Vocal Coach REACTS - GEOFF CASTELLUCCI "The Sound Of Silence"

[@rosswhite5975]

When his vocals switch to a more choral mix its because the lyrics say "and the people bowed and prayed". That section is lyrically about a group rather than the individual. Geoff and Voiceplay's understanding of lyrics and how to present them is absolutely wonderful. There is thought and purpose behind every arrangement decision.

[@hwyla4416]

Good point. I’ve been thinking of the ‘chorus’ of Geoffs as almost voices in his head (for this song) - based mainly on the ‘vision planted in my brain’ and that odd, echoing drum. It often sounds to me like he’s singing on an empty, dark stage. I’m pretty sure I would feel differently about that if we visually saw the background singing Geoffs. The arrangement of this really feels almost as if he is remembering it all in his mind.

[@Traci2000]

Love his voice so much! And his arrangements are just wild. He can always surprise me. ❤

[@ilonadever8249]

So, so glad to see you reacting to this cover from Geoff. Geoff (and Voiceplay) always pay homage to the original, but feels that if he can't add something, he will walk away. Why do something that someone else has already done, right? I always appreciate your persepctive and expertise. Geoff did a cover of Man of Constant Sorrow that is unlike any other, including a bridge that he wrote for it. Voiceplay did a cover of Metallica's Nothing Else Matters. Just so ya know. And they both have new covers coming out this week and next.

[@JillDonaho-q1d]

You might want to listen to Dark Sarah DANCE WITH THE DRAGONS

[@ericberg9266]

Nope. Nope and no so incredibly monotone no inflection personally not for me there are several versions that are way better than this.

[@marshayoung9387]

Nobody reaches deep down into the depths of ones soul better than Geoff.

[@laundrygoddess4]

Clearly not only does punctuation elude you, so does musical range and inflection

[@codename495]

While I disagree with your opinion, as it isn’t well informed and you misuse the word “monotone” you’re perfectly allowed to have other favorites.

[@Juilene1965]

I missed you reacting to Geoff and Voiceplay! You have missed so much awesomeness! Glad you are getting back to them :)

[@ericturner7824]

But remember.....Geoff IS, his OWN chorus......>^^

[@bjspeck4337]

But it's all him and gorgeous. I like his alter ego chorus. Would love to hear your take on VP's Nothing Else Matters kzbin.info/door/FA0Hqio3RdsQU-cQrrn9ag (Metallica) and Seven Nation Army (White Stripe) kzbin.info/door/FA0Hqio3RdsQU-cQrrn9ag. On a different path, Dave Clark wrote a musical that he wanted Freddie Mercury to be in. Freddie turned him down saying he couldn't make the matinees. However, he did get a pianist and a lovely stage and did Time Waits for No One. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnjNpWVvZqiCl5I&pp=ygUPZnJlZGRpZSBtZXJjdXJ5 (one of Dave Clark's musical songs) as a solo just for his friend. It is beautiful From the mid 80s if you are interested.

[@JavaJane87]

Am I the last person ever to hear of him? His voice is smooth! Like Lindt chocolate.

[@CapriUni]

Welcome to a new discovery! I agree his voice is like chocolate. Melty and sweet.

[@gilliandrysdale5306]

you are at the start of an incredible journey enjoy! ❤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@gilliandrysdale5306]

this quickly became my favourite version of this song ❤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@klake12]

You want to check also Voiceplay where he is one of the members, they do mind-blowing covers :)

[@JavaJane87]

@Gillian Drysdale I'm definitely enjoying!

[@MiladyMacabre]

Let's take a moment to appreciate Eli's subtle lighting for this; the lights raising and lowering of intensity as if Geoff was walking down the sidewalk beneath street lamps, the purple splash neon, the bright lights as Geoff pleads with people not to make the same mistake they already made - brilliant!

[@Cordelia53]

I heard it described really well. The OG was the warning, Disturbed's version was the anger, PTX cover is the pleading and Geoff's version is the sadness and reflection afterwards. Every time I listen to this cover, I cry. It touches my soul, and I feel like I am seeing the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. Absolutely amazing cover. Great reaction!!

[@Drake844221]

I would actually say that Geoff's is more the hope, but yeah. That's the same kind of a take on it that really made this one click for me. Like, being so used to Simon and Garfunkle and Disturbed's takes on it, it took me a moment to catch the vision of this one, but with the perspective of his cover being the hope... it just works.

