Bass Singer REACTION & ANALYSIS - Geoff Castellucci | Sixteen Tons

[@PeterBarber]

Sixteen tons, and whadya get? Another Pit Viper and deeper in depth (vocally). Hope you guys enjoyed my analysis of this absolute bass banger by Geoff -- I can't get enough of these covers and I know you feel the same 💥 ALSO, one of my Patrons kindly alerted me that this song is an ode to coal miners, not railway workers like I said in the video, and it originated with Tennessee Ernie Ford in the 50s -- historical context is extremely important, so feel free to point things like this out to me when I make a mistake!

[@pacificcoastpiper3949]

You have a wonderful singing voice

[@RedRoseSeptember22]

Please react to "hoist the colors" by MALINDA, Bobby Bass, Lauren Paley and Colm Guinness :) ♥

[@radharani816]

So nice sir🙏❤

[@chrisd7047]

Ernie Ford's version is also a cover. It was written by Merle Travis and recorded in the late 1940s. Ford just had the big hit with it (and deservedly so). The historical context of this song is as dark as a coal mine. The history involves the formation of the first truly powerful labor unions in the US, veritable slavery or indentured servitude, abysmal working conditions, Pinkertons, assassinations, extra-judicial murders... It's quite the sordid tale.

[@meganmurdock9107]

Geoff shows homage to TEF with the snapping. When TEF recorded the song they asked him what tempo he wanted to sing. So he started snapping his fingers.

[@oogabhooga7369]

"he is literally a bass instrument" XDDDD Geoff isnt human I swear.

[@TheArc6]

10:15 someone dropped 16 tons down the mineshaft and now we have a flat miner I'll see myself out

[@elizabethcarroll8012]

I was going to make this very pun, you beat me to it!!

[@mandiez6373]

Geoff's vocals in 'Oogie Boogie's Song' and 'Little Mermaid Medley', from his group Voiceplay, are very awesome. I think you'd enjoy them😄

[@caiovinicius5204]

Pretty sure he already saw the two

[@lespetits3628]

He's Oogie Boogie's Song range is just phenomenal

[@bsmith5970]

When Tennessee Ernie Ford recorded this song, the band leader asked him to snap the tempo for them. The snapping was so good it was incorporated into his whole rendition. It gave the song a signature sound that Geoff kept to great effect here. Ford was a baritone (with some bass range) when he recorded this song, and it made his career. His drinking and smoking, along with age, changed him to a bass- baritone. The song was written in 1946, so Ford's version, which made it famous, was also a cover.

[@gingw7333]

Tennessee Ernie Ford was one of my absolute favorite singers in the early 60s. His version of Sixteen Tons will forever be my favorite.

[@Broomrider1492]

This is the one that got me hooked and I fell down the Geoff and VoicePlay rabbit hole. I loved this song growing up when Tennessee Ernie Ford sang it on his show. Ernie would say "Bless your Pea Pickin Heart Geoff". Here I go showing my age again. lol

[@mastermonster195able]

I like the "Gun Show" comment!

[@mrsdaywalker3005]

Same!

[@JamesOKeefe-US]

Same!

[@droid8472]

His version of blackbird is something else as well would love to see your reaction to it. His first video that was done kind of this way was bear necessities

[@risperdude]

Blackbird is what sold me on Geoff, and boosted me as a VP stan.

[@tmfyi8048]

The E1 at the end of blackbird is crazy

[@DaisyGray74]

The thing I like most about his solo stuff is that he does his own backing vocals. It really showcases his insane range. He goes down in the bowels of the earth and then backing vocals that shoot up several octaves. He’s wonderful. Great production in this vid too. Another great reaction from you as well! 💪🔥😍

[@amyhamaker7803]

As a pianist, I so feel the comment “the keys of F sharp minor and A flat minor both suck.” 😂

[@raissacoelho2282]

I LOVE his reaction at 13:07 , at the end of the song, and after two really most low Geoff's notes!! It's so espontaneous, and rich, and full of joy and admiration. I've watched this video so many times, and Peter's reaction at this specific part makes me smile every time. He couldn't believe quite what he was hearing. I always repeat it over and over again, cause his reaction is like a mirror of mine. Love Geoff Castelucci's voice. ❤

[@lyndora33864]

This song was my introduction to Geoff and VoicePlay. That's a reason it's a favorite of mine.

