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On September 26, 2011, baritone Scott Hoying, tenor Mitch Grassi, and mezzo-soprano Kirstin Maldonado performed for the first time on the a capella competition show, “The Sing-Off”, with bassist Avi Kaplan and beatboxer Kevin Olusola. The three best friends from Arlington, Texas, a singer from California, and a beatboxer from Kentucky arranged a capella arrangement of Katy Perry’s “E.T.” for the Week One “Contestant’s Choice” theme. Their rendition of “E.T.”, dancing transcendently across the stage in matching black and pink attire, blew the judges away. The rest is history.
It’s been almost ten years since Pentatonix cried joyous tears of celebration after winning the third season of “The Sing-Off” on November 28, 2011. Scott, Kirstie, and Mitch were only recent graduates from Martin High School. Along with Avi and Kevin — both under the age of twenty-five — Pentatonix not only won NBC’s singing competition, but also two-hundred thousand dollars and a recording contract with the Sony music company, Epic Records.
Pentatonix became a worldwide sensation in the final months of 2011. Ten years later, with the February 2021 release of a new, fully original album during the current pandemic, the band’s success shows no signs of stopping. With over ten years, ten albums, hundreds of YouTube videos, three Grammys, and a bassist member change under their belts, Pentatonix has an extensive list of songs to their names. This article will detail Pentatonix’s history as a group, while also narrowing down the best songs from each album for a curated Pentatonix playlist. Let’s be honest, though: every Pentatonix song is worth listening to.
Pentatonix Origins And Winning “The Sing-Off”
When long-time friends Kirstin “Kirstie” Maldonado, Mitch Grassi, and Scott Hoying were attending Martin High School in Arlington, Texas, they entered a radio contest for a chance to meet the cast of Glee. In a low-resolution video that can still be found on YouTube, the trio sings their hearts out in an a capella rendition of Lady Gaga’s song, “Telephone.” Although their voices have improved greatly since their high school days, no one can deny the strength and talent evident in the pre-Pentatonix cover from over ten years ago. Surprisingly, they didn’t win the competition, but the video gained massive attraction on YouTube. It currently has over 1,000,000 views, as of 2021.
After graduating high school in 2010, Kirstie, Mitch, and Scott went their separate ways for college. While attending USC, Scott joined an a capella group where the future Pentatonix producer/arranger/sound engineer, Ben Bram, informed Scott about auditions for the a capella musical competition show, “The Sing-Off.” In 2011, Scott invited Kirstie and Mitch to the audition.
Scott recruited prominent a capella bass member Avriel “Avi” Kaplan and found the beatboxing/cello-playing Kevin Olusola from his famous “celloboxing” videos on YouTube. One day before auditions, Kevin and Avi flew into the NBC L.A. studio to round out the just-formed quintet. Pentatonix auditioned with a cover of “Telephone,” as a callback to the YouTube video cover. In musical terminology, a pentatonic scale is a musical scale that has five notes per octave. Thus, the name “Pentatonix” appropriately reflects each of the five members in the group. They sailed through “The Sing-Off” auditions after the one-day rehearsal.
Pentatonix rocked the stage with their otherworldly arrangement of “E.T.” Immediately, the five members proved that their voices projected immensely onstage, despite their small group size. During the cover, Avi demonstrates his overtone singing ability, replicating two different octave tones simultaneously. Kevin unveiled his powerhouse beatboxing talent, cementing him as arguably the best beatboxer in the competition. Scott proves he can lead the group and belt in multiple octaves. Kirstie brings feminine power and her beautiful mezzo-soprano notes to the song. Mitch’s six-octave vocal range stunned the audience when he hit shocking high notes that rival most women singers. Their first “Sing-Off” performance made the world realize that this a capella group was a musical force to be reckoned with.
Pentatonix went on to win Season Three of “The Sing-Off” against fifteen other talented a capella groups. All of their arrangements on “The Sing-Off” are a thrill to listen to– and to watch. They are innovative and mix pop, dubstep, and electronic music together using only their mouths. Pentatonix’s performances are magnetic. Each member is so in-sync with one another, it’s like watching a flawless ballet.
