Dude is there a reason why you would not get a set of headphones how in the world you going to listen to Pentatonix without headphones? There is no way in the world you can hear what they are doing without them. It is a pentaholic's requirement to let new recruits know they are required. 😅😊
Headphones will enable you to hear all the detail -- Thanks for reacting to my favorite band! I hope you continue to react to their songs- Thare are awesome; I saw them in Raleigh NC 2 weeks ago -- I would recommend Hallelujah Thanks again!
At LEAST Hallelujah and Daft Punk Medley. This is a rabbit hole among rabbit holes. (Also, Mary Did You Know, Amazing Grace, Can't Hold Us, Can You Feel the Love Tonight, Havana, etc, etc) Much as I like this one, it isn't even in my top ten of theirs. They are over-the-top brilliant!.
I just subbed in hopes of more Pentatonix reactions! 💖 BTW - I definitely recommend headphones with this group. Big Time. And the record label dropped them because they didn't think an a capella group could sell concerts & records. PTX then went onto RUclips & produced simple videos sitting on their couches in their apartments. They appealed to a wide audience & even put their 1st Grammy Award winning video, Daft Punk Medley, together in their closets & kitchens! For $400.00! The record company soon realized they'd made a horrible mistake & signed them up again. They now tour world wide & lead the way for the other 2 main a capella groups, Home Free and Voice Play. Earlier this year they became the 1st a capella group to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! They also are the kings of Christmas music! So get ready! 💖
Has anyone mentioned that headphones are really necessary for listening to and appreciating PTX? Seriously. You'll thank us. [Edited to add] They just announced their Christmas tour dates. Get tickets _early_ and you won't regret it. They're just as good live as they are in studio. [Once more] More PTX? Yes please! You just got one more subscriber.
Loved your reaction. Just subscribed for more PTX reactions. Their fans call themselves Pentaholics because we can’t stopped listening and never seem to get enough of their brilliance. One of my favorites is “Imagine” and certainly “Hallelujah”. You really haven’t heard Mitch’s vocal range yet, even though you weren’t expecting him to sound that high. He’s a counter tenor and can give you goosebumps! You will run across a different bass singer in their earlier videos name Avi. He left in 2017 and was replaced by Matt. Avi has an unbelievably low bass range and is doing his on work now. Welcome to the rabbit hole. Looking forward to many more “mouth opening” reactions from you! ❤
"Mitch, I didn't expect a voice like that" says every reactor hearing him for the first time. Every PTX fan (Pentaholic) "and he doesn't push himself I this one. I suggest Hallelujah (if you want a song with similar arrangement) or Bohemian Rhapsody if you want your mind blown. PTX won a Grammy for Daft Punk, Joleen and the Dance of the Sugar Plumb Fairy
Set yourself up for a double reaction when you do "Daft Punk" ruclips.net/video/3MteSlpxCpo/видео.html&pp=ygUUZGFmdCBwdW5rIHBlbnRhdG9uaXg%3D followed by ruclips.net/video/tw4YCsHXKgI/видео.html&pp=ygUpcGVudGF0b25peCBkYWZ0IHB1bmsgcHJpdmF0ZSBwZXJmb3JtYW5jZSA%3D where they stand at the front of the room with no mic's and just sing. Recorded on a fans mobile! No cheating on that one!!
Sony didn't know what to do with an A Capella group. Some stories say, whether it's true or not- who knows, that Sony tried to make them a regular band. The labels they have worked with were all Sony Corp. companies. They are with RCA, another Sony company, now. And you haven't been Mitch slapped yet!!!!!!
It is STRONGLY recommended to use headphones when listening to Pentatonix!! Makes for a much richer listening experience! The legions of Pentaholics will not steer you wrong!! And for a totally different side of PTX, check out the official video Daft Punk. That was their 1st Grammy win (3 Grammys so far).. Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Several world tours. Sold out concerts. Covers and originals. And they absolutely OWN Christmas... At least 6. Xmas albums with a new one dropping later this year. But please... Do yourself a favor and use headphones... It makes all the difference in the world!!
To avoid future confusion, Matt joined the group in 2017, I believe. Before that, they had a bass singer named Avi Kaplan who left the group amicably. He’s phenomenal. If you see a video and you don’t see Matt, but you see another guy, that’s why. Avi is working on his own now. He has a phenomenal bass voice.
When PTX won the Sing Off, they had just formed. The record label dropped them almost immediately as they didn’t know what to do with them. PTX found their success after the record label dropped them. Recommend their original, Happy Now. PS: Yeah, get those Headphones.
You MUST wear headphones when you listen to Pentatonix! You cannot appreciated the bass and harmonies without headphones. They are phenomenal with everything they do. Get some headphones and react to Hallelujah. It will blow you away. Welcome to life as a Penta-holics!
Welcome to Pentatonix! They will never let you down! Great reaction! Subbing for more! Shawn Stockman is the original Pentaholic. He judged The Sing Off, so they are Boyz II Men approved, lol
Everything they do is perfection!! I recommend Daft Punk, 90’s Dance Medley, Evolution of Michael Jackson and Amazing Grace for a variety of covers. Then watch Love Again, Be My Eyes, Coffee in Bed and Water (live from Popspring 2016) for a variety of originals.
You need to hear their version of Hallelujah (official video or live version), their Daft Punk medley, also The Prayer and My Favorite Things are awesome.
I have to say, I'm a little jealous. You have no idea, the absolutely great trip you're about to take. Basically, they really put Acapella on the map. While I like Home Free. In my opinion, Pentatonix has no match in their Versatility, beautiful ranges, tones Riffs, runs, their over 200 songs, upgrades, not covers.their fantastic personality s they really relate with, and care about their audience, and subscribers. It sounds like I'm trying to sell this, but really I'm not, it's just fact they are without a doubt, the best Acapella in the business. Enjoy your journey. Looking forward to another Pentaholic. 😊👍
About being dropped by their record company: the thing to remember is that happened BEFORE Pentatonix had done anything other than compete (and win) season 3 of The Sing-Off a cappella competition show (it hasn't been on-air for several years, BTW). Immediately after winning their season of the show, the members of PTX moved to LA to be near the recording industry - and that's when the record company dropped them, saying they didn't think there was an audience for a cappella music and they didn't know how to promote them. PTX didn't give up, starting their RUclips channel and making covers from their apartments (they all lived in the same complex). All of PTX's honors, awards, and success came well after that initial drop by the record company. And PTX is by far the biggest commercial and critical success of any a cappella group currently (and I'm pretty sure in history). Sony got into some hot water with The Sing-Off show that they were sponsoring, since the show's management didn't take kindly to having their winner be dropped immediately. If you don't think there's a market, and can't promote the winner, why have a recording contract be your prize for winning the show? In fact, the show paused production and didn't resume for a year, when Sony apparently decided to do the right thing. PTX won season 3 in 2011 (and was dropped), and Home Free won season 4 - in 2013, after the production pause, and Sony did produce Home Free's first album after they won the show. Another a cappella group that you may be recommended (I'll certainly recommend them!) is VoicePlay, the third of the 3 big a cappella groups currently making videos for RUclips (although those aren't the only groups doing that). They also came out of The Sing-Off, competing in season 4 with Home Free, although they were eliminated about midway through the season.
New subscriber here. I also love anything that PTX sings. They are able to make any song like it is their own, but certainly raise it to a different level. Their 1st Grammy was for the Daft Punk medley and I would love to hear and see your reaction to it. However anything you choose is going to be awesome. Keep coming with the reactions. I enjoy your channel.
Hallelujah n Daft Punk medley should be next. However, strongly recommend headphones or at least earbuds. The original bass, Avi Kaplan is in those 2 videos I recommended. I prefer PTX to Home Free but many people like both. It just depends what type of music you like to listen to the most. PTX has songs in most genres and you really can't go wrong with any video you choose. Every Pentaholic has their own favorites and I'm sure you're on your way to joining us!
You need to watch Can’t Stop Us… done after Sony dropped them. So worth it. The Prayer, Hallelujah, Sing, Problem, Havana… anything they do is just epic. Their Arrangements are where they shine. Bohemian Rhapsody took them 5 years to perfect.
