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Pentatonix

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Pentatonix
File:Pentatonix logo.JPG
Pentatonix's official logo
Background information
OriginArlington, Texas
Genresa cappella
Years active2011 (2011)–present
LabelsMadison Gate Records[1]
MembersMitch Grassi
Scott Hoying
Avi Kaplan
Kirstin Maldonado
Kevin Olusola[2]
Websitewww.ptxofficial.com

Pentatonix is an a cappella group of five vocalists, Scott Hoying, Kirstin Maldonado, Mitch Grassi, Avi Kaplan and Kevin Olusola, originating from Arlington, Texas. The group won the third season of The Sing-Off on November 28, 2011 broadcast on NBC, singing an a cappella arrangement of "Eye of the Tiger" originally performed by the band Survivor as their victory song. Pentatonix won $200,000 and a recording contract with Sony.[3][4]

History

Background and name

Pentatonix began with three friends that grew up together: Kirstin "Kirstie" Maldonado, Mitch Grassi, and Scott Hoying at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas.[2] Hearing of a local radio show hosting a competition to meet the cast of Glee, they arranged a trio version of "Telephone" and sent it in. Although they did not end up winning the competition, it sparked attention around their school, where the group began performing. After their version of "Telephone" gained attention on YouTube, they continued performing.[5]

Scott Hoying and Kirstie Maldonado graduated from Martin High School in 2010. Hoying went off to the University of Southern California to pursue a bachelor's degree in Popular Music, while Maldonado pursued a Musical Theatre major at The University of Oklahoma.[6] Grassi, the youngest member of the trio, was still in his senior year of high school. While at USC, Scott Hoying joined an a cappella group called SoCal VoCals. He found out about The Sing-Off from another member of the group and was encouraged to audition for the show.[6] He convinced Kirstin Maldonado and Mitch Grassi to join him, but the show required at least five members.[7] Hoying met Avriel "Avi" Kaplan through a mutual friend and the trio found Kevin Olusola on YouTube, as one of his videos where he was beatboxing and playing his cello at the same time went viral.[8]

The group effectively met the day before the auditions for the third season of The Sing-Off began.[9] Mitch Grassi skipped his high school graduation ceremony in order to arrive on time for the auditions.[6] They successfully auditioned for the show and eventually went on to win the title for 2011 (season 3).[10]

Pentatonix is named after the pentatonic scale, a musical scale or mode with five notes per octave.[11] The group believed that the scale's five notes matched their membership. They replaced the last letter with an 'x' to make it more appealing.[12] The quintet derives its influences from pop, dubstep, electro, reggae and hip-hop.[2]

The Sing-Off (2011)

Main article: The Sing-Off (season 3)

Performances

Pentatonix performed the following songs on The Sing Off. [Note: they did not perform in Episode 1 or 3]:[13]

Episode Theme Song choice Original artist
2 Signature Songs "E.T" Katy Perry
4 Current Hits "Your Love is My Drug" Kesha
'60s Favorites "Piece of My Heart" Erma Franklin (credited to Janis Joplin)
5 Guilty Pleasures "Video Killed the Radio Star" The Buggles
6 Hip-Hop "Love Lockdown" Kanye West
7 Superstar Medleys Medley of "Oops!... I Did It Again", "Toxic" and "Hold It Against Me" Britney Spears
8 Rock classics "Born to be Wild" Steppenwolf
Country hits "Stuck Like Glue" Sugarland
9 R&B "OMG" Usher (feat. will.i.am)
"Let's Get It On" Marvin Gaye
10 Mastermix Medleys "Forget You" / "Since U Been Gone" Cee Lo Green / Kelly Clarkson
Judges' Choice "Dog Days Are Over" Florence and the Machine
11 (Finale) First performance "Without You" David Guetta (feat. Usher)
Second performance "Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)" 98 Degrees (sung with host Nick Lachey)
Victory song "Eye of the Tiger" Survivor

Critical reception

Commercial performance

Pentatonix reached the following iTunes Soundtrack rankings in the US during The Sing-Off:

