POLLS CLOSED: Favorite Metropolis Song

The 5th Wheel has the final results on your favorite song by the new "has-beens" of our Society, Metropolis. After 59 votes were tabulated we have the results:

1. I Only Have Eyes For You 40% (24) This staple for the quartet was sung on every show Metropolis ever sang on. When it comes to solo songs, Lead Bob Hartley beats the competition. Was it his comedic timing or his sultry voice that won the voter's hearts? Yep... comedic timing.

2. The Go Wild, Simply Wild Over Me 30% (18) The song that almost wasn't. In 2002 Tenor James Sabina came up with the idea to do the hypnosis bit, but it wasn't until a few rehearsals before International that Metropolis decided to actually design the choreography. Three weeks later, a star was born.

3. The Lion Sleeps Tonight 13% (8) I thought for sure Lion would win this poll hands down. I guess James humiliating himself on stage with pratfalls was only good enough for third place. Kind of like your International rank huh? BOO-YAH!!!! Gotcha Suckas!

4. Country Song (Yakko's World) 11% (7) The solo song of Bass Brian Philbin was always a fun element to the show. However, what really helped set it up was the funny joke told before his song. Again, the brilliant storytelling of giving a cat a bath was always the highpoint on every show. Once that masterful joke was completed, Brian could do no wrong.

5. 18 Wheels 3% (2) Kelly's solo.

The 5th Wheel: (Halloween Special) The GHOST And Cindy Hansen

The 5th Wheel would like to celebrate the Halloween season with a little ghost story. Before you read on, make sure to turn off all the lights, huddle the family close to the computer monitor and prepare for a scary story from our favorite coach, Cindy Hansen.
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From Cindy Hansen:
Now that Halloween is near, I can share this true story with all of you. Some of you may or may not believe in ghost and spirits. But I am here to tell you, now- "I'm a believer!" (Lyrics by The Monkees- Hansen only quotes from the best.)

For those of you that have lived with a ghost or spirit know what I am talking about. About 10 years ago I was living in San Pedro, California. I had a nice little condo near Point Firman overlooking Catalina Island and the LA Harbor - where the Queen Mary is docked. The Pt. Firman area is one of the most haunted areas of California. Lots of stories, tours and sightings all in this one area.

One day I noticed that things in my guest bath had been taken out of the medicine cabinet and were sitting on the counter. I didn't have any guests over. In fact, I had been gone coaching for a few days. But no one had been in the condo. I put the items back in the medicine cabinet. Then it would happen again....and again, over a number of years. I would also hear the blinds move in the guest room and when I walked in they would be swaying back in forth. No windows open, no vents to blow air - they were just swinging.

One night I was sitting on my bed looking down the hallway and saw the figure of a man reflecting in the glass of a picture hanging in the hallway. There was no one in the hallway, but there was such a good reflection in the glass I could see the details of a man. His hair was bushy brown, his height about 5'10", his body was thin with curved shoulders and he was wearing a blue work shirt. He looked at me, smiled and then slowly faded into the nothing. I knew I had a spirit in the house! (Gin or Vodka?)

Too many weird things happened that could not be explained. Nothing harmful. Nothing damaging- just a little irritating. A few weeks later I was coaching Metropolis at my place. Bob Hartley ("Dude, in case you didn't hear, your quartet broke up.") heard a few things in the back room and asked me who was staying in the condo with me. I told them no one - it was my ghost. (BOO!) We all laughed a little and then they all (All = Brian) got a little freaked. We continued to sing and coach. Then Bob turned to Brian and said, "Stop touching my butt." (Some things neve change.) But there was no one there - Brian was nowhere near him. (Maybe Bob was day-dreaming of Brian touching his butt? What's even weirder is Bob got goosed by a ghost.)

Needless to say, the coaching session was over when Bob and Brian ran from the condo into the street, refusing to come back into my haunted house! Grown men running from a ghost was just too funny! (Especially when they had their arms wrapped around each other for comfort. Bob later confessed he felt more secure when Brian would hold him. The 5th Wheel SWEARS- that's what happened! It's documented. Git-r-done!)

