This Cover Was ALL Over The Place!! | Drunken Sailor - VoicePlay | Acapella Reaction/Analysis

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Intro: (0:00)
Reaction/Analysis: (2:31)
Outro: (16:07)

[@felicitymcdonald24]

Mortius so confused/broken by the arrangement that he didn't even mention Geoff killing it with the eyeliner and stubble! 😂👀

[@backwardstinker]

10:25 😂mortius is so frazzled by the arrangement he doesn't even notice Geoff's face here

[@sarahereach]

8:45 "Geoff, what are you ON??" 🤣 It has been a joy to follow the production of this one on their Patreon. It was clear that Geoff had fun with this. I think he recognized that this song has been done over and over the same way, and that allowed him a new level of creative freedom to create something completely his own.

[@lachimiste1]

You wondered about Jose’s voice acting - he’s a stage actor. He’s been part of the cast for the Chicago company putting on Hamilton.

[@bjspeck4337]

And he looks mighty handsome in this.

[@letheardaw]

@@bjspeck4337 If someone gave me the full-face wink he did in Hoist the Colours, I'd follow them anywhere...🤣

[@BioTech__]

Mortius-"its so good but so strange" Me- "almost like it was sung by drunken sailors"

[@tatumespino6705]

Perfect video for today since today is Eli’s birthday. Happy birthday Eli!🎉

[@sarram143]

The reason you probably didn't notice Bucky's name in the description is that his credits are not in the vocalist's section. His name and Instagram are right after Jose's links. Great reaction, Mortius!

[@tamaravandegraaf7100]

Geoff went 'Wheeeeeee! I'm putting in EVERYTHING.' And it works!

[@iamsquatty]

I love that jose is back for some piratey sailor shenanigans. Crazy eyes layne is in fine form here, and sassy sailor cesar twerking is fantasitc 😂

[@laundrygoddess4]

I just love Jose. The way he blends with the others is just fantastic and so cohesive

[@iamsquatty]

@@laundrygoddess4 same, and he's so good at being theatrical as well. Would love to see him back more often 💜

[@laundrygoddess4]

@@iamsquatty he's one of the few I would like to see as the 5th member

[@annettefrisby6853]

The captain’s daughter was the whip that the bosun would use for “correction” of the captain’s law, so no babies (or true daughters) were harmed in the making of this video 😂. All of the things that were listed were semi poetic adaptations of true punishments that were performed on derelict sailors :)

[@bjspeck4337]

Thanks. That was information I have NEVER known.

[@CapriUni]

@@bjspeck4337 I thought about mentioning that in VoicePlay's comment section, but then, I thought whipping someone so severely they can't get out of bed is a lot less family-friendly than even the creepiest doll

[@annettefrisby6853]

The other punishments are possibly even more of an omg factor “shave his belly with a rusty razor” was code for using a cat’o’nine tails (whip with shards of metal and bone embedded), “put him in the longboat and make him bail her” meant pulling them behind the great ship in the longboat which typically carried their water and anchors… and were often cut adrift and left behind when speed was needed. “Put him in the scupper with a hose pipe bottom” meant sticking his head through a scupper (drain hole in the side of the ship that would hold the sailors head like a stock) and beating his bottom with a length of hose. I like VoicePlay’s versions better than history though!

[@CapriUni]

@@annettefrisby6853 Agreed!

[@shirleykarr560]

"Kissing the gunner's daughter" is the term for restraining a sailor over a canon while he is whipped as punishment. I've researched nautical history for two novels and can find no reference to the whip being called the "captain's daughter" in primary sources. At the risk of being a wet blanket, I think it s like walking the plank -- a mostly fictitious tradition, beloved by Hollywood and novelists going back to Robert Louis Stevenson. If you know of a reliable source for the term, please share so I can add it to my list for research.

[@jenfraley7637]

I love their silliness so much!

