Karen died a tragic death but her voice from God will live on forever. Beautiful reaction, brother. You should definitely do more Carpenters to hear more of her ethereal voice. Superstar is their best IMO but there are so many more to choose from I can't list them all.
There's a UA-camr who specializes on whether anyone is using autotune. He was very disappointed that original oldies UA-cam videos are being auto-tuned. There was one specific video in its original version that he listens to. When he went back, he couldn't find it. He found only the auto-tuned ones... Scary that the label owners are going back and redoing these with auto-tune.
You are at the tip of the iceberg you have no idea I will use two words to describe Karen Carpenter’s voice, effortless and flawless. Definitely one of the greatest female vocalist ever if not the greatest. !! check out rainy days and Mondays. There is just too many songs to list ! Karen Carpenter was only 31 years old and she left an incredible impact on this world
Richard's arrangements along with Karen's vocals made music magic. She was known as One Take Karen in the studio because she would nail it first time every time. People have used modern computerized equipment to analyze both studio and live performance recordings of Karen's vocals and modern equipment shows both live and studio to be almost identical. The performances you'll find are from a time before auto tune, just Karen's voice and a simple mic. Some singers will massage your ears, Karen would massage your soul. I believe the backing musicians were studio musicians known as The Wrecking Crew.
Holly, I was at a party and the news came on. Well, the party stopped. My heart dropped and people began saying the same thing...girls started crying. I want to cry...well I did later and still do!
Karen Carpenter saved my life. I was 87 pounds and nothing but bones and butt at 17 from anorexia. I’m now 58 and grandmother to 5 because of the publicity and awareness of her struggle.
Karen was amazing. Pitch perfect & clear (w/o auto tune.) Beautiful, rich tone. 3-octave range. Incredible breath control. Impeccable diction. Seamless transition between her upper & lower registers. And she makes you FEEL every word!! (And Richard knew how to make the arrangements - instrumentation, timing, etc. - that fit them perfectly. Add their tight harmonies and… pure PERFECTION!)
Karen was beautiful inside & out with the voice of an angel. She considered herself a drummer who also sang. She preferred drumming to singing, but once the record people heard her sing, that was it, she had to sing. Check out her drumming video here on UA-cam!
Grew up during their prime. She was fragile and shy but the industry pushed her out front then body shamed her into full blown anorexia. Watching her dissappear in front of my eyes was a tragedy.
Loved your compassion for Karen's sad story. Did you know she was an award-winning JAZZ drummer before she started singing? Watch her online drum solos and be blown away! You might also enjoy "This Masquerade," which shows off Richard's skill as a jazz pianist. Fabulous song which he, of course, arranged. A wonderful flute solo in it, too. "Solitaire" is another great song! Written by the great Neil Sedaka.
Welcome to the music of Carpenters! Karen was such a pitch perfect singer, I'm not sure there has been anyone else her equal. There is vid out on YT on a channel called "Wings of Pegasus" where he shows how her performances were even more accurate and pitch perfect live than in studio! Unheard of stuff! "Superstar" and "Rainy Days and Mondays" would be my choices for where to go next.
You are watching and listening to a legend in drumming and singing, Karen Carpenter. You need to watch the duet with Ella Fitzgerald that will impress you.If you google all time female singer and drummers she is at or near every listing. Singer/drummers all time same results. She was a pioneering woman. No one compares to this down to earth, gorgeous, kind woman. Madonna, Shania Twain, Paul McCartney and many others were influenced by or admired her. Carpenters were the #1 selling american group of the 70's. Welcome to the Carpenter rabbit hole. Just call her drummer girl. Every song is a joy to hear. Their sales are over 150 million now. Great reaction
Most beautiful female voice in the past 60 years. Although they didn't write this song, Richard arranged it and produced it, despite the wrong credit. Richard was also a terrific songwriter and wrote a number of their hit songs.
This is my favorite of theirs. The first time I heard it was on the radio and as soon as I heard Karen's voice. I stopped dead in my tracks. I had never heard such a beautiful voice in my entire life. ✌️🎶💙
Her contralto voice was as smooth as butter. My favorite female vocalist ever. I'm seeing a lot of great recommendations here in the comments. My go-to song of theirs in recent weeks has been Solitaire. It really showcases her lower register.
I suffer from a severe case of anxiety and depression. When the feeling starts to overcome me, i play Karen Carpenter, her voice is angel sent. She is the only one that can calm my nerves and put me in a state of relaxation and peace. I grew up with her . I think she is one of the most beautiful women in the wolrd . Her voice will forever be in my mind and heart and my soul
This video doesn't show it, but Karen Carpenter was a very good drummer, really at a top level. There is a video of her live playing outdoors for the Ed Sullivan Show at a naval based, I think. The song is "Burt Bacharach and Hal David Medley"; check it out when you get a chance!