A few weeks later, I asked the owner of the building if there was anything strange about the condos. He asked me, "Why?" So I explained to him about the ghost and the man I saw in the glass. (Don't forget the two girly-men running from the apartment.) He got "white as a ghost" (Bum-chee! Cindy will be here all week!) and said I needed to tell his wife. So we went to the diner where she worked next door to the condos. I told her my story. She asked me to describe what the ghost looked like. When I told her, she ran from the room into her back office, grabbed a newspaper and returned. It was dated when the condo's were being built - 3 years earlier. There was a picture of a man. OH MY GOSH!!! It was the man I saw in my hallway! The same hair cut, the same shirt, the same everything. It was MY GHOST! (Quick, somebody call Jason and Grant and get TAPS in here asap!) He had died in a freak accident on the site while they were building the condo. He was still there! (So was the trail of droppings left by Brian and Bob from the front door to their car.)

A few years later when I sold my condo, the ghost would show up from time to time. The people who bought the condo from me moved out a month later because they said it was haunted.

(...and now you know, the REST of the story.)

CHECK OUT THE NEW POLL AND VOTE!

Metropolis POLL

Check out the poll on the right side column and vote!

The 5th Wheel EXCLUSIVE: Metropolis RETIRES! (End of an Error!)

This afternoon, The 5th Wheel received some sad news from one of the most beloved quartets in our Society. Remember this day, 10/26... for it will be a day nobody will forget. Where were you when you first heard the news? Metropolis has released a statement.

To Our Dear Friends,

In the spirit of our truly International Annual Convention, it is with hope for the future and affection for our good fortune in the past that Metropolis announces our Swan Song performance. Our final bow will take place on the World Harmony Jamboree during the International Convention in Anaheim, California in July 2009. We've been so blessed by the International community that we felt this would be the most appropriate place for us to say good-bye.

Over the past 12 years, Metropolis has endeavored to bring as much fun as possible to our appearances and to the reputation of our hobby in general. Our goal, from the beginning, was to have the best time possible, singing at the highest level possible and entertaining audiences everywhere we could, as often as we could.

From that time, we've managed 3 appearances on National Television (two of which continue in syndication to this day) and have averaged more than 21 shows per year, totalling over 450 performances on 270 different shows in 37 different States and 5 Canadian Provinces. In the past 9 years, we've been honored to have been asked to travel overseas on many occasions to educate and perform for barbershoppers the world over, beginning with the first Russian Barbershop Festival in 1999. Since then, we've returned for the third Russian festival in 2001 and subsequently repeated these same duties at the BABS Convention in 2003, the Pan Pacific Convention in 2004 and, in 2007, we educated and sang for the the IABS Convention, the BABS convention, the Holland Harmony Festival and the Tokyo Barbers Show. We'll be returning to England once more to educate and perform with the Cottonwood Chorus in Bolton this coming February.

Achieving medalist quartet status at the International level was certainly a tremendous bonus, as was becoming the first barbershop quartet to win the National A Cappella Championship.

We've made so many friends that we can scarcely count them, regardless of what our FaceBook profile says. ;-)

We're currently pressing our final group of products, including our DVD in PAL and NTSC format, as well as our CD and will cease selling them on our website within a week of our appearance on the World Harmony Jamboree. After this time, we will provide a limited number of loaner copies of the DVD of our performance free of charge for private showings at Youth Harmony events. We're currently working with the Society to provide them in an organized fashion directly from Headquarters for this purpose, in order to protect the copyrights associated with the production of the DVD, as well.

We've been blessed to have had the opportunity to entertain you and enjoy your company and we wish to take this opportunity to honor our coaches and inspirations: the members of The New Tradition, The Ivy League and 139th Street Quartets, Greg Lyne, Cindy Hanson, Kim Hulbert, Mark Hale, Sandy Robinson-Marron, Jim Kline and our coach, friend and mentor Lloyd Steinkamp.

We'd also like to send special thanks to our "substitute tenor", Royce Ferguson, as well as our very first tenor, Ken Potter and our dear friends Rob Menaker, Jeff Baker & Brett Littlefield, who have always been at the ready to assist us in whatever manner we've needed. Rob and Pat Menaker, in particular, for opening their home to us so often without hesitation, so we'd have another place to rehearse every other week.

