I sadly had to blur out the original music video as KZfaq would block my whole reaction worldwide! I've uploaded this reaction to my Patreon without the blur which you can access here if you would prefer it: www.patreon.com/posts/pentatonix-49320198

I will never tire of watching people have their minds blown by PTX.

One person who gets overlooked and denied a lot of credit is their producer, Ben Bram. Dude is a genius. If you listen to their quarantine album "at home," they each recorded their parts separately, in their houses, without hearing the other parts- sent them to Bram and he mixed them beautifully. Largely in part bc he helped them all order mics that were best suited for their individual voices. His mixing is flawless. "When the party's over" is amazing and I still can't believe it was recorded during quarantine. It sounds like they made it in a studio.

Watch Daft Punk. It was filmed in their kitchen, recorded in their closet for a budjet of $400.00. And it won them their first Grammy!

Brian May of Queen posted a link to this video on his social media with the comment "Enjoy"

Us pentaholics don’t care if we can’t see the video. We want to see your reaction. I’ve seen this video hundreds of times

Absolutely loved this reaction! :D “It sounds like there’s a bass!” That’ll be Avi! Avi (bearded dude) left for personal reasons and was replaced by Matt. Both very good singers, both very different. Avi helped choose Matt to take his place in the group. All other members are the original line-up, they just change their looks from video to video. Can’t wait to see more

This is why we Pentaholics show up. Watching someone who has never conceived of their level of a capella, and the fact that all 5 are musical geniuses...we watch you be blown away. Then, the obsession starts. They preform this live. The panning you heard was a nod to Queen, they also used that technique. I don’t know if they were the first, but Queen utilized it. Finally, Brian May tweeted to all his followers the link to this video. Highest praise.

Most of us have seen this so many times, the blur is not an issue. We know where to find the official video, it's your reaction that counts. There really is no lead singer, like Mitch takes this one, but the others are featured in other videos. And everybody usually gets a part to shine no matter what they do.

The left and right channel at 2:36 is exactly what Queen did in the original, I love that they replicated that.

Our dearly beloved Avi (bass singer with beard) is no longer a member of Pentatonix, but he was central to the initial popularity of the group and the passionate devotion of Pentaholics. He left after six years for personal reasons, helping to select Matt Sallee to replace him. Avi left big shoes to fill, but Matt is such a great guy and superb talent that he's earned our love and respect, Pentaholics are an open-hearted bunch, as you are finding out.

You will notice that Avi, the original bass, has a completely different singing style and quality to his voice compared to the new bass, Matt. Avi has been known to blow speakers with how deep he goes on some of the songs. If you want to see his solo stuff, check on Change on the Rise. If anyone gives you crap for blurring or pausing, ignore them. We are here to see your reaction, not the music video. If we wanted to watch the music video, we'd go to ptx and watch it there. Keep up the great work :)

I've been waiting for this. His first Pentatonix reaction blew up and I thought "there's no way he's passing on this opportunity"

I enjoy your reactions. You are a lot of fun to watch. Mitch doesn't use the megaphone when they perform it in concert. He just uses the standard microphone. As for metal songs, they did a pre-metal song on the Sing Off, the song that coined the phrase "heavy metal thunder", Born to be Wild. They were babies back then. Mitch missed his high school graduation to go to the audition. Kevin wanted to finish his senior year final exams at Yale so he didn't met the rest of them until the day before the audition. (yes, the Sing Off is like The Voice but only for a capella bands. Did anyone mention that Kevin, the beat boxer, has a degree from Yale, was planning to go to medical school and speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese?

