FAST-PACED ACAPELLA GREATNESS!! VoicePlay | If I Were a Rich Man/Girl | Acapella Reaction/Analysis

A great throwback to high school drama for me, this was a fantastic and fast paced cover to an already beloved song. Thanks to ‪@Thevoiceplay‬ for another incredible cover, and welcome to Cesar, the newest official member of the crew! Also let's do another "who reads the description" test, if you're reading this hop into the chat and tell me what your favorite kind of cheese is. I'm curious :D
As always, please check out the original piece of work from Voiceplay:
• IF I WERE A RICH MAN/G...
And follow my twitch for more awesome Mortius content! / officialmortius

[@bjspeck4337]

I loved Ashley's riff toward the end, when she looks at you and says, "What?"

[@davidsumpter4933]

It's great to see Lane step from behind the procussion into a vocal role, even for a little while.

[@susanvangassen8041]

I love your pauses for descriptions and comments. I learn so much and it just increases how much I love Voiceplay for their skill in arranging for their videos. Thank-you

[@officialmortius]

Thank you for your kind words! I’m glad my unique knowledge can help people find even more enjoyment from these awesome groups

[@donnilloyd1355]

You just stated the thing that everybody SHOULD know, but only a few do. This is YOUR channel. Keep YOUR channel to YOUR likings. If viewers don't like it, it is their problem. KUDOS to you, Mortius for saying it. Flat out. And, I love Ashley Diane's input in this video. Great Post.

[@eriklind8489]

Yep.....Geoff when up to the mountain peak, and down to the bottom of the valley.............I also love Layne's reaction to Asheley's run...and she is like "what?"

[@SomeoneWhoHere]

I had a conversation with my friend who's a new VoicePlay fan. We were going through each of the singers and I asked: "How would you describe Geoff's voice?" She looked at me and without blinking, she goes: "The Sinus function."

[@tatewakinew]

Mote like tangential - sinus does not go beyond one.

[@rmoenmjea]

I just heard him being called "The Vocal coaster" love that🤣🤣

[@UrbanNilssonOssian]

A commenter on another Voiceplay video likened Geoff's voice to thunder with honey poured over it.

[@SomeoneWhoHere]

@@UrbanNilssonOssian Perfection.

[@dawnburris6412]

@@UrbanNilssonOssian I totally agree!! That line is straight from A Song of Ice and Fire by GRRM. It’s referring to a recruiter for the Night’s Watch named Dareon. I love it used for Geoff though!! It fits him perfectly!! ❤❤

[@baraktownsley2569]

“I assume they’re building to something bigger” You have no idea, sir. 😂

[@tdb2012]

I've not been a big fan of this song, until now. I really enjoyed Voiceplay's take on it. Great reaction Mortius, as usual. Aged Gouda and Provolone.

[@CrimFerret]

This was very well done. Normally it's Geoff's bass people remember. Then Ashley did that run straight out of the 5th Element. You know, the one they had to use a synth for because no human could sing it.

[@Ida-Christine]

Dimash can do the diva dance.

[@alexwalker8440]

I totally share you enthusiasm here! And I keep finding new little great details every time I listen to it! .... WHAT?

[@kevinblack7766]

I am really disappointed that you did not pause for that big rift that Ashley sang there towards the end. I mean come on that was absolutely incredible going up the way she did then dropping down as though she was hitting every key on the piano back down. That was incredible.

[@maeco7]

I love your reactions/analyses, and I love this song by VoicePlay :) So much fun!

[@CapriUni]

I'm glad, when it came time to fill in with a fourth permanent member, they went with a baritone, rather than a high tenor (Which I suspect D.J. Young was also auditioning for). Because this dynamic lets them bring in more women as guest singers, to fill in the higher harmonies.

[@nikelodeon6852]

I'm quite sure Eli will be the baritone while cesar will be 1 or 2 tenor depending on if they get a woman in the group or not.. cesar sounds like a tenor to me.

[@PiscesintheRain]

@@nikelodeon6852 Cesar is noted in the credits of the video (as well as on VoicePlay's official website) as Baritone/Tenor 2. So they might have him more in the baritone role and get a new Tenor 1, or they might keep him more in the Tenor 2 role, move Eli more into the Tenor 1 role, and get a new Baritone.