Metropolis wouldn't be what it is without our former baritone, Mike McGee and we'd be remiss if we didn't recognize our MetrophyWives, Doreen, Naomi, Tamar & Mandy, MetroTeen Becky and MetroTots Jennifer, Sydney, Lindsay and Isabelle - we couldn't have done it without their support (and permission)!

We hope to see all of our friends at the World Harmony Jamboree to see us off - our love to you all!

Pax, harmonia (peace and harmony),

Brian Philbin, Bob Hartley, James Sabina and Kelly Shepard

Metropolis

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Metropolis has affected our Society in so many positive ways. The quartet gave incredibly entertaining peformances which did nothing but show barbershop in its best form. They have done more for our Society than many of our past champions. Just because their medals were never gold doesn't mean they didn't affect the world to the same way a champion would. Metropolis' level of entertainment would freak out Int'l Champions that had to share the stage with them. Nobody wanted to follow Metropolis.

While everyone enjoyed the slapstick in Metropolis' performances, what people have failed to understand is not just the complexity of their humor, but how difficult it was to make such quick, jolted moves, dance around the stage and do pratfalls, while at the same time never hear a bump in the sound. Metropolis rehearsed this technique for hours! Unfortunately in our competitions, we aren't judged by level of difficulty.

We have a comment box for each post. Please take a moment and leave a comment for Metropolis. We'll miss you guys! COULD IT BE?

Photos courtesy of Dan Proctor and photographed by Lorin May

The 5th Wheel: The SEPTENTRION ILLUMINATION!

Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... The Northern Lights! Where have you been?

The 5th Wheel got in touch with the director of TNL, Monsieur Steve Armstrong to get an update on the chapter and what lies ahead for the biggest little chorus in the world.

Armstrong commented that TNL had done nine International Competitions in a row leading up to this year. Last May, TNL was invited to attend the BABS convention in England. TNL felt it would be a good time to take a break from competing and join their fellow, harmony brothers across the Atlantic. (If you've never been to a BABS convention you MUST find a way to attend one. They are a blast! The British Barbershoppers schedule more intermissions during a competition than we do in the states. Not to stretch their legs or use the bathroom, but to replenish their pint of beer. I'm serious. It's crazy! Imagine how great the audience is when they're piss drunk! They laughed at every single joke Metropolis told, except the parrot joke. The English don't know the phrase, "Sick 'em." When your audience doesn't understand the punchline, awkward silence occurs. Of course, Philbin's use to that. However, there were three people who were laughing at Brian; his three best friends. What was beautiful about that, the next night on stage Brian tells the audience, "Regarding the parrot joke, sick 'em means, "Get him." The audience roared with laughter. Kind of like, "OHH, we get it now." BTW, I hope you like the color blue, cause I'm totally rambling and off topic. Mmm... blue...)

TNL also released a new Christmas recording entitled, "The Gift of Music." Go visit their website and buy it. BUY IT NOW, I TELL YOU!

This weekend TNL will be competing in the ONT District Competition with hopes to return to the International Stage in Anaheim.

The 5th Wheel has been a huge fan of TNL since their first competition nine years ago. One of our favorite, all time performances on the competition stage, by any group, was TNL's 2003 performance of "A Song For The Little Guy." That was the song where they had Goliath peek out from over the riser shell. Great singing, awesome presentation and a memorable performance! Way to go guys! The 5th Wheel raises our Molson Dry to salute your worthy endeavors! Here! Here!. (FYI, Armstrong has asked if he could be interviewed by The 5th Wheel. What a FOOL! Didn't he read the Henry interview? You're asking for it buck-o!)

Good luck to TNL this weekend. If you want to know TNL's results, please check out The 5th Wheel on Saturday afternoon for their scores, as well as JAD and PIO.

The 5th Wheel MP3's

Check out the right side column of The 5th Wheel and you'll see an MP3 player. It plays music of your choosing in 30 second soundbites. If there's a song you like, you can purchase it through Amazon.com. Just click on the word "Buy." This is very similar to iTunes, only you don't have to install any programs.

