An emotional rollercoaster from EPIC: The Musical! Pro Singer Reaction (& Analysis) | "Just a Man"

[@PeterBarber]

So excited to be back with the 2nd installment from the Troy Saga of EPIC: The Musical! In the coming days/weeks, the next three videos in the series will be coming -- I hope y'all are ready!

[@oceanapearl3503]

If I want to distract you from a crime I commit, all I have to do is play a really cool baseline, got it.

[@Rose-xb5oh]

infanticide ❌ chromatic bassline ✅ jokes aside, as someone who doesn't know much about music theory but has a passing interest, your explanations are letting me appreciate the music on a whole new level and it's fascinating. please continue being so invested in the music, it's highly engaging to watch

[@amberx1273]

lmao the infant was deadass being dropped and bro was SO INVESTED on the baseline😭

[@PeterBarber]

So glad to hear my analysis is helping you appreciate the music -- that's my whole goal!

[@Devilspade]

​@@amberx1273"ight gotta kill a kid, bop"

[@missblue5701]

​@@amberx1273 ITS NOT EVEN FUNNY I BEGAN SOBBING WHILE THIS MAN KEPT YAPPING ABT THE CHROMATIC BASSLINE 😭😭 THE BABY DIDNT EVEN KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING IM CRYING

[@donovan7chaotic38]

So fun fact. The question "When does a man become a monster" probably has two different lines before it in each iteration because the question has two subjects. When does the child become a monster that kills Odysseus later down the line, but also when does Odysseus become a monster if he kills this child.

[@PurposeN.S.]

I'd argue that it's also talking about the baby growing up and becoming the monster he's prophesied to be

[@donovan7chaotic38]

@@PurposeN.S. that's exactly what I said "when does the child become a monster that kills Odysseus later down the line"

[@idkwhattonamethisacc513]

​@@PurposeN.S. might need to learn how to read again bro

[@_marou_]

It also is referenced a bunch on other songs, like Goodbye, Ruthlessness, and monster, as all of those moments are all challenging him whether he'll be a monster that is victorious, rather than a compassionate man who's good, but not great at the things he's doing.

[@SingingSealRiana]

Jorge does that a lot, changing the context to have wildly different meanings to (basically) the same lyrics. Also first I am just a man, is saying. How can you ask this of me, how could I do this, but becomes I am just a man, in the end I will act selfish, I will sacrifice everything to get what I want. The motife of luck rund out where his second in comand cals him out is driven by care and worry, but when it comes back in mutiny, the focus changed from your recklessnes will get you killed to, get us killed

[@CFEntertains]

(since Peter has already recorded the entirety of the Troy saga by now) I am looking forward to your reaction of Open Arms + Saga 2, Sound 2! :)

[@pazitrabinowitz3241]

I think we've now figured out when a man becomes a monster...

[@Dont_drink_six_beers_at-12]

My guy is going to grief stage 5 REVENGE welcome to the team

[@hrsmesn]

casper on his journey to traumatize each and every one of his friends

[@risha-mehanse4082]

Mortius really made a monster 😂😭

[@CRAZYCLOWNTOWN]

Wait until he gets to the 5th saga

[@BlankNametagGaming]

I just love how every time I tune in to a new reaction of Epic there's always a "Mortius recommended this to me" Mortius really doing god's work out here

[@officialmortius]

🫡

[@fireatwilliam]

​@@officialmortius 🫡

[@dustybooks_]

FRRR BRO

[@NordemRay]

The EPIC: the musical missionary

[@lillster9493]

16:25 The way you said, “alright gotta kill the kid” with the sound effect of dropping the kid actually took me out. I think that’s the best reaction I’ve seen to Odysseus possibly dropping the kid. I legit needed a few minutes to stop crying laughing.

[@disableddragonborn]

One time, I was rocking out to Act One, and at the end of this song, completely unintentionally, I said "thunk!" RIGHT WHEN ASTYANAX WAS DROPPED. My dark sense of humor slipped out.

[@Gwyndyn]

​@disableddragonborn My kids and I always say "Yeet!" at that part. 😂

[@disableddragonborn]

@@Gwyndyn It's not even something I'd normally do, especially in this context, because I believe there's nothing more evil than ending a life that hasn't had a chance to be lived, so I hate Odysseus for doing that. I felt so bad when the word came out of my mouth.

