PENTATONIX - Imagine | FIRST TIME HEARING REACTION

[@katyvalco4774]

Time for you to take the amazing journey of going down the Pentatonix rabbit hole and joining us Pentaholics. They have a crazy large library, even when they first started out 11 years ago or so... their older songs are great, it's fun to watch them grow. The older videos we call Babytonix, none of their songs disappoint.

[@ShinyElfriend]

Mitch Grassi was the voice you particularly liked in this one, and the low singer is the incredible bass, Avi Kaplan, who was with the group for the first six years or so, and is now enjoying a solo career. Pentatonix continues with the the rest of the original members, Mitch, plus Scott Hoying, Kevin Olusola, and Kirstin Maldonado, adding Matt Sallee as the bass after Avi resigned from the group about 7 or 8 years ago. As you explore their catalog, you will see both Avi and Matt. I highly recommend their recent live performance on Vevo of their cover of Seal's Kiss From a Rose. Also, since you enjoy a more classic era, they did a beautiful cover of Elvis's Can't Help Falling In Love, an insane cover of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody and their most popular video to date of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, as well as Simon & Garfunkel's The Sound of Silence. They received their third Grammy for a collaboration of Jolene with Dolly Parton. Most of their other covers are 90's or later. They also have wonderful original music, solo careers on the side, and a monster Christmas catalog.

[@janices5389]

They truly embody the idea that diversity doesn't mean division. The cards the each held were labels society has given then. When they passed the card, the labels they passed were ones they shared; ie Mitch and Scott are both in the LGBTQ+ community, of course Scott and Avi are both men, Avi and Kevin are both American, and Kevin and Kirstie are both Christian. We can all find differences and we can all find things we share - it just matters what we are focused on. In the end, we are all human. I really love this song and appreciate how PTX's version has made it relevant to today. --I talk too much! Thanks for the great reaction and have a wonderful day!

[@lauraallen55]

I think the lyrics that John wrote are relevant any time, and it isn't singers of the song that make it so.

[@janices5389]

@@lauraallen55 Perhaps I didn't express myself properly, sorry. I meant that they were able to convey the core message, always relevant, to a more contemporary audience through the use of their cards.

[@lauraallen55]

Oh, sorry! I see what you mean now. Yes, the video sends the message very well, yes. :)@@janices5389

[@robbob5302]

Of course, the genius of this song will always be the lyrics. So the original will always be king. That being said, this performance was very well done. Both vocally and visually.

[@vidsorama2]

Thank you for the great reaction to this beautiful Pentatonix video. Happy that you liked it. Please react to Pentatonix "Mad World", "Can't Hold Us" and mashup "New Rules x Are That Somebody?".

[@andreakear97]

Nice reaction. I agree, there are incredible voices in this group and there are fewer messages of hope in current songs.

[@Gwennedd]

That's one of the reasons why PTX is important in today's "music landscape". They're one of the few bands that consistently try to do music that is full of love and hope, that sends messages of acceptance and peace.

[@brendarunyons8559]

Love your reactions, love Pentatonix, please do more from them. Hallelujah, Amazing Grace, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Prayer, Kiss From A Rose, just to name a few. All are outstanding. And, although I left it for last, it’s my new favorite from them - O Holy Night. Although I think all of the above I mentioned are amazing, this one is even more so. Can’t even describe it, you need to experience it to really understand. Have a great weekend and please keep your awesome reactions coming.

[@rfiliagaful]

PTX likes to bring hopeful music to the world. You might want to do Amazing Grace, Evolution of Music (for the older music), Prayers For the World, The Prayer, Love Me When I Don't (an original), Be My Eyes (an original), and really just about everything they do!

[@finnsmom773]

I have watched people change their minds re: some of the topics in minutes. To me, that is their 🪄.

[@johnthegreek5836]

Great, I think Pentatonix is the BEST, they definitely portrayed themselves with the writing on the cards, 2 members are Gay, one is Jewish, and different races, white, black and Latino and man and woman

[@tinapatterson5022]

Right on!!✌I Grew up in the 60's & 70's and The Music was Real Cool ! 😎

[@waynem.7226]

Avi Kaplan sings the low bass in this video and Mitch Grassi has that high voice holding the sign you mentioned in your commentary.

[@bethphillips9693]

That song means as much now as it did when it was first recorded - maybe more - this resonates.

