Friday 14 April 2017

Home Free Takes You On Dates

One of the things I love about Home Free is that you never know in advance what you will get when they release a new song/video. The only thing you can be sure of is that it will be good and of high quality! 

There are so many things to consider if you want to try to predict what they will come up with next;
What genre will they pick a song from? What twist will they give it? Who will sing lead? Will they switch up the lead half way through the song? What type of harmonizing will there be? Will it be a slow song or an up-tempo song, or maybe something in the middle?

What will the video be like? Will it be a party video? Maybe we'll see some dance moves? Will it be with members of their families? Will there be hired actors, or another LEGO one? What will the setting be? 

So many questions can go through a Home Fry's mind before a release, and that is one of my favourite things about Home Free. They always surprise us - except for on the quality of the arrangement and their performance of it. I can honestly say that I love all of the songs they do for one reason or another.

This last release is certainly no exception to this. Of course, they have managed to surprise and delight us again. 

The song of choice this time is Micheal Ray's romantic country hit "Think a Little Less". For the first time we get a full song lead by newest member Adam Chance - a perfect choice! I've heard, unofficially, that they had Austin in lead to begin with, but it just didn't sound and feel right so they changed it to Chance - a great decision as far as I'm concerned - and I love Austin! 

I haven't really written that much about Adam Chance yet so I want to share some thoughts about him now; When we, the fans, were informed that Chris Rupp was leaving the group and that Chance was to step in as the baritone I didn't really know anything about him, but I knew that if the band and Chris had chosen him then he must be a great fit. As soon as I heard him sing I knew I had been right in my belief. Chance actually has my favourite type of voice; smooth and smoky, sensitive and raw, and I had the feeling that he was singing straight to my heart. I still get that feeling whenever he sings. This is something that I feel about Austin's, Rob's and Tim's voices as well. Now, you might think that I often get that feeling about voices, but that is very far from the truth. I actually don't remember ever having it with maybe 2 or 3 other singers before I felt it the first time I heard Austin sing in Ring of Fire. That's anther reason why I love this group so much. No matter who sings lead, they speak to my heart. 

And this new video is very exciting as it will take you on dates with the Guys of Home Free. We get to be their respective dates throughout the video. Adam Rupp will take you on a horse carriage ride on a cold night. Rob Lundquist will cook for you. Tim Foust takes you to the movies. Austin Brown brings you to a Sea Life Aquarium and Adam Chance sings to you seductively in a bar. I love it! 

As always the vocals are impeccable as are the harmonies. We expect nothing less from these Guys! My favourite thing, after Chance's sexy voice of course, is the twingy guitar sound in the background. I am not sure who makes it, but my bet is on Austin as he's done similar sounds in other songs. You will only hear this sound listening through a good set of ear-buds or headphones, though. But then again, you should ALWAYS listen to Home Free's songs through headphones at least a few times to hear the bass and all those little details that makes up the fullness of the Home Free sound.  

What do you think about this song and video? Which date is your favourite? I like the one with Rob or Chance best, although if the date was with someone I love, or with any of these Guys, I wouldn't mind what we did. 

I hope you are having a nice Easter if you celebrate it, or a good weekend if you don't. Also, if you have the chance make sure you kiss a little more and think a little less - it makes life more fun! 

Love//
Carina



Sunday 2 April 2017

Blue Looks Good On the Sky

We have waited for months for something new from Home Free. We haven't seen a new video since December when they released White Christmas. We haven't heard any new music since October when they released How Great Thou Art. But, finally, finally, finally, we could stop waiting earlier this week. 

Personally, I feel it was worth the wait, although I don't really want to wait for that long ever again. 

What they gave us is fresh and exciting and I can't wait to hear and see what else they have in store for us. 

Keith Urban's Blue Ain't Your Color is a bluesy country ballad that reached the top spot on several music charts around the world, including the US Hot Country Song (Billboard) chart where it spent 12 weeks as Nr 1. It is a great song that sticks in your memory, but I still get kind of bored with it halfway through. That's something I never get with Home Free's songs - they have a way of keeping them interesting all the way through.

So how did Home Free do covering this Grammy nominated song? I am not surprised, but as always pleased, to say that they knocked yet another one out of the park. They stayed close to the original, but still managed to give it a fresh and different twist. 

Bass singer Tim Foust and beatboxer Adam Rupp lay the - as always - solid foundation for Tenor Rob Lundquist who takes the lead. With his clear and unbelievably smooth voice Rob adds some soul to the mix of blues and country. Add the impeccable doo-wop harmonies, Austin Brown's high pitch oh-oh and Adam Chance's baritone to the second part of the song and the Motown feel was complete. 
Yes, this is a soulful, bluesy, country song with a touch of old school Motown a la Temptations or Franki Valli and the Four Seasons. And it works. It works incredibly well. Home Free's producer and arranger Darren Rust did it again! 

The Motown feel could have stopped there, but I am so happy that it didn't. The band decided to bring it to the video as well and in it we will see the five Guys standing in a straight line with microphone stands in front of them doing some slick and smooth classical Motown style dance moves choreographed by Kristin Denehy! And I am so happy I could cry. Honestly and for real! I mean, I love the old Motown feeling because it has heart and soul. I love Home Free because they have heart and soul. Bring the two together and I am in heaven - and blue really do looks good on the sky! And on the Guys of Home Free! There are so many things I love about this cover and video I could go on for ages, but I won't. I need to let you check it out for yourselves! 

But before you do - on another Home Free note; they are coming to Europe next month for 2 shows in Austria, 1 in Denmark, 1 in the Netherlands and 1 in Spain - I will be at the last 2 of them. Woohooo!! For more information and tickets check out their website. Oh, and the show in the Netherlands sold out in a matter of minutes! How cool is that!!
Also, they are working on a full European Tour for September of 2018 - to be announced in September later this year. I can not wait!!!! 

I hope you are enjoying your Sunday and I promise you that if you watch this video you will enjoy it even more - or start enjoying if you weren't already.