I'm not sure if there is anything that can be called peak PTX, lol. You can see them improving in skill and confidence, and yet go back and watch Babytonix and get blown away by how great they already were. I watch something from 2012 and find myself second guessing myself and wondering if they really have improved that much since what I am seeing is so ridiculously good, then I see something newer and realize they HAVE improved, they have just always been top tier to begin with, and just keep raising the bar because they can. I think one reason that they started out great is that the trio of Mitch, Kirstin, and Scott grew up together and were friends before deciding to add a bass and beatboxer to try out for the Sing Off. That tight relationship and experience singing together really paid off for them. Another reason is that none of them let ego get in the way of the band - it's something they work at, like a 5-way marriage. Another reason is that they all deeply love and geek out over great music, so even if they have performed a song 1,000 times, they still get completely into the moment and sing from the heart. When I see them in concert, I can tell they are never phoning it in. So, back to the question, peak Pentatonix is whatever you are listening to at the moment, lol.
Hi there, thanks so much for the wonderful comment. I totally agree, I think it shows in their chemistry how close they are and understand each other. It's a five-way marriage like you mentioned and the passion in them is strong. Will continue the journey so stay tuned!
@@GeorgeTheCloud , it is pre-recorded and likely in pieces, but it's still all Kevin. The other thing is that Matt, the bass is also adding his part , helping with the beats. If you want a different look at how they all work together and what happens in the studio, there's a 20 minute mini-doc, The Recording of Evergreen, that shows all that. It's a really interesting look at the group's process.
@@GeorgeTheCloudThe rhythm section is comprised of percussion plus bass. Kevin is the beatboxer; Matt is the bass (in this and subsequent videos, that is - Matt joined in late 2017 after their first bass, Avi, had to resign for personal reasons, so in most earlier videos you'll see Avi). People will sometimes see Matt's mouth moving in time with Kevin's beatboxing and conclude that the beatboxing sounds so much like real drums because there are two of them beatboxing. That's half right. Kevin is one of the best beatboxers on the planet, if not THE best, but it still takes something more; it takes some bass notes. So Matt IS working with Kevin - that part is right - but he isn't beatboxing; he's singing bass notes. And because Matt and Kevin work so closely together, and because they're both so good at what they do, we don't even notice the bass as something separate. Instead, we hear what sounds like real drums.
@@Gwennedd i’d agree it’s likely that the percussion is layered. But as you point out, it’s still all Kevin. Even when some of their songs have complex layers, like The Prayer, it’s still all them. It’s amazing the sound that Matt and Kevin (and previously Avi and Kevin) can produce when they work together.
Where Pentatonix came from: Kirstin, Mitch, and Scott all grew up in Arlington, Texas. All of them were involved with community musical theater as children, and Mitch met both Scott and Kirstin there (separately) when he was still a pre-teen, and became friends with each of them. However, Scott and Kirstin didn't meet each other until they were fourteen and in the same high school class. All three were choir geeks (duh), and they quickly became best friends in high school. And if you're wondering what was in the water in Arlington in the early 1990s that three such remarkably talented people should all be born in such proximity, you aren't the only one. There was some kind of singing contest to meet the stars of _"Glee,"_ and the three of them wanted to enter, so they formed a trio which they named "The Trio." (I know; not very imaginative. They're somewhat better with that now.) They lost the contest, but they kept The Trio together anyway; they performed at school functions and occasionally on local television. Pentaholics still refer to these three as "the trio," and the trio is the heart of Pentatonix. Kirstin and Scott were a year ahead of Mitch; they graduated in 2010, when Mitch was still in eleventh grade, and both went away for their freshman year of college. Kirstin went to the University of Oklahoma (with a full ride scholarship!), and Scott went to the University of Southern Califonia. Scott is a very outgoing person, so he immediately began looking around for extracurricular activities where he could meet people and make new friends, and he found an award-winning amateur a cappella group named SoCal VoCals, which he joined. While there he met a former member named Ben Bram, who at the time was a coach on NBC's a cappella competition show named _"The Sing-Off."