#DeeJay Young

[ambular-d]

New VoicePlay Mini: Die With A Smile

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[thehappysorceress]

BEAUTIFUL THINGS” by Benson Boone a capella cover from VoicePlay ft. Deejay Young.

[acaplaya-musings]

Voiceplay Visuals - Christmas Don't Be Late (The Chipmunk Song)

VoicePlay didn't actually release a full-length Christmas song in 2021 (just a couple of Christmas Minis instead), and so we're jumping ahead to the 3rd of December, 2022, when VoicePlay released what may in fact be my favourite Christmas song cover of theirs ever!

As a group, VoicePlay have had quite a lot of experience with performing this song over the years, as it was a regular part of their setlist when they used to perform at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World. If you wanna learn more about that, check out these posts by @jules-has-notes linked HERE and HERE (and I hope Jules doesn't mind me tagging them but seriously their blog has *so much* stuff about old VoicePlay stuff, further back than I go that's for sure!)

Anyway, the original arrangement for this song, i.e. the one VP used for live performances, was done by a guy called Chris Diaz, who is (was?) in an acapella group himself, but Geoff made quite a few alterations to the song/arrangement himself, and so both him and Chris are credited with the arrangement! Geoff was also in charge of the video, he co-directed it with Tony, and yes, he added additional music bits and original lyrics of his own, because of course he did 😄

And of course the song features the amazing DeeJay Young, but enough talking, let's get into this!

First of all, love the way VoicePlay started the song with the kinda "old-timey" effect on the visuals (and the audio too!). They did something similar for the start of Sh-Boom and In The Air Tonight, and did it for a brief moment in We're Good as well.

Second of all, do you recognise the set? You should! It's the same one Geoff used for his Way Down video, just with a bit of added Christmas flair!

Not the most perfect screenshot but I just had to give a shoutout for how Geoff suddenly runs into the shot. Like seriously neither words nor individual screencaps do it justice but I find it very amusing 😝

(Also, Eli is again weaing black sneakers with thick white soles)

Cesar as Alvin is literally perfect casting honestly. Like nobody else could do it better.

(Also Cesar was in fact genuinely filming stuff on his phone during this bit, and that footage got included in the BTS video for this cover, and it's just as entertaining and hilarious as you'd expect)

I want that shirt

DeeJay is looking pretty stylish there too! (And yes Cesar also looks great in his blazer)

Alright so Layne is Dave (the human guy character), Cesar is Alvin, Deejay is Theodore, Eli is Simon, and Geoff is... Geoff? 😂😅

"ALVIIINNNN!!!!!"

(*pfft*)

*ding*

(Yeah this video definitely still makes me laugh 😂)

"Alvin! Stop riffing so much and stick to the music!"

Unfair! DeeJay and Eli do heaps of riffing all the time! (And we love them for it, lol)

Also I don't know what the sheet music "says" in terms of the music notes, but I love that it at least appears to be a legit page of sheet music for the song, complete with VoicePlay logo at the top!

"So listen for those nine reindeer!"

Also it's not a visual thing, but given that quite a few reactors didn't seem to notice/realize it, I gotta point out that the sleigh bell/jingle bell sound here is very much done by Layne! Probably with a little bit of post-production effect, but still, very impressive!

"A brand new bottle of hair gel!"

"A bright green dress like ✨Tinkerbell!✨"

*PFFT*

This line is specifically a reference to the fact that they used to perform this song at Disney World, as I mentioned at the start, but this line has also been used in some of their older performances of it too I believe?

Also whenever I sing this song to myself, I literally can NEVER, sing the "bright green dress like Tinkerbell" line, because I always start laughing every time!

"Dooon't be la-ate!"

(I think he really wants that dress you guys 😉😝)

*sigh* He's so pretty and handsome, I love him (look, about 90% of my Voiceplay Visuals posts involve at least one moment of me pointing out how good Geoff looks! I apologise for nothing!)

(Also it took a decent bit of restraint for me to not include even more Geoff screenshots in this just because)

"So put your sleigh in- (so put your sleigh in its top gear!)"

I don't think I've actually noticed this bit before but damn Cesar ain't messing around! He wants presents NOW! 😂

"A tweet from Musk would make me grin!" (heavy grimacing)

I actually checked the lyrics for this song cover on Spotify (back before Spotify made lyrics available only to Premium users, rip), and this line is actually changed for the audio-only version it seems, to "a gift from mom would make me grin", which is fair, because the very faked sincerity of this line wouldn't convey as easily without the visuals.

