I tear up with sad tears and happy ones every time I listen to her. On the front wall in the church where her memorial was done, there was a banner with a quote from her: Forget the world. Just Give Me Jesus!
Karen was voted above Led Zeppelin's John Bonham on a list of best drummers by Playboy magazine in 1975. As a drummer, I tried to sing while playing, and never could get the hang of it. One would try to override the other. Karen was a great drummer, and a great singer. As shown here, she did both together effortlessly. Gone too soon, and forever missed.
She and her brother on piano could harmonize as tightly as the Righteous Brothers, both duos so so good. This song was my favorite song when I was engaged to my ex. Great cuddling song.
Funny. I've been to more concerts than I can count. From Classical to The Ramones and in a lot in between. My dad took me and my sister to see The Carpenters when I was like 7 years old and I still have flashes of that show that are really magical and amazing. And as a percussionist, she is seriously skilled man...Really. Amazing right hand.
The very first "record" I ever purchased was the "Close To You" album, their very first album, in 1970. I was privileged to hear the Carpenters in concert while a cadet at the United States Academy in 1976--they performed in Arnold Hall, the Academy's Social Center. The late, great Ms. Karen Carpenter was once quoted as saying she wished she were as good a singer as she was a drummer--imagine that.
Back in the 70's when we had the biggest variety of quality music of all kinds and great songwriting and genuine vocal TALENT made the music not beat boxes grungy lyrics subs and there was NO auto tune or computer gadgetry to help you sing - you either sounded good or you didnt depending strictly on your talent level - Karen and her band had all the real talent they needed, no doctoring.
I was around ten or eleven when the Carpenters hit the airwaves but I remember them and their songs vividly. Adored them from day 1 and this song has always been rapturous.
Two things: 1) It’s always nice seeing someone discover Carpenters for the first time. 2) I think Karen would’ve loved your t-shirt-I don’t remember if she loved Mickey Mouse? I could’ve sworn she did, according to one of the biographies out there. And she and her brother Richard used to live close enough to Disneyland to work there as musicians for a bit. (Look up their song “Mr. Guder”-it’s a song about the boss they had at Disneyland.)
Very nice reaction young lady. This song was a must play at every high school dance when I was young. Such an extremely talented duo! Sing and play drums at the same time takes some talent. Richards talents and contributions were often overlooked due to Karen's beauty and ANGELIC voice.
YOU8NG LADY ----------THIS IS FROM THAT LONG AGO, SUMMER OF 1970. KAREN WAS 20 Y/O, & HER BROTHER RICHARD---------ON PIANO--------WAS 23 Y/O. THIS WAS ALL RICHARD'S ARRANGEMENT & PRODUCTION. ----------I WAS 23 Y/O, HEADING TO 24, IN SEPTEMBER. THE VERY 1ST TIME I HEARD THIS SONG, I WALKED ALL THE WAY TO DOWNTOWN DENVER---------MY HOMETOWN---------TO MY #1 RECORD STORE, PAID 59 CENTS FOR THE 45, TOOK IT HOMRE, & PLAYED IT ABOUT 25 TIMES IN A ROW, JUST IN LOVE WITH KAREN'S VOICE, THE NOTE-PERFECT HARONY, & KNOWING THIS WAS A #1 SONG FOR CERTAIN ! THE SONG SOARED TO #1 ALL OVER THE WORLD ! AND BY THE WAY, IN THE STUDIO, ALL THE HARMONY VOICES, WERE RICHARD & KAREN, OVER-DUBBIMNG THEIR OWN VOICES TO MAKE 8 VOICES FROM 2 VOICES. IN CONCERT, THEY ADDED 2 EXTRA SINGERS, TO CREATE 4 PART HARMONY. ----I SAW THEM 5 TIMES BETWEEN '71 & '73, & IN PERSON, KAREN'S VOICE WAS EVEN BETTER, IF YOU CAN IMAGINE. -------KAREN DIED IN FEBRUARY OF '83, LOSING HER FIGHT WITH ANOREXIA, BINGE-PERGE EATING, & A CRIPPLING, LIFE ONG, STRUGGLE WITH HER OWN SELF-IMAGE. LOSING HER WAS SO TRAGIC ; SHE WAS 32 Y/O. --------MJL, 77 Y/O
Written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach in 1963. Karen Carpenter died in early 1983. Featured in The Simpsons Movie(2007). "Junto a Vos" in South America.
Yup, I fell down the Carpenters rabbit hole about 8 years ago. And I'm a classic rock (Led Zeppelin, Van Halen) type of guy. When you dig deep into their catalog. You realize just how talented their really were. Karen Carpenter was and still is, simply the greatest female "pop" vocalist ever.
Some reactions to consider 🤔: Michael Jackson - Earth Song (Official Video), Tony! Toni! Tone! - Lay Your Head On My Pillow Music Video (toninho marcal YT channel) or Bobby Brown - Good Enough Music Video (toninho marcal YT channel). Don't let the low music video view count on toninho marcal's YT channel sway you, both of those songs have millions of views on their official YT channels (audio) and were music chart hits.
