a phenoMenAl baSs perfOrmaNce!! | Sixteen Tons - Geoff Castellucci | Acapella Reaction/Analysis

[@MagicMason1000]

Alright I'll go back to my job now. Happy April Fools' Day y'all :)

[@officialmortius]

Hijacking top comment to clear a small bit of confusion; Mason actually HAD NOT seen this before, believe it or not! So even though we had a bit of fun with the April fools joke, this also is a real reaction and analysis still :)

[@tessasilberbauer6219]

Really enjoyed it, Mason, thank you

[@blackheart0003]

Loved the detail on the video title. 😂

[@fullmetalcrusader]

I would watch a Mason reaction channel

[@Mia200001]

Tell Mason the chord that had him running to his phone was a sneaky key change 😅

[@billparrish4385]

The lyrics, while admittedly depressing in spots, are a great contrast to the upbeat swing nature of the music, and together tell a story of not quitting, not being defeated by an adverse situation. So rather than a mournful, self-pitying dirge, the happy-sounding music is almost a defiance of such hardships. The story of the lyrics is also an interesting one. Singer/songwriter Merle Travis first recorded Sixteen Tons in 1946, telling the story of coal miner life in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, with quotes in it from his brother ("You load sixteen tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt.") and his father ("I can't afford to die. I owe my soul to the general store."). In the song, 'general store' would be changed to 'company store', since Travis knew that's what his dad was referring to, the coal company paying the miners not in cash, but in company-credit tokens called 'scrip' that was only redeemable at the coal-company-owned general store. While the miners couldn't save up cash from wages due to being paid in scrip, buying 'on time', or financing any purchases that exceeded the amount of their wages, was encouraged by easy credit terms. Under this system (called the 'truck' system, or 'debt bondage'), financially inexperienced miners would very quickly get so far in debt, they would literally never get out of it, tying them to the company forever, with their wages only good for servicing their existing mountain of debt. The practice ended when coal miners organized under the United Mine Workers union. Tennessee Ernie Ford covered the song in 1955, earning greater acclaim and recognition for it than even Travis had. The song has been loved by generations of coal miners almost as an anthem for the unsung hardships they endure in their high-risk profession.

[@nerdywordyprincess8499]

This was such a fun April Fool's reaction. I knew something was up when I noticed the capitalized letters in the extra long title. Mason, if Mortius ever needs a break I'm sure we wouldn't mind you filling in. 🤪. Loved the transitions and witty repartee. Great job to you both!

[@tari6085]

When I saw Mason's name in the title, I assumed it would just be Mason playing a prank in the editing. This was so much better! Mason, you're just as entertaining as Mortius. And Mortius, you did a good job with the editing. Great April Fools Day video!

[@laundrygoddess4]

You can always count on M&M for a great video no matter who is in front of the camera! Great job guys. Mortius you are just as funny as Mason with your comments in the corner😂😂

[@jalyc]

I missed the first few then realized they were not only there but GOOD too. It took me 39 minutes to watch 20 minutes critiquing a 3 minute song! I had to stop and go back to read those, look for or listen to things I missed, and watch all the expressions and mannerisms. Good thing I am tired and retired. lol It helps greatly to point out things I missed, like the hammer at 6:00 minutes. I'm surprised at how much I've missed, considering Geoff is my bedtime story every night. Thanks for enticing me to watch more, Mortius.

[@MiladyMacabre]

The "accent" you like on the lyric "Well, bless my soul" is Geoff's little homage to one of his very favorite bass singers, Thurl Ravenscroft.

[@sarawlindgreen3115]

Great reaction. This makes me want to see a double reaction with both of you in it, because musically you can clearly complement each other in terms of the knowledge 😊

[@billparrish4385]

8:09 One thing about that voice he does here, try and visualize Tony the Tiger saying, "Well, bless my soul!" Geoff says one of his main musical influences as a bass singer was Thurl Ravenscroft, the old Disney bass singer, who did the voice of Tony the Tiger, as well as the 'You're A Mean One, Mr Grinch' song from the original TV show. Geoff can sound just like Thurl, as you can see here. 😎

[@christinestromberg4057]

Yes it's an old song about the coal miners and how they were virtually owned by the coal companies, who paid them in tokens which had to be spent in the company store, so the miners would be always in debt to the store. You did a great job! When Geoff is doing his editing he uses plugins for background instruments. It's a lot cheaper than hiring musicians. Also being his own backing group is very cost effective. :)

[@parkerbrown-nesbit1747]

I really liked that you talked about the instrumentation on this. Few people do. Coal miners (before the union came in) were kept in debt.