After you listen to Superstar, Rainy Days & Mondays and We've Only Just Begun, you have to pull up one of the videos of her playing the drums. She did a few drum performances on TV. She was impressive!
The live outdoor Ed Sullivan Show where they did their Bacharach medley for Walter Reed Hospital is a must if you want to watch her sing and drum. Btw, that is her on the drums on Close to You. Bacharach-Hal David wrote this song.
Immediately became one of the best songs to sing to a baby. Personally I think they were over produced, her voice was beautiful. Burt Bacharach is a famous American composer with many hits in the 60s . He worked with Dionne Warwick quite a bit ☮️
Oh yes... The Carpenters have a deep rabbit hole for you to explore, and "Close to You" was a good choice as a first step to begin your journey (I think it was their first big charted hit). "Goodbye to Love" may be my favorite Carpenters song. It showcases the way Karen can flip from one octave to the next effortlessly, with a voice that sounds like warm honey and is just as soothing to the ear. It makes me sad whenever I hear it, though, because I think saying "goodbye to love" may have been how Karen felt in the end after not finding the love of her life... other than music. "I Need to Be in Love" is another song with the theme of longing for love. "Rainy Days and Mondays" was one of their most popular songs . And yes, there is at least one documentary/biopic about her that I've seen on UA-cam. Thank you for another thoughtful reaction and addition to your musical journey.
The one thing you can predict the first time anyone hears the Carpenters is "Karen's voice!" And everytime after. Her voice was once in a lifetime. Burt Bacharach is a legendary composer with over 70 top 40 songs by a number of singers. Six Oscar nominations for best song and three wins! 22 Grammy nominations, won 6.
If no one has already mentioned it, there is a made-for-tv movie from 1989, The Karen Carpenter Story. Such a wonderful song. I still have the 45 rpm single of it I bought back in the day.
This particular video is "TV live", it's the studio audio you're hearing; but yes, especially early in the duo's career, KC very often sang while drumming...and it sounded just as good as the studio tracks. Check out the 1971 outdoor live Bacharach medley performed for vets at the Walter Reed Medical Center for an outstanding example...
Leon Russell said he only wanted to ever hear one singer sing the songs he wrote, and that was Karen Carpenter. Her singing This Masquerade, A Song for You, and of course Superstar are flawless gems. The genius of the Carpenters however was that it took both Karen's amazing vocals and Richard's song choices and arrangements including layering their own vocals for harmonies to get that magical Carpenters sound. Karen could sing in tune and do a recording on the first take. If you want to watch two masters admiring one another, there is a video from a Carpenters' TV special of Karen and Ella Fitzgerald singing together and those ladies knew how great the other one was. Ella was Karen's musical idol and to see Ella during that performance just enjoying Karen's performance and she even quietly says, so pretty, during the performance. It is so sad her illness took her so young in life but despite that voice, she still thought herself a drummer who could sing.
BTW, Dionne Warwicke did record this song (as you said) because she did a lot of Burt Bacharach's songs. She and Karen became very good friends and you can see her with Richard at Karen's funeral. Olivia Newton John was also a very close friend of Karen and you can see her there, too.
Richard was born in 1946 and was the older brother of Karen, born in 1950. Karen was one of my favorite singers of all time. I sing low alto like she does and love to cover her songs. She died my senior year of high school in 1983. Super sad!!
the backing vocals were ONLY Karen and Richard.. In this video, the other men were their "band" who "sang' in pre-cording videos for their songs and in concerts, but NOT on the actual recording of the songs on their albums...
Karen was one of a kind. There will never be another like her. She had such a pure calming voice. And she was a terrific drummer. That was her passion even more than singing. Sadly we lost her so young. Thankfully we have her legacy left in her music. The Carpenters had so many great songs such as "We've Only Just Begun", "Rainy Days & Mondays", "Superstar", "For All We Know", "Goodbye To Love", "Top Of The World", "Sing", "Yesterday Once More", "I Won't Last A Day Without You", "Please Mr. Postman", "Only Yesterday", "There's A Kind Of Hush (All Over the World)", "I Need To Be In Love" & so many more.
Like ya Man! Do...Superstar or This Masquerade is her strongest... beautiful song. Theres just so many. Keep playing her and youll be bery popular. And youll just feel good when listening to her. Her music saved my life as a kid from a horrible father.
Top U.S. hitmakers of the 1970s... Then and now, her voice was,is and always will be considered one of (if not thee) greatest female pop voice of all time... This song because their first big hit, reaching number #1 on the charts in 1970...
