ANOTHER HIT! TORI HOLUB | CLOSE TO YOU

[@jimmididr]

Thank you Maria for the kind words and thoughtful reaction to our project! Working with Tori is such a joy for me! 😃 -Jim

[@lskylarbrown]

I was working at A&M records as an illustrator when they were signed. I had the priveledge of hearing Karen almost every time I came to work.

[@lskylarbrown]

I am an Ardent fan of Carpenters. I love Tori, she gives us all a new appreciation of Karen's voice.

[@pedromancenithe3rd]

These covers came about because James Wilkas heard Tori sing on several Carpenter short videos and had to have her perform on his masterful reincarnation of "We've Only Just Begun". I hope we get more from from this fantastic collaboration.

[@jbs256]

For All We Know something else may be in the works. I hope it won’t take seven months. 🙏

[@MarineSgt]

You cant alter your natural singing tone.....her voice & her vocal range along with her octaves just blends so amazing with Karen's that its literally like hearing Karen yet #toriholub still has her own unique sound that will only allow her to be the moden day Karen Carpenter. Her vocal transitions between head, chest & full voice is something todays music hasnt had since Karen. Ty for your reactions!

[@spotprize64]

Tori should be a huge star, just amazing,

[@jbs256]

Hi again Maria, The dedication after the credits to Gea. She sang on numerous projects with Jim. She was going to be the lead singer for WOJB and CTY but unexpectedly passed away in 2019. These projects were stalled until KZbin did its magic and introduced Tori to Jim by recommending one of her short videos. 😃 Joe

[@ronraskind]

Nice reaction to Tori. The Carpenters are Tori's passion and she has branched out some the other artists and original songs. I would think that it's time goes on there will be more and more of that. But I doubt she will ever lose her passion for the Carpenters. She really is a reincarnation of music from back in time, and there is a huge population out there that loves it.

[@SAnnun-hs1io]

Hi Maria, wonderful reaction. I would only echo some of what Joe mentioned in his comments regarding Tori being a Carpenters fan. I remember when I first ran across her music I saw the videos she had posted that he described showing her collection and I believe one included a visit to California where she toured various Carpenters landmarks. They were personal and charming videos that clearly showed her enthusiasm for their music and legacy. Jim does explain in the notes about the dedication. Gea van Veen was a musician and singer from the Netherlands who he and other Bandhub artists collaborated with years back and she was the vocalist for this song. She passed away in 2019. RIP. Thanks again for the thoughtful reaction.

[@briank10101]

Would love if Tori recorded some of the mid 70s Carpenters songs like This Masquerade or "All you get from love is a love song"

[@jbs256]

Brian, For All We Know Jim may have other plans for Tori and his next song. He dropped a hint in the comments under CTY. 😊 Also, Steve Eaton wrote AYGFLIALS, and co-wrote Christmas Again with Donnie Demers, that they gave to Tori. And they are working to polish (has to be sparkling by now) her self written song “Years Gone By” 😊

[@ImagineMySurprise510]

I worry about the same thing. I am concerned that she may end up feeling she is only associated with Karen which may cause her to steer away from that. I hope it doesn't happen. Tori singing the Karen songs in the Karen way is a soothing balm that I would grieve to lose. I notice that she also covers Olivia Newton-John and some others, and maybe they give Tori the wider variety of sound that perhaps she wants.

[@shamrock1961]

Tori right now is singing Perry Como, The Beatles, David Gates and Bread, just to name a few. Recommend you check them out as well. ANd she writes her own material too! Check her out!

[@jbs256]

Tori’s first self written song “Years Gone By” is in the works. She does apparently have numerous songs written. So hopefully more to come. Joe

[@terrysigstad8999]

For a different sound from Tori, she has a great version of the Ray Charles song “Georgia in my mind”.

[@marciasanguinetti3900]

Yes please listen to Georgia and also to It's Impossible" a duet with Dan Westley. Great reaction !!!

[@timcaesar6749]

Correct title is "Georgia ON my mind", not "...IN my mind".

[@briank10101]

Regarding the closeness to Karen Carpenter's voice, Karen is looking down and thinking this is "Close To Me".

[@MattJocks]

Everyone should listen to her version of It's Impossible. As good as the Carpenters covers are, I think that's actually better.

[@jbs256]

Beautiful reaction, Maria. I feel the same way. To her credit, I classify her as a Carpenters super-fan. She used to have two videos up where she showed her Carpenters memorabilia collection. Sadly she has taken them down. She has a ton of stuff, it was like getting a tour of a Carpenters Museum. Records and each version of it, cassettes, tapes, books, posters, souvenirs etc. etc. Most impressive an I have to think a present to her, an electric guitar festooned with Carpenters logo and pictures laminated to the body. She needs to play it in another Carpenters video. I’d say her top three women are Karen, Olivia and Joni. No Joni long form videos/songs yet. But she has covered The Beatles many times and doesn’t sound like John, Paul, George or even Ringo. 🤷🏻‍♂️ She done them separately and together, in short videos. This song is amazing, you went Wow! on the long note to vibrato at the end, yup that was a Wow! I’m glad you enjoyed it. Christmas is coming she now has four songs, one of which is an original, given to her by the writers. One just dropped days ago, but is just like the original Carpenters version, 50 seconds long. So not a short but a short song. 😊 More to come, Joe

