HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?! Karen Carpenters vs Tori Holub | Close to you | REACTION

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?! Karen Carpenters vs Tori Holub | Close to you | REACTION
#firstimehearing #reaction #karencarpenter

[@jimmididr]

Hi Sarah! So appreciative of your kind words about our production! We love doing these beautiful classic tunes, and I particularly love working with Tori and all of my close musician friends locally and from around the world. Again, your thoughtful reaction is so appreciated. Thank you! -Jim

[@marciasanguinetti3900]

This reaction has to thus far, be my favorite because of her playing The Carpenter's performance first, then yours/Tori's. I swear Jim, that last note of Tori's.. she barely took a breath first before singing it and it appears she could have held that note even longer - which maybe she did for fun during a practice session with you all LOL ! Cheers to Sarah for this video-reaction, and always to you and Tori !!! Marcia

[@marciasanguinetti3900]

PS - no wait. My all-time favorite reaction and accurate as always critique was from Fil, Wings of Pegasus. Oh my YES !!!!!!! Also Teaspice (I may have this slightly off) and her facials on Tori's first couple of performances (most notably the Burt Bacharach Hal David duet) had me rolling other than she thought Tori was lip-syncing LOL.

[@jbs256]

@@marciasanguinetti3900 Marcia, Sarah’s very first with WOJB is a top fave. I have a bunch, I can’t pick. Tee almost having a stroke on the B/D Medley 🤷🏻‍♂️. Maria putting down her drink (thunk!) “You have my attention.” The list goes on. As for that long note, I don’t think Karen ever did that. That’s Tori. Joe

[@marciasanguinetti3900]

@@jbs256 Oh I do love Maria's reaction and statement out of the gate ! You're right, Karen didn't extend that last note like Tori did plus Tori deepened her voice with emphasis adding vibrato at the end as well !!! Karen's was more of a long, strong, then fade away with a tremor at the very end, A gut wrencher. Gosh Joe, we are so fortunate to have a current voice such as Tori's, bringing back the mood of yesteryear with all her songs which are sung with perfect imperfection ie. never pitch correction which is not needed any way ! Cheers to you and have a great holiday ! m.

[@jbs256]

@@marciasanguinetti3900 thank you very much Marcia. A wonderful holiday season for you and yours, too. It’s starting to look like a Tori Christmas. I have some early ones out, Mugnify, GINX and MommaOG. Sarah and more very soon. I can’t afford all 3.5 (It’s Christmas Time is a .5, no?) songs everywhere but will share the joy. Mugnify dropped the other’s to come. There are some old reactions from last year that have them. Joe

[@stevelloyd6940]

OK we got it. Tori is not Karen, but she isn't trying to be Karen. She has a gift that few have, and she is bringing it to the world. Power to you Tori and shout out to Jim and his team as well Keep bringing joy in your own way.

[@mattmiller7338]

When you play them one after the other, they really, truly are so close. Though I grew up and listened to the Carpenters when they first came out, listening to Tori was like listening to the Angel of Karen coming back to say “Hello!”

[@timbaumann9046]

Beyond any hope... Beyond any Dream... Somehow, Someway - God gave us Karen Back. At a time when we ALL really needed her BACK!

[@gabrielsirialevario3505]

Karen Carpenter is one of the two or three best female voices in history, no one can compare to her

[@rogerhuggettjr.7675]

I'm a man in my 50's and this song brings tears to my eyes.

[@johntiggleman4686]

I was so in love with Karen in the early 70s, and was so sad when she passed away. But she and her brother Richard have left a great legacy. I love it when reactors are stunned by a performer, and say nothing for several seconds. Thank you so much for reacting to this beautiful song, Sarah.

[@ronraskind]

What an entertaining reaction! You certainly demonstrated the shock and awe that this performance warranted. Tori has a passion for the Carpenters and that is demonstrated by her vocals and similarity to Karen Carpenter. But she also covers a couple of other artists and has a couple of original songs as well. There is more to explore here! And her collaboration with Jim Wilkas takes this to a whole other level, with the harmonies and layering and instrumentals creating a reincarnation of the original. Thanks for your comments and I look forward to more from you.

[@DelbertCrill]

I felt the same thing Sarah, Tori's vocals overwhelm my senses every time I hear her. I immediately get goosebumps and tears start to fill my eyes. I truly can't believe what my ears are hearing. How could this girl possibly be so close to Karen's voice? How can the sound filling my ears transport me back to my childhood and the wonderful memories of the Carpenters. Tori is a pitch perfect contralto and voices like hers only bless our ears once every few generations. It's been half my life since I've heard anyone close to resembling Karens voice and quality of tone. Tori should be on a stage and shared with the world. Absolutely Fantastic. Thank you to all who performed in the video it was excellent.

