E) All of the above

[@HDWalrus123]

This is the highest-scoring song of all time in the Singing category. 96.4%! Higher than Lucky Old Sun and Cuddle Up a Little Closer!

[@excru3506]

AND three and a half men just beat it! 96.5 in singing on “what kind of fool am i/where is love”

[@NikoPorter]

Holy crap.. I give every quartet credit that competed this year, but Midtown was the CLEAR winner for me. This is just a whole new level of good. Wow

[@atwahl]

Midtown has set new standards for excellence in barbershop. This is unbelievable… 4:20 is my favorite moment. ❤💈

[@CSharpMajor]

The more I listen and sing to this, the more I think that this is the best ballad in the contest. This is the kind of ballad I would want to arrange and have performed if I got the tools and knowledge I need.

[@patrick.meyers]

You're right, Kaleb. This is it.

[@maryvalent961]

Four guys singing with one soul.

[@4partharmony208]

When they sang this last year, it was good but needed polish. This year...absolutely breathtaking. Absolutely deserved every point they scored

[@mahoganyflagpole6877]

Singing a seven minute ballad and maintaining energy and interest the whole time takes an insane level of musicality! On top of that, ringing quiet chords that cleanly and beautifully takes an insane level of singing! Undoubtetdly my favorite ballad of the contest!

[@LemonSqueezyQuartet]

Nah this one is actually insane. Mind bENdiNg.

[@NessBlock]

We loved your performance too!!

[@MommeeMadre1]

Hi praise indeed. If love to see more LSQ as well. Please please.

[@MommeeMadre1]

Ok ok ok can we talk about the RESTRAINT it took for them to start in character while delivering the performance of their lives!!!!! At the end, I'm sure it took everything they had not to jump up and down (like they did at the end of the competition!!!!!). This performance was so so raw and exposed. Even they way the guys smiled... like they were trying to hold it together and reason with Jamie and not break down in hysterics.

[@patrick.meyers]

In my mind, this was the song of the week. Beats everything else. And that's coming from someone who won gold with AoH. Nothing left a mark with me more than this song. Great job, Midtown.

[@ericcarr3042]

My gosh…. The more I watch and listen to these guys.. can see the compassion, the feeling!! bout time you think they are at the peak they go another step higher! The story, dynamics,…. I’m just blown away! Blown away..

[@hilarypower6217]

And the choreography. Every movement perfect. Anthony's hands in his pockets towards the close told us everything we needed to know of his despair.I will never forget this performance, ever.

[@emilciapaa9077]

Theo sure can arrange ballads! It's stunning! And well deserved win from Midtown!

[@royoser9956]

The very first time I heard Midtown I was astounded. This is a higher level of music making than is typically heard even in the most skilled traditional quartets. They are expanding the idea of the barbershop quartet in the best way possible, and it's great that the BHS contest judges have acknowledged it.

[@reveorsorycloud12]

4:24 actually spine chilling omg

[@17kiranime]

My goodness, what a piece! I find myself missing being in choir for moments like this- think fondly of my late choral director as we strove to achieve magic like this... & find myself saving & savoring music that hits so many points in my soul like this. One of my favorite pieces is very similar- "Lullabye" featuring the King's Singers, a 6-piece group that moved me to tears... this. THIS song, in this presentation, with a dapper 4-piece ensemble... has achieved that same level. A touching, bittersweet appreciation for the art that has brought me to tears. Thank you, Midtown, for your contribution to serenity. 💙

[@TheThirdPrice]

This video is going to blow up with theatre kids

[@sbellis67]

I cannot stop listening to this. So incredibly moving… Midtown is by far my favorite quartet.

[@davidkrause3906]

Wow. All were so great but especially appreciating that lead who used to be such a young promising lead in the chorus I got to direct. Anthony, that was so well done, or as Dan Henry used to say, your usual lackluster performance.

[@Mackenzie3007]

EXCEPTIONAL! I am in barbershop too. You passionately tell a story. Your audience is totally with you. You bring tears to my eyes. Bravo!

[@Jonago.]

6:01 is fantastic

[@Andrew42520]

KJ going off gives me life

[@werdsivad1]

Stunningly beautiful ....

