There is no doubt in my mind that this group is one of the most talented I have ever heard, not only with respect to their individual voices but also their harmonies, musicality and arrangement skill. Truly a joy and inspiration to listen to
I never liked the original version or the traditional versions of this song. Their version is one of my favorite Christmas songs! They just brought a whole new life to the song for me. Mitch's voice is so angelic in this. You should check out Kevin's solo cover of Down. He does beatboxing, plays the cello and sings. So good.
A little correction. The beatboxer, Kevin Olusola, does percussion and is a tenor. The gentleman with the beard and wearing the beanie is Avi Kaplan (pronounced Ah-vee) and he is the Basso Profundo. He also helps Kevin with some of the sounds in some of their songs and he can do overtones. (2 notes at one time) Its really crazy. You should google Avi live doing overtones to The Lion Sleeps Tonight. They are the amazing rhythm section for the band and yes they can all sang. Shawn Stockman from Boyz to Men dubbed Avi and Kevin "Meat and Potatoes" of the band during season 3 of the televised singing competition called the Sing-Off. Pentatonix won that season's competition and that is how they started. 😃
Lolz!! I would never have thought to describe this song as "a sweet layer cake with the nice thick cake and the sweet light jam in the middle"...but it works. It describes the layering perfectly. BTW...those notes that you mentioned in the beginning are arpeggios or bell tones and PTX excels at using them. Kevin was not really a singer when he joined the group, but it was noted that he could sing and so Avi and Mitch taught him how to use his vocals and all the tricks...and he now has a really sweet tenor voice with a very impressive falsetto that the group swears is even higher than Mitch's. Kevin also plays cello extremely well so maybe it's time to react to Shallow, Say Something, Thank You, Perfect, Radioactive ( feat Lindsey Stirling) or Over The River ( feat Lindsey Stirling) or Papaoutai (feat Lindsey Stirling). Those suggestions are all the PTX songs where Kevin is playing...and beatboxing ..simultaneously.
There is something so special about their ability, to tell the songs story, allowing us to listen with a new perspective, and hear & feel emotions, we may not have heard from the original artist 💖💖💖 Not only their voices, but their delivery is also their gift! *IMO, no other group, can build up a song, like Pentatonix* They are masters at pulling on our emotions!!! 💗💗💗💗💗💗 *They are individually so talented, however, when put together, it is truly magical* 💗💗
Please Please more reactions on Pentatonix. We Pentaholics love their music. Please check out kiss from a rose , Holy night, amazing grace, the prayer. Much much more. O and come along and blinding lights. From a Pentaholic. Greetings from South Africa
What amazes me about his group is their control, how when they are not the main singer, they are able to put forth the same beautiful note at a controlled volume level without taking away from the main singer at the time, they never overpower one another, yet keep it full in the background with their notes. What they do also, which a lot of groups do not do... they just go for it without hesitation, they do not hold back, all of them with such passion regardless of what they are singing. Great example of this is "Hallelujah" They were pulling notes from the bottom of their soul with that song and powerfully pushing it out, amazing!
Kevin, the beatboxer does not, I repeat NOT sing bass. He is a tenor. Now what you will hear from him is air come out of him in 'POPS' against the microphone. That sudden rush of air can mimic a low note. But even those are timed with the Bass in the group, Avi here but Matt now, singing a bass note that makes the two sound like a bass drum. I've come to believe that all the good beatboxers are tenors. Adam Rupp with Home Free is the same way. It's something needed to get some of the noises the make to work so well. Good reaction. Subscribed and liked!
You are so bad!!!! Now i want some cake!! LOL 😆 🤣 😂 Great reaction and great comparison. The cake analogy was spot on. Layers and layers of deliciousness. Can't wait for more reactions from you. Hope you are doing well!! Sending you love from Texas!!
This is my favorite by this amazing group. The high tenor is Mitch & when he sings & people are shocked at that voice, it is called being 'Mitch slapped'. Kirstin is the beautiful gal, the tall blonde guy that began the song is Scott. The guy that looks like Jesus is Avi & he left the group & has been replaced by a guy named Matt. And Kevin is the best beat boxer ever & can sing like an angel, as well. These people are amazing, for sure.