🦚🌺🦚 To echo what just about everyone else has said, Karen had an ethereal, angelic, exquisite voice, with perfect pitch. She will always be mourned for suffering a sad illness and dying too young. Thank goodness for recorded sound, that we may have so many beautiful voices and such talents forever with us. 🦚🌺🦚 My song request: 🌧️💧🌧️ Rainy Days and Mondays 🌧️💧🌧️
watch her drum solo shi simply fantrastic, also a live performance of Burt Baccarach songs performed as a medley outside a war veterans hospital, outside but live worth a look
As you can see on this video, Karen is playing drums while singing in that perfect-pitch, one-of-a-kind contralto voice. Her nickname was "One-Take" because she could usually record a song perfectly on the first try.❤. P.S. when you mentioned other family groups you have reacted to--the BeeGees if course! Sir Barry Gibb was just honored this week at The Kennedy Center Honors, always an elite show, this year's production was the bomb right from the opening moments, starting outside with Gloria Estefan singing sev Miami Sound Machine tunes, moving inside to Sheila E accompanying on percussion. The Spinners singing I never Knew Love b4 in tribute to Dionne Warwick (those pink outfits, so fab, a more elegant version of the stuff they wore in the 70s), Whoopi Goldberg & Robert DeNiro lauding Billy Crystal, amazing voices in tribute to Renee Fleming. And closing the show, Michael Buble, Little Big Town, & Stephen Gibb in honor of Barry with his wife Linda seated right behind him. Must-see for fans of BeeGees, music, and the performing arts💯⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐😮
Absolutely amazing voice! ♥ I suggest these Carpenters songs: Superstar, Rainy Days and Mondays, Yesterday Once More & This Masquerade BTW - if you want to hear a great all female rock band (drummer included), check out Band Maid! I suggest these Band Maid songs: Thrill Dice, Manners, Bubble, Blooming, or Puzzle (live)
This song reminds of my youngest son every time I hear it. Everyone loved to be around him especially the girls. He had a smile that could melt your heart. He passed away in 2001 at the age of 21.
"On the day that you were born the angels got together and decided to create a dream come true, so they sprinkled moondust in your hair of gold and starlight in your eyes of blue. "That is why all the girls in town follow you all around. Just like me, they long to be, close to you."
- BTW, Burt Bacharach wrote MANY hits! (And, you can see/enjoy him in "Austin Powers": "International Man of Mystery", and "The Spy Who Shagged Me" :) ) - In fact, seek out his work w/ Dionne Warwick - they were a great pair!
If I remember correctly, their song „Superstar“ has a guitar solo…this solo makes this song the first power ballad, which became a standard for most future bands. The guitarist was brought in specifically for the solo by Richard & Karen. They were also one of the few bands to use „dubbing“ to multiply their harmonies for a fuller and richer sound. Ahead of their time in many ways……RIP Karen
Great reaction. There is a video on youtube which is just her playing multiple sets of drums. Just search for Karen Carpenter drum solo. Her love for drumming is evident by her huge smile throughout!
Sir, welcome to the Carpenters rabbit hole. It’s a warm sweet and inviting place but has a sad undertone. I see the Carpenters Army has found you and incredibly quickly. You are in very good hands and will get a lot of wonderful recommendations. On of my personal faves is Rainy Days and Mondays (Live at the Desert Inn). It’s got a blue hue but it also has Karen on drums. It and Close To You are both lip syncs. That’s why you didn’t see the strings. It’s hard to tell as they were masters at syncing, especially Karen as her timing as a drummer was second to none. I’m going to instead give you a video compilation of her drumming that was made 2 years ago by a young singer and audio engineer. She can edit video too! It’s one of the best of its kind I’ve seen that isn’t a whole single Karen drumming solo. This gives you a wide flavor of her skill level and it was crazy good. I’m going to try a link if it works and you see it please give a heart so I know you saw it. Links have been failing for me but I can key word a song, this I don’t think. Too many drum videos. Enjoy the ride there are no bad Carpenters song just less favorite and more favorite. That Voice! Joe ua-cam.com/video/QkCb1wxL3kc/v-deo.htmlsi=JR2Gvvm7A0LXPL10
My all-time favorite female pop singer. To this day, I still get choked up😍🤩 when I hear her sing. Note to remember, they were in an era of hippie psychedelic rock. Critics tried to make fun of them at first, but her voice won them over
The song We've Only Just Begun was first an advertising jingle for a California bank. The jingle was so popular they recorded the complete song, which was a hit. It became the most popular wedding song in 1970, the same year I got married in San Diego.
The Carpenter’s Christmas Album is a must for any collector. I would be surprised if you haven’t heard at least one of their holiday songs. A must is also “Bless the Beasts and the Children” which was the title song for a very sad movie. Karen’s voice was very special.
There aren’t a lot of true altos in pop music. She’s actually a great drummer, and their music is just so accessible. Another “soundtrack of my life” group. I sang “We’ve Only Just Begun” at 8th grade graduation, so that one has a special place, also highly recommend Rainy Days and Mondays, and Superstar. Many of their songs sound similar to each other, but when they’re this good, who cares?
