Rob graduated from a performing arts college and studied Opera and earned a degree in vocal performance but had not done it in 15 years. Austin graduated with a classical music theatre performance degree. Rob said on Instagram he was glad that Austin convinced him to do this with him. They were very nervous especially Rob and spoke of it in the live premiere. They nailed it fantastically! In the video I think Austin was giving the nod to Rob when he was looking towards hi in a show of encouragement and emotional support, as co - band mate's and brotherhood. How blessed we are to have Home Free in our lives. Each one of our guy's could be making much more money than they do and be much more famous because of their amazing talent yet they choose to be in a band together as brothers for us! Wow! What devotion that is! Truly that makes me love them even more. We've seen a glimpse into the abilities of Austin in prior performances with BRING HIM HOME from Les Miserables, GEORGIA ON MY MIND and many others all which can be found on his RUclips channel but I think Rob has been holding out on us!😆🤯 so I understand what you are saying. We haven't heard anything from Rob before that has been this majestic. Yes there is no competition between any of our guy's, no ego's at all so I will conclude by saying that Austin and Rob are brilliant and masters of their craft beyond a shadow of a doubt! Pure Perfection! I also would LOVE to hear more opera from our guy's. Thank you for reacting! Sending love from South Georgia!♥️😀😃😃🔥
We are Very Blessed to have them in our lives, I discovered them in I think was in 2015 in a time of my life that I needed something, just couldn't figure out what. I thank them so much for filling that place in my heart.
A lot of people, including some Home Fries, didn't know that Rob excelled in opera at college. Trust me, as one who trained opera for 20 myself, their Italian was spot on... hard to do when you are not trained to. This was perfection, and I am quite sure Luciano was smiling down on them!
This is why music is such an amazing language, all in itself.......I do not understand one word they sang, but I felt every lyric, every note, and every emotion, which says a lot about their amazing artistry & talent ❣❣❣
I think they used the term country singers because they were so very nervous about releasing this. Evidently Rob studied opera in college while Austin was definitely a Musical Theatre major. They both did a great job but we are accustomed to hearing Austin step out of his box and this was a completely new experience with Rob.
It's been said that Austin is such a great guy that he allowed Rob to shine in this performance. I think he probably knew what a great voice Rob had for opera and he encouraged him to step out of his comfort zone and show all of us that power he possesses. But the magic of Austin's voice will always be my first choice, know matter what he sings. He's such a kind and caring soul and what I admire about him the most. They both sounded fantastic but I'm not surprised at the level of talent. Thanks for your great reaction and I'm glad you liked it. Some how I knew you would. 🥰😲🎶
Rob studied and sang opera 15 years ago when he was in college. He has not sang opera since then. When Austin was in college his teachers wanted him to do opera but he chose musical theater. Austin had to push Rob into doing this project I am glad he did. They were very nervous about how the fans would react.but it has been overwhelming positive. Even though they cover all genres the do mostly country music. They self identify as a country accappella vocal band but have been doing more non-country songs lately. A couple of their latest are rock songs WHEN WILL I BE LOVE by the Everly Brothers and the 50th anniversary tribute to the Doobie Brother’s LISTEN TO THE MUSIC. Thanks for your great reaction and you have a blessed day.
This will leave you speechless. Rob and Austin did a phenomenal job. They are so flipping talented. This could make me start listening to opera. Have me chills. 💗
I was so privileged to hear Pavarotti and Dame Joan Sutherland sing opera years ago. Their voices were so amazing. Then I heard Jackie Evancho (when she was 10 on America’s Got Talent) sing with Sarah Brightman and again was amazed. Now these boys! Austin is a high tenor so his voice is much higher and Rob’s just sounded so rich. They were both amazing but Rob was incredible. I guess he studied opera in college. Who knew?? Loved it and great reaction!😍
Home Free was labeled a Country group just before the Sing Off show. After the show, they did perform ALOT of country music as a result. But they really do defy labels, singing whatever they want. Plus, who would expect Austin, a guy from Tipton, Georgia, and Rob, a guy from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, to be able to sing like this! Well, we all sort of knew they were capable of this if we are honest but as fans, we are a bit biased. I do think though the reason why this takes so many people off guard is that Rob comes across as the comedic guy. In the behind the scenes videos I have seen, he is usually joking and making everyone smile but yet very humble. He almost comes across as shy about his singing and rather self deprecating. I recall hearing that the guys in the group all tend to think that Rob is the most talented of them all and I think it may have been Tim that mentioned Rob's ability to sing opera. I have heard it seep out on occasion in behind the scenes videos when he is goofing around. I am so very glad that Austin got Rob to do this and allow us to hear his beautiful operatic tenor! I for one would love to hear more!
Home Free does "lean" country but yes they sing all genre's and this does confirm that these two can sing anything. I agree with you Rob shone through !!!! Check out more of Home Free
I agree, Rob nailed it. He always presents with a very light tenor when singing with the group but, having heard this, Rob has an amazing operatic range.
This is insane. Wow, wow and again wow. This is extremely good. Fantastic. Both are doing great. But Rob, I'm perplexed. His voice is just magical, so rich, so warm, so powerful. Chills just ran through my body. It flows into my heart. He will be able to stand with the greatest of opera singers. It's not often that I listen to songs by opera singers 5 times in a row. But here it is. Of course I hope that both will always continue to do Home Free, but I wouldn't think it wrong that such "trips" are made more often. Opera, country, ballads, soul etc. I think anything is possible..
If we all preferred the same singer then the others wouldn't have a chance. They say Home Free is country music's only a capella group. Country tinged or twang. Heck, they can sing anything. Way back in the day if you were considered a country singer and you sang in a different genre then you weren't accepted. I'm glad that era is over with. I love Home Free and I love opera so this video was beyond thrilling for me. Stunning, actually!
What is astounding is the power in Rob's voice, especially when they join at the end, for as beautiful as Austin's voice is, Rob's voice just relegated Austin's to a harmony. Not hating on Austin, I think this phenomenal for both.
The difference in their training, technique and styles was evident here. Austin was a musical theater major, while Rob studied mostly classical while achieving his vocal performance degree. You can even see the difference in how open their mouths are and how they shape their notes.
Rob had the deep projection from the chest which is operatic control. Austin sings from the throat. Or so it seemed to a non-pro observation. Rob was powerful in this. Just beautiful.
@@rosemary702001 ... I'm not a pro, either, but am classically trained (mezzo soprano). And you are correct about the placement of the sound, although Austin fully supports his notes with great breath support and control. And it isn't JUST his throat or he'd be damaging his voice (and he isn't). There are other factors, as well, that differentiate between the two styles. Not saying one is better, both are amazing. But for 'pure' operatic sound and tone, Rob has the better technique which results in that big, full resonant sound. Musical theater style is a much brighter sound from a more forward placement (think of it as singing through your eyes). One place you can actually see it is at the end when they are both singing the word Vincero. Rob's mouth is wide open and Austin's is a much smaller aperture.
@@par500dragon7 thx for sharing that! I think the guys did a wonderful job. They know how to tempt us to want more of the same! I have a feeling this is a rare performance though.
