Reaction to and Analysis of A Chance to Fly (Medley of songs from the musical "Wicked") by VoicePlay

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much to everyone for your positive and encouraging comments below. I will definitely be doing more reactions going forwards. I have one for Geoff's Monster Mash in the can (I searched out his channel about an hour after I recorded this video, and guessed - correctly - that a first watch would be impressive!), and I'll be releasing that in a few days. Not sure what my release schedule will be yet, but I'm looking forward to doing more - this was a lot of fun!

[@patriciaschuman4205]

Thank YOU! I fully understand why you had to watch some more VoicePlay videos right away. And while I appreciate the fun of watching someone experience one of their works for the first time, I also really enjoy reactors who can put together a detailed review of just what they are doing that makes it so spectacular from a technical standpoint. As long as you have something to say, don't be afraid to post a review of a 'second look' or detailed analysis of something you initially watched on your own.

[@davidkreacts]

@@patriciaschuman4205 That is a fair point - I'm so used to seeing reaction-analyses, I didn't think of posting a straight analysis, but I may well do some of those once I've done a few initial reactions (to get into a rhythm). Thanks. :-)

[@bjspeck4337]

Monster Mash was my first Geoff video because it has been a joyous part of Halloween for most of my life. Geoff's was so much fun that I went looking for Geoff and found VoicePlay so Hoist the Colours was my first VP. And I was hooked. I sat down and went through almost all of the 800+ VP videos - I missed a few but not many - found Grow Old With Me 2 weeks ago. I always do the VoicePlay or Geoff videos first, then go looking for my reactors (don't know exactly how many I have subscribed to, but it's a lot) so I can enjoy them seeing if for the first time. Brings much pleasure like when you did the Little Mermaid and the howls of laughter. Thank you, friend.

[@ilonadever8249]

@@bjspeck4337 Grow Old With Me is one of my favorites, so sweet!!

[@emilybennett6567]

I would like to thank David's very wise friend who encouraged him to record his reaction to this song. I am very grateful we got to experience David's first encounter with VoicePlay and this masterpiece. Truly a delight for David and a gift for VP fans! Cheers, friend.

[@CynicalTesuji]

Welcome to VoicePlay! And to Geoff Castellucci as well; he's his own rabbithole. Since you called out the amazing set and lighting, I think it's only fair to tell you that the guys do it all themselves- Layne Stein (vocal percussion) and Geoff take turns creating the vocal arrangements, and whoever does the arrangement is also responsible for the video- site/prop/costume sourcing, directing and editing the video, and sometimes still camera work (assuming they aren't needed on the other side of that camera!), as well as the initial sound engineering before shipping it off to Ed Boyer for the final mix. Eli (rhymes with 'jelly'; short for Eliezer) Jacobson is the bald rock tenor, and he does all their lighting work, and more recently he's started doing digital effects. Cesar De La Rosa is the most recent permanent member of the group (they are currently short one high tenor), and is an absolute delight; he's one of the most emotive people you'll ever see on screen. We're still learning what his voice is capable of. Speaking of vocal capabilities, Geoff Castellucci has his own solo channel, where he posts his own covers. He's got a 5 octave range (he goes lower than he did in this video!), and multitracks his voice so that he's singing tenor, baritone, bass and deep bass--- and his solo arrangements are just as incredible as his work for VoicePlay. Plus, his video style is incredible- he often only works with his wife, Kathy, assisting him, although more recent releases have seen the technical quality increasing, so he's worked more often with Layne and Tony Wakim (a former VoicePlay baritone) at Pattycake Productions, a video production studio that Layne and Tony co-own. I hope you'll continue reacting to VoicePlay, and to Geoff's solo work. There's a huge community out here who absolutely love them and their work, and despite their immense talent (both vocal and production), VoicePlay is one of those gems who often get overlooked in favor of 'bigger' groups like Pentatonix and Home Free. Which is a shame, since VoicePlay are doing some seriously creating and artistic work, and looking mighty impressive for doing it on a Patreon budget!

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much for the in-depth explanation - I really appreciate this. I learned some of this, but you’ve really given me a solid overview here. I maaaay have found Geoff’s solo channel and recorded a reaction to Monster Mash about two hours after I did this one. Going to release it in a couple of days to spread out the start of the channel. Won’t have time to do another one for a week or two.

[@CynicalTesuji]

@@davidkreacts Came back to rewatch this over coffee this morning, and caught something I hadn't before. You mentioned at one point about the bell tones (which VoicePlay love to utilize) reminding you of Mr. Sandman. And that made me giggle, because they have a series of short videos (often less than a minute, never more than about a minute and a half) called Minis- enough that they started a VoicePlay Minis standalone channel- and early in that series they covered Mr. Sandman. (This video is still found on their main channel, as it was made prior to VoicePlay opting for the Minis channel) I will say, their version will not be what you expect. But then when it's VoicePlay, it seldom is. 😉

[@ilonadever8249]

Every day, really, I search for new reactions to Voiceplay. Watching your reaction was wonderful!! Their arrangements are usually done by either Geoff Castellucci, the bass, or Layne Stein, the beatboxer. They are an independent group, no label, so they have complete control over their work. It also means that they don't get the publicity that other artists do. They have had some member changes in the past two years, so as you go back you will hear another high tenor and a different baritone. I will suggest that you react to their cover of Hoist the Colours from Pirates or the Caribbean 3. And they go all out with humor, makeup and costume in a recent piece, In the Hall of the Mountain King. Subscribed in anticipation of more Voiceplay and Geoff!

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much for the encouragement and the info. Your subscription will be rewarded with more, believe me. I was thinking Hoist the Colours next if only because it was suggested at the end of this video! (That’s after the Monster Mash reaction I’ve already recorded.)

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

@@davidkreacts Hoist is excellent, one of the best things they've ever done; it's currently tied with Mountain King for my personal favourite VoicePlay MV. If you like Broadway musicals, as your stated love of Wicked suggests, you may also want to check out If I Were a Rich Man and/or Phantom of the Opera (which is so old, it actually has Tony in it). They also did a medley from Greatest Showman.