[@jonathangaming7510]

Some things to know to enhance you listening expierience in future sagas 1. Almost every character is represented by a specific instrument, odysseuss being an electric/nylon string guitar, athena being piano, penelope as a viola, etc. 2. Listen out for motifs and callbacks to earlier in the music, there are a lot. 3. The melody that you can hear on strings during the fight scene in "The horse and the infant" is known as "the danger is nearing motif" that melody is used several times throughout the musical whenever, well... danger is nearing 4. Jay (the writer) took a lot of inspiration from video games and anime with this musical, so if your familiar with those at all you may be able to notice some inspiration there 5. One recurring musical theme is that mortal characters like odysseus tend to be represented by more orchestral and natural insturments. While god characters like zeus and athena use more electronic elements in therem music. Pretty the more magic that is involved, the more electronic elements you will hear in the music. This concludes my nerdout session

[@JerrBaybEe]

I'm actually excited to see what he is able to catch without knowing all the ins and outs. That's what's exciting for me, when ppl notice something that's there on purpose ❤️‍🔥

[@RndmFndm103]

Don't forget that all supporting choirs are diagetic and actually have to exist in universe, except for ones supporting gods and goddesses because they can just summon supporting vocals on comand.

[@SingingSealRiana]

Also, since his second in command speaks for the crew, voicing their doubts and worries, they are his instrumwnt backing him up

[@arclight117]

As someone has less than 0 music knowledge, the way you explained by humming the base line during the song was a fantastic way to convey that information

[@PeterBarber]

Amazing :]

[@ericknudsen98]

I can't wait for you to get to "Ruthlessness" and "No longer you." Both are my absolute favorites they've made so far.

[@ezracohen6020]

My top three are ruthlessness underworld and Polyphemus so I’m really excited for those

[@SingingSealRiana]

And well, thunderbringer with hia reaction to zeus!

[@amandaoh2025]

And the "when does a man become a monster" having double meaning! Him and the infant!

[@SingingSealRiana]

Also just a man, fist as, how can you ask this of me, later to, wel, I am just a man(human) in the end I will act selfish and sacrifice whatever is needed to get what I want He does thay so often and I love it!! Later with scylla, who she sings about, etc

[@artloveranimation]

the last time I saw several animatics of a musical, was Hamilton. Epic is something special and HUGE

[@zombizone1581]

I’m soo glad more people are reacting to Epic! It’s a pretty untapped market, which is weird because it’s so popular and there’s so much to analyse here: The callbacks/reprises of songs that add so much depth, The Oscarworthy story, the different characters voices and I was hesitant at first to tell you this but it won’t spoil anything and I feel like a guy like you who really analyses would love it: Every main character has a “signature” instrument. Lastly, your last reaction was great, I can’t wait to see this one and welcome an new fan to the fandom!

[@devlin0457]

12:37 casper or mortius may have mentioned this already but by the rules of the musical all human characters backing vocals have to exist as “real” people within the musical which means that those are his soldiers backing him as he makes the decision to kill the infant

[@SingingSealRiana]

Its also a call bqck how in ancient grewk theater there is a choir of men, commenting on what is happening, questioning the moral, add context etc

[@lukestiles3703]

Peter this is why I’m such a huge fan of yours and love your reactions. I have listened to this song a billion and one times and you helped me noticed things in the song that I never heard or thought of. In just the first two songs you opened my eyes to so many new things and I can’t wait to learn new things about the rest of Epic the musical. One note: I think the different inflections on “when does a man become a monster” reflects a double meaning, one referring to Odysseus becoming a monster for what he needs to do and the other refers to him asking himself “this is just an infant but when he does all the things Zeus said he will, he won’t be and an infant anymore he will be a monster”.

[@BeautifulBrittany18]

I only just noticed while watching your videos but my theory is that Odysseus, in this song and the one before, goes through the five stages of grief while questioning whether he will actually kill this infant. Denial, where he says he can’t or won’t kill him. Bargaining, where he asks whether he can raise him, send him away, or keep him in ignorance. Depression, where he talks about how guilty he feels for how many lives he’s already taken. Anger, which is believe would be the section where he asks when the line has been crossed where you go from man to monster. Acceptance, where he says forgive me, I’m just a man. Also, I think that thinking about Penelope and Telemechus when he said “I would trade the world to see my son and wife”was the point where he decided that he would kill the infant to save his family and the ‘when does a man become a monster’ section and saying he is just a man are his way of justifying the act to himself. Anyway, those are my ramblings. Hope to see more of your videos on this awesome musical!

[@SingingSealRiana]

Pretty much yes.