[@CapriUni]

Double dipping with another comment: Favorite Moments 2:36 When the "Drunken Sailor's" tankard slams down on the table as a diagetic percussive beat to start the song. 12:51 Eli's voice-acting-singing when he sings "Weigh-heigh!" as if he's complaining (Hey!) about Bucky drinking the last of his grog. 15:12 Everyone else freezing into a tableau, but Captain Rosario breaks the fourth wall and shrugs to the audience. (Which is the video's thumbnail).

[@southernhippie9058]

I have learned to not even think of the original when it comes to these guys covering anything. I just enjoy them as pieces of art that they are. The music is amazing and the video was hilarious. I usually prefer their version over the originals anyway.

[@AlwaysAndForever7]

Lol I love the way your brain works - describing Geoff sneezing on a music sheet and creating art had me literally laughing out loud 😂 loved your reaction!

[@barbarakennedy2667]

Very happy birthday to Eliezar!

[@Chibihugs]

The doll's name is Clara!

[@laundrygoddess4]

And she has feelings! 😂😂

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

This song has been done and redone so many times by so many people, that I feel like anything _expected_ that VoicePlay could have done, would have been in danger of falling flat and fading into the vast sea of covers of this song that already exist. So I am glad they did not do that. And yes, they made serious adjustments, to the tempo, to the pacing, to the melody itself, and possibly even to the lyrics (although those already had a fair amount of variety going on in various iterations, by virtue of the nature of the song).

[@hwyla4416]

I’m in an opposing opinion. While I find the original fun to sing along with, it has been done so much (especially relatively recently) that I absolutely adore the changes here. What point would there be in yet another version that sounds so like the others? And yet, much of what is so good about the original are present here. Especially the gorgeous harmonies (with a few unexpected twists). Admittedly it is quite rare to hear this song with ANY percussion. I can think of one video that does use Celtic style drumming but the drums are really far in the background. Usually if there is any instrumentation it is a fiddle or some form of pipes. This however is entirely ’new’ but with the main characteristics so specific to the song still present. (especially the harmonies on ‘up she rises’ and ‘earl-lie’). I must say that I especially love Eli’s high almost ocean swell on ‘morning’ just before the dancing starts. Truthfully, if they had stuck closer to the ‘normal’ rendition of this song, there would be less reason for me to have it repeated over and over again. They turned this into an absolute bop!

[@CapriUni]

Poor Eli -- first, he gets terrorized by the vision of the whale swallowing the longboat, then Bucky finishes off the last of his rum. No wonder he was feeling extra vindictive!

[@phantomsights4533]

12:10 HER NAME IS CLARA AND SHE HAS FEELINGS!!

[@trishaurvan9439]

Her name is Clara and she has feelings 😂😂

[@barbarakennedy2667]

You very rarely hear a beatboxer emulating a bodhran, spelling? (Irish hand drum). I noticed the camera sways the entire time, as if actually on a ship at sea.

[@thisismetoday7423]

Which is odd to me because they have to be in a tavern and not at sea. Because of the fireplace behind them which could not be on a ship lol

[@mikkifullerton]

Buckle up Mortius, you are correct that this one is better to just enjoy the ride than try to predict the coaster track!

[@tari6085]

I love that you enjoyed this one. The "drunken sailor" is credited in the description, between Jose's credit and VP's credits -- he's Matthew "Bucky" Buckner. VP has known him since their 4:2:Five days. He was the choreographer for Geoff's "Monster Mash" video.

[@hannahananab]

This is my favorite version of this song, because it's so different. I love when an artist takes a song and makes it their own.

[@embran8486]

Wow you went hilariously hard on this! ¨...sneezing on a music score document and creating art¨? That phrase in particular I want to hear Geoff comment on!

[@lordqwertythepyromancer3458]

Honestly I am of two minds when it comes to this song. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the original song, and comparitvely, I feel this is my least favorite voiceplay song. I really loved the sea shanty version and this beat boxing version doesn't hold up in my eyes. But.........the visuals, the jokes, the meta humor, the entertainment value is my Favorite of all time from voiceplay. Heck even the music itself, even if I prefer the original by a landslide, is a freaking riot of a time. And when I force myself to listen to it without thinking about the original, it quickly becomes amazing. It really does go to show that voiceplay really has far too many talents to ever make a bad video 🤣🤣

[@CapriUni]

Yeah. I love traditional shanties, too. And this put me off, at first. But of all the shanties I enjoy, this one is closer to the bottom. So by the time I watched it 3 or 4 times, I'd warmed up to it. (BTW, my favorite shanty at the moment is Eliza Lee).

