#Earl elkins

[acaplaya-musings]

Voiceplay Visuals - Mission: Jingle Bells

(This post almost definitely won't be super long, but there was no way I was not gonna make a post for this video!)

Mission Jingle Bells was released on the 22nd of December, 2018, and as you all obviously know, it's a fusion between the Mission Impossible theme music and the song Jingle Bells, and it was legit sponsored by Paramount Pictures! Good for you, VoicePlay! The music was arranged by Layne, but we're not here to talk about that, we're here for the video! (Which was done by both Layne and Eli). So let's get into this!

'Hey you know how we got kidnapped for the Panic Medley videos? What if we got kidnapped again?' 😂

(Seriously, the Panic Medley videos were released just 5 months earlier, in July, and the Queen medley video, where Earl had to take on deities of death to get the chance to live again, was in November! 2018 was A Year)

Also I like that the camera feed says that the date and time is two minutes to midnight on Christmas eve, it's a nice touch.

Get that sponsorship money! Get that exposure! (Also it's kinda funny how VoicePlay has had ties with Disney, Paramount, and Universal! Getting a whole variety of connections there!)

Obligatory "man he looks so good here" 💜

Fun fact: The voice of "Creepy Evil Santa" was actually done by Eli! As for who actually physically portrayed him, I'm not entirely sure. I think I've seen people saying it was Kathy? But I can't remember if they were joking or not

A small thing, but I like how before Villain Santa tells you that the collar things actually control the guys' voices/vocalisations, the video actually kinda shows you! Villain Santa's presses a button on his device panel thing (see previous image), and then Geoff suddenly "kicks into gear", like starts doing exactly what is requested, no hesitation, as if he really is being controlled! It's neat!

(Follow me for more overexplanation of miniscule details /j)

And yes of course I am going to mention the bow in Earl's beard. It's hilarious and adorable, 10/10, no notes

And yes, their hands/wrists are all bound to the chairs with wrapping paper, with bows on top!

(Also I thought Geoff was the only one not wearing a tie but Eli isn't either!)

I am kinda interested to know what the collars were made from actually (there isn't any BTS stuff for this video sadly - I checked)

"What fun it is to ride and sing a-"

"-sleighing song toniiight"

*grabby hands* Gimme the controls, GIVE ME THE CONTROLS! 😂

(Seriously Evil Santa dude, you could've done so much more!!!)

J killed it with the rap part of course! (Who wrote that bit? Was it the same dude who wrote bits for VoicePlay's covers of Superstition and Valhalla Calling?)

Kinda looks like J is giving Layne hope/encouragement/reassurance here and it's kinda sweet!

Geoff! You're not supposed to be enjoying this! 🤣

(But also his head bobbing is kinda fun/amusing - I guess when he can't sing with his hands like he usually does, moving his head will just have to do!)

Now there's a freeze-frame bonus for sure! 😍

Also just noticed Geoff is moving his fingers a little bit in this part! He cannot be fully stopped! XD

(Also hey are Eli's shoes the same ones that he wore in Creep and In The Air Tonight and maybe one or two other videos? He seems to like black sneakers with thick white soles on them)

When the video started, the time on the camera feed was two minutes before midnight, and two minutes later... it's still two minutes before midnight! What kinda Polar Express time nonsense is this? 😂

"I'm so pleased, you may leave now! Merry Christmas, VoicePlay!"

"Thank you, mister evil... supervillain guy... but can you untie us now? ...Someone's coming to untie us right?"

(Lol rip)

I remember this was one of the videos I watched not too long after I first discovered VoicePlay in 2019, and I'm pretty sure that I wasn't entirely certain who was speaking at the end, but of course now I know it's Geoff! (Though his typical speaking voice nowadays is an octave or so lower, lol)

Okay so not too short of a post after all (3 more images than my post for Baby Its Cold Outside, actually!), and definitely well worth it! But the next post I have in store? Well, there might be a solid chance of me hitting the image limit on that one, lol. See you again soon!

[writedreamlie]

It's official. I go here now.

[fallingblueroses]

Part 9 of the Panic! story.

