I think the reason that it didn't sound right to you on the Sing Off is because of the time crunch they had to hold to. They only had so much time to get everything in that they wanted to, so they had to speed up the performance. In the 2023 version they could take the time to do it the correct way and slow it down. Great reaction. Have a great day!
You have to remember that the Sing Off versions are live performances - they didn't have the option of layering their voices, and they were limitedin how much time they had to perform. They have grown a lot but 2023 versions are full studio productions. Both great on their own merits.
Austin had only been with the group for a couple of months before they were on the Sing Off show. It's not really a fair comparison when you're looking at a live performance vs a studio recording.
I've been a Fry since that first appearance on the Sing off but we need to remember Austin had only been with them a short time and honestly Tim was only with them full time about a year, now they've been together ( this particular bunch) almost 7 years and KNOW each other's voices so well. I think all good things age well! ( maybe bias as I too am an old thing 😂)
My thinking is that arrangement is key... I believe this is pre- Darren Rust who has been a major member (leader?) of their production crew. This was my least favorite from the Sing Off, but their sing off with Philharmonic, I'm Alright, was totally worth it. Love that you're reviewing both versions.
I agree with you, first of all the song is sung way to fast to be pleasant and I do understand they needed to fir in a lot in a shorts amount of time, the new rendition in my opinion is so much better! They are the best ❤❤
Home Free did an extraordinary redo of this one! Looking forward to the others they have released from their new album “As Seen On TV”. Hoping you continue to show both versions (Sing Off and new)! Love seeing the blast from the past. I was a fan of the Sing Off during their original airings from season 1.
Love your reaction as always!! Missed you lately with Home Free. They have Cruise and Life is a Highway (maybe you did that one?) but my favorite so far is their new STAND BY ME! Have watched it over and over and over!! Wow. Take care.
In fact the arrangement of the new version is very similar to the old one. You mention the fact that one is live and one is recorded, but I don't think you give enough weight to this. Producers get new toys every year to upgrade sounds, and although I'm sure the band has improved, we should remember that very soon after the SingOff they recorded Thinking Out Loud/Let's Get it on, which shows the same tightness and richness, and Country Fried Pop Medley,, which arguably shows as much inventiveness and musicianship as anything they recorded later. It would be surprising if a band spent 10 years together without some improvement, but equally it would be surprising if their producer didn't have more tricks up his sleeve. It's notable that there are certain songs which the band don't sing live, mainly because they require standards of pitch, vocal production and coordination which are hard to find in a busy touring schedule. There is, for example a single live recording of Mayday which (to me at least) is fairly awful, to say the least! We should also remember how hard the groups were pressed in the SingOff. There really wasn't much time to develop complex arrangements, when they had a week to arrange and learn and rehearse each new song AND rehearse the very complicated group intros. They were being required to sing far too much (Austin almost lost his voice) and being badgered about clothes and hair. Under the circumstances I think they did very well 10 years ago.
So cute. I love the hair too. Those pompadours cracked me up. Chance won the hair for me. Hahaha. They sound so good. Loved Tim’s notes and the growl from Rob. 🥰😄 Good one DJ!
You have to keep in mind on the sing-off versions that they had a time constraint - all the songs tend to be condensed to just a verse and the tempo increased greatly. They also had to play to the show's producer's preferences on lead and arrangement. Plus, it was live, under pressure, not a studio recording. Watching the other groups in the competition gives an idea of just how much Home Free's sound stood out within those constraints! ... now of course, they can be totally them :) Thank you for your reaction, I truly enjoy it.
Man... what the Sing Off's Producer did to these groups is criminal. From forcing a more "pop" sound as opposed to their natural fuller sound due to insisting on more Tenor and less Bass (or even going so far as to dictating to the group who their "lead singer" is and demanding they focus on that singer) to forcing them to have a female singer because "you must have a female singer" thereby throwing off their entire sound and balance is just so wrong on so many levels. I mean, who in their right mind, would be like, "You have a World Class Five Plus Octave Bass Singer in Tim or Geoff, but screw that, Austin and Earl are your focus!"? Like WTF?! Despite the fact that Home Free won that season, both them and VoicePlay were done so dirty by that damned Producer. Especially VoicePlay.
