Geoff started while still in school with Layne Stein (currently the beat boxer for Voiceplay) and 2 other friends as a Barbershop Quartet call 4 the love (I think). They later added a beat boxer (Scott Porter) and changed the name of the group to 4 to 5. When Scott left, Layne became their beat boxer (he had been the baritone). There have been some lineup changes and they changed the name to Voiceplay. He and Layne are the only ones that are the original members. The vocal ranges of everyone in that group is insane. I love both the group Voiceplay and Geoff's solo work.
Watching this one was when I realized what a great actor he is. The hopelessness and despair is portrayed so well. He did a version of Shanandoah, an old American folk song which is sweet and soothing. His version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is a brilliant arrangement, you might keep it in mind for Christmas!
I always enjoy reactions to Geoff's solo work (or VoicePlay). We're all blown away regularly by Geoff's vocal talents. However, there is so very much to appreciate in all that he does. As with VoicePlay, he is 100% indie and does it mostly all himself, with his wife, Kathy. He does his own arrangements, planning the video, costuming, initial audio mix, all of the video editing, and so on. (Check out the video description credits on each one to see where he had help and all of the things that he did himself.) Thanks!
I love his high baritone. The tonal quality that he has is just gorgeous. The song was from a movie about 2 alcoholics and their attachment to each other ....
@@AceofBadeReacts I hold rather firmly to the notion that both the author's meaning and the audiences' meaning matters. Cultures evolve, focus changes. Art is a snapshot in time: where we are determines what we see; how we experience it changes based on our experiences. The measure of really good art is that it survives through time and this process of change.
4:08 I mean I think “Peaches” short by Voiceplay is as high as he gets 😂 almost like he got kicked in the peaches 🤭 The man has killer range what can we say.
I think Geoff hits an Ab5 (A#5? I can never remember!) in a rock-tenor scream in "Peaches" - not something he's going to be doing everyday, but pretty amazing for someone who usually sings bass!
Geoff has had his YT channel for a while, but he only started to put music up on it when the COVID shutdown kept the group from touring. His channel also has readings from Edgar Allan Poe etc., and some tutorials on how to sing low.
In 1971 my husband and I went to see a concert by Blood Sweat and Tears, and the act that was the lead-in was Bill Withers doing this one. He probably did a few more but this was the one that stuck with me. Blood Sweat and Tears was really good too and we bought albums by Bill Withers as well as BS&T. When Geoff first did this one, it took me back and he does this so well that I'll never tire of it. I know a lot of couples can relate to the loneliness, the unhappy relationship. I'm happy that Steve and I had an incredible 48 yrs together before I lost him to colon cancer. Both of you do me a big favor and when you get to 40, get a colonoscopy so if you have an issue, it can be fixed. Glad you reacted to it and brought a friend as well.
If you want to hear Geoff on lead vocals in a VoicePlay video, try Oogie Boogie's Song or Hellfire. Both are villains, and arranged by Layne. He and Geoff have a habit of challenging each other. Been singing together since middle school. They co-founded the group in 1997, then a barbershop quartet called 4theLove. (They graduated high school in 1999.) When they added Scott Porter as beatboxer they changed the name to 4:2Five. After Scott left to pursue acting, Layne became the beatboxer and they've brought in different baritone, currently Cesar. If you want to see some of Geoff's humor, try Peaches, a VP mini with a cameo by one of Layne's daughters; or Way Down on Geoff's solo channel. Oogie Boogie's and Way Down are good examples of why you should watch with captions on and keep watching until the Patreon list scrolls to get the full experience.
This is the video that introduced me to Geoff 2½ years ago. A couple weeks later I found out he was bass singer for Voiceplay. Their video "Dragonborn Comes" was my introduction to them. I immediately joined both of their patreons and haven't regretted it one bit. I absolutely love these guys.
If you like this one, check out "Wicked Game". Very soulful. He has a lot of upbeat stuff, too! This song has so many views! I think I may have watched half of them!!
#billwithers as you read int he middle Bill said his inspiration was vaguely to do with alcoholism, so interpret the ‘she’ as being sobriety. My personal theory as that the ‘she’ in Geoff’s cover refers to his wife’s hearing (she has a degenerative hearing loss issue), because of the spliced notes and distortions throughout.
As an interesting slant on the song, it is about alcohol. "She" is the booze! He misses being drunk. The cry of Addicts everywhere, "Life's no good without it".
Right and that's what the Bill Withers performance gives off. This performance by Geoff portrays potentially a different situation, at least that's how I interpret it
Geoff started while still in school with Layne Stein (currently the beat boxer for Voiceplay) and 2 other friends as a Barbershop Quartet call 4 the love (I think). They later added a beat boxer (Scott Porter) and changed the name of the group to 4 to 5. When Scott left, Layne became their beat boxer (he had been the baritone). There have been some lineup changes and they changed the name to Voiceplay. He and Layne are the only ones that are the original members. The vocal ranges of everyone in that group is insane. I love both the group Voiceplay and Geoff's solo work.
The group is so good. I didn't know any information before 4 to 5.
Watching this one was when I realized what a great actor he is. The hopelessness and despair is portrayed so well.
He did a version of Shanandoah, an old American folk song which is sweet and soothing. His version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is a brilliant arrangement, you might keep it in mind for Christmas!
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is such a unique arrangement! Highly recommended!