[@lisahuff818]

I felt like I just witnessed the birth of a Voiceplay fan! They are amazing and so insanely talented. I loved your genuine joy. Keep it up!

[@davidkreacts]

Haha - you absolutely did! Thank you so much! I’m so excited to keep exploring their work.

[@lisahuff818]

You sir are a born reactor! You are spot on.

[@davidkreacts]

Aw, thanks! That’s very kind of you. I’ve got two more in the can, one coming tomorrow, and I must say I’m really enjoying them!

[@tonifinley4872]

Welcome to the VoicePlay/Geoff fandoms! You've no doubt noticed we're fiercely loyal and very happy to have new members, especially ones as knowledgeable and publicly enthusiastic as you. You'll gain lots of us as subscribers and commenters, so don't be too surprised as your numbers grow. Thanks for your wonderful reactions and insights. And thanks to your friend who hooked you up with this video. Your life has been enriched a thousand fold!

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much! I'm delighted that people are enjoying my reactions, and I am beginning to understand what an incredible community I've entered into. Looking forward to interacting more with you all.

[@dtwolfe63]

@@davidkreacts The a capella community is top notch. There is seemingly no ego problems in VoicePlay, Home Free, Pentatonix or Voctave (the top 4 a capella groups in the land). Members will reach out to the other groups for help or to offer it to each other. They truly do wish one another success and are fans of the others. Other suggestions for you by VoicePlay are: The Moana Medley The Little Mermaid Medley We Don't Talk About Bruno (from Encanto) Oogie Boogie's Song (from The Nightmare Before Christmas) If I Were a Rich Man/Girl (from Fiddler on the Roof) Good 4 U We're Good Zombies (VoicePlay) vs. Hillbillies (Home Free) Survivor Hoist the Colors Carry on Wayward Son

[@Broomrider1492]

#TheatreKidsOfACappella. This is Geoff Castellucci's (he's the bass) arrangement that he calls his seven-minute Beast. Took him a couple of years to get it done. I found Geoff Castellucci's channel first where he does his own low-bass covers. Fell in love with his cover of Sixteen Tons and that led me to his group VoicePlay. Fell down the VoicePlay rabbit hole and haven't heard any cover that I didn't like.

[@davidkreacts]

Thanks for the info. I’m so impressed with all of this. Listened to a couple more Voiceplay videos because I couldn’t help myself - they’re incredible. Saving the others so I can do a couple more reactions.

[@michaelkler8191]

A few suggestions watching VoicePlay and Geoff Castellucci videos. First, always watch until the end (the patron roll). They sometimes fade to black and then throw in a surprise ending. Next, watch for Easter eggs. They are nerdy, zany,a and like to have fun. Finally, turn on closed captioning, especially with Geoff Castellucci videos. He likes to put humor in his closed captioning.

[@davidkreacts]

All good things to be aware of - thank you! I shall make a point of doing those (though must confess to being a terrible Easter egg spotter!).

[@EbonRaven]

Thank you for such a WONDERFUL reaction! I agree with several other comments, I really love the watch through first, then go back and comment style of reaction. It's a personal preference. This is such a wonderful group and so deserving of more recognition. I'm writing this as you went "What just happened?!" after Geoff did his drop. That made me laugh, since this is one of his ... tamer ... acrobatic songs. :D I won't bother adding recommendations other than "Yes, Voiceplay". I'm definitely happily subscribed and looking forward to any other reactions you do.

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much! I’m looking forward to checking our more of their work, and I’m glad that you’re enjoying my exploration. :-)

[@Aurora-cv5to]

WONDERFUL response. They are all truly amazing. Geoff, the one who arranged this one, is the bass, far right. Now that you are here, settle in and do a few more! It's Halloween, and they are the kings of Halloween. They give you all of the beauty, and lots of crazy theatrics. I think you'd really love Greig's In the Hall of the Mountain King - yep, orchestral, all a cappella, no lyrics - and an hysterically funny Halloween story to go with. Major costumes and sets - but the insane musicality the whole time. Geoff has a personal channel and on it you'll find - among all of the beautiful songs - a video on singing subharmonics. Geoff can do a C1 chest any time, but does go lower in chest on some of his videos. And then there are the trips lower in subharmonics. (5 octave range) Eli, tenor 2, has nailed an A1 in chest.

[@huldradraco]

not C1 chest. his lowest is F#1 chest. anything below that is subs.

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you for the recommendations. I have a Monster Mash reaction in the can to release in a few days. I am very excited to check out Mountain King now too. I am so impressed by Geoff's range, but knowing Eli can do that too is incredible - even learning that he took over bass in this (hence my added comment) was cool - their ranges are astonishing.

[@janetdw]

@@davidkreacts Layne’s also has 5 octane. He used inhaled phonation for his lowest notes - Sh- Boom is the one where even I caught it. He also has a lovely baritone, but we don’t get to hear a lot of it since he does the beatboxing

[@davidkreacts]

@@janetdw Ooh - I look forward to hearing more of that, for sure. I also hadn't caught the Sh-Boom video was there - I'll definitely add that to my list.

[@patriciaschuman4205]

It's always wonderful to watch a first-time reaction to this incredibly talented group of people. And to have someone who can appreciate not only the superb musical prowess, but also their dedication to providing a theatrical experience and yet also add in touches of humor is very welcome indeed. I hope you will react to more of their videos and perhaps some of Geoff's solo work as well.

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you, Patricia! I will be doing so, for sure. I've watched a couple of reaction videos to this since I recorded it and I can see I'm far from alone in my response!

[@marshayoung9387]

@@davidkreacts Voice Play are a total package & so is Geoff Castallucci with his solo videos.

