The Real Group

With trendy shows like “The Sing Off” and “Glee” on the air, being part of an a capella group or music ensemble is the ‘in thing.’ Enter The Real Group, a Sweden-based a capella group who has sung together professionally since 1984. Original members Margareta Bengtson, Katarina Henryson, Anders Edenroth, Morten Vinther Sørensen, and Anders Jalkéus met at the Swedish Royal College of Music. They have produced albums both in Swedish and in English, spanning the 80’s and 90’s until present. Their success allows them to perform at multiple concerts worldwide every year. Listening to The Real Group live is unreal. Even though I do not speak or understand one word of Swedish, the group manages to convey both emotion and narrative through vocal rhythms and sounds. The English songs I enjoy the most are “Words” and “Pass Me the Jazz.” The latter is reminiscent of the age of the Andrew Sisters’ “The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” The Real Group has range in their musical compositions, from slow Swedish ballads to random, cheeky songs like “Chile Con Carne” which spells out the recipe for the savory dish with repetitive “fire, fire fire!” warnings in the background. The Real Group’s talent is refreshing and innovative and I can’t wait to discover more of their music.