Wings of Pegasus does an analysis of her voice and basically concludes she's one of the most perfect singers ever. Her pitch placement is impeccable. When you compare her live vocals versus her studio recordings, the pitch doesn't change. She's that perfect. Karen Carpenter was one of a kind.
She and Roberta Flack are some of the purest singers I have ever heard. I was told that if you see a person with high and big cheek bone are likely able to sing. Karen's structure is off the charts! She has a natural resonator!
@@collettedobrocke5585 ohmygad!!! Karen Carpenter is so far from Cher. Karen has the best vocal a God given talent. No need for some fancy dresses and looks just talent and a voice is enough. And let's not compare them coz they are both good, best in their own special talents
I cannot explain how wonderful it is to see younger people discovering Karen Carpenters' voice for the first time. As we 'baby boomers' are ageing out it's great to know that there is another generation who will still find and appreciate this wonderful talent. Karen's voice was velvet, her and her brother, Richard, recorded some of the greatest songs of the 70's and early 80's until Karen's untimely death to anorexia. It was a tragic loss to the world. Thank you so much for sharing this and your reaction to this unparalleled talent from yesteryear.
Me too. Close To You was my first album I bought as a kid, for my new Sony all in one system. It was the current time of that album and I think I have all of their albums on vinyl. After not being able to listen to her without breaking down, for years I’m now reveling in seeing the young folk discovering her and Richard, he’s the man behind that sound. I love when a reactor doesn’t know, plays a song and the eyes freeze and the jaw drops. It brings joy to my soul. There are numerous great/fantastic female singers but there was only one Karen Carpenter. One note and you know it’s her.
It shocks & saddens me so many young folks haven’t heard great performers such as The Carpenters. When I was in my teens/20s I’d heard songs from before I was born. Having old parents and two significantly older siblings did help with exposing me to music older than me.
To this day, Karen Carpenter’s voice is recognized as one of the purest alto voices ever. While her death at age 32 due to anorexia was just heartbreaking, it did help bring this eating disorder into the light and many treatments have been established since then so maybe she didn’t die in vain after all.
The song is about a young woman who has a mad crush on a musician who she gets to see in concert. “Don’t you remember you told me you loved me baby…you said you’d be coming back this way again baby” is her reflecting on how she completely felt like the songs were being directed to her personally.
@@carolhesterberg7526 The original version written by Leon Russell and Bonnie Bramlett in 1969 was titled Groupie (Superstar). Recorded hundreds of times by many people.
@@Straydogger You're correct. The song's original name was "Groupie" and others did record it. I haven't heard the other versions, but would probably guess that the Carpenters made the definitive version. It's hard to beat Karen's gorgeous voice!
Y'all are just so very young... Karen and Richard Carpenter.... The Carpenters. Karen was an amazing drummer as well as one of the very best Contralto voices ever. Richard, is one of the most acclaimed arrangers of all time. Together they are perfection. You need to explore the entirety of their catalog.... it's pure gold.
@@jasonmain6398 Make me 100 years old. Doesn't change the fact that Karen Carpenter has the best female singing voice of all time. There are MANY aspects to a singing voice.. not just volume. LOL
Karen could sing like no other! PERIOD! One of her nicknames given to her by the record producers was "One Take Karen". She would sing a song so perfectly that the producers would not chance ruining it by doing it over! An amazing overall talent! Singing, playing drums, and entertaining. She left us way too soon!
To my generation, Karen Carpenter is EXTREMELY well known! One of the purest voices ever recorded, and an extremely talented drummer as well! When she died so tragically from Anorexia, it was devastating. Ironically, It brought eating disorders into the light of day, which has saved countless other lives. To this day,, It's hard to even hear her sing without getting sad.
Exactly Karen was the original drummer in the band with her brother… And her voice was so good he decided to make her a lead singer in his group the carpenters or their group the carpenters, and the rest is magnificent history
Karen had the most beautiful smooth voice ever. She rarely "belted" out songs but rather, sang just above a whisper. Her brother Richard, was himself, an accomplished composer and music director. Together, their harmonies rocked the 70's, and early 80's. Before Karen was known for her vocals, she was already considered one of America's most talented drummers! I was so blessed to have grown up with their music!
@@PhenixJoe Of course. Her projection however, was formed by singing just above a whisper. Her words. Not mine. Perhaps more should follow her techniques. She was velvet.
❤❤What a blessing to have grown up with the Carpernter’s tunes on the radio! Karen’s voice was pure gold! Velvety perfect pitches and yes, analyst say that she was better live and almost better than her studio recordings! She had amazing breath control and could hold a note FOREVER!
“The money is in the basement” she said. You just heard the finest female female pop vocalist ever recorded. And remember, she was LIVE, no autotune or processing.
Her name is KAREN CARPENTER! I love how these younger generations are just discovering her. Her voice IS iconic and has always been considered one of the purest female voices in the history of pop music. You guys are just now finding that out. But us old timers have always had a great appreciation for the Carpenters. Google her story, her life. It's a tragic one. Shame she couldn't continue to bless us with her voice much longer than she did...
The first words out of my Valadictorian's mouth, when I graduated in the late 80's, were 'We've Only Just Begun...' I heard NOTHING but that song in my head after that 😂🤣😂
She is so missed...passed too young at 32 in 1983. My favorite female vocalist. Insane range, angelic. Only singer to this day that makes hair on my neck stand up... she's an angel.
"She should be well known?" Guess we're getting old. Trust me: she was/is. She and her brother Richard Carpenter formed a group called The Carpenters. Richard was a very talented producer, and co-wrote some of the songs. They were arguably the most popular musical act of the '70s, all over the world. Or at least the most popular inter-generationally. This song is about a groupie pining over a rock star, but Karen, as she always did, packed much deeper emotion into it. As you can see from the comments, she is widely regarded as one of, if not the, greatest female singers ever. For lyric interpretation I think only Sinatra might match her (and he, by the way, called her the greatest female singer around).
I had to do a wry smile at your comment. I thought, 'Jeeze, they were HUGE in 1970 and their fame continued until Karen died' and then it hit me. I am 64 and I was 14 way back when :) Karen Carpenter was a household name in the 1970s. Don't worry, y'all....she was very famous. RIP Karen.
I would add that the musical arrangements were FANTASTIC and demonstrated the work of well trained, talented, well practiced and excellently produced music.
The fact that this is a LIVE VOCAL only solidifies Karen's Rank among the greatest Vocalists of ALL TIME.......unreal how true her tone was.....This is pure talent period
Karen & Richard Carpenter are the sister/brother duo that formed the “Carpenters.” Richard arranged all their music, sang back-up and played keyboards. Karen was the drummer and lead singer. Karen is recognized as having one of the purest voices of all time. Their catalogue of music and collection of awards is huge. Unfortunately, Karen dealt with a cruel recording industry that called her fat and unattractive - which, clearly, she wasn’t. She struggled with body dysmorphic syndrome and died in 1983 at the age of 32 from anorexia nervosa.