[@Wildecat10]

I’m late to the party, but I subscribed so I’ll keep coming back. Loved your reaction. You noticed Geoff’s look at Cesar during his Kill the witch line. It’s a little Easter egg for those of us who know Geoff sand the part of Ursula (the sea witch) in their Little Mermaid medley. And yes - that’s a suggestion. A couple other suggestions would be ones arranged by Layne: We Don’t Talk About. Bruno and their Greatest Showman medley. In both you get to hear Layne sing a little (we love his beatboxing, but also his singing). In Bruno, he not only sings in his usual baritone, but also takes a few lines in bass (when Geoff is otherwise occupied) By the way, Eli (the tenor) does their lighting. He started simply, but has gotten very good and also sometimes helps Geoff for his videos. Just one more thing. Rachel was in the Broadway cast for this show, but always was backup for Glinda. So she was happy to sing Elphaba here.

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate all the information - I'm getting a really clear picture of how talented they are, and how much they work within the group, and it's singularly impressive. Definitely keen to see more Layne arrangements - just recorded a reaction to Oogie Boogie's Song, so I got a taste of his work there.

[@candybonhomme5915]

Voiceplay are called the theater kids of acappella. They always put on a show

[@davidkreacts]

I can see how they earned that name!

[@glowface79]

Been watching David's reactions for a few weeks now, since I found him, with much joy. I just realised I have not yet checked out, how it all started. So, 14-and-a-bit months late, I just wanted to thank "A Friend" for sending this video to David. It started launching something really great!

[@ashbii7632]

I am so here for your VP/Geoff journey! Buckle up! GREAT reaction, this medley is one of my all time favorites.

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you! I'm so excited for this as well. My first Geoff reaction is coming out tomorrow.

[@AuntMimi-]

This has to be one of my new favorite reactions 💛 such a wonderful insight. I love how you picked up so many of the wonderful special moments they’ve put into this medley. We call VoicePlay our Theater kids. They put so much heart and creativity into their videos! And we love each and every theatrical moment of them! Geoff did an absolutely amazing job on this arrangement. I’m so glad that you loved them as much as we do! (I’m a bit late to the party but) welcome to the rabbit hole 🐇🎩 much love to you hun

[@AuntMimi-]

One of my favorite moments in the whole thing is when Cesar and Geoff look at each other in for good. Cesar is the newest member of the group, and he and Geoff have formed such a wonderful friendship. And I feel like you can just see how much Cesar has come to look up to and appreciate Geoff. It just makes my heart so happy.

[@davidkreacts]

Aw. thank you so much! I think knowing the musical very well (having seen it around 20 times) definitely helped! I may reanalyse this at some point though - I know VP so much better now, and I can see so many things I missed! Yes, Geoff outdid himself with this one - I cannot get over the intricacies in it, even having heard it well over 100 times by now. Thank you very much - it's a rabbit hole I'm very glad to be in! I didn't know how new Cesar was when I did this, and looking back at that moment now, yes, I love that too!

[@AuntMimi-]

@@davidkreacts I’d love to see another look. Geoff worked on it for so long, and did such a wonderful job with it. He was able to include so many of the magical moments with such seamless transitions, it just amazes me. I haven’t had the chance to see Wicked in person, but it means so much to me, my brother and sister. It was an important part of my life in high school. I think I’ll always hold it close to my heart, but I think a whole lot of people do. I could talk about it for hours, so if you do revisit it I’ll definitely be here, happy to watch 💛💛

[@karenponchak5304]

I second suggestions of watching "In the Hall of the Mountain King ". If you love subharmonic bass, Geoff goes back and forth between chest and subs with almost unnatural ease. Also, wait till you hear him do his two octave jumps. PS - if you like Layne doing a disco beat, wait till you hear him do dubstep. 😊

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you for the recommendations!

[@gilliandrysdale5306]

now that’s what I call a reaction so glad you enjoyed my favourite group! If you investigate farther you’ll find loads of amazing content they have done, also we fans love finding new reactors and it will probably significantly increase your subscribers BTW Geoff is the base on the far right❤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you! I'm loving their work. Prepping a backlog of videos since I know I'm going to be unable to record for a week or so, and I'm loving their work.

[@par500dragon7]

It's always great to see someone find VoicePlay for the first time. But it's especially lovely when that someone is musically knowledgeable and can appreciate the finer nuances of their performances. Your reaction was enthusiastic and expressive, and I really enjoyed it!

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much!

[@rmdewberry2482]

Ooo, you're gonna be one of the acapella reactors that the fan base loves, I can tell. We live for a long VoicePlay or Geoff Castellucci reaction. 😆

[@davidkreacts]

Aw, thank you! I hope so. I’m really enjoying these, and I’d be delighted if everyone else does too. :-)

[@asemlagnestal]

Thank you for one of my favorite “watching VoicePlay for the first time” -reactions! Immediately subscribed to your channel and waiting for more VoicePlay and Geoff reactions. I like your concept with a first time watch through and then go back and break it down. There’s always so much happening in their videos so it’s almost impossible to catch everything in just one view. ❤🎶❤️

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much! I'm glad the format works. I didn't want to stop and start the first time, but then realised there was no way I could talk about that much material without then doing so! Geoff reaction coming out tomorrow, and I've got another VoicePlay in the can, probably for the weekend.

[@guypithecusthe1st453]

What a great reaction! I've watched this several times, but I've never appreciated it more. ... Guy

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that.

[@lisahuff818]

That’s exactly how I feel too.

[@christinestromberg4057]

You look stunned but that's hardly surprising, they are stunning. A group that doesn't get nearly enough attemtion, in my view. Geoff is the bass, at least he calls himself a baritone with a wide range, but he does his own low bass covers on his own channel. But for arrangements he and Layne the beatboxer (who also sings sometimes) who do most of their arrangements between them, about 50/50. Whichever of them does the arrangement also does the mixing and editing. I look forward to seeing more of your arrangements to them and hopefully Geoff as well. :)

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much! More coming for both, for sure!

[@lkreinmiller-author]

The key to VoicePlay is in their name VoicePLAY. They are the theater/music geeks of the a cappella world. If you like musical,theater, this is the group for you. It is awesome watching someone else discover my favorite group and my favorite singer.