[@Melisendre]

Great reaction Mason! This was the best april fools joke for today. It's evening in my country right now and I've seen a lot today.

[@Raudoc2k1]

What an interesting video to wake up to. I thought Mortius Had done this song and was wondering why this was a new video. Mason taking over for a video was fun. Sure It might have taken a while for him to get through the intro and outro but He had some different ways of examining the song. Maybe one day you two will sit down and react to the same song together. Grate video for April Fools day. Don't lock Mason away in the editing room he might just actually try and take over.

[@ilonadever8249]

Great April Fool's joke! Tell Mason to turn on the closed captions for the humor Geoff throws in from time to time!

[@amandalindsay8920]

Ended up with this appearing on my feed again this April 1st. Definitely fun. Thank you Mason and Mortius.

[@Badger77722]

For someone who "didn't know how to do a reaction", I think you did a marvelous job, Mason! Happy April Fool's Day! For your next reaction, 1 gentle reminder: Geoff (and VoicePlay) often put interesting comments into their subtitles (he did on this one), so it helps to have those on when reacting to them.

[@ryansmallwood1178]

Really fun idea for a video on this date. Loved the role reversed banter between Mason and Mortius in this one!

[@mamiemartinson4649]

Cool about the slap bass notice... I hadn't noticed that before. Song is about being a coal miner and having all your paycheck going to the mine owners who provide food and shelter, but charge the workers for it. Mason should watch or rewatch Nothing Else Matters so he can talk about VioLayne from a player's perspective.

[@judithboulden3456]

ABSOLUTELY!🎻

[@Cabooseq117]

Alright #BASSon on the mic! Even if only as a joke, the talent is still there!

[@gracefiles2268]

This was the best April fools joke!! I loved that Mason got to take over for this video, he did an amazing job with the reaction!! Maybe he should take over the channel more often😉But seriously y'all are awesome, thanks for the amazing reaction as always!!💜

[@florencegrant-mc7bb]

Good job, Mason! Thank you! Your bit of useless trivia for the day: 16 Tons was sung by Tennessee Ernie Ford and went to #1 in 1960. TEF was a popular singer and had an entertaining variety show on TV. I am old, so I know things.

[@Trickpants]

tHis Is gonna be great! Man, An analySis Of sixteeN tons?! yoU Really Can't miss with geOff, althOugh this one is speciaL!

[@MagicMason1000]

i THink you will hAve fuN, KindlY enjOying this Upload! ❤

[@QueenKim29]

Can't wait for this "first" time reaction!

[@NerdvanaReactions]

The second the "hijack" happened I started laughing so hard. Y'all, I really needed this today. Truly hilarious, and still so informative!

[@Mia200001]

Maybe Mortius should have done a "Really" count for Mason 🤭. Great fun 😊

[@suecameron3124]

Oh you 2 are just the best, Mason i really enjoyed that, thank you..we all need a bit of fun, don't we..

[@jackyfriedman1963]

Intro too funny guys. Love ya's❤ PS.... Voiceplay released their new video on patreon Monday morning. Be prepared for Vikings to invade again. But more epic than My Mother Told Me. Geoff's working on his new video right now. He posted part of it on his patreon last night. He's finishing this weekend and will post the finished video on patreon early this week. He's gone country on us.

[@dipperpines2793]

LONG LIVE MASON THE BASSON

[@randiskye4444]

MASON!! This was such a fun April Fool's prank. I thought something was up when I saw which song was in the title, and I just picked up on the clue in the title ( the caps )! Mortius, please let Mason get back to editing, as it isn't your forte, lol. Mason, you forgot to give us a violin performance! Maybe Mortius will go back into VP's "Nothing Else Matters" and you can analyze the VioLayne solo! Seriously, this was a fun one! Happy April Fool's Day!!

