🎃 Blind Reaction DOUBLE FEATURE!! Geoff Castellucci - "The Headless Horseman" and "Monster Mash" 🎃

[@DTA-Music]

Just a small in-joke: the three backup heads were all singing in the lighter, higher-pitched part of his range that's referred to as a singer's 'head voice.'

[@vdoyne]

Geoff has a five octave range (three octaves in full chest voice). He layers his voice and does all of the instrumentation on his solo videos. Sometimes if the song calls for it there is only a single Geoff onscreen, but you can still his backup vocals. Geoff's lovely wife, Kathy, makes a cameo in this one ("Monster Mash"). Yes, Geoff does his own video editing, arranging, planning the video...just read the video description credits!

[@olddog330]

The dance moves are based on the poses by classic cinema monsters Frankenstein, Wolfman, Dracula, and the Mummy. There was an eponymous 1995 motion picture featuring this song.

[@janetdw]

I remember the Headless Horseman from the Disney short Mr. Toad and Sleepy Hollow where there were two specials in one. Bing Crosby sang that in the video, but Thurl Ravenscroft on the LP. Geoff really liked to emulate Thurl Ravenscroft when appropriate. And as old as I am, I watched it on the Wonderful World of Disney and I’m pretty sure it was still in black-and-white. I had the 45 to the Monster Mash! As a sidenote, the dance they are doing is the Frankenstein Monster strangling someone, the Wolfman slashing, Dracula raising his cape and the mummy in his wrappings (who apparently had the night off). Geoff and his wife Kathy performed the roles of the Frankenstein monster and the bride of Frankenstein in the Beetlejuice Rock n Roll Graveyard Revue at Universal Studios for about 10 years while they were still dating. They still use the same makeup man (Rock Underwood) when they need more elaborate makeup, and he still does Universal’s Horror Nights every year. Rick also did the phenomenal makeup of their Halloween release for this year: MJ’s Thriller.

[@GHmorenos]

Ichabod and Mr Toad 😊

[@vdoyne]

"The Headless Horseman" was Geoff's first Halloween release on his solo channel after he started doing solo music videos. He and his wife, Kathy, filmed it at his parent's house. He's singing it similarly to the way that Thurl Ravenscroft did (Geoff's done a bunch of Thurl's songs to date...including a short for this year for Halloween). Geoff does his own video editing...another impressive skill.

[@markbelcher2972]

I’ve got news for you, young lady…. Both of these songs were from WAY before you were born. I’m 59 and I remember them both from my elementary school days. We learned “The Headless Horseman” in music class, and I remember there being a skating dance to “Monster Mash” at a birthday party I went to at the roller rink in about 3rd grade. “The Headless Horseman” was from 1949 and “Monster Mash” from 1962. Funny how great classics get dusted off and younger folks don’t realize just how old they are. Great to see your reactions back again!

[@rcinsley]

Music with a holiday theme (mainly Halloween and Christmas) ages very slowly. They're only played for a short time each year, so maybe their age works like "dog years"? I hope she gets requests for a few of the Christmas classics this year.

[@Sembazuru]

I think she misspoke at first. She goes on to entreat current artists to create Halloween songs because she doesn't know of any Halloween songs written _after_ her birth.

[@DennisKovacich]

You think the dancing is incredible because it’s in sync? He also did the dancing slower, and sped up the playback to get that jerky effect. And yes, she was there the whole time. You can see her leg shiver when he hits the really low notes.

[@bjspeck4337]

Monster Mash was the first music I heard on KZbin and this song went back about 60 yrs when Bobby Pickett did this on the radio. I was delighted to hear it again. And what else can you say about the Headless Horseman. Thanks for doing both. Kathy is Geoff's wife, also the daughter of his choir director in high school. They both performed at Disney and eventually married. Shortly thereafter she began to lose her hearing. (You can look up Geoff and Kathy's video on that). She has since become the production manager of both Geoff's solos and VoicePlay's videos. A talented lady. Check out VoicePlay's version of Golden Hour where she plays the toymaker.

