The Backbeats have… Read Full Bio ↴From http://www.backbeatsvocal.com/bio/index.html
The Backbeats have barely taken off and already they’ve set the world on fire.
When they first stepped before the camera on Season 2 of “The Sing-Off,” opened their mouths and unleashed their jubilant harmonies, that was not only their network debut – it was the first time these gifted young men and women had ever sung together in public, anywhere.
And by the time they’d seized third place at season’s end, they had ignited a blaze whose light had drawn thousands of fans not only to their unique sound but also to the contemporary a cappella phenomenon as a whole. No one in the Backbeats had any idea where their path would lead when they resolved to compete in the popular NBC series. But once it was over, they knew that they were riding a wave that would take them places none had imagined reaching before. That wave crests with the release of their self-titled, first album on the aptly named Arrival Records/Madison Gate imprint. Drawn together by their televised adventure, knowing that something bigger than their considerable individual gifts was leading them now, they hit the studio with a unified vision and a determination to spread the joy they draw from music to listeners everywhere.
Listen to the shimmering textures, gentle at first and blossoming into the choruses of Katy Perry’s “Firework.” The gentle ecstasies of the lead and backing vocals on their version of Adele’s “Turning Tables.” The full-bodied treatment of “Need You Now” takes on new intensity through expansions on Lady Antebellum’s original three-part arrangement. Every track on The Backbeats crackles with the excitement of artistry energized by the sheer love of singing. That same quality brought them into the spotlight on “The Sing- Off,” but here it rises to a higher level of achievement. Impeccably crafted, this album will be remembered as a milestone in the chronicle of a cappella recordings.
“It definitely encapsulates us as a band and as artists,” says alto Rachel Saltzman, speaking for the group. “It demonstrates a lot of what we did on the show – we portrayed deeply expressive and emotional qualities in our performances. Using that as our backbone, the album gave us a chance to showcase our voices differently than we could on the show. The emotions hit even harder because of the bigger sound we can create in a studio setting.”
That sound comes not only from their talent and camaraderie; it also results from the fact that they insist on singing only songs that speak to them personally. “Every single song tells a story about somebody and something in relation to the meaning of our group and what we try to express as individuals and as a whole,” Saltzman comments.
It is frankly difficult to accept that the Backbeats accomplished all this while most of them were still in college, singing with their school’s a cappella groups, with baritone Kenton Chen, soprano Kelley Jakle, tenor Eitan Nir and alto Saltzman at USC, from which bass Todd G. Levin had recently graduated, soprano Joanna Jones at UCLA, and alto/vocal percussionist Courtney Jensen at Brigham Young University, while Jordan Pharoah, an alumnus of the Los Angeles County High School of the Performing Arts, was performing around Southern California.
This diverse gathering found common ground in the skills demanded for unaccompanied vocals. Perhaps the most important of these is to be able to listen to every voice in the blend while singing, making sure that it all comes together seamlessly. But with the Backbeats in particular, there was an additional requirement that each note convey the greatest possible feeling.
The bonds of trust developed rapidly as they began rehearsing for “The Sing-Off.” “We didn’t know what our group’s sound would be like when we came into it,” Saltzman says. “Like I said, our first performance ever was on the show, so we went on this little retreat before the taping. For a week we lived in a house together and just sang and ate and got to know each other more. You could tell even then there was something special here. We had no idea how people would react to us; we didn’t even think it would last past this summer. But it has and we wanted to keep it going.”
That’s what brought them into the studio. Ben Bram and Kenton Chen, who arranged and produced the album together, kept the magic alive by combining careful execution with spontaneity. “In the recording studio, options are limitless,” Bram explains. “On ‘The Sing- Off,’ The Backbeats only had their ten voices. In the studio, we could track as many times as we wanted. So we arranged everything carefully while also using the strengths of the studio, to maintain the soul and passion of the individual voices and the group sound as a whole. This gave us a chance to explore new songs and dig deeper into a variety of styles.”
“We do more than just sing,” Saltzman concludes. “We tell stories. We evoke emotions in ourselves and, hopefully, in the people we’re singing to. At the end of the day, it’s about making great music. We are a singing group, we are singers and we’re happiest when that’s what we’re doing.”
