Mediocre Melodies, a new a capella group that describes itself as “bad singers for a good cause,” is bringing together a collection of average Cornell singers to host charity concerts.
Auditions for the group were mainly interest-based, rather than talent-based, according to Andrew Greene ’20, the president of Mediocre Melodies.
“How much of a bummer would it be to be cut from a mediocre melody group?” he said. “If you showed up, you [were] basically in.”
The group, currently in its first semester, is co-ed and comprised of around 30 underclassmen. It seeks to be “as inclusive as possible,” Greene said.
Talent in the group ranges from a former singer from the disbanded Cayuga’s Waiters to people who are “just really awful singers,” according to Greene.
Greene said that he got the idea for creating the group during a rush event this past fall for the pre-medical fraternity, Phi Delta Epsilon. He pitched the idea casually to his friend who was very enthusiastic about it.
With a lineup ranging from “Fat Bottomed Girls” by Queen to “Riptide” by Vance Joy, the brand-new group is just some “average singers having fun,” Greene said.
“Especially at a place like Cornell, where people stick to things that they know … it’s important to step out of your comfort zone and do something that you love, as opposed to something you’re good at,” he said.
Greene acknowledged that there wouldn’t be much appeal to come to a concert for “just a bunch of crappy singers.” As a result, his group decided to donate the proceeds of the concerts to a currently undecided charity.
Mediocre Melodies’ first concert will be in Goldwin Smith Hall at 8:30 p.m. on April 14. Tickets are expected to be around seven dollars.