The Bear Necessities Explained

The Bear Necessities
Background:	group_or_band
Alias:	The Bears, TBN
Origin:	Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Genre:	A Cappella
Years Active:	1992-present
Label:	A Cappella Records (ACR)

The Bear Necessities is an American TTBB acappella group from Brown University.^[1] Also known as "The Bears", they were established in 1992, making them the youngest of the two TTBB acappella groups at Brown. The Bears have released 8 albums, and are currently in the process of recording an EP to be released in late 2024. They are best known for wearing suspenders^[2] and former member Masi Oka, one of the best known alumnus of a college a cappella group and actor in the television series Heroes. The group performs at Brown, across the country and internationally.^[3] Their repertoire ranges from R&B to jazz to classic rock to pop to Disney songs.^{[4] [5]} Founded as an alternative a cappella ensemble, the group has a tradition of highly theatrical, interactive performance and is acclaimed for creating a fun, down-to-earth atmosphere in both rehearsal and concert.^[6] This is evident in the final track of each of their albums, titled “Bear-a-oke,” a karaoke version of one of the album’s songs designed to invite the listener to sing along.^[7] The group’s alumni song is "Streets of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen, arranged by member Andrew Callard in 1995.^[8]

History

Founded in 1992, The Bear Necessities were an outgrowth of The High Jinks, another all-male singing group at Brown. In the early 1990s, The High Jinks dissolved and former members came together as The Bear Necessities (The High Jinks were revived in 2009).^{[9] [10]} Some of the final members of The High Jinks, after moving to New York City after graduation, went on to begin Rockapella, a nationally known a cappella band.^[11]

Albums

• Suspended Disbelief (2023)
• Visions (2016)
• Eat the Beach (2012) - "We are left with a standout track in Stronger and a totally solid album capable of scratching your all-male itch..." - RARB Review^[12]
• Teaches of Peaches (2009) – White Shadows was awarded a track on the 2009 Voices Only compilation album^[13] – “This isn't just a product of studio work. These guys can sing.” – RARB Review^[14]
• Dry Clean Only (2003) – “This is a well-recorded disc, and the Bear Necessities' ensemble sound is smooth, blendy, and in tune...Crash Into Me sounds like the old-school a cappella I fell in love with back in 2000 or so; a gorgeous, creative chordal intro leads seamlessly into a faithful rendition of Dave Matthews' beautiful ballad.” – RARB Review^[15]
• Circus People (1999) – “The Bear Necessities deliver the goods. The arrangement is gripping, the solo is heartfelt, and the production is spotless. In short, it's a damn good treatment of a damn good song...The group as a whole rises to the occasion and turns in a very tight performance” – RARB Review^[16]
• TBNJ: The Bear Necessities Jam (1996) – featuring Masi Oka '97 – “Simply a great album overall...the studio recordings have by far the best production and engineering that I have ever heard on a collegiate album.” – RARB Review^[17]
• Out of Hibernation (1995) – “This album restores my faith in male collegiate a cappella...What makes this group different is that they have a better attitude. Their collective tongues are planted firmly in their collective cheeks. They are clearly having a fun time performing the material, which has the result that you'll have a fun time listening to it.” – RARB Review^[18]

Awards and recognition

• In 2009, The Bear Necessities’ cover of the Disney song I'll Make a Man Out of You was awarded a track on Ripple Effect: Constructive Interference,^[19] an a cappella compilation album to raise money for Integrated Community Development (ICDI), an organization that sponsors well-drilling efforts in Central Africa^[20]
• In 2009, the group’s cover of the Coldplay song White Shadows was awarded a track on the Voices Only: The Best of College A Cappella compilation album^{[21] [22]}
• In early 2014, the Bears were named champions of the Casino Theatre a cappella Invitational in Newport, RIun - unseating the Heightsmen of Boston College.

Notable alumni

• Masi Oka, television and film actor, digital effects artist^[23]

Notes and References

1. "The Bear Necessities." CASA: The Contemporary A Cappella Society. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. .
2. Web site: The Bear Necessities A Cappella Music - The Contemporary A Cappella Society. www.casa.org. 2019-01-29.
3. Alternative Press Staff. "A Cappella Group from Brown University Sings at Oratory Prep." The Alternative Press. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. .
4. "Voices Only 2009." Voices Only A Cappella. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. .
5. "The Bear Necessities: Hand in My Pocket Video." NME: First for Music News. 17 Oct. 2009. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. .
6. Cohen, Matt. "Brown University Bear Necessities - Circus People." Rev. of Circus People Album Release. Recorded A Cappella Review Board 23 Oct. 2000. RARB. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. .
7. Christie, Rebecca. "Brown University Bear Necessities - Circus People." Rev. of Circus People Album Release. Recorded A Cappella Review Board 23 Oct. 2000. RARB. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. .
8. Sears, Jonathan. "Brown University Bear Necessities - Circus People." Rev. of Circus People Album Release. Recorded A Cappella Review Board 23 Oct. 2000. RARB. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. .
9. Mitchell, Martha. "Musical Clubs." Encyclopedia Brunoniana. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. .
10. Chazen, Colin. "High Jinks, Old and New, Back on Campus." Brown Daily Herald[Providence, RI] 6 Feb. 2009. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. .
11. Borden, Timothy. "Rockapella." Contemporary Musicians. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. .
12. Web site: Bear Necessities - Eat the Beach (2012).
13. "Voices Only 2009." Voices Only A Cappella. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. .
14. Sawyer, Kevin. "Brown University Bear Necessities - Teaches of Peaches." Rev. of Teaches of Peaces Album Release. Recorded A Cappella Review Board 14 Aug. 2009.RARB. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. .
15. Diamant, Jonathan. "Brown University Bear Necessities - Dry Clean Only." Rev. of Dry Clean Only Album Release. Recorded A Cappella Review Board 8 Mar. 2005.RARB. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. .
16. Cohen, Matt. "Brown University Bear Necessities - Circus People." Rev. of Circus People Album Release. Recorded A Cappella Review Board 23 Oct. 2000. RARB. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. .
17. Oliva, Joe. "Brown University Bear Necessities - TBNJ: The Bear Necessities Jam." Rev. of TBNJ: The Bear Necessities Jam Album Release. Recorded A Cappella Review Board 20 Apr. 1997. RARB. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. .
18. Cohen, Matt. "Brown University Bear Necessities - TBNJ: The Bear Necessities Jam." Rev. of TBNJ: The Bear Necessities Jam Album Release. Recorded A Cappella Review Board 20 Apr. 1997. RARB. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. .
19. Liquid 5th. "Ripple Effect: Constructive Interference." Web. 8 Dec. 2011. .
20. "About ICDI - Our Vision and Values." ICDI. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. .
21. "Voices Only 2009." Voices Only A Cappella. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. .
22. "Voices Only 2009 College A Cappella (Disc 1)." Amazon.com. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. .
23. "Masi Oka." IMDB.com. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. .