jules-has-notes

[jules-has-notes]

2021 VoicePlay summer activites — fluctuations, family, friends, and fun

As the weather heated up, VoicePlay and their many pals just kept rolling. The spring had brought a number of changes to their ranks and plans, and that would continue through the summer. Production schedules wait for no one, but that doesn't mean the work can't be enjoyable, or that there's no time for rest. And when you do what you love with good people, the time just flies by.

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Away we go

VoicePlay started July (and the holiday weekend) on a relaxing note with a rendition of the main theme from Minecraft. It was also the last video in their first batch of shorts featuring Adriana and Cesar to be released to the public.

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Because entertainers and the venues that employ them have to make plans many months in advance, the gang at Hawkmoon Creative celebrated a bit of Christmas in July by putting out a promo for their holiday a cappella group, Sleigh. It had been filmed at the PattyCake studio, and featured several famliar folks singing Kelly Clarkson's "Underneath the Tree".

(Hi, Omar! Hi, Joey! Hi, Labri!)

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The next day, Geoff did some delving on his own with a bassier version of "Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold" from the first Hobbit movie. After a full year of solo videos that were often "just [him] in four different shirts", he decided it was time to get more ambitious with the costumes, wigs, and set dressing.

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Feeling the love

After having a nice Independence Day weekend, VoicePlay celebrated a milestone that had been a long time coming. They'd finally reached 1 million subscribers on YouTube! To commemorate the occasion, they created a montage of video thumbnails from nearly a decade of hard work set to their karaoke track for "I Love Me".

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Animated adventures

The next week, Layne and Tony rounded up their "Villains Lair" cast to finally film the second season premiere. Between the usual tricky logistics and necessary pandemic precautions, they had been itching to get the series up and running again. The gang was so eager to continue their story that they even relocated their set to a different space in the building while their usual studio was being renovated.

photo by Rich Pope for the Orlando Sentinel

Then VoicePlay kicked off the weekend by releasing a frenetic version of The Simpsons theme with Deejay Young.

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Who's the new guy?

The next day, the group officially announced that Cesar had become their new full-time member. With both Earl and J.None retiring from the group in less than a year, the remaining members of VoicePlay needed to act quickly to replenish their numbers. Even though they hadn't been actively touring since the start of the pandemic, the logistics of their video production schedule and occasional live events meant that arranging guest singers for every project was that much more difficult. They at least needed a fourth permanent member, and they couldn't draw out the process for a year or more as they had when bringing J onboard.

Urgency didn't mean sacrificing quality or compatability, though. They got very lucky in finding Cesar, a multi-talented performer with boundless energy, who the other three had somehow never met through their many mutual acquaintences.

He was in the rotating lineup of Paradigm Party Band with J.None for a couple years, and his production company Push Love had collaborated with them even before Cesar started performing with them.

He's best friends with Omar Cardona, and they were roommates for several years.

He's in two gig bands with EJ Cardona through Hawkmoon Creative — The Vybe; and Element, also with EJ's wife Lindsay Flick Carodona of The American Sirens, and PattyCake stalwart Michelle Knight.

He's in Evolution: Motown for Victory Productions, which is co-lead by E. Michael Evans, who plays Gaston in PattyCake's Villains Lair series.

He had known Deejay Young since high school, as they had attended neighboring schools. They then worked together at both Disney World and Universal Studios Japan.

His first job in Orlando was the Disney Channel Rocks show at Disney World with Deejay, Omar, and Tony Wakim.

He was in a 2019 production of Into the Woods alongside Robby Pigott, who plays Captain Hook in The Villains Lair, and Sarah Whittemore from Vocatve and Voices of Liberty, who was part of Hawkmoon's "Moonlight Cabaret" series earlier in the year.

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Friends new and old

The first long-form video with Cesar in the permanent lineup added another new collaborator, the lovely and talented Ashley Diane. They mashed up a Broadway classic with a little early-2000s pop to create an absolute bop in "If I Were a Rich Man / Girl".

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When Layne finally joined TikTok, his first post was perfectly him — beatboxing for a puppy that a passerby had asked him to watch for a few minutes.

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A few days later, a promo for one of Cesar's other gig bands dropped. The Vybe got their Muses on with a fun cover of "Zero to Hero" from Hercules.

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As July drew to a close, the guys welcomed founding 4:2:Five member Scott Porter home for a visit by slapping some fake dirt on him and sticking him in front of a green screen. The resulting "HALO theme" video wouldn't be seen by their Patreon patrons or the public for a couple months, but it was definitely worth the wait.

(Filming in Layne's home studio means he doesn't have to wear shoes.)

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Musical melange

The end of the month and into early August brought the first of several performances for Cesar at the annual EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. Element gave the crowd a rocking good time and center stage ASL interpretation over four days of shows.

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The following weekend, VoicePlay released their next short with Deejay, a surprising twist on "Mr. Sandman".

The week after that, the guys traded their bowties and button-down shirts for scars and swords to film a haunting rendition of "Hoist the Colours" from the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie. They had to scramble a bit when their intended guest performer couldn't get to town, but Jose Rosario Jr. was happy to come back and play again on short notice.

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A brief respite

In the middle of the month, the guys took a bit of well-deserved time off to have some summer fun. Layne, Cyndi, and the girls met up with extended family for an annual reunion trip.

Meanwhile, J.None posted a quick check-in to prove that he had survived Navy boot camp in Illinois, and was headed to his original home state of Virginia for the next stage in his more focused training for the band.

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Workaholic Cesar didn't slow down for long. First he popped over to the Entertainment Central offices for some multi-lingual fun as part of an array of performers who recorded demo tracks in English, Mandarin, and Spanish to test the sound system at a new arena.

Then he met up with his Vybe bandmates for that group's first round of shows at the Food & Wine Festival.

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As the month neared its end, PattyCake announced the dates for their rescheduled Villains Lair donate-a-thon livestreams. They would now take place over the week leading up to the season premiere.

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Sing out loud

The guys kicked off Labor Day weekend with a flurry of varied content. During a bit of downtime at home, Cesar coaxed Omar into belting a bit of Dear Evan Hansen on TikTok.

Then Geoff took a trip to the "House of the Rising Sun" accompanied by his usual trio of clones.

As J.None moved forward in his Navy training, Tara Simon Studios posted one last vocal tutorial featuring him and fellow coach Nikki. This one demonstrates some techniques for improving breath control and capacity.

And PattyCake unleashed more hype for the upcoming season of The Villains Lair with a trailer. Between the new looks for returning baddies and a couple compelling teaser shots of new ones, the fans were very excited.

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Flights of whimsy

Over the long weekend, the Castellucci and Palazzolo families had an outing at a local alpaca farm, where Geoff met some kindred spirits.

A few days later, Cesar headed back to the Entertainment Central studio for a fun superhero-themed virtual event.

VoicePlay leaped into the next weekend with some Muppety fun in a short rendition of "Magic Dance" from Labyrinth with Jose.

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In their continued push to gain funding for The VIllains Lair and their many other projects, PattyCake released a new Patreon promo video. Those bad guys can be such divas, and it takes a whole team to wrangle them.

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Fantasy, sci-fi, and fun

When their "Hoist the Colours" video was ready to set sail, VoicePlay released it unto the world.

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Toward the end of the month, CreepyKingdom.com published a series of interviews by Jaimz Dillman with her PattyCake castmates Kimberly Zurzulo (Winnie Sanderson), Helaina Wize (Mother Gothel), Chris Ross (Dr. Facilier), James Keaton (Walt Disney), and Robby Pigott (Captain Hook).

VoicePlay started the final weekend of September with their next short, a fantastic rendition of the Doctor Who theme with Jose.

PattyCake joined in on the fun by releasing the Villains Lair season premiere to the public. After the defeats and betrayals in the first chapter of their story, our cadre of nasties regrouped to proclaim that "It's Not Over Yet".