I apologize in advance if this is too emotional.

***

Two days later

Tony sat in his truck outside the hospital where he'd left Geoff, working up the nerve to go inside. He'd been discharged from the hospital yesterday morning with prescriptions for pain and nausea. He'd filled them at the hospital pharmacy, then used a hospital phone to call an Uber to go back to the hotel. To his surprise the truck had still been in the parking lot, and the front desk had his phone. He'd paid the bill and driven away from the hotel in disbelief that he was still a free man.

He'd stopped at a drive-thru and eaten his meal in the truck as he'd pondered his options. Again. He could keep going west, through Texas and down into Mexico, or turn east and retrace his steps to Orlando. There was nothing left for him in Orlando, but then there was nothing waiting for him in Mexico either. And if he went anywhere else in the United States, he knew he'd be constantly looking over his shoulder, waiting to be caught and arrested.

Kathy's words about facing his consequences came back to him, as they had several times already, and he'd finally made up his mind to turn east. He'd turn himself in to the Orlando police. He'd go to prison and serve his time. And maybe after that he could go somewhere and rebuild his life. He knew he'd never be able to return to work at PattyCake Productions; he'd have to figure out what to do with his share of the business. He knew that at some point he'd have to face VoicePlay, whether that was in court or not, and he had absolutely no illusions about being welcomed with open arms. But it had to be done.

He'd seen the sign for the town he'd left Geoff in late yesterday evening and given in to a strong urge to stop. He'd found the hospital and looked up the main number. Yes, Geoff was still a patient there. Tony hadn't been surprised.

Tony had almost gone in but remembered that Geoff might not be able to hear yet. And he wanted to explain himself; Geoff deserved that much. He'd found a hotel, then spent the evening writing out what he'd wanted to say. It had been harder than he'd expected but he'd felt so much more free when he was done. The letter was in his pocket waiting to be delivered now.

He finally took a deep breath and got out of the truck. No one so much as glanced at him as he walked into the hospital, past the front desk, and toward the elevators. No one looked up as he got off the elevator and walked past the nurses' station, following the signs until he found Geoff's room number, even though his heart was pounding so hard he was sure others could hear it.

Geoff looked to be asleep when Tony walked in. The overhead lights were off but the lamp above the bed was on. Tony looked at him for a few seconds, noting how much thinner he was and the peeling skin on his face and unbandaged arms, before asking "Geoff? Can you hear me?"

Nothing. Tony walked up and put a hand on Geoff's shoulder. Geoff's eyes opened, and the gentle smile that was coming over his face twisted into shock as he gasped. His body went rigid as he stared at Tony.

Well, at least he wasn't screaming. Tony spoke softly. "Can you hear me?" The only reaction was Geoff's eyes growing wet. Tony didn't blame him for being scared, considering everything, but he knew he didn't have much time. Kathy could walk in at any second.

He took the letter from his pocket and placed it on Geoff's lap before leaning in and kissing Geoff's forehead. Their eyes met as he drew back, and they stared at each other for a few seconds before he found himself saying "Goodbye, Geoff. I'm sorry."

Geoff was silent. Tony's eyes were wet as he walked out of the room and back to the elevators, but his heart, oddly enough, felt lighter.

In a few minutes he was driving toward Orlando again.

***

Geoff thought the hand on his shoulder was Kathy coming back from getting breakfast, but his heart stopped and his mind blanked when he opened his eyes and saw Tony. Fear crashed on him like it had in the sawmill, but he couldn't get the breath to scream or yell or even talk. Tony put a folded piece of yellow notepaper in his lap, kissed his forehead, and said something--Geoff thought it might have been I'm sorry--before turning around and leaving.

Tears made their slow way down Geoff's face as he stared at the door to his room, then at the folded paper as if it were another bomb. It was several seconds before he could pick up and unfold the paper. It was a letter written in Tony's neat handwriting:

Geoff--

I want to start this by saying that I'm going back to Orlando to turn myself in. I'm ready to face my consequences like Kathy said.