I choose to not compare the 2 performances. I like both separately. The live performances on the Sing Off, they admit to overplaying the Austin lead tenor & Tim Basso Profundo cards in order to maximise their 2 minutes per song for them to win the competition. Focus in on what separates them. The current version is a mixture of growth, extra time to perform the song, a replacement voice that’s smooth as & studio like conditions. It’s like comparing 60’s music to 70’s music, haha.
One of the things I have always thought about the Sing Off is that the other groups looked like teenagers in a talent show and Home Free coming in as a very mature and experienced group
Thank you! Fun fact: we learned in Home Free history series, Home Free performed the song at a church talent show as one of their first ever performances after they formed as a band in 2000. They did the slow walk to a pastor’s wife. 🤣
They have grown with another 10 years experience behind them, but that being said....on The Sing Off, they had only a few days to throw those songs together and perform them live. They were, exactly like you said.." rough drafts". This newest version is the finished product, now that they've had time to perfect everything and put out a final studio production. Both versions are lovely, and I love the shout out to Roy Orbison in the new version with the shades.
In fairness, the Sing Off stuff was live and the new version benefits from customized professional mixing with graphic equalizer, etc. Personally, I preferred the original because of how great it was, LIVE.
I've always loved Roy Orbison's music and they'd done more than justice to his 1964 original. The suits & hair styles (pompadours) are of the period. And they just keep getting better & better. Their singing & harmonies have always been terrific and with each song Adam outdoes himself on beatboxing. Your energy & enthusiasm is infectious!
The first time they were like a group of teenagers trying to find themselves. The updated versions shows that they are now Finely Tuned artists ready to take the world by storm one song at a time. May they never run out of music!!
I totally love these upgrades! They are just 🔥!! So perfect, as Home Free always is! Love both versions though, love watching the sing-off every now and then along with the judge’s comments! ❤❤ Love these costumes, they actually give me Sha Na Na vibes! 😂😂 Love your reactions, looking forward to the rest of these ‘upgrade’ videos!👍
I think that this new version shows how comfortable the guys are with their vocals and skills, and they don't have the tension of competition that they did back then. Either way, they are amazing. Great reaction and thank you for doing both versions!
The sing off doesn't lend itself to high quality production like the videos now but they were the ones to beat from day 1. Also I think during the run of the show him and Geoff( both voiceplay and home free were on s4) trades bass secrets.
That hair! 😂 The main difference I've seen between now and 10 years ago during The Sing-Off is that TSO versions have more emotion in the songs (probably due to the competition) and the current versions have a great deal of maturity and growth. I'm enjoying all of them, now and 10 yrs ago. 😊 Thanks for reacting to both!
This second version does show the polish that comes from seasoning. If I recall correctly, Austin only joined the group 2-3 years before their appearance on the Sing Off.
HF met Austin in 2012 on a cruise ship. He subbed for them that October, but didn't join until Jan 2013. (When Matt Atwood retired.) The Sing-Off was recorded in Fall 2013 and aired in December 2013. So Austin had only been with HF less than a year. Proof he fit into HF like a T.
So glad you are doing both versions of these songs. The improvement is INSANE! I am so glad that Home Free revisited these songs. Great reaction as always DJ. Can't wait to see the others
OMG. .. This is great. What a special upbeat cheerful performance of this song. Of course with some Home Free humor in it. Yes, this really makes my day! And I admit, the boys really look amazing!!!🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Thanks for the double feature! What a great remake of Roy Orbison's classic song including the original growl. I remember the cover Home Free did on the "Sing Off". This one is even more fun. Love the 50's-60's pompadour hairstyles & great outfits. Great song & video. The guys really rocked this!
Great reaction, DJ! You pointed out things I definitely would have missed. I remember seeing the original version on "The Sing-Off." Their new version is a million times better.
