First Time Hearing | Home Free - American Pie - Don Mclean |

[@robynmatheson7687]

If I remember correctly, Don asked HF to do this with him in honor of the 50th anniversary of “American Pie”. Now THAT is an honor! HF put out info that Don will be releasing a new album, and HF will be on one of the songs, the opening song, I believe.

[@lrfcowper]

It's the title track -- American Boys. You can find the music, no video, here on KZbin and probably on other music streaming services

[@roniboyd613]

That's the same story I heard, gotta be true!😊

[@gwenstone3903]

Home Free just did Vincent with Don McClain

[@chip6147]

“Recording American Pie with Home Free was something that I never imagined I would have done,” says Don McLean. “My manager brought me the idea and I was like ok, but I have never collaborated with anyone before and why would I do this. Then I heard their vocal harmonies and it reminded me of The Jordanaires and then found out they don’t sing at all with instruments. What happened in the studio was great, but what happened when they put it all together was magic!

[@momD612]

Don's management team actually asked HF to do this with him for its 50 yr anniversary. Plus, Don was so pleased, he had our guys sing a snippet at his walk of fame star celebration. Aaaaaaand they won like a gazilllion tellys for this. ❤❤

[@hdenisewooten2428]

Don McLean asked them to do this, plus he had them come to his placement of the Star on the Walk of Fame--I think that is what it was.

[@nickforell1]

I see. Well either way that’s a great collab

[@johnhelwig8745]

Listening to "American Pie" brings back fond memories from the early 1970's when you had to flip the 45 over to play the b-side for the second half of the song.

[@dagmar.6954]

Love this remake of this classic song. Can't believe it came out 50 years ago. Don McLean still has a good voice for his age. And love hearing all the guys take a turn in a verse. Poor Adam had to do such a long stretch of beatboxing but he nailed it. Think the song is about 8 min. long. Don McLean received his Hollywood Star on the Walk of Fame recently & Home Free was invited to sing a portion of this song there. What an honor for them. "American Pie" pays tribute to the loss of 3 legends who died so young (Buddy Holly, Richie Valens & The Big Bopper). A lot of references in the song are made to many artists from the early days of music including Elvis, Janis Joplin, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Byrds & others.

[@ColleenCarr-l9w]

Don’t forget Adam Chance doing bass when Tim sang…

[@minneyruth]

They did a great job 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@sandyleewhite]

This literally touched my very soul.......💙💙💙

[@rllangevin3841]

Wonderful, heartfelt reaction, Nick! As others have said, Don invited them to sing with him on this 50th anniversary rendition. #HomeFree never disappoints and they always respect the artist when they are collaborating, allowing them to shine.

[@JoanN63]

What an honor it must be to be able to sing with Don McLean and the result is so great. With a Home Free twist but still respecting the original. The harmony is amazing again. And what a great voice Don McLean still has. My childhood memory of this song is that I always had to sing along. And now I do that again.

[@pastelcarnations]

They did so good on this one.. iconic song, they all sounded so good

[@ronaldschweitzer1110]

I could see how much this meant to you on your face. Thank you so much for sharing your feelings with us.

[@nickforell1]

You are so welcome!

[@wandapease-gi8yo]

I’m old enough that each verse meant something to me with reference to news stories from the day that melded so beautifully!

[@tygerbrite]

Absolutely epic. Really appreciated your reaction. When someone knows the song so well, it makes a difference.

[@nickforell1]

So glad you enjoyed

[@bettyjblake]

This was one of the treasures they released during lockdown. I love this collaboration!

[@beckiramsey9561]

Such a beautiful collaboration! Such a beautiful song!❤❤ I love this song so much and Don still sounds so awesome here and they created such a wonderful arrangement together!🔥🔥. Such a great opportunity! Thanks for your awesome reaction!!🏡🍟

[@nickforell1]

Thank you so much!!

[@PaulaThompson-x9w]

So very good! Love this one and I know they appreciated the honor of singing with him. Don still fabulous. ( I really enjoy Chance's solo vocals in this one. His little bit higher than normal rock star tone, i call it) . Thanks for the Home Free reactions

[@nickforell1]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@bernieregnier4500]

The many collaborations that Home Free have done with legends is amazing and is very telling how amazing this group is and respected by those who have gone before them. Simply is very telling and why I appreciate HOME FREE so much as they not only respect those that have gone before them, but that they join in celebrating with them and are able to record with them shows how much the legendary artists recognize that respect from them. This is a Win / Win for us the fan base of both!!! ❣

[@StevenGoodman-g9z]

Don just announced a new album and Home Free will be singing with him on the title track.

[@lorriredmon8212]

This recording is a priceless gem. It's just gorgeous, and the experience of singing and working with Don Mclean (the legend!) will be in their hearts forever!

[@wandapease-gi8yo]

This has brought joy to several generations since it was introduced over a sad loss.

[@babyfry4775]

Yeah a really nice collaboration with Don. He sounds great for 75! Again this was during Covid so I thought the use of the boxes reminded me of shadow boxes you keep your memories in. Clever. Don asked HF to come to Hollywood and celebrate with him when he got the star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Pretty great!!! Good one Nick!

[@marleneeisnor9719]

Love this❤

[@lindareynolds8430]

#HOMEFREE.....fantastic!

