JACK'S LAMENT - Geoff Castellucci | Vocal Coach Reacts

BOO! It's spooooky season, and who better to celebrate with than Geoff Castellucci? Lisen to his take on Jack's Lament from "The Nightmare Before Christmas". In this video, I break down and analyze everything Geoff is doing vocally, musically, and artistically. Enjoy!
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[@MiladyMacabre]

This was actually filmed in September, not in the middle of summer. Geoff and VoicePlay film almost every month, not very far in advance at all. With the exception of one set of pumpkins from the pumpkin stack, all of the pumpkins belong to Geoff. He loves Hallowe'en and always wants more pumpkins. Rick Underwood is responsible for the amazing makeup - even the palms of Geoff's hands! ("It's the little things" Rick told me). This was shot at PattyCake Productions. Kathy (Geoff's wife) added all the touches to the set and she and Geoff did the costuming. Kathy is also responsible for Zero. Geoff kept changing register to illustrate Jack's wild mood swings. You totally missed a lovely little hopeful scene by not playing the video to the end. Please do go back and watch it.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Can't believe I missed it! Thanks so much

[@barbarakennedy2667]

​@@nickhiggsthesingerGeoff and Kathy had their schedule for posting things delayed when their son brought covid home from the first days of school and they both caught it. They were sick for at least two weeks and couldn't produce anything.

[@DravenGal]

@@nickhiggsthesinger Yep! Number 1 rule of Voiceplay and Geoff videos...don't stop the video until the patrons roll! But excellent reaction anyway!

[@marshayoung9387]

​@@nickhiggsthesingerthank you for another priceless reaction to Geoff. He puts out a solo cover about once a month, same with Voice Play. Even though there are some singers that can sing lower the difference is that Geoff is smoother & clearer. He said it's not about how low or high you can sing but about how good the sound is. At the end of this when the credits roll you will also see some of his designs he created ( as I was told ). Also it is sometimes in the beginning as in Riders in the sky. It will have his name in it. He is a man of many talents. Please put these solo covers by Geoff on your to do list.... Shenandoah & Sounds Of Silence. Geoff really knows how to reach deep down into your soul with this one.

[@marshayoung9387]

​@@nickhiggsthesingerI forgot, Geoff's wife Kathy is his production manager & also for Voice Play. Kathy has so much input to offer them. Kathy doesn't get near enough cred for all she does. She is a true GEM. ❤

[@DravenGal]

4:08 And we have the "Geoff's range eye-roll!"

[@carinarodebak9419]

It's said it took Geoff and Kathy 4 days to set up, film and dismantle. Geoff is a meticulous planner and knows exactly what he wants when he start a project. It's pressure on PattyCake Production. VoicePlay videos, Geoff videos, PattyCakes's own videos and they produce for extern clients as well. The studio is owned jointly by Layne Stein of VoicePlay and Tony Wakim, former VP baritone. Some day listen to the VP Phantom of the Opera video. Tony is the Phantom.

[@shilohauraable]

One of my favorite VP videos! Featuring Rachel Potter! Just Beautiful! ❤

[@HannaGhost]

"I say freak of nature in the most respectful way" Love it. Also, your reactions are so good.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Thank you so much! I do a wide variety of reactions so please check out some of my others 🙌🏻

[@HannaGhost]

@@nickhiggsthesinger Oh, I'm on it. You need to check out the artist Ren. Honestly, just start with Money Game pt 3. Just came out. He's a modern bard.

[@Badger77722]

According to Peter Barber's analysis, Geoff's range in this video goes from E1 (subharmonic) to C5 (tenor high C), and includes an extended F1 (last note) in chest voice. BTW, Geoff can also whistle - see Ghost Riders In the Sky!

[@TorenRenee]

And he can play harmonica!

[@rhov-anion]

@@TorenReneeAnd makes a mean pickle sandwich. And he's artistically creative with carving pumpkins.

[@gregorynilsson7140]

In other interviews, Geoff has insisted that the E1 is not sub-harmonic, but is actually at the low end of his chest voice range.

