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Their live concerts sounded amazing and never lip synched.Most tv shows back then had backing tracks and were lip synched. Karen could hold some of those phrases out so long. Her breath control was simply amazing!!
I remember singing this song with my uncle when I was three years old. He couldn’t believe that I knew every single word of the song. Love, love, love ❤ the carpenters.
Karen didn't need a lot of post production, but the record company packaged her smoothly for marketing reasons. She had such a precise, intimate voice, with a low vibrato that would pull the heart right out of you. What a darling.
The Carpenters were big during my college years. Such good memories. Saw them in concert once in early 70s. I loved Karen’s voice, found it very soothing. Great reaction, Maggie.
All the harmonies are Karen & Richard overdubbed on multiple tracks. Some live performances included their live vocals along with the overdubbed harmonies. Fans sometimes accused her of lip synching when she was actually singing live - because her timing, phrasing, etc were EXACTLY like the recorded version - because she was perfect like that!
One of the things they did in the 60s and 70s was play the studio recording over the top of the performance during TV appearances. There were an endless number of variety shows, starting with the likes of the Ed Sullivan Show, and talk shows, like Johnny Carson's Tonight Show and Dick Cavett, during this time. Nearly all bands that came to play on these shows, and especially acts like the Carpenters, effectively lip sinc to the studio recording. Rarely were they ever live.
Maggie, it's called a multi-vocal harmony. It sounds there are more singers, but it's just the two of them. Sometimes their backup band sang along. I love, love this song
Remember very well in grade school, the girls from choir would sing this song constantly, loved it. Just adored Karen and sometimes it's so emotional to hear and see her perform, especially if you know her story of life and death. Her brother Richard was also instrumental in recording using the same multitracking that Les Paul pioneered with his wife Mary Ford. Karen always considered herself as a drummer that could sing. She loved the drums and due to her shyness, it took a while for her to step out from behind the drum kit and take center stage.
Sometimes singers would sing live but along with the backing tracks. There's a live performance by Andy Williams singing "Can't Get Used to Losing You" where he explains this.
Thanks Renee! I love your reactions, always. You pay such close attention and you have such a love for good music. Also, I appreciate the little effects you add to your videos that show how you're feeling at that point in the song. I totally agree with you about this song and Karen generally, you describe her voice well. You know how songs can bring back very specific memories in time? -- for me this one brings back driving to school one morning when I was about in 7th grade and hearing this on the radio.I *think* I bought the 45 of this song.
In the 70's, I was into Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Yes and Jethro Tull while my sister was into the Carpenters, Carol King and James Taylor. I think I listened to her records more than she did. I always did like the Carpenters. I had a crush on Karen and was depressed when she died.
I've been listening to the Carpenters for the last few weeks and now you're playing it! My mother played this when I was 5. Karen was so good her words stick for life. Thank You for honoring the Carpenters. I think part of their success was in beautiful vocals that made deep, grounding sense to the next searching generation.
Karen was a true gift to the world. Watching this you would never know at this point she was ravaged by Anorexia and depression and Richard was severely addicted to pills and at times was barely functioning. They were starting to cancel more and more concerts and cracks were showing behind the scenes BUT DAMN they were such a gift and I feel so lucky EVERY TIME I LISTEN TO THEM 💙💖💝
Karen Carpenter was known for her ability to walk into the studio and lay down her vocal track from start to finish on the first try. It's likely they used a backing track on this performance because of the poor quality of television sound equipment and it's inability to blend a live performance into a studio video channel. She was likely singing live to the audience in the studio, but the network studio production booth likely blended a studio cut of this song into the video channel signal to broadcast on TV. Local audience heard one version, TV audience heard studio version, both audiences saw her perform. TV studio sound equipment in the 60's could not separate channels well so if they tried to broadcast the live performance sound it would just sound like an old, HI-FI signal with no way to separate voice and instruments. To get good, stereo sound over TV airways, they almost always had to use the pre-recorded studio track versions on top of the live video performance.
