That sadness you hear in the song isn't just the song, it also comes from her soul. She never received the love and life she wanted. She never had the husband and children she wanted. All she wanted was to be loved and accepted but instead she would be taken too soon from us from the effects of anorexia nervosa at 32 years of age. She might be the only female vocalist who can soothe your soul and break your heart at the same time. For me, Karen Carpenter was the greatest female vocalist of all time. She might be gone but her voice is, and always will be timeless. If there are angels and they sing, then they most likely sound like Karen Carpenter. RIP Angel.
“. . . soothe your soul and break your heart at the same time.” What a great way to describe Karen and her work. What a legacy but what a tragedy that we lost her so soon.
You just heard what I think is the best female voice in modern history. No auto-tune, no wailing all over the place, only exactly what was required for the song.
It can be so emotional at times to see and hear Karen, especially when you know her story. Karen and Richard started as a jazz trio with Karen playing drums and Richard on keyboards. She always considered herself as a drummer first that could sing. With her shyness, it took a while for her to step out from behind the drum kit. Richard, a genius as a songwriter, arranger, producer, and keyboard player that also helped to record in the studio. To say they were big throughout the 70's is a big understatement. Eventually, Karen would develop an eating disorder, Anorexia Nervosa, which would weaken her heart causing her death by heart failure. She had one of, if not the most beautiful natural voices ever recorded. No one will ever replace her.
i agree with you! i was devastated when she passed! (Yes, I'm THAT old!) the only voice of today they could even come close would be Carrie Underwood! she has the voice of an angel!!
Karen had a very bad self-image caused by her mother who only praised her older brother and had nothing good to say about her. Add that the 60's were the age of the super thin stick-figure models like Twiggy, so she was always trying to lose weight, despite the fact that she was fairly thin to begin with. While she developed Anoxeria Nervosa before her marriage, her husband only married her for her money and constantly belittled her, which added to her negative self-image. Despite growing up at the height of the Women's Lib movement and having taken up drums which was not something girls did at that time, she was very old-fashioned and was devasted by the failure of her marriage at only 14 months. I first heard her on Armed Forces Radio as a kid living in Tokyo in the early 70's and thought she had the clearest and most beautiful voice I had ever heard. When we moved back to the States, I remember that my high school classmates disparaged the Carpenters sound as only for "kids" and old-fashioned, but the very first album I ever bought was a Carpenters album. It was a truly shocking and sad day when I found out that she had passed away.
Many will tell you this, she had perfect pitch and was known as "one take Karen". Her brother, Richard, was playing keyboards and singing backup. He also did all the arrangements for Karen. He definitely knew how to bring out the best in her.
The look Sam had on her face when she realized what an incredible voice Karen had, is the same look I get on my face every time I hear her voice even though I’ve been hearing it for 50 years.
Superstar was written by Leon Russell and Bonnie Bramlett. This version of the song is by far the best. The timbre of her voice is one of the most unique in recording history and in my opinion, makes her one of the best singers of all times. Tragically, Karen succumb to anorexia nervosa and passed away at the age of 33. Their most famous song is “Close to You” written by Burt Bachrach and Hal David. 🕊❤️🎼
It's subjective but I would have guessed their most famous song is We've Only Just Begun. Karen was on the very short list of best female vocalists ever.
I grew up in the seventies and the Carpenters was one of my favorite bands. In my opinion Karen had the most beautiful voices of any female singer. She showed you did not have be loud or do vocal runs to get the meaning and emotions of a song across. Her brother Richard was indeed the one responsible for the great arrangements of their music. Karen's story is a tragic one but in her short time with us the Carpenters gave us some beautiful music.
One thing to take notice of is her extraordinary phrasing & breath control. The Studio Album version was recorded on her first Take at a very young age of 20 in Feb 1971. Karen Carpenter remains on a plateau all her own as a singer.
To this day I cannot hear Karen Carpenter sing without crying. She is widely considered by many-including the likes of Paul McCartney-to be one of the best female vocalists to ever have her voice recorded. Many think of Karen as the BEST female voice ever recorded. She was also a gifted drummer. Karen had perfect pitch, and was known as “one-take Karen” She usually got a song perfectly the first time. Her untimely death at age 32 shook the music industry. Most had never heard about what anorexia nervosa is, until Karen died from heart failure cause by her years of self-starvation. When I think of the potential she had for the future, I cry. The day she was found dead, my mom called me. She tearfully told me Karen had died, and “how could the world go on without the voice of Karen Carpenter?” I cry. Every time.
Look up the story about their song We’ve Only Just Begun. It was heard by her brother on a commercial he tracked down the writer who was Paul Williams and asked if he was a whole song they got together, wrote this song her brother produced it, and she sang the vocals like an angel, just look up the story. It is a great one.
