"Magic" (A Cappella) by Voices In Your Head from UChicago

[larahill82]

the guy singing in the front has a face that makes you want to punch him. you know people like that you can tell hes an asshole.

[ann9zusa]

すてきな歌声ですね！

[potpie921]

nice!!

[nelrish24]

classic!

[ParabolaOfMysteries]

This is a fine example of how easy it is to go out of key when the piece is a cappella.

[tylerlaverack]

for having arranged this this piece the soloist must hav never taken any voice classes cus vowel shape and tone bothers me quite badly

[bradadaly]

@tylerlaverack I'm guessing you're not a Ben Folds Fan then. p.s. this this. english classes?

[tylerlaverack]

@bradadaly nah im a ben folds fan this group jus disapoints me

[CatHellsky]

@tylerlaverack Try their professionally recorded version, it's MUCH better, in all of that.

[mstrickland97]

@CatHellsky That's because the "professional" is autotuned.

[the9ingredients]

This is really just not good at all...

[Haagy11]

@the9ingredients haha, you must go to St. Olaf or something. This performance isn't perfect, but the imperfections make us believe that they are human. It's a gorgeous arrangement, and a gorgeous performance. Well done.

[the9ingredients]

@Haagy11 I'm not really sure what St. Olaf is, but although it is a gorgeous arrangement, I'm afraid to say this performance is not really good at all. If I didn't know that this song was supposed to be in D minor, I would have no clue what they were doing. The singers are flat and all over the place, as well as the soloist. The timbre of the singers is gorgeous, as well as their vowels, but none of that means anything if they can't even sing the right pitches within a reasonable cent range.

[the9ingredients]

@AndyGoo Unfortunately I have to agree. When you listen to the recording, it is evident that a lot of digital editing went into post-production. The movement of the soloist is just unnatural, and the basses' voices are much, much too bright for such a low sound. I thought maybe the basses were just amazing, but from this performance it's evident that isn't the natural sound they make. And the chords fit too perfectly, in an un-endearing sort of way. It is very disappointing.

[elipsis000]

...sometimes when I'm singing, the moment of beauty that collaboration creates, takes away time and space. There are many times during this performance that perfect moments occur... transport of delights. If these moments happen to you when you listen to music, can you imagine what it feels like for a musician, trying to control time and space whilst having a perfect moment. Oh, deep joy...

[aerobpu18]

yall did amazing wit uh small group! I hope my school does the song justice! We doin it for pop show..

[JbaumT]

That's why they didn't make his album.

[xoxoluvcrisxoxo]

dnt like how the male soloist used the mic, showed the flaws in his voice and he was dropping the notes instead of holding out the notes. dont be lazy. also dont like how they sped up the arrangement -____-

[azanasas]

@xoxoluvcrisxoxo Live versions will always be just a bit worse than the recorded version, you should check out the recorded one if you haven't already

[xoxoluvcrisxoxo]

@azanasas ohh yess, i knoww. i DEF love the recorded version. not hating just some constructive criticism

[allthatnow]

ALL over the place. Poor.

[Airs8tronic]

@allthatnow ill consider this a valid point when you show me a better attempt by yourself/arranged by yourself.

i think its very well done, the mistakes (very minor i might add) are only there because of nerves, clearly theyre all capable.

i dont understand why people are complaining about lead vocals having microphone? this is a performance, the choir itself has ambient microphones and the lower vocal part has a microphone. i can tell this is clearly for a sound engineer to get a good mix .

[allthatnow]

@Airs8tronic Hmmm. I think it strange that my hearing capabilities are contingent on my vocal abilities. I don't need to be a Leonardo da Vinci to distinguish between a squibble and a good painting. If music were only really appreciated by singers, then the Entertainment industry would have a very small market.

Your intelligence is mesmerising.

[Airs8tronic]

@allthatnow

nice rebuttal. i especially liked how you oh wait.

[wndowlikr]

That low note is awesome sounding in the beginning. It kinda adds a darker feel to the song in the beginning but then the song goes right into a good happy sounding song. Great job guys!

[HaliSnel]

I'm in a UK acappella group and we really admire you guys! This is a complicated song, we'd love to try it, so well done for making it sound great live. I think the only thing is the sound quality on the video muffles some of the intricities in the harmonies which is a shame as they are so beautiful! But then you just have to listen to the CD...

[Drums0212]

The guy singing bass has such a solid tone. The opening note blew me away!

[jeffadunn789]

am i the only who thinks this performance is awful??

[supermanadamio]

@jeffadunn789 I think I have to agree with you too... intonation and breathing a tad dodgy.

