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Pentatonix Hallelujah | Vocal Coach Reacts
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 เม.ย. 2023
- Watch the stellar acapella group "Pentatonix" tackle one of the most famous songs to date: Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah'. In this video, I share my thoughts and feedback so we can figure out exactly WHY Pentatonix is so good!
Original Video:
• Pentatonix - Halleluja...
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Dimash reaction:
th-cam.com/video/GLN25e7BWS4/w-d-xo.html
What I think is particularly extraordinary is their superhuman ranges. When Avi is singing, for example, Scott can take over the bass line but he can also sing really high in his falsetto. Mitch never fails to grab me by the heartstrings when he sings! People often say that Dimash is the best singer in the world and technically yes he is phenomenal but his voice doesn't move me the way Mitch's does. With PTX their blend and the way they sync together is truly unique. Other a cappella groups like Voiceplay, Home Free and Voctave are great and have their own styles but I don't believe any of them top Pentatonix. I genuinely think they are the best a cappella group in the world. I've been a fan since their Sing-off days in 2011 but am going to see them for the first time next month in London. I can't wait!
His range is an incredible six octaves.
no matter how many times i hear this group, it makes me smile, they just have 'it', and I hope they go on for YEARS
Yes! 100% agree
this was the first song I heard them sing and I got goosebumps and I still do with this song and all the songs they sing,and not many groups give me goosebumps ❤
One thing we always hear with PTX is they annunciate clearly and those leading and trailing consonants come through. Hallelujah was my 1st exposure to PTX and I became an instant Pentaholic. 707 MILLION views and counting for this video. With all the live videos and reactors the total must be over one billion now.
I can’t help but think about how on their current tour they just talked about how insanely hot it was that day singing in the desert. Lol I subscribed in hopes that you do more Pentatonix performances. I really really hope you do The Prayer. They were nominated for a Grammy for the whole album, but honestly they should’ve won just for the prayer alone. Even if you think you know their music, this one stands out so much among the others.
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll add it to the list :)
Thank you for,this reaction. I subbed for more PTX. Mitch has an astonishing 6 octave and one tone range according to Google
He is amazing. They all are
Yes...I think it was the Mohave desert. Apparently they and the video crew went looking for a place to film, ended up backroading into the desert because they wanted the sun setting behind them; found the perfect place, bundled the group into winter coats ( despite it being 98 F because it was to be on the Christmas album and they needed it to look wintery) and got on with filming. They managed to get all the footage they needed right as the sun was setting and quickly loaded back up needing to leave the spot before darkness hit and they became lost....there are no streetlights or signposts in the desert.
Thanks for this reaction and analysis. I hope you look at more Pentatonix covers like Mad World, Sound of Silence, Come Along... and some of their originals such as Happy Now, Coffee In Bed, Run To You.
Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah I believe
@@linda6987, thanks! I'm a bit unfamiliar with US deserts and geography.
Jennifer - me too with other countries. Just learning the difference between England, Britain and The United Kingdom. I’ve driven through the salt flats on a full moon night - it was spectacular! 💖
The timing was impeccable, as this was recorded in Magic Hour, known in France as L'Heurre Bleu. There is a quality to the light that cannot be duplicated.
It was filmed at coyote dry Lake Mojave desert California
I love the way Mitch enunciates his words so well. (His signing in ‘Sound of Silence’ is another great example of his enunciation technique.) Their take on Amazing Grace you you a chance to see if members sing - including Matt who replaced Avi. I suggest you look at their behind the scene video of ‘the recording of Evergreen’. It really gives you a great glimpse into how they create their sound.
Oooh, interesting! I’ll add it to the list - thanks
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 voice, but their delivery is also their gift! If you haven't already, would love you to react to their version of The Prayer, where Mitch's voice shines even brighter, and Scott sings in an almost operatic voice baritone 😊
Everybody comments on "The hat", but then all thoughts of hats disappear when they hear the voice under it.