Really nice job sir. This song was a must play ( at least one time ) at every high school dance. She died 4 days before my oldest daughters 2 birthday. Though I was devastated, I wasn't surprised. She was sick for years and in a slow decline. I saw her and Richard on Good Morning America not long before she died and it was very disturbing to me to see her in that condition. A once beautiful woman was a skeleton of herself. A very sad and seemingly preventable tragedy. Imho, the world's greatest female singer ( and superb drummer ) was taken from us way too soon. Such a passionate and ANGELIC voice! " On the day that she was born the Angels got together, and decided to create a dream voice come true! ". Those Angels are enjoying that dream voice now. Rest in peace beautiful Karen. May I suggest a medley Karen did with the great Ella Fitzgerald. A masterpiece! Karen was very thin at the time, but was still beautiful and still had her beautiful voice. See if you can make out what Ella whispers to Karen when she first walks up to her.
Love the Carpenters. For another female drummer you should check out Sheila E. You can see her solo performances or a lot of performances with Prince. They worked together a lot throughout the years. She was part of his band in 87-88. She also worked with Santana, Lionel Richie and many others.
Sooo beautiful! Love this song and your comments were terrific- spot on. ❤ Karen was an amazing drummer although you dont see much for this song. You must listen to "We've Only just Begun" ( slow beautiful song) and "Top of the World" ( fun upbeat tempo) both big hits!❤
For me, they are the most important musical duo and Karen's voice has no equal in modern music. It is the closest to what my soul says God's angels sound like. For me, no singer has touched my soul and spirit more than the wondrous Karen Carpenter.
Please react to The Carpenters: -Always Something There to Remind Me -I Won't Last a Day Without You -Rainy Days and Mondays -Top of the World -We've Only Just Begun -Thanks!
The song They Long To Be Close To You was written by the legendary song writing team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. They wrote some of the most beautiful music of the 60’ and 70’s. Hits for many other popular artists. They were a hit song writing team. It worth it to check out their music catalog.
i believe karen was sensitive considered herself a drummer and was happy and felt safe behind her drums.was made to stand out in front to sing.i think lea thompson played her in the biopic and she was getting better but her body was already damaged. we had a similar thing in the uk.lena zavaroni a scottish girl aged 10 was discovered from doing a talent show called opportunity knocks.she was the youngest person in history at the time to have an album in the top 10.she was 4ft 10 (not unusual for us scots women then) she was battling anorexia from 13.like karen when she was on tv singing or presenting you could see she was skinny.i remember seeing an interview were she said she was a bit pudgy.you knew she was just going through puberty and some man from the record company had planted that seed in her.she died oct 1 99 from a chest infection and bronchial pneumonia.3 weeks after surgery.she was 35 and weighed less than 4 stone. i believe their's going to be a stage play about her? please do karen drum solo,rainy days and mondays.
Karen Carpenter had one of the most beautiful voices that has ever graced God's earth. Great reaction
Karen died a tragic death but her voice from God will live on forever. Beautiful reaction, brother. You should definitely do more Carpenters to hear more of her ethereal voice. Superstar is their best IMO but there are so many more to choose from I can't list them all.
None of that autotune crap with anything that beautiful woman sang. She was pure gold.
There's a UA-camr who specializes on whether anyone is using autotune. He was very disappointed that original oldies UA-cam videos are being auto-tuned. There was one specific video in its original version that he listens to. When he went back, he couldn't find it. He found only the auto-tuned ones... Scary that the label owners are going back and redoing these with auto-tune.
. What is their problem? That is disgusting.😮
Karen's battle and her death ended up helping a lot of people at the time....including me. Karen saved my life.
You are at the tip of the iceberg you have no idea I will use two words to describe Karen Carpenter’s voice, effortless and flawless. Definitely one of the greatest female vocalist ever if not the greatest. !! check out rainy days and Mondays. There is just too many songs to list ! Karen Carpenter was only 31 years old and she left an incredible impact on this world
Best female voice. Ever.
I Won't Last A Day Without You is a beautiful song that shows Karen's vocal talent.
Richard's arrangements along with Karen's vocals made music magic. She was known as One Take Karen in the studio because she would nail it first time every time. People have used modern computerized equipment to analyze both studio and live performance recordings of Karen's vocals and modern equipment shows both live and studio to be almost identical. The performances you'll find are from a time before auto tune, just Karen's voice and a simple mic. Some singers will massage your ears, Karen would massage your soul. I believe the backing musicians were studio musicians known as The Wrecking Crew.
When Karen died it was such a shock to all of us Baby Boomers. They were legendary, for sure. This was their first hit.
Holly, I was at a party and the news came on. Well, the party stopped. My heart dropped and people began saying the same thing...girls started crying. I want to cry...well I did later and still do!
Karen Carpenter saved my life. I was 87 pounds and nothing but bones and butt at 17 from anorexia. I’m now 58 and grandmother to 5 because of the publicity and awareness of her struggle.
Karen was amazing.
Pitch perfect & clear (w/o auto tune.)
Beautiful, rich tone.
3-octave range.
Incredible breath control.
Impeccable diction.