So many people do not understand how many different faces addiction can possess. Part of her legacy...is through her death...society started realizing the complexity addiction can have. Sad. But her story saves people every day. I like to think of it as an organ donor.
If I remember correctly, if she had lived a day or two longer, she would have been 33😢 She had a very beautiful angelic voice, so sad, love her forever!
Ted Nolan wrote in rolling stone magazine after hearing her live in concert..."out comes that unique voice, exactly as on record, chilling perfection with much warmth, youth with wisdom, a sorrow resolved in the telling". Her diction, phrasing, the melancholy in her voice was unmatched. One in a million.
Karen had the rarest of all voice types; she was a natural contralto. Hearing of her death was a lifetime before/after moment for me. I miss the music she never got to sing.
@@Spo-Dee-O-Dee Ahh...no. Karen was a contralto and your statement about mic technique and voice range is wholly ridiculous...but thanks for playing! :)
Karen was perfection, the best female voice of her generation. Period. And played the drums in many of their pieces. So tragic...gone too soon. My wife and my wedding song was We've only just begun, by the Carpenters. Our 50th anniversary is in June .
Karen did this song in one take thus her nickname “One Take Karen”. Her voice is hauntingly beautiful. She sang well beyond her years. Was 21 years when she sang this. Her captivating voice is enough to make anyone totally melt. Never forget that Richard arranged and composed the Carpenters songs around Karen’s low register, effortless voice. Pure velvet! ❤
Forty years later, no women singer can hold a candle to Karen Carpenter. The sweetest voice of all time. Best female drummer in many peoples opinions including mine. The VOICE passes the heart to the soul. Amazing!! Sold more records (150,000,000 Million to this day and counting) than any american group in the 70's. Carpenters are legends and so is singer/drummer Karen Anne Carpenter. R.I.P. Drummergirl.
Glad you guys are getting around to the Carpenters. They were disrespected in their time by many because of their "sweet" sound, but most of us realized them for the great talents they were. Richard did the arranging. It may surprise you that Karen was originally a drummer - and a damned good one! If you look around a little, you can find her behind the drums while also singing. But as good as she was as a drummer, she was elite as a singer. The way I describe her voice is that is like a nice, warm blanket then wraps around the listener. She has great power, but also tremendous control and her pitch is near perfect. The good news for you is that they have a long songbook, with at least 20 to 30 songs you'll enjoy hearing. For your next few, I suggest "We've only just begun", "Rainy Days and Mondays Always get me down", "Hurting Each Other", "A Song for You" and "Goodbye to Love". Tragically, Karen died in the early 80's of a then widely unknown disease - Anorexia. She was just 33 I believe.
Even Jimi Hendrix was amazed by her singing. John Lennon met Karen and gave her great praise. Karen was flabbergasted, and was somehow convinced he didn't really mean it.
Yeah, she thought he was kidding! That poor, insecure woman… A lot of people couldn’t stand them in the hard rockin’70s… I like it when people realize, later, that quality is quality. Also love when people discover gold for the first time…
I have always described Karen's voice as hauntingly beautiful. I was strictly rock 'n roll growing up, except when The Carpenters came on the radio. There was something about Karen's voice that just reached into your soul and grabbed hold. This is a great rabbit hole to explore. Great reaction, guys. RIP Karen 💚
One of my favorite music acts in the 70s. I was 15 in 1970, and had such a crush on Karen. Her voice is like a warm blanket on a cool, cool night. Just want to wrap myself in it, close my eyes, and drift off. My favorite Carpenter songs are, "Yesterday Once More", "This Masquerade", "Close To You", "Rainy Days and Mondays", "A Song For You", and of course, their signature Christmas song, "Merry Christmas, Darling". Tragically, Karen died February 4, 1983 (age 32) from complications due to her many years of suffering from anorexia nervosa. I think she touched so many peoples' lives not just with her music, but the idea that one could die so young from (at that time) a condition most have never even heard of. With her death, awareness of the disease was increased and today people can understand and deal with the condition.
Karen had the most amazing voice. This, from their television show, it was always a live performance. There was never a difference with her tonal quality or exactness of notes between live and studio. My favorite female singer of all time. As a teenager in the 70s I was in love with her. Still miss you Karen.
Great reaction guys you can recognize super-stat talent! Karen was barely 20 years old here. Her voice was AMAZING! Perfect pitch,strong vibrato,clear as a bell, she was known as one-take Karen. You guys forgot the horns here in this song. Unfortunately she suffered from an eating disorder because someone had called her fat She also was an awesome drummer. We lost her at only 33 years old.😢
I think she had the best female voice in pop music I think the best male voice ever was Freddie mercury both of these too voices were taken away from us much to early
Karen was also a great drummer. I think she started out as just a drummer. I have a multi disc set of just the Carpenters. Takes me back to my youthful days, many years ago.
