#album: DCappella

[jules-has-notes]

collaboration spotlight — I Wan'na Be Like You (album version) by DCappella

Some of the best Disney music makes you want to sing along, or even get up and dance. This jazzy classic from The Jungle Book is one of those tunes, and the DCappella gang clearly had a fun time recording it.

Details:

title: I Wan'na Be Like You

performers: Holly Gyenes (soprano), Shelley Regner (mezzo), Kyana Fanene (alto), RJ Woessner (tenor), J.None (baritone), Jojo Otseidu (bass), & Tracy Robertson (percussion)

original performers: Louis Prima as King Louie & Bruce Reitherman as Mowlgli from The Jungle Book (1967)

written by: Robert & Richard Sherman

arranged by: Deke Sharon

release date: 16 November 2018

My favorite bits:

kicking things off with Tracy's driving percussion and Jojo's rhythmic bass line

RJ jumping in with that joyous lead part

those precise, jazzy backing harmonies from the ladies

the "trumpet" solo 🎺 (a Deke Sharon classic)

J.None and RJ passing the scatting back and forth through the bridge, and continuing with the melody for the final chorus

"Like who?" "Someone like you, my man!"

that tried-and-true fade out

Trivia:

Because they started recording their debut album before the two cast lineups were finalized, everyone involved in the DCappella workshop process was in the rotation. The lineup for this track mostly includes members of the intended second touring cast — Holly (soprano), Kyana (alto), J.None (baritone), Jojo (bass), & Tracy (percussion).

It's track 6 on the group's eponymous debut album.

The version for the video released on the same day as the album was tweaked slightly and re-recorded by the first wave touring cast so that their performances would match.

RJ mentioned in an interview with the group that it was one of his favorite songs on the album.

[lovewillthaw-j]

Ok you’re the music person for frozen and stuff: what do u think of Pentatonix’s version of let it go?

Thanks for the ask! It’s interesting that you ask, cos I’m actually a fan of contemporary a cappella and vocal jazz! I have tons of different albums.

I know Pentatonix, having watched them win the Sing Off (watched that whole season) but I didn’t follow them closely after that. 

So I went to listen to LIG by them and it is awesome. It contains all the Pentatonix signature sound - tight, difficult arrangements (I have done acappella arranging; it is tough when you only have 4 voices - one is the bass, one is the melody and the other 2 parts have to be everywhere at the same time to create harmony and embellishments); great vocal percussion/beat boxing and I like the special effects sounds in the bridge of the song; impeccable recording quality and balance; and great voices.

My only gripe is that the voices sound a bit too “processed” for my liking but this is an artistic choice. I personally like a more natural sound.

If you like Disney a cappella you can also check out DCappella, and Voctave. Kirstin Maldonado has guest-performed on Voctave’s version of Show Yourself.

[musicgoon]

Recommended Reading

Providing A Freshly Curated, Weekly Link List on Christianity & Culture.

Find all of my weekly recommended reading link lists with the RR tag. Dedicated link posts with personal commentary can be found with the link tag. Real-time news and article sharing happens on Twitter and my Facebook page.

I love seeing new things on the Internet and I love reading and your comments, so please keep in touch. And to get all of my blog articles, exclusive insight, and more from my many projects, you can subscribe to my newsletter.

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[terrificallytoni]

The Playlist: Spring 2020

The Playlist: Spring 2020

Now that I’m settled into my second semester, I’ve definitely developed my playlist. You know, the playlist, the one you want to play on endless repeat at all hours of the day. I’ve been really into a lot of vintage and indie music recently, so this playlist is certainly dominated by that feeling.

Best Friend, Rex Orange County

Hotel California – 2013 Remaster, Eagles

Spirits, The Strumbellas

Flo…

[musicmatome]

DCappella 2nd Full Album 『ALL EARS』クロスフェード動画

[afeelappeal]

DCappella - Ev'rybody Wants To Be A Cat

DCappella – Ev’rybody Wants To Be A Cat

Download/stream "Ev’rybody Wants to be a Cat" here: https://disneymusic.co/DCappellaCat?iqid=dmvevo

Watch all DCappella music videos here: https://disneymusic.co/DCappellaPlaylist?IQid=dmvevo

Subscribe to DCappella YouTube: https://youtube.com/dcappella?sub_confirmation=1

DCappella’s self-titled debut album is also available! http://disneymusic.co/DCappellaAlbum?IQid=dmvevo

Connect with DCappella:

[mychempunk]

Disney's DCappella group to release debut album, embark on massive tour

Disney’s DCappella group to release debut album, embark on massive tour

If you’re a fan of Disney songs and the film “Pitch Perfect,” then you may want to add this upcoming tour to your list of things to do in 2019. On Tuesday (Oct. 16), Disney a cappella group DCappella announced their first-ever North American tour for early 2019. Set to take place during the months of January, February, and March,…

[jules-has-notes]

collaboration spotlight — Let It Go / Do You Want to Build a Snowman? (album version) by DCappella

For several years, the Frozen phenomenon was inescapable, regardless of your age or how you felt about Disney movies. So DCappella knew they had to include at least one song from its iconic soundtrack. But there are so many great tunes in that movie, why not record two at once?