When J.None's first real leave from the Navy rolled around, he made good on his promise that he wouldn't be away from his VoicePlay brothers forever. He scooted back to Orlando to get in on the year's spooky season fun with a full version of "Friends on the Other Side" from The Princess and the Frog.

While J was in town, they also filmed two shorts — a medley of themes from horror movies, and "Remember Me" from Coco.

As September neared its end and summer crept toward autumn, the guys made an exciting announcement. They would be part of the lineup of musicians and artists for the first concert celebrating the music from the video game Genshin Impact. The segments were pre-recorded and would air on the first Sunday in October.

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Since regular live performances still weren't in full swing yet, sound engineer extraordinaire Paul Kaleka spent a bit of his free time organizing the paraphernalia he'd acquired over the past few years and reminiscing about busier times.

Paul's badges from — VoicePlay's shows at Cactus Petes in April 2019; Total Vocal concert 2018; [unidentified]; Destination Imagination Global Finals in May 2016; VoiceJam A Cappella Festival in April 2018; Backstreet Boys 2019 reunion tour; SoJam A Cappella Festival in November 2018 with VoicePlay; and SoJam in November 2019 with The Exchange

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The end of the year would bring more ambitious projects, side gigs, and milestones, but those tales will keep for a while yet.

[jules-has-notes]

It's Not Over Yet (Villains Lair) — PattyCake Productions music video

The baddies are back! In the wake of the revelations in the first season finale, our cadre of villains consider their options. Is there another way to achieve their goal? Can they exact revenge on their betrayers at the same time? Schemes are hatched and rivalries reinforced, but only time will tell if the remaining conspirators can cooperate long enough to see it through.

Details:

title: Villains Lair – s.2, ep.1 – It’s Not Over Yet

performers: Michelle Knight (Evil Queen); Alejandra Martinez (Maleficient); Navid Nowakhtar (Jafar); Andrea Stack Dunn (Lady Tremaine); Tiffany Trilli (Cruella De Vil); T. Robert Pigott (Captain Hook); Russell Warner (Frollo); Helaina Waze (Mother Goethel); Jaimz Dillman (Queen of Hearts); E. Michael Evans (Gaston); Brianna Fogden (Drizella Tremaine); Victoria Brandano (Anastasia Tremaine); Emoni Wilkins (Ursula); Hannah Juliano, Randi Solomon, & Tony Wakim (featured vocals)

written & arranged by: Layne Stein & Tony Wakim

screenplay by: James Keaton, Tony Wakim, & Layne Stein

release date: 24 September 2021

My favorite bits:

the music box style intro setting the dark fairy tale mood

each villain brooding in their own space as they lick their wounds from the reveal of Ursula and Facilier's betrayal

the transition from Maleficent's flames to Jafar's swirling sparks 🔥✨

the disgruntled growl in the Queen of Hearts's ♫ "waiting" ♫

everyone finally joining together for the end of the chorus

Lady Tremaine sparking the new plan to ally with Hades

introducing the new McGuffin for the season in the form of the black cauldron

Maleficent needling the Evil Queen over the source and veracity of her information

dividing the group into distraction and extraction crews, and both sides trying to foist Cruella off on each other

passing the melody of the final chorus from character to character until they reach the final line of unison

Trivia:

A full year and a half passed between the end of the first season and the start of the second. That was partly due to the usual challenges of scheduling such a large cast, but it was compounded by the need to keep them all safe in the midst of the pandemic.

In the weeks leading up to the premiere, the producers and cast members hosted a series of donate-a-thon livestreams to help raise funds for the rest of the season.

This episode was filmed in a former Victoria's Secret storefront space in the Oviedo Mall while the actual PattyCake studio on the other end of the building was receiving repairs and improvements.

While they were filming the episode, the gang also captured vignettes for the season 2 trailer, including teasers of Prince Hans from Frozen and Hades from Hercules. The latter is only seen in silhouette*, which probably indicates that they hadn't actually cast that role yet. * (and might be Eli from VoicePlay? That certainly looks like his noggin and mannerisms.)

A reporter from the Orlando Sentinel had shadowed Layne and Tony during filming and wrote a nice profile of them as scrappy creative artists and local businesspeople.

The streaming audio track seamlessly omits the middle dialogue portion.

[jules-has-notes]

Doctor Who theme — VoicePlay music video short

Few television series have endured as long as Doctor Who. From its beginnings as a black-and-white Saturday morning kids' show in the 1960s to its modern status as a global phenomenon, this BBC series is beloved by sci-fi geeks of all ages. Every fan has their favorite incarnations of The Doctor, their companions, and their adversaries. One of the things that links every iteration of the show is its iconic theme song.

Details:

title: Doctor Who theme (feat. Jose Rosario, Jr.)

original performer: Delia Derbyshire at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop for Doctor Who (1963); primarily inspired by Murray Gold's version for the 2005 reboot

written by: Ron Grainer

arranged by: Eli Jacobson

release date: 24 September 2021

My favorite bits:

opening and closing with sonic screwdriver sound effects (which makes looping the video really fun)

the dramatic ascending legato harmonies from Eli and Cesar

Geoff grooving away on that double-heartbeat bass line

the contrast between Jose's high, warbling melody and the stacato counterpoint arpeggios

"It's bigger on the inside. 🤨" (He said the thing! 😁)

the semi-operatic tone the trio adopts to increase the drama

the audio panning on Layne's descending percussion riff

bonus points to Eli for the TARDIS frame and hyperspace animation behind them

Trivia:

The Doctor Who theme has been reimagined many times over the decades, often getting an update when a new actor assumes the role of The Doctor. (I'm quite fond of the early 1980s version for nostagic reasons.)

Jose's scarf and Cesar's hat are both reminiscent of signature costume pieces worn by the fourth Doctor, played by Tom Baker during the original series run in the 1970s.

The light-up prop Eli wields doesn't appear to be a replica of any specific Doctor's sonic screwdriver. It may be a custom construction, or a legally-distinct unlicensed piece.

The sonic screwdriver sound effect is created by humming and whistling at the same time. VoicePlay likes to challenge their concert audiences to try doing so during their pre-show announcements.

The group had previously used physical doorway-shaped frames in their staging of "Daddy Sang Bass" at the Orlando Fringe Festival during their 4:2:Five days, and in their "Look What You Made Me Do" collaboration video with pocket.watch in 2018.

[jules-has-notes]

Hoist the Colours — VoicePlay music video

Dirges aren't generally intended to be entertaining, but the opening scene to the third Pirates movie included a surprisingly compelling one. When VoicePlay got their hands on it, they turned it into an even more dramatic experience, emphasizing the defiance of the moment when the crew have nothing left to lose. Lash yourself to the mast and hang on for an exciting voyage.

Details:

title: Hoist the Colours (feat. Jose Rosario Jr.)

original performers: cast of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

written by: lyrics by Ted Elliot & Terry Rossio; music by Hans Zimmer & Gore Verbinski

arranged by: Geoff Castellucci

release date: 17 September 2021

My favorite bits:

passing the opening verse between Jose, Cesar, and Eli with everyone providing soft, mournful harmonies

the dramatic red lighting during moments of silence

the group swaying in unison during the first chorus as though they're on the deck of a ship

that first big subharmonic drop to the seafloor from Geoff, appropriately on ♫ "diiie" ♫

Cesar's unblinking stare into the camera during ♫ "some men have died and some are alive" ♫

Eli putting a little extra grit into ♫ "the devil to pay" ♫ 😈

the vertiginous scene transition of Layne's sword wiping the screen and the camera tilting up from a dutch angle

Layne using gasping sounds and shuffling fricatives in his percussion to evoke the prisoners' procession toward the gallows

shifting into an eerily major key for ♫ "hear its sepulchral tone" ♫

Jose and Cesar's delicate descending riff of ♫ "colours oh" ♫ under Eli's powerful belted ♫ "hiiigh" ♫

the slow layering of the repeated ♫ "Yo ho" ♫ section that then turns into polyphony

Geoff leaping up two octaves to kick off the ♫ "never die" ♫ canon

just the standing trio soaring into the clouds with ♫ "hoist the cooo-ooo-loours" ♫ punctuated by Jose's dramatic sword thrust and the bright flash of cannon fire

Eli's sustained belt of ♫ "diiie" ♫ as everyone else keeps moving

all five voices creating such a lush sound on the last line

the reverberation of that final chord over the silhouetted tableau

Trivia:

Among the scar makeup put on the guys was a raised "VP" on each of their hands / forearms. It reflects a real late 17th-century practice in which captured pirates were branded with a "P". It mostly occured in the Indian Ocean under the auspices of the British East India Company, and was the inspiration for the mark on Jack Sparrow's arm in the Pirates movies.

