The longer Geoff sings and arranges, the more simultaneously creative and restrained he gets. His range increases and his low notes get thicker and fuller, but doesn't seem to lean into them nearly as hard/exclusively--his arrangements are more adventurous in other ways. I appreciate that you do a first listen-through and then a full breakdown. And I loved learning about higher partials and the technique for using the subtle background perc to build intensity; no other reactor I've seen has talked about those things. Thank you!
Thank you for another great reaction to Voice Play. Geoff has a way of reaching deep down into your soul. His humming is so smooth & deep. I could listen to him hum all night.
I heard it described really well. The OG was the warning, Disturbed's version was the anger, PTX cover is the pleading and Geoff's version is the sadness and reflection afterwards. Every time I listen to this cover, I cry. It touches my soul, and I feel like I am seeing the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. Absolutely amazing cover. Great reaction!!
As a comment to another reaction, someone wrote: S&G was like "Should we worry about this?" Pentatonix was like "We can still fix this, if we work together" Disturbed was like "You were warned, you didn't listen, NOW YOU MUST PAY!" Geoff is like "I'm so, so, sorry..." Makes a whole lot of sense to me. 😁 This version is maybe the most "discouraged" and somber one I ever heard, at least IMHO. And it's all of it to give me that feeling. His vocals, the arrangement, the face expression, the body language... Even the pattern of always returning back to that "...of silence", always let alone, suspended in, well... the silence. I just love it. 🙂 Geoff will release his new one this week, and as the teaser says, "The dwarves have returned!". And I loved them in "Misty Mountain", so I can't wait 🤩. Thank you for all the reaction and breakdown. Really appreciate all the informations and insights. 🙂 See you next time!
The definition of legato, Geoff delivers so smoothly, it feels like he’s the last singer on earth that’s been waiting to give his last performance for a long time and this is it. There is a sadness and melancholy in the solo. The background Geoff’s had their major section that sounded like a false hope crushed by the return of the solo’s somber tones.
I'm addicted so I watch every reactor who reacts to VoicePlay and Geoff Castellucci. I like and subscribe to them all. So I help all the reactors plus every view also counts for views to VoicePlay and Geoff. The more views the more money flows their way.
In my opinion, I believe that the reason that Geoff withheld some of the intensity at that one point with the fourth octave was because he was building the intensity, and with higher notes coming, he needed to not have it drop off when he most needed the power. Thus, he kept it at a point where he wouldn't need to let off on the even higher notes where the song reached a crescendo. I believe that Geoff was pacing himself, so to speak... Just my opinion...
Just as an FYI, with Geoff songs you can pretty much always say 'he' instead of 'they' 😁 Ed Boyer always does his audio mixing, and sometimes he gets help with camera work and lighting (Layne and Eli in this case), but all the arrangement and performance and sound design, it's all him. He uses plug in's to create the instrumentals and finds all the right sounds to add himself. He recently put out a short demonstrating how it works with the guitar part in his cover of Man of Constant Sorrows.
I understand completely what you are saying about the feeling that there are times people feel there is an occasional over reliance or overuse of the deep bass notes. Geoff himself has said that he feels torn about what is the exact 'right' amount of low notes to include, and that you're never going to please everybody. There are always going to be people who think most of them are unneccesary and yet a fairly substantial part of his audience are people who are drawn to watch him at least partially because he does have a uniquely deep range that they want to hear.
Part of the reason I became a patron of both Geoff and Voiceplay is their willingness to take risks and be vulnerable. Be it song selection, adding a bridge, trying for a note that takes 50 plus takes to get “right”, or the way they use humor. Each little bit shows something of themselves and I appreciate the bravery that takes.
Geoff and Voiceplay do tend to have a reliance on low notes for a lot of their arrangements, but they don’t appear to overdo it. They both are known to deliver extraordinary and complicated arrangements, so to a certain extent, they have a reputation to live up to. Do some lows belong in some of their music? The jury is still out on that, and I will not debate that right now - Nonetheless, it is a great talking point in the A Capella community.