[@markwysong1403]

I was going to write almost this same sentiment. The musicianship, the mix, and Tori's voice - what a blessing. I feel the same way - I was overwhelmed, stunned, and cried the first time I heard this. It's so effortless and warm. You summed up my feelings as well, Sarah. It's amazing.

[@staller3887]

What a wonderful reaction video. So special. Tori and band are amazing. Hard to believe this woman’s voice. Spot on… Hope to hear much more from her. Thanks for reacting. Heart felt.

[@CPIcivrights]

I love the fact that someone's bringing back Karen's music? Karen Carpenter was quite arguably the best female voice ever. And I believe we had a representation of an angel singing on earth when she was here. Thank you to Tori for singing some of Karen's songs. I love you just for that. We miss you, Karen.

[@pamagnolia]

Close To You was our first dance song at out wedding in 1973😊

[@license2kilttheplaidlad640]

I remember when she died hearing it on the car radio on my way to gymnastics class my mom was super bummed. I ended up meeting Richard once he was extremely nice .

[@CFWhitman]

I remember the shock of my family when the news of Karen Carpenter's death aired on television (I was a teenager). It didn't quite hit me until later how big a void that left because I had heard Carpenters music just about all my life, and had taken it for granted. Now nothing new would be released by them. Of course, these Carpenters reproductions are amazing, also Tori is not Karen, but the really great thing is to hear versions of things Karen never sang actually being released by someone with similar vocal qualities. Richard was also a big part of what made the Carpenters great, with his compositions, his ear for what was a potential hit, and his amazing arrangements. I hope that Tori is able to continue to obtain high quality material to devote her own talent toward.

[@wagonmaster1974]

When The Carpenters were on the top of the charts, I got picked on a lot for really enjoying their music. To clarify, I was in the Marines. Take it from there. Fast forward to now, and I sit, 70 years old, smiling broadly, with tears coursing down my cheeks, getting the same feelings I felt when my wife and I saw them in concert. There is no way to describe the love, warmth and solace Karen's voice evoked. Tori does the same thing. Not the same huskiness Karen had, but remarkably close. Thank you for your review.

[@allenm.1537]

This young lady is amazing but she doesn't give me chills like Karen does. I'm 64 and started learning to play drums in 1968 to The Beatles and The Carpenter's when I first heard them in about 1970. Karen's voice touches my heart and brings me to tears.

[@richardburgett3858]

It would be extremely hard to find someone with as smooth a voice as Karen Carpenter!

[@rickylong1001]

Karen Carpenter first started singing she wanted to hide behind the drums. She was so shy, she didn't want to stand up in front of people and sing. Her brother finally talked her into it. Thank God. I can imagine Karen singing this song to The LORD in Heaven!

[@cartuspostus1150]

Since 1963, "Close to You" has been a hit again and again.

[@KarenHarrisonreiki]

It was fun watching your reaction to Tori and Karen. Tori is amazing!

[@briank10101]

While you may see Tori singing the harmonies in the video in the 4 small screens on top she actually would have tripled each harmony note, so 4 harmony notes 3 overdubs each, so in essence we're hearing 12 background Toris simultaneously and so she had a lot of recording to accomplish this. Jim Wilkas would have to do all these harmonies too in addition to so many of the instruments and then reverse engineering all of the harmonies and the correct notes and chords for all the instruments as I'm sure these are not all available. While Tori may get the glory, Jim was "instrumental" in making all the magic happen, if I can say just like Richard Carpenter. 🎶 🎹 🎻 🎸 🥁 🎺 ❤.

[@babakoosaw]

Karen could sing the phonebook, and it would sound beautiful

[@pamagnolia]

Very nice cover of this lovely song!!

[@ericzeichert511]

Karen considered herself a drummer who sang. For all those naysayers out there, I would like to point out that a live performance by Karen would sound markedly different from the studio recording for a whole host of reasons. While Jim and Tori were trying to replicate the original, and they did a bang up job, of course that too is impossible. The technology is different, and they were not all together in a studio at one time. Still and all this is really scary "close to you"

[@markr.devereux3385]

i love toris voice incredible. NOW you cant compare richard& karen they are unbeatable.

[@RCori]

Tori is great. Has that Karen Carpenter vibe down.