Seamless transition between her upper & lower registers.
And she makes you FEEL every word!!
(And Richard knew how to make the arrangements - instrumentation, timing, etc. - that fit them perfectly. Add their tight harmonies and… pure PERFECTION!)
Karen was beautiful inside & out with the voice of an angel. She considered herself a drummer who also sang. She preferred drumming to singing, but once the record people heard her sing, that was it, she had to sing. Check out her drumming video here on UA-cam!
Grew up during their prime. She was fragile and shy but the industry pushed her out front then body shamed her into full blown anorexia. Watching her dissappear in front of my eyes was a tragedy.
“Superstar” is my favorite of her songs. More bluesy and melancholy. Haunting!
Probably the prettiest voice ever. You could float away on it.
Amazing description of her voice
Spot on
She's a talented drummer. I was shocked. There's videos on UA-cam showing her skills.
Loved your compassion for Karen's sad story. Did you know she was an award-winning JAZZ drummer before she started singing? Watch her online drum solos and be blown away! You might also enjoy "This Masquerade," which shows off Richard's skill as a jazz pianist. Fabulous song which he, of course, arranged. A wonderful flute solo in it, too. "Solitaire" is another great song! Written by the great Neil Sedaka.
You should check out her drum solo video it's really good
Welcome to the music of Carpenters! Karen was such a pitch perfect singer, I'm not sure there has been anyone else her equal. There is vid out on YT on a channel called "Wings of Pegasus" where he shows how her performances were even more accurate and pitch perfect live than in studio! Unheard of stuff! "Superstar" and "Rainy Days and Mondays" would be my choices for where to go next.
You are watching and listening to a legend in drumming and singing, Karen Carpenter. You need to watch the duet with Ella Fitzgerald that will impress you.If you google all time female singer and drummers she is at or near every listing. Singer/drummers all time same results. She was a pioneering woman. No one compares to this down to earth, gorgeous, kind woman. Madonna, Shania Twain, Paul McCartney and many others were influenced by or admired her. Carpenters were the #1 selling american group of the 70's. Welcome to the Carpenter rabbit hole. Just call her drummer girl. Every song is a joy to hear. Their sales are over 150 million now. Great reaction
Most beautiful female voice in the past 60 years. Although they didn't write this song, Richard arranged it and produced it, despite the wrong credit. Richard was also a terrific songwriter and wrote a number of their hit songs.
Her voice is considered to be on the rare side. I have never heard one like it yet.
Not in my lifetime. Maybe never.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Karen's voice and vibe were and are so pure, her voice is unrivaled in my opinion. ❤❤❤
Burt Bacharach and Hal David were an incredibly successful songwriting team who wrote for other performers. Huge hits from 60s-70s.
Rainy Days And Mondays, and Superstar are two of their biggest and best.
This is my favorite of theirs. The first time I heard it was on the radio and as soon as I heard Karen's voice. I stopped dead in my tracks. I had never heard such a beautiful voice in my entire life. ✌️🎶💙
Karen was a incredible drummer, highly respected. You should just check out her drum solo special...
Check out her Christmas song… merry Christmas darling.. her voice really shines in that song
A deep dive is never a disappointment. ❤ I'd say with confidence, shes a top 100 drummer and top 10 singer of all time.
Her contralto voice was as smooth as butter. My favorite female vocalist ever. I'm seeing a lot of great recommendations here in the comments. My go-to song of theirs in recent weeks has been Solitaire. It really showcases her lower register.
I suffer from a severe case of anxiety and depression. When the feeling starts to overcome me, i play Karen Carpenter, her voice is angel sent. She is the only one that can calm my nerves and put me in a state of relaxation and peace. I grew up with her . I think she is one of the most beautiful women in the wolrd . Her voice will forever be in my mind and heart and my soul
She has 50 + beautiful songs! Maybe closer to 100!! Since she was 15!!
The Carpenters "SUPERSTAR" 🙌
This video doesn't show it, but Karen Carpenter was a very good drummer, really at a top level. There is a video of her live playing outdoors for the Ed Sullivan Show at a naval based, I think. The song is "Burt Bacharach and Hal David Medley"; check it out when you get a chance!
After you listen to Superstar, Rainy Days & Mondays and We've Only Just Begun, you have to pull up one of the videos of her playing the drums. She did a few drum performances on TV. She was impressive!
The live outdoor Ed Sullivan Show where they did their Bacharach medley for Walter Reed Hospital is a must if you want to watch her sing and drum. Btw, that is her on the drums on Close to You. Bacharach-Hal David wrote this song.
The singing was recorded in one take. She was known as “one take” Karen.
Her voice is like velvet to me.
They had a zillion hits in their day.
Immediately became one of the best songs to sing to a baby. Personally I think they were over produced, her voice was beautiful. Burt Bacharach is a famous American composer with many hits in the 60s . He worked with Dionne Warwick quite a bit ☮️
I was a little girl and watched her starve to death. It was the first time we actually saw this as a disease. Her voice was angelic.
