The Oxford Belles
Encyclopedia
The Oxford Belles are an all-female a cappella
group from The University of Oxford, England
, though in recent years they have included students from Oxford Brookes University
. The Oxford Belles are known for their spectacular and eclectic mash-ups of current chart hits and pop classics, including notable favourites such as "Get the Party Started
" by Pink
mixed with "Fever
" by Peggy Lee
and Lady Gaga
's "Just Dance" mixed with "Disturbia
" by Rihanna
and "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
" by the Eurythmics
.
Since 1995, the Belles have enjoyed success on both a national and international level, having been on tours to New York
and Los Angeles
as well as this year completing their first run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival since 2000. The group performs on a regular basis in and around Oxford and London, primarily at balls and charity events, occasionally with other Oxford University a cappella groups such as The Oxford Gargoyles
and Out of the Blue
.
, who had previously sung with the The Virginia Belles
. Helen was eager to continue the a cappella tradition, hugely popular in the USA, on this side of the Atlantic.
A period of fifteen years has seen The Oxford Belles go from strength to strength. In the 2008 Quarterfinals of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella
, the Belles were awarded prizes for Best Choreography (for their rendition of Blondie
's "One Way Or Another
"), and Lauren Bensted was awarded the prize for Best Arrangement. In the semifinals, Joanna Langilie's solo in "One Way Or Another" was highly commended. In 2009, the Belles reached the final of The Voice Festival UK
(VF-UK), which established them for that year as the most successful all-female a cappella group in the UK.
In 2009, the group travelled to New York. There, they were offered the prestigious opportunity to sing the American national anthem at Madison Square Gardens, and also performed at the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
.
In 2010, they returned to the USA, this time travelling to the West Coast and exploring the a cappella scene in California. As well as performing at the L.A. Orthopaedic Hospital and with the groups Ready Willing and Mabel and the L.A. South Towns Show Chorus, they recorded a sketch for the radio show Cactus County Round Up with Will Ryan
, a voice actor who is well-known for his roles in Disney's long-running series Welcome to Pooh Corner
, The Little Mermaid
, Spielberg's An American Tail
, and The Land Before Time
.
In 2010, the Belles returned to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the first time in 10 years and performed daily for a month in C Venues
's theatre C -1. The show, combining brand new arrangements with Belles classics, received critical acclaim for 'flawless harmonies', Fringe Guru asserting that 'they've got the voices, the looks and, most importantly for any a cappella group, a decent human beatbox' and Scotsgay calling them 'charming and talented.' The Belles were privileged to be asked to perform at the opening night for C Venues
, at the C Cabaret Bar, as well as on the Nicholas Parsons
Happy Hour, alongside comedian Reginald D. Hunter.
----
Insatiabelle - 2002
----
Rearranged - 2003
----
Score - 2004
----
Listen To What The Girl Said - 2008
----
Saved By The Belles - 2010
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
group from The University of Oxford, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, though in recent years they have included students from Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
. The Oxford Belles are known for their spectacular and eclectic mash-ups of current chart hits and pop classics, including notable favourites such as "Get the Party Started
Get the Party Started
"Get the Party Started" is a song performed by Pink, and was the first single from her second album, Missundaztood . It became an international hit and reached the top ten in many countries. The song was Pink's highest selling at that time...
" by Pink
Pink (singer)
Alecia Beth Moore , better known by her stage name Pink , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actress....
mixed with "Fever
Fever (1956 song)
"Fever" is a song written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell, who used the pseudonym John Davenport. It was originally recorded by Little Willie John in 1956. It has been covered by numerous artists from various musical genres, notably Peggy Lee in 1958....
" by Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
and Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
's "Just Dance" mixed with "Disturbia
Disturbia (song)
"Disturbia" is a song by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, taken from the re-release, Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded , of her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad . The song was released as the third single from the reloaded edition of the album, and seventh overall...
" by Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
and "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
-Personnel:*Annie Lennox – vocals, keyboards, synthesisers, flute*David A. Stewart – guitar, keyboards, synthesisers, programming, backing vocals-Additional personnel:*Robert Crash - Guitar/ E-Drums/ Synth/ Robotic vocals...
" by the Eurythmics
Eurythmics
Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A...
.
