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Don’t Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin
Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry Be Happy” holds the unique distinction of being the only a cappella song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, which happened in 1988. The inspiration came from a poster McFerrin noticed in the apartment of jazz duo Tuck & Patti in San Francisco, featuring a phrase popularized by Indian spiritual Guru Meher Baba. What’s fascinating is that McFerrin recorded the song while maintaining a playful character accent throughout the session.
The entire track was built layer by layer, with McFerrin first recording the bass line with his voice, then the percussion parts, followed by the whistling hook, and finally the lyrics – creating seven tracks in total. The song was recorded from top to bottom in just three hours. At the 1989 Grammy Awards, it won Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, proving that innovation could triumph over traditional recording methods.
Bohemian Rhapsody by Pentatonix
Few artists are brave enough to cover a song as iconic as Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” but a cappella quintet Pentatonix took on this challenge and ended up going viral online, racking up over a million views. Their a cappella rendition has been viewed more than 100 million times online. While Queen’s original version already features an operatic chorus with piano and electric guitar, Pentatonix had to recreate the symphonic swell using only human voices.
The group piled onto a couch, stared deep into the lens of the camera, and kicked off their cover with a spine-tingling harmony before lending control to group tenor Mitch Grassi. There are chill-inducing moments from Mitch’s tender vocal delivery at the beginning, while a guitar solo was created by wailing into a megaphone. The video follows the group’s journey through the different aspects of the complex song, delivering mind-blowing vocal effects that only they could accomplish.
The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Tokens
Originally written in the 1930s in Zulu, Solomon Linda recorded the song in 1939 with its familiar “Wimoweh” chant with his group The Evening Birds, sparking an entire style of music in South Africa called “Mbube,” before The Tokens added English lyrics and made it a number one hit in 1961. This transformation from African folk song to American pop sensation demonstrates how a cappella can bridge cultures and generations. The haunting vocal arrangements and rhythmic chanting create an almost hypnotic effect that’s impossible to ignore.
The song’s journey is both beautiful and tragic, as its original creator died in poverty while others profited from his work. However, the timeless appeal of those layered vocals and the infectious “wimoweh” chorus has ensured its place in music history. It’s been covered countless times and featured in everything from Disney films to Broadway shows, proving that great a cappella transcends any single interpretation.
Hallelujah by Pentatonix
Pentatonix breathes new life into Leonard Cohen’s timeless masterpiece “Hallelujah,” delivering a soul-stirring acapella performance that captures the song’s depth and emotion. Leonard Cohen’s original composition has been covered by hundreds of artists, but Pentatonix managed to find new emotional territory within its familiar verses. Their arrangement strips away any instrumental distractions, allowing every word to resonate with crystalline clarity.
The group’s harmonic choices create moments of breathtaking beauty, particularly during the chorus where their voices blend into something almost otherworldly. Each vocal part serves a specific purpose, from the bass providing a steady foundation to the higher voices creating ethereal textures. This version demonstrates how a cappella can take an already powerful song and somehow make it even more intimate and moving. The absence of instruments forces listeners to focus entirely on the message and the raw emotion in each voice.
Mary, Did You Know? by Pentatonix
Pentatonix’s hauntingly beautiful acapella performance of “Mary, Did You Know?” captures the wonder and reverence of the Christmas season. This contemporary Christmas song has become a seasonal favorite, but Pentatonix’s interpretation elevates it to something truly special. The careful arrangement allows each question posed in the lyrics to hang in the air, creating moments of reflection and contemplation.
Their vocal blend creates an almost angelic quality that perfectly matches the song’s spiritual themes. The dynamic range they achieve, from whispered verses to soaring choruses, demonstrates why they’ve become the gold standard for modern a cappella groups. The song builds gradually, with each voice entering at precisely the right moment to maximize emotional impact. It’s the kind of performance that can move listeners to tears, regardless of their religious background, simply through the power of human voices telling a story.
I Want You Back by The Jackson 5 (Pentatonix Cover)
Pentatonix pays tribute to the Jackson 5’s hit “I Want You Back” with a lively and rhythmically intricate acapella rendition that showcases their vocal dexterity. The original Motown classic was already infectious, but Pentatonix’s version proves that you don’t need instruments to get people dancing. Their vocal percussion creates a groove that’s just as compelling as any drum kit, while their harmonies add layers of complexity that weren’t present in the original.