Oh yes... The Carpenters have a deep rabbit hole for you to explore, and "Close to You" was a good choice as a first step to begin your journey (I think it was their first big charted hit). "Goodbye to Love" may be my favorite Carpenters song. It showcases the way Karen can flip from one octave to the next effortlessly, with a voice that sounds like warm honey and is just as soothing to the ear. It makes me sad whenever I hear it, though, because I think saying "goodbye to love" may have been how Karen felt in the end after not finding the love of her life... other than music. "I Need to Be in Love" is another song with the theme of longing for love. "Rainy Days and Mondays" was one of their most popular songs . And yes, there is at least one documentary/biopic about her that I've seen on UA-cam. Thank you for another thoughtful reaction and addition to your musical journey.
some fabulous songs to hear, ordinary fool, one more time, Superstar, those good old dreaMS
I was in my teens during these times. The were amazing and I have always felt she had the perfect, most beautiful voice ever!
The one thing you can predict the first time anyone hears the Carpenters is "Karen's voice!"
And everytime after. Her voice was once in a lifetime.
Burt Bacharach is a legendary composer with over 70 top 40 songs by a number of singers. Six Oscar nominations for best song and three wins! 22 Grammy nominations, won 6.
If no one has already mentioned it, there is a made-for-tv movie from 1989, The Karen Carpenter Story.
Such a wonderful song. I still have the 45 rpm single of it I bought back in the day.
Now you've done it. You've started down the Carpenters pathway, and there is no escape!
But who wants to escape? 😉
The unparalleled voice and meanwhile she’s playing the drums! Incredibly talented and of course heartbreaking
This particular video is "TV live", it's the studio audio you're hearing; but yes, especially early in the duo's career, KC very often sang while drumming...and it sounded just as good as the studio tracks. Check out the 1971 outdoor live Bacharach medley performed for vets at the Walter Reed Medical Center for an outstanding example...
She was an exceptional DRUMMER before she began to focus on singing. Rolling Stone lists her as one of the top drummers.
Leon Russell said he only wanted to ever hear one singer sing the songs he wrote, and that was Karen Carpenter. Her singing This Masquerade, A Song for You, and of course Superstar are flawless gems. The genius of the Carpenters however was that it took both Karen's amazing vocals and Richard's song choices and arrangements including layering their own vocals for harmonies to get that magical Carpenters sound. Karen could sing in tune and do a recording on the first take. If you want to watch two masters admiring one another, there is a video from a Carpenters' TV special of Karen and Ella Fitzgerald singing together and those ladies knew how great the other one was. Ella was Karen's musical idol and to see Ella during that performance just enjoying Karen's performance and she even quietly says, so pretty, during the performance. It is so sad her illness took her so young in life but despite that voice, she still thought herself a drummer who could sing.
I've heard their nickname for her was "one take Karen."
BTW, Dionne Warwicke did record this song (as you said) because she did a lot of Burt Bacharach's songs. She and Karen became very good friends and you can see her with Richard at Karen's funeral. Olivia Newton John was also a very close friend of Karen and you can see her there, too.
Was lucky enough to see them several times. What a beautiful voice she had.
Such a beautiful voice, taken far too soon from us. I grew up singing their songs in the car with my mom on the way to school. I was so lucky!
Richard was born in 1946 and was the older brother of Karen, born in 1950. Karen was one of my favorite singers of all time. I sing low alto like she does and love to cover her songs. She died my senior year of high school in 1983. Super sad!!
Exceptional talent and beautiful lady.
the backing vocals were ONLY Karen and Richard.. In this video, the other men were their "band" who "sang' in pre-cording videos for their songs and in concerts, but NOT on the actual recording of the songs on their albums...
As you can imagine this was a monster hit. It was played at many many weddings
Karen Carpenter could definitely go crazy on the drums. She was anazing
Karen was one of a kind. There will never be another like her. She had such a pure calming voice. And she was a terrific drummer. That was her passion even more than singing. Sadly we lost her so young. Thankfully we have her legacy left in her music. The Carpenters had so many great songs such as "We've Only Just Begun", "Rainy Days & Mondays", "Superstar", "For All We Know", "Goodbye To Love", "Top Of The World", "Sing", "Yesterday Once More", "I Won't Last A Day Without You", "Please Mr. Postman", "Only Yesterday", "There's A Kind Of Hush (All Over the World)", "I Need To Be In Love" & so many more.
Only a beautiful heart could make a review this perfect❣️
I am convinced that if an angel came to earth and sang to me, she would sound exactly like Karen Carpenter.
Like ya Man! Do...Superstar or This Masquerade is her strongest... beautiful song. Theres just so many. Keep playing her and youll be bery popular. And youll just feel good when listening to her. Her music saved my life as a kid from a horrible father.
