because she was a master VOCALIST and STORYTELLER and knew her voice and interpretations were about the lyrics of the song, not about her. Ultimate voice that sang TO the listener and NOT at them..
I grew up 2 streets behind the Carpenters in Downey and me and everyone else used to ride by the house on our schwinns all the time trying to catch a glimpse of Karen. Two things: Karen always looked exactly like she did on TV, and her family gave out full size candy bars at Halloween.
Granted, Karen had a great voice, but I was never a fan of their music. I've always wondered what she could have achieved if she had broken away from her brother who I truly believe held her back.
I’ll be going to Downey in April (I’m in L.A. so 🤷🏻♂️) But, it’s for the Carpenters 55th Anniversary Celebration. It’s a multi day event with event and a bus tour and an acoustic concert at the Church in the neighborhood. Also the bus tour is going out to pay our respects to Kacie. Tori Holub is one of the invited singers for the acoustic night, so I’m jazzed. I can’t wait. Tori made a cameo in Salvo’s video. I posted it in my post.
@@steverakes6182 I think she had a lot more in her than the elevator music her brother came up with. Anyway, I don't think it would have been much more of a disaster than her life already was.
Actually there is one. Her name is Tori Holub and she’s 20. A Carpenters super-fan and sings songs of the 60-80’s, mostly. I hope you see this. I posted a response and linked her newest performance covering this song in full length as age does a lot of Short videos. It’s simply as stunning as she is. You’re on the right track. Check out Heart also. Tori has covered two Heart songs, shorts. Joe
I heard that after this song was released, it quickly became the most chosen music at weddings, and stayed that way for some time. They were so special. There is no equal to Karen Carpenter.
Karen’s voice could make you cry with joy. It is so pure and beautiful. Thank you, SalvoG, for bringing that joy to an old lady who grew up on these songs. I love the reactions.
You should listen to there songs,Hurting Each Other,Only Yesterday,For All We Know and the song that might surprise youthe most Goodbye To Love. You cant go wrong with these! Looking forward to seeing your next reaction to the Carpenters. Take care.
Ah, yes Salvo! "the wedding song".. she was so amazing, and Richard also on harmonies.. check out that guy with the tambourine in the foreground!... lol
Salvo, we all have that reaction to Karen. I was a little kid during their heyday and her voice was so comforting to me just as a new human discovering the world during the sunny 1970s.
Karen's voice is in a class all its own. Listening to her sing and her brother Richard's arrangements just soothes the soul. So glad you love them, Salvo.
If you'd like to go further down the rabbit hole, three songs that I think really showcase her beautiful vocals are Yesterday Once More, This Masquerade, and A Song for You.
Paul Williams who wrote this & many other amazing songs inc “An Old Fashioned Love Song” recorded by Three Dog Night - I’d love to see you react to Carpenters “Hurting Each Other” & “I won’t last a day without you”.
Her voice is so beautiful it just brings tears to my eyes. Her voice is just exquisite. Have you listened to Goodbye to Love or Hurting Each Other yet? Both fantastic.
As a contralto I can really relate to Karen Carpenter. Also I feel really privileged to have grown up with these songs in the 70s and 80s because there is really nothing like that today. ❤ I also relate to her as being anorexic and bulimic in the early 80s and trying that ipecac that basically killed her. I can’t even relate to that amount of sickness. I never did it again. ❤RIP❤
Please look at my post here and look into Tori Holub. She’s an Alto and singing the songs of our youth and doing them justice like no one I’ve heard since Karen passed. Look at the video I linked (2 years old) then her channel which is her name. Someone IS SINGING.
This is my favorite Carpenter’s song. And yes, it was first a Crocker Bank commercial. If you grew up in California, you knew it as a Crocker Bank commercial before it became a Carpenter’s hit. This song was sang in many weddings in the 70’s including mine in 76. Karen Carpenter had a beautiful voice and she, along with Judith Durham ( from the group the Seeker’s) both had perfect pitch. They both always sounded perfect live. When they sang, you would have thought you were listening to a studio recording. Sadly, they are both gone now.