I don't know that I'd heard the updated version of this song and I'm really torn. Personally I think they're both incredible but so different from each other. The sing off one was real poppy and now it's got more of a 60s feel to it. Not the Roy Orbison 60s but close in their own way and I'm loving both versions! The growl from Rob in the new version has more of a Catwoman from the original Batman vibe to it and it fits so well with the new take on the song. I'm in love!. Eartha Kitt also has a growl like that so maybe Rob's just channeling one of these
The other thing I noticed on the second version is that it wasn't ALL Austin in the lead. Tim got some time, too! And I think it was an improvement! The main changes are that they're 10 years older now! More maturity, more control. Definitely more complete.
What an awesome reaction DJ! They have come a long ways and most of us Home Fry’s have been on the journey with them from the beginning! I loved them then just love them even more now! They are the GOATS in my book! ❤
Yay, you're almost to 10,000 subs! Love that you did both of these versions. I heard Rupp almost passed out in the newer version. Just a rumor, but still ... he really is the GOAT.
I'm not sure if you noticed that someone accidentally unplugged a cord. That is why the tempo was changed. Enjoyed watching your reaction to this song.
So glad you're doing both versions. Great reaction! They only had a week to arrange and practice each song for The Sing-Off and they've had 10 years since then to decide the best way to update it. They have definitely grown in the last 10 years.
I really enjoyed the live version (the original) and was surprised how much I liked it. Their sound has improved so so much though and this comparison was really interesting! I'm a fan of the Roy Orbison song anyway and this was a great couple of versions. Nice to see that Austin hasn't stopped being a flirt though, and also that he always has been one...lol Thank you for this great reaction DJ, I love that you didn't turn this into a comparison between the two versions in as much that you didn't say which you preferred...it was nice to just have you react to and enjoy them both! I also love that the costumes didn't distract you from your reaction to the second either.
Brilliant I like both versions 😊 - apparently it was a real fight with the producers to allow any one but Tim & Austin to take lead. If you like bands that their live versions are not straight copies of the album, try Queen - Somebody to Love live Montrealc1981 i think.. Or Live Aid where they sold the show, adapting their biggest anthems to fit a strict 20 minute slot.....
Each group was required to nominate two singers to be featured in their own songs and in the intros.. HF nominated Tim and Austin (who had a lot more experience of big production numbers etc than the others). The producers knew that with a cast of hundreds, they had to find characters to focus on. Watch any TV talent show and you'll see how the numbers are controlled so viewers don't get confused. If they presented us with 100 singers on the The Voice, we'd give up! HF were free to make their nominations and the producers agreed with their choice. Changing their minds later on was expecting rather a lot.
I think the reason that it didn't sound right to you on the Sing Off is because of the time crunch they had to hold to. They only had so much time to get everything in that they wanted to, so they had to speed up the performance. In the 2023 version they could take the time to do it the correct way and slow it down. Great reaction. Have a great day!
Bass voices famously improve with age!
Adam may not be front and center, yet is always the glue that sticks them all together.
I think the reason that it didn't sound right to you on the Sing Off is because of the time crunch they had to hold to. They only had so much time to get everything in that they wanted to, so they had to speed up the performance. In the 2023 version they could take the time to do it the correct way and slow it down. Great reaction. Have a great day!
You have to remember that the Sing Off versions are live performances - they didn't have the option of layering their voices, and they were limitedin how much time they had to perform. They have grown a lot but 2023 versions are full studio productions. Both great on their own merits.
Rob's growl the second time is more in the back of his throat, like the difference between an English and French rolled 'r'.
I always crack up watching Austin sing directly to Jewel!
Stand By Me is the one to watch next...it's so, so good!
Honey, you're so adorable! & i ageee with all you said about our HF guys. Love your enthusiastic reactions ❤❤
They won! Voiceplay was on the same year.
Talking Adam Rupp. Life is A Highway he goes next level.
Home Free upgrade their upgrades...this one is way too short.. #HomeFree #HomeFries
I was hoping you were going to watch the sing-Off versions with the judges’ comments. It’s interesting to see what they had to say.
Austin had only been with the group for a couple of months before they were on the Sing Off show. It's not really a fair comparison when you're looking at a live performance vs a studio recording.
I've been a Fry since that first appearance on the Sing off but we need to remember Austin had only been with them a short time and honestly Tim was only with them full time about a year, now they've been together ( this particular bunch) almost 7 years and KNOW each other's voices so well. I think all good things age well! ( maybe bias as I too am an old thing 😂)
❤️🤠 HF 🔥. Love your reactions to both songs. 😍 Love the outfits.