True
4:25 -- About consonants -- I used to sing in an Anglican choir and our director had a relationship with David Trendell (RIP), who was the choir director at King's College, London (NOT Cambridge). When we went to England for residencies we would usually stop in London to sing at the college, and he would come to Houston every couple of years for a Renaissance sacred music workshop. One of his favorite sayings was, "Consonants are your friends." Such a help starting and ending words and phrases cleanly and clearly.
Absolutely right!
Hello, nice to meet you! I’m a huge PTX fan and I loved your reaction. If you haven’t already listened to their version of The Prayer, I think you would enjoy it. Even if you have already heard it, I would still like to hear your reaction to it😅.
Avi is classically trained and had an official invitation from the L. A. Opera House to be their basso Profundo but he chose the NBC A Capella singoff with PTX>
Since leaving PTX, he has really great Avi genera.
Here us one of his many solo pieces from the past year.
Avi Kaplan
When I'm a Fool (Kaplan) Sunset Studios edition.
th-cam.com/video/LE24UTH3pmQ/w-d-xo.html
Another stunner from Avi!
@@heatherhuard I totally agree!
You should really have both earphones because it makes for a much better experience. You should also check out their original music (if you haven’t already). A few of my favorites are Ref, Can’t Sleep Love, Love Me When I Don’t and Cofee In Bed. ❤❤
I really enjoyed your break down. I look forward to more PTX reactions from you. I just subbed.
Avi is Jewish and did Bar Mitsvah and might have learned the best Hebrew sound though I do not think he ever attended Synagogue.
I am also Hebrew and also say Hah instead of Heh.
Hallel means "exuberantlt" and Yh is a shortened version of Yehovah.
Exuberantly prainse Yehovah or as we say in English. Jehovah, but there is no J sound in Hebrew.
It's great that you're going back to the retro mono track concept (1 earpiece) from the 1950s. I use to listen to my dad's 45rpm record player with a little 3" speaker until I heard stereo for the first time. I'm glad someone is dedicated to recreating those old limited mono sounds of 65 years ago.
Great review, Nick, informative and entertaining. Responding to your question, I was also chorally trained as a singer and director and would typically prefer the broader "ah" in hallelujah; however, in a more contemporary piece like Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, I'm personally okay with a slightly brighter pronunciation, as long as it doesn't stray into a vowel sound that is nasally or placed too far forward in the mask..
Thank you! As a choral singer my brain is so used to the darker “ah” so I have to get used to the more contemporary sound. Totally agree with you!
There is a reason they are a THREE TIMES GRAMMY AWARD winners
Well said, Benard!
Would love to see you react to Avi Kaplans solo music. He is an incredible singer/songwriter. Change on the Rise is his most popular and was his first release after leaving PTX. He did release some music while still with PTX under Avriel and the Sequoias. Pick anything you like there is not a bad song in his catalog. Subscribing in hopes of Avi reactions.
Yes!!
They are an awesome group! I have been a fan since I found them on The Sing Off in 2011. Just love each of them.
One thing I can recommend for you is to wear both earbuds or a complete set of headphones 🎧. They tend to pan different parts to each ear. You miss out on some parts if you don't have both ears covered. It's just a suggestion....you do what you want.
Thanks for a great reaction to my favorite group!
Sending you blessings from Texas!
Thanks so much! I have great headphones but have a tendency to yell in my videos if I’m not careful 😂 I will listen on my own with headphones in to get the full effect!
PTX always strive for perfection in their music. And brings out the message in their songs, loud and clear, and with true passion. They love what they do, and do it with pride.
That is the magic of music... No explanation is necessary...
The meaning is too immense.
"Music is that silent space between the notes..."
BTW "The Imposible Dream" is one of my fav songs... Thank you!😊
Hallelujah is a transliteration of Hebrew: הַלְלוּ יָהּ (halləlū yāh), which means "praise ye Jah!" (from הַלְלוּ, "praise ye!" and יָהּ, "Jah".) The word hallēl in Hebrew means a joyous praise in song. The second part, Yah, is a shortened form of YHWH (Yahweh or Jehovah in modern English).
Well said - thank you!