@@rosemary702001 they did a GREAT job! And yes, probably a one-off. From what I've read, Rob took some convincing and was really nervous. But both should be given a lot of credit for stepping out of the box of fan expectations and flexing some unused musical muscles.
Your opinion is valid as to your taste. No one should be offended by your honesty. Rob has astounded every single reactor so far. We all had an inkling that Austin could do something along these lines after hearing his Bring Him Home from Les Miserables. But the depth, warmth, and richness from Rob is at a whole new level here.
You're absolutely right, Rob hits every note dead on, and also has the weight and classical style. Austin hits the notes just right, but doesn't quite have the weight to his voice. And as you said, it may well introduce a lot of people to opera simply because they'll listen because they're from Home Free. Great reaction, thanks!
We all know Austin can sing a freaking phone book, but ROB!!! Where has he BEEN?? I love Rob in the band. Always thought he was powerhouse incognito, but DAMN BOY!! I could listen to these 2 all day! Amazing job!
Rob study opera in college, this was the first time 15 years he sang in that style, Austin has a musical theater background not sure how its been for him. It has been said that they both were nervous nervous about how it would go over.
Rob was amazing. I understand that he was did extremely well in operatic classes at the University of Minnesota. He was persuaded to perform this song by Austin after having not sung this genre for fifteen years. Austin majored in musical theater. He is a person to push his boundaries. In fact, Rob and Austin were nervous releasing this song because they were unsure of its reception. Rob and Austin's voices are so well matched when they sing acapella that professional vocalists were surprised when they exchanged leads. They thought Austin and Rob were the same person singing. It's not unusual for acapella singers to watch the other singers to match their timing and notes. Home Free has worked so many years together that it isn't quite as obvious as other groups.. Talking about Rob drowning Austin 's voice probably is due the song favoring Rob's voice. It may partly be due to their acapella background also. Acapella singers dampen the outstanding timber of their voiced to blend in with the other singers. That may have happened to some degree here with Austin.
@@johntucker4296 Austin immediately wanted to become a member of Home Free when he saw them perform as guest performers on a cruise. Austin at the time was a working performer on the cruise. Before his cruise position, he had worked as a part of Disney's acapella group, Voices of Liberty. He was a fervent admirer of acapella. Austin hit it off with the Home Free performers. He and Tim bonded immediately over their nerd fascination over acapella music and groups. As Tim said, they were surrounded by beautiful women, but they went off to a private area to listen to a flash drive of acapella music and to compare notes. Later Austin sang as a sixth person of the group on the cruise. As Home Free was leaving, Robb told Austin that Matt Atwood was planning to leave the group. Matt was starting a family, his father was extremely ill, and he was planning to take over his family's business. Austin's cruise contract ended and he took a job as a waiter for a caterer as he waited for an opening in Home Free. Austin didn't automatically get the position at Home Free. Many great singers auditioned for the group, but they often didn't understand about acapella or the requirements concerning harmony. Austin after touring with them several months was permanently hired. No one else had his resume. Austin was not only able to read music, but he understood the requirements of performing harmony and separate parts. One minor problem was that Austin from South Georgia and as country as corn bread (as Tim would describe Austin) would often say things that the three other guys from Minnesota (Chris and Adam Rupp, and Rob Lundquist) couldn't understand. Tim as a fellow Southerner from Texas often had to act as an interpreter for Austin. Evidently everything worked out. It wasn't too long after Austin joined that they auditioned and successfully won a spot on The Sing Off. It was Austin who pushed them to be a country group to be sure to win a spot on The Sing Off as the "token country group.". Chris didn't care if they were labeled as a country group. He just wanted to be on tv so he was for Home Free to be a country group. Tim and Robb were against it. Adam was the tie-breaker. So they were featured as a country group. As Tim later said, thank God that he was outvoted
@@lazylady8591 Thanks for all that. I had heard a lot of this. Also heard that at least one of the judges didn't want Rob to lead 'Colder Weather' but group members said, "Rob leads this one, thanks very much." The one judge said that Rob sounded off at the beginning of the song. I listened over and over and heard nothing at all wrong.
@@johntucker4296 The judge said Robb slightly went off pitch at the beginning of the song. It was probably nerves because they were close to winning the contest and a foul up could cost the competition. However, the judge did say that people enjoyed the song regardless. He was probably being super critical because of the extremely high standards of the competition. Before this only Austin and Tim sang lead. Robb's very slight waver was the only criticism that Home Free received on their performances during all the episodes of the show. I am glad they didn't back down on having Robb sing. They stood up to quite a few demands that the producers made. Actually the show in many ways was more of a reality show than a competition. The producers tried to pit the different groups against each other. They wanted Home Free to all grow beards. Austin lost his voice due to their demands that he sing at the top of his range repeatedly, not giving him or the others time to recover vocally.
@@lazylady8591 I have a different take. I think the judge was posturing bc it was probably him that suggested Rob shouldn't lead so he had to justify his suggestion. I listened for any off pitch word or phrase. I heard nothing that was off-pitch after listening many times.
You are so right. I have never liked opera before hearing this. After I heard this the first time I realized I had been holding my breath the entire song. It is that beautiful.
I enjoyed your reaction. You don’t need to apologize about feeling that Rob “won” the performance in this video. I believe Austin feels that way too. He has said that he recorded his part first, thinking it was pretty good, and sent it off to Rob. When he listened to Rob’s recording he felt compelled to go back and record his part again to make it better because Rob was so good. I agree it’s not a competition. Rob’s powerful voice is just so suited to this music and not many of his fans knew it. So there’s a real shock factor.
Thanks to all of the reactors for entertaining those of us who are watching you. Once we saw this the first time we all knew it would explode and as our collective jaws dropped to the floor, it was very fun to see the same reaction from you guys.
I have been loving watching thus one from the reactors. Not many have done it yet but I have sent out messages to quite a few hoping they can get to it soon.
@@minneyruth hi 👋 ☺ day 3 of running from reactor to reactor watching their faces. Haha. I have 3 or 4 I'm waiting for to react to this. I know 301 Reacts and mortius only realease/record on certain days
This is the signature song of Pavarotti. Being born in 1946, and a “child of the 50’s and 60’s”, I grew up knowing this as the only piece of opera that didn’t make me feel as if I had sand between my teeth, listening to the screech of chalk on a blackboard. (Remember that?) Pavarotti is probably the gold standard for this piece, and Rob gives him a real run for his money here. Couple him with Austin’s harmonies, and this has become one of my favorite chill generators.
From what I understand Rob was actually trained in Opera. During the premier they were so scared how it would be taken. Truly enjoyed watching your reaction to this song.
I listened to your reaction to Sarah Brightman. I just have a giant problem with sopranos: they hurt my ears (and I was a soprano in my school chorus). However, I have learned a few things because of this video. There are two kinds of tenors: dramatic (Rob) and lyric (Austin). I really like the male voice and the alto female voice. You don't have to like "opera" to like the music. Rob and Austin sound crazy good together. And I am a totally committed Home Fry. I just hope the phone book is next; I'd like to hear a LOT more from these guys.
