Bermuda Experiences Dissipation

Author: Jen LaRosa

Spring Break at Middlebury consists of three basic elements: sleep, sun and sports. Throw a little singing in the mix and you have the D8's trip to Bermuda.

This famed a capella group drove to Boston on Friday, March 22, where they stayed overnight and took an early flight Saturday morning to beautiful Bermuda. The trip is an annual tradition, which started about 10 to 15 years ago. Its origin stems from the D8's desire to not only entertain audiences with beautiful lyrical and vocal renditions, but also get a free meal.

Their plan has traditionally been to book a number of dinners at quality restaurants and sing to their fellow diners for their meals. It seems to work every time.

The group has a designated set of music in their repertoire for these special audiences, namely a more mature crowd. Songs include"Jamaica," "The Nearness of You" and "Hard Hearted Hannah."

They stayed at the Sonesta Resort, a large hotel, with some other fellow college travelers. A famous Harvard theatre troupe, "Hasty Puddings Theatricals," was staying at the hotel as well. There were also other a capella groups from colleges around the country.

While the D8 wasn't singing for their supper or fraternizing with their a cappella contemporaries, they were out on the beach all day, soaking in some of the Bermuda rays or playing beach volleyball. Ricky Spero '04 recounts, "We played a lot of midnight beach volleyball."

The group was in Bermuda for Good Friday, and participated in an island tradition. Every year people go to the beach and fly kites on the sand, while a festival occurs and a band plays nearby.

The D8 trucked themselves over to the beach for a little kite action with the locals last Friday and had a wonderful time. Throughout the trip, some members of the group also went body surfing and cliff jumping.

The D8 is back and already busy recording new material. They are in the process of arranging and recording new songs, which will be released on May 4 at their Big Spring Jambo with the Mischords. So mark your calendar and come to Mead Chapel for the event to support the D8. Their new tunes will be sure to entertain you.