[@davidkreacts]

That makes complete sense. I understand that - I wasn't sure exactly how this would all go down, but I watched a couple of other reactors after releasing this, and having that initial enjoyment again vicariously through someone else is so much fun!

[@lasmith1929]

Just saw your reaction and I subscribed. I absolutely love voiceplay. I saw a lot of comments that tell you a lot about them. The only thing I can add is that Layne the beat boxer has a wonderful singing voice as well. If you like Kate Bush Running up that hill (and/or are a fan of the series stranger things) you might like their cover of it. I am look forward to seeing more of your reactions, I truly appreciate your knowledge and appreciation for music. Thank for the awesome reaction.

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much! I am very intrigued to hear Layne sing now - I love seeing people who are so multitalented. I’ll definitely check out Running Up That Hill too. (So many videos! Yay!)

[@susanbradley5685]

Voiceplay arranges, records, films, costumes, lights...their own performances. EVERYTHING they do is amazing. Please keep reacting to Voiceplay...I subbed immediately when I saw your first VP experience!

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much! Will definitely be doing more, and already have a couple in the can for the next couple of weeks. I am singularly impressed not only by their work, but by the breadth of their talents.

[@craftymissfit6007]

Great Reaction, from left to right Layne Stein, Eli Jacobson, Rachel Potter, Emoni Wilkins, Cesar De la Rosa and Geoff Castellucci this arragement took Geoff 2 yrs he calls it the beast

[@davidkreacts]

Wow! The work shows. What a labour of love! And thank you for helping me identify people. :-)

[@allisoncameron-dicker2737]

Great reaction. I came across your reaction as I always search each day for new reactions... The I binge watch them when I get chance... Voiceplay have many more fantastic videos for you to enjoy... Welcome to the fun and wild ride that is Voiceplay and subsequently Geoff Castellucci who is a founding member and bass.... He can and has gone lower but also reaches attic heights on occasion... They've done Disney medleys, smooth and crooner songs, rock and practically everything else too.. 😊🇬🇧❤️

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much! Fun and wild ride seems right from my experience so far! Rest assured, more videos coming soon.

[@ilonadever8249]

I just watched your reaction again and wanted to mention an insight that you gave us that I have not heard before. When Rachel was defying gravity, you pointed out that the base dropped out and she was proving that she was truly defying gravity. It was a cheeky description, I absolutely loved it. Thanx again!!

[@davidkreacts]

Very welcome - touches like that really elevate this arrangement above and beyond.

[@janetdw]

Another few little things: The bubbles first appear when Emoni starts her solo as Glinda who appeared in a bubble in the movie. Towards the beginning Cesar starts the line “Good News” going up and Eli takes the line going back down, bookending the line. Both are skilled at riffs. Cesar and Geoff: There is a theory that Geoff’s reaction to Cesar’s enthusiastic “Kill the witch” may be in reference to the fact that Geoff played Ursula the sea witch In their Little Mermaid medley. Also I love the look Cesar gives Geoff in the more tender hearted section. Cesar is a bundle of emotion and calls Geoff Dad (and his wife Kathy Mom).

[@davidkreacts]

@@janetdw That is so adorable re Cesar! Also, got to love callbacks! I didn't catch the timing of the bubbles - thanks for pointing that out!

[@janetdw]

@@davidkreacts Cesar is Mr Adorable. For fun, watch him In their mini (maybe 45 seconds) off Disney’s Tiki Room. He flirts outrageously with the camera

[@davidkreacts]

@@janetdw That sounds fun! I will check it out for sure.

[@huldradraco]

subharmonics is something anyone can learn. its not dependent on what vocal range you have. the only difference is how low you can go using it, the lower your voice is naturally, the lower you can go with subs, as they lower your tone with an octave.

[@davidkreacts]

Good to know. I also saw Geoff has how-to video on his channel. Once I've seen a few more of his videos, I might give that a go. I need to get back to more singing anyway, so it would be a fun impetus to do so!

[@huldradraco]

@@davidkreacts some of his how-to videos have some spoiler bits on VP's songs, so be aware of that. VP's "oogie boogie's song" and "kidnap the sandy claws" are the songs he shows some snippets of to show some special moments people had asked about, and he recreates those parts in the video to show. so as soon as you've seen those 2 videos (perfect time of year for them anyways since they are halloween songs 😉 ) you are safe to watch those video's, unless you don't mind getting small spoilers from the songs.

[@karenzak6627]

Thank you for your reaction, and welcome to the VOICEPLAY magic. I'm not familiar with Wicked at all so I've only listened to this production once. I now have a greater appreciation of the musicality of it, which helps me appreciate it more. Glad you started your "reactor career" with such an outstanding Acapella group!

[@patriciawilson591]

Watched2 years later, and still my favorite reaction.

[@RENegade4lifee]

Awesome reaction!! New subscriber:) welcome to my favorite acapella group

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much!

[@bjspeck4337]

