To be clear... this is a completely re-tracked version. Tori is the real deal.. and fabulous. She's not Karen, never will be. But she's 100% Tori... and that's something to really be excited about.
Hey stop bashing my man here lol , you’re talking about an iconic song, sung by one of the most gifted voices in music ; natural for him to compare . I’m playing Devils advocate here in the sense: 1. Yes he’s correct , the tiny details are not as refined as Karen and totally agree on the arrangement and the clarinet not as tuned as original 2. But on the other hand .. Carpenters had a studio to perfect the arrangements , these guys are doing it at home . Also Tori though tone very similar has a slight different vocal signature . Great reaction buddy . Like you mom and dad had this song playing at home all time . The carpenters are mental photo book memories of a life in the 80’s growing up kids only dream !
To be even more clear... NOBODY has ever been somebody else. Let's face it, there's only a few people on this planet that are MORE KAREN than not. WE KNOW she's not Karen Carpenter. Appreciate she's keeping the music... and sound... alive.
Thing is, she's not trying to be Karen. She's trying to be Tori, who strongly resembles Karen in vocal range and tonal quality. She also covered some Olivia Newton-John songs. I love this girl, and can't wait to see where she takes her career. I so hope for a renaissance of this musical genre!
Your points are well-taken. Her personality comes across as such that she would be the first to admit that she falls short of Karen's vocals. She seems humble and full of respect for Karen and Richard Carpenter. Tori also has some TH-cam shorts covering bits of covers of Olivia Newton John, and those also greatly impressed me such as in "Have You Never Been Mellow" when she sings "now I don't mean to make you frown." Her story is even more fascinating when one realizes that Tori gave her first performance to a larger audience only a couple weeks ago. It's almost miraculous that someone with a voice like hers also has such a deep love for these older songs.
She is amazing, isn't she? She may not quite have Karen's lower register, but the first time I heard Tori sing, I had tears in my eyes. I had waited nearly half a century to hear someone else who could sing like Karen, and I hope she gets the chance to record her own music someday.
I love your comment. I am in total amazement about the quality of Tori's voice. I never thought I would hear another person who could make me feel what Karen made me feel--and Tori is that person.
I felt the same thing, The first line of vocals just overwhelmed my senses, I immediately had goosebumps and tears started to fill my eyes. I truly couldn't believe what my ears were hearing. How could this girl possibly be so close to Karen's voice? The sounds filling my ears pulled me back immediately to my childhood and the wonderful memories of a great era in America. I missed the voice of Karen so much. Tori's performance and her vocal precision in the lower ranges will make her a super star. We haven't heard a voice like this in 40 years. Tori must be shared with the world. Absolutely Fantastic. Thank you to all who performed in the video it was excellent.
There will never be another Karen Carpenter, however, Tori, without a doubt, does the best covers of the Carpenters! Best way to describe the difference, Tori has a slight "rasp" that Karen doesn't have. Where Tori's vocals vibrate Karen's was pure.
I've heard Tori's version hundreds of times and still gives me goosebumps and a tear as soon as I hear the first sentence. Your reaction and facial expression to the first sentence was priceless! Thanks.
I think every Karen fan who enjoyed her music from the 1970s (which includes myself) had the same reaction. Awe and appreciation. I think if most of us didn't know this was a recording of someone other than Karen's, we would think it was her. The problem is we all see the video, see it is Tori and know it is a cover- which ruins a true blind evaluation. One thing many don't know is Tori did her part months before Jeff got with her and she sent the tracks and video to him and created what we are seeing. The fact that she did that all without autotune or pitch correction is outstanding. We can nit pit all we want, but one thing is for certain. Tori Holub is an exceptionally gifted singer which doesn't rely on pitch correction or excessive vocal runs which has been popular with other 20 year old singers. Finally a young singer that holds a note beautifully, has the tember in her voice and loves to craft the types of songs which are timeless instead of wanting to get a song with a good hook line to get commercial success.
I reacted the same as you Larry. It left me emotional and elated. It touched me to believe that someone not our age healed my broken heart for Karen. Finally. I smile daily anchored to these performances by Tori. And this is goodness.
Oh, agreed. These points are just observations of the differences mainly in the lower register. Karen just edges out Tori on a technicality, but her version is still a 10 out of 10 as it stands on its own.
Your smile tells it all, identical to my initial reaction. I really don't consider this a cover. Often due to the band or singers unique abilities covers are never reproductions and reflect their own spin. This is an exceptional successful recreation of the original song. I concur that the opening clarinet is the only part that sounded slightly off to me. Loved your comment about hearing her smile and there's also a warmth implied. Nicely done. As a 70 yr old sound engineer, for many cover bands, I believe that Tori actually has a wider range that Karen. Her ability to go deeper is highlighted in the great analysis link below. Hey, she's only 20. Check out her channel for her Olivia Newton John shorts. An unbelievable talent. For a revealing technical side by side vocal comparison analysis with Karen see: th-cam.com/video/-g0jHAyLqvM/w-d-xo.html
Your over emphasis on the differences actually did undermine an enjoyment of the reaction for me. No one will ever sound just like Karen, but I'll bet she's smiling down on this gifted 20 yr. old who is paying the ultimate compliment to the contribution that she and Richard made. Like you, I'm very familiar with the subtleties of the Carpenters sound, but I much more enjoyed your initial reaction to hearing Tori's voice and the subsequent genuine emotion you showed than the heavy emphasis on technical differences. Just my opinion though.
Agreed. Larry has some valid points, but J think most were drawn here to get an honest reaction rather than a vocal analysis. The true beauty in her performance is the memories she evokes from those that heard the Carpenters and have such great memories of her. Tori transports you back to those memories and that is one of true blessings of music.
I have wondered what Karen Carpenter would sound like if she wasn't limited by those to sweet pop arrangements on EVERY song...................Tori might just give us all a taste of what could have been.
Karen is Karen. Tori will never be Karen but what she's bringing to the table is something no one has to date. She's able to evoke emotions and feelings created by Karen's voice in decades. Tori is outstanding . Listen to her many other Carpenters covers and quit being so mit pickey. You're expecting her to sound just like Karen and that's not going to happen. Give credit where credit is due.
An old musician speaks: Let's do this. Let's find an oldies station. Dare them to play THIS version and pass it off as the real McCoy. I can well imagine the listeners for the most would be totally fooled same as I was! Tori's good! And as for the clarinet? A shade more compression would help. That's what my ears say would work.
Larry, Tori is the equivalent of Leonid & Friends. You're right, people need to hear this in real life! Well done critique. She's as close to Karen that I've heard. Thank you.
Larry! Enjoyed the reaction. What you may not know is that, despite Tori's affection for Karen and her incorporating nuances to her singing as homage, she's stated she doesn't think she sounds like Karen. She just loves Karens's singing and happens to be a fabulous singer (covers or no). I got what you were saying about Karen's strength on the lower tones. I think Tori has a rounder, softer timbre, whereas Karen had a lot of overtones to her sound, which is what made her voice so nice to listen to. And the overtones were very present at the lower end of her range. By the way, Tori does not only covers of the Carpenters at her site, but Olivia Newton-John, which takes her up into soprano range. She also does covers of other artists and some originals. On top of that, she has a video in which she takes apart the harmonies and records them on a multitrack portable studio after which she plays back the high parts, low parts, then the whole thing. Tori has a wonderful ear and is no slouch as a producer of her own covers even before this one.
Hy Larry, A duch guy here from France 69jr old, I totally agree with your comments, I found exactly the same differences when I first heard Tory's version. And also got teary eyes, like I used to get from Karens voice when it sort of embraced my ears.
This is the closest performance sonically to anyone ever covering the Carpenter's songs. Tori Holub & James Wilkas are amazing! I encourage you to watch "Carpenters vs Tori Holub" by Eduard2004. Also, please listen to Tori's cover of the Carpenters Burt Bacharach Medley.
I am a Karen Carpenter Fan. Always have and always will be. When I first heard Tori my first reaction was this young woman sounds just as good as Karen. Yes, there are differences but, this is what makes Karen,Karen and Tori,Tori. Great singers! It's your choice who you like best. They both move me to tears. So Beautiful they are. So, to me knit picking makes no sense.
I was watching another video of Tori, for the first time, when I noticed some of her notes were so similar to Karen Carpenter. The first two notes of this cover confirmed what I had heard. Wow, her voice is amazingly close to being a perfect copy of Karen. ❤
OMG! She sounds so good. I was in high school when Karen passed away. She had a wonderfully unique voice and was in her prime. My reaction was very similar to yours when I first heard Tori. Wow!
