VoicePlay REACTION #5: "Queen in 5 Minutes" | Singer-Songwriter Reacts

[@mityakiselev]

Insanely creative storytelling. Basically, the plot is based on Earl's real near-death experience when he got hospitalized, it's just artistically enhanced. The guy who puts a necklace on him is his actual husband IRL. Earl goes to the afterlife and encounters four different deities from different cultures, each one representing something about death, for example, Anubis (the Egyptian god) weighs Earl's heart against a feather to see if it is heavy with guilt or whatever. They're all pretty keen to get him dead except Baron Samedi (from Haitian Voodoo I think) who is actually the god of both death and life who decides on whether the person actually dies in that culture and can be negotiated with. He appears to like Earl and notices the necklace on his neck when touching his chin with the cane, and the other gods are unhappy with this familiarity, actively getting in his face about it (also notice all the small BV details like "he can go on and on" with eye rolls). They all try to get at Earl but Baron protects his chest with his own cane. Earl eventually makes them all disappear (everyone takes a fighting stance except Baron who accepts it peacefully like a champ) and goes back to life. The medley ends with "Don't Stop Me Now" on the words "I feel alive", and the necklace is gone so it would seem Baron was pretty real and took it as payment. The way they arranged most of the stuff is really clever, making motifs and lyrics fit their narrative. Freddie Mercury once said, "Do what you want with my music, just don't make it boring". I feel like his music is in good hands here

[@suzybailey5501]

Right here is just about everything I love about VoicePlay! Fantastic vocals, wonderful arrangement, beautiful harmonies, good acting. And the amazing creativity to not only tell a story through the song choices but with the added theatricality of using mythology. Love it, what more could you possibly pack into a medley! Geoff/VP Mondays are the best day of the week thanks to you Cole! 🙂👍💜

[@acorrado5529]

Thanks so much for this one for your Monday treat!

[@randominerecords]

Thanks so much for watching, Annette! - Cole

[@amandahowells5389]

You should definitely check out their little mermaid medley. Geoff goes off!

[@Starrynightdiner]

What’s with the wookie beard? If you’re going to do that, you have to do VP’s “what do you get a wookie for Christmas?”😂😂😂

[@carinarodebak9419]

Ellen, you know how we date VP videos by the length of Geoff's hair. Seems like Cole is trying out something similar.🤣🤣

[@Starrynightdiner]

@@carinarodebak9419 oh no! By Christmas he will be a Yeti!

[@randominerecords]

It's my annual "winter coat"! Wait till you see me in March! 😳😂 - Cole

[@Gael4ce]

Little trivia for you - the reason Geoff sounds so amazing and has all that power in his “upper” range is that it’s his natural range. He’s actually a baritone, not a bass. Yeah, I know. I didn’t believe it either. 😊 He’s worked hard to develop a lower range, and uses a vocal trick called sub harmonics to add even more extra notes on the bottom. He did an instructional video on how he developed and worked that lower range if you’re curious.

[@Wildecat10]

First, the gentleman with Earl is his husband. He also appeared (with Geoff, Layne and Eli’s wives) in the Boybands video. The part where they were standing around talking about ‘his big wallet.’ Layne and Eli pulled bits from Queen’s catalog of music specifically to tell a story. This was just after Earl had a health scare while they were on tour. Aside from Eli mentioning Freddy Mercury’s interest in mythology, the rest of this comment is based on the video and my own research as an amateur student of mythology: Anubis (Egyptian) (J None), Cerberus (Greek) (Layne) and Yama Nirvana (East Asian and Buddhist) (Eli) are all guardians that convey souls to the underworld. There is visible tension in the video between them and Geoff’s character, Baron Samedi (Haitian Voudou). Baron is the master of the dead AND the giver of life. A person will not die if Baron refuses to dig their grave. So while the others want to get on with it, it’s the Baron’s decision. It’s only right that he is the last one to face Earl before Earl’s return to his life.

[@SunnyOutlook]

Thank you for explaining the mythological characters. I know of Anubis and Cerberus, but not the others. I’m always learning something.

[@shirleykarr560]

Baron can also be bribed. Notice when Earl wakes up he no longer has the pendant Nick gave him. Baron kept it as payment.

[@randominerecords]

Thanks for this info, Wildcat! - Cole

[@ilonadever8249]

Great reaction, Cole. This is one of the pieces that just proves Voiceplays special place in music. One of the things I love about these guys is that ego does not seem to get in the way of artistry. In almost every piece, each of them gets a chance to shine. Let me suggest Can't Help Falling in Love and I Can't Make You Love Me. And if you want more Geoff slides = The Little Mermaid Medley. Trust me!!

[@SunnyOutlook]

Spot on with your reaction! They really did great by Queen.