It was a journalist that made a comment about her weight in a story. I remember them publishing it next to/with in the People Magazine article about her death
@@richardleaneagh4274 starting sentences with words like “wrong” and “no” leaves the reader with a negative sense of everything else you say afterward. Bad first impression. I loved them too. No need for the word “hate” here either. You may be right, and I’ll stand corrected, I already fixed my comment; but, I’d feel better about it if you’d been polite in the process. I guess civility is less important than your love for the Carpenters. Got it.
When it was not cool to like the Carpenters as a young rock and roll kid, I was a closet Carpenters fan. Several years later, I changed and after 61 years of listening to music, I can honestly say Karen Carpenter is one of my very favorite female vocalist. Luther Vandross did a very nice job with this song as well, but I still prefer The Carpenters version.
I was fortunate to have gone to a high school (in Canada during the mid to late '70s) where the "radio club" played music through the P.A. system during breaks and lunch time. One of the Deejays was a popular kid, and very much a rocker (as was I), and he played everything from Abba to Zeppelin which normalized all genres of music for us. We would listen to Barry Manilow followed by Bachman-Turner Overdrive and think nothing of it -- just all good music depending on one's mood. Guess I was lucky!
I was a fan then and let people know it. I was into everything from Motown, Beatles, Chuck Berry, and everything in between. After the 80s not much good music so I tended to listen to the oldies stations after that.
I'm with you. With all the hard rock going on when the Carpenters broke out, they kind of got lost in the shuffle. That being said, they were spectacular at their genre. Her voice was silky smooth
Karen Carpenter, one of the greatest female vocalist in pop music. She was also an award winning drummer. Drumming was her true passion, if you find a clip of her drumming, you can see the pure joy on her face.
Karen Carpenter - Awesome singer and drummer. Such great tunes “Close to You,” “We’ve Only Just Begun” and “Rainy Days and Mondays.” Tragic story - heart failure due to anorexia.
This was redone by Luther Vandross. Karen Carpenter was the singer. Her brother Richard did all the arrangements and producing. 3 Grammy's and in the Hall of Fame. 50 Million albums sold. All that being said, Karen will always be known for how she died. I still shake my head.
Unfortunately, they are not and may never be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I have no idea why because ABBA, The Bee Gees, and many other “soft rock” acts are in the Hall of Fame.
@bcdhifi No they are from California. Not only do I know their bios,but I know people who knew them before they were famous. Please stop trying to enlighten me with your Wikipedia knowledge 🙏 💯
@Uncle Phil I know that. I just get kinda tired of people trying to act like they know everything. Besides it opens the discussion, are you from where you are born, or where you where raised. And I had no idea I came off as rude, my bad. Thank you for your input. God Bless.
To this day I still get goosebumps hearing Karen Carpenter. I haven't heard a female singer to surpass her yet. Her ability to make you feel is amazing.
Herb Alpert refereed to Karen Carpenter as "the one take wonder", as she would sing a song perfectly on the first take every time. I Love their "Rainy Days and Mondays"
Karen Carpenter had one of the best voices in the world! The Carpenters were very popular in the 1970s. She was on vocal and drums, her brother, Richard, backup vocals, keyboards and wrote song arrangements. He actually won a Grammy for “Best Arrangement for Accompanying a Vocalist with this song! Karen was plagued with anorexia, and she died in 1983. She was only 32.
Oh-no, now you've done it, you've entered The Carpenters Rabbit Hole, Karen had the most beautiful female voice ever, and was an awesome drummer as well, do your selves a favor and check out her drum solo, it's amazing, she and her brother Richard were amazing in the 70's and early 80's.
@kevin mcconnell none can compare to Karen Carpender... they all have Beautiful voices but her voice was so Clear in all her notes. In the 70s hers was the best
@kevin mcconnell they are all great in what they do, but if you ask each of them who is the most perfect voice they ever heard, to a woman they ALL would say Karen Carpenter. One take Karen, that was her nickname because she only did songs one time and they were perfect. She had perfect pitch and never missed a note in her range. The most perfect Contralto voice on recording.
Her voice is hauntingly beautiful. As I kid who heard her on the radio in the 70s I used to just cry for no reason hearing her sing. Legendary and sad sorry if you don’t know about Karen Carpenter. Her music reflected her life. 😢
“The Carpenters” were brother and sister, Richard and Karen. Karen not only had an exquisite voice, but she was known as a top female drummer too (watch her drum solo)! Richard composed music/lyrics and created the arrangements for their group’s songs, especially for Karen’s vocal range. Karen died in Feb 1983, due to her years of constant struggles with anorexia and bulimia. The world lost a great talent when she died and Richard was never the same after.
@@edgraf1293Always felt she died of perfection. She put everything she had into her music and that was why she hit those notes so well. She sang and drummed at the same time still came out beautifully. She strived for perfection and couldn’t achieve it in her own eyes in the mirror. I think she was good as long as she was behind the drums tho.
When her first song "Close to You" came on the radio in 1970 I was 13 years old. I, along with everyone else in the world, was completely captivated by this unworldly, beautiful voice.
She had no idea as to how good she was and had such low self esteem which led to anorexia and ultimately her early death. What an amazing singer and talented performer she was. This is Perfection Plus on the Richter Scale.
Love watching first reaction to one of the greatest singers of all time singing one of their greatest songs. Karen sang this in the studio once and brother Richard basically said "well we can't improve on that,". This live performance from the BBC come off like that. Pitch perfect every time. Like all the greats, incredible emotion in singing the lyrics. God given natural talent.
Karen Carpenter's death was one of the few that really made me cry, my parents played her songs all the time so she was a part of my childhood. A few more suggestions for #FemaleFriday: To Sir With Love by Lulu (did you say you were teachers? You might like this one); Sandy Denny Who Knows Where the Time Goes; The Look of Love by Dusty Springfield and, finally, Do You Know the Way to San Jose by Dionne Warwick. Love the channel, spread the love x
You are listening to one of the greatest female singers of all time. Karen's voice is pure, mellow and so beautiful. What a pleasure to listen to Karen sing, just sad she wasn't with us longer. I am sure Karen has been singing with the angels.
I have shoes older than the people doing the reaction so I'm not surprised they don't know who Karen Carpenter is. The most angelic voice in history, in my humble opinion.
"Majestic" is only one word to describe Karen's voice. There are so many others. No one could sing like Karen, not before and not now. Her voice always brings tears to my eyes. Every. Single. Time. It has been said that now that she's in heaven, even the angels are envious of her voice. May she rest in peace.
