If you don't already know, Pentatonix (often abbreviated PTX) is arguably the best Acapella group out there. Using only their voices, they have transformed the music world. Pentatonix is slowly but surely bringing Acapella, which is usually an acquired taste reserved for choir nerds at Christmastime, into mainstream music. As a former choir nerd (and let’s be honest, I’ll be one forever), I’m biased, but it’s my opinion that Pentatonix is one group that everyone can love, and here are 10 things that prove it.
1. They have a Grammy.
Pentatonix won a Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or Acapella. They are also nominated in the same category for 2016. Hopefully they will be nominated for some of the bigger categories after the success from their last album.
2. They're huge on YouTube.
You may not know this, but Pentatonix debuted when they won the Acapella singing competition show The Sing-Off. After they were dropped from the recording contract they won on the show, they started their now-famous YouTube channel, which now has almost ten million subscribers and over a billion views.
3. They performed on the AMAs.
With the newest installment of the Star Wars saga about to premiere, the American Music Awards asked the John Williams orchestra to perform a medley of the best songs from the Star Wars films. Singing onstage (in the best Star Wars-themed red carpet looks) with them was Pentatonix.
4. They have a #1 album.
In October of this year, PTX debuted their self-titled album, which was the seventh release from the group. It was released the same week as the newest albums from popular mainstream artists Demi Lovato and The Weeknd, but still managed to debut at #1 on the Billboard charts, selling 88,000 copies in the first week.
5. They toured with Kelly Clarkson.
Many people think that Acapella groups can only tour with other Acapella groups. Pentatonix broke the mold this summer when they joined Kelly Clarkson's Piece by Piece Tour. The pop/rock singer is a far cry from Acapella.
6. They sang with Jason Derulo.
Another non-Acapella artist Pentatonix worked with this year was R&B singer Jason Derulo, who has been topping the charts since 2009. He sang on the only cover song on PTX's newest album, "If I Ever Fall in Love", which was originally performed by Shai.
7. They've been getting a lot of attention.
If you've been on social media at any point in the past few months, you've probably seen something about Pentatonix. The first single off the new album, "Can't Sleep Love" has been played on many mainstream radio stations. Every single one of their music videos has received over a million views on YouTube. Besides their Grammy Award, they've won a Streamy, two YouTube Music Awards, and Shorty Award, and been nominated for two Billboard Music Awards. In short, Pentatonix has been making some noise.
8. They performed in one of the biggest movies of 2015.
Number 11 on the highest-grossing movies of 2015 list was Pitch Perfect 2, which earned over $184,000,000 in the box office. Pentatonix was featured in one of the competition scenes as a Canadian Acapella group.
9. They have a platinum album.
That's Christmas to Me, Pentatonix's sixth release (and second holiday album), is the group's most successful album to date. Named after the album's only original song, it peaked at #2 on the Billboard charts. It reached platinum status on Christmas Eve last year in the United States and early December of this year in Canada. It was the 4th-highest grossing album of 2014 and the best-selling holiday album since Mitch Miller & the Gang's holiday album in 1962.
10. They have something for everyone.
As a former choir kid and future music teacher, I love choral music. However, I know it's not for everyone. Pentatonix knows that, too, which may be why they've covered or written songs from just about every genre. In fact, their most popular music video (with over 171,000,000 views) is for their Daft Punk medley, which isn't exactly something my high school choir would have performed.
I know a lot of people who have written off Pentatonix because Acapella just "isn't their thing". If you're one of those people, I encourage you to stop what you're doing, log into Spotify, and listen to Pentatonix. It just might change your life.