Hi Sheray! I’m glad to see your journey into the Carpenters rabbit hole continues. This song was not live and Karen was miming to Hal Blaine on the album drum track. It’s wonderful anyway as you can hardly tell. I’m going to recommend a totally LIVE performance with Karen on drums and it features her going at it on the drums. Not a full solo but she’s really going to town on the drums. Buckle your seat belt. The song is Mr. Guder, a lesser known but still awesome song. The feature is it was live on The Tonight Show in 1973. It is a restored video so it looks AMAZING. You may need to dial down the graphics to 720p as it can also play at 4K. I don’t want your video to stutter. It will still look fantastic. I know this video will drive you crazy (in a good way) so enjoy! Joe th-cam.com/video/WN6y7RJoYv4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=2K-Wn66hgcQhLuha .
A fantastic reaction🌹! Actually, you reacted to this song before but it was a live performance version of the song. I see 👁👁 you have reacted to The Carpenters before: Only Yesterday, Hurting Each Other, Sweet Sweet Smile, We’ve Only Just Begun, Rainy Days And Mondays, (They Long To Be) Close To You- Live, Superstar, Song Medley w/ Ella Fitzgerald, Top Of The World and A Song For You. (They Long To Be) Close To You was released as the lead single from The Carpenter's 1970 debut album: Close To You. It was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was produced by Jack Daugherty. The song reached #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, #1 on the Cash Box 100 and #1 on the Hot 100. No info on the music video is available. This was the first of a string of hits for the Carpenters. The song earned the Carpenters a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus in 1971.The record was certified Gold (1,000,000 copies sold) by the RIAA in August 1970. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. They are brother and sister. Karen Carpenter always considered herself a "drummer who sang". She has a very Heavenly singing voice 👼. She passed away in 1983 🙏. The song was first released as a single by Richard Chamberlain in 1963. The song was also recorded as a demo by Dionne Warwick in 1963, was re-recorded with a Burt Bacharach arrangement for her album: Make Way For Dionne Warwick (1964), and was released as the B-side of her 1965 single: "Here I Am". Dusty Springfield recorded the song in August 1964, but her version was not released commercially until it appeared on her album: Where Am I Going? (1967). Burt Bacharach released his own version in 1971. But the version recorded by the Carpenters with instrumental backing by LA studio musicians from the Wrecking Crew, which became a hit in 1970, was the most successful. Richard Carpenter said of recording this song: "He (Herb Alpert) just gave me a lead sheet, and he said: 'I have a recording of this, but I don't want you to hear it. I don't want anything to influence what I may come up with. Just keep, at the end of the first bridge, two piano quintuplets'. That record, that song, the arrangement, all of it, is misleading to the uninitiated, because it sounds simple. And it's anything but simple". In their first sessions for this song, Karen Carpenter played the drums, which Herb Alpert didn't like. Said the producer: "I thought it was a little light. And so I asked them to go back in the studio again, because Karen was playing drums. And they recorded it the second time and I still felt they were missing a little something on the groove, so I suggested very carefully to Karen that maybe Hal Blaine should come in and play drums on it". Hal Blaine replaced Karen on drums and they got the take they liked with Richard on piano, Joe Osborn on bass, and Karen singing. The trumpet part in the middle of the song didn't come easy: Richard Carpenter had a very specific sound in mind, and had multiple trumpets trying to play it, which wasn't working because each trumpet was playing slightly different. Chuck Findley solved the problem by playing all the parts himself, then layering them together to create the elusive sound Richard Carpenter wanted. In 1986, Gwen Guthrie released her cover version of the song, which could only partially build on the success of her hit song: "Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent". Compared to the original, her version is very synthesizer-heavy and is adapted to the time. In the music video, Gwen Guthrie sings the song on a stage while the crowd dances and papparazi crowd the stage. The song has been covered by many other artists including 📻: Isaac Hayes, Diana Ross, Bobby Womack, The Cranberries, Ron Isley & Lauryn Hill, B.T. Express, Gerald LeVert & Tamia, Billy Vaughn, Josie And The Pussycats, Richard Evans, Jerry Butler & Brenda Lee Eager, BJ Thomas, The Ventures, Frank Sinatra, Young-Holt Unlimited, Jimmy Bo Horne, Claudine Longet, Johnny Mathis, Phyliss Dillion, Engelbert Humperdinck, Alan Caddy, Ferrante & Teicher, Ken Dodd, Candie, Perry Como, Vince Hill, Petula Clark, Boots Randolph, Carmen McRae, The Lettermen and more. Song Credits 📝: Karen Carpenter - lead and backing vocals Richard Carpenter - backing vocals, piano, Wurlitzer electronic piano, harpsichord, orchestration Joe Osborn - bass Hal Blaine - drums Chuck Findley - trumpet Bob Messenger - flute Uncredited - vibraphone Lyrics 🗒: Why do birds suddenly appear Every time you are near? Just like me, they long to be Close to you Why do stars fall down from the sky Every time you walk by? Just like me, they long to be Close to you On the day that you were born the angels got together And decided to create a dream come true So they sprinkled moon dust 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 On the day that you were born