_ A cappella groups would audition for the show, and those that passed appeared throughout the season. There was a panel of three judges, all professional musicians, who would critique each performance. Along the way some groups would be eliminated, narrowing the field, and at the end of the season viewers would be invited to vote on a winner. The winning group would receive $200,000 and a recording contract with Epic, a minor subsidiary of Sony, the show's sponsor. Scott was intrigued. He thought The Trio could be competitive, and if they could get a recording contract they could have a career doing what they most loved, with the people they most loved. So he talked to Kirstin, who thought his idea had promise, and at the end of their first year of college the two of them headed back to Arlington to be there for Mitch's graduation and to talk with Mitch about Scott's idea. Meanwhile, back in Arlington Mitch had been having a very difficult year. His best friends weren't there, and as an out-of-the-closet young gay man with an unusually high voice he was being seriously bullied. And unfortunately, since the bullying was ostensibly for his voice he was quickly developing the notion that there was something wrong with his voice and that no one would want to hear him sing. So when Scott presented his idea Mitch was on board; it was a way to get away from the bullies. He had doubts about his ability to carry his weight in the group, because of the bullying, but he was willing to try, and if Scott and Kirstin said they could win, well, maybe they could. So with everyone agreed, Scott called Ben Bram to find out how to arrange for an audition, and this is where they met their first setback. _"The Sing-Off"_ had a size requirement; the minimum size allowed was five. The Trio needed two new members and a new name. They were stumped. Ben suggested that they'd profit from adding a rhythm section: a bass and a beatboxer, and he knew the perfect person to recommend for the bass, a guy named Avi Kaplan. They talked to Avi, and he was very interested, so that took care of the bass, but where to find the beatboxer? Ben didn't have any suggestions. So in desperation they typed "beatboxer" into a UA-cam search box and the first hit they got was a black guy playing a classical piece on the cello and beatboxing at the same time. And all of them said, "Wow! He's the one! How can we get in touch with him?" They were in luck. At the time UA-cam had something called UA-cam messages, which would allow private messages between members (now discontinued), so they sent Kevin a private message: "Hey! We really love your stuff, and we wonder if you'd be interested in flying across the country to join four strangers to audition for an a cappella competition show on television?" And Kevin messaged them back: "Normally I'd be there in a heart beat; I love a cappella and have been in a cappella groups before. But right now I'm studying for my final exams for my pre-med major from Yale." Oh. That sounded pretty definite; better keep looking. So they kept looking, and they found someone, but he was no Kevin Olusola. Oh well; you work with what you have. And two weeks later Kevin messaged them again: "Good news! I just graduated. If the gig's still open I can fly out." He arrived the day before their audition. Mitch had to skip his graduation ceremony to attend the audition. But even with just a day of rehearsal they still passed the audition; they were in. Oh, yes, the name. Pentatonix is named for the pentatonic scale, which has five (penta) tones just as Pentatonix has five (Penta) singers. In other words, it's a fancier way of saying they're now "The Quintet." 😂 Pentatonix appeared throughout season three of _"The Sing-Off,"_ and eventually won. All those performances are available on UA-cam and are well worth watching, preferably in order so you can see how they grew throughout the season. Some of them are as good as anything they've done since (which is saying a lot) and are only available in those old videos. (Note: If you decide to react to these, be sure and watch the versions that contain the show's introduction of Pentatonix just before the performance, and the judges' critiques of the performance, and any comments Pentatonix made backstage.) So, they'd won _"The Sing-Off,"_ complete with recording contract. Time to move to California permanently and begin recording. And a week later Epic reneged on the contract, saying that they didn't know how to market a cappella. But at this point Pentatonix weren't willing to give up; they WANTED that career they'd been working toward. So they pooled their winnings and lived frugally. The four men shared two apartments, to cut down on expenses. They arranged music and rehearsed every day, and when they had a song ready they used their iPhones to record themselves anywhere they could find good acoustics, and sometimes in places with acoustics that were just okay. And they posted to UA-cam. Their fans from _"The Sing-Off"_ quickly found them there, and subscribed, and they began to get more views and more subscribers, and to pick up a few patrons. In fact, they were going viral. And Sony noticed, and approached them with an offer: Perhaps Pentatonix would like a recording contract with Madison Gate, another minor subsidiary? Hmmm. 