Hi Larry - this is my favorite 'reaction video' to Tori. You were so entertaining to watch !!! A fair analysis as well. Larry it would be fantastic if you did a 'reaction video' to her song "Impossible" to hear her Tori voice as it is naturally. Also she can do a mean Olivia Newton John cover - please also 'react' to Suddenly which is does as a duet with Dan Westly - another talented musician who like Tori, seems the real deal... Thanks again Larry - I'll keep my eyes, toes and fingers crossed for more 'Tori Reactions' YAY ! Cheers !
hi im a big big carpenters fan and i had the same reaction there are lots of carpenters tributes and ive never herd anything like tori i agree to try and mimic Karen well you wont be able to but tori's voice does remind me so much of Karen so I'm a massive fan thank you for a great reaction. peter from wales
I have watched many "reaction" videos and enjoyed them. However having recently found your channel I am extremely impressed on how erudite your analysis is> This, combined with your visceral reaction to the artistry of the music itself, to me, makes this by and far the best.
@@larryshair hey Larry. Two things. Who is Tim that you mention? And it’s time for another Tori song so you are done with the shock and awe and can relax and enjoy. Maybe Something To Believe In. That’s written and arranged for Tori in the style of Bacharach/Carpenters. It’s an original. The “Promo Video” has her singing in it. The other is audio only. She’s shot a music video for this but don’t know when that comes out. She stayed in L.A. after the Carpenters 55th that she sang at. There were pictures of her in costume on a green set. If you want to see her sing at the 55th, I recorded it on my iPhone. Click through to my channel. It’s right there. Notice the pictures I used for the thumbnail. Joe
I get what you're saying here, from a musical standpoint. I think the reason folks are getting a bit defensive is that... when I think back on how I reacted months ago when I first heard this... I think the first inclination - once you've heard Tori sing the first few notes - is to put the analysis aside for the first listen... and just BASK in this voice... the likes of which we thought we'd never hear again... It was very clear, watching you react to this first listen, that you did feel that same amazement that I think we all have.
If you go and listen to the Carpenters original version, those six notes on the clarinet are pretty much identical in tone. I can understand why you got a little teary because the instrumental rendition and Tori's voice is that good!!. I cannot see anyone else getting anywhere near this cover. It should be commended for what it is, a masterclass in Jim's production and video editing and Tori's beautiful voice.
@@jbs256 Extraordinary if true. @MarkNeko may be a singer and voice tutor like I am, to say what he does. But the relaxation, the control, the evenness through the range, nice vocal line through the vowels - these are things most of us have had to learn the hard way!
@@georgebur things I’ve learned over time. See her interview with Lee Richie, it’s on TH-cam. She’s an amazing talent, IMHO. Also she re-recorded her performance of Something In Your Eyes from the 55th. The audio there was not great. So she made a studio version and even added backing vocals because of course she did. ❤️ th-cam.com/video/3JP9CNs9YV4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=BgiGAQqUNpCAm6fN
@@jbs256 I have previously looked at what you are referring to. I think the live performance, with piano only, is the most impressive of all. That is where we can see exactly what she can do without the aid of technology (other than the microphone). The ultimate would be with piano and no microphone at all, which may have been achievable in the church. That is how to confirm the top singers.
@@georgebur I agree as to the rawness. I also appreciate her engineering and layering skills. All on display on the “Studio” version. My recording is decent and I did delete the piano and checked the clean vocal. She’s crazy accurate. “Eyes” is flat on the G4 as a highlight, every time. I’ve learned from Fil. I can tinker. 🤓
No need to nit-pick. She’s not trying to imitate Karen, which nobody can. As a musician you should know that no two people would ever sound the same. You are spending more time criticizing Tori instead of enjoying what she’s put out which nobody has done before. You seem to be missing the point that this recording took a lot of work to sync each clip and how many takes it must have taken to put this together. Try listening without stopping. Give them the credit they deserve instead of picking up on the little things. After all, this is entertainment for our enjoyment.
The point I made in a post just now. This is popular music, entertainment. A listener can actually nit-pick the original Carpenters version depending on their particular taste.
i do not mind a little nit-picking as we know she is not Karen but i just want to hear her as it is great to me. She and Richard needs to do a Christmas album, etc.... You got Goose bumps, for me it is a hug as you put it and it just makes me feel good in these days and we need it. Peace.
Chris, in early March Tori dropped an original "Carpenters" song. It it truly "Something To Believe In." Last week she did a live performnce at Crooners in Minnesota. I understand she is also to appear at the 55th Anniversary bash of the Carpenters signing with A and M records.
Firstly, this is not just a cover. It is a reincarnation of the Carpenter sound! I agree on some of the comparisons you mentioned, but this is not Tori trying to be Karen. This is pretty much her natural voice! She has other artist covers and an original and still the vocals have some Karen vibe.
I'm with you Larry. I grew up with the Carpenters - have all their albums - including the one that she is emulating. It's good that she can sing like her to include Karen's distinguished vibrato. Always measured and at the right times. I don't blame you for 'knit piking'. Those of us that Love and absolutely miss Karen Carpenter would/are doing so as well. Thank you for sharing this. It got me to tear up as well. So, so close.
Even original singers often can't replicate their studio recording. Karen had 20 years practice at being Karen. I understand Tori only has a few years practice.
Technically for this song Karen had about 4 years of practice and Tori 2-3 years. So each came in with a similar level of experience and BOTH are/were amazing. We are in for a treat, I think, as Tori can sing the songs Karen never did and do them justice. In addition to her own. As Jim said in the info of this song, Buckle Up. ❤
Good review. You definitely show you know Karen's voice very well. I had picked up a lot of the same things. However, this is what will blow you away. Tori is NOT emulating Karen. That is 100% her voice!! Most others doing Carpenter covers just are doing an impression...sometimes quite good though. Tori does imitate the connotations etc. of singing the song, but I look at that as singing "sheet music". The voice is not an impression at all. That is Tori's voice....no effort for her to sing that. She has many shorts of other Carpenter songs as well as Olivia Newton John where her voice there is even closer to Olivia's! She has a medley of Burt Bacharach songs where it sounds just like Karen singing those songs. Tori's voice actually does the higher range better than Karen IMHO. I also think Tori's voice overall is "smoother". Karen often has a little frog/growl in spots...especially hitting the lower notes. Tori just boom hits the notes so smoothly. I also wonder if you put Karen on modern audio mics and equipment how she would sound different. There would be slight difference versus audio from 1977-1980.
The differences between Tori and KC low registers can be attributed to differences in EQ settings, compression settings and microphone model. Very subtile.
I just discovered Tori a fews ago. Unfortunately, she doesn't have a lot of content that she sings the entire song. There are a lot of short 1 min plus songs that she does. Her Burt Bacharach/Hal Davis Medley is worth a listen/reaction. The Carpenters did this same medley back in 1970 on the Ed Sullivan Show. Tori also has an audio only of Merry Christmas, Darling (became one of my favorite Christmas song when I heard it in concert in 1970). Another audio only song to listen to is Georgia On My Mind
I’m not on TT but on her Instagram, almost of the shorts are longer. So better but not perfect. There are songs on TH-cam not on Instagram, even some shorts. And vise versa. A treasure hunt.
@@rlew49ers FB and IG are both Meta so related. Should be a log right in or easier than some. It’s worth it for the longer videos, like Crazy On You and Now. There’s more. Thank you! I’ve been the sole requester from November to February. I met Ron and now are seeing others. Makes my heart swell. I think Wings (me) ignited the boosters, so to speak. I just did Shawn and Mel even though $$$ because of their love for Karen. I can’t do that all the time, I’m retired so… I’m getting set to go to the 55th and tomorrow I see her live. Be well and see you in the comments! I’m noticing more and more familiar faces. Tori’s Troops! ❤️ Joe
@@rlew49ers I also posted a video I recorded of Tori live at the 55th Anniversary. Just search Tori Holub and sort by date. Look for the thumbnail of note. I linked Larry to it too. Joe
Larry starts out by being "The Gate Keeper", and not letting it play out and "feeling" the COVER. The look on his face is one of panic, relax Larry, nobody can replace Karen.
Another good lady to react to is Harriet, an English singer. Her voice also has a warm, Karen-type sound, but also her own sound combined. She also has originals that are really good.
If this doesn't get you to believe in reincarnation, then, I honestly don't know what will. When I close my eyes & listen to Tori's version, I'd swear that I'm hearing Karen's original from 54 years ago. A young lady singer, named, Harriet, over in the UK also has a voice close to Karen's voice.