Karen Carpenter sang from a place of inner turmoil. Her voice was unrivaled and many have said she was one of if not the best female singers of all time. I totally agree. Her voice was angelic but sad at the same time. I'm 62 and I've heard this song hundreds of times and I never tire of it. They have many more great songs. I would suggest you do A Song For You. It was written by Leon Russell but was sung by many artists. I may be biased but I feel it is the best written song maybe of all time. Karen sang it like she wrote it. Sadly on February 4th 1983 she died from heart failure due to Anorexia Nervosa. She was only 32. On a side note you two look great together and your love for music comes across in your reaction. Thanks for reacting to this timeless classic. Bob Moore-Charlotte,NC. 2Cor4:18
My little sister was born in 1970. When she was two or three, we were walking down the street and she sang, " when I was young I would listen to the radio." And then she looked up at me and said you know what I like. Karen Carpenter! I was stunned!
Karen's voice is like silk and a warm blanket. You nailed it when you said "hauntingly beautiful". Her deep register is so beautiful. Definitely listen to some more Carpenters hits.
everybody remembers Karen's amazing voice, but can we just agree that her brother Richard wrote amazing arrangements and was a master of orchestration.
Karen Carpenter was a joy, a treasure, and a beautiful soul. She was also an accomplished musician. She played several instruments but loved the drums. Other videos show her playing.
Karen Carpenter was one of the best Vocalist in Music history. No question or debate. And you could see in every performance. She sang from her Soul. Thanks for the reaction.
Rainy Days and Mondays, Hurting Each Other, Make Believe It's Your First time. Only Yesterday, Close To You, We've Only Just Begun, A Song For You. Greatest female singing voice of my lifetime!❤
Karen was/is one of the best female vocalist of all time. Their hit We’ve only just began became the number one hit played at weddings. Sadly we lost her at 32 from Anorexia Nervosa.
Running errands with my mom in the car with the radio on. This is how I fell in love with them. Lots of little kids like me loved her voice. They were everywhere back in the 70s. Hearts broke when we learned of her death. What helped bring on her passing became something people began to see in their own family and friends. God rest her beautiful soul. I can't imagine the loss her brother felt.
In 1975 I was 6 years old alone in our farm I secretly played with my brothers record player and tossed a small vynil record with one single only each side and it was The Carpenters song Only Yesterday..and Sing(sing a song)!... alone in the farm I played those songs for hours. Karen Carpenter reigned with her unique voice..every song released was a hit..Now when I feel blue or stressed I sing the song SING in my mind and the blue goes away instantly...loved your reaction ..much love and peace to you.
Perfect pitch. Perfect vibrato. Perfect phrasing. Perfect dynamics. PERFECT. Her Brother. Richard did all of the instrument arranging as well as all the background vocals and harmonies. He was a musical genius. That's him at 7:40 to 7:53
Most of us old rock n rollers had a soft spot in our heart for Karen, she had the pipes of an angel but sadly a tragic life.....rainy days and Mondays is a must listen
Karen always makes me feel what she is singing. Her voice, considered a, "gift from Heaven," was her true talent. She never wanted to sing. All she wanted to do was play the drums, but with her voice, she was forced to be the "Front Man" of the band. Her voiced has been studied, analyzed, and examined, for the last 50 years. She had "the voice of an angel," as singer-songwriter Paul Williams has described it. To me, there is no other voice that delivers on her scale.
They were huge in the 70s. Karen is said to have one of the greatest female voices of all time. John Lennon passed her going into a restaurant one time, and gave her a huge compliment. Her brother Richard played keyboard and did all the music arranging. Karen passed away at the young age of 32 in February 1983. Richard recently added orchestra music into their old recordings. I loved this group back in the day. I’ve always liked a variety of music genres.
They did songs written by other people but Richard Carpenter wrote several as well. You need to jump down the rabbit hole to this group. They were the most popular group of the 70's. That is because they crossed boundaries of the time being liked by all the different types of musical diversity. Other songs to check out: Song For You, Ticket to Ride, This Masquerade, I Won't Last a Day Without You, It's Going to Take Some Time. Many more but these will give you a sense of their sound
Most of their hit songs were not written by Karen or Richard. But Richard had an ear for songs that would fit with his sister's voice. Richard knew his sister's voice was gold & he brilliantly crafted the arrangements that became hits.
Karen Carpenter is simply the greatest female vocalist of all time (the opinion of many!). I thought so back in the 70's when I was buying their records, and that sentiment has not changed in the 50 years since..... She left us way too soon. 😥
If I recall correctly, the original title of this song was Groupie; it lends insight into the song's meaning. Many reactors do miss this meaning. The Carpenters were my very first outdoor concert at the Minnesota State Fair, in 1971; I was nine years of age and was hooked from then on. ...Excellent job reacting, thanks!
