*THANK YOU!* and *CONGRATULATIONS!* you are the ONLY reactor to ever comment on Avi and his use of overtone singing! Lord knows the judges never acknowledged it and he utilizes that skill three times during this competition.
@@sonjadrussell actually, not the only reactor. The King Family Reacts did also. Mostly because of the ptx fan base, which pointed it out. His reaction to it is cute.
Late comment of mine but I firmly believe that the judges probably did mention them if it wasn't fully live, and the parts were cut out--there just wasn't probably time to explain overtones to the home audience. It was for sure a choice (on both parts! It could sound like cheating!)
Such a great reminder of the PTX beginnings... Avi's overtones, Mitch's first slap, Kirstie's harmonies, Kevin producing any sound under the sun, and Scott holding them all together. It was a risk giving Mitch his solo moment in the last performance, but I think they did it as a bit of a push-back to the producers who had not wanted Mitch to show his higher range. They wanted Scott to be the more traditional "male lead" position. Good for the group, giving Mitch his opportunity to shine, despite what the mucky-mucks wanted. Interestingly, the group used exactly the same MO in "Hallelujah," their greatest hit to date.
@@stephaniem2007 Yes, Mitch did a solo in ET, as did each of them in turn, but it wasn't nearly the surprise element of the song and actual "slap," as his part in Dog Days. Methinks we quibble over details, though. 🙂
@@stephaniem2007 Mitch did a couple other solos, including ET and Britney Spears medley. When he and Scott did their Superfruit video, where they go back and comment on the first 6 performances, he kept saying how low his voice was, calling it his "masc-Mitch" voice. It really wasn't until the 12th performance that he showed his higher range.
@@kayecastleman6353 I agree💯! I am going to see them live in August. I’m so excited! One of their very best songs is Hallelujah and I am pretty sure SH has not reacted to it yet . He needs to do that sometime soon.
I always notice Mitch’s accuracy/dependability. In fact, the other members have mentioned that if they’re ever unsure or lost in a song they use Mitch as a reference point.
They were already the frontrunners of the competition at this point along with the group who came in 2nd but this performance sealed it for them. I remember watching this when it aired and was blown away by them and was hoping this competition show would get it right. Proud to say i actually voted for them after this. Before this the judges made all the decisions of who would be sent home, but this time it was up to the tv audience who they wanted to win the whole thing. Just to have the record contract snatched away right after they all moved to LA. So glad they didnt give up and stuck it out going the youtube route. They built themselves up from nothing and have accomplished so much in a short time.
That Mitch moment never fails to give me chills regardless of how many times hear it. The pure tone of that note hanging there in the silence. Perfection.
You are one of the very rare reactors who even noticed Avi's overtone, let alone discussed it. "Well done." 😀 By the way, if you haven't already, do watch the video to the very end after the judges remarks. Knowing the future makes it heartbreaking for many.
It was the first performance of the last round of songs for the night. Pentatonix set the bar really high! At the time of broadcast, there was a blogger posting on a college acapella organization’s website who was an experienced acapella judge. He was calling PTX a dark horse to win after their fourth performance and the eventual winners after the fifth. With this song, he was saying how they just dropped the mic after for the other groups to try and pick up. On another tv forum I was on at the time, the Sing-Off thread was filled with first-wave Pentaholics who were calling the show a Pentatonix concert with other not-so-memorable guest singers occasionally making appearances. All of us were just blown away by them!!
I am so glad you properly identified Avi's overtone singing. When the judges commented on it in an earlier performance, they thought it was Kevin making the sound. I know it's longer than typical videos but I would love to hear your analysis of The Wizard of Ahhs, their collaboration with Todrick Hall.
It's interesting that there are only 2 months when Scott and Mitch are the same age - mid-July to mid-Sept, so this performance must have happened right during that time!
So happy for your reaction. This was one of my favorite Sing Off performances. The other one is "Born to be Wild". It is nice to review their beginning performances. I can't wait until you react to "Kiss From a Rose" live version and their new O Holy Night. What an amazing maturity in these performances.
They (with Ben Bram) are the best arrangers. They don't just do normal harmonies. They aren't afraid to do the more difficult juicy chords. Every note is done with purpose. Their music is just so interesting, and even after listening to a song over and over you can still find interesting sounds that you never noticed before.
Another enjoyable and educational reaction. A lot of Pentaholics feel that they won after #7 Born to be Wild. After that the competition was just theirs to lose and they just kept pulling further and further ahead of the pack.
I was riveted by all their performances on the Sing Off, the sophistication of their arrangements, their individual talent yet perfect blend, the variety of styles they covered, the attention to details… I have been a fan ever since. Rediscovering them through your oh so excellent ears is a pleasure every time. Thank you. 🤗
Love this one! Avi's overtones are amazing! Can't wait for you to get to their O Holy Night video and their cover of Creep from when they were on The Masked Singer! Hopefully you do the version from The Masked Singer after they were unmasked. That one is better than the official video because you can watch them.
Yes, the exact performance of Creep is my favorite, too. Somehow PTX made the song almost ugly but it suits the song so well. Imagine, Mitchell singing ugly. Sir Hairless you'll definitely appreciate this performance.
It's always so good and surreal going back to these early days. This arrangement was quite genius. They were ready to put everything on the line and up until then they had been having to kinda suppress Mitch's upper range. If you saw the opening bit, idk if you will have watched where they visited the Trevor Project. What the show cut out when talking about the charity was that it is a chairty specifically for young people in the LGBTQ+, but in cutting it they made it sound like it was just some kind of anti-bullying project for teens. Given everything Mitch went through with bullying, it was obviously gonna be a charity close to their hearts. So idk if the geoup anticipated that and decided they had enough of Mitch being held back, idk. I agree with what you said: while Mitch absolutely was an amazing secret weapon in this song and with the way it was set up it wrapped it up in a bow for them, but I don't think Scott gets the credit he deserves for the sheer passion he drove the whole song with (he had been losing his voice before that, so it's amazing he could sing at all). I love when people pick up on Avi's overtones, especially in this, it seems like so few people either hear it or choose to highlight it. It's another big part of the building tension through the opening sections. I've seen videos of them performing it in their publicperformances in the year or so after the show and while it is still good, theybdon't quite capture that same all-in passion that was in Scott's voice through it. As for Mitch and his freakish ability to go back and forth so precisely between those notes: a few years ago, when they were asked who is the most reliable/consistent for hitting the notes (the one they look to for keeping them in line almost, i think - can't remember the exact wording), they all agreed it was Mitch...except Mitch himself, because he is so damn humble about how amazing his voice is, too; though I think he has grown in confidence since then. I'm always amazed with the details you pick out so easily while listening to it for the first time. There are things that it has taken me, lime 30 watches to pick out and somethings I never noticed until you just mentioned them, like Mitch's perfectly jumping rapidly back & forth between those 2 notes.
I think the producers of the show didn’t want Mitch to be at the forefront because he was out as a gay man. That’s one of the reasons they saved him for the end, kind of the finale.
Once again, you pointed out things I missed, even though I listened to this 100 times, lol. You are the first, I think, to even recognize Avi's overtones. The fact that he can do that still has me in awe. Great job!
This performance is such a time capsule moment. I watched 2011 The Sing Off every week so I got to see them build towards this performance. Mitch refers to himself “mask Mitch” in a later Superfruit video. He was the hidden gem of PTX until this performance. Avi never really got to sing until they came back for the 2013 finale. They all gave this performance everything they had left in them. Scott’s voice was gone by the end. They were just so different from all the other more traditional a cappella groups. Obviously not as polished as they are today but they were special from day one. Keep in mind this was such a new genre for most of us. What was most fascinating was that these three 19 year old kids found a world class bass singer through a friend and a brilliant cello beat boxer off of TH-cam. The stars that had to align to bring these five together still amazes me 13 years later. I’m glad you’re looking back at their origins. In their Evolution of Pentatonix video, they talk about how this show helped them build the base of what they are today.