Another very unique cover from Geoff. He always makes a song his own. His imagination is inspiring. The same can be said of Layne of course, in VP. Without headphones I can't hear the electronic sound added on but it's very obvious when using them. It certainly is effective. I hear people mention a ticking as of a clock. Maybe a metronome? In any case I can't hear it. My hearing is no longer perfect and I have tinnitus so I do sometimes miss some quiet sounds at a certain pitch I think. Geoff has been accused of using very low notes inappropriately, and I can see what they mean, but as you say it wouldn't be at all appropriate here except at that one point. I think it fitted thtere. Why does he do it? Because he knows his fans want to hear those notes so he has been guilty of maybe overdoing it at times. It doesn't bother me however. He knows how it affects people, especially the females. Yes, even at my age. :) And not a few men also get the collywobbles over it. LOL
This is definitely a cover you where need your headphones. Without them half the sounds disappear. I really do like this cover. I'm a sucker for the original, being grown up on S&G. The Disturbed version I cannot embrace, being the heretic among all those who live it. This I never get tired of. PS I like your new hairstyle, it suits you a bit longer.
Ethan, I appreciate your thoughts and insights into this piece. In addition to this version bringing a sense of sadness that others mentioned, I think the other word I connect with Geoff’s version of this is vulnerability. To me the lack of “power” behind that that last section makes it feel almost delicate and fragile. There isn’t the power of anger or hope that other versions have, only acceptance which while it has power just doesn’t have the same strength. Furthermore if you watch closely Geoff never makes direct eye contact with the camera in this video. He has a short on his channel of this live in studio. It is just him and the piano and he does make eye contact. To me there is a vulnerability in that one that is almost uncomfortable to watch.
I think you’re right - after listening and watching again having read your comment, it definitely seems intentional to create that effect. Impressive observation!
The longer Geoff sings and arranges, the more simultaneously creative and restrained he gets. His range increases and his low notes get thicker and fuller, but doesn't seem to lean into them nearly as hard/exclusively--his arrangements are more adventurous in other ways.
I appreciate that you do a first listen-through and then a full breakdown. And I loved learning about higher partials and the technique for using the subtle background perc to build intensity; no other reactor I've seen has talked about those things. Thank you!
Thank you for another great reaction to Voice Play. Geoff has a way of reaching deep down into your soul. His humming is so smooth & deep. I could listen to him hum all night.
I heard it described really well. The OG was the warning, Disturbed's version was the anger, PTX cover is the pleading and Geoff's version is the sadness and reflection afterwards. Every time I listen to this cover, I cry. It touches my soul, and I feel like I am seeing the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. Absolutely amazing cover. Great reaction!!
As a comment to another reaction, someone wrote:
S&G was like "Should we worry about this?"
Pentatonix was like "We can still fix this, if we work together"
Disturbed was like "You were warned, you didn't listen, NOW YOU MUST PAY!"
Geoff is like "I'm so, so, sorry..."
Makes a whole lot of sense to me. 😁
This version is maybe the most "discouraged" and somber one I ever heard, at least IMHO. And it's all of it to give me that feeling. His vocals, the arrangement, the face expression, the body language... Even the pattern of always returning back to that "...of silence", always let alone, suspended in, well... the silence. I just love it. 🙂
Geoff will release his new one this week, and as the teaser says, "The dwarves have returned!". And I loved them in "Misty Mountain", so I can't wait 🤩.
Thank you for all the reaction and breakdown. Really appreciate all the informations and insights. 🙂
See you next time!
The definition of legato, Geoff delivers so smoothly, it feels like he’s the last singer on earth that’s been waiting to give his last performance for a long time and this is it. There is a sadness and melancholy in the solo. The background Geoff’s had their major section that sounded like a false hope crushed by the return of the solo’s somber tones.
