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The short version: It's a side-blog about my latest hyperfixation, an incredible a cappella group called VoicePlay.

The long version: I have fallen — nay, flung myself — into the music and history of VoicePlay recently. I didn't just fall down a rabbit hole; I've been delving into the nooks and crannies of the whole freaking warren. And, as a result, I have extensive thoughts that need to go somewhere outside my own head.

In real life, people sometimes charm snakes using music. But in The Jungle Book, it's the serpent Kaa who hypnotizes the human boy Mowgli with his voice. Geoff brought everything full-circle with this short rendition of the treacherous tune, pulling his listeners into the depths of slumber in just a few verses.

Details:

title: Trust In Me (but so much lower)

original performer: Sterling Halloway as Kaa in The Jungle Book (1967)

written by: Robert & Richard Sherman

arranged by: Geoff Castellucci

release date: 12 April 2024

My favorite bits:

his soft, soothing timbre, appropriate for what is essentially a lullaby

the constant motion of the camera that gives the feeling of the listener swaying on their feet

the falling sigh on the end of the second ♫ "trust in me" ♫

the slightly more unsettling contrast between the vocal and instrumental lines that starts with ♫ "Slip into silent slumber…" ♫

that ominous final subharmonic layered with a tinkling arpeggio

Trivia:

Geoff had previously sung a shorter excerpt of this song as part of VoicePlay's "Aca Top 10 – Disney Villains" medley.

The YouTube short and TikTok upload both cut off the final chorus due to time restrictions, which is just wrong.

The video was filmed in the living room at Casa Lucci, with then-foster pup Tommy lying on the floor just out of frame. (They adopted him shortly thereafter.) Geoff asserted on Instagram that "If you hear heavy panting in my recordings for the foreseeable future… I promise it's the moose on the floor. 🫎"

Continuing his tradition of hosting semiannual days of outdoor games for his friends and family, Derrick "Millivanz" Williams got busy with the 2024 summer gathering. Both the winter and summer events include flag football, but the warmer weather also brought basketball, softball, and kickball for the teams to contend in.

Since his music video collaborations with J.None for the previous year's winter event went so well, the pair teamed up again to announce this next iteration. And when the time came for a little pre-game motivation, they brought another friend in on the fun.

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J.None couldn't make it back to Orlando to film for this video, but the layered vocals he recorded more than made up for his physical absence. Combined with footage from previous years, it's quite an enticement to join in.

Details:

title: Derrick Summer Games 2024 sign-up promo

performer: J.None

original song / performer: "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King

written by: Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, & Mike Stoller

arranged by: Derrick "Millivanz" Williams & Jessie "J.None" Nunn III

release date: 8 April 2024

My favorite bits:

J's smooth, clear timbre on the opening lines

staying higher for ♫ "light we'll see" ♫

showing off those bassy lows in the backing vocals under his fantastic riffing of ♫ "I won't be afraid" ♫

adding sweet, legato harmonies in the chorus

fading from the song into the participants saying "Underdogs always end up on top." and "Sportsmanship's where it's at." (Both good sentiments.)

Trivia:

Enrollment lasted for a month, and the gathering itself took place on July 7th.

In the lead-up to the actual games, the group held a media day with the participants. They conducted interviews with the captains and members of both teams, then decamped to a club for a little fun.

J's former bandmates in VoicePlay also recorded an a cappella version of this song a few months later, with the group's original high tenor Mykal Kilgore returning as a featured guest.

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NOTE: The lyrics of this song contain genre-typical cussing.

The players were willing to sweat through a summer day in steamy Orlando, so the guy in charge put together a song to help get them hyped up and released it on the eve of the competition.

Details:

title: Summer Games Again

performers: Metane, feat. J.None

written by: Derrick "Millivanz" Williams

release date: 6 July 2024

My favorite bits:

the synth brass fanfare to announce the players' arrival

the grungy beat dropping as Metane starts spitting bars

♫ "You bet on the weak and I bet on the monsters." ♫

J.None picking up the lead with just the right amount of grit in his tone and those crisp riffs

adding more layered harmonies as the chorus repeats

♫ "Don't get involved if you don't want bruises, contusions, and scars." ♫ (Whew!)

the swag in ♫ "I don't see no competition-AH!" ♫

the pair of guys in black ball caps dropping into a slick groove

Trivia:

This video was filmed at the Keg Social venue in Orlando, a sprawling event space that includes areas for bowling, billiards, arcade games, karaoke, and axe throwing, as well as a full pub menu and multiple well-stocked bars.

After the event was concluded, Derrick put together a 20-minute recap video showing highlights of each activity, along with spectator commentary

Popular wisdom says that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So when the VoicePlay guys decided to start a new video series demonstrating their culinary skills, they kicked things off with something simple. One cook showed off his gourmet tendancies, while the other catered to his diners' known preferences. Which would you rather chow down on?

Details:

title: scrambled egg challenge

cooks: Geoff Castellucci & Layne Stein

dishes: slow-cooked custardy eggs vs. spicy cheesy scramble

tasters: Eli Jacobson & Cesar De La Rosa

release date: 5 April 2024

My favorite bits:

the contrast between Geoff's smooth announcer voice and Layne's deliberately awkward continuation

Eli and Cesar's blindfolded coffee clink ☕

all the teasing and poking born from decades of friendship

Geoff getting nervous about cooking on camera 🍳

Layne's conspiratorial whisper about the chili crisp 🌶️

both cooks' anticipatory expressions as the other guys dig in

"What do you think, kitty cat?" (Is that Eli's new nickname?)

restrained victory celebration 🏆

Trivia:

Geoff is frequently the designated chef in his household, and enjoys sharing the fruits of his culinary skills. He takes the lead on everything from homemade pizza to vast holiday spreads, often using vegetables from the family's backyard garden.

Layne is no slouch in the kitchen, either. Growing up as the middle kid in a big Jewish family, and now a father of four, he's regularly involved in meal prep. He has also picked up a few tips from his younger sister Lyndi, who is a professional caterer.

The two tasters expressed some further thoughts in the Instagram comments once the video was posted.

Geoff often explores older songs with his solo work, but once in a while he'll take a shine to something new. And when Bey released a country dance tune with lyrics full of the word "down", well, he just couldn't resist taking it out for a leisurely spin.

Details:

title: Texas Hold ’Em

original performer: Beyoncé NOTE: The original lyrics contain some mild cussing.

written by: Beyoncé Knowles, Elizabeth Lowell Boland, & Megan Bülow

arranged by: Geoff Castellucci

release date: 4 April 2024

My favorite bits:

the casual staging of the four clones around the piano with soft sunlight glowing behind them

the simple repeated guitar riff and snapping to provide a bit of rhythm

lead Geoff moseying ♫ "down down down" ♫ into the basement

ascending on ♫ "throw your keys up" ♫ then dropping deep again

the clones adding lyrics to their harmonies in the second verse

almost letting one cuss slip through 🤫

the slow climb through ♫ "puffin' red cup kisses…" ♫ followed by a deft descending riff

his wistful tone while singing about ♫ "the dive bar that we always thought was nice" ♫

the sweet final chord

Trivia:

The original song was the co-lead single on Beyoncé's recently released "Cowboy Carter" album, which deservedly won the Grammy for Best Country Album.

