Pentatonix Hallelujah | Vocal Coach Reacts

Watch the stellar acapella group "Pentatonix" tackle one of the most famous songs to date: Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah'. In this video, I share my thoughts and feedback so we can figure out exactly WHY Pentatonix is so good!
Original Video:
• Pentatonix - Halleluja...
JOIN MY PATREON
/ nickhiggsthesinger
Stan Store (and to get free stuff!)
🔗: stan.store/nic...
OTHER PLATFORMS
TikTok: / nickhiggsthesinger
Instagram: / nickhiggsthesinger
WHO AM I:
My name is Nicholas Higgs, I am a professional vocal coach and singer. I am incredibly fortunate to make music and share my knowledge to others on a daily basis. In 2021, I graduated with a Masters Degree in Opera Performance, and in addition to being a performer and teacher, I work as a professional choral singer in the city of Toronto!
BOOK A LESSON:
I am taking new students! If you would like to book a lesson with me, you can click on an available time at this Calendly link.
🗓: calendly.com/n...
⚙️ MY GEAR:
Amazon Storefront 🇺🇸 www.amazon.com...
Amazon Storefront 🇨🇦 www.amazon.ca/...
See you in the next video!
Nick Higgs The Singer 2024

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Dimash reaction: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fX2xY2ibbKeKiZY

[@feldegast]

no matter how many times i hear this group, it makes me smile, they just have 'it', and I hope they go on for YEARS

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Yes! 100% agree

[@KarenBoyd-q5g]

this was the first song I heard them sing and I got goosebumps and I still do with this song and all the songs they sing,and not many groups give me goosebumps ❤

[@jlelliotton]

One thing we always hear with PTX is they annunciate clearly and those leading and trailing consonants come through. Hallelujah was my 1st exposure to PTX and I became an instant Pentaholic. 707 MILLION views and counting for this video. With all the live videos and reactors the total must be over one billion now.

[@melissacoviello2886]

I can’t help but think about how on their current tour they just talked about how insanely hot it was that day singing in the desert. Lol I subscribed in hopes that you do more Pentatonix performances. I really really hope you do The Prayer. They were nominated for a Grammy for the whole album, but honestly they should’ve won just for the prayer alone. Even if you think you know their music, this one stands out so much among the others.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll add it to the list :)

[@Gwennedd]

Yes...I think it was the Mohave desert. Apparently they and the video crew went looking for a place to film, ended up backroading into the desert because they wanted the sun setting behind them; found the perfect place, bundled the group into winter coats ( despite it being 98 F because it was to be on the Christmas album and they needed it to look wintery) and got on with filming. They managed to get all the footage they needed right as the sun was setting and quickly loaded back up needing to leave the spot before darkness hit and they became lost....there are no streetlights or signposts in the desert. Thanks for this reaction and analysis. I hope you look at more Pentatonix covers like Mad World, Sound of Silence, Come Along... and some of their originals such as Happy Now, Coffee In Bed, Run To You.

[@linda6987]

Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah I believe

[@Gwennedd]

@@linda6987, thanks! I'm a bit unfamiliar with US deserts and geography.

[@linda6987]

Jennifer - me too with other countries. Just learning the difference between England, Britain and The United Kingdom. I’ve driven through the salt flats on a full moon night - it was spectacular! 💖

[@michaeltutty1540]

The timing was impeccable, as this was recorded in Magic Hour, known in France as L'Heurre Bleu. There is a quality to the light that cannot be duplicated.

[@madenabyss6981]

It was filmed at coyote dry Lake Mojave desert California

[@Blue-rl5dp]

Everybody comments on "The hat", but then all thoughts of hats disappear when they hear the voice under it.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

True

[@ruth2141]

4:25 -- About consonants -- I used to sing in an Anglican choir and our director had a relationship with David Trendell (RIP), who was the choir director at King's College, London (NOT Cambridge). When we went to England for residencies we would usually stop in London to sing at the college, and he would come to Houston every couple of years for a Renaissance sacred music workshop. One of his favorite sayings was, "Consonants are your friends." Such a help starting and ending words and phrases cleanly and clearly.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Absolutely right!