[@alan-freeman]

Pentatonix a "brief" background. They won The Sing Off in 2011. They made a guest starring appearance on America′s Got Talent as non−competitors a couple of years after that. The founding members are:- Scott Hoying (tall blond guy, natural baritone but has an impressive five−to−six octave range, can go all the way up to high tenor and down to bass, sings the bass lines when the usual bass singer takes the lead); Kirstin "Kirstie" (Rhymes with "Thirsty") Maldonado (the only female member, natural mezzo soprano, but can go down to low alto and as high as upper soprano, also can sing in whistle notes that are off the scale); For a time in 2018 between the group’s tours, had the female lead on Broadway in the production of “Kinky Boots”. Mitch Grassi (a true contra−tenor, can hit high notes in his chest voice with ease and go WAY higher in his falsetto, also with ease); Avriel "Avi" Kaplan (dark beard and long hair), true basso profundo, trained as an opera singer, also can go up into the tenor range; and Kevin "KO" Olusola (beatboxer extraordinaire, also is a world−class cellist who plays cello on some of their songs, has a beautiful high tenor voice and gets occasional lead vocal solos as well, graduated pre−med from Yale and speaks several languages including Mandarin Chinese). Kirstie, Scott & Mitch grew up together in Arlington, Texas, and began performing together as children in local youth musical theater. They ended up in high school together and performed in the choir. While there, they formed an a cappella group called The Trio which had several performance videos go viral on KZbin, most notably a cover of Lady Gaga′s "Telephone". The three of them are best friends and consider themselves to be almost siblings. Scott & Kirstie (who were a class year ahead of Mitch) both graduated high school in 2010 and went their separate ways to different colleges, Scott at USC and Kirstie at Oklahoma. While at USC, Scott joined a USC−based a cappella group called the SoCal VoCals, where he met alumnus Ben Bram, who was now an arranger and vocal coach for the NBC TV show The Sing Off, an a cappella competition show. Ben convinced Scott to get The Trio to audition for the show. The three reunited (Mitch had to skip high school graduation ceremonies to go) in Los Angeles for the audition. They found out that the rules had changed, so they needed at least five members to audition. Ben put them together with Avi (a native of Visalia, California), who he knew from Avi′s performing days at Mount San Antonio College in California. They found Kevin (from Kentucky) through one of his KZbin videos that had gone viral featuring him playing the cello and beatboxing at the same time, a talent that Kevin coined as "Cello−Boxing". Kevin arrived in Los Angeles literally the day before the audition! Scott came up with the name "Pentatonix" after the pentatonic scale. They performed a re−arrangement of "The Telephone" for the audition and passed, despite having been together as a five−piece group for less that 24 hours! They won The Sing Off that season (all of the performances are available on KZbin), in which they received a substantial cash prize AND a record contract with Epic Records. They pooled their prize winnings together and all moved to Los Angeles, and all got apartments right next door to each other in the same building. But just a week later, Epic dropped them because the marketing people didn′t think an a cappella group could sell records. Instead of giving up, they were determined and began recording their own songs on KZbin, hiring Ben Bram as their producer and arranger. These usually consisted of the five of them sitting on a couch and performing cover songs live. Several of the videos went viral, and Sony (the parent company of Epic) decided to give them another chance by placing them on one of their smaller labels, Madison Gate. They released two secular EPs and one Christmas EP on Madison Gate, all of which were strong sellers. But when their cover of a medley of songs by Daft Punk not only went super−viral, but also won them their first Grammy, they were promoted all the way up to RCA Records, Sony′s top label. They began writing and producing their own songs in addition to their covers, began putting out a Christmas album just about annually (which has become their best−selling genre), and have had multi−platinum album sales, sold−out world tours, and have won two additional Grammys. Avi began getting burned out with all of the touring and heavy recording schedule, was suffering from anxiety and personal problems, and learned that his mother had been diagnosed with cancer in 2017. He announced he was departing from the group and taking some time away from the music industry. Matt Sallee (from Baltimore) joined them in September 2017. He did only become official when they renewed their RCA contract in February 2018, but he recorded with them in September as a featured artist and went on their Christmas tour as a featured artist, as well. When he attended the audition for the group, he had already mastered the Bass part for most if not all their past catalogue. He was successful and has proved that he fits in well with the group. If you think there have been other changes to the line up - look again. This is the ONLY change. Kirstie and Mitch are like chameleons and change looks frequently. It is an often debated subject among the Pentaholics as to just how soon we introduce the "Beginners Guide" as we don't want to overdo the introduction. This is a compilation of snips of a whole load of songs which PTX have released. It highlights each member with some of their solos and then a brief history in video. It is quite long - 14+ minutes and is a little dated now (Feb 2020) but is a good watch kzbin.info/www/bejne/onXbepmtm6igh6c&pp=ygUdYmVnaW5uZXJzIGd1aWRlIHRvIHBlbnRhdG9uaXg%3D. After a year away from music, Avi has now returned as a phenomenal solo artist in the Folk/Americana/Roots genre. Ben Bram has been in charge of their production, including arranging and directing from the beginning. He is often referred to as the sixth member. Scott and Kevin are major players in the arrangements, but every member contributes. A good watch is "The Recording of Evergreen" where a camera was invited into the studio for the second week of recording/ Also, all members are songwriters for both Pentatonix and their own solo work. Ed Boyer who mixes everything of theirs (even the HWB Livestream) is the one who pulled Ben Bram into the sing off in the first place. They have Grammy wins for Daft Punk Medley, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Jolene featuring Dolly Parton. They were nominated for a 4th Grammy for their album Evergreen, but didn't win. Another nomination for Holidays Around the World album in the 2024 list! Kirstie became a new mum which caused a pause in touring after their Evergreen Christmas tour 2021. Mid March 2023 Kirstie has announced that she is engaged to Ben Hausdorff, their videographer. No dates YET! They have a star on the Hollywood walk of fame installed in February 2023. They are the only a capella group with a star! They came 3rd in the 2023 Masked Singer performing as "California Rolls" being unmasked in May 23. Things you need to know because if you get these wrong Pentaholics will come after you with pitch forks and torches! Ha Ha!! 1- There is NO Auto-Tune; what you hear is actually what they sing. They really are that good. One exception is the 90's Dance Medley where Cher used autotune as an effect - so they had to. 2- What produces everything that you hear in the video, you see in the official video. If there is an instrument used in the music, you see it on screen. In the 2022 Christmas album, there are some instruments not featured throughout the album. 3- They never release something on video they can’t reproduce with the exact same quality live on-stage. 4. It is "Pentatonix" there is no "The".