This voice is just so amazing she was truly a once in a generation gone way to soon i just have to say this here: please know that a eating disorder is serious & that you are worth so much more then what sorry poor excuse of people can ever say about you trust in yourself cause I BELIEVE IN YOU
There are probably 10's of thousands, we'll never know, women who's lives were saved by hearing what happened to Karen and it was the wake up call they needed. Only silver lining from what happened to her. Eating disorders were not talked about back then.
@@TheDivayenta It is rampant among boys and men in endurance sports as the less you weigh gives you a better power to weight ratio. This is shoved into the minds of both sexes and continues to cause many health issues and deaths.
With most singers you only hear the lyrics. When Karen sings, you not only hear the words but you feel them and you live them. She could make a statue cry. Only someone heartless would be unaffected by her singing.
Karen Carpenter's voice has ALWAYS had a magical effect on me. Her voice is like velvet beauty to the ears. Outstanding control and discreet little inflections set her apart from all other singers. Female and Male.
The purest voice ever, you can feel how she feels the song and translates it through her angelic voice that is every bit as perfect every time she sings anything. The greatest female voice ever, especially her range and feel for each individual song no matter what it is. I’ll argue that with anyone.
Karen Carpenter’s vocal gift was a once in a lifetime sound. Absolute tonal perfection. She also was an amazingly talented drummer. Anorexia took her from us way too early.
I never heard of anorexia until she has died from it. Her death brought awareness of it. People never talked about that sort of stuff back then. It’s still breaks my heart that she is gone.
@@michelleleblanc6541 To this day, I tear up every time I hear her recordings. She was perfection...and could still be singing today. Like you, I had never heard the word "anorexia" until we learned about her tragic end.
I saw the Carpenters when I was 13. I told all my friends how amazing her voice was live, just like the records. I'm glad you guys picked a video of her singing live. She was the drummer of the band before they put her out in front.
Guys, you have discovered probably the most beautiful voice of all time. Her voice is beyond beautiful. The world was robbed of an incredible talent when she passed away 40 years ago, a month before her 33rd birthday
I think your choice of the word “majestic” is perfect for Karen’s voice! Good job! She was an icon of the 70’s guys. If she hadn’t died so young, they (the Carpenters) would have been going strong for decades.
Karen was a one-of-a-kind singer. The range, pitch, power, and beauty of her voice all matched perfectly. RIP dear lady. I have had a crush on you for 50 years and hope to meet you in the future.
The late R&B singer Luther Vandross did a cover of this song in the mid or late 1980’s. It was a hit for him as well. Both versions are absolutely beautiful!🦋
It's actually a Leon Russell song! She was her happiest when she was playing drums. Check out her face when she's playing and when she's out front. Very different side of her personality. Much love to you all for respecting the classics!!!
But it's not all about being a great singer.. Karen conveys emotion with a line like "I love you; I really do". I can't help but believe her.. (I'm actually more of a progressive rock listener and my friends would be shocked, if they find out I'm listening to the Carpenters once in a while)..
Karen Carpenter had one of the greatest voices of all time . She was also one of the best drummers/singers of all time . I saw her sing and play drums in 1972. Her brother -Richard Carpenter -sang harmony and keyboards, wrote some songs, and arranged most of them. Karen died from complications from Anorexia Nervosa at the age of 32
You don't understand how much heartbreak happened upon her tragic death. Growing up having their vocals on the radio and television shows, and having it so suddenly and cruelly ripped away from our hearts and our ears. You are so lucky to be able to hear all of these songs so easily on the internet. We were forced and subjected to terrestrial radio where masterpieces like this were shuffled in with Convoy, The Streak, Kung Foo Fighting, The No No Song, Disco Duck, Run Joey Run. This loss was one of the first ones (after Elvis & Lennon), that gave me the perspective that life is so precious and we are all here for such a short time. It warms my heart that her voice and her talent lives on through your eyes. I love you both so much for sharing your discoveries and emotions with us. When you both close your eyes and let the music envelope you showing us the smiles and your respect for these songs warms my heart and makes me believe in beauty among a world of so much hate. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOUR CHANNEL SAVES LIVES AND BRINGS HOPE AND A FUTURE TO THE WORLD!!!
Karen carpenter had the clearest flawless voice ever. No dubbing, no autotune. Pure perfection. No female singer will EVER come close to matching her talent. She puts every female singer to shame.
Well... there is Streisand with her iconic voice - a voice, that when heard, is instantly identifiable as her own, just as Karen's pure sound was her own. Streisand's covers of the Carpenter's hits rose to no 1 on Billboard and she has (as of today, June 2021) achieved a number 1 album in every decade. No other artist or singer has accomplished that. ... Wonder how Karen's voice would have held up when she was 60-70 years old?
That’s the incredible Karen Carpenter. Extremely talented & she also played drums while singing in many songs. She died in Feb 4, 1983 of Anorexia Nervosa. Such a huge loss for everyone. Her brother was Richard Carpenter who sang & played alongside her & did tech stuff. He’s still alive today. You have to listen to “Only Yesterday” & you’ll love them even more
Karen Carpenter is widely recognized as one of the greatest female vocalists of all time, and she was an amazing drummer, as well. And don't overlook her brother, Richard. His writing and arrangements perfectly accentuated Karen's incredible voice.
Karen Carpenter ( 1950-1983) was one of the most outstanding singers of of the late 1960 and 1970's. She was one half of a duo along with her older brother Richard, who was responsible for the arrangements of their songs. Many of their hit records were written by such luminaries as Burt Bacharach and Paul Williams among others. She made The Rolling Stones list in 2010 as one of the best singers of all time. Sadly, she died of heart attack at only 32 brought on by Anorexia nervous which at that time was a little understood malady.
Karen was the voice of an Angel. Such a brilliant artist, her bother too. Such a tragic and sad life' forever missed. BTW, Cher couldn't hold Karen's Mic.
Guys, you just heard the “Best Voice” of the ‘70’s. Karen Carpenter, is a “Drummer who happens to be a Singer” is the way she put it. She had had a problem with Anorexia, she went down to 89 lbs. After fighting it and beating it she had a good life for a short while. She died very young from complications. Listen to “We’ve Only Just Begun” & “Rainy Day and Monday’s”…..OUTSTANDING!…SanJoséBob
Thank you for clearing this up. As you said, she had beaten it, but her heart was already damaged to the point that the medication she was on killed her. This is per Richard Carpenter.
The Legendary Carpenters. Her voice is soft like silk, once you hear her, you're transfixed & hypothesised. Plus she's a really good drummer too. Her name is Karen Carpenter & her brother Richard wrote the songs & arrangements and also played piano too.
One of my favorite Carpenter's songs is This Masquerade. Karen's voice, Richard's piano, and an orchestra. It doesn't get any better than that. RIP Karen.
My all-time favorite Carpenters song. So melancholy. Not only was she a great singer, she started out behind the drum kit. Died so young. She is missed.