She was a teen Drummer for the Band (to help them out) later when a Record Exec. was told to check them out, he was about to pass on them for the label, but said, what about her can she sing? Well, she sang and dude was like SIGN HERE (LOL)
I enjoy seeing you both react to the iconic Karen Carpenter. The arrangement by her brother is brilliant and beautiful! ❤ Luther Van Dros has a slow jam R&B version of this song
The Carpenters biggest hit song was "On Top of the World' On another note: In the early 1970's, Paul McCartney said that Karen Carpenter had “the best female voice in the world.” About the same time, John Lennon found himself in the same L.A. nightclub as Karen. Lennon made sure that he personally told her that he loved her singing.
That sadness you hear in the song isn't just the song, it also comes from her soul. She never received the love and life she wanted. She never had the husband and children she wanted. All she wanted was to be loved and accepted but instead she would be taken too soon from us from the effects of anorexia nervosa at 32 years of age. She might be the only female vocalist who can soothe your soul and break your heart at the same time. For me, Karen Carpenter was the greatest female vocalist of all time. She might be gone but her voice is, and always will be timeless. If there are angels and they sing, then they most likely sound like Karen Carpenter. RIP Angel.
well said ty
“. . . soothe your soul and break your heart at the same time.” What a great way to describe Karen and her work. What a legacy but what a tragedy that we lost her so soon.
Well said ❤
You encapsulate what makes Karen so endearing after all these years. Wonderment, beauty and sorrow.
She's there directing that angel choir.
You just heard what I think is the best female voice in modern history. No auto-tune, no wailing all over the place, only exactly what was required for the song.
Agreed!
ABSOLUTLEY - her voice was liquid gold, and they all played so smoothly together
Far better than today's contemporary singers like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Christina Aquilera, etc.
I couldn't agree with you more! Karen is my favorite vocalist of all time.
I couldn't agree with you more!
Iconic voice.
Karen had the voice of an angel and was an excellent drummer.
Yes!!
sadly anorexia took her life.
She IS an Angel.
It can be so emotional at times to see and hear Karen, especially when you know her story. Karen and Richard started as a jazz trio with Karen playing drums and Richard on keyboards. She always considered herself as a drummer first that could sing. With her shyness, it took a while for her to step out from behind the drum kit. Richard, a genius as a songwriter, arranger, producer, and keyboard player that also helped to record in the studio. To say they were big throughout the 70's is a big understatement. Eventually, Karen would develop an eating disorder, Anorexia Nervosa, which would weaken her heart causing her death by heart failure. She had one of, if not the most beautiful natural voices ever recorded. No one will ever replace her.
i agree with you! i was devastated when she passed! (Yes, I'm THAT old!)
the only voice of today they could even come close would be Carrie Underwood! she has the voice of an angel!!
Amen.
@@lindastewart4768 Me too. I actually went weak in my knees when I first heard of her passing.
That was the first time I heard of anorexia.
Karen had a very bad self-image caused by her mother who only praised her older brother and had nothing good to say about her. Add that the 60's were the age of the super thin stick-figure models like Twiggy, so she was always trying to lose weight, despite the fact that she was fairly thin to begin with. While she developed Anoxeria Nervosa before her marriage, her husband only married her for her money and constantly belittled her, which added to her negative self-image. Despite growing up at the height of the Women's Lib movement and having taken up drums which was not something girls did at that time, she was very old-fashioned and was devasted by the failure of her marriage at only 14 months.
I first heard her on Armed Forces Radio as a kid living in Tokyo in the early 70's and thought she had the clearest and most beautiful voice I had ever heard. When we moved back to the States, I remember that my high school classmates disparaged the Carpenters sound as only for "kids" and old-fashioned, but the very first album I ever bought was a Carpenters album. It was a truly shocking and sad day when I found out that she had passed away.
Many will tell you this, she had perfect pitch and was known as "one take Karen". Her brother, Richard, was playing keyboards and singing backup. He also did all the arrangements for Karen. He definitely knew how to bring out the best in her.
One take is a myth pushed by misinformed fans...
@@johnb.2518 Actually, that was mouthed by a studio producer in a interview that had worked with the Carpenters.
And she was a great drummer!
I WAS A HEAVY METAL/ROCK DJ BUT I LOVED THE CARPENTERS!!
Remember, NO autotune or any other garbage. Just pure talent.
And she's a Drummer too!
No voice compares!!
Totally agree!!
one of the greatest voices ever
Karen Carpenter had one of the best female voices of all time. So glad you finally got to the Carpenters. Try "Rainy Days and Mondays" next!