[@neetgupta1]

What I think is particularly extraordinary is their superhuman ranges. When Avi is singing, for example, Scott can take over the bass line but he can also sing really high in his falsetto. Mitch never fails to grab me by the heartstrings when he sings! People often say that Dimash is the best singer in the world and technically yes he is phenomenal but his voice doesn't move me the way Mitch's does. With PTX their blend and the way they sync together is truly unique. Other a cappella groups like Voiceplay, Home Free and Voctave are great and have their own styles but I don't believe any of them top Pentatonix. I genuinely think they are the best a cappella group in the world. I've been a fan since their Sing-off days in 2011 but am going to see them for the first time next month in London. I can't wait!

[@wandajaneburlinson5288]

His range is an incredible six octaves.

[@susanpeterson9947]

Hello, nice to meet you! I’m a huge PTX fan and I loved your reaction. If you haven’t already listened to their version of The Prayer, I think you would enjoy it. Even if you have already heard it, I would still like to hear your reaction to it😅.

[@Acadian_Proud]

I love the way Mitch enunciates his words so well. (His signing in ‘Sound of Silence’ is another great example of his enunciation technique.) Their take on Amazing Grace you you a chance to see if members sing - including Matt who replaced Avi. I suggest you look at their behind the scene video of ‘the recording of Evergreen’. It really gives you a great glimpse into how they create their sound.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Oooh, interesting! I’ll add it to the list - thanks

[@michaelrunnels7660]

It's great that you're going back to the retro mono track concept (1 earpiece) from the 1950s. I use to listen to my dad's 45rpm record player with a little 3" speaker until I heard stereo for the first time. I'm glad someone is dedicated to recreating those old limited mono sounds of 65 years ago.

[@benardawong569]

There is a reason they are a THREE TIMES GRAMMY AWARD winners

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Well said, Benard!

[@chuckmccaslandsr.8859]

PTX always strive for perfection in their music. And brings out the message in their songs, loud and clear, and with true passion. They love what they do, and do it with pride.

[@janispriest3067]

I have seen this many times but it ALWAYS gives me goosebumps

[@pamscarr8696]

Avi is Jewish and did Bar Mitsvah and might have learned the best Hebrew sound though I do not think he ever attended Synagogue. I am also Hebrew and also say Hah instead of Heh. Hallel means "exuberantlt" and Yh is a shortened version of Yehovah. Exuberantly prainse Yehovah or as we say in English. Jehovah, but there is no J sound in Hebrew.

[@Bonofox1]

OMG! MORE PENTATONIX!

[@Fairplayer43]

That is the magic of music... No explanation is necessary... The meaning is too immense. "Music is that silent space between the notes..." BTW "The Imposible Dream" is one of my fav songs... Thank you!😊 Hallelujah is a transliteration of Hebrew: הַלְלוּ יָהּ (halləlū yāh), which means "praise ye Jah!" (from הַלְלוּ⁠‎, "praise ye!" and יָהּ⁠‎, "Jah".) The word hallēl in Hebrew means a joyous praise in song. The second part, Yah, is a shortened form of YHWH (Yahweh or Jehovah in modern English).

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Well said - thank you!

[@margretrosenberg420]

This was filmed in the Mojave Desert, just outside of Barstow, California. As with all Pentatonix official videos (except for the earliest, before they had a studio) the vocals were recorded in the studio and they lip-synched in the video. With Pentatonix, that means that they actually sang it as they recorded the video, so all the movements are accurate.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Yes! I think that’s how you make a video look most realistic - sing along in the video

[@margretrosenberg420]

@@nickhiggsthesinger They basically perfected the technique even before they had a studio. I don't remember whether you've reacted to "Daft Punk Medley" (their first Grammy winner), but the vocals were recorded in a closet that had good acoustics and the video was recorded at a kitchen table. Also, it's obvious that each individual recorded his or her video separately, which may mean that the whole group sang the medley five times, so that each one would be in proper time (or not - they generally record their audio tracks separately so they can surely do the same for the video). The reason we know that each of them was recorded separately in the video is that one of the items on their $400 budget for the video was a single ring light, but in the video it appears behind each member.