This song, Superstar, was originally done by Delaney and Bonnie, and was about a groupie. The original lyric was "loneliness is such a sad affair, and I can hardly wait to SLEEP with you again" was changed to "wait to BE with you again" for the squeaky clean Carpenters. Karen had a beautiful Alto voice. She, sadly, died of Bulimia and Anorexia Nervosa in 1983, at the age of 32.
Karen Carpenter had one of the most crystal clear stunning voices of the 70s. It is unforgettable! Remember this is live with no auto-tune.
Not just the '70s but all time....
I have no words to describe her lovely voice other than to say it is the loveliest voice I have ever heard.
I bought my first record in 1960 in London.
How about the most stunning female voice of all time, anywhere at any time :)
@@richardpatnode998 Angelic.
Plus, she was a killer on the drums.
Wings of Pegasus does an analysis of her voice and basically concludes she's one of the most perfect singers ever. Her pitch placement is impeccable. When you compare her live vocals versus her studio recordings, the pitch doesn't change. She's that perfect. Karen Carpenter was one of a kind.
She and Roberta Flack are some of the purest singers I have ever heard. I was told that if you see a person with high and big cheek bone are likely able to sing. Karen's structure is off the charts! She has a natural resonator!
I coulda told ya that 🤗
I had never thought a tuner could be so beautiful.
Add Doris Day to that list. Like Silk!
They called her one take Karen in the recording studio - she did almost in one take
No female singer today could hold a candle to her. Her voice was incredible.
Todays singers NEED AUTOTONE Karen knew none it wasnt around in the 70s
Maybe Claire Richards from Steps is really similar.
Disagree🤔..equal voices too......Judith Durham...Nana Mouskouri....Connie Francis...Agnetta Faltskog....Judy Collins...Dusty Springfield...Deanna Durbin....Lina Dambrauskaite....Petula Clark....Charlotte Church...mixture of beautiful female voices.🎼🎵🎶All just as fantastic as Karen's👍👍👍👍👍👍
Not even Billie Eilish 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤮🤮🤮
@@davidchamberlain5425 I love nana Mouskour, never even knew anyone else who knew who she was.
I remember when she died a DJ played this and at the end, his voice breaking said " The world is going to miss that voice".
I am 72 & I still remember the day she died. My dad was a musician and when I told him to hear her singing he said she had a perfect voice.
Just another one of the GOAT's. Don't compare her to anyone. Compare everyone to her.
She recorded a lot of her songs on ONE take-including this one.
This comment literally made me cry because it's so true. There is no one like Karen Carpenter and there never will be
Don't compare to cher..AH NO
@@collettedobrocke5585 yes because Karen Carpenter sings on key!
@@collettedobrocke5585 ohmygad!!! Karen Carpenter is so far from Cher. Karen has the best vocal a God given talent. No need for some fancy dresses and looks just talent and a voice is enough. And let's not compare them coz they are both good, best in their own special talents
I cannot explain how wonderful it is to see younger people discovering Karen Carpenters' voice for the first time. As we 'baby boomers' are ageing out it's
great to know that there is another generation who will still find and appreciate this wonderful talent. Karen's voice was velvet, her and her brother, Richard,
recorded some of the greatest songs of the 70's and early 80's until Karen's untimely death to anorexia. It was a tragic loss to the world. Thank you so much
for sharing this and your reaction to this unparalleled talent from yesteryear.
Me too. Close To You was my first album I bought as a kid, for my new Sony all in one system. It was the current time of that album and I think I have all of their albums on vinyl. After not being able to listen to her without breaking down, for years I’m now reveling in seeing the young folk discovering her and Richard, he’s the man behind that sound. I love when a reactor doesn’t know, plays a song and the eyes freeze and the jaw drops. It brings joy to my soul. There are numerous great/fantastic female singers but there was only one Karen Carpenter. One note and you know it’s her.
It shocks & saddens me so many young folks haven’t heard great performers such as The Carpenters.
When I was in my teens/20s I’d heard songs from before I was born. Having old parents and two significantly older siblings did help with exposing me to music older than me.
Amen to that! This music is immortal. All generations have and will appreciate this music.
@@steven.l.pattersonit seems the youth of today live in their bubble of the present. It’s great when the few can look back and appreciate.
I agree. The younger generation has no idea what they're missing! This was REAL music!
To this day, Karen Carpenter’s voice is recognized as one of the purest alto voices ever. While her death at age 32 due to anorexia was just heartbreaking, it did help bring this eating disorder into the light and many treatments have been established since then so maybe she didn’t die in vain after all.
I cried when she passed! Sad to watch her whittle away slowly!!
The Carpenters had many songs. Check them out !
So sad when she died
Actually 3 octave contralto.
The news of her death came over my radio and I must have cried for an hour or more. She was such a beautiful person with an amazing voice.
The song is about a young woman who has a mad crush on a musician who she gets to see in concert. “Don’t you remember you told me you loved me baby…you said you’d be coming back this way again baby” is her reflecting on how she completely felt like the songs were being directed to her personally.
I think someone dubbed it the "groupie song!"
@@carolhesterberg7526 The original version written by Leon Russell and Bonnie Bramlett in 1969 was titled Groupie (Superstar). Recorded hundreds of times by many people.
@@Straydogger You're correct. The song's original name was "Groupie" and others did record it. I haven't heard the other versions, but would probably guess that the Carpenters made the definitive version. It's hard to beat Karen's gorgeous voice!
Karen
Y'all are just so very young... Karen and Richard Carpenter.... The Carpenters. Karen was an amazing drummer as well as one of the very best Contralto voices ever. Richard, is one of the most acclaimed arrangers of all time. Together they are perfection. You need to explore the entirety of their catalog.... it's pure gold.
Word to all of this! 👍🏼
Spot on
There were actual parents in the 70s who thought that the carpenters were a bit too rock and roll!
Richard was also an evil man who essentially killed his sister.
@@raytrace5036, that is complete garbage.
Meet Karen Carpenter; the most hauntingly beautiful voice you'll ever hear. RIP Karen. 💚
This is LIVE and in the 70's. She's sounds better than today's recordings after all post processing. That's how good Karen's voice was.
Oh she sounds better than Adele and sam smith? Quit making shit up. She's fantastic, you're just delusional tho
@@jasonmain6398 Oh yes! You just don't have an ear for music.
@@rgraz4929 you're just a snob. An old snob 😆
@@jasonmain6398 Make me 100 years old. Doesn't change the fact that Karen Carpenter has the best female singing voice of all time. There are MANY aspects to a singing voice.. not just volume. LOL
@@rgraz4929 who said anything about volume?
Karen could sing like no other! PERIOD! One of her nicknames given to her by the record producers was "One Take Karen". She would sing a song so perfectly that the producers would not chance ruining it by doing it over! An amazing overall talent! Singing, playing drums, and entertaining. She left us way too soon!