[@rhov-anion]

Yeah, everyone in Oregon melted! We got a portable AC for my husband's office; he's a computer tech, gets to work partly at home, and all those repaired laptops running updates all at once makes that room HOT! Now we have orange skies from the Canadian fires. Anyway! I was really looking forward to your reaction and just how much the chaos broke you. Geoff apparently went with "pirates were mostly Irish so let's turn this into a modern Celtic rock"... WHICH I LOVE. Gotta admit, I was unsure for about 90 seconds into this song until I realized what Geoff did. It's a blend of Celtic drums and Caribbean bass (dude, REALLY listen to Geoff's bass, it's WILD). I feel this is the genre that a modern day pirate would sing. I've been listening to this song over and over again all week. I can't get over Geoff's rhythmic bass and how it blends with Layne. Also, that doll is CURSED! And apparently Geoff named her Clara and said "she has feelings"... which worries me.

[@AndieO]

This is such a part of my culture (Newfoundlander here). I actually was confused at first but by the second verse, I was on board. A cool track for you to check out if you're interested is 1,2,3,4 by Alan Doyle or even The Night That Patty Murphy Died by Great Big Sea. Harmonies and speed. ❤❤

[@lynnenicholson6968]

Mortius I think as someone who isn’t musical (and hasn’t really sung Drunken Sailor since she left school 43 years ago) I just sat back and enjoyed the romp. I watch reaction videos to find out why musical people like the music (because I’m always trying to learn more) but sometimes I just grab my inner toddler and romp along enjoying the fun (I may be almost 62 but my inner toddler loves all sorts of new things).

[@Cameron5043]

Yes, thats Lane doing the beat - he's going for the feel of a bodhrán, a Celtic frame drum played with a tipper.

[@jessicaeddins6550]

The arrangement made me think of a ship getting tossed about out on the sea, if you have ever seen a video of sailors trying to walk on a ship that is going through rough seas you will understand what I mean.

[@hadrian3874]

this is probably my favourite cover of drunken sailor bc its so different from fhe norm yet it feels so familiar ??? it makes me so stimmy

[@KaaSerpent]

My favorite part of this was how...completely insane the eye makeup made Layne look. :)

[@Woodland_Adventures]

Fun fact: Captains Daughter refers to the Cat of Nine tails. It's a club with a 9 whips attached to it. Most often it was kept in the Captain's quarters, giving it the name the captain's daughter. Obviously it was used as a punishment tool, often times on drunken sailors. However some sources claim is just refers to a ships resident prostitute, which is a... unnerving(?)... unsettling(?) thought. But in the context of drunken sailor it does mean the cat of nine tails. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_o'_nine_tails

[@Filiz_E]

Oh this was so fun to watch😂 I love the different vibe of this rendition a lot❤ and it is hilarious🎉😂

[@CapriUni]

Thanks for breaking down the rhythm changes. That's one of the things I have the hardest time hearing. ... The thought occurred to me that it represents the off-balance feeling of *being* drunk (maybe -- teetotaler, myself).

[@michellekelly2298]

This has always been my opinion of @GeoffCastellucci arrangement here. You never know what you will do or say drunk so his melody changes are the actual “Drunken Sailor”

[@MidnightSunna]

This one is completely left-field from the original, and I kinda adore it. Love your reactions as always

[@parkerbrown-nesbit1747]

I've been performing this song for a long time (I do a LOT of shanties), and on first listen, I didn't really like what they'd done with it. But on further listens, I've grown to love it. The Captain's Daughter was originally a whip.

