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The Spartan Dischords is the first of seven a cappella groups out of Michigan State University. Founded in 1982, this award-winning group, comprised of between 12 and 15 male members, arrange and sing songs from multiple genres, including rock, R&B, and pop. The group, which has released seven albums, uses no instruments--only voices and vocal percussion. The Spartan Dischords are proud to be a subset of the Michigan State University Men's Glee Club (List of Collegiate Glee Clubs), and continue to perform a small set at every Glee Club concert.^[1]

The Dischords are hired to perform all across the Midwest, singing for multiple venues, including weddings, bachelorette parties, and military banquets. ^[2] This talented group commonly tours high schools in the Michigan area,^[3] and sings with a cappella groups at other universities upon request. The Dischords have also participated in such patriotic events as singing the American national anthem at Detroit Tigers baseball games!^[4]

The Spartan Dischords are known not only as a singing group, but also for their comedy and wit; their self-proclaimed slogan, "A fine blend of harmony and humor!"^[5]

The Spartan Dischords were formed as a subset of Michigan State University Men’s Glee Club (or The Singing Statesmen as they were known at the time). In 1977, Paul Schultz took over as choral director the the Men's Glee Club. Schultz handpicked a group of 12 men to put together a few modern "pop" songs they could perform, as to add contrast to the classical music the Statesmen sang.

By 1984, the Wharton Center had been built, and the Dischords started doing “Pre-Show” concerts for the incoming crowds before each Glee Club concert. Both the Dischords and their sister group, Ladies First, continue to do this today.

Although singing strictly a cappella today, the Dischords did not perform exclusively a cappella until 1991. “For the Longest Time” is the very first doo-wop a cappella number ever performed by the Dischords. This early set also included “Let Her Sleep Under the Bar” and “Ragtime Cowboy Joe.”

In 1985, the Dischords began singing for crowds at tailgaters on football Saturdays, which eventually led to singing at local events and banquets around campus. During the ‘88-’89 school year, they booked and performed over 75 shows. Their first album, on cassette of course, immediately followed in 1990.

By 1993, the group started to resemble a small business, and decided to write up a charter to become a Registered Student Organization. This helped to fund the rental of the Breslin Auditorium, where their spring concert was to be held. Nervous about getting anyone to attend, they gave concert tickets away for free and started what is known today as "dorm gigging", (singing for girls in the hallways of their dorms, a tradition now practiced by almost every a cappella group at MSU), to drum up interest.^[6]

(Note: All this information was taken directly from the Spartan Dischords official website with their permission)

The Dischords has participated in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. In 2006, the Spartan Dischords received the "Outstanding Choreography" ^[7] award at the ICCA Midwest Quarterfinal, held in their hometown of East Lansing, MI. In 2010, the ICCA Midwest Quarterfinals returned to Michigan State University, and the Spartan Dischords emceed the event. ^[8]

Many alumni members of the Spartan Dischords (known as Discards upon graduation) continue singing careers post-Michigan State University. In 2007, four "Discards" formed the a cappella singing group, "The Voice Males"^[9], has been performing with the cruise line Celebrity Cruises. The group is currently aboard the Celebrity Equinox, their sixth Celebrity cruise ship to date.^[10]

Although having released numerous "audio cassette" albums in their early years, the Spartan Dischords have released 7 "CD" albums: Abbott Road, No Bones About It, So Hey...How's it Goin?, Happy Hour, Live From Alaska (which has no live tracks, nor was recorded in Alaska), The Kids' Table, and a Christmas album entitled Christmas Soup. Their next album is set to be released in the Spring of 2011.

• "Such Great Heights" (As Performed by Postal Service)
• "Home" (Michael Bublé)
• "Bohemian Rhapsody" (Queen)
• "Fix You" (Coldplay)
• "Crazy" (Gnarls Barkley)
• "Champagne Supernova" (Oasis)
• "Apologize" (OneRepublic)
• "Heart of the Matter" (As Performed by India Arie)
• "My Love (Live)" (Justin Timberlake)
• "Wonderful Tonight (Live)" (Eric Clapton)
• "Gimme Some Lovin' (Live)" (Spencer Davis Group)
• "I'll Make Love to You/The End of the Road (Live)" (Boyz II Men)
• "All Or Nothing (Live)" (O-Town)
• "Beautiful Girls/Stand By Me (Live)" (Sean Kingston & Ben E. King)