Welcome to the world of Pentatonix, or PTX for short. Get ready for a quick boost to your channel from their rabid fans who call ourselves “Pentaholics”. Here is a quick intro to the group. PTX is a five member “a Capella” (without instruments) vocal band formed in 2011 for the NBC television reality competition show “The Sing Off”. The original members are “the trio”, who went to high school together in Arlington, Texas made up of: SCOTT HOYING, (male, 6’3”, usually blond) who sings baritone, but has a wide vocal range and covers the bass line of songs when the normal bass is singing a lead. MITCH GRASSI, (male, 5’10”, normally black hair but has changed body mass, wardrobe and hair style so much in videos he’s often mistaken for different people) who has an amazingly high range (contra tenor) that some mistake for a second female voice. KIRSTIN MALDONADO, (female, 5’4”, natural hair color is black but changed it often in videos) who sings mezzo soprano and, for a time in 2018 between the group’s tours, had the female lead on Broadway in the production of “Kinky Boots”. Added to “the trio” for the show were: AVI KAPLAN, (Male, 5’11”, long dark hair, beard, usually wears a knit hat of some kind) is a classically trained “basso profundo”. He provides the vocal bass line as well as added vocal percussion but often uses his upper registry to sing vocal leads in a number of arrangements. Avi is the ONLY member of the band that has change. He left on good terms in 2017 for reasons related to conflicting demands of the band’s touring schedule and his personal/family commitments. He assisted the group in finding his replacement Matt Sallee. KEVIN OLUSOLA (male, 6’1”, black, changing hair style) known as “KO” was asked to join PTX to provide vocal percussion after Scott watched a KZfaq video of him “cello boxing” (beatboxing while playing his cello). KO is the classic over achiever of the group. He plays Cello, Piano, and Saxophone all at concert levels. He graduated pre-med from Yale, speaks Spanish and spent over a year in China where he became fluent in Chinese. He sings Tenor but vocals were not his strong suite when he started so he worked with other band members and a vocal coach until while on tour he would perform the featured vocals in "if I ever fall in love", (originally performed by guest artist Jason Derulo for the album and video). He also writes and produces music both individually and for the group. So, KO is more than “just the beatboxer”. The most recent member and the only change in the group’s membership is: MATT SALLEE, (male, 5’9” black with usually close-cut black hair) who replaced Avi Kaplan in 2017 to provide vocals, vocal bass and percussion. Matt can be heard using his exceptional upper vocal range to provide a rich tenor/baritone lead often ending with a slide down to a deep bass punch. Things you need to know because if you get these wrong Pentaholics will come after you with pitch forks and torches! 1- There is NO Auto-Tune; what you hear is actually what they sing. They really are that good. 2- What produces everything that you hear in the video, you see in the video. If there is an instrument used in the music, you see it on screen. 3- They never release something on video they can’t reproduce with the exact same quality live on-stage. Enjoy the ride.

These kids were so young when the group started recording (three of them were only 19), so their look has changed a lot over the last decade. You will love Daft Punk medley, for sure, and then I recommend their covers of Can't Hold Us and Gold. These will give you a sense of the versatility, creativity and sheer musical talent of PTX.

Everyone will suggest Hallelujah - could be a good time for you to see a live piece - Hallelujah, from a Pentatonix Christmas Special. It has closer camera work, better to see how vocals are executed and blended :)

Welcome to the madness..the fantastic madness of Pentatonix. I'm a mother of metal heads from Alaska whose band opened for Suicide Silence. You need to see Pentatonix from their beginnings on a talent show back in 2011.

Thank you for reacting to this amazing Pentatonix video. Glad that you liked it. I have no problem with the blur. I've seen the video hundreds of times. If I wanted to see the original video, I would just go to the PTX channel. I'm here for the reaction, so Thanks. I look forward to more Pentatonix reactions. Subscribed.

Of course no one can top Queen's version but this is my favorite cover of this song. They are so good I'm always amazed by them. Great response!

It's not just that they do it without instruments, it's that they do it so well. Pentatonix, Home Free, Voiceplay, and others have changed the game. You'll enjoy them all for what they bring.

Avi Kaplan (beard guy) was the original bass, and yes that's his voice. He left the group amicably around 2017 for family reasons and helped find Matt Sallee, the new bass you saw in Sound of Silence. That's the only change in lineup since the group formed. PTX has an incredible library of content. Since you said it's hard to imagine how they do this, their cover of "Imagine" needs to be your next reaction.

You're gonna LOVE Daft PUnk, my friend. :)

The bearded guy was the original bass singer for the group. his name is Avi. He left PTX in 2017 and was replaced by the guy you saw in sound of silence. His name is Matt :) I love that you're discovering them for the first time!

