I have watched this video countless times. Tori is very special. James is the shadow talent behind this performance. What I enjoyed most was to watch your facial reactions throughout the piece. As with I, the countless moments of joy, piece, comfort, and snuggle seem to be endless. I love their works together and will always be a fan.
Thanks so much Jeff for your heartfelt reaction! I really appreciate all of your comments about all of my behind-the-scenes work as well as performance. Since this one, we have two more that hit the YT universe. Hope you get a chance to check them out! Meanwhile, thank you again for your kindest words. -Jim
@@StrateleStudios Hey Jeff, I saw a great video of you meeting with my friends from Leonid & Friends, and your serendipitous meeting with Richard Carpenter! Last time I attended one of the L&F shows, I spoke with Leonid and Ksenia who both have seen my productions with Tori, and they were so very taken by them. Incidentally, Leonid brought it up! By now, he knows who I am since I had talked with him online since his very first CHICAGO song post, and had attended 7 or 8 of their shows, including their 2nd & 3rd shows ever, here in the US near Chicago. It's always such a treat to see them. They are phenomenal, and all of them are the nicest people! Just thought I'd share that... -Jim
Thanks Jeff for this detailed reaction/analysis. You can see the level of work they all put into this amazing video. I want to make a couple of notes here that went by but are significant. The dedication at the end to Gea. She was a 50 year old singer, drummer who worked with Jim on numerous projects. She was slated to sing lead in this and We’ve Only Just Begun. She unexpectedly passed away stopping these projects in their tracks. That was in 2019. In 2024 Jim found Tori on UA-cam and the rest as they say, oh I’ll say it, is our delight. The other thing that I noticed because OG Carpenters fan. Tori sang the last Youuuuuu and ending in an upswept vibrato. I can’t find where Karen sang that, that way. In the original recording she soft lands it and goes into the Whaaaahhhhsss. Unless it’s done in a concert somewhere that’s Tori’s signature on the piece. I also noticed the new text, I like it! 😊 One last piece of plugola for those who want to see Tori live. In March and April of 2025, soon, as I write this. She is joining a 22 city US tour headed by Todd Rundgren and a group of uber-talented singers and musicians singing Burt Bacharach songs. It’s called What The World Needs Now and I have my tix for the L.A. performance. I can’t link but you have all you need to find it. Coincidentally, that show title and song title is the newest song from Tori and James and it dropped yesterday. I will be selecting that for an upcoming reaction as it is their first non-Carpenters cover, so Pure Tori, and it was started before the tour was a thing. So wonderful serendipity. The next selection will be something completely different. It’s in the queue for February. Joe
What you said in your reaction about James Wilkas was very eloquent... and very true. I'm greatly impressed by James' ability to play so many instruments so well, and then added to that is his gift of putting it all together both sonically and visually. I join in taking my hat off to his being both a driving force and a great lift to showcase the very talented and gracious Tori Holub (who also did great work with recording her vocal parts). When talented people get together with common purpose, great things happen, as they did here. Great reaction! Thank you.
Really well said. James has given Tori this fantastic platform which has turned a lot of heads including Richard Carpenter. It's resulted in Tori doing a US tour this year. This will enable Tori to showcase some of her own originals. So pleased for her. What a talent.
James and Tori do such a great job with their videos. I bought my tickets to see Tori as part of the lineup performing the Bacharach songbook, in Akron, Ohio, on April 1.
@@jbs256 Charm scharm ! His speaking voice is the total BOMB. Now as for his singing voice.... Joe, do you think we both can charm him to hum a few bars on his next Tori reaction ? ;-)
Really, really, really great cover of this classic Carpenters song that I really like too! Her voice is so much like Karen Carpenter's, just great! Loved the video editing on this.
Amazing job in recreating one of the most beautiful music pieces ever by both Tori and James. Can you imagine being the two (Karen and Richard) who did it originally? What musical geniuses they were and went on to create similar great music. Great listen thank you so much!
Another great job by Tori and James. Just noticed a couple of Aussies from New South Wales contributed violin and trumpet. Did they record their parts in Australia or are they in the US!
Thank you so much! I met Gary & Ynping through a now defunct website called BandHub. We played lots of music together remotely, and even though the site disappeared, we remained good friends and continue to collaborate!
Jeff, I agree with you, Tori simply has a great voice. Her tone quality is really beautiful. Good catch on that drum fill. We just might make a drummer out of you yet. 👍👍
I have to agree with you about her beautiful voice and the great arrangement. That said, as good as she is and as good as Ksenia was on Superstar it still amazes me when I think that Karen Carpenter sang these songs, recorded them mostly in a single take, and then played the drums on many of them to boot. Although she didn't play. them on the studio recording of this one there is a video of her singing this song and playing. Drummers who can sing at the same time just amaze me. That is one of the things I find so incredible about Phil Collins performance of In The Air Tonight with that drum sequence at the end with him singing where the drum beats and his singing don't line up.
