By Eric McDonald
The fourth of July was celebrated by local musicians for more than just Independence Day this year. It was also the day Moosebutter, a BYU-founded a capella group released their album ?Udder Won,? their second release since December of 2002.
Cleverly titled ?See Dee? their first album sold well and steadily after its release. Since then, the release of future albums has been anxiously anticipated by Moosebutter fans across the nation. Not to disappoint their public, the vocal musicians have worked dilligently to complete another CD.
Their second album, ?Udder Won? ? say it out loud ? maintains the tongue-in-cheek humor of the group while adding a few twists to more familiar tunes such as ?Witch Doctor.? The lyrics promise to be a treat for squirrel lovers and mosquito haters, people short of stature or short of dating, the eloquent and the not, and everyone in between.
?Some songs, like ?Harry Potter,? have been deliberately written to tap into a cultural-slash-commercial success,? said Tim, group founder. ?Most are just ideas I hope are funny and singable.?
Founded in 1999, Moosebutter has participated in numerous ?Jams? sponsored by the A Capella Club. Group members, such as Weston and Glen, who preferred not to release their last names, had previous singing experience before joining the group and were anxious to become a part of the group.
?I had performed with the BYU Men’s Chorus and the BYU International Folk Dance Team,? Weston said. ?I decided that Moosebutter would catapult my performing career.?
Even though each of the members of the vocal group have since graduated from BYU or the University of Utah in their respective fields of study, they have continued to return whenever possible.
?It’s always a great, enthusiastic audience [at the A Capella Jams],? said Glen Sawyer, another group member.
Of the songs performed by the four-man crew, the one they feel has earned the most attention is ?Star Wars.? The song is a compilation of various movie themes by composer John Williams with ?Star Wars? related lyrics.
? ?Star Wars? has been the genesis of many of our sales,? Tim said.
While the members of the group are seeking other careers, the future of Moosebutter is still bright. Another album is already in the works, and so are various other projects, including a DVD and a children?s book based on their songs.
?We have way, way, too many ideas than are good for us,? said Tim. ?But when we have money and means to do the DVD, movie, and other projects, we’ll do them.?
Additional Moosebutter information, including lyrics, facts about Moosebutter, and downloadable samples of their music can be found on the homepage: http://moosebutter.com/. Their albums ?See Dee? and ?Udder Won? can be purchased there or at the BYU Bookstore.