Pentatonix They won The Sing Off in 2011. They made a guest starring appearance on America′s Got Talent as non−competitors a couple of years after that. The founding members are:- Scott Hoying (tall blond guy, natural baritone but has an impressive five−to−six octave range, can go all the way up to high tenor and down to bass, sings the bass lines when the usual bass singer takes the lead);
Kirstin "Kirstie" (Rhymes with "Thirsty") Maldonado (the only female member, natural mezzo soprano, but can go down to low alto and as high as upper soprano, also can sing in whistle notes that are off the scale); For a time in 2018 between the group’s tours, had the female lead on Broadway in the production of “Kinky Boots”. Mitch Grassi (a true contra−tenor, can hit high notes in his chest voice with ease and go WAY higher in his falsetto, also with ease); Avriel "Avi" Kaplan (dark beard and long hair), true basso profundo, trained as an opera singer, also can go up into the tenor range; and Kevin "KO" Olusola (beatboxer extraordinaire, also is a world−class cellist who plays cello on some of their songs, has a beautiful high tenor voice and gets occasional lead vocal solos as well, graduated pre−med from Yale and speaks several languages including Mandarin Chinese). Kirstie, Scott & Mitch grew up together in Arlington, Texas, and began performing together as children in local youth musical theater. They ended up in high school together and performed in the choir. While there, they formed an a cappella group called The Trio which had several performance videos go viral on RUclips, most notably a cover of Lady Gaga′s "Telephone". The three of them are best friends and consider themselves to be almost siblings. Scott & Kirstie (who were a class year ahead of Mitch) both graduated high school in 2010 and went their separate ways to different colleges, Scott at USC and Kirstie at Oklahoma. While at USC, Scott joined a USC−based a cappella group called the SoCal VoCals, where he met alumnus Ben Bram, who was now an arranger and vocal coach for the NBC TV show The Sing Off, an a cappella competition show. Ben convinced Scott to get The Trio to audition for the show. The three reunited (Mitch had to skip high school graduation ceremonies to go) in Los Angeles for the audition. They found out that the rules had changed, so they needed at least five members to audition. Ben put them together with Avi (a native of Visalia, California), who he knew from Avi′s performing days at Mount San Antonio College in California. They found Kevin (from Kentucky) through one of his RUclips videos that had gone viral featuring him playing the cello and beatboxing at the same time, a talent that Kevin coined as "Cello−Boxing". Kevin arrived in Los Angeles literally the day before the audition! Scott came up with the name "Pentatonix" after the pentatonic scale. They performed a re−arrangement of "The Telephone" for the audition and passed, despite having been together as a five−piece group for less that 24 hours! They won The Sing Off that season (all of the performances are available on RUclips), in which they received a substantial cash prize AND a record contract with Epic Records. They pooled their prize winnings together and all moved to Los Angeles, and all got apartments right next door to each other in the same building. But just a week later, Epic dropped them because the marketing people didn′t think an a cappella group could sell records. Instead of giving up, they were determined and began recording their own songs on RUclips, hiring Ben Bram as their producer and arranger. These usually consisted of the five of them sitting on a couch and performing cover songs live. Several of the videos went viral, and Sony (the parent company of Epic) decided to give them another chance by placing them on one of their smaller labels, Madison Gate. They released two secular EPs and one Christmas EP on Madison Gate, all of which were strong sellers. But when their cove r of a medley of songs by Daft Punk not only went super−viral, but also won them their first Grammy, they were promoted all the way up to RCA Records, Sony′s top label. They began writing and producing their own songs in addition to their covers, began putting out a Christmas album just about annually (which has become their best−selling genre), and have had multi−platinum album sales, sold−out world tours, and have won two additional Grammys. Avi began getting burned out with all of the touring and heavy recording schedule, was suffering from anxiety and personal problems, and learned that his mother had been diagnosed with cancer in 2017. He announced he was departing from the group and taking some time away from the music industry. Matt Sallee (from Baltimore) joined them in September 2017. He did only become official when they renewed their RCA contract in February 2018, but he recorded with them in September as a featured artist and went on their Christmas tour as a featured artist, as well. When he attended the audition for the group, he had already mastered the Bass part for most if not all their past catalogue. He was successful and has proved that he fits in well with the group. If you think there have been other changes to the line up - look again. This is the ONLY change. Kirstie and Mitch are like chameleons and change looks frequently. After a year away from music, Avi has now returned as a phenomenal solo artist in the Folk/Americana/Roots genre. Ben Bram has been in charge of their production, including arranging and directing from the beginning. He is often referred to as the sixth member. Scott and Kevin are major players in the arrangements, but every member contributes. A good watch is "The Recording of Evergreen" where a camera was invited into the studio for the second week of recording/ Also, all members are songwriters for both Pentatonix and their own solo work. Ed Boyer who mixes everything of theirs (even the HWB Livestream) is the one who pulled Ben Bram into the sing off in the first place. They have Grammy wins for Daft Punk Medley, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Jolene featuring Dolly Parton. They were nominated for a 4th Grammy for their album Evergreen, but didn't win. Kirstie became a new mum which caused a pause in touring after their Evergreen Christmas tour 2021. Mid March 2023 Kirstie has announced that she is engaged to Ben Hausdorff, their videographer. No dates YET! They have a star on the Hollywood walk of fame installed in February 2023. They are the only a capella group with a star! They came 3rd in the 2023 Masked Singer performing as "California Rolls" being unmasked in May 23. Things you need to know because if you get these wrong Pentaholics will come after you with pitch forks and torches! Ha Ha!! 1- There is NO Auto-Tune; what you hear is actually what they sing. They really are that good. One exception is the 90's Dance Medley where Cher used autotune as an effect - so they had to. 2- What produces everything that you hear in the video, you see in the official video. If there is an instrument used in the music, you see it on screen. In the 2022 Christmas album, there are some instruments not featured throughout the album. 3- They never release something on video they can’t reproduce with the exact same quality live on-stage.
Other than winning the show, all of their success came AFTER their original label dropped them. Basically, the label didn't think there was money in an acapella group. I'm sure somebody at the label lost a job over it once they proved how successful they could be. Some of their songs to react to if you really want to see a sampling of their range: Hallelujah, Daft Punk, Love Again, Mary Did You Know, Sing, or Can't Hold Us.
They actually did a cover of Shai’s If I Ever Fall In Love featuring Jason Derulo. You do need to know that Matt Sallee is the current bass, taking over for Avi Kaplan about six years ago. Different voices, both amazing vocalists. That is the only change in members.
Your face was the text-book definition look of shock and awe at hearing a PTX upgrade for the first time. BTW- the record label contract was part of the award of winning the signing off. The label that sponsored an a cappella contest strangely decided it didn't know what to do with an a cappella group and cancelled the contract almost immediately. It's a good thing actually because that kicked the PTX members into overdrive in releasing their own music and is one of the factors that made PTX into what it is today.
seeing your jaw drop when it started was a joy! So glad you are areacting to them. Pentatonix is my favourite band. They are entirely Accapella, NO INSTRUMENTS!!
For the record, they sound even better live. I got to see them last Christmas and it was incredible. So if you want recommendations, we're gonna throw a million at you because there aren't any bad ones. My personal favorites are The Prayer, Amazing Grace, Mad World, Creep (The live version from the Masked Singer specifically although the recorded version is still incredible), 90s Dance Medley, and the Evolutions (particularly the Evolution of Ariana Grande and the Evolution of Rihanna). I'm leaving out a bunch but I'm sure my fellow Pentaholics will cover me.
They will be doing their Christmas music November-December and they have a HUGE list of Christmas songs. Their next Christmas album soon to come out will be their 7th one.
I love Pentatonix! In concert, they are amazing! My favorite by them is "Sing." I hope you react to that one. Every time I hear "Sing" I gotta get up and dance and SING!! ✌️🎶 BTW, their Christmas show is great!
So they’re currently on tour in Northern California till September and then November and December they’ll be on their Christmas tour. Nothing compares to seeing them live. I’m going to see them again in September and then November for their Christmas tour. I’m so excited!!!
You can't go wrong with anything from PTX but I highly recommend their mash-up of Dua Lipa's "New Rules" and Aaliyah's "Are You That Somebody", 90's Dance Medley, Amazing Grace, The Prayer or their Evolution of Rihanna or Evolution of Ariana Grande (both of these a recorded live).
To be brutally honest, before Pentatonix came along, nobody thought an A Cappella group could sell records. It simply wasn't a genre that record producers took seriously. So why did they offer a recording contract if they had no intention of honoring it in the first place? Just as an incentive to get people to compete on the show. That's it. Having said that, Pentatonix was probably the perfect group to have experienced this betrayal, because all it did was motivate them to do it their own way. And you can see the results. Once they gained traction on their own, they were approached by RCA (I think?) and the rest is History.