There are songs from the 2008 Barbershop Harmony Society International Convention included on the MP3 Player! We didn't have time to add every performance, but I did add some favorites. Enjoy!

The 5th Wheel: An INTIMATE Conversation with Dr. James Henry

Welcome to a new segment of The 5th Wheel. The first installment in this series of ten questions begins with the incomparable, Dr. James Henry (Scroll down and click on "Read More" for the rest of the story).
(Henry's answers will be in bold and the editorial comments in Blue. Stay tuned after the Q&A to read about the "Making of: Intimate Conversations.")
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5THWHEEL: Hello there. Thank you so much for participating in the interview this afternoon.
HENRY: (awkward silence)

5THWHEEL: OK... let's get on with it. What's your first name?
HENRY: Doctor. (You're a doctor? Of music??? What can you do as a doctor of music? "Oh doctor? My Tenor section has a case of the flat 3rds. What can you prescribe to help them sing in tune?")

5THWHEEL: What's your last name(Maiden)?
HENRY: Henry, but enough with the formality; just call me "Captain Fantastic." (Yikes! I'm sorry I asked! I think you need to keep that between you and your wife, bro.)

5THWHEEL: Gender?
HENRY: Gender?!? I hardly even KNEW 'er! (Ha, Ha, Ha! Who says vaudeville is dead!) (Nobody did. However, local revue impresario Fuller was constantly mis-quoted. What he really said was, "Vaudeville is gone, never to return.")

5THWHEEL: What are some of the barbershop groups that you constantly listen to on your iPod?
HENRY: My favorite barbershop groups include the Hi-Lo's, the Boswell Sisters, Tony Bennett, and Metropolis (post 2004--not a big fan before that) (Them's fightin' words...)

5THWHEEL: Lead singer Joe Connelly has almost as many gold medals by himself than your entire quartet put together. Does that threaten you?
HENRY: Joe Connelly. . . . Joe Connelly. . . . . I have to say I'm not really familiar with his work. I'm sure he's very good though. (Oh... I understand. Truly I do. Let me help jog your memory. He was the Lead of the quartet, Keepsake that beat YOUR quartet, Gas House Gang in the 1992 International Competition. OH YES!!! IN YOUR FACE!!! Touché!!!)

5THWHEEL: Due to jealousy and low self-esteem, The 5th Wheel has gone out of its way to spread vicious and outlandish rumors regarding your quartet, Crossroads. Unfortunately, you are four of the nicest guys in the Society, so nobody believes us. Can you offer at least one piece of juicy gossip to help The 5th Wheel feel better about itself?
HENRY: Tenor Fred Farrell consumes three baby seals before lunch every day. He says they taste a little like bald eagle, but not as gamey. (I think it's only fair to inform you that Greenpeace HAS been notified of this new information given to The 5th Wheel. "Hey Farrell, don't be surprised if one day you look out your front window and a 162ft sea yacht called "The Arctic Sunrise" is moored to your mailbox." Peace out, Brother!)

5THWHEEL: You are juggling so many things in your life: A top level quartet, directing a world champion chorus, music teacher of a college and raising a family at the same time. Have you ever thought of dropping one of these commitments to make more room in your life? Seeing your love for music and how lucrative it has been financially for you, it would make sense to ditch the family, right?
HENRY: You've been reading my diary again. (Yes I have, and there are some interesting entries in the diary about you and your odd relationship with arranger, David Wright. But don't worry, I can keep a secret.)

5THWHEEL: If David Wright didn't exist, do you believe you still would of had the same successes in life?
HENRY: Not only would I not have the same successes, I wouldn't be alive! Many people don't realize that I am David Wright's love child. (DUDE, FISHED IN! I totally hooked you on that one! HAHA!)