🤔 Would they like a recording contract? Might have to think about that, for a second or two. Darn right they'd like a recording contract! And then came "Daft Punk Medley," and Pentatonix won their first Grammy. And again, Sony took notice, and approached Pentatonix: "We've been thinking about it and we believe you might find a better fit with our flagship label, RCA. Are you interested?" They've been with RCA ever since. They go on tours world wide and perform to sold-out venues. They put out at LEAST one album a year, frequently more. One has gone Gold and one has gone Platinum twice. They have three Grammys and recently received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. And they are the only a cappella band to have won so much as ONE Grammy, or to be represented on the Walk of Fame. For discography, try Wikipedia: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentatonix_discography It's good through 2022, but only refers peripherally to their 2023 Christmas album, "The Greatest Christmas Hits." All of their official releases are available on their UA-cam channel: youtube.com/@PTXofficial
He wasn’t using a trumpet or other horn. He was “air playing” just with his voice. Kevin is amazing! Well the all are, of course. 😊 Please keep reacting to PTX!
Pentatonix is, and always has been, a family-of-choice. Mitch, Scott, and Kirstin started as best friends, practically "siblings from another mother," and it was their desire to keep that "family" together that led them to start Pentatonix. They seem to have recognized from the beginning that, for this venture to work, the other two members of the band would have to be part of the family, and so it was; Avi and Kevin were 100% beloved family members. But by 2017 Avi had begun having some problems. Avi is Jewish, and if he wanted to get married and have kids he needed to meet some nice Jewish girls, and being in Pentatonix was making that hard. Additionally, the touring schedule had begun to wear on him, and his personal style was changing in ways that were more suited to a solo career. But the breaking point came when his mother was diagnosed with cancer; Avi needed to spend time with her, and that meant that either Pentatonix needed to curtail their touring schedule or Avi needed to resign. He decided (correctly, I believe) that his resignation would be in the best interests of everyone. (And yes, his mother beat the cancer, and he found a woman to love and marry, and his career is flourishing. I recommend subscribing to his channel: youtube.com/@AviKaplanMusic ) It was a difficult time for everyone. In some ways it was like a divorce; there were details to be worked out about who owned what songs, and what they could do with them, so lawyers got involved. But in the end they made a clean break, and still seem to be friends. And then the search began for a new bass. Matt Sallee was fresh out of Berklee College of Music. He had idolized Pentatonix ever since he'd gotten to meet them as a youngster, and had memorized and practiced the bass parts of all their published music. So when he heard that someone was scheduling auditions for bass voices, he hoped, but didn't know for sure, that it was Pentatonix, because he knew about Avi leaving and this was his dream job. So he went in to this blind audition, and impressed the 💩 out of Pentatonix. He couldn't sing as low as Avi, but he had a lovely warm voice. And he was still quite young; Pentatonix could hear hints of what his voice would become as he aged into his full range. And he had been taking his inspiration from Pentatonix; they had shown him what singers could achieve. He might just be the one; the only questions were whether he would fit into the family, and whether the touring schedule would agree with him. So Pentatonix invited Matt to join them for a trial run. He would travel with them on their 2017 Christmas tour, as a Featured Guest, and if everyone was still happy at the end of that Matt would be invited to join permanently. Matt officially joined Pentatonix in 2018, when it was time for them to renew their contract with RCA (that way all five of them could sign), and he is most definitely part of the family. He is loving and beloved. And he has found love outside of Pentatonix as well; he and his wife have just announced that they're going to be parents soon. This family feeling informs all of Pentatonix's songs. When you have a goup of five people who are each this talented, there are only two ways to go: either infighting takes over and the group is destroyed, or they pull together and take care of each other. Pentatonix chooses the latter. Each member gets time in the spotlight. No one member has the burden of always having to be the lead - when a song seems to require a lead singer Pentatonix chooses the member whose voice works best for that song. And they continually explore new possibilities, different genres of music or different ways of doing things. They collaborate with other musicians a LOT; this keeps them fresh, growing in their craft. I have no doubt that if the time ever comes that they are blasé about their work they will disband, but for now, they continue to grow, both as people and as musicians, and they keep finding ways to surprise us.
Aloha, Jorge!! Thanks so much for a great reaction, and for the shout out! Your shirt is cute, btw. I'm glad you enjoyed the song; Pentatonix always impresses me with their harmonies plus individual artistry. I love the colour coordination in this video. I actually never heard the original until fairly recently. Kevin Olusola is the beat boxer's name; he is also an excellent cellist. I also thoroughly enjoyed all of the Pentatonix performances in The Sing Off, Season 3; they blew the judges away. You might enjoy the effects they create during those performances, as some are echo-like. Wishing you the best of joyous and continued success as you build your channel and your life, Jorge! Blessings from Kauai! 💖
Thanks for such a wonderful comment Tonia! I will check out their performances in he Sing Off soon, there is still so much content to get to bu that's a good thing!
@@GeorgeTheCloud Yes, indeed it is a good thing! Take your time, and enjoy building your channel, Jorge - it is your own legacy, how awesome!! Hugs and blessings from Kauai! 💓
Thanks for your reaction. Different and enjoyable! Since you mentioned Kevin's beatboxing (Matt does too when Kevin switched to the horn), please checkout Kevin and Matt's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy Reimagined." Amazing, high energy number during PTX's concert intermission. Several fan Vids, but you'll find one with good quality.
For balanced voices (but no beatboxing), try "Run To You." For more beatboxing, "Little Drummer Boy." For a song where EVERYONE gets a solo, even Kevin, "Imagine," but make sure it's the official video; the video effects are important. If you love to dance, "O Come All Ye Faithful" (yes, the Christmas carol, but I'm serious about the dancing). For something really weird, the official video of "Aha!," and be sure to stick around to the outro.
If you're watching pentatnoix, you NEED to check out voiceplay as well (if you haven't) Some reccomendations i have would be: creep, oogie boogie mam, enemy, hellfire
Check this out! ua-cam.com/play/PLdMGcXjrHid6d6H0Qp8P3_EBVMJgvrEAM.html
I'm surprised you haven't reacted to their official cover of Bohemian Rhapsody!! That is TOP FIRE.
I'm not sure if there is anything that can be called peak PTX, lol. You can see them improving in skill and confidence, and yet go back and watch Babytonix and get blown away by how great they already were. I watch something from 2012 and find myself second guessing myself and wondering if they really have improved that much since what I am seeing is so ridiculously good, then I see something newer and realize they HAVE improved, they have just always been top tier to begin with, and just keep raising the bar because they can. I think one reason that they started out great is that the trio of Mitch, Kirstin, and Scott grew up together and were friends before deciding to add a bass and beatboxer to try out for the Sing Off. That tight relationship and experience singing together really paid off for them. Another reason is that none of them let ego get in the way of the band - it's something they work at, like a 5-way marriage. Another reason is that they all deeply love and geek out over great music, so even if they have performed a song 1,000 times, they still get completely into the moment and sing from the heart. When I see them in concert, I can tell they are never phoning it in. So, back to the question, peak Pentatonix is whatever you are listening to at the moment, lol.
Hi there, thanks so much for the wonderful comment. I totally agree, I think it shows in their chemistry how close they are and understand each other. It's a five-way marriage like you mentioned and the passion in them is strong. Will continue the journey so stay tuned!
I just want to point out that there is still so much more PTX to discover. Originals, covers, different genres. So much more.
I wish I could go back and discover it all again. ❤❤
I hear ya, there is so much content out there and will get to it all with time, don't worry I'm not going anywhere!
Oh man, well I appreciate you following my journey! I definitely feel like that with some musicians.
It’s 100 percent beat boxing.
Oh my, impressive!
@@GeorgeTheCloud , it is pre-recorded and likely in pieces, but it's still all Kevin. The other thing is that Matt, the bass is also adding his part , helping with the beats.
If you want a different look at how they all work together and what happens in the studio, there's a 20 minute mini-doc, The Recording of Evergreen, that shows all that. It's a really interesting look at the group's process.
@@GeorgeTheCloudThe rhythm section is comprised of percussion plus bass. Kevin is the beatboxer; Matt is the bass (in this and subsequent videos, that is - Matt joined in late 2017 after their first bass, Avi, had to resign for personal reasons, so in most earlier videos you'll see Avi).
People will sometimes see Matt's mouth moving in time with Kevin's beatboxing and conclude that the beatboxing sounds so much like real drums because there are two of them beatboxing. That's half right. Kevin is one of the best beatboxers on the planet, if not THE best, but it still takes something more; it takes some bass notes. So Matt IS working with Kevin - that part is right - but he isn't beatboxing; he's singing bass notes. And because Matt and Kevin work so closely together, and because they're both so good at what they do, we don't even notice the bass as something separate. Instead, we hear what sounds like real drums.
@@Gwennedd i’d agree it’s likely that the percussion is layered. But as you point out, it’s still all Kevin. Even when some of their songs have complex layers, like The Prayer, it’s still all them. It’s amazing the sound that Matt and Kevin (and previously Avi and Kevin) can produce when they work together.
Where Pentatonix came from:
Kirstin, Mitch, and Scott all grew up in Arlington, Texas. All of them were involved with community musical theater as children, and Mitch met both Scott and Kirstin there (separately) when he was still a pre-teen, and became friends with each of them. However, Scott and Kirstin didn't meet each other until they were fourteen and in the same high school class. All three were choir geeks (duh), and they quickly became best friends in high school. And if you're wondering what was in the water in Arlington in the early 1990s that three such remarkably talented people should all be born in such proximity, you aren't the only one.
There was some kind of singing contest to meet the stars of _"Glee,"_ and the three of them wanted to enter, so they formed a trio which they named "The Trio." (I know; not very imaginative. They're somewhat better with that now.) They lost the contest, but they kept The Trio together anyway; they performed at school functions and occasionally on local television. Pentaholics still refer to these three as "the trio," and the trio is the heart of Pentatonix.
Kirstin and Scott were a year ahead of Mitch; they graduated in 2010, when Mitch was still in eleventh grade, and both went away for their freshman year of college. Kirstin went to the University of Oklahoma (with a full ride scholarship!), and Scott went to the University of Southern Califonia.
Scott is a very outgoing person, so he immediately began looking around for extracurricular activities where he could meet people and make new friends, and he found an award-winning amateur a cappella group named SoCal VoCals, which he joined. While there he met a former member named Ben Bram, who at the time was a coach on NBC's a cappella competition show named _"The Sing-Off."_ A cappella groups would audition for the show, and those that passed appeared throughout the season. There was a panel of three judges, all professional musicians, who would critique each performance. Along the way some groups would be eliminated, narrowing the field, and at the end of the season viewers would be invited to vote on a winner. The winning group would receive $200,000 and a recording contract with Epic, a minor subsidiary of Sony, the show's sponsor.
Scott was intrigued. He thought The Trio could be competitive, and if they could get a recording contract they could have a career doing what they most loved, with the people they most loved. So he talked to Kirstin, who thought his idea had promise, and at the end of their first year of college the two of them headed back to Arlington to be there for Mitch's graduation and to talk with Mitch about Scott's idea.
Meanwhile, back in Arlington Mitch had been having a very difficult year. His best friends weren't there, and as an out-of-the-closet young gay man with an unusually high voice he was being seriously bullied. And unfortunately, since the bullying was ostensibly for his voice he was quickly developing the notion that there was something wrong with his voice and that no one would want to hear him sing. So when Scott presented his idea Mitch was on board; it was a way to get away from the bullies. He had doubts about his ability to carry his weight in the group, because of the bullying, but he was willing to try, and if Scott and Kirstin said they could win, well, maybe they could.
So with everyone agreed, Scott called Ben Bram to find out how to arrange for an audition, and this is where they met their first setback. _"The Sing-Off"_ had a size requirement; the minimum size allowed was five. The Trio needed two new members and a new name. They were stumped.
Ben suggested that they'd profit from adding a rhythm section: a bass and a beatboxer, and he knew the perfect person to recommend for the bass, a guy named Avi Kaplan. They talked to Avi, and he was very interested, so that took care of the bass, but where to find the beatboxer? Ben didn't have any suggestions. So in desperation they typed "beatboxer" into a UA-cam search box and the first hit they got was a black guy playing a classical piece on the cello and beatboxing at the same time. And all of them said, "Wow! He's the one! How can we get in touch with him?"
They were in luck. At the time UA-cam had something called UA-cam messages, which would allow private messages between members (now discontinued), so they sent Kevin a private message: "Hey! We really love your stuff, and we wonder if you'd be interested in flying across the country to join four strangers to audition for an a cappella competition show on television?" And Kevin messaged them back: "Normally I'd be there in a heart beat; I love a cappella and have been in a cappella groups before. But right now I'm studying for my final exams for my pre-med major from Yale." Oh. That sounded pretty definite; better keep looking. So they kept looking, and they found someone, but he was no Kevin Olusola. Oh well; you work with what you have.
And two weeks later Kevin messaged them again: "Good news! I just graduated. If the gig's still open I can fly out." He arrived the day before their audition. Mitch had to skip his graduation ceremony to attend the audition. But even with just a day of rehearsal they still passed the audition; they were in.
Oh, yes, the name. Pentatonix is named for the pentatonic scale, which has five (penta) tones just as Pentatonix has five (Penta) singers. In other words, it's a fancier way of saying they're now "The Quintet." 😂
Pentatonix appeared throughout season three of _"The Sing-Off,"_ and eventually won. All those performances are available on UA-cam and are well worth watching, preferably in order so you can see how they grew throughout the season. Some of them are as good as anything they've done since (which is saying a lot) and are only available in those old videos. (Note: If you decide to react to these, be sure and watch the versions that contain the show's introduction of Pentatonix just before the performance, and the judges' critiques of the performance, and any comments Pentatonix made backstage.)
So, they'd won _"The Sing-Off,"_ complete with recording contract. Time to move to California permanently and begin recording. And a week later Epic reneged on the contract, saying that they didn't know how to market a cappella. But at this point Pentatonix weren't willing to give up; they WANTED that career they'd been working toward. So they pooled their winnings and lived frugally. The four men shared two apartments, to cut down on expenses. They arranged music and rehearsed every day, and when they had a song ready they used their iPhones to record themselves anywhere they could find good acoustics, and sometimes in places with acoustics that were just okay. And they posted to UA-cam. Their fans from _"The Sing-Off"_ quickly found them there, and subscribed, and they began to get more views and more subscribers, and to pick up a few patrons. In fact, they were going viral. And Sony noticed, and approached them with an offer: Perhaps Pentatonix would like a recording contract with Madison Gate, another minor subsidiary? Hmmm. 🤔 Would they like a recording contract? Might have to think about that, for a second or two. Darn right they'd like a recording contract!
And then came "Daft Punk Medley," and Pentatonix won their first Grammy. And again, Sony took notice, and approached Pentatonix: "We've been thinking about it and we believe you might find a better fit with our flagship label, RCA. Are you interested?" They've been with RCA ever since. They go on tours world wide and perform to sold-out venues. They put out at LEAST one album a year, frequently more. One has gone Gold and one has gone Platinum twice. They have three Grammys and recently received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. And they are the only a cappella band to have won so much as ONE Grammy, or to be represented on the Walk of Fame.
For discography, try Wikipedia: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentatonix_discography
It's good through 2022, but only refers peripherally to their 2023 Christmas album, "The Greatest Christmas Hits." All of their official releases are available on their UA-cam channel: youtube.com/@PTXofficial
Awesome to hear about the history, again thank you so much!
He wasn’t using a trumpet or other horn. He was “air playing” just with his voice. Kevin is amazing! Well the all are, of course. 😊 Please keep reacting to PTX!
I sure will, stay tuned!
Pentatonix is, and always has been, a family-of-choice. Mitch, Scott, and Kirstin started as best friends, practically "siblings from another mother," and it was their desire to keep that "family" together that led them to start Pentatonix. They seem to have recognized from the beginning that, for this venture to work, the other two members of the band would have to be part of the family, and so it was; Avi and Kevin were 100% beloved family members.
But by 2017 Avi had begun having some problems. Avi is Jewish, and if he wanted to get married and have kids he needed to meet some nice Jewish girls, and being in Pentatonix was making that hard. Additionally, the touring schedule had begun to wear on him, and his personal style was changing in ways that were more suited to a solo career. But the breaking point came when his mother was diagnosed with cancer; Avi needed to spend time with her, and that meant that either Pentatonix needed to curtail their touring schedule or Avi needed to resign. He decided (correctly, I believe) that his resignation would be in the best interests of everyone. (And yes, his mother beat the cancer, and he found a woman to love and marry, and his career is flourishing. I recommend subscribing to his channel: youtube.com/@AviKaplanMusic )
It was a difficult time for everyone. In some ways it was like a divorce; there were details to be worked out about who owned what songs, and what they could do with them, so lawyers got involved. But in the end they made a clean break, and still seem to be friends.
And then the search began for a new bass. Matt Sallee was fresh out of Berklee College of Music. He had idolized Pentatonix ever since he'd gotten to meet them as a youngster, and had memorized and practiced the bass parts of all their published music. So when he heard that someone was scheduling auditions for bass voices, he hoped, but didn't know for sure, that it was Pentatonix, because he knew about Avi leaving and this was his dream job. So he went in to this blind audition, and impressed the 💩 out of Pentatonix. He couldn't sing as low as Avi, but he had a lovely warm voice. And he was still quite young; Pentatonix could hear hints of what his voice would become as he aged into his full range. And he had been taking his inspiration from Pentatonix; they had shown him what singers could achieve. He might just be the one; the only questions were whether he would fit into the family, and whether the touring schedule would agree with him. So Pentatonix invited Matt to join them for a trial run. He would travel with them on their 2017 Christmas tour, as a Featured Guest, and if everyone was still happy at the end of that Matt would be invited to join permanently.
Matt officially joined Pentatonix in 2018, when it was time for them to renew their contract with RCA (that way all five of them could sign), and he is most definitely part of the family. He is loving and beloved. And he has found love outside of Pentatonix as well; he and his wife have just announced that they're going to be parents soon.
This family feeling informs all of Pentatonix's songs. When you have a goup of five people who are each this talented, there are only two ways to go: either infighting takes over and the group is destroyed, or they pull together and take care of each other. Pentatonix chooses the latter. Each member gets time in the spotlight. No one member has the burden of always having to be the lead - when a song seems to require a lead singer Pentatonix chooses the member whose voice works best for that song. And they continually explore new possibilities, different genres of music or different ways of doing things. They collaborate with other musicians a LOT; this keeps them fresh, growing in their craft.