I saw the comment about there being only one way to pronounce Hallelujah. I once went to a master class done by 3 King's Singers members, at a college here in Houston, Texas. The choir they were working with had obviously been working really hard preparing for the class. A major problem for singers in Texas (and most of the South) is regional vowel sounds, which are very different from the "standard" choral vowels. The choir sang their first piece and I couldn't understand a word because they had worked so hard to eliminate the "Texas" vowels that they had turned most of them into "ah"s. The King's Singers then spent more than half an hour talking about vowels and specifically how to sing "and". Really interesting and useful. The upshot of their advice was to focus on the "ah" sound in rehearsal to get used to shaping your mouth for the most beautiful sound. But when you are performing, be yourself, go back to "real" vowels, and your mouth will retain that "beautiful" shape. And, of course, depending on what you are singing, sometimes you don't want / need the vowels to be beautiful.
They are so awesome. Please react to more of them.
Hey Nick! Fun analysis, and you have a pleasant baritone voice, from what I heard of it. As a youth, my vocal instructor drilled into my head many of the same vocal techniques you mentioned. It is true that they most certainly apply in several genres of vocal music, (traditional choir or chorus, opera, stage musicals, etc.) but not so much in so many others. As a matter of fact, they would sound offputting in most of them. Even Pavaratti learned to temper his voice and alter his pronunciation when he sang pop music duets with other performers. Can you imagine him singing sea shanties with his trained operatic voice? As to the pronunciation of the word "Hallelujah," there is so much unnecessary debate. It has been spelled and sung in different ways as to suit the piece and the preference of the composer and/or arranger. I have seen it spelled without the "H." Moreover, Mr. Cohen not only wrote it with the "H," but distinctly sang it. The word is of Hebrew derivation, and he was Jewish. So, I think I would defer to his pronunciation for the purposes of this song. If you listen carefully, you will note that its pronunciation is being used as a form of delivery to the rest of the word. Pentatonix picked up on this. You can hear them using it as arpegiated notes behind Avi's solo. Also, even if this song has been associated with Christmas (solely because of Old Testament references and the use of the title word), it is actually about hearbreaking and forbidden love. The word "Hallelujah" is being used in a satirical manner, not as a word of worship. Again, Mr. Cohen was Jewish, not Christian, so he used well known examples of love gone bad from the Old Testament, scripture shared by both faiths. Hence, the confusion. I would love to hear you analyze another song by PTX. Being a Pentaholic, it makes my day.
Very well said, thank you! You’re absolutely right - there is a time and place for certain techniques and styles, and Pentatonix certainly has a wide variety of skills. It will be an exciting ride for myself and this channel to discover more about them! Cheers ☺️
To answer your question: Yes, they were actually in the Mojave Desert in CA. They were wearing heavy clothing (coats, gloves) because Hallelujah was going to be coming out on their Christmas album A Pentatonix Christmas. But in reality, they were shooting the video in the summer, with temperatures around 100° F. Mitch needed the big hat because he was just starting to grow out his hair after shaving his head, and being without cover for several hours out in the desert wouldn't have been a very good idea.
It may be just my imagination but I think I hear from Mitch, when he hits the phase "seen the light" a small yodel. Maybe it's his Texas background or maybe it's just my imagination but this young man blows me away with everything he does.
This was filmed in the Mojave Desert, just outside of Barstow, California. As with all Pentatonix official videos (except for the earliest, before they had a studio) the vocals were recorded in the studio and they lip-synched in the video. With Pentatonix, that means that they actually sang it as they recorded the video, so all the movements are accurate.
Yes! I think that’s how you make a video look most realistic - sing along in the video
@@nickhiggsthesinger They basically perfected the technique even before they had a studio. I don't remember whether you've reacted to "Daft Punk Medley" (their first Grammy winner), but the vocals were recorded in a closet that had good acoustics and the video was recorded at a kitchen table. Also, it's obvious that each individual recorded his or her video separately, which may mean that the whole group sang the medley five times, so that each one would be in proper time (or not - they generally record their audio tracks separately so they can surely do the same for the video). The reason we know that each of them was recorded separately in the video is that one of the items on their $400 budget for the video was a single ring light, but in the video it appears behind each member.