THE best
The Carpenters never made a bad song. The tragedy of her early death was devastating to all their fans.
Sadly, wasn’t anorexia not as well known at that time ?
I wasn’t around yet so I may be wrong
Anorexia was NOT WELL KNOWN. Karen’s death brought much more information to the public about it. I’d rather have Karen here to sing to us!
Karen is the greatest female vocalist, ever.
I think Lucy Thomas can/could make it debatable if she would just cover one of Karens signature songs.
Linda Ronstadt and Ann Wilson would like a word
@@TimKlepac-xm7vkwho?
They can have as many words as they like. They still can't match Karen.@@jackarmstrong1838
Amy Winehouse, Etta James .
Karen was the greatest female vocalist that I ever heard. Great drummer, too!
What do you think of Lucy Thomas? I would really like to know.
Judith Durham of the Seekers had an incredible voice & I would not like to choose one over the other. They were both so good.
@@TimKlepac-xm7vk never heard of lucy thomas.
The look Sam had on her face when she realized what an incredible voice Karen had, is the same look I get on my face every time I hear her voice even though I’ve been hearing it for 50 years.
Same❤❤
Superstar was written by Leon Russell and Bonnie Bramlett. This version of the song is by far the best. The timbre of her voice is one of the most unique in recording history and in my opinion, makes her one of the best singers of all times. Tragically, Karen succumb to anorexia nervosa and passed away at the age of 33. Their most famous song is “Close to You” written by Burt Bachrach and Hal David. 🕊❤️🎼
Yes Bonnie was from the group Bonnie and Delaney.
It's subjective but I would have guessed their most famous song is We've Only Just Begun. Karen was on the very short list of best female vocalists ever.
@@thomastimlin1724And was on Roseanne for a few episodes and sang...her show husband was David Crosby!
@@egk2584Yeah there was here and then was everybody else 😂
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The best female pop singer ever. "Close to You" "For All We Know" "Yesterday Once More" "We've Only Just Begun" and about 15 more.
We've only just begun is my personal fave. And I used to have an account at Crocker Bank as well. 🙂
"Rainy Days And Mondays" is also one of my faves!
I grew up in the seventies and the Carpenters was one of my favorite bands. In my opinion Karen had the most beautiful voices of any female singer. She showed you did not have be loud or do vocal runs to get the meaning and emotions of a song across. Her brother Richard was indeed the one responsible for the great arrangements of their music. Karen's story is a tragic one but in her short time with us the Carpenters gave us some beautiful music.
With NO auto-tune. That was all her naturally talented voice !
One thing to take notice of is her extraordinary phrasing & breath control. The Studio Album version was recorded on her first Take at a very young age of 20 in Feb 1971. Karen Carpenter remains on a plateau all her own as a singer.
And vibrato!!
To this day I cannot hear Karen Carpenter sing without crying. She is widely considered by many-including the likes of Paul McCartney-to be one of the best female vocalists to ever have her voice recorded. Many think of Karen as the BEST female voice ever recorded. She was also a gifted drummer. Karen had perfect pitch, and was known as “one-take Karen” She usually got a song perfectly the first time. Her untimely death at age 32 shook the music industry. Most had never heard about what anorexia nervosa is, until Karen died from heart failure cause by her years of self-starvation. When I think of the potential she had for the future, I cry. The day she was found dead, my mom called me. She tearfully told me Karen had died, and “how could the world go on without the voice of Karen Carpenter?” I cry. Every time.
John Lennon thought her voice was "it"!! Frank Sinatra once said in an interview that Karen was the ONLY voice he would pay to go listen to!
absolutely karen had no equal
Same here
Look up the story about their song We’ve Only Just Begun. It was heard by her brother on a commercial he tracked down the writer who was Paul Williams and asked if he was a whole song they got together, wrote this song her brother produced it, and she sang the vocals like an angel, just look up the story. It is a great one.
There are legends, then there are icons, then there are immortals. Karen is an immortal.
Her brother was the composing genius behind their success. I like your take.
Karen Carpenter: One of the best voices ever in history
No auto tune . Live or record her voice is perfect.
The most soothing female voice of all time
Sadly, Karen died aged only 33 after battling anorexia.
She had one of the best voices of all time
So many people do not understand how many different faces addiction can possess. Part of her legacy...is through her death...society started realizing the complexity addiction can have. Sad. But her story saves people every day. I like to think of it as an organ donor.
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32❤
If I remember correctly, if she had lived a day or two longer, she would have been 33😢 She had a very beautiful angelic voice, so sad, love her forever!
If Karen Carpenter had Mama Cass's ham sandwich....they'd both still be here.