You're probably wondering why all this happened. It started after I fell off that ladder at PattyCake. You know that I got a concussion. The hospital gave me hydrocodone to help with the pain but I couldn't get a refill. I tried everything I could buy at the store but the headaches just kept getting worse no matter how much I took or how I mixed them. I finally bought some pills off the street. The dealer said they were opioids, but they were hallucinogens. I started seeing a double of myself when I took those pills. And he wouldn't shut up. He kept talking about how you guys had turned on me and pushed me out of the group for J. I know you didn't. But when he was talking, I believed it. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I just got so angry I couldn't stand it, and then I did what I did.

I was watching all of you while the timer was going. It was weird. I wasn't worried about getting away. And my double started talking about how you didn't deserve to die with the rest of them. That's why I came over to talk to you.

I still can't believe you tried to run away with the bomb. I should have known you'd pull a stunt like that, though. I should have realized you wouldn't just walk out and leave them.

I took you with me because I thought your injuries weren't that bad. I thought I could take care of you. I wasn't thinking long-term. I didn't have any plans for after the bomb went off. I was making it up as I went. Then Layne called and begged me to get you to a hospital. The double started talking about how you were dying. So I dropped you off.

Kathy called me later. She told me to either turn myself in or kill myself. Tell her I tried. I took the last of those pills and woke up in a hospital. Tell her I'm going to turn myself in. I'm going to plead guilty. I won't make you all go to court. Once I serve my time I won't come back. You won't have to worry about me anymore.

I'm sorry, Geoff. When I look back it all seems so stupid and pointless. I ruined everything for nothing. It's all my fault. I don't expect any of you to forgive me. But I'm sorry.

Tony.

The tears were flowing freely down Geoff's face by the time he finished reading the letter. His heart was slogging in his chest and his brain had seized up. All of this...it had just been a drug-induced rampage...Geoff didn't know if that made it better or worse.

The light changed in the doorway, and he looked up to see Kathy. Her face was panicked as she came up to him, and he didn't have to hear to know what she was asking. "Tony was here." Her eyes widened. "I'm fine. He gave me this." He handed her the letter.

Kathy's face hardened as she read it. She spread the letter out on the bed and snapped a picture of it, then began to text. Geoff realized she was probably sending it to VoicePlay. After she was done she held his hand and kissed his cheek, then held him against her as he cried.

***

Layne was sitting in the living room recliner with baby Doris on his lap when Kathy's text came in. At first he didn't move to answer it. Doris's head was resting on his good arm and he didn't want to disturb her.

Cyndi had left to take the older girls to a school function that morning. She'd offered to take Doris as well, but Layne had insisted he could take care of her. Cyndi had made up some bottles and fixed a snack for Layne before she'd left, and the girls had hugged him on their way out the door. He'd nearly cried when they had each said "Love you, Dad."

He knew he was still being emotional and clingy with his family, but he couldn't help it. He'd dreamed he was back at the sawmill last night and had woken up with a scream stuck in his throat. He'd had to lay in bed for a long time and just repeat to himself that he was safe, they were all safe and alive.

His phone began to ping relentlessly, and he finally sighed before gently moving Doris and checking it. A frown crossed his face as he read Kathy's text: Tony was here. He gave Geoff a letter. He zoomed in on the picture Kathy had sent.

Rage rose in him as he read Tony's letter. So that was going to be Tony's way out? "It wasn't me. It was the drugs"? No. No, it couldn't end like that...Tony couldn't just walk away...

He read through the comments. Eli asked if Geoff was okay. Kathy confirmed he was. J sent Tell Geoff he better not dare feel sorry for the bastard.

If he gets off I'll kill him myself, Earl sent. And Layne knew he meant it. Earl didn't use such language lightly.

Eli's answer was next. He's not worth a murder charge.

Layne could almost hear the worry in Kathy's reply. What do I do? He might still be around.

Eli answered. Stay close to Geoff and if you see Tony scream like hell. Let the hospital security deal with him.

He'd be stupid to stick around, J said.

He's been pretty stupid already, Earl sent.