[@rjshipp]

Another wonderful commentary that helped my understand just what makes such a performance so special. Thank you for sharing.

[@marthalikens482]

Ive listened to this over 15 times this week!! Im in the rabbit hole all the time!!

[@adancer3592]

They all sing rap & beat box. My theory about why people react to there music so profoundly. While instruments obviously have a emotional impact. We are hard wired to respond to the human voice from birth . Gives their music that something extra so many people respond so positively to Pentatonix

[@Badger77722]

To answer your question: Yes, they were actually in the Mojave Desert in CA. They were wearing heavy clothing (coats, gloves) because Hallelujah was going to be coming out on their Christmas album A Pentatonix Christmas. But in reality, they were shooting the video in the summer, with temperatures around 100° F. Mitch needed the big hat because he was just starting to grow out his hair after shaving his head, and being without cover for several hours out in the desert wouldn't have been a very good idea.

[@beckys91]

Thank you for the very thoughtful and informative commentary.

[@annetteg-b5n]

You are doing it so well

[@madenabyss6981]

This is song that introduced me to pentatonix❤ also this was filmed at coyote dry lake Mojave desert California as the sun was going down.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Love it! Thanks for watching

[@BobCarter1oldsinger]

Nick, a choral singer for about 70 years, I appreciate the expertise shown in your reactions. I look forward to watching many more.

[@annetteg-b5n]

Excellent reaction

[@michaelmurphy5916]

It may be just my imagination but I think I hear from Mitch, when he hits the phase "seen the light" a small yodel. Maybe it's his Texas background or maybe it's just my imagination but this young man blows me away with everything he does.

[@joebarnhart4460]

"Hallelujah is kind of a religious piece..." Actually, I disagree with this. Cohen's Hallelujah is not religious at all, maybe even sacrilegious, actually. He uses "hallelujah" as a metaphor of sexual congress, not religious enlightenment. But it's a great song.

[@sandrakleres7508]

Watch it LIVE ❤

[@marykuettner752]

Because of the double ll, it is Hal le lu yah

[@devonvergiels5185]

One of the things I see passed over is the perfectly imagined video. Thanks for mentioning it.

[@elizabethrobbins8580]

You have to react to "Oh, Come All Ye Faithful". Talk about unconventional takes on a well known song!

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Love that one!

[@robertronquillo563]

I noticed the muted colors of the video and the simplicity to the outfits. This seems to make their voices more powerful than they already are. Check out Hi Ren

[@lostwizard]

It occurs to me that the correct pronunciation of "hallelujah" for this one is what Leonard Cohen used in his performances. The one I found sounds to me to be more like what we hear from Pentatonix here, but I do have to admit my ear isn't particularly tuned for that vowel distinction.

[@ashleymelendez6716]

What I learned in choir is that you sing “Hallelujah” as “Ha-le-LU-yah, emphasizing the “lu” on beat 3, in Handel’s “Messiah”. Pentatonix is amazing!!!!!

[@mariealmon4137]

Hallelujah

[@cathyboyce6457]

Thanks for the great reaction, Nick. This was the song that introduced me to Pentatonix, and I've followerd them ever since. I'll honestly admit that Avi Kaplan has always been my favorite, and I am completely enarmored with his uniquely "Avi" solo career. Please consider reacting to his powerful "Change On The Rise" ~ his gently beautiful "Avi Kaplan, All Is Well. 7 Layers Session # 126 " and his jamming "When I'm A Fool, Live At Sunset Sound " for starters. These highlight just a bit of his versitile and amazing original offerings! Newly subbed and fingers crossed that you react to Avi Kaplan!