They've indeed covered a wide range of music styles - try out their version of Cohen's Hallelujah, Daft Punk for sure, Gold (original by Kiiara, which you should definitely listen to first!!), Lennon's Imagine, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' Can't Hold Us, Havana, Attention, Evolution of Rihanna, Can You Feel the Love Tonight, and their original songs Sing, Can't Sleep Love, Run to You and Love Again. They've also done a ton of Christmas music - the most spectacular arrangements, in my view, are Carol of the Bells, O Come All Ye Faithful, and 12 Days of Christmas (which really showcases their range, you'll see :)).

Great reaction!! We pentaholics love to see people see PTX for the first time. I’ve seen them perform this live. One of the best nights of my life! Mitch does not use, and never needed a megaphone. Kevin the beat boxer is a beast!. Check out Kevin Olusula’s cover of “Down”, not to be missed.

You will be blown away by their "Evolution of..." videos. My fave is the Evolution of Michael Jackson, but each of them is a no-frills, one-take musical feast that highlights the expert pitch, timing, harmony and creative genius of the group. You have so much to enjoy yet... welcome to the PTX rabbit hole!

So glad you reacted to this one! Just an FYI- the megaphone was a prop. Mitch does it in concert without one. Avi (bass in this video with beard) is the original bass. He left in 2016, and Matt (bass in Sound of Silence) joined in 2017. That is the ONLY change. But Mitch and Kirstie change their look A LOT. You might enjoy checking out ‘Can’t Hold Us’ and ‘Daft Punk’.

Women are from Venus, Men are from Mars, and Pentatonix is from Heaven. BTW - Mitch can make the lead guitar sound, heard here, WITHOUT the megaphone! I heard him do it live! :) If you have not yet heard of the acapella group HOME FREE, you have another rabbit hole to explore. You might start with End of the Road. They are equal to Pentatonix in talent.

Hahahaha I made it before Sean?????. Yay! Great reaction, everything I was expecting it to be when I, among many others, requested you do this one. I love the look on people's faces when Mitch hits the high note, then again when he does the "guitar" solo. The look on people's faces who haven't heard much modern beatboxing is pretty sweet, too, I have to say, when Kevin hits those tom-toms and the snap snare. Always fun. Thank you for doing this one, can't wait to see what's next. Hopefully, Born to be Wild. I would love to hear what you think of their version, which is quite different than the original.

This was an earlier song, so Avi Kaplan is the bass. Matt Sallee took over bass in late 2017, but does not really show up in recordings until early 2018. Avi had some family things to take care of that were not possible with their heavy touring. They also do 2 EDM songs - Daft Punk medley and Love Again.

I live for first time reactors to PTX and you did not disappoint so obviously then I LOVE YOU!!🥰‼️ Also beautiful tattoos! I hope you keep doing Pentatonix, I’ll be here for all of them!! They’re wonderful people as well❣️

This is the kind of reaction I watch reactions for. True amazement at what Pentatonix can do. Pick any of their songs, and you will not be disappointed. And as many other commenters have suggested, Daft Punk Medley, is awesome. Also their Macklemore & Ryan Lewis cover of Can't Hold Us is a great one.

Thank you for reacting to this one! It's a brilliant work of art! I'll always be back for more Pentatonix!

I’m here for your ride! Wondering if you’ll ever get over that it’s just vocals. They are absolute artists.

Avi Kaplan is the original bass. He was with the group from 2011-2017. Matt Salee took his place in 2017 to the present

Pentatonix is always amazing. Who says the voice isn't an instrument? They once said they wanted to cover Babymetal, and Babymetal said they hoped it would happen, sadly seems not to come about. Been awhile.

It's called the Grassi guitar. It does not take a megaphone. He only used the prop so the viewer would realize who was doing the guitar sound. I saw them do this live and no megaphone was used and it sounded fabulous.

please react to Hallelujah both video and live version (Christmas Special 2016). Its breathtaking and you will see first hand the live performances sound ever bit as fabulous as the videos. Its just so hard to adjust to that fact but once you do you will understand why this band is so unique and special. This band is so supportive of one another. You can hear their individual voices but they blend so well with one another it just sounds heavenly. Please watch the older videos first so you get to see who they are and where they started from. Avi(the original bass with the beard) is no longer with the band but has his own solo career. He's my fav but they are all super. They won 3 Grammys while Avi was with the band. Please relax and enjoy the ride. They will not disappoint.