Episode Song Highest position
2 "E.T" #3 (Date: 30/09/2011)[14]
4 "Your Love is My Drug" #7 (Date: 12/10/2011)[15]
"Piece of My Heart" #39 (Date: 30/11/2011)[16]
5 "Video Killed the Radio Star" #3 (Date: 21/10/2011)[17]
6 "Love Lockdown" #2 (Date: 26/10/2011)[18][19]
7 Britney Spears Medley #4 (Date: 04/11/2011)[20][21]
8 "Born to be Wild" #6 (Date: 10/11/2011)[22]
"Stuck Like Glue" #4 (Date: 11/11/2011)[23]
9 "OMG" #4 (Date: 16/11/2011)[24]
"Let's Get It On" #3 (Date: 20/11/2011)[25]
10 "Forget You" / "Since U Been Gone" Medley #4 (Date: 25/11/2011)[26]
"Dog Days Are Over" #3 (Date: 01/12/2011)[27]
11 "Without You" #20 (Date: 03/12/2011)[28]
"Eye of the Tiger" #30 (Date: 03/12/2011)[29]

Debut studio album and tour (2012-present)

Scott Hoying and Kirstin Maldonado dropped out of school in the hopes of winning The Sing-Off.[30] After they won, all of the members relocated to Los Angeles in order to pursue a career as recording artists.[31][32] The main goal of the group is to become the first mainstream a cappella group.[33] In January 2012, Pentatonix began releasing videos of covers of popular and classic songs songs on YouTube. Two of their covers, "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye featuring Kimbra and "We Are Young" by Fun, went viral on YouTube.[34][35]

Their much-anticipated EP, PTX Vol. 1, was released on June 26, 2012, charting at #14 in the US Billboard 200.[12][36] It sold 20,000 copies in its first week of release.[37][38] The group has plans for a holiday album and a full-length album.[39][40][41]

Philanthropy

During The Sing-Off, Pentatonix visited the administrative offices of The Trevor Project, an American non-profit organization founded in 1998 and the leading national organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.[42] The group shared their experiences of overcoming bullying and recorded a PSA.[43] A 60 seconds spot about The Trevor Project aired during the live finale, but it was met with considerable controversy as the producers edited out LGBTQ references.[44][45]

Pentatonix performed two shows in Rochester, New York, on 11 December 2011 in support of the YellowJackets' "United We Sing" Kenya project.[46] The event, which also featured all-female octet Delilah, was hosted by the YellowJackets at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. Pentatonix was also invited at the A cappella Palooza fundraiser in Boston in April 2012 (together with Ben Folds, Delilah, Dartmouth Aires, North Shore and the Dear Abbeys from Boston University) in an effort to raise funds for the Mass General Cancer Center.[47]

Discography

Extended Plays

  • PTX Volume 1 (June 26, 2012)
PTX Volume 1 tracklist
No.TitleWriter(s)Original ArtistLength
1."Starships"Onika Maraj, Nadir Khayat, Rami Yacoub, Carl Falk, Wayne HectorNicki Minaj3:01
2."The Baddest Girl"Scott HoyingPentatonix3:49
3."Somebody That I Used to Know"Wally de Backer, Luiz BonfáGotye featuring Kimbra3:19
4."Aha!"Imogen Jennifer Jan HeapImogen Heap2:37
5."Show You How to Love"Avi Kaplan, Kevin OlusolaPentatonix3:53
6."Love You Long Time"Salaam Remi, Jazmine SullivanJazmine Sullivan3:05
7."We Are Young"Nate Ruess, Andrew Dost, Jack Antonoff, Jeffrey Bhaskerfun. featuring Janelle Monáe3:07

