Geoff is on another level these days, with the emotional power of his arrangements. Layne is a fantastic arranger, don't get me wrong- but if I find myself deeply emotionally invested in a song, it's more often than not one of Geoff's. He seems to be honing in on the same gift Lin-Manuel Miranda has, which is to create those intense emotional responses from his music. Lin uses his words; Geoff uses his chords. Both result in me ugly crying and feeling utterly transported.
Cesar had the idea for the song, Geoff arranged it and he was crying when he was editing it. Also, not only does this song have no vocal percussion from Layne, it's also one of the few (if not the first), where there's no group shot of all of them together.
They did shoot scenes with all of them together, but it tells the story of the song better if they're all alone - isolated - so Geoff didn't use them. Notice they're not even making contact with the camera.
That chord on "close" is outstanding. I haven't heard anyone else mention it but it gets me every time. I don't know the mechanics of why certain chords are so moving, I don't know whether Geoff knows either, but he certainly knows how to empoy them. Pure genius. Hoist The Colours was one kind of musical experience, this is another.
I am as upset as Voice Play is. My heart aches for these guys. They put their hearts & souls into everything they do. People need to wake up & acknowledge the beauty of their voices. Part of the problem is that so many other reactors are stuck on Pentatonix & Home Free that they won't give Voice Play a chance to be heard. Voice Play has so many other older songs that are missed & absolutely beautiful. Mr. Blue Sky is amazing. Will you please react to it ? Thank you for all your great reactions to Voice Play ❤️
It's a gift to live in the same era as these guys. ❤❤❤❤❤ God bless them. 🙏 You're absolutely right, what these guys are doing is so wonderful and it doesn't seem to get the recognition they deserve. This is so unfair!
When I hear that h-dominant hum, it feels so much like the deep sigh that would come with the realization that it is over. That’s putting a lot of emphasis on a “simple”humming note, but every time I listen to it I find myself taking that really deep heartbreaking sigh with them. I have listened to this so many times, and every time I get misty eyed. I don’t normally like to listen to sad songs. But this is so beautiful that I don’t seem to be able to stop.
Hey, Mortius! It’s up over 100k now, but yeah. I wonder if some folks are like me. I think this is brilliantly arranged and sung, love the heck out of it artistically, but I’m just not into sad songs or sad movies. I go to these things for escape from all the sad stuff in the world, and there’s plenty to be sad about right now in life without hearing a song or seeing a show that’s gonna make me cry. So I’ve watched it a few times, but not as many re-watches as I do with a lot of their other pieces. Who knows. Anyway, it’ll keep going and get to where it should be. Great reaction, and give Ella a hug for me!!
Beautiful reaction as always... Thank you. 🙂 The fact that they left the finale un-resolved... That always breaks my heart. It feels like an ancient Chinese landscape painting, where there's no horizon and the brain extends the space forever, just to fit that space. Here it extends the feeling "forever", and it's heartbreaking, I can't help but crying like hell. 🙂 Such a beautiful song, and arrangement, and performance... It goes straight among my all-time top-few from them. 🤩 Thanks again. A beautiful, beautiful song and experience.
Love you, love your reactions. This song breaks my heart - most of us have been in that situation and VoicePlay brings it all back so poignantly. Thank you
The vocal coaches often differentiate the mixed voices as chest dominant mix and head dominant mix, so think Cesar's voice at the start that you were trying to describe would be labeled as head dominant.
Eli sang it straight without using his rock tenor. Ceasar picked the song and with him and EJ doing most of the lead, I swear it makes Angels cry. Love Geoff's arrangement, and anytime Layne sings it is such a treat. I knew this one would break you. It broke me too. Thanks again for reacting to it.
I completely love this song, particularly sung by a male voice, and this version has so much to offer. When you're looking for more VoicePlay to listen to, I'd second the recommendations for Heart of Life and The Bones, they are two of my favourite songs from them.
Voiceplay is amazing at bringing out the emotions of the songs they cover, and this is no exception. This song premiered while I was lying sick with Covid-19 and therefore had to hold up social distancing, so the emotions of this and the fact that they are all sitting in separate rooms made me feel like (even though this is so sorrowful) I was being understood and giving a big hug ❤️ If you want to listen to another on without vocal percussion then you should check out their cover of 'True colors'.
personally i think this is their best one yet i know theres nothing crazy like hoist the colours or the wicked medley but man the raw emotions in this song hasnt stopped giving me chills and getting me tearing up since its release, its struck the perfect chord for me.
