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Entertainment
Barbershop Quartets in Pop Culture
Published: 4:55 PM EST, Fri February 12, 2016
The Chordettes, an all-female a cappella group founded by the daughter of a barbershop singer, topped the pop charts in 1954 with a dreamy tune, “Mr. Sandman,” featuring dulcet four-part harmonies. The group scored a second smash hit with their 1958 take on the Ronald & Ruby song, “Lollipop.”From Peyton Manning commercials to “The Music Man,” barbershop quartets have been a pop culture staple for decades. The whimsical references illustrate a rich tradition of pitch-perfect a cappella singing that dates back to the 19th century. When Manning portrayed a humorous character in a 2015 DirecTV commercial, it stirred discussions within the barbershop community.Jimmy Fallon (second from right) performs barbershop renditions of popular rock, hip-hop and R&B hits with a quartet called the Ragtime Gals, featured on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” They have collaborated with artists like Justin Timberlake and Sting, showcasing a diverse repertoire.In a 1993 episode of “The Simpsons,” Homer Simpson sang “Baby on Board” with a barbershop group called the Be Sharps. This fictional quartet’s rise to fame included a memorable plot involving a Ringo Starr cameo and authentic barbershop harmony.A surreal scene in a 1990 episode of “Twin Peaks” features a barbershop quartet humming softly as FBI Agent Dale Cooper discusses profound topics over breakfast, demonstrating the unique ways this musical style intersects with various genres.In a comical 2001 “Saturday Night Live” sketch, Will Ferrell and Jimmy Fallon donned traditional attire to perform a light-hearted song about workplace dynamics, further highlighting the amusing connections that barbershop singing can bring to contemporary satire.