As you stated, Pentatonix won season 3 of “The Sing Off.” Part of the winnings was the recording contract with SONY. SONY decided that they did not want to invest in an a cappella group. Pentatonix decided that they were going to succeed the way young people do… social media. That started their career. If you listen closely to the song, you will hear that this Pentatonix version of Sound of Silence is based off the ORIGINAL Simon & Garfunkel recording, adding the vocal background sounds and beatboxing. The Disturbed version is nothing like the Pentatonix version. I recommend that you do these reactions with a decent pair of headphones in order to hear the percussion, and the bass tones properly. Matt has a very good bass voice. For future songs, I recommend reviewing Hallelujah, I saw Three Ships, Mary Did You Know, and Bohemian Rhapsody.
If you can go to their /Christmas show, I highly recommend it. Then try to see them on a tour other than their Christmas show. They are different shows with different vibes.
I'm so glad this showed up in my recommended videos. Subscribed because I love PTX and Home Free. As other's have said, headphones are recommended because you hear so much more. This is barely touching the surface of PTX. You CAN'T go wrong with their stuff. Welcome to the world of PTX.
They were dropped by the record company BEFORE THEY EVER STEPPED IN A STUDIO. No one denied their talent. But the record company didn’t see a path to success for an a capella group. You are a perfect example of the record company’s logic. You never heard of them even though they had since received global success.
When they won the Sing Off they won a record deal but after they all moved to LA they were dropped by the label due to a change in management and they did not think there was a market for a cappella. PTX hadn’t done much as a group at this point since they formed especially for the Song Off. They were smart enough and talented enough to turn to utube and with the help of their friend and music director and producer Ben Bram(often referred to as the sixth member of PTX) they grew their fan base(The Pentaholics) and have since sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. They have performed and sold out tours all over the world. I love this song and out of all the versions my favorite is Disturbed and PTX. By the way Simon and Garfunkel did not do a version of this song they did the original. This is their song and was written by Paul Simon. The PTX story is a very intersting one and there are some videos on utube that tell their story.
You have stepped into a world of fabulous music. Your reaction shows that you really appreciate good music. Please continue to explore them. You will find your number of subs go up like crazy. We pentaholics will follow you as along as you continue on this journey. I have subscribed hoping for more PTX. And don't forget the headphones. I will make a world of difference for you.
Those bell tone notes when they sing is a signature of PTX. The "wall of sound" at the end of their songs is also part of their signature sound. You will not be disappointed if you continue down this rabbit hole. Enjoy.
I've been enjoying your reactions for awhile, and thought I'd make a comment seeing this one. I'm 75, and saw Simon & Garfunkel play on their first tour in 1965 featuring their new hit, SOS. It was at Providence College Auditorium, which held about 3500 people. They played, broke, and then played a second half. After the last song of the second half, the applause was so long and loud, they continued to play song after song. Finally Paul came to the mike and said, 'We love playing for you, but we've played everything we know. Paul said they were working on a new album and said they would play a song from the new album, they'd never played in concert before. The song was 'Sparrow', a great ballad from their next album. The concert was over 3 hours long. The covers by Disturbed and PTX are both great in their own right, but my favorite PTX song is their cover of 'The Prayer' by Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli. I think you'll enjoy it immensely.
Dude, my first time hearing this group is one of those experiences. I will remember for the rest of my life. They are considered the absolute best Acapella group, the Gold Standard. Home-free and Voiceplay are also at that highest level. I’m sure you’ve probably received about 100 responses that emphasize the importance of headphones, so heed the advice. You can hear them just fine without headphones, but headphones will enhance the experience. Excited to see your journey 👍🏽
PTX is so worth a drive. I’ve seen them in concert and they sound the same live. Very down to earth ppl. And they are always on tour too. You should react to their hallelujah
PTX is on tour now and then will start a Christmas tour.PTX is the best a cappella group (imho) and paved the way for other groups like Home Free. I recommend their Evolution of Michael Jackson, Imagine, Daft Punk Medley, or Hallelujah. Shawn Stockman from Boyz2Men was PTX first celebrity fan.
Headset will help really hear the talent. I've been a fan since they started, All are great but Mitch has the best all around voice I've ever heard in my 70 years. So much talent from all of them, truly the best. I am new to your channel, great job.
You are going to have so much fun reacting to their videos. They are so amazing. I listen to them every day. I could let you know what you should listen to next but everything is great. Just pick what you would like. You will also have so many to choose from at Christmas time.
I’m a novelist and the same thing happens with book publishers. If you write something that doesn’t fit neatly into an existing market, their minds explode. They literally don’t know what section of the bookstore to use to sell the book. PTXs record company didn’t know how to market them because there wasn’t an existing predicable audience for a Capella music.
Pentatonix is the only a cappella band to have ever won a Grammy, except they've won three Grammys. They're also the only a cappella band to have a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. There are other a cappella bands that are good, but Pentatonix is spectacular. Pentatonix appeared on season 3 of _The Sing-Off,_ a year or two before Home Free. First prize (which they won) was $200,000 and a recording contract with Epic, a minor subsidiary of Sony. So after winning, the members all moved to California and got apartments right next to one another, prepared to start recording, and a week later Epic reneged on the contract, saying that they didn't know how to market a cappella; they didn't think it could be successful. Understand, Epic wasn't dropping a band that had three Grammys and a star on the Walk of Fame; they were dropping a band that was known ONLY for their performances on _The Sing-Off_ and was composed of three 19 year olds, one of whom had just graduated from high school and two of whom had dropped out of college after only one year, a 23 year old with a pre-med degree from Yale who had given up his place at Yale Medical School in order to become a professional beatboxer, and a 22 year old who had given up an offer to join a prestigious opera company in order to take up with this band of misfits. Doesn't exactly scream "stable" or "dependable," does it? But Pentatonix had just spent an entire season working toward the dream of making a profession for themselves singing together. They had WON that contract which was now being denied them, and they weren't about to let their dream die for no better reason than some record executives not believing in them. So they came up with Plan B. They pooled their winnings, used the $200,000 as seed money. They lived frugally - the four men shared two apartments to save money and they didn't buy anything they didn't absolutely need. They spent their days arranging songs and rehearsing, and whenever they had a song ready they'd record it on their iPhones and post it on RUclips - it was the only way they COULD publish their music without a contract. And pretty soon their fans from _The Sing-Off_ found their channel and subscribed, and started spreading the word. And Pentatonix began going viral, and getting a few patrons, and Sony noticed and approached them. "Um, we think Epic made a mistake when they dropped your contract. We have another subsidiary named Madison Gate. Would you like a contract with them?" Darn right Pentatonix wanted a contract! It wasn't a terribly GOOD contract - Madison Gate specializes in movie sound tracks and the like - but any contract was better than none. And then Pentatonix won their first Grammy, for a song they'd produced on a budget of about $400, and again, Sony took notice. Sony wasn't used to Madison Gate coming up with Grammy winners; maybe Pentatonix was with the wrong company. "Um, hey, Pentatonix. We've been thinking about it some more and we think you might be a better fit with our flagship company, RCA. Are you interested?" Pentatonix has been with RCA ever since.
After PTX won the Sing Off, they moved to Hollywood to record for Sony. But Sony didn’t think a capella could be profitable so they dropped them without giving them a chance. After that, PTX started a RUclips channel. After they proved themselves, Sony gave them a contract. The rest is history. They won their first Grammy for a song they recorded in a closet and filmed in one of the singer’s kitchen. All for $400.
They did have to spend a bit more to get the finishing editing and mixing done, but yeah, all the basic work , costuming, some lighting was most of that $400 budget.
was jumpscared at the r-slur surprise at the beginning but i gotta say the context you used it in made me laugh 💀 i really can not comprehend the label's decision to drop them just because they didnt *think* PTX were marketable... immediately after ptx WON the recording contract in the sing-off, and hadn't even RELEASED anything yet?? like,, why have the contract be a prize in the a capella contest if they didnt want an a capella group signed to their label... make it make sense
Just saw them on the 29th of August. They were fantastic and sound even better live if that is even possible! And the concert went from 8 to 11 pm. Love their music.
They got dropped because the lable was changing direction and didn't think there was a market for a capella. Kevin doesn't sing often because he's busy wth the beats but when he does he has a voice as good as any of the others. They have well over 200 songs out, more covers than originals but there is not a single one in the bunch you won't be amazed by. All of them have big ranges and they are all unselfish, they harmonize or lead as the song demands. Mitch and Kirstie are able to emulate each other's voices. Oh Scott fills in on bass if Matt is singing lead. Scott, Mitch, and Kirsten sang together in children's musical theater and then in high school which helps explain their ability to harmonize flawlessly. For originals try Happy Now, Coffee in Bed, Love Again... Daft Punk won them their first Grammy and they did it in a kitchen and a closet for $400. It will blow you away. Their biggest number is Hallelujah. To see their raw talent I recommend their cover of Gold or Evolution of Michael Jackson.