Have you reacted to any other Karen Carpenter songs? This one doesn't do her voice justice. She had the most incredible breath control, beautiful phrasing and her stunning alto range is really special. Add to that her excellent pitch - the woman was one in a million. And, YES, she is/was a drummer - incredibly talented. She didn't want to come from behind her drum set to be the "front man." She always considered herself a drummer who sang.
Karen gets a huge majority of attention, as well she should. She was the greatest female vocalist in generations. However, without Richard, Karen would be a much lesser known singer. It was his arrangements & production that so perfectly accentuated her voice. In fact, at a time when Richard was on hiatus, Karen recorded an album with another producer, and it just really didn't do much. In other words, the Carpenters were a team. One without the other is just not the same. And what a team they were!
There are a couple of their songs where Richard takes the lead and Karen did the background vocals. Try "Saturday " or the "Walk on By" segment of their Bacharach/David Medley.
Karen and Richard were magical. Her voice was so buttery smooth. Was this from their tv show? I remember watching it back in the day. Brother/sister duets are all so good. She was so thin in this video. How did we not notice till it was too late?
The creeps in the business killed her as surely as if they had put a gun to her head, no doubt, calling her fat and chubby at this weight too. I’ve seen so many women struggle with that in the industry, the latest being Lizzo.
It's possible that someone matched this video up to the studio vocal - it's not live for sure, but it could have originally been a live performance. They were THAT precise that one could do this. ;-) And yes, all those vocals are their two, layered voices.
My late husband went to school with Karen Carpenter. The fame wrecked her; she died of anorexia at the age of 30. Tidbit: there are several apartment buildings in Downey, California (their home town) that are owned by the family and they are named for some of their hits. I believe there is one named for this song, as well as Close to You Apartments and Only Just Begun Apartments 😮
I remember a movie about them in which the label reps had her sing in a higher range "like every other female vocalist" and the suggestion became instant "yeah, nah" in favor of her velvety sultry alto.
There was a tribute album in their honor with the wonderful title _If I Were a Carpenter_ after the Bobby Darin hit of that name. It has a very different setting of "Top of the World" by the hard-rocking Japanese girl group Shonen Knife.
Love Is Surrender Calling Occupants (Of Interplanetary Craft) Bless The Beasts And The Children A Song For You Superstar We've Only Just Begun Goodbye To Love (burning guitar solo) Intermission (beautiful; based on Antonio Lotti) and Close To You
Karen is absolutely the best female voice, ever! They are a brother-sister duo that started in the late 60's. She is a great drummer, and would have stayed behind the drums forever if Richard and her parents hadn't pushed her to the forefront (which may have contributed to anorexia, imo). Watch some of their Japanese concerts for her drum footage and live performances.
Sometimes they have backup singers. Usually they are at least shown. She was a very good drummer. There's a video of her just doing a big drum solo here on TH-cam.
You can hear them singing live this song if you look for the video when they sang in the White House in the reception that Richard Nixon gave to the Chancellor of West Germany, Willy Brandt, in May of 1973
The way they did it in the 70's on TV was to have the singers lip-synch to a track. The Carpenters are the best group that ever was. you need to listen to more of them!
Look up Karen carpenter drum solo 1968 dancing in the street had to see them before they were carpenters and her on drums. Also, Karen carpenter drum solo -1976 first television special. She’s been applauded by the likes of Neil Peart (?) and Buddy Rich for her drumming. Also, carpenters “We’ve Only Just Begun” on the ed Sullivan show. I’m 63 and I’ve loved that angel since her debut.
Yes, they were using a backing track. There is also a steel guitar very prominent in the song, but there no sign of that instrument on the stage; not to mention orchestra and drums. Not sure if they are lip-synching or singing live, but either way, one of their best songs.