Layne poked fun at Geoff in the comments of his Instagram post for editing out the cussing from the lyrics by quoting a song from South Park. He finally got him to say "son of a bitch" in a recording when VoicePlay did "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" for Halloween 2025.

A new year is a time for new beginnings. Following a holiday season filled with fun and excitement, the extended VoicePlay gang eased into their next round of work, ready to seize opportunities and share them with trusted friends.

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Ready, set, sing

The guys got right back to work at the start of January, gathering at the PattyCake studio for their first monthly planning meeting of the year (and some friendly snuggles).

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One of their more bureaucratic tasks was rolling out new and improved Patreon perks. Geoff teased the benefits on social media with the hope of enticing new subscribers.

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For their first musical offering of the year, they released a short of the soulful Teddy Swims tune "Lose Control", which they'd filmed while J.None was in town visiting his family for the holidays.

They then got a little silly the next week with "The Last Shanty", a slightly tongue-in-cheek modern sailing tune. As a member of the Navy Band, J doesn't actually spend much time at sea. Has he really earned his rank as "sailor"?

Meanwhile, Cesar kicked off the weekend by joining his fellow Throga music coaches for a reaction / interview livestream. They checked out VoicePlay's videos for "Nothing Else Matters" and "We're Good", and talked about the production process from start to finish.

VoicePlay's first long-form video of the year arrived the following week. It was a delightfully silly rendition of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" that shows off the guys' impressive vocal ranges, deliberately goofy dance moves, and video editing skills.

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New branches

J.None's next random collaboration was released on the same day. It's a relaxed and romantic afro-beat song called "One More Night" by Vital Soundz.

The day after that, J released his first solo video of the year, "Am I Here". It's a poignant examination of the tension between chasing your goals and enjoying your life, and became the lead single from his upcoming album, "Like None Other".

The final full week of the month brought a new project for Cesar, as well. They started rehearsals for the Orlando Fringe Festival show "Pride, Prejudice, and Promposals", serving as both musical director and a member of the cast.

When the weekend arrived, so did the next long-awaited episode of The Villains Lair. As some of the baddies prepared to set sail toward their next goal, Captain Hook and Lady Tremaine took Prince Hans down a few pegs and explained his place in their wicked heirarchy. Meanwhile, Jafar and the Evil Queen pursue their own sneaky schemes, and Vanessa manipulates her way onboard.

As the month drew to a close, Cesar moved from one theatrical troupe to another. Hawkmoon Creative brought back their immersive Alice in Wonderland show for a special event at Disney World. Cesar played the caterpillar and one of the Tweedle squad.

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Breaking and healing

When February rolled in, J.None's next international collaboration was rolled out. "Shattered" by G. Yoon is a sad, introspective meditation created by musicians in South Korea, Indonesia, and the U.S.

The next day also brought VoicePlay's next short featuring J, a heartfelt rendition of Michael Jackson's "Human Nature".

That evening, Cesar met up with a few Hawkmoon pals for a swanky private event at Disney World.

A week later, Geoff released his first solo project of the year. His deep, melancholy rendition of of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" was definitely worth the wait.

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Skill and joy

Longtime fan Huldra Draco used her monthly Patreon video perk to ask Eli about his journey to rock vocal mastery, and kindly shared it with the broader fandom. He revealed that the process was largely trial and error, imitating other singers he admired. He also noted that it's only a small part of his larger goal to cultivate a wide variety of styles so he can provide whatever a given song needs.

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VoicePlay started the week of Valentine's Day on a sweet note by releasing a soaring cover of "Pure Imagination" from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory featuring the return of Omar Cardona.

That afternoon, Cesar and his Evolution: Motown pals headed down to Palm Beach for a pair of shows that wowed the crowds.

Inspired by Usher's perfomance as the headliner for the Superbowl halftime show, J.None took a crack at the "Confessions" riff challenge and showed off his falsetto prowess.

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United we stand

The next weekend was bookended by driving beats and dramatic lighting. On Friday, VoicePlay unleashed a cover of the funereal space shanty "Sleeping in the Cold Below" from Warframe, featuring Omar.

Then on Monday, J.None and Millivanz released a follow-up recap video for the Derrick Games Christmas Classic the latter had held for his family and friends during the holidays. As they did with the sign-up announcement, the pair wrote and recorded an original song to provide some extra hype.

At the end of that week, VoicePlay celebrated the recent arrival of their newest family member with a little barbershop. Their short of "Baby On Board" from The Simpsons featured an appearance from a very calm Asher Jacobson, a vocal arrangement by his proud dad, and some quiet shenanigans from his goofy honorary uncles.

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The following day, J busted out his John Legend impression to stretch those vowels in an excerpt of 50 Cent's "21 Questions". Legend had performed the song with 50 Cent at his 45th birthday party a couple months earlier, and his soulful take on the hip-hop song had sparked some heated discussions among fans of both artists.

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Keep on rolling

The gang barrelled into the end of the month with a slew of music. Cesar joined his bandmates in The Vybe to kick off the Garden Rocks concert series during EPCOT's annual Flower & Garden Festival, playing three sets on both opening night and Leap Day.

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VoicePlay put out a funky short of "White Night" from Honkai: Star Rail in collaboration with the game's production studio. Whether you're familiar with the story or not, it'll get you grooving.

Then J.None got a little maudlin with a video for "FYI" from his "R&B Stories" EP that he'd released the summer before. It's beautifully introspective and even cathartic.

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Music in motion

At the start of March, the VoicePlay guys indulged Eli's racing fandom in a quick rendition of the Formula 1 racing theme with Omar.

Then Cesar returned to the EPCOT stage as Evolution: Motown took their turn for three nights of shows at the Flower & Garden Festival.

That week, J.None hit the road with the Sea Chanters' for their spring tour across the southeastern U.S. Their second night brought them to Lynchburg, Virginia, and the host school kindly provided a livestream of the concert.

The next day, VoicePlay released a smile-inducing short of "Tick Tick Boom" from Scoob! Between the song itself and some impressive basketball shots, it's a concentrated good time.

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Loss and love

Over the weekend, the guys went their separate ways to explore a spectrum of emotions. Geoff dipped into the Western genre once more for a bassy version of "Unshaken" from Red Dead Redemption 2.