A couple of things to remember: there has been only one member change. Kirstie and Mitch often change their looks, so some think that there have been more changes than the one. Always check your video dates. If the video is before 2018, it will be the original bass Avi Kaplan. He left amicably for family/personal reasons). From 2018 on the bass is Matt Sallee. I hope you do more PTX. I'd recommend their older covers of John Lennon's "Imagine", their cover of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". Their cover of "Hallelujah" has over 700 million views. They have three grammys for their DAFT PUNK medley (2014); Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (2015 - a song with no words, by as band with no instruments), and then their country duet with Dolly Parton on "Jolene" (2016). For more recent masterpieces, and to get the full-on-Mitch slap, their cover of the Celine Dion and Andrea Boccelli classic, "The Prayer" and, my personal favorite, their cover of the hymn "Amazing Grace". Their Christmas albums have gone double (if not triple) platinum.
First singer is Scott, baritone/bass; second singer is Mitch, counter-tenor; beatboxer is Kevin who also sings tenor; third singer is Matt, baritone/bass; fourth singer is the lovely Kirstin, soprano extraordinaire!
Yeah, they're the real deal. I was surprisingly impressed by this interpretation. I mean, they're all great singers and they make a great group, but the interpretation wasn't one I thought I'd like as much as I did.
You have already been flooded with excellent suggestions for PTX songs, but you could choose any song that nobody suggested, and it will be a banger, too. Like Home Free, Pentatonix is incapable of releasing a bad song, and any song they release, they can perform live. Also, everybody is right that you need headphones, not only for PTX, but for Home free, and for music in general. You will soon be a Pentaholic as well as a Home Fry.
Just subbed for more PTX! Loved your reaction! Daft Punk, Hallelujah, Can’t Hold Us, I really like their Where are U Now, and When the Party’s Over and Imagine (video version for visuals) to start… you’re going to love this rabbit hole.. buckle up!
Sony didn't know how to market them...they wasted a BIG opportunity! You need to watch their first Grammy - Daft Punk Medley. Their second Grammy was singing Jolene with Dolly Parton! Sony missed with Home Free, as well. I guess they didn't want to "waste" their resources. Too bad for them! They are on tour now and will go on a Christmas tour later this year...their live performances are great! You should react to one of them, as well.
You definitely need to use headphones and react to Hallelujah, Mary Did You Know, Bohemian Rhapsody, Daft Punk…the well is deep with this group. Welcome to the PTX rabbit hole.
One comparison between the different versions of this song goes like this: Simon and Garfunkel gave us a powerful warning of where we were headed if we weren't careful. Disturbed is angry that we didn't listen to the warning. And Pentatonix says "But it isn't too late. It won't be easy, but we can still prevent the worst if we start paying attention now." Pentatonix may or may not be right, but I stand with them. If we assume there's nothing we can do then we will do nothing, and the planet is doomed. But if we do our best, MAYBE we have a chance, and if we don't have a chance at least we'll have gone down fighting for what matters.
I have never listened to them with head phones. IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Even if it is come cheap headphones or ear buds, it is so much more fabulous! 😄
I’m glad you found PTX, my favorites to start with are Mary Did You Know, Bohemian Rhapsody and Hallelujah! All three of these have their original singers which include Avi Kaplan that left the group and was replaced by Matt Sallee. And headphones are a requirement. Love your reaction.
Oh my friend....welcome. I just subscribed for more of this. There is no greater joy than watching someone discover this group. Voiceplay and Home Free are amazing...but PTX was the beginning. Keep going. Nothing the touch isn't an upgrade. Enjoy!
The song you reacted to with Home Free, Ring of fire, had Avi Kaplan guest sing with the group. Avi was the original face for Pentatonix, and left in 2017 for personal reasons, and has since been replaced by Matt Sallee, who is in this video (white jacket)
I loved your reaction. There are some non-verbal cues that I watch our for when I watch 1st time PTX reactions. I love the way your mouth dropped open and that you shook your head side to side - as if you couldn't quite believe what you were hearing. I am gonna take a guess and say that you are now a Pentaholic. Pleased to meet you - I am one too.
They are touring every year and their live music is incredible! Check out: Gold, Havanna, Come Along, Halleleuina are just a few. Everything they do is awesome. PTX is the original!
Subbed for more PTX....If you are a fan of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", their cover of that song will blow your mind! Great Reaction to "Sound of Silence" ❤
Also look up Kevin. He has his own site. He plays the cello along with other instruments. He also speaks a number of languages including Mandarin. Arvi was an original member who left on good terms a number of years ago and suggested Matt as a replacment. All amazing. enjoy.
Headphones really do help!!!!! 90s dance medley and New rules/are you that somebody are great. Also recommend any of their live performances of Hallelujah (especially newr ones with Matt)
You are going to love this rabbit hole you've opened. Try to check out "Mary Did You Know" and "Hallelujah" at a minimum. There are many others you will love. You have yet to be 'Mitch slapped' lmao
My favorite are the PTX mashups, where they take two songs and put them together to make a new one. My fav is LaLaLatch. Love Again is an original that is probably my second fav.
PTX is the original modern day accapella group winning the 3rd season of the Sing Off. Home Free and Voice Play followed. Yes please watch the 3rd season to see how PTX came to be.
Headphones are highly recommended as others have commented. I just saw them live (Bristow, VA) a couple of weeks ago. They are phenomenal live! Amongst all of their covers, Daft Punk is highly recommended, as well as Bohemian Rhapsody. Also, you should check out their cover of "Creep" which they performed on the show, The Masked Singer, earlier this year. They used to have a different bass than Matt, which was Avi; however, this is the only change in group members since they started. Their originals are unbelievable as well. One of the newest is "I Rise" which was released recently and they performed this at their concert...freaking amazing! Other great originals are Love Again and Run to You. I hope you look into them further....there are a lot of Pentaholics out there who would love to follow your journey! Looking forward to seeing more reactions.
This song is originally done by Simon & Garfunkel, back in 1964 & I love that version as well. Pentatonix is friggin' amazing, no matter what they do. 'Hallelujah' is also amazing & one of my favs. They kick ass on 'Bohemian rhapsody' too. Their medleys are jaw dropping. I have no idea how they do what they do, but I am thankful. The first singer, the tall blond guy is Scott. The beat boxer is Kevin (he also can sing like an angel, as proven in my #1 fav by them 'Mary did you know?'. The tiny guy is Mitch & when he opens his mouth on songs like Hallelujah, people are so shocked, they call it being 'Mitch slapped'. Kirsten is the beautiful gal & she looks totally different in every video. The last guy wearing white is Matt. He replaced a guy named Avi who looks like Jesus & is on Hallelujah & Bohemian.
Dude is there a reason why you would not get a set of headphones how in the world you going to listen to Pentatonix without headphones? There is no way in the world you can hear what they are doing without them. It is a pentaholic's requirement to let new recruits know they are required. 😅😊
Agreed
Literally my first thought. He needs headphones! Great reaction though.
Perhaps it makes it more difficult for editing depending on how it's being edited.
Yep 👍
@@JazieFranks
It escapes me that someone who reacts to music wouldn’t care how their own audio sounds.
THAT IS WHY PTX IS THE NUMBER ONE ACAPELLA GROUP IN THE WORLD🌎.
🎶🎙🎵
Headphones will enable you to hear all the detail -- Thanks for reacting to my favorite band! I hope you continue to react to their songs- Thare are awesome; I saw them in Raleigh NC 2 weeks ago -- I would recommend Hallelujah Thanks again!
At LEAST Hallelujah and Daft Punk Medley. This is a rabbit hole among rabbit holes. (Also, Mary Did You Know, Amazing Grace, Can't Hold Us, Can You Feel the Love Tonight, Havana, etc, etc) Much as I like this one, it isn't even in my top ten of theirs. They are over-the-top brilliant!.
I just subbed in hopes of more Pentatonix reactions! 💖 BTW - I definitely recommend headphones with this group. Big Time.
And the record label dropped them because they didn't think an a capella group could sell concerts & records. PTX then went onto RUclips & produced simple videos sitting on their couches in their apartments. They appealed to a wide audience & even put their 1st Grammy Award winning video, Daft Punk Medley, together in their closets & kitchens! For $400.00! The record company soon realized they'd made a horrible mistake & signed them up again.