One thing that always gets me about this song is the incredible formants that they pull there at the end, where it sounds like you have harmony into the atmosphere. It's amazing. I think it's because they blend so well, like you said.
They all sing rap & beat box. My theory about why people react to there music so profoundly. While instruments obviously have a emotional impact. We are hard wired to respond to the human voice from birth . Gives their music that something extra so many people respond so positively to Pentatonix
Because of the double ll, it is Hal le lu yah
Great analysis! I've seen this video countless times and you made me see things I'd never seen before! Cheers!
So a good thing to note (maybe not now, but at the very least for a lot of years) they actually record with the videos, they have a sort of code that they will not put out work they cannot do in person. And that is actually why so many of their videos are at very specifically chosen locations, especially to start, and sometimes even move within a location. They choose (or at least chose) their locations based upon the sound qualities which it gave their songs, and would reshoot until it came out right. I know for a fact that this was true up to and including the bohemian rhapsody cover, if not still accurate for all the rest.
I have seen this many times but it ALWAYS gives me goosebumps
Nick, a choral singer for about 70 years, I appreciate the expertise shown in your reactions. I look forward to watching many more.
Actually both pronunciations are correct. However I'm sure you would agree once you opt for one way and a musical piece needs to remain so throughout the piece.
"Alleluia'' and ''hallelujah'' mean the same thing: ''praise the Lord.'' However, ''hallelujah'' is derived from the Hebrew spelling of the word while ''alleluia'' is the Latin transliteration of the Greek transliteration of ''hallelujah.'' While they are sometimes used interchangeably, ''alleluia'' is the primary form typically used in Christianity.
Great reaction. I enjoyed your technical analysis and comments!
Glad you enjoyed!
OMG! MORE PENTATONIX!
i just wish you had both headphones in! hahaha it sounds way more full and sometimes they have neat panning that you would miss without one in
Love your reaction!!! Hallelujah is a word in Hebrew and you pronounced it perfectly in minute 4:23 of the video. In Hebrew, the first letter of the word is a Hei (ה), the letter sounds like and exhalation, similar to the exclamation Hey in English. Vowels in Hebrew sound exactly like in Spanish, not like in English. I hope this helps!
If you notice, those singing behind the soloist are singing 'ha' to echo the 'ha- llelulah. If they had chosen 'har-lellulah' they would have had to use 'har', which would have sounded very different. PTX are lip-synch champs! BTW - this song is NOT religious. It's about a failed love affair. Leonard Cohen, a Buddhist Jew, used religious imagery in a lot of his songs but none of them are about religious subjects.
"Hallelujah is kind of a religious piece..." Actually, I disagree with this. Cohen's Hallelujah is not religious at all, maybe even sacrilegious, actually. He uses "hallelujah" as a metaphor of sexual congress, not religious enlightenment. But it's a great song.
This is song that introduced me to pentatonix❤ also this was filmed at coyote dry lake Mojave desert California as the sun was going down.
Love it! Thanks for watching
I seem to remember seeing an interview with Scott where he mentioned that they actually sing along with the recorded track when they film.
You have to react to "Oh, Come All Ye Faithful". Talk about unconventional takes on a well known song!
Love that one!
Another wonderful commentary that helped my understand just what makes such a performance so special. Thank you for sharing.
I really think the pronunciation of a word depends on the song itself and the singer/ singers. It's so amazing to me that they are all so "on point " and so perfectly timed to each other so you get that clean crisp sound and entrances and exits on all the words. To be that synced takes a LOT of work and know how. Thanks again for your professional and technical reaction.
I've heard that PTX actually sings during their filming to make our more authentic.
I love your analysis of this group…I was able to see them in concert a few nights…I LOOOOVE ♥️THEM👏🏽
I noticed the muted colors of the video and the simplicity to the outfits. This seems to make their voices more powerful than they already are. Check out Hi Ren
Ive listened to this over 15 times this week!! Im in the rabbit hole all the time!!
