Pentatonix's Stunning 'Amazing Grace' Rendition Sounds As If It Is From Heaven

Nov 17, 2020 by apost team

Pentatonix started out as a small group of friends and singers posting relatively simple videos to YouTube. However, once people started hearing their incredible harmonies and buttery voices, fame came quickly. For many people, a cappella groups conjure images of slightly off-tempo high school performances. The height of music they aren't. Yet, when done properly, a capella is one of the purest forms of music. There are no instruments to hide behind. There are only the voice and the listener. Listening to a good a capella group can be an incredibly moving experience.

With this stunning cover of Amazing Grace, Pentatonix is showing people just how powerful a cappella can be.

Pentatonix is normally associated with its incredibly popular Christmas covers. Many of the holiday songs done by the group have tens of millions of views across many video platforms. But that doesn't mean that they are limited in style. Last month, the group decided to drop a treat for their fans in the form of one of the most powerful covers of Amazing Grace ever recorded.

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This is no small feat. Amazing Grace is perhaps the most covered song in history. A huge variety of singers have left their mark on the classic, from country legends like Johnny Cash to rock heroes like Bon Jovi. It seems like no artist has paid their price until they have put their own spin on this classic spiritual song. Seemingly every variation, tone, and melody has been thrown at the song. While there have been many beautiful versions, it takes something truly special to make a mark. With all of this pressure, Pentatonix still blew it away.

As with so many songs by the group, the song began slowly and built to a powerful crescendo. At first, all you hear is Matt Sallee singing solo. His voice is tender, soft, and clear. There is an almost angelic quality to this ethereal moment, much in keeping with the theme of the song. One by one the other members join in. Scott Hoying, then Mitch Grassi, followed by Kirsten Maldonado, and finally Kevin Olusola. As each voice is added the harmony is richened. The tone deepens. Power grows.

The imagery of the video is almost as powerful as the music. In keeping with the moving style of Pentatonix, the entire video is shot with stunning visuals and vistas. They begin along a tree-lined path. The location isn't clear, but it was obviously meant to evoke the imagery of a funeral or a graveside service. They are all dressed in white, heightening the angelic vibrance.

As the 5-minute clip progresses, the environment changes. By the end of the video, the entire group is in a church, standing before an altar. This is a perfect fit for the spiritual tone and message of the song. It is as if the group is responding to the words of the song. They were lost in the field. They were blind. But as they enter the church and ascend to the front, they find themselves found. They can finally see.

Unbelievably, this is not the only recent release by the group. They have all been hard at work producing their latest album, We Need a Little Christmas. Amidst the trying times of this year, the name could not be more fitting. Even if Christmas will need to be different this year for the safety of all, we all still need a little Christmas in our life. Few things can provide as much comfort as a classic Christmas album.

Christmas albums always pose an interesting challenge to an artist. Because so many Christmas albums have been recorded, it is easy for the genre to seem stale or predictable. However, evolution is always preferable to revolution. When an album takes too much privilege stylistically, it can stop evoking the warm feelings of Christmas we look for. We Need a Little Christmas certainly takes some risks.

The tracklist is a unique collection, even for the daring group. Instead of the classic lineup of Jingle Bells and Silent Night, this album assembles a more unique collection of original and lesser-known Christmas tunes. Yet, one listen to Thank You or Once Upon a December and you will have a new set of Christmas classics to play every year.

Pentatonix is no stranger to Christmas albums. In fact, this release marks their 6th Christmas album in just over a decade. These albums have merited a lot of success, netting the group three Grammys and multiple platinum albums. In total, the group has sold over ten million albums worldwide. Even if you're new to their music, one listen will quickly reveal why they have been so successful.

To some people, Amazing Grace is a Christmas song. To others, it may simply be a spiritual fallback. Depending on your mood it can serve as a joyous moment of exuberance, or it can be a somber reminder of the trials of man. It is all songs to all people, and it is no wonder why it has become one of the most well-known songs in history. For a group to still be able to put a unique and beautiful spin on such a well-established song is a stunning achievement that deserves to be acknowledged. Hopefully, Pentatonix will find just as much success with this album as they have in the past.

Once you listen to this song, you are sure to want to buy the album. What's your favorite song by this powerful group? Talk about it in the comments, and don't forget to pass this article to all of your friends.