Molly Tomczyk, Special to The Denisonian
An orchestra of laughter, singing, and humming echoed through Burton D. Morgan Center’s halls last week as The Parakeets, Denison’s parody songwriting troupe, workshopped songs at their first meeting of the year.
Members jumped from song to song, testing out different lyrics, and placing their own comedic spin on popular hits. Scattered singing and lyrical suggestions would flutter back and forth across the table, voices sometimes joining together when something clicked. Laid upon the table was the growing list of songs The Parakeets had made their own.
Last fall, a similar ritual took place, said Meredith Havre ‘29, The Parakeets vice president. Havre and a group of friends were playing around with a song they had stuck in their heads. It was during this get-together that the idea to create The Parakeets was born. Fast forward to April 2026, and the parody songwriting club was official, Havre said.
“My favorite part of the club is having fun and coming up with new ideas that really, strangely work, when it shouldn’t,” Havre said.
The Parakeets take a playful approach to songwriting, transforming regular songs into tales of college life, including the dreaded walk up Denison’s hill from South Quad, Lilly Andrews ‘29, The Parakeets president, said. Within Andrews’ friend group and officers of The Parakeets, these songs are often referenced during normal conversation. Whenever they need to trek up the hill from the Michael D. Eisner Center, they sing their rendition of “Running up that Hill (A Deal With God)”: “Walking up that Hill.”
“It’s kind of funny to sing songs about common problems everyone has,” Andrews said. “Like, oh, the dining halls closed, why don’t we make a song about that? [The songs] create a solidarity for everyone who’s feeling those weird, specific problems.”
This is The Parakeets’s first official, full semester. Currently, they are working toward gaining new members and are open to people of varying skill level and interests.
“We don’t require you to audition and we don’t require you to perform,” Havre said. “You don’t even have to be good at singing or writing. It’s just to come, have fun and get your creative juices flowing.”
Club meetings, which take place Wednesdays at 7 p.m., will consist of songwriting workshops and rehearsing the parody songs, especially if a performance is coming up, Havre said. The songwriting, enjoyment and community are the focal points of The Parakeets, Andrews said.
“The writing process is the most fun part because that’s when you really get to throw ideas out and just say whatever’s on your mind,” Andrews said. “That would be fun with a bigger group of people too; to have everyone there and bouncing ideas off of each other.”
The Parakeets had one performance last spring as part of an event The Bullsheet hosted at the Bandersnatch, but plan to set up more events this semester. Additionally, the club hopes to collaborate with other performance groups on campus such as improv group Burpee’s Seedy Theatrical Company, and acapella troupes, Havre said.
Dr. Julia Kolchinsky, The Parakeets advisor and assistant professor of English and creative writing, appreciates parody writing’s connection to creativity and poetry. Although the club is student-led, Kolchinsky is able to offer guidance, if needed.
“We have really talented students,” Kolchinsky said. “I’m so excited that they take their passions and run with it and that they have the support within the community and faculty to take on whatever project they can imagine.”