Доброго дня. Спасибо, поставил лайк, хотя и не досмотрел до конца) Предпочитаю творчество Димаша. Давно вы на него не реагировали, а зря) чуть больше месяца назад вышло его новое видео When i've gote you. Вампирская тема, новый образ Димаша (в стиле M J) и, как всегда, великолепный вокал и постановка. Вам понравится) будем ждать. Привет от dears)
Check out Tori Holub. She’s about 20 years old, crazy about Karen Carpenter, and her voice is the closest to KC’s in the 41 years since she passed away.
she sang and play drums while he wrote, arranged and played many instruments Her brother was the brins while she was the voice He does do at a least one snag where he is lead Someone help me I cant remember the name of the rune
Good reaction. Yes, when you have a fantastic voice, great arrangement and really good production, who cares how! You get your listening pleasure. They were thought of as straight. Guess that's because she didn't rely on pouting lips and gyrating hips and dressed more formally.
Listen to... actually you should watch the video (especially if you like cats)... the Shonen Knife cover. They definitely add a lot of cute to their covers: Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head, and Daydream Believer. Their Top Of The World was used in The Parent Trap.
Live or not, that's still Karen's angelic voice. In my opinion, there are three female voices that are the best of the best. And in no particular order, Karen Carpenter, Aretha Franklin, and Celine Dion. Three voices that will never be duplicated. RIP Karen and Aretha.
Who should I react to next: www.maggierenee.com/book-me/sponsor-a-reaction-live What should I sing next: www.maggierenee.com/book-me/sponsor-a-song-liveAnd just for you: ‘Sing Better Instantly" my FREE Singing Course: skl.sh/3aHdSuy and for EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS AND PERKS: www.patreon.com/MaggieRenee
John Denver Annies song LIVE at Wildwood
OR
Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill How great thou art
Could you react the weeknd and ariana grande save your tears Live presentation
You can find an outdoor performance where she plays the drums and sings.
Please react to Shirley Bassey: “Goldfinger,” “Diamonds are Forever, “For All We Know,” “The Love Song.” Find on You Tube.
Karen Carpenter had one of the best female voice ever!! Period.
Agreed.
She is the drummer, a damn good drummer
They were masterful in multitracking and yes she was an accomplished drummer and started out as the drummer before being moved up front.
Percussionist, not just a "drummer."
Their live concerts sounded amazing and never lip synched.Most tv shows back then had backing tracks and were lip synched. Karen could hold some of those phrases out so long. Her breath control was simply amazing!!
I remember singing this song with my uncle when I was three years old. He couldn’t believe that I knew every single word of the song.
Love, love, love ❤ the carpenters.
Wow! I've been looking for this song for a long time. I didn't know it was the Carpenters. Thank you very much! YAAAAAAS!!
Richard's contributions were important to the duo's success. He wrote, played, produced, and contributed his baritone to the group's hits.
Karen didn't need a lot of post production, but the record company packaged her smoothly for marketing reasons. She had such a precise, intimate voice, with a low vibrato that would pull the heart right out of you. What a darling.
she had a magical voice
They were one of the greatest if not the greatest Brother and Sister duo.
The Carpenters were big during my college years. Such good memories. Saw them in concert once in early 70s. I loved Karen’s voice, found it very soothing. Great reaction, Maggie.
She is a fantastic drummer, not to mention her stunning vocals.
She had a gorgeous unmatched unique voice
It's not live, and yes there's layered harmonies including overdubs. Great video!! Can you do More Than A Feeling?
She was closest you can get to an angel singing, RIP
All the harmonies are Karen & Richard overdubbed on multiple tracks. Some live performances included their live vocals along with the overdubbed harmonies. Fans sometimes accused her of lip synching when she was actually singing live - because her timing, phrasing, etc were EXACTLY like the recorded version - because she was perfect like that!
My favorite Carpenters song.
I loved Karen secretly because I was a rocker and they weren't cool. Now , I freely recognize her (their) greatness.
All over the radio back then!!
One of the things they did in the 60s and 70s was play the studio recording over the top of the performance during TV appearances. There were an endless number of variety shows, starting with the likes of the Ed Sullivan Show, and talk shows, like Johnny Carson's Tonight Show and Dick Cavett, during this time. Nearly all bands that came to play on these shows, and especially acts like the Carpenters, effectively lip sinc to the studio recording. Rarely were they ever live.