[@DavideBaroni]

@@Drake844221 Hope? 🤔 Where do you see "hope" in this version? 🤔 Even the only moments of "power", like the last two verses, are kinda muffled. His body language doesn't speak of hope to me, rather of discouragement and disillusionment. And EVERY "cycle" ends in that soft, almost "underspoken", lonely and discouraged "...of silence". Which, for a silent lover as I am, could be taken for a "positive" thing, but in the context of the song and the lyrics and the things I said above, it sounds just "powerless and hopeless and sorrowful" to me. But maybe you saw something I missed. 🙂 So, if you can tell me where to find that hint of hope, I'll be glad to listen. 🙂🙂

[@Drake844221]

@@DavideBaroni One of the core reasons that I read hope into it is the fact that this cover is actually in a major key, compared to the minor key of other versions. And hope is... distinct from triumph. It is one where my impression is that it recognizes that he's not out of the woods, but there is almost a sense of... quiet optimism that he's heading in the right direction, even if there are challenges yet to face. That may be a lot of my own... current life situation feeding into it, but this cover resonates with that part of my own journey. It's like a hero traveling through a dark forest, coming into a bright, warm clearing, where he can feel hope again before continuing on the trail.

[@Trickpants]

@@Drake844221 I absolutely agree with you and your interpretation, it's what I get from it as well. In fact, it's what I get from almost all of Geoff's covers. Even if the whole song is usually about pain or brooding in some way, there's an element of hope in Geoff's music that I can't put my finger on. I just find that there is the quiet optimism (as you so well put it!) that tells me it's okay to be hurting right now, but things will get better.

[@Trickpants]

@@DavideBaroni To me, part of what feels hopeful is the big swell and choral section. Even though it ends on a vulnerable note, I personally don't get the feeling of defeat from it - Rather of having lost a fight but not giving up. Again, personal interpretation will be different for everyone, but part of why I love Geoff's version so much is because my personal interpretation is one of quiet resilience 😁

[@Luana6350]

OMG - I love this song❣ And this Version of "the sound of silence" by Geoff Castellucci it's like fireworks 🎆 I'm fascinated, I get goosebumps 💟

[@deniblackmore2179]

Love Geoff's take on this and your reaction to it. There are so many great versions of this song around now that, for me, the covers have surpassed the S & G version of the 60's that i grew up with. When Disturbed took it so far from the original it was like the floodgates opened and everyone decided to put their own spin on it. I know you've already reacted to Disturbed's and Dan Vasc's versions, which I also love, but a couple of others that I really love and would be interested to hear your thoughts on are by Jonathan Young and Bobby Bass.

[@marcklinker9229]

Love Geoff s voice and this cover

[@DaisyGray74]

The choices he made with this cover were interesting harmonically and emotively. It’s pretty epic. He’s so talented.

[@b.w.9816]

I love this cover. It is so beautiful. I have been checking in every now and then to see if you do a cover of VoicePlay's Nothing Else Matter.

[@danielstephens1185]

3:36 Another reaction viewer, that rundown there almost triggered tears. This man is too good at producing visceral reactions! 😳

[@tsedge99]

When I first heard Geoff's version, I didn't like it much. I think I was overly influenced by Disturbed's version and I didn't understand what Geoff was doing. However, once I heard someone explain this was about the sadness, not the anger, it made a whole lot more sense and now I am liking it more every time I hear it, particularly the creative arrangement and changes of key.

[@emrysfevre8087]

I too wasn't sure how I felt about this arrangement on my first or even second listen. It's just so different from any arrangement I'd ever heard. But, the more times I listened, the more it grew on me. Now, it's even surpassed the disturbed version for me (and I really love that one). It is very, very different. I think you have to get past comparing it to all other versions and just judge it on it's own. At least for me that's what it took.

[@veronicathunander4579]

Beautiful!

[@guiarnoldi]

Nothing bad could be said by the vocal performance, only good things. But the arrangement was a little bit too far IMO. Great video, nonetheless, Ken.

[@Tarkus_]

This isn't one of my favorite covers from Geoff, but even his lesser stuff is awesome. Speaking of awesome singers doing Simon and Garfunkel covers, this seems like a great time to recommend Aurora doing Scarborough Fair: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnanpJJphat8g68

[@incubusprime2578]

Would you consider a reaction to the Barenaked Ladies song "Break Your Heart?" I'm not Canadian, but Steven Page is a national treasure.