To my generation, Karen Carpenter is EXTREMELY well known! One of the purest voices ever recorded, and an extremely talented drummer as well! When she died so tragically from Anorexia, it was devastating. Ironically, It brought eating disorders into the light of day, which has saved countless other lives. To this day,, It's hard to even hear her sing without getting sad.
Don’t know if anyone else said this, but she is a drummer who sings. The band is her and her brother. He plays piano.
No matter who she played with she was always the best drummer in the band.
Exactly Karen was the original drummer in the band with her brother… And her voice was so good he decided to make her a lead singer in his group the carpenters or their group the carpenters, and the rest is magnificent history
A highly respected drummer, who's male counterpart praised.
She always looked soooo happy at the drums. RIP K.
I think it's so cool how in that video she runs around the stage and plays like five different sets of drums!
Karen had the most beautiful smooth voice ever. She rarely "belted" out songs but rather, sang just above a whisper. Her brother Richard, was himself, an accomplished composer and music director. Together, their harmonies rocked the 70's, and early 80's. Before Karen was known for her vocals, she was already considered one of America's most talented drummers! I was so blessed to have grown up with their music!
Her singing here was far above a whisper. She carried through those long notes with power!
This is way more than “just above a whisper” lol.
@@PhenixJoe Of course. Her projection however, was formed by singing just above a whisper. Her words. Not mine. Perhaps more should follow her techniques. She was velvet.
❤❤What a blessing to have grown up with the Carpernter’s tunes on the radio! Karen’s voice was pure gold! Velvety perfect pitches and yes, analyst say that she was better live and almost better than her studio recordings! She had amazing breath control and could hold a note FOREVER!
“The money is in the basement” she said. You just heard the finest female female pop vocalist ever recorded. And remember, she was LIVE, no autotune or processing.
Karen Carpenters voice is one of the best voices ever, like a warm blanket caressing your whole body. Try Rainy days and Mondays
That's one of my all-time favorite Carpenters songs.
Try Close to you and We've only just began!
Mine too Jill!!
Agreed. Karen died so young. So glad she got to sing with Ella Fitzgerald! ua-cam.com/video/nk7kg3M9dJg/v-deo.html&start_radio=1
Her name is KAREN CARPENTER! I love how these younger generations are just discovering her. Her voice IS iconic and has always been considered one of the purest female voices in the history of pop music. You guys are just now finding that out. But us old timers have always had a great appreciation for the Carpenters. Google her story, her life. It's a tragic one. Shame she couldn't continue to bless us with her voice much longer than she did...
Ouch i broke a plank in my karen is there a karen capenter out there?
We've Only Just Begun is another wonderful song of theirs. It was a staple at wedding receptions for many years.
The first words out of my Valadictorian's mouth, when I graduated in the late 80's, were 'We've Only Just Begun...' I heard NOTHING but that song in my head after that 😂🤣😂
Beautiful… I remember that is was a commercial jingle before they made it a classic
Or DURING weddings - like mine...
👍👍
And Wells Fargo commercials...
She is so missed...passed too young at 32 in 1983. My favorite female vocalist. Insane range, angelic. Only singer to this day that makes hair on my neck stand up... she's an angel.
Karen has the voice of an Angel.
So smooth and wholesome
And she could wail on the drums
R.I.P. angel
"She should be well known?" Guess we're getting old. Trust me: she was/is.
She and her brother Richard Carpenter formed a group called The Carpenters. Richard was a very talented producer, and co-wrote some of the songs. They were arguably the most popular musical act of the '70s, all over the world. Or at least the most popular inter-generationally. This song is about a groupie pining over a rock star, but Karen, as she always did, packed much deeper emotion into it. As you can see from the comments, she is widely regarded as one of, if not the, greatest female singers ever. For lyric interpretation I think only Sinatra might match her (and he, by the way, called her the greatest female singer around).
NUTS absolutely NUTS. one of the greatest voices of all time with no help. "should be well known" ..... yikes this is 50 years old .....
I had to do a wry smile at your comment. I thought, 'Jeeze, they were HUGE in 1970 and their fame continued until Karen died' and then it hit me. I am 64 and I was 14 way back when :) Karen Carpenter was a household name in the 1970s. Don't worry, y'all....she was very famous. RIP Karen.
That’s telling them.✨
@@fumblebunny1993 o
I would add that the musical arrangements were FANTASTIC and demonstrated the work of well trained, talented, well practiced and excellently produced music.
The most “majestic” voice ever. No one can ever sing like Karen Carpenter.
I wish she could have lived to sing with Alison Krauss. That would have been magnificent.
That would have been a duo fir the ages !!
LoL, I so agree. Today’s music misses that “IT Factor”. Close but not quite. God Bless them.
Katrina Velarde can, because she can impersonate her perfectly. 😉
You have clearly never heard of Floor Jansen before...the most versatile female singer ever....
The fact that this is a LIVE VOCAL only solidifies Karen's Rank among the greatest Vocalists of ALL TIME.......unreal how true her tone was.....This is pure talent period
Without a doubt. In the 70's her voice sounded exquisite, but now, decades later, her voice stands out among the greatest off all time.
It’s what angels must sound like
Karen & Richard Carpenter are the sister/brother duo that formed the “Carpenters.” Richard arranged all their music, sang back-up and played keyboards. Karen was the drummer and lead singer.
Karen is recognized as having one of the purest voices of all time. Their catalogue of music and collection of awards is huge.
Unfortunately, Karen dealt with a cruel recording industry that called her fat and unattractive - which, clearly, she wasn’t. She struggled with body dysmorphic syndrome and died in 1983 at the age of 32 from anorexia nervosa.
wrong the name of there band is "Carpenters"
@@richardleaneagh4274 “wrong”? Subtle. You must be such a joy to be around.
@@lindas2606 no i'm not this is my favorite band from childhood i hate when people get it wrong
It was a journalist that made a comment about her weight in a story. I remember them publishing it next to/with in the People Magazine article about her death
@@richardleaneagh4274 starting sentences with words like “wrong” and “no” leaves the reader with a negative sense of everything else you say afterward. Bad first impression. I loved them too. No need for the word “hate” here either.
You may be right, and I’ll stand corrected, I already fixed my comment; but, I’d feel better about it if you’d been polite in the process. I guess civility is less important than your love for the Carpenters. Got it.
Karen Carpenter's voice makes angels weep. So pure, it's unreal
I'm no angel, but I weep more often then not I her her voice. There has never been a more beautiful voice IMHO.
When it was not cool to like the Carpenters as a young rock and roll kid, I was a closet Carpenters fan. Several years later, I changed and after 61 years of listening to music, I can honestly say Karen Carpenter is one of my very favorite female vocalist. Luther Vandross did a very nice job with this song as well, but I still prefer The Carpenters version.