Although the band sounds much more mature and layered today, their “Sing-Off” performances are Pentatonix in their purest, most raw form. You can listen to the best of these handpicked tracks on Spotify. Still, watching Pentatonix dually dance while caressing our ears with their heavenly voices (regardless of the low-definition video quality) on YouTube is a recommended viewing experience. You can start with this list, but check out every one of Pentatonix’s “Sing-Off” performances for their full origin story.
- “E.T.” (Theme: Contestants’ Choice)
- “Your Love is My Drug” (Theme: Radio Hits)
- “Video Killed the Radio Star” (Theme: Guilty Pleasures)
- “Love Lockdown” (Theme: Hip-Hop)
- Medley of “Oops!… I Did It Again”, “Toxic,” and “Hold It Against Me” (Theme: Superstar Medleys)
- “OMG” (Theme: R&B Current Hits)
- “Let’s Get it On” (Theme: R&B Classics)
- “Dog Days Are Over” (Theme: Judges Choice)
YouTube Success Interlude
After winning “The Sing-Off” in January 2012, Pentatonix secured their prize of signing with Sony Pictures through their label, Madison Gate Records. Through Madison Gate, Pentatonix worked on their first extended play album, produced by Ben Bram. But “PTX, Volume 1” wasn’t released until six months after securing their Sony Pictures deal. In anticipation of their first EP release, the group started releasing HD-quality covers of popular songs on their YouTube channel, PTXofficial. Although some of these covers cross over with their EP as well, Pentatonix’s YouTube covers like “End of Time” by Beyoncé went viral, despite not appearing on the official EP.
Their YouTube channel now boasts nearly 19 million followers. By choosing to post covers during this interim, Pentatonix garnered massive success and increased their fanbase through YouTube. Watching the group perform together, usually with Kirstie, Mitch, and Scott lounging on a chair while Kevin and Avi sit on the ground closer to the microphone, makes viewers feel at ease. Choosing not to rest on their laurels, Pentatonix wisely formed parasocial relationships with their audience through YouTube.
The group continues to make YouTube covers and release music videos that promote and correspond with their albums. Here are three of those original YouTube covers that served to springboard Pentatonix’s post-“Sing-Off” career.
- “Somebody That I Used to Know” (Cover)
- “End of Time” by Beyoncé (Cover)
- “As Long As You Love Me / Wide Awake” by Justin Bieber / Katy Perry (Cover)
“PTX, Vol. I” (2012)
On June 26, 2012, almost exactly six months after signing with Madison Gate, Pentatonix released their first EP entitled, “PTX, Volume 1.” The seven-track EP included five covers and two original songs. Because this is their first album, it fails to show off Penatonix’s talents as much as their “Sing-Off” performances succeeded in doing. Regardless of quality, the EP sold twenty-thousand copies during week one of its release and charted at number fourteen on the US Billboard 200 chart. To date, the album has a standing record at Madison Gate Records since it peaked at the number two position on the US Billboard Top Independent Albums. (( Wikipedia contributors. “PTX, Volume 1.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 6 Mar. 2021. Web. 10 Mar. 2021. )). Below are the standout tracks.
- “Starships”
- “Aha!”
- “Show You How to Love”
- “The Baddest Girl”
Pentatonix Christmas Albums (2012-2016)
Pentatonix is most well-known for their Christmas albums, and there’s a reason — each track is beautiful. Several of these songs have reached the number one spot on the Holiday 100 chart and continually reach the top of the Billboard 100 chart. “That’s Christmas to Me” (2014) went double platinum by 2016. Pentatonix obtained a coveted achievement with “That’s Christmas to Me” when the album simultaneously topped both the Holiday Albums and Holiday Songs charts for the first time in history. Pentatonix also made history as having the highest charting Holiday album by any group since 1962. (( Wikipedia contributors. “A Pentatonix Christmas.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 6 Mar. 2021. Web. 10 Mar. 2021. )).