[@SAnnun-hs1io]

@jbs256 Hey Joe, as usual lots of interesting and insightful info on your part, I remember seeing the videos you mention that Tori had posted but has since taken down. On another note however, I was just saw a video made by Fil from 2 days ago comparing two live performances of Karen singing and how spot on and consistent her pitch was. You could probably find very easily if you go to his channel. Something that piqued my interest though, was that at 2:35 of the video he mentions that he will be releasing a video tomorrow and that all of the info that he is bringing up in the analysis video of Karen will be entirely relevant to the one slated to be posted tomorrow. I couldn't help but wonder, given that Close to You was just dropped, you think there's any chance he might be referring to another analysis of Tori? I know you were the one who got him to look at WOJB, you wouldn't have any inside info, by chance? 😂 I'm probably completely off base, but was just curious if you had any thoughts. All that aside, as always many, many thanks for all that you've done. Cheers!

[@SAnnun-hs1io]

@jbs256 Update on my comment about Fil's video that he's posting tomorrow. He had a livestream this evening and did discuss the nature of its content a little more in depth without revealing specifics, but it doesn't sound like it has any connection with Tori, so you can disregard my speculation regarding that. Take care.

[@jbs256]

@@SAnnun-hs1io ​​⁠hey Steve, yes I was in the live stream today and saw the analysis of Karen. I posted that in a Carpenters F group I’m in. I have dropped Fil a mention about Close To You and also linked Suddenly as he had previously mentioned about someone singing high trying to go low and vise versa. Well 🤷🏻‍♂️. That shows she’s at least Contralto (only touches , not as low as Karen) to Soprano. Effortless on both counts. I should check if he gave me a ❤ on my suggestion. That’s how it started with the Tori initial reference. I don’t think lightning can strike a third time, given his follow up is the double lightning. People STILL quote Fil when the visit Jim’s channel. Oh see my comment to Eric, I dropped a huge clue about something but only stated fact. A little detective work is in order. 🧐 I’m concentrating on CTY right now and later some Christmas Tori. Gotta stretch the budget. If you or some of the other “Troops” want to pitch in and sponsor some reactions. 🙏 😊 Yeah in my mind, it’s Tori’s Troops. Not as organized as The Warning Army or Angelina’s Angels, more rag tag. 😂 Joe

[@jbs256]

@@SAnnun-hs1io Steve besides writing to Fil in the Patreon chat. I took a shot with Fb messenger. He answered! I left him a screen shot of my pitch monitor graph of Tori’s yoooooooou note. He saw it and left a quick comment. So he has my info if he wants to use it. I made sure he knew I was the source for TH. While I was at it, I messengered Beato. Nothing yet. Took my shot. 😊

[@SAnnun-hs1io]

@@jbs256 That last note is incredibly impressive and it doesn't surprise me at all at how many she probably flat lined. Great idea to give Fil the heads up on info like that, the kind of stuff that could always prompt him to check back in on what she's doing. Or maybe he should have you fill (Fil?) in for him now that you've been making good use of the software! 🤣 And yes, Beato would be an awesome grab.

[@frankgarnevicus1187]

An incredible soft coda in an otherwise harsh world.

[@stevep9057]

Thank you 😊

[@JoeSlish-q2e]

I like to hear her sing the carpenter songs, but she should branch out to other songs to establish a career for herself

[@ronraskind]

Hi there, I guess you have not explored things to answer your own question. There are reactions online and videos on her channel doing Olivia Newton-John, Ray Charles, Perry Como, and others. There are also three original songs currently on her channel. She happens to have a real passion for the Carpenters so had focused on them originally but she is spreading her wings as you suggest and you should check it out. Maria has reacted to other Tori songs.

[@jbs256]

Also until Goodbye To Love, Carpenters were a cover band. If she’s modeling herself after them, maybe she’ll do well?

[@JoeSlish-q2e]

@@jbs256 good point did not think of that

[@ericzeichert511]

Jim the midi Doctor did not seem to do an exact copy of the Carpenter's orchestration here.. It seems haavier on the strings and a bit lighter on the horns. If you haven't yet check out Georgia. In her version, she doessn't channel Ray Charles, tho I think she could. That one sounds like it is probably pure Tori.. This is once again a great Carpenter cover, but I can also agree that we need some Tori being Tori.

[@SAnnun-hs1io]

@@ericzeichert511 I totally agree with the recommendation of Georgia On My Mind, I almost edited my comment after I posted to include the suggestion but you took care of that for me! It's a fabulous rendition.

[@jbs256]

A very good choice as Steve also agrees. I have to be prudent with my budget, it’s on the list unless someone beats me to it 😊. Listen to the original again. Karen didn’t sing the last long note yooooouuuuuu like Tori did. A much softer version. Tori took it to a beautiful vibrato. She also flat lined the note on the D4 Sharp. No pitch correction! I haven’t counted yet how many notes she flatlined, it’s a bunch. Pitch perfect. Oh and yes, Chris May produced/arranged Georgia for Tori. He also played the piano as he just did for her It’s Christmas Time. He also wrote a book with two coauthors. 😊 Joe