The cave they were singing in was Bronson Cave in Griffith Park L.A , used as the entrance to the Batcave in the original Batman TV series from the 1960's 😊 A rundown of the members of PTX and their incredible talents ...these guys are not just amazing singers ! Scott Hoying , tall blonde dude .Baritone , but can also sing Bass( covers the bass line when the bass sings a solo ) and Tenor . Is also a very accomplished pianist , songwriter & arranger. Mitch Grassi :- A natural Counter Tenor but can also sing in the the mid to higher Baritone range . Can play piano and also writes songs Kirsten Maldonado :- A Mezzo Soprano , but like the guys , her range is huge from mid Alto to Soprano. Also writes songs . These 3 were in High school together and after college , they applied to take part in an acapella singing contest on TV ( bit like the X Factor but purely for acapella groups 😉) Scott's friend ( now musical arranger & producer) Ben Bram said they needed a bass singer and knew & introduced them to .... Avi kaplan :- Was training as an operatic Basso Profundo but has a range that covers the lowest bass to low'mid tenor , and is able to sing in overtones . Can also sound like a bass guitar & when he's providing the beat with Kevin is also a percussionist. Writes music and plays guitar. Kevin Olusola :- Principally a musician ( though he also studied pre-medicine at Yale then East Asian Studies ( he speaks fluent Mandarin ) Plays Cello to concert standard ,also plays piano and tenor sax & became interested in beatboxing , then in beatboxing whilst playing Cello. Kevin has perfect pitch and when he roomed with Avi , he began singing with Avi's encouragement . He's a Tenor but can sing high falsetto too, he also arranges some of the band's songs , notably 'Oh Come All Ye Faithful ' , a must listen for how different it is ! Avi left the band in 2017 when constant touring took its toll & his Mum was ill and he wanted to be close to home , He is now a solo artist and writes and performs mostly American folk style songs . Matt Sallee:- A classically trained Bass Baritone , Matt joined PTX after auditions to find a replacement for Avi . Matt can hit some very low notes and also some very high ones , especially in PTX's amazing cover of 'Joyful, Joyful' ( Live From The Evergreen Tour). He also plays drums. So , just a little bit of info 😁. Really enjoy your reactions , and if you keep up with Pentatonix , you're going to LOVE Christmas ! I think you'd also really appreciate their cover of 'Mad World ' , the wall of sound on that one is insane !
How? 1. They have good arrangements. Ben Bram, sometimes known as the sixth member of Pentatonix, has won two Grammys for the work he did arranging "Daft Punk Medley" and "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy," but all of them participate in arranging. And when they're arranging each of them bears in mind the qualities of his or her own voice. 2. Long experience. The trio, Kirstie, Mitch, and Scott, have been singing together since high school, the others since 2011 (or in the case of Matt, since 2017). 3. Practice, practice, practice! 4. It's magic.
I loved your reaction, describing it as a layered cake! This was the first song that I had heard from Pentatonix years ago and have been hooked ever since .
Hi Dwayne love your pentatonix reactions! Its great to see the absolute joy and appreciation of their amazing musical talents that shines through your reactions. 🎉
I think you called it pretty darn close with your cake analogy, Dwayne😊. This is the first video I ever heard Kevin sing. If you aren’t already aware he has his own channel and I highly recommend checking it out, he does such amazing stuff!
The bass is is the bearded gentlemen,Avi Kaplan He has since left group due family illness and burn-out. their new bass is Matt Sallee-since 2017 Mitch the hige tenor and Krstie often chane their looks but their voice give themaway. The only personnel change is Avi. Kevin, their vocal percussionist(aka Beatboxer is also a tenor . Scott is a baritone(he's the blond.. They all have crazy ranges to their singing voices and play instruments but not in many songs. They leave egos at home and dev=cide together with their arranger who sings h=what part in their songs. They also have some great original music. You will always be surprused some where in their songs.
I love to watch your reactions to Pentatonix and I definitely need to watch and react to their version of The Prayer. PLEASE keep them coming you really do brighten up my day TY
Hi, I love your comments about Pentatonix. You should hear them live! They are perfection as you say even live . I have scene them twice and cant wait to see them again some day. Keep watching them and reacting! 💕
Love this reaction an incredible group of artists...to continue down the PTX rabbit hole watch their cover of John Lennon's "Imagine"....simply amazing
I'm sure someone has already mention this in the plethora of comments below, but Kevin Olusola, the beatboxer, is actually a tenor. Many people think he's also filling in bass notes, but that's all Scott (baritone) and Avi (Basso Profundo). Kirstin is a contralto, and Mitch is the contratenor.
