Music Teacher Reacts: HOMEFREE ft. Don McLean - American Pie 

"This Don McClean gentleman" is capturing the feel of the original because... um... well, because he wrote it.

Don can still bring it even at age 75. They did this to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of the song, that was released 12 years after "the day the Music Died" Don was always asked the meaning of the song and once he said "it means I never have to work again.... The line that gets me is "I knew a girl that sang the blues..." RIP Janis Joplin you definitely died too young.

Home Free released, for Valentine’s Day, “ When a Man Loves a Woman” featuring their high tenor, Austin Brown. He sings it full of passion & soul! Please check it out!

But can we just all take a moment to appreciate the continually incredible hand offs between Tim and Chance in that lower register? The way they play off each other is just.... *chefs kiss*

I had to rewind to make sure I heard him correctly, please don't tell us you didn't know that Don Mclean is the writer and performer of this classic. Home free did this to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its release.

DON MCLEAN, the one singinging is the writer/singer of this song.

This is a Don McLean song...we knew that, right?

Here’s their lineup: BASS=Tim Foust, know as “Te Beast” HIGH TENOR =Austin Brown, know as “The Wailer” (Ga. boy) TENOR =Rob Lundquist, known as “The Beard “ BARITONE =Chance (Adam, goes by Ch, there is an Adam BEAT BOXER =Adam Rupp, known as A Freak of Nature, incredible, inhuman sounds !!! Their harmonies are awesomeness !

Don is the original singer composer

February 3rd, 1959 - The day the music died, when a small plane took off after a concert at the Surf ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa and crashed in a corn field just a few miles away killing all four passengers: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper (JP Richardson) and the pilot. Don McLean wrote and released this song, “American Pie” twelve years later in 1971 as a tribute.

Lol....well for a little more “emotional tension” from Austin..you’ll have to listen to Austin sing the just released When A Man Loves A Woman. You’ll get your fix. 😉 Great reaction!

"this Don mclean fellow" "the original composer of the song" Wut?

He IS the original composer

We have Don McLean the writer of the song. Then Home Free members the first singer is there baritone Adam Chance. Then Austin Brown there sky high tenor. Then Rob Lundquist the lead tenor. And the last one was actually the bass Tim Foust. There beatboxer Adam Rupp the one with the v neck shirt.

This was done in honor of the 50th anniversary of the song! And the guy you loved so much is Tim Faust. He’s a BASS with a 6-octave range! Which is why he sings so high here!

2nd singer is Austin Brown.. He just put out 2 new original videos on his u tube channel. His " Unchained Melody " hit 3,000,000 today.. Check out Home Free " When A Man Loves A Woman " Austin sings the lead... Try Home Frees Love Train, Cant Stop The Feeling, Fishin' in the dark... All are really good..

I loved how Don McLean became one of the band.

All I can hear is "My, my , this here Anakin guy" LOL

Loving the studio!!!! She did awesome! First Home Free soloist: Chance. Second Soloist: Austin. Third: Rob. Fourth: Tim Foust (yes, you said it right). Drums/beat for almost 8 minutes! Adam Rupp! And with the amazing Don Mclean! Thanks for the reaction, I had the same feelings about it. Tears and awe of their harmonies. I just love music.

The man who started _is_ the original singer/composer. This was his 50th anniversary re-release of the song. I heard that part of the reason he wanted backup for this one was because at 74 he couldn't do some of the vocal gymnastics he had in the original.

By now you know Don McLean wrote & recorded the song originally. Home Free guy's in order were Adam Chance, Austin Brown, Rob Linquist & Tim Foust. Adam Rupp percussion/beat boxer founded the group with his brother, Chris Rupp. They are amazing.

In order of this song Chance, Austin Brown, Rob Lundquist and Tim Foust, Adam Rupp beatboxer

I remember when Don sang this song back in the day. The day the music died, on February 3, 1959 American rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson were killed in a plane crash near clear Lake, Iowa, together with pilot Roger Peterson.