You should react to their Michael Jackson evolution, it's all in one take and they made an incredible work

The base is Avi, he left the group awhile ago and helped them find Matt his replacement. Matt was the base in Sound of Silence, he had the white jacket on.

They are magicians. Simple as that. It's so fun to watch you discover this group and their wizardry! As long as you're already gobsmacked, would love to see you react to their cover of Can't Hold Us by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.

Awesome. Thank you for sharing. More pentatonix please. More. More. More. I suggest their “Daft Punk” medley and their cover of “Can’t Hold Us” and “The Evolution of Michael Jackson.” Thanks!!!

OMG!!!!! First time i am FIRST to comment and i am so over the moon it was on one of your videos...you are such an amazing reactor!!! Your smile and your accent just SLAY me!!!! Please, please, please do not stop reacting to EVERYTHING!!!! Stay safe and healthy my friend and please keep smiling!!!

*****Important note**** Before you react to AHA! from the star vista in Singapore, know that while they are singing the more classical snippet, Kevin is putting away his cello bc he had just finished his cello boxing performance which he invented. It is now taught in schools called cello boxing. When Avi starts the really low note Kevin joins them.

The “guy with the beard”, Avi, left on amicable terms, and Matt joined to take his place. Kirstin and Mitch change looks frequently, so some people think they are different members.

Every now and then I STILL get overwhelmed by the fact that this stuff IS the human voice.. just boggles the brain!!

LOL, Welcome to the wonderous world that is Pentatonix! You are in for a FUN ride!! :)

One of the great things about Pentatonix is that they try and make sure everything they do in their recordings is something they can reproduce in live performance. They never use autotune, rarely (if ever) overdub, etc. The only effect they really use on recordings or live is some reverb.

So there is this song called Hallelujah that they sing, and that is by far the best song they sing.

PTX!!! Yeah!!! 🤗

The bass with the beard was Avi Kaplan, an original member. Check the date on the video. After 2017, he was replaced by Matt. Avi had to leave for family reasons and left amicably. Before he left, he helped the group choose a replacement. Matt is different than but technically and vocally as good as Avi was.

I can't see the video of Pentatonix that you are watching, but if it's the one with all members on the sofa, Avi Kaplan (bottom-right) is performing mainly the Bass sounds. Kevin (bottom left) is performing mainly percussion. Other sounds are produced from each of them, depending on the particular sound they want to use in the performance, and when they need to perform it.

They have said in a interview that it took them 5 years to get the song right. And the megaphone was just a prob that was actually Mitch's voice. And it's been a while but I am absolutely positively loving your reaction to penitentiary it's refreshing and I can't stop my life

The megaphone Mitch uses is just a prop. It is not turned on. Avi Kaplan is the bass singer. He left a few years ago & helped pick out his replacement, Matt Sallee. Listen to "Daft Punk" - "Hallelujah" - Mitch's solo, "Your Power"

"Ya Like It Don't Ya!" ~Mitch Grassi Totally unrelated quote by one of the PTX members from a different song. Pentaholics will get it. Glad you loved their version of this classic song!

Avi Kaplan the original bass is a classically trained basso profundo (lowest bass).He has several original works that are worth checking out. Starting with, Change On The Rise.

This is an older video with the original lineup including Avi Kaplan as Bass. He helped them find Matt Sallee when he left the group amicably for personal reasons. Matt Sallee was the bass in Sound of Silence. If you go back to the original song, Queen played around with the stereo effects. Stereo didn't become popular until the late '60s, so it was still being experimented with in the early '70s with songs like Baba O'Reilly and so on. I'm glad Pentatonix decided to stay that true to the original.

The megaphone that Mitch is using is a prop only. He does the same thing live in concert without it. Yes, Kevin does the beatboxing (drums and symbols and of course Avi does the other sounds to assist Kevin in the drum and bass section). It's all done with their voices.

I am really enjoying watching a metalhead jam out to some great a capella! Welcome to the Pentatonix rabbit hole friend!

