Reaction to and Analysis of "Shallow" cover by Pentatonix

[@miguelmory7472]

Not to mention that Kevin plays the cello and beatboxes at the same time.

[@davidkreacts]

Absolutely - I believe I mention that later in the analysis viewing. Such an incredible skill to be able to do both!

[@neil2742]

Kevin calls it celloboxing. Have you listened to Kevin's version of Down? It is on his channel, he does everything and is almost certainly recorded in one take

[@JaniceDAgostino]

The cello is always necessary to the piece. Never just because. Lovely from the heart.

[@musicfanatic6558]

Dave, I must say that your explanation of every little detail has me riveted. And when your focus becomes more intense on the clever arrangements they create to have dual meaning, it drives your passion of love in artistry so much to make you burst out in excitement. I was laughing along with you, because I recognized the feeling of passion about all the things they do and how clever they are. These are true artists in the full definition of artistry.

[@pattiemartin9253]

Perfect and New Rules are you that somebody

[@fionaorton7076]

Great detailed analysis - loved it! Please do Pentatonix's DAFT PUNK medley next!!

[@rmac1042]

...From an 80 year-old composer-jazz pianist....a very insightful reaction with detail-filled musical analysis not found in other reactions I’ve seen! Well done!

[@violetf.2025]

🔥 thank you. 🔥 I enjoyed your reaction.

[@marablemorgan8292]

PTX doesn't do covers... They do upgrades!

[@vmcgriff]

French Horn and Cello are my favorite instruments as well!! Love this cover. They just know how to present a song that seems to take you on a journey!! Love them! And love your reactions!!! ❤

[@KaaSerpent]

There was a period after Avi left and before Matt joined that the cello stood in for the 'bass' voice for the group. Not long, but I'm glad that they allow it to come back from time to time. And Matt sounds a LOT like a cello, at least my ears.

[@9012505]

I'm going to recommend that you watch a live performance. The dynamics between Scott and Kirstie really add something to it. The 2022 Hollywood bowl live stream is a good one.

[@yvetteblanche-thompson258]

You need to react to My Favorite Things by PTX. I would love to see your analysis.

[@marablemorgan8292]

Great reaction!

[@ruth2141]

Playing cello already involves doing different things with each hand, each in two dimensions. I tried learning a stringed instrument once and as a woodwind player was used to mostly being in one dimension; your fingers go up and down. On a string both hands also move left and right, to different strings, and sometimes two at once, and the bow hand also has a third dimension to get the correct angle on each string. And then deciding on the bow strokes is a fourth dimension. Of course the trick is to practice enough that it all becomes automatic so you can also beatbox or sing.

[@SleepyheadJJC]

Thanks 😊

[@susanpeterson9947]

I’m so glad you enjoyed this, David, I was sure that you would. I love Kevin’s cello playing, Scott’s rough look and slightly scratchy voice reminiscent of Bradley Cooper’s character, and Kirstin’s powerful lead. I appreciated your detailed analysis, as always.

[@billwasserman9665]

A PTX cover of Say Something, also features Kevin's Cello Chops.

[@marlin1708]

Kevin Olusola doesn't let his chello playing stop him from beatboxing. He, like everyone at PTX, is just incredible

[@susansisson366]

I thought I was over this song, so had listened once, but giving it short shrift, which, you have most kindly demonstrated, was a mistake. Thank you SO much for helping me to see otherwise!

[@vidsorama2]

Great reaction and analysis. Thank you. They are amazing.

[@gordon9995]

OK, Pentatonix recorded My Favorite Things from The Sound Of Music.

[@jlelliotton]

PTX has used those opening graphics for most of their videos, but not all. The original work Sing had different graphics.

[@marablemorgan8292]

Always the upgrades...

[@CapriUni]

I appreciate your breaking down of so many musical details, as it also helps me hear the lyrics more clearly.

[@debrawalkermeyer9109]

Great reaction. You might Kevin Olusola’s solo cover of Marion Hill’s “ Down”

[@marablemorgan8292]

"Wall of sound" is exactly what it's called...