[@lauraallen55]

They have been autotuned/pitch-corrected in more than the one you mention. I've seen it on software. It's oftentimes done with artists' music after the fact and/or without their knowledge. They can sing well, all of them, but their vocals are heavily processed. Maybe they aren't autotuned, but they are pitch-corrected 100%

[@AlanMitchell585]

Hey bud...you are helping to heal the world...one reaction at a time!

[@dwfarr]

Recommend their version of Amazing Grace.

[@cathyboyce6457]

New subscriber, Enjoyed this reaction, PTX does honor to this song! Thanks~ and this old '60's flower child will happily go check out your reactions to my era!

[@andersjohansson4734]

Guess you ow yourself to check out Halelujah, Bohemian Rhapsody (but you should check out Queens original first) and their Daft Punk medley. You already did this one and Sounds of Silence. After these five, just pick anything from their channel.

[@bethphillips9693]

They represent - black, white, gay, straight, they shared their similarities and differences - and they make it work.

[@dawnmarieallenkent2495]

I'll just say... i think John would approve.

[@roamingaroundwithpatriotbo9157]

Angelina's "Angels" invite you over to Angelina Jordan's channel for your reactions to over 200 covers and original songs. Thank you.

[@heatherhuard]

For a brand new song with a seventies feel check out Avi Kaplan's Feel Alright! Subscribing in hopes of Avi reactions.

[@wbw910]

Great reaction. Just to be precise, John Lennon's solo work isn't the Beatles anymore than Paul McCartney and Wings is.

[@iraidaacevedo3723]

Beautiful voices and message ♥️💔

[@jameswiglesworth5004]

Anyone really listening to the lyrics and realising what nihilistic nonsense they are ?

[@lauraallen55]

Lennon himself did lol!

[@lauraallen55]

The members of Pentatonix have great voices when all the pitch correction/autotune isn't applied like it sounds like has been done here and with most of what's out there of theirs. I like the video, but can't listen to heavily essentially changed vocals. John Lennon's Working Class Hero is the non-sugar-coated version of Imagine (John's words; not mine).

[@UserHorologium]

Official Videos are going to have studio polishing; in current pop music it is expected and almost required. Listen to a professionally recorded live performance if you want to hear them without polishing. Try their performance if "I Just Called to Say I Love You" on Ellen (or the Evergreen Experience) for examples. They really upped their game during the lockdown; I heard them live (in the same venue) both before and after the pandemic, and they have definitely improved. Don't listen to a video from some guy in the 22nd row trying to record with his iPhone; pick something recent with professional equipment.

[@lauraallen55]

Yes, I’m very aware that studio recordings are going to be changed. Some producers are actually taking down, live videos, adding pitch correction, and or autotune and putting them back up but not changing how they labeled Some even so-called live performances have been changed. I’m also aware it’s expected these days to alter what comes out of someone’s throat to something that didn’t come out of their throat and I don’t like it. I have heard Pentatonix raw vocals, and they sound fantastic. I think it’s a shame that everyone thinks necessary to change someone’s vocals to something they didn’t sing. I’d rather hear the flaws inherent in anyone’s vocals. Polished I’m assuming you mean changing their pitch. Polishing with reverb or distortion, or any other kind of effect is fine with me because it doesn’t alter what actually happened. Pitch correction and autotune fundamentally alter what occurred and I’m not a fan and I think any performance that has had that done to it. It should be labeled as such.

[@lauraallen55]

Forgot to say, I like the reference to the 22nd row. Also, I don’t look at fan uploads or random people uploads generally speaking. A lot of wife performances are dubbed too. Since you saw them in person, they probably weren’t autotuned. However, that’s even being done now too. There’s a performance of Papa Roach with Chris Daughtry a very short clip Live on stage and autotune was on and then one of them started talking and boy did it sound weird because someone forgot to turn the auto autotune off. Lol