Layne and Cyndi took the kids and some of their friends to the Florida Strawberry Festival for a day of seasonal fruits and fairground fun.

And Cesar played a tropical themed wedding reception with his old friends in Paradigm party band.

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Glee and glitches

As the middle of the month approached, Cesar invited a gaggle of friends and well-wishers to celebrate their birthday at the Renaissance Theatre with a night of singing and dancing.

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The next day, the guys realized that VoicePlay's TikTok account had been hijacked. Geoff took to their other social media to assure folks that they were aware and were working on regaining control.

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Be aware of the sides

When the weekend arrived, the boys greeted it with some spicy victuals and a sweet short of Justin Bieber's "Yummy".

After sitting down for an interview about his role in "Pride, Prejudice & Promposals", Cesar proceded to celebrate his birthday in style. Once he'd recovered from that, he spent St. Patrick's Day with Paradigm again, playing a gig over in St. Cloud.

By a quirk of scheduling, Geoff and Kathy ended up at the very Sicilian family reunion of the Palazzolo clan on the very Irish holiday. Her brother Pasquale documented some of the food and festivities, including the abundance of Vinnies in attendance.

Also in the middle of the month, Layne was lured back onto the high seas for the first time in several years for a spring break cruise with Cyndi, Doris, their eldest Annesley, and her then-boyfriend (now fiancé).

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Movies, meat, and loving mockery

The final week of March began with the release of a trailer for the theatrical release of the Chicago anniversary concert film. It included clips of all the featured artists, and would be showing on two nights in late April.

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Knowing that Geoff has strong opinions about food, Huldra used her next monthly Patreon video to ask him about burger-making. He shared his methods for creating and cooking the patties, as well as his topping preferences, all while being as self-deprecating as always.

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Meanwhile, Layne's friendly tormentor Marylimea created a fancam combining behind-the-scenes footage of some of his goofiest moments contrasted with some of his most badass video clips.

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As the month and the season wound down, VoicePlay took a bit of well-deserved vacation time. Layne went to Chicago with Cyndi and youngest step-daughter Lilly. Cesar headed to Japan to spend a couple weeks visiting friends and doing tourist-y things. Geoff, Kathy, and young William spent the kiddo's spring break down in St. Augustine. And Eli enjoyed some quiet time with Ashley and baby Asher as he put the finishing touches on their next project.

Musicians use a lot of energy in their work, and these guys are no exception. So they're always on the lookout for tasty ways to refuel. The hectic schedules of their career have given them strong opinions about various fast food chains, and the battle for the best chicken sandwich inspired this bit of doo-wop-y goodness as a tribute to a new favorite.

Details:

title: Yummy (Popeye's Chicken Sandwich), feat. J.None

original song / performer: "Yummy" by Justin Bieber WARNING: The original video begins with a series of camrea flashes.

written by: Justin Bieber, Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd, Sasha Sirota, Daniel Hackett, & Ashley Boyd

arranged by: Layne Stein

release date: 15 March 2024

My favorite bits:

the fun popping sound effects as the comments appear 💬💬💬

Eli's opening riff that glides smoothly into his chest voice

the eager expression on Geoff's face as he scrambles to fold himself into the back seat while adding the bass line

Cesar, J.None, and Layne flinging themselves into the remaining seats as they join in

the laid-back brush snare in Layne's percussion 🥁

the contrast between J's falling run and Cesar's soaring descant

their lovely staccato harmonies on ♫ "Just say the word" ♫

the slow bell chord rising over Geoff's subharmonic descent

Cesar and J swapping registers as they go off again

that gorgous final canon and satisfying chord resolution

Eli chomping down for one more big bite 😋

holding long enough to get a clean cut-off, but leaving in their laughter anyway (because it's just delightful) 🤭

Trivia:

Eli noted on Instagram that "multiple sandwiches were harmed during the filming". He didn't mention anything about the dreaded indigestion, though, which is probably a good sign.

Production assistant Franchezca Buiser is officially credited as "sandwich wrangler" in the YouTube description, since they needed a fresh one for each take. (Hopefully they got enough for everyone to have lunch while they were there. The other guys seemed pretty hungry.)

They also filmed a Patreon exclusive version with J.None singing lead on a more upbeat arrangement.

Popeye's spicy chicken sandwich was first introduced as a limited time item in the summer of 2019, and became an immediate craze, largely fueled by social media. When the supplies ran out nationwide after just two weeks, they scrambled to adjust their supply chain, and added the sandwich to their regular menu in November.

In the wake of the initial trend, dozens of other restaurant chains rushed to add or update their own versions of a fried chicken sandwich, but none could replicate the viral success.

Tales of the Wild West often entail gunfights at high noon, search parties to rescue townsfolk from kidnappers, or devastating dust storms. But in between those moments of excitement, there's a lot of time to reflect on the scope of a person's life. Arthur Morgan in the Red Dead Redemption video games suffers many losses over the course of his story, but even at his lowest point, he clings to the hope that he can persevere. Geoff took that grounded outlook, and used it to make the earth tremble.

Details:

title: Unshaken (low bass singer cover)

original performer: D'Angelo for Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018)

written by: Michael "D'Angelo" Archer, Rocco DeLuca, & Daniel Lanois

arranged by: Geoff Castellucci

release date: 9 March 2024

My favorite bits:

the dramatic opening instrumental sting and thematically appropriate wash of red lighting

introducing the melody with rich, warm humming that absolutely earns the "low bass" label with that first rumbling subharmonic

the soft harmonies in the first chorus, complimented by the delicate guitar and sparse percussion

fading into golden lighting for the first verse to match the introspective lyrics

bringing in teal tones to accompany the aquatic imagery in the second verse

the freedom of his phrasing as he ascends on ♫ "He who drinks from the deep water" ♫

pairing the subharmonic puncutuation of the third ♫ "Where you… BEEN?" ♫ with an ominous tolling bell

his slight cry at the start of ♫ "against the wall" ♫

both lefthand clones keeping the beat with the butts of their guns on the floor

the plaintive descant of ♫ "mean old world" ♫

the matching hand movements of the seated duo during their descending echos in the final chorus

the costume change fashion show in the outro footage

Trivia:

D'Angelo was a big fan of the first Red Dead Redemption game, and reached out to Rockstar Games' music director, who in turn got him a spot on the playtesting team for the sequel. That led to him being invited to record a song for the soundtrack.

Co-writer Rocco DeLuca based the lyrics in the chorus on a proverb by Hindu yogi Paramahansa Yogananda.

The game's composers had D'Angelo sing the original song in a lower register than his usual falsetto. Geoff took it even lower, as he does.

This video was the first project filmed on PattyCake's new Old West backdrop. Portions of it appeared in VoicePlay's cover of "Wanted Dead or Alive" two years later.