Great reaction Sir Hairless...Sara did meet back up with Pentatonix in 2023 at the Grammy's tribute to Joni Mitchell and saw how far they have come. I love your analysis and reactions. I would suggest a few more of their originals....Can't Sleep Love, Ref, Happy Now, Cracked, Lucky Ones....and their newer releases of Kiss from a Rose (live Vevo studio version) and O' Holy Night (for a stellar arrangement)
I watched the show when it aired and after this performance my roommate and I gave this a standing ovation in the living room. The arrangement is genius. Mitch had quite a bit of anxiety during the run of the show-he was bullied in school so I wonder if part of the reason he wasn’t featured like this sooner in the show was partly his choice.
Oh we've been waiting for this one! Sir Hairless, I doubt the upcoming Mitch-slap will catch you off guard but my 15-year-daughter is obsessed with Mitch's voice and so are we! Get ready!
I just remember hearing them talk about it at some point, that they were so sure after the dress rehearsal that they wouldn't clinch it, and this was kind of their "fuck it, if we go out we go out with a bang" pulling out of the stops moment. And by god it paid off. Also iirc Scott's voice all but gave out immediately after this.
What an extraordinary performance from such a young group. No doubt this song, more than any other, revealed both their incredible talent and their ability to mesh together perfectly. All that just gets better over time and every more inventive as well.
In the context of observing their growth, learning curve & various challenges, that they pulled this off was an accomplishment for sure. They are still our baby- tonix here. I didn’t watch this when it originally aired, they have been discovered by me only in the pst few years, but it seems like the situation regarding how the formula was supposed to go according to production higher ups, that Mitch was meant as background support, Scott was the natural lead. The Mitch Slap is a big moment from what they’d heard to date, but of course we all have experienced a whole ‘nother level of Mitch Slap in the years of performances since. But for that time, place and situation, it began the concept of the Mitch Slap.
Yeah I can imagine at the time how surprising this would've been. Would be cool to go back to then and show all audience members the Mitch-slaps of the future
@@SirHairless what great fun that would be! The next best thing would be getting to ride along with you here as you continue your exploration of PTX & PTX-adjacent music (Superfruit,, KO, etc)
@@SirHairless Am fairly sure most of those audience members are You Tube followers of Peter Hollens, PTX, Voiceplay, Home Free - as we've been fans since their Sing Off appearances :)
They didn't use their secret weapon, Mitch, until the last because of the shows management, not ptx choice. Mitch high voice and odd clothes was "too gay" for 'family programming, so they in essence "muzzled" Mitch. He has to look and sound like a man for his performances. This is why I hate this show. But you know what? Not getting that record contract left then to experiment and find their own sound on TH-cam organically, with no label micromanaging them. And would we have ever been exposed to the countertenor angelic voice of Mitch otherwise? Imagine you'd never heard that voice. Tragedy.
@@johnhelwig8745 I saw a TH-cam reaction by Mitch and Scott where they reacted old Sing Off performances. I heard Mitch say something about it but it was really low and hard to make out. I'm not going to say what I think he said just because if I'm wrong, but it definitely had whiffs of him having to deal with that. So yes I definitely do believe that it happened.
Sarah Bareilles performed with Scott about 20 months ago in the finale of Music CARES tribute to Joni Mitchell during Grammy Week., when Mitchell was onstage. You can find the performance online. I imagine they had a lot to discuss! (The entire group - minus Kevin, sadly, because the performance was moved to a Friday evening - had performed earlier.) I believe that for this Sing-Off performance, Scott had actually been battling laryngitis, so it was a struggle for him to deliver his usual big belts. Also, I believe that at this point, Scott may have just turned 20 - his birthday is in September, and he was born in 1991 (the other two were born the following year) - but no, he was not going to argue with the judge as the cameras were rolling ... .
@@SirHairless Now you've reviewed all my favourite PTX Sing-Off performances except one... "Born to be Wild." The group struggled with the challenge of a hard rock cover, since it's so reliant on instruments, but Kevin and Avi pulled out all the stops to make it work. Scott dredged up all the gravel his 19-year-old voice could muster, and Mitch and Kirstie came through as backup singers. I especially loved their opening reference to the 1969 movie "Easy Rider," with which the song became iconically linked. Ben referred to it as the first heavy metal song, the label having been coined from the song's lyrics, "heavy metal thunder." I know heavy metal isn't exactly in your wheelhouse, but if PTX could ace it, I would love to hear you take it on, too!
You did it!! I'm so glad you got to this. I watched this live, and by the end of their performance, I was on my feet and as close to the TV as I could get. Magic. As always, your ability to catch all of the details everyone else misses make your reaction and analysis the one I want to see. I've watched/ listened to this performance ad nauseum, and until you pointed it out today, I never separated Mitch and Kirstie in those rapid fourths. I didn't hear the difference in the notes they're singing. One of the many incredible tools in their toolkits that make those 5 voices fill up a whole entire song.
Thanks Sir Hairless! This one actually does choke me up slightly. I think it's because they are so young, hopeful and exciting at the beginning of their careers! I think with the age thing, the judges knew they were young but didn't know their exact ages before then. I guess we have to remember that there were a lot of groups on the Sing Off and most of them were much bigger than PTX so I guess they didn't learn all the contestants' ages. They would have been talking about their ages on that day in particular though because from what I remember from what they said when I saw them last year (are you jealous at all Sir H?!😂) that day Mitch was actually missing his high school graduation to be in the Sing Off final! I love what Kirstie said at the time which was that she was so excited they had got to the final so everyone would get to hear Mitch's beautiful voice! It's weird to think that Kirstie, Mitch and Scott had already been singing together as 'The Trio' (not the most imaginative name! 😂) for nearly five years already at this point although they had only met Avi and Kevin a few weeks before the show started! Kirstie had known Mitch since they were both 8 and Scott had known Mitch since they were 8 too (Scott and Kirstie didn't meet till high school). Scott and Mitch were in a community theatre group and got to know each better when they were 10 and were in Charlie and the chocolate factory together (Scott was Charlie and Mitch was Mike Teevee!). Scott says he heard Mitch sing in that role snd thought his voice was gorgeous, even then. I love that two of the judges comnented on Mitch's voice on this one. He always sounds stunning but the song that I think showcases Mitch's voice best is The Prayer. It is such an incredible arrangement and the to and fro between Mitch and Scott is genuinely one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard in my life. You should do that one at Christmas though and do some of the other Evergreen songs and the making of. The other two mega Mitch slap moments are Hallelujah and Aha Live in Singapore. You really must get round to those soon! I also wish you could get through the PTX catalogue more quickly because your reactions and analysis are without doubt the best on TH-cam, in my opinion and I've heard a lot of PTX reactors! You have to give the other groups a chance too though I guess! 😂 Are you considering doing any Superfruit reactions? I would love you to do some of those. Scott and Mitch's voices are so different but they go so well together. They did a whole originals album which is full of bangers. If you like musicals you should watch their version of Defying Gravity from Wicked which was Mitch's birthday present to Scott (who loves Wicked!) and their hilarious Frozen medley with Kirstie - which was made after imbibing quite a bit of alcohol! Thanks again for your brilliant analysis!
A lot to comment on here, so I'll just pick out the questions and respond to them 😅 1) yes, I'm jealous 2) I'd love to get through the catalogue quicker too, but just doing what I can for now (and thank you 🙏). Yes, VP are popular with Patreon requests so they're getting a fair bit of coverage 🎵 In general, since my recent restructure I will be doing fewer monthly requests, so more reactions of my choice from my huuuge list 3) Yes, Superfruit have been on my list for ages. I've nearly done them several times (or polled them) but then I think "it's PTX time" because of how vast the PTX catalogue is. But Superfruit are on my list and radar 📍
@@SirHairless thanks for replying! I know how busy you are and that you're holding down a full time job too so I do appreciate it that you respond to comments! 😍. Some of my comments are just for info really. I'm glad Superfruit are on your radar. They are so much fun. Take care and catch you on the next reaction!