Home Free classifies themselves as Country. Austin's Country twang slid through in a couple of places. After all, he's from Georgia & proud of it!!! 😃 👍🏻
I noticed the same things. Kudos to Austin for letting Rob shine on his channel and following his lead. That “trill” (if that’s the right term) from Rob at the very end was incredible. I think they called themselves “country singers” because they are considered a country a capella group.
I think it was a hook. And then they just had to reel all us fish in, grab the net and land us in the opera boat. After all, Austin has that pic in the corner kissing a bass.
@@kristindunstan172 Yes, I know. But some of the reactors have called it the pic with a "base", as in a bass singer. I'm thinking some of them need to expand their interests.
Rob was trained in opera but hasn't done any opera for 15 years. Austin trained in theater. You should listen to Pavarotti, absolutely amazing. Blessings from a gran in South Africa.
I've heard a number of people sing this, all beautiful. I think Puccini, Pavarotti, Bocelli, and Brightman are my favs (in that order) but... Austin and Rob really held their own on this. I loved it!!! Incredible! And... even though Home Free can sing "anything", they still bill themselves as the "World's First 'All Vocal Country' Band", thus, 2 country singers...etc. The talent in this group is just outstanding! Loved your reaction. You looked a lot like me! 😄 Even though I knew they had classical training, and have actually heard snippets of it here and there, I was still dumbfounded when I heard this. Bravo!
Great reaction! I have never been a fan of opera except maybe some Andrea Bocelli & a few others. But I have always appreciated the talent it takes to sing opera. I was pretty impressed with Rob & Austin's version of Nessun Dorma. I have heard this famous song done by Pavarotti. I think I was more surprised by Rob's range & powerful delivery than even Austin's. Pretty good for a couple of country boys! Nice to see them dressed up in suits & looking classy. Each guy in Home Free is super talented on his own & in another league from any other group.
I am loving all of you reactor’s reactions to this video so much! I have watched about 10 reactions and the expressions and reactions are so pleasant to read! As a Home Fry, I appreciate your take on the video. I agree that they’re not all “country” singers, but they claim to be the first official country music a capella group per the Sing Off. They do cover many genres in their own style, but I don’t think they’re just country, but their own unique genre! I do believe Rob really shone here, since we’re all used to hearing Austin bust his chops on so many solos, and his cover of “Bring Him Home”. Rob really blew me away since I wasn’t expecting this the first time I watched the video!
BRAVO, BRAVO, BRAVO...ENCORE! That was absolutely phenomenal! Rob has the operatic training whereas Austin earned a degree in musical theater. These guys (with Chris Rupp) sang mostly pop until they auditioned for The Sing Off in December 2013 where they became the only a cappella Country Vocal Band; and they've continued to emphasize that, but as you well know, they can do all types of genre. There's nobody like them, individually and collectively, they're the BOMB!!
Rob is the perfect tenor for parts like this. He sits more like a high baritone, who is also a tenor, which gives him a great, darker timbre for a song like this.
My benchmark for this song is Pavarotti, my absolute favorite tenor aria. Rob is pulling out dramatic tenor and there is no strain at all with the higher notes for Rob with, Austin is definitely more of a light lyric tenor. All I know is I want more. I shared Home Free with my mom in June, but since she is very fond of operatic tenors, she immediately shared it with family, she was astounded. Please listen to Pavarotti, it will give you a different perspective of what you just heard Rob do.
Okay, what can't they sing genre wise???? Just WOW!!!!!!!! 🍧 icing with a cherry on top!!!!! Amazing doesn't even begin to define how I feel about these guys.................. Looking forward to seeing them in Salina, KS in December 2022!!!!!
One reactor said it sounded like Austin Brown singing an opera duet excellently with with an opera singer. Recommend Scott Hoying’s new video, Mars. Terrific!
After hearing the beauty and power of their voices in the context of Home Free, I wasn't a bit surprised by this performance. I figured it was only a matter of time before one or both of them tackled an opera choice. They completely nailed it. They didn't just TRY to sing opera, they DID sing opera. They should be so proud. You never know what you are going to get from Home Free. All you CAN be sure of, is it will be awesome! Great reaction.
I loved this as well;so much so that I’ve listened to several reactors. I think my favorite had the lyrics translated to English and were printed aside the screen That way,you could see how the music and voices would swoop & soar with the meaning of the words. They did a beautiful job.
Luciano Pavarotti is pretty much the gold standard for singing this song. These guys were almost that good. It also really helps to know what the song is about as well. I am so impressed!
I guess you haven’t been around since their beginning….when they were on the Sing Off they were promoted as the first “country” acapella band. I haven’t been with them since then ,but have been following them since discovering them in February 2016 while recovering from shoulder surgery. I’ve been 100% Home Free, no other acapella bands for me, the others (in my opinion) just don’t measure up.
I agree with you. It drives me nuts when people call Home Free "country singers" .... they are singers, period! There is no genre they have not covered, and they do all of them extremely well!
OK, so I like Sarah Brightman, but if you haven’t heard Aida Garifullina, you need to check her out. Don’t know if she’s ever sung Nessun Dorma, but she’s amazing. I don’t pretend to be an expert on operatic technique (hoping Peter Barber will do an analysis/reaction so I can hear all about that)-but I’d rather hear Rob sing songs like this than any operatic tenor. I loved Pavarotti, love Bocelli, several others, but Rob’s voice is like warm honey. I just love the sound. Great reaction!!
"Nessun Dorma" is an aria from Giacomo Puccini's Turandot. It is one of the most famous opera arias in the world. Now, there are various versions also made by singers who are not purely tenors and which are beautiful to listen to like this one in the video, but when it comes to the "Nessun Dorma", there are no other comparisons to make than with Luciano Pavarotti, the greatest tenor of all time.
Austin knew what Rob was capable of doing and convinced him to take a shot. This was meant to showcase Robs ability,, and it did. So, most assuredly, outside the Box people have put them in. Thanks.
Great reaction! You hit on some notable points. Wow is right! Also took note of Austin looking to Rob. Not even a fan of opera, although I've heard this performed many times on TV so have a certain appreciation for it. Knew Rob had previously sung opera many years ago, so while not completely surprised, was impressed by how comfortably he stepped back into this role after so long showing us just how much more he's capable of. Beyond pleasantly surprised by Austin, as well. As with their Home Free performances, have always felt their voices were very complementary. Experienced that, here, with Rob being the stronger and more proficient of the two. Applaud them both for trying something new and hopefully taking the overwhelmingly positive response to do even more...perhaps enlisting the other HF guys. Wishful thinking.
Home Free is labeled as the world's first country acapella group. 3 of the members are from the deep south, Austin's roots are from south Georgia, Tim is from SE Texas and Chance is from southern Alabama. We know that they can sing just about any genre well though.