I am in my late 60's and have been a fan of the Carpenters for around 60 of those years. I gave young Tori 8/10. I have to admit that Tori is very good. Tori isn't comfortable in the lower range just like most males are not comfortable doing falsetto. The lower she goes the less control she has. With a little more practice Tori will nail her lower range. I think the Clarinet was related more to Tori's key than anything. You have to remember Karen had a super wild range. In Australia we have a singer by the name of John Farnham. He has a vocal range similar to Karens. Johns voice is unique and he knows how to use it. I am not sure if you have heard of him but if you haven't check him out. While John's studio recordings are great, John is best served LIVE.
If I’m not mistaken, Farnham joined Little River Band after Glenn Shorrock departed the band. More big shoes to fill, and Farnham did a respectable job.
@@poldidakhe was also asked to join Queen after Freddie died, but declined, I believe because he didn’t want to be the front man for a band after he had already done that with LRB.
With all due respect, I think you may have got a little caught up in the emotion of how close Tori is to Karen. Tori is Tori, she is not trying to be Karen (or ONJ in the shorts she does of her songs), she simply has a very similar range & tone (she is also a huge Carpenters fan). Her voice is truly golden & why so many of us sit open mouthed & then smiling when we are listening to her, like you did. Some constructive points & a decent review (a little bit of credit to Jim Wilkas for his hard work would have been nice though). Thank you for the review Larry, this all helps get Tori noticed around the world, what a voice, what a talent she is!
Hi again Larry, Put her up on a stage? She was, at The Carpenters 55th Anniversary! Credibility. Met Richard. Who previously commissioned Georgia On My Mind. Look who produced it. Well maybe this song will do it for you. I know you know it… (They Long To Be) Close To You; by Tori & Jim th-cam.com/video/ytncWacUKJE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=xqbufw1FYkHSk6Bp Joe
Hm. It's a tribute not a Dolly the sheep scenario. Karen was born with her voice and Tori was born with hers. Did you almost cry? Then I feel you got what you needed from the music. Nostalgia induced by a 20 year old kid! isn't that a ridiculous sentence? Your nitpicking as you call it, is bit of a down turn for me. Tori was sublime and stands on her own merits. Perhaps I was mistaken when I though we the listeners were getting some upbeat reactions. Your backhanded complements are odd. She isn't Karen and if you read her own words, she's not trying to be Karen. Still gave you a thumbs up. Peace. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Ok... I'm probably risking A LOT now, lol 🤭 But I hope you won't punch me in the face if I tell you that I don't think I've ever heard any of Karen's song.... I already know how much you love her vocals and I promise I will check some of her work soon. Loved the reaction as always 😊 Hope you're doing great, bud! 😊
I can't get excited about a clarinet difference. Differences between Tori and Karen at a nuance level are not relevant are they? Karen herself would sing this song with slight differences each time. The key thing is how the whole performance flows and comes across. We should judge how each version stands on its own right, as a piece of popular music. On listening to Carpenters studio version, I think we could equally nit-pick that. In retrospect, and in my opinion, some parts of the original could have been better managed. I think of "Sharing Horizons that are .." where at times we hear quite a throaty and piercing quality, with the double tracking adding to the distortion. But taking the performance as a whole, I love it just like any Carpenters fan from 1970 onward. The key thing to me is that Tori is reinforcing interest in the Carpenters and Karen's voice, an interest that has never gone away. If more artists covered soft rock to the applause of all, we may even see soft rock have a renaissance. (We certainly need something right now after the latest Grammy's. Our young people need real songs to sing and play)
Wings of Pegasus compared Karen with Tori. Yes, they do sound very similar, to me as much as to you, to the point where some thought Tori was lip synching to Karen. lol But the wave forms of their voices are quite different. Which only goes to also prove that pitch correction is a very tiny part of what goes into having a beautiful voice, and even similar ones.
Also Tori is Pitch Perfect at times. Just like Kacie was. She can hit notes. Tori has picked up a troll who keeps saying she’s using pitch correction software. He can’t figure out he’s seeing Tori being perfect at various times. To prove a point I found some iOS software that can strip away instruments (free trial) and another to (free) pitch monitor. I recorded her two songs at the Carpenters 55th. I stripped away the piano. Monitored the songs. Tori is crazy accurate. Hitting notes every so often. But the words “Your Eyes” where she soars, she is bang on and flat on the G4. The troll would say “pitch corrected!” Except, I recorded it and uploaded it straight to TH-cam. No editing or post processing. She is just that good! The girl is amazing, just like Fil demonstrated.
@@jbs256 Every time Fil shows us the voices of the greats from decades ago, they can all hit their notes. Why do people think great singers of the present can't do it, too? With good singers, pitch correction isn't correcting anything. It's just making human voices sound more like machines. It shouldn't even be called Pitch Correction. It's pitch sticking and vocal distorting.
@@jeffkooistra264 absolutely correct! It’s so discouraging that great singers of today are being post processed unnecessarily. What possesses these “producers” to do this crap is beyond me.
Similarities, yes, but totally different. Doesn't "hit me in the gut". Tori is undoubtably talented, don't get me wrong. Unless she wants to end up in a tribute show, she needs her own style and songs.
This is likely why she has yet to be signed by any label. A&R folks are probably waiting to see what her voice, skills and repertoire develops into on her own, before inking her.
Larry, wow welcome to the Tori ride! You’ve only just begun. I was algorithm’d Tori last October. TH-cam said you might like THIS!! Holy frack, what am I seeing and hearing. That was just a short video. Tori has loads of short videos that she SELF PRODUCES! Layer, harmonies and now multi-instrumentalist. Just after I started she dropped a full length cover of The Bacharach/David Medley!! OK she is basic on drums but OMG the skills to tackle that with just a music track the RC made for the Japanese Karaoke market. That’s your next task. That was before Jim. Jim saw the medley and was shocked. He also felt it needed more Richard. So he added himself made the video a split screen and showed it to a Tori. She loved it he released it and they collaborated to make what you just watched. Now Mr. Nitpicker! You missed the biggest nit you could have picked! Karen SOARS on “rising sun” Tori sings it. The rest you were mostly missing the boat. Jim’s clarinet is just fine. Watch Eduard2004 ‘s mashup videos. He has 3, 2 on We’ve and one on The Medley. That last one is a spoiler so watch the Tori and Jim version first. That’s right next to We’ve on Jim’s channel. I’ve been requesting reactions to Tori since early November when I saw none and this angel is singing her heart out. So if you search you will see a history of reactions. Mostly me but now since Wings of Pegasus (me) more have joined Tori’s Troops. Go watch the two episodes Fil did on Tori, I’ve not seen Fil smile this much in a long time. Search her name and you will find a cornucopia of great stuff and one troll. LOL. TH-cam has all the full length stuff. But, Instagram has some shorts that are longer. Like, Crazy On You, oh yeah, she covers ❤, 4 of the band members! Olivia, Joni, Carly, Cass, The Beatles, The Righteous Brothers, Bread and so many more. She’s into the 60-80’s primarily. She has originals. Something To Believe In is her current single. She has 5 songs on iTunes and the big streamers. When I ask a gray haired Carpenters fan for Tori. I now ask; have you taken your meds, are you sitting, maybe a doctor’s note? I’ve had two almost strokes! This was before We’ve!! I just blew away Shawn and Mel, they love Karen too. Now they love Tori. One thing more to know. Tori is a Carpenters super-fan. She used to have a video of her memorabilia collection. OMG as big as any except a couple, that I’ve seen. So it’s NOT that she’s copying Karen, that’s her voice! As you will see. What ever she does people say they hear Karen. I don’t! I hear Tori. On a Carpenters song she does what I call “homage mode.” She will impart some Karenisms. To make it sound right. As for Harriet and Chloe. They’re good. But I can listen to Tori sing all day, guilty. I cannot for them. To each their own. IMHO no one is closer overall to Tori with the charm she imparts. Simon would say “the entire package.” On Thursday Tori will be performing two songs at The Carpenters 55th Anniversary Celebration, Acoustic Night. There are a small group of invited singers including Tori. It’s a 4 night event over multiple locations. It’s fan based, probably no Richard. Though Tori, in an interview, recently admitted RC does know her and has heard her and likes what she’s doing. She was coy and didn’t say anything else. If you search her name the interview will come up. It’s a week ago. I’ve written War and Peace. She’s a bundle of joy and amazing. Have fun. Joe
@@larryshair Larry, you want to shake and tear up some more. No nit-picking here. Just pure joy. Last week I attended the Carpenters 55th Anniversary Celebration. Tori was an invited singer for Acoustic Night. Tori sang Something In Your Eyes (the song Karen died before singing) and Yesterday Once More. I shot the performance with my iPhone in 4K HDR. It’s decent but not perfect. I’m getting praise for releasing it. So I’m good with it. It was also shot by a pro but, he’s going to take forever to edit everything he’s got. I’m linking my video. Of note is the thumbnail. There is a significant picture on it. Many nit-pick (wink) but are they more credible than who she’s with? The Wizard came to meet Dorothy. Warning if you decide to react to this. Take your meds, be seated, tissues at the ready. Especially the first song. Have fun Larry! This is history in my opinion. Joe Edit: Even better. Since the sound wasn’t good from the 55th. Tori re-recorded Something In Your Eyes in her studio, added some backing vocals, of course, and used video and stills from the event. Much better than what I shot (mine is raw so there’s some value) and a must listen and view. th-cam.com/video/3JP9CNs9YV4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=BgiGAQqUNpCAm6fN Raw performance below. th-cam.com/video/uC-psDgHl0c/w-d-xo.htmlsi=d6EXnVYvWkxKjhae .
