My favorite part of this is that if you have seen any interviews with PTX, they say all the time that Scott is the one that always forgets lyrics. They gave him a part that wasn't even English and he freaking rocked it. I really feel like Scott gets forgotten about sometimes but not only can he do great in lower register and higher register but he also writes a lot of music and, if it wasn't for him PTX wouldn't exist. Him and Ben Bram are they ones that put the whole thing together for the sing off.
@@amyerffmeyer4347 Kevin is my favorite member but everyone in PTX are aliens. I saw a reactor the other day that was watching Kevin's cover of "down" and he was like, "this is why I have no talent, Kevin and PTX took it all" it's 100% accurate and I feel that reactor's pain.
This is my anxiety relief song by them. This is what I play to feel grounded, to feel grateful, to feel right sized (humble). They did a phenomenal job with this one. Everyone shined, everyone stood out as their best self in this. They released it too late to be considered for that years Grammys, but most agree this should be their 4th Grammy.
You should watch Seasons of Love (live on the 4th of July) it’s my favorite Kirstie moment. And then check out Defying Gravity by Superfruit (Scott and Mitch) you have to watch passed the SUBSCRIBE screen for the bloopers on most Superfruit videos. and then also check out Waving through a window, by Pentatonix.
I would suggest you listen to the Celine Dion and Andrea bocelli version, then listen to the Yolanda Adams and Donnie McClurkin version of this song and you will get a grasp of what pentatonix did here. This is a phenomenal mashup that hardly anyone realizes. It's just out of this world the talent and creativity they all possess along with their arranger Ben Bram. Great reaction. Thank you 🙏🏾❤️✌🏾
"The Prayer" is originally from the 1998 animated movie, "Quest for Camelot". Only a short version of the song (about 90 seconds) appeared in the actual movie, sung by Celine Dion. It was also from a different point-of-view, being a mother watching her daughter start off on a dangerous journey, so the first verse of what you hear PTX do (basically Mitch's opening solo) is about all there was in the movie, just change the words "we" and "our" to "she" and "her". "The Prayer" became most famous as a duet between Celine Dion and the Italian operatic tenor, Andrea Bocelli. It won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1999 and a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals in 2000.
It also launched Josh Groban’s career! David Foster helped launch Groban’s career at the age of 17 by calling on Groban to stand in for an ailing Andrea Bocelli at the rehearsal of a duet with Celine Dion, “The Prayer,” at the 1998 Grammy Awards. The video is amazing! He was studying at Carnegie Mellon at the time and had no recording experience or anything.
Matt is the only one with a music degree. Scott and Kirstie each did a year of college. Kevin graduated from Yale pre-med. I'm sure they all have voice coaches
Kevin is a classically trained Cellist. He also plays piano and other instruments. He performed at Carnegie Hall twice, a different instrument each performance. Kirstin, Scott and Matt met in highschool musical theatre. Scott wanted their group to audition for the Sing-off. He discovered groups had to have a minimum of 5 members. They found Kevin on RU-vid, the beat-boxing Cellist. Avi was referred by a friend of a friend. Their audition was their first time ever performing together as Pentatonix. I literally watched their formation...millions were blessed to witness. It was beautiful. 2011
The song is not an original and has been around for a couple of decades. The version I’m most familiar with was a duet by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. PTX did an amazing job with it.
This was written by the late, great Leonard Cohen. He heard PTX version & said ít was not only the best cover he heard. It is his all-time favorites!!!
I LOVED this reaction. This song is a masterpiece. I don't even know where to start. Watch Frozen medley by superfruit. What else? Hip Hop goes Broadway part 1 and 2 by Superfruit. Pop goes Broadway. All superfruit. Since you like Broadway... 🙂 Mitch. What can you even say? This is literally one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard in the history of ever. If you ever want to cry, just turn to this.
Close...with respect to Scott, it's operatic in this song. Makes sense, he has a musical theatre background. Mitch and Kirstie have a similar voice range.
This song does truly get you in a spiritual mood. I grew up in a Catholic family, and even taught Sunday School for over a decade. As I have aged though I have pulled away from organized religion. Listening to their music, it makes me believe in angels and miracles. Spiritual is a perfect word for how I feel when listening to them! Thank you for your PTX reactions! I'm really enjoying them!
Scott loves Broadway - so does Kirstin. Scott, Kirstin, and Mitch were all in the same high school performing arts program. Scott and Kirstin graduated the year before Mitch: they both went into musical performance programs at different universities. Scott met arranger (and baritone) Ben Bram that year; Bram has arranged the vast majority of PTX music, although the groups makes lots of changes as they rehearse and get into it. Mitch went directly from high school to The Sing-Off with the others; he missed his graduation for the audition. ETA: When those three were in high school, they had a vocal group just called The Trio. So if a reactor refers to The Trio, those are who is meant.