You’re so right about this introducing opera to new people. Also agree about Rob! Who knew he was carrying that gorgeous rich, well-trained, magnificent tenor voice around with him? Austin was great too with his soaring high notes. I heard that Austin talked Rob into doing this - he was trained for years in opera but hasn’t sung it in 15 years. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rob’s voice is even fuller now than when he was a music student because of his maturity. I’d love to hear more. Apparently they were nervous about their their fans not liking it, and I hope they know better now. It took real courage for them to record this performance. I actually like Rob’s voice better than Pavarotti’s for its amazing richness.
I'm wondering if this may be a start of a trend. Adam Lambert sang Nessun Dorma as a surprise to the audience at the Queen + Adam Lambert concert in Bologna Italy this summer and again at a fashion show last weekend and received a lot of praise. Definitely not an opera venue but birthplace to opera. First rock and now country! These men did a fantastic job too. I wonder if rap is going to be next? It's wonderful that there are some truly talented singers out there that don't require any studio "clean up" and across different music genres. We are lucky!
Austin was amazing, but I understand what you are saying, lol. Rob, usually the sweet tenor belts out that! He studied opera in college (as did Austin) and had not sung like that in years. I believe Austin was proud of his band mate stepping out like that...I know I was 😀.
Austin has a really sweet, bright tenor. He sings with a certain twang that lends itself really well to country, but strictly speaking, it’s not an opera sound. He has the range to easily hit that note, and it’s really beautiful. Rob, though. Wow. I’m hoping to see Peter Barber do a reaction/analysis on his technique, but to my ear, that is just pure, lovely opera. My dad and I used to argue about the first Three Tenors, who sang better. I loved Luciano Pavarotti, Dad’s favorite, hands down, was Placido Domingo. As of this release, I would actually rather hear Rob sing this than any operatic tenor-and I absolutely love Andrea Bocelli, too.
Rob had classical training during college. My understanding is the complexity and cost of pursuing an opera career post-colllege was daunting, so he took another path. I think Rob is somewhat of a ringer in this context. Austin did really well considering he came in with much less of a foundation. Home Free considers their genre "Country Acapella" ,but as you stated they have considerable range
A lot of reactors and commenters based in Europe loved this. They seemed to have tired of purely operatic classical style and are much more open to this kind of combo - classical+lyric.
He was. Often in Opera when it’s a duet they will look at one another when they need to be in sync. You’re really suppose to be unnoticed but yes, especially in their case since Rob had a background he would take lead and Austin follows. They did it beautifully.
When you perform with anyone you have to communicate. However , I believe that what you are hearing is a studio recording, not what they are singing in the video. I would be interested in hearing a recording of them singing together. I bet they are able to tweak the few small moments of blend and tiny intonation differences.
You’re correct….what we’re hearing is the studio recording, not what they were singing when filming the video. But they still must sync their performance with each other for the camera so it’s natural for them to glance at each other when being filmed side by side.
Beautiful reaction, Bob & no, I'm not mad at you for thinking Rob sounded more "operatic" than Austin, however, I think Rob sounded like Pavarotti & Austin's voice is closer to Bocelli (I went back & listened to both). This is one of the few opera songs I love & I think they did a magnificent job! Just remember, Pavarotti, Bocelli, Carreras & Sarah Brightman have been singing opera all their lives & Austin just talked Rob into doing this & they did it to perfection! I believe Austin was watching Rob's lead so they could stay in sync. There are NO EGOS in Home Free! They are truly a "brotherhood"! Even though Rob was trained in opera, he hasn't done it in 15 years & Austin is classically trained in Music Theater & has done very little opera AND I'll bet the opera singers couldn't possibly do all the genres Home Free does & do them to near perfection! It shows how incredibly talented & versatile the Home Free guys truly are! I've always been impressed with them but this one stole my heart!💖 By the way, the reason they call themselves a country a cappella group is because of the 2013 Sing Off. There were no country a cappella groups & they did a lot of country cover songs on their tours so they used the "country" thing as a "gimmick" to be chosen to compete on the NBC Sing Off & they won!😊
You can tell our guys have training and talent. This left me speechless the first time. Do you remember Gomer Pyle. They did a Jim Nabors on all of us. Also, remember they got on the Sing Off by choosing to be country acapella. Before that, they sang a little bit of everything - but not opera. Read more
Found Sarah Brightman... No my fav. Have listened to every tenor I could find, compared a bunch. These guys do great! Also they are opening a new genre to their fan base. Rob gives me chills!!!
The "country" moniker goes back to the sing-off competition. They didn't want to be a country band, but the show kind of forced it on them. They embraced it, and the rest is history.
I'm not a fan of women singing this, much prefer men's voices, I've always loved IL VOLO version that was merged with the Three Tenors. I loved this one by two of my favourite young men, such a surprise just wonderful x
Rob graduated from a performing arts college and studied Opera and earned a degree in vocal performance but had not done it in 15 years. Austin graduated with a classical music theatre performance degree. Rob said on Instagram he was glad that Austin convinced him to do this with him. They were very nervous especially Rob and spoke of it in the live premiere. They nailed it fantastically! In the video I think Austin was giving the nod to Rob when he was looking towards hi in a show of encouragement and emotional support, as co - band mate's and brotherhood. How blessed we are to have Home Free in our lives. Each one of our guy's could be making much more money than they do and be much more famous because of their amazing talent yet they choose to be in a band together as brothers for us! Wow! What devotion that is! Truly that makes me love them even more. We've seen a glimpse into the abilities of Austin in prior performances with BRING HIM HOME from Les Miserables, GEORGIA ON MY MIND and many others all which can be found on his RUclips channel but I think Rob has been holding out on us!😆🤯 so I understand what you are saying. We haven't heard anything from Rob before that has been this majestic. Yes there is no competition between any of our guy's, no ego's at all so I will conclude by saying that Austin and Rob are brilliant and masters of their craft beyond a shadow of a doubt! Pure Perfection! I also would LOVE to hear more opera from our guy's. Thank you for reacting! Sending love from South Georgia!♥️😀😃😃🔥
We are Very Blessed to have them in our lives, I discovered them in I think was in 2015 in a time of my life that I needed something, just couldn't figure out what. I thank them so much for filling that place in my heart.
A lot of people, including some Home Fries, didn't know that Rob excelled in opera at college. Trust me, as one who trained opera for 20 myself, their Italian was spot on... hard to do when you are not trained to. This was perfection, and I am quite sure Luciano was smiling down on them!
They won the Sing Off by being a Country Vocal Band. But you are right they sing all genre's.
Yes, Rob was lead tenor here and Austin was lyric tenor. Austin looking at Rob was making sure that they were synced
This is why music is such an amazing language, all in itself.......I do not understand one word they sang, but I felt every lyric, every note, and every emotion, which says a lot about their amazing artistry & talent ❣❣❣
I completely get what you're saying and 100% agree! Thanks for the listen!
I think they used the term country singers because they were so very nervous about releasing this. Evidently Rob studied opera in college while Austin was definitely a Musical Theatre major. They both did a great job but we are accustomed to hearing Austin step out of his box and this was a completely new experience with Rob.