The dramatic lighting changes were created by his VoicePlay bandmate Eli Jacobson, who often works his technical magic for the group and for PattyCake.

Former 4:2:Five baritone Matthew "Bucky" Buckner is credited as a "special consultant", presumably in his capacity as GamerDadBucky. He noted on Instagram that he had requested Geoff cover the song "forever ago", and he definitely approved of the end result.

The western theme caught the eye of fellow singer Adam Chance, who he'd gotten to know when VoicePlay and Street Corner Symphony were both on the 2015 Sing-Off tour, and who later joined country group Home Free.

The reappearance of the costumes and facial hair from "Ghost Riders in the Sky" indicate that the clone quartet are the doomed cowboys in their pre-ghost forms.

As usual, the mustaches and beards were applied by his longtime makeup artist Rick Underwood. Geoff's naval officer brother Gregg couldn't resist teasing him a bit for playing dress-up as part of his job.

Since there are only four Geoffs in this arrangement, he joked that he let the clones make this one on their own, and trusted Daryl to keep the others in line.

Two of the cowboy clones also had a brief cameo in his "Grim Grinning Ghosts" video for Halloween of the following year.

Coffee lover Geoff was inspired to make some merch for a fictional beanery run by the responsible Daryl, and used a bit of his time on set to film a promo for it.

Artists are sometimes viewed as emotionally sensitive and physically delicate, and that certainly can be true. But performing on stage often takes a surprising amount of agility and stamina. Just like ballet dancers and cheerleaders, a lot of musicians are athletes. Part of the magic is making it look easy. These guys go one step further and make it look incredibly fun.

Details:

title: Tick Tick Boom (5 IMPOSSIBLE shots?!), feat. J.None

original performers: Sage the Gemini, feat. BygTwo3 for the Scoob! (2020) soundtrack

written by: John "Johnny Yukon" Mitchell, Danny Majic, Justin "DJ Frank E" Franks, Jim Lavigne, & Alexander "Xplicit" Izquierdo

arranged by: Layne Stein

release date: 8 March 2024

My favorite bits:

Layne setting the tempo with some grimy beatboxing

the casual tone of Geoff's bassy ♫ "Tick tick boom" ♫ as the basketball drops through the net

J.None pulling off ♫ "We bringin' out toys" ♫ ::squeaky:: 🦆 with a straight face

the trio's skillful harmonies demonstrating why they ♫ "should be on The Voice" ♫

the ducky dropping through the hoop, but a basketball rolling away on the floor 🤣

Eli's quick, crisp diction on ♫ "When it's like this…" ♫

the contrast between Layne's descending drum line & Cesar and J's ascending slides ⇵

grooving on the funky guitar riff with ♫ "nah-nah-nah" ♫ vocals 🎸

the playfully whispered "Swish!" 🏀 from Layne

their coordiated hop over Cesar's bouncy ball

putting a little grit on Eli's final "Tick tick BOOOOM"

their over-the-top celebration as they scoot out of frame

Trivia:

○ When he was demonstrating how he wanted everyone to lob their respective balls (or duck) overhead during rehearsal, Layne actually made his shot the first time. Unfortunately, the main camera wasn't recording yet, but there is phone camera footage in their behind-the-scenes video on Patreon.

○ Although they sang the line "We […] should be on The Voice!" with the requisite enthusiasm, the guys seem to have gotten their fill of reality competition shows, between:

4:2:Five's rough America's Got Talent audition in 2009

VoicePlay competing on The Sing-Off season 4, after 4:2:Five barely missed out on season 1

J.None's brief runs on both X-Factor (with 4Shore) and American Idol

Cesar's appearances on American Idol and X-Factor, and earning second place on Yo Soy El Artista

○ Fans still occasionally suggest that they go on The Masked Singer, though, probably in part because Pentatonix had done so in season 9, and founding 4:2:Five member Scott Porter was the runner-up for season 11.

○ That said, some of their regular collaborators have done quite well on The Voice in recent years. Omar Cardona and Deejay Young were both on John Legend's team in their respective seasons, and Omar made it all the way to the finals.

○ Playing basketball with these guys looks like fun, but it could be hazardous. In the early days of 4:2:Five, Layne accidentally fractured Scott's lower leg during a rowdy post-rehearsal game of hoops. Then in late 2021, J.None injured his achilles heel playing in a pickup game, and it took over a year to fully heal.

The public image of the military tends to emphasize the work of its fighting forces deployed overseas. But every branch also has a plethora of support staff — from supply officers to medical personnel to musicians. Their bands and choruses provide entertainment for the troops and civilians alike. They perform on national holidays and at special events, as well as serving as part of the military's outreach and recruitment efforts. This concert by the U.S. Navy Sea Chanters chorus shows off the talents they were hired for, combining patriotic tunes, modern hits, and popular favorites.

Details:

original songs / performers: [5:45] "The Star-Spangled Banner", U.S. national anthem; [7:55] "I've Got the Music in Me" by The Kiki Dee Band; [10:32] "Sail On, Sailor" by The Beach Boys; [14:10] "Roll the Old Chariot Along", 19th century sea shanty; [17:21] "The Skye Boat Song", 19th-century Scottish folk song; [20:40] "The life of Charlie Plumb" narration; [25:02] "Chanflín", Dominican folk song; [27:58] "Bésame Mucho" by Consuelo Velázquez; [31:42] "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?", 20th century Christian hymn; [34:44] "God Bless America", American patriotic song; [39:30] "Riverdance" by RTÉ Concert Orchestra for Riverdance; [44:30] "La La Latch" by Pentatonix (mashup of "Latch" by Disclosure and "La La La" by Naughty Boy); [49:10] "I Got Rhythm" from Girl Crazy (1930); [53:56] Country medley — "Seven Bridges Road" by Steve Young; "Life Is a Highway" by Tom Cochrane; "Unbelievable" by Diamond Rio; "Elvira" by the Oak Ridge Boys; "Boot Scootin' Boogie" by Brooks & Dunn; "God Bless the U.S.A." by Lee Greenwood; [1:07:35] "Eternal Father, Strong to Save", 19th century British hymn; [1:08:40] "Unbreakable" by Janelle Monáe & Kelly Clarkson for UglyDolls (2019); [1:11:58] "America the Beautiful", American patriotic song; [1:15:55] "The Army Goes Rolling Along", U.S. Army official song; [1:16:32] "The U.S. Air Force" official song; [1:17:08] "Semper Supra", U.S. Space Force official march; [1:17:42] "Marines' Hymn", U.S. Marine Corps official hymn; [1:18:18] "Semper Paratus", U.S. Coast Guard official song; [1:18:55] "Anchors Aweigh", U.S. Naval Academy fight song; [1:20:15] Elvis medley — "Jailhouse Rock", "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear", "Hound Dog", "Heartbreak Hotel", "C'mon Everybody", "Can't Help Falling in Love", & "Burning Love" by Elvis Presley