the angels got together And decided to create a dream come true So they sprinkled moon dust 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 Just like me, they long to be Close to you Wa, close to you Wa, close to you Ha, close to you La, close to you The Carpenters Info 📰: The Carpenters (officially known as Carpenters) were an vocal and instrumental duo consisting of siblings Karen Carpenter born on March 2, 1950 in New Haven, Connecticut and Richard Carpenter born on October 15, 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut. They produced a distinctive soft musical style, combining Karen Carpenter's contralto vocals with Richard Carpenter's harmonizing, arranging and composition skills. During their 14-year career, The Carpenters released 14 studio albums, two Christmas albums, two live albums, 49 singles, numerous compilation albums and several television specials. Their music continues to attract critical acclaim and commercial success. They have sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time. The Carpenter siblings were born in New Haven, Connecticut, and moved to Downey, California, in 1963. Richard Carpenter took piano lessons as a child, progressing to California State University, Long Beach, while Karen Carpenter learned the drums. They first performed together as a duo in 1965 and formed the Jazz-oriented Richard Carpenter Trio followed by the middle-of-the-road group Spectrum. Signing as The Carpenters to A&M Records in 1969, they achieved major success the following year with the hit singles: "(They Long To Be) Close To You" and "We've Only Just Begun". The duo's brand of melodic Pop produced a record-breaking run of hit recordings on the American Top 40 and Adult Contemporary charts, and they became leading sellers in the Soft Rock, Easy Listening, and Adult Contemporary music genres. They had three number-one singles and five number-two singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and 15 number-one hits on the Adult Contemporary chart, in addition to 12 top-10 singles. The duo toured continually during the 1970s, which put them under increased strain; Richard Carpenter took a year off in 1979 after he had become addicted to Quaalude, while Karen Carpenter suffered from anorexia nervosa. Their joint career ended in 1983 when Karen Carpenter passed away from heart failure brought on by complications of anorexia. Extensive news coverage surrounding these circumstances increased public awareness of eating disorders. A critical re-evaluation of The Carpenters occurred during the 1990s and 2000s with the making of several documentaries including- Close To You: Remembering The Carpenters (US), The Sayonara (Japan) and Only Yesterday: The Carpenters Story (UK). Despite contentions that their sound was "too soft" to fall under the definition of Rock and Roll, major campaigns and petitions exist toward inducting The Carpenters into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2021, longtime Carpenters historian Chris May and Associated Press entertainment journalist Mike Cidoni Lennox published the book: "Carpenters: The Musical Legacy", based on interviews with Richard Carpenter. It features rare photographs and newly revealed stories behind the making of the albums. Goldmine magazine said the book "provided a candid and detailed look at much of what went into the Carpenters sound as well as Richard's personal thoughts on the music business today". *****CONTINUE BELOW*****
Karen Carpenter Passing 🙏: On February 4, 1983 Karen Carpenter was scheduled to sign papers to finalize her divorce. Shortly after waking up that morning, she collapsed on the floor of a walk-in closet at her parents' home in Downey, California. Paramedics found her unconscious and in cardiac arrest, with her heart beating once every 10 seconds (6 bpm). She was rushed by ambulance to Downey Community Hospital, where she was pronounced as deceased at 9:51 a.m. She was only 32 years old. Karen Carpenter's funeral was held on February 8, 1983, at Downey United Methodist Church. Approximately 1,000 mourners attended, including her friends Dionne Warwick, Dorothy Hamill, Olivia Newton-John and Petula Clark. Her estranged husband Thomas Burris placed his wedding ring into her casket. Karen Carpenter was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cypress, California. In 2003, her body was moved, along with those of her parents, to a private mausoleum at the Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village, California. An autopsy released on March 11, 1983, discounted drug overdose, attributing Karen Carpenter's death to "emetine cardiotoxicity due to or as a consequence of anorexia nervosa". In 1987, Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story, a short film was produced. In 1989, a CBS television movie based on her life was produced called: The Karen Carpenter Story. Legacy 🛡: Rolling Stone ranked the Carpenters No. 10 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time. Karen Carpenter has been called one of the greatest female vocalists of all time by Rolling Stone (#132 on their list of 200 Greatest Singers of All Time) and National Public Radio. Paul McCartney has said she was "the best female voice in the world: melodic, tuneful and distinctive", while Herb Alpert said she was "the type of singer who would sit in your lap and sing in your ear". Honors And Awards 🏅: The Carpenters won four Grammy Awards: Best New Artist (1971), Best Contemporary Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus for "(They Long To Be) Close To You" (1971), Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for "Carpenters" (1972). The Carpenters also won an American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group (1974). The Carpenters