I think that Tori is absolutely amazing. The cover seemed very intentional in a strict cover. I feel that this was a close as we will EVER get to a new Karen Carpenter. She is fantastic, but Karen, for the reasons I stated, just barely edges her out.
@@larryshair you really should check out her “Studio Version” of Something In Your Eyes. You should know that’s the song Karen died before singing. Dusty sang it with Richard in 1987, for “Time.” Tori sang it and I saw it live at the 55th. The sound was boomy, so Tori re-recorded it. A must listen for any true Carpenters fan. I mean Karen never sang it, so no comparison, it’s “just” Tori. Just, Tori. You can’t say Karen did this, or did that. 🙏 No nit-picking just did Tori do justice to the song. She’s not copying Dusty at all. And Dusty did great! This is an IOU to Tori and Jim. You are over the shock now. This is Tori, 100%, she finally gave herself in the notes, Producer credit. Long overdue on her self-produced works. Who is Tim? Was he the requester? He certainly didn’t disappoint, did he. Joe
To much interruption and diagnosis she is Tori and isn't trying to be Karen just wants to get close as possible and I think she more than achieved it she is her own voice and has many other non carpenter covers
Sorry to say your nit picking really ruined the video for me. I couldn't get past 4:37 because you were dissecting every little nuance of Tori's voice. 😮😮😮
Geez buddy ,seriously? You are nitpicking waaaaay tooo much. This is phenomenal. Bottom line. You know you are. I cry every time I hear this. It's stunning. Nothing to pick apart. NOTHING. QUIT pausing it so dam much. Listen WITHOUT interrupting every 2 seconds.
Picky for a very good reason. As this was more of a direct cover (and not really changing it to make it her own style) makes these comparisons easy to observe. Her cover of this song was absolutely dead on but still short of the perfection that Karen was able to produce in the lower register of her voice. That is undeniable.
@@larryshair she never claimed to sound exactly like Karen, in fact in her interviews she said they were just trying to get as close as possible, so yes way over picky as they accomplished exactly what they set out to do, it was way over nuanced in the critique, but whatever floats your boat
@@larryshair what you are missing Larry is her range. You have only heard this song and you have a reasonable example of what she is capable of. Thing is her low, is not “The Basement.” I’ve said she’s on the staircase a couple of steps down to the basement. But, her range in the other direction. She has a cover of Olivia’s; Have You Never Been Mellow. It’s a Short of course, loaded with those. She follows ON-J all the way up to the stratosphere and doesn’t break. Karen could NEVER do that. So what we have here is a woman who can cover all the songs of our youth (I’m a bit older than you, I think, know). At the Carpenters 55th Anniversary, Acoustic Night. She sang two songs. The first was Something In Your Eyes. As any Carpenters fan knows, what the significance of THAT song is. There was an audible gasp in the audience that night when she started to sing the song. Dusty did good, Tori knocked it out of the park. I recorded those two songs (Yesterday Once More was 2nd). If you follow through my ID to my channel, it’s right there. Not sure if they are reaction material, I had one do it and he was happy. The audio quality is “OK” but Tori still shines through. I shot on my iPhone 14 ProMax. Vertical format to get between the heads. A couple of years ago younger Tori did a short and introduced Something as the song Karen never sang. She did justice then but too short. Now it’s a full song and there will be tears in your eyes. Now that the Shock and Awe of Tori is over. You need to do more and just enjoy the show. Oh, please refrain from her full cover of Merry Christmas, Darling. I’ve made reactors cry and break down with that one, but it was last December. Joe
Your nit picking ruined your analysis of toris performance and don't tell people not to be annoyed when you are nothing but annoying. Not going to bother seeing this through, first time I won't be. She isnt karen but she is brilliant in her own right. All your carry on was in contrast to your comments.
Woah, i didn't hear them say they're the Carpenters, or Karen !!??. They're just doing a cover in tribute ?!.. And stopping every second and a half to tell us your " nit pic" opinion just made me close the reaction..
@@larryshair I’d still like you to experience Tori and Dan’s “Suddenly” cover. How do you take requests? What am I missing? Thanks, Larry. Joe Edit: Larry, you were “blown away” but don’t want to experience anything else by her. There’s a growing library of wonderful (IMHO) songs. She’s a natural wonder in a sea of autotune. Go to her channel and the collaboration playlist. Pick one of the others. I’d suggest “Suddenly” as you won’t mistake her for Karen. Or in her own section her creation (Studio Version) of “Something In Your Eyes” the song Richard wrote for Karen but she died before hearing it. Tori imagined it as a Carpenters song. She sang the acoustic version at the Carpenters 55th in April. Met Richard, in person. Went home and reimagined the song as in the church it was noisy and not good for a true release. It is released under the 55th Channel and has the highest views of the songs performed that night. If you procrastinate longer, Jim and Tori will drop “Close To You” soon. You owe it to your channel subscribers to take a second (and third?) look.
To be clear... this is a completely re-tracked version. Tori is the real deal.. and fabulous. She's not Karen, never will be. But she's 100% Tori... and that's something to really be excited about.
Very much agree with you on that!
I’m on board with that, she’s the nearest thing I’ve ever heard, Wowzers
Hey stop bashing my man here lol , you’re talking about an iconic song, sung by one of the most gifted voices in music ; natural for him to compare .
I’m playing Devils advocate here in the sense: 1. Yes he’s correct , the tiny details are not as refined as Karen and totally agree on the arrangement and the clarinet not as tuned as original
2. But on the other hand .. Carpenters had a studio to perfect the arrangements , these guys are doing it at home . Also Tori though tone very similar has a slight different vocal signature .
Great reaction buddy . Like you mom and dad had this song playing at home all time . The carpenters are mental photo book memories of a life in the 80’s growing up kids only dream !
To be even more clear... NOBODY has ever been somebody else. Let's face it, there's only a few people on this planet that are MORE KAREN than not. WE KNOW she's not Karen Carpenter. Appreciate she's keeping the music... and sound... alive.
To me, Tori is as amazing as Karen.
Love them both!💕
Thing is, she's not trying to be Karen. She's trying to be Tori, who strongly resembles Karen in vocal range and tonal quality. She also covered some Olivia Newton-John songs. I love this girl, and can't wait to see where she takes her career. I so hope for a renaissance of this musical genre!
The emotionality is that you're hearing Karen live again.
Your points are well-taken. Her personality comes across as such that she would be the first to admit that she falls short of Karen's vocals. She seems humble and full of respect for Karen and Richard Carpenter. Tori also has some TH-cam shorts covering bits of covers of Olivia Newton John, and those also greatly impressed me such as in "Have You Never Been Mellow" when she sings "now I don't mean to make you frown." Her story is even more fascinating when one realizes that Tori gave her first performance to a larger audience only a couple weeks ago. It's almost miraculous that someone with a voice like hers also has such a deep love for these older songs.
She is amazing, isn't she? She may not quite have Karen's lower register, but the first time I heard Tori sing, I had tears in my eyes. I had waited nearly half a century to hear someone else who could sing like Karen, and I hope she gets the chance to record her own music someday.
I adore the Carpenters… I miss Karen and when I first heard Tori I cried buckets.. ❤
I love your comment. I am in total amazement about the quality of Tori's voice. I never thought I would hear another person who could make me feel what Karen made me feel--and Tori is that person.
I felt the same thing, The first line of vocals just overwhelmed my senses, I immediately had goosebumps and tears started to fill my eyes. I truly couldn't believe what my ears were hearing. How could this girl possibly be so close to Karen's voice? The sounds filling my ears pulled me back immediately to my childhood and the wonderful memories of a great era in America. I missed the voice of Karen so much. Tori's performance and her vocal precision in the lower ranges will make her a super star. We haven't heard a voice like this in 40 years. Tori must be shared with the world. Absolutely Fantastic. Thank you to all who performed in the video it was excellent.