Just keep in mind, Karen was very human. That one take legend means one very important thing. PRACTICE She took it seriously and was ready to go in the studio. That’s what the legend really showed. If it was a music video, she mimed to Hal’s (or others later on) drums. If it was live, it was all Karen!
Tori brings me to tears. My God. I love Karen so much. I miss her. God, in his benevolent wisdom, has put Karen’s spirit in Tori’s soul. This is Karen…she is with us. What an absolutely marvelous production. Please bring us more.
Maybe you know by now, she does a very good version of Olivia Newton-John and Cliff Richard's song Suddenly. It's nice to ear her sing something different.
Just days ago, they dropped a cover that is NOT the Carpenters! The cover is of What the World Needs Now sung by Jackie DeShannon (Bacharach strikes again). It's up to your judgement whether or not she channels Ms. DeShannon circa 1965, but lets say I'm hoping to hear her version of JS's Bette Davis eyes. (I would have nightmares if she tried Kim Carnes...)
The production, tracks, musicians etc!❤❤❤
This is absolutely incredible. Damn, Im shook. The ending harmonies when stunning.
Wow! What a beautiful voice.😊Great mix to! Great reaction Jeff.👍
I have watched this video countless times. Tori is very special. James is the shadow talent behind this performance. What I enjoyed most was to watch your facial reactions throughout the piece. As with I, the countless moments of joy, piece, comfort, and snuggle seem to be endless. I love their works together and will always be a fan.
Thanks so much Jeff for your heartfelt reaction! I really appreciate all of your comments about all of my behind-the-scenes work as well as performance. Since this one, we have two more that hit the YT universe. Hope you get a chance to check them out! Meanwhile, thank you again for your kindest words. -Jim
You are so welcome my friend!
@@StrateleStudios Oh Yes, there’s more 😊 But I want you to experience Dan next. 😊 Gotta share the love and Magic. (Intentional pun)
@@StrateleStudios Hey Jeff, I saw a great video of you meeting with my friends from Leonid & Friends, and your serendipitous meeting with Richard Carpenter! Last time I attended one of the L&F shows, I spoke with Leonid and Ksenia who both have seen my productions with Tori, and they were so very taken by them. Incidentally, Leonid brought it up! By now, he knows who I am since I had talked with him online since his very first CHICAGO song post, and had attended 7 or 8 of their shows, including their 2nd & 3rd shows ever, here in the US near Chicago. It's always such a treat to see them. They are phenomenal, and all of them are the nicest people! Just thought I'd share that... -Jim
Thanks Jeff for this detailed reaction/analysis. You can see the level of work they all put into this amazing video. I want to make a couple of notes here that went by but are significant. The dedication at the end to Gea. She was a 50 year old singer, drummer who worked with Jim on numerous projects. She was slated to sing lead in this and We’ve Only Just Begun. She unexpectedly passed away stopping these projects in their tracks. That was in 2019. In 2024 Jim found Tori on UA-cam and the rest as they say, oh I’ll say it, is our delight. The other thing that I noticed because OG Carpenters fan. Tori sang the last Youuuuuu and ending in an upswept vibrato. I can’t find where Karen sang that, that way. In the original recording she soft lands it and goes into the Whaaaahhhhsss. Unless it’s done in a concert somewhere that’s Tori’s signature on the piece.
I also noticed the new text, I like it! 😊
One last piece of plugola for those who want to see Tori live. In March and April of 2025, soon, as I write this. She is joining a 22 city US tour headed by Todd Rundgren and a group of uber-talented singers and musicians singing Burt Bacharach songs. It’s called What The World Needs Now and I have my tix for the L.A. performance. I can’t link but you have all you need to find it.
Coincidentally, that show title and song title is the newest song from Tori and James and it dropped yesterday. I will be selecting that for an upcoming reaction as it is their first non-Carpenters cover, so Pure Tori, and it was started before the tour was a thing. So wonderful serendipity. The next selection will be something completely different. It’s in the queue for February.
Joe
What you said in your reaction about James Wilkas was very eloquent... and very true. I'm greatly impressed by James' ability to play so many instruments so well, and then added to that is his gift of putting it all together both sonically and visually. I join in taking my hat off to his being both a driving force and a great lift to showcase the very talented and gracious Tori Holub (who also did great work with recording her vocal parts). When talented people get together with common purpose, great things happen, as they did here. Great reaction! Thank you.
@PopHorizonScanner 🫶🫶🫶
@PopHorizonScanner - Thanks so much - I really appreciate that!
@@jimmididr Thank YOU for your excellent work. It's a joy to listen.
Jeff, The look on your face says it all! I can tell your a fan!
