Entertainment
15 Best ‘Pitch Perfect’ Performances, Ranked
Music brings the world together as a universal art that we all have and can relate to. It’s why we tend to have an adoration for films that feature music. Riding on the high of Glee and The Sing-Off during the early 2000s came a film franchise that made a major impact on pop culture. That franchise was Pitch Perfect. Bringing to life the journey of the Barden Bellas, an a capella group at the fictional Barden University, the three films celebrated friendship and joy through the mutual love of song.
While the plots of all three films followed a similar blueprint, with the third film even poking fun at the need for a competition, the one unifying element no one can deny is the exceptional use of music throughout the films. From standalone singles to mash-ups and riff-offs, the performances are still the moments in the film we continue to discuss. It’s time to break down the greatest performances from all three films, focusing on the impact on the story, the emotions they pull out, and the musical arrangements and composition.
15
“Cups” — Beca
‘Pitch Perfect’
This one is here mostly for sentimental reasons and for the impact it had in elevating the film into the pop culture lexicon. In the first film, our exposition reveals that the Barden Bellas are having difficulty scouting a new group of Bellas after co-leader Aubrey Posen (Anna Camp) puked on stage during their performance. After the school-wide a cappella auditions seemed to finish, Beca Mitchell (Anna Kendrick) walks in, deciding to audition. Rather than singing her rendition of “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson as the other hopefuls did, she pulls out a cup and offers the now iconic “Cups.”
A reworked version of The Carter Family folk song “When I’m Gone,” which had been revived by Lulu and the Lampshades, Beca uses the beloved children’s clapping game as her percussion as she shows off her skills. While Beca may not bring the most pristine a cappella vocal in this moment, what Aubrey and Chloe (Brittany Snow) hear is someone who can make music, something Beca will forever be identified with. In the context of the film, the clapping game is used later in the performance, proving this audition isn’t just a blip. If you were a fan of the movie, you probably tried the cup game yourself. (If you were like me, you failed.)
14
World Championships — Das Sound Machine
‘Pitch Perfect 2’
From nationals to worlds! After being tossed out of the ICCAs, the Barden Bellas had to prove their worth in Pitch Perfect 2 by winning the international competition. As with sequel films, there was always going to be one major adversary standing in their way at the finals. Das Sound Machine, the German representatives, brought a very different sound and style to the Bellas. Where the Bellas were classical a capella, Das Sound Machine relied on percussive staccato with intensity.
Throughout the film, the fight to the top seemed tougher than ever as Das Sound Machine brought showmanship like the Bellas had never seen, and their championship performance was no different. Both explosive and pointed, Das Sound Machine gave a mashup of “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)” by Fall Out Boy and “All I Do Is Win” by DJ Khaled featuring T. Pain, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, and Rick Ross. It was certainly a solid performance that showed how strong a team they were, but in the world of storytelling, never try to claim victory before the crown is on your head! Knowing that we needed a Bellas victory, perhaps that’s why Das Sound Machine didn’t give their best performance here. But it’s still exceptional nevertheless.
13
Pool Mash-Up — The Barden Bellas
‘Pitch Perfect’
In every good story, there must be a moment of potential defeat in which our heroines come together to find their purpose once again. In Pitch Perfect, that came in the form of the Pool Mash-Up. After being scolded by Aubrey for going rogue during the ICAA semi-finals, the Bellas feel that their chances of winning are slim. Even though Beca brought a newfound sound through her improvisation, the Bellas were still missing something. And so, following a brief hiatus of quitting, Beca returns to amplify things.
The Bellas head to the pool, and Beca leads the team in a lesson on remix. Aubrey selects Bruno Mars‘ “Just the Way You Are” as the starting song, which allows Beca to layer in “Just a Dream” by Nelly. Of course, it’s perfect. Smiles fill the girls’ faces, and the Bellas have a newfound path to victory. In the world of a capella, mash-ups have been a modern recipe for excitement, driving the evolution of the art form. By the old-school Bellas shedding their past for a modern sound, they, too, evolve with the times.
12
“Cheap Thrills” — The Bellas
‘Pitch Perfect 3’
Arguably the weakest of the three films, Pitch Perfect 3 was essentially fan service to wrap up a wonderful franchise. The story by Kay Cannon and Mike White (yes, that Mike White) was exactly what it needed to be in terms of sequels. The weakest link was the overall music selection. That said, when the right songs were brought in, Pitch Perfect 3 was divine. Such was the case when The Bellas offered their first performance during the USO tour.