I had the same reaction to hearing Tori as you did Larry. I never thought I would hear someone so close to Karen. Thanks for reviewing this.
There will never be another Karen Carpenter, however, Tori, without a doubt, does the best covers of the Carpenters! Best way to describe the difference, Tori has a slight "rasp" that Karen doesn't have. Where Tori's vocals vibrate Karen's was pure.
Your reaction to her first note was priceless. But Liston to it all the way through before judging
I've heard Tori's version hundreds of times and still gives me goosebumps and a tear as soon as I hear the first sentence. Your reaction and facial expression to the first sentence was priceless! Thanks.
I think Tori's voice sounds so similar to Karen's that it gave you a visceral reaction and brought up so many emotions.
Exactly, go listen, I couldn't believe it, but it is a 10/10
I think every Karen fan who enjoyed her music from the 1970s (which includes myself) had the same reaction. Awe and appreciation. I think if most of us didn't know this was a recording of someone other than Karen's, we would think it was her. The problem is we all see the video, see it is Tori and know it is a cover- which ruins a true blind evaluation.
One thing many don't know is Tori did her part months before Jeff got with her and she sent the tracks and video to him and created what we are seeing. The fact that she did that all without autotune or pitch correction is outstanding.
We can nit pit all we want, but one thing is for certain. Tori Holub is an exceptionally gifted singer which doesn't rely on pitch correction or excessive vocal runs which has been popular with other 20 year old singers. Finally a young singer that holds a note beautifully, has the tember in her voice and loves to craft the types of songs which are timeless instead of wanting to get a song with a good hook line to get commercial success.
Who’s Jeff?
I reacted the same as you Larry. It left me emotional and elated. It touched me to believe that someone not our age healed my broken heart for Karen. Finally. I smile daily anchored to these performances by Tori. And this is goodness.
I can't say your nitpicks were wrong. But your crying was the most valuable reaction, don't you think?.
Oh, agreed. These points are just observations of the differences mainly in the lower register. Karen just edges out Tori on a technicality, but her version is still a 10 out of 10 as it stands on its own.
I could listen to her all day!
Karen always makes this old dude cry like a baby. So does Tori. Thanks Tori.
Your smile tells it all, identical to my initial reaction. I really don't consider this a cover. Often due to the band or singers unique abilities covers are never reproductions and reflect their own spin. This is an exceptional successful recreation of the original song. I concur that the opening clarinet is the only part that sounded slightly off to me. Loved your comment about hearing her smile and there's also a warmth implied. Nicely done. As a 70 yr old sound engineer, for many cover bands, I believe that Tori actually has a wider range that Karen. Her ability to go deeper is highlighted in the great analysis link below. Hey, she's only 20. Check out her channel for her Olivia Newton John shorts. An unbelievable talent.
For a revealing technical side by side vocal comparison analysis with Karen see:
th-cam.com/video/-g0jHAyLqvM/w-d-xo.html
Your over emphasis on the differences actually did undermine an enjoyment of the reaction for me. No one will ever sound just like Karen, but I'll bet she's smiling down on this gifted 20 yr. old who is paying the ultimate compliment to the contribution that she and Richard made. Like you, I'm very familiar with the subtleties of the Carpenters sound, but I much more enjoyed your initial reaction to hearing Tori's voice and the subsequent genuine emotion you showed than the heavy emphasis on technical differences. Just my opinion though.
Agreed. Larry has some valid points, but J think most were drawn here to get an honest reaction rather than a vocal analysis. The true beauty in her performance is the memories she evokes from those that heard the Carpenters and have such great memories of her. Tori transports you back to those memories and that is one of true blessings of music.
I have wondered what Karen Carpenter would sound like if she wasn't limited by those to sweet pop arrangements on EVERY song...................Tori might just give us all a taste of what could have been.
Karen is Karen. Tori will never be Karen but what she's bringing to the table is something no one has to date. She's able to evoke emotions and feelings created by Karen's voice in decades.
Tori is outstanding .
Listen to her many other Carpenters covers and quit being so mit pickey. You're expecting her to sound just like Karen and that's not going to happen. Give credit where credit is due.
I give this a 10…..and thank them all for bringing
back memories from an amazing time gone by.
Guessing that Miss Carpenter would have loved
this.🩷
An old musician speaks: Let's do this. Let's find an oldies station. Dare them to play THIS version and pass it off as the real McCoy. I can well imagine the listeners for the most would be totally fooled same as I was! Tori's good! And as for the clarinet? A shade more compression would help. That's what my ears say would work.
Your reaction at 3 secs in was MINE exactly! Karen 2.0!
I am with you 100%. There will never be another Karen but Tori is amazing.
Larry, Tori is the equivalent of Leonid & Friends. You're right, people need to hear this in real life! Well done critique. She's as close to Karen that I've heard. Thank you.
Larry! Enjoyed the reaction. What you may not know is that, despite Tori's affection for Karen and her incorporating nuances to her singing as homage, she's stated she doesn't think she sounds like Karen. She just loves Karens's singing and happens to be a fabulous singer (covers or no). I got what you were saying about Karen's strength on the lower tones. I think Tori has a rounder, softer timbre, whereas Karen had a lot of overtones to her sound, which is what made her voice so nice to listen to. And the overtones were very present at the lower end of her range.
By the way, Tori does not only covers of the Carpenters at her site, but Olivia Newton-John, which takes her up into soprano range. She also does covers of other artists and some originals. On top of that, she has a video in which she takes apart the harmonies and records them on a multitrack portable studio after which she plays back the high parts, low parts, then the whole thing. Tori has a wonderful ear and is no slouch as a producer of her own covers even before this one.
Hy Larry, A duch guy here from France 69jr old, I totally agree with your comments, I found exactly the same differences when I first heard Tory's
version. And also got teary eyes, like I used to get from Karens voice when it sort of embraced my ears.
Same, I tear up listening to Karen and Tori did it to me also.
This is the closest performance sonically to anyone ever covering the Carpenter's songs. Tori Holub & James Wilkas are amazing! I encourage you to watch "Carpenters vs Tori Holub" by Eduard2004. Also, please listen to Tori's cover of the Carpenters Burt Bacharach Medley.
This is the best reaction/cirque of Tori Holub that I have heard.
Wow, thanks so much for your kind words!
I am a Karen Carpenter Fan. Always have and always will be. When I first heard Tori my first reaction was this young woman sounds just as good as Karen. Yes, there are differences but, this is what makes Karen,Karen and Tori,Tori. Great singers! It's your choice who you like best. They both move me to tears. So Beautiful they are. So, to me knit picking makes no sense.
Love this, your first reaction was exactly like mine. Tori is amazing.
It's always a joy to see the initial reaction when someone witnesses perfection.
I was watching another video of Tori, for the first time, when I noticed some of her notes were so similar to Karen Carpenter. The first two notes of this cover confirmed what I had heard.
Wow, her voice is amazingly close to being a perfect copy of Karen. ❤
OMG! She sounds so good. I was in high school when Karen passed away. She had a wonderfully unique voice and was in her prime. My reaction was very similar to yours when I first heard Tori. Wow!
Hi Larry - this is my favorite 'reaction video' to Tori. You were so entertaining to watch !!! A fair analysis as well. Larry it would be fantastic if you did a 'reaction video' to her song "Impossible" to hear her Tori voice as it is naturally. Also she can do a mean Olivia Newton John cover - please also 'react' to Suddenly which is does as a duet with Dan Westly - another talented musician who like Tori, seems the real deal... Thanks again Larry - I'll keep my eyes, toes and fingers crossed for more 'Tori Reactions' YAY ! Cheers !
❤
hi im a big big carpenters fan and i had the same reaction there are lots of carpenters tributes and ive never herd anything like tori i agree to try and mimic Karen well you wont be able to but tori's voice does remind me so much of Karen so I'm a massive fan thank you for a great reaction. peter from wales
I have watched many "reaction" videos and enjoyed them. However having recently found your channel I am extremely impressed on how erudite your analysis is> This, combined with your visceral reaction to the artistry of the music itself, to me, makes this by and far the best.
Thank you for your kind words!
@@larryshair hey Larry. Two things. Who is Tim that you mention? And it’s time for another Tori song so you are done with the shock and awe and can relax and enjoy. Maybe Something To Believe In. That’s written and arranged for Tori in the style of Bacharach/Carpenters. It’s an original. The “Promo Video” has her singing in it. The other is audio only. She’s shot a music video for this but don’t know when that comes out. She stayed in L.A. after the Carpenters 55th that she sang at. There were pictures of her in costume on a green set. If you want to see her sing at the 55th, I recorded it on my iPhone. Click through to my channel. It’s right there. Notice the pictures I used for the thumbnail.