I think this was shot in the Mohave Desert.
Pentatonix was originally a trio who got together at high school in Texas. I have been an admirer for over ten years. I trained as a probationer and later a chorister, at London's Westminster Abbey, where we had our own 32-boy boarding school from ages 8-13. So I recognise the demands of fine a capella singing. We sang eight times in an average week, so I know the rehearsals and frustration of singing unamplified, and with a constantly changing repertoire. Treble voices are particularly suited to unaccompanied singing. You should try the Winchester Cathedral Choir rendition of Barber's Angus Dei. It is a great start to life being a professionally paid musician from the age of eight, and I'm sure these guys each began singing long before puberty set in.
Hallelujah- Hebrew word from the Old Testament Meaning-Praise the god (Lord). Pronounce -Hallelu- yah (2 words connecting to 1)
What can I say but.....they look and sound like angels.😇
Thank you for the very thoughtful and informative commentary.
Keep in mind there's a lot of irony going into that "Hallelujah" so you really can't compare it with the sincerity of Handel. This is Leonard Freaking Cohen and that's a Halle-freaking-lujah.
You are doing it so well
Thanks for the great reaction, Nick. This was the song that introduced me to Pentatonix, and I've followerd them ever since. I'll honestly admit that Avi Kaplan has always been my favorite, and I am completely enarmored with his uniquely "Avi" solo career. Please consider reacting to his powerful "Change On The Rise" ~ his gently beautiful "Avi Kaplan, All Is Well. 7 Layers Session # 126 " and his jamming "When I'm A Fool, Live At Sunset Sound " for starters. These highlight just a bit of his versitile and amazing original offerings! Newly subbed and fingers crossed that you react to Avi Kaplan!
Added to my list - excited to check out Avi and his solo work!
Big thanks, Nick, I'm hoping you will love it! I saw Avi in concert last September and was blown away by how kind and humble he is in person, and by how simply, naturally beautiful his voice is.
What I learned in choir is that you sing “Hallelujah” as “Ha-le-LU-yah, emphasizing the “lu” on beat 3, in Handel’s “Messiah”. Pentatonix is amazing!!!!!
Keep in mind that choral music has the word Alleluia, especially in Catholic liturgy , means pretty much the same thing , just in Latin. Using alleluia, might explain why you sometimes don’t hear the H sound. Hallelujah is the Hebrew word for praise the Lord, and closer to the original word. Either way, PTX takes Jeff Buckley’s beautiful version and upgrades it to iconic status.
I was literally looking for this comment! Every single noteworthy cover of Hallelujah is made to sound like the Jeff Buckley rendition and not like the original Leonard Choen one, which is funny but also understandable as Jeff is the best there is and very few come close or compare.
Watch it LIVE ❤
I agree that the pronunciation depends on the song and singers. The key is to keep the same pronunciation throughout the song and each singer pronounces the same. I find it amazing when a singer can sustain a note in their higher register as well as they can in their lower register. Which these five can do.
Yess they are an incredible group
And very clear...
One of the things I see passed over is the perfectly imagined video. Thanks for mentioning it.
I heard Leonard Cohen sing this late in his career. The entire show was wonderful. He started each Hallelujah with a distinct "H" sound. If a song is written with Allelujah, i'll sing it without the H. If it's there, I'll sing it. Cheers!
Excellent reaction
Woas 🎶
Hallelujah (hal-le-lu-jah/ hallēlūyāh) is Hebrew, Alleluia is the Latin version derived from the Greek transcription of the Hebrew Hallelujah. Pronunciation naturally varies over location origin and time. Language is not static.
Hallelujah
The ONLY thing that kills me about this arrangement is the ha-LEY-llujah 😂😭 I can hear my choir teacher screaming in the background
I would recommend that people wear headphones, or earbuds when listening to PTX. I never wear them, but tried them with this song, and was amazed at the difference.
Love your analysis of this version. You are informative and interesting to listen to.... I'll definitely be back to watch more!
