Reaction-Analysis to VoicePlay's "Classical Chaos" medley

[@SweetCuttlefish-AshleyE]

Incredibly impressed that you recognized it was Layne’s voice and not Geoff’s when Cesar was ‘stealing’ voices 🤣 Most people assume it was either Cesar or Geoff 🤣

[@DTA-Music]

I just love how they characterize the Grundels. They're like a bunch of curious, excited little kids who just want to play with the cool magic book! They don't MEAN to cause any trouble or drive the pretty witch lady up a wall! And she starts out willing to indulge them by letting them watch as long as they cool their jets and behave themselves...which of course they don't (can't) 🤣

[@barbarakennedy2667]

I agree. My own view of them is very similar.

[@hwyla4416]

Yes, this forest IS more dense. When you get back to Villains’ Lair you will eventually see this set again. Hence why this video premiered in summer. It was soon after PattyCake dropped the other one.

[@Drake844221]

Honestly, a big part of what I enjoyed here is getting to see you being... well, so delighted by it all. I love these reactions and analyses partly for the little details that I missed, but even more so... just getting to see everyone's first experience with a song. I really love sharing in the experience like that! (Especially since I have very few people to share the experience with in person)

[@huldradraco]

Yup, that is indeed Layne's voice as Cesar's "Geoff" voice 😄

[@delord1619]

Fooled me,XD

[@karenponchak5304]

we tend to forget sometimes... Layne has a D2 in chest.

[@Jennifer_J_C]

Thanks David 😊 I was laughing along with you 😊 Great insights as always 😊

[@letheardaw]

Great commentary. The characterizations are so much fun and add so much, Rachel crossing her arms and looking completely fed up when Eli got the book, and Geoff's look of 'here we go again...". Fractured! It wasn't until you said 'fractured' that I zeroed in on what had been knocking at my mind - the old "Fractured Fairy Tales" from Bullwinkle the Moose. This is Layne's musical Fractured Tales 🤣

[@annamattaar]

I always enjoy your in-depth analyses and this was absolutely no exception! You caught all of my favourite details too 😁

[@CapriUni]

Ever since this video first dropped, I thought: "David K is gonna love this one!" I never noticed, until you mentioned it that Rachel *isn't* lip syncing when Eli gets the book... Just goes to show how deeply immersed in the actual storytelling I was.

[@EtherealForever]

You just never know what to expect!! Layne's brain is an extraordinary place.🌹🕊

[@LoriPeace]

I have a vague memory of learning to play the Habanera on the piano back when I was, oh, maybe seven or eight? I took piano lessons from the time I was six, from my mom because she was a piano teacher and I think a very simplified version of the song was in my piano book. A very sweet memory of time spent with my mom 😊 Love that you also have such a great memory of the song, David!

[@katthor7311]

- You caught that wasn't Geoff's voice even though Cesar stole from him! 😄 I, too, when I first heard that thought the gag was funny but that it didn't sound like Geoff. I found out later it is actually Layne. - I'm going to wait and see if you notice Cesar dancing the can-can during the can-can 😆, but I love that you caught Geoff's look of annoyance at the Layne/Rachel love spell. - I love the Layne/Eli plug for the merchandise again at the end, and this time we get to see them. - The VoicePlay brand of crazy always works. 😝 - Yup. Layne is a carrot now. If you look at the smoke from the fire when he has the book it's orange and develops a green top to it. 😁 - That forest set was in PattyCake, and it was something they set up for their own video and VP took advantage of it to give us this part 2 of classical music. - I feel like no one ever notices Rachel rip the baton/wand out of Eli's hand and he gets all sad. - Layne originally wanted to put Rachel in full black sclera contacts, but she had never worn any kind of contacts before and scleras are intense even for people that do sfx makeup like this all the time. So they opted to give her white regular contacts instead. - To describe Cesar as Puck-ish is so perfect. - There are so many little interactions that can be easily missed in this. You have to watch it several times to try and catch them all. The moment Geoff loses the book is one of my favorites. - Geoff telling on Layne, pointing at him is another favorite. And yes, Rachel plays that "give the book back now or you're going to be in trouble" look so well. - Yes! You caught the smoke color coding. 😃 - And you got the Wilhelm scream. 😆 - Random story time: Before Chuck E Cheese (a kids pizza place with simple rides and games) was called that, it was Showbiz Pizza. I went there quite often as a kid. They had a mini merry-go-round. It probably held four people and as it would go around the seats would also move up and down. The floor of the ride was concentric circles made to look like a rainbow. The ride played Für Elise, and I remember vividly riding that thing, the seat moving down and me running my feet along the rainbow, the seat moving back up. It was kind of hypnotic. But whenever I hear Für Elise, I think of that Showbiz Pizza ride. - Rachel's utter annoyance with Eli is hilarious. - Timmy! 😸 - Yay you noticed Cesar can-canning! - I love the visual of a Venetian Gondolier just serenely steering us up a mountain. 😂 - I believe Layne made up the "words" that they're chanting when they get back to Hall of the Mountain King, and I think Eli repeats it in the outro and then Layne asks him what does that mean and he says good. My best interpretation derived from several listens to that outro is phoenetically "ha eh tok oh lay". - That last page is a play on words. It says do not loose, implying do not lose this page and also don't let this page loose. - It took me a while to catch Geoff's "great here we go again, of course" face. 🤣 - They are compelled to sing to finish the song......Buffy Once More With Feeling? Anyone? 😃

