Voiceplay- Zat you Santa Clause? (Reaction)

[@phyllisfranks7739]

It was first recorded in 1953 by Louis Armstrong.

[@karenponchak5304]

"why the decision to go that route?" they're boys (at heart).... and they got a new toy.

[@1MannzOpinion]

😂If I had a new toy, I'd do the same thing.

[@lauriehallcolemandowns7364]

J channeling Satchmo is everything!!! Layne singing and beatboxing at the same time! They all are spectacular! They used a new programmed camera (check out their bts on this one, it's great!) This is an old one by Louis Armstrong and they covered it themselves before many years ago on their Peppermint Winter album. It's a fun one. Oh, and it's Bucky playing Santa. :D

[@1MannzOpinion]

It was so good

[@Wildecat10]

For awhile now, Eli has been programming the lights for their videos. He embeds a midi signal in the prerecorded soundtrack so that the lights (and some special effects like smoke) are the same for every take. Well, this time they were playing with new tech - a robotic camera arm. As you can see from the credits, they had a programmer there that could attach similar signals to control the rapid and highly accurate camera movements. On the low tech side of things, Layne’s wife Cindi did the costuming and set decoration for the shoot. Take another look at the tree topper. It’s a golden VoicePlay logo! And Brandon, their production assistant, was behind the set making it snow.

[@1MannzOpinion]

I completely missed the tree topper!

[@virginiakay1428]

Yes, they were using a camera mounted on a robotic arm(unibot I think) programed to certain music ques. Maybe someone else can explain better, but you get the idea.

[@Denalicat]

This is their 3rd version of this song. You can find the first on on their Peppermint Winter Album on their channel. Bucky from The Drunken Sailor and others is the hands of Santa

[@1MannzOpinion]

I'll have to go back and check it out

[@vdoyne]

Thanks for this swift reaction to VoicePlay's 2024 Christmas tune. VoicePlay is so fun and just great. They used a robotic camera setup with this one. The BTS is really interesting and something was said about one take. This is a cover of a Louis Armstrong tune. They haven't done original content that I know of (Pattycake does on their channel). However, Geoff has written some additional lyrics/bridges for some of his solo covers; can't remember if any of them has ever done that for VoicePlay covers. Looking forward to your reaction to Geoff's Christmas tune...it's epic!

[@ilonadever8249]

Geoff wrote original bridge for Christmas Don't Be Late, maybe others, I don't remember.....

[@virginiakay1428]

@@ilonadever8249 Seems like maybe Drunkin Sailor?

[@thisismetoday7423]

I think their one minute musical series are original.

[@1MannzOpinion]

happy to do it!

[@acorrado5529]

Thanks for your reaction! Voice Play recently released their cover of "Stand By Me" and it is stunning! Somehow it was overlooked by most reactors because it is in a vertical format filmed at their mall so many may have thought it was a mini/short instead of a full length video. At least one reactor has said it did not even show up in their notifications. Please react to Voice Play's "Stand By Me" (trust me).

[@ladykaycey]

Yeah it was really disappointing how many reactors missed it. Its the best version I've ever heard, even brought me to tears.

[@acorrado5529]

@@ladykaycey Yes, me too. The only cover of it that I want to hear now.

[@1MannzOpinion]

I'm going back for it, probably after I react to Carol of the Bells

[@MtheHell]

I didn't know the original song, too. I think, maybe, I heard it at a time, but I can't remember. But when J.None did the 'impression', I knew it must be a Louis Armstrong song. Like others already wrote, they used a "Cinebot Mini" robot cam for the first time. Layne and Ben (the guy with the Cinebot) programmed it the day before the video shooting. You can set it precisely matching to the music and if you do multiple takes (with the guys changing position on the couch), you can edit it perfectly, because the camera is 100% at the same position in every take, at any second. And although they used "HighTech" for filming, the snow falls "manually", done by Brandon (credited as the 'snow wrangler' 🌨😆) and, yeah: I first thought Tony had another cameo as Santa, but it was Bucky (you know him e.g. from the VP video "Drunken Sailor" as...the drunken sailor🥴)🤣. I also wish you and your family a nice Christmas season! 🎄🎅 (I'll be back for Geoff's "Carol of the Bells", of course, but it matches the time of season and the your VP Xmas video.😊

[@1MannzOpinion]

At the end I almost mentioned the Louis Armstrong vibes I was getting near the end but didn't for whatever reason lol. See you for Geoff's soon!

[@ronsbrat525]

This was originally sung by Louie Anderson. Hence J None accent. He was talking like Louie. They used a new camera for this that is basically a robot arm like in labs attached sliding base that has the power box on it. The bot hat 3 cameras on it that face 3 different directions but work together. Hence the multiple fast charging places. It is run by a program in a computer that tells it what to do with the cameras. So no camera man carrying a heavy camera. Eli said that was the first time he had to hook his computer up to another computer that is hooked to it camera. Eli uses his computer to program the lighting and effects in their videos. Like the lighting changes and smoke geysers in Be Prepared. He puts everything on timers so they do watt he wants during filming. Take a closer look at the tree top. Voiceplay logo in gold. We patrons are hoping they'll put it in their merch store. Bucky was Santa Claus both times. He was the Dunkin Sailor in that video. Layne has been beatboxing since 2003 when then beatboxer Scott Porter left for acting.

[@1MannzOpinion]

That new toy of theirs was incredible.

[@hwyla4416]

I think you actually mean Louis Armstrong. Louie Anderson was a comedian. Or more likely spell check messed with you?

