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acaplaya-musings · 2 months

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Voiceplay-adjacent Visuals - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

So here's the thing: I'm not religious whatsoever, and usually I'm neutral at best when it comes to "traditional"/religious Christmas songs. Like on the odd occasion I might hear a decent performance of one, like O Holy Night or Silent Night for example, and I'll be like "yeah alright", but I don't usually go search them up to relisten to them, y'know?

But then, on the 4th of December, 2021, Geoff released his cover of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, and MY. GOODNESS. Undeniably one of the most epic Christmas carol performances I've ever heard (besides most versions of Carol Of The Bells of course).

So anyway, there's probably a lot more to say on the musical arrangement than the video, but I didn't wanna skip over this one entirely, and tbh this is one of my favourite videos for examples of Geoff's self-conducting motions and hand gestures, so I really wanna talk about some of that, and show off some of the cool lighting stuff as well! (Credit to Eli for lighting design!)

So anyway, let's get into this!

This video was filmed at PattyCake Studios, though presumably using a set/backdrop that doesn't get used a lot otherwise, because I don't recognise it from anything else! (EDIT: according to the amazingly-knowledgeable and very helpful Jules-has-notes, "the backdrop was one of the standing sets at the old PattyCake studio...VP used it in their video for "You're My Best Friend" with Deejay, but the set dressing and lighting were pretty different.")

Double credit to Eli for the lighting design, because look how cool this looks already, with the variety of colours that we're getting from lighting in the background! Whiteish-purple, green, blue, orange, and purple-pink! And I love how there's enough in the background to make it interesting and to "fill out the space" without drawing your attention away entirely!

Lights up!

I don't know exactly what that shirt thing is per se, but man it looks so cool

This video has at least a couple moments of the "Geoff Clones" noticeably mirroring each other in their motions, like in Shenandoah and Unshaken, but there are also quite a few moments (like before this, in the "slow build-up section" in fact) where different Geoffs are doing different motions to indicate which of them are singing which vocal parts (e.g. higher stuff vs lower stuff)

"Now to the lord sing praises..."

Very quick lighting/colour change on the curtains!

"Holy tide of Christmas, all others doth deface!"

Lighting/colour change on the curtains again! A warmer orange now!

(Also again notice how the clones on the left and right ends are doing the same thing, but the clone second from the left is doing something different!)

"Woah, tidings of comfort and joy"

(I love the cheeky little side-eye he does here, it's kinda cute <3)

Another quick lighting change!

I love the way Geoff so often includes moments of "Lead Geoff" and The Clones looking at each other - it's such a simple thing to include, but it's also such an easy thing to not bother doing or not even consider doing. But these little moments definitely add a little something-something(tm) to the videos 💜👌

"Cooommmforrrt aaand joyyyyy"

Up, right, down, up. What is this, the Konami Code for subharmonics/bass notes? 😝

"JOYYYYYY!"

And back to darkness for the end!

I probably could have included even more moments to talk about but tbh screenshots don't always do it justice, and I can't be bothered figuring out how to make gifs. But I hope this gave you some amusement anyway, and I promise you the next post is absolutely gonna be a fun one! Until next time!

#geoff castellucci #voiceplay-adjacent visuals #voiceplay-adjacent visuals christmas #geoff castellucci god rest ye merry gentlemen #acaplaya analysis

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