[@gordon020958]

Disturbed is better. This guy is just a tiny bit above Pentatonix which is not saying much considering PTX should leave the music industry.

[@brianslifeafterstroke5990]

I believe the choral mix is all Geoff no other back-ups

[@EarlJohn61]

I still say the best version of this song that I've never heard is by Marcel Marceau.

[@SheilaDellinger]

I didn’t like it all because he changed the song to much!

[@lilawagner3726]

Geoff reminds me of Ivan Rebroff.

[@marshayoung9387]

Geoff has a way of reaching deep down into your soul with this one. Especially when he hums.

[@gene1star]

Pure joy❤

[@michaeldaniels4171]

Greetings Ken, Love your channel, you have fast become my favorite vocal coach reactor! I have a request to that I wanted to make. Dan Vasc does a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's The Sound of silence. It is just fantastic man, but I would really love your reaction to it. I value your input and you always have a way about you that you explain things and layman terms so I can understand. 😊 Kind regards.

[@Simi_Rose]

I am just wondering have you ever checked out the bass gang, i believe one of them, bobby bass, recently did a cover of this. There are some very stunning songs that they have done as a group and as solo projects and last Halloween both they and voiceplay did hide and seek which is definitely worth a listen. They also recently did hooked on a feeling with Tim foust, and i think it was the least bassy song for having 5 amazing bassists within it :) (You can feel the 4 of them fanboying in it its rather cute)

[@monitor4208]

I will suggest something unusual: David Gilmour singing Shakespeare‘s Sonnet 18, no Guitar, just him singing.

[@g54b95]

Hi Ken. How about Lisa Gerrard's vocal performance on 'Host of the Seraphim', from Dead Can Dance? I was first exposed to her amazing talent when I watched the movie 'Baraka'. Then I went down the DCD rabbit hole. There are live performances of this with a full choir and orchestra, but this is the remastered version from the studio album "The Serpent's Egg". kzbin.info/www/bejne/noXLcp-PaLZlgdk

[@par500dragon7]

I love Geoff's version of this song. It truly speaks to me, in a different way than Disturbed's version (which i also love).

[@codename495]

YEBBA! YEBBA YEBBA YEBBA.

[@Broomrider1492]

Geoff also did Man Of Constant Sorrow and added some lyrics and music.

[@rebelbabeconner9064]

Sorry I don't feel the emotion at all in this version... almost flat

[@hwyla4416]

Perhaps you haven’t suffered from depression? Sadness is joy always in tears. Sometimes it’s expressed in the dearth of happiness . For many that flatness is the emotion. For me, I don’t hear this as flat, but weary of it all, numb and all alone in one’s head.

[@hwyla4416]

Auto correct Typo -should have read: Sadness is NOT always tears… etc

[@rebelbabeconner9064]

Of course I have... these lyrics are very important and powerful to me... his version and doesn't hit my soul... there is something for everyone... glad it moved you... David Draiman's voice and DISTURBED'S version makes me cry and gets chills every time... you do you... have a blessed day

[@hwyla4416]

@@rebelbabeconner9064 Thank you. You are correct different for different. I cannot stand all the anger in the one you like. We do all react in unique ways. I did not mean to sound as if I thought you didn't understand. I hope it did not come out that way. Just trying to offer a different perspective. One thing I think we CAN agree upon - S&G wrote a meaningful song that echos in many folks' souls.

[@D.K.94]

👍🎶

[@diannemarcy752]

Incredible ….well done

[@monitor4208]

Oh, have fun with that!

[@KenLavigne]

I did - I love Geoff's arrangement and his voice is pure silk!

[@gene1star]

⁠​⁠@@KenLavigne i would like also normal arrangment but with his low Voice.

[@marshayoung9387]

@@KenLavigne thank you Ken for another great reaction to Geoff. He has a way of reaching deep down into the depths of your soul. If you really want to hear another side of Geoff please do a reaction video to Voice Plays cover "Peaches" ( Bowser, Mario, Luigi & Toad). Geoff unleashes his inner Rock God in this one. Look out Eli, Geoff is coming for you lol. The original was done by Jack Black & wait till you hear what Voice Play does with it. At the end one of Layne's daughters makes a cameo appearance. I swear these guys have too much fun. They made this video outside, live.

[@CarlTSpeak]

Thanks for the shout out, Ken!