In 2019, Pentatonix members dropped an epic cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence.” As you’d imagine, “The Sound of Silence” lyrics are haunting and a perfect fit for the style of this talented a capella group. This may quickly become one of your favorite Pentatonix songs.
Once you hear it, you’ll never forget it.
In my opinion, it’s even better than Disturbed’s “Sound of Silence.” And trust me, I love this song, so I’ve listened to nearly every cover of it I can find.
I love almost all of the Pentatonix songs. Although I’m not a regular concert attendee (I don’t do crowds), Pentatonix is one concert I attended. Because my daughter, Francesca Willis, wanted to go and reassured me that I’d LOVE the group, I went.
And she was right. I’m now a devoted fan. Also, at the Pentatonix concert I went to see, their opening act was the amazing Us The Duo, so I gained two new favorite musical groups in one night.
Pentatonix Members: Who Is Pentatonix?
The a capella group Pentatonix originated in Arlington, Texas in 2011. However, the group unofficially started some years earlier because three of the Pentatonix members went to high school together. The three founding members were in choir class together.
Self-dubbed “choir nerds” Pentatonix members Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, and Scott Hoying attended Martin High School and got their start in a local radio show competition to meet the starts of the TV show “Glee.”
Although they didn’t win the competition, their performance sparked attention at their high school and they began performing on a regular basis.
Once they posted their version of Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” on their YouTube channel, they began to get national attention.
Pentatonix is named after the pentatonic scale, which is a musical scale with five notes per octave.
The Pentatonix members after high school
When the trio graduated from high school, Hoying left to study music at the University of Southern California. Kirstin Maldonado attended the University of Oklahoma to pursue a musical theater degree.
While participating in an a capella group at his university, Hoying found out about “The Sing-Off” and persuaded Maldonado and Grassi to come to join him in the contest. At the suggestion of their arranger and producer Ben Bram, they added bass singer Avi Kaplan and beatboxer Kevin Olusola, who they found on YouTube.
The Pentatonix members all met up for the first time the day before the auditions for “The Sing-Off” Season 3 in 2011.
They won. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Who are the members of Pentatonix?
Kirstin Maldonado is Pentatonix’s mezzo-soprano. Mitch Grassi is a tenor, and Pentatonix new member Matt Sallee sings bass. Kevin Olusola handles the rhythm and beatboxing for the group, while Scott Hoying is the lead vocalist.
Pentatonix Members: Who Is the Pentatonix New Member?
In 2017, Avi Kaplan, the beloved founding bass voice of Pentatonix, announced his departure as one of the Pentatonix members. Although he had the full support of the rest of the group, their sadness at his leaving was apparent. The group released an emotional video of Avi, surrounded by his fellow members of Pentatonix, explaining why he was leaving.
In the video, Avi said that he struggled with the decision to leave the group for a long time. Avi’s main reason for leaving Pentatonix was because he needed more time with friends and family. Holding back tears, he said that he’ll continue to create music and he wished the group all the best.
Pentatonix new member Matt Sallee
Five months after Avi Kaplan left Pentatonix, the group added Pentatonix new member Matt Sallee.
Sallee serves as the group’s bass voice, and he’s doing an excellent job as one of the Pentatonix members.
Side note: is this album cover not absolutely exquisite?
Matt Sallee, 26, graduated from the Berklee College of Music. His first recordings with the group were on the “A Pentatonix Christmas Christmas Deluxe” album.
Can't wait for you guys to hear this! Def one of the most humbling things I've ever sung on! https://t.co/pYiDT7aJHT
— Matt Sallee (@mattsalleemusic) October 17, 2017
Most Notable Pentatonix Songs
Some of the most notable Pentatonix songs are below. Every song listed below is linked to an Amazon link where you can stream it. If you have Amazon Prime, you should be able to listen to most of these Pentatonix songs.
- “Jolene” by Dolly Parton, who sings with the Pentatonix members
- “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye
- “We Are Young” by Fun
- “Carol of the Bells“
- “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen
- “Mary, Did You Know” by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene
- “Imagine” by John Lennon
- “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
Pentatonix Sound of Silence, the Video
We love “The Sound of Silence” and lots of artists have covered this iconic song by Simon & Garfunkel. In fact, another a capella group has covered it as well. However, we think the Pentatonix “Sound of Silence” is super special. This version has become one of our favorites.
Want to sing along with the Pentatonix members? In that case, we’ve put the “Sound of Silence” lyrics at the bottom of the article. Watch the video below.
Pentatonix Sound of Silence Lyrics
Want to sing along with Penatonix “Sound of Silence”? Give it a go with these “Sound of Silence” lyrics.
I’ve come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence
In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
‘Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dare
Disturb the sound of silence
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you”
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed
In the wells of silence
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said, “The words of the prophets
And tenement halls”
And whisper’d in the sounds of silence
We hope you’ve enjoyed this article about Pentatonix members and their amazing cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence.” If you’re like us, this may become one of your favorite Pentatonix songs.