[@neighbourlady]

Sailors are very superstitious! Lane playing with a whale going after the longboat is very bad ju-ju for a superstitious sailor. Jose' stopped the shenanigan -but sailor Eli is terrified of what could happen tempting the fates..

[@ashbii7632]

I loved watching your reaction to this one. It was quiet the rollercoaster of emotions until you reached acceptance. XD

[@caitlinkavanagh3298]

Enjoyed the reaction, but I'm curious what you consider the 'original' for this song. For me it's The Irish Rovers, but Burl Ives did it in 1956 which was before The Irish Rovers. Though, the lyrics have been around since before 1745, from what I found on the internet (yes, I know how reliable that can be). But, as you know, VoicePlay will never, ever not put their own spin on it. They don't feel it's worth being 'out there' if it is just a copy. Glad your temps are cooling down. Today our heat wave started. Supposed to be 104 or 105F on Tuesday. Thankfully we have central AC in this 125+ year old house. It struggles, but works. lol I'll definitely be staying inside all day and hoping the power doesn't go down again.

[@Cordelia53]

I love this so much!! They are so silly and this is just sooo much fun!! Bucky is from back in the old days of 4:2:five. Geoff arranged this one. This is just as they call it, their special kind of dumb, and I love it!!! lmao Great reaction!! Clara the doll is creepy and needs to be thrown overboard! lol I laughed so damn hard with this

[@lkayh]

Hey, Mortius-there was a time, and it wasn’t all that long ago, when you typically didn’t have or need AC in Denver. Now it is a standard necessity. It’s only going to get hotter in Oregon, as it has in Colorado. Get AC put in your home while it’s still not in high demand and therefore cheap! I knew you of all people would appreciate Cesar twerking. LOL. Great reaction. I was taken aback a bit by this one as well, but I never felt it was incoherent/incohesive. It just felt more like a music theater production than I had expected-I was thinking we’d see some more raw sailor-y thing, but I should’ve known better. VP always surprises (and I don’t think we’ve ever seen them do anything like what I expected)-that’s the best thing about them. Once I dumped my expectations and watched again, I was so caught up in all the wonderful bits and pieces, this is going to be one of my favorites by them.

[@kiracattan4624]

Oh thank you for the laughter! Your reaction had me giggling while listening to the video. It made my night. 😂

[@shilohauraable]

I think they had so much fun with this one! ❤😂

[@Masq1980]

Don't know if you know, but Voiceplay just came out with a new one called 'Hellfire' from the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and also Geoff did one from Nightmare Before Christmas 'Jack's Lament' :)

[@officialmortius]

I do know this! Both are already recorded and available on the Patreon, and Hellfire will go to the public today! Jack’s Lament will either be public Saturday, or next Wednesday, depending on how my schedule lines up

[@zamorvex]

i have never seen a song encapsulate what its like to be on adarol so well haha. such a fun remix

[@DravenGal]

At first I was a bit iffy on the slower pace in the beginning, but the more I listened and understood what they're doing, the more I loved it.

[@janetdw]

This is by far my favorite version. All the things that seemed a little offputting to you were the things that endear it to me. The Celtic drum reference on screen is meant as a clue basically. A lot of times Geoff will put “rhythmic humming”, or something similar. If they use a musical instrument it is visible in the video. Another commentor pointed out the combination of Celtic drums and Geoff’s Caribbean beat. I see it, along with all the rhythmic changes, as part of their journey they’re going from one port to another. I believe Layne playing with the whale and boat is a nod to their recent mini of the Wellerman. That explains Eli’s frantic head shaking when the whale is getting closer, and his look of despair when they connect. I love the scene with Geoff and the wooden spoon. He looks positively demonic, and with Eli’s remarks and Jose’s rejoinder, Eli looks positively evil as he shakes his head - yes I am a monster. 😈 Bucky also was in the mini of the Candy Crush song as the deranged mall shopper that decided to pop in. You can see him in the background bopping along. He is so funny! He was also in their mini of 500 Miles where once again he jumped into the group. In that one, Geoff can barely keep a straight face while he’s singing because he knows that Bucky is just a little bit crazy. In the piece Bucky turns around and waves at Geoff and Layne because, after all, they are old friends. I hope we see more of him. He has his own brand of silliness to their special kind of dumb.