[@nikelodeon6852]

@@PiscesintheRain Eli's voice is lower than him tho. Doesn't make sense for cesar to be the baritone.

[@PiscesintheRain]

@@nikelodeon6852 Well, Eli's speaking voice is lower, but his singing range? It's both higher *and* lower than what we've heard from Cesar thus far. Eli was definitely singing higher than Cesar in We're Good (he was hitting the same notes as Adriana). I will say that what I've heard of Cesar thus far has definitely been in the tenor 2 range (I was surprised when they listed him as a tenor/baritone). But I'm sure VoicePlay has heard more of his range than I have.

[@lurecy97]

@@nikelodeon6852 I agree they both sound like tenors

[@MagicMason1000]

I played the Fiddler in this show a while back, so it's cool to see a new version of this song!

[@MiladyMacabre]

Hooray for a quick reaction video -- thanks!!

[@PiscesintheRain]

Another great reaction! I do really love watching you, because you point out things that I don't always catch on my first viewing. And my favorite is aged cheddar - when it's been aged long enough that you get the calcium lactate crystalizing out.

[@laundrygoddess4]

My favorite cheese is Carmelized onion from England. So good. Sigh. But not as good as Cesar and voiceplay! And I'm loving Ashley. This song was just so fun

[@Broomrider1492]

This is so awesome had to do a little happy dance in my chair with them.

[@a_mystical_potato4325]

If you haven't already, you should watch Voiceplay's cover of The Oogie Boogie Man! Love your reactions keep it up!

[@tracyz9155]

So fun when you react. I love to hear you say what you are finding in the song. Please stop as much as you want to make a comment. I know that even though I’ve listened all the way through several times, I haven’t heard all the nuances you have. Thanks again for your reaction. You may have reacted before to VoicePlay’s cover of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” but maybe you could do a review of what you remarked on. It’s my favorite.

[@eriklind8489]

Go ahead and pause all you want...you are a reactor...I EXPECT pauses....I want pauses to hear your REACTION...so keep it up...I also find your reactions informative...keep doing what you do.

[@fairabbigailgrace]

I too was in Fiddler in the Roof in school....I was Shprintze the 2nd to youngest daughter....unfortunately as a senior I looked like a 5th or 6th grader....well, probably younger than that since when I was about 26 people were mistaking me for a 6th grader. I had a step-daughter who was a 6th grader so, that was embarrassing and my husband absolutely hated it. lol This song was such a joy to listen to because it brought so much joy listening to it. It took me back to such a fun time. Thanks for your reaction and you can pause as much as you'd like, it is your channel after all. :) Have a great weekend!

[@Sylani]

Am I mad or did Eli just hit C2 and C5 in the same song? * Mind Blown * And Geoff with that Falsetto? How many Octaves was that up from his G1 he dropped? ... WOW!

[@dmikewilcox]

I sing this song around the house all the dammed time.

[@rmoenmjea]

Don't apologize for pausing! I love when you explain something and then rewind a bit so we can listen for it. I hate when reaction channels explain something I didn't catch and then I have to rewind to the right part, listen for it and fast forward again past their explaination. I think it makes your videos really enjoyable and I love being able to hear more interesing nuances etc afterwards!

[@rmoenmjea]

Oh yeah, and I love a good gouda or camenbert😋

[@LittleCubSpirit]

OMG. So I JUST caught something, even though I've heard this cover dozens of times. In Fiddler on the Roof when Tevye talks about the staircases in this song, he's being facetious. But Caesar, Ashley and Geoff describe one of the three staircases, and THE MUSIC DOES WHAT THE LYRICS SAY. (Ashley's first run up is short, Ashley's second is longer but going down (she jumps higher to start her riff down) and Geoff stays on the same note (one more going nowhere) until "for show" when he suddenly drops low in his bass range as if to show off.) Voiceplay is full of surprises.

[@bethcoussou]

It's been decades, but I saw Fiddler On the Rood on a school field trip and I absolutely loved it! I think I've only seen it once since then. I do believe I'll have to go find it to stream somewhere. Sorry! I drifted. lol I love this poppy cover! You're so right about Cesar being such a positively, energetic addition to Voice Play! Of course, his voice is amazing, too! Ashley, with that run toward the end make me think she could definitely give Mariah and Christina a run for their money! Yes! I said it! Glad I did! I love your energetic review and reactions, too!