My thinking is that arrangement is key... I believe this is pre- Darren Rust who has been a major member (leader?) of their production crew. This was my least favorite from the Sing Off, but their sing off with Philharmonic, I'm Alright, was totally worth it. Love that you're reviewing both versions.
I agree with you, first of all the song is sung way to fast to be pleasant and I do understand they needed to fir in a lot in a shorts amount of time, the new rendition in my opinion is so much better! They are the best ❤❤
Thank you DJ and Katie for agreeing to the plan for these videos!
I like Tim flirting with the judge 😂
Yes, but watch him blush every time Jewel speaks to him. Chris Rupp has admitted that they were all a bit in love with her.
Home Free did an extraordinary redo of this one! Looking forward to the others they have released from their new album “As Seen On TV”. Hoping you continue to show both versions (Sing Off and new)! Love seeing the blast from the past. I was a fan of the Sing Off during their original airings from season 1.
Love your reaction as always!! Missed you lately with Home Free. They have Cruise and Life is a Highway (maybe you did that one?) but my favorite so far is their new STAND BY ME! Have watched it over and over and over!! Wow. Take care.
Thy were awesome then and are even more awesome now. I love these guys so very much! Love your reaction!
In fact the arrangement of the new version is very similar to the old one. You mention the fact that one is live and one is recorded, but I don't think you give enough weight to this. Producers get new toys every year to upgrade sounds, and although I'm sure the band has improved, we should remember that very soon after the SingOff they recorded Thinking Out Loud/Let's Get it on, which shows the same tightness and richness, and Country Fried Pop Medley,, which arguably shows as much inventiveness and musicianship as anything they recorded later.
It would be surprising if a band spent 10 years together without some improvement, but equally it would be surprising if their producer didn't have more tricks up his sleeve. It's notable that there are certain songs which the band don't sing live, mainly because they require standards of pitch, vocal production and coordination which are hard to find in a busy touring schedule. There is, for example a single live recording of Mayday which (to me at least) is fairly awful, to say the least!
We should also remember how hard the groups were pressed in the SingOff. There really wasn't much time to develop complex arrangements, when they had a week to arrange and learn and rehearse each new song AND rehearse the very complicated group intros. They were being required to sing far too much (Austin almost lost his voice) and being badgered about clothes and hair. Under the circumstances I think they did very well 10 years ago.
So cute. I love the hair too. Those pompadours cracked me up. Chance won the hair for me. Hahaha. They sound so good. Loved Tim’s notes and the growl from Rob. 🥰😄 Good one DJ!
I know how good the Home Free guys are, yet I watch this and STILL have to remind myself their performance is acapella❣️🎼🥰🎶❤️
#HomeFree
You have to keep in mind on the sing-off versions that they had a time constraint - all the songs tend to be condensed to just a verse and the tempo increased greatly. They also had to play to the show's producer's preferences on lead and arrangement. Plus, it was live, under pressure, not a studio recording. Watching the other groups in the competition gives an idea of just how much Home Free's sound stood out within those constraints! ... now of course, they can be totally them :) Thank you for your reaction, I truly enjoy it.
Man... what the Sing Off's Producer did to these groups is criminal. From forcing a more "pop" sound as opposed to their natural fuller sound due to insisting on more Tenor and less Bass (or even going so far as to dictating to the group who their "lead singer" is and demanding they focus on that singer) to forcing them to have a female singer because "you must have a female singer" thereby throwing off their entire sound and balance is just so wrong on so many levels. I mean, who in their right mind, would be like, "You have a World Class Five Plus Octave Bass Singer in Tim or Geoff, but screw that, Austin and Earl are your focus!"? Like WTF?! Despite the fact that Home Free won that season, both them and VoicePlay were done so dirty by that damned Producer. Especially VoicePlay.
Voiceplay was practically unrecognizable on the Sing-off! It's a shame
I choose to not compare the 2 performances. I like both separately.