Enjoying your reaction. It was just this time last year that Geoff's Monster Mash showed up on my thumbnails of news events, kittens, etc. Monster Mash has been my favorite Halloween song since I was a teenager. I followed that up with Hoist the Colours by VoicePlay and haven't come up for air yet. They are wonderful, theatrical, immensely talented and just think, they do almost everything on their own. Most members and former members have worked at Disney and/or Universal so the whole 9 yards is in their blood. Geoff's (Jeff) the bass and has a range of at least 5 octaves. Techniques he uses for his lowest notes are most commonly subharmonics down to B0 (You can hear 2 hits on that in the Halo theme) and the occasional growl in which he hit either a A0 or Ab0. He can hit full chest easily at G1 and F1, F#1. His range is highlighted in Oogie Boogie's Song (appropriate given that Halloween is just around the corner. Layne is an amazing vocal percussionist and getting better all the time. He is also a practical joker and you may see him with a carrot to torture someone with. He is the Carrot King. Both Layne and Geoff trade off on each of their productions and if they have the responsibility, they do the arranging, performing, audio, video, staging and costume design (usually done through Pattycake Production Studios owned by Layne and Tony Wakim, a former singer in VoicePlay but loves being on the production end. He is highlighted (along with Rachel Potter, dark haired woman here on Wicked) in Phantom of the Opera. Eli (pronounced like jelly and tenor to the max) handles lighting (see The Dragonborn Comes Skyrim) and backgrounds (see My Mother Told Me and Enemy). He also does the occasional arrangement. Cesar is new, fairly young, and animated as well as a baritenor. He also brings coffee to the coffee hounds. To see his variety check out We Don't Talk About Bruno, Dream On, and I Can't Make You Love Me. Most often VoicePlay is in full costume, makeup, staging so it's like seeing a mini movie. You have landed in a nest of VoicePlayers and since you responded so well to your first experience with them, we will follow your reactions because we all have had the same and it's so much fun to watch you discover what we have watched already! With VoicePlay don't end too soon. Wait until the Patreon list comes up. Often enough, the have little treats at the end that you don't want to miss. Geoff has a few videos on How to Sing Really Low (instructions on how to do subharmonics. To hear some amazing riffs, see Tennesee Whiskey. 2 former members (Earl Elkins -high tenor and original member and J None - baritone who was recruited into the US Navy Chorus 1.5 years ago) Both of these guys are in Queen in 5 Minutes. J None came back on leave to take the lead in Friends on the Other Side.

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much for the welcome and for all the information! I cannot believe how much there is to know about these folks. It 100% makes sense that they have Disney and/or Universal connections. They all have both the talent and enthusiasm. So excited to keep digging! (Hoist the Colours coming this weekend.) :-)

[@bjspeck4337]

@@davidkreacts I'll be looking for it.

[@loritempleman2951]

This is the kind of reaction I love to see! Voiceplay, Geoff's solo work, and their featured guests never disappoint! You are going to have fun reacting to them!

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you! I absolutely believe you - every video I've seen so far has been a total blast.

[@paulmacdonald1525]

I discovered Geoff Castellucci about a year ago (God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen), and was immediately hooked. That quickly led to Voiceplay, and then to so many reaction videos. I really enjoy those reactions that fill in details on vocal techniques, arrangement choices, video techniques, etc. So glad you've joined the bandwagon!

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it and delighted to be on the bandwagon - it’s a fun place to be!

[@ronsbrat525]

Welcome to the Voiceplay rabbit hole. I fell hard in April and have never looked back. Voiceplay gas many fantastic songs/videos to choose from. Their lastest for Halloween... In The Hall of The Mountain King. Hide and Seek (Ding Dong). Geoff Castellucci is the bass has his own channel. He also has tons to choose from. His latest for Halloween... Ghost Riders In The Sky. Voiceplay are known as both The Theater Kids and The Kings of Halloween. They are very diverse in what they sing and aren't afraid to go out of the box. Same with Geoff. His last video before Ghost Riders is The Rains of Castemere from Game of Thrones. He loves to clone himself 3-4 times for harmony. Recently he gave them all names. He also does narrations of poems. Mostly Edgar Allan Poe but many others as well. Great reaction btw.

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much! I'm really starting to learn the depth of the rabbit hole for sure!

[@ronsbrat525]

@@davidkreacts A good place to go to learn more about the group as a whole is Huldra Draco channel. She has alot of information type videos about these guys. Another channel you should check out is Pattycake Productions. It is owned by Layne Stein the beatboxer and Tony Wakim a former member. Tony left to be behind the scenes and to run it. They have a ton of videos are Halloween related. Such as Bump In The Night, Hocus Pocus, Villains Haunted Mansion. The Villains Lair is a fantastic series about the animated Disney movie villains plotting to get revenge on the princesses and all who wronged them. Right now they are at Season 2 Episode 4 That's All. Real life actors and actresses with amazing talent.

[@davidkreacts]

@@ronsbrat525 Thank you - I have these down to check out for sure!

[@ronsbrat525]

@@davidkreacts Cool 😎

[@aaroncoffman88]

With Voiceplay you can't wrong. I loved your reaction. Your enthusiasm and respect for their talent was great and real. I look forward to seeing more in the future. Thanks for giving Voiceplay a try and choosing such an amazing video to start with

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much! Really appreciate it. :-)

[@cindyowens3965]

Your reaction already made me subscribe. I had that same gobsmacked look on my face the first time I heard Voiceplay too! I was introduced via their Little Mermaid medley. And I have been enjoying them ever since. If you are looking for a Halloween song I would recommend their version of Superstition. Which shows off the whole group. If you are looking for good example of Geoff’s range then Oogie Boogie is what you want. I loved their version of Greatest Showman. But my favorites are Carry On My Wayward Son and Dream On. Hope you continue doing reactions!

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you. I'm already overwhelmed with the reception for this, given that I have done no promotion yet! I have a Monster Mash reaction in the can, and will definitely be continuing. I had a lot of fun doing this. :-)

[@melissarumack9095]

if you liked this, you should check out their Greatest Showman medley. Welcome to the Voiceplay and Geoff Castellucci rabbit holes.

[@davidkreacts]

I will do that - I love the music from that movie. And thank you - glad to be here! ;-)

[@janetdw]

I have watched this and reactions so many times but I actually teared up watching your honest appreciation of this masterpiece. I love watching new reactors heating them for the first time. If you like musical theater, you found the right group. Most, if not all, of them got their start working the Orlando theme parks. Rachel Potter played Ariel at Disney World for 5 years, and she nails it In their Little Mermaid medley, a personal favorite.

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much, Janet. I'm glad you enjoyed. Little Mermaid is definitely near the top of my shortlist right now.

[@letheardaw]

Yes. Just yes. So happy for you.

[@davidkreacts]

Haha - thank you! :-)

[@iamsquatty]

Geoff's range is: YES 😂

[@davidkreacts]

ACCURATE!