had two songs inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame: "We've Only Just Begun" and "(They Long To Be) Close To You". Miscellaneous Note 🗃: In December 1976, the Carpenters’ very first television special titled: Carpenters Very First Television Special, landed at number 6 in the Nielsen ratings, and led to an ABC contract resulting in four more ABC television specials: Carpenters At Christmas (1977), Carpenters Space Encounters (1978), The Carpenters: A Christmas Portrait (1978) and Music Music Music (1980). The Carpenters Albums 📀: Offering (1969) *Re-released as Ticket To Ride Close To You (1970) Carpenters (1971) A Song For You (1972) Now & Then (1973) Horizon (1975) A Kind Of Hush (1976) Passage (1977) Christmas Portrait (1978) Made In America (1981) Voice Of The Heart (1983) An Old-Fashioned Christmas (1984) Lovelines (1989) As Time Goes By (2004) Karen Carpenter Albums 📀: Karen Carpenter (1996) *Recorded 1979-1980 Richard Carpenter Albums 📀: Time (1987) Pianist, Arranger, Composer, Conductor (1998) Richard Carpenter's Piano Songbook (2022) Some more good songs by the Carpenters 🎶: Goodbye To Love, Jambalaya (On The Bayou), Ticket To Ride, Yesterday Once More, It's Going To Take Some Time, For All We Know, Sing, Your Wonderful Parade, Someday, Get Together, All Of My Life, Turn Away, What's The Use, All I Can Do, Eve, Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing, Maybe It's You, There's A Kind Of Hush, Goofus, Can't Smile Without You, I Need To Be In Love, One More Time, I Have You, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Reason To Believe, It's Christmas Time, Baby It's You, Crescent Noon, Another Song, Mr Guder, Strength Of A Woman, I Kept On Loving You, Those Good Old Dreams, Piano Picker, When You've Got What It Takes, B'Wana She No Home, Love Is Surrender, Aurora, I Believe You, Touch Me When We're Dancing, Somebody's Been Lyin', Man Smart Woman Smarter, Don't Cry For Me Argentina, Merry Christmas Darling, Beechwood 4-5789, Now, Two Sides, When It's Gone (It's Just Gone), Desperado, Love Me For What I Am, You, I'll Never Fall In Love Again, Please Mister Postman, (I'm Caught Between) Goodbye And I Love You, Sandy, One Love, I Can Dream Can't I, Two Lives, It's Going To Take Some Time, Bless The Beasts And Children, Boat To Sail, I Won't Last A Day Without You, Sometimes, On The Balcony Of The Casa Rosada, Druscilla Penny, I Can't Make Music, Yesterday Once More, Sailing On The Tide, Don't Be Afraid, Happy, Look To Your Dreams, Crystal Lullaby, Heather, This Masquerade, Ordinary Fool, Solitaire, You're Enough, Make Believe It's Your First Time, At The End Of A Song, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Saturday, Road Ode, Prime Time Love, I Just Fall In Love Again, Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore, Help, Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem Of World Contact Day), Because We Are In Love (The Wedding Song), Eventide, Looking For Love, Happy, Let Me Be The One, (A Place To) Hideaway, Flat Baroque, All You Get From Love Is A Love Song and (Want You) Back In My Life Again. Fun Fact 🕵♀: In 1997, a PBS TV documentary titled: "Close To You: Remembering The Carpenters", was released featuring Karen Carpenter (archive footage), Richard Carpenter, Burt Bacharach, Herb Albert, Paul Williams, Petula Clark, Les Paul, Ella Fitzgerald and more, reliving the Carpenters musical career with archived performance footage, archive Carpenter TV commercial ads and interviews. It was released on VHS/DVD in 1998.
@@jbs256 Respect lol. Just trying to add some information to go along with the reactions for any interested people that stop by and check her channel out. Support Sheraytv!
@@IceManLikeGervin no joke! I write War & Peace epics in my comments. I like to make sure the reactor has all the info they need to make an intelligent selection and reaction. All without spoiling the actual song. I know I tried to point The Medley to Sheray a few times. It’s on the agenda for today. Was it me or a bunch of us, I don’t know. So again, well done! Joe
@@IceManLikeGervin and Sheray, I see we have your attention. So I’ll take another opportunity to suggest you check out this excellent cover of the Carpenters classic; We’ve Only Just Begun. It’s well done to say the least. And a complete honor to Karen, being released on her birthday in heaven 3/2/24. You will not be disappointed is all I can guarantee. All the credits are at the front and back of the video. Joe th-cam.com/video/J95lfJqo9VY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=NNaQ2SvpIUOXxsXw .
![เปิด อาณาจักร หมื่นล้าน "สาระตั้ม" l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3XE0nPF4YkQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![เจ็บที่ยังฮัก - ม่อน วรวิทย์ [ Official Mv ] จอนนี่มิวสิค](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KALIGSRSjFs/mqdefault.jpg)
![Carpenters - Close To You [Lyrics]](/img/n.gif)
She considered herself a drummer who also sang. It
They were her happy place.
She was a really great singer. It's to bad she died from anorexia at a young age😢😢😢
She is just so good,she makes you feel all kinds of emotions
She is simply incredible. And yes she is a great drummer .there are videos of her just playing the drums witch you would love
The first time I heard this was July of 1970 at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Unforgettable.
I tear up with sad tears and happy ones every time I listen to her. On the front wall in the church where her memorial was done, there was a banner with a quote from her: Forget the world. Just Give Me Jesus!
Thank you for being young and listening to what I'd call "classical" music.
This song gives me chills every time I hear it. The Carpenters are Legends!