Ted Nolan wrote in rolling stone magazine after hearing her live in concert..."out comes that unique voice, exactly as on record, chilling perfection with much warmth, youth with wisdom, a sorrow resolved in the telling". Her diction, phrasing, the melancholy in her voice was unmatched. One in a million.
Great description to Karen's perfect VOICE. One note and you know it's Karen.
Brilliant!
Youth with wisdom, a very rare combo! Wish I had it back then!
No Auto-Tune needed! Real talent!
Karen had the rarest of all voice types; she was a natural contralto. Hearing of her death was a lifetime before/after moment for me. I miss the music she never got to sing.
@@Spo-Dee-O-Dee Ahh...no. Karen was a contralto and your statement about mic technique and voice range is wholly ridiculous...but thanks for playing! :)
No gimmicks for this group, just beautiful music (and no autotune - Karen was really that good!) My personal favorite is This Masquerade
This Masquerade is one of my favs also!
Also written by Leon Russell as well as Superstar.
She also did "A Song for You" written and sung by Leon Russel
Masquerade is one of my favourites also ,it's incredible
@@sandrarhodes42my second favorite, “Now” is the one for me
Karen was perfection, the best female voice of her generation. Period. And played the drums in many of their pieces.
So tragic...gone too soon.
My wife and my wedding song was We've only just begun, by the Carpenters. Our 50th anniversary is in June .
There was never a better vocalist in the history of modern music !! Karen Carpenter the Great.
Karen did this song in one take thus her nickname “One Take Karen”. Her voice is hauntingly beautiful. She sang well beyond her years. Was 21 years when she sang this. Her captivating voice is enough to make anyone totally melt. Never forget that Richard arranged and composed the Carpenters songs around Karen’s low register, effortless voice. Pure velvet! ❤
Absolutely. Together the talent was prolific and Richard's arrangements changed music.
Haunting, that’s it exactly!
That’s some musical DNA
The voice of an Angel. They'll never be a voice like hers again. Pure BEAUTY.
Forty years later, no women singer can hold a candle to Karen Carpenter. The sweetest voice of all time. Best female drummer in many peoples opinions including mine. The VOICE passes the heart to the soul. Amazing!! Sold more records (150,000,000 Million to this day and counting) than any american group in the 70's. Carpenters are legends and so is singer/drummer Karen Anne Carpenter. R.I.P. Drummergirl.
Karen Carpenter, possibly the greatest female vocalist . she left us to young
Glad you guys are getting around to the Carpenters.
They were disrespected in their time by many because of their "sweet" sound, but most of us realized them for the great talents they were. Richard did the arranging. It may surprise you that Karen was originally a drummer - and a damned good one! If you look around a little, you can find her behind the drums while also singing.
But as good as she was as a drummer, she was elite as a singer. The way I describe her voice is that is like a nice, warm blanket then wraps around the listener. She has great power, but also tremendous control and her pitch is near perfect.
The good news for you is that they have a long songbook, with at least 20 to 30 songs you'll enjoy hearing. For your next few, I suggest "We've only just begun", "Rainy Days and Mondays Always get me down", "Hurting Each Other", "A Song for You" and "Goodbye to Love".
Tragically, Karen died in the early 80's of a then widely unknown disease - Anorexia. She was just 33 I believe.
Saw Karen sing and drum in 1972 -blew my mind
Don't know anyone who didn't love the Carpenters. No matter what genre of music you preferred, you made time to listen to her.
Even Jimi Hendrix was amazed by her singing. John Lennon met Karen and gave her great praise. Karen was flabbergasted, and was somehow convinced he didn't really mean it.
Yeah, she thought he was kidding! That poor, insecure woman…
A lot of people couldn’t stand them in the hard rockin’70s… I like it when people realize, later, that quality is quality. Also love when people discover gold for the first time…
Those first three notes are probably the sweetest and most perfectly executed in recorded music. And she did it in ONE TAKE
One of the best female voices of all time.
I have always described Karen's voice as hauntingly beautiful. I was strictly rock 'n roll growing up, except when The Carpenters came on the radio. There was something about Karen's voice that just reached into your soul and grabbed hold. This is a great rabbit hole to explore. Great reaction, guys. RIP Karen 💚
You could not go to a wedding in the late 70's to 1990 without hearing at least 1 Carpenter's song. We had 2 songs at my wedding in 1984.👍
Karens Voice is perfection!
Karen had the best voice of all time!
What do you think of Lucy Thomas? I would really like to know.
Karen...The Goat!! A voice like no other. Richard's arrangements are legendary. Rainy Days and Mondays is my favorite song by them.