[@chrisdubois8980]

Oh my I forgot April's 1st..I do enjoy Mason also also😊

[@alexwalker8440]

I can't believe you never watched this one! Better late than never, I guess. Get ready to be amazed!

[@huldradraco]

Amazing video, Mortius! Mason did a great job, and so did you! 😄😄

[@alexisgrunden1556]

To be fair, Mason, you're right: the lyrics are damn depressing. It's such a catchy tune, but it tells a story of such unethical, cutthroat and predatory business practices by coal mine owners/companies that they were literally being compared to the Devil himself. In the times this song tells of, a man working in the mines could bury his father, dead of blacklung, be terribly in debt, and see his young sons already beginning to slave for his masters, the mine owners, also, well before they even hit puberty. Miners living in company-owned buildings in the camps, being paid in worthless chits, having to buy extra equipment from the company stores....and if he didn't have enough, they'd give him an advance on his next paycheck, putting him further in the hole. Worse, some contracts were written so that if at the end of an agreed-upon term of service, the miner was at all in debt to the company, not only would the company not pay out his contracted salary, but he would be forced to continue working for them to try and pay it off! The lyrics are depressing, but it's important to remember.

[@edwardblair4096]

The instrument you hear is a double bass played in the style of a jazz trio from the 50s or 60s. The original song was a hit by Tennessee Ernie Ford in that period. Ford included a melismatic solo at the end of his version that Geoff is paying homage to here.

[@Okay_Is_Wonderful]

I knew to expect shenanigans, but not what kind lol. This was delightful 🫶

[@sydneyl8245]

I definitely think Mortius and Mason should react together to some songs. I think that would be such a great combo!

[@MagicMomma]

This was adorable. I watched it twice. I love the idea of y’all doing a reaction together! Good job both of you! Mortius I loved the ending. Please don’t fire Mason, he needs to pay for college! 😂

[@melodiemalone2317]

Great reaction Mason Mortius be careful Mason want to control your channel ( and after he control the World) (sorry it s a little bit extrem) I hope Mason doing more reaction i like it Don t worry i like you also Mortius 😂 Btw the next voiceplay song it s 🤯🤯🤯 you are not prepare

[@vallynmar]

This was pure gold! I loved it immensely. Thank you for a great April Fool.

[@dominicsmalley9394]

Petition for 2 videos for every reaction. One with mortius and one with mason.

[@keithrodman9318]

Great job Mason! April fool's joke on everyone who thinks that you are just an editor. And Mortius, Mason's job isn't as easy as most people think, wouldn't you agree? Loved it!! Thank you!

[@Genthar]

Fun changeup. :) By the way definitely learn about the lyrics. While it's a fun song, it does have a real historical reference. Btw, it's easy to see why Mason and Mortius work well together...

[@MagicMomma]

Im his mom, I explained the context to him after the video. I was surprised he didn’t know this song already.

[@theodoreharriet]

Love this song, glad you guys got to reacting to it. Loved the April fools.

[@brendaswolfe1435]

Enjoyed this Mason ❤❤ Happy April Fool's Day

[@iamsquatty]

Yay Mason! You did a great job! Would like to see ya do more in the future. 💜

[@carinarodebak9419]

I was just going to comment that I could see the hand of M-A-S-O-N all over the title, then remembered the date. Are you having us on, sir.😂

[@MrPete81]

Yay, well done Mason! What a great flip on the usual and a top reaction to boot. Bet you both had a lot of fun doing this! 🪄💫

[@jago07]

This was a nice touch having Mason on this video! Loved the personal touch here

[@florencegrant-mc7bb]

Oh, and Mortius, I loved the April fool schtik (sp?). You’re a favorite of mine.

[@chih-chaoyang5290]

Motius you got some serious competitions now!! Ha ha! Nice April fools prank and great job Mason!!

[@danuttall]

For those that don't know (like Mason), the song is about the harsh economic conditions of coal miners about a century or more ago. The miners would live in a town where the mining company owned everything and paid with company script, not Federal Reserve Notes, and even working extra long hours would not earn enough to pay for everything they needed. It was because of things like this that various labour laws were established in several states in the U.S.