[@ruth2141]

The black / white / gold is based on the "A Star Is Born" movie poster, which is a black and white photo with gold lettering. I'm not sure how much Pentatonix members get involved in decisions about the videography aside from an approval of the general concept. The director for this is Brian Petchers, who has done mostly music videos. I remember being irritated on first watch that he chose to keep the focus on the leads, when I was wanting to see more of what the others were doing. Perhaps due to his not knowing much about a capella and assuming it was all about the leads, as most pop songs are.

[@Pamela_T]

I always love your breakdowns for A cappella songs and videos. I have learned so much after seeing these videos countless times. ❤

[@dougbowers4415]

Check out Radioactive, an Imagine Dragons cover and Papaoutai, a Stromae cover. Both include Kevin cello boxing and also Lindsey Stirling on the violin. They’re both stunningly creative in very different ways.

[@smithpauld1501]

You’ve got to watch Mr Olusola’s (so much respect due) version of “Down”

[@Gwennedd]

Thank you!! You did get it correctly. So few people know the "dd" is pronounced as "th". Welsh is strange like that. I knew you'd enjoy this piece and find lots to unpack....and you did. I've never seen the original, but I loved the set of the black and white with only touches of gold and wondered ( while you were discussing how smart a choice that was) why they did that. So I looked up when the original iteration of the movie was made....it was in 1937... which now makes more sense of the monochrome set. The original movie would have been in black and white. I also notice that the furnishings echo that era. The couch set, the decor, the lighting, even the decal on the floor all are items you'd find in that time...the end of the Art Deco period. So grateful for you in depth analysis which always both educates me and makes me appreciate just how much work and detail goes into most PTX pieces. Recommendations: Scott Hoying's Mars, Superfruit's Rise., Come Along.

[@marablemorgan8292]

Kevin beat boxes while he plays cello...

[@sheilad5321]

This has been such an enjoyable watch. As a child I studied music in London, including vocal, composition and cello. Unfortunately the family moved to New Zealand and it was mostly the vocal that was the focus, not forgetting the cello in the school orchestra. Now 70 odd years later it was such a thrill to hear your reaction and analysis, and recapture some of the magic of my early days, carrying a ¾ size cello on the London bus. I love PTX and to hear an expert loving them too, made my day.

[@pjb3583]

Thank you. I learn so much from your reaction and analysis, details in the music that I never would have heard had you not pointed them out. You are able to convey your knowledge and enthusiasm to a fan with no formal music training at all without making me feel ignorant. (That’s not absolutely true. I took guitar lessons as a kid and totally mastered “Last Train to Clarksville” by the Monkees. At that point I considered my musical career complete.) It’s always a treat to hear Kevin’s cello. He has a cover of Down on his Kevin Olusola channel that you may want to check out. As for PTX, their cover of Gold was recorded with them just sitting in the studio doing what they do best, and I would love to hear your reaction to that one. There’s also a mini-doc called Recording Evergreen that shows them in the studio producing different aspects of a recent-ish Christmas album that I think you would like. Sorry to be so wordy, thanks again. Peace …

[@df5199]

Recommend their cover of My Favorite Things.

[@stephaniem2007]

I really really want you to do PTX’s original song official video of “Sing.” -- there is a lot in that video and I think you’ll love the song. It’s a video that goes by fast and I think we would get a lot of information from you we wouldn’t notice otherwise.

[@hernameispekka_Rebecca]

Since you love the video part so much, it might be worth watching the behind the scenes stuff for it. It's an PTXperience episode pretty sure where they film both this video and the video for Waving through a window on the same day. In general, a quick search for behind the scenes videos for their stuff might work well for your style of analysis since they do have quite a few here and there. Either on their channel or on fans channels where they have compiled stuff from different social media platforms.

[@livelurklaugh]

I'm impressed you got the "Bad Romance" melody, because that is their conscious choice to give nod to another Lady Gaga song.

[@ruth2141]

Since you started by assuming this was a PTX original, you praise some elements of the song / arrangement where the credit should go to Lady Gaga and the other co-writers of the original. The cello part is a PTX element and some reactors who are huge fans of the original song don't care much for the cello. I love that you caught the reference to "Bad Romance", a PTX tribute to Lady Gaga.

[@billwasserman9665]

A ptx original that is a must watch is Run to You.

[@stephaniem2007]

FYI this is more of a choral piece, which is different from what you’ve heard from PTX (on this channel) so far

[@marablemorgan8292]

No apologies necessary...