Karen was voted above Led Zeppelin's John Bonham on a list of best drummers by Playboy magazine in 1975. As a drummer, I tried to sing while playing, and never could get the hang of it. One would try to override the other. Karen was a great drummer, and a great singer. As shown here, she did both together effortlessly. Gone too soon, and forever missed.
Karen & richard are a match made in heaven.
Thank God The World gave us Karen Carpenter, although only briefly!
Truly One of the Greatest Female Vocalists of All Time!
She and her brother on piano could harmonize as tightly as the Righteous Brothers, both duos so so good. This song was my favorite song when I was engaged to my ex. Great cuddling song.
Funny. I've been to more concerts than I can count. From Classical to The Ramones and in a lot in between. My dad took me and my sister to see The Carpenters when I was like 7 years old and I still have flashes of that show that are really magical and amazing.
And as a percussionist, she is seriously skilled man...Really. Amazing right hand.
The very first "record" I ever purchased was the "Close To You" album, their very first album, in 1970. I was privileged to hear the Carpenters in concert while a cadet at the United States Academy in 1976--they performed in Arnold Hall, the Academy's Social Center. The late, great Ms. Karen Carpenter was once quoted as saying she wished she were as good a singer as she was a drummer--imagine that.
Back in the 70's when we had the biggest variety of quality music of all kinds and great songwriting and genuine vocal TALENT made the music not beat boxes grungy lyrics subs and there was NO auto tune or computer gadgetry to help you sing - you either sounded good or you didnt depending strictly on your talent level - Karen and her band had all the real talent they needed, no doctoring.
I was around ten or eleven when the Carpenters hit the airwaves but I remember them and their songs vividly. Adored them from day 1 and this song has always been rapturous.
Two things:
1) It’s always nice seeing someone discover Carpenters for the first time.
2) I think Karen would’ve loved your t-shirt-I don’t remember if she loved Mickey Mouse? I could’ve sworn she did, according to one of the biographies out there. And she and her brother Richard used to live close enough to Disneyland to work there as musicians for a bit. (Look up their song “Mr. Guder”-it’s a song about the boss they had at Disneyland.)
Very nice reaction young lady. This song was a must play at every high school dance when I was young. Such an extremely talented duo! Sing and play drums at the same time takes some talent. Richards talents and contributions were often overlooked due to Karen's beauty and ANGELIC voice.
I love how you react to stellar singing.
YOU8NG LADY ----------THIS IS FROM THAT LONG AGO, SUMMER OF 1970. KAREN WAS 20 Y/O, & HER BROTHER RICHARD---------ON PIANO--------WAS 23 Y/O. THIS WAS ALL RICHARD'S ARRANGEMENT & PRODUCTION. ----------I WAS 23 Y/O, HEADING TO 24, IN SEPTEMBER. THE VERY 1ST TIME I HEARD THIS SONG, I WALKED ALL THE WAY TO DOWNTOWN DENVER---------MY HOMETOWN---------TO MY #1 RECORD STORE, PAID 59 CENTS FOR THE 45, TOOK IT HOMRE, & PLAYED IT ABOUT 25 TIMES IN A ROW, JUST IN LOVE WITH KAREN'S VOICE, THE NOTE-PERFECT HARONY, & KNOWING THIS WAS A #1 SONG FOR CERTAIN ! THE SONG SOARED TO #1 ALL OVER THE WORLD ! AND BY THE WAY, IN THE STUDIO, ALL THE HARMONY VOICES, WERE RICHARD & KAREN, OVER-DUBBIMNG THEIR OWN VOICES TO MAKE 8 VOICES FROM 2 VOICES. IN CONCERT, THEY ADDED 2 EXTRA SINGERS, TO CREATE 4 PART HARMONY. ----I SAW THEM 5 TIMES BETWEEN '71 & '73, & IN PERSON, KAREN'S VOICE WAS EVEN BETTER, IF YOU CAN IMAGINE. -------KAREN DIED IN FEBRUARY OF '83, LOSING HER FIGHT WITH ANOREXIA, BINGE-PERGE EATING, & A CRIPPLING, LIFE ONG, STRUGGLE WITH HER OWN SELF-IMAGE. LOSING HER WAS SO TRAGIC ; SHE WAS 32 Y/O. --------MJL, 77 Y/O
Written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach in 1963. Karen Carpenter died in early 1983. Featured in The Simpsons Movie(2007).
"Junto a Vos" in South America.
Karen, top 5 singer of all time- period! Fire reaction Sher
Great reaction video. I ❤ Carpenters!
A voice for the ages
if only i could turn back time...
The top three female vocalists of the 70's were voted to be 1. Karen Carpenter 2. Olivia Newton-John and 3. Linda Ronstadt. Damn what a decade!
You've just discovered one of the biggest rabbit holes in music.
Yup, I fell down the Carpenters rabbit hole about 8 years ago. And I'm a classic rock (Led Zeppelin, Van Halen) type of guy. When you dig deep into their catalog. You realize just how talented their really were. Karen Carpenter was and still is, simply the greatest female "pop" vocalist ever.