They now tour world wide & lead the way for the other 2 main a capella groups, Home Free and Voice Play. Earlier this year they became the 1st a capella group to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! They also are the kings of Christmas music! So get ready! 💖
Has anyone mentioned that headphones are really necessary for listening to and appreciating PTX? Seriously. You'll thank us.
[Edited to add]
They just announced their Christmas tour dates. Get tickets _early_ and you won't regret it. They're just as good live as they are in studio.
[Once more]
More PTX? Yes please! You just got one more subscriber.
They are touring now also Seeing them in 3 wees!
Earbuds work too
Seeing them December
Loved your reaction. Just subscribed for more PTX reactions. Their fans call themselves Pentaholics because we can’t stopped listening and never seem to get enough of their brilliance. One of my favorites is “Imagine” and certainly “Hallelujah”. You really haven’t heard Mitch’s vocal range yet, even though you weren’t expecting him to sound that high. He’s a counter tenor and can give you goosebumps! You will run across a different bass singer in their earlier videos name Avi. He left in 2017 and was replaced by Matt. Avi has an unbelievably low bass range and is doing his on work now. Welcome to the rabbit hole. Looking forward to many more “mouth opening” reactions from you! ❤
"Mitch, I didn't expect a voice like that" says every reactor hearing him for the first time.
Every PTX fan (Pentaholic) "and he doesn't push himself I this one.
I suggest Hallelujah (if you want a song with similar arrangement) or Bohemian Rhapsody if you want your mind blown. PTX won a Grammy for Daft Punk, Joleen and the Dance of the Sugar Plumb Fairy
The Daft Punk Medley is my fav from them for sure. There is a good portion of it that should sound familiar to you, but they totally make it original.
Dude, we’re you stoned while recording this?
Set yourself up for a double reaction when you do "Daft Punk" ruclips.net/video/3MteSlpxCpo/видео.html&pp=ygUUZGFmdCBwdW5rIHBlbnRhdG9uaXg%3D followed by ruclips.net/video/tw4YCsHXKgI/видео.html&pp=ygUpcGVudGF0b25peCBkYWZ0IHB1bmsgcHJpdmF0ZSBwZXJmb3JtYW5jZSA%3D where they stand at the front of the room with no mic's and just sing. Recorded on a fans mobile! No cheating on that one!!
Sony dropped them almost immediately after the singoff. They made their own success!!!
Sony didn't know what to do with an A Capella group. Some stories say, whether it's true or not- who knows, that Sony tried to make them a regular band. The labels they have worked with were all Sony Corp. companies. They are with RCA, another Sony company, now. And you haven't been Mitch slapped yet!!!!!!
It is STRONGLY recommended to use headphones when listening to Pentatonix!! Makes for a much richer listening experience! The legions of Pentaholics will not steer you wrong!!
And for a totally different side of PTX, check out the official video Daft Punk. That was their 1st Grammy win (3 Grammys so far).. Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Several world tours. Sold out concerts. Covers and originals. And they absolutely OWN Christmas... At least 6. Xmas albums with a new one dropping later this year. But please... Do yourself a favor and use headphones... It makes all the difference in the world!!
To avoid future confusion, Matt joined the group in 2017, I believe. Before that, they had a bass singer named Avi Kaplan who left the group amicably. He’s phenomenal. If you see a video and you don’t see Matt, but you see another guy, that’s why. Avi is working on his own now. He has a phenomenal bass voice.
When PTX won the Sing Off, they had just formed. The record label dropped them almost immediately as they didn’t know what to do with them. PTX found their success after the record label dropped them.
Recommend their original, Happy Now.
PS: Yeah, get those Headphones.
You MUST wear headphones when you listen to Pentatonix! You cannot appreciated the bass and harmonies without headphones. They are phenomenal with everything they do. Get some headphones and react to Hallelujah. It will blow you away. Welcome to life as a Penta-holics!
Welcome to Pentatonix! They will never let you down! Great reaction! Subbing for more! Shawn Stockman is the original Pentaholic. He judged The Sing Off, so they are Boyz II Men approved, lol
Everything they do is perfection!! I recommend Daft Punk, 90’s Dance Medley, Evolution of Michael Jackson and Amazing Grace for a variety of covers. Then watch Love Again, Be My Eyes, Coffee in Bed and Water (live from Popspring 2016) for a variety of originals.
You need to hear their version of Hallelujah (official video or live version), their Daft Punk medley, also The Prayer and My Favorite Things are awesome.
Wow.. lol.. my 4th would have been. Can you feel the love tonight.. you gotta good taste😂
I have to say, I'm a little jealous. You have no idea, the absolutely great trip you're about to take. Basically, they really put Acapella on the map. While I like Home Free. In my opinion, Pentatonix has no match in their Versatility, beautiful ranges, tones Riffs, runs, their over 200 songs, upgrades, not covers.their fantastic personality s they really relate with, and care about their audience, and subscribers. It sounds like I'm trying to sell this, but really I'm not, it's just fact they are without a doubt, the best Acapella in the business. Enjoy your journey. Looking forward to another Pentaholic. 😊👍
About being dropped by their record company: the thing to remember is that happened BEFORE Pentatonix had done anything other than compete (and win) season 3 of The Sing-Off a cappella competition show (it hasn't been on-air for several years, BTW). Immediately after winning their season of the show, the members of PTX moved to LA to be near the recording industry - and that's when the record company dropped them, saying they didn't think there was an audience for a cappella music and they didn't know how to promote them. PTX didn't give up, starting their RUclips channel and making covers from their apartments (they all lived in the same complex). All of PTX's honors, awards, and success came well after that initial drop by the record company. And PTX is by far the biggest commercial and critical success of any a cappella group currently (and I'm pretty sure in history).
Sony got into some hot water with The Sing-Off show that they were sponsoring, since the show's management didn't take kindly to having their winner be dropped immediately. If you don't think there's a market, and can't promote the winner, why have a recording contract be your prize for winning the show? In fact, the show paused production and didn't resume for a year, when Sony apparently decided to do the right thing. PTX won season 3 in 2011 (and was dropped), and Home Free won season 4 - in 2013, after the production pause, and Sony did produce Home Free's first album after they won the show.
Another a cappella group that you may be recommended (I'll certainly recommend them!) is VoicePlay, the third of the 3 big a cappella groups currently making videos for RUclips (although those aren't the only groups doing that). They also came out of The Sing-Off, competing in season 4 with Home Free, although they were eliminated about midway through the season.
New subscriber here. I also love anything that PTX sings. They are able to make any song like it is their own, but certainly raise it to a different level. Their 1st Grammy was for the Daft Punk medley and I would love to hear and see your reaction to it. However anything you choose is going to be awesome. Keep coming with the reactions. I enjoy your channel.
Hallelujah n Daft Punk medley should be next. However, strongly recommend headphones or at least earbuds.
The original bass, Avi Kaplan is in those 2 videos I recommended.
I prefer PTX to Home Free but many people like both. It just depends what type of music you like to listen to the most.
PTX has songs in most genres and you really can't go wrong with any video you choose. Every Pentaholic has their own favorites and I'm sure you're on your way to joining us!
You need to watch Can’t Stop Us… done after Sony dropped them. So worth it.
The Prayer, Hallelujah, Sing, Problem, Havana… anything they do is just epic.
Their Arrangements are where they shine. Bohemian Rhapsody took them 5 years to perfect.
Can't Hold Us* :)
Pentatonix
They won The Sing Off in 2011. They made a guest starring appearance on America′s Got Talent as non−competitors a couple of years after that.
The founding members are:-
Scott Hoying (tall blond guy, natural baritone but has an impressive five−to−six octave range, can go all the way up to high tenor and down to bass, sings the bass lines when the usual bass singer takes the lead);
Kirstin "Kirstie" (Rhymes with "Thirsty") Maldonado (the only female member, natural mezzo soprano, but can go down to low alto and as high as upper soprano, also can sing in whistle notes that are off the scale); For a time in 2018 between the group’s tours, had the female lead on Broadway in the production of “Kinky Boots”.
Mitch Grassi (a true contra−tenor, can hit high notes in his chest voice with ease and go WAY higher in his falsetto, also with ease);
Avriel "Avi" Kaplan (dark beard and long hair), true basso profundo, trained as an opera singer, also can go up into the tenor range; and
Kevin "KO" Olusola (beatboxer extraordinaire, also is a world−class cellist who plays cello on some of their songs, has a beautiful high tenor voice and gets occasional lead vocal solos as well, graduated pre−med from Yale and speaks several languages including Mandarin Chinese).