Oh my! I’m so grateful you decided to push #12 to the top of your reactions from the Sing-Off ❤. I knew you were only on #4 or #5 and I didn’t want to push you because I know you have a LOT of reactions to do. I just love your reactions, they are always right to the point (even pointing out that the judges didn’t really offer much in the way of musical critique). And speaking of risky…. when I first heard those opening chords supporting Scott I actually thought they were out of tune so I had to go back and listen a number of times until I realized they were simply a dissonant chord. I find it a little odd Pentatonix thought the judges and audience were musically sophisticated enough to be able to hear that (and not think they were out of tune, which was the risk they took). I did hear one other reactor comment on Avi’s overtones, my question is if the judges and audience could actually hear them? None of judges mentioned them and overtones are so rare in performance I thought they would have said something if they had heard them. Pentatonix are Masters at contrast and Mitch belting (in that razor-sharp tone) after such a soft and round previous delivery with Kevin adding tremendous drive with his “choo-choo” and the rest of the group jumping in with hugely strong rhythm is just so gratifying to the human ear, I just know everyone was totally lit inside when that happened. I wanted to jump up on my feet, myself. Thanks again for sharing your great ear and musical knowledge in helping us understand how tension and release, scrunchy chords and use of dynamics all contributed to this final, winning number for Pentatonix.
Overtones by Avi are pretty cool. I'm so glad you mentioned them because most people have never heard of them let alone having physically heard them. I wish you had explained them because they are so darned fascinating. IMO
@@theresadeuschle8500 They really are! As I mention in the vid, we sort of more feel them than hear them (when experiencing them in person) So I wonder how they sounded to the in-house audience at the time
I remember hearing about this 'Sing Off' show a few years before Pentatonix won, and I watched the season before and was very impressed. I'm 55, and grew up listening to a lot of old standards, Motown, stuff like that. Vocal performances back when they were REAL vocal performances. And our music got away from that kind of talent for quite a while, and then this show comes in and puts the spotlight back on true vocal talent again. I remember watching this entire season and watching PTX shine, fall back a little, shine some more, and wondering.... are they going to take that next step and just blow everyone away. Watching this on live TV, when they performed this.... Trust me, it blew everyone watching this show away. It was like the proverbial 'catching lightning in a bottle' moment. You could see the faces of the contestants in the other groups had already been voted off, and they were just awe-struck but what they had just watched. It was truly amazing to behold, and now.... look where they are and what they've become...
As I always tell people who say, " They're just another a cappella group" I say, "Yes, there are many GREAT a cappella groups and then... there is Pentatonix"
A HUGE part that PTX didn't use Mitch much in the sing off, was because the producers wanted a single front person for each group, and the fact that Mitch was only out, they didn't want to showcase the lgbtq+ community. So, it was a bit of a single finger salute to the show in their performance. You were slapped. That was the original Mitch slap. Eta: ptx was the only finalist given a modern-day song. The other 2 were given classics, which were popular, and a higher failure risk. However, the song that ptx had, sinceit was newer, was probably the highest risk. Scott had to get a treatment for his throat because he nearly lost his voice. It's a great show, but definitely hard on the people.
You can really hear Scott straining to get the notes out in the very end of this. His voice was sooo very close to giving out entirely on those last few bars! Mitch and Kirstie helped by matching his volume and intensity. It's one of the things that always blows my mind about PTX is how Mitch and Kirstie are able to BELT right with Scott and still hear that blend. That takes a real ear and a lot of self-confidence!
Great reaction, EXCEPT, it was so sad that you did not watch the comments from PTX after the performance, and we didn't get to watch them with you. There was a lot of talk among Pentaholics that the show did not allow Mitch sing in his higher range, that it sounded too gay, and PTX gave this moment to Mitch all on their own. Mitch was also not as comfortable as some of the others at doing a solo onstage. I read that his father said that he was very nervous the night before and wasn't sure he could do it. Hopefully, you will do the Superfruit video where Mitch and Scott go back and watch some of these performances. It's funny to hear what they think about them. They were talking about how Mitch used his "masc-Mitch" voice, and Scott says, kind of under his breath, "We were so mad". I always wondered if that had to do with Mitch not being allowed to sing as high as he does now. If possible, please react to the last two performances. Performance #13 Without You raised a lot of differences among the fans. Some, who I believe are not singers, faulted them because they were not pitch perfect at times, partly due to some issues with their mics or in-ears. All I could think was that it was amazing that they still pulled it off, including a couple moments with some of the best harmonies of the whole season. It was like they were singing that they couldn't have done this without all of them, and it was really emotional for them. For the final performance, they sang Una Noche with Nick Lachey, which was a song done by his boy-group 98 Degrees. The tight harmony was amazing, Nick sounded great, and Kirstie was a very important part of the performance.
Thank you so much for explaining that opening chord! I have always hated it, since it is so clashing. I am not familiar with the original song, so I didn’t know they were copying something in that.
I just have to say… after listening to your analysis ~ the knowledge of why certain parts sound so amazing ~ makes me appreciate the songs at a whole new level and I try to listen to their songs in a new way that magnifies their talents… so, thank you ❤
As many times as I have seen this, I am not convinced that Mitch make any sound after his solo. Maybe it's because his voice was blending into Kirstin's and she was so psyched that she could hardly keep from jumping around. She knew they were killing it. I think she should win an award for best job of channeling overwhelming energy into a performance.
I thought the mix was a little off between Mitch and Kirsty, personally. That’s a big challenge in a live scenario managing so many individuals and groups, etc.
To this day one of my favorite songs / arrangements of theirs, and I nearly missed your analysis of it! Thanks for the way you go over these songs, you help my not-very-musical ear appreciate these much more.
I loved the way they set up Mitch's solo bit (and the way he sings it). As to why they didn't feature him sooner, it's just conjecture but from other comments I've read, they were under some pressure to downplay Mitch's (and Scott's) sexuality. That may be why they didn't showcase his beautiful, high, clear tones early--not that the two are necessarily related, but there are unkind people.... At least that's *my* take on it.
This agrees with what I've read elsewhere too, combined with the fact that Mitch was quite self-conscious and a bit shy from what I understand. The producers wanted a single lead to fit the stereotypical band sound the record label probably wanted to find. PTX made it work but weren't afraid to 'break' the rules on occasions like Kirstie in 'Stuck Like Glue' and here with Mitch's breakout moment - whereas I feel the need for a 'lead' was actually detrimental to some of the other groups like the Dartmouth Aires. Don't get me wrong, their lead had an incredible voice but the performances sometimes suffered for lack of any harmonic blend with him - jmho!
Wow I binged your whole Pentatonix playlist today and it was not only a lot of fun but also super insightful and also emotional in the best way. Listening to your analysis made me appreciate once more the talent and work behind what Pentatonix does. I hope to see more of that. Another insane acapella group I think you'd have a lot of fun diving into is Voctave. They are I would say a bit more tradtitional and choir-like. But they are the only other group I enjoy as much as PTX and Home Free. A few recommendations by them: - The Great Movie Medley - Disney Love Medley (feat. PTX's Kirstie) - Disney Princess Medley - Disney Showstoppers -Disney Heroes & Villains - O Come All Ye Faithful - Carol of the Bells of Notre Dame
I think using Mitch in the spotlight was something Mitch had to build himself up for. His dad would often talk about Mitch being extremely talented but having to overcome shyness.
tbh Dog Days just cemented their place. Imo 2 songs won them The Song Off - while ET was a great intro, it was Video Killed the Radio Star & Let’s Get It On that made them win ❤
I second what @sonjadrussell said about the overtones. Well done, Sir H. As to Mr. Mitch, I recommend their ‘Take on Me’ from their Vol. IV. I’d never listened because it’s audio only but I had it on while doing a workout. I was thinking, “Well, it’s OK,” when Mitch took the refrain. It was his whole range. You might save just that refrain to reference other PTX works. th-cam.com/video/768uJ5yZidQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=jVHuMiqQwxmtkqUx
There are lots of songs in their catalog but here’s the “must do”, cream of the crop, list for future PTX reactions. These are all iconic! 1. Hallelujah (Probably their most viewed video) 2. The Sound of Silence 3. Amazing Grace 4. The Prayer
I've listened to this many times and never before picked out Avi's overtones. Thanks for that. Are you familiar with Sara Bareilles' music? Her play "Waitress" might have won the Tony for best musical in 2016 except that's the year Hamilton won. "She Used to Be Mine" is from "Waitress." I love her "Seriously?" (not from "Waitress") sung by Leslie Odom, Jr. Recorded in studio.