[@peterchandler8505]

For many of their songs, Karen recorded every vocal, with Richard layering them on the recordings to create a choir of Karen Carpenters… Tori & team are layering these as well…

[@thomastimlin1724]

Sarah is a warm and fuzzy human being who in her demeanor equals Karen Carpenter's warm and fuzzy voice singing. I think Karen , if she were here, would be cheering Tori on, laughing all the way, exclaiming "Good for you Tori!" I wonder what Richard Carpenter thinks of her? If there really truly is such a thing as reincarnation, this is it...

[@jbs256]

Tori and Richard met in April when she was invited to sing at the Carpenters 55th Anniversary. Joe

[@supervisorone5960]

Tori's sings beautifully but Karen's voice is more angelic to me so I prefer Karen Carpenter

[@bruschmidt9943]

Yes plus Karen's emotional impact on every word is second to none 💯

[@RickyTaylor-mx1ti]

The cover was beautiful but it’s hard to beat Karen good job Sarah you’re fun to watch

[@johnsimon2988]

Sarah, I can't help loving you because of how much you love Karen. She was unique and not easily replicated. Tori does the best job I've heard in my 69 years of life. What is one of the most impressive feats here? That a 20 year old young woman would sing music from the 70's. And enjoy it! I was fairly certain the world had moved on from ever finding someone to do justice to Karen and Richard's music. And yet here we are: 2024 and the 70's are back! More or less. Peace. (●'◡'●)

[@jbs256]

Thank you John for saying what I’ve been saying. People keep missing the point, writing Tori off because she “dares” to sound like Karen. She can sing the songs of our youth and do them justice. She can sing new songs without pitch correction and do THEM justice and honor. I’m so tired of that sound that I hear and think something is wrong. It’s just a computerized voice. They all sound the same. I have to go to my old music to hear natural voices. Or just listen to Tori. I know there are some others also, TG. It seems like few and far between though. Joe

[@johnsimon2988]

@@jbs256 Hi jbs256, haters are gonna hate, as the kids say. I've realized that many peeps on KZbin are out for getting any reaction. Another words:Trolls. Those commenting negatively without having any positive input or having their own channel. My advice would be to ignore em and they'll go away. I've also noticed that many things come and go in cycles. Especially when something new enters our consciousness, such as social media. The billionaires run the world but the millionaires run the businesses. Digital resources such as people making their own electronic music and releasing it is antithetic to the music industry money making schemes. So I see it as a good thing. It will pressure said music industry to invest into live performers and performances, if they wish to remain relevant. And humans crave interaction such as live concerts. It appears Tori is going around the music industry and sooner or later some company will offer her a deal and she'll have to make a decision. Sell out to the man, or go her own way which would be more of a gamble. We'll have to wait and see what she does. It should be interesting. As for electronic music I don't care for it. I mostly listen to smooth jazz nowadays. And as you said, the music of our youth. Carpenters, 5th Dimension, Carol King, etc. Peace.

[@jbs256]

@@johnsimon2988 very wise words John. Me too for older music. I tune SiriusXM to the 70’s channel and enjoy real music. Tori is as close as we come as for all her engineering skills, she stays away from pitch correction. She, like Karen, has built in Autotune in her vocal cords. Why does she need the computer for more than just putting the pieces together. Jim and Dan, the same. Just as natural as can be. Maybe not so much reel to reel anymore but keep it all real. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and for all we know more is on the way. 😊 Joe

[@johnholliday5874]

Try on what Eduard did here, and then go find Tori's duet with Dan Wesley of "Suddenly". (He also did one with We've Only Just Begun.) The young lady is just phenomenal. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZzLoIuLg5x9ntksi=8sI1KKaY3-H30-L9

[@pedromancenithe3rd]

Tori is a very talented singer and has a wonderful voice. Whilst there will always be someone who says Tori's voice is NOTHING like Karen Carpenters, it's usually the dedicated Carpenters fans who race to make the comment. However Tori's voice is the nearest, in my opinion, that anyone will ever get to sounding like Karen's. Tori's voice has less sharpness than Karen's and she uses more vibrato. With my trained ear, I have to disagree with some other commentators who imply Karen's range is superior to Tori's. This cover by James Wilkas was beyond impressive.

[@roberthughes7368]

I second that but she did do a great job!!

