Lovers, friends, and teachers were gifted singing telegrams once again this Valentine’s Day. A longstanding tradition that came to a halt when Covid-19 closed schools, singing telegrams were sold this year by Running Dog Productions (RDP), the school’s theater department, and delivered to lucky recipients.
RDP held auditions early February to determine songs to be played and groups to perform, hung posters around the school, and sold telegrams during lunch blocks in order for the tradition’s return to be a success. The telegrams were sung–and played on various instruments–to students throughout the school by three groups who practiced multiple romantic songs in preparation for this event. From Taylor Swift’s “Mine” to John Legend’s “All of Me,” from George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” to even a school-appropriate version of The Champs’ “Tequila,” the hallways were filled with Valentine’s cheer.
“I felt really good [performing] because it was a fun experience,” sophomore Keelyn Anderson said, who sang with her group “The Cupid Cuties.” “It was cool.”
Many were fond of this tradition prior to school closures in 2020. For those who were here to remember the occasion, Bulldogs appreciated the opportunity to sprinkle class time with singing telegrams as opposed to full instructional time and lectures.
“I think we used to have more groups going around and doing the telegrams,” English teacher Ms. Melanie Stender said. “but I think now that we brought it back it’ll continue to grow in that way.”
This year, singing telegrams were sold during lunch, where students could purchase as many as they would like for $10 each and fill out a form in order to pick from a list of pre-selected songs. The person receiving the telegram sat at the front of the class and was then serenaded with the gifter’s song of choice.
“There’s something so fun about being absolutely loud and obnoxious and having nobody to tell you ‘You have to stop,’” sophomore Bridget Lockett, who performed on saxophone, said.
With love and laughter spreading through Stone Bridge’s halls because of the singing telegrams, RDP hopes to bring the tradition back annually, spreading polite embarrassment through songs of love.