[@jerelynpimentel321]

Love swiss cheese. Voiceplay outdid themselves on this one. Great reaction. I love your enthusiasm!

[@krystlem8920]

Love your reaction! I learn so much about music and singers in your reactions, and I like the pauses to teach/react. My favorite cheese is feta or goat cheese (usually with herbs or fruit in it!)

[@spiderfingers86]

VoicePlay is a great musical group that I love to listen to often

[@Backtotheviews]

I found voice play with reacting videos. So someone who is like me may not know. You were super cool about it. Just wanted to through out a quick maybe I could help people.

[@lesliepiel9998]

It's your channel so it goes by your rules ("my channel my rules") 😄

[@dcsobral]

Speaking of Home Free *and* Voice Play, did you know they have a collaboration? Zombies vs Hillbillies - Survivor. And I just realized they first did it on the Sing Off!

[@yourmaninlondoncollecting5749]

The Brain likes it. When we hear things, if its playful and complex..we react positive to it. It makes the music interesting to the part of the brain the analyse what we hear. Just take Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin as an example.

[@creationsbychancecan]

I love your reactions. If you pause a lot it is because there are cool things that you hear and explain them to we who want to know why things work the way they do

[@dmikewilcox]

My wife played string bass for Guys and Dolls and Fiddler. I am not sure if that was high school or college, but even during college she had some passing gigs for local productions. Her favorite to play was Pippin. I was in show choir, and played clarinet as well. I can sing pretty well, but I was a school career long 3rd chair clarinet seat filler, and my dancing is abysmal.

[@edithdavis2848]

Love this song, Geoff and the guys and Ashley do it marvelously

[@nightthornkvala94132]

Have you seen the group's latest video, premiered just a few days ago? Jose Rosario Jr. joined them again for Hoist the Colours from Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End. They're dressed and made up like what you'd see on the deck of a real pirates ship, scars and healed wounds and wind burned skin and all. The song is mesmerizing, and coupled with the visuals, keeps me coming back again and again for another listen. Cesar is wonderful and fits right in.

[@officialmortius]

Yes, Hoist the Colors was incredible :) The reaction goes up on Saturday :)

[@nightthornkvala94132]

@@officialmortius Ohhh, thank you, luv. I'm looking forward to it. And until then I'll be watching the video about 40-50 more times.

[@DravenGal]

Congratulations on hitting 2000! 🎈🎊🎉🍾

[@officialmortius]

Thank you!

[@jessicahedman3048]

love the beat in this- very addictive!

[@Gavimaster]

Great reaction!

[@firedrakegirl13]

You are adorkable and I'm sad I just discovered your channel. Also, fresh mozzarella is the best cheese!

[@calumteine2008]

Boy, that shirt deserves a full windsor.

[@kylawoffinden1280]

Always enjoy VoicePlay especially with my favorite Swiss cheese!!😉🙂🙃🙂

[@Alasterius41]

I on the other hand, do not think you pause enough on this particular video…. I love both your analysis AND reactions. (Charismatic Voice, Peter and you are my go-tos for analysis.) Wish you’d do more pauses for deep dives and to impart your insights.

[@lexdeedrick2980]

Pause to your heart's content; I love it! 😁

[@Rockcan]

Passed the 2K! Nice video!

[@onyx20437]

Omg you should react to voiceplays “panic at the disco parts 1&2” along with voiceplays Billie Ellish trapped. Trapped comes first and then the panic at the disco pieces you won’t be disappointed

[@JustMe-vk4fn]

@ 6:10 I've heard this portion of the arrangement referred to as "Call and Response". When I looked it up, Jazz and Gospel music both seem to use the technique.

[@officialmortius]

That’s absolutely correct! It is call and response. But normally call and response is consistent, with person A “calling” and person (or group) B “responding” every time. What I was pointing out as interesting/unique there is that they do A-B-B-A. Geoff calls, and the chorus responds, which is used in a lot of music. But then, right after, the chorus calls, and Geoff responds, which is a reverse of that typical formula, which is why I found it so cool :)

[@marlahudgins7038]

This was excellent

[@lkayh]

I don’t know why I skipped this one before. Layne did the arrangement for this-pure genius! It’s up there among my top favorites now. So question-there are effects (apart from a lot of reverb) that I’m hearing that had to have happened in post. Like there are times when the vocalists are doing riffs where it almost sounds keyboard assisted-the notes are so distinct. What is that called?