[@giant_pigeon]

This is the dope part about this is that, theres an aspect of interest for anyone whether its story or animatic or music theory or concepts and ideas or philosophy

[@stormsong2667]

GOOD SIR WELCOME TO EPIC THE MUSICAL WE HOPE YOU LIKE IT HERE (Cyclops Saga/the next saga may or may not make you cry more)

[@PeterBarber]

I love a good cry

[@nuclearbirds]

THREE DAYS!?!

[@Sellers6621]

Welp, see you guys Monday lol

[@disableddragonborn]

I just realized how cowardly Odysseus was in this. He's murdering a defenseless infant, but he does it in a way that he could find a way to diminish his responsibility, because all he did was drop Astyanax, and it's not the fall that kills, it's the impact. In Odysseus's twisted mentality, he could reduce his culpability.

[@WittySomething]

I more think it's that he can't bring himself to do it any other way. It's easier to do something awful if you can distance yourself as much as possible from what you're doing. Any other way of doing things would be him directly and actively killing an infant, whereas dropping him means the outcome is the same but it's delayed and not immediate. He doesn't need to see the baby die and can avoid seeing the aftermath so long as he doesn't look at where he dropped him.

[@disableddragonborn]

@@WittySomething Exactly. It's the coward's way of murder. He may have been distressed by Zeus's (in my opinion bullshit) claims, but he still willingly murdered an infant.

[@ClawedAsh]

@@disableddragonborn I mean, Zeus claims were true. By the way Greek Mythology is structured, they are true. If there is a prophesy in Greek Mythology, it will come true. Which means either Odysseus kills an infant, or that infant grows up and kills everyone he knows and loves.

[@Dawn_the_dragon]

Besides even if he did something else, like take the infant or raise it as his son, in the horse and the infant one of Zeus’es lyrics is “the gods will make him know” considering that many gods had been supporting Troy they would of 100% told the child. It’s a cowards move for sure but if there’s one we can learn from this musical is that Odysseus loves his wife and would do anything to save her. By killing the infant by dropping it, he is making it easier for himself to do it. He is still murdering a child but by doing this he is saving who he loves. That’s brave. To do something so horrible to save the lives of your loved ones is brave in a weird twisted sense.

[@disableddragonborn]

@@Dawn_the_dragon Zeus is the king of the gods. He could keep them in line if he tried, he's just lazy. As for the idea that he'd do anything to save her, if that were true, "Get In The Water" would be the last song. You can't kill a god, so the only way to protect Penelope and Telemachus from Poseidon would be to die. His son would be a grown man when Zeus's claims would happen, so he could defend himself, and he's the king of Ithaca, he almost certainly has guards. I don't believe Zeus. He just wanted to continue to be lazy.

[@Zuzu1684]

AHHHH I LOVE WHEN OTHERS REACT TO THIS!! We love this fandom and professionals >>

[@audreyii6750]

I appreciate your piano key/humming to identify the key on camera So Much, knowing nothing abouy music theory, your analysis is SOOOO facinating! You _do_ add so much to the enjoyment/understanding of these songs! Thanks for your reaction!

[@allykat2.015]

Wisdom Saga comes out in 5 day!

[@ShyyGaladriel]

As someone only slightly musically inclined I love hearing the technical parts!

[@riversoblivionstudios]

Yo, when you pointed out that Bass chromatic descent, I was like !! That's what creates that "I'm going to embrace the monster, aren't i?" Mood like its the slow choice to go down the steps, so to speak lmao it rocked me so hard the first time i heard it

[@fireatwilliam]

Im so happy this musical is gaining more popularity!!!

[@dakotaouzts6477]

you're going to love the next sagas they're all so good

[@falperio05]

that humming on the basse was so satisfactory and added so mucho its amazing xd

[@michaellavella2377]

Looking forward to seeing your reactions to these songs. A friend turned me on to it and I've been enjoying it a lot. You've drawn my attention to more complexities than I noticed in the first song by myself and can't wait for you to cover my favorite songs from it so I can get more from them. Keep on making great videos.

[@keyjerant7917]

This song is one of my favorites!!! ❤ It really conveys feeling. I just saw your reaction to horse and the infant and love your style of analysis!

[@Lilghost1412]

Great Reaction!

[@nicked_fenyx]

I love seeing your take on this. Side note: I just showed this entire musical - or what's been released so far - to my voice lovin' mama (Master's in vocal performance, PhD in voice science) last night. She really enjoyed it. I also showed her some of The Bass Gang's music, and she was impressed. She's seen your content before, Peter, and appreciates you sharing the perspective of someone with high level training to help those who may be interested learn more about the technical side of singing and performing. So great job, man! Love your work.