Kirstie, Scott & Mitch grew up together in Arlington, Texas, and began performing together as children in local youth musical theater. They ended up in high school together and performed in the choir. While there, they formed an a cappella group called The Trio which had several performance videos go viral on RUclips, most notably a cover of Lady Gaga′s "Telephone". The three of them are best friends and consider themselves to be almost siblings.
Scott & Kirstie (who were a class year ahead of Mitch) both graduated high school in 2010 and went their separate ways to different colleges, Scott at USC and Kirstie at Oklahoma.
While at USC, Scott joined a USC−based a cappella group called the SoCal VoCals, where he met alumnus Ben Bram, who was now an arranger and vocal coach for the NBC TV show The Sing Off, an a cappella competition show. Ben convinced Scott to get The Trio to audition for the show. The three reunited (Mitch had to skip high school graduation ceremonies to go) in Los Angeles for the audition.
They found out that the rules had changed, so they needed at least five members to audition. Ben put them together with Avi (a native of Visalia, California), who he knew from Avi′s performing days at Mount San Antonio College in California. They found Kevin (from Kentucky) through one of his RUclips videos that had gone viral featuring him playing the cello and beatboxing at the same time, a talent that Kevin coined as "Cello−Boxing".
Kevin arrived in Los Angeles literally the day before the audition! Scott came up with the name "Pentatonix" after the pentatonic scale. They performed a re−arrangement of "The Telephone" for the audition and passed, despite having been together as a five−piece group for less that 24 hours!
They won The Sing Off that season (all of the performances are available on RUclips), in which they received a substantial cash prize AND a record contract with Epic Records. They pooled their prize winnings together and all moved to Los Angeles, and all got apartments right next door to each other in the same building.
But just a week later, Epic dropped them because the marketing people didn′t think an a cappella group could sell records.
Instead of giving up, they were determined and began recording their own songs on RUclips, hiring Ben Bram as their producer and arranger. These usually consisted of the five of them sitting on a couch and performing cover songs live.
Several of the videos went viral, and Sony (the parent company of Epic) decided to give them another chance by placing them on one of their smaller labels, Madison Gate. They released two secular EPs and one Christmas EP on Madison Gate, all of which were strong sellers.
But when their cove r of a medley of songs by Daft Punk not only went super−viral, but also won them their first Grammy, they were promoted all the way up to RCA Records, Sony′s top label.
They began writing and producing their own songs in addition to their covers, began putting out a Christmas album just about annually (which has become their best−selling genre), and have had multi−platinum album sales, sold−out world tours, and have won two additional Grammys.
Avi began getting burned out with all of the touring and heavy recording schedule, was suffering from anxiety and personal problems, and learned that his mother had been diagnosed with cancer in 2017. He announced he was departing from the group and taking some time away from the music industry.
Matt Sallee (from Baltimore) joined them in September 2017. He did only become official when they renewed their RCA contract in February 2018, but he recorded with them in September as a featured artist and went on their Christmas tour as a featured artist, as well. When he attended the audition for the group, he had already mastered the Bass part for most if not all their past catalogue. He was successful and has proved that he fits in well with the group.
If you think there have been other changes to the line up - look again. This is the ONLY change. Kirstie and Mitch are like chameleons and change looks frequently.
After a year away from music, Avi has now returned as a phenomenal solo artist in the Folk/Americana/Roots genre.
Ben Bram has been in charge of their production, including arranging and directing from the beginning. He is often referred to as the sixth member. Scott and Kevin are major players in the arrangements, but every member contributes. A good watch is "The Recording of Evergreen" where a camera was invited into the studio for the second week of recording/
Also, all members are songwriters for both Pentatonix and their own solo work.
Ed Boyer who mixes everything of theirs (even the HWB Livestream) is the one who pulled Ben Bram into the sing off in the first place.
They have Grammy wins for Daft Punk Medley, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Jolene featuring Dolly Parton. They were nominated for a 4th Grammy for their album Evergreen, but didn't win.
Kirstie became a new mum which caused a pause in touring after their Evergreen Christmas tour 2021. Mid March 2023 Kirstie has announced that she is engaged to Ben Hausdorff, their videographer. No dates YET!
They have a star on the Hollywood walk of fame installed in February 2023. They are the only a capella group with a star!
They came 3rd in the 2023 Masked Singer performing as "California Rolls" being unmasked in May 23.
Things you need to know because if you get these wrong Pentaholics will come after you with pitch forks and torches! Ha Ha!!
1- There is NO Auto-Tune; what you hear is actually what they sing. They really are that good. One exception is the 90's Dance Medley where Cher used autotune as an effect - so they had to.
2- What produces everything that you hear in the video, you see in the official video. If there is an instrument used in the music, you see it on screen. In the 2022 Christmas album, there are some instruments not featured throughout the album.
3- They never release something on video they can’t reproduce with the exact same quality live on-stage.
Other than winning the show, all of their success came AFTER their original label dropped them. Basically, the label didn't think there was money in an acapella group. I'm sure somebody at the label lost a job over it once they proved how successful they could be. Some of their songs to react to if you really want to see a sampling of their range: Hallelujah, Daft Punk, Love Again, Mary Did You Know, Sing, or Can't Hold Us.
They actually did a cover of Shai’s If I Ever Fall In Love featuring Jason Derulo. You do need to know that Matt Sallee is the current bass, taking over for Avi Kaplan about six years ago. Different voices, both amazing vocalists. That is the only change in members.
Your face was the text-book definition look of shock and awe at hearing a PTX upgrade for the first time. BTW- the record label contract was part of the award of winning the signing off. The label that sponsored an a cappella contest strangely decided it didn't know what to do with an a cappella group and cancelled the contract almost immediately. It's a good thing actually because that kicked the PTX members into overdrive in releasing their own music and is one of the factors that made PTX into what it is today.
seeing your jaw drop when it started was a joy! So glad you are areacting to them. Pentatonix is my favourite band. They are entirely Accapella, NO INSTRUMENTS!!
For the record, they sound even better live. I got to see them last Christmas and it was incredible. So if you want recommendations, we're gonna throw a million at you because there aren't any bad ones. My personal favorites are The Prayer, Amazing Grace, Mad World, Creep (The live version from the Masked Singer specifically although the recorded version is still incredible), 90s Dance Medley, and the Evolutions (particularly the Evolution of Ariana Grande and the Evolution of Rihanna). I'm leaving out a bunch but I'm sure my fellow Pentaholics will cover me.
Subbed for more PTX reactions. PTX is the gold standard. They saved acapella and made it mainstream.
They will be doing their Christmas music November-December and they have a HUGE list of Christmas songs. Their next Christmas album soon to come out will be their 7th one.
I love Pentatonix! In concert, they are amazing! My favorite by them is "Sing." I hope you react to that one. Every time I hear "Sing" I gotta get up and dance and SING!! ✌️🎶 BTW, their Christmas show is great!
You've never heard Christmas music like PTX does. They take old classic favorites and turn them upside down - you should definitely see them!
So they’re currently on tour in Northern California till September and then November and December they’ll be on their Christmas tour. Nothing compares to seeing them live. I’m going to see them again in September and then November for their Christmas tour. I’m so excited!!!
You can't go wrong with anything from PTX but I highly recommend their mash-up of Dua Lipa's "New Rules" and Aaliyah's "Are You That Somebody", 90's Dance Medley, Amazing Grace, The Prayer or their Evolution of Rihanna or Evolution of Ariana Grande (both of these a recorded live).
And...don't forget...The Evolution of Michael Jackson!!
To be brutally honest, before Pentatonix came along, nobody thought an A Cappella group could sell records. It simply wasn't a genre that record producers took seriously.
So why did they offer a recording contract if they had no intention of honoring it in the first place? Just as an incentive to get people to compete on the show. That's it.
Having said that, Pentatonix was probably the perfect group to have experienced this betrayal, because all it did was motivate them to do it their own way. And you can see the results.
Once they gained traction on their own, they were approached by RCA (I think?) and the rest is History.
As you stated, Pentatonix won season 3 of “The Sing Off.” Part of the winnings was the recording contract with SONY. SONY decided that they did not want to invest in an a cappella group. Pentatonix decided that they were going to succeed the way young people do… social media. That started their career.
If you listen closely to the song, you will hear that this Pentatonix version of Sound of Silence is based off the ORIGINAL Simon & Garfunkel recording, adding the vocal background sounds and beatboxing. The Disturbed version is nothing like the Pentatonix version.
I recommend that you do these reactions with a decent pair of headphones in order to hear the percussion, and the bass tones properly. Matt has a very good bass voice.