written by: "The Star Spangled Banner" by Francis Scott Key & John Stafford Smith; "I've Got the Music in Me" by Bias Boshell; "Sail On, Sailor" by Brian Wilson, Tandyn Almer, & Van Dyke Parks; "Roll the Old Chariot Along", early publication in Cabin and Plantation Songs, 3rd edition (1901); "The Skye Boat Song" by William Ross & Robert Louis Stevenson; "Chanflín" modern arrangement by Juan-Tony Guzmán; "Bésame Mucho" by Consuelo Velázquez; "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" by Charles H. Gabriel & Ada R. Habershon; "God Bless America" by Irving Berlin; "Riverdance" by Bill Whelan; "Latch" by Guy Lawrence, Howard Lawrence, James Napier, & Sam Smith; "La La La" by Shahid Khan, Al-Hakam El-Kaubaisy, Frobisher Mbabazi, Sam Smith, James Napier, James Murray, Mustafa Omer, & Jonny Coffer; "La La Latch" mashup arranged by Ben Bram; "I Got Rhythm" by George & Ira Gershwin; "Seven Bridges Road" by Steve Young; "Life Is a Highway" by Tom Cochrane; "Unbelievable" by Al Anderson & Jeffrey Steele; "Elvira" by Dallas Frazier; "Boot Scootin' Boogie" by Ronnie Dunn; "God Bless the U.S.A." by Lee Greenwood; "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" by William Whiting & John Bacchus Dykes; "Unbreakable" by Christopher Lennertz, Glenn Slater, Scott Kirkland, Keith Harrison, & Laura Harrison; "America the Beautiful" by Katharine Lee Bates & Samuel A. Ward; "The Army Goes Rolling Along" by John Philip Sousa & Harold W. Arberg; "The U.S. Air Force" by Robert MacArthur Crawford; "Semper Supra" by James Teachenor & Sean Nelson; "Marines' Hymn" by Jacques Offenbach & unknown lyricist; "Semper Paratus" by Francis Saltus Van Boskerck; "Anchors Aweigh" by Charles A. Zimmermann; "Jailhouse Rock" by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller; "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" by Kal Mann & Bernie Lowe; "Hound Dog" by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller; "Heartbreak Hotel" by Mae Boren Axton, Tommy Durden, & Elvis Presley; "C'mon Everybody" by Joy Byers, "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, & George David Weiss; "Burning Love" by Dennis Linde

performance date: 7 March 2024

My favorite bits:

breaking out of the formality of the anthem with fun disco energy

the men's simple, robust harmonies in "Roll the Old Chariot Along"

the ladies' lovely canon at the end of "The Skye Boat Song"

their crisp diction on the speedy lyrics in "Chanflín"

Maya and Kathryn's fabulous scatting on the brige of "Bésame Mucho"

including the rarely-performed opening verses of "God Bless America" before inviting the audience to sing along

J.None's gorgeous timbre and deft riffing on the lead for "La La Latch"

the nostalgic charm of the Anchor Sisters singing "I Got Rhythm"

the Side Boys actually doing the "Boot Scootin' Boogie" line dance

the surprisingly smooth transition from the somber "Eternal Father" to the joyously hopeful "Unbreakable"

putting a gentle swing beat under "America the Beautiful", and Michaela's strong, clear tone on the melody

the conversational mashup of "Teddy Bear" and "Hound Dog"

Nathaniel & Beth's sweet harmonies on "Can't Help Falling In Love"

skillfully passing the lead of "Burning Love" between J.None, Amelia, Madilyn, and Ben

Trivia:

This was the second stop on the Sea Chanters' spring tour. It took them through Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas over the course of the month, with concerts in a different city almost every night.

Mezzo-soprano Madilyn Crossland dubbed it "the cookie tour" for her self-appointed side quest to visit local bakeries in each city where they performed.

"Roll the Old Chariot Along" is also known as "A Drop of Nelson's Blood" in reference to Admiral Horatio Nelson. Following his death at the Battle of Trafalgar, he was preserved in a cask of brandy for transportation back to England. Through a bit of miscommunication, the phrase "Nelson's blood" became slang for rum, but can also refer to the admiral's fighting spirit and bravery.

The chorus of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" also appears in "Can the Circle Be Unbroken" by The Carter Family, and "Daddy Sang Bass" by Johnny Cash. Sea Chanters bass singer Jessie Nunn (aka J.None) recorded an a cappella version of the latter song as a member of VoicePlay in 2018.

Irving Berlin first composed "God Bless America" near the end of World War 1, while he was serving in the Army at Camp Upton in New York. It gained more widespread popularity in 1938, when a revised version sung by Kate Smith was broadcast over the radio on Armistice Day.

"Riverdance" was first performed at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest with an introduction sung by choral ensemble Anúna. The ensuing international dance tour began in 1995 and continues to the present.

Although he wasn't part of the ensemble that sang "Elvira" in this instance, J.None had performed a very fun rendition of that song with VoicePlay while they were touring prior to the pandemic.

The lyrics of "America the Beautiful" were originally written as a poem titled "Pike's Peak". It was renamed "America" and published in the July 4th 1895 edition of The Congregationalist newspaper. The tune was first composed as a hymn called "Materna". The combined song as it exists today was first published in 1910.

J.None also recorded a lovely version of "Can't Help Falling in Love" with VoicePlay for Valentine's Day in 2020.

Three years of performances at EPCOT's annual festivals had proven that these guys know how to entertain audiences. So they were an obvious choice to include in the lineup for this year, as well. They brought the funk and the fun to mid-week crowds for three nights in early March. I dare you to resist the urge to groove along.

(Cesar also had stints in this concert series with his other gig bands, The Vybe and Element.)

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The group closed out their first night by treating the crowd to a journey through music history, from early Motown classics to modern hits.