Layne sighed and put his phone in his pocket, not wanting to follow any more. He cradled Doris close to him and kissed her forehead. I just want none of this to have ever happened...

He must have dozed for a little while. His eyes opened as he heard the front door close. "Layne? Baby? I'm home."

"In the living room," Layne called.

Cyndi came in and smiled to see them. "Did Doris give you any trouble?"

"Not a bit. She's been a little angel."

"Good." Cyndi came up and gave him a little kiss. "I thought we'd all go out to eat after I picked up the girls. Have a family night." She took Doris from him. "So comb your hair, change your clothes, and get your shoes on."

Layne sighed, but he smiled. "All right." Maybe a night out with his girls would help. It was better than sitting around thinking about Tony and the sawmill. He went to his bedroom and came out a few minutes later tidied up and in fresh clothes. Cyndi put Doris in her carseat, and then drove them away from the house.

Layne was surprised when they pulled into PattyCake's parking lot--even more surprised when he saw it was full of cars. He couldn't help but notice that Tony's car was still there. "Cyndi? Don't we have to pick up the girls?"

"That's what we're doing. They're here."

"Why are they here?"

"You'll see. Come on." She carried Doris' carseat as they walked into PattyCake's lobby.

He jumped a little, startled, as he saw the crowd gathered: Eli and Ashley, Earl with Nick, J and his sister, and the girls were all there, smiling at him as they shouted "Surprise!"

Layne gaped at them. "Wha-what?"

"We fixed up PattyCake for you!" Eli said. He pointed to the corner where a new cutout of Jessica Rabbit stood, now joined by one of Roger Rabbit.

"Come on!" J said. "Take a look around!" He took Layne's arm and led him on a tour, followed by the rest of them. Layne stared with wide eyes and opened mouth as he saw the messes Tony had made had been straightened, the paint and blood had cleaned up, and even the windows he'd smashed had been replaced. Warmth spread through his chest and threatened to make him a blubbering mess as he took it all in.

Eli walked beside him. "I think I can get the data off those computers. And if I can't I know people who can."

"And I found the scheduling book," Cyndi said from behind. "We can start contacting people whenever you want."

"You're back in business!" J said. "How does it feel?"

Layne couldn't stop his voice from trembling. "Oh my God. I can't believe..." His voice broke as the tears came. "Oh my God. Thank you. Thank you all..." He cried in relief and gratitude as he hugged them all, starting with his girls and Cyndi. He gathered VoicePlay in a group hug and held them close. "You guys...you didn't have to do this for me."

"We're not letting the bastard win," J said with determination. "We're not going to give him a single inch of anything."

"We're coming back," Earl said. "He can't stop us."

"He won't," Eli whispered.

Layne understood then. This was as much for the rest of them as it was for Layne. PattyCake was more than a studio now. It was their declaration to Tony that he had knocked them down, but they had gotten back up. That if Geoff had ended up sacrificing himself it would not have been in vain.

They had survived.

"Come on, Dad!" Lilly said. "We set up a party for you!" Layne let her take his hand and lead him to the breakroom. The table was loaded with pizza, chips, soda, and cake. In a few minutes they were all eating. Layne sat on the couch and watched his friends and family, feeling as if a thousand pounds had been lifted from his shoulders.

[haethealhell]

Something I've noticed:

Whenever Geoff is taking the lead in a song, he tends to look around.

Examples:

Moana Medley, he's looking at Earl. He also looks around at the others.

Hellfire, first image is him looking at Cesar, and second is him looking at Eli and Cesar. Also, right before the second image, he seems to look at JNone and Layne.

Also, I just noticed this:

All of them are trying so hard to be serious.

Then most of them crack.

I know there are more examples of Geoff doing this, but I'm quite lazy.

Anyway, I think Geoff looks around at the others in the group to make sure that he's not taking the character too far and being scary, thanks for coming to my ted talk.