Jose was not the group's original featured guest for this song. When Anthony Gargiula was unable to fly to Florida due to Covid travel restrictions, the guys reached out to find a local replacement and did some quick re-recording. Eli took on the higher part, and Jose stepped into the tenor 2 spot.

They did eventually record a simpler, more somber version with Anthony as a short four years later.

The guys indulged in some thematically appropriate snacks when they wrapped, and the official Pirates Booty™ social media manager was suitably impressed.

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Pirate captain Jose returned a couple years later for a very silly rendition of "Drunken Sailor".

The gold coin medalion around Jose's neck in this was subsequently claimed by Layne for their "Yo Ho (A Pirates Life for Me" short and "Drunken Sailor" video.

The arrangement process for this song likely started in the spring, as evidenced by the excerpt Geoff put on TikTok in late April. The fall release date seems to have been timed to line up with International Talk Like a Pirate Day, and also provided an early start to the group's annual spooky season offerings.

Jose joined the chat for the YouTube premiere and was delighted by everyone's lovely comments.

Several of their musical colleagues have also taken a stab at this song, including The Bass Singers of TikTok, Colm McGuinness, Malinda and friends, and Lauren Paley. Many of those folks appear as collaborators in each other's recordings.

[jules-has-notes]

Magic Dance — VoicePlay music video short

The Henson Company has made some classic childhood movies with enduring music, and this song is one of their best. If anyone was going to reimagine David Bowie and the puppets of Labyrinth, VoicePlay were definitely the ones for the job. They blended musicianship with delightful goofiness for a single minute that is sure to put a smile on your face.

Details:

title: Magic Dance (feat. Jose Rosario, Jr.)

original performers: David Bowie as Jareth and the cast of Labyrinth (1986)

written by: David Bowie

arranged by: Rob Dietz

release date: 10 September 2021

My favorite bits:

the top row's various confused expressions during the opening dialogue

Jose's lovely smooth timbre on the first two lines

the stacato ♫ "doot-doot-doo" ♫ harmonies in the backing vocals

Cesar's adorable little floppy paws when he sings ♫ "and puppy dog tails" ♫ 🐶

Eli's impishly screechy tone and eager finger twiddling for ♫ "thunder or lightning" ♫ 🌩

the tag team of Geoff's bassy glissando ♫ ⇗ "saaays" ⇗ ♫ capped off by Layne's fun whizzer whistle sound

Jose playing with a glass sphere like the ones Jareth used for contact juggling in the movie

the swirling audio panning on Layne's final cymbal crash ✨

that clean cut-off of the last chord

Trivia:

○ The guys are all wearing thematically appropriate shirts.

Cesar — Sarah and Jareth at the dream masquerade ball

Jose — the Labyrinth title logo with an owl

Eli — The Worm with "’Ello" above

Geoff — Sir Didymus, Hoggle, and Ludo captioned with "But should you need us"

Layne — "Bowie" repeated five times in red, golden yellow, pale green, blue, and purple

○ The chanted lyrics ("You remind me of the babe…") are a slightly altered version of a conversation in The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer starring Cary Grant and Shirley Temple.

○ During the movie's production, and in the original end credits, the song was referred to as "Dance Magic".

○ Bowie himself performed the baby's gurgles on the demo track, as the backing vocalist's child who was intended to supply them wouldn't make noise into the microphone on the day. The version in the final film contains actual baby sounds.

○ The baby in the film was played by Toby Froud, the son of two Henson crew members, Brian and Wendy Froud. When he grew up he followed in his parents artistic footsteps, and the three of them worked together behind the scenes on the Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance series.

[jules-has-notes]

House of the Rising Sun — Geoff Castellucci music video

The origins of this song are murky. It can reliably be traced to Appalachia in the early 20th century, but may have its roots as far back as some 16th century English folk ballads. Every singer or group that performs it puts their own twist on it, and Geoff is no exception. In addition to the low notes he's known for, he took the instrumentation in a Southern rock direction. Once the beat kicks in, his version of the narrative voice won't stop to tell you his tale. If you want to hear it, you'll have to go along and keep up. It's a heck of a ride.

Details:

title: House of the Rising Sun (bass singer cover)

original performers: traditional American folk song; oldest known recording "Rising Sun Blues" by Clarence "Tom" Ashley & Gwen Foster (1925); popularized by The Animals

written by: unknown; lyrics first published in Adventure magazine column titled "Old Songs That Men Have Sung" (1925); The Animals' version arranged by Alan Price

arranged by: Geoff Castellucci

release date: 3 September 2021

My favorite bits:

Geoff's legato, almost mumbly diction that suits the introspective manner of the opening lyrics

how comfortable he'd become with riffing in his bass register since Layne scared the crap out of him with "Tennessee Whiskey"

the spooky sigh and blackout that brings in his doppelgangers

the moments of environmental percussion from the lighter snapping closed and the slamming trunk lid

having his vocal line follow the lyrics ♫ "way down" ♫ into that rumbly register as the guitar enters

building the rhythmic and harmonic complexity through each hummed section

the high harmonies taking the pickup of ♫ "so now" ♫

that double drop on ♫ "dooo-oooo-NNNE" ♫ sounding like a fall into the underworld

the subtle match ignition sound as the candle in the background lights up

adding a slightly dissonant harmony to ♫ "the other's on the train" ♫ to create the feeling of a steam whistle ����

letting the clones take over the melody on the final chorus so lead Geoff can indulge in a counterpoint descending riff

lingering on that final solo ♫ "sunnn" ♫ as the shot widens to reveal that the extra singers have disappeared again

Trivia:

This arrangement proved to be somewhat tricky, since the well-known version by The Animals is pitched quite a bit higher than Geoff's usual wheelhouse, and he "didn't want to spend the whole song above middle C screaming my face off".

Although The Animals' version is officially credited to keyboardist Alan Price due to space constraints in the vinyl record's label, all five band members contributed to their arrangement. It was heavily influenced by the rendition written by folk singer Dave Van Ronk and first released by Bob Dylan three years earlier.

Like most artists who have covered this song, Geoff made a few changes to the lyrics, most noticably inserting "one and" into "the only thing a gambler needs" at the start of the second verse. It's a cool rhythmic change, but it also creates a contradiction when he then names two things — a suitcase and a trunk. It could be explained by the final line of the verse, "when he's on the drunk" and therefore not speaking coherently.

A fan in the YouTube premiere chat joked that he was "in a shirt competition with Tony" due to the number of buttons left undone. To be fair, filming in a non-air-conditioned space while wearing all black under hot lights in the middle of a Florida summer must have gotten toasty pretty quick. Any ventilation would help.

They returned to the same building three and a half years later to film his "Wicked Game" video in a room down the hall from this one.

Geoff used a clip from this video to demonstrate differences of sound quality in the "Hearing Loss" mini-documentary he and Kathy released a few months later.

He posted a live excerpt on TikTok a few days after the initial release in response to fan requests.

This video reached 5 million views on YouTube in May 2025.

A few days after that milestone, his old pal Rachel Potter released her own version of the song, along with a video featuring a sultry dance performance from fellow reality show alumni Jonathan and Oksana Platero.