Some reactions to consider 🤔: Michael Jackson - Earth Song (Official Video), Tony! Toni! Tone! - Lay Your Head On My Pillow Music Video (toninho marcal YT channel) or Bobby Brown - Good Enough Music Video (toninho marcal YT channel).
Don't let the low music video view count on toninho marcal's YT channel sway you, both of those songs have millions of views on their official YT channels (audio) and were music chart hits.
Never be another Karen Carpenter. 😢 RIP Karen.
1 of many Great songs😊
Hi Sheray! I’m glad to see your journey into the Carpenters rabbit hole continues. This song was not live and Karen was miming to Hal Blaine on the album drum track. It’s wonderful anyway as you can hardly tell. I’m going to recommend a totally LIVE performance with Karen on drums and it features her going at it on the drums. Not a full solo but she’s really going to town on the drums. Buckle your seat belt.
The song is Mr. Guder, a lesser known but still awesome song. The feature is it was live on The Tonight Show in 1973. It is a restored video so it looks AMAZING. You may need to dial down the graphics to 720p as it can also play at 4K. I don’t want your video to stutter. It will still look fantastic. I know this video will drive you crazy (in a good way) so enjoy!
Joe
th-cam.com/video/WN6y7RJoYv4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=2K-Wn66hgcQhLuha
.
⚘️🌹🌷🥀
Great reaction! If you like this, check out Bonnie Raitt - I can't make you love me
Added!
look up Carpenters
Burt Bacharach medley .
Can you do a reaction to Dorothy Moore a Misty Blue
A fantastic reaction🌹! Actually, you reacted to this song before but it was a live performance version of the song. I see 👁👁 you have reacted to The Carpenters before: Only Yesterday, Hurting Each Other, Sweet Sweet Smile, We’ve Only Just Begun, Rainy Days And Mondays, (They Long To Be) Close To You- Live, Superstar, Song Medley w/ Ella Fitzgerald, Top Of The World and A Song For You. (They Long To Be) Close To You was released as the lead single from The Carpenter's 1970 debut album: Close To You. It was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was produced by Jack Daugherty. The song reached #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, #1 on the Cash Box 100 and #1 on the Hot 100. No info on the music video is available.
This was the first of a string of hits for the Carpenters. The song earned the Carpenters a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus in 1971.The record was certified Gold (1,000,000 copies sold) by the RIAA in August 1970. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. They are brother and sister. Karen Carpenter always considered herself a "drummer who sang". She has a very Heavenly singing voice 👼. She passed away in 1983 🙏.
The song was first released as a single by Richard Chamberlain in 1963. The song was also recorded as a demo by Dionne Warwick in 1963, was re-recorded with a Burt Bacharach arrangement for her album: Make Way For Dionne Warwick (1964), and was released as the B-side of her 1965 single: "Here I Am". Dusty Springfield recorded the song in August 1964, but her version was not released commercially until it appeared on her album: Where Am I Going? (1967). Burt Bacharach released his own version in 1971. But the version recorded by the Carpenters with instrumental backing by LA studio musicians from the Wrecking Crew, which became a hit in 1970, was the most successful.
Richard Carpenter said of recording this song: "He (Herb Alpert) just gave me a lead sheet, and he said: 'I have a recording of this, but I don't want you to hear it. I don't want anything to influence what I may come up with. Just keep, at the end of the first bridge, two piano quintuplets'. That record, that song, the arrangement, all of it, is misleading to the uninitiated, because it sounds simple. And it's anything but simple".
In their first sessions for this song, Karen Carpenter played the drums, which Herb Alpert didn't like. Said the producer: "I thought it was a little light. And so I asked them to go back in the studio again, because Karen was playing drums. And they recorded it the second time and I still felt they were missing a little something on the groove, so I suggested very carefully to Karen that maybe Hal Blaine should come in and play drums on it". Hal Blaine replaced Karen on drums and they got the take they liked with Richard on piano, Joe Osborn on bass, and Karen singing.
The trumpet part in the middle of the song didn't come easy: Richard Carpenter had a very specific sound in mind, and had multiple trumpets trying to play it, which wasn't working because each trumpet was playing slightly different. Chuck Findley solved the problem by playing all the parts himself, then layering them together to create the elusive sound Richard Carpenter wanted.
In 1986, Gwen Guthrie released her cover version of the song, which could only partially build on the success of her hit song: "Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent". Compared to the original, her version is very synthesizer-heavy and is adapted to the time. In the music video, Gwen Guthrie sings the song on a stage while the crowd dances and papparazi crowd the stage.
The song has been covered by many other artists including 📻: Isaac Hayes, Diana Ross, Bobby Womack, The Cranberries, Ron Isley & Lauryn Hill, B.T. Express, Gerald LeVert & Tamia, Billy Vaughn, Josie And The Pussycats, Richard Evans, Jerry Butler & Brenda Lee Eager, BJ Thomas, The Ventures, Frank Sinatra, Young-Holt Unlimited, Jimmy Bo Horne, Claudine Longet, Johnny Mathis, Phyliss Dillion, Engelbert Humperdinck, Alan Caddy, Ferrante & Teicher, Ken Dodd, Candie, Perry Como, Vince Hill, Petula Clark, Boots Randolph, Carmen McRae, The Lettermen and more.