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Added to my list - excited to check out Avi and his solo work!

[@cathyboyce6457]

Big thanks, Nick, I'm hoping you will love it! I saw Avi in concert last September and was blown away by how kind and humble he is in person, and by how simply, naturally beautiful his voice is.

[@cherylhowe1541]

Leaving out those consonants at the beginning and end of a word is one of my pet peeves.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

It certainly is an underrated skill. A lot of people don’t realize how big their consonants need to be to be heard unless you have a microphone! Even with a microphone, final consonants are often lost.

[@darkheart710]

I was told in high school chorus the dropping the whole last syllable is a California trait, that we should work on.

[@Pudienteamante]

Woas 🎶

[@johnmarshall6548]

I would love to hear your reaction to Pentatonix"s cover of Bohemian Rhapsody

[@chrisabel1833]

I heard Leonard Cohen sing this late in his career. The entire show was wonderful. He started each Hallelujah with a distinct "H" sound. If a song is written with Allelujah, i'll sing it without the H. If it's there, I'll sing it. Cheers!

[@davidw9570]

I saw the baby yoda!

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Good eye!

[@dinaghikas7933]

Keep in mind there's a lot of irony going into that "Hallelujah" so you really can't compare it with the sincerity of Handel. This is Leonard Freaking Cohen and that's a Halle-freaking-lujah.

[@starcandymaknae]

The ONLY thing that kills me about this arrangement is the ha-LEY-llujah 😂😭 I can hear my choir teacher screaming in the background

[@jaredkempker7096]

Please do a reaction to Voctave!!!

[@mikeread8099]

I would recommend that people wear headphones, or earbuds when listening to PTX. I never wear them, but tried them with this song, and was amazed at the difference.

[@alfredh3071]

Keep in mind that choral music has the word Alleluia, especially in Catholic liturgy , means pretty much the same thing , just in Latin. Using alleluia, might explain why you sometimes don’t hear the H sound. Hallelujah is the Hebrew word for praise the Lord, and closer to the original word. Either way, PTX takes Jeff Buckley’s beautiful version and upgrades it to iconic status.

[@alinamih]

I was literally looking for this comment! Every single noteworthy cover of Hallelujah is made to sound like the Jeff Buckley rendition and not like the original Leonard Choen one, which is funny but also understandable as Jeff is the best there is and very few come close or compare.

[@jimivison5837]

PTX is one of the best groups to come around in a very long time. If I might make a suggestion of a young Lady from UK that has the most angelic voice I have heard in a long time. Her name is Lucy Thomas. I would like for you to give your reaction to her version of “Hallelujah”. Great reaction here to PTX.

[@sonyamatheson9246]

A silent ‘H’ and an ‘A’ pronounced in our religious songs (like in up) - my absolutely favourite performers.

[@Teri2627]

Amazing reaction

[@sallyannchappell5671]

I am actually not convinced that this is a first reaction video. Be honest, you’ve heard it before

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

I know the song very well, but not Pentatonix’s version

[@marthalikens482]

I am over you!!

[@dalepettiner5036]

Quite a nice reaction. There were a couple of times that I swore you were almost judging using Barbershop criteria (go find Boston Common). You spent time talking of their "meshing". Let me refer you to Home Free doing "Do You Hear What I Hear" or "Man of Constant Sorrow".

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Thank you! No, not from a barber shop perspective, more from a choral music perspective. There are some vowel modifications that choirs need to make to sound blended, but Pentatonix doesn’t need to make such drastic changes (hence the brighter [a] of Hallelujah”

[@lynn2574]

Would love to have you react to PTX’s cover of The prayer.