[@WraithW69]

"Stop telling me I pause too much" your comments before & after this statement, as well as your reaction, made me smile & got a new subscriber out of me :) keep up the great reactions & pause as much as you want to get your POV across.

[@Ida-Christine]

I am fangirling Cesar too.

[@officialmortius]

How can we not??

[@Ida-Christine]

right@@officialmortius

[@royj.mattice]

Peter Barber did a reaction of this if you still want to dive into the music theory for this video.

[@officialmortius]

I’ve seen Peter’s analysis before, it was great!

[@royj.mattice]

I looked through the comments on that video and didn't see you comment, therefore I thought you didn't see it. Love your video shorts! I plan on doing a bass duet with one of them!

[@Marcell0Bass]

12:36 you should check out Time warp by backtrack vocals (another a cappella group)

[@brianlee7716]

Quickes Cheddar from Newton St Cyres. Loving the new guy and the guest artist on this one.

[@Iansco1]

Geoff arranges that a LOT.

[@daehawk9585]

I dont know her either but I like her.

[@veronicathunander4579]

I love your reactions and analyses! I guess you saw that this is Layne’s arrangement, not Geoff’s. I like Port Salut a lot. In addition to cheese, let’s talk about butter... I can’t find your reaction to VoicePlay’s “Butter”, will you do it? Or have you done it and I just can’t find it..? I’m kind of spoiled with your reacting to all their new stuff! 😊

[@officialmortius]

So, funny story, I actually COMPLETELY missed Butter when they uploaded it! I didn’t even find out it existed until yesterday when I was recording this song, so I recorded Rich Man and Butter in the same record session, and the Butter vid will be coming out in a week or two :)

[@veronicathunander4579]

Mortius That’s great, I’m looking forward to it!

[@janetdw]

I get so much out of your reacts. You explain in a less technical way for those of us who don't have musical training. I love the Charismatic Voice, but a lot goes over my head. I did not enjoy this as much as I thought because I kept focusing on how different it was, but now I really enjoy it. I just had to get past my love of the traditional version. p.s. When you said you were in Fiddler, I immediately thought - the tailor! Good guess on my part - for a change.

[@edithdavis2848]

Good for you, absolutely right, your channel, we are here to see Your reaction not see a video. Only compliant is some times volumes to low on video and your mic.

[@gobourn]

Based on what I have seen on internet Geoff is B0 - A5

[@juliant]

I'm surprised you didn't talk about Ashley Diane's run at all. Just alot of fanboying over Geoff's deep voice.

[@nightthornkvala94132]

It's one thing to pause very often if you have something knowledgeable to say. I've seen reactors pause every 2-3 seconds just to say "I like that," and nothing of substance. And then I've seen reactors sit through the whole video blank-faced just to say "I like that" at the end. I'm not watching either of those anymore. It's fun to watch you react and enjoy the videos I also love. Like this one when Ashely says "What?" I laugh every time.

[@iwilljazzyourfrogs9309]

1:31 - 'great tenor anthem' me, a bass playing motel: :0

[@officialmortius]

How did you manage the “To meeeee” at the end of Miracle of Miracles?? That was high and difficult to sustain even for me and I am very tenor lol

[@spiderfingers86]

I was in Fiddler on the Roof three times

[@AndieO]

❤

[@Backtotheviews]

Honestly I agree with you in the fact that you are reviewing. I think people don’t know that. Also people do enjoy a few secs of video. So maybe be light on the people who don’t know watch the video first then amazing review.

[@SilentHillMama]

Smoked Gruyère is my #1.

[@captainraptorlearntosurviv5357]

This is sex on ears and visuals in my heart

[@isabelrodriguez6717]

Me voy a ver el Carpool Karaoke de Paul mcartney para relajarme un poco

[@jeffc8965]

Halloumi...

[@kaidensmith2770]

I personally love American cheese

[@daniellechance5838]

Cheddar ;)

[@kbarbee3212]

Syncopation

[@bradclifton5248]

One day Geoff is not drop the base and you'll be left hanging. I thought he wasn't gonna go there at the end.

[@Scudge0]

2:54, I thought you squeaked you’re chair at first...