[@catkat9901]

I love your reactions so much! It's one of the only places my AP Music Theory class becomes useful xD

[@rhov-anion]

16:29 - Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay Gigi animating for Peter would be.... EPIC!!!! (I'll see myself out.)

[@brentpace2239]

The notes in “become a monster” give me Falling In Reverse Reimagined vibes.

[@spikereye4962]

i love how you explain the music and the fact you payed attention to the artwork as well!

[@kaede02mangaka-58]

Morthius and Casper be like WATCH THIS!!!! hahaha I hoe you love the full musical

[@artthounasty5877]

Fun fact, lot of the characters have their own instruments that represent them. For example Odysseus' instrument is guitar, the kind of which depends of context. Eurylochus is always accompanied by the voices of their crew mates, Polites has higher pitched tones, and happy sounding playful instrument like kalimba and marimba, Athena's instrument in piano, Poseidon trumpet and brass Section etc.

[@tomasarte]

absolutely love the epic reactions! as a singer myself love me a music theory break down, thank you for reacting

[@cobusvanderlinde6871]

7:30 I actually like basslines that walk down chromatically more than ones that move diatonically. Favourite example is MimigaTown from the Cave Story soundtrack. 14:09 oh nevermind you get it... a chromatic walkdown in the bass is awesome!

[@kyleswayze668]

I can't wait till Peter goes into the ocean saga

[@sofialu226]

Love your way of explaining your musical Analysis!!!

[@RayGainbows]

Yah dude, Ive never even heard of your channel before your first Epic vid. And i was amazed to hear things for the first time despite listening to them 50+ times now. even showed my mom the vid

[@kurgy]

ah, watching these kinds of videos make me miss singing so much

[@lizlilliman3644]

So glad your enjoy epic. Be prepared to have all the emotions you can think of. Its a fantastic musical and really soes deawrve all the attention ot is getting

[@VirginiaBarber-nv9hj]

Loved your analysis. Thank you. 🥰

[@tortik7744]

oh it's amazing, thk you for this video ❤️‍🩹

[@dianneantos480]

Watching yours now that I have watched Jens! Following her and then you.

[@walrusesarecute1]

great reaction!

[@kathymchugh689]

So good

[@kathymchugh689]

❤

[@DarkestNova556]

Has anyone given him the list of songs to listen to in order yet?

[@mitchellb4551]

I think his editor has that covered. said editor is running the series for 1 and arguably 2 other channels so he knows what he is doing.

[@killuahunter927]

We need faouzia reaction immediately 😢

[@Alexsism]

Real question tho when does really a man become a monster Trivia time A -A witch B -A cyclops killing your best friend C -A god killing your men D - all of the above plus more things to deal about

[@VictoriaStarratt]

D

[@SingingSealRiana]

The moment he dropped the baby, thats the worst he did but also the reason he does the others, he needs to do whatever it takes to come home, or he would have killed the babe in wane, to justify that atrocity he does the others, he escalates further and further cause with little struggle, cause he did already the worst

[@DougHanson2769]

Gorgeous

[@charleyf199]

MORTIUS RECOMMENDED IT???

[@СветаТрофимова-о3б]

Мне очень понравилось 🤗🤗🤗

[@Pimcelle]

Did you see the Horse and the Infant from www.youtube.com/@AliMarArt ???? It's amazing, incredible, beautiful and full of details.

[@fizz2867]

Fun Fact: All voices in this musical are diegetic voices (meaning they come from actual characters singing), except for when a god is singing then they can summon a choir at will when they want to. Meaning at the end of this song, Odysseus's own men were singing about when a man becomes a monster while watching him drop this child

[@officialmortius]

Finally got around to watching this one, I LOVE the instrumental breakdown!!!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us, I love that we’re all tackling it from such different angles :)

[@Wheelwalker8]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@rhov-anion]

You really started something, Mortius.

[@WittySomething]

When you get to the Cyclops Saga, I suggest watching Mircsy's animatics for Polyphemus and Survive, especially the latter. Also AnniFlamme's animatic for Ruthlessness when you get to the Ocean Saga is 🤌, tho Gigi's version is good too. And Gigi's animatic for Keep Your Friends Close is a really good one. Just like Mircsy's for Polyphemus and Survive lead into each other, Gigi's version of Keep Your Friends Close and Ruthlessness go together.

