By Betty Ding (25A01B) and Isaac Chan (25A01B)
Special thanks to Jane Ng (25S03D), M.B. Dharshni (25S03O) and Teo Hui Sian (25S06C)
All photographs courtesy of Li Houzhe (25A01A) (not affiliated with RPS)
Explosion from the wings.
Garbed in their signature black suits and lime green socks, the Dins burst out from the sides of the stage in a flurry of chaos. The Harvard Din & Tonics, Harvard University’s premier jazz a cappella group, recover from their mayhem and take their places in front of the microphones.
It’s their performance in RI’s Performing Arts Centre on 19 July as part of their 2024 World Tour, and the audience holds their breath as the Dins prepare to sing.
They burst into song, first performing Frank Sinatra’s 1961 song Ring-A-Ding-Ding. They then introduce the group, before going into self-introductions, which the audience is warned might be slightly inaccurate. Simon Ma, also an alumnus of RI from the Class of 2019, introduces himself in a characteristically Singaporean accent in marked contrast to the American twangs of his groupmates: “I’m Simon, from Simei…”, eliciting rapturous laughter and applause from the audience.
Without missing a beat, and with the Dins sufficiently introduced, the Dins start snapping – the intro to their iconic and signature song Sh’Boom, before moving on to Blue Skies and Nothing is Too Wonderful to Be True.
After riveting presentations of these jazzy songs, the Dins do something a little… unconventional. They next perform an Italian opera piece, Duetto buffo di due gatti, which directly translates to “Funny duet for two cats”. The Dins present their spin on the song, with most of the group at the back acting as the accompaniment and two singers singing the main melody, whose lyrics consist of nothing but “miau”.
After a feline-citous performance, the Dins speak up. “We’ve heard about your long-standing rugby rivalry with Saint Andrew’s,” they say, drawing surprised laughter from the audience. “So, this is when the Saints go marching out.” They kick off the music, giving a jazzy version of the popular traditional tune When The Saints Go Marching In a try, and touching down on a grand ending greeted by a thunderous reception.
Next, the Dins begin their performance of McDonald’s Girl. Telling the story of a young boy in love with a McDonald’s employee, he gushes of his “angel in a polyester uniform” and practices his heartfelt confession:
“I’ll have an order with fries, a quarter pounder with cheese,
I love the light in your eyes, will you go out with me please?”
After all the lovey-doveyness of McDonald’s Girl, which prompted helpless giggling amongst audience members, the concert is suddenly held up —
“We interrupt our regularly scheduled programme with… Din Impressions!”
Laughter ripples through the crowd as the Dins swiftly assemble to form an Oreo cookie with the black of their suits and white of their shirts, their formation perfectly stacked with the same precision as the iconic treat.
The Din Impressions continue, with the Dins next becoming a living replica of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, followed by toast popping out from a toaster, and ending with the sparkling skyline of Marina Bay Sands.
Just when the audience thinks they have seen it all, the Dins launch into The Girl from Ipanema. Originally known as Garota de Ipanema in its original Portuguese, this Brazilian bossa nova song by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes has a particularly jazzy sway and rhythm. Soloist Carolyn Hao, who is also the Dins’ Music Director, steps forward and takes the mic. With a light and buttery-smooth voice, Carolyn perfectly complements the rest of the group’s harmonies for a particularly laid-back and true-to-its-roots 50s samba feel.
This next song is particularly anticipated – the Dins have gained TikTok virality in recent months, with a particular spotlight on member Elio Kennedy-Yoon and his solo of this song, Copacabana. Originally by Barry Manilow and released in 1978, the Dins’ whimsical riff on it has taken the internet by storm, amassing close to 20 million views on Tiktok.
Introduced by a blaring siren noise, the Dins fall into that viral and now-familiar doo-wop of their arrangement that sets the stage for the song. As Elio steps up for his solo about Lola, a showgirl in Copacabana, the audience is instantly transported to the lively atmosphere of the song’s eponymous nightclub. The Dins’ arrangement stays true to the vibrant energy of the original while infusing their own unique flair, with another solo line taking on the role of an aged Lola in a panicked-sounding high tenor.
As the last notes of Copacabana fade, the bustling energy of the nightclub gives way to a more introspective atmosphere. The Dins perform Round Midnight, Take the A-Train, and In the wee small hours of the morning, which captures the essence of late-night musings, bringing the listeners through the soulful landscape of jazz.
Just as the mood seems to settle, the Dins shift gears once more, bringing the energy back with a lively performance of The Lady is a Tramp, before ending the performance with Fly – a medley of Fly Me to the Moon and Come Fly With Me by Frank Sinatra, as well as Straighten Up and Fly Right by Nat King Cole. Each song is soloed by Din members Sean Teo Ong, Simon and Elio respectively, but what stands out most was the Dins’ remarkable cohesiveness. Their voices intertwine effortlessly, creating a unified sound that’s greater than the sum of its parts.
As the performance comes to an end, the energy in the Performing Arts Centre is still palpable. The applause is deafening, a testament to the unforgettable experience they’ve created. For those in the audience, this was more than just a concert—it was a masterclass in the art of performance.
The Dins take a bow, wave to the crowd, and exit the stage with the same dramatic panache that marked their entrance.
As audience members file out of the PAC and hurriedly ask the Dins for their autograph before they head off for their next performance, every concertgoer undoubtedly leaves impressed and reliving moments of the Harvard Din and Tonics’ spirited artistry and lively fun.
This showcase is a product of months of hard work and exhausting travel — we also sit down with the Dins and ask them about their experience in this world tour, which you can read in our article about those interviews.