It really sounded like you weren't aware that Don McLean was the original composer and singer of this song but that can't be true right? I think just about everyone in the world knows that so hopefully it just came out wrong.... : /

You paused for a good look back at the beginning of the third verse (second member of Home Free) as sung by Austin Brown. He's been on a tear lately, both with Home Free and on the side. He just sang as the lead for their cover of When a Man Loves a Woman released last week, as well as on his own RU-vid channel covering Unchained Melody with his friend on guitar. Both are spectacular.

HF is not about dancing around, doing things not in their comfort zone. They focus on the music, feeling, and putting their own touch on it. What you get is not a dance video, but REAL music.I know you want more movement, to show some passion. But, trust us, their passion level is very high.

Your smile just watching Don McLean sing made my day. Because I have the same smile watching him sing. Granted, the orginal could never be beat but watching Don McLean singing today just makes me happy

Are we not glad that Mr Don McLean passed the test of singing his own song :)

This was Don McLean's song and he invited Home Free to help him re-record it for the song, American Pie's 50 anniversary. Don is now 74 years old and still sounds great. The song still brings a tear to my eyes, especially when the song slows down near the end and the the verse sings about that the music doesn't play there anymore. It was a symbolic gesture to the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper, J. P. Richardson. The song is a fitting tribute to these 3 young performers who were taken from us in a plane crash at just the beginning of the peaks of their careers. I love Home Free as a group and it is full of very talented performers. The gentleman in the V-neck shirt is Adam Rupp, one of the founders of the group and is the beat boxer extraordinaire. The lead singer that followed Don McLean is Austin Brown, an excellent tenor with a very warm voice and gives their music a bit of a country twang. The next singer, also a tenor, is Rob Lundquist. Rob is the second tenor in the group and along with having a very nice tenor voice is one of the world's great whistlers. The next member of Home Free to sing lead is Adam Chance, who goes by the name Chance just to avoid confusion with Adam Rupp. Chance has a wonderful voice and has great range. He can sing from middle tenor to upper bass and is the newest member of the vocal group. He took the place of Adam Rupp's brother. Chris, and has been a great addition to the group. Last, but definitely not least is Tim Foust, who has an approximate 5 or 6 octave range, from tenor to sub-harmonic. I hope that this help explain who is whom and does what in the group Home Free. They just released another song, a cover of Percy Sledge's "When A Man Loves A Woman" which features Austin as the lead. You may want to react to that one too.

Read somewhere that Adam almost passed out twice doing this.

What is amazing is Don McLean is 77 yrs old. This was done by Home Free to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the song.

You should check out Home Free's cover of Elvira, which they did with the Oak Ridge Boys. Excellent!

Great to see ya back! Lighting is perfect! Yes...you pronounced Foust perfectly. "V neck" is Adam Rupp...one of the best beatboxers in the business...aka "the freak of nature" and "human drum kit" And...hey, Janelle! :D And...the guy with the timbre...Austin Brown, the high tenor. He took the lead on their recent release of When a Man Loves a Woman. Thanks to Lhun and thanks to you for giving Home Free another chance.

Word is that McLean called Home Free to redo the song with him.

Because of this song, Feb 3, 1959 has come to be known as "The Day The Music Died." This is a reference to the crash that killed Buddy Holly, JP Richardson, and Richie Valens. The Widowed Bride from the first verse is a reference to Buddy Holly's wife, who soon suffered a miscarrage

That "Don McLean gentleman"???? no words

Welcome back DJ !! Great to see Janelle pop in, your dancin' was ok...not great, but ok...Last time I saw Don he was a lot younger...hummm, so was I !!

The second man singing, Austin Brown, is Home Free's high tenor, so when he's singing it, he's in a super comfortable place singing, which I think reay adds to that like smooth feeling. If we look at the first who sang, Adam Chance, he's a bass-baritone, and while he can sing up there pretty well, he's going to have much more tension, also adding to the feeling of the "wall" you spoke up. Thought I'd add my thoughts on this.