[WilWithOneL117]

@jeffadunn789 Hate to say it, but I agree too.

[AhMarfield]

@jeffadunn789 I know, it really doesn't do the arrangement justice. A real shame, because I really want to like this.

[Oliviarydqvist]

does somebody know where to find the sheets for this song? just love it and want to sing it with my choir!

[TheBrokenBarrel]

Live theyr'e just ok. But on cd they are AMAZING get the cd version of this and you'll be blown away.

[Tribolumins]

This is a great live rendition. I've been listening to the Ben Folds CD non-stop virtually since i got it a week ago, and this is one of the best tracks. I thought this was one of the few tracks that was heavily (pro-tools) produced on the album? Listening to this video, I don't think it can be - sounds every bit as good live! Well done. Wish there was something like this near me in the UK.

[fillXinXblankXstares]

Best rendition on the CD, by far!! This is so haunting.

[narikhood]

I love this song on the album, but throughout this video, I couldn't help but think it was off key. It was still an amazing arrangement, great job guys

[gu1targuy]

what can i say? its beautiful, just got accepted into UofC so im pretty excited =)

[Thefinalfall]

just bought the CD, sooooo good. This is one of the best songs on it. If you love A Capella and BenFolds, theres no reason why you shouldn't buy this CD

[mluna785]

Hell yeah. You speak the truth. A GREAT CD!

[Marshall7302]

@Thefinalfall what CD?.... because i love both...

[FeLiX13sLaVe]

Would have been better if he hadn't used a microphone

[canadiantothebakon]

@FeLiX13sLaVe Well, the stage is miked, so he would have to be louder than 11 full voices. I don't know if you're a singer or not, but it's not something that most people can do.

[donfitz12]

glad to say you are from the university of chicago!!!

[bmill42]

This is beautiful, and great work on the arrangement!

[threepee]

There are some obvious intonation problems in this video, which i guess auto tune on the recording sorted out. The dynamic range of the recording also beats this, but you never really notice either issue live so i'm sure it sounded great at the time. Also this has to be one of the hardest choral pieces i've ever heard.

[admiraljansen]

What's with the douches that surf these videos rating them in an attempt to have people recognize the fact that their parent's put them in piano when they were four? Tell you what, find an a Capella group, blow me away, or just blow me.

[threepee]

honestly i dont know what your problem is, i'm just being honest and stating the problems and what sounded wrong in this particular performance as i heard it on youtube, its no big deal i dont think piano has anything to do with it, but you know if you like guys blowing you then fair play mate... x

[admiraljansen]

Not to imply that I prefer men blowing me... but if you'd like to take a go.... have at it lad.

[clemsontigers90]

Yellow Leggings. Marry me!

[qwertydeluxe]

Is there sheet music available for this arrangement?

[Chudhole]

After many, many listens, I think this is the best performance on the acappella CD. It just sounds brilliant. The sonic qualities are ethereal, and the performance/arrangement is top notch. I would like to hear your take on some of his other music, though I fear it's hard for lightening to strike twice, I would still like to see the attempt! Congratulations!

[EQXroX336]

i concur

...

HOORAY FOR SOPHISTICATED WORDS!!!

[pbgjazzsax]

Well done! Great arrangement. I love all the sus chords and resolutions and rhythmic motion on this piece. My favorite on the University A Cappella album, although Sacramento jazz singers were a close 2nd.

[okonh0wp]

it sounds much better on the CD, i can tell you. if it didn't you should make sure not to make it as good as the CD, because then people wouldn't need to buy the CD, since all 16 groups perform here and posted it online. i liked the cover art and didn't wnat to have to compile it into a playlist or be dependent on the internet, so i bought thecd

[daneschipp]

1) It sounds much better because the audio on a CD isn't being recorded by a camera.

2) If you've ever gone to a live performance, then you are the biggest hypocrite, because according to you it's impossible to sound better live.

3) I've been to plenty of concerts that have sounded better than the CD. There is such a thing as being overproduced.

4) I'll stop because there are a lot of things wrong with your comment. It would have made more sense to say "I thought it sucked".

Great Job UofC!

[docjohnboy]

Beautiful! You guys are great!

[madameditor]

This is so my favorite track on the new album! Great job and great arrangement!!!

[sunbeamlj]

This is my favorite track on the University A Cappella album. So beautiful!

[Chudhole]

very nice-I'm going to pick this CD up today!

[lion03heart]

i just baught it in Itunes it was great

[theosubengal]

Awesome performance!

[matthottscott]

By far my favorite a capella piece ever. And its Ben Folds. Great Job!