Honestly, this is one of my favorite performances of anything EVER. The dynamics, the overtones, the celebration of various members on their highlights--and honestly the JOY in this, gosh. They knocked it out of the park, into the stratosphere, and up toward Mars! The judges *probably* spoke about the overtones (even if, because the show was mostly live, they did it off-camera entirely) but there was no time/easy way to explain it to the home audience, is my guess. They for sure don't mention it at all where we can 'hear' them. Edit to add, I'm sure I'm not the first to say this, but the producers were (let's be honest, here) homophobic. That's why Mitch was saved till last. They didn't have anything else to do after, so it was a full celebration of him, IMO. 'Look what you could have had.' The producers thought his tones were too high, not 'manly' like Scott's, from what I've seen said.
RE: Saving Mitch for the END - So I watched this season of the sing off as it was happening and from what I remember, they were really set up with Scott as the lead and Kirsty and Mitch more in a backup role for pretty much everything. The judges did a lot of mentoring throughout the show saying the wanted more of Mitch and Kirsty taking the lead and actually urging Scott to not throw EVERY trick in the book in every performance. They were YOUNG, and I felt the judges did a great job helping them refine all of that insane talent. They grew SO much from first performance to last.
When did the judges say they wanted more of Kirstie and Mitch? 😅. The arrangements were done mainly by PTX , Ben Bram said recently that there were too many groups to help with the arrangements but the members of PTX did most of their arrangements while other groups waited for Ben to come around and help them. Also know that Mitch admitted to suffering from anxiety attacks which could also be why Scott took more of the leads. Scott had already been on TV shows as a kid so he was the most confident therefore it seemed like he was the leader. There were definitely leads from Kirstie and Mitch, for this performance though Mitch showed a different range that the judges had not seen so that was special. I have seen these episodes way more than I should admit and I don't see anywhere that the judges said they wanted more Kirstie and Mitch. Either way this performance was PURE EXCELLENCE for this young group.
Hey SH! I remember this like it was yesterday and remember what I thought at that time in the moment which was, “they are gonna win.” Such a great arrangement for this song! And at just the right time too. You know it is funny, they kinda did the same thing on the masked singer in a way, held back with Mitch, and I was never sure if it was because they held him in their back pocket for the show or if people might recognize him? Of course the pentaholics knew who they were from the first notes but they for sure have strategy and I think it is with everything they decide to do. They also held back Kevin and his beatboxing. Just so interesting. Hey are you planning on adding Superfruit anytime soon or are you swamped? 🤔 Thanks SH! T ✌🏻
Oo I've not watched the Masked Singer yet, but Mitch does have a very unique voice so people would probably recognise him! That said, any fans might recognise any of them by voice Superfruit are on my list! Very very swamped atm so no immediate plans but who knows what's in store for the future
I saw a PTX reactor going in blind on Masked Singer. He figured it out in about 10 seconds on the first song. You could tell a couple of the Masked judges knew exactly who they were right away. I laughed when Nick Cannon basically said, “Why are you here? “ Sort of a , “Don’t you have anything more important to do?” moment.
Long ago relatively - Beat boxing like Kevin did here was not everyday, either. Too late for the "normal" censors to neutralize, the audience present and digital prevailed.
Love your reactions. You are one of the few that notice Avi's overtones. He is super human. Yes, there wasn't a Mitch slap in their earlier performances. Sadly, they were told to keep him in his lower range because they were worried about the audience realizing he is gay. The homophobia was horrible and kept everyone from experiencing Mitch in all his glory. Not to mention a counter tenor voice and sexual orientation have nothing to do with each other and why would it even matter...so sad! Now so happy the world is able to hear him in all his glory!!!!
I’m always disappointed that the judges didn’t single out Scott in their comments because I agree with your opinion of his contribution. He was a workhorse during the run of the show, which I think corresponded to the common belief that each group should have a lead singer. As for Mitch, the scuttlebutt is that he was a bit too openly gay to suit the show’s demographics so his efforts were downplayed or relegated more to a background role, as dictated by the show, not the group. Thanks for reacting to Dog Days, and well done for recognizing Avi’s overtone singing. Not many reactors do. Peace … Oh yeah, I’m not surprised the judges didn’t know how young they were exactly. There were a lot of competitors in the mix!
At some point you need to go back to the very beginning, when the trio was in high school. Here they are performing telephone th-cam.com/video/t2XBMWRK4Mw/w-d-xo.html
I almost lost my faith in you this time, Sir Hairless! How could you not tell that THAT was the Mitch slap??? But it's not your fault--you got too many spoilers and a lot of hype about this performance; your expectations must have been through the roof. I wish this song could have taken you by surprise, the way it did the viewers of the original broadcast. To tell the truth, my favorite part of Mitch's featured solo (3:30) was just before he belted "Run!" First, we get a little sassy half smile from Mitch as he sings "After that, too." I think he's saying, "Wait. I"m not done yet." Then when he hits "Run," the emotional tension is so high that the fingers of his right hand are bent almost backwards. Shivers!
![[UNCUT] "บอสณวัฒน์" แฉ! แหล่งซุกเงินแก๊งบอส ขยันผิดที่ไม่กี่ปีก็เข้าคุก l คนดังนั่งเคลียร์ l17ต.ค.67](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/BL56qIfXYZM/mqdefault.jpg)
Check out the previous PTX reaction next A nice, calm one th-cam.com/video/jysIqdJMyDs/w-d-xo.html
@@SirHairless a fun original from ptx in which there's a Mitch slap, but KEVIN is the lead: we are ninjas.
*THANK YOU!* and *CONGRATULATIONS!* you are the ONLY reactor to ever comment on Avi and his use of overtone singing! Lord knows the judges never acknowledged it and he utilizes that skill three times during this competition.
@@sonjadrussell actually, not the only reactor. The King Family Reacts did also. Mostly because of the ptx fan base, which pointed it out. His reaction to it is cute.
👽 The overtones are quite alien! 👾
Avi’s overtones have always intrigued me and amazed me!! He is soo AWESOME!!🎶❤️✌🏻
Late comment of mine but I firmly believe that the judges probably did mention them if it wasn't fully live, and the parts were cut out--there just wasn't probably time to explain overtones to the home audience. It was for sure a choice (on both parts! It could sound like cheating!)
Such a great reminder of the PTX beginnings... Avi's overtones, Mitch's first slap, Kirstie's harmonies, Kevin producing any sound under the sun, and Scott holding them all together. It was a risk giving Mitch his solo moment in the last performance, but I think they did it as a bit of a push-back to the producers who had not wanted Mitch to show his higher range. They wanted Scott to be the more traditional "male lead" position. Good for the group, giving Mitch his opportunity to shine, despite what the mucky-mucks wanted. Interestingly, the group used exactly the same MO in "Hallelujah," their greatest hit to date.
Mitch did do a solo in a similar fashion on the very first song (ET) as well, so this was pretty full circle
@@stephaniem2007 Yes, Mitch did a solo in ET, as did each of them in turn, but it wasn't nearly the surprise element of the song and actual "slap," as his part in Dog Days. Methinks we quibble over details, though. 🙂
@@stephaniem2007 Mitch did a couple other solos, including ET and Britney Spears medley. When he and Scott did their Superfruit video, where they go back and comment on the first 6 performances, he kept saying how low his voice was, calling it his "masc-Mitch" voice. It really wasn't until the 12th performance that he showed his higher range.
@@rlhcat7662 right- it wasn’t the same range or gorgeousness, but it was similar in that they all sort of backed down and let him sing lead a minute.
@@kayecastleman6353
I agree💯!
I am going to see them live in August. I’m so excited!
One of their very best songs is Hallelujah and I am pretty sure SH has not reacted to it yet . He needs to do that sometime soon.
I always notice Mitch’s accuracy/dependability. In fact, the other members have mentioned that if they’re ever unsure or lost in a song they use Mitch as a reference point.
Me too A real asset in more ways than one
The worlds first "Mitch Slap!" Little did we know what was to follow!
They were already the frontrunners of the competition at this point along with the group who came in 2nd but this performance sealed it for them. I remember watching this when it aired and was blown away by them and was hoping this competition show would get it right. Proud to say i actually voted for them after this. Before this the judges made all the decisions of who would be sent home, but this time it was up to the tv audience who they wanted to win the whole thing. Just to have the record contract snatched away right after they all moved to LA. So glad they didnt give up and stuck it out going the youtube route. They built themselves up from nothing and have accomplished so much in a short time.