[@huldradraco]

loved your reaction, well done! I suggest Hoist The Colours from VoicePlay, and hope you also react to some of Geoff's solo work, they're all amazing! his Shenandoah is a personal favorite of mine. technical tip on your video: maybe increase the volume a bit, I had to turn the volume up all the way to the top and it was still a bit low, especially the music. other than that, a very nice reaction! hope you will do more of these, enjoyed it a lot 🙂

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you for the feedback! I actually have a Monster Mash reaction in the can (I knew I had to look Geoff up straight away!), so will release that in a couple of days. Thanks for the technical note too. I didn't realise how quiet this was until I had uploaded it. I will be bumping the volume next time.

[@huldradraco]

@@davidkreacts awesome, looking forward to it!

[@kazzMarie]

Fantastic reaction. I’ve subscribed to see more VoicePlay reactions please 😊 xx

[@davidkreacts]

On their way!

[@Traci2000]

Really, really enjoyed your reaction to this!! Gotta tell ya, you're in for a fun ride!! One of the many things that makes VoicePlay so amazing is the arranging. Their arrangements are mind blowing and the work they put in to their editing and videos is just wild. They cover a wide range of genres and somehow keep the spirit of the original whole making it their own. I'm so looking forward to more reactions to them from you!! ❤️

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much!

[@razorx2024]

VoicePlay has done some amazing stuff over the years, you should definitely react to more of there stuff including there Halloween songs.

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you - more is on the way. :-)

[@nerdywordyprincess8499]

I love how you reacted to the music as well as the theatricality. I think sometimes people get so caught up in the music or thinking about what they're going to say that they sometimes miss the nuances. You noticed one of my favorite parts which was Cesar's "Kill the witch" and the others looking at him like ummm... You ok dude? Lol.

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you! I'm really glad you enjoyed my reactions. I tend to see things a bit more "zoomed out" than many people, so I am less likely to deep dive on something, but I hope to see a wide variety of things.

[@marshayoung9387]

Your reactions are priceless. Thank you so much. I am happy you have joined the world of Voice Play.

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much!

[@heatherdivine]

This reaction warmed my heart. Thank you for the time and effort you put into this. Enjoy discovering the joy VoicePlay can bring into your universe!

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much! I'm absolutely loving it - they're an astonishing group.

[@jennifersmith8923]

Love seeing people see VoicePlay for the forst time

[@davidkreacts]

It was an experience! I watched this video back recently, and it was enjoyable seeing my own initial reaction, and also seeing how far I've come in my understanding both of them and of modern a capella in general.

[@cynicsquest]

I really enjoyed your reaction. Just honest takes on what you're experiencing coupled with a background in and appreciation for music.

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you! I’m really glad you found it enjoyable.

[@christinadowdican3268]

Welcome to the wonderfull rabbit hole known as Voiceplay, you will not be disappointed. I loved just listening each new discovery you made & watching your every expression s everytime you heard something new.i have been following you on youtube but this is the first time i have seen your first reaction to Voiceplay. Geoff (bass) has a channel of his own on youtube. You wont be disappointed there either. Looking forward to binge watching more of your reactions❤😊

[@leechowning8728]

Welcome... yes, I am back. Love seeing first time reactions.

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you! Glad to have you back, and I hope you continue to enjoy my work. :-)

[@sarahereach]

Wow! It is difficult to believe that this is your first time doing reaction videos! I am kinda a hard sell on react videos, because I don't have a whole lot of time to dedicate to watching KZbin compared to the time I had a year ago, when I discovered Voiceplay and the dozens of companion music reaction channels that I fell down the rabbit hole into. Voiceplay holds up obviously, but many of the reactors began to feel repetitive or exaggerated to the point I lost interest in most and stopped searching out new reactors. Now I only follow about 3 reactors that really teach me something, and or point out things that I have never noticed in my own viewings. Your reactions have been popping up in the Voiceplay Patreon Discord as that type of analysis heavy reaction that I would like, but it took me this long to decide to give a listen. The first thing that made me respect you as a reviewer/reactor is that you started by reading the credits and taking special note of the arranger (you giving Geoff all the arrangement props and then going "Who is that Bass?!?! was hilarious too) After listening to this reaction and the one for Monster Mash, you are certainly now one of my top 4 favorite reactors and I hope you keep it up! I can't wait to listen to the rest of what you have put out so far, and am excited to see what comes next from you!

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much, Sarah. I'm really glad that you're enjoying my videos - and I'm grateful for the encouragement that my analysis is different to others (it's always hard coming into an established scene). I'm honoured to make your list, and I hope that you continue to enjoy my work going forwards. Also, yes, looking back at this video my confusion as to who Geoff could be while complimenting him throughout is quite comical. ;-)

[@sandyhausrath]

What a way to start a reaction (and analysis) channel! Loved this -- glad you decided to share it.

[@davidkreacts]

Haha - indeed! Thank you very much - I’m glad you enjoyed it, and I’m happy that I shared it too. :-)

[@alexwalker8440]

This was Geoff's baby. It took him years from his original mind idea until he could really make it happen! And what a great arrangement he put together! 🤯 Also, this is not a typical VP performance, not that much makeup and setting. I think they explained that they wanted to do a studio video that they could also perform live. Can you imagine something like their "In the Hall of the Mountain King" performed live, followed by "Hide and Seek"? 🤣 Oh, you haven't reacted to those 2 yet. Well, you should! I think their most creative work is around Halloween! Thanks for a great reaction!

[@davidkreacts]

Geoff's dedication to making this great really shows - it's such a stunning arrangement. I haven't seen those yet, but one of them might be coming very soon, time permitting. And you're welcome - I'm glad you enjoyed.

[@ljk5464]

As well as the Greatest Showman medley!!!❤️❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰

[@davidkreacts]

Definitely looking forward to that one.

[@melodiemalone2317]

Great reaction Please react to more voiceplay This a group very theatrical

[@davidkreacts]

I absolutely will do. Watched a couple because I couldn’t help myself, but saving a few more for reactions!

[@changelingthing423]

This is a wonderful reaction! Your enjoyment is very infectious.