I'm addicted so I watch every reactor who reacts to VoicePlay and Geoff Castellucci. I like and subscribe to them all. So I help all the reactors plus every view also counts for views to VoicePlay and Geoff. The more views the more money flows their way.
Same!
I love this from Geoff.
In my opinion, I believe that the reason that Geoff withheld some of the intensity at that one point with the fourth octave was because he was building the intensity, and with higher notes coming, he needed to not have it drop off when he most needed the power. Thus, he kept it at a point where he wouldn't need to let off on the even higher notes where the song reached a crescendo. I believe that Geoff was pacing himself, so to speak... Just my opinion...
I think that there’s some semblance of truth to this thought process. 🙂
Just as an FYI, with Geoff songs you can pretty much always say 'he' instead of 'they' 😁 Ed Boyer always does his audio mixing, and sometimes he gets help with camera work and lighting (Layne and Eli in this case), but all the arrangement and performance and sound design, it's all him. He uses plug in's to create the instrumentals and finds all the right sounds to add himself. He recently put out a short demonstrating how it works with the guitar part in his cover of Man of Constant Sorrows.
I understand completely what you are saying about the feeling that there are times people feel there is an occasional over reliance or overuse of the deep bass notes. Geoff himself has said that he feels torn about what is the exact 'right' amount of low notes to include, and that you're never going to please everybody. There are always going to be people who think most of them are unneccesary and yet a fairly substantial part of his audience are people who are drawn to watch him at least partially because he does have a uniquely deep range that they want to hear.
Part of the reason I became a patron of both Geoff and Voiceplay is their willingness to take risks and be vulnerable. Be it song selection, adding a bridge, trying for a note that takes 50 plus takes to get “right”, or the way they use humor. Each little bit shows something of themselves and I appreciate the bravery that takes.
Geoff and Voiceplay do tend to have a reliance on low notes for a lot of their arrangements, but they don’t appear to overdo it. They both are known to deliver extraordinary and complicated arrangements, so to a certain extent, they have a reputation to live up to.
Do some lows belong in some of their music? The jury is still out on that, and I will not debate that right now - Nonetheless, it is a great talking point in the A Capella community.
Another very unique cover from Geoff. He always makes a song his own. His imagination is inspiring. The same can be said of Layne of course, in VP. Without headphones I can't hear the electronic sound added on but it's very obvious when using them. It certainly is effective. I hear people mention a ticking as of a clock. Maybe a metronome? In any case I can't hear it. My hearing is no longer perfect and I have tinnitus so I do sometimes miss some quiet sounds at a certain pitch I think. Geoff has been accused of using very low notes inappropriately, and I can see what they mean, but as you say it wouldn't be at all appropriate here except at that one point. I think it fitted thtere. Why does he do it? Because he knows his fans want to hear those notes so he has been guilty of maybe overdoing it at times. It doesn't bother me however. He knows how it affects people, especially the females. Yes, even at my age. :) And not a few men also get the collywobbles over it. LOL
This is definitely a cover you where need your headphones. Without them half the sounds disappear.
I really do like this cover. I'm a sucker for the original, being grown up on S&G. The Disturbed version I cannot embrace, being the heretic among all those who live it. This I never get tired of.
PS I like your new hairstyle, it suits you a bit longer.
Ethan, I appreciate your thoughts and insights into this piece. In addition to this version bringing a sense of sadness that others mentioned, I think the other word I connect with Geoff’s version of this is vulnerability. To me the lack of “power” behind that that last section makes it feel almost delicate and fragile. There isn’t the power of anger or hope that other versions have, only acceptance which while it has power just doesn’t have the same strength.
Furthermore if you watch closely Geoff never makes direct eye contact with the camera in this video. He has a short on his channel of this live in studio. It is just him and the piano and he does make eye contact. To me there is a vulnerability in that one that is almost uncomfortable to watch.
I think you’re right - after listening and watching again having read your comment, it definitely seems intentional to create that effect. Impressive observation!