Two of Bowdoin's a cappella groups plan on celebrating Valentine's Day early this year.
On February 13, Miscellania and The Longfellows will serenade the campus with love songs from different genres during the second-annual Val Jam.
The theme for this holiday concert? "We usually try to do more love songs," said Abbie Isaacson '08, one of the leaders of Miscellania.
As Glen Ryan '07, musical director of The Longfellows, stated more directly, "Love. The theme of life is love."
Although this concert marks only the second year of Val Jam, both groups hope to make the concert a tradition.
The Longfellows are a relatively new group at Bowdoin, and Ryan said the group wants to "establish traditions that will sustain us on campus."
Isaacson added that the concert provides a "fun thing for people to go to the day before Valentine's Day."
Ryan said that even though the concert "is a unique first" on campus, "it only makes sense to sing about love on Valentine's Day."
The concert will include a set of songs from each group and will culminate in a duet involving both Miscellania and The Longfellows. Although this year's duet remains a surprise, last year the singers crooned, "You're All I Need to Get By," by Marvin Gaye.
Longfellows business manager Chase Cicchetti '09 said that Val Jam presents a unique opportunity because a cappella groups on campus "don't usually do duets with other groups."
"Expect love songs of a variety of genres," said Ryan.
Isaacson added that the Val Jam "kicks off" Bowdoin's a cappella spring season. Later this semester, Miscellania and the Longfellows will both be involved in an a cappella invitational and a spring concert with other Bowdoin singers.
This year, Val Jam will serve as a benefit concert for Safe Passage, an organization that provides support for Guatemalan children to further their education. Safe Passage was founded by the late Hanley Denning '92. Admission to the concert is free, but there will be a donation box available for those who want to contribute.
Isaacson and Ryan both agreed that "you don't need a date to go to Val Jam."
However, Ryan added, "If you are a young gentleman or lady concerned about date originality, Val Jam is, at the very least, a good start."
The concert will take place at the Chapel on Tuesday at 8 p.m.