Karen's voice was magic. Good reaction. Good analysis. 🙂
Such a beautiful voice! And the song itself is just lovely! Great job Maggie!
Maggie, it's called a multi-vocal harmony. It sounds there are more singers, but it's just the two of them. Sometimes their backup band sang along. I love, love this song
Often times Karen was her own backup singer. They tried hiring singers but no one could match her range.
Remember very well in grade school, the girls from choir would sing this song constantly, loved it. Just adored Karen and sometimes it's so emotional to hear and see her perform, especially if you know her story of life and death. Her brother Richard was also instrumental in recording using the same multitracking that Les Paul pioneered with his wife Mary Ford. Karen always considered herself as a drummer that could sing. She loved the drums and due to her shyness, it took a while for her to step out from behind the drum kit and take center stage.
You HAVE to listen to "We've Only Just Begun" ... her vocals on that song are so powerful and rich. She had one of the best female voices ever.
Great reaction Maggie! Karen Carpenter had both beauty and class. Love the Carpenters.
Was one of the Carpenter songs we played at our wedding and I still love the song to this day
Sometimes singers would sing live but along with the backing tracks. There's a live performance by Andy Williams singing "Can't Get Used to Losing You" where he explains this.
Thanks Renee! I love your reactions, always. You pay such close attention and you have such a love for good music. Also, I appreciate the little effects you add to your videos that show how you're feeling at that point in the song. I totally agree with you about this song and Karen generally, you describe her voice well. You know how songs can bring back very specific memories in time? -- for me this one brings back driving to school one morning when I was about in 7th grade and hearing this on the radio.I *think* I bought the 45 of this song.
In the 70's, I was into Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Yes and Jethro Tull while my sister was into the Carpenters, Carol King and James Taylor. I think I listened to her records more than she did. I always did like the Carpenters. I had a crush on Karen and was depressed when she died.
I've been listening to the Carpenters for the last few weeks and now you're playing it! My mother played this when I was 5. Karen was so good her words stick for life. Thank You for honoring the Carpenters. I think part of their success was in beautiful vocals that made deep, grounding sense to the next searching generation.
We sang this song in my Brownie troop in the mid-‘70s! I don’t remember much about my brief stint in Girl Scouts, but I remember that.
She started as a drummer with her brother
Voice of an angel...
Karen was a true gift to the world. Watching this you would never know at this point she was ravaged by Anorexia and depression and Richard was severely addicted to pills and at times was barely functioning. They were starting to cancel more and more concerts and cracks were showing behind the scenes BUT DAMN they were such a gift and I feel so lucky EVERY TIME I LISTEN TO THEM 💙💖💝
Karen "one take" Carpenter.....she also had prefect pitch....once in a life time voice...
Que gran perdida 😢
Karen Carpenter was known for her ability to walk into the studio and lay down her vocal track from start to finish on the first try. It's likely they used a backing track on this performance because of the poor quality of television sound equipment and it's inability to blend a live performance into a studio video channel. She was likely singing live to the audience in the studio, but the network studio production booth likely blended a studio cut of this song into the video channel signal to broadcast on TV. Local audience heard one version, TV audience heard studio version, both audiences saw her perform. TV studio sound equipment in the 60's could not separate channels well so if they tried to broadcast the live performance sound it would just sound like an old, HI-FI signal with no way to separate voice and instruments. To get good, stereo sound over TV airways, they almost always had to use the pre-recorded studio track versions on top of the live video performance.
there was no lip syncing here. I saw the show in it's original form. Someone monkeyed with this decades later.
Yes that is LIVE.
Have you reacted to any other Karen Carpenter songs? This one doesn't do her voice justice. She had the most incredible breath control, beautiful phrasing and her stunning alto range is really special. Add to that her excellent pitch - the woman was one in a million. And, YES, she is/was a drummer - incredibly talented. She didn't want to come from behind her drum set to be the "front man." She always considered herself a drummer who sang.