My guess as to why this awesome song from VP isn't getting more views is because it just hits too hard in the feels. Geoff's arrangement, the guys' performance, the way it's edited together ... I haven't wanted to reach through the screen and hug someone so badly since Geoff in Ain't No Sunshine. Especially knowing that Cesar suggested it, and he's single while all the others are married. That look on his face at the end... We want to laugh (Bruno), we want to be wowed (Hoist the Colors) but not as many people are eager to cry. Bonnie Raitt won a Grammy when she sang it but somehow this version is even more emotional. At least it is for me.
Loved this reaction. This has become just about my favorite song by them. Finally topped over 100,000 and I don't understand why it isn't twice that. Could be the YT analytics is the problem.
It's probably cuz it's so heart wrenching for some people they have to stop part way through. Concurrent watch time is a huge metric. I couldn't honestly watch this all the way through the first sitting without nearly bawling my eyes out. Don't think I made it throught the whole thing til like a week later.
I feel ya when you said you got emotional listening to this song. This is the only song/cover of their’s that made me cry while I listened to it. And it’s super hard to make me cry in general. Loved your reaction!
Mortius don't feel bad about not knowing what to say about this song as I was exactly the same. They drag all the feels from you and wring you out then leave you wanting more. Big hugs from NE England and kisses for Ella too. X
Wow, this one legitimately messed you up, I think that’s the first time You’ve not stopped the video when the patreon roll started :P I’m not complaining about how you usually do things, just pointing out the difference due to how much this one impacted you ;) ❤️
Re: Cesar's entrance tone. I don't think it's so much falsetto as allowing more air to flow for a softer, more introspective sound which is perfect for this song.
I have been waiting for your reaction since the first time I heard Cesar open his mouth in this one. Phenomenal. Exceptional. All the other adjectives you can think of. Bonnie who? Thank you for being you. And thank you for adding some beauty and fun to my life.
Don’t get me wrong; I love their fireworks videos, but this a next-level arrangement. E fact tat this doesn’t already have a million views is an indictment of humanity’s musical sensibilities. I’m a huge Geoff fanboy but his arrangements… they wreck me.
Mortius I agree 100% with you. It’s a travesty that it has under 100K views. Voiceplay is such a talent and the addition of EJ for this song was perfection. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Was waiting for this one. I always like watching your reactions before watching the other reactions. You bring all the extra feels. Voiceplay just keeps finding ways to break you. The end was like, Mortius.exe has stopped working. 😂 Give Ella a big kiss and a scritch from me! 😄
Great reaction/analysis of this soooo complex song! In response to your comments about the volume levels, I believe if you just turn the videos' volume up a bit in general, you'll get a better blend between your levels and that of the video, thought this one has a good level. LOVE your little VP hearts art on the white board.
I don't know why this has so few views, either. Maybe because it's not as "flashy" as other VoicePlay covers have been of late? Maybe people ran out of tissues? Who knows. Five of those views were mine, though.
P.S.: This song was running through my head, and when it got to Eli's line "And I'll give up this fight," VoicePlay's cover of "The Bones" (Ft. Emoni Wilkins) popped up to mix with it -- I don't think you've reacted to that one yet (?). It was the second song they released after Earl left, and the first with a guest filling the high tenor / Soprano part. This comment is a non-sequitur except for three or four notes the melodies have in common. And I hope it appeases the algorithm. (also, I think you'd like "The Bones")
Two things, you should listen to Dave Thomas Junior's version of this because its just...so much sadder..it completely represents depression and theres 3 sad songs you have to listen to, "The Night we Met" by Lord Huron, "I Found" by Amber Run, and "Where's my Love" by SYML (specifically the aucustic version)
Honestly, Geoff is just doing that thing where he's just being a bass (guitar, not singer). 😉 It's really the only way to describe the complexity of the rhythms he's doing.
This song was lovely, but it just didn’t hit my emotions the way it has a lot of people. You haven’t reacted yet to the one that always makes me cry. Have you ever been sad, but couldn’t cry? That’s where I was when I first heard Heart of Life. It brought the tears, and still does every time I hear it. Just four of them, with no beatboxing. But we get to Layne’s beautiful voice all throughout, often on the lead. I guess it’s too much for most reactors to want to hear. (Also a Geoff arrangement.)
Voctave have a new album coming out this Fall so hopefully some new videos on here as well :D As an audio engineer and radio presenter I would say leave the mic alone as levels are perfect.
It's not that I don't like the cover or sad songs in general. I watched the video several times but I don't feel anything. It's just a nice song. It's like I miss something and can't say what it is. Right now I prefer watching the reactions instead of watching the original.