"The Prayer" was written for 1998's "Quest for Camelot" by Carole Bayer Sager and David Foster, who were major songwriters in the 70's and 80's and beyond. In the movie Celine Dion did a short version with different lyrics, voicing the mother, and Bocelli did a full solo version in Italian during the credits. They later recorded a duet version which appeared on both their albums. About 10 years later Dion did a live TV version with Josh Groban that was a hit.
Hey,friend, great reaction! If you love Broadway (Kirstie was in Kinky Boots a few years back) here's some covers you'll love- Waving thru a Window (Dear Evan Hanson), Seasons of Love live, Superfruit(Scott & Mitch) Defying Gravity(Wicked)& with friends the Frozen medley,La la Land medley, Hip Hop goes Broadway 1&2, Pop goes Broadway, & PTX performance of What is this Feeling? from A Very Wicked Halloween! Did I miss any, friends?
I agree with the others, you should check out Amazing Grace. They are all amazing in it, especially Kirsty. And if you want more Kirsty focused music, highly recommend "Say Something" and "Shallow". "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" will make you fall in love with Kirsty for all sorts of reasons. 😏
If you want to hear a really good song for Kirsten then I recommend you listen to "Say Something". She's the lead in that one and really gets the emotions across.
I agree about Mitch. Most covers Pentatonix does, they can't really showcase what Mitch is capable of doing. But this song the Prayer was able to give him that opportunity. Also FYI, I've been waiting so so so so so long for you to finally react to the prayer by Pentatonix lol. Glad you finally did
Thanks for the shout out to Matt. I'm nowhere nearly as talented as Matt Salee, but as baritone, and a bass on my good days, it's nice to hear someone recognize a really exceptional talent.
I have been waiting for you to react to this one! And I wasn’t disappointed- your face was sooo expressive. The vocals here are phenomenal, and I really think this arraignment and performance are Grammy worthy. Thank you!
Loved your reaction! Hoping this will earn them their fourth Grammy. It is such a beautiful song. Please do more PTX. I love your breakdowns and appreciation of their talent.💕💕
Such an amazing rendition! Mitch takes the high notes that most people know only Celine Dion for. And no disrespect to her,. this is just better. Scott is always amazing and has also shown his preference for pop/R&B type vocals. As a former choir/chorus/singer and teacher I have so much respect for him going back to (what I assume) would be some choral roots in singing that gorgeous Baritone Italian. Kirstie here is the true "Broadway voice" as they all have grown vocally. Matt is amazing, as you pointed out in holding this all together! And Kevin is never to be left out because he's never not amazaballs.
Written by David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager, Alberto Testa, and Tony Renis. Originally recorded in two solo versions for the 1998 film _Quest for Camelot,_ in English by Celine Dion and in Italian by Andrea Bocelli. This was followed by a duet version with Dion and Bocelli which was released on their studio albums, _These Are Special Times_ (Celine Dion's album) and _Sogno_ (Andrea Bocelli's album). See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prayer_(Celine_Dion_and_Andrea_Bocelli_song) It's a beautiful song, and I love Pentatonix's version of it. And you're absolutely right about Mitch's voice being angelic when he's doing the initial solo. Also note that he's almost whispering on "just like any child," like a breathy child's voice. Mitch has marvelous control of his timbre. I'm glad that you've noticed how close Kirstin's voice is to Mitch's. Many people don't quite believe that she can sing as high as he can, largely because of the times when they've arranged songs so that Mitch jumps in to finish the high note on one of Kirstin's solos (I'm thinking primarily of that high "For me-e-e" in "Bohemian Rhapsody," which Kirstin could have done just fine herself - I'm guessing that since Mitch had been taking Freddy Mercury's role they wanted him to be included in that "me").
You are so right about Matt’s base (and I’ll say Kevin’s percussion) are priceless. The whole production is amazing. To me, this should get a Grammy. It’s interesting that you mentioned Kirstin and Mitch’s tones being so alike at times. I have pointed this out at other times. If you will listen they sound exactly alike at 10:29 (Kirstin) and 10:32(Mitch).
You asked about Scott's musical background. From a very young age, Scott was very dedicated to have his life in music and entered several of the "talent" shows. I believe it was a version of "America's Got Talent" for youngsters where he made it to the finals. All through high school he sung in all the choirs and with Mitch and Kirsten whenever he could(did you know these 3 went to school together?) After high school Scott entered USC as a Music Business major. At the end of his freshman year, he entered Pentatonix in the NBC show, "The Sing Off". They of course won the competition and have been performing ever since.
