Campus a cappella group For The Rhythm (FTR) is said to be facing some serious personnel problems. The group, which consists of 12 Penn students who all independently think their voice is the best, is dealing with an internal power struggle that has caused rifts among its members. But from where do the problems stem?
“Honestly, I really can’t say,” Alicia Stevens (C '17) said. Alicia is For the Rhythm’s musical director, and also believes that her singing voice is by far the strongest and clearest.
“We all pour our souls into a cappella, so like, why do we have this problem?” she added, while repeatedly tagging herself in her promotional profile picture for FTR’s spring show in the hopes of getting more likes than the rest of her group.
FTR, founded at Penn in 1980, has faced these problems almost every year.
“It’s almost like being in a performing arts group that consists solely of people who think they’re good enough to be the lead singer in a real band—but aren’t—somehow negatively contributes to the dynamic of the group,” said PAC President Harvey Westfeld (C '19).
“Nah, that’s not it. Has to be something else,” he added.
While Alicia and Harvey aren’t sure as to what was causing the internal strife, other members thought they might have a clearer idea.
Matty Farber (C '20), new to FTR this year, insists that the problem is somewhat one–sided.
“Obviously, they’re all jealous that I’m a freshman but I’m getting so much recognition for my voice,” said Matty. “It’s beyond clear that this all stems from the fact that I played Zeke in my high school production of High School Musical, and they didn’t.”
When asked why he was seen practicing the solos of the other members of his group this week, Matty said, “Well, I just want to practice in case they need me because Mariah has been pitchy this week, and Jake can’t be trusted with the chorus of ‘All of Me.’”