[@spkerstiens]

Coal mining not railroad working. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixteen_Tons

[@lukeroe3434]

He commented under the vid saying all the low notes were chest!👀, straight out viper. He also hits a brief F#1 on ‘Step a side’

[@alexwalker8440]

No wonder this video has 5M+ views! 🔥🎶 Ok, you just stole my line as I was writing it! 🤣 Before this, he did the Headless Horseman, Blackbird, Bare Necessities, High and Dry. Feel free to analyze any or all of them! Also, from VoicePlay, The Phantom of the Opera, Trapped, and so many more! Thanks for this one, Peter!!

[@ericbaesler7204]

At least one million are mine....

[@ErynIstar]

A thing I like about your reaction/analysis videos is that I can literally just sit here and watch a whole 17 minute video and not even realize that much time has passed. Like I'm never getting an urge to jump forward. You do a great job Peter.

[@oneday4141]

I'm digging the Jake Peralta-esque "Cool Cool Cool" at 10:24

[@thatonetallguy1233]

One of my favorite base songs is Home Free’s cover of Hillbilly Bone. Tim is just super low the whole time and Adam Chance is killing the baseline for the whole song

[@richardgrace5043]

Just learned of an old but good Tim Foust song.... which proves nobody on this earth should have the range he does... his cover of "I can't help falling in love with you"... is so crisp and smooth and beautiful it makes you want to cry

[@markhilliard4037]

Peter, so hilarious and wonderful to hear you humm in same notes Geoff is singing.....so perfect and love your allusions to Thurl Ravenscroft's work too...classy! more please

[@busterSJG]

Geoff is amazing. I’d also recommend Dan Vasc who’s a rock style singer and the songs I’d recommend most is I’ll make a man out of you and toss a coin to your Witcher, then I’d also recommend the Tennors who wants to live forever. Also Jonathan Young Hellfire and be prepared. They’re not bass singers but still amazing.

[@jmbmusic1]

4:26 I know a few people already pointed this out but these weren’t subs. It‘s a Bass instrument playing in the background.

[@lisaechols2067]

If I commented on all your videos I’d never get anything else accomplished during the day! I’m a music lover, and I love the “science” you share in your breakdowns of the music videos you “react to”/review. Keep ‘em comin’!

[@coreymoore1443]

Ab minor: 7 flats. G# minor: 5 sharps. You can always tell which is easier to write because incidentals in enharmonic keys always add up to 12. Also, making it minor: subtract 3 (where sharps are positive numbers and flats are negative). Ab is 4 flats, so minor is 7 flats. G is one sharp; so G minor is 2 flats.

[@mikeyphotos5290]

Great reaction. What I love so much about this is his effortless drop to the low notes in the middle of a line, without hesitation, like he’s not even trying, but it’s difficult to do.

[@ChrisHaar]

Geoff has a couple good drops in Saddle Up as well.

[@jasonmac8677]

New sub here. As a guy with a speaking and singing voice that also firmly sits in the bass range (I wouldn't dare to refer to myself as an actual BASS singer, as I have NO training or experience singing professionally) I really dig your reactions and in-depth analysis. Consise, insightful, knowledgeable, and to the point. You have a perspective on other bass singers that, no intended offense to anyone at all, most of the reactors here on KZbin do not have. I've got a suggestion for you, in case you haven't watched it already. Look up Geoff's cover of The Headless Horseman. 😉

[@eriklind8489]

I have always liked this song....being a bass lover....and Geoff completely does it justice....I love how it is arranged, and the video aspects...especially the camera shake when "they" hit the hammers. I thought it was impressive the first time I heard it, and then I found out that he did it all in chest voice......impressed even more. Love what you are doing...keep up the good work.....I love to hear your thoughts about these pieces.

[@Galen876]

Geoff is so cool. He's got an incredible voice, and makes me just a bit jealous as an amateur bass. Also I think it would be funny to see him interact with Matt Mercer

[@pamkowaski1608]

Geoff did an amazing job with this, and it's awesome!!!

[@realistkeinfantast9228]

You and Geoff together in a nice Arrangment. I think is a real Deal.

[@terryhopkins1466]

Really enjoy your view from the basement, so to speak. Love the song and you added to my understanding. Just a note. "Sixteen Tons" is a song about coal mining, not Railroads. You might be thinking about "The ballad of John Henry." He was "a steal driving man" trying to compete with a steam powered sledge.

