My mum loves Karen Carpenter. She would play her on the radio when she ferried us around in the car, I know all the words to the songs. I guess they imprinted on my as a child.
This woman was, and still is, my inspiration to tackle my anorexia. I saw her struggles and identified with her. It's an ongoing battle but I keep her close to keep on moving forward. I hope she knows now just how inspirational she is.
I was 10 in 1972 and loved The Carpenters. Mom was taking us from our home in Redlands California to the beach (Newport) on an early Sunday morning. Kids get bored easily on these trips, so my brother and I played games to pass the time. One of these games was trying to get trucks to toot their horn. Another was trying to get people to roll their windows down for a quick chat. Eventually we came upon a white limousine in the slow lane. I told my Mom to slow down so that I could try and get the attention of the people inside. The limo windows were completely dark. I rolled my window down and waved at whoever was in the limo. They DID roll their window down. It was Karen & Richard Carpenter! I was so dumbfounded that I didn't know what to do or say. I eventually started singing this song as loud as I could. They both laughed and Karen started singing along with me. I blew her a kiss and she returned it. One of the best days of my life.
I was 18 in 1972, and I was really getting into rock music. I liked the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in the 60s, and I was getting into Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd and Santana, among others, in the 70s. I would blast Stairway to Heaven in my dorm room at college. Even though I wasn't a Carpenters follower, it was hard to miss them. They had a lot of airplay, and I would have grudging admitted that they did have talent, even though I wasn't really into pop music. Their music, especially the song, Superstar, has stuck with me over the years, and now I fully acknowledge their incredible talent. Karen's unique voice has variously been described as smooth, comforting, warm and even haunting, and I fully agree with all of this. Karen, we miss you, and we love you.
Those piano chords and harmonica are so beautiful and when Karen's angelic voice kicks in I get a little emotional every time. To say she was a phenomenal talent doesn't even begin to do her justice.
Wherever I've been in the world , whether Europe, South America, the Pacific Islands, or anywhere in the U.S.......whenever her voice comes on, I see people stop and listen. Hers was a once in a lifetime voice...Crystal clear, pure, and singularly beautiful. After all these years , no one can touch her. There you have the gift of Karen Carpenter.
beautifully said! when i was younger, before i really knew who karen or the carpenters were, whenever i'd hear her voice on the radio, i'd make note of how extraordinary it was. surrealistically beautiful.
Her sound of her voice is like being trapped in silence for a year. They let you out and the first thing you hear is a harp. Unmatched originality and pure God given talent❤❤❤
+mcfirebug I'd say Judy Garland but in a much different way. I personally think her, Judy Garland, and Streisand to be the best singers of the 20th century.
curtis jones She has a beautiful voice, but, when you think great/legendary, Crystal Gayle usually doesn't pop up in your head. I think what makes an artist like Judy Garland and Karen Carpenter timeless and so well-known to this day is not only down to their beautiful voices, but their stories and unique personas. They carved out their own mannerisms and style, that when you try to recreate it, you can tell who they are immediately. Can't say the same about Crystal Gayle, tho she certainly can sing!
There are certain people born to bring pleasure to others, and sadly not to themselves. Karen was a beautiful person and gave so much in her short time on this planet. But her legacy will always live on. Thankyou Karen and Richard x
+wayblyth b I totally agree, a once in a lifetime type talent! Not only a beautiful voice but an equally beautiful spirit that came through every note that she sang!
+James Hightower Yes she did. she knew she was great . knowing she was a great great singer wasn't her problem . her mother favored her brother and belittled her from an early age . setting her up for an insecure existence as she moved into her adult life. her being famous and being harshly ridiculed by the music media because she was very behind the times fashion wise and musically in 1970 was very very hard on her. the record company did not market them correctly either . she looked like nelly olson in 1970 . her sudden fame and romantic isolation made her mothers critical voice scream in her head. she did not feel good enough , pretty enough , sexy enough . but it was not because of her voice . her voice was a gift and i think she knew that . despite all that negative ground work her mother laid before her she connected with her music . it was her escape from mommy dearest and she threw herself into the music furthering her romantic isolation. all work and no love is no way to thrive . she knew she was great . i love her , she's the best female pop singer of all time !!! if you like her too then james you are cool too. merry christmas too all of you.