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you so much!

[@XuLee35]

This was a great analysis (and reaction) 😄Thank you David

[@rdyer8764]

Excellent! Really genuine. I will definitely watch some more. :))

[@LoppyJen]

I could watch you react to things all day! In fact, I AM! *runs off to watch the next video.*

[@davidkreacts]

Well, thank you! ;-)

[@lkayh]

What a great reaction! I loved watching all of this just hitting you for the first time. And honestly I can’t think of a better intro to Voiceplay for someone who has a theater background. Looking forward to more like this!

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you! From what I've been told, I think I hit the jackpot with this one as a starting point. :-)

[@melissaflora8450]

I remember when you first posted this and I immediately subscribed. Now that Wicked stuff is all over KZbin because of the movie, I recalled this video and had to rewatch. It’s still great 😊

[@thu-ts2qk]

Same😂

[@liisaara7242]

So glad your channel popped into my feed, your enthusiasm and camera presence instantly charmed me! Subscribed and will be back for more of your journey!

[@davidkreacts]

Aw, I'm really glad! Thank you so much. :-D

[@west_nebraska_dude4527]

Spectacular reaction!

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you!

[@bjspeck4337]

Had to come back and watch your first VoicePlay again.

[@davidkreacts]

I just watched it recently myself. Fun to see the progression. I might have to do a re-analysis of this some time though - the amount I missed (or just didn't know about) is crazy.

[@bjspeck4337]

@@davidkreacts I'd love that!

[@lyndseyeshelman5936]

Watching you react to this just made my day! ❤

[@davidkreacts]

Glad you enjoyed! :-)

[@margiestevens2384]

I needed this reaction today. Thank you.

[@dj_410]

Amazing reaction! It's so cool to see how far you have come as a creator in such a short time! Love your content and love seeing you get as blown away as I do haha

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you! It's been quite the journey, but then you know that as well as I do. :-D Likewise - once I've listened to a song a few more times, I really enjoy going and seeing what other folks thought and what they comment on.

[@OnyxRose6]

Please try Geoff Castellucci (their bass) blackbird, it shows some of his range *which is insane & mind blowing!*

[@davidkreacts]

It's on my list - I have a few reactions already recorded, but that won't be too far away.

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

Yeah. When you first discover VoicePlay, your attention is immediately drawn in by Geoff's deep bass notes and their clever and complex arrangements, and possibly (depending on which video you start with; this one not so much) by amazing costumes and make-up and theatrics. As you listen to more, you start to notice Layne's amazing vocal percussion and their incredible tenors (not least Eli's rock star voice), surprisingly flexible voice acting abilities, and playful sense of humor. Stick around long enough, and you realize that the most amazing thing about VoicePlay, is their consistent ability to reliably draw in incredibly talented collaborators as featured guest singers. The one thing I wish they had, that they don't seem to have, is an ability to write good original material. To my knowledge, they've only done one original song, and it and its music video are a fairly transparent knock-off of something by the more famous acapella group Pentatonix. It's to my knowledge the only clear example* of something VP has done, that's markedly inferior to a similar thing by PTX. In other cases where PTX and VP have covered the same or a very similar song, VP's version is usually released first and ranges from very nearly as good (Butter, Cheerleader, Imagine Dragons covers with violin) or slightly/arguably better (Can't Help Falling In Love, First Noel), through very clearly better (Attention, Jingle Bells, famous Classical pieces with no lyrics), to *overwhelmingly* better (You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch, songs from The Nightmare Before Christmas). I conclude that VP is overall better at covers (and theatrics) and has improved more over the years but lacks a good original songwriter. Geoff's range is _approximately_ A0 through A5, but I think anything below about E-flat 1 tends to require multiple takes. Last I heard, he hasn't really explored whether he could push up the limit at the top end of his range like he has done at the bottom through practice and exercises. His solo channel has a video on how to sing really low, which contains some information about different techniques that he uses to hit the really low notes, including subharmonics (his signature technique) and growl (which he learned from Tim Foust). And yeah, Geoff is kind of known for jumping up or down by an octave or more. Notable examples include the multi-step drop from B4 down to E1 on the last line of Oogie Boogie Song, the slide down to D2 in Little Mermaid (there's also a D1, but it was recorded separately and edited in, not because Geoff couldn't slide down that far, but because there wasn't time for it in the arrangement), and the crazy run/drop near the end of Rich Man. * - An argument could also be made for God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, but that's all five of PTX versus Geoff by himself, which is kind of unfair, and even then it's arguable; some folks are going to prefer Geoff's version and have good solid reasons for that opinion. Also a decent argument could be made for Get Lucky, but VP during the (fortunately rather brief) Honey era was *not* up to the level of quality the group has exhibited at any other time in its history, and Daft Punk is maybe the single most impressive thing PTX has ever done right up to the present day, so this is very much the exception that proves the rule.

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you for the thoughts and information. I had wondered about originals, as I hadn't seen any on their channel. It's a different skill, for sure. I'm definitely beginning to pick up on their wider strengths - a stupidly talented cover group, that's for sure.

[@huldradraco]

They actually have quite a few originals, but they were done many years ago at the start of their career. Their most recent original work have been a few 1-minute musicals and a mini on their mini channel with another beatboxer. They are quite capable of making original music, but since they are doing everything themselves and are putting out new videos every month, theyre struggling with simply having the time to create something from scratch. Also, since they're not as big as the other 2 groups yet, original music will simply not draw as much views as cover music will.

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

@@huldradraco Yeah, I've since found "Unstoppable" and a couple of others from that era. And ad interim, Geoff and VP have started to experiment with writing new short segments (bridges) to add to existing songs, which has been nice to see.

[@katetracton131]

Ohhh, you are in for a treat as you explore Voiceplay! If you enjoyed this, you will also like We Don’t Talk About Bruno, and Bang!. There are so many fun ones. You would also like the group called Voctave, I think. They did a Disney Princess Medley which is complete ear candy.