That Mitch moment never fails to give me chills regardless of how many times hear it. The pure tone of that note hanging there in the silence. Perfection.
and how fast the audience shuts up, so they can hear every single note...yup, goosebumps every time
You are one of the very rare reactors who even noticed Avi's overtone, let alone discussed it. "Well done." 😀 By the way, if you haven't already, do watch the video to the very end after the judges remarks. Knowing the future makes it heartbreaking for many.
Breaks my heart every time I watch it.
Yes!!!
💔
This performance always reminds me why Scott has been the heart and soul of this group since the beginning.
Totally agree!! 💯
It was the first performance of the last round of songs for the night. Pentatonix set the bar really high! At the time of broadcast, there was a blogger posting on a college acapella organization’s website who was an experienced acapella judge. He was calling PTX a dark horse to win after their fourth performance and the eventual winners after the fifth. With this song, he was saying how they just dropped the mic after for the other groups to try and pick up. On another tv forum I was on at the time, the Sing-Off thread was filled with first-wave Pentaholics who were calling the show a Pentatonix concert with other not-so-memorable guest singers occasionally making appearances. All of us were just blown away by them!!
I am so glad you properly identified Avi's overtone singing. When the judges commented on it in an earlier performance, they thought it was Kevin making the sound. I know it's longer than typical videos but I would love to hear your analysis of The Wizard of Ahhs, their collaboration with Todrick Hall.
Yes to the Wizard of Aahs!! I also think he's seen enough of Pentatonix to appreciate (for himself, not as a reaction) Pentatodrix. 😃
🌟They were so young and very talented!
The Trio (Scott, Kirstie and Mitch) at 19 yrs old Avi was 21 and Kevin 22 .
They are ICONIC today!!
It's interesting that there are only 2 months when Scott and Mitch are the same age - mid-July to mid-Sept, so this performance must have happened right during that time!
I still get goosebumps watching this
So happy for your reaction. This was one of my favorite Sing Off performances. The other one is "Born to be Wild". It is nice to review their beginning performances. I can't wait until you react to "Kiss From a Rose" live version and their new O Holy Night. What an amazing maturity in these performances.
They (with Ben Bram) are the best arrangers. They don't just do normal harmonies. They aren't afraid to do the more difficult juicy chords.
Every note is done with purpose. Their music is just so interesting, and even after listening to a song over and over you can still find interesting sounds that you never noticed before.
Thank you so much for spotting Avi's overtone. The judges always credited Kevin with it in other performances. Fantastic reaction as always.
Another enjoyable and educational reaction. A lot of Pentaholics feel that they won after #7 Born to be Wild. After that the competition was just theirs to lose and they just kept pulling further and further ahead of the pack.
I was riveted by all their performances on the Sing Off, the sophistication of their arrangements, their individual talent yet perfect blend, the variety of styles they covered, the attention to details… I have been a fan ever since. Rediscovering them through your oh so excellent ears is a pleasure every time. Thank you. 🤗
Love this one! Avi's overtones are amazing! Can't wait for you to get to their O Holy Night video and their cover of Creep from when they were on The Masked Singer! Hopefully you do the version from The Masked Singer after they were unmasked. That one is better than the official video because you can watch them.
Absolutely O Holy Night!! Can't wait for Sir Hairless to watch a talk about it!!!
Yes, the exact performance of Creep is my favorite, too. Somehow PTX made the song almost ugly but it suits the song so well. Imagine, Mitchell singing ugly. Sir Hairless you'll definitely appreciate this performance.
@@billiemchone6683 O Holy Night will leave people speechless.
Thanks for noticing and mentioning Avi's overtones, it goes unnoticed or at least unmentioned in every reaction I have seen.
It's always so good and surreal going back to these early days. This arrangement was quite genius. They were ready to put everything on the line and up until then they had been having to kinda suppress Mitch's upper range. If you saw the opening bit, idk if you will have watched where they visited the Trevor Project. What the show cut out when talking about the charity was that it is a chairty specifically for young people in the LGBTQ+, but in cutting it they made it sound like it was just some kind of anti-bullying project for teens. Given everything Mitch went through with bullying, it was obviously gonna be a charity close to their hearts. So idk if the geoup anticipated that and decided they had enough of Mitch being held back, idk.
I agree with what you said: while Mitch absolutely was an amazing secret weapon in this song and with the way it was set up it wrapped it up in a bow for them, but I don't think Scott gets the credit he deserves for the sheer passion he drove the whole song with (he had been losing his voice before that, so it's amazing he could sing at all). I love when people pick up on Avi's overtones, especially in this, it seems like so few people either hear it or choose to highlight it. It's another big part of the building tension through the opening sections. I've seen videos of them performing it in their publicperformances in the year or so after the show and while it is still good, theybdon't quite capture that same all-in passion that was in Scott's voice through it.
As for Mitch and his freakish ability to go back and forth so precisely between those notes: a few years ago, when they were asked who is the most reliable/consistent for hitting the notes (the one they look to for keeping them in line almost, i think - can't remember the exact wording), they all agreed it was Mitch...except Mitch himself, because he is so damn humble about how amazing his voice is, too; though I think he has grown in confidence since then.
I'm always amazed with the details you pick out so easily while listening to it for the first time. There are things that it has taken me, lime 30 watches to pick out and somethings I never noticed until you just mentioned them, like Mitch's perfectly jumping rapidly back & forth between those 2 notes.
As soon as I saw this pop on I instantly had to switch to it. Was so looking forward to this. Absolutely a statement. Greetings from South Africa
I think the producers of the show didn’t want Mitch to be at the forefront because he was out as a gay man. That’s one of the reasons they saved him for the end, kind of the finale.
Scott had lost his voice that morning...remember this is only the 12th time they had EVER performed together and the trio is 19...just crazy
Once again, you pointed out things I missed, even though I listened to this 100 times, lol. You are the first, I think, to even recognize Avi's overtones. The fact that he can do that still has me in awe. Great job!
This performance is such a time capsule moment. I watched 2011 The Sing Off every week so I got to see them build towards this performance. Mitch refers to himself “mask Mitch” in a later Superfruit video. He was the hidden gem of PTX until this performance. Avi never really got to sing until they came back for the 2013 finale. They all gave this performance everything they had left in them. Scott’s voice was gone by the end. They were just so different from all the other more traditional a cappella groups. Obviously not as polished as they are today but they were special from day one.
Keep in mind this was such a new genre for most of us. What was most fascinating was that these three 19 year old kids found a world class bass singer through a friend and a brilliant cello beat boxer off of TH-cam. The stars that had to align to bring these five together still amazes me 13 years later.
I’m glad you’re looking back at their origins. In their Evolution of Pentatonix video, they talk about how this show helped them build the base of what they are today.
Great reaction Sir Hairless...Sara did meet back up with Pentatonix in 2023 at the Grammy's tribute to Joni Mitchell and saw how far they have come. I love your analysis and reactions. I would suggest a few more of their originals....Can't Sleep Love, Ref, Happy Now, Cracked, Lucky Ones....and their newer releases of Kiss from a Rose (live Vevo studio version) and O' Holy Night (for a stellar arrangement)
Love this performance! Love all of the members, but Mitch is 💯 my favorite! Your reactions and analysis are the best!! ❤
I watched the show when it aired and after this performance my roommate and I gave this a standing ovation in the living room. The arrangement is genius. Mitch had quite a bit of anxiety during the run of the show-he was bullied in school so I wonder if part of the reason he wasn’t featured like this sooner in the show was partly his choice.
This one is the favorite for sure! Thank you for analysis.🥰
As always you bring a fresh insight into a song I have listened to for years. Thank you
Oh we've been waiting for this one! Sir Hairless, I doubt the upcoming Mitch-slap will catch you off guard but my 15-year-daughter is obsessed with Mitch's voice and so are we! Get ready!
🕺🏽
I cast every vote I could for PTX in the Signoff. I fell in love when they sang their name in the intro.
