Shenandoah | Bass Singer Cover | Geoff Castellucci

Getting to re-imagine a dusty old tune like this one is one of my favorite things to do, and I hope you enjoyed this "rangey" (is that a word?) version of "Shenandoah". Thanks for watching and listening! Happy New Year, FOLKS!

👇 Be old and boring with me here👇

RELEVANT HASHTAGS #Bass #Shenandoah #Singer #GeoffCastellucci

Arranged, Produced, Filmed, Performed, and Edited by Geoff Castellucci
Production Manager: Kathy Castellucci
Mix Engineer: Ed Boyer

Shenandoah is an old americana/folk song which may have originated as a sea-shanty around the time of The USA's civil war. Regardless of it's origins, I love this melody and if this is your first time hearing it, I hope I did it justice for you. Thanks again for watching!

[angiewoollard]

Geoff - this song, arrangement, and performance is absolutely beautiful.  I thought I'd give you a glimpse into how I listen to music so you can see why I appreciate you and your arrangements so much.  There were three moments in particular that delighted me...

Right off the bat, the intro hanger note (A) (0:09) across several chords caught my ear.  It's the fifth in the first chord (D); interestingly, the minor seventh in the second chord (B min); and deliciously, the second in chord #3 (G).  See below for my thoughts on the seconds in chords. :D

The recurring A/G-ish chord (A C# D over G) which resolves to a G major triad (G B D) REALLY caught my ear.  The A/G gives both an add2 and an augmented fourth to the G chord, which, for me, gives these recurring moments in the song a warm, momentary Lydian feel.  Depending on context, Lydian to me always sounds either mystical/magical, or, in this case, hopeful and comforting, warm and delicious.  Any add2 chord is already going to be my favourite as for some reason, this chord automatically gives me shivers/goosebumps.  The background singers mimic this same Lydian-feel chord progression (2:27).

The first note of the verse (0:29) is a most perfectly hit, beautifully resonant, delicious, deep, delicious (oops, I said that already) chest A1 - a perfect introduction to a Low Bass Singer song. And, lucky us, you've given us THREE of these wonderful A1s. During the intro verse, you've sustained the piano decay, providing us with a sustained root D throughout this section, grounding it and providing a bit of lightness and even more interest to this section.

DELIGHTFUL MOMENT #1:  "Across the wide Missouri" (2:01) - the melody line goes down to D and we, the audience, expect the chord to also go to D, but the chord instead goes to G, making that D of the melody the fifth of the chord instead.  I had to pause the song at this part the first time I heard it, close my eyes, and just take it in for a moment.  This choice sounded extra warm and cozy and beautiful.

In the "round" section (2:26), the piano player comes in with the melody in the lower octave, but then peels off to the root.  Super interesting to my ears.

DELIGHTFUL MOMENT #2: The Unexpected Gmin Chord (2:34). I wasn't expecting that (hence the title). Departures from the norm like this make the ears perk up. Another close-my-eyes moment.

"Across the wide" (2:51) - All of you sang this melody line without harmony, repeating it in unison, then the piano player sings same melody going up to the same octave as the background singers, and THEN all singers split into a nice wide harmony chord (2:55), foreshadowing the excitement of the key change in the next measure.  The key change is up a whole step; usually key changes are only a half step, so this feels even more exciting.

DELIGHTFUL MOMENT #3: I spent a LOT of time analyzing and appreciating these amazing chords (3:37).  What incredible choices (correct me if I'm wrong in my analysis here): F#7, A7, Am7 (!!), Am6 (!!!), resolving to E.  That shift to Am7 was absolutely shiver-inducing, and Am6 is so unusual and so extra tasty.  I teared up several times with each realization.

Geoff, thank you from the bottom of my heart.  You've made my world a better place.

[redacted]

Geoff's voice is like a male siren trying to lure people into the sea

[saoirsacooper]

i know this sound stupid but this young man just made an old lady cry.

[doshjavis]

I listened to this song on repeat when it came out 2 years ago to help me sleep, and now I’m playing it to my 3 day old son and he fell asleep too. Thank you so much Geoff for creating amazing music and I giving my spine the shivers with each subharmonic. Especially those B0’s in Valhalla Calling. ❤️❤️❤️

[divaloulou]

As a singer, one of the most important comment I ever got was this: "Your voice... it heals me." Geoff, your voice heals me. Thank you.

[ColmRMcGuinness]

Hey Alexa, please find me a new career.

[Gretchen_G]

Geoff, you've somehow sung a river. The sheer presence of that deep, rolling bass is like standing on the bank and feeling the river flow by. Then you go soaring upward and I can see the sunset reflecting on the water, with the waves like harmonies. Then you sing softly, and it's like water lightly rippling over rocks.