References

  1. ^ "THE SING-OFF Season 3 Winners Pentatonix Release Debut EP "PTX VOLUME 1" Tuesday, June 26th". PRNewswire. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Biography of Pentatonix". nbc.com. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  3. ^ Hyman, Vicki (29 November 2011). "Pentatonix scores 'The Sing-Off' title". NJ.com. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  4. ^ Nededog, Jethro (29 November 2011). "'The Sing-Off's' Pentatonix on Going From Newly Formed Group to the Show's Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  5. ^ Malkoff, Amy (27 November 2011). "An Exclusive Interview With Pentatonix's Scott Hoying". casa.org. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  6. ^ a b c Walker, Patrick M. (8 November 2011). "As part of Pentatonix, Arlington trio shines on NBC's "The Sing-Off"". dfw.com. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  7. ^ Hodges, John (25 September 2011). "A Brief Interview with Scott Hoying of Pentatonix". casa.org. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  8. ^ Russ, Stephen. "Faith, Innovation, and Cello Beat Boxing - An Interview with Kevin Olusola of Pentatonix". Beliefnet.com. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  9. ^ Bentley, Jean (29 November 2011). "'The Sing Off' winners Pentatonix on YouTube, Nick Lachey and recording an album". zap2it.com. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  10. ^ Gallo, Phil (29 November 2011). "'The Sing-Off' Finale: Pentatonix Takes The Trophy". Billboard.com. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  11. ^ O'Neal, Cathy (11 October 2011). "Pentatonix on The Sing-Off". TheaterJones.com. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  12. ^ a b Trust, Gary (6 July 2012). "Weekly Chart Notes: Whitney Houston, Pentatonix, Andy Griffith". Billboard.com. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  13. ^ The Sing Off - Music - NBC Official Site
  14. ^ "E.T. by Pentatonix Chart Summary". music-chart.info. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  15. ^ "Your Love Is My Drug by Pentatonix Chart Summary". music-chart.info. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  16. ^ "Piece of My Heart by Pentatonix Chart Summary". music-chart.info. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  17. ^ "Video Killed the Radio Star by Pentatonix Chart Summary". music-chart.info. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  18. ^ "Love Lockdown by Pentatonix Chart Summary". music-chart.info. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  19. ^ Burger, David (25 October 2011). ""Sing-Off" dominates iTunes charts". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  20. ^ "Medley: Oops!...I Did It Again / Toxic / Hold It Against Me by Pentatonix Chart Summary". music-chart.info. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  21. ^ Sony Pictures Television (2 November 2011). "The Sing-Off Hits #1 on iTunes Soundtrack Songs Charts". PR Newswire. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  22. ^ "Born to Be Wild by Pentatonix Chart Summary". music-chart.info. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  23. ^ "Stuck Like Glue by Pentatonix Chart Summary". music-chart.info. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  24. ^ "Omg by Pentatonix Chart Summary". music-chart.info. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  25. ^ "Let's Get It On by Pentatonix Chart Summary". music-chart.info. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  26. ^ "Medley: Forget You / Since U Been Gone by Pentatonix Chart Summary". music-chart.info. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  27. ^ "Dog Days Are Over by Pentatonix Chart Summary". music-chart.info. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  28. ^ "Without You by Pentatonix Chart Summary". music-chart.info. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  29. ^ "Eye of the Tiger by Pentatonix Chart Summary". music-chart.info. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  30. ^ MacKenzie, Carina Adly (28 November 2011). "'The Sing-Off' winner: Pentatonix tunes out Dartmouth Aires and Urban Method". zap2it.com. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  31. ^ Smith, Grady (2 December 2011). "'Sing-Off' champs Pentatonix talk competition, their future album, and (of course) Nick Lachey's puns". Insidetv.ew.com. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  32. ^ Still, Jennifer (30 November 2011). "'The Sing-Off' Pentatonix interview: 'We want mainstream success'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  33. ^ "The Sing Off Season 3: Conference Call With Pentatonix". Reality Wanted. 2 December 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  34. ^ "Pentatonix 'We Are Young' A Capella Cover Goes Viral". Huffington Post. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  35. ^ Wakim, Marielle (16 July 2012). "Pentatonix Are Making a Cappella Cool Again (or Maybe for the First Time)". Huffington Post. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  36. ^ Grein, Paul (4 July 2012). "Week Ending July 1, 2012. Albums: Keeping Adam Humble". Yahoo! Music Chart Watch. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  37. ^ Smith, Grady (3 July 2012). "Winners of 'The Sing-Off' outsell 'The Voice' winner Javier Colon". music-mix.ew.com. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  38. ^ "LINKIN PARKS ONE, MAROON'S NEXT". Hits Daily Double. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  39. ^ Moraski, Lauren (6 July 2012). "Pentatonix: Keeping the a cappella spark bright after "The Sing-Off"". CBS News. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  40. ^ Lawton, Adam (29 July 2012). "Pentatonix's Avi Kaplan & Scott Hoying talk about NBC's "The Sing Off"". mediamikes.com. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  41. ^ "Pentatonix (Interview)". dfwlive.org. 10 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  42. ^ Still, Jennifer (29 November 2011). "'Sing-Off' winner crowned in exciting finale". Digital Spy. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  43. ^ Nededog, Jethro (28 November 2011). "'The Sing-Off' Season 3 Champs Are Pentatonix (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  44. ^ Grindley, Lucas (2 December 2011). "NBC Goes Gay-Vague in Segment on the Trevor Project". The Advocate. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  45. ^ Reker, Art (30 November 2011). ""The Sing Off" Goes Flat: Edits LGBTQ References Out". AfterElton. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  46. ^ Hauser, Scott. "Singing in the Spotlight". University of Rochester. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  47. ^ McSheffrey, Kevin (1 May 2012). ""A Cappella Palooza" successfully debuts at Agganis". Boston Music Spotlight. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
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