[jules-has-notes]

collaboration spotlight — The Vybe performances at EPCOT Food & Wine Festival 2021

Like their Hawkmoon colleagues, Element, gig band The Vybe was part of the entertainment lineup during Disney World's annual culinary celebration. They had two bookings on the American Gardens stage, first in late August, then again in early November. These recordings are both from the earlier run.

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The world could always do with more peace and patience. The Vybe took this classic tune and put their own incredible stamp on it.

Details:

title: Let It Be

original performers: The Beatles

written by: John Lennon & Paul McCartney

performance date: 23 August 2021

My favorite bits:

Cesar's breathy, wistful opening

the lovely, delicate harmonies between Mandi Jo, Cesar, and Qian as the ladies enter the mix

EJ's powerful timbre increasing the energy on the second verse

everyone taking a moment to display their vocal prowess

the way the song builds in passion almost like a gospel number

Qian's beautiful final riff

Trivia:

Although the songwriting is officially credited to Lennon–McCartney (per their professional contract), it was composed entirely by Paul. The lyrics were inspired by a dream about his mother, who had died from cancer when he was fourteen.

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The group closed out their set with yet another song about tolerance, this time with a rocking beat to send the audience off in a dancing mood.

Details:

title: Free Your Mind

original performers: En Vogue

written by: Denzil Foster & Thomas McElroy

performance date: 23 August 2021

My favorite bits:

Mandi Jo's grit and attitude in the first verse

those smooth bell chord harmonies from EJ, Qian, and Cesar

the fan at the edge of the stage making Qian's skirt billow up like a superhero cape

that syncopated ascent on ♫ "Oh, now attitude" ♫

Qian's powerful riff of ♫ "must it be this way" ♫ and the appreciative wave Mandi Jo gives in response

the sax player doing double duty to provide more cowbell

the ladies indulging in some fun hair-ography

ending on gorgeous four-part harmony

the crowd grooving away as the band winds down

Trivia:

Although this is one of En Vogue's few songs to feature lead vocals from all four members, The Vybe left everything to their two ladies.

[jules-has-notes]

Mr. Sandman — VoicePlay music video short

They've proven that they can make themselves comfortable in pretty much any genre, but VoicePlay as a group has its origins in the barbershop world. So while they were getting nostalgic with another song from their youths, they decided to pull this golden oldie out of the drawer and give it a modern twist.

Details:

title: Mr. Sandman (feat. Deejay Young)

original performers: Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra; made popular by The Chordettes & The Four Aces

written by: Pat Ballard

arranged by: Geoff Castellucci

release date: 6 August 2021

My favorite bits:

Bowties are cool! 🤵

the background colors changing with each note in the arpeggio each guy sings

Deejay, Eli, and Cesar's delicate, wistful tones and lovely harmonies on the lyrics

the combination of Geoff's classic bouncy barbershop bass line and Layne's old-timey steam engine percussion

the ascending chime slide Layne does to transition between sections 🎐

VoicePlay, what big eyes you have! 👀

those funky record skip effects

Geoff and Layne scooping up from the eldritch depths

the speed and precision of the trio on ♫ "to call my very own" ♫

everyone ending with innocent smiles as though nothing strange has happened 😇

Trivia:

VoicePlay released two duet-able versions of this arrangement on TikTok — one with a gap for the lead vocals, and one for the bass line.

Geoff had included a snippet of this song in his arrangement of "Mele Kalikimaka" on his solo channel the previous Christmas.

They received a fun compliment / joking complaint from their buddy Chris Rupp.

[jules-has-notes]

collaboration spotlight — Element live performances at EPCOT Food & Wine Festival 2021

The annual Food & Wine Festival at Disney World's EPCOT Center spans several months, and there's much more to do than simply eat and drink. The park also brings in a robust lineup of musical entertainment for folks to enjoy. While most weekends boast singers and groups that may be more familiar to broader audiences, the mid-week crowds are treated to performances by top Orlando musicians.

As part of the Eat to the Beat concert series in 2021, local gig band Element did three stints — from end of July into the start of August, Halloween weekend, and two weeks later in mid-November. These recordings were filmed by their management group, Hawkmoon Creative, and uploaded over the course of the following months. The band provides a rocking good time, as well as integrated ASL interpretation.`

NOTE: All the dates I've listed are my best guesses based on when the videos were posted, other videos and photos from social media, and the progression of Lindsay's baby bump.

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Element know how to kick things off with a bang. This bouncy rendition of Prince's second big hit is sure to get your toes tapping and put a smile on your face. Plus, they take a moment to introduce the members of their band.

Details:

title: Let's Go Crazy

original performer: Prince and The Revolution

written by: Prince Rogers Nelson

performance date: 2 August 2021

My favorite bits:

that high-energy intro

EJ's gorgeous, full tone on the lead

that smooth pop-up Cesar adds to ♫ "have a good time" ♫

the high counterpoint moment from Lindsay

Amanda grooving on that air guitar during the instrumental break

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This song is a showcase for Cesar's many talents. They give the audience some rich lows, some airy highs, some fun dancing, and a whole lot of sass.

Details:

title: Rumour Has It

original performer: Adele

written by: Adele Adkins & Ryan Tedder

performance date: 2 August 2021

My favorite bits:

Cesar's delightfully scornful timbre to emphasize the lyrics

the dismissive shake Amanda does with ♫ "she don't have your love anymore" ♫

Michelle, EJ, and Lindsay's lowkey choreography at the back during the choruses

"Josh, can you go dramatic for me?" (Of course he can, baby.)

that gorgeous floaty falsetto

::gestures for applause:: 👏 "Oh, stop it." 😂

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Now it's Michelle's turn for a classic break-up song. It's hard to go wrong with Stevie Nicks, and the band gets this one very right.

Details:

title: Go Your Own Way

original performers: Fleetwood Mac

written by: Lindsey Buckingham

performance date: 2 August 2021

My favorite bits:

Michelle starting deep and dark, then adding grit in the chorus

the shooing motion Amanda adds to the repeated ♫ "go your own way" ♫

that big old belt in final chorus

Nick wailing on the guitar solo

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This recording contains two songs with different tones, but similar messages. First the band gives the audience a bit of a cool down with the slower, more contemplative "Rise Up". Then they get folks moving in their seats again to send them off with a rousing rendition of "Shut Up and Dance".

Details:

title: Rise Up / Shut Up and Dance

original songs / performers: "Rise Up" by Andra Day; [4:30] "Shut Up and Dance" by Walk the Moon

written by: "Rise Up" by Andra Day & Jennifer Decilveo; "Shut Up and Dance" by Ben Berger, Eli Maiman, Ryan McMahon, Nicholas Petricca, Kevin Ray, & Sean Waugaman

performance date: 2 August 2021

My favorite bits:

EJ's beautiful plaintive lead on the first verse of "Rise Up"

Lindsay taking the lead with confidence

the breathy anticipatory tone in Cesar's vocals

the contrast between Michelle's rich timbre in her verse and the lightness in the following chorus

Amanda's exultant expression as she signs the repeated ♫ "We'll rise up!" ♫

Lindsay and Amanda sharing a little shimmy as they come together at center stage

Amanda looping her hands through EJ and Michelle's elbows

that massive belt from EJ on the key change

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During their Halloween weekend run, the band cranked things up just a little. This rocking tune was a great choice to open their sets and give everyone a moment in the spotlight.

Details:

title: Where the Streets Have No Name

original performers: U2

written by: Paul "Bono" Hewson, David "The Edge" Evans, Adam Clayton, & Larry Mullen Jr.

performance date: 29 October 2021

release date: 6 January 2022

My favorite bits:

the atmospheric smoke and reverb on Nick's opening guitar riff

Michelle absolutely roaring on those opening lyrics

those gorgeous harmonies in the chorus

the Cardonas' lovely blend on the second verse

Get it, Landon! 🥁

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This recording has slightly better sound quality than the earlier one, particularly during the section when the melody is being passed between all four singers, so you can more clearly hear Cesar slipping a bit of his native Spanish into the lyrics.

