Layne's touch to J. None is especially special and amusing, because when J. None starts to go on a riff party, Layne sings "I'll take your part" and then it goes back to a normal J. None. So it's like Layne is saying, "Here, let me sing this part for you, my enthusiastic friend!" And yes, Layne's voice is SO good, but I'd compare it to ice cream rather than butter, because it is so soft, satisfying and sweet!
If you have not seen Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame please either watch it or learn more about Frollo before you react. As for this video, each of these gentlemen ran their voices over my spine gently and caused a major emotion quake in my spirit. Needless to say, I was a puddle of jelly at the end.
Layne is a secret weapon deployed at just the right part. Also, if you listen to his harmonies, they always give Layne the more awkward 7ths and minor 3rds. Same with "I Can't Help Falling In Love," I have analyzed that song for HOURS because I got permission to do a brass quintet for VoicePlay's version, and Layne's lines are a "crunchy" dissonance, yet his voice is so sweet it just WORKS.
DJ..be prepared for Hellfire Geoff will turn you into mush! Also, wait until you hear Geoff's solo, he did Jack's Lament from Nightmare Before Christmas and oh my friend, even I yelled "piss off" at my screen 😆
This song (S&G) was my & my mama's song to each other since I was 12. I lost my mom in 2009 & I still can't handle hearing it since the funeral. But I do listen to VP's version very often. Tears and all, I always feel mama here with me every time. So thank you for doing this one tonight - I really, really, really needed this today. Nothing is going right, & on top of it all I have been sick & had to go to the doctor. God bless you for making my day!!!
Since you were speaking about support systems and anti-bullying, I certainly don't remember it, but I will ask - have you done VoicePlay's "I Love Me"? Heavily about Self-Esteem and with a nice talk after by Emoni (she's featured in it). You might want to check it out.
Thank you for the great reaction! Everything you loved about this one can be found in even greater amounts in their cover of Can't Help Falling in Love. This same lineup with Earl and J. None. Layne sings. Geoff blows you away right off the start. It remains my all-time favorite VoicePlay song. You will love it for years :)
When Layne reaches out to J "I'll take your part.." and J looks slightly taken by surprise... it gets me EVERY time... and I've seen it quite often... quite often. 😂 You are soo young to not know that song! Sweet. Love your reactions and looking forward to Hellfire. Please do read about the story "Hunchback of Notre Dame" by Victor Hugo. And maybe have a peek at the Disney film... "be prepared!" 🎉😂❤
Layne Stein has his own channel as well with his family This song was a number 1 hit for Simon and Garfunkel in 1970. It's a true classic and Voiceplay did a great song justice.
You are an absolute delight to watch. Love, love, love their arrangements and likewise to your reaction to them. One of my favorites, in so many ways...
Enjoyed your reaction as usual. I’d like to add that Geoff released an amazing version of Jack’s Lament from Nightmare before Christmas so please make time in your busy schedule! Did you notice that when Layne did break in, he turned to J and sang “I’ll take your part” and he did -take his part!😉 This was always one of my favorite S & G songs. When I was in college it was pretty tumultuous (because I’m really old and it was the early 70s). Our friends were being drafted and sent to Vietnam to die without being able to vote for the president. After the killing of student at Kent State University by the national guard, this song played constantly in our dorm. It was tough on everybody and this song brought everyone a lot of solace.
Voiceplay was my introduction to this song. And not much later I watched the show Lucifer and there cover in it is also stunning. Both covers are so different and beautiful.
While I was in college, the head of the music department was the choir director. He was also a composer and well known for his acapella choral arrangements. His publisher asked him to do an arrangement of this. Before sending it off, he had our choir do a read through. When we were finished he collected all the copies of the music and threw them away. It was the only thing I ever heard him say he couldn’t do. So I was unsure about listening to Geoff’s arrangement. Geoff proved it could be done, and beautifully!
I think we all react that way to Layne singing. He can do baritone up through tenor, and of course they always give him parts that require character stuff, but we NEED more of the beautiful, sweet-voiced Layne as well. :)
This one's been covered a quarter of a million times, by a quarter of a million people, but S & G specialized in harmonies, and VP has taken harmony to a different plane of existence, Glad to see you enjoying the folk music of my childhood. My two cents on the herdling Rainbow Connection chat, I think they should mix in It ain't easy being Green in their Mountain King makeup.