[@officialmortius]

Hey man it’s hard to do a crisp falsetto note when you’re sitting down 😂

[@Scudge0]

@@officialmortius it’s not a bad thing at all, once I figured out where the noise came from I thought it was very Impressive :)

[@toria.v5895]

Aqui está o comentário brasileiro que você está procurando

[@AMANAKILELEI]

Can we get some pentatonix??? 😁✌️🙏🏾

[@andrea_ricciardi]

I liked your reaction and i am pleased su see you notice many details but...It is a crime, after you heared ashley run you have not gone back to play that part a second time... They are great but Ashley as been the best surprise inside this performance I will be back to see you again but i did not like this detail :-) Ok, i enjoyed that so i can forgive you (please i am telling you this with a smile and no hate, so keep it up) Best wishes (and please -you- forgive me for my bad english

[@howishunternotinprison5614]

I did not like this song until now...WOW

[@kbarbee3212]

Gwen Stefani explains a lot.

[@timlubbers2884]

You pau... No, break it down is better ... 🙏🙏

[@rdyer8764]

Hey I totally get it regarding your comment on pauses. Yes, if we want to see the uninterrupted version of the song, we should simply go watch the original. HOWEVER, I'd like to add what I believe is some constructive criticism. What I find frustrating is when you talk over the song. Yeah, it is your perogative, but when you talk over something that's particularly cool about the video, and YOU miss it, the WE miss out on your reaction to that moment, and that's what we come to see. We want to see your unique comments on what's unique in the video. My suggestion: If you want to pause, OK pause, just don't talk over something. Pause, then talk - not the other way around. I hope you find that useful. I offer completely with the intention of making your channel better!

[@christinestromberg4057]

I'm trying to like this. I loved the original so much and this feels too light and frivolous. So far I've loved everything they've done so maybe this will grow on me.

[@officialmortius]

I honestly DON’T much like it as a cover of the original song, but if viewed as a separate piece of art that happens to share the same music, it’s a phenomenal arrangement. All a matter of perspective, as are most things in life :) I hope you learn to love it

[@christinestromberg4057]

@@officialmortius I know what you mean. I agree it is amazing in its own right, it just doesn't feel right on a personal level. I think this is the first time I've felt my age where music is concerned. :) It's a case of "oh but the original..." which normally I don't do.

[@christinestromberg4057]

It is growing on me. By tuning out the original in my head I am appreciating this for the brillian arrangement it is. People say it's probably Layne doing the whistling.

[@Alasterius41]

@@christinestromberg4057 the video seems to suggest it was Ellie doing the whistling: they show his fingers pointing up when the whistle goes up, and Layne should be covering the drumbeats during that part (though I know double layering is possible like what they did with Geoff here, but I don’t think the vid will show Ellie if he isn’t doing it.)

[@christinestromberg4057]

@@Alasterius41 Not sure about that but never mind. :)

[@leechowning2712]

I watched the original. I don't mind you pausing to react to things, especially when you are doing a lot of explaining things that are not noticed as much.

[@bizzer999]

disable the pause button

[@officialmortius]

Disable your comment button 💖 /j

[@iriscinni5241]

@@officialmortius l agree

[@cybergeek11235]

It was nice of you to let them have the song up for four whole entire hours before doing this 🙄

[@TecnamTwin]

This was probably the only cover I didn't really like. The original is much beloved and this is a different animal.

[@echoskelet]

Thanks, i hate it.

[@officialmortius]

Thank you for increasing this video’s algorithm engagement with your comment :)

[@echoskelet]

@@officialmortius no problem :D

[@nickcoello8199]

you say you’re an acapella artist but you can’t even sing and you really don’t know anything about music just because you react to acapella groups doesn’t make you a know it all or an artist

[@officialmortius]

Hey you fixed your caps lock since your last comment! I’m so proud of you 💖

[@michaelwallace3105]

No, I'm not "just wrong". You pause too much. Never known a fellow theater guy to be so condescending.

[@officialmortius]

Then why are you still here, if you don’t like my reaction style/content? Byeee :)

[@lateashamckean8395]

It's Mortius's channel. And he's educating people who do not understand theatre. It's better to explain it as the things are happening instead of just waiting till the end or snipping the song into 3-4 seperate parts and having to explain it all in within those gaps or in one big chunk