[@RemWinchester]

This whole video was such a great example of Voiceplay's "brand of dumb", as Geoff calls it!

[@Aurora-cv5to]

Thoroughly enjoyed your reaction, thank you! Initially Layne did almost all of their medleys, he's incredible at that. Queen in 5 minutes is a classic example of the incredible skill he brings to it. Now this - obviously a big step beyond, and amazing. Layne acknowledged that he'll 'probably' do another one, but said it would probably be at least a year.

[@karenzak6627]

I've looked forward to your reaction and analysis to this P production in particular since you enjoyed their initial one so much. Thank you for making it even more enjoyable and furthering my appreciation of VP's talents and skills! Now I think I like this one best of the two.

[@CajunPandaBear]

“The closest thing in real life we get to a genuine magic wand is a conductor’s baton. Because you wave it and magic happens.” So beautiful and so very true.

[@denmar60]

Just found your channel tonight. A reaction on par with the Charismatic Voice, but even more impressive with the character analysis. Subbed!

[@patriciawitherspoon7207]

I always enjoy your reactions, and this was no exception. And Carmen is my favorite opera as well. I saw it at 14, (I am now 75), and the memories are still vivid. I was waiting to buy a last minute ticket, and a euridite silver haired gentleman asked if I would like his ticket. I don't recall his reason for not needing it, I was just overwhelmed at being given a FRONT row seat for free . And then to hear Carmen!!! I must say that hearing Voiceplay do it in this video is my second favorite version, lol . Great reaction and I know there will be many more .

[@DnDAddictUK]

I was expecting this to be a long video, you did not disappoint! Such a good analysis!

[@totoro123]

Latne did an interview with The Charismatic Voice, if you to find out a bit more about the arrangement and perc. 😊

[@LokificentsLair]

I cant wait to see you cover geoff's newest and voiceplays be prepared

[@FLNatureGuy]

I loved everything about this piece! Fun watch with your reaction. Hopefully, they will have a third with both Lizzie and Rachel together.

[@Shadow_Person11]

Chaos is absolutely the best word to describe this.

[@gilliandrysdale5306]

love seeing someone enjoying Voiceplay ❤

[@carolfranklin]

Fascinating insight as always. You also blew my mind because I live in Ilford & my late husband & I used to go to the KMT a lot & I wouldn't be at all surprised if we saw your performance!!

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you! But more importantly, that's amazing! I performed with Sideshow Theatre for several shows, lots of the KMT's own (The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr Abridged being my personal favourite), and even put on my own production of The Musical of Musicals The Musical in the lobby. I almost didn't mention that, but now I'm glad I did. :-D

[@carolfranklin]

@@davidkreacts wow I’m glad I wrote. Yes we definitely saw Sideshow productions & I fondly remember the musical in the lobby. How amazing because I watch all VP & Geoff reactions I find someone in Toronto who I would’ve seen in Ilford 😂

[@Starrynightdiner]

Wonderful as always ❤❤😊

[@embran8486]

And yes, just like Mussorgsky´s Night on Bald Mountain, Ponticelli´s Dance of the Hours is from Fantasia. It´s during the ballet of ostriches, hippo´s and crocodiles.

[@hollyryalsgrubb1273]

It's magnificent and so is this totally epic reaction/analysis. I'm enjoying learning because it evident how much fun this has been for our delightful teacher. And it was obviously full on play for VoicePlay and for Layne's brain.

[@vdoyne]

VoicePlay's "Classical Chaos" is so fun. Pattycake's forest set is cool. You are correct...when Cesar is stealing voices, the low bass he steals is performed by Layne. Excellent reaction!

[@par500dragon7]

Couldn't click fast enough! This one is fabulous and I knew you'd enjoy it.