[@roryfollinpiano2161]

the F#1 subs in the backing aren’t Geoff, they’re a sample he found when making the backing mix. in terms of his singing, he’s said he didn’t use any subs in the song

[@aechhastracks9048]

Yeh thank you I was waiting for this.. I highly recommend Geoff Headless horseman

[@saffronmeadow2469]

Now try 'Blackbird'. Multiple Geoffs and a piano. Fabulous

[@StylezOnline]

So fun fast for anyone listening to this song, there are no Subharmonics or Growls in this song… everything is pure chest so at 4:14 for example, those are chest notes 😳😳

[@CarlTSpeak]

I can sing a low A in chest but hearing you and Geoff singing it reminds me that I'm a bass-baritone. I have most of the range but certainly not the timbre. Respect!

[@CurtisMontague]

I'm gonna keep this simple: Absolutely enjoying your reactions to the max. Perfect combination of sharing your knowledge, context of the song, and enthusiasm for what you do. Keep 'em coming. (Especially Pentatonix, please!)

[@brd24gor]

No subharmonics! He said in one of his other videos this is all chest.

[@johndeeregreen4592]

Correct, there are no subharmonics in the main vocals. However, if you know what to listen for, you can hear he added a subharmonic, vocal bassline that doubles the standup bass note-for-note.

[@lkayh]

Great reaction!! So when are we going to hear more from The Bass Gang?? 😎

[@janegreene2838]

Geoff has made this better than the original and any other version, in my estimation.

[@tracyz9155]

Thanks for your commentary and review as well as your reaction. I enjoy learning more musically with the videos

[@jacobmcknight3458]

I think the mayday cover by homefree is so good because you get to hear the great top range of Tim and the surprising low range of Adam. Worth the listen.

[@raissacoelho2282]

Your reaction at the end is priceless! 😂🎉❤ Love your videos, Peter.

[@cowboy1165]

I enjoy your breakdowns and scrutiny on the bass singers of the Acapulco groups as well as the harmonies and other textures. Your reservations are well deserved. New sub.

[@mephitismephitis6825]

When Geoff brings in the The Strawboss voice, I smile because, to me, it is EXACTLY the sound of Thurl Ravenscroft.

[@AndieO]

Your reviews make me smile. Thank you.

[@jackkomorowski2722]

This is Geoff all the way. He is singing every part you hear.

[@maryhuhnke8496]

Enjoyed your Full reaction/analysis 👌

[@UndeniedPunisher]

Great quality video/audio, lots of personality, and thorough explanations!

[@BloodPlusPwn]

I think when someone can make an excellent composition simply it goes to show just how skilled they are at composing, which I think is one of Geoff's greatest strengths (despite his incredible voice haha). Virtually any competent composer can make something at least moderately interesting with enough layers of stuff, but Geoff has proven time and again that he's able to keep you into it no matter what level of complexity he uses. For some trivia, this song was originally done by Merle Travis based on a letter he received from his brother who wrote "you load sixteen tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt", who was a coal miner. Tennessee Ernie Ford then did what is probably the most iconic version of the song. My family comes from coal mining way back into the 19th century, it was a very hard - and often very short - life. They had to world hours upon hours of back breaking labor just to afford food, breathing in toxic fumes and dust that would make sure many of them didn't live too long. Fortunately, it's a life that a very small amount of people now have to worry about, but it's nice to think about them now and then, since they suffer and die to keep the lights on.

[@McGhinch]

In a biography I read a long time ago that Merle Travis had been asked to record a folk song album by Capitol records. Travis denied knowing any Kentucky folk songs. Capitol A&R just said: "Write some." When he recorded these songs, Merle gave a spoken introduction to the songs, giving them the aura of being old traditional songs. The first recording is here on KZbin: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5irdKBvhs-paqs

[@chrishubbard64]

"What is he slamming that whole time?" "Umm, its a pickaxe" /starts hitting keys "....Oh. Never mind then."

[@yoclark2723]

I remember Tennessee Ernie Ford singing it back in the early 60s. I'm pretty sure he did it in a higher key. Geoff is the beast! Oh, 16 tons of #9 coal it's a coal mining song. Still simple and still amazing. Great reaction!