Their harmonies are tight and blissful in their holiday albums. Religious and secular holiday tunes alike are given the Pentatonix treatment, and their voices will resonate deep within your soul. Their Christmas albums are imbued with holiday spirit and pure joy that pays homage to the source songs, but sprinkles in some of that Pentatonix flavor that makes the group unique. Beatboxer Kevin Olusola shows off his stellar vocals, and original bassist Avi Kaplan displays a higher vocal range solo in in their “Little Drummer Boy” cover.
Pentatonix sang dozens of holiday tracks over their first three Christmas albums, starting with the release of their first Christmas EP, “PTXmas,” on November 13, 2012. The following recommendations are picks from “PTXmas” (2012), the 2013 deluxe edition, “That’s Christmas to Me” (2014), the 2015 deluxe edition, and “A Pentatonix Christmas” (2016). These tracks feature the first bassist, Avi Kaplan. Because all of their Christmas songs are exceptional, this is more of a generalized list, because narrowing down the best holiday covers is a near impossible task.
- “Little Drummer Boy” (( Pentatonix. “Little Drummer Boy.” PTXmas (Deluxe Edition), Madison Gate Records, 2013. )).
- “Carol of the Bells” (( Pentatonix. “Carol of the Bells.” PTXmas, Madison Gate Records, 2012. )).
- “That’s Christmas to Me” (( Pentatonix. “That’s Christmas to Me.” That’s Christmas to Me, RCA, 2014. )).
- “White Winter Hymnal” (( Pentatonix. “White Winter Hymnal.” That’s Christmas to Me, RCA, 2014. )).
- “Silent Night” (( Pentatonix. “Silent Night.” That’s Christmas to Me, RCA, 2014. )).
- “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (( Pentatonix. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” That’s Christmas to Me, RCA, 2014. )).
- “Mary, Did You Know?” (( Pentatonix. “Mary, Did You Know?” That’s Christmas to Me (Deluxe Edition), RCA, 2015. )).
- “Hallelujah” (( Pentatonix. “Hallelujah.” A Pentatonix Christmas, RCA, 2016. )).
- “Coldest Winter” (( Pentatonix. “Coldest Winter.” A Pentatonix Christmas, RCA, 2016. )).
- “Up on the Housetop” (( Pentatonix. “Up on the Housetop.” A Pentatonix Christmas, RCA, 2016. )).
“PTX, Vol. II” (2013) and “PTX, Vol. III” (2014)
Following the success of “PTX, Vol. I,” a thirty-city, sold-out national headlining tour that won the “Featured Artist of the Year” award in 2012, reached No. 46 on the Top Billboard 200 Artists chart in 2014, and received numerous Billboard awards for “PTXmas,” Pentatonix plowed forward with more albums and more tours. When touring for a second time in 2013, the members worked on writing original material for the upcoming release of “PTX, Vol. II” (2013). Their video cover of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’s “Can’t Hold Us” went viral prior to the album release. Additionally, Pentatonix collaborated with several popular YouTube musicians like violinist Lindsey Stirling, adding music into their a capella sound and transforming themselves into viable actors in the videos.
When they released “PTX, Vol. II” on November 5, 2013, the group concurrently posted an album single video on YouTube. The shocking Daft Punk medley video took the Internet by storm and went viral overnight. Neon blue contacts and a frantic pace of angelic voices flawlessly imitates the electro-pop/dubstep sound of Daft Punk. Honestly, the medley might be the most innovatively arranged and vocally industrious song Pentatonix has executed in their ten years as a group. Apart from its YouTube velocity, the medley won Best Arrangement, Instrumental or a Cappella at the 57th Grammy Awards.
Pentatonix was dropped from their initial record label, but later signed with RCA Records in 2014, releasing a combination of their first two self-titled EPs, “PTX, Vols. 1 & 2,” internationally. In September of 2014, the group released their third EP entitled, “PTX, Vol. III.” Both albums proved a significant step up in arrangement and sound quality from their first album. Also, the group wrote more original songs and increased the record length of both “PTX, Vol. II” and “Vol. III.” Without question, the Daft Punk medley surpasses every track on each album, but their lush voices croon plenty other songs with sublime results.