Rob also nailed that little flip on the final note. Ooof. ❤
It's been said that Austin is such a great guy that he allowed Rob to shine in this performance. I think he probably knew what a great voice Rob had for opera and he encouraged him to step out of his comfort zone and show all of us that power he possesses. But the magic of Austin's voice will always be my first choice, know matter what he sings. He's such a kind and caring soul and what I admire about him the most. They both sounded fantastic but I'm not surprised at the level of talent. Thanks for your great reaction and I'm glad you liked it. Some how I knew you would. 🥰😲🎶
Said wonderfully !!!!!
Austin is my favorite singer today....period. That having been said.....Rob is fabulous.
Rob studied and sang opera 15 years ago when he was in college. He has not sang opera since then. When Austin was in college his teachers wanted him to do opera but he chose musical theater. Austin had to push Rob into doing this project I am glad he did. They were very nervous about how the fans would react.but it has been overwhelming positive. Even though they cover all genres the do mostly country music. They self identify as a country accappella vocal band but have been doing more non-country songs lately. A couple of their latest are rock songs WHEN WILL I BE LOVE by the Everly Brothers and the 50th anniversary tribute to the Doobie Brother’s LISTEN TO THE MUSIC. Thanks for your great reaction and you have a blessed day.
This will leave you speechless. Rob and Austin did a phenomenal job. They are so flipping talented. This could make me start listening to opera. Have me chills. 💗
Rob gets the respect for this because we never hear his operatic background.
Austin? We're all like "yeah, we knew he could do that."
This was beautiful. Since you are a 70s man you need to react to Home Free's version of Listen to the Music. I think you will be impressed. Thanks
To me this was Austin's way of highlighting Rob's talent.
The members of Home Free are all amazing vocalists. But Rob.... OMG.
"But Rob ..... OMG." LOL!! That's what I said.
I was so privileged to hear Pavarotti and Dame Joan Sutherland sing opera years ago. Their voices were so amazing. Then I heard Jackie Evancho (when she was 10 on America’s Got Talent) sing with Sarah Brightman and again was amazed. Now these boys! Austin is a high tenor so his voice is much higher and Rob’s just sounded so rich. They were both amazing but Rob was incredible. I guess he studied opera in college. Who knew?? Loved it and great reaction!😍
You got to hear Pavarotti?? Wow, what an amazing thing to get to experience 😍
Home Free was labeled a Country group just before the Sing Off show. After the show, they did perform ALOT of country music as a result. But they really do defy labels, singing whatever they want. Plus, who would expect Austin, a guy from Tipton, Georgia, and Rob, a guy from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, to be able to sing like this! Well, we all sort of knew they were capable of this if we are honest but as fans, we are a bit biased. I do think though the reason why this takes so many people off guard is that Rob comes across as the comedic guy. In the behind the scenes videos I have seen, he is usually joking and making everyone smile but yet very humble. He almost comes across as shy about his singing and rather self deprecating. I recall hearing that the guys in the group all tend to think that Rob is the most talented of them all and I think it may have been Tim that mentioned Rob's ability to sing opera. I have heard it seep out on occasion in behind the scenes videos when he is goofing around. I am so very glad that Austin got Rob to do this and allow us to hear his beautiful operatic tenor! I for one would love to hear more!
Home Free does "lean" country but yes they sing all genre's and this does confirm that these two can sing anything. I agree with you Rob shone through !!!! Check out more of Home Free
I agree, Rob nailed it. He always presents with a very light tenor when singing with the group but, having heard this, Rob has an amazing operatic range.
This is insane. Wow, wow and again wow. This is extremely good. Fantastic. Both are doing great. But Rob, I'm perplexed. His voice is just magical, so rich, so warm, so powerful. Chills just ran through my body. It flows into my heart. He will be able to stand with the greatest of opera singers. It's not often that I listen to songs by opera singers 5 times in a row. But here it is. Of course I hope that both will always continue to do Home Free, but I wouldn't think it wrong that such "trips" are made more often. Opera, country, ballads, soul etc. I think anything is possible..
You're so right, more young people may become interested in opera. It's not a duet but boy they gave me chills
I kinda felt that austin was holding back at the very end. I think it was nerves. That giant breath he took at the end has like a huge relief release.
If we all preferred the same singer then the others wouldn't have a chance. They say Home Free is country music's only a capella group. Country tinged or twang. Heck, they can sing anything. Way back in the day if you were considered a country singer and you sang in a different genre then you weren't accepted. I'm glad that era is over with. I love Home Free and I love opera so this video was beyond thrilling for me. Stunning, actually!
I am still speechless. I know they both have fantastic voices, but this knocks my socks off. Phenomenal!
What is astounding is the power in Rob's voice, especially when they join at the end, for as beautiful as Austin's voice is, Rob's voice just relegated Austin's to a harmony. Not hating on Austin, I think this phenomenal for both.
The difference in their training, technique and styles was evident here. Austin was a musical theater major, while Rob studied mostly classical while achieving his vocal performance degree. You can even see the difference in how open their mouths are and how they shape their notes.
Rob had the deep projection from the chest which is operatic control. Austin sings from the throat. Or so it seemed to a non-pro observation. Rob was powerful in this. Just beautiful.
@@rosemary702001 ... I'm not a pro, either, but am classically trained (mezzo soprano). And you are correct about the placement of the sound, although Austin fully supports his notes with great breath support and control. And it isn't JUST his throat or he'd be damaging his voice (and he isn't). There are other factors, as well, that differentiate between the two styles. Not saying one is better, both are amazing. But for 'pure' operatic sound and tone, Rob has the better technique which results in that big, full resonant sound. Musical theater style is a much brighter sound from a more forward placement (think of it as singing through your eyes). One place you can actually see it is at the end when they are both singing the word Vincero. Rob's mouth is wide open and Austin's is a much smaller aperture.
@@par500dragon7 thx for sharing that! I think the guys did a wonderful job. They know how to tempt us to want more of the same! I have a feeling this is a rare performance though.
@@rosemary702001 they did a GREAT job! And yes, probably a one-off. From what I've read, Rob took some convincing and was really nervous. But both should be given a lot of credit for stepping out of the box of fan expectations and flexing some unused musical muscles.
Your opinion is valid as to your taste. No one should be offended by your honesty. Rob has astounded every single reactor so far. We all had an inkling that Austin could do something along these lines after hearing his Bring Him Home from Les Miserables. But the depth, warmth, and richness from Rob is at a whole new level here.
So let's recall the collective abilities of Home Free.
-- 5 lead singers
-- 5 tenors
-- 3 baritones
-- 2 bass
-- 1 basso profundo
-- 5 beat boxers/vocal percussionists
-- 1 EXCEPTIONAL beatboxer/drum kit/ vocal percussionist
-- 5 guys proficient in various genres: (Pop/Country/R&B/Rock/Gospel/Rap/Blues/Musical theater/Comedy/Holiday/Doo Wop/AND NOW Opera..Opera!!/dancers-in- training 😉 )
Oh, and they present upgrades 'not' covers.
You're absolutely right, Rob hits every note dead on, and also has the weight and classical style. Austin hits the notes just right, but doesn't quite have the weight to his voice. And as you said, it may well introduce a lot of people to opera simply because they'll listen because they're from Home Free. Great reaction, thanks!
