Toast Song. . .More Songs?
 

It's that time of year again, Brothers. . .already people are thinking about legislation for the 2002 National Convention in New Orleans.

One thing that has been on my mind is the Toast Song. Personally, I think that the Toast Song is one of those elements of our history as a Fraternity that should remain as is.

However, I can imagine why some Brothers would feel that it is exclusive, even after reading our pledge manual, history, etc. etc. . .

That said. . .why don't we just adopt more songs that reflect our contemporary history and traditions, rather than amending our Toast Song? Seems like if we can have an official Toast Song, we can have a bacon song, scrambled eggs song, milk song, orange juice song. . .naw, just joking. But seriously, there's nothing wrong with having more official songs as long as we don't mess with the toast song.

Only my opinion. And if I was a composer, I'd definitely submit some songs myself.

Like a Memorial Song for the departed Brothers. . .or a Senior Song for the graduating Brothers. . .the list is endless. . .

good idea, whose gonna put that to the floor?

Good question. . .maybe we should see if there are any chapters at music/arts schools. . .like I said, I'm not a composer, but I can work a little somethin out when it comes to lyrics.

Sounds like a plan...if you take the east coast i'll take the west! I think this is an alternative worth looking into.

They better not alter the Toast Song!!!!!:mad:

Stranger things have been known to happen.

Trust me, I'm well aware. However, I would be extremely upset if the Toast Song was altered. Then again, I guess it would be nothing to get my blood pressure up about because I will NEVER sing it any other way than how it's composed now. Never!:cool:

:cool:

Guys! Mu Alpha chapters website has other APO songs and chants listed there. Check 'em out!!

changing the toast song would be like changing the star spangled banner. we've sung the song a certain way for so long, people would NEVER change it.

How did this thread suddenly become about changing the toast song. I couldve sworn this was started to discuss creating other fraternity songs to reflect the times.

But now I could be wrong maybe its me thats not reading correctly, maybe i'm not spending enough time in a apo box so i am thinking too much about the grand scheme of things.

Q5. . .

It's good to see you still wild, lol.

:)

But on the real, you're right. And thanks to pirate00 for shouting out Mu Alpha's webpage. . .that's my handiwork, not to pat myself on the back. (pat-pat)

One of the things about the old songs that I found and added to that site was that many were still gender-specific. Don't get me wrong, I think it's wonderful to have SO MANY songs already, and when I was Pledgemaster, I made sure that my kids were exposed to them. They are part of our history and are to be respected as well.

But I still think we need more songs that are more or less official that reflect our current fraternity. I am not advocating altering the toast song or really trying to state that it shouldn't be altered. Just want to see if people are truly interested in adding more songs to our canon.

Q5, I'm about to email you.

lol Wild doesnt even come close. Got your e sent you one back, i will be sending one to eta psi listserv when i get the chance too, if i am not mistaken some of the really old alum ( i mean the dinosaurs from the 40's) may have had a song book or two from the shows they did back in the day, i will see if any relate to APO.

Umm, if you read the initial post closely, you'll see how I arrived at the alteration of the toast song as a topic.:rolleyes: I'm down for additional frat songs as long as it's not sappy like some of the one's I've witnessed outside of HBCU chapters.

If you are going to read that much into an introductory statement to sway this thread off focus then oh well. I dont know what you mean by sappy like the ones outside of the colored schools, some are just as heartfelt if not more, and i am pretty sure some of the ones that come out of colored schools arent nat'l friendly. so dont be surprised if those "sappy" songs come out on top if this comes to the floor.



But on to good things......

Bsoldier I'm going to be traveling out your way in the coming months youve got to tell me what things APO -wise are going on, i need to witness a little " diversity".

I feel you, Q5. . .

If we do our research, we will find there are plenty of non-sappy songs from non-HBCU's. Plenty of the songs from WAY back in the day, though dated, are very meaningful even though they might not be in the "HBCU style."

I'll respect any song written by a Brother, especially if he or she has put his heart into writing a song glorifying the principles of this Fraternity, much like the prolific David Mossesson.

So. . .let's get to writing!

Its all a matter of respect and understanding the deeper meaning. Just like some people dont dig classical but the can listen all day and night to hip hop...in some cases if they understood some of the deeper meaning they would dig it.

I'm going to get to writing, as a matter of fact i am going to wake one of my brothers up right now to get some info from him....although up here today is recovery day. It'll give me something to do with my other skills.

ok now i am going to just assume youre white. I dont think theres any other answer to that cause i am sure just about anyone else would get that.

all i have to say is you reallly need some diversity training, you have the nerve to say "colored " schools, where are you from, and how dare you say colored, is this slavery time again, dont ever say some *ish like that agian, Colored, thats a funny one.