Details:

title: Rise Up

original performer: Andra Day

written by: Andra Day & Jennifer Decilveo

performance date: 29 October 2021

release date: 7 January 2022

My favorite bits:

that powerful wail from EJ before he floats up into his falsetto

Lindsay's delicate tone as she takes the lead

the emotion in Cesar's voice during their melody lines

the expressive vibrato in Michelle's timbre for the second chorus

Amanda's movements reflecting the crescendos and decrescendos in the music

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It takes some serious talent to tackle Brendon Urie's vocal heights, and EJ defintely has that. His prowess is on full display for this energetic anthem.

Details:

title: High Hopes

original performers: Panic! at the Disco

written by: Brendon Urie, Jake Sinclair, Jenny Owen Youngs, Lauren "Lolo" Pritchard, Sam Hollander, William Lobban-Bean, Jonas Jeberg, Taylor Parks, & Ilsey Juber

performance date: 13 November 2021

release date: 26 January 2022

My favorite bits:

EJ and Amanda grabbing hold of those first lyrics

the echoed ♫ "high high hopes" ♫ from the backing trio

the chagrined expressions to concede ♫ "It's a little complicated." ♫

Cesar mouthing and miming ♫ "Don't give up" ♫ in the background during the second chorus

EJ adding a touch of grit at the start of the breakdown section

the siblings bounding back to the front to end things on a bang

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The ladies take center stage for an enduring 80s hit, and absoutely nail the power of Annie Lennox's lyrics. It's pretty much impossible to stay still while watching this, but why would you want to?

Details:

title: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

original performers: Eurythmics

written by: Annie Lennox & David A. Stewart

performance date: 13 November 2021

release date: 27 January 2022

My favorite bits:

Michelle and Amanda grooving together

the lovely high harmonies from Lindsay

those iconic vocal riffs from both singers

the way Amanda dismissively swipes away ♫ "want to abuse you" ♫

EJ belting out that repeated ♫ "Movin' on" ♫

ending on pure vocals and Amanda giving a double 🤟

[jules-has-notes]

If I Were A Rich Man / Girl — VoicePlay music video

Many people dream of having wealth, whether it's just enough to live comfortably for the rest of their lives, or vast coffers that would allow them to experience all the world has to offer. And that desire has been expressed in music of every genre. It had been quite a while since VoicePlay indulged in a mashup rather than a multi-song medley, so Layne grabbed these two related tunes and worked his arrangement magic to create something uniquely VP.

Details:

title: If I Were A Rich Man / Girl (feat. Ashley Diane)

original songs / performers: "If I Were A Rich Man" by Zero Mostel as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (1964); "Rich Girl" by Gwen Stefani, feat. Eve

written by: "If I Were A Rich Man" by Sheldon Harnick & Jerry Bock; "Rich Girl" by Mark Batson, Kara DioGuardi, Mike Elizondo, Eve Jeffers, Chantal Kreviazuk, Gwen Stefani, Andre "Dr. Dre" Young

arranged by: Layne Stein

release date: 23 July 2021

My favorite bits:

the floaty, ethereal opening chords under Geoff's bassy melody

Layne enjoying himself on a couple beautiful lead vocal lines before he settles into the beat

the gestures Cesar makes to accompany ♫ "fine tin roof" ♫ and ♫ "real wooden floors" ♫

Ashley's melody and Layne's percussion illustrating ♫ ⇗ "just going up" ⇗ ♫ and then ♫ ⇘ "even longer going down" ⇘ ♫

that eyebrow raise and dipped chin as Geoff asks "Please" 🙏

Eli's joyous grin as he hits that iconic ♫ "yidle-didle-deedle-didle man" ♫

the crisp, almost military cadence in Layne's drums under ♫ "they would ask to advise them" ♫

the lush octave layering on ♫ "Reb Tevye" ♫

Cesar's solid timbre for the repeated ♫ "If I were a rich man" ♫ in the first break

the coordinated delay at the end of the trio's ascending ♫ "na-na-na… NAH!" ♫

the subtle downward slide Geoff does before Eli picks up the melody with ♫ "I wouldn't have to work hard" ♫

Eli and Ashley's harmonized riffing that brings out the cantor-like feeling in parts of the original theater piece

the hint of overcranked autotune on Ashley's voice in the second break to evoke Gwen's style before they start explicitly singing her lyrics

Cesar bringing in a bit of lowkey vogueing

that powerful ascending riff and descending run from Ashley, and all the guys' appropriate looks of astonishment

Geoff moseying up into tenor territory, immediately followed by that foghorn drop on ♫ ⇘ "maaa-AAAN" ⇘ ♫ that he just keeps holding as the others continue

the lingering echo on Layne's final "Hey!"

Trivia:

This was Cesar's first video as an official member of the group rather than a featured guest.

It was also Ashley's first project with the boys, and she proved to be a good fit immediately. She was a friend of Cesar's from shared theme park gigs, and is a member of the Voices of Liberty at Disney World alongside several other pals.

Tony was more involved than usual, especially since they weren't filming at the PattyCake studio. He's given a formal credit for both costuming and direction alongside Layne.

Geoff is wearing a red long-sleeved version of his blue shirt from their "Unchained Melody" video earlier in the year.

It looks like he got a new (and slightly darker) pair for this video, but Eli used to have some bright red jeans. They appeared on screen in the "Oogie Boogie's Song" music video as part of his Lock costume.

Ashley used her incredible riffing from this arrangement to issue a challenge in a TikTok video.

She also included several behind-the-scenes clips from this video in her end-of-year recap on Instagram.

It's interesting that this arrangement omits the verse Tevye sings about his poultry, as both Layne and Eli have well established chicken impressions in their repertoire.

Gwen Stefani's "Rich Girl" is a reinterpretation of a song by the same name, released by British ragga/soul duo Louchie Lou & Michie One in 1993. The two versions both sample the Fiddler melody and have very similar sections of repeated lyrics.

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NOTE: If you venture into the YouTube comments, be aware that the video was found by factions of both snobby musical theater purists and prescriptivist grammar pedants, who all got Big Mad about some of the changes VoicePlay made. Try not to strain your peepers with all the eyerolling they may induce. 🙄

[jules-has-notes]

The Simpsons theme — VoicePlay music video short

Since its premiere on the cusp of the 1990s, The Simpsons has been a cultural icon, particularly among boys. And the members of VoicePlay are no exception to that. So they gathered up a buddy and created their own homage to the show's enduring theme tune by making silly noises with their mouths.

Details:

title: The Simpsons theme (feat. Deejay Young & Cesar De La Rosa)

original song: main theme for The Simpsons (1989)

written by: composed by Danny Elfman, arranged by Alf Clausen

arranged by: Layne Stein

release date: 16 July 2021

My favorite bits:

their lovely four-part harmonies on the opening lyric

Deejay's floaty descending riff as Bart jumps on his skateboard

the speed and variety of Layne's percussion, including several sound effects

everyone miming their respective instruments during the band practice sequence 🎺🥁🎷

the precision of the trio's "bling-bling-bling" arpeggios

Cesar popping Maggie's pacifier into his mouth to make the appropriate noise

Geoff adding Homer's signature "D'oh!" as the family arrives on the couch

the inclusion of the Gracie Films fanfare from the ends of the episodes

Eli grimacing away from Layne's belch

Trivia:

The inset video is a combination of the opening sequences for the first two episodes in season 4 — "Kamp Krusty", which first aired on 24 September 1992, and "A Streetcar Named Marge", which premiered on 1 October. It starts with the chalkboard gag from the first episode, reading "This punishment is not boring and pointless", and ends with the first instance of the monster couch gag from the second episode.