Oh wow thank you so much!
Fun video!! very informative! WOuld love more clarity on what you mentioned at 6:09 about the directionality of voices?
Soprano voices are typically brighter, so they can hit the back of the room easily. Lower voices, having more resonance, seem to be heard all around. It’s important for lower voices to work on focusing their sound so they don’t get swallowed up by an orchestra or simply just the space they are singing in! Higher voices have more “ring and ping” and lower voices have to work hard to be heard! Hope that makes sense and clears up any confusion. Thanks!
@@nickhiggsthesinger oh yes this made sense! I never heard it described that way before but I definitely understand, I guess it goes back to higher frequencies hitting our ear faster? But i like the language of the sound being 3D more. I think that's a really interesting conversation about HOW we hear (and feel) sounds, and why certain things impact us in particular ways. Which also leads me to think about how the arrangement of music is key, because it's as much about interpretation and understanding as it is about what we literally hear. Like I appreciate that PTX and Ben Bram (arranges and produces most of their music) think about how to layer the sounds, what the text is saying, what they want us to feel, and then the soloists do amazing work in seeing the vision through with style and beauty:)
Songs that Kevin doesn’t BB; Imagine, Mad world, I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You, Thank You, Dreams.
In Poland we pronounce Alleluia with an "A", but I believe that the correct pronunciation is the one used by the Hebrews, i.e. "hallelū-Jāh", you can clearly hear "Ha".
I noticed something recently, I think that Kirstin 100% broke her voice intentionally for "Broken Hallelujah", and it's incredible.
Keep up the awesome reactions.
I saw the baby yoda!
Good eye!
This was filmed in the Mojave desert, near Barstow, California.
Kirsten, Mitch, and Scott went to High School together they lived in Arlington Texas. It has been said they always sang when they were together.
I would love to hear your reaction to Pentatonix"s cover of Bohemian Rhapsody
A silent ‘H’ and an ‘A’ pronounced in our religious songs (like in up) - my absolutely favourite performers.
A church choir director to me once, You sing Ha-llelujah and say Ah-llelujah You sing Ah-men and say A-men
Original spellings of the word used the now retired æ symbol, so likely the pronunciation is actually even further away from either option haha. (Almost like hail… but not quite)
Subbed for more PTX!
Amazing! Stay tuned. Any suggestions?
I am actually not convinced that this is a first reaction video. Be honest, you’ve heard it before
I know the song very well, but not Pentatonix’s version
Everyone’s an expert
I could watch you all day!
You are just so beautiful!! :)
Leaving out those consonants at the beginning and end of a word is one of my pet peeves.
It certainly is an underrated skill. A lot of people don’t realize how big their consonants need to be to be heard unless you have a microphone! Even with a microphone, final consonants are often lost.
I was told in high school chorus the dropping the whole last syllable is a California trait, that we should work on.
Please do a reaction to Voctave!!!
PTX is one of the best groups to come around in a very long time. If I might make a suggestion of a young Lady from UK that has the most angelic voice I have heard in a long time. Her name is Lucy Thomas. I would like for you to give your reaction to her version of “Hallelujah”. Great reaction here to PTX.
love this...thank you
Actually this video was filmed in Utah, at the Salt Flats 😊
Might I suggest to also check out Home Free? In your case "How great thou art" or "O Holy night". Greetings from the Netherlands
Mad World-Pentatonix is amazing
Every time I hear them I think of their bohemian rhapsody, took 5 years to arrange and set up visually, but worth it. Well until angelina jordan deconstructed bohemian rhapsody and made it a jazz song, for the golden buzzer at America's got talent, champions. She won Norways got talent when she was 7 or 8. She beats em all. Check her out. I've called Adele the voice of a generation, forever. Angelina covers her songs, and I like her spin. Live another hundred years and they will still be talking about both of them.
Speaking of unicorns..... Mitch is one those impossible ones to find. Very few guys have that high a range.
Cohen sang the harsher Hallelujah - and this is a harsher use of the word than Handel was using
Very true
Amazing reaction