[@jornspirit]

...Karen has the voice and presence of an angel - absolute perfection, and Tori comes amazingly close, close enough that if I would hear her unexpectedly on the radio, I would maybe first wonder, if its Karen... however: Karen's voice has a subtly darker undertone and edge, which makes her performance slightly more intense, and the purity in her presentation is still unmatched... 💖

[@philiphemphill4980]

Hi Sarah love your reactions always .Tori does a great cover of Karen but i hope she goes on to do her own thing write,sing her own or songs written for her certainly has a great voice.Better not to be compared to Karen as she was perfection personified cheers from OZ

[@Joe-w9h]

Tori sounds like Tori....very very close to Karen....very close to her.❤❤

[@ADeCosa59]

When Tori did her version of "We've Only Just Begun", she was attempting to copy Karen's performance TO THE LETTER. So, on that one, every note she sang - the inflection, the tone, the projection, the pronunciation - was sung to sound as much like Karen as she could muster. (Even Karen's slight sibilance was copied.) On this one, Tori clearly made a stylistic choice NOT to adhere as closely to Karen. There are many points throughout where Tori put her OWN stylistic spin on the tune - and I think it's the better for it. We KNOW that she can sound virtually identical to Karen, if she wishes. But we've heard Tori channel Karen before and we know she does it remarkably. And now it's time to hear what SHE can do...

[@jbs256]

Very perceptive. I especially like that long Youuuuu to vibrato. That’s all Tori. ❤

[@RobertJ-Bird]

We don't want a copy of Karen. Beautiful voice, yes, but doesn't sound like Karen. What kind of career would this young lady have if only being compared to Karen and always falling short with so many. She needs her own songs. Then maybe I'd be impressed.

[@jbs256]

@@RobertJ-Bird for now check out Christmas Again and Something To Believe In. Originals given to Tori. Look who cowrote CA and what else Steve wrote and for whom.😊 Since this is her voice, covering Carpenters songs is natural.

[@miitheweirdartist6794]

😂😂😂I never heard an angel sing neither...but many claim they have.

[@peterchandler8505]

Tori is close to Karen, but you should listen to Harriet who does great Carpenter covers, and her own music where I think one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard to Harriets song Maybe this Christmas, a song I think you will love

[@gerlieannmanuel7283]

You never heard a voice of an angel singing?Now,you just heard it how a voice of an angel is.....read this name KAREN CARPENTER,yes she is!!!she was the angel you're looking for to hear was an angel voice sound like...

[@GaryNoone-jz3mq]

Karen is the best 👌. Nobody has the same ethereal, angelic tone. The young lady sang in the same key, but not a patch on Karen. 😊❤

[@pablomazzeo8540]

how its possible to soud the voice like karen Carpenters ?

[@jbs256]

It’s Tori’s natural voice. She just is very close.

[@terencenelson1950]

She's close but I can tell the difference

[@jbs256]

Of course you can, no two human voices are alike. Ever. No one human can replicate what they recorded ever again. It’s one and done. So of course you can tell the difference. But it’s the finger vs. fingerprint analogy. Go back just enough and you only see the finger. Such is the difference.

[@stephenstubbs7682]

Fell in love with Karen's voice in 1970 as a teenager. While other singers can try to imitate Karen, it's not the same. Karen Carpenter is the greatest female singer of my lifetime. Nothing wrong with Barbara, Celine. Whitney, and all the other female diva singers. I have their music. Just not the same to me. Call me biased...lol!

[@GaryNoone-jz3mq]

Have you never heard of Linda and Rondstat 😮. The Greatest Of All Time. Karen was great at what she did. Linda was brilliant at everything!!😊

Tori isn't trying to imitate Karen Carpenter. It's her natural singing voice! She as close as you are going to get to Karen Carpenter's voice. It's good that she can cover the Carpenter's music. She will need her own material in the future.

[@jbs256]

👍 She does have two originals out. And covers that were originally by men.

[@nickrizzi4927]

Bless Tori, but Karen is a singular angel. BTW Harry Connick Jr. has a smashing version of this classic. Good health to You and followers! 💜

[@license2kilttheplaidlad640]

Shes about as good as anyone could be but not as good as Karen.

[@johnmurray-f9t]

1970 tech vs 2024 tech...

[@jbs256]

Minimal tech involved and no pitch correction or autotune. Yeah, not recording on reel to reels anymore.

[@JohnLedger-g4i]

Karen all day long . You should never try to improve perfection !!! It’s sacrilege !!!! RIP Karen not even the angels can match you

[@HippieBill]

She has a nice voice indeed, but very different from Karen. The lower register is similar, but I hear a totally different voice. This young lady should just sing her own creations. There is no other Karen Carpenter. Nice tribute.