"Front row seats to Hamilton!"

VoicePlay are no stranger to including references to modern day media stuff in their Christmas Don't Be Late performances, but this is also a not-super-subtle shoutout to the fact that DeeJay was on tour as a cast member in Hamilton! (And still is performing in Hamilton I believe?) He's been playing the role of Aaron Burr I believe? Which is very very impressive, shoutout to DeeJay!

"We can hardly wait!"

(Also hey is that a little Eli Eyebrow Raise I see?)

And I have to give a shoutout to the bridge section of this cover - another Geoff Castellucci original, it's so good! Fits in perfectly, as all his lyrics do! (Original song WHEN?)

"I've been so wonderful!"

I love how the responses of reactors to this moment have been a mix of "aww yes you have Cesar!" and "hmmm I'm not so sure (light-hearted) but I still love you regardless" 😄😁

Get it Cesar! Love the dancing!

Only just noticed Eli has the Hamilton booklet thing shoved in the back pocket of his jeans, lol

Cesar what are you doing? 😆

"Great job, chipmunks! Even you, Alvin! Now let's try it with some helium!"

*pfft*, what a way to end the video honestly

Geoff looks confused, Eli looks uncertain/doubtful (another Eli Eyebrow Raise!), DeeJay looks like he's either down for it or hasn't fully processed it, and Cesar looks HORRIFIED XD

(Also what would Geoff even sound like on helium when singing bass? Normal? /j 😂)

So that's Christmas Don't Be Late! VoicePlay turned a song that's really quite short, slow, and overall fairly forgettable, into an absolute bop and banger, and the video is super fun as well. Like seriously, this is one song that no one else has done or will do in the same way that VoicePlay has, and that's a big part of what I love about it! Until next time!

[writedreamlie]

Day 2 of listening to this on loop while working. The vibes are immaculate.

[jules-has-notes]

collaboration spotlight — VoicePlay B-team live performance at MVMCP 2017

Because the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party residency at Disney World entails nearly 100 performances — 4 shows per night, 4 nights a week, for 6 weeks — it's necessary to have replacement singers who can step in when someone needs a night off. (If nothing else, Layne always took his birthday off. Let alone the possibility of someone getting sick or injured.) For the 2017 season, VoicePlay's primary backups were their buddies in fellow a cappella group Echo.

While they usually only needed one or two substitutes at a time, there was one night early in the run this year when VoicePlay was double-booked. So while they suffered through airport security hell on their way to the Kettering A Cappella Festival in Ohio, Echo took to the Tomorrowland stage in their stead, and did a great job performing the usual set. Give it up for the B-team!

setlist: [0:23] "Deck the Halls"; [2:30] "Holiday Road"; [4:40] introductions; [5:43] "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas"; [8:33] "Frosty the Snowman"; [10:40] "Santa and I Know It"

Echo members: Tony Flaherty (tenor 1), Deejay Young (tenor 2), Erik Winger (baritone), Antonio Fernandez (bass), & Joey D'Angelo-LaJoie (percussion)

performance date: 10 November 2017

My favorite bits:

the lovely blend of Erik and Deejay's voices as they enter

Tony's little jig step at the end of "Deck the Halls"

Antonio's cheerful tone on the lead for "White Christmas"

the rewind effect Joey adds to the end of the sleigh bell moment

Deejay's nimble riffs and runs in "Frosty"

the coordinating glances between Joey and Antonio during the second half of "Santa and I Know It"

Erik's big old belt near the end

Trivia:

Antonio had subbed for Layne several times before, particularly during his paternity leave the previous summer, but this is the first (and only) time I've found of him standing in for Geoff on bass.

Deejay has collaborated with VoicePlay on many full-length videos and shorts in the past few years, starting during his hiatus from the Hamilton tour during the pandemic lockdown.

Joey and Deejay are both alumni of the "Beetlejuice Revue / Mashup" show at Universal Studios, having performed alongside Geoff, Kathy, Tony Wakim, and J.None during their tenures. Both guys had played the Wolfman, and Joey also performed as Dracula.

Joey has since appeared in episodes of PattyCake's Villains Lair series as LaFou, which he'd originated in their "Beauty and the Bieber" video earlier in the year.

Tony Flaherty appeared in PattyCake's "Avengers: Thunder" video as Peter Quill / Star-Lord the following summer.

