Entertainment
Pentatonix sings “Too Much Heaven” by the Bee Gees, has original songwriter awestruck
Jessica
11.27.18

The look on Barry Gibb’s face when the a capella group Pentatonix covered the Bee Gees’ 1978 hit “Too Much Heaven” says it all.

The only surviving member of one of the best-selling groups of all time sat just ten feet away from the quintet at the 2017 “Stayin’ Alive: A Grammy Salute to the Music of the Bee Gees.”

Facebook
Source:
Facebook

The song was on the Bee Gees’ thirteenth album, Spirits Having Flown. It hit No. 1 in both the United States and Canada and was part of a string of #1 hits that would tie The Beatles’ record for consecutive chart-toppers.

Pentatonix is made up of vocalists Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola and Matt Sallee.

The group has won three of their own Grammys: for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella for “Daft Punk” in 2015 and “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” in 2016, then in 2017 for “Best Country Duo/Group Performance” for their cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.”

Check out the legendary Dolly Parton joining the group in their cover:

Their performance at the Bee Gees tribute concert earned them a standing ovation, including from Gibbs himself, as they performed with no instruments, relying instead on their amazing harmonic abilities and vocal percussion.

Facebook
Source:
Facebook

Mitch Grassi led the way on vocals, his smooth tenor highly reminiscent of the original. At times, he even perfectly copied the famous falsetto of the late Robin Gibb.

Facebook
Source:
Facebook

In an interview after the performance, Grassi noted that the Bee Gees have always been known for their tight harmonies, something Pentatonix is obsessed with perfecting.

Grassi also expressed his nervousness about performing, saying that he can’t watch the faces of audience members because he would rather gauge the performance by the applause at the end. He would have been heartened either way, since listeners at the event seemed in awe of the group’s vocal stylings and leaped to their feet the second it was over.

Mezzo-soprano Kirstin Maldonado, the only female member of the group, also expressed nervousness about singing the iconic song, despite the fact the group is celebrated for their epic pop covers.

Facebook
Source:
Facebook

No doubt the members of Pentatonix knew they had some support in the audience. In their post-performance interview, they also mentioned meeting Gibb the year before at the Grammy awards when they all presented together.

When asked about their initial meeting, baritone Scott Hoying gushed that the legendary Gibb was just “the kindest,” sweet, humble, and gracious.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.




Article Sources:
To learn more read our Editorial Standards.
Advertisement