[@henisetefernandesdasilva]

Adoro ouvir vc ..acaba sendo ..muito mas muito bom lindo

[@Nunyabizness_]

I have always pronounced the H in Hallelujah

[@ZacMusicRap]

Nice

[@InkWellideas]

Cohen sang the harsher Hallelujah - and this is a harsher use of the word than Handel was using

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Very true

[@vicconi3723]

Speaking of unicorns..... Mitch is one those impossible ones to find. Very few guys have that high a range.

[@tncontracaller]

You asked for suggestions. Most of Pentatonix is wonderful but if you are interested in more acapella I recommend Voiceplay and Home Free, I'd love to hear your reaction to Home Free's version of Helplessly Hoping, I think that will appeal to you.

[@estherliquid2]

Nick Pitera Version is the Best!

[@spencerchristie5606]

You mentioned the impossible dream it would be great to see you react to Jennifer Hudsons version of this on the voice of her version of memory from cats live on the voice so you can hear her range

[@jeffreykocik4833]

The funniest part of this reaction is that you’re pretending like you’ve never heard this before. Tip of the hat for having the Beatles 1 album in the background though.

[@tss9886]

This is not a religious song in spite of what most people believe. It was written about a dysfunctional relationship. Since it has the word Hallelujah in it, people assume it's religious but listen to the words!

[@michaelcooper5677]

The pronunciation of the word Hallelujah is not a big controversy. It depends on what type of group is singing because it can change the sound that is produced. The important thing is that everyone in the group do it pretty much the same. It is less important when you are singing a solo. Their version of the song is, According to Leonard Cohen (the writer and first performer of the song) said was the best before he died. Also the pronunciation of the word changes from culture to culture. The sound is the important aspect and we all agree that PTX's sound has few (if any) equals.

[@diltberg9627]

It's hell lol

[@AurumVoxMusic]

2:10 it depends if you are singing classical or contemporary music 😉

[@tamatirangiuaia140]

I would suggest reacting to their versions of THE PRAYER SOUND OF SILENCE BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY MARY DID YOU KNOW CANT HOLD US to name a few lol

[@Esther-e1b]

Listen to this. There is a twist in the second half. Scarborough Fair 포레스텔라 - SCARBOROUGH FAIR [불후의 명곡2 전설을 노래하다/Immortal Songs 2] | KBS 210501 방송 / KBS Kpop kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIjSYp9prJtshMk

[@gailseatonhumbert]

Just a quick note - this is not a religious song per the composer Leonard Cohen. He is actually just using biblical imagery to describe a broken love affair.

[@jimeans2281]

Mine is more like allelujah. I don’t pronounce the H. I think it has to do with my speaking Spanish too and the H is omitted also.

[@Lorten1986]

i've always been told to not emphasize the H so its Allejulah

[@hallranch548]

But Avi is talking about Samson, and his girl tying him up and cutting his hair. This is not exactly Hallelujah, the but the other form, the petitioner's form of Hallelujah......

[@elsieseidl5888]

Hi Nick, would you mind to react to Supermarket Flowers with Ed Sheeran. I really appreciate your opinion

[@nicolewilliams6368]

as an acapella group they would need to catch every sound possible... so they probably sing in a green room then place desert with computer.

[@eddietucker7005]

Hhah-leh-loo-yah… only! In Texas choir competitions, if it is anything different it could make the difference between getting a I or a II. The “Hah” is easy to fix but here in Texas, it’s the “laayee”, instead of the “leh” that kills. It is all over the face. There you get a III. Most of Pentatonix singers went to Arlington-Martin HS in Arlington, Texas. I hear some conflict between, “do I want to sing this correctly or as a pop tune. I hear each performer pronounce it differently throughout the entire performance. Avi stays closer to a classical training but gives into pop every now and then. I was sorry to see him go. I would love to hear you tear apart “Battle of Jericho”. I’ll send you a copy. You did some great constructive criticisms! (So your boss won’t have to fire you!) Where do you teach?