These have been added to the list
Geoff has a 5 octave range. I highly recommend his cover of I See Fire from The Hobbit to hear what he can really do with it.
I definitely am planning on checking that one out
Always here for VoicePlay or Geoff. He puts all the feelings in this one.
He really did. It's just one of those songs you can feel
I always enjoy reactions to Geoff's solo work (or VoicePlay). We're all blown away regularly by Geoff's vocal talents. However, there is so very much to appreciate in all that he does. As with VoicePlay, he is 100% indie and does it mostly all himself, with his wife, Kathy. He does his own arrangements, planning the video, costuming, initial audio mix, all of the video editing, and so on. (Check out the video description credits on each one to see where he had help and all of the things that he did himself.) Thanks!
He does a lot of work for sure and it's well worth it
I love his high baritone. The tonal quality that he has is just gorgeous. The song was from a movie about 2 alcoholics and their attachment to each other ....
For sure. I always wonder when someone covers a song if their approach to it changes what the song can be about
@@AceofBadeReacts I hold rather firmly to the notion that both the author's meaning and the audiences' meaning matters. Cultures evolve, focus changes. Art is a snapshot in time: where we are determines what we see; how we experience it changes based on our experiences. The measure of really good art is that it survives through time and this process of change.
4:08 I mean I think “Peaches” short by Voiceplay is as high as he gets 😂 almost like he got kicked in the peaches 🤭 The man has killer range what can we say.
I think Geoff hits an Ab5 (A#5? I can never remember!) in a rock-tenor scream in "Peaches" - not something he's going to be doing everyday, but pretty amazing for someone who usually sings bass!
Haha that's awesome
Geoff has had his YT channel for a while, but he only started to put music up on it when the COVID shutdown kept the group from touring.
His channel also has readings from Edgar Allan Poe etc., and some tutorials on how to sing low.
That's really creative
I love how Geoff just casually jumps through 3 octaves throughout this song. Definitely one of my favorites! I’m glad y’all enjoyed it!
The "fade into it" is one of the ways they show a time laps, like, showing a week of the character just pacing, as they wait.
Yes. That's what it is that we couldn't put into words
In 1971 my husband and I went to see a concert by Blood Sweat and Tears, and the act that was the lead-in was Bill Withers doing this one. He probably did a few more but this was the one that stuck with me. Blood Sweat and Tears was really good too and we bought albums by Bill Withers as well as BS&T. When Geoff first did this one, it took me back and he does this so well that I'll never tire of it. I know a lot of couples can relate to the loneliness, the unhappy relationship. I'm happy that Steve and I had an incredible 48 yrs together before I lost him to colon cancer. Both of you do me a big favor and when you get to 40, get a colonoscopy so if you have an issue, it can be fixed. Glad you reacted to it and brought a friend as well.
He did such a great job with this song. It's definitely one of my favorites that he's done
If you want to hear Geoff on lead vocals in a VoicePlay video, try Oogie Boogie's Song or Hellfire. Both are villains, and arranged by Layne. He and Geoff have a habit of challenging each other.
Been singing together since middle school. They co-founded the group in 1997, then a barbershop quartet called 4theLove. (They graduated high school in 1999.) When they added Scott Porter as beatboxer they changed the name to 4:2Five.
After Scott left to pursue acting, Layne became the beatboxer and they've brought in different baritone, currently Cesar.
If you want to see some of Geoff's humor, try Peaches, a VP mini with a cameo by one of Layne's daughters; or Way Down on Geoff's solo channel.
Oogie Boogie's and Way Down are good examples of why you should watch with captions on and keep watching until the Patreon list scrolls to get the full experience.
I'll pass those along to Hermione. Both Oogie Boogie and Hellfire have been reacted to on here
This is the video that introduced me to Geoff 2½ years ago.
A couple weeks later I found out he was bass singer for Voiceplay. Their video "Dragonborn Comes" was my introduction to them.
I immediately joined both of their patreons and haven't regretted it one bit.
I absolutely love these guys.
haha that's awesome
I strongly suggest watching David K Reacts reaction/analysis to this that he did with Angie Woolard.
It's about alcohol, or the quitting of --- Ain't no fun! Be Safe
Correct
If you like this one, check out "Wicked Game". Very soulful. He has a lot of upbeat stuff, too! This song has so many views! I think I may have watched half of them!!
Oh yeah Geoff has some great stuff that I've checked out so far. I'll add that one to the list as well
This song shows off his range but you should also review his covers of "Over the Misty Mountains Cold" and "I see Fire".
I do plan to check out more of his LOTR/Hobbit songs
#billwithers as you read int he middle Bill said his inspiration was vaguely to do with alcoholism, so interpret the ‘she’ as being sobriety. My personal theory as that the ‘she’ in Geoff’s cover refers to his wife’s hearing (she has a degenerative hearing loss issue), because of the spliced notes and distortions throughout.
Geoff's version is more a tribute to his wife and that does make sense
As an interesting slant on the song, it is about alcohol. "She" is the booze! He misses being drunk. The cry of Addicts everywhere, "Life's no good without it".
Right and that's what the Bill Withers performance gives off. This performance by Geoff portrays potentially a different situation, at least that's how I interpret it
🌞⛅🌤🌥🌦
The 'she' that is being referred to in this song is alcohol.
Correct