THIS MADE MY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Blind reaction to Voiceplay - You're A Mean One, Mr Grinch

[@ericturner7824]

Geoff is a HUGE fan of the singer Thurl Ravenscroft.....who sang the song in the 'animated' feature.....as a side note the animated feature, was narrated and the Grinch was voiced by the Great Boris Karloff...yes that Karloff...(think Frankenstein)...yes that one.....>^^

[@vcg73]

"You're a Triple Decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich ... with Arsenic Sauce!" is one of the lyrics to the original song performed by Thurl Ravenscroft for the 1966 animated "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". Geoff cut a couple of lines from the song for this arrangement, then decided to reincorporate that one into the beginning of this video. Basically just to show the Whos as pack of rude little sh*ts that the Grinch hates. (Though in the cartoon they seem to be very sweet people!} And yes, the version from the original is the full song that they're doing here, no added VP lyrics. It accompanies the middle section of the cartoon and I highly recommend that you watch it. Beautiful Chuck Jones animation and narration by horror legend Boris Karloff.

[@DennisKovacich]

Yeah, my only complaint about this cover is that the Whos would never make fun of the Grinch like that because they were nice to him no matter what he did to them.

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

@@DennisKovacich While that's true, there was really no way to put more than at most two people in makeup (Grinch and Max) for the song and music video and still preserve that dynamic. The nature of the song is such that, if any of the other characters from the book are involved in any capacity whatsoever, they are ipso facto necessarily mocking him. Unavoidably. So unless they wanted to do the song as a bass solo (which they don't, because that has already been done, very well, by Thurl Ravenscroft, and Geoff and VP don't like to do inherently redundant covers), the only other really obvious choice would've been to skip the theatrics entirely and do a singers-in-front-of-mics style music video. Which, granted, sometimes they do that, e.g. Carry On Wayward Son. But I suspect doing a song from a cartoon movie that way, would likely have disappointed some of their fans. Theatrics is kind of VP's main schtick, and missing a good opportunity to do them would've been a shame. Less obviously, I suppose they could have gone for make-up depicting various other Seuss characters not directly related to Grinch. Eli as the Lorax, J-None as Fox in Socks, etc. Not sure how that would've been received. Figuring out how to make the video tell a story would've been a lot more work, but I guess it could've been done.

[@thomasmacdiarmid8251]

They are also very sweet in the original book. That's part of the point, that the Whos celebrate Christmas from their hearts and even when all the trappings are gone, they gather and sing with joy over Christmas and their mutual love. They also are remarkably forgiving, given that they accept the Grinch at their feast after he just stole all their material Christmas goods (of course, it helps that he brought it back - and maybe they are receiving him like the Prodigal Son).

[@Wildecat10]

Layne is a bit obsessed with the Grinch. Last year Pattycake did The Grinch Reacts to TikTok Fails (the Grinch co-hosts a special with Christmas fails - there’s even an opening song). But he has been teasing his youngest daughter Doris for years. He goes to great lengths to keep her belief in the Grinch alive. (We keep telling him that someday she’s going to make him pay when she finds out he’s been gaslighting her all these years. ) From the time that Doris was one he has been doing yearly videos on his channel with his whole family singing. In You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch (Doris Turns 5), Tony does appear as the Grinch. (But don’t tell Doris)

[@DnDAddictUK]

So much fun..... YOU NEEED TO WATCH THE ORIGINAL 60s CARTOON!!!!!!!! It is a classic for a reason!

[@shirleykarr560]

Expand your repertoire, my guy, and check out the original animated Grinch movie. Thurl Ravenscroft was an amazing bass singer and voice actor whose career spanned six decades ... but he is most remembered for being the original voice of Tony the Tiger, mascot of Frosted Flakes cereal, and singing the Grinch Song. I think Thurl would like what Geoff and VoicePlay did to the song.

[@rebeccaashmore7025]

I love the way Geoff's voice slides up through each "Grinch". They filled this arrangement and this video with gold.

[@ilonadever8249]

The Grinch was a hired actor, not Tony or any other member of the Voiceplay family. The actor is not named, only the studio that provided him. This is so much fun to watch!!

[@frankster1477]

Also, the Grinch's voice is Eli.

[@georgesandeehoward5015]

Rumor has it that the actor playing the Grinch plays him at Universal Studios theme park. That's why he isn't credited by name.

[@meganmurdock9107]

​@georgesandeehoward5015 I've thought that as well. There's 2 specific guys from Universal that I remember being Grinch. One I found pictures of him as Grinch and its spot on. The other I can't find any pictures of.

[@caitlinkavanagh3298]

Layne as Max, Eli's voice as the Grinch, the Who noses... so many things just make this SO adorable! Adriana made such a perfect Who. Love it!!!

[@eternalsenshifan]

This song is directly from the original cartoon. Including the joke at the beginning. You need to go watch it this year.