Following their fellow opening acts’ performances, The Bellas hit the stage with Sia‘s “Cheap Thrills.” Decked out in naval Americana outfits, The Bellas did what they do best: tight harmonies. It’s an interesting performance, as they opted for a singular song rather than a mash-up, but maybe being conservative for the troops was the right direction. That said, the random competition added to the story gave credence and reason to believe that the girls may not be victorious. They were back to their roots, singing beautifully, but not proving they could beat out their competitors.
11
“Lollipop” — The Treblemakers
‘Pitch Perfect 2’
Pitch Perfect 2 decided to pull out a severely underrated artist and elevate him to a new audience. After The Barden Bellas were tossed out of the ICCA and told they could no longer recruit, the number one a cappella troupe on campus was The Treblemakers. Now, without Bumper (Adam Devine), it was Jesse (Skylar Astin) and Benji (Ben Platt) leading the boy group.
As the premier group at Barden, they were invited to provide the orientation performance in which they sang an incredible version of Mika‘s “Lollipop.” Of course, the song is littered with innuendo through a peppy sound, and they brought their signature essence while being just a tad cheeky. It’s a really fun performance of a wonderful song. Mika, who just released a brand new studio album, proved to be the perfect artist for that moment before we essentially said goodbye to The Treblemakers. Yes, this was their last solo in the franchise.
10
Car Show — Das Sound Machine
‘Pitch Perfect 2’
Pitch Perfect 2 introduced perhaps the most formidable opponent across all three films in Das Sound Machine. Led by the beautifully intimidating Kommissar (Birgitte Hjort Sørensen) and robust second-in-command Pieter Krämer (Flula Borg), they epitomized the antagonists with ease. They were wittily condescending and strikingly imposing. We had heard that they were going to give the Barden Bellas a run for their money, and it was proven when they stepped on stage during their US tour at the Car Show — a gig they took from our heroines.
The powerhouse team didn’t give a typical a cappella performance — instead, they showcased their artistry through a dominating mashup of “Uprising” by Muse and “Tsunami” by DVBBS and Borgeous. Very European. What Das Sound Machine brought to this performance was the ability to showcase spectacle and choreography that contrasted what the Bellas provide. No wonder the Bellas had to step up their game!
9
“How a Heart Unbreaks” — Evermoist
‘Pitch Perfect 3’
When it came to the USO tour, DJ Khaled invited a quartet of musical groups to perform and ultimately compete to open up for him for the filmed special. In addition to the Bellas, it was rapping duo Young Sparrow (Trinidad James) and DJ Dragon Nutz (D.J. Looney), country crooners Saddle Up (Whiskey Shivers), and female rockers Evermoist, led by Calamity (Ruby Rose). Meant to be the Bellas’ biggest competitors, Evermoist proved they knew how to put on a show.
Before the Bellas hit the stage, they performed an original track called “How a Heart Unbreaks.” A tried-and-true pop-rock song, Evermoist had the Bellas shaking in their heels. Evermoist, which also featured the appropriately named Serenity (Andy Allo), Veracity (Hannah Fairlight), and Charity (Venzella Joy Williams), offered such a strong performance that you almost wished they were real! Sadly, the song didn’t quite take off in the same way that the Pitch Perfect 2 original song “Flashlight” did.
8
Riff-Off — The Barden Bellas, The Treblemakers, The BU Harmonics
‘Pitch Perfect’
Aside from “Cups,” the musical moment that put Pitch Perfect on the map was the Riff-Off. Per tradition at Barden, the various a cappella groups on campus would battle it out in a Riff-Off for a cappella glory and the microphone used by Hoobastank when they rocked out at the Schnee Performing Arts Center. The way the Riff-Off works is that a category is selected. A group starts with a song that works, then another group comes in using the last word of the song. The train continues until a song is missed or a word is inappropriately used. In the first film, the Riff-Off is performed by The Barden Bellas, The Treblemakers, and the BU Harmonics.