Since 1995, the Belles have enjoyed success on both a national and international level, having been on tours to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
as well as this year completing their first run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival since 2000. The group performs on a regular basis in and around Oxford and London, primarily at balls and charity events, occasionally with other Oxford University a cappella groups such as The Oxford Gargoyles
The Oxford Gargoyles
The Oxford Gargoyles is a mixed-voice jazz a cappella group from Oxford University, England. The group's repertoire is rooted in the jazz songbook but also extends to pop, soul, Latin and gospel numbers. The group was founded in 1998 and has been instrumental in the rise of collegiate a cappella in...
and Out of the Blue
Out of the Blue (Oxford University)
Out of the Blue is an all-male a cappella group at University of Oxford in England. The student-run group sings an eclectic mix of songs, focusing on covers of modern rock and pop hits....
.
History
The Belles were formed in 1995 by Helen Whiteley, a year-long visiting student from the University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, who had previously sung with the The Virginia Belles
The Virginia Belles
The Virginia Belles is the University of Virginia's oldest all-female a cappella group based in Charlottesville, Virginia. The group was established in 1977 by Katherine Mitchell as the female counterpart to the Virginia Gentlemen, the university's oldest a cappella group...
. Helen was eager to continue the a cappella tradition, hugely popular in the USA, on this side of the Atlantic.
A period of fifteen years has seen The Oxford Belles go from strength to strength. In the 2008 Quarterfinals of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella
International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella
The International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, originally the National Championship of Collegiate A Cappella , is an international competition that attracts hundreds of college a cappella groups each year...
, the Belles were awarded prizes for Best Choreography (for their rendition of Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
's "One Way Or Another
One Way or Another
"One Way or Another" is a song by American New Wave band Blondie.-Song information:Written by Debbie Harry and Nigel Harrison for the band's third studio album, Parallel Lines , the song was inspired by one of Harry's ex-boyfriends who stalked her after their break up. The song was released as a...
"), and Lauren Bensted was awarded the prize for Best Arrangement. In the semifinals, Joanna Langilie's solo in "One Way Or Another" was highly commended. In 2009, the Belles reached the final of The Voice Festival UK
The Voice Festival UK
The Voice Festival UK is the only UK-wide festival which celebrates the art of unaccompanied singing.The Festival's central purpose is to increase the awareness and popularity of the a cappella art form in the UK, and to support the development of the existing UK a cappella scene, by recruiting...
(VF-UK), which established them for that year as the most successful all-female a cappella group in the UK.
In 2009, the group travelled to New York. There, they were offered the prestigious opportunity to sing the American national anthem at Madison Square Gardens, and also performed at the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian is a leading pediatric hospital in New York City. It is part of New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center and is located in the Washington Heights neighborhood of upper Manhattan...
.
In 2010, they returned to the USA, this time travelling to the West Coast and exploring the a cappella scene in California. As well as performing at the L.A. Orthopaedic Hospital and with the groups Ready Willing and Mabel and the L.A. South Towns Show Chorus, they recorded a sketch for the radio show Cactus County Round Up with Will Ryan
Will Ryan
Will Ryan is an American voice actor and producer–writer–composer, well-known for singing about the American West. In the late seventies he teamed up with Phil Baron as Willio and Phillio. They had regular gigs on television, radio and comedy clubs and universities throughout the US...
, a voice actor who is well-known for his roles in Disney's long-running series Welcome to Pooh Corner
Welcome to Pooh Corner
Welcome to Pooh Corner is a live-action/puppet television series that aired on Disney Channel, featuring the characters from the Winnie the Pooh universe portrayed by actors in human-sized puppet suits, except Roo, who was originally a traditional puppet...
, The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid
"The Little Mermaid" is a popular fairy tale by the Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen about a young mermaid willing to give up her life in the sea and her identity as a mermaid to gain a human soul and the love of a human prince...
, Spielberg's An American Tail
An American Tail
An American Tail is a 1986 American animated adventure film directed by Don Bluth and produced by Sullivan Bluth Studios and Amblin Entertainment. The film tells the story of Fievel Mouskewitz and his family as they immigrate from Russia to America for freedom. However, Fievel gets lost and must...
, and The Land Before Time
The Land Before Time
The Land Before Time is a 1988 American animated adventure film directed and co-produced by Don Bluth , and executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall....
.
In 2010, the Belles returned to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the first time in 10 years and performed daily for a month in C Venues
C venues
C venues is the home of the largest theatre and new writing programme at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which is held annually in August each year...
's theatre C -1. The show, combining brand new arrangements with Belles classics, received critical acclaim for 'flawless harmonies', Fringe Guru asserting that 'they've got the voices, the looks and, most importantly for any a cappella group, a decent human beatbox' and Scotsgay calling them 'charming and talented.' The Belles were privileged to be asked to perform at the opening night for C Venues
C venues
C venues is the home of the largest theatre and new writing programme at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which is held annually in August each year...
