Dressed in smart suits and black dresses, the members of the Harvard Opportunes looked ready to give a traditional performance in keeping with the historic prestige of the famous university they attend. Formed in 1980, the a cappella group has specialized in performing modern pop hits, from Whitney Houston to Ariana Grande. Their latest performance showed they’ve still got their finger on the pulse when they performed K-pop star and BTS member Jung Kook’s ‘Standing Next To You.’
Taking on the top-ten funk-pop hit, the Opportunes transformed the song completely with their signature a cappella style, still managing to capture the groove of the original song with their vocals. While their impressively skillful rendition was in keeping with their usual performances, it took everyone by surprise when one member stepped forward to perform Jung Kook’s complex hip-hop style choreography. The stunning performance has pulled in over 234k views in only two weeks.
I was blown away by the talent on display from this group. Music Man readers who watch the video won’t know what to be more impressed by – the dance moves, powerhouse vocals, or how the arrangement fits together so seamlessly. I was especially struck by the way the group pulled the whole rendition together with their performance abilities and stage presence. K-pop stars like Jung Kook have become known for their onstage cool factor, but I think the Opportunes might give him a run for his money.
While the Opportunes love to take on chart-topping hits, this isn’t the only way they prove they’ve got their finger on the pulse. Music Man fans might remember ‘Ceilings’ by Lizzy McAlpine, which went viral on TikTok in 2023, but they may not be aware of her lesser-known track ‘Erase Me.’ The Opportunes showed their willingness to pay tribute to deep cuts when they performed a beautiful a cappella version of this song. It ended up becoming one of their most listened-to renditions ever.
For many, a cappella groups like the Harvard Opportunes might conjure up images of a traditional choir, in keeping with the traditional prestige of their universities. While the Opportunes stand in amongst a long legacy of historical university musical groups, their up-to-date renditions prove that there is nothing about this group that is stuck in the past. With their cover of ‘Standing Next To You’ pulling in so many views, and a new BTS album continuing to take K-pop to new global heights, perhaps we can expect the Opportunes to take on another hit from the genre in the future.
The Harvard Opportunes are certainly a group to watch — their viral Jung Kook cover proves they can match K-pop’s polish with acapella finesse. For performances, recordings and other useful links, see the useful links below this paragraph to discover more.