PennYo
Encyclopedia
PennYo is an a cappella
group, formed in 2002 by students at the University of Pennsylvania
. The group is mainly influenced by Chinese pop music
, but also draws upon popular Japanese
, Korean
, and English
language pop influences as well. To date, the group has performed internationally in Shanghai
and Taipei
, and remains a regular performer at events on campus and in Philadelphia. As of 2010, PennYo has released three full-length albums: Emergence 無中生友 (2005), Luminar 發光 (2008), and Extra Spicy 超辣 (2010).
. At the time, the only other campus group to incorporate a cappella and ethnic influences was Penn Masala
, the world's first Hindi
a cappella group.
The group's name is a play-on-words
on the Chinese term "朋友" (péng you), meaning "friend."
and Sigma Psi Zeta
http://www.upennsyz.net chapters,, CSSA, Club Singapore, the Lauder Institute
, etc. Some other campus gigs include a performance at the house of university president Amy Gutmann
for Chinese ambassadors. PennYo also performs regularly at gigs throughout the city of Philadelphia, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival
celebration in Chinatown
, the Free Library of Philadelphia
, etc.
Every year, PennYo holds its own Spring and Fall semester concerts. Each concert has its own theme, usually a parody of a popular movie or TV show. Each concert will feature performances, with short breaks in between during which a concert movie is played for the audience. The concert movie is typically filmed before the show--it is written, directed, produced, edited, and acted out by members of PennYo--and is shown for the enjoyment of the audience. Each semester features a new repertoire of songs and arrangements, with some older, classic songs performed during encores, such as PennYo's arrangement of "Our Story" originally by Taiwanese band Tension
, which is PennYo's official alumni song. Venues for the semester concerts in the past have been the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
, Harrison Auditorium, Houston Hall
, and others.
PennYo also performs off-campus several times a year. The group often performs at other college campuses, which have included NYU, Columbia
, Harvard
, Princeton
, MIT, and more. In April 2011, PennYo joined four other Asian-interest a cappella groups from Northwestern University
, MIT
, Yale University
, and Washington University in St. Louis
and opened the 2011 ITASA Midwest Conference in Evanston, IL. PennYo has been on two international tours: to Shanghai, China
in 2007 and Taipei, Taiwan in 2010. In Shanghai, the group performed at the Eighth Anniversary Concert at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music
. In Taiwan, PennYo performed alongside professional and collegiate a cappella groups from National Taiwan Normal University
and Shih Hsin University
.
, Wang Leehom, David Tao
, Khalil Fong
, and Stefanie Sun
. While the group sings primarily in Mandarin, PennYo occasionally arranges songs originally performed in Taiwanese, Cantonese
, Korean
and Japanese
. In addition, the group sometimes performs English language songs, either as a single arrangement or mixed together with a Chinese language song, similar to mash-ups
which many collegiate a cappella groups perform. Examples include a mix of Jay Chou
's "Jian Dan Ai 簡單愛" and Savage Garden
's "Truly Madly Deeply
," featured together as one track on PennYo's 2008 release Luminar 發光. A similar instance is a mix of Stefanie Sun
's "Tao Wang 逃亡" and Snow Patrol
's "Chasing Cars
."
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, formed in 2002 by students at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. The group is mainly influenced by Chinese pop music
C-pop
C-pop is an abbreviation for Chinese popular music , a loosely defined musical genre by artists originating from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Others come from countries where the Chinese language is used by a large number of the population, such as Singapore and Malaysia...
, but also draws upon popular Japanese
J-pop
, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
, Korean
K-pop
K-pop is a musical genre consisting of electropop, hip hop, pop, rock, and R&B music originating in South Korea...
, and English
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
language pop influences as well. To date, the group has performed internationally in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
and Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, and remains a regular performer at events on campus and in Philadelphia. As of 2010, PennYo has released three full-length albums: Emergence 無中生友 (2005), Luminar 發光 (2008), and Extra Spicy 超辣 (2010).
History
PennYo was founded in 2002 by students at the University of Pennsylvania, who wanted to perform popular Chinese music in the unique American style of collegiate a cappellaCollegiate a cappella
Collegiate a cappella ensembles are student-run and -directed singing groups that perform entirely without instruments. Such groups can be found at many colleges and universities in the United States, and increasingly worldwide....