, at the C Cabaret Bar, as well as on the Nicholas Parsons
Nicholas Parsons
Nicholas Parsons OBE is a British actor and radio and television presenter.-Early life:...
Happy Hour, alongside comedian Reginald D. Hunter.
Current members
The Oxford Belles is an Oxford University society, and its membership consists of undergraduates from a range of Oxford colleges studying subjects from biochemistry to music.- President: Gina Robinson
- Musical Director: Jane Lee
- Aditi Arora
- Anna Kaznowska
- Natasha Rao
- Lucie Thomas
- Connie Marshall
- Georgia Clarke
- Sophie Giles
- Zakia Sewell
- Alice Evans
- Catherine Lusher
- Celia Mcluskie
- Zoe Bullock
- Amy Creese
- Callen Anthony
- Cathy Scott
Previous Members
Ex-Belles have gone on to be successful in many different careers: in academia, law, politics, medicine, education, etc. Various past members have also continued to pursue careers in music and entertainment. These include:- Katie Targett AdamsKatie Targett AdamsKatie Targett-Adams and is a singer-songwriter-MC and Celtic harpist. She has released 6 albums and has enjoyed most success singing in Chinese in China.-Biography:...
has found fame as a contemporary harpist and singer-songwriter-MC, seeking to 'do for the Celtic harp what Vanessa Mae did for the violin'. - Alice Whiteley formed a London-based all-female a cappella group in 2007, The King's Chix, at King's College LondonKing's College LondonKing's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, the female counterpart to All The King's Men. - Lauren Bensted's recent musical, Swing!, was received with excellent reviews at the 2010 Edinburgh Festival, with one reviewer predicting a 'bright future' ahead for her. Another ex-Belle, Meg Powell-Chandler, starred in the production of Swing! as well.
- Ligaya Batten is a singer-songwriter, based in London and Nairobi.
- Lettice Hoffman has worked in the music industry since leaving Oxford, having worked at G&E Music and Mercury RecordsMercury RecordsMercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
in New York, and now works as a marketing executive at Universal Publishing Production Music in London. - Daena Jay Wienand's music has been featured on General Hospital and other US TV shows, and in 2011 the song 'Home Again', which features her vocals, was nominated for an Emmy award.
Discography
In A Groove - 2001- Swing Low/Groove Is In The Heart
- Natural Woman
- That Don't Impress Me Much
- Holding Out For A Hero
- End Of The Line
- Doo-Wop (That Thing)
- All Right Now (Live At Keble)
- Waterfalls
- A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
- Britney Spears Megamix
- As Long As You Love Me
- Brown-Eyed Girl
- Angel
- Midnight Train To Georgia
- Glorybox
- Son Of A Preacher Man
----
Insatiabelle - 2002
- Lady Marmalade
- Fallin'
- Sleeping In My Car
- Wasting Time
- Whenever, Wherever
- Fever
- Sweet Dreams
- Lean On Me
- Talkin' Bout A Revolution
- Dreams
- The Sound Of Silence
- Come On Eileen
- Passionate Kisses
----
Rearranged - 2003
- Get The Party Started
- The Shoop Shoop Song
- Thank You
- Stronger
- California Dreamin'
- Rise
- You Can't Hurry Love
- Here, There and Everywhere
- A Thousand Miles
- People Get Ready
- Ubi Caritas
- Material Girl
- I Touch Myself
- Bonus Track
----
Score - 2004
- Destiny's Child Megamix
- Lovefool
- Natural Woman
- Feelin' Good
- White Flag
- Nothing Compare To You
- Walking In Memphis
- Take Another Piece Of My Heart
- Heart Of Glass
- I Will Always Love You
- Beautiful
- Let It Be
- Galileo
- (I Just Wanna) Make Love To You
- Grease Medley
----
Listen To What The Girl Said - 2008
- Do You Thing/Just Can't Wait To Be King
- Breathe Me
- One Way Or Another
- Summertime/Eye Of The Tiger
- Shine
- Joyful Joyful (Live Recording)
- Love Cats
- He's Got A Way
- Hide And Seek (Live Recording)
- Stand By Me
- Gimme Dead Mother Cabaret (Bonus Track)
----
Saved By The Belles - 2010
- Beggin'
- Sweet Escape
- When You Were Young
- Roxanne
- U Don't Know Me/Goldeneye
- Hotel California
- Just Dance/Disturbia/Sweet Dreams
- Dancing
- I'm Yours
- Slow Down/Ain't No Mountain High Enough
- Close To You
- Fever/Get The Party Started
External links
- The Oxford Belles official blog
- YouTube channel of Oxford Belles videos
- The Oxford Belles on TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
- Interview with The Oxford Belles at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 2010