The Riff-Off begins with “Ladies of the ’80s” kicked off with The Trebles taking on “Mickey” by Toni Basil, The BU Harmonics singing “Like a Virgin” by Madonna, The Bellas coming in with Pat Benatar‘s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” and the BU Harmonics being *clap, clap* CUT OFF by wrongly singing “It Must Have Been Love” by Roxette. The second round gives the remaining teams “Songs About Sex,” featuring The Bellas singing “S&M” by Rihanna, The Trebles taking on “Let’s Talk About Sex” by Salt-N-Pepa, The Bellas countering with “I’ll make Love to You” by Boyz II Men, Jesse coming in with Foreigner‘s “Feels Like the First Time,” only for Beca being cut off by misusing “No Diggity” by Blackstreet and Dr. Dre and Queen Pen. The Riff-Off is a moment of team building and unity. For the audience, it’s a celebration of music and the ability to hear the magic of a cappella like never before.
7
Riff-Off — Das Sound Machine, Tone Hangers, The Barden Bellas, Green Bay Packers, The Treblemakers
‘Pitch Perfect 2’
The reason the Riff-Off from Pitch Perfect 2 tops the Riff-Off from Pitch Perfect is that they were forced to step up their game. After being invited to a secret party by Sir Willups Brightlysmore (David Cross), The Barden Bellas engage in a Riff-Off with a random assortment of competitors, including Das Sound Machine, the Tone Hangers featuring Bumper, The Treblemakers, and the most bizarre cameo from the Green Bay Packers, comprised of Clay Matthews, David Bakhtiari, Don Barclay, Josh Sitton, and T.J. Lang. Like the original, the game is the same.
In this medley, the Riff-Off begins with “Songs About Butts,” which is, as Beca puts it, “Anything on the radio.” Das Sound Machine starts with Sisqo‘s “Thong Song,” before the Tone Hangers come in with “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty” by KC and the Sunshine Band. In comes The Bellas with a saucy rendition of “Low” from Flo Rida featuring T-Pain before a personalized rendition of “Bootylicious” by Destiny’s Child from the Packers. Sadly, getting cut off first are The Trebles with Sir Mix-a-Lot‘s “Baby Got Back” when Benji sees his crush, Emily (Hailee Steinfeld), across the room. The next category is “Country Love,” in which Clay Matthews is eager to kick things off, but it’s the Tone Hangers with “Live Like You Were Dying” by Tim McGraw that’s first. The Bellas counter with “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood, only for the Packers to be stumped, as they had their mind on the “42gs at D&Bs.”
The next round is “I Dated John Mayer,” which Bumper is thrilled about, as he was his personal assistant. Das Sound Machine begins with “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton, and the Bellas come in with Taylor Swift‘s “We Are Never Getting Back Together.” When it is time for Bumper, he sings “What’s Love Got to Do with It” by Tina Turner, making the entire room question whether Tina Turner and John Mayer ever dated. Spoiler, they did not. The final showdown sees Das Sound Machine against the Barden Bellas in a face-off in “’90s Hip Hop Jamz.” It’s a quick succession of songs going from “This Is How We Do It” by Montell Jordan to Lauryn Hill‘s “Doo Wop (That Thing),” Bell Biv DeVoe‘s “Poison” to “Scenario” by A Tribe Called Quest, then “Insane in the Membrane” by Cypress Hill to “Flashlight.” Well, the legacy sings her original song, and the Bellas lose. But it allows us to begin to adore the original track. The extended Riff-Off is a wonderful homage to the original and the best of the three. There’s a reason Pitch Perfect 3‘s iteration is missing because, well, it didn’t work.
6
Kennedy Center Performance — The Barden Bellas
‘Pitch Perfect 2’
After winning the Nationals, the Barden Bellas are back for more in Pitch Perfect 2. The sequel, directed by Elizabeth Banks, who also reprises her role as Gail Abernathy-McKadden-Feinberger, sets the film off on the right tone. Having a chance to tour the country, the Bellas are in the nation’s capital, performing at the Kennedy Center, which canonically has yet to be renamed. Understanding the power of mash-ups, our favorite a cappella group gives the crowd, which includes President Barack Obama, a brilliant rendition of songs including “We Got the World” by Icona Pop, “Timber” by Pitbull and Kesha, and “America the Beautiful.”
But, wait, there’s more. Utilizing the rules of a sequel, writer Kay Cannon understood the assignment of having a major debacle lead to the potential destruction of the Bellas and their need to overcome an obstacle. Knowing the importance of spectacle, Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) comes down on silks to sing Miley Cyrus‘ “Wrecking Ball.” And she certainly does, getting caught in the silks and flashing the world her privates. The national scandal known as “Muffgate” kicks off the film’s action. Before the hilarious moment, the mash-up was the Bellas at their finest, showcasing how they’ve improved since their victory in the first film.