In yet another instance of great minds thinking alike, fellow a cappella group MayTree had released a redition of the theme song one week earlier.

The tune's composer, Danny Elfman, also wrote the soundtrack for The Nightmare Before Christmas, from which VoicePlay have made several fantastic videos.

The guys dipped into the Simpsons catalogue again a few years later to celebrate the arrival of Eli's son with a rendition of the barbershop tune "Baby on Board".

[jules-has-notes]

Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold — Geoff Castellucci music video

J.R.R. Tolkien's Legendarium is full of poetry and songs. Most of it has been omitted from film adaptations for the sake of time and pace, but a few are so integral to the story that they demanded to be included. Ever since Thorin and his dwarven companions used this elegiac history to convince Bilbo to accompany them in the first Hobbit movie, it has inspired many musicians to record their own interpretations. Geoff created a wonderful adaptation, both vocally and visually, that continues a grand tradition.

Details:

title: Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold (low bass singer cover)

original song / performers: "Misty Mountains" by Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield & the main dwarf cast members in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012); partly inspired by the Clamavi De Profundis extended version

written by: lyrics by J.R.R. Tolkien; music by David Donaldson, David Long, Steve Roche, & Janet Roddick

arranged by: Geoff Castellucci

release date: 3 July 2021

reposted to TikTok: 27 May 2023

My favorite bits:

setting the mood with mournful strings and small interactions as the final two Geoffs take their seats

using the gentle, resonant humming to establish the melody

lead Geoff's clear tone on the opening lyrics

delving deep for that ♫ "gooold" ♫

breathy harmonies providing the appropriate ambiance under ♫ "the pines were roaring" ♫ and ♫ "the wind was moaning" ♫

his small, wistful smile as he sings ♫ "blazed with light" ♫

the airy high harmonies at the start of the third verse

putting the big drop on ♫ "shadows laaay" ♫ to emphasize the ominousness of the threat that ♫ "crept beneath" ♫

having just the three higher vocal lines sing ♫ "Farewell we call to hearth and home." ♫

the little skyward glance "Fili" does as they sing ♫ "rain may fall" ♫

the strength in their tones as they assert ♫ "We must away" ♫ in unison

♫ "wood and mountain tall" ♫ starting low and climbing upward

easing back to the hummed harmonies as the end approaches

that final rumbling ♫ "daaaaay" ♫ portending the difficult journey ahead

Trivia:

Being a Lord of the Rings fan himself, Geoff was only too happy to acquiesce to his patrons' frequent and fervent requests for a bassier rendition of this tune.

The lyrics in the film version are only the fifth and seventh verses from the full song in the original Hobbit novel. Geoff has also included the eleventh and twenty-third verses, and the closing couplet.

The clones' fantastic dwarven wigs and facial hair were provided by longtime makeup artist Rick Underwood. He and Geoff had been working together since they'd engaged in daily green airbrushing sessions for the "Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue" at Universal Studios. The four character designs are loosely based on Thorin, Fili, Bofur, and Kili from the movie.

Many of the costume pieces had been worn by Geoff and his VoicePlay bandmates in their video for "My Mother Told Me" earlier in the year. They were provided by Penguin Point Productions, which had also contributed to PattyCake's "Born Bad" music video, released the week before.

The dagger that "Bofur" idly spins is a miniature replica of Aragorn's sword, Andúril, from the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Geoff posted a live clip of the first verse on TikTok a couple weeks later to celebrate racking up more than 500,000 views and over 200,000 YouTube subscribers.

This video reached 10 million views on YouTube just over a year later, on the same day as his "Sixteen Tons" video, which had been released at the end of January. (Is it a coincidence that both songs involve mining…? Probably, yeah.) Three years after that, it has over 27 million!

He also recorded another version as a short with VoicePlay in 2023, arranged by Layne and featuring J.None.

By popular demand, Geoff eventually followed up this video with two Middle Earth themed sequels — "I See Fire" from the second Hobbit movie in 2023, and "Song of Durin" from the Fellowship of the Ring novel a year after that.

The high fantasy aesthetic got some love from his old friend and fellow 4:2:Five founding member Scott Porter.

He also received a few nice compliments from some fellow vocalists in the YouTube comments.

Several other singers in Geoff's extended circles have put their own spin on the tune over the years, including Peter Hollens and Tim Foust, The Wellermen, Colm McGuinness (in dwarvish), Malinda, and Project Pigeon (aka half of Street Corner Symphony).

[jules-has-notes]

Minecraft theme — VoicePlay music video short

The children long for the mines! (Well, the virtual ones anyway.) Ever since its launch, Minecraft has been an outlet for some incredible creativity, and that includes its soundtrack. If you need a quick way to relax, take a minute and let these five melifluous voices transport you to the pixelated hills and woodlands of your dreams.

Details:

title: Minecraft theme (feat. Adriana Arellano & Cesar De La Rosa)

original performer: C418 for Minecraft (2011)

written by: Daniel "C418" Rosenfeld

arranged by: Layne Stein

release date: 2 July 2021

repost date: 7 April 2025

My favorite bits:

the soothing, legato rhythms from Adriana and Geoff providing the foundation

Eli's harmonies adding more depth in just the right places

the lovely blend of Cesar and Layne's voices (which we don't get to hear often) on the flowing counterpoint lines

ending with some beautiful homophony

Trivia:

VoicePlay had previously included a slightly more upbeat excerpt of this song in their "Aca Top 10 – Video Games" medley.

This song was the first of three tracks Rosenfeld created for the game's initial release. Its working title was "Calm 1".

Much like its predecessors in the 8-bit and 16-bit video game generations, the simplicity of this composition is due in part to the constraints of the sound engine in the original Java-based version of the game.

The first volume of the game's soundtrack, "Minecraft – Volume Alpha", was added to the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress in 2025. It's only the second piece of video game music in the Registry, following the Super Mario Bros. theme two years before.

Coincidentally, fellow a cappella group MayTree released a medley of pieces from the game's soundtrack on the exact same day, mere hours earlier.

VoicePlay reuploaded this video to their main YouTube channel and their social media accounts in the spring of 2025 to coincide with the release of the live-action Minecraft movie.

They also celebrated the film a couple months after that by recording a raucous rendition of the "Steve's Lava Chicken" jingle with guest pal Ashley Diane.

[jules-has-notes]

2021 VoicePlay spring events — a shifting of seasons

Spring is often a time of new beginnings. As the natural world awakens from its winter slumber, people can feel inspired to try something new. After the tumultuousness of the previous year, VoicePlay had found a bit of calm in the early months of 2021, but more changes were in store for them, as well.

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Some (mostly) good clean fun

The PattyCake gang started April with some very long-term planning. Over the first week, they filmed individual vignettes with a group of baddies — some established and some new to their roster — for a video that wouldn't be released for almost a year.

(It involves a lot of complicated visual effects shots, so the long lead time was both wise and necessary.)

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While that was happening, Geoff released his next solo video, a nostalgic (and bassy) rendition of the Johnny Cash hit "Take Me Home, Country Roads".

During a bit of downtime, J.None had some fun on TikTok with a different type of performance by trying his hand at commecial voiceover work.

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VoicePlay started the next weekend by releasing a rousing cover of "Go the Distance" from the animated Hercules movie with EJ Cardona bringing his gorgeous tenor vocals to the party.

That evening, J.None met up with his Paradigm Party Band pals for a private event at the swanky Isolé Villas resort, alongside other performers from Eklectic Entertainment, including swing dancers and a steel drum trio.

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Then on Saturday, PattyCake offered a bit of motivation for tedious weekend chores with the release of a sing-along version of "Whistle a Happy Song" from the latest episode of The Princess Academy.

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Get down

Continuing his penchant for blending relaxed fun with solid opinions, J.None indulged in a little cosplay dance break, then offered up some advice for his fellow lower-voiced singers. Don't feel bad about not being a tenor or soprano, and don't let others force you into doing things that will hurt you. Embrace your voice's strengths.