It’s great that the comment above AND below yours are thanking me for my analysis and especially the breakdowns. So thank you for your comment that helps the algorithm so that people like them who enjoy it can find my videos more!
This really is one of their masterpieces. Stunningly beautiful, poignant, heartbreakingly so.
Geoff is on another level these days, with the emotional power of his arrangements. Layne is a fantastic arranger, don't get me wrong- but if I find myself deeply emotionally invested in a song, it's more often than not one of Geoff's. He seems to be honing in on the same gift Lin-Manuel Miranda has, which is to create those intense emotional responses from his music. Lin uses his words; Geoff uses his chords. Both result in me ugly crying and feeling utterly transported.
I think Layne’s arrangements invoke emotional responses;he just tends to go after different emotions.
@@Wildecat10 I would say Layne’s arrangements are more creative and humorous, whereas Geoff’s tend to be simpler but more soulful
Cesar had the idea for the song, Geoff arranged it and he was crying when he was editing it.
Also, not only does this song have no vocal percussion from Layne, it's also one of the few (if not the first), where there's no group shot of all of them together.
they were each on their own to emphasise the loneliness
Heart of Life doesn't have vocal perc either. It was the song they did when Earl left.
They did shoot scenes with all of them together, but it tells the story of the song better if they're all alone - isolated - so Geoff didn't use them. Notice they're not even making contact with the camera.
I may be recalling incorrectly, but weren't they each all alone in Dream On?
@@joyfulyes At the start, yes, they're alone, but they come together for a group shot, especially when Cesar hits the high Tyler scream.
That chord on "close" is outstanding. I haven't heard anyone else mention it but it gets me every time. I don't know the mechanics of why certain chords are so moving, I don't know whether Geoff knows either, but he certainly knows how to empoy them. Pure genius. Hoist The Colours was one kind of musical experience, this is another.
To this day STILL my favorite arrangement by Voiceplay. Absolutely gut wrenching
I am as upset as Voice Play is. My heart aches for these guys. They put their hearts & souls into everything they do. People need to wake up & acknowledge the beauty of their voices. Part of the problem is that so many other reactors are stuck on Pentatonix & Home Free that they won't give Voice Play a chance to be heard. Voice Play has so many other older songs that are missed & absolutely beautiful. Mr. Blue Sky is amazing. Will you please react to it ? Thank you for all your great reactions to Voice Play ❤️
It's a gift to live in the same era as these guys. ❤❤❤❤❤ God bless them. 🙏 You're absolutely right, what these guys are doing is so wonderful and it doesn't seem to get the recognition they deserve. This is so unfair!
So much purity of voice in this one! I don’t know what else to call it.
When I hear that h-dominant hum, it feels so much like the deep sigh that would come with the realization that it is over. That’s putting a lot of emphasis on a “simple”humming note, but every time I listen to it I find myself taking that really deep heartbreaking sigh with them. I have listened to this so many times, and every time I get misty eyed. I don’t normally like to listen to sad songs. But this is so beautiful that I don’t seem to be able to stop.
Just popping in here to say that you have become my top favourite reactor Mortius! I just love all of your breakdowns and adhd shenanigans lmao
Hey, Mortius! It’s up over 100k now, but yeah. I wonder if some folks are like me. I think this is brilliantly arranged and sung, love the heck out of it artistically, but I’m just not into sad songs or sad movies. I go to these things for escape from all the sad stuff in the world, and there’s plenty to be sad about right now in life without hearing a song or seeing a show that’s gonna make me cry. So I’ve watched it a few times, but not as many re-watches as I do with a lot of their other pieces. Who knows. Anyway, it’ll keep going and get to where it should be.
Great reaction, and give Ella a hug for me!!
Beautiful reaction as always... Thank you. 🙂
The fact that they left the finale un-resolved... That always breaks my heart. It feels like an ancient Chinese landscape painting, where there's no horizon and the brain extends the space forever, just to fit that space. Here it extends the feeling "forever", and it's heartbreaking, I can't help but crying like hell. 🙂
Such a beautiful song, and arrangement, and performance... It goes straight among my all-time top-few from them. 🤩
Thanks again. A beautiful, beautiful song and experience.
Maybe Ella is growling because you used your Ella voice for Cesar and she's jealous. Lol.
they can't make us love them(we already love them ) but they sure can make us cry
I'm heading over to put a few more views on this song. It's incredibly beautiful.
Yes- knew you would love this one 😊
The arrangement is exceptional.