I’m so happy you got to this one!! It’s one of my favorite Voiceplay songs. I haven’t kept up with them much since Earl and J-None left. I also love their version of Daddy Sang Bass!!!
How do you not know the original or the song altogether its like.. superfamous? ^^° Its by Simon and Garfunkel, one of their most famous songs. I highly recommend checking out the concert of them at central park and Art Garfunkels live performance of this song, possibly the most beautiful rendition ever (although there are many beautiful cover versions out there). You can also do a reaction to that, its worth it!
I love this version. But you REALLY should react to the original by Simon and Garfunkle! Art Garfunkle was an OUTSTANDING high tenor. He'd stand with his thumbs in his belt loops and velvety sugar would fall from his mouth! No stress. No strain. Just crystal clear sweetness. ❤
You absolutely can date VP videos by the personnel lineup and length of Geoff's hair. 😂 That last bass note might have been J. He is currently singing bass for the Navy band. Looking forward to your reaction to Hellfire and Jack's Lament. Dude, you're gonna need seatbelts. LOL! You might get more out of them if you're familiar with Hunchback of Notre Dame and Nightmare Before Christmas, respectively.
Love this song and this version! Your reaction was priceless 😆 I like it when I am not the only geoff fangirl You are not prepared for geoffs and VPs newest ones. I am watching them on repeat!
Paul Simon wrote this song Art Garfunkel sang it in a high tenor with a piano playing this song many people have attempted to cover this song this is a real good version just listen to the original to fully understand.
If this song was new to you, you should go listen to Simon & Garfunkel sing it so that you have a baseline. And then go over to Peter Hollens' channel and watch Peter singing it with Tim Foust. All so different. It's absolutely wonderful when a great song gives so much inspiration for different interpretations.
I absolutely adore this version of the song (to be honest, I don't even dislike the original) and it was so great to see you get so much enjoyment out of it too! So glad we managed to get this one in front of you
I suggest you listen to more Simon and Garfunkel, (best of) or Paul Simon 's later stuff, they are worth it. Pau's Graceland album is superb. As to timelines, Geoff's hair and Earl's beard are good indicators. :) Early Earl , no beard. Towards the end of his time with them, full beard. And since then Eli was the same. :) Geoff has described Earl's voice as a laser, cutting through the rest. You might like to check out Layne singing with or for his family. It's adorable.
Yes, Layne's part was so perfect. I agree, you really feel like you've been blessed with a special moment when he sings. Though, all of them have those moments. Bass, hard telling who it was. Layne, Eli and J can sing bass. It very likely was Layne, though, J's bass is quite deep as well. Whoever did it, it was beautiful. Thanks for the reaction!!
Great reaction and a gorgeous version from VP. I urge you to listen to the original from Simon and Garfunkel when they performed it live in Central Park. This is one of their rare songs where only Garfunkel sings, so you don’t get their stunning harmonies. But it is absolutely epic!
I think you would like their cover of The Heart of Life (a John Mayer song) I commented on that one and didn't know you haven't reacted to that one yet, sorry. I just think you should really do this.
Stunning reaction, VP are amazing at these songs, especially in the earlier days with Earl and J. Glad you enjoyed it. One of my favourite songs to sing along to, takes me back to school choir. I was surprised you had not heard the original (but I have now shared it over on discord for you my friend). Cannot wait to get into the spooky season stuff - YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE GETTING INTO!
There's an ongoing, um, not a joke, but, irony? .... how Layne sings "I'll take your part", reaching out to J as he sings it, due to J being African American, and Layne being Jewish. I doubt they did it for that reason, but, again, kinda oddly ironic.
Let me preface this by saying I am an absolutely huge Voice Play fan. However, I prefer the original by Simon and Garfunkle. They "jazzed it up" a little too much for me. I prefer just the simple lyrics and instrumentation. without the beat boxing and discordant harmonies. Those things certainly have their place and I love them in their place. But, for me, they just don't belong in this song. I prefer the simplicity where you focus on the lyrics and the message of the song instead of the beat boxing and harmonies. Here (at least for me), they take away from the song's message. I encourage those of you who are too young to have heard the original to go back and listen to the original by Simon and Garfunkle. I'm an old lady, so I remember the original--when it first came out.