[@KaaSerpent]

I had to watch most of this twice because I was laughing too hard to pay attention the first time.

[@lkayh]

Wow! I thought for sure you’d seen this classic. This should be fun!

[@lkayh]

@@ambvurt3739Way to spoil it!

[@MagicMason1000]

He may have seen it already but I certainly haven't :)

[@lkayh]

@@MagicMason1000 Great reaction, too!

[@delord1619]

Mason, if you like unlikely instruments, you have to check out Spike Jones and the City Slickers. Lots of corny humor, some slapstick, and you might notice something that inspired a burp-boxing moment from Layne in Hall of the Mountain King.

[@sallymaria]

That was fun, thank you for a great prank, and an interesting reaction.

[@jackyfriedman1963]

Good job Mason. Good to see you in front of the camera for a change.

[@tessasilberbauer6219]

Bravi folx! This was wonderful, brilliant, well done; and: well done!😁

[@ConnorSinclairCavin]

I would Love to see the two of you bounce off eachother on some fun songs like this hahaha

[@acappellaismyjam9202]

This was awesome! Come back Mason!

[@kezmet5998]

*Chef's kiss* - Absolute perfection, guys!

[@RosyRosie42]

That ✨STAR SWIPE✨ made me laugh so hard!

[@orcunsen6514]

Honestly, I prefer editor Mortius and analyst Mason! Such good humor, I am 3 mins in and I am sweating out of my eyes, well played guys!

[@DravenGal]

Great April 1st edition! Good job switching roles, guys!

[@tessasilberbauer6219]

Guys. GUYS. .... i'm scared to see what the actual release will be now. Tell me you aren't rickrolling us via HF plz

[@tessasilberbauer6219]

*sweats in did i get the band wrong*

[@neomercury4279]

Mortius, I loved the jokes that you did with all the editing and especially the thing at the end. MASON!!! You are so funny dude. I am both an instrumentalist and a vocalist. Hearing your instrumentalist side of the analysis was incredibly fun. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if you and Mortius did a collaborative video one of these days. That would be really fun to see.

[@ebi_skycotl]

LMAO THE DATE. I LOVE THIS. GO MASON, WE LOVE YOU. MORTIUS, THIS IS HILARIOUS.

[@DnDAddictUK]

Wait, you've not done this one yet?!??! I am excited

[@DnDAddictUK]

Okay, even though it wasnt you Mortius, Mason your analysis was great. The two of you clearly understand the other really well. Would like to see a double reaction with both of you in one

[@denisemagnuson8366]

April Fish! ❤ That was great, thank you Mason. Mortius, you and Mason needs to collaborate,that would be awesome.😊

[@Lea-AnneDavies-lh6kh]

Loved the switch up, ❤ premier gang 🥰🥰

[@deblewis943]

That was so much fun! Great job, Mason!! Hope you and Mortius do some collabs in the near future.

[@karinwolf9639]

So much fun & expertise! Well done Mason! You can do it!!

[@leithahyde8072]

Great react Mason, you did well. Loved the video.

[@danield1303]

This has been really fun and a great reaction. Thank you for this awesome April fools video!

[@hannah9419]

That was adorable!

[@CapriUni]

I hadn't realized you hadn't watched this one yet. I think you'll like it.

[@ambvurt3739]

It’s April 1st

[@CapriUni]

@@ambvurt3739 Okay, I've been got. But in my defense, Mortius hadn't seen "High and Dry," either.

[@officialmortius]

@@ambvurt3739 You could have just let people have their fun with a silly video, but okay 🤷‍♂

[@CapriUni]

Oh, and also: I agree with Mason: Cosmo Sheldrake is great. He's usually a solo + found Sound + electronic music, so not Mortius's usual fare, but something I think Mortius would enjoy (whether it's to react on KZbin or not).

[@ambvurt3739]

@@officialmortius my sarcasm doesn’t function and I legitimately didn’t realize that people were playing along. My apologies for being dense 🙇

[@backwardstinker]

THANK U FOR SUBTITLES!!!! happy fools day lol

[@officialmortius]

Will be available for all of my content moving forward :)

[@backwardstinker]

@@officialmortius yay!! thats so cool and mason did good!