Audiences can audibly hear how well Pentatonix blends their voices and how each member experiments with various octaves in the albums. Adding in fist pounds and claps enhance their a capella sounds without detracting from their upbeat voices. When you listen to Pentatonix, you’ll feel the need to dance. You’ll listen and try to replicate each members’ part in each songs. Mostly, you’ll find yourself singing along, belting out lyrics with an a capella group unafraid to push musical boundaries.
- “Can’t Hold Us” (( Pentatonix. “Can’t Hold Us.” PTX, Vol. II, Madison Gate Records, 2013. )).
- “Natural Disaster” (( Pentatonix. “Natural Disaster.” PTX, Vol. II, Madison Gate Records, 2013. )).
- “Hey Momma/Hit the Road Jack” (( Pentatonix. “Hey Momma/Hit the Road Jack.” PTX, Vol. II, Madison Gate Records, 2013. )).
- “Run to You” (( Pentatonix. “Run to You.” PTX, Vol. II, Madison Gate Records, 2013. )).
- “Daft Punk” (( Pentatonix. “Daft Punk.” PTX, Vol. II, Madison Gate Records, 2013. )).
- “Rather Be” (( Pentatonix. “Rather Be.” PTX, Vol. III, RCA, 2014. )).
- “La La Latch” (( Pentatonix. “La La Latch.” PTX, Vol. III, RCA, 2014. )).
- “Standing By” (( Pentatonix. “Standing By.” PTX, Vol. III, RCA, 2014. )).
“Pentatonix” (2015)
Until 2015, Pentatonix had only penned a handful of original songs. Most of their EPs or albums primarily consisted of the group covering popular songs in a capella form and altering the arrangement. Finally, on October 16, 2015, Pentatonix released their self-titled, full-length album, “Pentatonix,” containing twelve original tracks and only one cover. When this album was released, Pentatonix felt like an entirely new group. All five members contributed songwriting in “Pentatonix.” The album granted Pentatonix their first number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart.
“Pentatonix” (2015) represents a new era of Pentatonix. Never before had the group produced an album that felt so vulnerable. Due to the group members finally writing their own music for an entire album, their signature style is hoisted to the next level of talent in the industry. Various tracks are tender and raw, ranging from cheerful pop tunes to intimate ballads. The haunting echoes of Avi’s voice thrill listeners throughout “Light In the Hallway.” Kirstie’s soulful bars in her song, “Water,” express her talented range and authenticity. You’ll have these songs on repeat, particularly noticing the profound evolution of Pentatonix’s musical talents.
- “Can’t Sleep Love”
- “Ref”
- “Rose Gold”
- “If I Ever Fall In Love (feat. Jason Derulo)”
- “Water”
- “Light In the Hallway”
“PTX, Vol. IV – Classics” (2017) And Avi Kaplan’s Departure
In April of 2017, Pentatonix released their fifth EP entitled, “PTX, Vol. IV – Classics.” Reminiscent of the sound in their original “Evolution of Music” YouTube video, the group covered a wide range of classic hit songs in various genres like Dolly Parton’s country single, “Jolene,” and Queen’s legendary classic rock ballad, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Pentatonix usually covers recent pop songs, so this experimental album proves the dynamic range of the group’s talents.
Subsequently after their “Classics” EP dropped, Avi Kaplan announced that he was leaving Pentatonix after nearly seven years, due to the difficulties of the band’s demanding tour schedule and how it took time away time from his close-knit family. A mutual respect exists between Pentatonix and Avi’s decision to step away. Since his departure, Avi has had a successful solo career and has released several, beautiful EP folk albums. Listen to Avi’s comforting vocals in these songs on his last album with Pentatonix.