[@melaniehobbs3323]

I keep wondering about what is considered to be “the original”. For me Drunken Sailor” was just one of those fun songs we did in elementary school music. I think the first professional performance of Drunken Sailor that I ever heard was from The Irish Rovers. I just saw a KZbin video of the Irish Rovers doing Drunken Sailor, they were not particularly slow about it. Personally, I love how VoicePlay refuses to be “cookie cutter” especially with really well-known stuff, even to the point of changing stuff several times in a song. It makes them more interesting than they already are. I do agree that just letting go of the analysis and enjoying the roller coaster is sometimes your best option.

[@tiffymcconkey]

This was a crazy fun cover where they did want they wanted. I seriously enjoyed this so much and laughed so hard when watching it.

[@jounik]

"As a cover" - this isn't a cover. This is an upgrade.

[@bjspeck4337]

Bucky is the drunken sailor and was in the group before they were VoicePlay. He currently works for Disney World as a voice actor.

[@creationsbychancecan]

I love it when you have a total meltdown 😅 This song did it to me too. Great reaction again Mortius

[@warrenbaker4181]

this song is so old and has been done so many different ways that I don't think you can say it has a style.

[@KaivalaJenva]

Vp: hey when was the last time we broke/confused the reactors... "last video.." Vp: okay well time to do it again they had enough time to recover ... so how do we do it this time? .. Vp: Geoff? GEOFF: Well let's do a popular song and twist it into something almost unrecognizable and as usually have a blast doing it. Vp: sold let's do it

[@Cpperk95]

We have to remember VP does not do kareoke and be willing to go the distance with their creativity (said with a grin) This was amazing and I loved your reaction. Kudos

[@eternalnyx]

The deadpan "well thats just rude" SENT ME. I HAD TO HOLD ME BREATH my girlfriend and toddler are asleep behind me XDD

[@bb1886]

It feels like it was arranged by a drunken sailor.

[@toddlower5546]

Putting the longboat in Layne's beer, Rude. Except that there wasn't any beer there. The wooden boat didn't float.

[@christinestromberg4057]

Not reqlly pirate, but certainly sailors. It has connections to the whaling ships of the late 19th and early 20th centures. Yes Layne is reproducing the Irish brodhran or hand drum, that's the typical rhythm when played. (Lokk it up) :) The vives are all avout the British Islaes though I've read that the song has connections to New Zealand. The punishments for being drunk aboard were harsh. Not having one's heart cut out with a spoon (hints of Alan Rickman here) but being the scupper with the hosepipe on him was a type of flogging. With a hopespie,with his head put into the scuppers to keep him in place. The nan you don't know is Matthew "Bucky" Buckner, and eal=rly member of the group before they were VP. He is now a n entertainer and voiceover actor at Universal Studios in Orlando. See him also in their short: I'm gonna be 500 Miles Yes Geoff wrote the bridge, and yes the doll is very creepy.

[@jessicacifelli5496]

I have several versions of this song on my Spotify liked songs Playlist and this has quickly become my favorite. It's so fun and different and thats my favorite thing about Voice Play as well. That they can take a very well known song and completely make it their own. My favorite part of the video though is Geoff's expression when he tucks the very creepy doll in. Makes me giggle every time😂. BTW I absolutely hate dolls. They creep me out🫣

[@leslieholland7843]

I totally agree about dolls, and they found one of the creepiest ones ever here!

[@ljk5464]

The doll's name is Clara.

[@gilliandrysdale5306]

this was a blast ❤ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@kerowynsmom3531]

What is Geoff doing over there? Looks like playing with dolls. 😂

[@ilonadever8249]

I didn't even notice the discordance.... thanx for that!

[@aussiebloke609]

5:18 Mortius, you really have a Peter Fonda thing (from his _Easy Rider_ days) going when you take the headphones off. Suits you.

