THE CUP SONG OBJECTIVES

• To understand the history of ‘The Cup Song’

• To learn and perform the rhythm from ‘The Cup Song’ THE CUP SONG HISTORY

• It’s a craze that has swept over schools everywhere and contrary to popular belief, the Cup Song (or “Cup Game”) was not created for the 2012 movie Pitch Perfect. Both the song and game that accompanies it have been around for years and their history is an interesting one. • The song – When I’m Gone – was originally written and recorded by country music group The Carter Family in 1931. The Mainers Mountaineers later recorded their own version of the song in 1937 and at this time it was a stand-alone song, with no cup-based rhythmic accompaniment. • The cup routine itself is attributed to performer Rich Mullins and it started life as a rhythmic accompaniment for his 1987 song Screen Door. You can see Rich Mullins in an a cappella performance of the song in this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb_WvrFGRqY USE THE PREVIOUS SLIDE TO HELP YOU ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

• What is the correct name of the song that goes with the cup song? • When was it written? • When Rich Mullins performed it with his group they performed without any instruments and singing alone. What is this style of music called? • Which film made the cup song famous? • When was this film released? ANSWERS

• What is the correct name of the song that goes with the cup song? • When I’m Gone • When was it written? 1931 • When Rich Mullins performed it with his group they performed without any instruments and singing alone. What is this style of music called? A cappella • Which film made the cup song famous? Pitch Perfect • When was this film released? 2012 THE EVOLUTION OF THE CUP SONG

• The cup game first gained mainstream popularity on Youtube with a performance by Lulu and the Lampshades. They decided to pair it with the When I’m Gone song and uploaded a video of their performance back in 2009 (yes, waaaaay before Pitch Perfect).https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWCOYJg9ps4

• Anna Burden later covered that version and Anna Kendrik (the actor from Pitch Perfect) is reported to have seen her video on the social trend-spotting website Reddit. Anna Kendrick spent an afternoon learning it and when the Pitch Perfect producers discovered she knew it, they decided to include it in the movie. PITCH PERFECT CUP SONG WE ARE GOING TO LEARN TO PLAY THE CUP SONG! HAVE A GO AT PERFORMING THE SONG. HAVE FUN! OTHER SONGS USING CUPS