Jacob Siegel, Joel Pattison and Christian Griffin show us what it takes to be a Spizzwinks(?). Pic: Christine Taylor

AT Monsoon restaurant on May 26, as over a hundred people gathered to enjoy the various singers at “An Evening at the Cabaret”, the crowd noticed something unusual in their midst.

A group of 20 young American men, strangers in town, took up half the venue and generated a spark of curiosity among punters.

“Some American college boys,” muttered somebody as they strolled by my table.

“Somewhat quiet for American college boys,” I thought to myself. An hour later, they proved themselves to be far from quiet — and far from ordinary.

The visitors turned out to be the Spizzwinks (?), Yale University’s second-oldest a cappella singing group, which was in town for five days as part of a two-week tour of Asia. Happily, they had accepted an invite from “Cabaret” organiser Phillip Howze to showcase their finely tuned voices, boyish charm and tongue-in-cheek humour.

The group, fresh-faced and cheeky, took the stage and started clicking their fingers and swaying back and forth as their perfectly harmonised voices launched into “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”. Halfway through the song, two of the Spizzwinks(?), with deadpan expressions, began to walk like Egyptians across the stage while another crouched into a “crane” position, stirring up a raucous applause from their delighted audience.

So what about that bizarre name, which sounds more like it belongs to a Star Wars character rather than an Ivy League singing group?

 

Seventeen members of Yale University a cappella group the Spizzwinks(?). Pic: Christine Taylor

“We’re different from other a cappella groups,” said second tenor Robin Tang, 22. “We like to add humour to our routines – it doesn’t have to be so serious. The name says it all.”

A Spizzwink is a mythical insect held responsible for the Great Corn Blight of 1906 in Iowa.

Trying to think of a catchy name one night in 1913, when the group was formed, one of the members claimed to have seen a ghost of the man who had dreamt up the imaginary insect and suggested the name Spizzwinks. Later that year when the editor of the Yale Banner was unsure of the spelling, he added the question mark, which still remains today and adds to their quirky routines.

The group is still going strong to this day and is a cherished part of Yale tradition. But beyond being just a school favourite, the group also travels far and wide for singing engagements. However, this was the first time that any of the Spizzwinks had set foot in Myanmar and many were left speechless.
“It wasn’t what I was expecting at all,” said baritone and tour leader Michael Lavigne. “You can’t compare it to anywhere else in Asia.”

The group visited Hong Kong, Shanghai, Chang Mai and Bangkok before arriving in Yangon and flew to Hanoi in Vietnam on May 28 for two days, then back to Bangkok before flying home.

During their five-day visit to Myanmar, they toured Yangon and spent a day in Bago. And the night before their performance at Monsoon, the Spizzwinks joined singers from Geitameit for a performance at Dusit Inya Lake Hotel, introducing a form of singing that many locals – and, in fact, many non-Americans – are unfamiliar with.

In the past three years, the Spizzwinks have impressed audiences across five continents. In 2005, they visited Ireland, Italy, France, Switzerland, Argentina, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Argentina and the Philippines. Last year, the group toured South Africa, England and North America.

“What more could you ask for?” said Michael, gesturing toward his fellow Spizzwinks. “I get to travel the world with my best friends year after year doing what I love most – singing.”

Robin couldn’t agree more.

“You have the most amazing experiences. Travelling and being so close is what sets our group apart from the other a cappella groups back home. We hope to make it back here soon and see more of Myanmar.”