This really showcased Austin's musical theater background. All members of Home Free could have solo careers. We are so fortunate that they promote these solo efforts of all the members. Austin, Tim and Chance with their own solo music. Rob with his Avid Indoors men and Adam with his Dungeon and Dragons outlet. Allowing them their private pursuits most likely stops a lot of ego that splits groups up and keeps Home Free the amazing group of very talented artists that they collectively are.
There is a live version from 2015 of Austin doing this song with Home Free. It is lovely, but it mostly shows off Austin's ability to belt. Seven years later this version demonstrates Austin's maturity, the subtlety of his technical skills as a singer and the powerful way that he conveys the emotionality of the song. I was mesmerized through the whole thing.
Not a big Home Free fan, but boy am I ever a fan of Austin's rendition of this powerful song. I, too, surrendered to the emotion of this song. Austin is simply phenomenal.
I knew this would be a total sugary biscuit blast for you! His training suuuure shines here. 🤯🤩😍 It's ok to man-crush on Austin. It's normal, it happens. 🙃😉❤
I'm being completely honest when I say this... This is my favorite theater music song EVER and the first time I heard Austin sing it, I physically felt the emotion in my chest and just cried!! Now, he has remade it and it got to me even more. I have to hold back tears or I ugly cry every time I hear him sing this. He is just so immensely talented! I'm a huge fan of Home Free...that's how I got to know his music..along with the other guys. Speaking of which, I know you've reacted to Tim Foust's solo music and at least one of Tim and Peter Hollens. If you could please, Tim and Peter sing an absolutely stunning version of "Greensleeves" and I would LOVE to see your reaction. I dont want to give anything away, but you have never heard Tim sing like he does in this one, and I'm not talking about just his range! They did it in ONE take to capture the beauty of the location too!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE check it out!! I so loooooved your reaction to this. It will be a shame if you miss out on "Greensleeves"!😲😍😁
Here! Have a whole truck full of biscuits and "throw things" (use your imagination)! Seems like there wasn't enough of it around for this! How many times have you listened to it by now? 😁 I shed tears every single time I hear it, and I've never cried to this song before. Brad Steele said on his reaction that even if you don't know the musical/story it feels as if you're in the middle of it, and I agree with that. So interesting to hear your voice teacher comments as well. Now, Sebastien supported him perfectly, as always, but Austin is completely stealing the show and my attention. Having said that, though, he always does that even at Home Free shows so nothing new there. 🤣 Great reaction, Chris! 🥰🙏
The amount of power Austin has and the pronouncination of the words bring out such emotion. The simplistically of the piano part with strings sounds stunning not played to complex and not to simple it's played just the right amount to bring out Austins voice
If you don't mind getting emotional again, check out Austin's version of "Love Song for a Vampire" (cover of Annie Lennox), which is I think not as technically assured as "Bring him Home" but has such passion that it's hypnotic. What you said about tightening the muscles for a top note reminds me that Austin has said that when he was singing gospel for his father as a little boy, if he was having difficulty with a top note his dad would shout "Squeeeze! Squeeeeze!" Nothing like getting that technique in early. Great reaction, Chris, to a great performance.
He was trained to sing Musicals. Before Home Free, that's what he was doing. Tim said they heard him sing it on a cruise ship before he joined Home Free.
Not quite. He trained in music theatre, which includes the same classical training as for opera. He did not go into musicals when he left college but sang in the Voices of Liberty, then spent years on cruise ships. Some of it was musical excerpts but he was promoted to bar soloist.
Sorry. I had to laugh when you started crying, but only because I was thrilled that Austin was moving you to tears. I have watched this so many times and every time his start of the last word just freaks me out. What a beautiful beautiful sound. So glad Austin isn't on Broadway where he belongs. Can you imagine missing out on these (regular) treasures from Home Free and their solo channels. I love the music from Les Mis, but I prefer watching movies. Love them all, from 1978 all the way to Liam Neeson. Thank you for sharing this with (and enlightening) us. Really enjoyed your reaction.
Tear's from the sheer beauty of his voice! Sometimes his voice requires no adjectives, there aren't any that describe it well enough!! His voice and the emotion he delivers just takes us to another level. It's as if he opens up his heart and soul and just hands it to us.Austin is very special, truly gifted! Thank you for reacting to this!
Yes their just isn't enough words to describe the talent that this wonderful gentleman possess. I'm one of a million fans who couldn't wait for this performance. And it was well worth the wait. Thank you for the music lesson. I knew you would love it as much as all us Homefries do. 🥰🎶✌
So beautiful. (the song) I enjoyed your reaction, I did the same thing, cried, had my mouth hanging open with my finger on my chin, threw things, said biscuits and other random things. I mean who wouldn't at this performance?
In an interview, Austin mentioned that as a kid, he'd sometimes travel and occasionally sing with his father's gospel quartet in Georgia. In a different interview he said that his father would say (about hitting a high note) squeeze, squeeze harder and I'd presume that's partly where he learned to use his diaphragm.
Sometimes the very best compliment doesn't come from words, but from the emotion that is seen in reaction to greatness! Words just don't always do a performance justice! Great reaction! I knew this one was going to hit hard! ❤
I think once you’ve seen Les Mis you just gotta cry whenever you hear some of the songs. Did you see the movie? I didn’t know Anne Hathaway could sing. She shredded me. I just have to see the picture of her with her hair shaved and I cry. Anyway, Austin’s timbre here is just gorgeous. And that last high note-while I am almost certain they had to cut just before and then start again with him going right there, it’s still just lovely.
