Pentatonix is an American a cappella group that has been winning the hearts of music lovers from around the world since 2011. That’s when they won NBC’s “The Sing-Off,” demonstrating that the group is a master of covers. They proved that once again with their 2019 rendition of “The Sound of Silence,” which they posted to YouTube along with a music video.
Of course, Simon & Garfunkel first recorded the classic hit “The Sound of Silence,” earning the duo a spot in musical history along with critical acclaim. Since then, many bands have tried to re-record the iconic song, including Pentatonix.
While it is a tricky song to perform, the a cappella super group showed that they knew just what they were doing.
Pentatonix is currently made up of Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola and Matt Sallee. Matt replaced Avi Kaplan after he left to strike out on his own in 2017. Despite the group’s change in personnel, these five vocalists are still amazing when it comes to recording different songs with their beautiful harmonies. Ask yourself: What other group can combine basslines, beatboxing, percussion and riffing together the way that they can?
This talented a capella group continually catches the attention of millions of listeners across the globe when they cover Christmas classics, contemporary pop and other hits. But if the video’s view count is any indication, Pentatonix’s Simon and Garfunkel cover is among one of their most impressive accomplishments to date.
Be sure to reach the end of this article to see the full video 🙂
You have to listen to their version of “The Sound of Silence” to really understand what we are talking about. It is perhaps the best remake since heavy metal band Disturbed surprised the world with their 2015 cover.
Bands throughout the ages have tirelessly covered the decades-old Billboard hit. In fact, since the track came out in 1965, musicians have recorded over 60 covers of the iconic folk-rock piece, according to Smithsonian Magazine. That includes more recent covers from artists like James Blake who produced an electronica rendition in 2015. But at least for Blake, the cover seems at least somewhat fitting. After all, the English songwriter is known for his quiet and ethereal songs. As far as Pentatonix’s goes, however, it’s not that easy to imagine uttering their name in the same sentence as folk-pop. But Pentatonix seems to have pulled it off, earning high praise from more than 40,000 commenters on YouTube.
— not to mention the more than 1 million likes the group received for their music video.
“I’m 76 years old, and have enjoyed singing in a cappella groups all my life,” Carole Drennan wrote in the comments. “I’m so glad I’ve lived long enough to hear Pentatonix.”
“This video led me to more…Pentatonix is truly otherworldly,” Valerie Verdi added. “They pay homage to the song they are singing, but are able to make it theirs. Fantastic! Thank you Pentatonix for refreshing these much loved songs with tender love and care.”
And you too will likely become hooked when you hear Hoying belt out the opening lines of the song.
When all of the members join in with their own unique harmonies, you might not believe what you are hearing. This remake is truly one for the books. Pentatonix is quick to deliver another hit with their rendition of this classic, which is sure to give some music fans goosebumps as soon as they hear it.
If you can’t get enough of this cover, then you should check out Pentatonix’s full discography from the group’s debut, “PTX,” to their newest record, the Feb. 2021 album “The Lucky Ones.” What sets “The Lucky Ones” apart from some of the a cappella group’s other work is that it is the first Pentatonix originals album since 2015. That means a whole lot of completely new songs for eager Pentatonix fans. In a Feb. 2021 interview with Atwood Magazine, Hoying described the experience of releasing the new album as “thrilling.”
“Honestly, I feel like we have waited so long to release a new album. And it’s just so exciting that we can kind of tell our own stories and put out this record that we’re very proud of,” Hoying told the publication. “Also, we all feel like our songwriting has just gotten so honest and vulnerable, and we fine-tuned it. Putting out this art into the world is really exciting for us.”
In the same interview, Hoying added that the record is really about “life experience.” Given that the band has been together for a decade, Hoying admitted that the group has been through a whole slew of good and bad experiences — from love to loss — that the album addresses and analyzes on a musical level.
While the album seems to have forced the group to slow down and look inward, Hoying also said that he’s excited to begin touring again whenever possible.
“We have been touring for ten years straight, and then having to go into complete stillness and be at home all the time has definitely been a shock to the system, in a good and in a bad way. I feel so pumped to be back on the road one day,” Hoying said. “Just feeling the energy of the crowds. That sounds so thrilling.”
While the album hasn’t been out for that long, fans and critics seem more than satisfied with the quintet’s new direction.
“Across the 11 new originals, featuring contributions from producers like Johan Carlsson, Matthew Koma, and Dan Book, the vocals are tighter, more alluring and commanding, and the lyrics feel more honest and grounded,” Jason Scott writes in his review for American Songwriter. “When you compare the record against their first original LP, 2015’s self-titled, it’s almost night and day.”
Scott continues to praise the album, calling it “some of their boldest and most provocative work.”
It remains to be seen whether the tracks of Pentatonix’s new record will go as viral as the a cappella quintet’s “Sound of Silence” cover, which remains one of their most popular videos with more than 90 million views.
In any case, be sure to check out Pentatonix’s new album when you get the chance. And whether you’re a new or an old fan, listen to the group’s “The Sound of Silence” cover below and decide for yourself whether it’s worth all the hype.
What did you think of this haunting melody? Do you love Pentatonix? Be sure to let us know what you think. And don’t forget to pass this video along to your friends, family members and fellow music lovers!