[@alanmacvean2053]

Mr. Castellucci is a remarkable entertainer , he does everything so well , every thing he produces is truly awesome !

[@rcinsley]

Thanks, J! I'm glad you held these until Halloween Day! Geoff (your pronunciation was perfect) has given us Halloween-themed videos each year...and they're always creative and fun! He's incredibly talented and should produce a lot of high quality music and entertainment for many years. The point you made about "they don't make 'em like they used to" comes up a lot...and you're right. New Halloween-themed songs are rare. Classics like "Monster Mash", "Thriller", "Ghostbusters", and "The Headless Horseman" don't come along very often! Corker X

[@ilonadever8249]

Everything you said, and he's easy on the eyes..... Voiceplay used to tour extensively until Covid shut the world down. It was then that Geoff started doing solo work. He did Bare Necessities, then thought, Dang, now I have to do something else. He is wonderful!!!

[@rcinsley]

Actually, VP was out of the country working on one or more cruise ships when the COVID lockdowns started. If memory serves, it took them quite a while to get back to Florida and through the quarantine imposed on returning ships.

[@janetdw]

@@rcinsley On one of the channels, perhaps on Huldra’s channel, there is video of them when they’re disembarking and they look like hell. I have never seen them look so weary and scruffy and they were very happy to be home. If I can ever find the clip I’ll come back and edit this and attach it.

[@Starrynightdiner]

Geoff’s backup singers (clones) have names. There are four of them although you only see three here. Goff (the smart one), Jeoph (the best singer, gets the most solos), Jeff (the funny one, my favorite), and Daryl (the cool one)❤❤❤

[@rodconner9079]

VP is one thing -- Geoff is another!!! Geoff has worked so hard ... and WOW!!! (for both VP and his own channel) Be Safe

[@jackyfriedman1963]

Yes. Geoff's wife Kathy was there the whole time. She is also Production Manager for both Geoff and Voiceplay.

[@mjj29]

Also she twitches whenever he does a low note

[@glowormrdr6183]

In case you see this; Geoff's Monster Mash clones are Dracula, werewolf in the middle, Frankenstein's monster on the right. And main Geoff is mad scientist Dr. Frankenstein.

[@flowersafterrainfall]

thank you 🙂

[@paulkinney7129]

You have to check out his other videos! My favorites are “Folsom Prison” and his new “Carol of the Bells” that garnered 1 million views in 12 right on Christmas Eve! His biggest vocal performance are in the following “I see Fire” and “Shenandoah” Have fun because he’s literally one of the most talented people on earth and he’s got so many amazing songs and more to come!!!

[@thomasfarr7934]

He also sings the high parts! His range is incredible! For pure humor, try Geoff's Way Down!

[@markbelcher2972]

By the way, VoicePlay has several great Halloween songs from “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” which may not be older than you.

[@martymiller9802]

Cool hat. Welcome to the Geoff rabbit hole … it’s a journey worth taking.

[@Badger77722]

Sleep deprived and highly caffeinated! The best (worst) of both worlds! FYI: The names listed at the end of Geoff's videos are the top two tiers of his Patrons, not people who helped create the videos. For those names, in Geoff's (or VoicePlay's) videos check out the description box - everyone will be listed. But for Geoff's videos especially, the "cast and crew" are almost exclusively Geoff and his wife Kathy; he will have help with specialty items, like special makeup, lighting and the final audio mix, but most of it is done by Geoff.

[@DarleneCheatham]

That’s his wife Kathy who is also his and Voiceplay s production manager she was laying perfectly still the whole time

[@Sembazuru]

Not perfectly still... She did twitch on Geoff's low notes.

[@Aurora-cv5to]

and he does all of his own arrangements and yes, edits his own videos.

[@willchristopher1899]

I lover the winter cap. A very interesting selection and an enjoyable reaction.

[@GeraldPage-e7u]

I know Halloween is over but I think you'd love Geoff's cover of Jack's Lament from The Nightmare Before Christmas. It's incredible!