There are many good women singers but there are two that stand out for me because of their tone, clarity and strength, one is Karen Carpenter and the other is Judith Durham from the Seekers.
Yes, your reactions to the Carpenters are always so rewarding because you were not exposed to them at the time nor heard them so much over so many decades like most of us, and yet your reaction is the same as most of us. That tells us a lot about her voice, their music and you too!
Great reaction! My favorite Carpenters song. You gave a beautiful description of Karen, definitely a honey smooth voice. But you didn't really comment about Richard's contribution, although you appeared to be enjoying it. He can easily get overlooked due to how extraordinary Karen is.
I fell in love with the Carpenters in (I think 1967 when they were a part of the band Spectrum at The Whisky-A-Go-Go). The band included Bettis on guitar, guitarist Gary Sims, bassist Dan Woodhams, and vocalist Leslie Johnston Richard Carpenter on keyboards and Karen on drums (the only one who made an impression on me at the time was Karen had to look the others names up). In 1967 you did not see 16 or 17 year old female drummers. Did not see many drummers of any sex as good as she. She had mastered Dave Brubeck's "Take Five" one of her idles was Brubeck's drummer, Joe Morello. Saw them several times from 68 to 69 in Jazz clubs as Dick Carpenter trio (Karen on drums Richard keyboards and bassist Bill Sissoyev. .
The amazing thing about this song is that it started as a jingle for a small Savings and Loan company. Richard Carpenter saw the commercial, found out that Paul Williams wrote it, and had him write more lyrics to make a full song out of it!
After the Doors on Ed Sullivan, studios didn't want any surprises. Many show would not have it any other way than to lip synch the song to the studio track.
When you said "honey and silk", I was thinking exactly that. This beautiful song came out during NY freshman year in high school and it still is one of my favorites
My current favorite Carpenters song is A Song For You. However, almost every song on every album is wonderful. I have always loved their music but only now do I appreciate how extraordinary they were. I grew up in the golden age of popular music.
Paul Willimans wrote this, and it started out as a 'jingle' for a bank commercial, with a young couple just starting out their life together. I was in 5th grade when this came out and it was my favorite song for a while. I was in love with Karen - she had that voice AND she palyed drums! I had wanted to be a drummer throughout much of my childhood, so seeing a beautiful woman who could sing and play drums was something else for a ten year old!
That voice! There is nothing like it! Angelic is still not giving it justice. If you want an upbeat, beautiful Carpenter song try, Kiss Me The Way You Did Last Night. It’s an album cut from, Lovelines. It’s my favorite and so overlooked. It will make you smile
And the best version of “A Song For You” is the one from the album. It has a killer saxophone solo. The video version cuts it out! It’s a great performance by Karen and a great arrangement by Richard.
This video was taped for broadcast for the 1971 NBC-TV summer replacement series, "Make Your Own Kind Of Music," on which the Carpenters were the featured headlining performers. The audio is from the 1970 studio recording and is not live. All vocals are by Karen and Richard, including all background vocals.
Again great reaction video of you, Salvo. Thanks for that! When I recall the songs of the Carpenters (being already 70 years old and living in Germany) then immediately "only yesterday" comes to my mind. So I'd like to see your reaction on that song!
Their song Road Ode is really nice! Also ‘Baby It’s You’. Or ‘Sing’. But seriously, I could list dozens of top-tier songs from them to suggest. Karen has one of the greatest female voices of all time, along with Linda.
Great reaction ! Your face expressions says it all and I'm right there with you bro. Carpenters played in the house while growing up in the 80's. Before my time but my parents loved them. Carpenters, Barbara Streisand , Bee Gees, Kool and the Gang, Dolly Parton, Michael McDonald, BRINGS BACK SO MANY MEMORIES. I WOULDN'T TRADE MY CHILDHOOD FOR ANYTHING.
this and "superstar" are my fav carpenters songs. songwriter paul williams would go on to a hugely successful career. he won an oscar for co-writing the song "evergreen" (he wrote the lyrics) with barbra streisand that she performed for her film A STAR IS BORN. there's a video featuring a segment from the film with babs performing it with co-star kris kristofferson that is FABULOUS. would love to see you check it out!