Details:

original songs / performers: Motown love medley – [0:22] "Reach Out (I'll Be There)" by The Four Tops, [1:08] "Get Ready" by The Temptations, [2:00] "It's the Same Old Song" by The Four Tops, [2:40] "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" by The Temptations, [3:12] "Baby I Need Your Loving" by The Four Tops, [3:38] "My Girl" by The Temptations, [4:59] "I Can't Get Next to You" by The Temptations, [6:05] "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" by The Four Tops; [8:40] "Lil Boo Thang" by Paul Russell; [11:35] "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)" by The Jacksons; [15:20] "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" by Barry White; [18:38] "All Night Long (All Night)" by Lionel Richie; [24:32] "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson, feat. Bruno Mars

written by: "Reach Out (I'll Be There)" by Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, & Eddie Holland; "Get Ready" by William "Smokey" Robinson Jr.; "It's the Same Old Song" by Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, & Eddie Holland; "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" by Norman Whitfield & Eddie Holland; "Baby I Need Your Loving" by Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, & Eddie Holland; "My Girl" by William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. & Ronald White; "I Can't Get Next to You" by Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong; "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" by Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, & Eddie Holland; "Lil Boo Thang" by Paul Russell, Maurice White, & Al McKay; "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)" by Michael & Randy Jackson; "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" by Peter Radcliffe, Tony Sepe, & Barry White; "All Night Long (All Night)" by Lionel Richie; "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson, Peter "Bruno Mars" Hernandez, Philip Lawrence, Jeff Bhasker, Nicholas "Trinidad James" Williams, Devon Gallaspy, Charles "Uncle Charlie" Wilson, Robert Wilson, Ronnie Wilson, Rudolph Taylor, & Lonnie Simmons

performance date: 5 March 2024

My favorite bits:

matching their choreography to the old-school tunes in the opening medley

Cesar getting extra dramatic at the start of "Ain't Too Proud"

the beautifully earnest tone of Jam's voice on "My Girl"

those funky struts across the stage during "Can't Get Next to You"

getting the crowd hyped up with a little sing-along

everyone cutting loose for "Lil Boo Thang"

Derrick's fantastic trombone solo 🪊

Jabari's whiskey-smooth timbre on "You're the First"

Solomon just exuding joy during "All Night Long", especially when he brings the party into the audience

everyone getting moments to shine in "Uptown Funk"

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This video from their second night is missing the very end, but everything that leads up to it is a raucously good time.

Details:

original songs / performers: [0:32] "I Want You Back" by the Jackson 5; [3:11] "Lil Boo Thang" by Paul Russell; [6:06] "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)" by The Jacksons; [10:30] "I Got You (I Feel Good)" by James Brown; [14:10] "Everlasting Love" by Robert Knight; [17:30] Prince medley – "I Would Die 4 U", "1999", "Kiss", & "Purple Rain" by Prince and the Revolution

written by: "I Want You Back" by Berry Gordy, Alphonso Mizell, Freddie Perren, & Deke Richards; "Lil Boo Thang" by Paul Russell, Maurice White, & Al McKay; "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)" by Michael & Randy Jackson; "I Got You (I Feel Good)" by James Brown; "Everlasting Love" by James "Buzz" Cason & McGavock "Mac" Gayden; "I Would Die 4 U", "1999", "Kiss", & "Purple Rain" by Prince Rogers Nelson

performance date: 6 March 2024

My favorite bits:

bursting onto the stage full of energy

the cascading freethrow mimes at the start of "Lil Boo Thang"

that incredible ascending slide from Jam at the end of "Shake Your Body"

Solomon removing his jacket to have the freedom for those acrobatic dance moves that would make James Brown proud 🕺

Cesar rolling into a series of melodramatic poses to kick off "Everlasting Love" 🤣

their little hops during "1999"

cooling things down with a little "Purple Rain"

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Additional photos

VoicePlay are generally aware of what their fans would like to hear from them, and do their best to fulfill those wishes. But once in a while they do something delightfully self-indulgent like this, and it turns out just as fun. They're off to the races. Buckle up and take the ride!

Details:

title: Formula 1 theme (feat. Omar Cardona)

original performers: Brian Tyler & The Philharmonia Orchestra of London for Formula 1 racing

written by: Brian Tyler

arranged by: Eli Jacobson

release date: 2 March 2024

My favorite bits:

starting with Geoff's deep engine rumble and the front trio's brassy fanfares

team anchor Layne giving the "Box box box" call (see Trivia section)

Eli's beautifully clear tone on the melody

the quick ascending bell chord from the trio

dropping into that breakdown

Omar's warm timbre as he takes the lead

Layne hitting that beefy "wub-wub-wub" 🔊

the final rising harmonies from Eli, Omar, and Cesar

the doppler panning on the ending vroom as they all watch the car drawing go by 🏎️

Trivia:

Layne, Geoff, and Eli had honed their vroom-vroom noises over years of performing their "Road Trip" medley / comedy sketch.

"Box box box" is the signal that F1 engineers use over the radio to indicate to their driver that they should come in for a pit stop (refueling, changing tires, etc.). The box in question is each team's assigned space along the pit lane.

Eli is an auto racing fan, particularly Formula 1 and the newer Formula E league comprised of electric vehicles. Both fall under the authority of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).

Brian Tyler is also an F1 fan, so he was honored to compose the piece, which was introduced for the 2018 racing season.

He conducted the London Philharmonia in a live rendition of the full song at Royal Festival Hall in November 2018 to close out the season.

It can be tempting to cling to the memory of an old relationship, maybe even give it another try after some time apart. But those reunions rarely have happy endings. And sometimes what you really need is just an honest look at what was and what might have been, so you can finally let it go.

Details:

title: FYI

performer: J.None

written by: Jessie "J.None" Nunn III

release date: 29 February 2024

My favorite bits:

the clearly enunciated delivery of the opening lyrics to ensure he has the listener's attention

the clock-like beat, evoking the inevitable passage of time 🕰️

speeding up his rhythm for the start of the first verse like his thoughts are tumbling over each other

dipping low on ♫ "a little too soon" ♫ as fresh regret sets in

his soft, wistful tone when he sings ♫ "young love, so precious" ♫

circling back to the refrain so he doesn't have to find an answer for ♫ "What am I supposed to do?" ♫

all of the spaces he's in being so small and sparse to convey his internal loneliness

the higher echo of ♫ "know who" ♫ that could also be interpreted as "No, who?"

the emphatic repetition of ♫ "never" ♫, before he starts listing all his past transgressions and sowing doubts

his dissonant harmonies under ♫ "Are we really through?" ♫ that sound like plaintive cries

the disjointed editing to match his deluge of emotions

dropping out everything else for that quiet, isolated "Damn." as he comes to terms with the fact that it's really over

returning to the refrain one last time, but conveying with his resigned expressions that it now sounds hollow to his own ears

ending with a slow fade-out to let the sentiment breathe

Trivia:

This song is the first track on his "R&B Stories" EP, which was released a year and a half before.

The lyrics "touched down in O-town" and "scooped you up from MCO" refer to his years living in Orlando, where he was a performer at the theme parks and many other local venues. Meanwhile, "back home" is Virginia Beach, where he grew up and has returned to during his naval service.

When people want to pass a little time, they often turn to mobile games on their phones. And when mobile game studios want to promote an upcoming release with a funky song, they sometimes hit up the talented geeks in VoicePlay. This delightful collaboration is sure to get your toes tapping, and might just turn you into a Trailblazer.