Love you, love your reactions. This song breaks my heart - most of us have been in that situation and VoicePlay brings it all back so poignantly. Thank you
Have no others words to say than angelic and beautiful.I have been waiting so to see your reaction, you never disappoint.
This is criminally underviewed. It's powerful and just hauntingly beautiful
The vocal coaches often differentiate the mixed voices as chest dominant mix and head dominant mix, so think Cesar's voice at the start that you were trying to describe would be labeled as head dominant.
Thank you for the vocab help! I always appreciate it
Yeah. The first time I heard it I was a puddle of tears by the song was over
I still have not been able to get through the song with dry eyes. Cesar starts singing and the waterworks turn on.
@@southernhippie9058 me too.
Geoff's Line really hit me. I love this song so much!
It is a very emotional and beautiful song.
They all had tears in their eyes during filming.
One of their best I'd not the best.
Eli sang it straight without using his rock tenor. Ceasar picked the song and with him and EJ doing most of the lead, I swear it makes Angels cry. Love Geoff's arrangement, and anytime Layne sings it is such a treat. I knew this one would break you. It broke me too. Thanks again for reacting to it.
💕Loved the reaction. VoicePlay has a way of just melting you into a puddle in the palm of their hands.
I completely love this song, particularly sung by a male voice, and this version has so much to offer. When you're looking for more VoicePlay to listen to, I'd second the recommendations for Heart of Life and The Bones, they are two of my favourite songs from them.
Glad you also got the occasional Eric Whitacre vibes from some of the beautiful chords 🥲
Voiceplay is amazing at bringing out the emotions of the songs they cover, and this is no exception. This song premiered while I was lying sick with Covid-19 and therefore had to hold up social distancing, so the emotions of this and the fact that they are all sitting in separate rooms made me feel like (even though this is so sorrowful) I was being understood and giving a big hug ❤️
If you want to listen to another on without vocal percussion then you should check out their cover of 'True colors'.
personally i think this is their best one yet i know theres nothing crazy like hoist the colours or the wicked medley but man the raw emotions in this song hasnt stopped giving me chills and getting me tearing up since its release, its struck the perfect chord for me.
My guess as to why this awesome song from VP isn't getting more views is because it just hits too hard in the feels. Geoff's arrangement, the guys' performance, the way it's edited together ... I haven't wanted to reach through the screen and hug someone so badly since Geoff in Ain't No Sunshine. Especially knowing that Cesar suggested it, and he's single while all the others are married. That look on his face at the end... We want to laugh (Bruno), we want to be wowed (Hoist the Colors) but not as many people are eager to cry. Bonnie Raitt won a Grammy when she sang it but somehow this version is even more emotional. At least it is for me.
Loved this reaction. This has become just about my favorite song by them. Finally topped over 100,000 and I don't understand why it isn't twice that. Could be the YT analytics is the problem.
It's probably cuz it's so heart wrenching for some people they have to stop part way through. Concurrent watch time is a huge metric. I couldn't honestly watch this all the way through the first sitting without nearly bawling my eyes out. Don't think I made it throught the whole thing til like a week later.
I come back to watch it again as often as I think about it. I need to suggest it in reactors' pages too.
I saw that The Hound and The Fox took your suggestion and will be releasing Orpheus and Eurydice theme next week.
Shoutout to your editor XD - is casual comedy genius :D
I feel ya when you said you got emotional listening to this song. This is the only song/cover of their’s that made me cry while I listened to it. And it’s super hard to make me cry in general. Loved your reaction!
Wonderful reaction - It left me speechless several times as well.
Marwan got new cover ft. Eric Holloway and Peter got new cover of GOT theme
Yes! was waiting for you to react to this!
You pausing in the middle of one of Cesar's runs and not rewinding physically pained me. Also loved the reaction!!
Mortius don't feel bad about not knowing what to say about this song as I was exactly the same. They drag all the feels from you and wring you out then leave you wanting more. Big hugs from NE England and kisses for Ella too. X
Wow, this one legitimately messed you up, I think that’s the first time You’ve not stopped the video when the patreon roll started :P I’m not complaining about how you usually do things, just pointing out the difference due to how much this one impacted you ;) ❤️
Did you know that Nerdvana Reacts has posted 5 of Geoff's solos this afternoon in honor of Geoff's birthday?
This cover is exceptionally beautiful from Voiceplay. Love you Mortuis great reaction. I will always love everyone in a Voiceplay video.
Re: Cesar's entrance tone. I don't think it's so much falsetto as allowing more air to flow for a softer, more introspective sound which is perfect for this song.