[@randominerecords]

Thanks for watching! - Cole

[@marleiaisenhoward1891]

Check out my mother told me!!!! Geoff's bass is insane! All of them are on this

[@gilliandrysdale5306]

this one really showcased Earl will never not miss him. As others have said that’s Earl’s husband you can also see him and all the families in Daddy sang Bass which is really good ❤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@nightthornkvala94132]

You can also catch a glimpse of their significant others in Boy Bands in 5 Minutes, where Earl's husband says, "You should see the size of his wallet."

[@Freakiehippy30]

Have to share… I met Earl today IRL, tried my darndest not to be a stupid fan girl, but it was very cool 😊

[@nightthornkvala94132]

@@Freakiehippy30 I'm so envious.

[@gilliandrysdale5306]

@@Freakiehippy30 that’s so great how is he doing?

[@daventunes3822]

My understanding is that this video followed on a real-life health scare that Earl suffered - not sure what the actual issue was. The other four play the gods from various pantheons that judge souls which are on their way to the afterlife. I was majorly impressed by the fact that Earl managed to do the latter part of the video without flashing everyone even while in his hospital gown. Heh.

[@christinestromberg4057]

I believe it was appendicitis. Which can be nasty.

[@pamforrester844]

I'm here to leave a comment and feed the algorithm beast, I'm a queen purist but I'm someone who couldn't carry a the in a bucket myself so I'll just sit here and enjoy. Thanks for the video and commentary as always

[@kurpponen6224]

Thanks for reacting to one of my favorite VoicePlay medleys. The smooth transitions from one song to another, the high quality of the vocals and harmonies... in particular I like that there are lines from Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy and right at the turning point of the drama.

[@thomashayes6952]

Don't forget about Peter Hollens featuring Tim Foust doing Misty Mountains

[@randominerecords]

Gotcha covered 😉: kzbin.info/www/bejne/poSbiYxtp66GoKs - Cole

[@par500dragon7]

I love this one!

[@tschlaak]

One of my faves.

[@lkayh]

I’m impressed you followed the storyline. It took me a few watches-I don’t know that much about mythology. If you haven’t seen Boy Bands in Five Minutes you should definitely check it out as well. I’m not that into boy bands but I really love it. So creative!! Great reaction, Cole!

[@Broomrider1492]

Now you're going to go for Boy Bands In 5 Minutes. Love that they included Earl's husband. They like to include family members as extras when needed.

[@rmdewberry2482]

Maybe my fave Geoff rocker slide up. Also love his high slides in Little Mermaid and Hoist the Colors.

[@nydougtx]

This is also considered part 4 of a series that starts with Trapped (Billie Eilish in 5 minutes) and continues with Panic at the Disco in 4 Minutes (parts 1 and 2). Yes, it was, as others said, written after a health scare on tour for Earl. But my understanding is Geoff has stated it does tie in with the other songs. This is also one of the last performances by Earl with the group before he left for personal reasons. (I think Just Sing was the actual last showing of Earl in a VP song.)

[@Z-LightfulMemories]

If you enjoyed this, you should check out the Boy Bands in 5 Mins. (sorry if you have, seen a lot of reactions and it's starting blend together). It's the same crew (with J None and Earl). It's just plain fun!

[@carinarodebak9419]

The reactor has been reacted to! You've made it into Geoff quakes 5.0 and then you're not the most freakened out reactor on the net. This reaction is more emotional I'd say. Congratulations Cole🎈🎊 Spoilerwarning though,the reactor before you is covering a song you haven't done yet, My Mother Told Me.

[@randominerecords]

Wow! Awesome! I had no idea! Thanks so much for letting me know, Carina! - Cole

[@ericturner7824]

There is a cover of "Death of a Bachelor"......3 Geoffs and 2 Earls...just them, Geoff does some beatboxing.......early stuff in the VoicePlay catalog......Geoff did somethng similar to the 'scream' on his slide up......in the Little Mermaid Medley, where he plays Ursula.....give them a watch and listen.......>^^

[@ronsbrat525]

Awesome reaction. This is the 4th and final video to their kidnap story. Trapped. Panic parts 1&2. Are the first 3. It's best to watch them close together as their a continuous story. Trapped is a full video. Panic is 4 minutes total. Alot of people don't know that Queen Is the final in that story. You'll understand the concept of this one when you see those. Another great kidnap video they did was - Mission Jingle Bells. Jingle Bells sung to the Mission Impossible theme. They won an award for it too.

[@gozer722]

Please do another Marc Martel.... he has a fantastic cover of "Under Pressure" by Queen....with his UQC band (it was during Covid so they all separate at home but is amazing)

[@shelby0210]

In Voiceplay's "Little Mermaid Medley" Geoff gives us another sampling of that rock belting. Absolutely melted my brain, you should check it out sometime 💕✨ keep up the good work!! Always so soothing to watch your vids

[@randominerecords]

Thanks for watching, S! - Cole

[@karrascotto200]

If you're really liking Earl and enjoy Homefree, ya should totally check out VoicePlay vs Homefree Surveyor!!

[@anaestay6698]

ELi....yeah