[@logannigh1959]

Love your reaction at the end where you pull back realizing he's about to go lower

[@figglies]

I love the music but watching you enjoying it makes me enjoy it even more. XD

[@juan-cd5ov]

You should definitely react to Colm Mcguinness hoist the colours!

[@fionavarian9151]

I would LOVE to hear you do a cover or version of this yourself (please) 😁👌🤞👍

[@TracyH13]

I love your reactions to Geoff 🎶 💜 🎶

[@melissastruxness512]

Love the original love this. So so good

[@christinestromberg4057]

Blackbird is another one to listen to. And Country roads, different but pretty sensational. Really enjoy your reaction, especially as they are knowledgeable, as regard the voice anyway. But this is a song written by Merle Travis about a coal miner, based on life in mines in Kentucky,, and the fact that everything they bought was from the comany's own store, and to which they were constantly in debt to. "Another day older and deeper in debt" came from a letter written by Travis's brother John. Another line came from their father, a coal miner, who would say: "I can't afford to die. I owe my soul to the company store.

[@amanda13b12]

Great reaction, I'd love to see a reaction to VoicePlay My Mother Told Me and Trapped. Also Pentatonix Sound of Silence and Bohemian Rhapsody. I think you will enjoy Rains of Castamere and Toss a Coin by Dan Vasc. Also Hands of Gold & Rains of Castamere Peter Hollens.

[@trixiebella]

Great reaction Peter. Really enjoying seeing your videos.

[@anchorskid]

Although pickaxes are sometimes used by railroad crews, this song is about coal mining - #9 coal, which was used for heating.

[@bjspeck4337]

When I was very young my Dad had an album byTennessee Ernie Ford and my 8th grade Am History teached taught us about what the miners had to put up with, never getting a paycheck, just scrip that could only be used in stores, doctors, rental houses that the owners owned. If they ran out of scrip, they had to write out IOUs. It wasn't until the 50s that this was outlawed.

[@sophie9419]

There was an awesome album done by a coal miner choral group. Super hard to get ahold of unfortunately, you have to literally order their cd, but it has the best version of this song in my opinion, as well as some other gems. My favorite is called Dust Through the Air. The album is called Diamonds in the Rough by the Men of the Deeps.

[@artchic1984]

This is definitely one of my top favorites of his.

[@jimjacobs322]

I would love to see your reaction to Geoff doing Blackbird

[@stevebismarck5878]

You can see one his vocal strategies for low range extension quite clearly at 9:55 on the line "step aside." Castellucci is able to drop his larynx into an unusually low position, which creates more vertical space and bass resonance in the pharynx. The Italians call this the "vomitare reflex" because it what happens when you throw up: your larynx drops and your pharynx dilates to make room for the vomitus coming up. This is a mostly subconscious muscular reflex, but some singers manage to bring it under conscious control.

[@RobertFerney]

Thanks again for an excellent analysis.

[@Goldenhawk583]

Great reaction, and Geoff has an exeptional voice.. Bit there is one more thing about this song, and thats the lyrics. This song has a message, it was written to point out the injustice that was done to the coalminers, where they got "credits" for a salary, that could only be used in the Companies store. The company owned their houses, the store, and the mine, rent and food was not cheap.. They had a 16 ton contract, and when sakary was paid, rent and credit was deducted, they never had anything left... and far too many dies , either in the mines, or from blacklung later on.

[@agentcorba]

Geoff said that everything in this song is in chest voice!!!

[@nightmared4103]

that's cap, no jk, except for the background subs

[@OceanMan88]

@@nightmared4103 There weren’t any subs in the background, it was actually a bass instrument, not his voice haha

[@johndeeregreen4592]

@@OceanMan88, there are subharmonics doubling the standup bass. It's not easy to hear, but when you play bass and are a bass singer, it becomes obvious what is going on. However, no, there are no subharmonics used in the main vocals; that part is true.

[@OceanMan88]

@@johndeeregreen4592 I definitely hear something like that, but I want to trust Geoff when he says he used chest voice only for this song :)

[@johndeeregreen4592]

@@OceanMan88, and some THICK chest notes I wish I could hit. His weight at G#1 is what mine is at B1... and I normally have the lowest voice in the room, lol.

[@blueckaym]

This is Geoff's best song that I know. He tends to embellish and slide to much imho, which often counters the effects of being able to sing (effortlessly!) that low, but in this song, he's in full control and quite strict, so he gives the rough macho vibe that this song should give.