I was fortunate to have gone to a high school (in Canada during the mid to late '70s) where the "radio club" played music through the P.A. system during breaks and lunch time. One of the Deejays was a popular kid, and very much a rocker (as was I), and he played everything from Abba to Zeppelin which normalized all genres of music for us. We would listen to Barry Manilow followed by Bachman-Turner Overdrive and think nothing of it -- just all good music depending on one's mood. Guess I was lucky!
I was a closet Carpenters fan too
I was a fan then and let people know it. I was into everything from Motown, Beatles, Chuck Berry, and everything in between. After the 80s not much good music so I tended to listen to the oldies stations after that.
I'm with you. With all the hard rock going on when the Carpenters broke out, they kind of got lost in the shuffle. That being said, they were spectacular at their genre. Her voice was silky smooth
I was never a closet fan because where I live it wasn't cool not to know their songs.
Karen was well known for her tone and range. Perfection. No auto-tune. One of the greatest voices of our time.
Karen Carpenter, one of the greatest female vocalist in pop music. She was also an award winning drummer. Drumming was her true passion, if you find a clip of her drumming, you can see the pure joy on her face.
Karen Carpenter - Awesome singer and drummer. Such great tunes “Close to You,” “We’ve Only Just Begun” and “Rainy Days and Mondays.” Tragic story - heart failure due to anorexia.
Add Masquerade to the list.
This was redone by Luther Vandross. Karen Carpenter was the singer. Her brother Richard did all the arrangements and producing. 3 Grammy's and in the Hall of Fame. 50 Million albums sold. All that being said, Karen will always be known for how she died. I still shake my head.
Yeah, and guess where her and her brother were from?LA, and Downey specifically 😎 👌
Unfortunately, they are not and may never be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I have no idea why because ABBA, The Bee Gees, and many other “soft rock” acts are in the Hall of Fame.
Correction, as of today according to RIAA Carpenters has sold more than 150 million albums in the world.
@bcdhifi No they are from California. Not only do I know their bios,but I know people who knew them before they were famous. Please stop trying to enlighten me with your Wikipedia knowledge 🙏 💯
@Uncle Phil I know that. I just get kinda tired of people trying to act like they know everything. Besides it opens the discussion, are you from where you are born, or where you where raised. And I had no idea I came off as rude, my bad. Thank you for your input. God Bless.
To this day I still get goosebumps hearing Karen Carpenter.
I haven't heard a female singer to surpass her yet. Her ability to make you feel is amazing.
Herb Alpert refereed to Karen Carpenter as "the one take wonder", as she would sing a song perfectly on the first take every time. I Love their "Rainy Days and Mondays"
Herb actually played on a couple of their songs. They also recorded on A&M records. Which Herb was the “A”.
@@drbarchitect - Herb Alpert discovered Karen & Richard. :-)
She had perfect pitch. She was a perfect example of a Contralto.
Yes, that's the rarest of rare female voices.
Another singer who comes to mind is Helen Shapiro in the early sixties with songs, 'You Don't Know'; 'Queen for Tonight'.
Karen herself used to say “The money’s in the basement.”
The lady who sings on "Ace of Base" song "All that she wants", is also listed as contralto. Love her voice too.
Karen Carpenter had one of the best voices in the world! The Carpenters were very popular in the 1970s. She was on vocal and drums, her brother, Richard, backup vocals, keyboards and wrote song arrangements. He actually won a Grammy for “Best Arrangement for Accompanying a Vocalist with this song!
Karen was plagued with anorexia, and she died in 1983. She was only 32.
Oh-no, now you've done it, you've entered The Carpenters Rabbit Hole, Karen had the most beautiful female voice ever, and was an awesome drummer as well, do your selves a favor and check out her drum solo, it's amazing, she and her brother Richard were amazing in the 70's and early 80's.
ALL most all 70s Though ,,
@kevin mcconnell none can compare to Karen Carpender... they all have Beautiful voices but her voice was so Clear in all her notes. In the 70s hers was the best
Agree 1000%!. It is a journey like no other. Iconic, and the likes of which we'll sadly never see again.
@kevin mcconnell they are all great in what they do, but if you ask each of them who is the most perfect voice they ever heard, to a woman they ALL would say Karen Carpenter. One take Karen, that was her nickname because she only did songs one time and they were perfect. She had perfect pitch and never missed a note in her range. The most perfect Contralto voice on recording.
Her voice is hauntingly beautiful. As I kid who heard her on the radio in the 70s I used to just cry for no reason hearing her sing. Legendary and sad sorry if you don’t know about Karen Carpenter. Her music reflected her life. 😢
She had a very abusive mother that she endured abuse from, and sadly most people did not know about until after she died💔
Back when singers used style and taste. Her voice was so pure and emotive.
“The Carpenters” were brother and sister, Richard and Karen. Karen not only had an exquisite voice, but she was known as a top female drummer too (watch her drum solo)! Richard composed music/lyrics and created the arrangements for their group’s songs, especially for Karen’s vocal range. Karen died in Feb 1983, due to her years of constant struggles with anorexia and bulimia. The world lost a great talent when she died and Richard was never the same after.
Not just the 70s but today as well
So very well fake Karen was one of the most fabulous female voices of all time her death was a tragedy and we lost a great talent
@@edgraf1293Always felt she died of perfection. She put everything she had into her music and that was why she hit those notes so well. She sang and drummed at the same time still came out beautifully. She strived for perfection and couldn’t achieve it in her own eyes in the mirror. I think she was good as long as she was behind the drums tho.
In addition to her flawless voice, she had MAD SKILLS as a drummer.
When we get closer to Christmas, please review "Merry Christmas, Darling".
When her first song "Close to You" came on the radio in 1970 I was 13 years old. I, along with everyone else in the world, was completely captivated by this unworldly, beautiful voice.
And Karen was only 20. Unbelievably polished for such an early age.
Karen Carpenter singing Merry Christmas Darling. makes me cry a river of tears . I love love love that song.
Karen Carpenter is the only artist that can bring me to tears within the first verse!
Karen’s Ave Maria was beautiful.
Love that song too
Karen had the most clear and basically perfect pitch I've ever heard. She does have an iconic voice. Miss her. She should be with us today.
She had no idea as to how good she was and had such low self esteem which led to anorexia and ultimately her early death. What an amazing singer and talented performer she was. This is Perfection Plus on the Richter Scale.
Love watching first reaction to one of the greatest singers of all time singing one of their greatest songs. Karen sang this in the studio once and brother Richard basically said "well we can't improve on that,". This live performance from the BBC come off like that. Pitch perfect every time. Like all the greats, incredible emotion in singing the lyrics. God given natural talent.
Karen Carpenter's death was one of the few that really made me cry, my parents played her songs all the time so she was a part of my childhood. A few more suggestions for #FemaleFriday: To Sir With Love by Lulu (did you say you were teachers? You might like this one); Sandy Denny Who Knows Where the Time Goes; The Look of Love by Dusty Springfield and, finally, Do You Know the Way to San Jose by Dionne Warwick. Love the channel, spread the love x
I will second To Sir With Love by Lulu! (Also, since you're both teachers, I'd recommend the movie with the same name as well!)