Paul Williams also wrote 2 other Carpenter's songs - "Rainy Days and Mondays" and "Let Me Be the One". He's quite prolific as a composer, writing the score to Bugsy Malone, Battle for the Planet of the Apes, Smokey and the Bandit, and 2 of the Muppet Movies. He also acted in movies and TV over the years.
and also I Won't Last a day without you, Ordinary Fool, and Rainbow Connection....they also did a bit of Just An Old Fashioned Love Song on a Carol Burnett Show
2 Recommendations: Their version of "Masquerade" is brilliant, and it doesn't even matter if you've heard the original or not! And the one that first turned me onto them was "Yesterday Once More" -- I find myself grinning at the fact that I am being nostalgic for a song about nostalgia! ;-]
![FIRST TIME HEARING Carpenters - [They Long To Be] Close To You](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6pIP61mBP1g/mqdefault.jpg)
![FIRST TIME HEARING Carpenters - [They Long To Be] Close To You](/img/tr.png)
Isn't it wonderful not to see her come out half naked and shouting the lyrics to a screaming pitch....Hooray for the 70's music.
because she was a master VOCALIST and STORYTELLER and knew her voice and interpretations were about the lyrics of the song, not about her. Ultimate voice that sang TO the listener and NOT at them..
I grew up 2 streets behind the Carpenters in Downey and me and everyone else used to ride by the house on our schwinns all the time trying to catch a glimpse of Karen. Two things: Karen always looked exactly like she did on TV, and her family gave out full size candy bars at Halloween.
Granted, Karen had a great voice, but I was never a fan of their music. I've always wondered what she could have achieved if she had broken away from her brother who I truly believe held her back.
It would have been a disaster.@@hippiemama52
@@hippiemama52 well she did record a disco flavored solo album in the late 70s. I’m sure you can hear some of those songs on TH-cam
I’ll be going to Downey in April (I’m in L.A. so 🤷🏻♂️) But, it’s for the Carpenters 55th Anniversary Celebration. It’s a multi day event with event and a bus tour and an acoustic concert at the Church in the neighborhood. Also the bus tour is going out to pay our respects to Kacie. Tori Holub is one of the invited singers for the acoustic night, so I’m jazzed. I can’t wait. Tori made a cameo in Salvo’s video. I posted it in my post.
@@steverakes6182 I think she had a lot more in her than the elevator music her brother came up with. Anyway, I don't think it would have been much more of a disaster than her life already was.
Absolutely soul cleansing music, nothing better and I wish more people my age appreciated it. 21 year old here
Actually there is one. Her name is Tori Holub and she’s 20. A Carpenters super-fan and sings songs of the 60-80’s, mostly. I hope you see this. I posted a response and linked her newest performance covering this song in full length as age does a lot of Short videos. It’s simply as stunning as she is. You’re on the right track. Check out Heart also. Tori has covered two Heart songs, shorts.
Joe
I always get choked up when she sings "so much of life ahead" because she died so young in 1983.
Her voice is the embodiment of soothing. Her pitch transitions are near flawless.
and richness, purity and warmth...
This was my wife and I wedding song in 1974. We will celebrate our 50th this June. We have just begun.
My first husband and I sang this to each other at our wedding in 1975. Have always loved them.
Amazingly long time to be together
I remember hearing where i was hearing she passed. Such a beautiful voice
For me, her voice is like liquid chocolatey velvet. So unique.
like the warmest hug, like the most refreshing breeze on a hot day, like the greatest scent of burning wood and other descriptions..
I heard that after this song was released, it quickly became the most chosen music at weddings, and stayed that way for some time. They were so special. There is no equal to Karen Carpenter.
Who doesn't secretly love the Carpenter's. While driving and they come on. Turn it up and singing along 🎶
Miss the 1970s and the melodic/smooth voice of Karen. The best female vocalist of all time. The Carpenters...the soundtrack of our lives!
The wedding song of the decade.
I'm a metal guitarist (amateur) and I love the Carpenters! This is good music! Wholesome level......great stuff!