[@edwardblair4096]

A few years ago I wasn't sure, so I watched the cartoon version if the song on KZbin. All of the various highly colorful insults are in the original.

[@kimberleyharvey8175]

Definitely was anticipating this one and not disappounted. As mentioned elsewhere, this is most of the original song from the 1960s animated adaptation directed by Chuck Jones (which will always be my "personal Grinch"). Bobby Nass did an excellent bass solo version of the complete song last year. And has also neen mentioned, Smalltown Titans does a very unique version. Both are more than worth adding to next year's lineup, and I think you'll enjoy adding Smalltown Titans to your reaction list.

[@kimberleyharvey8175]

Sorry, fat fingers or stubborn autocorrect. Bobby Bass' version from last year is simply awesome and the complete song.

[@DravenGal]

Jim Carrey's Grinch is my "wrapping gifts" movie, has been for years. (In VP's video the "double decker toadstool sandwich" line is from one of the verses of the original song, which they had to cut out for some reason, so they put it in that way.) I know it so well, I frequently speak the lines as it plays, much to my husband's annoyance. It's a good one for wrapping gifts, because I don't really have to look at the screen, as it plays in my head, too! Here's a tidbit you may not know...in the scene where Grinch is "directing" max, he puts on a baseball cap, which is a nudge at the director, Ron Howard (aka "Richie Cunningham" from "Happy Days" and much, much more). Mr. Howard ALWAYS wears a baseball cap, as apparently he is a bit self-conscious of his hair loss. I actually saw him in a bookstore where I worked, and sure enough, baseball cap! Love his work though, too many to name. "Willow" is near the top of the list! Ah, but I digress! So my husband and my Xmas movie (usually Xmas day) is "White Christmas." Love me some Danny Kaye, Bing Crosby, the whole cast! The singing and dancing is so gorgeous. And each time we watch it, I see something I had never noticed previously, which to me is a sign of a really great movie. Oh, and you really need to watch the Grinch cartoon. It's short, taken right from the book, and is great. The Benedict Cumberbatch animated version is fine, love Benedict's voice, if nothing else, and it's a slightly different take. Not a bad movie by any means, but not as engaging as the live action one.

[@rylanmalis1162]

The latest Grinch was actually really good and had the Pentatonix cover of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" in it.

[@hweber4229]

Nice reaction! You definitely need to watch the original animated Grinch special! It’s a Christmas classic! It has narration from horror icon Boris Karloff and this song was sung by Geoff’s bass singing idol Thurl Ravenscroft.

[@karenponchak5304]

The joke : hey Grinch. You're a triple decker toad stool sandwich.... with arsenic sauce. (That's the worst kind of sandwich) And they did extend the song.... but sooner than you realized. (They actually inserted a bit of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" before the Max part.)

[@mephitismephitis6825]

The cartoon is worth watching again. It might never have caught on so much if it weren't for Thurl Ravenscroft singing the original and Boris Karloff narrating. I don't doubt that Voiceplay watched it repeatedly for inspiration.

[@bjspeck4337]

My holiday season movie is "The Ref".

[@therealEmpyre]

You simply MUST watch the original cartoon, at least once. It is the masterpiece that inspired the Jim Carey movie. I grew up watching it every year.

[@christinestromberg4057]

They have never said who played Grince but I think it was Eli, voiceover actor, doing the voice, as he did for Sandy Claws in Oogie Boogie, and any other acting voice. It has been suggested the body actor was a friend from their Disney days, who may or may or not have been under contract elsewhere, so never named.

[@wiredjeweler211]

You definitely need to watch the OG Grinch. And the new animated one has the PTX version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, which is fun.

[@Denalicat]

Great reaction. The only part they extended was the Night Before Christmas excerpt from A Visit Form St Nicholas Geoff has done a narration of it on his channel.

[@joyvanderveer2282]

I knew you would love this one. Voiceplay just hit this one out of the park as usual vocally, but also in the acting department. Another banger!

[@AsTheCrowSquawks]

Small Town Titans also do a fabulous version of Mr. Grinch. I think you'll love the lead's voice too.

[@ericzeichert511]

Your cultural socialization is not complete DJ, until you see the original cartoon! (Hint a great horror movie actor from the 30;s and 40's is the Grinch....and it is mostly a musical.

[@claregreen3739]

Eli was the voice of the grinch😀

[@waltbutk]

This was fun, thanks for sharing. To further your grinch journey check out Voctave's version.

[@rhov-anion]

I read in comments (so don't quote me) that the actor who played the Grinch took the costume home a bit... umm... "less than legally." Professional Grinches sign a contract that they will not portray the Grinch outside of work. So to protect the actor from legal repercussions, they don't name him in the credits. In other words, Grinch is a bad, bad boy, haha! I foresee a reaction to the OG cartoon. That's "my Grinch." Although Jim Carrey was fantastic, they trimmed the song by almost 50% which was soooo disappointing. VoicePlay replaced some of the lyrics, cutting out the end and adding their own bridge. (Geoff does love those bridges!) "You're a three decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich with arsenic sauce" is the final line of the original song, and it's sung by Thurl Ravenscroft, Geoff's greatest inspiration. So yes, you should definitely watch the original and Dr. Seuss's full lyrics to the song.

