Some things never change — does Sing?

All University Sing is a Baylor tradition that alumni and students both are familiar with, but are the Sing productions today the same as they once were?

Kristin Dreyer Anderson (‘92) was Sing Chair her junior year in 1991 when her organization, Pi Beta Phi, paired with Sigma Chi.

Anderson expressed how Sing has become more modern, drifting away from the classic songs, but believes it is a good change.

“I see it shifting over the years with different emphasis on [singing and choreography] … You definitely see more hip hop. That was a genre of dance we didn’t even have when I was there,  but it’s also one of my favorite parts of the act,” Anderson said.

Molly Middlebrook, senior studying interior design, is currently one of the Sing Chairs for Tri Delta.

While she has not noticed a major shift in Sing over her time at Baylor, she does foresee a possible change in the future.

“I think media might change things,” Middlebrook said in response to a group posting a “hype” video revealing their Sing theme. “It is very different and kind of shocked some people … but I think it will become a big thing.”

Both Anderson and Middlebrook noted how the number of people allowed to participate in a single act has been modified, but their ideas on what constitutes a winning act differ.

“The enthusiasm of the club and how they sell their act is really important,” Anderson said.

Middlebrook felt that many aspects of the act come together to create a first place act, but overall believed the vocals were most important.

“It’s called Sing for a reason, it’s not called dance. Even though [choreography] is so important and visually what you see, [have] really strong singers and really strong group sing because when you watch an act that has really strong group sing, it is so much more impactful and powerful,” Middlebrook said.

Despite their differing views on the most important aspect of the act, both shared common ground in that Sing provided fond memories.

“There was so much about it that I  remember being so fun. Making Pigskin and being able to perform at homecoming, there is just something about doing a performance at 8, representing your club, and then running over to the bonfire in your costume … those are some of my fondest memories,” Anderson said.

“I’ve always loved it and I’ve done it every semester. Seeing the vision come to life is so surreal,” Middlebrook said.

Sing itself might change, but the feelings surrounding it will remain.

“It is such a huge tradition and it is so easy to rally behind,” Middlebrook said.

“The heart of it has been the same over the years,” Anderson said.

Sing performances run Feb. 20-22 and Feb. 27-29 in Waco Hall. Many of this year’s showtimes are already sold out.