I can relate. I used to be in a metal band in the 80s and would leave a gig or practice listening to The Carpenters or John Denver.
Metallica and Pantera are my two favorite bands. But I love the Carpenters. They were part of the soundtrack of my childhood.
I love a good variety these days :) Be well mate! @@BearClanMan1970
Love it! @@loristone9242
@@Barnes466 Thank you and you too!
Her voice is how I would imagine angels sounding like, so heavenly 🙏❤️
Karen’s voice could make you cry with joy. It is so pure and beautiful. Thank you, SalvoG, for bringing that joy to an old lady who grew up on these songs. I love the reactions.
Still gives me goosebumps. The 70’s were so great ❤
Underrated Carpenters song to check out: Only Yesterday
My personal favourite of the Carpenters.
her voice control will never be beaten if you ask me as well as her drum skills
Great reaction and such a kind appreciation of this special singer. Maybe "Yesterday Once More" next?
Yes that’s a good one remastered studio version
Agree. I think this is actually my favorite for showcasing her beautiful tone
Yes, please react to "For All We Know", or "Hurting Each Other". Both are so beautiful. RIP sweet Karen...
You should listen to there songs,Hurting Each Other,Only Yesterday,For All We Know and the song that might surprise youthe most Goodbye To Love. You cant go wrong with these! Looking forward to seeing your next reaction to the Carpenters. Take care.
Ah, yes Salvo! "the wedding song".. she was so amazing, and Richard also on harmonies.. check out that guy with the tambourine in the foreground!... lol
Your facial expressions say it all... excellent response
Salvo, we all have that reaction to Karen. I was a little kid during their heyday and her voice was so comforting to me just as a new human discovering the world during the sunny 1970s.
Always brings a tear to my eyes listening to Karen now. Voice of an angel. So sad we lost her so young.
A LOT of people were playing this at their weddings when the Carpenter's version came out.
Karen's voice is in a class all its own. Listening to her sing and her brother Richard's arrangements just soothes the soul. So glad you love them, Salvo.
Seriously, nobody has a voice like Karen Carpenter. She touches my heart in a way that's happy and sad,like no other.
If you'd like to go further down the rabbit hole, three songs that I think really showcase her beautiful vocals are Yesterday Once More, This Masquerade, and A Song for You.
Clarity and tone pitch perfect with feelings and emotions just wonderful
Love the Carpenters.
Paul Williams who wrote this & many other amazing songs inc “An Old Fashioned Love Song” recorded by Three Dog Night - I’d love to see you react to Carpenters “Hurting Each Other” & “I won’t last a day without you”.
Rainy Days a must she plays the drums 😊
The late Ms .Carpenter's outstanding voice wasn't one in a million, it was one in a lifetime!
So true!!!! Love her voice!!! The best!!!
This song was played at so many weddings in the 70’s! And if your boyfriend gave you a 45 of this song it was everything💗
Smooth and soothing…….
This was the go to Wedding song at the time
We lost her way too soon. Such a wonderful singer. And also the great songs written by paul williams
❤I was around a year old in the summer of 1970. I can tell you, my ears were honed in to the Carpenters even then. ❤️
‘Goodby to Love’ is my very favorite Carpenters song. Great guitar solo included! Highly recommended if u haven’t already done it.
glad you picked the live version!
I’m glad you like the Carpenters as much as I always have. They have played a HUGE part in my life. ❤️
Gorgeous iconic Karen Carpenter’s voice!
Her voice is so beautiful it just brings tears to my eyes. Her voice is just exquisite. Have you listened to Goodbye to Love or Hurting Each Other yet? Both fantastic.
As a contralto I can really relate to Karen Carpenter. Also I feel really privileged to have grown up with these songs in the 70s and 80s because there is really nothing like that today. ❤
I also relate to her as being anorexic and bulimic in the early 80s and trying that ipecac that basically killed her. I can’t even relate to that amount of sickness. I never did it again. ❤RIP❤
I too am an contralto, so can defiantly relate!