Her voice lives forever even though she left us too soon
It's so pleasing to see another new generation discover the beauty of Karen's wonderful voice and the music of the Carpenters for the first time. 🎼🎶
One of my favorite music acts in the 70s. I was 15 in 1970, and had such a crush on Karen. Her voice is like a warm blanket on a cool, cool night. Just want to wrap myself in it, close my eyes, and drift off. My favorite Carpenter songs are, "Yesterday Once More", "This Masquerade", "Close To You", "Rainy Days and Mondays", "A Song For You", and of course, their signature Christmas song, "Merry Christmas, Darling".
Tragically, Karen died February 4, 1983 (age 32) from complications due to her many years of suffering from anorexia nervosa. I think she touched so many peoples' lives not just with her music, but the idea that one could die so young from (at that time) a condition most have never even heard of. With her death, awareness of the disease was increased and today people can understand and deal with the condition.
Karen had the most amazing voice. This, from their television show, it was always a live performance. There was never a difference with her tonal quality or exactness of notes between live and studio. My favorite female singer of all time. As a teenager in the 70s I was in love with her. Still miss you Karen.
Great reaction guys you can recognize super-stat talent!
Karen was barely 20 years old here. Her voice was AMAZING! Perfect pitch,strong vibrato,clear as a bell, she was known as one-take Karen. You guys forgot the horns here in this song.
Unfortunately she suffered from an eating disorder because someone had called her fat She also was an awesome drummer. We lost her at only 33 years old.😢
32
@@helokopter924 Technically 32 years and 11 months.
The best female voice ever!
Karen Carpenter - The most hauntingly beautiful voice in all of pop music.
I think she had the best female voice in pop music
I think the best male voice ever was Freddie mercury both of these too voices were taken away from us much to early
Karen was also a great drummer. I think she started out as just a drummer. I have a multi disc set of just the Carpenters. Takes me back to my youthful days, many years ago.
Exactly❤ Haunting
Karen Carpenter sang from a place of inner turmoil. Her voice was unrivaled and many have said she was one of if not the best female singers of all time. I totally agree. Her voice was angelic but sad at the same time. I'm 62 and I've heard this song hundreds of times and I never tire of it. They have many more great songs. I would suggest you do A Song For You. It was written by Leon Russell but was sung by many artists. I may be biased but I feel it is the best written song maybe of all time. Karen sang it like she wrote it. Sadly on February 4th 1983 she died from heart failure due to Anorexia Nervosa. She was only 32. On a side note you two look great together and your love for music comes across in your reaction. Thanks for reacting to this timeless classic. Bob Moore-Charlotte,NC. 2Cor4:18
I would add Solitaire and Masquerade, two of my favs.
My little sister was born in 1970. When she was two or three, we were walking down the street and she sang, " when I was young I would listen to the radio." And then she looked up at me and said you know what I like. Karen Carpenter! I was stunned!
Karen's voice is like silk and a warm blanket. You nailed it when you said "hauntingly beautiful". Her deep register is so beautiful. Definitely listen to some more Carpenters hits.
Her voice combined with Richard's tight but lush arrangements are like smooth velvet to the ears.
everybody remembers Karen's amazing voice, but can we just agree that her brother Richard wrote amazing arrangements and was a master of orchestration.
Karen Carpenter was a joy, a treasure, and a beautiful soul. She was also an accomplished musician. She played several instruments but loved the drums. Other videos show her playing.
One of the greatest vocalists of all time. And one of the best drummers too
Karen Carpenter was one of the best Vocalist in Music history. No question or debate. And you could see in every performance. She sang from her Soul. Thanks for the reaction.
Absolutely.
So much to say about the one voice that has captivated me for decades. Both Karen and Richard are spectacular!
You are so fortunate to have many more Carpenters songs to enjoy. Karen’s voice is unmatched.
She has such a beautiful voice, love all the Carpenters music. We lost Karen in 1983.
You guy REALLY REALLY REALLY need to do "We Have Only Just Begun"
Beautiful haunting song.
Karen had one of the most beautiful voices ive ever heard. Unfortunately her life was tragic. May she rest in peace
Rainy Days and Mondays, Hurting Each Other, Make Believe It's Your First time. Only Yesterday, Close To You, We've Only Just Begun, A Song For You. Greatest female singing voice of my lifetime!❤
Glad your introduced to the fantastic Karen Carpenter the greatest female voice in history
One of the best voices ever
I’ve never seen a singer put such true feeling into any song. No one better. Rest in peace Karen.
What a voice
Karen was/is one of the best female vocalist of all time. Their hit We’ve only just began became the number one hit played at weddings. Sadly we lost her at 32 from Anorexia Nervosa.
Running errands with my mom in the car with the radio on. This is how I fell in love with them. Lots of little kids like me loved her voice. They were everywhere back in the 70s. Hearts broke when we learned of her death. What helped bring on her passing became something people began to see in their own family and friends. God rest her beautiful soul. I can't imagine the loss her brother felt.