Landslide
The Backbeats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection
In the
Snow covered hill
Till the landslide brought me down
Oh mirror in the sky
What is love
Rise above
Can I sail through the changing
Ocean tides
Can I handle the seasons of my life
Oohhh
Well I've been afraid of
Changing
Cause I
Built my life
Around you
But time makes you bolder
And children get older
And I'm getting older
Too
Ooo
I took my love and I took it down
The Backbeats' version of "Landslide" is a soulful and melancholic twist on Fleetwood Mac's original song. The lyrics are a reflection on the passage of time, the inevitability of change, and the pain of letting go of someone you once loved. It begins with the singer recounting how they took their love and climbed a mountain, only to have a landslide bring them down. This symbolic fall represents the end of a relationship, as the person is forced to reckon with the reality of their situation.
The singer then questions the concept of love and whether it can withstand the changing tides of life. They wonder if they have the strength and resilience to navigate the highs and lows that come with loving someone. However, despite their fears and doubts, they acknowledge that time has a way of making one braver and wiser. They understand that life is constantly shifting and evolving, and that they too must learn to adapt in order to survive.
Overall, "Landslide" is a beautiful and introspective song that touches on universal themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. The Backbeats' rendition adds a layer of emotional depth to the already poignant lyrics, making it a standout track in their discography.
Line by Line Meaning
I took my love and I took it down
I decided to end my romantic relationship and move on
I climbed a mountain and I turned around
I took a journey of self-discovery to find clarity
And I saw my reflection
I introspected and saw myself for who I am
In the snow covered hill
I saw my reflection in nature, which represents purity and truth
Till the landslide brought me down
Just as a landslide is unstoppable, the end of the relationship was inevitable and came crashing down on me
Oh mirror in the sky
I am asking the universe and myself for answers
What is love
I am questioning the meaning and nature of love
Can the tide within my heart
I am wondering if my feelings will ever settle and become predictable
Rise above
Can I overcome my emotional distress?
Can I sail through the changing
Can I navigate the uncertain and variable circumstances of life?
Ocean tides
Life's unpredictable changes and challenges
Can I handle the seasons of my life
Am I strong enough to deal with the different phases and challenges of life?
Well I've been afraid of
I have been scared of embracing change and facing the unknown
Changing
I am afraid of leaving my comfort zone and starting anew
Cause I built my life around you
My life is centered around the person I was in a relationship with
But time makes you bolder
As time passes, I gain courage, strength, and wisdom
And children get older
As children mature and become independent, I gain perspective on the impermanence of life
And I'm getting older too
As I age, I realize the importance of self-discovery, growth, and resilience
Ooo
An expression of emotional distress and confusion
Contributed by Aubrey W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@acapellacious
I have been performing and listening to acapella for 37 years now. I'm old. I have chased around Take 6, The Real Group, Rockapella to name a few. To this day, I have never heard a song that moved me as much as this one did, and I feel the same level of emotion every time I see it. I have never commented on a youtube video before. I had to get an account just to make this comment. The arrangement is so powerful and done so perfectly. You have rocked my world. .Go....and I will follow.
@wutdafeezy
It’s 2020 and I still feel this way about this performance.
@delvonicalewis6626
2020 still one of the best performances ever
@boteusorr182
2021👍🏽😊
@WilbertGross
2022!
@tysontomko
I remember watching this when it first aired and thinking DANG is this a good performance. 2022 and I'm still watching it
@savontaediggs2151
Their harmonies were amazing! They can do 9th, 11th, and 13th chords ridiculously well.
@alfredkimmel3633
Just had to come back to this performance. Now Joanna--the lead singer in this song--is making her Broadway debut tonight in New York City, starring in the hit musical, Hamilton. No joke!
Congratulations Joanna! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your journey, and now you are living your dreams. We are so proud of you!
@mljs_stv5664
Alfred Kimmel no way! That’s amazing! I always looked forward to hearing her sing every week on this show 😁
@rickortiz5364
Me too I remember watching this live with my mom soon after she passed away this still brings me to tears.