Also The End of the World by Dusty Springfield
Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield!
Yes Sandy Denny’s who knows where the time goes is beautiful but so sad.
@Jeffrey Schwartz Click ... Good to know 😁👍😉😎!!!
You are listening to one of the greatest female singers of all time. Karen's voice is pure, mellow and so beautiful. What a pleasure to listen to Karen sing, just sad she wasn't with us longer. I am sure Karen has been singing with the angels.
Remember this is live, without auto-tune; a voice like no other.
Been listening to this girl for 50 years, and somehow it sounds better EVERY TIME. Pure magic!
"Rainy Days and Mondays", "Close to You", "I Won't Last A Day Without You" are some other hits from the Carpenters.
The lyrics from "Say Goodbye to Love" are sad, especially if you read it like a poem.
“She should be somebody who’s well known”!!! LOL
KAREN CARPENTER kiddos!
😂😂😂🤩
I have shoes older than the people doing the reaction so I'm not surprised they don't know who Karen Carpenter is.
The most angelic voice in history, in my humble opinion.
Sarcastic comments; well not everyone is as "old" as dirt!
@@joetijerina8185 😂😂😂
@@joetijerina8185 some of us are older than dirt, but we had the best music ever.
"Majestic" is only one word to describe Karen's voice. There are so many others. No one could sing like Karen, not before and not now. Her voice always brings tears to my eyes. Every. Single. Time. It has been said that now that she's in heaven, even the angels are envious of her voice. May she rest in peace.
Oh, Lord! Me too, every time. Her death is one of those "I remember exactly where I was" events in my life.
She had hands down one of the most incredible voices on the planet. It was so pure and perfect. I wish she had understood her worth.
If Honey had a voice it would sound like Karen Carpenter. RIP
Perfect description
Oh, that's brilliant. I wish I'd said that. If I ever have the opportunity, I will.
For me it's like the best warm gravy in the world
Honey from the Bobby Goldsboro song?
@@edmundpower1250 lol, nicely played. But I’m referring the the silky nectar from the bees. Smooth, sweet, natural. Just wonderful.. that honey
This voice is just so amazing she was truly a once in a generation gone way to soon i just have to say this here: please know that a eating disorder is serious & that you are worth so much more then what sorry poor excuse of people can ever say about you trust in yourself cause I BELIEVE IN YOU
There are probably 10's of thousands, we'll never know, women who's lives were saved by hearing what happened to Karen and it was the wake up call they needed. Only silver lining from what happened to her. Eating disorders were not talked about back then.
@@brockbaby Sadly, they are rampant among girls and women with today’s insane “beauty “standards.
@@TheDivayenta It is rampant among boys and men in endurance sports as the less you weigh gives you a better power to weight ratio. This is shoved into the minds of both sexes and continues to cause many health issues and deaths.
@@jameshelm2847 yes you are correct. Men are affected as well- mostly in weight focused sports.
With most singers you only hear the lyrics. When Karen sings, you not only hear the words but you feel them and you live them. She could make a statue cry. Only someone heartless would be unaffected by her singing.
Love could make a “statue cry”!
One of the greatest voices of all time! Just listen to greatest hits and each song just moves you emotionally and spiritually!
Angels weep when Karen sings. Flawless. It goes deep into your bones and stays there.
Weep? She's not that bad!
Karen Carpenter's voice has ALWAYS had a magical effect on me. Her voice is like velvet beauty to the ears. Outstanding control and discreet little inflections set her apart from all other singers. Female and Male.
“Close to you” is a must reaction. Karen has several big hits. Her voice is Angelic.
Absolutely, Close to You, but then Karen had not bad songs.
I wish sh would have been able to survive her eating disorder. The world lost an amazing voice the day Karen passed.
@@hockemeyer1 we had “CLOSE TO YOU” played at our wedding
Her name was Karen Carpenter. Her brothers Richard is the other half of The Carpenters. Karen passed away on 2/4/1983.
The purest voice ever, you can feel how she feels the song and translates it through her angelic voice that is every bit as perfect every time she sings anything. The greatest female voice ever, especially her range and feel for each individual song no matter what it is. I’ll argue that with anyone.
Karen Carpenter’s vocal gift was a once in a lifetime sound. Absolute tonal perfection. She also was an amazingly talented drummer.
Anorexia took her from us way too early.
I never heard of anorexia until she has died from it. Her death brought awareness of it. People never talked about that sort of stuff back then. It’s still breaks my heart that she is gone.
@@michelleleblanc6541 I SO agree😭😭😭
@@michelleleblanc6541 To this day, I tear up every time I hear her recordings. She was perfection...and could still be singing today. Like you, I had never heard the word "anorexia" until we learned about her tragic end.
She's a drummer first and foremost...and pretty "kick-ass", check out her solo!
she thought so. She underrated her own voice talent. I think it was the pressure.
I saw the Carpenters when I was 13. I told all my friends how amazing her voice was live, just like the records. I'm glad you guys picked a video of her singing live. She was the drummer of the band before they put her out in front.
She was not only a wonderful singer but a master drummer
What an amazing voice. As a teenager in the 70's everyone knew her and she was THE iconic voice.
The manifestation of emotion in this song is so powerful.
😢 .. I tear up
This is Karen Carpenter. The Carpenters include herself and her brother Richard. Many of her songs are melancholy in nature.
They also toured and worked with an accomplished band
And Karen played drums extremely well, too.
She was a melancholy kind of girl... I had a crush on her. Tore me up when I heard why she died. She had a reason to be melancholy.
Guys, you have discovered probably the most beautiful voice of all time. Her voice is beyond beautiful. The world was robbed of an incredible talent when she passed away 40 years ago, a month before her 33rd birthday
I think your choice of the word “majestic” is perfect for Karen’s voice! Good job! She was an icon of the 70’s guys. If she hadn’t died so young, they (the Carpenters) would have been going strong for decades.
Hi Joanne, No I would go for pure
The smoothest female voice in history!
......in my opinion anyway......
Karen was a one-of-a-kind singer. The range, pitch, power, and beauty of her voice all matched perfectly. RIP dear lady. I have had a crush on you for 50 years and hope to meet you in the future.
The late R&B singer Luther Vandross did a cover of this song in the mid or late 1980’s. It was a hit for him as well. Both versions are absolutely beautiful!🦋
It's actually a Leon Russell song! She was her happiest when she was playing drums. Check out her face when she's playing and when she's out front. Very different side of her personality. Much love to you all for respecting the classics!!!
Back then, Paul McCartney said she was the best female singer in the world
tall compliment
But it's not all about being a great singer.. Karen conveys emotion with a line like "I love you; I really do". I can't help but believe her.. (I'm actually more of a progressive rock listener and my friends would be shocked, if they find out I'm listening to the Carpenters once in a while)..