@@creativecrewfam If my Internet would cooperate, I’d be all about that. Unfortunately I go for the cheapest and get what I pay for. Streaming full length movies might break my WiFi. LOL. Anyway, I’m game to try, but might have to drop out. Have you seen the new West Side Story yet? I haven’t.
Thank you for your reaction! I so enjoy seeing someone enjoy things as much as I do. He has such a gift and we are so lucky that him and all of the Home Free guys share their talent and time with us. Thanks again for your reaction, and technical explanations.
I knew you would love this! But then, who wouldn't if they have had any kind of vocal training. And that last note! My exact reaction was "holy cr8p!' There are not a lot of vocalists who can hit that note and then broaden it like Austin did. I have started listening for what he is singing when he is not on lead in Home Free. He is so good at blending, then bringing out some little musical gem, and then blending back into the group. So talented!
Biscuit!!! It was so beautiful. Gave me chills and tears. That last note….goodness gracious. Awesome! Great reaction Chris! And Sebastien was incredible.
You had me tearing up again, every time I watch/listen to this my eyes start leaking, it's just so beautiful I watch it everyday many times, I love it, and thank you for your reaction. I wondered how many biscuits you would go through,a whole packet I think x
Biscuit, biscuit, biscuit! What a awesome song and arrangement 😮. Sebastian did a amazing job on the piano too!! Love your reaction 🎉 I love Home Free😊
I don't know if you know he has done this live in concert in 2014 through 2016. But his voice has grown so much since then. This version is absolutely phenomenal. I love this one way more than the other. Chris I always enjoy your reactions to music.
I could hardly wait for you to react to this one because I knew you would be overwhelmed, as I was, but I didn't expect you to be throwing things out of your drawer. I guess you were lost for words, eh? Well, thank you so much for the reaction and the pointers. Cheers!!
This made me smile the whole time. This has been my favorite show and song for 30 years and I love more than anything a beautiful version of this!! Colm Wilkinson, John Owen -Jones and Alfie Boe is impressive company and Austin was right there! Thanks so much, I enjoy your reactions so much! 🤗❤️
Y'know, this is probably how the members of Home Free first heard Austin. Not the song per se but how he sounded, his voice, the missing Southern accent. He was part of the in-house entertainment when they came on as guest entertainers on a Royal(?) cruise ship and became friends pretty quickly. They tell this story when Austin sings this song on stage with the guys. Check that out if you haven't seen it, it beautiful.
Thank you! I had asked you to review his live performance I didn't know he had finally done a cover. So good and your review was so moving. I cried with you. Keep up the great reviews
Chris, thank you sooo much for your awesome reaction❣️ I have been waiting for you specifically to react to this beautiful, heartfelt rendition by Austin❣️❣️ You did not disappoint 😍 I love your teaching moments, but most of all I love your appreciation for the music and the artist❣️ You are never shy about showing your emotions - and in this one it’s hard not to!! I have been listening and following Home Free for several years now and love, love everything they do; however, Austin’s classical training just brought out the gorgeousness of his voice!! When I heard this for the first time, I was left stunned and breathless❣️ Austin’s God-given talent and his cultivation of that talent is just something to behold 🙏🥰
Austin is so incredible how he uses his voice. Loved your reaction. Did you already do Tears in Heaven by Austin? Oh wow. He just keeps bringing us such joy with his solo work. Thank you. Take care.
One thing i will say for this difference ( besides you making me chuckle with the tossings ) is that he used his singing voice more than a theatre voice. ( i hope that makes sense ) . Along with the different way he chose to switch a couple of notes ( wether up or down or from a quarter to a half ) . For me i could tell the difference also with where he placed the breath points, which helped me see the singing aspect more than theatre. It was to this as well of showing less body movement, gusto, and trying to be the part, that also stated the style between theatre and singing. Yes there is singing in theater, yet there is more flare, more dramatic voice accents, and more ( for lack of words ) umph to the breathing. Does this make it bad? No, just different. Thank you.
I take your points, Alex, but I'm not sure i agree. We need to remember that the piece is a prayer, where Valjean decides to put himself in danger by rescuing Marius. Most of it is addressed to God but he is also talking to himself, and it would be inappropriate to move around much or use 'gusto'. Austin's choice of breath points in fact seems to me to be evidence that he is treating this as a piece of theatre, by bringing out the almost conversational nature of it, with slight changes of tempo not dictated by the music but by the situation When I was studying theatre and singing, it was almost beaten into me that being on stage did not mean that you forgot your technique (placement, control etc) and vice versa, that they were one and indivisible. Having done musicals and a little opera brought this home to me. A singer may have a wonderful voice and fine technique, but without the desire to convey emotion to the audience and the ability to do so, you won't get very far. The reason why Austin moves us is surely that he has all of those.
I think Austin doesn't excellent job with this song maybe you can also do David Phelps version and do a comparison. To be honest I do like David's version a little bit better
_God on high_ _HeaR my pRayR_ Okay, it's still gorgeous, but those Rs… 😅 I think I'm just too emotionally attached to Colm Wilkinson's performance lol.