- “Jolene”
- “Over the Rainbow”
- “Bohemian Rhapsody”
- “Can’t Help Falling in Love”
Welcoming Bassist Matt Sallee, And “PTX Presents: Top Pop, Vol. I” (2018)
Losing Avi meant that Pentatonix needed a bassist for their five-person group. Months of speculation on the band’s future eventually produced a final answer to whether or not Pentatonix would continue as a four-person quartet — or a group at all. In October of 2017, alum of Berklee’s a capella group, “Pitch Slapped,” and bassist Matt Sallee filled Avi’s former role as bassist for Pentatonix. Born and raised in Maryland, the now twenty-seven-year-old first collaborated with Pentatonix in a cover of “Deck the Halls” that November. Also featured on the deluxe release of “A Pentatonix Christmas,” Matt proved his a capella aptitude in a cover of “How Great Thou Art.” Pentatonix may have lost the brilliant Avi, but Matt is now an official member of the group with a spectacular amount of talent.
Pentatonix wasted no time pumping out a new album with their recent bass recruit. “PTX Presents: Top Pop, Vol. 1” found its way into fans’ ears on February 27, 2018. The album title perfectly encapsulates the content on “Top Pop.” Plenty of Billboard 100 tracks are remixed as dance-worthy a capella medleys. The album does introduce a more layered sound that the group has slowly trended towards over the years. Voices sound fuller and replicated beyond their five sole voices with duplication and reverberation techniques. As a result, the a capella style of “Top Pop” sounds like Pentatonix, but the covers aren’t as inventively arranged as some of their former covers. Additionally, songs like “Havana” and “Despacito x Shape of You” have been overplayed since 2018.
Pentatonix doesn’t quite hit the musically innovative mark on this album, but their voices are still uplifting and pleasing to the ear. Their “Finesse” cover is the one standout for originality in the arrangement. If you aren’t tired of hearing these songs by now, here’s a few recommendations for your playlist.
- “Attention”
- “Finesse”
- “New Rules x Are You That Somebody”
- “Stay”
Later Holiday Albums Featuring Matt Sallee
The last two Christmas albums Pentatonix has released fully utilize Matt Sallee in the most creative way possible. Their third holiday album, “Christmas is Here!” (2018) features the intense, lighting-speed paced song from The Nightmare Before Christmas, “Making Christmas”. The music video dually embraces both the Halloween-esque vibe and holiday spirit from the film. In a cinematic achievement, viewers watch the five members transition back and forth from cheery holiday garb in a snow-filled wonderland to the orange-hued, candle-lit terror environment. Sallee’s bass voice is arresting. Adding this frenetic song challenges the cookie-cutter holiday songs the band usually sings on their Christmas albums and is one of their most unconventional and bold covers ever released.
Audiences were given yet another Christmas album in 2019, “The Best of Pentatonix Christmas.” The album contains several of their most popular holiday songs listed in the previous Christmas album section, as well as four new tracks. Several singers are featured on this album, including Jazmine Sullivan and a mix with a previous, 1987 recording from the glorious Whitney Houston. Bassist Matt Sallee shines yet again as he takes the lead in the additional cover, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” His deep vibrato and vocal expressiveness turns the cover into a near Broadway soundtrack level performance. You should add the entire album to your playlist, but listed here are incredible tracks not mentioned in the prior section of this article.
- “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” (( Pentatonix. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Christmas is Here!, RCA, 2018. )).
- “Grown-Up Christmas List (feat. Kelly Clarkson)” (( Pentatonix. “Grown-Up Christmas List.” Christmas is Here!, RCA, 2018. )).
- “When You Believe (with Maren Morris)” (( Pentatonix. “When You Believe (with Maren Morris).” Christmas is Here!, RCA, 2018. )).
- “Making Christmas” (( Pentatonix. “Making Christmas.” Christmas is Here!, RCA, 2018. )).
- “Do You Hear What I Hear? feat. Whitney Houston” (( Pentatonix. “Do You Hear What I Hear? feat. Whitney Houston.” The Best of Pentatonix Christmas, RCA, 2019. )).
- “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” (( Pentatonix. “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” The Best of Pentatonix Christmas, RCA, 2019. )).