+brad lang its a shame how much of a beautiful singer she was but like so many people at the time was undiagnosed with these problems. What a loss. They don't make them like that anymore.
+David Rynberk YEAH IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE DETAILS OF HER LIFE AND WHAT DROVE SUCH DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR .DON'T YOU WISH YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME AND HELP HER SOME HOW ??? I SURE DO . I FEEL SO BAD FOR HER . AS A SONGWRITER THIS MUSIC IS NOT INDICATIVE OF MOST OF MY HIPSTER OR HARDER ROCK INFLUENCES. SOME HOW SHE TRANSCENDS ALL THAT WITH THE SHEAR BEAUTY OF HER VOICE AND THE QUALITY OF THE SONG WRITING AND PROFESSIONALISM OF THEIR RECORDINGS. . THE FACT THAT SHE WAS A DRUMMER AND CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH MY HERO HAL BLAINE MAKES HER AND HER MUSIC IRRESISTIBLE TO ME. ALSO HER BROTHER WAS A GREAT BACK GROUND SINGER AND ARRANGER . THANKS DAVE & AND MERRY CHRISTMAS .
I'm only fifteen and wasn't even alive when the carpenters were popular however my nanan introduced me to them a year or so ago,their songs are truly amazing Karen's voice is breathtaking and they have become and always will be one of my favourite artists.
Good for you! I can see you have very good taste...something that can't be bought..you either have it or you dont! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness!
+Assasinge Gaming If Karen was alive, she would be so disappointed with the current stats of music right now. Romantic songs are not available, you can hear when radio stations play it sometimes. All you hear is EDM.
God what a deep sensual perfect voice Karen Carpenter had. The sheer beauty and power of her vocal delivery still brings tears to my eyes. RIP lovely lady.
Do any of the so called musical artists of today sing ballads anymore? Who can compare to this? Karen Carpenter was so beautiful. The voice of an angel.
Why does it seem that people who are genius seem to have the greatest struggles. She was a talent and gifted and defiantly left this world too soon. Her voice can't and will never be duplicated.
I don't know, i just know how much she's missed. In my opinion Karen Carpenter possessed the most perfect female voice of the 20th century! Hers was a talent that had and to this day still has no peers.
I believe that you are a bit wrong in your statement. Very many ordinary people have just as great struggles, its just you do not hear about them. Go to any mental hospital , you will see all types of very decent ordinary people with the most dreadful problems.
I agree with you. Also, as much as I admire Karen as a singer, those lovely, vulnerable lyrics and amazing song arrangements were written by Richard, not Karen. He had his demons too, I know. Unfortunately, mental health problems are as much the preserve of the ordinary as the amazingly talented. I do think being at genius level presents its own problems.
+Walter Mirren Yup. I found them so boring during my early teens that I used to put on a Carpenter's album to lure myself to sleep. How did I miss that voice! Warm, warm, warm. Imagine opening your mouth to sing and having that come out.
+rbraxley That's because a lot of their songs and music have a melancholy mood associated with them. It's good for prosperity, because it reinforces that feeling when looking back in a nostalgic way. But for a young bright positive bouncing kid naive about the real world they are a bit of a downer. Still I love the work and Karen's voice was one of those that only comes by every few decades or so.
+Walter Mirren Me too. Well into the 80's. But her talent, her brother's wonderful producing and fantastic choice of songwriters. I was wrong too. Richard Carpenter and Joni Mitchell were the only two significant musicians that really utilized vocal overdubbing at the time.
In this video she still had a perfect figure. She never knew how beautiful she was. Which explains why I can't hear that angelic voice without getting choked up. Godspeed Karen Carpenter. May He hold you in His arms forever.
Indeed! Sociologically therapeutic.Wishing many will look into her Christmas Carol renditions as we move to that holiday. What a gift of the voice of an angel she was blessed with!
It's a rainy Saturday here and I am feeling old. This song lifts my spirits with Karen's beautiful vocals. She had one the best voices of her time, natural talent. Thanks Karen for all these great songs that you left us.