Before she ever opens her mouth, she looks like a sweet angel. Then, she sings, and I'm a goner. Thank all the gods there are for this young lady.
Really well said. James has given Tori this fantastic platform which has turned a lot of heads including Richard Carpenter. It's resulted in Tori doing a US tour this year. This will enable Tori to showcase some of her own originals. So pleased for her. What a talent.
All I do is smile when I hear this beautiful young lady sing!!!!
Bravo
AAaaaahhhh, the harmonies! Gorgeous.
I absolutely love the songs they have been doing. Takes me back in a beautiful way.
Love your reactions as well.
Thank all of you.
Absolutely perfect. ❤❤❤
James and Tori do such a great job with their videos. I bought my tickets to see Tori as part of the lineup performing the Bacharach songbook, in Akron, Ohio, on April 1.
And kudo's to you too, with your rich, amazing speaking voice full of richness and sincerity !!! Thank you for a truly lovely reaction !
@@marciasanguinetti3900 🫶🫶🫶
@@StrateleStudios warning Marcia will charm the heck out of you! 😂
There you go again! 😂❤
@@jbs256 Charm scharm ! His speaking voice is the total BOMB. Now as for his singing voice.... Joe, do you think we both can charm him to hum a few bars on his next Tori reaction ? ;-)
@@jbs256 You dear man, are a cutie pie !!!
That's how you professionally pay and earn respect at the same time. Beautiful.
Really, really, really great cover of this classic Carpenters song that I really like too! Her voice is so much like Karen Carpenter's, just great! Loved the video editing on this.
Incredibly creative cover video with split screens showing how it was recorded and produced. Thanks Jeff.
Great review, Jeff Thanks for all you do on your channel. Tori is a gem. Thanks again.
She really sounds so much like Karen that it's a bit spooky. She does a great job, and the musical support is also very impressive.
Amazing job in recreating one of the most beautiful music pieces ever by both Tori and James. Can you imagine being the two (Karen and Richard) who did it originally? What musical geniuses they were and went on to create similar great music. Great listen thank you so much!
Another great job by Tori and James. Just noticed a couple of Aussies from New South Wales contributed violin and trumpet. Did they record their parts in Australia or are they in the US!
Both were in Australia for their respective recordings. They were also both in We’ve Only Just Begun which Jeff reacted to months ago.
Joe
Thank you so much! I met Gary & Ynping through a now defunct website called BandHub. We played lots of music together remotely, and even though the site disappeared, we remained good friends and continue to collaborate!
Beautiful!
Dan
Jeff, I agree with you, Tori simply has a great voice. Her tone quality is really beautiful. Good catch on that drum fill. We just might make a drummer out of you yet. 👍👍
@@ericalred290 hahaha I play drums already 😂
I have to agree with you about her beautiful voice and the great arrangement. That said, as good as she is and as good as Ksenia was on Superstar it still amazes me when I think that Karen Carpenter sang these songs, recorded them mostly in a single take, and then played the drums on many of them to boot. Although she didn't play. them on the studio recording of this one there is a video of her singing this song and playing. Drummers who can sing at the same time just amaze me. That is one of the things I find so incredible about Phil Collins performance of In The Air Tonight with that drum sequence at the end with him singing where the drum beats and his singing don't line up.
Just keep in mind, Karen was very human. That one take legend means one very important thing. PRACTICE She took it seriously and was ready to go in the studio. That’s what the legend really showed. If it was a music video, she mimed to Hal’s (or others later on) drums. If it was live, it was all Karen!
Tori brings me to tears. My God. I love Karen so much. I miss her. God, in his benevolent wisdom, has put Karen’s spirit in Tori’s soul. This is Karen…she is with us. What an absolutely marvelous production. Please bring us more.
Maybe you know by now, she does a very good version of Olivia Newton-John and Cliff Richard's song Suddenly. It's nice to ear her sing something different.
That’s next on Jeff’s agenda. 😊
Just days ago, they dropped a cover that is NOT the Carpenters! The cover is of What the World Needs Now sung by Jackie DeShannon (Bacharach strikes again). It's up to your judgement whether or not she channels Ms. DeShannon circa 1965, but lets say I'm hoping to hear her version of JS's Bette Davis eyes. (I would have nightmares if she tried Kim Carnes...)
It’s my next selection unless someone beats me to the punch. 😊 Suddenly is in the queue for mid-February.
First!
Try "Suddenly" the cover of Olivia Newton John's song. Tori and Jim get it right again.
That’s next! 😊 But it’s Tori & Dan Wesley from the UK.
Joe
@jbs256 oops . yes sorry
@@stevelloyd6940 no worries! Thanks for recommending that great song!
I've said it before, Tori must be the offspring of Karen, and what can you say about the multi talented James Wilkas.
She kinda looks like Richard. Her dad won’t hear any talk of that 😂😂😂😂