[@KaaSerpent]

If I'm not mistaken, Rachel was actually their first choice to play the female Grundle in the original video, but she was not available, and Elizabeth stepped in and magic was made.

[@coletedeux]

Dance of the Hippos in Fantasia.

[@karenponchak5304]

I love the thought that Liz and Rachel are the competent ones (and will add the boys are more, well, boys. mischievous, careless, curious, chaotic...- I could go on). Liz and Rachel are goddesses in comparison to the grundels. also - you missed that it was carrot (smoke) during Blue Danube, and that the last page says DO NOT LOOSE. not lose, loose.

[@HelmyNilsson]

I love your reactions, especially to Voiceplay. You are so knowledgeable and your laugh is so infectious. I absolutely love this music video but you give me insights into how and why which make me enjoy it even more and you have such a good way of explaining and pointing stuff out. Please keep the reactions coming.

[@embran8486]

Not surprised you not recognizing Ponticelli´s Dance of the Hours. Most don´t. But you did say Also Sprach Zarathustra instead of damn Space Odyssey. Applause! 👌👏

[@MarieDesJardin]

Another wonderful reaction. About the chant, it's just nonsense syllables. You can find them listed out in a comment under VoicePlay's video, but the consonants were chosen purely for sound. Looking forward to your next reaction!

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

Dance of the Hours (and specifically the part that VoicePlay reproduced) shows up quite a bit in old cartoons (the ones that were created to play in theaters before the newsreel and the main movie, so the kids could watch the cartoon and then fall asleep while their parents watch the rest, back in the era when people went to the movie theater as a family). And yes, it's also featured in Fantasia, with hippos and alligators dancing. Also BWV 565, and also Bald Mountain. Romantic music has a higher skill ceiling for performers, but I think Baroque had a higher skill ceiling for the composer. Bach is my favorite composer, but I do also really like Chopin; and while my favorite piece of music overall is Baroque (BWV 1080, the Art of Fugue; I particularly like the Karl Munchinger string ensemble rendition), my favorite piece of music for solo piano is Romantic (Chopin, Op. 28 No. 15). My tastes are significantly more eclectic than this paragraph makes them sound, but I'll cut the list short here because I'm far enough off topic already. In the twenties, movie theaters still employed musicians (typically, a pianist, but the details varied) to play while the movie was showing, because most of the movies didn't have sound of their own. As "talkies" became more common in the thirties, just having the people on the screen actually speak (and in some cases even sing) was impressive enough, so sound effects were pretty basic for a while. Fur Elise, especially the first movement, isn't a piece of music that I particularly care about, normally. But VoicePlay's use of it here is another matter entirely. Their arrangement elevates the piece to a different level. The chant during Mountain King is either gibberish, or a conlang. I suspect the former, although it does put me just a little bit in mind of Toki Pona. It's definitely not a natural language. For some reason a lot of reactors guess that it might be Latin, but that's clearly nonsense: it doesn't have even remotely the right syllable structure to be Indo-European. The natural language family it's closest to is probably Austronesian, but the phonetic inventory is not a good match for that. My best guess is that it's just meaningless syllables chosen to sound like part of a magic spell. In the outro, Eli repeats the first several syllables of the chant (in reference to the merchandise).

[@Debs_Badger]

You're spot on. The chant is a nonsense one Layne made up.

[@hwyla4416]

“The amount they TROLLED through”? I don’t think you realized what you said there.

[@hwyla4416]

Another bit you said that I really enjoyed was when you discussed how we know ‘something is coming” when we hear ‘2001’. I especially like how Layne at that point in the music looks away from the group and ‘up’. Reminds me of the apes in the movie having that monolith drop in.

[@barbarakennedy2667]

The Grundels are essentially a group of mischievous creatures (fey?) that seem attracted to music or musical magic. At least a start of the lore I made up for myself.

[@yoclark2723]

My husband and I have differing styles. I love Baroque and he loves romantic. Give me Bach or Vivaldi while he loves Beethoven and Hayden. I love this piece so much! They each try to steal the book from Rachel and how she gets more and more frustrated. The faces they make is priceless. You are correct, the stolen voice is Layne. The chant is what I imagine is the Grundel language. It's what Eli says in the merch commercial. I totally love this one and the mountain king but Geoff hates the costumes and the time it takes to put them on so he says never again. I hope he changes his mind.

[@r3adrpro811]

Now that you have done this reaction, go watch the conversation between Elizabeth Zharoff (The Charasmatic Voice) and Layne breaking down the arrangement.