I just remember hearing them talk about it at some point, that they were so sure after the dress rehearsal that they wouldn't clinch it, and this was kind of their "fuck it, if we go out we go out with a bang" pulling out of the stops moment. And by god it paid off. Also iirc Scott's voice all but gave out immediately after this.
What an extraordinary performance from such a young group. No doubt this song, more than any other, revealed both their incredible talent and their ability to mesh together perfectly. All that just gets better over time and every more inventive as well.
In the context of observing their growth, learning curve & various challenges, that they pulled this off was an accomplishment for sure. They are still our baby- tonix here. I didn’t watch this when it originally aired, they have been discovered by me only in the pst few years, but it seems like the situation regarding how the formula was supposed to go according to production higher ups, that Mitch was meant as background support, Scott was the natural lead. The Mitch Slap is a big moment from what they’d heard to date, but of course we all have experienced a whole ‘nother level of Mitch Slap in the years of performances since. But for that time, place and situation, it began the concept of the Mitch Slap.
Yeah I can imagine at the time how surprising this would've been. Would be cool to go back to then and show all audience members the Mitch-slaps of the future
@@SirHairless what great fun that would be! The next best thing would be getting to ride along with you here as you continue your exploration of PTX & PTX-adjacent music (Superfruit,, KO, etc)
@@SirHairless Am fairly sure most of those audience members are You Tube followers of Peter Hollens, PTX, Voiceplay, Home Free - as we've been fans since their Sing Off appearances :)
I know I’m ignorant about music but your vast knowledge makes me realize how much I don’t know. Thank you.
Wow they have grown so much from then
to now. . They are good here but grow to become amazing over the years!
My favourite a cappella group.
💖R/A 💯🎼
It's amazing to see isn't it
They didn't use their secret weapon, Mitch, until the last because of the shows management, not ptx choice. Mitch high voice and odd clothes was "too gay" for 'family programming, so they in essence "muzzled" Mitch. He has to look and sound like a man for his performances. This is why I hate this show. But you know what? Not getting that record contract left then to experiment and find their own sound on TH-cam organically, with no label micromanaging them. And would we have ever been exposed to the countertenor angelic voice of Mitch otherwise? Imagine you'd never heard that voice. Tragedy.
Thanks, I was going to post the same thing, but couldn't prove my sources. So I scanned the comments to see if someone else knew of this.
@@johnhelwig8745 I saw a TH-cam reaction by Mitch and Scott where they reacted old Sing Off performances. I heard Mitch say something about it but it was really low and hard to make out. I'm not going to say what I think he said just because if I'm wrong, but it definitely had whiffs of him having to deal with that. So yes I definitely do believe that it happened.
@@johnhelwig8745I believe his comment while watching those performances was that he was "masc-Mitch."
@@LindaVernon accurate
Sarah Bareilles performed with Scott about 20 months ago in the finale of Music CARES tribute to Joni Mitchell during Grammy Week., when Mitchell was onstage. You can find the performance online. I imagine they had a lot to discuss! (The entire group - minus Kevin, sadly, because the performance was moved to a Friday evening - had performed earlier.) I believe that for this Sing-Off performance, Scott had actually been battling laryngitis, so it was a struggle for him to deliver his usual big belts. Also, I believe that at this point, Scott may have just turned 20 - his birthday is in September, and he was born in 1991 (the other two were born the following year) - but no, he was not going to argue with the judge as the cameras were rolling ... .
Love this one and their performance of Let's Get It On! Hopefully you do that one also!
Think you've commented a bit early I mention Let's Get It On in this! Here is my reaction to it: th-cam.com/video/A11YM55YHKw/w-d-xo.html
@@SirHairless I know. I completely forgot you did it. I did see it when you released it.
@@SirHairless Now you've reviewed all my favourite PTX Sing-Off performances except one... "Born to be Wild." The group struggled with the challenge of a hard rock cover, since it's so reliant on instruments, but Kevin and Avi pulled out all the stops to make it work. Scott dredged up all the gravel his 19-year-old voice could muster, and Mitch and Kirstie came through as backup singers. I especially loved their opening reference to the 1969 movie "Easy Rider," with which the song became iconically linked. Ben referred to it as the first heavy metal song, the label having been coined from the song's lyrics, "heavy metal thunder." I know heavy metal isn't exactly in your wheelhouse, but if PTX could ace it, I would love to hear you take it on, too!
@@SirHairless Love Lockdown is another stellar performance and so completely different ...again
Sara has made that exact 19yo comment, including 'so much more great over time', for another, since sent home, contestant.
I think Kevin is super slept on in this arrangement, his beats add EVERYTHING to this song. like I can't even with him.
love all their performances. love your reviews, cant wait for you to get to Say Something.
Angels aspire to sing like Mitch.
You did it!! I'm so glad you got to this. I watched this live, and by the end of their performance, I was on my feet and as close to the TV as I could get. Magic.
As always, your ability to catch all of the details everyone else misses make your reaction and analysis the one I want to see.
I've watched/ listened to this performance ad nauseum, and until you pointed it out today, I never separated Mitch and Kirstie in those rapid fourths. I didn't hear the difference in the notes they're singing. One of the many incredible tools in their toolkits that make those 5 voices fill up a whole entire song.
Thanks for the reaction. Only 19 and not aware of the many big challenges and triumphs to come
And after that a decade of accapella appreciation and madness began. Miss Avi w/ them :(
I would love for you to review Mitch's Messer songs. Mostly he sings in his lower register, but it's lovely!
Thanks Sir Hairless! This one actually does choke me up slightly. I think it's because they are so young, hopeful and exciting at the beginning of their careers! I think with the age thing, the judges knew they were young but didn't know their exact ages before then. I guess we have to remember that there were a lot of groups on the Sing Off and most of them were much bigger than PTX so I guess they didn't learn all the contestants' ages. They would have been talking about their ages on that day in particular though because from what I remember from what they said when I saw them last year (are you jealous at all Sir H?!😂) that day Mitch was actually missing his high school graduation to be in the Sing Off final!
I love what Kirstie said at the time which was that she was so excited they had got to the final so everyone would get to hear Mitch's beautiful voice! It's weird to think that Kirstie, Mitch and Scott had already been singing together as 'The Trio' (not the most imaginative name! 😂) for nearly five years already at this point although they had only met Avi and Kevin a few weeks before the show started!
Kirstie had known Mitch since they were both 8 and Scott had known Mitch since they were 8 too (Scott and Kirstie didn't meet till high school). Scott and Mitch were in a community theatre group and got to know each better when they were 10 and were in Charlie and the chocolate factory together (Scott was Charlie and Mitch was Mike Teevee!). Scott says he heard Mitch sing in that role snd thought his voice was gorgeous, even then.
I love that two of the judges comnented on Mitch's voice on this one. He always sounds stunning but the song that I think showcases Mitch's voice best is The Prayer. It is such an incredible arrangement and the to and fro between Mitch and Scott is genuinely one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard in my life. You should do that one at Christmas though and do some of the other Evergreen songs and the making of.
The other two mega Mitch slap moments are Hallelujah and Aha Live in Singapore. You really must get round to those soon! I also wish you could get through the PTX catalogue more quickly because your reactions and analysis are without doubt the best on TH-cam, in my opinion and I've heard a lot of PTX reactors! You have to give the other groups a chance too though I guess! 😂
Are you considering doing any Superfruit reactions? I would love you to do some of those. Scott and Mitch's voices are so different but they go so well together. They did a whole originals album which is full of bangers. If you like musicals you should watch their version of Defying Gravity from Wicked which was Mitch's birthday present to Scott (who loves Wicked!) and their hilarious Frozen medley with Kirstie - which was made after imbibing quite a bit of alcohol!
Thanks again for your brilliant analysis!
A lot to comment on here, so I'll just pick out the questions and respond to them 😅
1) yes, I'm jealous
2) I'd love to get through the catalogue quicker too, but just doing what I can for now (and thank you 🙏). Yes, VP are popular with Patreon requests so they're getting a fair bit of coverage 🎵 In general, since my recent restructure I will be doing fewer monthly requests, so more reactions of my choice from my huuuge list
3) Yes, Superfruit have been on my list for ages. I've nearly done them several times (or polled them) but then I think "it's PTX time" because of how vast the PTX catalogue is. But Superfruit are on my list and radar 📍
@@SirHairless thanks for replying! I know how busy you are and that you're holding down a full time job too so I do appreciate it that you respond to comments! 😍. Some of my comments are just for info really. I'm glad Superfruit are on your radar. They are so much fun. Take care and catch you on the next reaction!