Details:

title: White Night (feat. J.None)

original performer: Jake Miller for Honkai: Star Rail (2023) [NOTE: The animated video created by the game studio contains some flashing light effects.]

written by: Hanpu Cui (崔瀚普TSAR) & Kexin Wang (王可鑫 Eli.W)

arranged by: uncredited

release date: 29 February 2024 repost date: 13 March 2024

My favorite bits:

Cesar's playful slide across the floor before beckoning the others to join him

the rising zip sound Layne uses to enhance their entrance

how snazzy they all look in their slightly retro suits

J.None deftly navigating between his chest and head voice

the subtle rollercoaster slide Geoff puts after ♫ "you. and. me." ♫

the lean back and momentary glich out on ♫ "Take me away-way-way" ♫

Geoff's smooth drop into the basement

the flirty whisper of ♫ "Take me away" ♫ from Layne before he jumps back on the beat

Eli's clear timbre and precise diction on ♫ "Tick. and. tock. once. more." ♫

J and Cesar timing their eye movements to the beat 👀

kicking up the groove as they head toward the ending

that relaxed descending riff from Eli as they fade out for good

how well it loops on platforms that do so

Trivia:

This video was originally a TikTok exclusive for contractural reasons. VoicePlay reposted it to YouTube and Instagram two weeks after the initial release to ensure continued access after their TikTok account was temporarily hacked.

The song is from the Honkai: Star Rail JRPG, the fourth game in the series, released the previous spring. It's the theme to the expansion questline "If One Dreams At Midnight", set on Penacony, the Planet of Festivities.

The game is produced by the MiHoYo game studio, who also make Genshin Impact. VoicePlay and Deejay Young had opened the first annual GI concert in 2021, and PattyCake created an original song for GI later in this year.

After three years in the lineup of EPCOT's seasonal concert series, The Vybe were so solidly established that they were chosen to open the whole darn thing. They played two nights of shows, including Leap Day, treating the audiences to an energetic mix of R&B, pop, funk, and rock.

(Cesar also had stints later in this concert series with his other gig bands, Evolution: Motown and Element.)

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The band got things rolling with a setlist packed with crowd-pleasing tunes, and made sure to include plenty of audience participation.

Details:

original songs / performers: [1:24] "Come Together" by The Beatles; [3:50] "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder; [6:27] "Love Like This" by Faith Evans; [10:48] "Opposites Attract" by Paula Abdul; [14:46] "Let It Be" by The Beatles; [18:56] "Rock Steady" by Aretha Franklin; [22:30] "Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz

written by: "Come Together" by John Lennon & Paul McCartney; "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder & Jeff Beck; "Love Like This" by Faith Evans, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, Sean "Puffy" Combs; "Opposites Attract" by Oliver Leiber; "Let It Be" by John Lennon & Paul McCartney; "Rock Steady" by Aretha Franklin; "Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz & Craig Ross

performance date: 28 February 2024

My favorite bits:

passing the lead around on the opening number so the audience can get a feel for everyone's voices

Qian's deft riffing at the end of "Love Like This"

Rob and Jared's dueling keyboards in "Opposites Attract"

the slow layering of harmonies at the start of "Let It Be"

Carmen and Caila letting it rip on "Rock Steady"

Cesar and Will getting their time to shine with the closer

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This video has a few choppy edits, but it still captures all the fun and talent the group displayed in their middle set.

Details:

original songs / performers: [0:28] "Crazy In Love" by Beyoncé, feat. Jay-Z; [2:53] "Finesse (remix)" by Bruno Mars, feat. Cardi B; [4:32] Janet Jackson medley — "Control", "What Have You Done For Me Lately", "Miss You Much", "If", "Together Again"; [9:20] "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men; [12:42] "My Prerogative" by Bobby Brown; [16:23] "Tightrope" by Janelle Monáe, feat. Big Boi

written by: "Crazy In Love" by Beyoncé Knowles, Rich Harrison, Eugene Record, & Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter; "Finesse (remix)" by Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Christopher "Brody" Brown, James Fauntleroy, Johnathan Yip, Ray Romulus, Jeremy Reeves, Ray McCullough II, Belcalis "Cardi B" Almanzar, & Klenord Raphael; "Control" by James Harris, Terry Lewis, & Janet Jackson; "What Have You Done For Me Lately" by James "Jimmy Jam" Harris III, Terry Lewis, & Janet Jackson; "Miss You Much" by James "Jimmy Jam" Harris III, Terry Lewis, & Janet Jackson; "If" by Janet Jackson, James "Jimmy Jam" Harris III, & Terry Lewis; "Together Again" by James "Jimmy Jam" Harris III, Terry Lewis, & Janet Jackson; "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff, Michael McCary, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, & Shawn Stockman; "My Prerogative" by Bobby Brown, Teddy Riley, Gene Griffin, Aaron Hall, & Timmy Gatling; "Tightrope" by Nathaniel Irvin III, Charles Joseph II, Antwan Patton, & Janelle Monáe Robinson

performance date: 28 February 2024

My favorite bits:

Cesar spitting bilingual bars for "Crazy In Love"

Carmen's sultry rapping at the start of "Finesse"

hitting that deliciously dissonant chord in the "Control" chorus

the dance break in the Janet medley

Qian's gorgeous timbre on the "Together Again" melody

the riffing workshop they put on with "One Sweet Day"

Will getting extra sassy and showing off his range in "My Prerogative"

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They closed out the night with plenty of funky grooves and fabulous vocals to send folks home smiling.

Details:

original songs / performers: "Free Your Mind" by En Vogue; [5:04] "American Boy" by Estelle, feat. Kanye West; [9:02]  "What About Your Friends" by TLC; [13:45] "Umbrella" by Rihanna, feat. Jay-Z; [19:03] "Killing Me Softly With His Song" by The Fugees; [24:58] "With a Little Help from My Friends" by The Beatles

written by: "Free Your Mind" by Denzil Foster & Thomas McElroy; "American Boy" by William "will.i.am" Adams, Estelle Swaray, John "Legend" Stephens, Kanye West, Ethan Hendrickson, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, & Keith Harris; "What About Your Friends" by Dallas Austin & Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes; "Umbrella" by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Thaddis "Kuk" Harrell, Terius "The-Dream" Nash, & Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter; "Killing Me Softly With His Song" by Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel, & Lori Lieberman; "With a Little Help from My Friends" by John Lennon & Paul McCartney

performance date: 28 February 2024

My favorite bits:

Carmen, Caila, and Qian tearing up "Free Your Mind" with gusto

all the sweet, breathy harmonies in "American Boy"

mixing things up with Cesar taking the melody at the start of "What About Your Friends"

getting the crowd involved for the "Umbrella" choruses

Caila's power and passion on the lead of "Killing Me Softly"

Will's tasty riffs throughout "With a Little Help"

the playful way Cesar recovers from almost tripping over a speaker by turning it into a cute little prance upstage

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Additional photos

VoicePlay's motto is "sharing the harmony", and that doesn't just apply to the guys in the group. They include their friends, fans, and family members in it, as well. So when their circle added a tiny new member, they welcomed him with some good old-fashioned barbershop from their own childhoods, arranged by the proud papa himself.