Joe
I get what you're saying here, from a musical standpoint.
I think the reason folks are getting a bit defensive is that... when I think back on how I reacted months ago when I first heard this... I think the first inclination - once you've heard Tori sing the first few notes - is to put the analysis aside for the first listen... and just BASK in this voice... the likes of which we thought we'd never hear again... It was very clear, watching you react to this first listen, that you did feel that same amazement that I think we all have.
You sir are correct
If you go and listen to the Carpenters original version, those six notes on the clarinet are pretty much identical in tone.
I can understand why you got a little teary because the instrumental rendition and Tori's voice is that good!!. I cannot see anyone else getting anywhere near this cover. It should be commended for what it is, a masterclass in Jim's production and video editing and Tori's beautiful voice.
Perfect. Jim is a genius, and my friend. ❤
@@jbs256 👍
There’s TH-cam video that switches back and forth between this performance and the original. It’s wild. Search for Tori Holub vs. Karen Carpenter.
Wings of Pegasus. Fil did a comparison on them and its so close
That’s by Eduard2004. He did 3 comparison videos. Amazing.
I’m not sure what kind of training she’s had, but her voice sounds very relaxed, nothing is forced, and has a very nice tone. Great job!
To my understanding, some guitar and drum lessons. Self taught on singing and piano. Plays by ear.
@@jbs256 Extraordinary if true. @MarkNeko may be a singer and voice tutor like I am, to say what he does. But the relaxation, the control, the evenness through the range, nice vocal line through the vowels - these are things most of us have had to learn the hard way!
@@georgebur things I’ve learned over time. See her interview with Lee Richie, it’s on TH-cam. She’s an amazing talent, IMHO. Also she re-recorded her performance of Something In Your Eyes from the 55th. The audio there was not great. So she made a studio version and even added backing vocals because of course she did. ❤️
th-cam.com/video/3JP9CNs9YV4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=BgiGAQqUNpCAm6fN
@@jbs256 I have previously looked at what you are referring to. I think the live performance, with piano only, is the most impressive of all. That is where we can see exactly what she can do without the aid of technology (other than the microphone). The ultimate would be with piano and no microphone at all, which may have been achievable in the church. That is how to confirm the top singers.
@@georgebur I agree as to the rawness. I also appreciate her engineering and layering skills. All on display on the “Studio” version. My recording is decent and I did delete the piano and checked the clean vocal. She’s crazy accurate. “Eyes” is flat on the G4 as a highlight, every time. I’ve learned from Fil. I can tinker. 🤓
No need to nit-pick. She’s not trying to imitate Karen, which nobody can. As a musician you should know that no two people would ever sound the same. You are spending more time criticizing Tori instead of enjoying what she’s put out which nobody has done before. You seem to be missing the point that this recording took a lot of work to sync each clip and how many takes it must have taken to put this together. Try listening without stopping. Give them the credit they deserve instead of picking up on the little things. After all, this is entertainment for our enjoyment.
100% correct
Agree, no need to nit pick, Tori is amazing.
The point I made in a post just now. This is popular music, entertainment. A listener can actually nit-pick the original Carpenters version depending on their particular taste.
i do not mind a little nit-picking as we know she is not Karen but i just want to hear her as it is great to me. She and Richard needs to do a Christmas album, etc.... You got Goose bumps, for me it is a hug as you put it and it just makes me feel good in these days and we need it. Peace.
Just checking, you know Tori has 3 Christmas songs already done? Including a damn great cover of Merry Christmas, Darling!
Chris, in early March Tori dropped an original "Carpenters" song. It it truly "Something To Believe In." Last week she did a live performnce at Crooners in Minnesota. I understand she is also to appear at the 55th Anniversary bash of the Carpenters signing with A and M records.
New news. After the 55th, Tori stayed in L.A. and shot a music video for Something To Believe In! More coming.
In the words of Arte Johnson "veeeerrrrry eenterestink", particularly because Richard was in the 'hood" along with other A and M folk@@jbs256
@@ericzeichert511 my thoughts were. Who has the deep pockets to float a music video? It ain’t $300. Ya know… 🤷🏻♂️ 🪚🛠️🔧🔨 hmmmm.
Firstly, this is not just a cover. It is a reincarnation of the Carpenter sound! I agree on some of the comparisons you mentioned, but this is not Tori trying to be Karen. This is pretty much her natural voice! She has other artist covers and an original and still the vocals have some Karen vibe.
My sentiments exactly, Larry! It’s utterly amazing!
I'm with you Larry. I grew up with the Carpenters - have all their albums - including the one that she is emulating. It's good that she can sing like her to include Karen's distinguished vibrato. Always measured and at the right times. I don't blame you for 'knit piking'. Those of us that Love and absolutely miss Karen Carpenter would/are doing so as well. Thank you for sharing this. It got me to tear up as well. So, so close.
nit picking
Even original singers often can't replicate their studio recording. Karen had 20 years practice at being Karen. I understand Tori only has a few years practice.
Technically for this song Karen had about 4 years of practice and Tori 2-3 years. So each came in with a similar level of experience and BOTH are/were amazing. We are in for a treat, I think, as Tori can sing the songs Karen never did and do them justice. In addition to her own. As Jim said in the info of this song, Buckle Up. ❤
Think Tori wants to be her own singer, but you cant take anything away from her sining the next best thing to KC
thats why its a cover its different...let it go and enjoy
8:30 "Perfect" really? perfect? wow. I might nit pick and say "almost perfect." 😁 Just teasing you. Karen was incredible, and is dearly missed.
Good review. You definitely show you know Karen's voice very well. I had picked up a lot of the same things. However, this is what will blow you away. Tori is NOT emulating Karen. That is 100% her voice!! Most others doing Carpenter covers just are doing an impression...sometimes quite good though. Tori does imitate the connotations etc. of singing the song, but I look at that as singing "sheet music". The voice is not an impression at all. That is Tori's voice....no effort for her to sing that. She has many shorts of other Carpenter songs as well as Olivia Newton John where her voice there is even closer to Olivia's! She has a medley of Burt Bacharach songs where it sounds just like Karen singing those songs. Tori's voice actually does the higher range better than Karen IMHO. I also think Tori's voice overall is "smoother". Karen often has a little frog/growl in spots...especially hitting the lower notes. Tori just boom hits the notes so smoothly. I also wonder if you put Karen on modern audio mics and equipment how she would sound different. There would be slight difference versus audio from 1977-1980.
Tori Holub is a Fantastic Singer and Has an Awesome Future Ahead of Her Singing Career !!
A Star ⭐ Is Born !!
9.9/10 😁😁😁
The differences between Tori and KC low registers can be attributed to differences in EQ settings, compression settings and microphone model. Very subtile.
I think you may be right. Also Karen quite often double tracked the lowest of the low notes. Personally, I don't think any difference matters.
I totally get your comparison.
Focusing on the vocals and not the clarinet is the best way to go.
I just discovered Tori a fews ago. Unfortunately, she doesn't have a lot of content that she sings the entire song. There are a lot of short 1 min plus songs that she does. Her Burt Bacharach/Hal Davis Medley is worth a listen/reaction. The Carpenters did this same medley back in 1970 on the Ed Sullivan Show. Tori also has an audio only of Merry Christmas, Darling (became one of my favorite Christmas song when I heard it in concert in 1970). Another audio only song to listen to is Georgia On My Mind
I’m not on TT but on her Instagram, almost of the shorts are longer. So better but not perfect. There are songs on TH-cam not on Instagram, even some shorts. And vise versa. A treasure hunt.
@@jbs256 I'm only on YT and FB! Try to recommend Tori every chance I get to reactors who don't have her on their line-up.
@@rlew49ers FB and IG are both Meta so related. Should be a log right in or easier than some. It’s worth it for the longer videos, like Crazy On You and Now. There’s more. Thank you! I’ve been the sole requester from November to February. I met Ron and now are seeing others. Makes my heart swell. I think Wings (me) ignited the boosters, so to speak. I just did Shawn and Mel even though $$$ because of their love for Karen. I can’t do that all the time, I’m retired so… I’m getting set to go to the 55th and tomorrow I see her live. Be well and see you in the comments! I’m noticing more and more familiar faces. Tori’s Troops! ❤️
Joe
@@rlew49ers I also posted a video I recorded of Tori live at the 55th Anniversary. Just search Tori Holub and sort by date. Look for the thumbnail of note. I linked Larry to it too.
Joe
@@rlew49ersthank you BTW. We can use all the help we can get. 🙏
Larry starts out by being "The Gate Keeper", and not letting it play out and "feeling" the COVER. The look on his face is one of panic, relax Larry, nobody can replace Karen.