Song Credits 📝:
Karen Carpenter - lead and backing vocals
Richard Carpenter - backing vocals, piano, Wurlitzer electronic piano, harpsichord, orchestration
Joe Osborn - bass
Hal Blaine - drums
Chuck Findley - trumpet
Bob Messenger - flute
Uncredited - vibraphone
Lyrics 🗒:
Why do birds suddenly appear
Every time you are near?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you
Why do stars fall down from the sky
Every time you walk by?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you
On the day that you were born the angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moon dust 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
On the day that you were born the angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moon dust 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
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you
Wa, close to you
Wa, close to you
Ha, close to you
La, close to you
The Carpenters Info 📰:
The Carpenters (officially known as Carpenters) were an vocal and instrumental duo consisting of siblings Karen Carpenter born on March 2, 1950 in New Haven, Connecticut and Richard Carpenter born on October 15, 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut. They produced a distinctive soft musical style, combining Karen Carpenter's contralto vocals with Richard Carpenter's harmonizing, arranging and composition skills. During their 14-year career, The Carpenters released 14 studio albums, two Christmas albums, two live albums, 49 singles, numerous compilation albums and several television specials. Their music continues to attract critical acclaim and commercial success. They have sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
The Carpenter siblings were born in New Haven, Connecticut, and moved to Downey, California, in 1963. Richard Carpenter took piano lessons as a child, progressing to California State University, Long Beach, while Karen Carpenter learned the drums. They first performed together as a duo in 1965 and formed the Jazz-oriented Richard Carpenter Trio followed by the middle-of-the-road group Spectrum.
Signing as The Carpenters to A&M Records in 1969, they achieved major success the following year with the hit singles: "(They Long To Be) Close To You" and "We've Only Just Begun". The duo's brand of melodic Pop produced a record-breaking run of hit recordings on the American Top 40 and Adult Contemporary charts, and they became leading sellers in the Soft Rock, Easy Listening, and Adult Contemporary music genres. They had three number-one singles and five number-two singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and 15 number-one hits on the Adult Contemporary chart, in addition to 12 top-10 singles.
The duo toured continually during the 1970s, which put them under increased strain; Richard Carpenter took a year off in 1979 after he had become addicted to Quaalude, while Karen Carpenter suffered from anorexia nervosa. Their joint career ended in 1983 when Karen Carpenter passed away from heart failure brought on by complications of anorexia. Extensive news coverage surrounding these circumstances increased public awareness of eating disorders.
A critical re-evaluation of The Carpenters occurred during the 1990s and 2000s with the making of several documentaries including- Close To You: Remembering The Carpenters (US), The Sayonara (Japan) and Only Yesterday: The Carpenters Story (UK). Despite contentions that their sound was "too soft" to fall under the definition of Rock and Roll, major campaigns and petitions exist toward inducting The Carpenters into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2021, longtime Carpenters historian Chris May and Associated Press entertainment journalist Mike Cidoni Lennox published the book: "Carpenters: The Musical Legacy", based on interviews with Richard Carpenter. It features rare photographs and newly revealed stories behind the making of the albums. Goldmine magazine said the book "provided a candid and detailed look at much of what went into the Carpenters sound as well as Richard's personal thoughts on the music business today".
*****CONTINUE BELOW*****
Karen Carpenter Passing 🙏:
On February 4, 1983 Karen Carpenter was scheduled to sign papers to finalize her divorce. Shortly after waking up that morning, she collapsed on the floor of a walk-in closet at her parents' home in Downey, California. Paramedics found her unconscious and in cardiac arrest, with her heart beating once every 10 seconds (6 bpm). She was rushed by ambulance to Downey Community Hospital, where she was pronounced as deceased at 9:51 a.m. She was only 32 years old.
Karen Carpenter's funeral was held on February 8, 1983, at Downey United Methodist Church. Approximately 1,000 mourners attended, including her friends Dionne Warwick, Dorothy Hamill, Olivia Newton-John and Petula Clark. Her estranged husband Thomas Burris placed his wedding ring into her casket. Karen Carpenter was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cypress, California. In 2003, her body was moved, along with those of her parents, to a private mausoleum at the Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village, California.
An autopsy released on March 11, 1983, discounted drug overdose, attributing Karen Carpenter's death to "emetine cardiotoxicity due to or as a consequence of anorexia nervosa".
In 1987, Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story, a short film was produced.
In 1989, a CBS television movie based on her life was produced called: The Karen Carpenter Story.
Legacy 🛡:
Rolling Stone ranked the Carpenters No. 10 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time.
Karen Carpenter has been called one of the greatest female vocalists of all time by Rolling Stone (#132 on their list of 200 Greatest Singers of All Time) and National Public Radio.
Paul McCartney has said she was "the best female voice in the world: melodic, tuneful and distinctive", while Herb Alpert said she was "the type of singer who would sit in your lap and sing in your ear".
