A lot of us here are stoked about the release of Glee’s first thirteen episodes on DVD (I can finally skip the fake pregnancy subplot!), but we’re also left wondering what we’re going to do without a reliable dose of singing and dancing teenyboppers in our lives, at least until the show returns in April.
Well, if you want more Glee in your life, why not make it yourself? That’s what YouTube sensation Nick Pitera has done: The 23-year-old has the jaw-dropping ability to sing pitch-perfectly in a smooth male croon and in a falsetto that, well, sounds like a girl’s voice. And a fabulous one at that.
You have to hear what he does to believe it. Pitera covers Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” and sings it just like it appears in the Fox series’ first episode—that is, he does it as a male-female duet. And as you can see in the split-screen video below, this computer-animator-by-day performs both parts himself. If you close your eyes while he alternates between vocal registers, you would swear it’s two separate people—of different sexes—singing.
You can also check out Pitera’s take on Glee’s cover of Bill Withers feel-good-classic “Lean on Me,” where he yet again belts out the boy/girl sections with equal aplomb.
So what do you say? Have you heard Nick Pitera before, (his “Don’t Stop Believin’” cover is up to one million views, so somebody has to be watching), and what do you make of his singular talent? And if you still aren’t wowed, check out his cover of “A Whole New World” from Aladdin. You won’t dare close your eyes.
More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Simon Cowell, music industry destroyer? The ‘Grinch’ fires back at critics
What are YOUR year-end top 10 albums and singles?
The ultimate 2009 mashup
The most watched YouTube videos of 2009
The 10 most played holiday songs: How is Mimi’s ‘All I Want for Christmas’ not on here?
I’m totally jealous of his girl voice…and I’m a girl…
Omg, this is the funniest video I have ever seen. This dude really sounds like a chick. At first, I was like no way. But, then throughout, you can hear pitch breaks and it really is him!
You have a bad sense of humor. It’s an awesome video, enough said.
He is so dreamy
thats….just…so freaky. plus, he;s got some pitch problems so, he aint pitch-perfect as you’re claiming
(cont.)
nor does he have the range in his feminine voice.
he’s got a good voice when singing naturally.
Agreed – falsetto isn’t great, but his regularly singing voice is nice. Worth auditioning for Idol.
So? If you think they don’t pull out the Autotune on pretty much every Glee song you’re dreaming. Learning two new songs a week would be hard enough for a veteran singer, let alone (post-)adolescent teenagers that have to act and do publicity at the same time. It’s a general maxim in Hollywood that if you can make more money by faking it (boobs, stunts, landscape backdrops, anecdotes, muscles, fight scenes, etc.) you do it.
Regardless, I DO think those kids work their a55e5 off and should be commended for such. Just don’t drink the Koolaid about authenticity.
His pitch is fine – you have to consider the fact that he was not making a professional video. Although I’m sure he practiced beforehand, he wasn’t aiming for the sort of perfection they have in recorded songs. He’s having fun.
Anyway, this is a wonderful video. I’ve been a huge fan of Pitera for some time now, and I’m always glad to see him get some well-deserved recognition.
I adore Nick Pitera. I show his videos to everyone I know and I always watch the credits in Up to see his name in the credits. I’m a fan for sure.
I saw him on Ellen. He was a “talented audience member” not a booked guest.
Maybe he should stop trying to look cool on camera and work on his pitch…
I love how people (who never do anything themselves mind you) seem to enjoy criticizing others. They actually seem to enjoy it the most.
How do you know the people commenting don’t do anything?
His falsetto pitch is better than the pitch in his normal range…
Didn’t Sam Tsui (I think that’s how it’s spelled) do essentially the same thing like a year ago on YouTube where he did a 5 part acapella version of “Don’t Stop Believin’” but better? He was even on The Bonnie Hunt Show. Not that that’s much to brag about…
see above
nic
nick* was on Ellen… Sam Tsui is good, but you haven’t even looked at any of nick’s other videos.
I first heard him when he did the Whole New World cover, it was cool. Now its getting kinda old and the girl voice is kinda annoying.
I agree. I found his other videos a couple years ago now, and this one is not new at all. It’s kind of repetitious now. Just the same thing over and over. That’s not to say he isn’t talented. It’s just funny to me to think that EW didn’t find this until now.
I couldn’t hear anything he was singing over all the douchebaggery going on…
Douchebaggery – excellent term, well done.
I’ve seen him before. He does a “Halo/Already Gone” mashup. He’s good…but there’s something very creepy about him.
Holy crap! This dude’s awesome!
Am I the only one who likes his girl voice even better than his (still great) boy voice?
Eh
So cheesy that I can’t watch or listen without crackers and wine.
His high voice is a little strange but I can’t sing so I can’t say much. However, Sam Tsui is awesome. His Michael Jackson mash up is AMAZING. Everyone should check it out. It puts this guy to shame.
Oh my god, thank you so much for allowing me to discover Sam Tsui. He is my now my current Youtube obsession and I totally love him. *swoon*
WOWOWOWOW!!! Thank you for telling me about SAM TSUI. Everyone must watch his Youtube videos–FANTASTIC. He is extremely talented and clever!! SIMON COWELL PLEASR SIGN HIM IMMEDIATELY!! OPRAH-PUT HIM ON YOUR SHOW NOW!!!–HERE ARE 2 LINKS–ENJOY!!
YouTube – Michael Jackson Medley
YouTube – Lady Gaga Medley