Amen to everything that you said. I couldn't agree with you more. Thank you so much.
Oh my! I’m so grateful you decided to push #12 to the top of your reactions from the Sing-Off ❤. I knew you were only on #4 or #5 and I didn’t want to push you because I know you have a LOT of reactions to do. I just love your reactions, they are always right to the point (even pointing out that the judges didn’t really offer much in the way of musical critique). And speaking of risky…. when I first heard those opening chords supporting Scott I actually thought they were out of tune so I had to go back and listen a number of times until I realized they were simply a dissonant chord. I find it a little odd Pentatonix thought the judges and audience were musically sophisticated enough to be able to hear that (and not think they were out of tune, which was the risk they took). I did hear one other reactor comment on Avi’s overtones, my question is if the judges and audience could actually hear them? None of judges mentioned them and overtones are so rare in performance I thought they would have said something if they had heard them. Pentatonix are Masters at contrast and Mitch belting (in that razor-sharp tone) after such a soft and round previous delivery with Kevin adding tremendous drive with his “choo-choo” and the rest of the group jumping in with hugely strong rhythm is just so gratifying to the human ear, I just know everyone was totally lit inside when that happened. I wanted to jump up on my feet, myself. Thanks again for sharing your great ear and musical knowledge in helping us understand how tension and release, scrunchy chords and use of dynamics all contributed to this final, winning number for Pentatonix.
At last! I thought you would enjoy Mitch’s solo. Seeing him now he is no longer the sweet choir boy but a confident young man.
Yay! More PTX, lol!
Overtones by Avi are pretty cool. I'm so glad you mentioned them because most people have never heard of them let alone having physically heard them. I wish you had explained them because they are so darned fascinating. IMO
@@theresadeuschle8500 They really are! As I mention in the vid, we sort of more feel them than hear them (when experiencing them in person) So I wonder how they sounded to the in-house audience at the time
Thank you! Thank you!❤️❤️❤️
I remember hearing about this 'Sing Off' show a few years before Pentatonix won, and I watched the season before and was very impressed. I'm 55, and grew up listening to a lot of old standards, Motown, stuff like that. Vocal performances back when they were REAL vocal performances. And our music got away from that kind of talent for quite a while, and then this show comes in and puts the spotlight back on true vocal talent again. I remember watching this entire season and watching PTX shine, fall back a little, shine some more, and wondering.... are they going to take that next step and just blow everyone away. Watching this on live TV, when they performed this.... Trust me, it blew everyone watching this show away. It was like the proverbial 'catching lightning in a bottle' moment. You could see the faces of the contestants in the other groups had already been voted off, and they were just awe-struck but what they had just watched. It was truly amazing to behold, and now.... look where they are and what they've become...
As I always tell people who say, " They're just another a cappella group" I say, "Yes, there are many GREAT a cappella groups and then...
there is Pentatonix"
A HUGE part that PTX didn't use Mitch much in the sing off, was because the producers wanted a single front person for each group, and the fact that Mitch was only out, they didn't want to showcase the lgbtq+ community. So, it was a bit of a single finger salute to the show in their performance. You were slapped. That was the original Mitch slap.
Eta: ptx was the only finalist given a modern-day song. The other 2 were given classics, which were popular, and a higher failure risk. However, the song that ptx had, sinceit was newer, was probably the highest risk. Scott had to get a treatment for his throat because he nearly lost his voice. It's a great show, but definitely hard on the people.
You can really hear Scott straining to get the notes out in the very end of this. His voice was sooo very close to giving out entirely on those last few bars! Mitch and Kirstie helped by matching his volume and intensity. It's one of the things that always blows my mind about PTX is how Mitch and Kirstie are able to BELT right with Scott and still hear that blend. That takes a real ear and a lot of self-confidence!
Great reaction, EXCEPT, it was so sad that you did not watch the comments from PTX after the performance, and we didn't get to watch them with you. There was a lot of talk among Pentaholics that the show did not allow Mitch sing in his higher range, that it sounded too gay, and PTX gave this moment to Mitch all on their own. Mitch was also not as comfortable as some of the others at doing a solo onstage. I read that his father said that he was very nervous the night before and wasn't sure he could do it. Hopefully, you will do the Superfruit video where Mitch and Scott go back and watch some of these performances. It's funny to hear what they think about them. They were talking about how Mitch used his "masc-Mitch" voice, and Scott says, kind of under his breath, "We were so mad". I always wondered if that had to do with Mitch not being allowed to sing as high as he does now.
If possible, please react to the last two performances. Performance #13 Without You raised a lot of differences among the fans. Some, who I believe are not singers, faulted them because they were not pitch perfect at times, partly due to some issues with their mics or in-ears. All I could think was that it was amazing that they still pulled it off, including a couple moments with some of the best harmonies of the whole season. It was like they were singing that they couldn't have done this without all of them, and it was really emotional for them. For the final performance, they sang Una Noche with Nick Lachey, which was a song done by his boy-group 98 Degrees. The tight harmony was amazing, Nick sounded great, and Kirstie was a very important part of the performance.
Thank you so much for explaining that opening chord! I have always hated it, since it is so clashing. I am not familiar with the original song, so I didn’t know they were copying something in that.
I miss the Avi and Kevin combo.
I just have to say… after listening to your analysis ~ the knowledge of why certain parts sound so amazing ~ makes me appreciate the songs at a whole new level and I try to listen to their songs in a new way that magnifies their talents… so, thank you ❤
Fun fact, just before the end of this video, as I was watching….someone lit a car on fire in front of my house LOL. So I’m watching this again.
🔥😱
As many times as I have seen this, I am not convinced that Mitch make any sound after his solo. Maybe it's because his voice was blending into Kirstin's and she was so psyched that she could hardly keep from jumping around. She knew they were killing it. I think she should win an award for best job of channeling overwhelming energy into a performance.
I thought the mix was a little off between Mitch and Kirsty, personally. That’s a big challenge in a live scenario managing so many individuals and groups, etc.
To this day one of my favorite songs / arrangements of theirs, and I nearly missed your analysis of it!
Thanks for the way you go over these songs, you help my not-very-musical ear appreciate these much more.
I loved the way they set up Mitch's solo bit (and the way he sings it). As to why they didn't feature him sooner, it's just conjecture but from other comments I've read, they were under some pressure to downplay Mitch's (and Scott's) sexuality. That may be why they didn't showcase his beautiful, high, clear tones early--not that the two are necessarily related, but there are unkind people.... At least that's *my* take on it.
This agrees with what I've read elsewhere too, combined with the fact that Mitch was quite self-conscious and a bit shy from what I understand. The producers wanted a single lead to fit the stereotypical band sound the record label probably wanted to find. PTX made it work but weren't afraid to 'break' the rules on occasions like Kirstie in 'Stuck Like Glue' and here with Mitch's breakout moment - whereas I feel the need for a 'lead' was actually detrimental to some of the other groups like the Dartmouth Aires. Don't get me wrong, their lead had an incredible voice but the performances sometimes suffered for lack of any harmonic blend with him - jmho!
The producers might have been saying that sort of thing, but I remember the JUDGES asking for both Kirsty and Mitch to have some more spotlight.
Wow I binged your whole Pentatonix playlist today and it was not only a lot of fun but also super insightful and also emotional in the best way. Listening to your analysis made me appreciate once more the talent and work behind what Pentatonix does. I hope to see more of that. Another insane acapella group I think you'd have a lot of fun diving into is Voctave. They are I would say a bit more tradtitional and choir-like. But they are the only other group I enjoy as much as PTX and Home Free.
A few recommendations by them:
- The Great Movie Medley
- Disney Love Medley (feat. PTX's Kirstie)
- Disney Princess Medley
- Disney Showstoppers
-Disney Heroes & Villains
- O Come All Ye Faithful
- Carol of the Bells of Notre Dame
I think using Mitch in the spotlight was something Mitch had to build himself up for. His dad would often talk about Mitch being extremely talented but having to overcome shyness.