I have been saying it for years now and this is proof that all of Home Free are Angels. WOW !!!!!!!!!!👏👏👏👏👏👏👏❤❤❤❤😀😀😀😀
Be still my heart! They nailed this! Love your reaction!
We all know Austin can sing a freaking phone book, but ROB!!! Where has he BEEN?? I love Rob in the band. Always thought he was powerhouse incognito, but DAMN BOY!! I could listen to these 2 all day! Amazing job!
Rob study opera in college, this was the first time 15 years he sang in that style, Austin has a musical theater background not sure how its been for him. It has been said that they both were nervous nervous about how it would go over.
Rob was amazing. I understand that he was did extremely well in operatic classes at the University of Minnesota. He was persuaded to perform this song by Austin after having not sung this genre for fifteen years. Austin majored in musical theater. He is a person to push his boundaries. In fact, Rob and Austin were nervous releasing this song because they were unsure of its reception.
Rob and Austin's voices are so well matched when they sing acapella that professional vocalists were surprised when they exchanged leads. They thought Austin and Rob were the same person singing.
It's not unusual for acapella singers to watch the other singers to match their timing and notes. Home Free has worked so many years together that it isn't quite as obvious as other groups.. Talking about Rob drowning Austin 's voice probably is due the song favoring Rob's voice. It may partly be due to their acapella background also. Acapella singers dampen the outstanding timber of their voiced to blend in with the other singers. That may have happened to some degree here with Austin.
I saw somewhere that Rob was lobbying for Austin to join HF when it was apparent they would be losing one of their members.
@@johntucker4296 Austin immediately wanted to become a member of Home Free when he saw them perform as guest performers on a cruise. Austin at the time was a working performer on the cruise. Before his cruise position, he had worked as a part of Disney's acapella group, Voices of Liberty. He was a fervent admirer of acapella.
Austin hit it off with the Home Free performers. He and Tim bonded immediately over their nerd fascination over acapella music and groups. As Tim said, they were surrounded by beautiful women, but they went off to a private area to listen to a flash drive of acapella music and to compare notes. Later Austin sang as a sixth person of the group on the cruise.
As Home Free was leaving, Robb told Austin that Matt Atwood was planning to leave the group. Matt was starting a family, his father was extremely ill, and he was planning to take over his family's business. Austin's cruise contract ended and he took a job as a waiter for a caterer as he waited for an opening in Home Free.
Austin didn't automatically get the position at Home Free. Many great singers auditioned for the group, but they often didn't understand about acapella or the requirements concerning harmony. Austin after touring with them several months was permanently hired. No one else had his resume. Austin was not only able to read music, but he understood the requirements of performing harmony and separate parts.
One minor problem was that Austin from South Georgia and as country as corn bread (as Tim would describe Austin) would often say things that the three other guys from Minnesota (Chris and Adam Rupp, and Rob Lundquist) couldn't understand. Tim as a fellow Southerner from Texas often had to act as an interpreter for Austin. Evidently everything worked out.
It wasn't too long after Austin joined that they auditioned and successfully won a spot on The Sing Off. It was Austin who pushed them to be a country group to be sure to win a spot on The Sing Off as the "token country group.". Chris didn't care if they were labeled as a country group. He just wanted to be on tv so he was for Home Free to be a country group. Tim and Robb were against it. Adam was the tie-breaker. So they were featured as a country group. As Tim later said, thank God that he was outvoted
@@lazylady8591 Thanks for all that. I had heard a lot of this. Also heard that at least one of the judges didn't want Rob to lead 'Colder Weather' but group members said, "Rob leads this one, thanks very much." The one judge said that Rob sounded off at the beginning of the song. I listened over and over and heard nothing at all wrong.
@@johntucker4296 The judge said Robb slightly went off pitch at the beginning of the song. It was probably nerves because they were close to winning the contest and a foul up could cost the competition. However, the judge did say that people enjoyed the song regardless. He was probably being super critical because of the extremely high standards of the competition. Before this only Austin and Tim sang lead. Robb's very slight waver was the only criticism that Home Free received on their performances during all the episodes of the show. I am glad they didn't back down on having Robb sing. They stood up to quite a few demands that the producers made.
Actually the show in many ways was more of a reality show than a competition. The producers tried to pit the different groups against each other. They wanted Home Free to all grow beards. Austin lost his voice due to their demands that he sing at the top of his range repeatedly, not giving him or the others time to recover vocally.
@@lazylady8591 I have a different take. I think the judge was posturing bc it was probably him that suggested Rob shouldn't lead so he had to justify his suggestion. I listened for any off pitch word or phrase. I heard nothing that was off-pitch after listening many times.
You are so right. I have never liked opera before hearing this. After I heard this the first time I realized I had been holding my breath the entire song. It is that beautiful.
Rob is spectacular and Austin convinced him to do this.
They almost brought me to tears near the end
Where has Rob been hiding that voice? Oh my Lord.
I enjoyed your reaction. You don’t need to apologize about feeling that Rob “won” the performance in this video. I believe Austin feels that way too. He has said that he recorded his part first, thinking it was pretty good, and sent it off to Rob. When he listened to Rob’s recording he felt compelled to go back and record his part again to make it better because Rob was so good. I agree it’s not a competition. Rob’s powerful voice is just so suited to this music and not many of his fans knew it. So there’s a real shock factor.
Thanks to all of the reactors for entertaining those of us who are watching you. Once we saw this the first time we all knew it would explode and as our collective jaws dropped to the floor, it was very fun to see the same reaction from you guys.
I have been loving watching thus one from the reactors. Not many have done it yet but I have sent out messages to quite a few hoping they can get to it soon.
@@staceysmith8173 👋🤣 HI
Stacey and I have been hijacking people's comment section for our boys 🤣🤣🤷♀️
@@minneyruth hi 👋 ☺ day 3 of running from reactor to reactor watching their faces. Haha. I have 3 or 4 I'm waiting for to react to this. I know 301 Reacts and mortius only realease/record on certain days
@@staceysmith8173 oh man, I forgot about 307 🤦♀️🤦♀️ I'm waiting for some vocal coaches to react to it. Hopefully they all see our comments 🤞🤠🤞
This is the signature song of Pavarotti. Being born in 1946, and a “child of the 50’s and 60’s”, I grew up knowing this as the only piece of opera that didn’t make me feel as if I had sand between my teeth, listening to the screech of chalk on a blackboard. (Remember that?)
Pavarotti is probably the gold standard for this piece, and Rob gives him a real run for his money here. Couple him with Austin’s harmonies, and this has become one of my favorite chill generators.
I was completely blown away by this performance. I love these guys and home free but this is something else entirely.
Just WOW 🤩
From what I understand Rob was actually trained in Opera. During the premier they were so scared how it would be taken. Truly enjoyed watching your reaction to this song.