Please look at my post here and look into Tori Holub. She’s an Alto and singing the songs of our youth and doing them justice like no one I’ve heard since Karen passed. Look at the video I linked (2 years old) then her channel which is her name. Someone IS SINGING.
So glad you escaped that trap. I lost my best friend to it, and way too many others have been lost in that deadly spiral. We lost Karen so very early.
What a beautiful buttery voice. So smooth and silky
This was our 8th grade graduation song.
Damn how time flies.....
This is my favorite Carpenter’s song. And yes, it was first a Crocker Bank commercial. If you grew up in California, you knew it as a Crocker Bank commercial before it became a Carpenter’s hit. This song was sang in many weddings in the 70’s including mine in 76. Karen Carpenter had a beautiful voice and she, along with Judith Durham ( from the group the Seeker’s) both had perfect pitch. They both always sounded perfect live. When they sang, you would have thought you were listening to a studio recording. Sadly, they are both gone now.
Solitaire and Masquerade are wonderful !!!
My favorites because of the jazz in Masquerade & her register in Solitaire
@@rogerhurt5569 So True Roger
I always say that Karen Carpenter's voice is so pure, it's like a warm fuzzy blanket wrapping around your soul.
The purest voice ever.
Beautiful voice Karen
So much feeling in “I Need to be in Love”
And her breath control in “Goodbye to Love” is amazing
There are many good women singers but there are two that stand out for me because of their tone, clarity and strength, one is Karen Carpenter and the other is Judith Durham from the Seekers.
Check out "A Song For You"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great song! Love your reaction!
I LOVE the Carpenters. So easy to listen to!
This was the song we wanted played at our weddings. ❤️. Her voice was so beautiful.
Yes, your reactions to the Carpenters are always so rewarding because you were not exposed to them at the time nor heard them so much over so many decades like most of us, and yet your reaction is the same as most of us. That tells us a lot about her voice, their music and you too!
Great reaction! My favorite Carpenters song. You gave a beautiful description of Karen, definitely a honey smooth voice. But you didn't really comment about Richard's contribution, although you appeared to be enjoying it. He can easily get overlooked due to how extraordinary Karen is.
perfection!
I don't take to very many female voices, but Karen is right up there among my favourites. Exactly....the smoothest female voice ever.
Lost Karen was such great tragedy for her family and all her fans.😢
“Rainy Days and Mondays” is iconic.
They had a great Christmas album!
“Goodbye to Love” or “Rainy Days and Mondays”
OMG - she was a gift to us
I fell in love with the Carpenters in (I think 1967 when they were a part of the band Spectrum at The Whisky-A-Go-Go). The band included Bettis on guitar, guitarist Gary Sims, bassist Dan Woodhams, and vocalist Leslie Johnston Richard Carpenter on keyboards and Karen on drums (the only one who made an impression on me at the time was Karen had to look the others names up). In 1967 you did not see 16 or 17 year old female drummers. Did not see many drummers of any sex as good as she. She had mastered Dave Brubeck's "Take Five" one of her idles was Brubeck's drummer, Joe Morello. Saw them several times from 68 to 69 in Jazz clubs as Dick Carpenter trio (Karen on drums Richard keyboards and bassist Bill Sissoyev. .
The amazing thing about this song is that it started as a jingle for a small Savings and Loan company. Richard Carpenter saw the commercial, found out that Paul Williams wrote it, and had him write more lyrics to make a full song out of it!
Actually it was Crocker Bank, not small in that time.
We've Only Just Begun was one of the first 45s I bought when I was a kid.
Such a beautiful voice, immense talent and very sad story.
Carpenters/Desperado - a "Must Hear" Eagles cover!😮😊
The Carpenter's "Bless the Beasts and the Children" released in 1971, theme song from the movie of the same name
This is actually the studio version. I remember they didn't like lip synching like some shows insisted.
After the Doors on Ed Sullivan, studios didn't want any surprises. Many show would not have it any other way than to lip synch the song to the studio track.
Angelic
When you said "honey and silk", I was thinking exactly that. This beautiful song came out during NY freshman year in high school and it still is one of my favorites
Another great awesome song that I love to hear ❤😊.