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Well said! I have an online vocal studio :)

[@eddietucker7005]

@@nickhiggsthesinger oh, man. Where were you when I was trying out for Texas All-State Choir!? I had to learn the music all on my own! 😰

[@TylerNally]

After a reaction to Pentatonix, Home Free should be the next Acapella group to do. Home Free calls themselves in concert the world's first & only vocal country band not using any instruments. My HF faves are: / Man of Constant Sorrow / Ring of Fire (w/ Avi Kaplan) / American Pie (w/ Don McLean) / God Bless the USA (w/ Lee Greenwood & US Air Force band) / Sea Shanty Medley / Butts Remix / Elvira (w/ The Oak Ridge Boys) In Austin Brown's (tenor no glasses) YT channel, he and Rob Lundquist (bearded tenor) have a go at singing 'Nessun Dorma' kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5WldoGknLN3ntU Adam Rupp, the beatboxer, has about 10-15 minute solo video that it isn't too difficult to find on YT.

[@katieyup519]

After "Man of Constant Sorrow", jump straight to "Mayday" to truly appreciate Tim's (bass) range. Both are such great covers by Home Free!

[@coffeetalk924]

Most people don't realize that the song was actually written by an atheist Jew who very creatively sort of twisted some of the stories from the Bible into a deeper message that he wanted to convey. It wasn't a pro-religious or pro-Bible song at all.

[@AndreasGerhardStark]

A desert? I think it' s a salt lake.

[@michaelskoraszewski5310]

Shhhhh

[@Wiley_Coyote]

This is great of course, but there's a LIVE version thats even better reaction material.

[@candim3812]

TMT

[@marablemorgan8292]

Mohave...

[@kayecastleman6353]

Are you listening to Pentatonix with one earbud? Their recordings often pan from left to right or record certain of their voices in only one side at some points. You will miss a lot without a set of good headphones. Just sayin'...🙂

[@diabolicalgenious]

In my opinion, 'Hallelujah' is not a "religious" song, it's a sad love song. But what do I know?

[@maureenpacey4892]

If you want to hear a singer sing low or high listen to Dimash sing SOS best singer in the world bar none.

[@marthalikens482]

How many grammies do you have??

[@axonax357]

I;m not gay but ouch your good looking,

[@janetredshaw7217]

Hallelujah is "H" hard Alleluia is no "H" Different languages Hebrew and Latin I think

[@MsJimmysgirl]

I have nothing against Matt, but I really miss Avi.

[@denisehollen7973]

I'm sorry, but for the love of God, quit stopping the video every 5 sec.

[@allendesalme197]

This song was not written by Handel and is not sung in churches, friend.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

I know it’s not written by handel 😂 It’s leonard cohen

[@allendesalme197]

@@nickhiggsthesinger I was commenting on your fairly endless rumination on how to pronounce "Hallelujah" and, frankly, it got pretty silly. And distracting. Just sayin'.

[@janicebird610]

They have great voices and harmonies, too bad they use auto-tune

[@oliviamurphy9482]

Pretty much all modern musicians use pitch correction software Janice. It doesn't mean the artists can't sing, as you just stated. You will struggle to find studio recorded musicians that don't use any such software, and if they say they don't they may be lying or ill informed. It's just what the mainstream music industry does now, and its how many peoples ears are trained to hear voices now

[@christinavalerio2423]

You talk too much!!

[@097534]

I'd pack up if I was you Pentatonix you obviously can't sing. You're welcome at my house anytime.

[@debrawoodson2365]

Your talk too much during hearing the song..sorry

[@jackbrock2945]

Why do you even bother playing the music when you can’t stop talking and it’s strange there famous and your trying to tell them what there doing wrong

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

I’m highlighting what they did well. The link to the original video is in the description

[@jackbrock2945]

Can you stop talking so much

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

No, sorry Jack

[@bonnieflynn4798]

Thank you for,this reaction. I subbed for more PTX. Mitch has an astonishing 6 octave and one tone range according to Google He is amazing. They all are