[@ronsbrat525]

​@@hwyla4416 I did. Dumb mistake considering I met Louie Anderson in person in 1994. He had performed the night before on Halloween eve. I wanted to go to his show but had to work. I was a cashier in a convenience store near the airport. He stopped in for gas. He bought that, chewing gum and batteries. He paid, got his gas and left. Thank you the correction 🙂

[@BeatrizPOMPONLEVAINVILLE]

I'm pretty sure that even Santa Claus will love this cover. It's brilliant. And J. None, with his Louis Armstrong vibe should be illegal !!

[@1MannzOpinion]

He was soo good

[@marleiaisenhoward1891]

Louis Armstrong!!!!but they killed it!!!!!!!😊😊😊I’m assuming transporting back in time J was imitating Louie 😊

[@1MannzOpinion]

He did awesome!

[@R989D]

I mean the whole idea of a strange man letting himself in to your house in the dead of night is a creepy concept. An old man broke in and let me a “present” 😱😂

[@1MannzOpinion]

😂😂

[@SweetCuttlefish-AshleyE]

I think the swapping places/teleporting thing was inspired by the robot arm they used to film. With a human cameraman you couldn't do that as well, because they can't recreate the same precise camera movement every time. With the programed robot, they can film in different positions and swap places even when the camera is moving, so it's just a way to play with the technology to create an interesting effect. As for how they arrange for Layne, they don't really ever write down their arrangements. Whoever is arranging will use digital instruments to work out the structure, then sing all the parts themselves (using the program to change the pitch at times to get to the highs and/or lows if needed) to essentially create a demo. Layne's part is often created with the digital versions of a drum kit, with occasional instructions to 'do something cool here' or something that gives the idea of the sound they want. Of course, a large amount of their arrangements, including this one, are done by Layne, so that step isn't necessary.

[@jackyfriedman1963]

The camera also has 3 cameras on it in different angles.

[@SweetCuttlefish-AshleyE]

@@jackyfriedman1963 It looked to me like only one camera, but with lots of points of articulation and movement so it can change angles constantly. But I could be wrong 😅😅

[@jackyfriedman1963]

@@SweetCuttlefish-AshleyE I watched the behind the scenes on their Patreon. Geoff mentioned it hand 3 camera and to where each is on the robot. Each films different angles on different sides. Then they're arranged into the finished video. They did a short as well with it. That's why they change places so fast in the video.

[@SweetCuttlefish-AshleyE]

@ Huh, I rewatched the BTS to check myself before commenting and there was a part where Geoff counts the number of axis the arm can turn on (it was at least 6), but nothing about multiple cameras. Was that in the highest tier extra BTS?

[@1MannzOpinion]

I find the entire process fascinating.

[@ilonadever8249]

I'm old and never heard it either..... still, it's so much fun!

[@loritempleman2951]

Same!

[@1MannzOpinion]

I had so much fun trying to figure it out lol.

[@thisismetoday7423]

Most of your questions were answered in their description 😊

[@1MannzOpinion]

Thanks, I usually look more in depth after the reaction. Going in blind gives me more to talk about, I like to see how much I can guess right lol. Plus, it's a great conversation starter for everyone in the comments!

[@ljk5464]

They used to do this song years ago when they toured. This is actually a 3rd rewrite that Layne did. Bucky, the 6th drunken sailor, dressed up as Santa for this one. Can't wait for you to do Geoff's Carol of the Bells!! Buckle up tight for that one! Did you notice the tree topper?

[@janetdw]

I first heard the song from Harry Connick Jr and then shortly there after by Brian Setzer. But it is an old Louis Armstrong song. I found out when I researched a little bit many many years ago because I had never heard it before. It’s not a real commonly known song, but it appeared on their album from sometime back. I think it’s called Peppermint Winter. Oh, and by the way, there’s a comment by a Scott Rogers down at the bottom somewhere. Just don’t even bother reading it. He’s a troll that seems to find delight in making nasty comments for various reactors..

[@1MannzOpinion]

I'm not too worried, I tend to overlook those.

[@loritempleman2951]

It probably took me about 2 or 3 listens to this to go from "what is this" to earworm status! Also, I know you are probably going to focus on holiday music right now, but last month VP released a beautiful version of Stand By Me with Mykal Kilgore, and it seems to have flown under the radar for a lot of people, which is a shame because it is gorgeous!

[@1MannzOpinion]

I'll definitely go back for it!

[@Gael4ce]

Here’s a link to the original. J’s “mugging” with the silly faces and the voice he used at the end were both a straight up nod to Louie. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3ScYWtobbmjd5osi=ZWvTk3yQr1QoqSpk

[@1MannzOpinion]

Thanks!

[@izabellnemilindfors2566]

Can you check out Nick pitera o holy night. Or jussi Björling helga natt ( o holy night in swedish) 😊

[@keithandrews2248]

I think it was from nightmare before Christmas

[@thisismetoday7423]

Nope, it’s an old Louis Armstrong song.

[@1MannzOpinion]

I could understand why you might think that. The creepy Santa vibes definitely have that feel!

[@scottrogers7242]

You're alone. It's sad reactors can't take 5 minutes before reacting, to research the origin of the song if they don't know it.

[@janetdw]

Many people react blind without doing any research so that they can give an honest opinion. If it bothers you you can simply scroll on by. I don’t know why you bother watching reactions except it seems to be your hobby of criticizing random people. randomly criticizing people. You need to get a life.

[@1MannzOpinion]

@@janetdw You're exactly right, Going in blind helps give a more genuine reaction, and starts great conversations in the comments!