5THWHEEL: The Lead of your quartet is Mike Slamka from the 2003 "Three-Way" Quartet Champion, Power Play (Power Play only won one round of competition. Gotcha! and Metropolis won the other two rounds. Only a third of that gold medal belongs to Mike.). What was the loophole you found in the contract binding him from ever singing with anyone OTHER than a Slamka?
HENRY: Not a loophole really; they simply released Mike when they discovered that he wasn't really a Slamka at all. It turns out he is actually David Wright's love child. As for his one-third of a gold medal, the other three members of Crossroads made it clear to Mike that he could only continue with us if he won the other two-thirds. Thanks, O.C. Times!! (David Wright had ANOTHER love child? Boy, the man sure was busy in college. I guess he's repaying his mistakes in life by giving you free arrangements? No wonder he lends so much support to Crossroads. Two of his sons are in the quartet. )

5THWHEEL: When is Crossroads expecting to make its first CD and if so, will The 5th Wheel get a free copy for all the free publicity, both positive and negative (mostly negative) we've given you?
HENRY: We are working on a CD, due in the Spring of 2009. And, no. (Great news... Jerk.)

BONUS QUESTION: Barbara Walters, a HUGE fan of The 5th Wheel and an "apparent" fan of Crossroads (Hasn't been confirmed), begged me to allow her to ask you just one question. She kissed my ring and I granted her one request. Barbara wants to know… What makes you cry? HENRY: Thinking about the valuable time I've squandered answering these stupid questions. Now, does this satisfy you?!? Does it???? Then leave me alone already. Stop calling my cell phone. Stop coming to my house. Stop going through my garbage cans. I don't need to remind you that the restraining order is still in effect! You leech! You PARASITE!!! (All my love, Jim) (You don't mean that now, do you?)

5THWHEEL: Thank you Jim, er.. I mean "Dr." for this enlightening interview about your life. Nothing makes headlines more than talking about having children out of wedlock, devouring endangered animals and bagging on Metropolis. Hopefully, we can do this again sometime. What do you say? Hello?
HENRY: (dial tone...)

5THWHEEL: Great... well... goodbye.
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MAKING OF: Intimate Conversation

The 5th Wheel contacted Jim Henry about the idea of doing an interview. After several, straight to voice mail contacts, and sending threatening letters to his family, Henry and his lawyers finally agreed. The 5th Wheel wanted to make this interview as "professional" as possible.
With that in mind, we called fellow journalist, Charles Gibson from ABC News and asked if we could borrow his eyeglasses which he used for the Sarah Palin interview. After being extremely reluctant to remove the glasses from his personal "Museum of Oddities", Gibson finally caved in and mailed them to me. Unfortunately, when I opened the package the glasses slipped out, landing on the ground. As I bent over to pick them up, my chronic case of vertigo suddenly kicked in. I stepped forward to correct my balance and, CRACK... I accidentally stepped on his glasses, crushing them to pieces. Darn it! Now I can't look down at Henry and have that "smug" look! Fortunately, due to Jim's lack of stature, that won't be a problem.

I packed my bags and headed to the airport. However, when I went to check in I didn't have a reservation. I told the attendant at the front counter I have a confirmation number. The attendant explained that the confirmation was only for a 24 hour online reservation. The 5th Wheel was bummed that we couldn't make the trip to St. Louis. On the bright side, we saved $300 in a plane ticket, $80 in a hotel room +$30 in late night movies, and $40 in a rental car.

Instead of a live interview, The 5th Wheel was forced to do the interview from the home office.

The 5th Wheel is grateful for Dr. Henry's involvement in the interview and wish him, Crossroads, The Ambassadors, his family and his dad David Wright, all the very best.

Photos courtesy of Dan Proctor and photographed by Lorin May.

The 5th Wheel Has Gone GLOBAL!

I don't know if it's because of the creative and witty posts we write here at The 5th Wheel or because Google Ads has decided to run "Teen Forum" on our AdSense below the Title Page, The 5th Wheel has attracted a large amount of hits all around the world this week. North America has by far, the most hits. However, we are constantly getting visited in the countries of Argentina, Belgium, China, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Portugual, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom. Who knew people had an interest in barbershop down in South America, let alone Spain? Too cool!

If Brian Philbin were here right now he could sing The 5th Wheel's version of "Yakko's World," a.k.a "Our Country Song" made famous by the über-entertaining, Metropolis. Fortunately, he's not.

Thank you all so much for visiting the site. We have received a huge amount of emails supporting us! The 5th Wheel is humbled by your attention.

POLLS are CLOSED!

The 5th Wheel has finished its polls. Wanna know the results?