I have been waiting for your reaction since the first time I heard Cesar open his mouth in this one. Phenomenal. Exceptional. All the other adjectives you can think of. Bonnie who? Thank you for being you. And thank you for adding some beauty and fun to my life.
I feel you on the unnameable emotional responses. I've been listening to this song for weeks and it always hits so beautifully.
Don’t get me wrong; I love their fireworks videos, but this a next-level arrangement. E fact tat this doesn’t already have a million views is an indictment of humanity’s musical sensibilities. I’m a huge Geoff fanboy but his arrangements… they wreck me.
Mortius I agree 100% with you. It’s a travesty that it has under 100K views. Voiceplay is such a talent and the addition of EJ for this song was perfection. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Yes it is so BEAUTIFUL!!!
Was waiting for this one. I always like watching your reactions before watching the other reactions. You bring all the extra feels. Voiceplay just keeps finding ways to break you. The end was like, Mortius.exe has stopped working. 😂
Give Ella a big kiss and a scritch from me! 😄
Voiceplay ballads are special!
Wow. Blown away. Thanks as always for your reaction!
Cesar picked the song and Geoff did the arrangement. Geoff said he wept while doing the editing. Anytime Layne sings you know you're in for a treat.
Great reaction/analysis of this soooo complex song! In response to your comments about the volume levels, I believe if you just turn the videos' volume up a bit in general, you'll get a better blend between your levels and that of the video, thought this one has a good level. LOVE your little VP hearts art on the white board.
I don't know why this has so few views, either. Maybe because it's not as "flashy" as other VoicePlay covers have been of late? Maybe people ran out of tissues? Who knows. Five of those views were mine, though.
P.S.: This song was running through my head, and when it got to Eli's line "And I'll give up this fight," VoicePlay's cover of "The Bones" (Ft. Emoni Wilkins) popped up to mix with it -- I don't think you've reacted to that one yet (?). It was the second song they released after Earl left, and the first with a guest filling the high tenor / Soprano part. This comment is a non-sequitur except for three or four notes the melodies have in common. And I hope it appeases the algorithm.
(also, I think you'd like "The Bones")
i think you do a phenomenal job mr morti mixing audio with your blind reactions
Always enjoy watching your reaction, Mortius!!
Two things, you should listen to Dave Thomas Junior's version of this because its just...so much sadder..it completely represents depression and theres 3 sad songs you have to listen to, "The Night we Met" by Lord Huron, "I Found" by Amber Run, and "Where's my Love" by SYML (specifically the aucustic version)
This song is beautiful but so painful! I also have a tough time hearing Bonnie Raitt's version of this song.❤
Mic drop Eli! Mic drop!
Whitney Houston popped into my head when he did that. 😂
Honestly, Geoff is just doing that thing where he's just being a bass (guitar, not singer). 😉
It's really the only way to describe the complexity of the rhythms he's doing.
Hello Ella
that got you a bit discombobulated didn’t it? 😊❤️🏴
This song was lovely, but it just didn’t hit my emotions the way it has a lot of people. You haven’t reacted yet to the one that always makes me cry. Have you ever been sad, but couldn’t cry? That’s where I was when I first heard Heart of Life. It brought the tears, and still does every time I hear it. Just four of them, with no beatboxing. But we get to Layne’s beautiful voice all throughout, often on the lead. I guess it’s too much for most reactors to want to hear. (Also a Geoff arrangement.)
I LOVE the Heart of Life, one of my favorite slow ones of theirs, also frees up tears if I need that.
Wow
Can you post these videos as audio only on audea? I would really appreciate just the audio. Love your stuff btw, keep pushing out content!
You were the first I heard of it.
They did a good job. But for me it will always be a Teddy Swims song.
Ella is so cute!
I was disappointed that Laine did not get a bit of a solo like all the others, especially since he sang the whole time.
He did have a little moment right before Geoff's solo. Came up so sweetly. But yeah, pity it wasn't longer.
Voctave have a new album coming out this Fall so hopefully some new videos on here as well :D As an audio engineer and radio presenter I would say leave the mic alone as levels are perfect.
It's not that I don't like the cover or sad songs in general. I watched the video several times but I don't feel anything. It's just a nice song. It's like I miss something and can't say what it is.
Right now I prefer watching the reactions instead of watching the original.
You don't have a lot of videos. If you need vocal reactions, there's always black church music. 🤷♂️
He is talking to much!!
Who??
Honey u talk too much
It’s great that the comment above AND below yours are thanking me for my analysis and especially the breakdowns. So thank you for your comment that helps the algorithm so that people like them who enjoy it can find my videos more!