They killed This♡♡♡♡♡♡
I listened to your reaction to Sarah Brightman. I just have a giant problem with sopranos: they hurt my ears (and I was a soprano in my school chorus). However, I have learned a few things because of this video. There are two kinds of tenors: dramatic (Rob) and lyric (Austin). I really like the male voice and the alto female voice. You don't have to like "opera" to like the music. Rob and Austin sound crazy good together. And I am a totally committed Home Fry. I just hope the phone book is next; I'd like to hear a LOT more from these guys.
Home Free classifies themselves as Country. Austin's Country twang slid through in a couple of places. After all, he's from Georgia & proud of it!!! 😃 👍🏻
Thank you ^_^
Thank you for reacting to this ❤️ they were very nervous about what people would think. They did fantastic ❤️
Thanks! 🖤🍟
I noticed the same things. Kudos to Austin for letting Rob shine on his channel and following his lead. That “trill” (if that’s the right term) from Rob at the very end was incredible.
I think they called themselves “country singers” because they are considered a country a capella group.
I think it was a hook. And then they just had to reel all us fish in, grab the net and land us in the opera boat. After all, Austin has that pic in the corner kissing a bass.
@@johntucker4296 , that’s a plug for his second channel. Cute analogy, though.
@@kristindunstan172 Yes, I know. But some of the reactors have called it the pic with a "base", as in a bass singer. I'm thinking some of them need to expand their interests.
We have been missing you! Please react to Home Free's Listen To the Music & Austin's solo Georgia On My Mind! Thanks!
Rob was trained in opera but hasn't done any opera for 15 years. Austin trained in theater. You should listen to Pavarotti, absolutely amazing. Blessings from a gran in South Africa.
I've heard a number of people sing this, all beautiful. I think Puccini, Pavarotti, Bocelli, and Brightman are my favs (in that order) but... Austin and Rob really held their own on this. I loved it!!! Incredible! And... even though Home Free can sing "anything", they still bill themselves as the "World's First 'All Vocal Country' Band", thus, 2 country singers...etc. The talent in this group is just outstanding! Loved your reaction. You looked a lot like me! 😄 Even though I knew they had classical training, and have actually heard snippets of it here and there, I was still dumbfounded when I heard this. Bravo!
Yes I just converted. OMG loved this.
Great reaction! I have never been a fan of opera except maybe some Andrea Bocelli & a few others. But I have always appreciated the talent it takes to sing opera. I was pretty impressed with Rob & Austin's version of Nessun Dorma. I have heard this famous song done by Pavarotti. I think I was more surprised by Rob's range & powerful delivery than even Austin's. Pretty good for a couple of country boys! Nice to see them dressed up in suits & looking classy. Each guy in Home Free is super talented on his own & in another league from any other group.
There, Bob, NOW you've lived. lol Knew you'd love it.
Thanks so much for the recommendation, Janette. You nailed it.
I am loving all of you reactor’s reactions to this video so much! I have watched about 10 reactions and the expressions and reactions are so pleasant to read! As a Home Fry, I appreciate your take on the video. I agree that they’re not all “country” singers, but they claim to be the first official country music a capella group per the Sing Off. They do cover many genres in their own style, but I don’t think they’re just country, but their own unique genre! I do believe Rob really shone here, since we’re all used to hearing Austin bust his chops on so many solos, and his cover of “Bring Him Home”. Rob really blew me away since I wasn’t expecting this the first time I watched the video!
BRAVO, BRAVO, BRAVO...ENCORE! That was absolutely phenomenal! Rob has the operatic training whereas Austin earned a degree in musical theater. These guys (with Chris Rupp) sang mostly pop until they auditioned for The Sing Off in December 2013 where they became the only a cappella Country Vocal Band; and they've continued to emphasize that, but as you well know, they can do all types of genre. There's nobody like them, individually and collectively, they're the BOMB!!
Rob is the perfect tenor for parts like this. He sits more like a high baritone, who is also a tenor, which gives him a great, darker timbre for a song like this.
Need to listen to Sarah Brightman. As you said --- expanding horizons. Enjoyed your reaction
My benchmark for this song is Pavarotti, my absolute favorite tenor aria. Rob is pulling out dramatic tenor and there is no strain at all with the higher notes for Rob with, Austin is definitely more of a light lyric tenor. All I know is I want more. I shared Home Free with my mom in June, but since she is very fond of operatic tenors, she immediately shared it with family, she was astounded. Please listen to Pavarotti, it will give you a different perspective of what you just heard Rob do.
I’m having so much fun watching the reactors react to this. It is so fantastic!🐝🤗❤️
Yep, been listening to the reactions. Eager to hear a review from some of the people truly trained in classical music.
@@kathyweverka4335 I haven’t ran across any of those yet.🐝🤗❤️
Okay, what can't they sing genre wise???? Just WOW!!!!!!!! 🍧 icing with a cherry on top!!!!! Amazing doesn't even begin to define how I feel about these guys.................. Looking forward to seeing them in Salina, KS in December 2022!!!!!
Appreciate your thoughts.
One reactor said it sounded like Austin Brown singing an opera duet excellently with with an opera singer.
Recommend Scott Hoying’s new video, Mars. Terrific!
thnx fr gettin us homefries out of our shock +paralysis thru ur explanatn
David Phelps sings this live also, and it's marvelous! He a classical trained tenor, also. A must watch!!
Yes, these two are wonderful!!
Agreed!!! I like his live performance in San Antonio the best!
When they were on "The Sing off" they were listed as a Country A Cappella group.
Can't wait for my 2 requests
After hearing the beauty and power of their voices in the context of Home Free, I wasn't a bit surprised by this performance. I figured it was only a matter of time before one or both of them tackled an opera choice. They completely nailed it. They didn't just TRY to sing opera, they DID sing opera. They should be so proud. You never know what you are going to get from Home Free. All you CAN be sure of, is it will be awesome! Great reaction.
I loved this as well;so much so that I’ve listened to several reactors. I think my favorite had the lyrics translated to English and were printed aside the screen That way,you could see how the music and voices would swoop & soar with the meaning of the words. They did a beautiful job.
Luciano Pavarotti is pretty much the gold standard for singing this song. These guys were almost that good. It also really helps to know what the song is about as well. I am so impressed!
The next collab I need is Peter Hollens and Rob. Peter is also trained in opera.
I guess you haven’t been around since their beginning….when they were on the Sing Off they were promoted as the first “country” acapella band. I haven’t been with them since then ,but have been following them since discovering them in February 2016 while recovering from shoulder surgery. I’ve been 100% Home Free, no other acapella bands for me, the others (in my opinion) just don’t measure up.
I agree with you. It drives me nuts when people call Home Free "country singers" .... they are singers, period! There is no genre they have not covered, and they do all of them extremely well!
I'm 71 and considering starting a RUclips channel. Thanks for the inspiration.
They took on the persona of a country Acapella group, when they went to compete ( and win),
on the Sing Off competition TV program.
Always a County fan but have also loved classical music as well voice and instrument.
Both sounded great, but Rob was definitely in his comfort zone here.
OK, so I like Sarah Brightman, but if you haven’t heard Aida Garifullina, you need to check her out. Don’t know if she’s ever sung Nessun Dorma, but she’s amazing.