Karen gets a huge majority of attention, as well she should. She was the greatest female vocalist in generations. However, without Richard, Karen would be a much lesser known singer. It was his arrangements & production that so perfectly accentuated her voice. In fact, at a time when Richard was on hiatus, Karen recorded an album with another producer, and it just really didn't do much. In other words, the Carpenters were a team. One without the other is just not the same. And what a team they were!
There are a couple of their songs where Richard takes the lead and Karen did the background vocals. Try "Saturday " or the "Walk on By" segment of their Bacharach/David Medley.
Karen and Richard were magical. Her voice was so buttery smooth. Was this from their tv show? I remember watching it back in the day. Brother/sister duets are all so good. She was so thin in this video. How did we not notice till it was too late?
The creeps in the business killed her as surely as if they had put a gun to her head, no doubt, calling her fat and chubby at this weight too. I’ve seen so many women struggle with that in the industry, the latest being Lizzo.
It's still so much understood then as it is now. I've been suffering from ana for a long time.
They were known to layer their voices on the recordings so it is possible they backed with one layer to achieve a similar sound.
It's possible that someone matched this video up to the studio vocal - it's not live for sure, but it could have originally been a live performance. They were THAT precise that one could do this. ;-) And yes, all those vocals are their two, layered voices.
Love her voice. It's sad to see her sickness showing in her face.
She Had A God Given Voice!
Karen carpenter so very beautiful and so so clear always a favourite
Remember, according to her, she wasn't a singer, but a drummer.
Yes, Karen was a drummer as well. She has perfect pitch; this was recorded long before auto tune. She was released on A&M Records.
We've Only Just Begun has been a wedding song for 4 decades!
My late husband went to school with Karen Carpenter. The fame wrecked her; she died of anorexia at the age of 30.
Tidbit: there are several apartment buildings in Downey, California (their home town) that are owned by the family and they are named for some of their hits. I believe there is one named for this song, as well as Close to You Apartments and Only Just Begun Apartments 😮
Claudia Emmanuelle Santoro... THE GREATEST SHOWMAN... BEST VOICE EVER... YOU MUST HEAR THE PIPES ON THIS YOUNG LADY😊😊😊😊
Its both schlocky and wonderful all at once.
I remember a movie about them in which the label reps had her sing in a higher range "like every other female vocalist" and the suggestion became instant "yeah, nah" in favor of her velvety sultry alto.
This is a studio recording. Its the one released as the single that became the hit.
There was a tribute album in their honor with the wonderful title _If I Were a Carpenter_ after the Bobby Darin hit of that name. It has a very different setting of "Top of the World" by the hard-rocking Japanese girl group Shonen Knife.
Love Is Surrender
Calling Occupants (Of Interplanetary Craft)
Bless The Beasts And The Children
A Song For You
Superstar
We've Only Just Begun
Goodbye To Love (burning guitar solo)
Intermission (beautiful; based on Antonio Lotti)
and
Close To You
Karen is absolutely the best female voice, ever! They are a brother-sister duo that started in the late 60's. She is a great drummer, and would have stayed behind the drums forever if Richard and her parents hadn't pushed her to the forefront (which may have contributed to anorexia, imo). Watch some of their Japanese concerts for her drum footage and live performances.
You're really fun to watch.
They are brother and sister and my husband met him at a car function after she passed.
Sometimes they have backup singers. Usually they are at least shown.
She was a very good drummer. There's a video of her just doing a big drum solo here on TH-cam.
You can hear them singing live this song if you look for the video when they sang in the White House in the reception that Richard Nixon gave to the Chancellor of West Germany, Willy Brandt, in May of 1973
I think this is the original recorded version that i used to hear on the radio when it was released in 1973. Too perfect to be live.
The way they did it in the 70's on TV was to have the singers lip-synch to a track. The Carpenters are the best group that ever was. you need to listen to more of them!