[nerdhappenings]

Boy Bands in 5 Minutes - Voiceplay

[jules-has-notes]

interview — head/voice podcast with Earl, Eli, & J.None from VoicePlay

Shortly before their trip to the SoJam A Cappella festival in North Carolina in the fall of 2018, some of the VoicePlay fellows sat down with the hosts of the head/voice podcast. Their conversation covers a number of topics, including the origins of the group and changes that lead to its membership at the time, how they approach live shows, Sing-Off memories, shifting hair styles, their song selection process, advice for aspiring artists, and personal favorites. Take a listen.

release date: 31 October 2018 (uploaded to YouTube on 21 February 2019)

[playvoices]

Christmas time is afoot!

[thehappysorceress]

Something Just Like This | The Chainsmokers & Coldplay | VoicePlay Feat. J. None

Their music lives in my happy place.

[booksandabeer]

Username Song Game

I got tagged by @somanywords 💛 and @xoxobuckybarnes 💜

(one million years ago. sorry. 😬)

Rules: Pick a song for each letter of your URL and tag your friends!

B - Black Gold by Esperanza Spalding

O - Odyssey by Beck & Phoenix

O - One I Love by Jean Ritchie

K - Kamikaze by PJ Harvey

S - Shade of Gray (Live) by Robert Earl Keen

A - Angelica by Wet Leg

N - Nashville Money by Myron Elkins

D - Dorian by Agnes Obel

A - Allan Align by Drangsal

B - Bodyguard by Beyoncé

E - Émigré by Alela Diane

E - Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac

R - Right Where It Belongs by Nine Inch Nails

Seeing as it's been ages since I was tagged and I don't want to double or triple tag people who already did this 3 weeks ago, I'm taking the easy way out this time and declare this an OPEN TAG! Please, anyone who wants to do this, tag me! I'm always interested in finding new music.

[eve-to-adam]

I’m longing for you

"Is that all you have to say?" asks Roesia, clinging to the Earl’s neck and forcing him to look her in the eyes. "Didn't you miss me, my lord?" Until he felt his wife's touch, he didn't even realize how much he wanted her. During all this time - this long and cruel time - all he did was look for a way through which he could be with her. Meetings that seemed more like a coincidence, furtive glances that remained unanswered, small, protocol touches - all these remind Jarlath of the fact that all this time, all he wanted was to find a gate that would lead at her. Something to make her anger pass. And when he was ready to give up, now this gate was wide open, with a fragrant invitation waving at his nose. As if nothing had happened. As if Roesia wasn't about to kill him some time ago. As if her sister, the baggy, proud and insolent Brenda, had not caused a huge scandal. No wonder Earl of Elkins was so shocked.

[...]

Her embrace is so firm that it slams Jarlath against the carved wooden door. Her dress rubbed against his velvet jacket, crumpling it. Her sweet perfume captures all his senses and the neckline of her dress deepens with every movement she makes. It would be a miracle for him to resist the temptation and truly a sacrilege to refuse it. He longed for her, he admitted to himself, as strongly as a fire whose flame burns, this time even stronger than before, and as he took her in his arms, he was ready to show her that. And this time nothing can stop him.

(Volume I, Part 2)

( © Jarlath and Roesia Elkins are my original characters and they are part of the project that my good friend @teodoraioana221  and I are working on together. )      

[acaplaya-musings]

Voiceplay Visuals: Queen In 5 Minutes

This is one of those videos where I'm gonna have to remind myself to not talk about the music, because Queen is awesome, I know quite a decent amount of their songs, and this arrangement/performance is really freaking good. But the video itself certainly isn't boring either (Freddie would be proud), and I'm very excited to talk about this one, so let's go! (Yeah this one's a long one, you have been warned)

Apparently this video (released on the 24th of November, 2018) was at least in part inspired by a health scare that Earl had while touring with Voiceplay, which no doubt was very distressing for all of them, but he obviously was fine or got better, which I'm glad about, and this video is creative as heck!

Won't talk about their appearances just yet, but of course I gotta point out the iconic Bohemian Rhapsody diamond configuration thing!

Cool necklace! I don't know the exact meaning of it, and whether or not it was just acquired for the video, but I do know that the album/track image for this cover on Spotify takes inspiration from it!