[@jbs256]

Hi Sarah! Thank you for this wonderful comparison. What some of the early commenters don’t realize is that’s Tori’s voice in her lower register. She adds some Karen inflections but she’s not “trying” to sound like Karen, she just does. When she sings other songs she’s always criticized for sounding like Karen. Because that’s her natural voice. In the other songs there are no inflections. When she sings in her higher register, she doesn’t sound like Karen, at least to me. Karen played the drums and was quite famous for that. She even played some bass guitar but not regular guitar. Tori plays guitars, piano and some drums. The first two can be seen in numerous videos. As for the differences. The big one was the long Youuuuuuuuuuu before the Whas. Tori elongated it much more than Karen sang it and rose to end on her patented vibrato. One minor correction Karen & Richard’s surname was Carpenter, no “s”. The duo was “Carpenters” also in this and most of their songs, Richard & Karen did ALL the background voices. Jim showed a representation of what was happening vocally. There were a few songs where they hired other singers for background but while Karen was alive, it was rare. Thanks again! ❤ Joe

[@marciasanguinetti3900]

WELL SAID ! 🥰

[@jbs256]

@@marciasanguinetti3900 hey Marcia, just saw this and thank you. 😊

[@marciasanguinetti3900]

@@jbs256 UR welcome !!! Tori Team Unites !!! 🙂

[@barrylyon652]

Oh please......all my life I've heard some girl say she sounded just like Karen Carpenter, to this day no one has. And I'm old.

[@wesmiddaugh230]

I grew up in the 50s and beyond listening to all types of music. Mom classical and county, dad pop and jazz. Big band was always in the house. Then rock and roll hit. by the 70s so much music out there that i enjoyed and the Carpenters just not favorite except Superstar and Christmas song. Tori is so good i follow her because of her range so wide. I have thousands of records and just upgraded my system and i will download her my first.

[@tomschmitz-dj1fg]

sorry, but a serious Karen Carpenter fan, can tell the difference immediately. Tori has a nice alto voice, but it's not REMOTELY liked Karen Carpenter. Karen had the ethereal higher register along with the very rich deep register. Tori to me sounds like she is TRYING to sound like Karen Carpenter with her lower register but has nothing else. Just my personal honest opinion...

She isn't trying to sound like Karen Carpenter (which is impossible BTW) , it's her natural singing voice. She does however sing beatifully. It's a close to Karen Carpenter as you are gonna get. But Tori will need to get her own tune. She also great doing other non Carpenters music.

[@jbs256]

Very perceptive and true. They are only hearing one song and just don’t know.

[@Go2God]

@tomschmitz-dj1fg but still very very very beautiful voice. I love it sooo very much as most do. Of course, it cannot be the exact same voice. That's why there's something called voice recognition. Because everybody's voices unique. She's doing a very good job and it's a so are you very beautiful? I think she also is able to do a wide range of different music I suspect. Beautiful 😍

[@frommatorav1]

I'll have to agree to disagree, because Tori's voice is remotely close to Karen's. I can also tell the two apart and very slightly favor the Carpenter's version of Close To You but this production was amazing and Tori's voice is great. My favorite part of Tori's vocals was the slightly longer and more pronounced "yooouuu" towards the end, before the "waahs". I've checked out almost all her covers, which include many songs that aren't by the Carpenters, and enjoyed almost all of them. She has a couple of original songs, too. The only songs I didn't like weren't because of her singing. Her voice is beautiful.

[@sirpathegreat4701]

There is very little difference in the two voices to me.

[@BennoHaas]

The tonality and phrasing was Karen Carpenter. Tori Holub was copying Karen's delivery. There's a HUGE difference between being able to imitate someone else's artistic rendering of a song, and being able to produce your own cover and rendering of the song with your own personal voice and artistic talent.

[@jbs256]

@@BennoHaas Tori has two originals out and numerous songs originated by men. So among the ones she doesn’t sound like are John, Paul, George or even Ringo. Oh and Ray Charles, not like him either.

[@sirpathegreat4701]

Everyone knows that's not an original song by Tori ,it's called a cover. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. A tribute to Karen. The HUGE difference is some can listen with an open mind and some can't

[@Bourbon_keeps_me_sane]

One shows you what nature is capable of, the other what technology is capable of.

[@jbs256]

Please check Wings of Pegasus from early March. No autotune or pitch correction. Accuracy very close to Karen.