The arrangement showcases each member’s individual strengths while maintaining the tight ensemble sound that Pentatonix is known for. The way they recreate the bass line, horn sections, and even guitar licks using only their voices is nothing short of remarkable. This cover demonstrates how a cappella can take a beloved song from any era and make it feel completely fresh and contemporary. The energy is infectious, and it’s impossible to listen without feeling the urge to move along with the rhythm.
Africa by Toto (Pentatonix Cover)
Pentatonix’s take on Toto’s “Africa” is a vocal journey that pays tribute to the beloved original while adding their own acapella magic. Toto’s 1982 hit has experienced multiple waves of popularity, but Pentatonix’s version introduces it to an entirely new generation. The challenge of recreating those distinctive synthesizer sounds and complex rhythms using only voices seemed impossible, yet they managed to capture the essence of what made the original so special.
Their arrangement is both respectful and innovative, maintaining the song’s atmospheric quality while showcasing the unique possibilities of a cappella performance. The vocal percussion drives the song forward with the same urgency as the original’s drums, while layered harmonies replace the lush instrumental arrangements. It’s a masterclass in how to honor source material while making it distinctly your own. The result is a version that stands on its own merits while still triggering nostalgia for the beloved original.
Gravity by Sara Bareilles
Surprisingly, “Gravity,” that piano-laden ballad that everyone loves, was originally written as an a cappella tune and featured on “BOCA 2004,” when Sara Bareilles was just a young college student recording with her college a cappella group. This song is a true a cappella standard, covered by dozens of groups, and aside from “Love Song,” it’s probably Bareilles’ most famous track. The irony that her most instrument-heavy commercial hit started as a purely vocal piece speaks to the power of a good song regardless of its arrangement.
The original a cappella version reveals the song’s emotional core in ways that the full production sometimes obscures. Without piano or strings to carry the melody, every vocal inflection becomes crucial to conveying the song’s message of letting go and finding peace. The bare arrangement forces listeners to focus on the lyrics and the raw emotion in Bareilles’ voice, creating an intimacy that’s difficult to achieve with a full band. This track proves that sometimes the most powerful version of a song is also the simplest.
Carmen Sandiego Theme by Rockapella
Those were the words that every child screamed at the top of their lungs at the end of every episode of “Where In The World is Carmen Sandiego,” and this song has stood the test of time, remaining one of the most popular a cappella originals even today, with everyone knowing the opening lick and the chorus. The best part about this song is that no one thought of it as an “a cappella original” but simply as an original song that happened to not use instruments. For many people, this was their first exposure to a cappella music, and it left an indelible impression.
For the first time ever, all of the music on a game show was created by the five voices of Rockapella, and the show won several Emmys for its 295 educational shows across five seasons. The theme song’s infectious energy and memorable melody made geography fun for an entire generation. Its success proved that a cappella could work in mainstream media, paving the way for future vocal groups to find success in unexpected places.
Amazing Grace (Traditional)
This hymn, written near the end of the 18th century, has become one of the most popular pieces of music in the entire world, with that universal recognition making it a great option for certain crowds, though that familiarity can sometimes make it difficult for choirs to set themselves apart. Though written by Anglican clergyman John Newton in England, the song took off in the United States, becoming a favorite among Methodist and Baptist preachers in the 19th century and later becoming an extremely important spiritual that served as an anthem for the civil rights movement.
The song’s simple melody and profound message make it perfectly suited for a cappella treatment. When stripped of instrumental accompaniment, the focus shifts entirely to the words and their meaning, allowing the spiritual message to resonate more deeply. Countless a cappella groups have found success with their own interpretations, each bringing something unique to this timeless piece. The fact that it can move audiences regardless of their religious background speaks to the universal power of both the song and the human voice when combined with genuine emotion and skillful arrangement.
These ten songs represent the pinnacle of what’s possible when human voices come together in perfect harmony. From Bobby McFerrin’s groundbreaking solo performance to Pentatonix’s modern interpretations of classics, each track demonstrates that the most sophisticated technology can’t replace the fundamental power of the human voice. Whether they’re ancient hymns or contemporary covers, the best a cappella songs prove that sometimes the most moving music comes from the simplest source.
What do you think about these vocal masterpieces? Tell us in the comments.
Christian Wiedeck, all the way from Germany, loves music festivals, especially in the USA. His articles bring the excitement of these events to readers worldwide.
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