Another good lady to react to is Harriet, an English singer. Her voice also has a warm, Karen-type sound, but also her own sound combined. She also has originals that are really good.
She is unreal. I follow her on IG
If this doesn't get you to believe in reincarnation, then, I honestly don't know what will. When I close my eyes & listen to Tori's version, I'd swear that I'm hearing Karen's original from 54 years ago. A young lady singer, named, Harriet, over in the UK also has a voice close to Karen's voice.
I am in my late 60's and have been a fan of the Carpenters for around 60 of those years.
I gave young Tori 8/10. I have to admit that Tori is very good.
Tori isn't comfortable in the lower range just like most males are not comfortable doing falsetto. The lower she goes the less control she has.
With a little more practice Tori will nail her lower range.
I think the Clarinet was related more to Tori's key than anything. You have to remember Karen had a super wild range.
In Australia we have a singer by the name of John Farnham. He has a vocal range similar to Karens. Johns voice is unique and he knows how to use it. I am not sure if you have heard of him but if you haven't check him out. While John's studio recordings are great, John is best served LIVE.
If I’m not mistaken, Farnham joined Little River Band after Glenn Shorrock departed the band. More big shoes to fill, and Farnham did a respectable job.
@@poldidak Yep.
@@poldidakhe was also asked to join Queen after Freddie died, but declined, I believe because he didn’t want to be the front man for a band after he had already done that with LRB.
bro i just held up my arm to yours !!! this is unreal
With all due respect, I think you may have got a little caught up in the emotion of how close Tori is to Karen. Tori is Tori, she is not trying to be Karen (or ONJ in the shorts she does of her songs), she simply has a very similar range & tone (she is also a huge Carpenters fan). Her voice is truly golden & why so many of us sit open mouthed & then smiling when we are listening to her, like you did. Some constructive points & a decent review (a little bit of credit to Jim Wilkas for his hard work would have been nice though). Thank you for the review Larry, this all helps get Tori noticed around the world, what a voice, what a talent she is!
I gave her a 95. Simply amazing - the whole thing.
Hi again Larry,
Put her up on a stage? She was, at The Carpenters 55th Anniversary! Credibility. Met Richard. Who previously commissioned Georgia On My Mind. Look who produced it.
Well maybe this song will do it for you. I know you know it…
(They Long To Be) Close To You; by Tori & Jim
th-cam.com/video/ytncWacUKJE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=xqbufw1FYkHSk6Bp
Joe
Hm. It's a tribute not a Dolly the sheep scenario. Karen was born with her voice and Tori was born with hers. Did you almost cry? Then I feel you got what you needed from the music. Nostalgia induced by a 20 year old kid! isn't that a ridiculous sentence? Your nitpicking as you call it, is bit of a down turn for me. Tori was sublime and stands on her own merits. Perhaps I was mistaken when I though we the listeners were getting some upbeat reactions. Your backhanded complements are odd. She isn't Karen and if you read her own words, she's not trying to be Karen. Still gave you a thumbs up. Peace. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Vocal fry is just about exact.
Oooo nice!!! Going to go compare now!
Lovely reaction, Thankyou!
Take care, love Sandy🫶🏻
👋😊
@@that_averagetyp🤗
❤
@@louisebacka 💗
It's a cover, not a dupe. Would you nit pick Disturb's cover of Sound of Silence for not being identical to Simon and Garfunkel's?
9.8 (not 9) of of 10!!
Ok... I'm probably risking A LOT now, lol 🤭
But I hope you won't punch me in the face if I tell you that I don't think I've ever heard any of Karen's song....
I already know how much you love her vocals and I promise I will check some of her work soon.
Loved the reaction as always 😊
Hope you're doing great, bud! 😊
Have a fab day my dear friend 🤗
@@Sandy_justme thanks! You too! 😊
I can't get excited about a clarinet difference. Differences between Tori and Karen at a nuance level are not relevant are they? Karen herself would sing this song with slight differences each time. The key thing is how the whole performance flows and comes across. We should judge how each version stands on its own right, as a piece of popular music.
On listening to Carpenters studio version, I think we could equally nit-pick that. In retrospect, and in my opinion, some parts of the original could have been better managed. I think of "Sharing Horizons that are .." where at times we hear quite a throaty and piercing quality, with the double tracking adding to the distortion. But taking the performance as a whole, I love it just like any Carpenters fan from 1970 onward.
The key thing to me is that Tori is reinforcing interest in the Carpenters and Karen's voice, an interest that has never gone away. If more artists covered soft rock to the applause of all, we may even see soft rock have a renaissance. (We certainly need something right now after the latest Grammy's. Our young people need real songs to sing and play)
So glad to see you tonight💗
Mics are most likely not the same for starters.
Tori now owns a U87. So going forward. One song, “It’s Impossible” and one short “Sam” use it.
Wings of Pegasus compared Karen with Tori. Yes, they do sound very similar, to me as much as to you, to the point where some thought Tori was lip synching to Karen. lol But the wave forms of their voices are quite different. Which only goes to also prove that pitch correction is a very tiny part of what goes into having a beautiful voice, and even similar ones.
And yeah, 9/10 is about right, too. I also loved Karen's voice, and Tori is Tori, not Karen.
Also Tori is Pitch Perfect at times. Just like Kacie was. She can hit notes. Tori has picked up a troll who keeps saying she’s using pitch correction software. He can’t figure out he’s seeing Tori being perfect at various times.
To prove a point I found some iOS software that can strip away instruments (free trial) and another to (free) pitch monitor. I recorded her two songs at the Carpenters 55th. I stripped away the piano. Monitored the songs. Tori is crazy accurate. Hitting notes every so often. But the words “Your Eyes” where she soars, she is bang on and flat on the G4. The troll would say “pitch corrected!” Except, I recorded it and uploaded it straight to TH-cam. No editing or post processing. She is just that good! The girl is amazing, just like Fil demonstrated.
@@jbs256 Every time Fil shows us the voices of the greats from decades ago, they can all hit their notes. Why do people think great singers of the present can't do it, too? With good singers, pitch correction isn't correcting anything. It's just making human voices sound more like machines. It shouldn't even be called Pitch Correction. It's pitch sticking and vocal distorting.
@@jeffkooistra264 absolutely correct! It’s so discouraging that great singers of today are being post processed unnecessarily. What possesses these “producers” to do this crap is beyond me.
No two fingerprints are alike, but they feel the same way when they touch you…
Well said! I’ve used the fingerprint analogy. You finished the thought.
11 out of 10.
Nope. 12.
@@larryshairre-evaluating? 👍🏻❤
You need to play them side by side
No one is better than Karen Aghori
I think you're wrong - Tori's actually better. There's a video in TH-cam with the two singing side by side. Tori's the richer.
Similarities, yes, but totally different. Doesn't "hit me in the gut". Tori is undoubtably talented, don't get me wrong. Unless she wants to end up in a tribute show, she needs her own style and songs.
She does, do a little searching on her channel and TH-cam. And now she has a new fan… RC.
This is likely why she has yet to be signed by any label. A&R folks are probably waiting to see what her voice, skills and repertoire develops into on her own, before inking her.
Karen studio performance wasn't her live performance. Karen didn't duplicate. If Karen had heard Tori would she had changed.?
Please react to some Nu-Metal/2000s radio rock and emo. If I had to pick a song I'd like you to react to it would be "LAST Train Home" by LostProphets
Larry, wow welcome to the Tori ride! You’ve only just begun. I was algorithm’d Tori last October. TH-cam said you might like THIS!! Holy frack, what am I seeing and hearing. That was just a short video. Tori has loads of short videos that she SELF PRODUCES! Layer, harmonies and now multi-instrumentalist. Just after I started she dropped a full length cover of The Bacharach/David Medley!! OK she is basic on drums but OMG the skills to tackle that with just a music track the RC made for the Japanese Karaoke market. That’s your next task. That was before Jim. Jim saw the medley and was shocked. He also felt it needed more Richard. So he added himself made the video a split screen and showed it to a Tori. She loved it he released it and they collaborated to make what you just watched.
Now Mr. Nitpicker! You missed the biggest nit you could have picked! Karen SOARS on “rising sun” Tori sings it. The rest you were mostly missing the boat. Jim’s clarinet is just fine. Watch Eduard2004 ‘s mashup videos. He has 3, 2 on We’ve and one on The Medley. That last one is a spoiler so watch the Tori and Jim version first. That’s right next to We’ve on Jim’s channel.