[@matt-dw]

Pieces like this really show that contrast is everything. At 4:06 he's only singing in the mid to upper-3rd octave but it sounds tenor-like due to all of the 1st and low-2nd octave singing we were hearing before.

[@ronsbrat525]

Filmed last month, September. Voiceplay and Geoff usually releases their videos to Patreons 1-2 weeks before public. Voiceplay usually releases to the public once a month. Geoff every other month. However, they won't be releasing their new video until December. They will be extra busy in November singing with Chicago in Atlantic City NJ on the 17 & 18. Then filming their Christmas videos. Last year for Christmas Voiceplay did "Christmas Don't Be Late. The Chipmunk Song". Geoff did "White Christmas".

[@DravenGal]

This month Geoff also released himself reading "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow!" Creepiness in spades!

[@iamsquatty]

Gotta love Geoffs Lament....er uh.... i mean... jacks lament 😉 hes just such an amazing and talented human bean 😊💜

[@WelcomeApathy]

I have definitely called it Geoff's Lament completely accidentally, lol. He just made it so good!

[@EtherealForever]

Great rendition - great reaction... I see you have not done a lot of Geoff or Voiceplay yet... My favourite Geoff song is "High and Dry" by Radiohead. Of course I also like "I see fire" by Ed Sheeren (Hobbit trilogy). As for Voiceplay... where to start! They cover all genres - my favourite being their Rock stuff (Nothing Else Matters - Metallica, In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins, Seven Nation Army - White Stripes, Dream On - Aerosmith, Carry on Wayward Son - Kansas, Creep - Radiohead), BUT, their Medleys are all amazing and very theatrical/fun - just take your pick, their pirate / viking songs are awesome and then they are, of course, Kings of Halloween. They also do fabulous minis/shorts. So we can confidently tell you that Geoff can belt high as he did this in the Peaches mini (Jack Black - Mario). Their latest short (The Time Warp - Rocky Horror) is taking off like a glitter rocket too 😁.

[@ilonadever8249]

Geoff, being Geoff, wanted a hopeful ending which did not exist in the song. Hence the outro where he experiences snow. He sees it, looks up, touches it, then a hint of a smile. Wonderful! His attention to detail is amazing. Before the dog comes in (his wife, Kathy, on a green screen), he pats the side of his leg, just as in the movie, to call Zero.

[@billparrish4385]

9:14 So "...can SCREAM like I can..." that high note is what, a C#5? And that sounds like a high mix, right? Not fully head, certainly not falsetto. He's dragging some thickness and weight up there into that note, along with a little rasp. Just incredible.

[@tonifinley4872]

I thought it was a C5, but I am not sure. Super impressive either way!

[@Broomrider1492]

Rules of watching and listening to VoicePlay and Geoff. Headphones are required and you must watch the video to the very end of the credits or you will sometimes miss a fun nugget at the end.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

So true! I will make sure I do that for next time, thanks!

[@EchoBroski]

“Cant sing a subharmonic” performs a perfect G#1 sub lmao

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

You’re too kind 🙂

[@kevinjohnson2999]

Concern: There are not enough Voiceplay & Geoff Castellucci videos! I will not be one of those people that complain without offering a helpful solution. I would reccommend from Voiceplay Vahalla Calling, Nothing Else Matters, We Dont Talk About Bruno and the Wicked Medley. From Mr Geoff I would say The Sound of Silence, I See Fire and Far Over the Misty Mountans Cold (similar to I see fire, but sections almost feel like a gregorian chant). There are more from them and my kids (and I) enjoy the medleys quite a bit. 2nd Concern: Only 1 airpod?! You may have picked up on this in going back through and listening with over the ear headphones but they do a decent amount of left and right channel sounds, so you may be missing out on an interesting element.

[@tonifinley4872]

Thank you for your mini-rant about all the work that artists put into developing their talent. I often think that when I read comments like "Save some talent for the rest of us" and want to tell the commenter to get to work developing their own talent. After all, talent isn't like pie; there's not a finite amount of it in the world.