. At the time, the only other campus group to incorporate a cappella and ethnic influences was Penn Masala
Penn Masala
Penn Masala is the world's first and premier Hindi a cappella group, formed in 1996 by students at the University of Pennsylvania. Penn Masala’s music has been influenced by the Eastern and Western cultures that represent the group’s membership...
, the world's first Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
a cappella group.
The group's name is a play-on-words
Wordplay
Wordplay is a musician/actor, of mixed British and Black African descent. Gaining worldwide exposure as an actor in 1998 through the Austrian Obscuro Gothic science fiction film "Dandy dust" directed by Hans Schierl...
on the Chinese term "朋友" (péng you), meaning "friend."
Performances
PennYo is a regular performer at campus events, such as fundraisers, variety shows, exhibitions, and various events sponsored by other school groups. These groups usually include Asian-interest groups, where PennYo's repertoire fits with the nature of the event; examples include the alpha Kappa Delta PhiAlpha Kappa Delta Phi
alpha Kappa Delta Phi is an Asian American interest sorority founded at the University of California, Berkeley.-History:...
and Sigma Psi Zeta
Sigma Psi Zeta
Sigma Psi Zeta , a Multicultural, Asian-Interest sorority, was founded on March 23, 1994 at the University at Albany and incorporated in New York on March 15, 1996 by the 10 Founding Mothers. The sorority's colors are red and gold and its flower is a yellow rose with baby's breath.Sigma Psi Zeta is...
http://www.upennsyz.net chapters,, CSSA, Club Singapore, the Lauder Institute
Lauder Institute
The Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management & International Studies is part of a dual degree program at the University of Pennsylvania, combining an MA in International Studies from the School of Arts & Sciences with an MBA from The Wharton School or JD from the Law School...
, etc. Some other campus gigs include a performance at the house of university president Amy Gutmann
Amy Gutmann
Amy Gutmann is the eighth President of the University of Pennsylvania and the Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Communications, and Philosophy...
for Chinese ambassadors. PennYo also performs regularly at gigs throughout the city of Philadelphia, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival , also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival or Zhongqiu Festival, is a popular lunar harvest festival celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese people. A description of the festival first appeared in Rites of Zhou, a written collection of rituals of the Western Zhou...
celebration in Chinatown
Chinatown, Philadelphia
Philadelphia Chinatown is a predominantly Asian American neighborhood located within the Center City district in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States...
, the Free Library of Philadelphia
Free Library of Philadelphia
The Free Library of Philadelphia is the public library system serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-History:History of the Free Library of Philadelphia: Initiated by the efforts of Dr...
, etc.
Every year, PennYo holds its own Spring and Fall semester concerts. Each concert has its own theme, usually a parody of a popular movie or TV show. Each concert will feature performances, with short breaks in between during which a concert movie is played for the audience. The concert movie is typically filmed before the show--it is written, directed, produced, edited, and acted out by members of PennYo--and is shown for the enjoyment of the audience. Each semester features a new repertoire of songs and arrangements, with some older, classic songs performed during encores, such as PennYo's arrangement of "Our Story" originally by Taiwanese band Tension
Tension (band)
Tension is a Taiwanese R&B/Pop music/A cappella group that consists of five members. The band was first signed by Shock Records, then signed by record label EMI Taiwan.- Jimmy Hung :Chinese Name: Hong Tian Xiang - 洪天祥Birthdate:...
, which is PennYo's official alumni song. Venues for the semester concerts in the past have been the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is a theatre, dance and world music venue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It helped to popularize the works of composers like Steve Reich and Philip Glass; the Center has also hosted shows by performers ranging from the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra to...
, Harrison Auditorium, Houston Hall
Houston Hall (University of Pennsylvania)
Houston Hall is the student union at the University of Pennsylvania, established in 1896. The idea of a student union was first established at Oxford University in 1823...
, and others.
PennYo also performs off-campus several times a year. The group often performs at other college campuses, which have included NYU, Columbia
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, MIT, and more. In April 2011, PennYo joined four other Asian-interest a cappella groups from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, and Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
and opened the 2011 ITASA Midwest Conference in Evanston, IL. PennYo has been on two international tours: to Shanghai, China
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
in 2007 and Taipei, Taiwan in 2010. In Shanghai, the group performed at the Eighth Anniversary Concert at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music
Shanghai Conservatory of Music
The Shanghai Conservatory of Music , as the first music institution of higher education in China, was founded on November 27, 1927. The teachers and students have won numerous awards both home and abroad, thus earning the conservatory the name, “the cradle of musicians”.-History:The Shanghai...