This is the kind of song you can immerse yourself in; close your eyes and let the music wash over you and carry you along to Shenandoah.

[Phrish]

When he sings this song, I imagine that he's auditioning for high school all state choir. I can see the judges jaws hit the table when he starts singing.

[garryamey]

Thank you Geoff, I doubt you truly understand the joy you give to your audience

[sarahereach]

I played the Patreon preview of this song for my Mom on New Years day, and was surprised when my Dad overheard it playing and started singing along. This song is played in the James Stewart movie Shenandoah, which happens to be one of his favorites. We don't usually see eye to eye on much, but this song gave us something to bond over and really helped me start the year off right with him. We spent a long time talking about this song, and the movie, and then he took me on a tour of the landscaping and creek rerouting he has been doing in my parents 8 acre backyard. One of the big themes I get from this song is love of the land, and listening to this song that day in our yard helped me to see his passion project through his eyes. It also transported me into one of those lovely moments when time stands still and you just feel happy and content. I don't usually get those experiences around my Dad, so this was a precious gift for both of us. (A birthday gift actually, today is my Dad's birthday)

[terereynolds]

I always wanted to play the piano, and the flute but I was born with severe nerve damage in both ears, I was deemed legally deaf. When I was around 5 my grandparents got me a little toy piano for Christmas and my mom got mad and broke it, she yelled how is she supposed to play that thing if she can't hear. My grandpa told her there are great classical pianists that were deaf, and that since I wear hearing aids, I can hear the music and I can and do feel the vibrations under my feet. So, when I was 9 my grandpa bought me a little Magnus Organ for my birthday, my mom gave it away. My mom was shocked when I was in the 5th grade and managed to sing in the choir and made it until I graduated high school. I love your nice, clear deep bass, 2 of my brothers sang and they were tenors, my youngest brother is more into mechanics than singing lol, I'm the oldest of 5 and my sister doesn't sing either. Thank you for your wonderful videos

[dth]

Omg Geoff if you did a cover of Hallelujah....you'd bring the world to tears lol. Great job man

[lindamarks]

1/27. Today, listening to you brings tears to my eyes.

[Catmoore]

Geoff is one of the few singers out there that I will tell people I barely know ‘you HAVE to hear this guy sing.’ Though I’m awfully partial to his Bare Necessities, each new song I hear expands my appreciation for his skills, talent and musicality.

[jacklinka]

The strangest thing is that I've listened to this song several times but never watched the whole vid to the end.
Every single time after a couple of seconds my eyes are getting closed on their own and I just dissolve into the sounds, into the singing, into the air and the vast spaces of Missouri river, where I have never been for real.
The voice is just echoed from the high banks, from the blue water, same cornflower sweater blue, from the dugout canoe bottom and from the crisp blue sky, so airy, so clear and fills all this space like a light fills a glass bottle.
Then Shenandoah himself steps into the boat, sits down calmly and oversees his wide blue expanses while murmuring to the tune with a little approving smile.

[christinebroudin]

Pffff, elle m'émeut toujours autant cette interprétation, tu pars et tu n'entends que la voix magnifique de Geoff dans ce magnifique voyage....😢
Et quand tu regardes ces quatre Geoff passionnés, tu prends conscience du travail que cela demande et je suis toujours épatée de l'aisance dont il fait preuve. C'est beau, c'est fort, ça vous déchire 😊🤗

[CrimsonSandBoa]

My dad used to sing this to me when I was little to help me get to sleep. You brought me to tears. Thank you.

[malmnn]

How am I just discovering this man today? I somehow stumbled across his cover of Ain't No Sunshine about an hour ago and have been listening to him since.

[akakscase]

Geoff is a musical phenomenon. So talented, and so humble. I’ve watched his interviews, his musical videos, and his instructional videos. Across them all he is always kind, patient and does his very best to explain and demonstrate his love of music. He has helped me progress as a singer, and this is one of my most favorite songs ever. Often sang at a higher octave, from the tone and rhythm you can tell it was written for a voice like Geoff’s. Amazing job!

[Jamie_T.]

I will admit I was initially disappointed during your intro to the pre-release when you said the new song was Shenandoah as it's never been a particular favorite of mine but - my bad! Shortly after you started singing I was hooked. This is hauntingly lovely and the solo by the Geoff leaning on the piano sends chills up my spine & brings tears to my eyes every single time I listen which has been every day. As much as I love your bass voice there is something about that higher section that connects to my soul. The video is also amazing - deceptively simple but with such depth. The interactions amongst the Geoff's seriously makes me forget they're not four different people. By the way, my Mom & I both loved your "ode to Kathy" in your intro; very sweet & so true. 😉