The carpenter's doing the song "dancing in the streets", 1960s, on a variety show. Great vidio.
There’s a really cool video out there with her playing drums for almost 10-15 minutes (or at least that’s my memory of it). It’s amazing to watch!
Top U.S. hitmakers of the 1970s... Then and now, her voice was,is and always will be considered one of (if not thee) greatest female pop voice of all time... This song because their first big hit, reaching number #1 on the charts in 1970...
And, also, there was a biopic that come out in 1989 about the Carpenters.
🦚🌺🦚 To echo what just about everyone else has said, Karen had an ethereal, angelic, exquisite voice, with perfect pitch. She will always be mourned for suffering a sad illness and dying too young. Thank goodness for recorded sound, that we may have so many beautiful voices and such talents forever with us. 🦚🌺🦚
My song request: 🌧️💧🌧️ Rainy Days and Mondays 🌧️💧🌧️
watch her drum solo shi simply fantrastic, also a live performance of Burt Baccarach songs performed as a medley outside a war veterans hospital, outside but live worth a look
More than worth a look. It's a must-see. Unlike most videos made for TV broadcast, that 1971 medley at Walter Reed is pure live, and stunning.
This song was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, who wrote some of most wonderful and influential songs of the 60's and 70's.
As you can see on this video, Karen is playing drums while singing in that perfect-pitch, one-of-a-kind contralto voice. Her nickname was "One-Take" because she could usually record a song perfectly on the first try.❤. P.S. when you mentioned other family groups you have reacted to--the BeeGees if course! Sir Barry Gibb was just honored this week at The Kennedy Center Honors, always an elite show, this year's production was the bomb right from the opening moments, starting outside with Gloria Estefan singing sev Miami Sound Machine tunes, moving inside to Sheila E accompanying on percussion. The Spinners singing I never Knew Love b4 in tribute to Dionne Warwick (those pink outfits, so fab, a more elegant version of the stuff they wore in the 70s), Whoopi Goldberg & Robert DeNiro lauding Billy Crystal, amazing voices in tribute to Renee Fleming. And closing the show, Michael Buble, Little Big Town, & Stephen Gibb in honor of Barry with his wife Linda seated right behind him. Must-see for fans of BeeGees, music, and the performing arts💯⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐😮
What a voice
Absolutely amazing voice! ♥ I suggest these Carpenters songs: Superstar, Rainy Days and Mondays, Yesterday Once More & This Masquerade
BTW - if you want to hear a great all female rock band (drummer included), check out Band Maid!
I suggest these Band Maid songs: Thrill Dice, Manners, Bubble, Blooming, or Puzzle (live)
This song reminds of my youngest son every time I hear it. Everyone loved to be around him especially the girls. He had a smile that could melt your heart. He passed away in 2001 at the age of 21.
"On the day that you were born the angels got together and decided to create a dream come true, so they sprinkled moondust in your hair of gold and starlight in your eyes of blue.
"That is why all the girls in town follow you all around. Just like me, they long to be, close to you."
Karen had the most beautiful and pure voice I've ever heard, and I'm older than dirt.
- BTW, Burt Bacharach wrote MANY hits! (And, you can see/enjoy him in "Austin Powers": "International Man of Mystery", and "The Spy Who Shagged Me" :) )
- In fact, seek out his work w/ Dionne Warwick - they were a great pair!
Check out "Goodbye To Love". Great vocals and a great guitar solo.
Her voice is so soothing. I was having back issues this morning. After hearing this, they went away for a few minutes. Awesome reaction.
Her musicians used to tune their instruments to her voice instead of the piano. She was that pitch perfect.
If I remember correctly, their song „Superstar“ has a guitar solo…this solo makes this song the first power ballad, which became a standard for most future bands. The guitarist was brought in specifically for the solo by Richard & Karen. They were also one of the few bands to use „dubbing“ to multiply their harmonies for a fuller and richer sound. Ahead of their time in many ways……RIP Karen
Not Superstar, but Goodbye to Love
Great reaction. There is a video on youtube which is just her playing multiple sets of drums. Just search for Karen Carpenter drum solo. Her love for drumming is evident by her huge smile throughout!
Sir, welcome to the Carpenters rabbit hole. It’s a warm sweet and inviting place but has a sad undertone. I see the Carpenters Army has found you and incredibly quickly. You are in very good hands and will get a lot of wonderful recommendations. On of my personal faves is Rainy Days and Mondays (Live at the Desert Inn). It’s got a blue hue but it also has Karen on drums. It and Close To You are both lip syncs. That’s why you didn’t see the strings. It’s hard to tell as they were masters at syncing, especially Karen as her timing as a drummer was second to none.
I’m going to instead give you a video compilation of her drumming that was made 2 years ago by a young singer and audio engineer. She can edit video too! It’s one of the best of its kind I’ve seen that isn’t a whole single Karen drumming solo. This gives you a wide flavor of her skill level and it was crazy good. I’m going to try a link if it works and you see it please give a heart so I know you saw it. Links have been failing for me but I can key word a song, this I don’t think. Too many drum videos. Enjoy the ride there are no bad Carpenters song just less favorite and more favorite.
