As if you don't know this already, I'm quite the smitten kitten when it comes to the always reliable, always entertaining, always satorially pleasing VoicePlay. I've highlighted several of their sparkling cover versions on these very *pages* - and their ability to deconstruct a song and build it back up in their own style seemingly knows no bounds. Following on from their most recent genius versions of Suit and Tie, I Knew You Were Trouble/As Long As You Love Me duet and Locked Out Of Heaven/Love Lockdown medley, the fellas have teamed up with Honey LaRochelle (AMAZING name) to tackle the Take On Me sampling Feel This Moment. Now if you don't know much about Honey (though you can read all about her here) this song will tell you everything you need to know - girl has a fierce set of pipes that slay as soon as she opens her mouth (even by SKYPE!) And of course the always charming VoicePlay blokes are effervescent & engaging from the get go with their intricate arrangement of the song and spot on delivery. Here are my ten reasons why you will no doubt fall in love with this too...
- 01 ~ I love how the VoicePlay chappies are always so well turned out. And make looking good look so effortless. Particular favourites on this video are Geoff's 50 Shades of Grey business attire look (oo-er!), Layne & Tony's immaculate quiffs, Earl on denim shirt duty (denim is SO in this summer) and Eli's all round generally amazing glasses. I really need a new pair myself (but sadly have a weird shaped face).
- 02 ~ Earl's stomach is singing! At first I thought it was Earl doing the Christina bits, but no, it's our Honey who manages to quickly become your central focus as soon as you locate where she is :) What truly is rather spectacular is how crystal clear she sounds even via webcam & brings this rather delicious world-wise mixed with Disney princess quality to the song. It could have all looked a bit Alien bursting from Earl's stomach, but mercifully it didn't :D
- 03 ~ Clapping! Hurrah! Who doesn't love a good handclap within a song. And when the boys all come in at around 30s or so (with Geoff doing his very best air-bass!), it's that endorphin rush you've been waiting for that really gets the tune going. Within the ten seconds following on from this, there are so many things going on to create the complex, layered sound the guys are going for that it's almost breathtaking - you have to watch a few times to get to grips with it all. Totally worth every repeat viewing too...
- 04 ~ Verse one; Eli's voice is beautifully smooth and soulful, while Geoff manages to create these deep resonant vocal sounds that really add texture to the song (when I try to go that deep I sound like my great Aunt Maude and that's not a good thing). Plus Earl's falsetto notes are a work of freaking art.
- 05 ~ Oh, I get it now. When Pitbull sing/raps (sraps?) about being in a red tie tied up (etc), I thought this meant he (Pitbull) was tied up in some sort of saucy game he and Christina had going on that I really didn't want to question. Eli's gestures at this point seem to indicate they are singing about a tie being tied properly (see Geoff for example) rather than some sort of backroom shenanighans. Silly me. Not that I'm judging mind you. Each to their own I say :)
- 06 ~ Tony's gesticulating! While all the chaps seem to be really immersed in their music (indeed not just in this performance but in every performance they undertake), Tony gets the award for seemingly being the most overjoyed by the song with his emphatic hand gestures, like his whole body is consumed by the music they are making. It's an infectious vibe that easily transfuses through to the viewer ensuring that you have a jolly good time of things too. Hurrah!
- 07 ~ While Honey dramatically communicates that she just wants to feel this moment, there is some lovely A-ha tribute going on in the background. Take on me indeed. All that is missing is a video link to Morten Harkett! (Who hasn't aged a freaking day, the git!) This giddy little thrill leads to the most gorgeous vocal melisma (get me with my technical knowledge. I thank you!) from Honey that reminds me of the hey day of Mariah before she teamed up with that dude who face planted his crotch in some poor girls face during a stage performance. But I digress - the point is, 1m20-1m45? Lovely.
- 08 ~ at 1m45, this is where VoicePlay REALLY put their stamp on it. It's instantly recognisable as the type of musical breakdown they do which means it wouldn't sound out of place on their still brilliantly entertaining Once Upon An Ever After album. What's mindblowing about this is that every single person up there has these really intricate bits of music to remember & it's all delivered to perfection both individually and therefore as a collective effort. Utterly mindblowing.
- 09 ~ After an all too brief two minute interpretation of the song, I love that you want to go right back to the beginning to pick up on every little nuance you may have missed first time round. It's the song that keeps on giving. It's the Father Christmas of songs. In June (so half Christmas really)...
- 10 ~ (I'd sort of secretly now not so secretly really like them to do Turn It Off from Book of Mormon. Their ingenuity with such an amazing group song would be a joy to behold. But as you will have picked up by now, this is pretty bloody fantastic too. That is all)
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