(Of course, this is coming from the guy who hit a B5 in the Panic! medley, so…)

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Well, hello there

In the middle of the month, a new gig band from the guys' pals at Hawkmoon Creative released a promo video that they'd filmed at the PattyCake studio. Element is fronted by singers Michelle Knight, Lindsay Flick Cardona, EJ Cardona, Cesar De La Rosa, and ASL interpreter Amanda Villalobos. While they were performing, Cesar's vocal talent and on-camera charisma caught Layne's attention. Tony, who had worked with him in the Disney Channel Rocks show years before, endorsed him as "really funny", and the VoicePlay guys reached out with an offer to collaborate shortly thereafter.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hawkmoon Creative (@hawkmooncreative)

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Stellar beginnings

The next day, Eli posted an excerpt from a quiet rendition of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" that he'd recorded as a thank-you for donors to his and Ashley's IVF fund. After several years of disappointments, they allowed their family and friends to lend a hand in their dream of becoming parents. It would take a while yet, and some unexpected assistance, but they would get there eventually.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Eli Jacobson (@imelinoteli)

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And one to grow on

The day after that brought J.None's next appearance in a vocal tutorial from Tara Simon Studios. He once again faced off with fellow coaches Tara and Nikki, this time in a burpee challenge to test the stamina they need to perform on stage.

Earl and Nick started the weekend by welcoming a new boxer puppy into their pack, joining Boston terrier Bailey and older boxer Rocky. In keeping with their pugilistic theme, they named him Apollo.

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On Saturday, J.None released his next original single, a heartfelt love song called "Affirmation" that once again featured instrumentation by his friend and frequent collaborator, Daniel Kelley Howard.

He then began the next week with a chill interview on Jacob Restituto's More Than Music podcast. They chatted about everything from his musical origins to the realities of the independent music scene and his future aspirations.

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Oooh, mama!

VoicePlay kicked off the final weekend of the month with a battle cry. After many fan requests, they tackled "My Mother Told Me" from the Vikings TV series, introducing their audience to another new collaborator in Jose Rosario, Jr.

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The next day, J.None took a moment to celebrate finally getting verified on Instagram (with a little help from production manager / den mother Kathy) and being "famous famous" at long last.

As April drew to a close, PattyCake got a jump on the upcoming Mother's Day celebrations with one more dip into their "Tough Love" pool, this time featuring interpretations by a number of friends and fans. The Tremaine sisters accessed these versions via the castle's magic mirror and offered their… thoughtful critiques.

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Finding potential

Geoff then ended the month with three new narrations linked through motifs of humanity and community — "If" by Rudyard Kipling, "Human Family" by Maya Angelou, and "The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe.

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In keeping with the theme of change, J.None started May by sharing a few moments from his first swimming lesson.

While knowing how to swim is generally a good idea for everyone, there was a more concrete motivation in this case.

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So long, sailor

After three years as an official member of VoicePlay, and nearly five years performing with them in total, J.None decided to depart for a stint in the US Navy Band. The decision wasn't an easy one, but he was planning to get married, and looking for more stability than the life of a gig performer could provide. Both J.None and the rest of VoicePlay insisted that their separation wasn't going to last forever, and they have definitely kept that promise, reuniting as often as J's leave schedule has allowed.

J also put a video on his own Instagram and YouTube to break the news to anyone who hadn't seen VP's announcement, and offer further context with his usual delightful humor.

And Eli posted a few fun video clips from their adventures over the years on Instagram, as well. (Scroll through an have a good laugh.)

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A post shared by Eli Jacobson (@imelinoteli)

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Before he departed, Tara Simon Studios released another vocal tutorial he'd already recorded. J.None showed off his impressive range and offered some pointers in helping lower-voiced singers in determining where they fall in the spectrum of tenor, baritone, and bass vocal types.

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All together now

As the middle of the month approached, Tim Foust from Home Free rolled out a surprise. In celebration of Rockapella legend Sean Altman's 50th birthday, he'd gathered an a cappella super-group and recorded a cover of "Falling Over You". The ensemble included Earl in his first appearance since his retirement from VoicePlay the year before, and former 4:2:Five beatboxer Dave Baumgartner.

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The next day, VoicePlay rolled out J.None's penultimate video as a full-time member, a feel-good rendition of "You're My Best Friend" by Queen featuring the return of Deejay Young.

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Bittersweet and low

While everyone was quietly working away on various projects, Geoff posted a live sample of Elvis's "Always On My Mind" from his home studio that a patron had requested on his TikTok. (He also had a little fun with a filter that made his eyes match the blue of his shirt.)

As the month neared its end, so did the local school year, which meant that Layne and Cyndi took a day to celebrate their littlest girl's graduation from preschool. (They grow up so fast.)

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Tally ho, fellas

VoicePlay opened the last weekend of May by releasing J.None's final video (for the time being). Their inspiring version of Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" was a perfect farewell, and Deejay was precisely the right guest for the occasion.

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The next day, Geoff offered a fun pick-me-up in the form of a lesser-known vintage Disney tune called "Saddle Up". He even roped Layne into joining him for the video.

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A more permanent farewell

June started on a truly sad note. Rek Dunn, the guys' longtime friend and creative collaborator, had passed away unexpectedly. He'd known the original 4:2:Five boys and Eli since high school, and they had remained close over the years, working together on many projects. His loss was deeply felt by their friend community.

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Let's chat

On a happier note, Geoff's interview with Elizabeth Zharoff on The Charismatic Voice was posted a few days later. They chatted about everything from his childhood to the life of an independent musician to plans for the future.

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PattyCake started their month with an exciting annoucement. The second season of The Villains Lair was finally moving forward. But it's not easy to produce such high quality videos with so many cast members, costumes, props, and set pieces. So they turned to their community for a series of "donate-a-thon" livestreams to help fund it.

(Unfortunately, when the date for the first stream arrived, they had to postpone them due to technical problems.)

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Vocal flexibility

Although J.None had officially departed, Tara Simon Studios still had a couple more vocal tutorial videos in the pipeline. In this one, Tara and J.None make the distinction between riffs and runs, and offer some advice for singers looking to improve their agility and precision.

Just a few months after they'd met Cesar, VoicePlay found a fantastic introduction for him in the form of Dua Lipa's "We're Good". Since they were down two singers for the time being, they invited Adriana Arellano back to join in on the fun.

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The next week, the gang released launched their new VoicePlay Minis channel with two short-form projects that let them get a little more experimental. The first was the theme from Bob's Burgers with a surprise ending.

The second was a medley of start-up sound effects from various streaming apps.

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Cutie Luccis

Another summer brought another wedding anniversary for Geoff and Kathy. After nearly two decades as a couple, they didn't need an extravagant celebration. Just a quiet day together (and maybe a little extra love from their fur baby).

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So smooth it's criminal

The weekend brought a ton of fun from both VoicePlay and PattyCake. First up, VP brought a smorgasbord of chaotic fun with their cover of BTS's "Butter", featuring both Deejay and Cesar.

Then PattyCake paid homage to the recent Cruella prequel with an original pop-punk theme for the stylish villainess.

VoicePlay ended the month with one more short video, a haunting rendition of the Stranger Things theme.

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The coming months would bring more excitement, collaborators new and old, and some much needed relaxation. But those are stories for later.

[jules-has-notes]

Stranger Things theme — VoicePlay music video short

When Stranger Things took the entertainment world by storm, one of the first things that caught people's attention was the eerie synth track accompanying the show's opening title sequence. Translating such a thoroughly electronic sound to a group of human voices might seem like a challenge, but these five managed it quite well, and even sprinkled in a touch of their signature whimsy.