[@markc65]

Mason rocked that.

[@elvwood]

Ha ha, nice one you two! And actually I reckon you could each do the other's job if the need arose (or you just wanted a change of pace). Enjoyed it a lot.

[@X_ShadowWarHawk]

10,000,000 Clicks later and half way through the song

[@AzurisSheer]

I loved seeing mason react! Unfortunately i cannot Officially condone this because im seeing a large lack of 10th anniversary mishapocalypse celebration in your pfp LOL

[@terezastastna941]

This was phenomenal❤, I laughed a lot 😅 and you both did a good job, great idea👌

Looking at the title, thumbnail and release date, I'm sensing an April fool's joke.🙃🙂 Or Mason is fooling us all...

Well, I was expecting some extensive editing fun from Mason. But the complete takeover was fun, too. Good job on the analysis and reaction, Mason.

[@5foot2eyesofblue13]

Mason is great. I don't even miss you Mortius. 😂😂😂 just kidding

[@dennisreaume4544]

Tennessee Ernie Ford sang it LONG time ago.

[@Wildecat10]

Delightful!

[@emblazen6442]

Mortius, you may need to up your editing game or Mason may take over permanently. 😊 Great reaction Mason, and cool April Fools prank.

[@crystijones9518]

Haha loved this.

[@caitlinkavanagh3298]

Too Cute! Loved it!

[@iamsquatty]

...... The capital letters in the title spell out MASON and there's a weird overlay on the title screen over mortius' eyes..... April 1st..... Oh god I have April fools ptsd I'm so skeptical of anything on April 1st 😂

[@edwardblair4096]

I'm pretty sure the term you were looking for at 13:32 is "modulation". The odd chord moved the pitch of the following section up a step to add some dramatic tension.

[@katthor7311]

All these early comments asking if you had not reacted to this yet....lol. I was thinking the same thing yesterday. This was genius you guys. I loved it so much. 😆 Honestly, the two of you together make a well rounded reactor. Mortius has the vocal knowledge and Mason has the instrumental knowledge. Mortius, your transition editing was fantastic. 🤣 Mason, I don't know why I never thought of Geoff's last run as a cadenza before, but that's totally what it is. Next time you take over, you can just edit in clips of yourself playing violin. 😅 It also totally makes sense why you posted on Jen's channel that you thought her video was going to be an April Fool's joke. I totally forgot that was today. Good play, sir, good play.

[@dianeschluter9995]

This was a super fun April Fool!

[@JoshZanders]

I definitely, absolutely remembered what day it was BEFORE watching the video... 😅 That was good fun, and a quality reaction in its own right! Enjoyed the music theory tidbits, even though the part where Geoff moved the key up by a whole step had me screaming "MODULATION" at my phone while you were searching for the terminology! XD

[@MagicMason1000]

THAT'S WHAT THE WORD WAS AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA i can't believe i forgot the word

[@JoshZanders]

@@MagicMason1000 🤣🤣🤣 It's okay, we still love you.

[@CJ_536]

How had you never seen this? Wow. This will be fun. :)

[@CJ_536]

Ok this was brilliant. Thanks, guys!

[@batrn7236]

You did a great job, Mason. It was very entertaining.

[@Ascension721]

When is mason gonna make a reaction channel

[@vvoof2601]

Anyone notice the premier date. I'm watching you Mortius! 👈👀 Edit: I was right, not surprised.

[@laurenkop1019]

Hey Mortius, give us time to read your comments! Take a lesson from Mason, just in case he gets sick…

[@officialmortius]

😅 Timing these things is a delicate art lol

[@chocoholicallemand9096]

OMG that was so funny!

[@aussiebloke609]

I know where you're coming from when you like non-instruments being used in music. I'll never forget the first time I saw Billy Joel live...the intro to _Allentown_ includes a length of bent steel pipe being hit with a hammer.

[@sarram143]

I'M SORRY, HAVE YOU NEVER REACTED TO THIS?! THIS IS GONNA BE FRICKIN AWESOME!