They just came out with a 90s dance medley. You should check it out 💕

I've watched this video sooo much that I can picture exactly what's happening with it all blurred out ha ha ha

It comes through different ears bc that's how Queen originally recorded it. I can't remember what the technical term is, but the result is that certain parts of their recording did that: different ears. The fact that PTX took the care to replicate that makes it even better for me.

Great reaction. I used to sing and it is still mind boggling to me as well. The way they manipulate their voices is astounding. The percussion and bass fascinate me the most since I am naturally a soprano. :) as fat as metal goes, i don’t think they do any metal specifically. But when they were on the tv show, the sing-off, which they won, they did a rock week and did an amazing rendition of “born to be wild”. If you want to see their baby origins and some of their range, watching their performances from the show will def give you an idea of how good they were even in the beginning. They started off awesome and just got better and better and better.

This is PTX' first true classic and it is just phenomenally done, from who sings what portion to how to handle the musicality to the innovation set and arrangement. Nigh on to perfect!

Interesting fact: Brian May the lead guitarist is an astrophysicist and hold a PhD thesis on speed of and light Reflection from dust in our solar system. He has consulted with NASA. When they show the sky with all the stars that's a nod to Doctor Brian May and there are four shooting stars because there are four people in Queen. I know that your rain has a problem grasping onto what your eyes and ears are hearing and seeing. But it is true they are at capella. The black gentleman is their beatboxer who occasionally sings. He is also a cellist and does is called cello boxing because he beat boxes while playing the cello. Apparently this has really caught on and other people are doing it. The bearded gentleman is Avi and he does the bass. When he's singing then Scott the blond takes over the bass. Please keep doing Pentatonix reactions and pentaholics will flock to you

The bass, the one with the beard, is Avi. He's the original bass. Matt came in when Avi went solo. Check out "Hallelujah". And then check out Avi's solo stuff. He's got one I think is called "Change on the Rise" it's phenomenal!!! Avi does all the parts, from what I'm told.

It’s wonderful isn’t it! Love your reaction to this and the last one.

This video has the original bass Avi (black beard) when he left Pentatonix he helped them find Matt (bass in Sound of Silence) You should see their version of Imagine by John Lennon

This is amazing to watch them do this live in concert. They are just out of this world talented!!!

The only change is the bass. The original was Avi Kaplan ( with the beard), but he left the group in 2017. Before he left, he helped the group decide on his replacement, Matt Sallee (the bass in Sound Of Silence). The group split on good terms as they understood why Avi stepped back. PTX has an insane tour schedule and Avi was flying home between concert dates to spend time with his mother who was battling cancer at the time. The constant travel just wore him down to near burn out and after leaving he spent nearly a year recovering while spending time with his family and writing. He chose to go in more of a folk direction that would allow him to play guitar and sing in more than his deepest bass. He is making appearances but at a much slower pace than PTX. His latest album is out and he is doing videos from it. Check out Change On The Rise for a taste of his current work.

Look up pentatonix born to be wild... they did it on the sing off a television show. The bass changed a few years back.

They worked on this for 5 years! And when Brian May heared it he cried

I think you will appreciate Daft Punk as it is a medley of the songs of the group Daft Punk. They won their first Grammy award with this performance.

Welcome to the family of pentaholics. I know other comments have said that the megaphone is just a prop but what is more amazing to me is that in a recent live chat that they were all in one of the questions was for Mitch. They asked him how can I learn to make a guitar sound and because he's nuts he was thrown by that question. He started to say just listen to guitar solos then he said actually you know what I just winged It. And all the other members basically chimed in saying he can pretty much do anything. Do you ever look at your Instagram DMs. I usually try to let my favorite reactors know if PTX is releasing a song or a video bc if you react to quickly you will get a lot more subscribers.

I am loving your reaction to PTX. They are incredible.

Kevin, the beatboxer, sings tenor when he isn't using his mouth to beatbox and he plays the cello and saxophone too.

another Pentaholic in the making. You have soo many videos to catch up on. they won the third year of the show "the sing off"' you can witness the evolution of their group. there are a few new groups on the scene that are almost as good in my opinion, but A Capella will never be the same again. Kevin is the beatbox genius, and you havent lived till you see him in their version of "Shallow" beatboxing while playing the cello, the only time I can remember where they use a single instrument. welcome to the rabbit hole, enjoy the ride

DAFT PUNK by Pentatonix will blow your mind.