[@acsj78]

Love the ending!!!!❤❤

[@GrouchyOldBear7]

Thanks for the video. I enjoyed it.

[@kalu6129]

Nice video react !! I like your point of vue about this Geoff's cover. Did you ever hear his cover of " Oogie Boogie's Song" ? I really think you could enjoy it.

[@MrNiccholas]

I would REALLY love to hear your reaction to Tomi P. Amazing Grace. In my opinion, it's one of the best low bass performances on the internet. In it, Tomi is singing a solo accapela line and drops down into the subharmonic range. It was so clean and impressively exposed!

[@DetailBearOn]

Guy, with this song, it has to be A flat miner. 😄

[@dalleneldredge6923]

This Bass after watching Geoff: Imma call myself a baritone now.

[@martinhafner2201]

This song, by another group in a much grittier style, was used in the opening scene in "Joe Versus The Volcano" as Joe walks into work at a company that is a mashup of everybody's worst jobs.

[@johnforsyth7987]

Thank you so much for your detailed reaction to this song. Please consider reacting to Tennessee Ernie Ford performing this song. I grew up listening to Mr. Ford, Jimmy Dean and Johnny Cash. I would love to hear your reaction to men that I listened to when I was young.

[@klcpca]

PLEASE react to Avi Kaplan's "Change on the Rise" .... you'll love it!!!!

[@vdimasteremeritus]

You need to do an entire segment on Thurl Ravenscroft. “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch” - and the original voice of Tony the Tiger.

[@jragsdale23]

I love the I Love You, Man reference.

[@samuellll17]

finally my wish has come true😂❤

[@russellharkins6847]

Dude, I don't own a pare of pit vipers, but I grabbed my blue tinted (dollar store) sunnies and savored the moment with ya. I've seen this video at least ten times on my own. SO GOOD!!

[@christyqualls5464]

I love the whole "Pit Viper" thing.

[@baybreeze82]

Fields and Pier by Avriel & the sequoias is a great show of Avi's range. Definitely worth checking out.

[@xXNunduXx]

Definitely!

[@bsmith5970]

I love the timbre of Avi's voice.

[@nikkibanning176]

Agreed, love all his songs, but the tone on time match with the cello slays me...not to mention the beautiful violins in the background. Love it

[@baybreeze82]

@@nikkibanning176 that's the part that snagged me.

[@nikkibanning176]

@@baybreeze82 😁we have good taste lol

[@Awsomegamer14837]

I feel like a soprano when he sings

[@salvadorlopez8775]

They have the same ⌚!!

[@newfiescreech7328]

The irony of the key change to A flat minor is not lost on me

[@jessicanajera290]

I'm interested in seeing your reaction to Dimash. Love is Like a Dream and also Stranger performances have very low octaves. BTW I could listen to your voice all day, love your reactions!🔥🔥

[@margiestevens2384]

Thanks!

[@sherryarflin726]

This was fantastic.

[@strangernightfire9618]

It is a coal mining song by Merle Travis, why he is holding a pickaxe it is in fact full of ex;plicit references to digging coal. Not one word about railroads in that song.

[@luscao8444]

11:33 just casually hits an Ab1, beast!

[@camctrail]

In the subtitles, he mentions a super dramatic bend to an F#1 chest at the 12:53 mark of this video :) in case you were just looking to hand him a 3rd Pit Viper

[@kevinnilsson6571]

Geoff doing Big John is great also.

[@jessicacifelli5496]

You should look for the Voice Play/ Home Free collaboration "Survivor: Zombie Edition. It kind of shows a great contrast/ comparison between the two groups and it's just a fun song and video. I think you would enjoy it!

[@themusicarchive6671]

As you corrected in your description, coal mine (16 tons of #9 coal) not railroad. Also, not American folk song (yet). It was written by Merle Travis. And while Tennessee Ernie Ford's version might be one of the most well known, it got covered by lots of folks including Johnny Cash.

[@annamaysdaddy]

The song is about coal miners and the fact that a lot of coal companies had stores where the miners could buy food tools and other things the purchases would often be on credit from the company and how in doing so the miner owes the company more and more money on a daily basis hence the lyrics “another day older and deeper in debt”! The wages were low on purpose to keep the miner in debt for life! This song is so deep as far as how their lives were before unions!

[@lanariley3613]

I think one of his similar to this arrangement was Blackbird.