I’ve been requesting reactions to Tori since early November when I saw none and this angel is singing her heart out. So if you search you will see a history of reactions. Mostly me but now since Wings of Pegasus (me) more have joined Tori’s Troops. Go watch the two episodes Fil did on Tori, I’ve not seen Fil smile this much in a long time. Search her name and you will find a cornucopia of great stuff and one troll. LOL.
TH-cam has all the full length stuff. But, Instagram has some shorts that are longer. Like, Crazy On You, oh yeah, she covers ❤, 4 of the band members! Olivia, Joni, Carly, Cass, The Beatles, The Righteous Brothers, Bread and so many more. She’s into the 60-80’s primarily. She has originals. Something To Believe In is her current single. She has 5 songs on iTunes and the big streamers.
When I ask a gray haired Carpenters fan for Tori. I now ask; have you taken your meds, are you sitting, maybe a doctor’s note? I’ve had two almost strokes! This was before We’ve!! I just blew away Shawn and Mel, they love Karen too. Now they love Tori.
One thing more to know. Tori is a Carpenters super-fan. She used to have a video of her memorabilia collection. OMG as big as any except a couple, that I’ve seen. So it’s NOT that she’s copying Karen, that’s her voice! As you will see. What ever she does people say they hear Karen. I don’t! I hear Tori. On a Carpenters song she does what I call “homage mode.” She will impart some Karenisms. To make it sound right.
As for Harriet and Chloe. They’re good. But I can listen to Tori sing all day, guilty. I cannot for them. To each their own. IMHO no one is closer overall to Tori with the charm she imparts. Simon would say “the entire package.”
On Thursday Tori will be performing two songs at The Carpenters 55th Anniversary Celebration, Acoustic Night. There are a small group of invited singers including Tori. It’s a 4 night event over multiple locations. It’s fan based, probably no Richard. Though Tori, in an interview, recently admitted RC does know her and has heard her and likes what she’s doing. She was coy and didn’t say anything else. If you search her name the interview will come up. It’s a week ago.
I’ve written War and Peace. She’s a bundle of joy and amazing. Have fun.
Joe
lol, thanks Joe!
@@larryshair Larry, you want to shake and tear up some more. No nit-picking here. Just pure joy. Last week I attended the Carpenters 55th Anniversary Celebration. Tori was an invited singer for Acoustic Night. Tori sang Something In Your Eyes (the song Karen died before singing) and Yesterday Once More. I shot the performance with my iPhone in 4K HDR. It’s decent but not perfect. I’m getting praise for releasing it. So I’m good with it. It was also shot by a pro but, he’s going to take forever to edit everything he’s got. I’m linking my video. Of note is the thumbnail. There is a significant picture on it. Many nit-pick (wink) but are they more credible than who she’s with? The Wizard came to meet Dorothy. Warning if you decide to react to this. Take your meds, be seated, tissues at the ready. Especially the first song. Have fun Larry! This is history in my opinion.
Joe
Edit: Even better. Since the sound wasn’t good from the 55th. Tori re-recorded Something In Your Eyes in her studio, added some backing vocals, of course, and used video and stills from the event. Much better than what I shot (mine is raw so there’s some value) and a must listen and view.
th-cam.com/video/3JP9CNs9YV4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=BgiGAQqUNpCAm6fN
Raw performance below.
th-cam.com/video/uC-psDgHl0c/w-d-xo.htmlsi=d6EXnVYvWkxKjhae
.
Sorry to much nitpicking lol
its not supposed to be an exact reproduction
Actually, it is. Well as close as they could get. It was a pure homage piece. Others are doing similar homage to the greatest of the earlier times.
I think that Tori is absolutely amazing. The cover seemed very intentional in a strict cover. I feel that this was a close as we will EVER get to a new Karen Carpenter. She is fantastic, but Karen, for the reasons I stated, just barely edges her out.
@@larryshair you really should check out her “Studio Version” of Something In Your Eyes. You should know that’s the song Karen died before singing. Dusty sang it with Richard in 1987, for “Time.” Tori sang it and I saw it live at the 55th. The sound was boomy, so Tori re-recorded it. A must listen for any true Carpenters fan. I mean Karen never sang it, so no comparison, it’s “just” Tori. Just, Tori. You can’t say Karen did this, or did that. 🙏 No nit-picking just did Tori do justice to the song. She’s not copying Dusty at all. And Dusty did great! This is an IOU to Tori and Jim. You are over the shock now. This is Tori, 100%, she finally gave herself in the notes, Producer credit. Long overdue on her self-produced works.
Who is Tim? Was he the requester? He certainly didn’t disappoint, did he.
Joe
To much interruption and diagnosis she is Tori and isn't trying to be Karen just wants to get close as possible and I think she more than achieved it she is her own voice and has many other non carpenter covers
Sorry to say your nit picking really ruined the video for me. I couldn't get past 4:37 because you were dissecting every little nuance of Tori's voice. 😮😮😮
Really .... just enjoy it
But she's not Karen so get over it...but still you know she's the best thus far so stop fine picking and just sit back and enjoy....
Mr you are crazy
Too much of an emphasis on the S consonant.
Geez buddy ,seriously? You are nitpicking waaaaay tooo much. This is phenomenal. Bottom line. You know you are. I cry every time I hear this. It's stunning. Nothing to pick apart. NOTHING. QUIT pausing it so dam much. Listen WITHOUT interrupting every 2 seconds.
Way too picky
Picky for a very good reason. As this was more of a direct cover (and not really changing it to make it her own style) makes these comparisons easy to observe. Her cover of this song was absolutely dead on but still short of the perfection that Karen was able to produce in the lower register of her voice. That is undeniable.
@@larryshair she never claimed to sound exactly like Karen, in fact in her interviews she said they were just trying to get as close as possible, so yes way over picky as they accomplished exactly what they set out to do, it was way over nuanced in the critique, but whatever floats your boat
@@larryshair what you are missing Larry is her range. You have only heard this song and you have a reasonable example of what she is capable of. Thing is her low, is not “The Basement.” I’ve said she’s on the staircase a couple of steps down to the basement. But, her range in the other direction. She has a cover of Olivia’s; Have You Never Been Mellow. It’s a Short of course, loaded with those. She follows ON-J all the way up to the stratosphere and doesn’t break. Karen could NEVER do that. So what we have here is a woman who can cover all the songs of our youth (I’m a bit older than you, I think, know). At the Carpenters 55th Anniversary, Acoustic Night. She sang two songs. The first was Something In Your Eyes. As any Carpenters fan knows, what the significance of THAT song is. There was an audible gasp in the audience that night when she started to sing the song. Dusty did good, Tori knocked it out of the park. I recorded those two songs (Yesterday Once More was 2nd). If you follow through my ID to my channel, it’s right there. Not sure if they are reaction material, I had one do it and he was happy. The audio quality is “OK” but Tori still shines through. I shot on my iPhone 14 ProMax. Vertical format to get between the heads. A couple of years ago younger Tori did a short and introduced Something as the song Karen never sang. She did justice then but too short. Now it’s a full song and there will be tears in your eyes. Now that the Shock and Awe of Tori is over. You need to do more and just enjoy the show. Oh, please refrain from her full cover of Merry Christmas, Darling. I’ve made reactors cry and break down with that one, but it was last December.
Joe
Your nit picking ruined your analysis of toris performance and don't tell people not to be annoyed when you are nothing but annoying. Not going to bother seeing this through, first time I won't be. She isnt karen but she is brilliant in her own right. All your carry on was in contrast to your comments.
Woah, i didn't hear them say they're the Carpenters, or Karen !!??. They're just doing a cover in tribute ?!.. And stopping every second and a half to tell us your " nit pic" opinion just made me close the reaction..
Wen you take on an artists song and repeat it in the same tonal quality as the original version, of COURSE you're going to draw comparisons.
@@larryshair I’d still like you to experience Tori and Dan’s “Suddenly” cover. How do you take requests? What am I missing? Thanks, Larry.
Joe
Edit:
Larry, you were “blown away” but don’t want to experience anything else by her. There’s a growing library of wonderful (IMHO) songs. She’s a natural wonder in a sea of autotune. Go to her channel and the collaboration playlist. Pick one of the others. I’d suggest “Suddenly” as you won’t mistake her for Karen. Or in her own section her creation (Studio Version) of “Something In Your Eyes” the song Richard wrote for Karen but she died before hearing it. Tori imagined it as a Carpenters song. She sang the acoustic version at the Carpenters 55th in April. Met Richard, in person. Went home and reimagined the song as in the church it was noisy and not good for a true release. It is released under the 55th Channel and has the highest views of the songs performed that night. If you procrastinate longer, Jim and Tori will drop “Close To You” soon.
You owe it to your channel subscribers to take a second (and third?) look.
This song has been ruin for me because of the movie 1408.