I don’t pretend to be an expert on operatic technique (hoping Peter Barber will do an analysis/reaction so I can hear all about that)-but I’d rather hear Rob sing songs like this than any operatic tenor. I loved Pavarotti, love Bocelli, several others, but Rob’s voice is like warm honey. I just love the sound.
Great reaction!!
"Nessun Dorma" is an aria from Giacomo Puccini's Turandot. It is one of the most famous opera arias in the world. Now, there are various versions also made by singers who are not purely tenors and which are beautiful to listen to like this one in the video, but when it comes to the "Nessun Dorma", there are no other comparisons to make than with Luciano Pavarotti, the greatest tenor of all time.
Austin knew what Rob was capable of doing and convinced him to take a shot. This was meant to showcase Robs ability,, and it did. So, most assuredly, outside the Box people have put them in. Thanks.
Great reaction! You hit on some notable points. Wow is right! Also took note of Austin looking to Rob. Not even a fan of opera, although I've heard this performed many times on TV so have a certain appreciation for it. Knew Rob had previously sung opera many years ago, so while not completely surprised, was impressed by how comfortably he stepped back into this role after so long showing us just how much more he's capable of. Beyond pleasantly surprised by Austin, as well. As with their Home Free performances, have always felt their voices were very complementary. Experienced that, here, with Rob being the stronger and more proficient of the two. Applaud them both for trying something new and hopefully taking the overwhelmingly positive response to do even more...perhaps enlisting the other HF guys. Wishful thinking.
Home Free is labeled as the world's first country acapella group. 3 of the members are from the deep south, Austin's roots are from south Georgia, Tim is from SE Texas and Chance is from southern Alabama. We know that they can sing just about any genre well though.
Austin wasn’t looking to Rob for the lead he was looking to Rob to stay in sync.
You’re so right about this introducing opera to new people. Also agree about Rob! Who knew he was carrying that gorgeous rich, well-trained, magnificent tenor voice around with him? Austin was great too with his soaring high notes. I heard that Austin talked Rob into doing this - he was trained for years in opera but hasn’t sung it in 15 years. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rob’s voice is even fuller now than when he was a music student because of his maturity. I’d love to hear more. Apparently they were nervous about their their fans not liking it, and I hope they know better now. It took real courage for them to record this performance.
I actually like Rob’s voice better than Pavarotti’s for its amazing richness.
I'm wondering if this may be a start of a trend. Adam Lambert sang Nessun Dorma as a surprise to the audience at the Queen + Adam Lambert concert in Bologna Italy this summer and again at a fashion show last weekend and received a lot of praise. Definitely not an opera venue but birthplace to opera. First rock and now country! These men did a fantastic job too. I wonder if rap is going to be next? It's wonderful that there are some truly talented singers out there that don't require any studio "clean up" and across different music genres. We are lucky!
I would have loved seeing a back-to-back reaction of 'The Butts' followed by this.
Austin was amazing, but I understand what you are saying, lol. Rob, usually the sweet tenor belts out that! He studied opera in college (as did Austin) and had not sung like that in years. I believe Austin was proud of his band mate stepping out like that...I know I was 😀.
Austin has a really sweet, bright tenor. He sings with a certain twang that lends itself really well to country, but strictly speaking, it’s not an opera sound. He has the range to easily hit that note, and it’s really beautiful.
Rob, though. Wow. I’m hoping to see Peter Barber do a reaction/analysis on his technique, but to my ear, that is just pure, lovely opera. My dad and I used to argue about the first Three Tenors, who sang better. I loved Luciano Pavarotti, Dad’s favorite, hands down, was Placido Domingo. As of this release, I would actually rather hear Rob sing this than any operatic tenor-and I absolutely love Andrea Bocelli, too.
After just listening to Sara Brightman I understand why you love her version.
Rob had classical training during college. My understanding is the complexity and cost of pursuing an opera career post-colllege was daunting, so he took another path. I think Rob is somewhat of a ringer in this context.
Austin did really well considering he came in with much less of a foundation.
Home Free considers their genre "Country Acapella" ,but as you stated they have considerable range
A lot of reactors and commenters based in Europe loved this. They seemed to have tired of purely operatic classical style and are much more open to this kind of combo - classical+lyric.
He was. Often in Opera when it’s a duet they will look at one another when they need to be in sync. You’re really suppose to be unnoticed but yes, especially in their case since Rob had a background he would take lead and Austin follows. They did it beautifully.
Barry Gibb hitting any soprano note is amazing but Bobby hitting that last note in unchained melody.
Austin talked Rob into doing this, from what I understand. Rob is trained in opera, and Austin was beseeched to go into opera.
👏👏👏👏
When you perform with anyone you have to communicate. However , I believe that what you are hearing is a studio recording, not what they are singing in the video. I would be interested in hearing a recording of them singing together. I bet they are able to tweak the few small moments of blend and tiny intonation differences.
You’re correct….what we’re hearing is the studio recording, not what they were singing when filming the video. But they still must sync their performance with each other for the camera so it’s natural for them to glance at each other when being filmed side by side.
@@susanhorn4325 yes, exactly. No doubt they were singing in the moment
Beautiful reaction, Bob & no, I'm not mad at you for thinking Rob sounded more "operatic" than Austin, however, I think Rob sounded like Pavarotti & Austin's voice is closer to Bocelli (I went back & listened to both).
This is one of the few opera songs I love & I think they did a magnificent job! Just remember, Pavarotti, Bocelli, Carreras & Sarah Brightman have been singing opera all their lives & Austin just talked Rob into doing this & they did it to perfection! I believe Austin was watching Rob's lead so they could stay in sync. There are NO EGOS in Home Free! They are truly a "brotherhood"!
Even though Rob was trained in opera, he hasn't done it in 15 years & Austin is classically trained in Music Theater & has done very little opera AND I'll bet the opera singers couldn't possibly do all the genres Home Free does & do them to near perfection! It shows how incredibly talented & versatile the Home Free guys truly are! I've always been impressed with them but this one stole my heart!💖
By the way, the reason they call themselves a country a cappella group is because of the 2013 Sing Off. There were no country a cappella groups & they did a lot of country cover songs on their tours so they used the "country" thing as a "gimmick" to be chosen to compete on the NBC Sing Off & they won!😊
You can tell our guys have training and talent. This left me speechless the first time. Do you remember Gomer Pyle. They did a Jim Nabors on all of us. Also, remember they got on the Sing Off by choosing to be country acapella. Before that, they sang a little bit of everything - but not opera.
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Rob was in the dramatic tenor role (he has a lower range than Austin who was in the lyrical tenor role.
Found Sarah Brightman...
No my fav. Have listened to every tenor I could find, compared a bunch. These guys do great! Also they are opening a new genre to their fan base. Rob gives me chills!!!
The "country" moniker goes back to the sing-off competition. They didn't want to be a country band, but the show kind of forced it on them. They embraced it, and the rest is history.
I'm not a fan of women singing this, much prefer men's voices, I've always loved IL VOLO version that was merged with the Three Tenors. I loved this one by two of my favourite young men, such a surprise just wonderful x