POOKIE FOR PRESIDENT?
Yes 65%
No 15%
Undecided 19%
# of votes: 26

It looks as though Pookie has been given the thumbs up to be our fearless leader. I'm scared...
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MIDWEST VOCAL EXPRESS CONVENTION SET FOR 2009?
Star Trek 15%
Presid. Election 9%
Chippendales 43%
The Birdcage 31%
# of votes: 64

Well, the good news is MVE doesn't have to worry about their costume budget. I mean how much money can you spend on a tie and spandex? However, you'll need to put money aside for gym memberships and Weight Watchers. This may be the one contest you DON'T want to be sitting close to the stage.

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WHAT YEAR WILL MASTERPIECE WIN THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION?
2009 11%
2010 19%
2011 38%
1996, 2001, 2004 29%
# of votes: 67

While 2011 was considered to be the year for Masterpiece, it seems as though some don't have a lot of faith in their abilities to repeat? From what The 5th Wheel has witnessed these past 10 years, almost any past champion can win International a second time.

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WHICH CHORUS WILL EARN THE HIGHEST SCORE IN THE FALL CONVENTION?
Ambassadors of Harmony 26%
Sound of the Rockies 2%
Voices In Harmony 4%
Vocal Majority 58%
Other 8%

# of votes: 84

This poll wasn't really a surprise. However, who would you consider to be "other?" Our guess, Toronto Northern Lights who are returning from a one year hiatus.

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SHOULD OLD SCHOOL BE DISQUALIFIED FOR THE "OLD SCHOOL MEDLEY" WHICH INCLUDED A 30 SECOND RAP?
Yes 40%
No 23%
Judges Got It Right 35%

# of votes: 81

This was a close one! Again... not surprised. However, you could count the "no's" in the "Judges Got It Right" catagory which would make it 58% to 40% difference. This poll falls in line with Red vs.Blue, Left vs. Right, KIBBers vs. Non-KIBBERS. Basically, the sides are split and the battle lines are drawn.

Thank you all for participating!

Stay tuned for more polls from The 5th Wheel.

The 5th Wheel: METROPOLIS Bass Released From Hospital!

The 5th Wheel received an early call this morning. Metropolis funnyman Brian Philbin was released from the hospital late last night from what the doctor's described as an apparent "facial freeze." According to Lead singer Bob Hartley, Philbin was at quartet rehearsal preparing for their show on Oct. 18th with the Mountain Jubilee Chorus in Salt Lake City, UT when in the middle of the rehearsal Philbin's facial muscles froze up and could no longer move. After several minutes of massaging his face with no effect, the quartet rushed him to the hospital using a dog bowl to catch his drool.

The doctors administered the muscle relaxer Flexeril, to Philbin which eventually returned his face to normal. Doctors are not sure if the facial freeze left any permanent damage to his face. The doctors did caution Brian to be more careful in the future and maybe next time heed his mother's warnings about making funny faces and the consequences if you do.

The 5th Wheel obtained this picture from Philbin's medical records.

The 5th Wheel: SAY IT AIN'T SO!!

(Editor's note: The employees of The 5th Wheel are not responsible for the information or damage that may be caused by any anonymous sources reported on this blog. The reader is responsible for what they deem to be considered the truth, or utter nonsense.)

The tabloids have "come out" with a headline story that should rock the barbershop community. If People magazine reports this as a cover story, then it MUST be true!

An "anonymous" source has brought forth to The 5th Wheel information on our favorite quartet, Metropolis.

James Sabina, (Pictured at right) and tenor of the world famous Metropolis quartet, is seen posing with his newborn baby girl. Apparently, James had a secret that has finally been revealed!

This came out of nowhere!

Of course, this isn't the first time a member of Metropolis has made front page news of the ever so accurate and truthful, Screw Up Your Life... I mean, People magazine. In 2006, baritone Kelly Shepard (Pictured below) also had a revealing front cover announcement.

So, did Kelly have any influence over James' "choice of lifestyle?" Inquiring minds want to know.

We here at The 5th Wheel wish both these men the best of luck!

If you are interested in learning more about this quartet, here's a book you can purchase at most bookstores nationwide.

You can also visit their website.