Look up Karen carpenter drum solo 1968 dancing in the street had to see them before they were carpenters and her on drums. Also, Karen carpenter drum solo -1976 first television special. She’s been applauded by the likes of Neil Peart (?) and Buddy Rich for her drumming. Also, carpenters “We’ve Only Just Begun” on the ed Sullivan show. I’m 63 and I’ve loved that angel since her debut.
Richard Carpenter and Dusty Springfield had a hit together in 1989 with a song called “Something in Your Eyes”.
Rainy Days and Mondays is one of their big hits .. Please react to that one if possible x
👍❤️
Yes, they were using a backing track. There is also a steel guitar very prominent in the song, but there no sign of that instrument on the stage; not to mention orchestra and drums. Not sure if they are lip-synching or singing live, but either way, one of their best songs.
In the pre-MTV days, many "music videos" were simply the artist lipsyncing their songs.
It is backing track. Listen close and you know the backing vocals are all Karen and Richard.
SHE WAS THE BEST FEMALE SINGER IN THE 70S AND IS IN ONE OF THE TOP 10 FEMALE DRUMMERS IN THE WORLD 🌎
Karen Carpenters voice is one of my earliest memories that wasnt a family member.
The late great lyn anderson does this well also!
Доброго дня. Спасибо, поставил лайк, хотя и не досмотрел до конца) Предпочитаю творчество Димаша. Давно вы на него не реагировали, а зря) чуть больше месяца назад вышло его новое видео When i've gote you. Вампирская тема, новый образ Димаша (в стиле M J) и, как всегда, великолепный вокал и постановка. Вам понравится) будем ждать. Привет от dears)
"Piano Picker" is solo performance by Richard.
If you think a punk rock cover of this song would be terrible, it's actually awesome: check out Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Check out Tori Holub. She’s about 20 years old, crazy about Karen Carpenter, and her voice is the closest to KC’s in the 41 years since she passed away.
They are singing live to a recorded track. I can hear some vocal differences between this and the vocals on the record.
Sounded like the album track. Bass vocal in the breakdown.
she sang and play drums while he wrote, arranged and played many instruments
Her brother was the brins while she was the voice
He does do at a least one snag where he is lead
Someone help me I cant remember the name of the rune
"One take Karen." I can take sync.
Her vocals are live over a backing tracks.
She plays drums but not usually the drummer.
Good reaction. Yes, when you have a fantastic voice, great arrangement and really good production, who cares how! You get your listening pleasure.
They were thought of as straight. Guess that's because she didn't rely on pouting lips and gyrating hips and dressed more formally.
Please DO HIDEAWAY by the Carpenters nice reaction love Carpenters
Karen had a beautiful voice. Her life, unfortunately, was full of sadness.
I wonder if this song made the country charts, it has that country pop sound?
check out the Shonen Knife cover of this song. punk rock version. very good.
Listen to... actually you should watch the video (especially if you like cats)... the Shonen Knife cover. They definitely add a lot of cute to their covers: Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head, and Daydream Believer. Their Top Of The World was used in The Parent Trap.
A Song For You (1972)
Was her best vocal hands down. Solitaire also good
@@katiegrundle9900 Also the album title of the LP on which TOTW appeared.
The rest of the band were doing backup vocals but were hidden.
Karen, Linda Ronstadt, Anne, Sara B
Do the Burt Bacharach/Hal David Medley by the Carpenters. You will like, guaranteed.
karen was such a queen.
Have you already done "We've Only Just Begun?" My apologies if you have, I am new here......
5:15
"I Don't See The Drummer"
Actually, Maggie, you do see the Drummer because Karen's the Drummer
No, hal Blaine drummed this. But karen drummed on yesterday once more in tge studio version. Awesome
Live or not, that's still Karen's angelic voice. In my opinion, there are three female voices that are the best of the best. And in no particular order, Karen Carpenter, Aretha Franklin, and Celine Dion. Three voices that will never be duplicated. RIP Karen and Aretha.
Maybe some day You can do their cover version of *Klaatu's song *"Calling Occupants".*