Don McLean originated the song 12 years after the event that he's singing about. They released the song (this version) on the anniversary of the date the plane crashed with three (3) famous musicians on board, including Buddy Holly. Austin Brown was the guy you stopped to discuss during the verse "moss grows fat on a rolling stone". He's the primary tenor in the group and does an unreal version of Unchained Melody solo. It would give you a far better idea of his overall range and ability. The first verse was by Chance, the group baritone harmony. He has a rich voice, and runs the base from time to time to let Tim Foust take a higher range. He was the guy in the leather jacket. Adam did all of the "instruments". He's the group "band". Spectacular beat boxer. Rob was the bearded guy. He's like the middle ground glue for the group. He does tenor as well, but has a totally different voice than Austin. He has a crazy smooth tone. You listen to his better work in "Blue Ain't Your Color". Tim is a base profundo. He has a five octave range. He runs the crazy base lines in their songs. They like to let him show off a lot. Look at their cover of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" to see him hit a crazy low note.

You need to cover cold hard cash for Christmas, home free at their funnest

Great reaction! This song is so good! Love to see you react to 'When a man loves a woman' by Home Free. Just came out on Valentines Day

Janelle....😂😂😂😂😂 Delete button!

Please do more Home Free!!!

loved your reaction. my favorite part was when Adam (the beatboxer) bowed out when he finished the beatboxing before he started singing. SOOOOOO glad you're back looking forward to more

I suggest if you want to look into more Home Free, try their cover of Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues.

If you want more motion, watch their rendition of "can't stop the feeling". For clear and precise beauty, auld lang syne. For range of Tim Faust, do ring off fire. All great songs.

Don McLean is 75 years old!!

Thank you for doing Home Free and Don-wish they could move more in the boxres for you:)

I’m sure you know by now that Tim Foust, their main bass singer, was the last soloist on this tune. The guy has at least a 5 octave range. For a bassist, that’s astounding!

Check out their "All About That Bass," or their latest release, " I Swear." Others to check out... "Mayday," "End of the Road," and "Blue Ain't Your Color." Austin Brown...yes, amazing voice!! The one you said fills the sound the most is Tim Foust, the bass, and yes, he has a HUGE vocal range. While he sings lead, Adam Chance, the baritone, sings bass.

Dude, That's THE Don Mc Lean, the writer and original recorder of this song. He's legend. Also supposedly the influence for' Killing Me Softly with His Song.'

Please listen to home frees" try everthing". perfect harmony, yet you hear each voice sepertly.

The Static Comment if I am not mistaken was about a Video where movement or lack thereof was intentional! Home Free are Master's of Tongue and Cheek, as well as on purpose planning based on what they want to portray or make fun of depending on the story and the song! Be careful not to diss things about Home Free until you have learned more about them!😊

Great video!! Janelle, man I’m dying 🤣🤣🤣

This was don song, he sang back when the music died, I remember I cried, each member is unique and together ❤ they are remarkable you should hear when a man loves a woman you will love it

OK...Teach...the next rel they did..”WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN”...will then give you another side of them. The guy you liked for his Southern sound..AUSTIN BROWN (classically trained, from Ga,), does the lead knit..he is STELLAR 🙃💖‼️

Please do Home Free’s “When a Man Loves a Woman.” Lots of that emotion you were talking about.

I am so glad that you found such enjoyment in this song..may I suggest for you.. "Mayday" Homefree did a cover of this song, which was origionally done by Cam.

For the lighter side of Home Free try "Love Train" , "All About That Bass", or their parody "Quarantine". But, for my money, their original works are the best. "Dive Bar Saints", "Dreamer", and "Catch Me If You Can". Dude, dance all you want. If it moves you, then be moving. Mrs. Brett

I loved your reaction to this HF video. I have listened to them for a couple of years now and their talent knows no bounds. They are so much fun to listen to. BTW...my cousin was a student at Temple who sang in their acapella group (Shelly P). Kudos to you if you worked with them because they are very good. Again, thank you for the reaction, it was inciteful and fun to watch!

Tim (the bass) reminds me of a really GREAT bass guitarist in both timbre and melodic line in this. It's gorgeous, and yes, very different from "wall of monochord" singing.

