By Staff Writer: Rachel Cichon
On Thursday, Feb. 13, the day before Valentine’s Day, Howell High School will be experiencing one of its proud traditions – singing valentines. A singing valentine is a delivery of a rose by the HHS Classicality and Calamity students (Calamity if the receiver is female, Classicality if they’re male) who sing one of six prepared songs in front of the entire class, resulting in lots of laughs, some embarrassment and a beautiful rose to commemorate the day.
“Most girls get kind of embarrassed about it, but when Classicality sings to guys they get really embarrassed and it’s super funny,” says senior Logan Tesmer, a Calamity singer.
There are twelve songs that will be heard throughout the school that Thursday, six by the individual groups. The songs differ so that Calamity and Classicality can sing songs meant for girls and boys, respectively. The choirs have been practicing them since their Christmas concert and are excited to finally perform them in front of their peers.
“I’m always excited for this. I look forward to it every year,” says Tesmer.
Singing valentines will be sold at all lunches beginning on Monday, Feb. 10 near the welcome desk. The valentines cost $2 each, and the buyer must be prepared to write the first and last name of the valentine recipient, as well as the name of the teacher and class that they will be in when they receive the valentine. Singing valentines can be delivered during any hour of the day, as the groups will spend the entire day interrupting classrooms to sing to students.
Singing valentines are both a great way to show someone that you care about them, and a way to embarrass an unsuspecting friend. Extroverts will flourish as a group of singers encircle them, and make them the center of attention for the length of a song. Whether you buy one for a friend, boyfriend, girlfriend or even yourself (secretly, of course), singing valentines are a great way to celebrate the holiday.
“Oh, my God, I love it! It’s like our favorite thing to do every year,” says junior Aspen Pyle, a Classicality singer about the event.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cKos4lRB54&w=420&h=315]