[@delrheawatson5603]

You are so right!!!!!

[@kimsmeltzer6083]

one day, my finances will stabilize enough for me to get back on that Patreon wagon.

[@macfelsing8597]

Mortius, sometimes you just have to listen and enjoy.

[@matildabengtsson148]

I think Geoff made a deal with Ursula 😂

[@AndieO]

A descriptor you may like it's "Organized Chaos"

[@merlin3041]

I love the "GEOFF WHAT WERE YOU ON WHEN YOU LISTENED TO DRUNKEN SAILOR, AND MADE THIS, IT'S SO GOOD BUT ITS SO STRANGE, I J... LIKE!?"

[@Femme400]

To me, this opening reminds me of an 80's or 90's morning radio show intro music.

[@dieselfreak28]

I wonder if Geoff was maybe going for a song that seems like it was arranged by a drunk person. Not saying he was drunk, but the song seems like it was all over the place like a drunk person haha

[@Adam1984_]

🤣 "sneezing on a MuseScore document and creating art" is my new favorite phrase for "wtf am I listening to?"

[@SleepyheadJJC]

Thanks 😊

[@glennjanot8128]

If VoicePlay had just covered the song likt the multitude of other artists that did it, it wouldn't stand out.

[@ChrisKing25]

Gloriously chaotic!! 😁

[@sianne79]

12:15............it took me a good couple of moments to decide if that was a note or someone was just farting into the microphone.....At this point I wouldn't put it past any of them.... ................also let me take this moment to plug the song "Creepy Doll" by Jonathon Coulton

[@sarawlindgreen3115]

VoicePlay did Drunken Sailor, and messes with Mortius' head so much so that Mortius now needs a drink - it might also help with cooping with the head 🥵🍺 You say it's all over the place, do I dare say: it's drunk 🤔😅

[@Bioboy590]

I love this arrangement. I'd rather listen to this than the original.

[@joeholahan7619]

One word...pirates!

[@donovandelaney3171]

Then you should wear lots of organic SPF 50 sunblock.

[@susannefehling5521]

Its like a ship on a stromy sea😂

[@nat3007]

They are drunk possibly even more towards totalled it was traditional here for sailors to be given pints of rum. Songs do not have to make sense when drunk. But a lot of Celtic music has timing changes in the music so listening to Celtic music was a possible influence.

[@cathylarcher291]

Opening line goes what could we do, what would we do and then what will we do. Interesting.

[@kanelbulle59]

I love how you can hear a bark at 9:33 and then someone yelling at 9:36 in the background, I wonder what happend there😅😂

[@thisismetoday7423]

So weird but when I search Voiceplay this video from Mortius isn’t coming up in my search!

[@tessasilberbauer6219]

About your commentary at 11:30.. is this the Jackson Pollock of arrangements? 😎

[@lyndseyeshelman5936]

🎉🎉🎉🎉❤

[@codyherod3036]

i honestly did not like it at first, but by the 15th listen, i came around it

[@timgray3790]

Reaction fine, analysis fine but damn, if you just finish listening before asking questions that has the answers at the end.

[@officialmortius]

No (☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞

[@Juilene1965]

Geoff is a demented genius! This isn't at all incoherent. I would say more like "schizophrenic"............but in the very best way!

[@Chasmodius]

2:05 You know you don't have to wear pants for these videos, right? We can't see you from the waist down! :P

[@kathrinewatson6321]

who yelled something at 9:36?

[@TyroHuman]

Mental dissonance in music form for me, but I LOVE IT😂😂😂😂❤❤❤❤❤😂😂😢😢😅😅😅😂😂

[@susanmarks2382]

Not conviced it adds anything, much prefer the original.

[@Mia200001]

I hated the original because it was the most repetitive, boring thing we ever did in choir. Totally besotted with the musicality of this version.

[@lindamorrison9755]

Sorry it fails big time and I'm being nice. Love Geoff but he has really missed the mark with this. This is so frazzled I'm leaving early.

[@nancymccombs3775]

Not my favorite.