Details:

title: Let It Go / Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

performers: Morgan Keene (soprano), Shelley Regner (mezzo), Kyana Fanene (alto), Connor Smith (tenor), J.None (baritone), Jojo Otseidu (bass), & Tracy Robertson (percussion)

original songs / performers: "Let It Go" and "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" by the cast of Frozen (2013)

written by: Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez

arranged by: Deke Sharon

release date: 16 November 2018

My favorite bits:

the gentle "instrumental" intro

Shelley and Morgan's intertwining melodies, blending uncertainty and hope

the subtle shift from Tracy's wind sounds to actual drum beats

the attitudes of the two leads swapping during the first chorus

that lovely syncopated ♫ "let me in" ♫ from the backing vocals

Morgan blending into Shelley's lyrics for the second chorus as Anna struggles to undertand Elsa

the crunchy harmonies under ♫ "I'm never going back" ♫

that dramatic build toward the ending, then dropping back to the simplicity of the two sisters

Trivia:

Because they started recording their debut album before the two cast lineups were finalized, everyone involved in the DCappella workshop process was in the rotation. The lineup for this track mostly includes members of the intended second touring cast — Kyana (alto), Connor (tenor), J.None (baritone), Jojo (bass), & Tracy (percussion).

It's track 5 on the group's eponymous debut album.

It was also included on the Japanese edition of their 2022 album "Magic Reimagined".

Shelley and Sojourner mentioned in an interview with the group that it was one of their favorite songs on the album.

[jules-has-notes]

collaboration spotlight — Trashin' the Camp (album version) by DCappella

One of the longstanding clichés about a capella groups is that the singers make instrumental sounds. While this can be true, it's not the entirety or even the majority of what talented performers can do. But sometimes it is fun to just make silly noises with your friends rather than singing lyrics.

Details:

title: Trashin' the Camp

performers: DCappella — Holly Gyenes (soprano), Shelley Regner (mezzo), Kalen Kelly (alto), RJ Woessner (tenor), J.None (baritone), Joe Santoni (bass), & Antonio Fernandez (percussion)

original performers: Phil Collins and *NSYNC for Tarzan (1999)

written by: Phil Collins

arranged by: Deke Sharon

release date: 28 September 2018

My favorite bits:

Antonio's fantastic record player static / scratch intro

gradually layering in each new voice

that first gleeful "Woo!"

Joe filling out the low end on the third iteration

the little breakdown before the key change

everyone getting in some fun scatting moments

Trivia:

Because they started recording their debut album before the two cast lineups were finalized, everyone involved in the DCappella workshop process was in the rotation. This lineup includes members of the intended second touring cast — Holly (soprano) & J.None (baritone).

The audio for the video that was released on the same day was tweaked slightly and re-recorded by the full first wave touring cast so that their performances would match.

This song is track 9 on the group's eponymous debut album.

[jules-has-notes]

collaboration spotlight — How Far I'll Go (album version) by DCappella

Every protagonist in a Disney musical has an "I want" song, and Moana is no different. Her ode to adventure is both conflicted and plaintive. But what if it was sung by The Andrews Sisters? You might hear something a bit like this.

Details:

title: How Far I'll Go

performers: DCappella — Morgan Keene (soprano), Shelley Regner (mezzo), Kyana Fanene (alto), RJ Woessner (tenor), J.None (baritone), Jojo Otseidu (bass), & Tracy Robertson (percussion)

original performer: Auli'i Cravalho as Moana in Moana (2016)

written by: Lin-Manuel Miranda

arranged by: Deke Sharon

release date: 10 August 2018

My favorite bits:

the ladies passing the lead melody around while the others create smooth backing harmonies

Jojo's lovely bell-like descending bass line

Tracy's fantastic percussion riff to transition into the new rhythm

creating an almost boogie-woogie feel with those close harmonies and swinging beat

that sweet little riff on ♫ "by design" ♫

J.None's counterpoint interjections and scatting during the fadeout

Trivia:

Because they started recording their debut album before the two cast lineups were finalized, everyone involved in the DCappella workshop process was in the rotation. The lineup for this track includes members of the intended second touring cast — Kyana (alto), J.None (baritone), Jojo (bass), and Tracy (percussion).

It's track 4 on the group's eponymous debut album.

The audio for the video that was released the following month was tweaked slightly and re-recorded by the first wave touring cast so that their performances would match.

J.None wasn't a full-time member of VoicePlay yet when they recorded their Moana medley the year before, but after he joined, they reworked their arrangement to include him for some live performances when they reunited with Rachel Potter.

[jules-has-notes]

collaboration spotlight — Immortals by DCappella

[WARNING: This video contains some mild flashing light effects.]

Disney's touring contemporary a cappella group came out of the gate swinging with a fun, bold Fall Out Boy track from the end credits of Big Hero 6. Their first single and video are upbeat, brash, and colorful, exactly what you might expect knowing that they were officially backed by the House of Mouse.