(Also this song is split into two parts on music streaming platforms, idk why)

*(clapping my hands together)* character time!

I have no clue what mythological being Layne's character is meant to be based off of, if any - "Guardian" is a bit of a vague name after all - and the main thing that popped up when I typed "mythology sentinel of the underworld" into Google was Cerberus, the three-headed guard dog from Ancient Greek myths. And well... it'd check out actually. Layne doesn't talk/sing in this video (not counting vocal percussion of course), he's wearing a big furry grey coat, and none of the other 3 are from Greek (or even Roman) mythology, so it's entirely possible that "Guardian" could just be a human-form Cerberus (minus the two extra heads).

Apparently "Yama" is the Hindu god of death and justice, though he was also adopted into Buddhist, Chinese, Tibetan, Korean, and Japanese mythology as the king of hell, so-

A 19th-century painting of Yama on his mount depicts him as completely blue, so Eli's blue face paint definitely fits.

("Dark angel" definitely sounds fitting)

Geoff is based on Baron Samedi, who is a spirit (Iwa) of the dead in Haitian Vodou, as well as of course the more well-known Louisiana/New Orleans Voodoo. Fun fact: Dr Facilier in The Princess And The Frog is partly inspired by Baron Samedi!

I'm sure most if not all of us have heard of Anubis, but regardless, Anubis is the Ancient Egyptian god of funerary rites, and he's also a protector of graves, and of course, a guide to the underworld. He can take both human and animal form, and in artwork is often depicted with the body of a man and head of a jackal/canine animal (which Voiceplay subtly refers to in this shot here with the little Anubis Shrine statue sitting next to J)

Cool and Normal! 😆

(Also really love that jacket/blazer)

"Anubis" is of course weighing Earl's heart against a feather to see whether or not he is worthy of ascending to the heavenly afterlife. And since the heart appears to be slightly lighter, he's good! (Not that he's actually ready to pass on, though)

(Also, from a production viewpoint, I'm guessing they had some small stones or counterweights hiding underneath the feather?)

...Not gonna say anything, just putting this here

Love how "Baron" glances at his cane as if to check for any dirt or smudges from Earl 😆

(Geoff still has that cane I believe; when he did a few Q&A/"how to sing low" videos on his channel back in 2020, the cane was just chilling in the background, behind where he was sitting in his home office/workspace)

(Also obligatory he's so handsome/pretty aaaaaaa)

The body language of "Anubis" here when Baron starts talking (i.e. when Geoff starts singing), and the way that he, "Yama", and "Guardian" are all at one end of the stage, while "Baron" is on the other, says so much in such a small way! (Geoff once again getting to be Special(tm), love that for him)

"I've done my sentence, but committed no criiiiiiime!"

Cool necklace! (Also really love the subtle red edging/trim on his blazer/coat, very cool and gives me Crowley vibes)

While I'm talking about Geoff, time for another hair study!

(This one I actually used separate screencaps for the outline and for the colour grabs)

Wasn't even trying to pause in this shot but pfft Eli/Yama and J/Anubis doing the 🤏 thing

(Also kinda sorta another Eli Eyebrow raise?)

Baron: *(evil laugh)*

Anubis: OHKAY it's getting a little tense in here, time to lighten the mood a little bit!

Baron: wow rude

Anubis: here hold this for me thanks!

Guardian: wait what am I meant to do with this?

(Though I'm pretty sure that's meant to be his sword anyway?)

"Nooo time for looosers"

Fight! Fight! Fight! (Eli/Yama: "I'm three ounces of whoop-ass")

Love the facial expressions here, Anubis/J looks like he half-wishes he had popcorn! 😂

Thumbnail moment! (Or close enough anyway)

Yama singing "I don't need you" to Baron and Baron doing a sort of sarcastic "haha very funny" head motion in return, love it

Not talking about the arrangement but I'd like to thank the Good Omens fandom, because I wouldn't have recognized/known the bridge of Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy in this medley otherwise (I didn't first see this video until like a year or so after it first came out)

If you ever wind up in hospital, don't actually try to rip out IV drips or cannulas or any other tubes connected to your body!