That Voice!
Joe
ua-cam.com/video/QkCb1wxL3kc/v-deo.htmlsi=JR2Gvvm7A0LXPL10
My all-time favorite female pop singer. To this day, I still get choked up😍🤩 when I hear her sing. Note to remember, they were in an era of hippie psychedelic rock. Critics tried to make fun of them at first, but her voice won them over
One hit after another
One of the most angelic voices ever❤ I'm an old lady and was a teenager when this came out and still love it. Thanks for the reaction.
The song We've Only Just Begun was first an advertising jingle for a California bank. The jingle was so popular they recorded the complete song, which was a hit. It became the most popular wedding song in 1970, the same year I got married in San Diego.
When I fell in love with my first husband, this song was new and very popular!!! Karen had such a gorgeous voice!
One of my all time favorite groups. Major rabbit hole alert.
She was known as One Take Karen and was originally a drummer who sang. You should check out her drumming videos on UA-cam.
The Carpenter’s Christmas Album is a must for any collector. I would be surprised if you haven’t heard at least one of their holiday songs. A must is also “Bless the Beasts and the Children” which was the title song for a very sad movie. Karen’s voice was very special.
First female drummer of note I'm familiar with was from The Honeycombs. Try "Have I the Right"!
There aren’t a lot of true altos in pop music. She’s actually a great drummer, and their music is just so accessible. Another “soundtrack of my life” group. I sang “We’ve Only Just Begun” at 8th grade graduation, so that one has a special place, also highly recommend Rainy Days and Mondays, and Superstar. Many of their songs sound similar to each other, but when they’re this good, who cares?
Really nice job sir. This song was a must play ( at least one time ) at every high school dance. She died 4 days before my oldest daughters 2 birthday. Though I was devastated, I wasn't surprised. She was sick for years and in a slow decline. I saw her and Richard on Good Morning America not long before she died and it was very disturbing to me to see her in that condition. A once beautiful woman was a skeleton of herself. A very sad and seemingly preventable tragedy. Imho, the world's greatest female singer ( and superb drummer ) was taken from us way too soon. Such a passionate and ANGELIC voice! " On the day that she was born the Angels got together, and decided to create a dream voice come true! ". Those Angels are enjoying that dream voice now. Rest in peace beautiful Karen.
May I suggest a medley Karen did with the great Ella Fitzgerald. A masterpiece! Karen was very thin at the time, but was still beautiful and still had her beautiful voice. See if you can make out what Ella whispers to Karen when she first walks up to her.
Man where have you been? Well, do all of her music!
Carpenters/Desperado😮😊
Love the Carpenters. For another female drummer you should check out Sheila E. You can see her solo performances or a lot of performances with Prince. They worked together a lot throughout the years. She was part of his band in 87-88. She also worked with Santana, Lionel Richie and many others.
Sooo beautiful! Love this song and your comments were terrific- spot on. ❤ Karen was an amazing drummer although you dont see much for this song. You must listen to "We've Only just Begun" ( slow beautiful song) and "Top of the World" ( fun upbeat tempo) both big hits!❤
Saw them in 74!!
For me, they are the most important musical duo and Karen's voice has no equal in modern music. It is the closest to what my soul says God's angels sound like. For me, no singer has touched my soul and spirit more than the wondrous Karen Carpenter.
Please react to The Carpenters: -Always Something There to Remind Me -I Won't Last a Day Without You -Rainy Days and Mondays -Top of the World -We've Only Just Begun -Thanks!
The song They Long To Be Close To You was written by the legendary song writing team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. They wrote some of the most beautiful music of the 60’ and 70’s. Hits for many other popular artists. They were a hit song writing team. It worth it to check out their music catalog.
Now listen to Superstar, Goodbye to Love, Rainy Days and Mondays, Masquerade and Solitaire to fully appreciate what an angel sounds like.
i believe karen was sensitive considered herself a drummer and was happy and felt safe behind her drums.was made to stand out in front to sing.i think lea thompson played her in the biopic and she was getting better but her body was already damaged.
we had a similar thing in the uk.lena zavaroni a scottish girl aged 10 was discovered from doing a talent show called opportunity knocks.she was the youngest person in history at the time to have an album in the top 10.she was 4ft 10 (not unusual for us scots women then) she was battling anorexia from 13.like karen when she was on tv singing or presenting you could see she was skinny.i remember seeing an interview were she said she was a bit pudgy.you knew she was just going through puberty and some man from the record company had planted that seed in her.she died oct 1 99 from a chest infection and bronchial pneumonia.3 weeks after surgery.she was 35 and weighed less than 4 stone.
i believe their's going to be a stage play about her?
please do karen drum solo,rainy days and mondays.