[@thekeeperwithskills1025]

Geoff’s cover of I See Fire is a favourite of mine - worth checking out Showcases amazing range again and the arrangement is great

[@nightthornkvala94132]

Geoff and VP have done maybe half-a-dozen songs from The Nightmare Before Christmas and those are my VoicePlay favorites. And please check out their video for Golden Hour. They do that headless thing there too. And it's always nice to see Kathy Castellucci in front of the camera.

[@SuperDi_]

5:47 hey don't knock yourself on your subs. According to my pitch analyzer that was a clean F1 subharmonic.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Really?! 😂 Amazing. I have zero control over it but I tried

[@maloxi1472]

@@nickhiggsthesinger Seriously, that was impressive. You also have a lot of resonance in your lower chest register (down to about D2/C#2), which partly explains why you could produce such a clear F1 sub. You have a great baritone voice and could easily sing bass in a conventional acapella setting. I guess you aren't a vocal coach for nothing 😉

[@megantimmer8971]

The Headless Horseman is also a super fun Halloween song from Geoff!

[@christinestromberg4057]

Geoff produces all the music on his videos using either the piano or his keyboard with plug ins. He's so talented and imaginative He doesn't do voiceovers, (Eli from VoiePLay does however.) He has recorded several poems and short stories though. And no this wasn't done months ago. He creates a new one every month - except last month when he had a bout of Covid. He has to do the research, then the arrangement, then sing all the parts, film all the parts, then edit it all together before sending it off for the final mix. He does that every month. Patrons get to see an early release, slightly unfinished, to make comments about it, choose the thumbnail pic, and so on. Usually about a week before the full release.

[@johndeeregreen4592]

Yes! I was hoping you would get to this one!

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Yess!! I got so many comments about it so I HAD to record it. Any other recommendations?

[@johndeeregreen4592]

@@nickhiggsthesinger, I would suggest Geoff's cover of "I See Fire".

[@bryansolomon-puertas4260]

Norte Dame Medley by the barbershop group The Ringmasters.

[@bryansolomon-puertas4260]

Ghost Love Score by Nightwish.

[@bryansolomon-puertas4260]

Awakening by Unleash The Archers.

[@janeteitsworth8824]

Great reaction to a phenomenal cover

[@bryansolomon-puertas4260]

Add Voctave to your list of a capella groups to check out. They are a larger group, 8 people I think. The wall of sound they can output is very good. Start with Disney Princess Medley.

[@karenponchak5304]

11 people, actually

[@christinamoxon]

Yes, if Nick hasn't seen Disney Princess Medley by Voctave then I second that recommendation. He'd have fun analysing that one. So many beautiful voices.

[@daventunes3822]

Their Christmas songs are fantastic too.

[@rmdewberry2482]

I think Geoff really captures Jack's all-over-the-place emotions. Stunning work! Fun analysis.

[@Sousa_TM]

Your subharmonic sounded great! What do you mean you can't do it?

[@Lynn_M867]

Hey Nick, great reaction. To me this piece is not only a good display of Geoff’s range, but an amazing showcase of his agility in his range. The transitions are just so good. I am also glad you acknowledged the time and work Geoff puts into his vocals. To give a couple of examples, I understand that Geoff was in his recording studio recording for five hours when Voiceplay did “Valhalla Calling”. When Geoff recorded his version of Elvis’ “Way Do

[@Lynn_M867]

Oops hit send without realizing it. Anyway, in His cover of “Way Down” Geoff took something like 80 attempts to hit the last note.

[@hollyryalsgrubb1273]

I am continually enjoying your reactions to Geoff. Your...'shake my head'.... as do we all.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Glad you like them!

[@chih-chaoyang5290]

Really enjoyed your reaction and analysis!! Geoff put so much effort to his music and videos, and I always enjoy in depth analysis like yours to his works. Great job Nick!