[fidjiefidjie]

Belle soirée 🆕️ 🎄🎅💙

VoicePlay &Deejay Young 🎶 The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)

[yoursinharmony]

Watch "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) - VoicePlay Ft Deejay Young" on YouTube

Add some hilarity, joy and outrageous talent to your holidays 🎄😍

[playvoices]

We can hardly stand the wait, please Christmas don't be late!

Bonus reactions from the carrot lord himself:

(Made two versions of it -- Alvin and Cesar)

[devincollinsofficial]

A Local & International Celebrity (And Friend) Mr. Deejay Young!!! 🤟🏾

[mythigal1966]

The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson (acapella) VoicePlay ft Deeja...

[strazcenter]

Tampa’s Deejay Young Wows Voice Judges

Deejay Young, a Tampa native and touring cast member of Hamilton at The Straz this past season, sent three chairs turning on NBC’s The Voice Monday night with his falsetto rendition of Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work.” Judges John Legend and Gwen Stefani hit their red buttons less than 20 seconds into Deejay’s performance, with Reba McEntire’s chair turning just seconds later.    The lone…

[ambular-d]

VoicePlay Premiere: The Way You Make Me Feel

[thehappysorceress]

In My Room - The Beach Boys (acapella) VoicePlay Ft Deejay Young

[acaplaya-musings]

Voiceplay Visuals: Butter

This video was uploaded on the 26th of June, 2021, just two weeks after We're Good, and features DeeJay Young and Cesar De La Rosa! And frankly I don't think there are a great deal of Voiceplay videos more deserving of a strictly-visual breakdown than this one, so let's hop right into it, and hope that I don't hit the image limit!

If you don't already know, this video is chock-full of silly background antics from the guys, many of them blink-and-you-miss-it, such as in this shot, where I believe Layne is sharing snacks with DeeJay or something? 😅

Also Geoff is technically wearing a bowtie, except it's hanging loose/untied around his neck. It's certainly a Choice, but I can definitely respect it and vibe with it!

Yeah sure why not

DeeJay and Cesar are "sharing" a stool, and I don't know what Layne is holding

Not a single clue what is going on in the background, but also nice shirt, Cesar!

Cesar has his fan again (love that for him), Eli is drinking something maybe(?), and Layne has an umbrella. Why? Why not! 😂

✌️✌️✌️ (Geoff is also doing it in the background, I only just noticed!)

(I'm only 23 seconds in and I've already taken 6 screenshots, oh dear 😅)

Cesar is handing Geoff a wire mannequin body for some reason???

...yeah sure (also cool necklace and bracelet, DeeJay!)

Cesar and DeeJay playing pattycake!

Geoff and Eli: What are you?

Layne: An idiot sandwich

And whatever this is 🤣

(Seriously the amount of times I have been rewinding moments or scrubbing back frame-by-frame for this one just to try to catch everything, like you don't just need to watch this once, you gotta watch it at least 2 or 3 times to catch at least most of the background antics happening!)

Well at least we can guarantee that everyone had the most fun filming this!

Cesar looking like he's about to brush Geoff's hair (jealous)

Geoff is looking at his phone, Layne is taking selfies on his phone!

Carrot drumsticks!

Geoff: Can I have some

Eli: No

(Also somehow only just realized that Eli is watching something on the phone that Cesar is holding? (Like I hadn't even noticed the phone before 😅))

He ain't called Carrot Lord for nothing!

Eli is seemingly being Attacked by Cesar, while Geoff is sassily walking away, icon that he is

Being Cool(tm)

(also Eli removing sunglasses off of the glasses he was already wearing, lol)

Are they doing the robot in the background?

A lot of very fun dancing in this video, too much to share in screencaps (and still images wouldn't do it justice anyway). It's also really nice imo to see Geoff letting loose a bit and joining in on the silly antics in this video as well. That isn't to say that he's not fun in other videos too, but it's usually different, y'know?

*MUNCH*

And that's a wrap on the video! I could have included even more screencaps, but honestly just go and (re)watch the video yourself, it's so fun! And yes, the song cover itself is also great, shoutout to Geoff for both the arrangement and the video direction!

Man oh man I've got some big (and by 'big' I mean 'ridiculously mind-blowing') videos ahead of me for post write-ups, so stay tuned!

[todayinhiphophistory]

Today in Hip Hop History:

Young Guru was born February 24, 1974

[sophiaandrewsfrommars]

Happy college ap season! It’s amazing how many people will show up to help if you say PARTY! I 🖤 Rowen!