[@Ekami-chan]

Just a man is so amazing...Wolfy's first animation of it just makes me cry so much.

[@cindygrape]

I love crying and learning at the same time! This song gets me everytime! I've watched multiple ppl react to Epic and I love that everyone has different approach! It's so interesting and educational

[@Eileen_in_Vegas]

Love your R&As!! Love the technical breakdown of the music!

[@rachaelhudson219]

I legitimately didn't even hear the choir until you pointed it out several times, and now i hear it every time i listen to it, it's fascinating

[@mindywiese7610]

Animation, voice, and story, so touching and amazing

[@ArchangelSef]

8:50 understandable cause it’s really good 😂 9:00 this beautiful as heck

[@Sanchez3Ds]

Im curious, you and The Bass Gang have made covers of a variety of different Billie Eilish songs, but I’ve never seen a first time reaction and/or analysis over songs of hers. It would be super awesome if you checked out some songs from her new album like The Greatest or Blue :)

[@Devilspade]

DUDE "aight, gotta kill a kid. *blop*" fucking killed me, Figuratively* you know...cause I'm not a kid.....I've kill-

[@Rei-qs7xr]

So most of my musical theory is based in instruments, this is the second vid from you that I have watched and I'm learning so much! Thank you for going that extra depth

[@MissaMitchell]

Mason! Hi! 👋 I thought this editing looked familiar.

[@XanderHarris1023]

Mason, how many channels do you edit for? This is the 3rd or 4th channel I've seen where they are yelling at you to throw some graphics up.

[@Majoranimefan123]

Thank you so much for doing the vocal exercises/ examples! I sang choir from pre-k til my final year of high school, and love hearing others natural ranges and sounds! You have such a beautiful bass or even baritone sound!!! ❤❤❤❤ thank you for the content, the lovely and fluid educational bits, while also keeping an amazing flow to the music and video itself. I just found you through the epic reactions but plan on binging everything you make and have made!

[@emilylagle3324]

Oh my gods, as someone who's always had issue with understanding sight reading and putting it into sound (I can tone match really well by hearing, but if you told me to sight read and sing it back, I'd struggle) it's great to actually listen to someone break it down. Also, maybe you saw my falsetto comment (or others) but thank you so much for that explanation when you were talking about it at the beginning, I can only assume that the closest thing for women is whistle tones since our vocal range is naturally higher than men.

[@terezastastna941]

❤

[@DougHanson2769]

Key of F. F A C Inverted A C F 2nd Inversion C F A The Tonic Note moves within the triad. 6 6 4 C major chord is the Dominant of F MAJOR I think

[@sateentuoksu]

You already know, what happens tomorrow..? kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXmmko2jft-lZtEsi=XO6OVtBsaKoysg3p (Hint of 5 points: endless scent of a wish at night)

[@DougHanson2769]

You’re right about the pizzicato and his falsetto. It is emotional.

[@beckenfuggle644]

Loving this series so far! Looking so forward to your reactions to the whole thing

[@ximecarrasco5421]

pleaseeeee react to ori and the blind forest light of nibel

[@DougHanson2769]

Thank you

[@NicholeTallent]

❤

[@sarahkinsey5434]

I would love to see reactions to Team Starkid musicals!

[@SingingSealRiana]

Which one?

[@sarahkinsey5434]

@@SingingSealRiana any of them but I think Twisted is the most like a Broadway show

[@malenejensen02]

Dont get me wrong I love your reaction to the music, but I would like a little more commenting on the Lyrics… Im exited for you to react to the last song released, thats just gonna be such a long wait! Well… Ill find something to do… While I wait. WEEKS?!

[@Kamarovsky_KCM]

Mortius and Casper Fox , who he mentioned as the ones recommending him the series, have series of their own reacting to EPIC, and there they focus much more on the lyrical/story side ot things, so if you prefer those, you can watch theirs, while I assume Peter's will focus more on the music itself.

[@malenejensen02]

Dont you think I have already watched their videos?! 😂 Im watching EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING EPIC related!!!

[@Kamarovsky_KCM]

@@malenejensen02 Haha completely understandable, as I'm doing the exact same. But I think it's really cool that Peter is focusing on a completely different aspect to other reactors, as if he didn't it would essentially be nothing too informative for those who have seen the others, while with his current strategy, his vids bring something new to us Epic nerds

[@margaretjoy_stucky]

you arent ready for whats coming