Some moments feel like an invitation to step out of the ordinary and just be. The kind of moment that lifts you right out of your seat, makes your toes tap before you even realize it, and suddenly you’re grinning so wide it feels like your cheeks might cramp. That’s what happened in an auditorium where the Harvard Opportunes performed their dazzling a cappella cover of Whitney Houston’s iconic ‘How Will I Know?’
The lights were raised, and a hush fell over the auditorium. Then, it began with a single note like a thread of gold weaving its way into the air. Nicole Alexander steps out of the line of singers, and you wait can’t for her to sing the beginning lyrics of the song:
There's a boy I know, he's the one I dream of
Looks into my eyes, takes me to the clouds above, mmm-hmm
Oh, I lose control, can't seem to get enough, uh-huh
When I wake from dreaming, tell me, is it really love?
Before you could catch your breath, harmonies of the Harvard Oppertunes burst forth, bright and vibrant, like a firework show for the ears. They became the music, pouring their fun, joy, rhythm, and energy into every note. The stage came to life. Each member moved like they were born to groove, swaying and moving with a kind of contagious joy that spread like wildfire through the audience. They carried the song straight to your soul. The beatboxer, the bass, and the soaring sopranos all came together like a symphony without instruments. It was incredible to watch.
And then came the part we call can’t resist. The chorus, “How will I know if he really loves me?”—and suddenly, you were singing along. Maybe a little off-key, maybe louder than you intended, but none of that matters because it's the kind of song that grabs your heart and invites us to dance right along.
The beauty of a cappella is in its rawness and pure form. There are no instruments to hide behind or to use for support. It’s just you, your soul, and your voice rising in song. The Harvard Oppertunes didn’t merely put together a performance–they created a moment. It is a moment where strangers on and off the internet come together over the joy spilling over from the music.
And isn’t that what music is supposed to do? To bring us together, to make us forget our worries for a while, to let us feel. That’s what this performance did. It was a little bit of magic, a little bit of groove, and a whole lot of love and talent.
So, here’s your permission: Dance. Sing along, even if it’s off-key. Because sometimes, the answer to ‘How will I know?’ is simply this: You’ll feel it. Right there in your chest, in the way your heart lifts and your feet move, and your spirit soars.
Psalm 30:11 "You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy."