BELIEVE IT. YOU AIN'T HEARD NOTHING YET. This group has won three Grammys, and have been nominated for two more this year. They're the only acapella group to have won Grammys. AND, they have a STAR on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. So buckle up. And welcome to PTX.
@@TomLloyd-18 Not overlooking Manhattan Transfer. I think they won around a dozen or so Grammys. But they recorded so many different jonres of music beyond acapella and their Grammys were not just for acapella stuff. And I think that after 50 years of performing, they're still out there.
Sorry to pick a nit, but "a cappella" are two Italian words, not one, meaning "of the chapel," referencing ancient Gregorian chant that was sung in churches by male vocal choirs, without Instrumental accompaniment, 1200 years ago.
Kevin Olusola-the human 808- is an amazing beat boxer among a thousand other things! His abilities make you wonder what you have done in life... and he is just one of the amazing group of talents that has combined to create PTX. If there is an instrument used it will be shown front and center or be very obvious. The rest is all them.
Pentatonix is the only a cappella band to have ever won a Grammy, except they've actually won THREE Grammys and been nominated for two more (if they win this Sunday it will be their fourth Grammy). Pentatonix is also the only a cappella band to have a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. And no, the "water" isn't affecting your ears. They really are that good.
The #1 a capella group in the world. Three Grammys and nominated again this year. Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Television and movie credits to their name. The drums were all done by master beatboxer Kevin Olusola. The drums were double tracked in studio, but he did make all the sounds himself. Same with Mitch's guitar solo. Reverb added in studio, but all those notes and runs were Mitch. They are famous for those bells sounds you heard. Check out their 200+ catalog. Just always remember to check the release date. If the video was before 2018, the bass will be Avi Kaplan (the bearded fellow). If it's Christmas 2017 or later, it will be Matt Sallee (also awesome).
You also forgot to mention that they have used auto-tune exactly once for a Cher tune that was part of the 90s Dance Medley video, and the only reason they used it there was because Cher had used it in her original, and to homage her properly in the Medley, they had to use auto-tune just as she had.
@@heinleinreader I didn't forget, the fact didn't apply to this song. However, that's a great point to make. Also, they occasionally use instruments but when they do you'll see them in the video.
Yup...they're a capella...and they're awesome!! The guy with the beard is the bass and he's broken speakers with his vocals. Main singer is Mitch Grassi ( dark-haired dude in the upper middle) a countertenor, Blond guy is Scott Hoying ( baritone) and girl is Kirstin Maldonado (alto-soprano). The guy doing all the drums and beats is beside Avi. He's their beatboxer/cellist/tenor...Kevin Olusola. There are LOTS more of their stuff to explore....some 200+ songs, some covers and some originals. They've won 3 Grammys ( so far...they are nominated for another...their album, Prayers For This World.... this year and are joining with other singers to usher in the show on the 4th of this month). They've been awarded a star on the Hollywood walk of fame, have been in several New Year's Day parades in NY. They have no formal lead singer. Whomever fits the song's needs is lead, but it will often get passed back and forth during the song ...they serve the song, not their egos. I subb'd for more Pentatonix ( PTX )in the hope that you do explore what else this fantastic group is capable of. Some suggestions: Imagine, Daft Punk medley, Sound of Silence, Coffee In Bed (original), Sing ( original), Evolution of Michael Jackson, 90's Dance Medley, Love Again (original), Run To You (original).
Don't forget Hallelujah! The first 3 every reactor does are usually (in order) Hallelujah, Daft Punk then Bohemian Rhapsody. They've a wide catalogue, covering many genres. Welcome to the rabbit-hole !! Shame you missed Christmas cuz they actually own it!
Kirsten is a mezzo-soprano but other than that, I agree. 😅 Though I do love a few other songs too, especially some that, unfortunately, don't have music videos. 🥰
@@ChibiChula, Scott and herself have lately taken to dubbing her an Alto-soprano. her lower range has increased in the past couple of years as her voice has matured and no doubt vocal lessons have helped as well.
Kiss From A Rose IS FIRE! Gotta react to that! However the beatboxer does play a cello in that. Best cello player ever! He played cello twice at Carnegie Hall when he was much younger AND coined celloboxing. Then you have to slide on over and react to Daft Punk! Another killer!
Queen’s Brian May has given this performance his blessing. Can’t get much better than that. Aside from their vocal excellence, their creativity in arranging and performing their videos is out of this world. There are several lovely nods to Queen throughout this video. I’m certain someone else has already pointed them out in earlier comments. Take a look at how many views this video has. It will blow your mind. They are the undisputed best and most successful a Capella band in the world with fans on all continents.
The black guy is a beat boxer extraordinaire. He also plays cello. The bearded guy uses his voice like a bass guitar. MITCH, the high tenor, used his voice to do the guitar solo. Welcome to the world of Pentatonix!! Brian May was blown away by this.
I’ve seen them live. They do it all with their voices. Kevin, their beat boxer also plays the cello and he sings. Please watch and react to “Kevin’s Fifth” !! One of the most talented people on earth.
I'll subscribe for more Pentatonix reactions. I loved your reaction. They are the best a cappella group ever. They've won 3 Grammy's and are nominated for another one on Sunday. The bass is Avi Kaplan, he has left the group and has a great solo career now.
The audio panning on "little high, little low" is a direct quote from Queen. If you listen to Queen's original you'll hear the same panning on the same phrase. Pentatonix loves Queen, and they love "Bohemian Rhapsody," so they always wanted to cover this song, but they feared that they couldn't do it justice, so they decided to wait until they were sure they were ready. That took them five years, but it was worth the wait - they were definitely ready. In the early days of Pentatonix, after Epic reneged on the recording contract Pentatonix had "won" on _The Sing-Off,_ Pentatonix started posting to TH-cam; it was the only way they COULD publish their music. A lot of those early TH-cam videos show the five of them sitting on a couch, with the trio on the back of the couch and Avi and Kevin on the seat in front of them, just five very young people singing their hearts out, making their dream come true. Note that this is the configuration we see them in at the beginning and end of "Bohemian Rhapsody," which is one reason the couch needs to move - it's taking Pentatonix (and us) on a trip down Memory Lane. The more important reason the couch moves is that it's standing in for the car in _Wayne's World,_ where Wayne and Garth introduced a whole new generation to the genius of Queen by putting a tape of "Bohemian Rhapsody" into the car's tape player. The couch was motorized, and not very well balanced. (Note that when they're sitting on it their feet don't quite reach the ground. The little curtain thing on the bottom was added to hide the motor.) It kept trying to tip over during the filming and actually managed to throw Kevin off at one point. There was a small platform attached to the back so that Kirstin could climb on the couch from behind - Scott, being a foot taller than Kirstin, didn't need it. When Mitch lies down on the couch, singing "Too late, My time has come," they're referring to Freddie Mercury's death (the foreshadowing was, of course, unintentional on Freddie's part; there's no way he could have known, thank goodness). The other four are walking next to the couch to serve as his pall bearers. Many people think the megaphone is distorting Mitch's voice to make him sound more like an electric guitar, but it actually has nothing to do with it. The megaphone wasn't turned on, and couldn't have distorted Mitch's voice even if it had been - it was just a megaphone. The electric guitar is all Mitch. Mitch happened to see the megaphone lying around on the set and thought it would make a cool prop, so it's been confusing people ever since. During the "Bismillah" argument, note that Scott, whose range includes both bass and tenor registers, is actually singing along with both the high and low sides of the argument. Scott has said that this rapid switching is the hardest part of the song for him. When the camera pans up to show us the starry night sky during Mitch's second guitar solo, it's meant as a tribute to Queen's lead guitarist, Brian May, who has a doctorate in astrophysics. The four shooting stars honor the four members of Queen. When the camera pans back down to show Pentatonix lying on the couch together it's meant to recall the cover art for Queen's "Sheer Heart Attack" album. And when this official video was first released, Brian May posted a link to it on all his social media accounts with the comment: "Enjoy."
@@margretrosenberg420 Yeah, I figured as much, but the point remains that I can't recall which it was. The image, however, is in my mind for eternity possibly.
Thank you so much for the in depth info. I just found PTX about a month ago. I cannot wait to list to every single PTX song. I wish I had heard of them 20 years ago. Also, you didn't mention, even though you probably know that Mitch has a 6 octave range. The guy is just brilliant! I told husband if I was 30 years younger and Mitch was strait he'd better watch out. I'm obsessed!
@@kathyhand5219 Actually, just one note more than six octaves. 😉 And I agree, Mitch is incredibly attractive. They all are, really. Had you heard that Mitch has a new boyfriend? They haven't released his name, just a few pictures of him together with Mitch, and the information that he's German. Mitch has been spending most of his time in Germany lately, to be with him. I hope it works out for them. 🤞 You couldn't have discovered Pentatonix twenty years ago; that was the year Mitch turned 12 and Kirstin and Scott turned 13. Even Kevin, the oldest member of the band, was still in high school. Here's how it happened: 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 TH-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 TH-cam had something called TH-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 TH-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: Look for 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 TH-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.
You will find these five are the best a cappella group ever! Avi(the bass) left the group in 2017 and now Matt is their bass. No matter because he is fabulous too! Enjoy and be amazed! Gail
PTX never uses instruments except Kevin the best boxer can play Cello and sings amazing tenor. Avi(beard) is the only one who left. Mitch, Kirstie, Scott all have been singing since high school. Welcome to the PTX rabbit hole 🕳️! ❤
Buckle up is right! And yes, you aint heard nothin yet. Why they only have 3 Grammys is beyond me but hearing their latest offerings, one gets the feeling, that even after 12 years, they are only just beginning. Their latest "Kiss From A Rose" is almost too much to comprehend. But for pure genius it's got to be "Daft Punk" for pure feels it's got to be "The Prayer." I am a grown ass man and when I heard it I cried like a little girl. They sound as good live as they do in studio
Love to see folks see and hear PTX for the first time. They are truly making music with their voices and Kevin's beatboxing. You are about to enter the world of Pentatonix. Enjoy the ride.
KEVIN IS THE BEAT BOXER OF THE GROUP. MITCH CAN ACTUALLY MAKE THAT GUITAR SOUND WITHOUT THE MEGAPHONE 📣. WELCOME TO PTX RABBIT HOLE. ALSO PTX DOES UPGRADES NOT COVERS. ❤❤❤
Welcome to the rabbit hole. In all honesty, this is a studio recording, professionally done and they’ve lip-synched the video: typical stuff. (The Behind the Scenes of the video is just amazing - they shot it in a parking lot at night.) As other’s have said, they do most of these live and I like their recording from the Popspring 2016 if you want to hear this bass and Hollywood Bowl 2022 if you want to hear the new bass. And Kevin, the beatboxer, is a damn genius - Yale pre-med, played at Carnegie Hall on sax and cello, perfect pitch with a great voice.
Welcome to the Pentatonix rabbit hole. Also called PTX, they are an amazing a capella group. We fans call ourselves Pentaholix. All the other comments give their history and backstory. Grammy Awards for: - Daft Punk - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies - Jolene (featuring Dolly Parton) But most watched is probably Hallelujah. And they have a multitude of Christmas albums which are all amazing. Latest hits have been “Kiss From A Rose” and “O Holy Night”, both from the latest Christmas album. Also, in some songs you will be Kevin (best boxer) also play cello, and he “cello boxes”. Enjoy the journey and keep reacting!
Yep..believe it. It took them 5yrs to put it all together. They wanted to be the best they could do and be able to reproduce it live on stage... This acapella group is the Greatest Of All Time (GOATs).
This reaction was priceless. Love your bafflement. They are just a completely chill group. Hella talented, hard working and dedicated to making the best music possible.
Glad you finally found the best a capella group in the world! I didn't see a suggestion for one of my favorites for a newbie, Making of Evergreen. It's a mini documentary of them in the studio creating their album, Evergreen, which was nominated for a Grammy last year (unfortunately didn't win). It's around 15 minutes and worth every minute of it; in fact it will leave you wanting more. It's amazing to see their creative process and how much they respect and live each other. Enjoy your journey with PTX.
If you react to this, they will come. Oh yes, the Pentaholics will come. If you do future clips, you can get away with having the video a little brighter than this, but yes, the record company does get on those who don’t pause the videos or use no filter. When they use instruments, Pentatonix doesn’t hide it. Scott’s played the piano before, they’ve had Lindsey Sterling (not sure if I spelled that correctly) play the violin, or Kevin (the beatboxer) is an absolutely incredible cellist, which was how the band initially found him. He’d gone viral for celloboxing (I believe is what he called it). He was also pre-med at Yale at the time the band intended to just borrow him. I will admit, Kevin is very much my favorite. Such a skilled individual, and stellar singer. They have a single member change. The man with the beard (Avi) left years ago, and was replaced with Matt. Recommendations: Wizard Of Ahhs, Sound Of Silence, Hallelujah, Amazing Grace, Kiss From A Rose, Mary Did You Know, Oh Holy Night, Aha! Singapore. Say Something is also pretty beautiful.
Welcome to the long winding road of Pentatonix, you are in for the journey of your life 😊 Pentatonix never ceases to amaze me, at just how incredibly talented they are, and take their voices to newer levels, we have never heard before.....there is something so special about their ability, to tell the songs story, allowing us to listen with a new perspective, and hear & feel emotions, we may not have heard from the original artist 💖💖💖 Not only their voices, but their delivery is also their gift!
There are plenty versions of this performed live, it's all them. I've heard it three times in concert myself. So they are just as impressive as you think they are, lol. Yes, Kevin's beatboxing is incredible. Avi, the bass, also did several effects like the wind sound in this one. Welcome to PTX! Its a deep and awesome rabbit hole and they will never, ever, ever, let you down. We're here for it! Fantastic reaction!
Sounds like it’s time for you to do a deep dive into Pentatonix! My favs: Daft Punk Medley, all the “Evolution of” videos, Mad World, Coffee in Bed, Lucky Ones, Amazing Grace, AHA Singapore, Kiss From a Rose…Everything in their catalog is amazing. If they use an instrument you’ll see it front and center.
That basso profundo is our man Avi Kaplan, original member of Pentatonix. He is now a solo artist with beautiful music. Since you're just starting, you have a huge body of work to get through. Pentaholics will soon envelope you. Not a bad performance will be found. Hallelujah should be your next reaction. It's the epitome of their talent and has over 600 million views. Then we'll talk. Good job!😅
First time your channel was recommended to me, because of Pentatonix. I'm so glad I got to see your initial reaction to the group. Your face said it all! Pentatonix (PTX) is a group that covers a lot of songs and has written many originals, as well. This is their original acapella group that won 2011 The Sing Off. There has only been one member change, in 2017, when Avi (the bass) left the group for personal reasons. Kevin Olusola (KO), the beat boxer, is a master of that, plus he's can play several instruments and produces his own music. I see that other commenters have recommended their Grammy winning songs, as well as many favorites. A lot of people only know PTX for their Christmas songs...but they are so much more than that. Their latest release, "Kiss from A Rose" on Vevo is fantastic! I think you'll find many things to explore in their 200+ videos.
It's all their voices. They did an incredible job making a tribute to Queen. Yep, Police Academy - the actor is Michael Winslow. Check out PTX doing Daft Punk.
I loved this, thank you for letting us join you on your journey to the world of PTX. Anything they do on video they can/do perform live. I've been following them since their debut on the program 'The sing off' and have seen them several times live. They have reinvented so many cover songs. Freddie would be proud of this.
I LOOOOVE first time reactions to this amazing group of best friends. they have 4 grammys. FOUR! I've seen them live 4 times- there is nothibng they record that they can't do live. they are phenomonal. keep diving down the rabbit hole... christmas with them is amazing also check out "wizard of ahhhhs"
Was so fun to be with you as you met an incredible group of people. Keep listening to them.... This is NOT a one time amazement.... just keep listening.
That deep bass, Avi Kaplan, left PTX in 2017 and is now solo, just put out a new song today! The song is "Feel Alright," and it certainly makes you feel that way.
As a Wisconsinite (a state known for being permanently intoxicated), I assure you that you have not been tricked. Kevin’s beatboxing, Avi’s bass, and their harmonies are just that good.
Great reaction! They are A Capella and yes, they are all instruments! This is impressive but would love to see your reaction to their Daft Punk Medley, 90's Dance Medley, Be My Eyes (which is an original), or Kiss From A Rose. They will amaze you more and more! Welcome to the Pentatonix rabbit hole! Subbed for more Pentatonix.
No instruments, no auto tune; that's all Pentatonix. As for drums, if there are real drums playing you'll see the drums (unless it's from their 2022 Christmas album, "Holidays Around the World," where they collaborated with many other musicians who couldn't be there for the filming). Kevin really is that good a beatboxer, and Avi's bass makes the drums sound fuller. Kevin works very closely with the bass, since the rhythm section includes both bass and percussion. Now, in all fairness, they're actually lip-synching to the studio recording, but even that doesn't mean that they aren't singing; the way Pentatonix lip-synchs is to actually sing the song. This keeps them in time with each other and with the recording and ensures that their movements are all genuine.
Yes, everything they do is just voice. Songs to think on. Hallelujah, the prayer, amazing grace, sound of silence, Mary, did you know, there is so much more. Welcome to the ptx hole, the pentaholics are here for you
"If there's more..." They have been together since 2011 and have a catalog of way over 200 covers (or as us fans...Pentaholics, call them "upgrades") and original songs!!! You my friend are in for a ride. Oh and when you think you have heard them at their best....wrong....think again. Love when new people discover them for the first time!!! Subbed for more PTX!!
There are instruments. They are called voices. And later in this video, you will hear the electric guitar (Mitch's voice), bass guitar and wind chimes (Avi's voice), and full drum kit with cymbals (Kevin's voice). That megaphone you are about to see is actually nothing more than a prop to highlight who is producing the sound. Kevin is the black guy. He is also their beatboxer, widely considered the best in the industry. Mitch is the guy with the angelic voice doing lead vocals for most of this video. Avi is the bass, you were right about that. He's the one with the beard. He's a classically trained operatic bass that can reach the deepest registers, say down around B1, or rumble notes. The girl is Kirsten, and she's a mezzo-soprano but can reach up to whistle notes at the top of the scale. Finally we get Scott, the tall blonde. He is a natural baritone, and covers the bass line whenever their bass is singing lead. Not pictured here is the one change they have ever made to their lineup. In 2017 Avi left the group on amenable terms for family health reasons. Matt then took over in 2017 as their bass, first featured in September 2017, I believe. They first gained notoriety from their performances on SingOff, the third season in 2011, which they would wind up winning. That got them a recording contract. However, due to Sony not really knowing what to do to market an a capella group, that contract produced little for them. They began self-produced and self-promoted videos on TH-cam. They have won three Grammy awards in five nomination (having recently had a recent album added to this year's slate of nominees), winning for Daft Punk Medley, for Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies, and for Jolene featuring Dolly Parton. They were nominated for their album Evergreen, but it failed to win. They currently have a nomination in the pop vocal album category for Holidays Around the World. That is the group that you are reacting to.
Hi. So the group is as follows Scott Hoying Baritone Avi Kaplan Bass. He left the group and was replaced by Matt Sallee Mitch Grassi Tenor Kirsten Maldonado Soprano Kevin Olusola tenor and Beatboxer extraodinaire. He also plays the cello. You should check out their Daft Punk for which they won a Grammy. Also if you want to see Kevin in his element you should check out something called Kevin's 5th. You will also learn how the group came together.
You need to check out Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, one of the songs they won a Grammy for. Oh, the irony of an acapella band winning a Grammy for an instrumental song.
Where have you been? They are famous multi Grammy award winning acapella (usually no music on those rare occasions when the do have instruments involved they are visible) for almost 12 years.
Welcome ! Yes its all them and seeing them live 2Xs now i can say they are by far my favorite group and please continue to watch All their videos if you want you contnue being amazed and love music. . You can pick any of their many many videos you xant go wrong ! enjoy. .
Welcome to Pentatonix. We are the Pentaholics. You should watch their Daft Punk medley, or some of their Evolution videos like the Evolution of Michael Jackson. They will be performing this Sunday (2/4/24) on the Grammy broadcast. They are the best.
You are not alone. They won a Grammy for a song with no words, so just "music". Any of the higher viewed videos are a good place to start. Then dive into whatever sounds interesting to you. There's lots of live stuff out there. Some with really good video/audio quality. And then you can hear that it's all real. We Pentaholics love to help new reactors. So just ask if you have a question or want a suggestion, or 10. Subbed hoping for more. Enjoy!
They apparently spent two or three years getting it right before doing this, and Brian May put a link on his page and just said "enjoy". Next get knocked down by Daft Punk (got them their first grammy (?). Matt replace Avi around 2017 so the live version has changed, used to be you couldn't tell live from official And some of the live versions are recorded on cellphones so the sound sucks. Scott, Kristen, and Mitch grew up in Arlington, Texas, met as kids (8? 10?) all tried to sing wherever they could, went to the same high school where they did choir and shows. Published TH-cams as The Trio. Scott decided to compete in The Singoff but they needed 5. They found Kevin online and Avi through a friend - and had ONE day to get acquainted and won the show. Came with money and a record contract but the label dropped them so they made some TH-cam videos and the world found them. Kevin and Avi were fans of Daft Punk so they tried to hire a studio, couldn't, and recorded in a closet and did the video at a kitchen table. Budget was $400 I think. Won them a Grammy. Kevin was premed at Yale, had played cello and sax (?) at Carnegie Hall but they talked him into joining. Imagine telling his folks. Fans (Pentaholics) have put together conventions and invited their folks to come talk and they are adorable!
@gailseatonhumbert Respectfully, I disagree. Perhaps it's how we define "3rd national Sing Off competition" - I think of that phrase as meaning something like an NCAA championship in a sport, or a national spelling bee tournament. Those do exist, with governing bodies and rules that are clearly laid out - and generally, competitors from clearly defined geographical regions or organizational sub-entities. If there IS a "national competition for A Cappella singers", I can pretty much guarantee that it is/was NOT a commercial NBC TV show that ran for 4 seasons and then stopped.
Welcome to the PTX rabbit hole. I’ve seen them live twice and believe it. Occasionally Kevin (the beat boxer) will play the cello but other then that it’s all human voice. Can’t wait to see more reactions ❤❤❤❤
Love seeing someone be blown away by PTX for the first time! 😂 There’s just nothing like them. They also do the best eve version of Hallelujah! I remember Police Academy. Beat boxers are amazing, and there are many of them now, but Kevin is up there with the best. Avi (the bass) is incredible with his low notes and whistles/sounds too
It’s always fun watching new people discover PTX. They are an amazing group with tons of songs to blow your mind. Maybe try Hallelujah live version from a Pentatonix Christmas special. You’ll see better how they do things and it sounds almost exactly to the video version.
@@CVTECK1 You have just scratched the surface. The running joke is they don't do covers, they do upgrades. For the ultimate upgrade they have done, in their latest video they actually upgraded themselves with 'O' Holy Night', a song they did years ago and it was nothing short of EPIC. Add that it came right on the heels of their live VEVO studio performane of Seal's 'A Kiss From A Rose' which feature Kevin the beatboxer displaying all his incredible talents. You are in for a hell of a journey my friend and we Pentaholics will be here for every second.
Avi and Kevin was just the 💣💣 they worked on the composition and the other three comes in with the vocals , but honestly they wouldn't be without a bass and a beatboxer ❤️ you should check out the video behind the scenes they had so much fun doing this even though it was really really cold 🥶😂 I have my two favourite and that is Avi and Kevin ❤
LOL.....I love it when people are first time reactors to Pentatonix. I have seen them twice live once in 2018 and again this past September. They performed this live both times and it sounded exactly the same. Kevin Olusola the beat boxer is a human drum machine. Avi Kaplan the Bass left the group in 2017, that same year Matt Sallee came on board as their new bass he is incredible also. Their are a few videos showing them performing this live. Scott Hoying the tall Blonde and the Baritone, Mitch Grassi first singer is the Counter Tenor, Kirsten Maldonado the Mezzo Soprano these 3 grew up together in Arlington Texas. When they wanted to be on the show the Sing Off in 2010 which they won, that is when Kevin and Avi joined them.Kevin Olusola the Beat Boxer invented Cello Boxing and you will see that in some videos. He is a classically trained Cellist, he also holds a Pre Med degree from Yale and he speaks fluent Mandarin from his studies in China. All of them are incredibly gifted you will start to understand just how gifted the more you watch them. Welcome to the Rabbit Hole.
Yes, they are real and they are incredibly talented and great! PTX is addictive - once you've had a taste, you won't be able to stop wanting more 😀❤. Anyway, that bass (bearded guy) is Avi Kaplan, an extraordinary singer, songwriter and musician. He left PTX in 2017, and trust me, his solo career is definitely worth checking out! Btw, I liked your stunned reaction 😁
Picked great one for watching first time. They are amazing. Watch their live versions of their songs like this one sounds the same so you know it’s real deal. Hope you watch more. There are so so many.
Welcome to Pentatonix! They are AMAZING! If you go down the Pentatonix rabbit hole, the Pentaholics will go with you for sure! We ❤ to see reactors discover Pentatonix for the first time.
There are dozens of videos out there of them singing this live…the best and most recent is at the Hollywood Bowl 2022. Look for the livestream version.
This was one of my favourite first reactions to Pentatonix! Yes, they are all a cappella apart from the odd track where Kevin 'cello boxes' (beatboxes while playing the cello!) or when they collab with violinist Lindsey Stirling! They have three Grammy's and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They are phenomenal and they never do anything in the studio that they can't replicate live so no added effects that they can't sing at concerts. They have a huge catalogue with many different styles both covers and originals. There really is something for everyone! They have been going since 2011 with only one one member change - Avi (their bass with the beard in this one) who left amicably in 2017 but has an amazing solo career now. Their bass since 2017 has been Matt whi is also incredible. Kirstie, Scott (tall, blonde, baritone) and Mitch (dark haired counter tenor - singing the lead here) have known each other since they were young children and they sang in high school together growing up in Arlington, Texas. Kevin their beatboxer (who also plays cello and saxophone and sings) joined the group when they entered and won an a cappella singing competition in 2011, called the Sing Off. They are known for their covers and Christmas music but their originals are fantastic and much underated. They are the biggest and best known a cappella band in the world and I've been a 'Pentaholic' - which is what their fans are called - since 2011 but only saw them live for the first time in London last year. It was the best concert I've been to in nearly 40 years of live music! They do pop, rock, EDM, some rap, Hip Hop, musical theatre, world music and even a bit of country (they won their third Grammy for their collab with Dolly Parton on a cover of 'Jolene'!). They are up for their 4th Grammy and will also be performing at the Grammy's this weekend! Enjoy!
It’s all them. They do it in public during their shows. Please react to: Amazing Grace/My Chains are Gone, The Prayer, Something, Shallow, Hallelujah, etc.
Check out their mashup of New Rules/Are You That Somebody. Mind blowing…lol Also…Kiss from a Rose O Holy Night Please Santa Please (original) Sing (original) O Come All Ye Faithful The Prayer They have over 350 covers and original songs.
I loved your reaction to your first listen to Pentatonix. We all had the same reaction when we first heard them. Fans of Pentatonix are called Pentaholics. Although acapella has been around forever, PTX paved the way for other acapella groups successes, and despite their youth, they are considered the OGs of acapella. I'm sure you've read all the comments about how they are Grammy Award winners and have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They've enjoyed rolls in movies and television. Their TH-cam channel hit over 5 billion views. Each member alone could be a successful solo artist. They are truly an enigma in today's music industry. I subscribed for more Pentatonix reactions. I would like to suggest your next reaction to be their first Grammy Award win, Daft Punk. Daft Punk was both filmed and recorded in one of the PTX member's apartment on a $400 budget. Enjoy going down the PTX rabbit hole, and we will definitely come along for the ride!
I mean this with the most amount of respect possible- watching your brain melt trying to believe what you were hearing was real was a fun ride to be on as a viewer.
I have watched them live and they sound just the same as their studio versions. With a heavy tour schedule to sold out venues around the world, it's obvious the fans appreciate it because they keep coming back. I suggest you next react to Daft Punk Medley. They recently released a cover of Seal's Kiss From a Rose which is outstanding and you can see Kevin, the beatboxer, play his electric cello. Subbed for more PTX.
Pentatonix History…..composed by Alan Freeman 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 TH-cam, 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 TH-cam 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 TH-cam), 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 acappella group could sell records. Instead of giving up, they were determined and began recording their own songs on TH-cam, 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 cover 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. 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 were nominated for a 4th Grammy for their album Evergreen, but didn't win. They also got a star on Hollywood walk of fame. UPDATE: They’ve been nominated for a 5th grammy award. UPDATE: Pentatonix has done a cameo appearance in the new movie “Candy Cane Lane” starring Eddie Murphy. They are the carolers. 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 acapella group with a star! 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 auto-tune 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.
Welcome to the rabbit hole! They are so amazing! Got to see them live in September, and they are even more amazing in person ❤ Enjoy! More PTX reactions please!
Love watching first time reactions to the fabulous best a cappella group in the world! Meet Kevin! A genius! Best Beatboxer ever!!. This was early career, 2014. They have only gotten better. Welcome and watch your channel grow as you play more Pentatonix. Oh by the way, I’m a Pentaholic! ❤️
Pentaholic?? Best addiction ever😂😂😂😂 i simply love these youngsters. They phenomenal. Masters in what they doing hete❤❤❤❤love how you express yourself here😂😂😂
You should check out their performance on the singing competition on the show Sing Off. you’ll see how they started. They started releasing their songs on TH-cam and grew from there.
I love seeing people experience Pentatonix for the first time. Priceless!
it's like listening to Aliens speak not in a bad way
@@CVTECK1 They are definitely otherworldly!
BELIEVE IT. YOU AIN'T HEARD NOTHING YET. This group has won three Grammys, and have been nominated for two more this year. They're the only acapella group to have won Grammys. AND, they have a STAR on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. So buckle up. And welcome to PTX.
@@TomLloyd-18
Not overlooking Manhattan Transfer. I think they won around a dozen or so Grammys. But they recorded so many different jonres of music beyond acapella and their Grammys were not just for acapella stuff. And I think that after 50 years of performing, they're still out there.
Sorry to pick a nit, but "a cappella" are two Italian words, not one, meaning "of the chapel," referencing ancient Gregorian chant that was sung in churches by male vocal choirs, without Instrumental accompaniment, 1200 years ago.
@@TomLloyd-18 Look at what the Grammy awards were for. Don't be dense in the head.
@@thomasjoyce7870 Why even mention this? Nobody even said anything about it. Snowflake for real!
THIS IS WHY PTX IS THE NUMBER ONE ACAPELLA GROUP IN THE WORLD.
🌎🌎🌎
Kevin Olusola-the human 808- is an amazing beat boxer among a thousand other things! His abilities make you wonder what you have done in life... and he is just one of the amazing group of talents that has combined to create PTX. If there is an instrument used it will be shown front and center or be very obvious. The rest is all them.
Pentatonix is the only a cappella band to have ever won a Grammy, except they've actually won THREE Grammys and been nominated for two more (if they win this Sunday it will be their fourth Grammy). Pentatonix is also the only a cappella band to have a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. And no, the "water" isn't affecting your ears. They really are that good.
The #1 a capella group in the world. Three Grammys and nominated again this year. Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Television and movie credits to their name. The drums were all done by master beatboxer Kevin Olusola. The drums were double tracked in studio, but he did make all the sounds himself. Same with Mitch's guitar solo. Reverb added in studio, but all those notes and runs were Mitch. They are famous for those bells sounds you heard. Check out their 200+ catalog. Just always remember to check the release date. If the video was before 2018, the bass will be Avi Kaplan (the bearded fellow). If it's Christmas 2017 or later, it will be Matt Sallee (also awesome).
You also forgot to mention that they have used auto-tune exactly once for a Cher tune that was part of the 90s Dance Medley video, and the only reason they used it there was because Cher had used it in her original, and to homage her properly in the Medley, they had to use auto-tune just as she had.
@@heinleinreader I didn't forget, the fact didn't apply to this song. However, that's a great point to make. Also, they occasionally use instruments but when they do you'll see them in the video.
Yup...they're a capella...and they're awesome!!
The guy with the beard is the bass and he's broken speakers with his vocals.
Main singer is Mitch Grassi ( dark-haired dude in the upper middle) a countertenor, Blond guy is Scott Hoying ( baritone) and girl is Kirstin Maldonado (alto-soprano). The guy doing all the drums and beats is beside Avi. He's their beatboxer/cellist/tenor...Kevin Olusola.
There are LOTS more of their stuff to explore....some 200+ songs, some covers and some originals. They've won 3 Grammys ( so far...they are nominated for another...their album, Prayers For This World.... this year and are joining with other singers to usher in the show on the 4th of this month). They've been awarded a star on the Hollywood walk of fame, have been in several New Year's Day parades in NY.
They have no formal lead singer. Whomever fits the song's needs is lead, but it will often get passed back and forth during the song ...they serve the song, not their egos.
I subb'd for more Pentatonix ( PTX )in the hope that you do explore what else this fantastic group is capable of.
Some suggestions:
Imagine, Daft Punk medley, Sound of Silence, Coffee In Bed (original), Sing ( original), Evolution of Michael Jackson, 90's Dance Medley, Love Again (original), Run To You (original).
Don't forget Hallelujah! The first 3 every reactor does are usually (in order) Hallelujah, Daft Punk then Bohemian Rhapsody.
They've a wide catalogue, covering many genres. Welcome to the rabbit-hole !! Shame you missed Christmas cuz they actually own it!
Kirsten is a mezzo-soprano but other than that, I agree. 😅 Though I do love a few other songs too, especially some that, unfortunately, don't have music videos. 🥰
@@ChibiChula, Scott and herself have lately taken to dubbing her an Alto-soprano. her lower range has increased in the past couple of years as her voice has matured and no doubt vocal lessons have helped as well.
Just wait till you see their LIVE vevo version of Kiss from a Rose! They a perfection!
YES!!!!
Yup. That’s going to knock him on his ass.
YEP!🔥🔥
Kiss From A Rose IS FIRE! Gotta react to that! However the beatboxer does play a cello in that. Best cello player ever! He played cello twice at Carnegie Hall when he was much younger AND coined celloboxing. Then you have to slide on over and react to Daft Punk! Another killer!
@@louellamoyer5578 I think the cello once and the saxophone once at Carnegie.
Queen’s Brian May has given this performance his blessing. Can’t get much better than that. Aside from their vocal excellence, their creativity in arranging and performing their videos is out of this world. There are several lovely nods to Queen throughout this video. I’m certain someone else has already pointed them out in earlier comments. Take a look at how many views this video has. It will blow your mind. They are the undisputed best and most successful a Capella band in the world with fans on all continents.
The black guy is a beat boxer extraordinaire. He also plays cello. The bearded guy uses his voice like a bass guitar. MITCH, the high tenor, used his voice to do the guitar solo. Welcome to the world of Pentatonix!! Brian May was blown away by this.
That "no" from 3:35 onwards was perfect. Great reaction all round. Subbed.
Thanks for the sub!
I’ve seen them live. They do it all with their voices. Kevin, their beat boxer also plays the cello and he sings. Please watch and react to “Kevin’s Fifth” !! One of the most talented people on earth.
I'll subscribe for more Pentatonix reactions. I loved your reaction. They are the best a cappella group ever. They've won 3 Grammy's and are nominated for another one on Sunday. The bass is Avi Kaplan, he has left the group and has a great solo career now.
It's real. They do it live too. There is plenty of video of them on stage and practicing off mic.
The audio panning on "little high, little low" is a direct quote from Queen. If you listen to Queen's original you'll hear the same panning on the same phrase.
Pentatonix loves Queen, and they love "Bohemian Rhapsody," so they always wanted to cover this song, but they feared that they couldn't do it justice, so they decided to wait until they were sure they were ready. That took them five years, but it was worth the wait - they were definitely ready.
In the early days of Pentatonix, after Epic reneged on the recording contract Pentatonix had "won" on _The Sing-Off,_ Pentatonix started posting to TH-cam; it was the only way they COULD publish their music. A lot of those early TH-cam videos show the five of them sitting on a couch, with the trio on the back of the couch and Avi and Kevin on the seat in front of them, just five very young people singing their hearts out, making their dream come true. Note that this is the configuration we see them in at the beginning and end of "Bohemian Rhapsody," which is one reason the couch needs to move - it's taking Pentatonix (and us) on a trip down Memory Lane.
The more important reason the couch moves is that it's standing in for the car in _Wayne's World,_ where Wayne and Garth introduced a whole new generation to the genius of Queen by putting a tape of "Bohemian Rhapsody" into the car's tape player.
The couch was motorized, and not very well balanced. (Note that when they're sitting on it their feet don't quite reach the ground. The little curtain thing on the bottom was added to hide the motor.) It kept trying to tip over during the filming and actually managed to throw Kevin off at one point. There was a small platform attached to the back so that Kirstin could climb on the couch from behind - Scott, being a foot taller than Kirstin, didn't need it.
When Mitch lies down on the couch, singing "Too late, My time has come," they're referring to Freddie Mercury's death (the foreshadowing was, of course, unintentional on Freddie's part; there's no way he could have known, thank goodness). The other four are walking next to the couch to serve as his pall bearers.
Many people think the megaphone is distorting Mitch's voice to make him sound more like an electric guitar, but it actually has nothing to do with it. The megaphone wasn't turned on, and couldn't have distorted Mitch's voice even if it had been - it was just a megaphone. The electric guitar is all Mitch. Mitch happened to see the megaphone lying around on the set and thought it would make a cool prop, so it's been confusing people ever since.
During the "Bismillah" argument, note that Scott, whose range includes both bass and tenor registers, is actually singing along with both the high and low sides of the argument. Scott has said that this rapid switching is the hardest part of the song for him.
When the camera pans up to show us the starry night sky during Mitch's second guitar solo, it's meant as a tribute to Queen's lead guitarist, Brian May, who has a doctorate in astrophysics.
The four shooting stars honor the four members of Queen.
When the camera pans back down to show Pentatonix lying on the couch together it's meant to recall the cover art for Queen's "Sheer Heart Attack" album.
And when this official video was first released, Brian May posted a link to it on all his social media accounts with the comment: "Enjoy."
It was also referred to, I don't recall by whom anymore, as "a cuddle puddle" which is an image stuck in my brain from the moment I read it.
@@heinleinreader That was a term used by a reactor, one of the professional singing teachers I believe. She found the image delightful, as I recall.
@@margretrosenberg420 Yeah, I figured as much, but the point remains that I can't recall which it was. The image, however, is in my mind for eternity possibly.
Thank you so much for the in depth info. I just found PTX about a month ago. I cannot wait to list to every single PTX song. I wish I had heard of them 20 years ago. Also, you didn't mention, even though you probably know that Mitch has a 6 octave range. The guy is just brilliant! I told husband if I was 30 years younger and Mitch was strait he'd better watch out. I'm obsessed!
@@kathyhand5219 Actually, just one note more than six octaves. 😉 And I agree, Mitch is incredibly attractive. They all are, really.
Had you heard that Mitch has a new boyfriend? They haven't released his name, just a few pictures of him together with Mitch, and the information that he's German. Mitch has been spending most of his time in Germany lately, to be with him. I hope it works out for them. 🤞
You couldn't have discovered Pentatonix twenty years ago; that was the year Mitch turned 12 and Kirstin and Scott turned 13. Even Kevin, the oldest member of the band, was still in high school. Here's how it happened:
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 TH-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 TH-cam had something called TH-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 TH-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: Look for 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 TH-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.
You will find these five are the best a cappella group ever! Avi(the bass) left the group in 2017 and now Matt is their bass. No matter because he is fabulous too! Enjoy and be amazed! Gail
PTX never uses instruments except Kevin the best boxer can play Cello and sings amazing tenor. Avi(beard) is the only one who left. Mitch, Kirstie, Scott all have been singing since high school. Welcome to the PTX rabbit hole 🕳️! ❤
Buckle up is right! And yes, you aint heard nothin yet. Why they only have 3 Grammys is beyond me but hearing their latest offerings, one gets the feeling, that even after 12 years, they are only just beginning. Their latest "Kiss From A Rose" is almost too much to comprehend. But for pure genius it's got to be "Daft Punk" for pure feels it's got to be "The Prayer." I am a grown ass man and when I heard it I cried like a little girl. They sound as good live as they do in studio
Love to see folks see and hear PTX for the first time. They are truly making music with their voices and Kevin's beatboxing. You are about to enter the world of Pentatonix. Enjoy the ride.
KEVIN IS THE BEAT BOXER OF THE GROUP.
MITCH CAN ACTUALLY MAKE THAT GUITAR SOUND WITHOUT THE MEGAPHONE 📣.
WELCOME TO PTX RABBIT HOLE.
ALSO PTX DOES UPGRADES NOT COVERS.
❤❤❤
Welcome to the rabbit hole. In all honesty, this is a studio recording, professionally done and they’ve lip-synched the video: typical stuff. (The Behind the Scenes of the video is just amazing - they shot it in a parking lot at night.) As other’s have said, they do most of these live and I like their recording from the Popspring 2016 if you want to hear this bass and Hollywood Bowl 2022 if you want to hear the new bass. And Kevin, the beatboxer, is a damn genius - Yale pre-med, played at Carnegie Hall on sax and cello, perfect pitch with a great voice.
Yep, just also recommend the one from the Hollywood Bowl. 😊
They also do this live, though, We saw them this past summer. Worth every penny.
Welcome to the Pentatonix rabbit hole. Also called PTX, they are an amazing a capella group. We fans call ourselves Pentaholix.
All the other comments give their history and backstory.
Grammy Awards for:
- Daft Punk
- Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies
- Jolene (featuring Dolly Parton)
But most watched is probably Hallelujah. And they have a multitude of Christmas albums which are all amazing.
Latest hits have been “Kiss From A Rose” and “O Holy Night”, both from the latest Christmas album.
Also, in some songs you will be Kevin (best boxer) also play cello, and he “cello boxes”.
Enjoy the journey and keep reacting!
Yep..believe it. It took them 5yrs to put it all together. They wanted to be the best they could do and be able to reproduce it live on stage... This acapella group is the Greatest Of All Time (GOATs).
This reaction was priceless. Love your bafflement. They are just a completely chill group. Hella talented, hard working and dedicated to making the best music possible.
Brian May, from the band Queen, posted this on their website with a one-word caption, "Enjoy." High praise right there.
Glad you finally found the best a capella group in the world! I didn't see a suggestion for one of my favorites for a newbie, Making of Evergreen. It's a mini documentary of them in the studio creating their album, Evergreen, which was nominated for a Grammy last year (unfortunately didn't win). It's around 15 minutes and worth every minute of it; in fact it will leave you wanting more. It's amazing to see their creative process and how much they respect and live each other. Enjoy your journey with PTX.
If you react to this, they will come. Oh yes, the Pentaholics will come.
If you do future clips, you can get away with having the video a little brighter than this, but yes, the record company does get on those who don’t pause the videos or use no filter.
When they use instruments, Pentatonix doesn’t hide it. Scott’s played the piano before, they’ve had Lindsey Sterling (not sure if I spelled that correctly) play the violin, or Kevin (the beatboxer) is an absolutely incredible cellist, which was how the band initially found him. He’d gone viral for celloboxing (I believe is what he called it). He was also pre-med at Yale at the time the band intended to just borrow him.
I will admit, Kevin is very much my favorite. Such a skilled individual, and stellar singer.
They have a single member change. The man with the beard (Avi) left years ago, and was replaced with Matt.
Recommendations: Wizard Of Ahhs, Sound Of Silence, Hallelujah, Amazing Grace, Kiss From A Rose, Mary Did You Know, Oh Holy Night, Aha! Singapore. Say Something is also pretty beautiful.
Welcome to the long winding road of Pentatonix, you are in for the journey of your life 😊 Pentatonix never ceases to amaze me, at just how incredibly talented they are, and take their voices to newer levels, we have never heard before.....there is something so special about their ability, to tell the songs story, allowing us to listen with a new perspective, and hear & feel emotions, we may not have heard from the original artist 💖💖💖 Not only their voices, but their delivery is also their gift!
There are plenty versions of this performed live, it's all them. I've heard it three times in concert myself. So they are just as impressive as you think they are, lol. Yes, Kevin's beatboxing is incredible. Avi, the bass, also did several effects like the wind sound in this one. Welcome to PTX! Its a deep and awesome rabbit hole and they will never, ever, ever, let you down. We're here for it! Fantastic reaction!
Welcome to the Pentatonix fan family. Hold on to your hat cause they will blow you away with their phenomenal talent.
Oh it’s all them, I’ve seen them do this live, many times!!!
Sounds like it’s time for you to do a deep dive into Pentatonix! My favs: Daft Punk Medley, all the “Evolution of” videos, Mad World, Coffee in Bed, Lucky Ones, Amazing Grace, AHA Singapore, Kiss From a Rose…Everything in their catalog is amazing. If they use an instrument you’ll see it front and center.
That basso profundo is our man Avi Kaplan, original member of Pentatonix. He is now a solo artist with beautiful music. Since you're just starting, you have a huge body of work to get through. Pentaholics will soon envelope you. Not a bad performance will be found. Hallelujah should be your next reaction. It's the epitome of their talent and has over 600 million views. Then we'll talk. Good job!😅
First time your channel was recommended to me, because of Pentatonix. I'm so glad I got to see your initial reaction to the group. Your face said it all! Pentatonix (PTX) is a group that covers a lot of songs and has written many originals, as well. This is their original acapella group that won 2011 The Sing Off. There has only been one member change, in 2017, when Avi (the bass) left the group for personal reasons. Kevin Olusola (KO), the beat boxer, is a master of that, plus he's can play several instruments and produces his own music. I see that other commenters have recommended their Grammy winning songs, as well as many favorites. A lot of people only know PTX for their Christmas songs...but they are so much more than that. Their latest release, "Kiss from A Rose" on Vevo is fantastic! I think you'll find many things to explore in their 200+ videos.
They reproduce this live and its incredible. Welcome to the PTX rabbit hole, some of the best music you'll ever hear!
They’re amazing live too 👏🏽
It's all their voices. They did an incredible job making a tribute to Queen. Yep, Police Academy - the actor is Michael Winslow. Check out PTX doing Daft Punk.
The megaphone is simply a prop in this video! Mitch is the one with the megaphone, amazing voice, and the “Mitch Slap”.
I loved this, thank you for letting us join you on your journey to the world of PTX. Anything they do on video they can/do perform live. I've been following them since their debut on the program 'The sing off' and have seen them several times live. They have reinvented so many cover songs. Freddie would be proud of this.
I LOOOOVE first time reactions to this amazing group of best friends. they have 4 grammys. FOUR! I've seen them live 4 times- there is nothibng they record that they can't do live. they are phenomonal. keep diving down the rabbit hole...
christmas with them is amazing
also check out "wizard of ahhhhs"
Was so fun to be with you as you met an incredible group of people. Keep listening to them.... This is NOT a one time amazement.... just keep listening.
Check out their live vevo performance of kiss from a rose. Prepare to be 🤯
That deep bass, Avi Kaplan, left PTX in 2017 and is now solo, just put out a new song today! The song is "Feel Alright," and it certainly makes you feel that way.
As a Wisconsinite (a state known for being permanently intoxicated), I assure you that you have not been tricked. Kevin’s beatboxing, Avi’s bass, and their harmonies are just that good.
haaaaaaaaaaaaa.....they are Amazing
Great reaction! They are A Capella and yes, they are all instruments! This is impressive but would love to see your reaction to their Daft Punk Medley, 90's Dance Medley, Be My Eyes (which is an original), or Kiss From A Rose. They will amaze you more and more! Welcome to the Pentatonix rabbit hole! Subbed for more Pentatonix.
No instruments, no auto tune; that's all Pentatonix. As for drums, if there are real drums playing you'll see the drums (unless it's from their 2022 Christmas album, "Holidays Around the World," where they collaborated with many other musicians who couldn't be there for the filming). Kevin really is that good a beatboxer, and Avi's bass makes the drums sound fuller. Kevin works very closely with the bass, since the rhythm section includes both bass and percussion.
Now, in all fairness, they're actually lip-synching to the studio recording, but even that doesn't mean that they aren't singing; the way Pentatonix lip-synchs is to actually sing the song. This keeps them in time with each other and with the recording and ensures that their movements are all genuine.
Yes, everything they do is just voice. Songs to think on. Hallelujah, the prayer, amazing grace, sound of silence, Mary, did you know, there is so much more. Welcome to the ptx hole, the pentaholics are here for you
Hundreds of covers and originals!!!! Keep it up, Pentaholics will subscribe like crazy to continue the journey with you!!!
"If there's more..." They have been together since 2011 and have a catalog of way over 200 covers (or as us fans...Pentaholics, call them "upgrades") and original songs!!! You my friend are in for a ride. Oh and when you think you have heard them at their best....wrong....think again. Love when new people discover them for the first time!!! Subbed for more PTX!!
There are instruments. They are called voices. And later in this video, you will hear the electric guitar (Mitch's voice), bass guitar and wind chimes (Avi's voice), and full drum kit with cymbals (Kevin's voice). That megaphone you are about to see is actually nothing more than a prop to highlight who is producing the sound. Kevin is the black guy. He is also their beatboxer, widely considered the best in the industry. Mitch is the guy with the angelic voice doing lead vocals for most of this video. Avi is the bass, you were right about that. He's the one with the beard. He's a classically trained operatic bass that can reach the deepest registers, say down around B1, or rumble notes. The girl is Kirsten, and she's a mezzo-soprano but can reach up to whistle notes at the top of the scale. Finally we get Scott, the tall blonde. He is a natural baritone, and covers the bass line whenever their bass is singing lead. Not pictured here is the one change they have ever made to their lineup. In 2017 Avi left the group on amenable terms for family health reasons. Matt then took over in 2017 as their bass, first featured in September 2017, I believe. They first gained notoriety from their performances on SingOff, the third season in 2011, which they would wind up winning. That got them a recording contract. However, due to Sony not really knowing what to do to market an a capella group, that contract produced little for them. They began self-produced and self-promoted videos on TH-cam. They have won three Grammy awards in five nomination (having recently had a recent album added to this year's slate of nominees), winning for Daft Punk Medley, for Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies, and for Jolene featuring Dolly Parton. They were nominated for their album Evergreen, but it failed to win. They currently have a nomination in the pop vocal album category for Holidays Around the World. That is the group that you are reacting to.
You have about 12+ years to catch up on. Please dive into this rabbit hole. You won’t be disappointed. Subbed for more PTX. Loved your reaction. 💕💕
Hi. So the group is as follows
Scott Hoying Baritone
Avi Kaplan Bass. He left the group and was replaced by Matt Sallee
Mitch Grassi Tenor
Kirsten Maldonado Soprano
Kevin Olusola tenor and Beatboxer extraodinaire. He also plays the cello.
You should check out their Daft Punk for which they won a Grammy. Also if you want to see Kevin in his element you should check out something called Kevin's 5th. You will also learn how the group came together.
You need to check out Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, one of the songs they won a Grammy for. Oh, the irony of an acapella band winning a Grammy for an instrumental song.
Where have you been? They are famous multi Grammy award winning acapella (usually no music on those rare occasions when the do have instruments involved they are visible) for almost 12 years.
Welcome ! Yes its all them and seeing them live 2Xs now i can say they are by far my favorite group and please continue to watch All their videos if you want you contnue being amazed and love music. . You can pick any of their many many videos you xant go wrong ! enjoy. .
Welcome to Pentatonix. We are the Pentaholics. You should watch their Daft Punk medley, or some of their Evolution videos like the Evolution of Michael Jackson. They will be performing this Sunday (2/4/24) on the Grammy broadcast. They are the best.
You are not alone. They won a Grammy for a song with no words, so just "music". Any of the higher viewed videos are a good place to start. Then dive into whatever sounds interesting to you. There's lots of live stuff out there. Some with really good video/audio quality. And then you can hear that it's all real. We Pentaholics love to help new reactors. So just ask if you have a question or want a suggestion, or 10. Subbed hoping for more. Enjoy!
You have just stumbled onto the most impressive group ON THE PLANET! Please, please, please go down this rabbit hole. They are incredible!
I am always amazed and excited to see people who are discovering PTX for the first time.
I hope you will continue.
Loved your reaction. The cop was Michael Winslow. Subbed for more PTX. Their largest hit is Hallelujah with over 730 million views on YT.
I remember the Police Academy movies, they were hilarious - glad you remembered the name!
i love seeing people react to avi's bass, so cute
Loved your reaction - love watching 1st reactions to Pentatonix
Welcome to the PTX rabbit hole - You have only heard the beginning I look forward to relive through your reactions !!!
They apparently spent two or three years getting it right before doing this, and Brian May put a link on his page and just said "enjoy". Next get knocked down by Daft Punk (got them their first grammy (?). Matt replace Avi around 2017 so the live version has changed, used to be you couldn't tell live from official And some of the live versions are recorded on cellphones so the sound sucks.
Scott, Kristen, and Mitch grew up in Arlington, Texas, met as kids (8? 10?) all tried to sing wherever they could, went to the same high school
where they did choir and shows. Published TH-cams as The Trio. Scott decided to compete in The Singoff but they needed 5. They found Kevin
online and Avi through a friend - and had ONE day to get acquainted and won the show. Came with money and a record contract but the label
dropped them so they made some TH-cam videos and the world found them.
Kevin and Avi were fans of Daft Punk so they tried to hire a studio, couldn't, and recorded in a closet and did the video at a kitchen table.
Budget was $400 I think. Won them a Grammy.
Kevin was premed at Yale, had played cello and sax (?) at Carnegie Hall but they talked him into joining. Imagine telling his folks.
Fans (Pentaholics) have put together conventions and invited their folks to come talk and they are adorable!
Hi yes it's just them. They did win the 3rd national Sing Off competition for Acapella singers.
Technically, Pentatonix won the 3rd season of NBC's The Sing-Off, a competition show for a cappella singing.
@@Badger77722 that is what I said dear
@gailseatonhumbert Respectfully, I disagree. Perhaps it's how we define "3rd national Sing Off competition" - I think of that phrase as meaning something like an NCAA championship in a sport, or a national spelling bee tournament. Those do exist, with governing bodies and rules that are clearly laid out - and generally, competitors from clearly defined geographical regions or organizational sub-entities. If there IS a "national competition for A Cappella singers", I can pretty much guarantee that it is/was NOT a commercial NBC TV show that ran for 4 seasons and then stopped.
Welcome to the PTX rabbit hole. I’ve seen them live twice and believe it. Occasionally Kevin (the beat boxer) will play the cello but other then that it’s all human voice. Can’t wait to see more reactions ❤❤❤❤
They are the greatest acapella group no instruments what so ever😊
Love seeing someone be blown away by PTX for the first time! 😂 There’s just nothing like them. They also do the best eve version of Hallelujah!
I remember Police Academy. Beat boxers are amazing, and there are many of them now, but Kevin is up there with the best. Avi (the bass) is incredible with his low notes and whistles/sounds too
I love your reaction! As both an original Queen fan and a new PTX fan, you have me hooked. Looking forward to following you down the rabbit hole...
Welcome to the world of Pentatonix wormhole...❤❤❤❤❤
It’s always fun watching new people discover PTX. They are an amazing group with tons of songs to blow your mind.
Maybe try Hallelujah live version from a Pentatonix Christmas special. You’ll see better how they do things and it sounds almost exactly to the video version.
Yeah i just didn't know what to expect and man i'm still baffled how beautiful sound can come from a group like that all in harmony
@@CVTECK1 You have just scratched the surface. The running joke is they don't do covers, they do upgrades. For the ultimate upgrade they have done, in their latest video they actually upgraded themselves with 'O' Holy Night', a song they did years ago and it was nothing short of EPIC. Add that it came right on the heels of their live VEVO studio performane of Seal's 'A Kiss From A Rose' which feature Kevin the beatboxer displaying all his incredible talents. You are in for a hell of a journey my friend and we Pentaholics will be here for every second.
They recently released a live version of seals kiss from a rose, definitely recommend it
will do Dana thanks
Avi Kaplan. Bass
Kevin Olusola. Beatboxer
Mitch Grassi. Lead singer
Scott Hoying. Blond guy
Kirsten Maldanado (Kirsty)
Avi and Kevin was just the 💣💣 they worked on the composition and the other three comes in with the vocals , but honestly they wouldn't be without a bass and a beatboxer ❤️ you should check out the video behind the scenes they had so much fun doing this even though it was really really cold 🥶😂 I have my two favourite and that is Avi and Kevin ❤
Be prepared for your viewership to jump. We are a very passionate people who seek this out.
I’m here for this rabbit hole!! Going to enjoy watching them blow your mind!! 😂😂❤❤
Me too!!
LOL.....I love it when people are first time reactors to Pentatonix. I have seen them twice live once in 2018 and again this past September. They performed this live both times and it sounded exactly the same. Kevin Olusola the beat boxer is a human drum machine. Avi Kaplan the Bass left the group in 2017, that same year Matt Sallee came on board as their new bass he is incredible also. Their are a few videos showing them performing this live. Scott Hoying the tall Blonde and the Baritone, Mitch Grassi first singer is the Counter Tenor, Kirsten Maldonado the Mezzo Soprano these 3 grew up together in Arlington Texas. When they wanted to be on the show the Sing Off in 2010 which they won, that is when Kevin and Avi joined them.Kevin Olusola the Beat Boxer invented Cello Boxing and you will see that in some videos. He is a classically trained Cellist, he also holds a Pre Med degree from Yale and he speaks fluent Mandarin from his studies in China. All of them are incredibly gifted you will start to understand just how gifted the more you watch them. Welcome to the Rabbit Hole.
Kevin is one of the best beatboxers ever,especially as he never tries to shine,always in service of the song.only the really great do this.
Yes, they are real and they are incredibly talented and great! PTX is addictive - once you've had a taste, you won't be able to stop wanting more 😀❤. Anyway, that bass (bearded guy) is Avi Kaplan, an extraordinary singer, songwriter and musician. He left PTX in 2017, and trust me, his solo career is definitely worth checking out! Btw, I liked your stunned reaction 😁
Picked great one for watching first time. They are amazing. Watch their live versions of their songs like this one sounds the same so you know it’s real deal. Hope you watch more. There are so so many.
Welcome to Pentatonix! They are AMAZING! If you go down the Pentatonix rabbit hole, the Pentaholics will go with you for sure! We ❤ to see reactors discover Pentatonix for the first time.
Great reaction! Disbelief is a HIGH compliment to their artistry and imagination!
There are dozens of videos out there of them singing this live…the best and most recent is at the Hollywood Bowl 2022. Look for the livestream version.
This was one of my favourite first reactions to Pentatonix! Yes, they are all a cappella apart from the odd track where Kevin 'cello boxes' (beatboxes while playing the cello!) or when they collab with violinist Lindsey Stirling!
They have three Grammy's and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They are phenomenal and they never do anything in the studio that they can't replicate live so no added effects that they can't sing at concerts.
They have a huge catalogue with many different styles both covers and originals. There really is something for everyone! They have been going since 2011 with only one one member change - Avi (their bass with the beard in this one) who left amicably in 2017 but has an amazing solo career now. Their bass since 2017 has been Matt whi is also incredible.
Kirstie, Scott (tall, blonde, baritone) and Mitch (dark haired counter tenor - singing the lead here) have known each other since they were young children and they sang in high school together growing up in Arlington, Texas.
Kevin their beatboxer (who also plays cello and saxophone and sings) joined the group when they entered and won an a cappella singing competition in 2011, called the Sing Off.
They are known for their covers and Christmas music but their originals are fantastic and much underated.
They are the biggest and best known a cappella band in the world and I've been a 'Pentaholic' - which is what their fans are called - since 2011 but only saw them live for the first time in London last year. It was the best concert I've been to in nearly 40 years of live music!
They do pop, rock, EDM, some rap, Hip Hop, musical theatre, world music and even a bit of country (they won their third Grammy for their collab with Dolly Parton on a cover of 'Jolene'!).
They are up for their 4th Grammy and will also be performing at the Grammy's this weekend!
Enjoy!
Just watched your reaction twice in a row. That was great!
It’s all them. They do it in public during their shows. Please react to: Amazing Grace/My Chains are Gone, The Prayer, Something, Shallow, Hallelujah, etc.
LOL, and they do this live! They don't do any songs that they can't do live. Great reaction, have fun!
A member of Queen has a link to this on their web site
Check out their mashup of New Rules/Are You That Somebody. Mind blowing…lol
Also…Kiss from a Rose
O Holy Night
Please Santa Please (original)
Sing (original)
O Come All Ye Faithful
The Prayer
They have over 350 covers and original songs.
I loved your reaction to your first listen to Pentatonix. We all had the same reaction when we first heard them. Fans of Pentatonix are called Pentaholics. Although acapella has been around forever, PTX paved the way for other acapella groups successes, and despite their youth, they are considered the OGs of acapella. I'm sure you've read all the comments about how they are Grammy Award winners and have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They've enjoyed rolls in movies and television. Their TH-cam channel hit over 5 billion views. Each member alone could be a successful solo artist. They are truly an enigma in today's music industry. I subscribed for more Pentatonix reactions. I would like to suggest your next reaction to be their first Grammy Award win, Daft Punk. Daft Punk was both filmed and recorded in one of the PTX member's apartment on a $400 budget. Enjoy going down the PTX rabbit hole, and we will definitely come along for the ride!
Pentaholics LOVE newbies!!! Welcome to the fam!!
I mean this with the most amount of respect possible- watching your brain melt trying to believe what you were hearing was real was a fun ride to be on as a viewer.
I have watched them live
and they sound just the same as their studio versions. With a heavy tour schedule to sold out venues around the world, it's obvious the fans appreciate it because they keep coming back. I suggest you next react to Daft Punk Medley. They recently released a cover of Seal's Kiss From a Rose which is outstanding and you can see Kevin, the beatboxer, play his electric cello. Subbed for more PTX.
Pentatonix History…..composed by Alan Freeman
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 TH-cam, 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 TH-cam 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 TH-cam), 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 acappella group could sell records.
Instead of giving up, they were determined and began recording their own songs on TH-cam, 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 cover 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. 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 were nominated for a 4th Grammy for their album Evergreen, but didn't win. They also got a star on Hollywood walk of fame. UPDATE: They’ve been nominated for a 5th grammy award.
UPDATE: Pentatonix has done a cameo appearance in the new movie “Candy Cane Lane” starring Eddie Murphy. They are the carolers.
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 acapella group with a star!
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 auto-tune 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.
Welcome to the rabbit hole! They are so amazing! Got to see them live in September, and they are even more amazing in person ❤ Enjoy! More PTX reactions please!
Love watching first time reactions to the fabulous best a cappella group in the world! Meet Kevin! A genius! Best Beatboxer ever!!. This was early career, 2014. They have only gotten better. Welcome and watch your channel grow as you play more Pentatonix. Oh by the way, I’m a Pentaholic! ❤️
I am so enjoying your reaction. Fresh and honest. Just subscribed. I am a total Pentaholic. Greetings from South Africa
Pentaholic?? Best addiction ever😂😂😂😂 i simply love these youngsters. They phenomenal. Masters in what they doing hete❤❤❤❤love how you express yourself here😂😂😂
You should check out their performance on the singing competition on the show Sing Off. you’ll see how they started. They started releasing their songs on TH-cam and grew from there.
They rehersed this for 5 years to perfection before they attempted the video. They wanted to make sure Freddie would have LOVED IT❤