For future songs, I recommend reviewing Hallelujah, I saw Three Ships, Mary Did You Know, and Bohemian Rhapsody.
If you can go to their /Christmas show, I highly recommend it. Then try to see them on a tour other than their Christmas show. They are different shows with different vibes.
I'm so glad this showed up in my recommended videos. Subscribed because I love PTX and Home Free. As other's have said, headphones are recommended because you hear so much more. This is barely touching the surface of PTX. You CAN'T go wrong with their stuff. Welcome to the world of PTX.
They tour every year, both Christmas and regular concerts. They are, imo, better in concert.
Welcome to PTX! Let’s have more PTX, please. Their “Hallelujah” has more than 700m views and I think you’ll like it.
They were dropped by the record company BEFORE THEY EVER STEPPED IN A STUDIO. No one denied their talent. But the record company didn’t see a path to success for an a capella group. You are a perfect example of the record company’s logic. You never heard of them even though they had since received global success.
When they won the Sing Off they won a record deal but after they all moved to LA they were dropped by the label due to a change in management and they did not think there was a market for a cappella. PTX hadn’t done much as a group at this point since they formed especially for the Song Off. They were smart enough and talented enough to turn to utube and with the help of their friend and music director and producer Ben Bram(often referred to as the sixth member of PTX) they grew their fan base(The Pentaholics) and have since sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. They have performed and sold out tours all over the world. I love this song and out of all the versions my favorite is Disturbed and PTX. By the way Simon and Garfunkel did not do a version of this song they did the original. This is their song and was written by Paul Simon. The PTX story is a very intersting one and there are some videos on utube that tell their story.
You have stepped into a world of fabulous music. Your reaction shows that you really appreciate good music. Please continue to explore them. You will find your number of subs go up like crazy. We pentaholics will follow you as along as you continue on this journey. I have subscribed hoping for more PTX. And don't forget the headphones. I will make a world of difference for you.
Those bell tone notes when they sing is a signature of PTX. The "wall of sound" at the end of their songs is also part of their signature sound.
You will not be disappointed if you continue down this rabbit hole.
Enjoy.
I've been enjoying your reactions for awhile, and thought I'd make a comment seeing this one. I'm 75, and saw Simon & Garfunkel play on their first tour in 1965 featuring their new hit, SOS. It was at Providence College Auditorium, which held about 3500 people. They played, broke, and then played a second half. After the last song of the second half, the applause was so long and loud, they continued to play song after song. Finally Paul came to the mike and said, 'We love playing for you, but we've played everything we know. Paul said they were working on a new album and said they would play a song from the new album, they'd never played in concert before. The song was 'Sparrow', a great ballad from their next album. The concert was over 3 hours long. The covers by Disturbed and PTX are both great in their own right, but my favorite PTX song is their cover of 'The Prayer' by Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli. I think you'll enjoy it immensely.
Always fun watching the birth of fellow Pentaholic. Welcome. :)
You can go! 🇺🇸 I got to see them twice in London this year. Awesome! Thank you for your great reaction ❤
Dude, my first time hearing this group is one of those experiences. I will remember for the rest of my life. They are considered the absolute best Acapella group, the Gold Standard. Home-free and Voiceplay are also at that highest level.
I’m sure you’ve probably received about 100 responses that emphasize the importance of headphones, so heed the advice. You can hear them just fine without headphones, but headphones will enhance the experience.
Excited to see your journey 👍🏽
PTX is so worth a drive. I’ve seen them in concert and they sound the same live. Very down to earth ppl. And they are always on tour too. You should react to their hallelujah
PTX is on tour now and then will start a Christmas tour.PTX is the best a cappella group (imho) and paved the way for other groups like Home Free. I recommend their Evolution of Michael Jackson, Imagine, Daft Punk Medley, or Hallelujah. Shawn Stockman from Boyz2Men was PTX first celebrity fan.
To see them live is magical
Pentatonix won season three of the Sing-Off, while Home Free won the fourth season.
Headset will help really hear the talent. I've been a fan since they started, All are great but Mitch has the best all around voice I've ever heard in my 70 years. So much talent from all of them, truly the best. I am new to your channel, great job.
You are going to have so much fun reacting to their videos. They are so amazing. I listen to them every day. I could let you know what you should listen to next but everything is great. Just pick what you would like. You will also have so many to choose from at Christmas time.
Great reaction 🇨🇦 I’m obsessed with PTX! Following for more 😊
Other killers are GOLD, LOVE AGAIN, MAD WORLD, AMAZING GRACE, HALAJUAH, SAY SOMETHING and SO many more!😂❤
They tour almost every year. Welcome to the Pentaholic crew.
I’m a novelist and the same thing happens with book publishers. If you write something that doesn’t fit neatly into an existing market, their minds explode. They literally don’t know what section of the bookstore to use to sell the book. PTXs record company didn’t know how to market them because there wasn’t an existing predicable audience for a Capella music.
Pentatonix is the only a cappella band to have ever won a Grammy, except they've won three Grammys. They're also the only a cappella band to have a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. There are other a cappella bands that are good, but Pentatonix is spectacular.
Pentatonix appeared on season 3 of _The Sing-Off,_ a year or two before Home Free. First prize (which they won) was $200,000 and a recording contract with Epic, a minor subsidiary of Sony. So after winning, the members all moved to California and got apartments right next to one another, prepared to start recording, and a week later Epic reneged on the contract, saying that they didn't know how to market a cappella; they didn't think it could be successful.
Understand, Epic wasn't dropping a band that had three Grammys and a star on the Walk of Fame; they were dropping a band that was known ONLY for their performances on _The Sing-Off_ and was composed of three 19 year olds, one of whom had just graduated from high school and two of whom had dropped out of college after only one year, a 23 year old with a pre-med degree from Yale who had given up his place at Yale Medical School in order to become a professional beatboxer, and a 22 year old who had given up an offer to join a prestigious opera company in order to take up with this band of misfits. Doesn't exactly scream "stable" or "dependable," does it?
But Pentatonix had just spent an entire season working toward the dream of making a profession for themselves singing together. They had WON that contract which was now being denied them, and they weren't about to let their dream die for no better reason than some record executives not believing in them. So they came up with Plan B. They pooled their winnings, used the $200,000 as seed money. They lived frugally - the four men shared two apartments to save money and they didn't buy anything they didn't absolutely need. They spent their days arranging songs and rehearsing, and whenever they had a song ready they'd record it on their iPhones and post it on RUclips - it was the only way they COULD publish their music without a contract.
And pretty soon their fans from _The Sing-Off_ found their channel and subscribed, and started spreading the word. And Pentatonix began going viral, and getting a few patrons, and Sony noticed and approached them. "Um, we think Epic made a mistake when they dropped your contract. We have another subsidiary named Madison Gate. Would you like a contract with them?" Darn right Pentatonix wanted a contract! It wasn't a terribly GOOD contract - Madison Gate specializes in movie sound tracks and the like - but any contract was better than none.
And then Pentatonix won their first Grammy, for a song they'd produced on a budget of about $400, and again, Sony took notice. Sony wasn't used to Madison Gate coming up with Grammy winners; maybe Pentatonix was with the wrong company. "Um, hey, Pentatonix. We've been thinking about it some more and we think you might be a better fit with our flagship company, RCA. Are you interested?" Pentatonix has been with RCA ever since.
After PTX won the Sing Off, they moved to Hollywood to record for Sony. But Sony didn’t think a capella could be profitable so they dropped them without giving them a chance. After that, PTX started a RUclips channel. After they proved themselves, Sony gave them a contract. The rest is history. They won their first Grammy for a song they recorded in a closet and filmed in one of the singer’s kitchen. All for $400.
They did have to spend a bit more to get the finishing editing and mixing done, but yeah, all the basic work , costuming, some lighting was most of that $400 budget.
was jumpscared at the r-slur surprise at the beginning but i gotta say the context you used it in made me laugh 💀 i really can not comprehend the label's decision to drop them just because they didnt *think* PTX were marketable... immediately after ptx WON the recording contract in the sing-off, and hadn't even RELEASED anything yet?? like,, why have the contract be a prize in the a capella contest if they didnt want an a capella group signed to their label... make it make sense
Just saw them on the 29th of August. They were fantastic and sound even better live if that is even possible! And the concert went from 8 to 11 pm. Love their music.