Details:

title: Immortals

performers: DCappella — Morgan Keene (soprano), Shelley Regner (mezzo), Sojourner Brown (alto), RJ Woessner (tenor), Orlando Dixon (baritone), Joe Santoni (bass), and Antonio Fernandez (percussion)

original performers: Fall Out Boy for Big Hero 6 (2014) ** Watch the one linked from the movie title. The band's first video is boring.

written by: Patrick Stump, Pete Wentz, Joe Trohman, & Andy Hurley

arranged by: Deke Sharon

release date: 27 April 2018

My favorite bits:

recreating the Disney Animation fanfare

the slow layering of clapping rhythms and "instrumental" lines

that cool filter effect on Shelley's repeated "synthesizer" riff

how similar RJ sounds to Patrick Stump

Sojourner and Orlando's echoes of ♫ "glass glass glass" ♫

the moment of silence going into the first chorus

Joe holding that low drone note in the break

Antonio's big drum fill to kick off the second chorus

finishing off with Shelley's rising belt

Trivia:

This song was arranged and produced by Deke Sharon, mastered by Bill Hare, and mixed by Ed Boyer, all giants of the professional a cappella world.

It's the second-to-last track on their eponymous debut album, closing things out with a bang before giving listeners a cooldown with "Remember Me" from Coco.

The video's color-changing set was created in collaboration with Philips Hue.

Included in the first wave cast were longtime VoicePlay pal Antonio Fernandez, and Shelley Regner from the Pitch Pefect movies, who VP sang with at the 2018 Total Vocal concert.

J.None was in the workshop group for DCappella, and was cast in the second wave lineup, which didn't end up touring. Those singers were featured in some of the tracks on the group's debut album, though, and some later cycled into the touring cast as other members retired from the group.

This song won a 2019 CARA for Best Professional Arrangement for a Non-Scholastic Group, and was the runner up for Best Rock Song.

The video also won Best Rock Video at the 2019 A Cappella Video Awards.

[jules-has-notes]

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party 2015 — VoicePlay live performances

Having paid their dues as various theme park characters over the years, the members of VoicePlay finally got to take the stage at Disney World as themselves for six weeks at the end of 2015. This was the first of what would end up being three annual seasonal residencies during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. They performed four short sets per night, four days a week, through most of November and December. The shows were mentioned in articles on the All Ears blog and in the Orlando Sentinel.

Their two alternating setlists for the season were mostly comprised of songs from their 2012 holiday album, "Peppermint Winter". Since all but one of the recordings I've gathered use the same setlist, you don't necessarily have to watch all of them, but seeing the little differences in their performances and interactions can be a lot of fun.

In the second and third recordings (different sets from the same weekend), Layne was replaced by his backup for the season, another fantastic vocal percussionist named Antonio Fernandez, who had previously stepped in for a couple shows during the 2015 Sing-Off tour while Layne was at his sister's wedding. Antonio is a fellow theme park performer, and has been a member of several a cappella groups, including Echo and DCappella.

.

setlist 1 (first half): "Deck the Halls"; [1:55] "Holiday Road"; [4:30] "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas"

performance date: 10 November 2015

.

setlist 1: "Deck the Halls"; [1:57] "Holiday Road"; [4:45] "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas"; [7:23] introductions; [8:22] "Frosty the Snowman"; [10:48] "Zat You, Santa Claus?"; [13:40] "Santa and I Know It"

performance date: 13 November 2015

.

setlist 1: "Deck the Halls"; [2:02] "Holiday Road"; [4:48] "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas"; [7:30] introductions; [8:05] "Frosty the Snowman"; [11:05] "Zat You, Santa Claus?"; [13:50] "Santa and I Know It"

performance date: 15 November 2015

.

setlist 2: "Winter Wonderland"; [2:26] "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth"; [6:24] "What's This?"; [8:55] introductions; [9:58] "Hey, Santa Claus"; [13:21] "Most of the Songs" medley

performance date: 16 November 2015

.

setlist 1 (second half): "Zat You, Santa Claus?"; [2:28] "Santa and I Know It"

performance date: 21 November 2015

.

Bonus bits

Some vacationers caught a rare clip of Layne doing the "Frosty" intro instead of Eli.

Twitter has blocked the ability to embed videos on other sites (because of course they did), but you should still go watch this short clip from the end of "Santa and I Know It" during their Christmas Day performance, because Tony's big ol' stomp is very amusing.

Among the thousands of folks who saw the show during their run was Kevin Olusola from Pentatonix, who stopped by on the second-to-last night.

backstage with Antonio // a kid's eye view of the stage // the boys with their backups, Echo

[terrificallytoni]

The Playlist: Spring 2020

The Playlist: Spring 2020

Now that I’m settled into my second semester, I’ve definitely developed my playlist. You know, the playlist, the one you want to play on endless repeat at all hours of the day. I’ve been really into a lot of vintage and indie music recently, so this playlist is certainly dominated by that feeling.

Best Friend, Rex Orange County

Hotel California – 2013 Remaster, Eagles

Spirits, The Strumbellas

Flo…