I heard John Lennon told her she had a beautiful voice,and she told her brother she couldn't believe he meant it
@@ZoolGatekeeper I am a carpenters kinda girl and my friends were amazed I listened to rap and guns and roses
@@ZoolGatekeeper Talent is talent no matter what you listen to. If you like the Carpenters then you have good taste. 🙂
Karen Carpenter had one of the greatest voices of all time . She was also one of the best drummers/singers of all time . I saw her sing and play drums in 1972. Her brother -Richard Carpenter -sang harmony and keyboards, wrote some songs, and arranged most of them. Karen died from complications from Anorexia Nervosa at the age of 32
My absolute favorite female vocalist ever. So sad that the world lost such an amazing talent at such a young age
You don't understand how much heartbreak happened upon her tragic death. Growing up having their vocals on the radio and television shows, and having it so suddenly and cruelly ripped away from our hearts and our ears. You are so lucky to be able to hear all of these songs so easily on the internet. We were forced and subjected to terrestrial radio where masterpieces like this were shuffled in with Convoy, The Streak, Kung Foo Fighting, The No No Song, Disco Duck, Run Joey Run. This loss was one of the first ones (after Elvis & Lennon), that gave me the perspective that life is so precious and we are all here for such a short time. It warms my heart that her voice and her talent lives on through your eyes. I love you both so much for sharing your discoveries and emotions with us. When you both close your eyes and let the music envelope you showing us the smiles and your respect for these songs warms my heart and makes me believe in beauty among a world of so much hate. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOUR CHANNEL SAVES LIVES AND BRINGS HOPE AND A FUTURE TO THE WORLD!!!
Karen Carpenter was Class, her control and range from the low to the high was sublime.
She had a once in a lifetime voice. Pretty much everyone reacts in amazement to her voice. Gone way too soon.
Karen carpenter had the clearest flawless voice ever. No dubbing, no autotune. Pure perfection. No female singer will EVER come close to matching her talent. She puts every female singer to shame.
💯 agree!
Well... there is Streisand with her iconic voice - a voice, that when heard, is instantly identifiable as her own, just as Karen's pure sound was her own. Streisand's covers of the Carpenter's hits rose to no 1 on Billboard and she has (as of today, June 2021) achieved a number 1 album in every decade. No other artist or singer has accomplished that. ... Wonder how Karen's voice would have held up when she was 60-70 years old?
@@ronmartin582 Smooth and effortless like silk. Will be able to sing like this forever.
She was the drummer first
Adele. Wynonna. Barbra. Karen is great. They are too.
I weep every time I hear her. No vocalist has this effect on me. Angel
Majestic is a good description of Karen's voice. I have always thought that in this song in particular her voice was hauntingly beautiful.
That’s the incredible Karen Carpenter. Extremely talented & she also played drums while singing in many songs. She died in Feb 4, 1983 of Anorexia Nervosa. Such a huge loss for everyone. Her brother was Richard Carpenter who sang & played alongside her & did tech stuff. He’s still alive today. You have to listen to “Only Yesterday” & you’ll love them even more
Karen Carpenter is widely recognized as one of the greatest female vocalists of all time, and she was an amazing drummer, as well.
And don't overlook her brother, Richard. His writing and arrangements perfectly accentuated Karen's incredible voice.
Karen Carpenter ( 1950-1983) was one of the most outstanding singers of of the late 1960 and 1970's. She was one half of a duo along with her older brother Richard, who was responsible for the arrangements of their songs. Many of their hit records were written by such luminaries as Burt Bacharach and Paul Williams among others. She made The Rolling Stones list in 2010 as one of the best singers of all time.
Sadly, she died of heart attack at only 32 brought on by Anorexia nervous which at that time was a little understood malady.
Karen was the voice of an Angel. Such a brilliant artist, her bother too. Such a tragic and sad life' forever missed. BTW, Cher couldn't hold Karen's Mic.
Karen Carpenter is widely regarded as one of the best vocalists in modern pop/rock era.
100% deserved too. 👍🏽
By John Lennon, Luciano Pavarotti among many others
Loved Karen Carpenter! Such a tragic story (her young death from anorexia). Her voice was INCREDIBLE. 💙💙💙
God gave her a seriously amazing and unique voice! I'm thankful she used her talent and shared it with the world.
Try "Top of the World" next. It's more upbeat, but her voice is still pure velvet.
That was my parents' song and played at their wedding. Great, great song!
Guys, you just heard the “Best Voice” of the ‘70’s. Karen Carpenter, is a “Drummer who happens to be a Singer” is the way she put it. She had had a problem with Anorexia, she went down to 89 lbs. After fighting it and beating it she had a good life for a short while. She died very young from complications. Listen to “We’ve Only Just Begun” & “Rainy Day and Monday’s”…..OUTSTANDING!…SanJoséBob
Thank you for clearing this up. As you said, she had beaten it, but her heart was already damaged to the point that the medication she was on killed her. This is per Richard Carpenter.
Don't forget 'Close to You'! Which is probably my favorite!
What a talent! What a voice!❤👏💯
The Legendary Carpenters. Her voice is soft like silk, once you hear her, you're transfixed & hypothesised. Plus she's a really good drummer too. Her name is Karen Carpenter & her brother Richard wrote the songs & arrangements and also played piano too.
In my opinion, she is (was) the greatest singer ever.
One of my favorite Carpenter's songs is This Masquerade. Karen's voice, Richard's piano, and an orchestra. It doesn't get any better than that. RIP Karen.
Yall killed it, Karen Carpenter is definitely ICONIC! Pure talent and like they say, she sounds like a freaking Angel.
The Carpenters “masquerade” is tailor made for y’all with BOTH a beautiful piano and horn solo, along with Karen’s amazing voice. ❤️
Yes! I always recommend that song. Tied with Superstar as my favorite Carpenters cover.
And Karen played the drums on This Masquerade as well. She played the drums on every song on that album (Now and Then) except Jambalaya.
When Karen sings, the world stops and listens 😍
Great comment. Like when I was 13 yrs old in 1970. That voice stopped me dead in my tracks!
Karen Carpenter and Cass Eliot are the standard for female voices, at least alto voices.
My all-time favorite Carpenters song. So melancholy. Not only was she a great singer, she started out behind the drum kit. Died so young. She is missed.
This song, Superstar, was originally done by Delaney and Bonnie, and was about a groupie. The original lyric was "loneliness is such a sad affair, and I can hardly wait to SLEEP with you again" was changed to "wait to BE with you again" for the squeaky clean Carpenters.
Karen had a beautiful Alto voice. She, sadly, died of Bulimia and Anorexia Nervosa in 1983, at the age of 32.
And that was a live performance. Perfect every time, someone this alto looked up to.
Hearing one of the most angelic voices ever she was so talented rip Karen 😢❤