. In Taiwan, PennYo performed alongside professional and collegiate a cappella groups from National Taiwan Normal University
National Taiwan Normal University
National Taiwan Normal University is an institution of higher learning operating on three campuses in Taipei, Taiwan . NTNU is widely recognized as one of Taiwan's elite institutions of higher education. The university enrolls approximately 11,000 students each year. The ratio of undergraduate to...
and Shih Hsin University
Shih Hsin University
Shih Hsin University is a private university in Wenshan District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. Shih Hsin University has named one of the “Teaching Excellence Universities” by the Republic of China's Ministry of Education five years in a row, making Shih Hsin being among the top five schools...
.
Music
PennYo mainly performs original a cappella arrangements of Chinese pop music. Artists whose works are featured prominently in the group's repertoire include: Jay ChouJay Chou
Jay Chou is a Taiwanese musician, singer-songwriter, music and film producer, actor and director who has won the World Music Award four times. In 1998 he was discovered in a talent contest where he displayed his piano and song-writing skills. Over the next two years, he was hired to compose for...
, Wang Leehom, David Tao
David Tao
David Tao , born Tao Xuzhong , was born on 11 July 1969. He is a Taiwanese Golden Melody Award-winning singer-songwriter. He is well-known for creating a crossover genre of R&B and hard rock tunes which has now become his signature style and for having popularized R&B in the Mandopop...
, Khalil Fong
Khalil Fong
Khalil Fong was born on 14 July 1983. He is an American born, Hong Kong-based soul Mandopop singer-songwriter signed to the Warner Music Hong Kong.-Biography:...
, and Stefanie Sun
Stefanie Sun
Stefanie Sun was born Sng Ee Tze on 23 July 1978, and known to fans as 13姐 , is a Singaporean singer-songwriter. She has sold over 30 million copies of her albums during the span of her career thus far. She does the majority of her recording, and conducts most of her publicity events, in Taiwan,...
. While the group sings primarily in Mandarin, PennYo occasionally arranges songs originally performed in Taiwanese, Cantonese
Cantonese
Cantonese is a dialect spoken primarily in south China.Cantonese may also refer to:* Yue Chinese, the Chinese language that includes Cantonese* Cantonese cuisine, the cuisine of Guangdong province...
, Korean
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
and Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
. In addition, the group sometimes performs English language songs, either as a single arrangement or mixed together with a Chinese language song, similar to mash-ups
Mashup (music)
A mashup or bootleg is a song or composition created by blending two or more pre-recorded songs, usually by overlaying the vocal track of one song seamlessly over the instrumental track of another...
which many collegiate a cappella groups perform. Examples include a mix of Jay Chou
Jay Chou
Jay Chou is a Taiwanese musician, singer-songwriter, music and film producer, actor and director who has won the World Music Award four times. In 1998 he was discovered in a talent contest where he displayed his piano and song-writing skills. Over the next two years, he was hired to compose for...
's "Jian Dan Ai 簡單愛" and Savage Garden
Savage Garden
Savage Garden were an Australian pop rock performance and songwriting duo. Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones formed the group in Brisbane, Queensland in 1994...
's "Truly Madly Deeply
Truly Madly Deeply
"Truly Madly Deeply" is a song by Australian pop band Savage Garden, released as a single in March 1997. Written by band-mates Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones, the song is a reworking of a song called "Magical Kisses" that the pair wrote together long before recording began on their debut album....
," featured together as one track on PennYo's 2008 release Luminar 發光. A similar instance is a mix of Stefanie Sun
Stefanie Sun
Stefanie Sun was born Sng Ee Tze on 23 July 1978, and known to fans as 13姐 , is a Singaporean singer-songwriter. She has sold over 30 million copies of her albums during the span of her career thus far. She does the majority of her recording, and conducts most of her publicity events, in Taiwan,...
's "Tao Wang 逃亡" and Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
's "Chasing Cars
Chasing Cars
"Chasing Cars" is the second single from Snow Patrol's fourth album, Eyes Open. It was recorded in 2005 and released on 6 June 2006 in the US and 24 July 2006 in the UK as the album's second single....
."