My current favorite Carpenters song is A Song For You. However, almost every song on every album is wonderful. I have always loved their music but only now do I appreciate how extraordinary they were. I grew up in the golden age of popular music.
Paul Willimans wrote this, and it started out as a 'jingle' for a bank commercial, with a young couple just starting out their life together. I was in 5th grade when this came out and it was my favorite song for a while. I was in love with Karen - she had that voice AND she palyed drums! I had wanted to be a drummer throughout much of my childhood, so seeing a beautiful woman who could sing and play drums was something else for a ten year old!
You will hear very few, if any, better voices. Such a tragedy that she was taken so young.
That voice! There is nothing like it! Angelic is still not giving it justice. If you want an upbeat, beautiful Carpenter song try, Kiss Me The Way You Did Last Night. It’s an album cut from, Lovelines. It’s my favorite and so overlooked. It will make you smile
Ear Candy!
Can't go wrong with listening to them!
I love the Carpenters too. Try ‘A Song for you’. Great song.
And the best version of “A Song For You” is the one from the album. It has a killer saxophone solo. The video version cuts it out! It’s a great performance by Karen and a great arrangement by Richard.
Beautiful harmonica, it somehow reminded me of the Beatles, I don’t know, maybe there was a lot of such music back then, but there are similarities.
This video was taped for broadcast for the 1971 NBC-TV summer replacement series, "Make Your Own Kind Of Music," on which the Carpenters were the featured headlining performers. The audio is from the 1970 studio recording and is not live. All vocals are by Karen and Richard, including all background vocals.
Everyone that got married around this time has this song on their wedding
"Angelic " is Karen Carpenter's voice. "ANGELIC. "😊😊😊
The bank commercial is also on video somewhere, too. I have seen it.
This is my favorite Carpenters' song. Her voice is sweet like honey.
Again great reaction video of you, Salvo. Thanks for that! When I recall the songs of the Carpenters (being already 70 years old and living in Germany) then immediately "only yesterday" comes to my mind. So I'd like to see your reaction on that song!
Their song Road Ode is really nice! Also ‘Baby It’s You’. Or ‘Sing’. But seriously, I could list dozens of top-tier songs from them to suggest. Karen has one of the greatest female voices of all time, along with Linda.
Same!
Road Ode is one of my lesser known faves. Along with Mr. Guder because Karen was the album drummer and solo’s it at concerts.
There are many good female singers, but Karen's voice is beautiful, unbeatable and spectacular. What a natural talent. RIP Karen. Gone so young.
Great reaction ! Your face expressions says it all and I'm right there with you bro. Carpenters played in the house while growing up in the 80's. Before my time but my parents loved them. Carpenters, Barbara Streisand , Bee Gees, Kool and the Gang, Dolly Parton, Michael McDonald, BRINGS BACK SO MANY MEMORIES. I WOULDN'T TRADE MY CHILDHOOD FOR ANYTHING.
this and "superstar" are my fav carpenters songs.
songwriter paul williams would go on to a hugely successful career. he won an oscar for co-writing the song "evergreen" (he wrote the lyrics) with barbra streisand that she performed for her film A STAR IS BORN. there's a video featuring a segment from the film with babs performing it with co-star kris kristofferson that is FABULOUS. would love to see you check it out!
I grew up listening to them. My mom always played their albums
I love all their songs but this one for me too is my favorite.♥💓
Paul Williams also wrote 2 other Carpenter's songs - "Rainy Days and Mondays" and "Let Me Be the One".
He's quite prolific as a composer, writing the score to Bugsy Malone, Battle for the Planet of the Apes, Smokey and the Bandit, and 2 of the Muppet Movies.
He also acted in movies and TV over the years.
and also I Won't Last a day without you, Ordinary Fool, and Rainbow Connection....they also did a bit of Just An Old Fashioned Love Song on a Carol Burnett Show
Solitaire
2 Recommendations:
Their version of "Masquerade" is brilliant, and it doesn't even matter if you've heard the original or not!
And the one that first turned me onto them was "Yesterday Once More" -- I find myself grinning at the fact that I am being nostalgic for a song about nostalgia! ;-]