The live performances on the Sing Off, they admit to overplaying the Austin lead tenor & Tim Basso Profundo cards in order to maximise their 2 minutes per song for them to win the competition. Focus in on what separates them.
The current version is a mixture of growth, extra time to perform the song, a replacement voice that’s smooth as & studio like conditions.
It’s like comparing 60’s music to 70’s music, haha.
One of the things I have always thought about the Sing Off is that the other groups looked like teenagers in a talent show and Home Free coming in as a very mature and experienced group
I CANNOT unsee or unhear Rob as Dustin now!! 😆
Thank you! Fun fact: we learned in Home Free history series, Home Free performed the song at a church talent show as one of their first ever performances after they formed as a band in 2000. They did the slow walk to a pastor’s wife. 🤣
They have grown with another 10 years experience behind them, but that being said....on The Sing Off, they had only a few days to throw those songs together and perform them live. They were, exactly like you said.." rough drafts". This newest version is the finished product, now that they've had time to perfect everything and put out a final studio production.
Both versions are lovely, and I love the shout out to Roy Orbison in the new version with the shades.
Great reaction!
In fairness, the Sing Off stuff was live and the new version benefits from customized professional mixing with graphic equalizer, etc.
Personally, I preferred the original because of how great it was, LIVE.
Great Mix
I've always loved Roy Orbison's music and they'd done more than justice to his 1964 original. The suits & hair styles (pompadours) are of the period. And they just keep getting better & better. Their singing & harmonies have always been terrific and with each song Adam outdoes himself on beatboxing. Your energy & enthusiasm is infectious!
Adam Rupp IS a master! Love Home Free!
This version would have Jewel on the stage with them. ;)
The first time they were like a group of teenagers trying to find themselves. The updated versions shows that they are now Finely Tuned artists ready to take the world by storm one song at a time. May they never run out of music!!
I totally love these upgrades! They are just 🔥!! So perfect, as Home Free always is! Love both versions though, love watching the sing-off every now and then along with the judge’s comments! ❤❤ Love these costumes, they actually give me Sha Na Na vibes! 😂😂
Love your reactions, looking forward to the rest of these ‘upgrade’ videos!👍
I love getting to see both reactions in one video 😊
I think that this new version shows how comfortable the guys are with their vocals and skills, and they don't have the tension of competition that they did back then. Either way, they are amazing. Great reaction and thank you for doing both versions!
The sing off doesn't lend itself to high quality production like the videos now but they were the ones to beat from day 1. Also I think during the run of the show him and Geoff( both voiceplay and home free were on s4) trades bass secrets.
That hair! 😂
The main difference I've seen between now and 10 years ago during The Sing-Off is that TSO versions have more emotion in the songs (probably due to the competition) and the current versions have a great deal of maturity and growth. I'm enjoying all of them, now and 10 yrs ago. 😊 Thanks for reacting to both!
This second version does show the polish that comes from seasoning. If I recall correctly, Austin only joined the group 2-3 years before their appearance on the Sing Off.
HF met Austin in 2012 on a cruise ship. He subbed for them that October, but didn't join until Jan 2013. (When Matt Atwood retired.) The Sing-Off was recorded in Fall 2013 and aired in December 2013. So Austin had only been with HF less than a year. Proof he fit into HF like a T.
So glad you are doing both versions of these songs. The improvement is INSANE! I am so glad that Home Free revisited these songs. Great reaction as always DJ. Can't wait to see the others
OMG. .. This is great. What a special upbeat cheerful performance of this song. Of course with some Home Free humor in it.
Yes, this really makes my day! And I admit, the boys really look amazing!!!🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Thanks for the double feature! What a great remake of Roy Orbison's classic song including the original growl. I remember the cover Home Free did on the "Sing Off". This one is even more fun. Love the 50's-60's pompadour hairstyles & great outfits. Great song & video. The guys really rocked this!
Pompadour hairdos were popular when this song was first released by Roy Orbison.
Great reaction, DJ! You pointed out things I definitely would have missed. I remember seeing the original version on "The Sing-Off." Their new version is a million times better.