Details:

title: Baby On Board

original performers: The Be Sharps in The Simpsons episode "Homer's Barbershop Quartet" (s.5, ep.1)

written by: The Dapper Dans (Harry Campbell, George Economou, Shelby Grimm, & Danny Jordan) with episode writer Jeff Martin

arranged by: Eli Jacobson

release date: 23 February 2024

My favorite bits:

sweet baby Asher snoozing in his dad's arms 👶

the absolute joy in Eli's face as he sings about his son 🥰

Geoff providing rattle percussion along with his ♫ "ba-bum-bum-bum" ♫ pickups leading into each phrase 🪇

their alternating knee bends to accompany ♫ "bounce in my step" ♫

the punny delight with which Cesar points at Layne during ♫ "carpool lane" ♫

Layne sneakily pointing at Geoff (on the beat) after ♫ "call me a square" ♫ 😜

the breadth of sound they achieve in the tag section

noggin smooches for both the Jacobson boys, and mama Ashley's off-screen approval 😘

Trivia:

○ Eli noted on social media that his son "can sleep through anything, just not through the night", which is not uncommon for newborns. The baby's name is a mashup of his parents' names — Ashley and Eliezar.

○ The credits in the YouTube description include "cuteness overload" for Asher, and "baby wrangler" for Ashley, who was just behind the camera during filming in case he needed his mom.

○ Both had also been part of the audience in the "Jingle Bell Rock" video shortly after he was born.

○ The group had launched the VP logo baby onesie Asher is sporting (and a toddler sized t-shirt) almost exactly a year earlier, when Eli and Ashley found out they were going to have a child.

○ The Instagram post got some love from actress Jane Lynch, who the guys had met almost a decade earlier when they both appeared on VH1's Big Morning Buzz talk show in 2015. VoicePlay was there promoting the second Sing-Off national tour in between early shows in the 9-week whirlwind trip.

○ The Simpsons episode featuring this song aired in September 1993, around the time the founding members of VoicePlay were becoming friends in middle school. It was included on the "Songs in the Key of Springfield" album released in 1997, the same year the boys formed their own barbershop quartet, 4 The Love, at their choral director's urging.

○ The songwriting and some of the singing in the episode was provided by members of The Dapper Dans who performed at Disneyland, combined with the regular actors' voices.

Dan Jordan (baritone) & Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson

Shelby Grimm (lead) & Dan Castellaneta as Barney Gumble

George Economou (tenor) & Hank Azaria as Apu Nahasapeemapetilon

James Campbell (bass) & Harry Shearer as Seymour Skinner

○ VoicePlay had recorded a couple barbershop tags the year before, "When You Wish Upon a Star" and "Part of Your World", both arranged by Myron Whittlesey who sings with the Dapper Dans at Disney World.

○ Geoff had also performed with the Dapper Dans at Disney World as one of his many theme park gigs. Their friend Sean Gerrity from The Edge Effect later inherited his shoe covers.

These guys love a good adventure song, and have been playing video games since they were kids. So when they heard this sci-fi sea shanty from Warframe, they couldn't resist putting their own vocal spin on it. Get ready to set sail through the vastness of the cosmos, where no one can hear you scream and everyone dies eventually.

Details:

title: Sleeping in the Cold Below (feat. Omar Cardona)

original performers: Damhnait Doyle as Vala Glarios accompanied by The Ennis Sisters, Aarron Collis, & Alan Doyle for Warframe (Official Soundtrack II) (2023)

written by: music by Keith Power & Alan Doyle; lyrics by Keith Power, Alan Doyle, & Adrian Bott

arranged by: Rob Dietz & Geoff Castellucci

release date: 16 February 2024

My favorite bits:

the reverberation on Layne's opening beats, giving the sensation of a being in a cavernous space

the resonance in Geoff's timbre as he starts deep and moseys even further down toward ♫ "below" ♫

Omar adding more urgency with his higher tone, singing about always chasing the next job

Eli and Cesar's breathy staccato repetition of ♫ "Hell. to. pay" ♫

the guys' nifty colored contacts, particularly Cesar and Omar swapping one lens to give them the appearance of mirrored heterochromia

dropping into unison to emphasize the first ♫ "sisters" ♫

Cesar looking intensely into the camera as he sings ♫ "the devil in his eye" ♫

Eli's fantastic wail of ♫ "below" ♫

the angelic choir sound of the harmonies under Geoff singing about death and burial

Layne's pseudo-synth line (which reminds me of the turrets in the Portal games)

the power of Omar's descant ♫ "Going where the winds don't blow" ♫

the uneven descending canon of ♫ "sleeping in the cold" ♫

the breadth of sound they achieve at the end as Eli, Omar, and Cesar climb higher while Geoff descends and Layne saturates his percussion line with faster hits

ending on a stark white background that makes them look like video game models on a character selection screen

the behind the scenes footage in the outro (The rest of that studio space is wild.)

bonus points for all the cool animated space backgrounds

Trivia:

This video was filmed at a new location for the group — OptiView Entertainment studio in Longwood, FL, on a stage that has three walls and a floor made of giant LED screens.

Geoff took inspiration for their outfits from Japanese streetwear trends. Instead of picking specific costumes for each singer, he ordered a variety of jackets and accessories and let everyone pick whatever they liked. Some of the pieces didn't arrive in time for the shoot, though, so the guys saved them for their "Black Hole Sun" video a couple months later. Some of the accessories also reappeared in "We All Lift Together".

When they first teased the release on social media, their sartorial choices received some good-natured ribbing from their erstwhile baritone.

Although they stand fairly still in the video itself, the guys had a bit of a dance party in between takes.

Co-arranger Rob Dietz also contributed his voice to the mix for the "Huh!" shouts in the first two choruses.

There are a few minor continuity errors because Layne forgot to put his gloves back on after a break in filming. A fan joked in the YT comments that he had actually developed telekinesis, which led to some ribbing from both VoicePlay and PattyCake Productions. (The last assertion is funny, but demonstrably untrue. He's been on screen in several PattyCake projects. But he is often unrecognizable because of masks, heavy makeup, or visual effects.)

In the description on Patreon, they named their spaceship "the USS DekeSharon" in honor of their old friend, the illustrious singer, arranger, and producer of The Sing-Off.

Warframe was first released for PC in March 2013, and has undergone frequent content additions and platform ports in the years since. "Sleeping in the Cold Below" is featured in the "Call of the Tempestarii" quest added to the game in April 2021.

Within the game, there is also an instrumental arrangement of this song, called "Sevagoth's Lullaby" that appears during the "Whispers in the Walls" quest line.