If I had a nickel for every time a different member of Voiceplay played air guitar in a video, I'd have at least four nickels! (Earl here, Cesar in Hellfire, Eli in Top 10 Sitcom Themes, and Geoff in at least three or more videos (maybe 5 if we count J None in the Frozen 2 Medley))

Full-body group shot! (Also Eli, those shorts and those shoes are... an interesting combination that's for sure 😅) Also check out the body language of Baron/Geoff and Guardian/Layne!

There's a comment or two that sums up "Guardian's" body language as "I don't actually want to hurt you, but I will if I absolutely have to"

Love "Yama's" expression right before he's turned into a puff of smoke 😆

Baron was on Earl's side the whole time!

It would have been cool to have Baron bow out himself and be like "you did well, you can go on living now", rather than being poofed away like the others, but eh I'm sure Voiceplay had their reasonings

I would post a pic of the final shot, but Tumblr isn't letting me (I'm guessing I hit an image limit, rip). But still, it's very cute and sweet.

There's a reason why so many people adore this video/cover. The arrangement is stunning, the vocals are great, the costumes are cool, the makeup is really well done, and the whole plot/direction of the video is such a creative and original concept! Shoutout to Layne and Eli, who were in charge of both the video and the arrangement!

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

Okay, yes. It turns out I'm an actual fan of a music group...

What with everything going on in my life (mostly my aide of over 25 years telling me she's quitting by the end of the year, and giving me until then to figure out alternatives solutions), I've been finding emotional escape through finding first-time reacions to VoicePlay. ... It's my personal game of "Today's lucky Ten Thousand:"

[Transcript from ExplainXKCD.com in the alt text]

I'm picky, though. It truly has to be either: one of someone's first three reactions to VoicePlay, itself (not just a first reaction to a particular song), or: an in-depth analysis that shows an insight to things I don't know about.

...Not just someone expecting to be wowed sitting there going: "Wow!" Either I'm watching someone learn something new, or I'm learning something new.

Anyway, these truly first-timers will often request recommendations for more songs by them (I realize this is often done to milk YouTube's engagement algorithm as least as much as it's honest curiosity). And that got me thinking of my own "VoicePlay Defined" recommendation list. So I thought I'd post it here.

These are not all necessarily my faves, but illustrate the group's artistic evolution, and breadth of styles, which is at least as impressive as any individual songs.

Road Trip (May22. 2014) a comedy skit from "The Sing-Off" live tour, of friends fighting over the car radio. Arranged by the bass singer, Geoff Castellucci.

Phantom of the Opera Featuring Rachel Potter (November 18, 2015) Warning: Flashing / strobe effects. Their first experimentation with cinematic storytelling along with their singing. Arranged by the vocal percussionist, Layne Stein.

Queen in 5 Min (November 23, 2018) Warning: Flashing / strobe effects. Tells the story of their high tenor, Earl Elkins Jr., contending with the various gods of Death, as told through the lyrics of Queen songs. With a cameo from Earl's husband. Arranged by Layne Stein and second tenor Eliezer (Eli) Jacobson.

Just Sing (May 15, 2020) Filmed during the first round of quarantine, a stitched-together collaboration with former group members, family, and colleagues. The closed captioning is given over to the names of all the participants, and their connection to the group. This is the last video before Earl Elkins left for private reasons. Arranged by Layne Stein.

Man in the Mirror Featuring D.J. Young (May 28, 2021) J. None's last video as their baritone, before leaving for a five-year stint singing in the U.S. Navy Choir. though he has since come back to sing with them, when he's on leave. Arranged by Geoff Castelucci.

Wicked A Cappella Medley | A Chance To Fly Featuring Rachel Potter and Emoni Wilkins (November 25. 2021). Arranged by Geoff Castelucci.

Dragonborn Comes Skyrim Featuring Omar Cardona (February 4, 2022) An example of their Gamer Geek side. Arranged by Geoff Castelucci.