Details:

title: Stranger Things main theme (feat. Adriana Arellano & Cesar De La Rosa)

original performers: Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein for Stranger Things (2016)

written by: Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein

arranged by: Layne Stein

release date: 30 June 2021

My favorite bits:

the spooky purple Upside-Down lighting to set the mood

Adriana, Eli, and Cesar's precision on the split arpeggios

the subtle chest tapping to illustrate Layne's heartbeat percussion

Geoff pulling the main motif down into the basement as the as the lefthand trio joins in on the buzzy sound effects

the rhythm section's syncopated descending line

that long subharmonic note from Geoff

the soaring high note Adriana hits as she reaches out like Eleven

Layne's deep ingressive "Eggo" 🧇 😋

that full ending chord

Trivia:

This song has its roots in a previously undeveloped demo track called "Prophecy" that composers Dixon and Stein had originally created for their synth band, Survive.

It won the 2017 Emmy award for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music.

The version used for the title sequence was the opening track on the first volume of the show's soundtrack. An extended version was the final track on the second volume. Both albums were nominated for the 2017 Grammy award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media, but lost to The Force Awakens.

Fellow a cappella group MayTree created their own interpretation of the theme song the following spring.

VoicePlay revisited the Stranger Things soundtrack a year later for a cover of "Running Up That Hill" with Ashley Diane.

[jules-has-notes]

Born Bad — PattyCake Productions music video

Disney villains usually have the best songs. But when the studio released a live-action origin story for Cruella De Vil, it only contained one semi-original tune — a POV-flipped version of her theme from the animated movie — that played over the end credits. So the PattyCake gang seized the opportunity to help the character celebrate her emerging wickedness with a rocking anthem of their own. Enjoy, darlings.

Details:

title: Cruella — Born Bad

performers: Jillian Gizzi (Cruella De Vil), Macy (Genghis), & Loni Baily (featured vocals)

written & arranged by: Tony Wakim & Layne Stein

release date: 25 June 2021

My favorite bits:

setting the tone with pop punk beats and guitar riffs

the cloud of words listing the stages of grief when she's in bed

ramping up the grit with ♫ "make it loud" ♫

the high harmonies layering in on ♫ "I'm always takin’" ♫

the dueling fashion and crime headlines splashing across the screen

slipping into a British accent for the spoken "mad", enhanced by JIllian's manic expression

the placid smile as she destroys the pyramid of glasses

her husky timbre during the singspiel interlude

such a fantastic villian laugh leading into that big old belt at the end of the bridge

her final unwavering stare straight into the camera

Trivia:

This video premiered just a few weeks after the nationwide release of the Cruella prequel starring Emma Stone.

The costumes and backdrops are inspired by imagery from the movie, as well as the editing in the official music video for "Call Me Cruella" by Florence + the Machine.

Portions of this video were filmed at PattyCake's neighbors in the Oviedo Mall, Duckies Vintage Boutique with the help of Penguin Point Productions. The proprietor of both businesses had previously been a teacher at Layne's alma mater, Lake Howell High School in Winter Park. (Cue the animatronic children from It's A Small World.)

Jillian had played good-girl-turned-bad Audrey in PattyCake's Descendants music videos the previous year, so slipping into young Cruella's furs was a natural fit.

Makeup artist Cat Chimento didn't just look after Jillian's dramatic eye makeup and vampy red lips. She also applied more than 120 rhinestones to her face as part of the domino mask look.

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A post shared by PattyCake Productions (@pattycakeproductions)

The true diva of the video, Macy the dalmatian, required a belly rub break after performing for several takes under the bright studio lights. Luckily for her, the PattyCake guys are dog lovers and were happy to oblige.

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Some of PattyCake's other regular cast members and collaborators (and Jillian herself) were very excited by the teasers on Instagram.

Layne had previously filmed two different versions of Cruella's villain song from the original 101 Dalmatians with VoicePlay. They did a full version as a collaboration with Disney in early 2015 when Tony was still in the group. Four years later, they included an excerpt in their "Aca Top 10 – Disney Villains" countdown.

Their pals in The American Sirens had also released a jazzy cover of the classic Cruella song a few weeks before to coincide with the prequel's premiere.

[jules-has-notes]

Butter — VoicePlay music video

This is a video you're going to want to watch many times — partly because it's a darn catchy song, but mostly because you can't possibly catch all the shenanigans happening in a single viewing. Rather than forcing themselves and their guests to learn intricate choreography like BTS's original iteration, the guys decided to take inspiration from the hotter remix video so they could cut loose and get silly while bringing us some flirty boy band goodness.

Details:

title: Butter (feat. Deejay Young & Cesar De La Rosa)

original performers: BTS

written by: Jenna Andrews, Rob Grimaldi, Stephen Kirk, Kim "RM" Nam-joon, Alex Bilowitz, Sebastian Garcia, & Ron Perry

arranged by: Geoff Castellucci

release date: 25 June 2021

My favorite bits:

those delicate high harmonies on the opening lines

Cesar giving heart-hands to go with his ♫ "whoop!" ♫

replacing ♫ "break it down now" ♫ with some tasty scratching

Layne being the only one to actually attempt juggling the oranges that get passed around 🤹

Deejay and Cesar playing a clapping game in the lefthand corner (even though they were filming at Orange Studio, not PattyCake)

the woodblock-y percussion hits Layne does in the transitions

Eli running in a tiny circle behind Geoff during his lead lines ↺

how comfortable Geoff's descending run on ♫ ⇘ "ba-a-a-a-a-a-ad" ⇘ ♫ feels

Deejay and Eli's gorgeous coordinated ascending run of ♫ ⇗ "straight up" ⇗ ♫

that adorable grin from Cesar as he sings ♫ "I gotcha" ♫

Deejay's charismatic smile and graceful arms demonstrating that ♫ "I got that superstar glow" ♫

Eli deftly slipping even more notes into his "cheee-e-e-e-e-eeeap ye-ah" riff than the original

dramatic wind effects for those with moveable hair devolving into melodramatic antics 🌬

no popcorn for tall people 🚫🍿

Geoff and Layne competitively vlogging in the back

turning the more intense rap verse into quieter melodic vocals

synchronized sunglasses removal 🤏🕶️😎 (and Eli already having his glasses on underneath)

Layne's choirboy hands and big, innocent eyes during the bell chord section

the unexpectedness of giving ♫ "when the bass low" ♫ to their highest vocalist

the overhead wave from Cesar in appreciation of Deejay's incredible riff, absolutely correct

casual attempts at choreography 🕺

Geoff perched on a stool being almost the same height as Deejay and Eli standing up

Cesar chomping onto his innaugural Twinkie with gusto

that clean cut-off to finish

Trivia:

The watchword for this video shoot was silliness. The primary direction for their improvised choreography (such as it is) was "Um… yeah, do it just like that again, but this time DUMBERER".

There isn't much continuity to be found, since the staging was intentionally loose and they patched together portions of different takes as they pleased, but there is a tiny throughline of Layne being turned into a sandwich, brushing crumbs out of his stubble in the background, and then guarding against a repeated be-breading.

If you'd like to accurately recreate the moment at home, the boys had a loaf of the 21 Whole Grains and Seeds variety from Dave's Killer Bread.

Also, Layne had to film all his solo shots in a partial squat because he was just a bit too tall for the camera angle they'd established, which made it more difficult for him to evade incoming baked goods.

VoicePlay had previously included an excerpt from BTS's "Fake Love" as the closing segment in their "Boy Bands in 5 Minutes" music video, with Eli singing some of the Korean lyrics.

Deejay and Cesar had known each other for many years prior to this collaboration. They first met while attending neighboring high schools in Tampa, and got their first professional jobs together in the Disney Channel Rocks show at Disney World. They then performed together in the R&B Boyz Crew street show at Universal Studios Japan in 2013. After they returned to Orlando, Cesar and J.None were both special guests during Deejay's acoustic evening at a local club back in 2015. (Theme park performers really are a tight-knit community.)

The screenshot VoicePlay used to promote this video has been their channel icon and social media profile picture ever since.