Ok I am new to you and your reactions....I did subscribe and thumbs up to you. I enjoyed listening to what you had to say about the Home Free guys as they sang this song. These guys are really really good at what they do. Then getting Don McLean to join them was brilliant! Don sounds great like I remember him and Home Free knows how to put it out there. Thank you so much for your reaction.

Don’s song, you have never heard original? Don McLean live you should now review. Sounds like you haven’t yet reviewed All About That Bass. Home free

You really should check out Flowers on the wall and Quaratine by Home Free, but then again they have so many good tunes. Always like hearing your reactions.

Good to see you! Space looks amazing. J did a fabulous job. It was beautiful to see Don be included in his own song. He sounds amazing at 70+ years old. PTX is my favorite a cappella group but HF is growing on me. I’m not much of a country fan so didn’t naturally seek them out. They did a beautiful job as HF and supporting-hugging Don’s vocals.

Sir, you can do some research about the performers and the song before listening. It would help you better understand the performances. Your lack of knowledge hurts your reactions and analysis.

This Don Mclean guy...Say what???

The one you are talking about is Austin Brown from Tifton, GA. He is the high tenor. The one in the v neck shirt is Adam Rupp. He is the beat boxer and one of the founders of Home Free.

I love this song. On the subject of the lyrics to "American Pie," the only concrete explanation Don McLean has ever given is that it means he'll never have to work again. He has admitted that the "father, son, and the Holy Ghost" line refers to Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens. An interesting side-note regarding Don McLean is that, according to songwriter Lori Lieberman, he is the unnamed singer in "Killing Me Softly With His Song" (a song Lieberman wrote that was later a hit for both Roberta Flack and The Fugees). The song was inspired when Lieberman saw him perform at a club and was struck by his sad breakup song "Empty Chairs". For decades, McLean was totally unaware he was the inspiration for this song. When he found out, he said, "I'm absolutely amazed. I've heard both Lori's and Roberta's version and I must say I'm very humbled about the whole thing. You can't help but feel that way about a song written and performed as well as that one is."

I think you were impressed with Tim’s performance. He usually sings bass, but his voice has a big range.

That is Austin Brown, the groups high tenor. You should listen to his rendition of Unchained Melody and At Last

I don't want to be a bore but what about the lyrics. Although the lads sound fantastic, and every person who reacts to this video has a big smile for eight and half minutes, I would ask, "should they"? This is not a fun song. Its about death. It's about shattered hopes. Broken dreams. A fractured relationship with God. It's about a lot more than "the day the music died" ( which is very heavy by itself). What it isn't, is a fun song to sing along with in the back of car. I pray that the lads don't give one of Dylan's serious songs a similar "jolly" treatment.

1st Verse - Don McLean - Writer, Composer and Original Artist of the Song 2nd Verse - Adam Chance "Chance" - Baritone of the group who also takes low register when Tim is singing higher register 3rd Verse - Austin Brown - High Tenor, not sure if you would call him a countertenor, Austin can sing high but he doesn't sound the same as say, Mitch Grassi from Pentatonix who has the voice of an angel. I am in no way putting Austin down, Austin is amazing. 4th Verse - Rob Lundquist - Tenor (with some soul) 5th Verse - Tim Foust - THE BASS - Man can sing low and has a very wide vocal range. 6th Verse - Back to the man himself Don McLean And let's not forget, the entire song instrumentals done by the Best Beat Boxer out there, Adam Rupp. We often forget that there are no instruments in Home Free songs, because Adam does such an amazing job filling it all in.

Home Free is amazing! If you want some emotion from Austin Brown (high tenor) check out “When A Man Loves A Woman”. Adam Rupp the beatboxer is fantastic - sounds like a drum kit

I loved your wife coming in to delete your dancing

Don McLean DID write the song

I must have missed something. I was sure you stated that you knew who Don McLean is in regards to this song!

Obviously the lyrics are really cool but also somewhat mysterious, so people have long debated the meaning. Don was once asked what the song meant to him and he rather famously answered, "It means I'll never have to work again."

Don MClean the original writer and singer of this song agreed to do this with Home free for the 50th anniversary of the song

If you want to see the vocal range check out their version of Mayday. I would like your thoughts on that song.