And finally: Seven Nation Army Featuring Anthony Gargiula. (May 12, 2023). In this one, they really leaned into adding effects (or filters?) on their voices in post production, to give a more textured, instrumental feel. Also, you can clearly see how Eli Jacobson has matured from second tenor to first tenor with a hard rock belt. Arranged by Geoff Castellucci.

[diminuel]

Reaction to The Winchesters 1x09 under the cut!

The very first thing I had to think about was the fact that John said that he thought vampires were extinct in the US because they had been hunted (by the likes of Elkins etc). It seems like at least back in the earls 70s vampires were still around.

Haha, Mary and John discussing Dean’s car and what he is. Eeeey, Mary! But she’s right, Dean’s a good looking hunter ;3

Oh no, omega man is back. *squints at him* Why are you here, that’s very suspicious.

Narrator!Dean is aware of that what he did had consequences beyond what he expected when he interfered for whatever reason. So how does he know? From what point is he telling this story? And what was the “first domino” he tipped over? Did he come to the past to give John that letter because he decided that people should have their fates within their hands instead of having to follow some prophecy that is kept secret from them? Or is he there for another reason (something Akrida related maybe? Something Cas rescue related even though I know that’s my wishful thinking?)

Betty’s here! Was that her name? I don’t know if I trust her, but at least she’s doing her job asking who the people asking questions at a crime scene are.

John! You’re just grabbing an object that you must assume to be supernatural with your bare hands??? At least now I know where Dean’s got it from X’D

I wonder why they named this lore expert character Diana when there’s already a Deanna in the show? Or should be. We haven’t met her yet, which I still find a bit odd. Samuel didn’t even ask about her? Conveniently absent mother that nobody seems to be worried about? Strange.

Vampires and holy water? Is that new? Did I just forget about vampires having a weakness against holy water...?

Now that I know omega man is an Akrida I have more concrete reasons to fight him. :P But interesting to know that he’s putting Betty on Mary et al’s trail. I’m not sure what he hopes to accomplish by going this route, considering that he is a monster and has other means to sabotage/ destroy them.

Anway! Interesting episode! We see Sam and Dean’s recklessness well within their parents here. The apple certainly didn’t fall far from the tree with them.

(Though I’d say the kids are a bit too casual going into monster fights. The stakes don’t seem very high because they seem to be able to fight everything off. Maybe they’ve got the narrative hero boost. They can’t die, not when God’s watching I guess. Not that they know.)

[haethealhell]

EARL HAS A FUCKING TOUNG PEIRCING???

[auxiliarydetective]

10, 20 & 37? 👀

10. When did you realize you weren’t cishet?

Pretty early, actually, at least when it comes to sexuality. While most of my classmates where talking about how hot some guys were, I was just like... Yes... pretty... but like... You want to have what with them? Also, I've just never liked the idea of having sex at all. I've come to terms with it by now, like, I'd do it for my partner but I'm not into it. It also became pretty clear pretty fast that I didn't only like boys. Gender identity is a more recent thing. I've always felt different and alien-like because I function so differently compared to others my age and sex or just to people in general. I never really understood "what it meant to be a girl" and hardly got to explore the traditionally girls side of me. So with all of that adding up, I now identify as a demigirl which also coincides with me having a chosen name. Female, but not quite and not really cis.

20. Are you out of the closet IRL?

Yesn't. If someone were to ask me, I'd tell them. But nobody cares. I'm out to the people in my dorm and two or three other people. Not to my parents though, at least not fully.

37. Do you have any LGBTQ+ idols?

I don't think so. I don't pay much attention to whether someone is LGBTQ+ or not. Maybe some of my idols just so happen to be if I even have idols at all. Is Melanie Martinez LGBTQ+ or is she just an ally? Someone who I know is gay and I'm a fan of is Earl Elkins Jr, former VoicePlay tenor. Speaking of VoicePlay, their new baritone Cesar De La Rosa is gay too, I think? I don’t know. But for a bi idol: Kirstie Maldonado from Pentatonix. Another thought that came to mind: Was Thomas Mann gay? German mutuals, do you know? Because he wrote some very gay things, my friends... If he was: There’s your definitive answer! I love his writing style...