[@davidkreacts]

Thanks for the recommendations - I have them on my list, but goodness knows it's a long list! Looking forward to discovering them too. :-)

[@masafilipovic7629]

So happy u decided to look at VP ❤

[@lizwildcatmunro2460]

Regarding Geoff’s reaction to Cesar’s “Kill The Witch” in Voiceplay’s The Little Mermaid Medley Geoff was purple and the Sea Witch Ursula

[@davidkreacts]

I have heard rumblings about Geoff's Ursula, and I'm SUPER-excited to get to that!

[@ljk5464]

Need to watch We Don't Talk About Bruno medley!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@davidkreacts]

Will be coming in due course! I actually only just saw Encanto, so it's now officially in the to-do list - I wanted to make sure I had the context.

[@ljk5464]

Plus a look back at The Grim Grinning Ghosts (singing busts at Disney's Haunted Mansion).

[@davidkreacts]

Looking forward to this one too - I love that song.

[@jackloomis1130]

Fantastic reaction. That last note was a C# 1 by the way, Geoff's second lowest note he's done in a recording. Check out their Halo cover, where he hits a B0!

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you! I figured the note out afterwards, but forgot to put it into my notes. It's just extraordinary! I'm leading up to Halo - climbing down the notes a bit as I go!

[@starstuff84]

Welcome to the rabbit hole of acapella on you tube. :D. Once you've binged on Voice Play there's Pentatonix and Home Free to enjoy.

[@davidkreacts]

Glad to be here! :-D

[@katthor7311]

I really enjoyed your reaction, and I see you've posted Geoff's Monster Mash, so I will be off to watch that now. I hope we see more from you. I think everyone in the comments covered everything else. 😂

[@davidkreacts]

This is a very thorough community, and I really appreciate it! Glad you enjoyed the video, and I hope you enjoy Monster Mash as much. Definitely going to be doing more of these. :-)

[@lindahall8707]

Loved it.

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you!

[@barbarabishop9362]

I flipped to the original mainly to read the "liner notes" to confirm who did the lighting and so forth - it was Eli and Geoff in charge of the lighting. Then I got sucked down into the comment section and someone cracked me up by pointing out that Geoff is a "sometime Sea Witch" which gives additional meaning behind that look he gives to Cesar after that histrionic, "KILL THE WITCH!!" Sorry - You need to watch the "Little Mermaid" medley to get this - and you'll like it, I assure you. :)

[@davidkreacts]

Haha - I appreciate the mystery! I'll be getting to that shortly for sure - I love The Little Mermaid's music, so it's one I'm really looking forward to.

[@DarthKoonstyle]

Great reaction. You gained a sub! Question for you though: What musical background do you have if you don't mind the inquiry? Very few people are able to recognize a sub harmonic that spot on, even if picking his jaw up off the counter at the same time (granted, most don't even really know how to even consider generating a subharmonic let alone know what one is).. Either way, it was refreshing hearing someone with musical knowledge going over some of the finer points. As far as Geoff's range, from what I've been able to pick up, he has hit an A0 in Way Down. I think that's one of those 1/50 shots for him to hit. Subharmonics I'd say he's solid through D1 but can get down semi-reliably to B0. His subs are definitely beefiest in the D1-F1 range, which largely lines up with his peak resonance in chest voice.. In Chest, I'm pretty sure G#1 is the bottom of the barrel (he might pull an F1 after a rough night, but havn't heard it). Peak resonance seems to be around B1-G2 range. Chest/mixed belts, Oogie Boogie Song probably would be best example of a B4 that doesn't really feel strained. And I think he's hit a C5 or D5 in falsetto, but my ability to hear notes and replicate them are pretty much shot after a A4, so I may not be remembering that right. But his practice of marrying chest voice with subs allows him to do crazy multioctave scales and jumps that makes him seem like a freak of nature. I know that he can sing something like five octaves!

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you very much! I'm going to do a channel intro video at some point, but in brief, amongst other things I am a classically trained pianist, and have qualifications in studio recording, musical theatre performance and musical direction. I was lucky enough to have a great singing teacher for a while in the UK who introduced me to the concept of subharmonics as a means of demonstrating to me the range possible for different bass voices (since, while I am technically a baritenor, the bass range of that comes more easily to me).

[@Mia200001]

As far as first reactions go, this is really unfair on the reactor 😅 I relived my own shock and awe through you.

[@moo4boy]

Since you said you like basses, consider checking out The Bass Gang, it's 4 basses and guests, they don't have a lot of songs out, but they are all really good. I'd reccomend you start with their cover of centuries.

[@davidkreacts]

They're on my list - hoping to get to one shortly. :-)

[@marshayoung9387]

If you want to hear perfect riffs from Voice Play please do a reaction video of Voice Plays cover of Tennessee Whiskey. The ending riffs are amazing. By Also Voice Plays cover of Carry On Wayward Son & Dream On originally by Aerosmith. Voice Play does it better than Aerosmith.

[@davidkreacts]

I will have a look at those. I have so many in the to-do list now, but I'm going to try to mix and match styles of the original songs, so will hit one of these soon, I'm sure.

[@jennifersmith8923]

Subscribing for more VoicePlay reactions!!

[@davidkreacts]

Hope you enjoy! There are about a dozen on the channel so far, and more coming.

[@jennyg3110]

In you love Wicked, please react to Defying Gravity by Superfruit

[@davidkreacts]

Thank you for the recommendation - I will be recording more next week, so I'll have a look at that version then. :-)

[@lizwildcatmunro2460]

I enjoyed this, can you please react to Pattycake Productions Bump In The Night? Or Villains Lair Series? It’s done by Voiceplay’s Layne and former member Tony

[@davidkreacts]

I am definitely going to look at Pattycake's work, yes. Trying to prioritise many, many videos, but I'll get there!

[@AlexAmez]

Ahhh abother WTF is Geoff made off reaction

[@davidkreacts]

Haha! Yeah, I've learned since I did this that I'm definitely not alone. ;-)