[@delord1619]

David, about the appearance of the set, in The Mountain King, Layne admitted that a whole bunch of little trees behind the studio volunteered for decorative foliage duty. I suspect that somebody did a very subtle job of updating a photo of the original backdrop to create the new location.

[@karenponchak5304]

the set for this was for another shoot being done at Pattycake, and they were able to get usage out of it beyond the original purpose of it.

[@ingemojonsall3402]

Thanks for a great analysis of this video/musical peace.

[@ulinomis1]

Ohh this i have been waiting for.. :D

[@ChristineCornish-l9z]

Wonderful analysis, thank you !

[@bjspeck4337]

Think Fantasia and the ballet dancing hippos. I was in band for 6 yrs so we played most of these. Seems like Rachel was supposed to be taking them through how to do the spells but is exasperated with the 3rd grade level of her students. That IS Layne doing Geoff on Cesar. I've heard they will do another of these but it will be awhile. Can't wait.

[@rmdewberry2482]

Just too much fun this one!

[@rhov-anion]

50:35 - I also wondered about the chanting underneath, since it wasn't the original. THOSE lyrics are more than a little inappropriate, so I can see why VoicePlay chose to make up a language rather than use the original Norwegian. Original: Slagt ham! Kristenmands søn har dåret Dovregubbens veneste mø! Slagt ham! Slagt ham! Må jeg skjære ham i fingeren? Må jeg rive ham i håret? Hu, hej, lad mig bide ham i låret! Skal han lages til sod og sø? Skal han steges på spid eller brunes i gryde? Isvand i blodet! Translation: Slay him! The Christian man’s son has seduced the fairest maid of the Mountain King! Slay him! Slay him! May I hack him on the fingers? May I tug him by the hair? Hu, hey, let me bite him in the haunches! Shall he be boiled into soup and broth? Shall he roast on a spit or be browned in a stewpan? Ice-water to your blood!

[@janetdw]

The set was for PattyCake Productions Villains Lair and contains something like 30 trees and a number of hand painted trunks that they created just for the set. You are the only reactor who also thought that Cesar stealing their voices was reminiscent of Ursula stealing Ariel‘s voice! And it took me much more than two times to finally catch that! And I think Eli does know what he did when he cast that love spell. If you watch again he’s standing there rubbing his hands together - which I never noticed until I paid attention when you rewinded. You talked about character building. I don’t think we need to give Layne any more character than he already has. He is enough of a character for two or three people. Did you notice that the they used a dictionary for the SPELL book? More Layne madness! Someone figured out the chant in the background of Mountain King and it’s just syllables that Layne made up.

[@karenponchak5304]

Layne actually posted the words - I believe it was on a patreon comment

[@janetdw]

@@karenponchak5304 Ah, thanks. I knew that somebody had written it out I just couldn’t remember who. These days I seem to have a mind like a steel sieve - Info goes in but it doesn’t stay in.

[@susanfulbright4898]

Voiceplay's enuciations are always impecably precise. So...if you can't make it out, it was created nonsense sounds.

[@ShadowPerson11]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@carinarodebak9419]

Nibody can beat VoicePlay at this game. And it is Layne doing the bass voiceover when Cesar 'steals' the voices. I admit to not hearing it myself, if I hadn't heard Layne saying so in the BTS.

[@ilonadever8249]

The only thing I don't care for in this piece is Layne's decision to use prosthetic lips on Rachel. It interfered with our ability to see all of her movement. Other that that? Absolutely wonderful!!

[@MusclesandMusic]

I love how absolutely childish the guys are in this video. I lovingly refer to them as men children. Rachel's look when Eli has the book is so perfect. She looks like the teacher that has told the kids multiple times to quiet down or stop what they're doing and finally she's just had enough of it. Or like the mother who is annoyed that her children are fighting yet again. Also, yes Eli knows exactly what he's doing once he casts the love spell. If you watch him, he rubs his hands together like he's plotting and looks between Rachel and Layne while they're "singing" that little romantic part. Geoff's face is also priceless. It's almost like he's saying "oh no not again" or "Lord give me strength" or something along those lines. They are just saying sounds that Layne made up during the beginning of In The Hall of The Mountain King so no words per say basically just sounds. I forget exactly what they are "saying". I know I saw it written out somewhere. I saw Carmen once in New York but I was in high school and feel as though I need to give opera another shot because I wasn't crazy about it. Love your reactions and can't wait to see more!

[@shlomiB.R.]

listen to: Asaf Avidan, in a box lll- 900 days Or (Suggested by Ren👇) Asaf Avidan - In A Box III - Rock of Lazarus you won't regret!!