I have no doubt that if the time ever comes that they are blasé about their work they will disband, but for now, they continue to grow, both as people and as musicians, and they keep finding ways to surprise us.
Hi Margaret, thanks so much for the wonderful and insightful comment! Really appreciate you taken the time to do so and I'm learning more about them.
Recommend their mashup of New Rules x Are You That Somebody.
Will add to the list, stay tuned!
Remember, PTX doesn't do covers... they do upgrades! ⚡⚡🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥⚡⚡
Haha I hear ya!
Good job! Yes! The beatboxer is Kevin.
Thanks for the support! I enjoyed it
Aloha, Jorge!! Thanks so much for a great reaction, and for the shout out! Your shirt is cute, btw. I'm glad you enjoyed the song; Pentatonix always impresses me with their harmonies plus individual artistry. I love the colour coordination in this video. I actually never heard the original until fairly recently. Kevin Olusola is the beat boxer's name; he is also an excellent cellist. I also thoroughly enjoyed all of the Pentatonix performances in The Sing Off, Season 3; they blew the judges away. You might enjoy the effects they create during those performances, as some are echo-like. Wishing you the best of joyous and continued success as you build your channel and your life, Jorge! Blessings from Kauai! 💖
Thanks for such a wonderful comment Tonia! I will check out their performances in he Sing Off soon, there is still so much content to get to bu that's a good thing!
@@GeorgeTheCloud Yes, indeed it is a good thing! Take your time, and enjoy building your channel, Jorge - it is your own legacy, how awesome!! Hugs and blessings from Kauai! 💓
Thanks for your reaction. Different and enjoyable! Since you mentioned Kevin's beatboxing (Matt does too when Kevin switched to the horn), please checkout Kevin and Matt's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy Reimagined." Amazing, high energy number during PTX's concert intermission. Several fan Vids, but you'll find one with good quality.
Hi Carolyn, glad you enjoyed the reaction! Thanks for the suggestion, stay tuned!
PTX does an amazing job with this song!
I agree Cathy, thanks for watching!
There are almost 300 videos. All good. U got a lot more to go. Thanks for the reaction
The more content the better, the journey is just beginning!
For balanced voices (but no beatboxing), try "Run To You."
For more beatboxing, "Little Drummer Boy."
For a song where EVERYONE gets a solo, even Kevin, "Imagine," but make sure it's the official video; the video effects are important.
If you love to dance, "O Come All Ye Faithful" (yes, the Christmas carol, but I'm serious about the dancing).
For something really weird, the official video of "Aha!," and be sure to stick around to the outro.
Thanks for all the specific suggestions Margret, will check those out soon!
Top picks: The Prayer, Amazing Grace, and Bohemian Rhapsody! But there are hundreds more. Also their release of Gold.
Those are solid top picks, I have reacted to those, but still many more to go!
@@GeorgeTheCloud I've searched here on UA-cam and can't find the ones I've mentioned.
I apologize, not sure why I thought I had reacted to those but I haven't yet!
Keep an ear out for Kevin's trumpet...!
My ears are ready
If you're watching pentatnoix, you NEED to check out voiceplay as well (if you haven't)
Some reccomendations i have would be: creep, oogie boogie mam, enemy, hellfire
I haven't heard of Voiceplay, thanks for the suggestion!
For amazing beatboxing and beat / bass from Kevin and Matt check out a mashup of New Rules x Are You That Somebody?
Thanks Debra, will add to the list!
If you haven’t watched their cover of Cheerleader, please make a reaction video of it for us. Thank you! Just subscribed.
Hi Mary, thanks for the suggestion, I will get to it soon. Welcome to the Channel!
😀
Thanks for the support!
Good man!
Thank you!
You just got "Mitch slapped"...
Won't be the last time probably