COVID-19 Album Releases: “At Home” (2020) and “We Need a Little Christmas” (2020)
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the world screeched to a halt. But the music industry was built to withstand a situation like a global pandemic, minus the tours. Pentatonix adapted, releasing a six-track EP on June 24, 2020 entitled, “At Home”, and even music videos, entirely in quarantine. Thanks to technology, recording individually didn’t affect sound production. If anything, the group sounds invigorated in the album, singing their hearts out and releasing music to encourage resilience in a time of chaos and despair. “At Home” even includes a thirteen-song, home-themed medley with seamless track changeovers. “Happy Now”, their first original single written in nearly five years, was also released in 2020.
In the same fashion, Pentatonix gave fans another Christmas album — during a pandemic! The full-length, thirteen-track album diverges from some usual holiday songs with tracks like “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” and “When You Wish Upon a Star.” The album was a harbringer of happiness after a stressful seven months dealing with death and loss from the pandemic. You’d be hard pressed to find any fault with either of these COVID-19 isolation produced albums. Treat yourself and listen to some Pentatonix holiday music, even though the holidays are long over.
- “Home” (( Pentatonix. “Home.” At Home, RCA, 2020. )).
- “when the party’s over” (( Pentatonix. “when the party’s over.” At Home, RCA, 2020. )).
- “Dreams” (( Pentatonix. “Dreams.” At Home, RCA, 2020. )).
- “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” (( Pentatonix. “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.” We Need a Little Christmas, RCA Records Label, 2020. )).
- “My Favorite Things” (( Pentatonix. “My Favorite Things.” We Need a Little Christmas, RCA Records Label, 2020. )).
- “Once Upon A December” (( Pentatonix. “Once Upon A December.” We Need a Little Christmas, RCA Records Label, 2020. )).
- “Happy Holiday / The Holiday Season” (( Pentatonix. “Happy Holiday/The Holiday Season.” We Need a Little Christmas, RCA Records Label, 2020. )).
- “We Need a Little Christmas” (( Pentatonix. “We Need a Little Christmas.” We Need a Little Christmas, RCA Records Label, 2020. )).
“The Lucky Ones” (2021)
We’re still enduring the pandemic in 2021, but Pentatonix used their time to write and sing their first entirely original, full-length album, “The Lucky Ones” (2021). Every individual member of Pentatonix received an opportunity to take the lead on specific songs they wrote on “The Lucky Ones.” Kristie’s voice has matured the most dramatically since her “Sing-Off” performances. Full of confidence and beauty, Kristie sings in a peppy mid-range octave in her original song, “Be My Eyes.” Her aura of gentle, yet passionate yearning culminates in the sweetly sung ballad, “Exit Signs.” Mitch and Scott both speedily run up and down octaves in “Coffee In Bed.” Matt and Kevin effortlessly magnify each song with their vocals and full bass or beatboxing, respectively.
Finally, the eponymous song, “The Lucky Ones,” the last track on the album, is a genuine expression of Pentatonix’s career. They sing about how far they’ve come, both professionally and personally, against the soft “thumps” of Kevin’s beatboxing or complete silence. The end word of each line is punctuated with a break in between for listeners to reflect on every individual lyric. “The Lucky Ones” (2021) album speaks of heartbreak and love. Themes of introspection and confidence generate pathos. This original album feels most evocative of Pentatonix’s transformation in a contemplative, nuanced manner.
Listening to “The Lucky Ones” is taking a diegetic journey with Pentatonix. Singling out tracks isn’t necessary here, because “The Lucky Ones” deserves to be heard in its entirety.
Pentatonix’s Journey Has Only Begun
The release of “The Lucky Ones” should make fans realize how lucky they are to have celebrated nearly ten years of Pentatonix. The group brought a capella to prominence in the modern era. Pentatonix has evolved and changed over the years, but their music always remains focused on positivity. Without a doubt, the group has optimistically influenced the music industry. Catch up on Pentatonix music now, because they assuredly have much more in store for us in the future.