Didn't know I needed this video, but boooooyyy did I need that!

I was so proud of myself when I memorized all the lyrics to this song at ten years old...1996, had heard it since birth, but I could finally sing all the words lol Edit: He knows what The Day The Music Died means, right??

OK studio looks great!!!!! He is the original, Don McLean is a wordsmith extraordinaire, 2004 songwriter's hall of Fame since 2004. On American radio 4 of his songs have been played over 3,000,000 times, this one, I love you So, Vincent, and my Favorite, Castles in the Air. For Home Free you need to check out When a Man Loves a Woman...I was shocked..they did those things you are speaking of now. emoting.

Great reaction my first time checking your channel out and I see music news you like it does me at the same points in the song I could see it in your eyes. Humphrey has some really really good stuff check them out 🤘🤘

Hi DJ, could you check out Phillip Lammonds "LOVE IS LOVE", CAM "TILL THERES NOTHING LEFT" video a must, HARDY " UNAPOLOGETICALLY COUNTRY AS HELL" Vince Gill "WHEN LOVE FINDS YOU" video a must, Gretchen Wilson "THE GIRL I AM", Jack Ingram "LOVE YOU" video funny TY for honest reactions

Austin, solo 2/high tenor, is from Georgia, and Tim, solo 4/bass, is from Texas. Rob, solo 3/lead tenor, and Adam, beat boxer are from Minnesota, (Adam) Chance, solo 1 and baritone, is from Alabama.

Pure beauty! Who doesn't know Don McLlean wrote and performed this. A wonderful tribute to the man and artist Don McLean

You should check out more Home Free, they are so incredible. How Great Thou Art, When a Man Loves a Woman, Go Rest High on That Mountain. So many more. They are a country acapella group, so they have just as many fun and silly songs, but their harmonies are wicked good.

I had my dad watch/listen to this since I know he loves the song but he didn't know Home Free at all. His first comment was "wow, that's a deep bass" and at the end I asked if he figured out who was singing bass and he said he thought he had but then when that guy (Tim) soloed, he assumed he was wrong haha

This was also recorded during the Covid Pandemic. None of them were in the same studio. That's why they are all in boxes.

I’m old enough to remember when Don McLean first gave us this song in ‘71 and this revisit hit me with the same sort of impact. This song is timeless, Don sounds great and Home Free is simply amazing.

Hello! I just found your channel and I really appreciate you're reactions to Home Free. Most of the time reaction videos are ridiculous. However, it's refreshing to have the discussion with a music pro. Thank you. Seems you like the same music I do. Hope to see more reactions very soon.

TIM FAUST, THE BASS, HAS A 5 OCTAVE RANGE! HE SINGS LAST!

If you want to see emotion from Home Free, you should listen to the End of the Road! Both Austin (the gentleman you were talking about ~halfway through) and Robb (the beard man) show some grit and growl

Please please please react to "when a man loves a woman" by home free. You would love it!

Austin Brown is his name

Welcome back! and welcome back to a barrage requests! I'll throw out a continuation of A Capella and a return to metal, Lord of the Rings Misty Mountain by Peter Hollens Ft Tim Foust, and Igorrr - ieuD if you don't already know this one.

i regards to Tim's voice Elizabeth, from The Charismatic Voice, said that he was a great example of Chiaroscuro, light and dark. he has a brightness mixed with his deep bass giving him such a full sound. thought that was a great way to describe it

In the final shot that shows all of them, the top box is Adam Rupp the beatboxer. Below him, on the right (long hair) is Austin Brown. He's the one you asked about. He's the group's high tenor. Below Austin on the right is Adam Chance (called Chance so as not to get confused with Adam R) he's the baritone, sometimes bass. On the left top is Tim Foust he's the bass doing all that great background bass sounds but with a 5 -octave range. he chose to sing his solo part in his tenor range. Below Tim on the left is Rob Lundquist he's the group's tenor. I suggest you listen to When a Man loves a woman, End of the Road & Everybody walkin this land & Country Roads.

Of the big3, Home Free has the most fun with there sings/videos. Probably because country music takes itself less serious & uses humor more than any other genre.