[@Traci2000]

This piece was magical! It went straight to the top of my Halloween playlist! Lovely reaction! Happy Halloween! 🎃👻😈

[@ConnorSinclairCavin]

I call that effect at the end “the ghostly sway” as it always reminds me of spectral cloaks billowing and swaying on winds long dead, walking forth on beings long forgotten

[@sophiemariepauline]

I was looking forward to this one! 🥳🎉

[@DTA-Music]

THANK YOU for your insightful commentary about 'talent.' Which, yes, no doubt Geoff and his colleagues do have in spades, but what they share with us in these incredible artistic works is _at least_ as much a product of hard-earned skill and experience. (I realized recently, though--I believe when the subject came up in another reactor's video--that some folks don't actually understand the distinction and/or the definition of the word.)

[@matthamilton356]

This is my second video I've watched of yours. But I've taken a look into your library and noticed you haven't given Home Free a try yet. I highly recommend you do.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

I’m filing tomorrow so I will do a few!😍

[@resturz]

Of all the vocal professional reactions I watch, I learn the most from yours. My compliments.

[@totoro123]

Love your expressions of disbelief 😂 🎃

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Hahaha thank you! I promise they are genuine 😂

[@Marija484]

👏👏👏👏parabénnnsss...💖⚘️💖⚘️⚘️⚘️

[@gundulamayer0808]

I really love your eye and ear for details, when reacting to Geoff and/or Voiceplay ... despite I still miss your wonderful profi headset ;-)

[@UltimateGamerCC]

you could say Geoff is a JACK of all trades, XD

[@EthanDrewMusic]

"He does the AHHHHHHHH subharmonic singing, which I really can't do" *Proceeds to sing a strong F1 subharmonic just prior to saying he can't do it* Brother, you need to make an appearance on my podcast!

[@karenzak6627]

Great reaction for another amazing Geoff production! Thank you!

[@thomasfarr7934]

Thank you!

[@amberfuchscia709]

Interesting, fun reaction/analysis. Thank you.

[@TorenRenee]

Thanks for another great reaction to Geoff!

[@abrahamsanchez424]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@karingreen396]

Thank you thank you thank you!!!!

[@devonvergiels5185]

Don't forget Danny Elfman's lyrics and music! And his original phenomenal rendition. Love Danny. Geoff is wonderful.

[@Randerson2409]

I am altogether far too proud of myself for recognising the switch to 6/8 time before Nick told us. Been years since I learned any music theory, so feeling happy at least something stuck lol

[@bjspeck4337]

I heard a waltz on that.

[@georgehoeflinger1400]

Please play the outros. There is more you chopped off.

[@karinwolf9639]

If you count 1-2-3...it's a slow waltz, no? Austrian here... so my perspective is a little narrow maybe!?😅😂 Milaydy Macabre already told you: you missed the end. 😢 perfect reaction anyway, thanks!🎉❤

[@js_musicmedia8981]

I dunno, your subs are pretty nice too bro

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Aw thanks :)

[@caidanbevacqua600]

... And clap pushups

[@TacetPotentia]

I'm always wondering, if a reactor mentions Geoff's mouth shape while singing: How do you know what mouth shape he's using when singing, as you can see him mouthing to a pre-recorded song only?

[@christinamoxon]

Most of them sing as they would in the recording anyway - I know VoicePlay have said they do. It looks more realistic so they simply sing it rather than 'mouth' it. And then dub over it.

[@obliviousrebass4424]

geoff has a really low chest range so he rarly dipped into subharmonics in this song.

[@karenponchak5304]

No actual head voice. Chest, subharmonic, and chest belt/mix. His break is, in his words, "um, higher".

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Yeah, I said head voice not really meaning true head voice, that’s why I made the correction in the video 🙂

[@marshayoung9387]

​@@nickhiggsthesingerGeoff & Voice Play don't do horror. They love to keep it light & somewhat funny as In The Hall Of The Mountain King. They love to play with their expressions & are so fun to watch. So never take your eyes off these guys. I must say that you are the only reactor that watches very intently. Thank you for that.

[@veronicathunander4579]

Thank you!