[@1aleckman1]

Hi Nick! Love your reactions! This was always a favorite song of mine by Don and when he had Home Free jump into it with him just restarted that song again after 50 years. Have a great day!

[@patriciavernon9795]

The Behind The Scenes making of this video is awesome! Love your reactions Nick! #HomeFree

[@peggybischoff2672]

Great reaction. Thanks for watching this and seeing the pure pleasure on your face was priceless.

[@teresacartwright5406]

When the song was first released a local radio stn. (on request) would send a breakdown of each of the lyrics. This song is both so poetic and so deep, covering everything from the tragic plane crash, Altamont and Kent State to Janis Joplin. It's truly a masterpiece. I think the age in Don McLean's voice adds to the poignancy of the song.

[@tomhansen4576]

So, Don is coming out with a new album called American Boys, and is featuring HF on the title track of same name of the album with him premiering May 19th. I understand that the new song and video will blow people away. What a great collaboration of great artists.

[@anitawright7169]

This is so very awesome! Love this song so much. This was so well done! Love your reaction! ♥

[@kathybowles495]

Don just released a new song, "American Boys", 12 days ago on KZbin. Home Free are the backup singers.

[@AnjaHedefine-f9r]

Did you notice the matches under each square when Tim was singing about fire?

[@jankreps5115]

It’s awesome that Dawn McLean chose home free to do this with him!! When he was awarded his star on Hollywood Boulevard for the first time the rest of you had something with him for a few beers of the song that was home free with Tom McLean!! So proud of them all!

[@miamidolphinsfan]

The song of my generation. I was 11 years old when this was 1st released on Oct 24th, 1971. I was a 6th grader at Everglades Elementary here in Miami, FL

[@sissiemae845]

WOW! Just WOW!

[@dianadickerson749]

Done during covid, Don asked them to collaborate on this, believe he may have talked with not sure if it was Kenny or Oakridge boys.

[@r0kus]

Great reaction to a wonderful video. *This* was a collaboration. Compared to what Pentatonix did with Dolly Parton, it is leagues better. In that, Pentatonix was little more than backup singers for Dolly, and fan boys. But there was little collaboration to be had.⬅ I'm not sure if its true, but I heard that Don approached Home Free to do this, not the other way around. The 50th anniversary of this song was coming up, and he wanted to commemorate the event.

[@nickforell1]

Thanks for the info!

[@darrinlindsey]

There's a video, that i think Home Free used as a teaser, before this was released, that is a sort of meeting between the guys and Mr. McLean. As i remember, it was very interesting.

[@sherylhenley1931]

The wood surrounding them is in the style of a memory box. My folks had one. You put little items and pictures in each box. The video in the background in some of the boxes is Don's family videos.

[@joanwharff6483]

Just Awesome …❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥💕❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥…&, the complete version ♥️♥️💕💕♥️♥️‼️..8 1/2 minutes 😳‼️ I also love Don’s song …”VINCENT”…. about Vincent Van Gogh..he sings soooo good ‼️…. Great song writer ‼️ Don approached Home Free for this…pretty awesome…💕♥️❤️‍🔥♥️💕‼️

[@JohnBare747]

Thanks Nick I saw the genuine emotion and nostalgia you were experiencing while Don and Home Free were upgrading a Classic. Typical Home Free never an insult to the original, an enhanced version now exists to complement Don's Original. Don got it right in having Home Free do his old song proud and bring it to a new generation of music lovers, not that this is the first new generation for this fifty year old song.

[@julierodda5826]

Did this mash up during covid. Technogy brings us even more benefits of sharing remotely!

[@BellBell-t1r]

I have always liked this song but never really dissected what the words all meant. Since hearing it reviewed I have read comments by others what the lyrics pertained to although there is some controversy ❤ Great review Nick. 🥰 from🇨🇦 Grammy

[@sag2horses]

#HOMEFREE #DONMCLEAN

[@sythompson9331]

They've now done Vincent with him and this time Don has his guitar with him

[@sandracarey4352]

Check out their new collab of Vincent. Gorgeous!

[@SarahAden-zb3np]

I will miss Austin ❤❤. I love home free ❤❤❤❤❤❤. This is a great song.

[@samschneider938]

I haven't listen to HF since Austin's announcement. I was bitter. Still am, I guess. I get that he can do what he wants, but I'm still second-guessing it. Your reactions popping up on my feed brought me back. At least a little. Great rxns.

[@AB-ez4rm]

It's hard for me to sing this without reverting to Weird Al's version.

[@angelamiller6275]

Also, this was done during lockdown, hence, the shadowbox background.

[@vickiadkins9844]

#homefree

[@JohnT-i5z]

More like Roy Orbison. But, good reaction.

[@glendamcgrady1244]

Wasn't that wonderful!

[@KP-zi6jx]

I'll NEVER understand all this Home Free stuff, lol. I've listened to one song before...and yeah, ppl may like their sound/voices...but they're a cover band, lol. It makes as much sense as "I'm going in here to listen to this cover band of Fleetwood Mac, while you are next door listening to Fleetwood Mac"...I've always demanded the best in life, maybe just me. But this is of the height of mediocrity shoveled to the common masses...like just serve them up vanilla, good enough.