They got dropped because the lable was changing direction and didn't think there was a market for a capella. Kevin doesn't sing often because he's busy wth the beats but when he does he has a voice as good as any of the others. They have well over 200 songs out, more covers than originals but there is not a single one in the bunch you won't be amazed by. All of them have big ranges and they are all unselfish, they harmonize or lead as the song demands. Mitch and Kirstie are able to emulate each other's voices. Oh Scott fills in on bass if Matt is singing lead. Scott, Mitch, and Kirsten sang together in children's musical theater and then in high school which helps explain their ability to harmonize flawlessly. For originals try Happy Now, Coffee in Bed, Love Again... Daft Punk won them their first Grammy and they did it in a kitchen and a closet for $400. It will blow you away. Their biggest number is Hallelujah. To see their raw talent I recommend their cover of Gold or Evolution of Michael Jackson.
A couple of things to remember: there has been only one member change. Kirstie and Mitch often change their looks, so some think that there have been more changes than the one. Always check your video dates. If the video is before 2018, it will be the original bass Avi Kaplan. He left amicably for family/personal reasons). From 2018 on the bass is Matt Sallee. I hope you do more PTX. I'd recommend their older covers of John Lennon's "Imagine", their cover of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". Their cover of "Hallelujah" has over 700 million views. They have three grammys for their DAFT PUNK medley (2014); Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (2015 - a song with no words, by as band with no instruments), and then their country duet with Dolly Parton on "Jolene" (2016). For more recent masterpieces, and to get the full-on-Mitch slap, their cover of the Celine Dion and Andrea Boccelli classic, "The Prayer" and, my personal favorite, their cover of the hymn "Amazing Grace". Their Christmas albums have gone double (if not triple) platinum.
First singer is Scott, baritone/bass; second singer is Mitch, counter-tenor; beatboxer is Kevin who also sings tenor; third singer is Matt, baritone/bass; fourth singer is the lovely Kirstin, soprano extraordinaire!
Yeah, they're the real deal. I was surprisingly impressed by this interpretation. I mean, they're all great singers and they make a great group, but the interpretation wasn't one I thought I'd like as much as I did.
You have already been flooded with excellent suggestions for PTX songs, but you could choose any song that nobody suggested, and it will be a banger, too. Like Home Free, Pentatonix is incapable of releasing a bad song, and any song they release, they can perform live.
Also, everybody is right that you need headphones, not only for PTX, but for Home free, and for music in general.
You will soon be a Pentaholic as well as a Home Fry.
Just subbed for more PTX! Loved your reaction! Daft Punk, Hallelujah, Can’t Hold Us, I really like their Where are U Now, and When the Party’s Over and Imagine (video version for visuals) to start… you’re going to love this rabbit hole.. buckle up!
I saw them at the Hollywood Bowl last year and again three days ago. You're right. YOU WANNA GO! 😁
Sony didn't know how to market them...they wasted a BIG opportunity! You need to watch their first Grammy - Daft Punk Medley. Their second Grammy was singing Jolene with Dolly Parton! Sony missed with Home Free, as well. I guess they didn't want to "waste" their resources. Too bad for them! They are on tour now and will go on a Christmas tour later this year...their live performances are great! You should react to one of them, as well.
You definitely need to use headphones and react to Hallelujah, Mary Did You Know, Bohemian Rhapsody, Daft Punk…the well is deep with this group. Welcome to the PTX rabbit hole.
One comparison between the different versions of this song goes like this: Simon and Garfunkel gave us a powerful warning of where we were headed if we weren't careful. Disturbed is angry that we didn't listen to the warning. And Pentatonix says "But it isn't too late. It won't be easy, but we can still prevent the worst if we start paying attention now."
Pentatonix may or may not be right, but I stand with them. If we assume there's nothing we can do then we will do nothing, and the planet is doomed. But if we do our best, MAYBE we have a chance, and if we don't have a chance at least we'll have gone down fighting for what matters.
I have never listened to them with head phones. IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Even if it is come cheap headphones or ear buds, it is so much more fabulous! 😄
Kiss from a rose - ❤Pentatonic
About time for PTX! ❤
I’m glad you found PTX, my favorites to start with are Mary Did You Know, Bohemian Rhapsody and Hallelujah! All three of these have their original singers which include Avi Kaplan that left the group and was replaced by Matt Sallee. And headphones are a requirement. Love your reaction.
Oh my friend....welcome. I just subscribed for more of this. There is no greater joy than watching someone discover this group. Voiceplay and Home Free are amazing...but PTX was the beginning. Keep going. Nothing the touch isn't an upgrade. Enjoy!
The song you reacted to with Home Free, Ring of fire, had Avi Kaplan guest sing with the group. Avi was the original face for Pentatonix, and left in 2017 for personal reasons, and has since been replaced by Matt Sallee, who is in this video (white jacket)
I loved your reaction. There are some non-verbal cues that I watch our for when I watch 1st time PTX reactions. I love the way your mouth dropped open and that you shook your head side to side - as if you couldn't quite believe what you were hearing. I am gonna take a guess and say that you are now a Pentaholic. Pleased to meet you - I am one too.
Love your reaction. . And yes go see them i have seen them 2xs and they are Amazing live. . Theyre even better. . Enjoy. .
They are touring every year and their live music is incredible! Check out: Gold, Havanna, Come Along, Halleleuina are just a few. Everything they do is awesome. PTX is the original!
Subbed for more PTX....If you are a fan of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", their cover of that song will blow your mind! Great Reaction to "Sound of Silence" ❤
Hallelujah NEEDS to be your next PTX reaction! ASAP!
I'm seeing them in concert this week...can't wait!!!!!
I have been a fan from day one and they still give me chils
Also look up Kevin. He has his own site. He plays the cello along with other instruments. He also speaks a number of languages including Mandarin.
Arvi was an original member who left on good terms a number of years ago and suggested Matt as a replacment. All amazing. enjoy.
PTX Daft Punk Medley HAS to be next. They won a Grammy for that one, and it will change your life.
I just saw them last Saturday in Indy and they were AWESOME!😂❤
Headphones really do help!!!!! 90s dance medley and New rules/are you that somebody are great. Also recommend any of their live performances of Hallelujah (especially newr ones with Matt)
You are going to love this rabbit hole you've opened. Try to check out "Mary Did You Know" and "Hallelujah" at a minimum. There are many others you will love. You have yet to be 'Mitch slapped' lmao
There is no lead singer in PTX! They are all lead singers!! Gods gift to mankind!
Amazing grace and hallelujah were crazy good
Perfect and Shallow
My favorite are the PTX mashups, where they take two songs and put them together to make a new one. My fav is LaLaLatch. Love Again is an original that is probably my second fav.
PTX is the original modern day accapella group winning the 3rd season of the Sing Off. Home Free and Voice Play followed. Yes please watch the 3rd season to see how PTX came to be.
PTX owns Christmas. Watch any of their Christmas videos and youll be hooked.
5 musical aliens doing what they love. Next upgrade to listen to Hallelujah. Sub for more PTX reaction.
Yay! I’m so glad to find you in the beginning of your Ptx journey ❤ I love following along for the ride. Subbing and hoping for more 🥰
Headphones are highly recommended as others have commented.
I just saw them live (Bristow, VA) a couple of weeks ago. They are phenomenal live!
Amongst all of their covers, Daft Punk is highly recommended, as well as Bohemian Rhapsody. Also, you should check out their cover of "Creep" which they performed on the show, The Masked Singer, earlier this year. They used to have a different bass than Matt, which was Avi; however, this is the only change in group members since they started. Their originals are unbelievable as well. One of the newest is "I Rise" which was released recently and they performed this at their concert...freaking amazing! Other great originals are Love Again and Run to You.
I hope you look into them further....there are a lot of Pentaholics out there who would love to follow your journey! Looking forward to seeing more reactions.
This song is originally done by Simon & Garfunkel, back in 1964 & I love that version as well. Pentatonix is friggin' amazing, no matter what they do. 'Hallelujah' is also amazing & one of my favs. They kick ass on 'Bohemian rhapsody' too. Their medleys are jaw dropping. I have no idea how they do what they do, but I am thankful. The first singer, the tall blond guy is Scott. The beat boxer is Kevin (he also can sing like an angel, as proven in my #1 fav by them 'Mary did you know?'. The tiny guy is Mitch & when he opens his mouth on songs like Hallelujah, people are so shocked, they call it being 'Mitch slapped'. Kirsten is the beautiful gal & she looks totally different in every video. The last guy wearing white is Matt. He replaced a guy named Avi who looks like Jesus & is on Hallelujah & Bohemian.
They do a great Hallelujah and Bohemian Rhapsody. Everyone in the comments is talking about the Daft Punk medley, so I'm going to check that out now.