Wonderful reaction! Thanks again!
I love the PTX Sing Off series ~ Great reaction, Thanks!
tbh Dog Days just cemented their place. Imo 2 songs won them The Song Off - while ET was a great intro, it was Video Killed the Radio Star & Let’s Get It On that made them win ❤
Love Lockdown from Sing Off is another WOW performance
brooo I freaking love your reactions omggggg 😭😭🙏
This was so fun; thank you for reacting to this!
Great reaction. Thanks. You should react to O Holy Night. Matt will take u to Church and Kirstie's mind blowing belt will leave u I'm awe
I second what @sonjadrussell said about the overtones. Well done, Sir H. As to Mr. Mitch, I recommend their ‘Take on Me’ from their Vol. IV. I’d never listened because it’s audio only but I had it on while doing a workout. I was thinking, “Well, it’s OK,” when Mitch took the refrain. It was his whole range. You might save just that refrain to reference other PTX works. th-cam.com/video/768uJ5yZidQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=jVHuMiqQwxmtkqUx
There is still ONE MORE where they sing with Nick - while the votes are counted!!
There are lots of songs in their catalog but here’s the “must do”, cream of the crop, list for future PTX reactions. These are all iconic!
1. Hallelujah
(Probably their most viewed video)
2. The Sound of Silence
3. Amazing Grace
4. The Prayer
may I add Say Something to that list ☺
Mitch’s voice “defying biological expectations” - perfectly expressed, it’s so special & beautiful, we don’t hear that from a full grown man everyday.
I've listened to this many times and never before picked out Avi's overtones. Thanks for that.
Are you familiar with Sara Bareilles' music? Her play "Waitress" might have won the Tony for best musical in 2016 except that's the year Hamilton won. "She Used to Be Mine" is from "Waitress." I love her "Seriously?" (not from "Waitress") sung by Leslie Odom, Jr. Recorded in studio.
Honestly, this is one of my favorite performances of anything EVER. The dynamics, the overtones, the celebration of various members on their highlights--and honestly the JOY in this, gosh. They knocked it out of the park, into the stratosphere, and up toward Mars! The judges *probably* spoke about the overtones (even if, because the show was mostly live, they did it off-camera entirely) but there was no time/easy way to explain it to the home audience, is my guess. They for sure don't mention it at all where we can 'hear' them.
Edit to add, I'm sure I'm not the first to say this, but the producers were (let's be honest, here) homophobic. That's why Mitch was saved till last. They didn't have anything else to do after, so it was a full celebration of him, IMO. 'Look what you could have had.' The producers thought his tones were too high, not 'manly' like Scott's, from what I've seen said.
RE: Saving Mitch for the END - So I watched this season of the sing off as it was happening and from what I remember, they were really set up with Scott as the lead and Kirsty and Mitch more in a backup role for pretty much everything. The judges did a lot of mentoring throughout the show saying the wanted more of Mitch and Kirsty taking the lead and actually urging Scott to not throw EVERY trick in the book in every performance. They were YOUNG, and I felt the judges did a great job helping them refine all of that insane talent. They grew SO much from first performance to last.
When did the judges say they wanted more of Kirstie and Mitch? 😅. The arrangements were done mainly by PTX , Ben Bram said recently that there were too many groups to help with the arrangements but the members of PTX did most of their arrangements while other groups waited for Ben to come around and help them.
Also know that Mitch admitted to suffering from anxiety attacks which could also be why Scott took more of the leads. Scott had already been on TV shows as a kid so he was the most confident therefore it seemed like he was the leader.
There were definitely leads from Kirstie and Mitch, for this performance though Mitch showed a different range that the judges had not seen so that was special.
I have seen these episodes way more than I should admit and I don't see anywhere that the judges said they wanted more Kirstie and Mitch.
Either way this performance was PURE EXCELLENCE for this young group.
Hey SH! I remember this like it was yesterday and remember what I thought at that time in the moment which was, “they are gonna win.” Such a great arrangement for this song! And at just the right time too. You know it is funny, they kinda did the same thing on the masked singer in a way, held back with Mitch, and I was never sure if it was because they held him in their back pocket for the show or if people might recognize him? Of course the pentaholics knew who they were from the first notes but they for sure have strategy and I think it is with everything they decide to do. They also held back Kevin and his beatboxing. Just so interesting. Hey are you planning on adding Superfruit anytime soon or are you swamped? 🤔
Thanks SH! T ✌🏻
Oo I've not watched the Masked Singer yet, but Mitch does have a very unique voice so people would probably recognise him! That said, any fans might recognise any of them by voice
Superfruit are on my list! Very very swamped atm so no immediate plans but who knows what's in store for the future
I saw a PTX reactor going in blind on Masked Singer. He figured it out in about 10 seconds on the first song. You could tell a couple of the Masked judges knew exactly who they were right away. I laughed when Nick Cannon basically said, “Why are you here? “ Sort of a , “Don’t you have anything more important to do?” moment.
@SirHairless, please say you're close to finally reviewing their Hallelujah. Even if not, we love your reviews!!
I don't know when I'll get round to it! (But please don't leave the channel because of that 😉)
@@SirHairless Never! You're stuck with my family now. It's just that Hallelujah is our fav of all time! You do YOU - that'll be perfect!
Long ago relatively - Beat boxing like Kevin did here was not everyday, either. Too late for the "normal" censors to neutralize, the audience present and digital prevailed.
❤️
Thanks for the reaction! Please watch "Love of tired swans" by Dimash
Love your reactions. You are one of the few that notice Avi's overtones. He is super human.
Yes, there wasn't a Mitch slap in their earlier performances. Sadly, they were told to keep him in his lower range because they were worried about the audience realizing he is gay. The homophobia was horrible and kept everyone from experiencing Mitch in all his glory. Not to mention a counter tenor voice and sexual orientation have nothing to do with each other and why would it even matter...so sad!
Now so happy the world is able to hear him in all his glory!!!!
Maybe you would react to Messer (Mitch's solo moniker)? It's interesting.
I’m always disappointed that the judges didn’t single out Scott in their comments because I agree with your opinion of his contribution. He was a workhorse during the run of the show, which I think corresponded to the common belief that each group should have a lead singer. As for Mitch, the scuttlebutt is that he was a bit too openly gay to suit the show’s demographics so his efforts were downplayed or relegated more to a background role, as dictated by the show, not the group. Thanks for reacting to Dog Days, and well done for recognizing Avi’s overtone singing. Not many reactors do. Peace … Oh yeah, I’m not surprised the judges didn’t know how young they were exactly. There were a lot of competitors in the mix!
Scott,Mitch and Kirstie are all 19 years old.
At some point you need to go back to the very beginning, when the trio was in high school. Here they are performing telephone
th-cam.com/video/t2XBMWRK4Mw/w-d-xo.html
The producers had a great deal of control over what the bands could do so, saving Mitch until the end may not have been entirely PTXs choice.
Babytonix and the first Mitch-slap!! I love this performance and get chills everytime I hear it.
I almost lost my faith in you this time, Sir Hairless! How could you not tell that THAT was the Mitch slap??? But it's not your fault--you got too many spoilers and a lot of hype about this performance; your expectations must have been through the roof. I wish this song could have taken you by surprise, the way it did the viewers of the original broadcast. To tell the truth, my favorite part of Mitch's featured solo (3:30) was just before he belted "Run!" First, we get a little sassy half smile from Mitch as he sings "After that, too." I think he's saying, "Wait. I"m not done yet." Then when he hits "Run," the emotional tension is so high that the fingers of his right hand are bent almost backwards. Shivers!
Yo,y varias personas,solo vemos tus reacciones a Dimash.Tienes que reaccion al video clip de "the story of one sky"por favor👏👏👏👏👏
⚡⚡⚡⚡🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥⚡⚡⚡⚡
At this night Scott was a little bit sick had problems with the voice.
Scott had a cold at this time...
Did you know that Avi can sing two notes at the same time? th-cam.com/video/elqViOJuna0/w-d-xo.html. Hope I was able to post this right.
Yes, it's called overtone singing - how cool! I mention it in my videos whenever he does it