Great reaction, as always! Yes, Scott interpreting Andrea Bocelli is definitely a different expression for him, though I would call it more opera than broadway in genre. I think Scott does a great job, considering how far outside his usual wheelhouse he's reaching. Consensus seems to be his Italian has an American accent, but is perfectly acceptable otherwise. And I totally agree with your comment on their closing remarks. That upbeat "HI!" can really startle you out of a mellow moment! But PTX does love to keep us on our toes.
Matt holds the group together and leads the way. He just wraps his bass around the group and holds their feet to the ground so they don't ascend to Heaven each time they sing. They are all gifts to the world. You should watch their cover of Imagine
Go forth my son and find many, many, many more Gobsmacking, jaw dropping Pentatonix songs. You’ll be a Pentaholic before you know what hit you. We’ll come too the Gang. 😱👍🙏❤️🇬🇧🙏❤️🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
I think I just said this in my last comment but I really enjoy your reactions & input. They more you listen to them the more you understand them and I appreciate your comments. Can't wait to see more! If you'd like to check out their beginning, I'd suggest watching their Sing-Off performances. The 5 of them met for the first time a few days before the audition and I think the audition was the first time they performed together.
Only discovered you and pentatonix on journey through RU-vid rabbit hole. In UK and don’t know anyone familiar with this archipelago group. Love your presentation and reactions. ❤
If you have not checked it out, yet, there is a behind the scenes video of “recording of Evergreen” which was filmed during the 2nd of the two weeks allotted to complete the Evergreen album. One of the clips shows a discussion in which Scott and Ben Bram discuss this song with Kirsten. It also gives you a glimpse into how they create their sound.
Great reaction as always to PTX videos. You are so knowledgeable and speak so intelligently about the songs you react to, it's a joy to hear your reactions. I hope you can react to one of their newish albums with all original songs called "The Lucky Ones".
I sometimes think that Scott's voice is dismissed and underrated as just "Pop". His voice is so much more than that. There is so much emotion and soul and talent. Kirstie as is underrated but has been getting more recognition since "Kinky Boots".
Great reaction ☺️ PTX Broadway suggestions- Seasons of Love, Waving thru a Window, Superfruit Defying Gravity. Not technically Broadway but Todrick Hall feat PTX Wizard of Ahs and Superfruit Frozen medley are broadway-ish lol.
Awesome reaction. If you love Broadway, Pentatonix did a cover of “Waving Through A Window” from Dear Evan Hansan. Also, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from Lion King. Oh and “Seasons of Love”, which is a live performance.
I love when masters of different musical genres can still truly appreciate one another's talent! Thanks for a wonderful reaction of this entirely different type of music than your own. You are a true musician!
Kevin doesn’t always get any credit for his amazing Beatboxing either 😢 . That guy is a master of his trade. Too say he was going too train to be a doctor. That man was born too Beatbox. He’s incredible at what he does and what can come out his mouth. ❤❤❤❤🙏❤️🇬🇧🇬🇧🙏❤️🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
I am always so happy to watch people react to this one. PTX did a phenominal job with it. This one and their Amazing Grace are my favorites from them. So glad you reacted to The Prayer!
I've watched so many reactions and I know it's a ton to take in, so much is happening it's crazy. However, I've not found anyone who pointed out that at the end there was Kevin laying down the smooth sauce, respect!
I love it when artists react to different genres of music! Came for PTX, subbed for you. I am going back through your a cappella reactions and looking forward to more reactions from you.
It was written for the movie Quest for Camelot, and was sung by Celine Dion. She later did a duet with Andrea Bocelli. Other people have done covers of this song, as well.
I agree, Pentatonix sings like otherworldly angels, then after the song is done they are just laughing it up in normal voices like a bunch of young silly friends 😅
If you want to see the most amazing performance of The Prayer then you need to react to Marcelito Pomoy on the Wishbus. You will not believe what you are hearing. He also has excellent performances on AGT the Champion Edition, but The Prayer really needs to be the first. Hope you react soon. Please and thanks! 🙏🏼👍
Many of the times people think the song has been "worked" in studio, it is just the skills of Mitch and Kirsten to blend or compliment each other's voice work. you think you hear reverb, no it is the two of them just a hair off timed, you think you hear an autotune effect, no they come in with one on a note and the other comes in on the 3rd harmonic, and some times it has sounded like a stepper effect and just the skills of the group doing one octave step notes. They do have way too much talent to be simply human voices.
Mitch and Scott (especially Mitch) carried this. This is absolutely gorgeous. Also, I recognize that logo, lol. We lived in Champaign for about 6 yrs before we moved to Texas. I worked at the University. We'll actually be visiting soon.
I fell in love with this song when I first heard Celine Dion and Josh Groban perform it. She does it with Andrea Bocelli, too, but I prefer Josh Groban. I have performed this....Italian and all....once, and I was thrilled to do so.