Now is the time to listen to PTX 90’s melody!!

I love your reaction to the megaphone reveal. It was like the first time I saw it.

there is no other A Capella like Pentatonix.

PTX sound is perfect, absolutely. And Kevin is the string on which their voices can line up like pearls. And they have clearly the best voices on earth!

If ya really want to react, I suggest "Hallelujah" ('Bout brings tears to everyone). Something really fun is "Daft Punk", LOL. Pentatonix is just awesome, Enjoy!

Whenever you think you are ready for PTX, they swerve with something new and brilliant.

Admit it you are totally blown away...I was also...they are absolutely my favorite and the most talented group I've ever listened to

The guy with the beard is AVI, the original bass in the group. The Sound of silence bass is MATT.

That guy also sings electric guitar solos without the megaphone. While lying on his back. The megaphone is just a prop to let the audience know it's him.

Yeah, Avi Kaplan was the bass there. He was the bass until the end of 2017 when he had to step away because the touring schedule was too much for him anymore, combined with the fact that his mother was very ill at the time and said touring schedule wasn't letting him see her as often as he liked. Matt (dude in the white jacket in the Sound of Silence video) then became the bass from early 2018 on til today. Avi's still doing music (Check his "Change on the Rise" video, it's epic), but it's more lowkey and on his schedule, which leaves plenty of time for him to get out into nature and de-stress for a while.

My favorite rabbit hole to follow people down! Great reaction!

Another a Capella group you should check out is Home Free. They are more of a country group, but they do all kinds of music. Their fans call themselves Home Fries. A lot of HF fans are also PTX fans and have been referred to as PentaFries LOL. Songs from Home Free I would suggest starting with are: "Man of Constant Sorrow", "When A Man Loves A Woman", "End of the Road", "Country Fried Pop", "Butts Medley" and "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" which was a collaboration with Peter Hollens.

I am not a Pentaholic. I do follow alot of acappella bands and Avi Kaplan separately. Homefree has been very active during quarantine as has Voiceplay. As this is your first video with Avi it should be explained that he can sound exactly like a bass including the slap or a cello for that matter in his lower register and had received awards for it from the ICCA prior to Pentatonix start where they had to modify the category to give it to him for what he does. Avi and Kevin composed the rythmn section of the band and got incredibly good at it. They also shared an apartment for years in L.A. and perfected it. Avi taught Kevin singing. Kevin was strictly an instrumentalist before Pentatonix. Avi could also cover for Kevin when needed. Because Pentatonix was the breakthrough group to do this they got very good at explaining the instrumentation techniques. Also here is the behind the scenes on the filming of this. Avi & Kevin demonstrate their "addition" to Telephone for the Sing-Off auditions where they got their start funny kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fqykgJShz7Wpj5c.html Sing Strong Festival 2012 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rtSSqrVq2K-zgH0.html Spaulding Sessions kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l9pha8dotpa0qqs.html PTX master class ASU kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hpmPd9NjnayqnZ8.html Dutch radio station interview & singing kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ac2ehreBuZOWd4U.html Behind the Scenes PTX video Bohemian Rhapsody kzfaq.info/get/bejne/h56lmq2frq3DfJ8.html

The guy with the beard is Avi. He was the original bass singer. He was replaced by Matt half way through 2017. You heard Matt singing in Sound of Silence.

Your smile says it all.

You're cracking me up with your reaction of their unbelievably amazing rendition of Queen's song!

The guy with the black beard is Avi. He's the original bass. Matt is the new bass that you saw in sound of silence.

I don’t even need to see the video and I can picture it. That’s how many times I’ve watched it/people react to it!

Awesome reaction to Mitch’s guitar slap!! 😂

The original bass, Avi is in this one... he is the only one to have left the group (in 2017 and on good terms) and he found Matt for them, the one in Sound of Silence. Another great by them is HALLELUJAH (Leonard Cohen cover). Also DAFT PUNK, GOLD, IMAGINE... they have 10 years of incredible covers and originals as well. Their live performances are also wonderful!

I just joined, incredible!!!!