Honors And Awards 🏅:
The Carpenters won four Grammy Awards: Best New Artist (1971), Best Contemporary Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus for "(They Long To Be) Close To You" (1971), Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for "Carpenters" (1972).
The Carpenters also won an American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group (1974).
The Carpenters had two songs inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame: "We've Only Just Begun" and "(They Long To Be) Close To You".
Miscellaneous Note 🗃:
In December 1976, the Carpenters’ very first television special titled: Carpenters Very First Television Special, landed at number 6 in the Nielsen ratings, and led to an ABC contract resulting in four more ABC television specials: Carpenters At Christmas (1977), Carpenters Space Encounters (1978), The Carpenters: A Christmas Portrait (1978) and Music Music Music (1980).
The Carpenters Albums 📀:
Offering (1969) *Re-released as Ticket To Ride
Close To You (1970)
Carpenters (1971)
A Song For You (1972)
Now & Then (1973)
Horizon (1975)
A Kind Of Hush (1976)
Passage (1977)
Christmas Portrait (1978)
Made In America (1981)
Voice Of The Heart (1983)
An Old-Fashioned Christmas (1984)
Lovelines (1989)
As Time Goes By (2004)
Karen Carpenter Albums 📀:
Karen Carpenter (1996) *Recorded 1979-1980
Richard Carpenter Albums 📀:
Time (1987)
Pianist, Arranger, Composer, Conductor (1998)
Richard Carpenter's Piano Songbook (2022)
Some more good songs by the Carpenters 🎶: Goodbye To Love, Jambalaya (On The Bayou), Ticket To Ride, Yesterday Once More, It's Going To Take Some Time, For All We Know, Sing, Your Wonderful Parade, Someday, Get Together, All Of My Life, Turn Away, What's The Use, All I Can Do, Eve, Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing, Maybe It's You, There's A Kind Of Hush, Goofus, Can't Smile Without You, I Need To Be In Love, One More Time, I Have You, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Reason To Believe, It's Christmas Time, Baby It's You, Crescent Noon, Another Song, Mr Guder, Strength Of A Woman, I Kept On Loving You, Those Good Old Dreams, Piano Picker, When You've Got What It Takes, B'Wana She No Home, Love Is Surrender, Aurora, I Believe You, Touch Me When We're Dancing, Somebody's Been Lyin', Man Smart Woman Smarter, Don't Cry For Me Argentina, Merry Christmas Darling, Beechwood 4-5789, Now, Two Sides, When It's Gone (It's Just Gone), Desperado, Love Me For What I Am, You, I'll Never Fall In Love Again, Please Mister Postman, (I'm Caught Between) Goodbye And I Love You, Sandy, One Love, I Can Dream Can't I, Two Lives, It's Going To Take Some Time, Bless The Beasts And Children, Boat To Sail, I Won't Last A Day Without You, Sometimes, On The Balcony Of The Casa Rosada, Druscilla Penny, I Can't Make Music, Yesterday Once More, Sailing On The Tide, Don't Be Afraid, Happy, Look To Your Dreams, Crystal Lullaby, Heather, This Masquerade, Ordinary Fool, Solitaire, You're Enough, Make Believe It's Your First Time, At The End Of A Song, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Saturday, Road Ode, Prime Time Love, I Just Fall In Love Again, Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore, Help, Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem Of World Contact Day), Because We Are In Love (The Wedding Song), Eventide, Looking For Love, Happy, Let Me Be The One, (A Place To) Hideaway, Flat Baroque, All You Get From Love Is A Love Song and (Want You) Back In My Life Again.
Fun Fact 🕵♀: In 1997, a PBS TV documentary titled: "Close To You: Remembering The Carpenters", was released featuring Karen Carpenter (archive footage), Richard Carpenter, Burt Bacharach, Herb Albert, Paul Williams, Petula Clark, Les Paul, Ella Fitzgerald and more, reliving the Carpenters musical career with archived performance footage, archive Carpenter TV commercial ads and interviews. It was released on VHS/DVD in 1998.
Iceman, I thought I wrote long comments. I bow to your greatness! ❤ 👏🏻
@@jbs256 Respect lol. Just trying to add some information to go along with the reactions for any interested people that stop by and check her channel out. Support Sheraytv!
@@IceManLikeGervin no joke! I write War & Peace epics in my comments. I like to make sure the reactor has all the info they need to make an intelligent selection and reaction. All without spoiling the actual song. I know I tried to point The Medley to Sheray a few times. It’s on the agenda for today. Was it me or a bunch of us, I don’t know. So again, well done!
Joe
@@IceManLikeGervin and Sheray, I see we have your attention. So I’ll take another opportunity to suggest you check out this excellent cover of the Carpenters classic; We’ve Only Just Begun. It’s well done to say the least. And a complete honor to Karen, being released on her birthday in heaven 3/2/24. You will not be disappointed is all I can guarantee. All the credits are at the front and back of the video. Joe
th-cam.com/video/J95lfJqo9VY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=NNaQ2SvpIUOXxsXw
.
"A drummer who sings" is how Karen described herself. She just lights up when she has sticks in her hands.
She always considered herself a "drummer who could sing" Playing the drums was Karen's first passion.