Love the bromance between you and Home Free. ;)
Thank you 😊
loved the sound here and the costumes! ❤🏴
I don't know that I'd heard the updated version of this song and I'm really torn. Personally I think they're both incredible but so different from each other. The sing off one was real poppy and now it's got more of a 60s feel to it. Not the Roy Orbison 60s but close in their own way and I'm loving both versions! The growl from Rob in the new version has more of a Catwoman from the original Batman vibe to it and it fits so well with the new take on the song. I'm in love!. Eartha Kitt also has a growl like that so maybe Rob's just channeling one of these
I love Tim running up and down the scales in both versions. Thanks so much for your usual awesome reaction!
You made some great points!! Also love that you can hear Chance's smooth harmonies, makes a big difference! Great reaction as always!
The other thing I noticed on the second version is that it wasn't ALL Austin in the lead. Tim got some time, too! And I think it was an improvement! The main changes are that they're 10 years older now! More maturity, more control. Definitely more complete.
What an awesome reaction DJ! They have come a long ways and most of us Home Fry’s have been on the journey with them from the beginning! I loved them then just love them even more now! They are the GOATS in my book! ❤
Yay, you're almost to 10,000 subs! Love that you did both of these versions. I heard Rupp almost passed out in the newer version. Just a rumor, but still ... he really is the GOAT.
They were able to slow down the tempo a bit, then off the rails they go! No time limit, no judges.
Thank you for the double reaction! Next month - PTX😂
I'm so glad you enjoyed it Katie
I'm not sure if you noticed that someone accidentally unplugged a cord. That is why the tempo was changed. Enjoyed watching your reaction to this song.
the live versions are almost always a little stripped down compared to the studio version
So glad you're doing both versions. Great reaction! They only had a week to arrange and practice each song for The Sing-Off and they've had 10 years since then to decide the best way to update it. They have definitely grown in the last 10 years.
I really enjoyed the live version (the original) and was surprised how much I liked it. Their sound has improved so so much though and this comparison was really interesting! I'm a fan of the Roy Orbison song anyway and this was a great couple of versions. Nice to see that Austin hasn't stopped being a flirt though, and also that he always has been one...lol
Thank you for this great reaction DJ, I love that you didn't turn this into a comparison between the two versions in as much that you didn't say which you preferred...it was nice to just have you react to and enjoy them both! I also love that the costumes didn't distract you from your reaction to the second either.
Thanks for doing both versions!! Love this so much!! Great reaction!❤
I love that you chose Nickleback as a point of reference!!!! What about Buckcherry???
That's the difference between dee-dee-dee and doo-doo-doo.
Brilliant I like both versions 😊 - apparently it was a real fight with the producers to allow any one but Tim & Austin to take lead.
If you like bands that their live versions are not straight copies of the album, try Queen - Somebody to Love live Montrealc1981 i think.. Or Live Aid where they sold the show, adapting their biggest anthems to fit a strict 20 minute slot.....
Each group was required to nominate two singers to be featured in their own songs and in the intros.. HF nominated Tim and Austin (who had a lot more experience of big production numbers etc than the others). The producers knew that with a cast of hundreds, they had to find characters to focus on. Watch any TV talent show and you'll see how the numbers are controlled so viewers don't get confused. If they presented us with 100 singers on the The Voice, we'd give up! HF were free to make their nominations and the producers agreed with their choice. Changing their minds later on was expecting rather a lot.
Nothing against Chris Rupp. He's a great singer, but something about Chance's voice adds to Home Free. They all have grown alot vocally.
When you see them perform live, the contribution of Adam Chance is so clear to see. His extraordinary range also allows more scope.
Hey DJ , i agree 💯 with you, this is my least favorite song from their Sing Of . But the new version is fiiiire 😁😁🔥🔥🔥
The whole sing of is Austin flirting with Jewel. ;)
React Earth Song - Gabriel Henrique (Cover Michael Jackson)
React "I'll Make a Man Out of You" METAL COVER - Mulan Dan Vasc
They only have 2 1/2 minutes to sing the song.
I think the reason that it didn't sound right to you on the Sing Off is because of the time crunch they had to hold to. They only had so much time to get everything in that they wanted to, so they had to speed up the performance. In the 2023 version they could take the time to do it the correct way and slow it down. Great reaction. Have a great day!