• "Regulators" (Warren G)
• "If Your Not the One" (Daniel Bedingfield)
• "You Give Love a Bad Name" (Bon Jovi)
• "Somebody's Baby" (Jackson Browne)
• "Nothing Better'" (An Original Song Written by a Dischord)
• "With Or Without You" (U2)
• "Jenny/867-5309" (Tommy Tutone)
• "In My Place" (Coldplay)
• "She Will Be Loved" (Maroon 5)
• "Two Points for Honesty" (Guster)
• "Lady in Red" (Chris De Burgh)
• "I Thought She Knew" ('N Sync)

• "Annie Waits" (Ben Folds)
• "Two Steps Behind (Live)" (Def Leppard)
• "Demons" (Guster)
• "Angels" (Robbie Williams)
• "In My Place (Live)" (Coldplay)
• "Hero" (Enrique Iglesias)
• "Back Here (Live)" (BBMak)
• "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (As Performed by Michael McDonald)
• "I Think I Love You (Live)" (The Partridge Family)
• "Bye Bye Britney (Like I Love You/Cry Me a River)" (Justin Timberlake)
• "An Unusual Wakeup (Live)" (Tom Jones & Wham!)
• "Your Body is a Wonderland" (John Mayer)
• "I Want You Back (Live)" (Jackson 5)
• "I'll Hear Your Voice" (Rockapella)
• "I Want You" (Vertical Horizon)
• "Lullaby" (Billy Joel)
• "The Lion Returns...Again (Live)" (The Tokens)

• "Let's Get Ready (Intro) (Live)"
• "Me and the Boys (Live)"
• "Good Old A Cappella (Live)"
• "It's All Right (Live)"
• "Oh L'amour"
• "The Lion Returns (Live)"
• "Little Bitty Pretty One (Live)"
• "If I Could"
• "You Can't Do That"
• "Istanbul (Live)"
• "The Clicker (TV Medley) (Live)"
• "There's Always Something There To Remind Me"
• "60 Minute Man (Live)"
• "One More Minute (Live)"
• "Accidental Lovers (Live)"
• "Chorus"
• "Take On Me (Live)"
• "That Lonesome Road"
• "Garbage Man"
• "I Will Love You Right Back (Live)"
• "Kung Fu Fighting (Live)"
• "In Your Eyes"
• "Don't Worry, Be Happy (Live)"
• "So Hey, How's it Goin'?"

• "Vehicle"
• "Just My Imagination"
• "Seven Bridges Road"
• "Hole Hearted"
• "Grade 9"
• "Shake You Down"
• "I'm in a Hurry"
• "Superstition"
• "Why Should I Cry For You"
• "A Little Bit of Loca"
• "The Way"
• "Lonely With You"
• "Hello City"
• "Swingtime!"
• "Doo Wop (That Thing)"
• "My Heart Will Go On (Live)"

• "Crankin' It In the 80's"
• "Rubber Ducky"
• "Up On the Roof"
• "Up the Ladder To the Roof"
• "True Colors"
• "O Do Not Forsake Me"
• "She's Got a Way"
• "Duke of Earl"
• "Dirty Lil"
• "Yoko Ono"
• "Naturally"
• "If I Ever Fall In Love Again"
• "Fireman"
• "How High the Moon"
• "Moondance"
• "Kiss the Girl"
• "And So It Goes"
• "River of Dreams"
• "If I Had $1,000,000"
• "Yellow Submarine"
• "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday"
• "Zombie Jamboree"
• "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"

• "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch (Live)"
• "Sleigh Ride"
• "The Night Santa Went Crazy (Live"
• "Carol of the Bells (Live)"
• "The Christmas Song"
• "O Come All Ye Faithful"
• "Santa Jamboree (Live)"
• "Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Live)"
• "Away in a Manger (Live)"
• "S Files"
• "Silent Night"
• "O Tennenbaum (Live)"
• "Good Spartan Fans Rejoice"
• "Christmas Soup (Live)"

Aside from touring and special events, the Dischords put on four major concerts throughout the school year at Michigan State University:

• Accapalooza in October, which features every a cappella group at Michigan State^[11]
• A Christmas concert every holiday season
• A Valentine's concert in mid-February
• An "end of the year" concert held the weekend before final exams every spring (Commonly referred to as the "Big Show")^[12]

Videos of the Spartan Dischords are also available on YouTube, and on their Facebook profile.^[13]

The group can be contacted through email ([email protected]), or through their website (www.spartandischords.com).

• Official Spartan Dischords Website
• Michigan State University
• Official Spartan Dischords Facebook
• Official MSU Men's Glee Club Website
• Official MSU Student Organization Page

Category:American vocal groups Category:Collegiate a cappella groups †(The Spartan Dischords are a Registered Student Organization with Michigan State University)