[@kaitlynheater6088]

This is the full song. Look up the original recording ; it's from the 60's or 70's.

[@gailw415]

You may want to see the original cartoon. It’s great

[@emblazen6442]

I think you may need to extend reactions to Boxing Day. Dan Vasc dropped his cover of O Holy Night, it was amazing.

[@roxannekabotsky2997]

Boris Karloff was the voice of the Grinch in the OG animated version. 😂

[@DravenGal]

Oh, and am I the only one who looks at Adriana in this, in her adorable pig-tails, then looks at her sexy Santa dress with blond locks in "Jingle Bell Rock," blinks a few times, raises my eyebrows and goes "Whoa?!"

[@kellytressler7671]

You MUST watch the original cartoon and listen to the original song. I think you will appreciate the Jim Carrey version even more afterwards. The more recent Disney version is also very cute and different enough from the others that it seems like it's own story. Let us know if you do, I think you will love them all!❤

[@DravenGal]

Hope you had a great holiday, DJ! And to all those who read this as well! But we're not done yet! There's still New Year's Eve.

[@denisemagnuson8366]

Merry Christmas 🎄! You have to see the original ❤, it's amazing. I also like Jim Carrey 's one as well.

[@Jennifer_J_C]

Thanks 😊🎄😊🎄😊

[@kimberlygarwood-jl5om]

Love it!!! ❤

[@rulab]

I'm so so glad this didn't disappoint you DJ! They absolutely rocked this and I love that you felt that way too! Merry Christmas! ❤

[@Shadow_Person11]

Yep, I'm still as obsessed with this cover as i was last time i listened to it. Definitely a good thing i checked, thank you! 😊

[@hannahbristol3662]

I'm a Jim Carrey Grinch fan too. :)

[@SBQDawn]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5S4q2CwdqaHhKssi=8h2QNivBvFfZY89O Small Town Titans - "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" - Official Video

[@AsTheCrowSquawks]

You beat me to it. 😁

[@darylnelms1654]

Have you seen their cover of the Oogie Boogie song from the Nightmare Before Christmas?

[@neighbourlady]

Love this!! And love your reaction! Knew you would love this song! And you should try to watch the older cartoon - that is my Grinch.. but all the Grinchy is great!! Also - I suggest Not That Mean by Elliott Michael - - another bass - and he does this tune with a cool vibe from the Grinch's perspective. Its soo good! Merry Herdmas!

[@EtherealForever]

Fun!!! ❄️🤶🎄

[@desireecox9358]

Love the reaction as always! Thank you for my smile today!❤

[@katiewhite9351]

Thank you for the reaction! I recognize all the verses from the cartoon, they just have some other stuff sprinkeld in the middle of the song.

[@SandyLeeManley]

Check out Pentatonix version of this song

[@laundrygoddess4]

This was just so much fun. This is the most entertaining version ever

[@thomasmacdiarmid8251]

Try comparing the Pentatonix version: Matt does a great job.

[@liisaara7242]

So glad you enjoyed this! It's such a bop!

[@Kudilu]

the OG cartoon grinch is worth a watch at least once, and it's very short (only 30ish min if i recall correctly - definitely less than an hour). and while i do like the live action version....the newer one just called Grinch with Benedict Cumberbatch as Grinch is absolutely fabulous and has taken over my top Grinch spot. I don't ~love~ all of the musical choices in it (especially specifically the musical choices for this song), but the rest of the movie completely overtakes that mild criticism.

[@heatherdelgado9303]

Watch the OG!!!! You're missing out!!

[@derekpetersen7571]

Dan Vasc

[@SBQDawn]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWa6mKODppuYadEsi=blwSuhckkq8TKRIB You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch, Original Version - 1966 (HD)

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

I've actually never seen the Jim Carey movie. (I tend to avoid Jim Carey movies, because he reminds me too much of Carey Grant, and I don't like bad acting.) There are several other movie versions, but for me the Grinch has always mostly been a book. I have always been a Dr. Seuss fan, since I was a little kid. Fox in Socks is amazing great literature, fight me. And the illustration style of the Seuss books is something really special. I *want* a truffula tree in my yard please.

[@KaaSerpent]

Do watch the original Grinch cartoon. The Carrey version is -- in my humble opinion -- a poor attempt at copying it. :)

[@iamsquatty]

Merry Grinchmas sweet boy 😊 💜🦌

[@derekpetersen7571]

I hope you check out Dans new masterpiece O holy night this is so so good you will be floored it’s a must I can’t stress enough I can’t believe you didn’t jump in it like everybody else hope your ok

[@ronhill6971]

#voiceplay