Brother Richard was a brilliant pianist, composer and arranger.
In 1975 I was 6 years old alone in our farm I secretly played with my brothers record player and tossed a small vynil record with one single only each side and it was The Carpenters song Only Yesterday..and Sing(sing a song)!... alone in the farm I played those songs for hours. Karen Carpenter reigned with her unique voice..every song released was a hit..Now when I feel blue or stressed I sing the song SING in my mind and the blue goes away instantly...loved your reaction ..much love and peace to you.
Loved Sing A Song too!
Loved Sing A Song too!
Loved Sing A Song too!
Loved Sing A Song too!
@@kathybwell,it makes you walk outside, look at sky and start singing too..
Karen Carpenters voice is just so amazing is instantly recognizable and is so calming . What a great song and what a voice she had! And always will
Perfect pitch. Perfect vibrato. Perfect phrasing. Perfect dynamics. PERFECT.
Her Brother. Richard did all of the instrument arranging as well as all the background vocals and harmonies. He was a musical genius. That's him at 7:40 to 7:53
Most of us old rock n rollers had a soft spot in our heart for Karen, she had the pipes of an angel but sadly a tragic life.....rainy days and Mondays is a must listen
"Her voice man" ❤
Saw them in concert twice. absolutely unforgettable!
She could sing everything to perfection. She was a great drummer as well. So sad she died to soon
Karen is the GOAT. Most amazingly great voice ever.
She certainly is ❤
Perfect description, her voice is definitely hauntingly beautiful!!
Karen always makes me feel what she is singing. Her voice, considered a, "gift from Heaven," was her true talent. She never wanted to sing. All she wanted to do was play the drums, but with her voice, she was forced to be the "Front Man" of the band. Her voiced has been studied, analyzed, and examined, for the last 50 years. She had "the voice of an angel," as singer-songwriter Paul Williams has described it. To me, there is no other voice that delivers on her scale.
They were huge in the 70s. Karen is said to have one of the greatest female voices of all time. John Lennon passed her going into a restaurant one time, and gave her a huge compliment. Her brother Richard played keyboard and did all the music arranging. Karen passed away at the young age of 32 in February 1983. Richard recently added orchestra music into their old recordings. I loved this group back in the day. I’ve always liked a variety of music genres.
They did songs written by other people but Richard Carpenter wrote several as well. You need to jump down the rabbit hole to this group. They were the most popular group of the 70's. That is because they crossed boundaries of the time being liked by all the different types of musical diversity. Other songs to check out: Song For You, Ticket to Ride, This Masquerade, I Won't Last a Day Without You, It's Going to Take Some Time. Many more but these will give you a sense of their sound
Most of their hit songs were not written by Karen or Richard. But Richard had an ear for songs that would fit with his sister's voice. Richard knew his sister's voice was gold & he brilliantly crafted the arrangements that became hits.
Karen Carpenter is simply the greatest female vocalist of all time (the opinion of many!). I thought so back in the 70's when I was buying their records, and that sentiment has not changed in the 50 years since..... She left us way too soon. 😥
Rainy days and Mondays is an excellent tune!
If I recall correctly, the original title of this song was Groupie; it lends insight into the song's meaning. Many reactors do miss this meaning. The Carpenters were my very first outdoor concert at the Minnesota State Fair, in 1971; I was nine years of age and was hooked from then on.
...Excellent job reacting, thanks!
Can I add to the comments that Karen’s live performances sound identical to her studio versions.
Absolutely one of the most unique voices ever. Smooth and buttery and powerful and emotional. RIP Karen Carpenter
She was a teen Drummer for the Band (to help them out) later when a Record Exec. was told to check them out, he was about to pass on them for the label, but said, what about her can she sing? Well, she sang and dude was like SIGN HERE (LOL)
I enjoy seeing you both react to the iconic Karen Carpenter. The arrangement by her brother is brilliant and beautiful! ❤ Luther Van Dros has a slow jam R&B version of this song
This was the first voice I ever fell in love with. RIP
Rainy Days and Mondays next! She had such a great voice. She could do this in one take. Amazing talent.
Karen's breathing control was remarkable.
The Carpenters. Unmined treasure for this channel. Looking forward to seeing more!
Great song by the best female ever to sing a note.
The Carpenters are absolutely AMAZING!!
The Carpenters biggest hit song was "On Top of the World'
On another note:
In the early 1970's, Paul McCartney said that Karen Carpenter had “the best female voice in the world.” About the same time, John Lennon found himself in the same L.A. nightclub as Karen. Lennon made sure that he personally told her that he loved her singing.
I am grateful to have been alive while she was. Such perfection.