Thanks so much for your wonderful reactions to Pentatonix music. I suggest that you check Amazing Grace, The Prayer, Shallow, Havana, and too many more to list. 😂❤😊
Great reaction. You stated that what is amazing is that they are all great singers but can sing great together. No sir. What is amazing is that they are all individually amazing but for the beauty of the music can all step aside to let the right person take the spotlight. We live in a world of egos and "You do you" I'm right and if you don't think I'm right well you are abusing me or don't understand my fictional condition that I use as an excuse to continue my horrible behavior. No sir. The real magic of this group is the respect. No divas. No drama. Just pure talent, work ethic, humility, and love for one another. Much love and keep on keepin on J.
I have always adored their version of Mary Did You Know. Along with a lot of other of their songs such as Mad World, Imagine, Blinding Lights, Hallelujah etc. However, when you talked about how good the individual singers are, but so brilliant together, it reminded me of Forestella. They are a South Korean male crossover quartet and they can sing (brilliantly) any genre. Their bass and counter tenor are at least as good as Pentatonix's, which is close to impossible. Their arrangements are stunning and like Pentatonix, they are just outstanding. Try Hijo De La Luna, Scarborough Fair, Sweet Dreams, Despacito and Time In A Bottle. Both Pentatonix and Forestella have excellent originals too which I suggest you try. One thing Pentatonix does really well which Forestella doesn't attempt are medleys, such as their 90's Dance Medley or their Evolution videos.
Keep your PTX journey going....you will never be disappointed. I'd suggest a few songs for you but I can't narrow down their list. Be waiting for your next one....while doing that I think I'll go out and a grab a cake for my wife and i...lol. Thanks for sharing and stay safe.
You’ve started off your pentaholic journey on a great foot, however, I’m gonna give you 10 more songs that you haven’t heard yet that you absolutely must listen to (in no particular order: 1. 90’s medley 2. Come all ye faithful 3. That’s Christmas to me 4. Shallow 5. Sing 6. Happy now 7. Joyful joyful 8. Merry Christmas happy holidays 9. Can you feel the love tonight 10. Midnight in Tokyo And 1 more bonus song that’s not PTX but features Avi Kaplan after he left the group 11. Ring of fire by Home Free
Yes, Kevin can do just about everything - except sing Bass. As you've been coached in other comments, he is a high tenor - even higher than Mitch (according to Mitch himself). If you haven't yet seen it, Kevin plays the cello as well and has coined the term "cello-boxing" as he not only plays (concert level) but also sings AND beat boxes while playing. He also has a Pre-Med degree from Harvard university and speaks multiple languages as well as plays the piano, saxophone, and who knows how many other instruments. You might enjoy watching his cover of Marian Hill's "Down" to see him in action. This is one of their most beautiful Christmas songs, although not my favorite since they have so many that I love so much! Just wait until the holiday season to hear how incredible all of their Christmas music is (or don't wait and start right away, since It's getting close to that season anyway and it will take some time to even make a dent in their Christmas repertoire). Others that I love so much are: White Winter Hymnal, O Come, All Ye Faithful, and Carol of the Bells. But that's just the tip of the iceberg!
Great reaction, just to let you know, though Kevin (the beatboxer and cello player) is actually a high tenor, he doesn't ever sing bass. That's always Avi and since 2017, Matt. He is unbelievably talented though so bass is probably the only thing he can't do! I'm glad you've got into Pentatonix. They are always seem like a perfect cake to me and I've been a fan since 2011 when they formed to take part in The Sing Off. I'm 54 and have seen a lot of band live during the past 40 years but I saw PTX in May this year, for the first time, and they were the best band I have ever seen and heard since 1985!
Mitch i the high or the counter tenor has a 7 octane range. The bass , Avi, has the lowest recorded tone on record The beatboxer, Kevin is also a tenor. He also plays cello
The bass who's voice is like melting chocolate is Avi Kaplan, the guy with the beanie and beard. Kevin covers his bass when he sings. A beautiful song.😅