[@jonathan12349111]

I think this is the best song I've ever heard in barbershop! This is it. What a freaking incredible lead Anthony is, oh my word. In one contest, they received the highest ever score for a song in the performance category, AND the highest ever scoring song in the Singing Category, literally doesn't get any better than that.

[@judypetree2589]

So very close and so terribly sad, tears streaming down my cheeks. Loved it.

[@MommeeMadre1]

I'm in TEARS and cheering at the same time!!!! Spectacular!!!!!!i have GOT to attend next year!!!!!

[@ladybarbalade131]

Just SO good. Every bit of it. xx

[@Thatll_Do_Pig_]

Wow, this is incredible! I honestly may revisit this as often as I once did for Crossroad's Lucky Old Sun. The chord locking! The emotive presentation... Just wow

[@Fribbits]

the skill this quartet has is sheer insanity

[@MommeeMadre1]

I don't know if this is a cover or an original but this performance has a permanent spot in the soundtrack of my life. I'm so grateful for whatever for these young men who have worked SO HARD to make this life-altering performance! I cannot imagine how you will top this, but i know you will!

[@kristytakacs-alto5034]

It's from the Broadway musical The Last Five Years

[@MommeeMadre1]

@@kristytakacs-alto5034 thanks! i found the movie and a few stage performances as well. Nothing, NOTHING comes close to this arrangement and performance.

[@shanefrantz]

Song of the contest for me.

[@shanefrantz]

I agree

[@iarkd]

He clearly likes it!

[@DougEpp]

The overtone at 3:34!

[@ThatGirlWithTheCoffee]

Absolutely gorgeous. No other words.

[@paddyoski]

❤❤❤❤😭😭😭

[@Bolter2007]

4:30. Thats where they got me.

[@lukemccrory]

Just so we're clear, this song tied Lucky Old Sun. Just think about that.

[@FFAdventuresOriginal]

I just found this group and this channel. It seems like there's a deeper backstory here, can someone shed some light?

[@RudimentalNico]

Do you mean from this song specifically? It's from an arrangement of a song from The Last Five Years, originally sung by Anna Kendrick. This version was arranged by one of the absolute kings of barbershop ballads, Theo Hicks.

[@FFAdventuresOriginal]

@@RudimentalNico yes, this song specifically. I gotcha, thank you for the background information. I hadn't heard it before, so I thought maybe this was a song they had written.

[@Unsurix]

Jamie is over and Jamie is gone Jamie’s decided that it’s time to move one Jamie has new dream she’s building upon And I’m still hurting Jamie arrived at the end of the line Jamie’s convinced that the problems are mine Jamie is probably feeling just fine And I’m still hurting I’m still hurting What about lies, Jamie ? What about things that you swore to be true ? What about you, Jamie ? What about you ? Jamie is sure something wonderful died Jamie decides it’s her right to decide Jamie’s got secrets she doesn’t confide And I’m still hurting Go on and go (and hide) Go on and hide (and run) Go on and run away Run away (run away) Run and find something better Go on and go (and ride) Go on and ride (the sun) Go ride the sun away Run away Like it’s simple Like it’s right (like it’s right) Give me a day, Jamie Bring back the lies Hang them back on the wall Maybe I'd see how you could be So certain that we had no chance at all (no chance at all) Jamie is over, and where can I turn ? Covered with scars, I did nothing to earn Maybe there's somewhere a lesson to learn But that wouldn't change the fact That wouldn't speed the time Once the foundation's cracked And I'm Still hurting

[@martinmusic_editions]

Incredible! Is there a reason Jamie is a 'she' in this version - the original song / musical, the character of Jamie is the guy, Cathy, the girl...?

[@emilciapaa9077]

I guess they just used the fact that it's unisex name and it made more sense to make it about her rather than him.

[@jamess7540]

JESUS CHRIST what a performance!!!!

[@Mextorf39]

4:15 - 4:30... you kidding me?

[@sooctulotro8934]

I was watching on my phone and dropped it with a “holy crap!” And had to rewind to listen again. Mind blowingly gorgeous. Every time.

[@Xyo_]

… I think this is from the semi-finals not the finals? Edit: wow they fixed it quick! BHS on top of it 😤

[@grahamice8027]

It definitely isn't the finals. I frankly don't remember their first song as well, I think it was the New York Medley. But they wore the black suits in the finals.