Casanova
#1-ADH-Spr01

Where do you get off making demands to total strangers, I dare say it and will do so as i choose as is my right. Now you want to make a deal of it start another thread cause this is not what was to be discussed.

So speaking of SONGS. . .

So back in the day before we had a second verse to the Toast Song, some chapters sang it twice, and had a soloist sing the first half of it the second time around.

Also, in the minutes of the National Board on the national site, it seems as though we had a Sweetheart Song. . .but I have not seen the lyrics to said song.

Nice move.... I think i have seen the sweetheart song, not sure where though, might have just heard about it. But if there was one printed as a nat'l publication i think i might know where to get a copy, let me know if it was ever a nat'l publication.

From the July 25, 1965 National Board Minutes:

"The committee voted to accept with appreciation a Sweetheart Song written for APO by Mr. Stephen Chalfa, father of Nick Chalfa, Iota Rho, Florida State."


From the December 27-29, 1966 National Board Minutes:

"Accepted with appreciation the donation of an APO 'Sweetheart Song' from Iota Rho, Florida State University"

******

So, if there was a national document with such a song, it would probably have been first published between '65 and '67.

Q5, you have AIM? If so, send me your screen name in an email.

the 60's now thats going to be a hard time to find archived stuff. I am going to check the archives at my school because they keep a lot of things of that nature for orgs on this campus. I dont know how it is everywhere else but its extremely hard to find things about organizations during that time period in hardcopy form.

u that girl thats a gss and an apo ok i dont need to ask anymore questions.
lol

Toast Song
 

FYI...there is legislation to change the Toast Song in New Orleans. I noticed it in the most recent version of the T&T.

This is an interest sub-topic embedded in this discussion. A large an old topic. That is black individuals that have been so far away from blacks that they can not fit back into it's culture. For one to be black an utter "colored" when decribing other black individuals, would seem very strange amongst a crowd of black people. (North or South). However, if the individual, although being black, did not develop within a black culture, they would feel right at home saying "colored" with their community of development.

There are even individuals that are black but do not consider themselves to be such. The opinion comes off as being arrogant, with the thought of being above individuals who consider themselves black. Also these individuals distinguish themselves by never adopting any other speak but a their own diverse community's vanacular to help show evidence of having a different state of being.

Now this separate personality is not a bad thing to have. You need to be able to communicate effectively with people outside your own race. The problem is not being able to communicate with people within your own race. Thinking that your edcuation, your personality, your high standards, or even your non-black
friends can pull you above your own race, is not only self centered, it is also not reality.

Back to the topic at hand...
 

I came across two interesting extra verses. I thought they were pretty funny to sing... especially in public. These are sung in the same way we sing the toast song

Back your girl into a corner,
Turn the lights down low.
Place one hand upon her bosom,
The other down below.
When she starts to shake and shiver,
Tell her so she'll know--
That's the secret handshake of
The men of A-Phi-O.

And for the ladies...

Lead your guy on to the dance floor
Press your bodies tight
Tell him what he wants to hear
That he'll get some tonight
Let him walk you to your doorstep
Let him think you're cheap
Then send him home in agony
Where he can BEAT HIS MEAT

I got it from the Epsilon Lambda site
http://www.martinek.us/humor/songs.html

Forreal, colored schools??? I coulda sworn this is like 2003 or something. I think the term colored left with Jim Crow on the bus that Rosa rode on.

Anyway Rashid, I think that adding more songs would be tight. I might holla at cha with some lyrics myself :p

need some help?
 

My Father is Nick Chalfa, and my grandfather was Stephen Chalfa. I could ask my Father if he knows anything about this song, if you are interested. Just let me know.

Claudia

Yes, yes -- we're interested! Please ask!

lol...ok, I will. My Dad is out of the country on a trip right now but as soon as he returns, I will ask him about it and let you know what he says. I am assuming you are members of the same Alpha Phi Omega frat? If so, is there a chapter at Clemson University? Because I am a graduate student there right now.

Claudia

They sure do! Here is the link: http://www.clemsonapo.org/

Commentary
 

I looked through the T&Ts from about 1965 to 1968, only thing I found about the sweetheart song was the entry in the T&T with the December 1966 Board minutes that said exactly what Senusret I found in the Board minutes.

OTOH, I noticed over on the Wedding Traditions thread that NIUETA said that

"One of our girls is getting married and we recently found our "Sweetheart" song from when the girls were still the Phyettes, so we plan on playing it dedicated to her at her wedding." I presume that is the same song...

Add me to the list of "yes, yes", I couldn't find it in the songs in the History Book...

I asked my Father about the song, and he said that if I forwarded an email from you to him, he would discuss the song with you. He thinks he may have a recording of it somewhere. Please email me at Claudih@Clemson.edu and I will forward it to him.

Claudia

Hey Claudia,

Tell your father I said hi. I am a member of Iota Rho! :)