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

Monster Mash is _definitely_ from before you were born; although I think the oldest really spooky piece of music that I know about, is probably Night on Bald Mountain, which dates to the mid nineteenth century. Or, hmm, Chopin's famous Funeral March may be slightly older, if you want to count that, but it wasn't really intended to be spooky, so much as somber. It does work pretty well on a Halloween playlist, though. As does Op. 28 No 15 for that matter. Going the other direction, you're spoiled for choice. Millennials as a generation (all the kids who grew up with the Goosebumps books) are collectively *obsessed* with the horror genre and Halloween, so there's all sorts of spooky stuff in pop culture now. It's almost impossible to avoid, these days.

[@DennisKovacich]

Bing Crosby’s original wasn’t this low, but Thurl Ravenscroft recorded it for a single. Geoff matched Thurl note for note except for the three heads and the last note. Here’s a video with Geoff on one side and Thurl on the other: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpqcomSmbcuKbtksi=p6lk2jIhaWvB9Ops

[@GHmorenos]

When this song originally came out, ELVIS said it was the dumbest song he'd ever heard...and yet here we are 😂. Thanks for these reactions!

[@FastEddie007007]

If I had to describe you with one word, it would be "Precious"

[@bkm83442]

Geoff also plays the piano, hamonica, guitar, and other instruments, I'm sure.

[@DarleneCheatham]

Those of us who follow Geoff and Voiceplay look forward to his high notes almost more than his low notes. They are more rare

[@Robert_Herring]

While Halloween songs aren't very common, there are bands whose sole repertoire are horror, ghost, or other such night creature things. You've already reacted to Blackbriar, but there's Dominium (zombies), Ice Nine Kills (general horror), Powerwolf (werewolves), and the list goes on. "We All Taste the Same" is a great one from Dominium. For more Geoff, his recent rendition of "Song of Durin" is brilliant, and shows off how good his range really is.

[@mightyV444]

In _my_ opinion, the 'costume' you do wear is just fine! 😊👍🐰

[@CELoflin]

definitely caffeinated

[@flowersafterrainfall]

yes 😆

[@troedelgerry]

Hi Jessie ! WOW ! That sounded hilarious ! Loved these two songs... love Geoff's low woice... and loved your reaction to both songs ! Now I am so curious and can't wait to see your reaction to my suggestion from Eivor ! I already wrote some information about this song in the previous comments. Have a nice Halloween ! See you tomorrow on this channel ! Best wishes from Germany : Gerry

[@rcinsley]

Do you think Jess would be interested in German artist Patty Gurdy? Patty's a very modern artist who specializes in ancient instruments, especially the "hurdy gurdy" (cranking out music since 1000 A.D.) I can listen to her cover of Ed Sheeran's "Bad Habits" ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnXNhYKOZbymb6M ) on a loop!

[@markbelcher2972]

@@rcinsley Patty Gurdy “Yule Fiddler.” You’re welcome!😁

[@rcinsley]

@@markbelcher2972 Good tune!

[@troedelgerry]

@@rcinsley To be honest, I can't answer that question (yet)... but if she is open-minded and open to exploring any musical genre, why not suggesting it to her ?

[@Renovion]

I think he does the 4 part for all of his videos, at least all the ones I have seen lol, I recommend you check out his cover pf 16 Tons.

[@andrewburt2557]

Yes and that is his wife

[@dalebuck7168]

Monster Mash first came out in 1962.

[@Iansco1]

Monster mash the other 3 were filmed at a different rate. To give a jumpy feel.

[@thomasfarr7934]

Please react to Geoff's latest video, Carol of the Bell's! It is awesome!

[@rcinsley]

Even "Thriller" (1982) and "Ghostbusters" (1984) are older than you! "Monster Mash" came from the one-hit-wonder Bobby Pickett. Watch him perform the original live on American Bandstand (introduced by a VERY young Dick Clark): kzbin.info/www/bejne/rH_Yh5ycdpx3ibc