I agree Connie. This woman could penetrate your soul the way she sang. I was only 8 or 9 when they were big. But now that I am 54, I really appreciate her. I could listen to her sing all day long and it would never get old.
Pax41 Music Time Machine yes her voice brings my child hood memory back...to me she has a voice of an Angel & unfortunately that's why God took her so soon.👼
No matter how many times I listen to this particular song I cannot help but choke up. The sheer pathos and longing of Karen's voice - truly one voice in a generation. There are few voices that can match her and she will be long remembered when twerks and mo-fo singers are consigned to dust!
Karen Carpenter was one of the greatest female singers of all time. She had a genuine Alto voice, so she could easily reach lower notes other female singers just couldn’t. That’s why she sounded so distinctive and so melancholy. She was utterly, stunningly, spectacularly good.
I love rainy days... "Rainy Days And Mondays" Talkin' to myself and feelin' old Sometimes I'd like to quit Nothing ever seems to fit Hangin' around Nothing to do but frown Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down. What I've got they used to call the blues Nothin' is really wrong Feelin' like I don't belong Walkin' around Some kind of lonely clown Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down. Funny but it seems I always wind up here with you Nice to know somebody loves me Funny but it seems that it's the only thing to do Run and find the one who loves me. What I feel has come and gone before No need to talk it out We know what it's all about Hangin' around Nothing to do but frown Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.
She was pretty normal looking, but her beautiful soul really shone through. And she was one of the very best vocalists ever. God bless her for bringing real sweetness into the world.
Yarply Twelve "Another chewed up and spit out" is a surprisingly appropriate expression. The list is a long one, to be sure. But what a voice she had! Everything she sang seemed almost like a lullaby -- so soothing and kind.
My brother & I saw the Carpenters perform at the campus law auditorium while attending Ohio State University in 1973. Their super-refined performance was such that one could not tell the difference between their live performance and the actual album recording. To everyone's amazement, Richard & Karen performed with such an uplifting, rich & refreshing, radiant flair as if this were their only performance before a royal audience. I've attended many concerts at OSU and since, but the Carpenters were by far the most extraordinary. Karen certainly deserved a down-home Godly man who could guard her tender heart, love her unconditionally and provide the maternal adventures of family with performance without being the adventure. Their music is an exceptional gift to this world!
I was in the hospital on the other side of the world Trying to get back to the states but listening to To Karen and her music Brought the brighter side of darkness to the world that I Lived in R I P Karen
I was born in 1979 and for some reason her music and voice just captivated me, like a trance because you can feel every word. So beautiful and talented , I wish she was here today x
There are those who would disagree, but I think she was the greatest female vocalist of the 20th century. Everything she sang she turned into something magic. So sad she was gone so soon.....
I was born just after Carpenters time in 1982 but I grew up on these songs. Every time I hear Karen's voice these childhood memories of a simpler time come back. It is such an engrossing nostalgic experience listening to the Carpenters. It is also very bittersweet listening to their music. You feel happy but sad at the same time that Karen is not still with us today.
Hard to believe that people took such music for granted back then. Great bands and singer-songwriters flourished in what was obviously a golden age. I remember the Carpenter's so clearly and learning to play guitar Neil Young's Harvest. A magic time. Won't come around for decades again, and then only after years of turmoil and the world being turned upside down.
Paul Williams was one of the under appreciated songwriters of the era. His acting career negatively impacted his career as a songwriter. Rainbow Connection is a wonderful song, too.
Such a talent, such a voice. It was my privilege to help represent A&M Records as a lawyer on some things when the Carpenters were one of their top acts. Such poignance in their music. Karen clearly had demons she could not overcome. Not all that uncommon with great artists, but so sad nonetheless. I honor her. I always will.
The pure empathy in Karen's voice. The non-judgemental lyric. The beautiful music. If you are suffering, we understand. You are not alone. Hear this. No need to talk it out. We know what it's all about...😊
Karen is stunningly beautiful and possess an angelic voice, I just can't get enough her!! When I'm listening to this song, it feels like I'm turning back the clock.
Karen sung with such ease. She is not straining every vein in her neck to get the vocals out. Karen's voice is so soothing and smooth. She doesn't have that twang that some singers have. Her voice is so clear and precise. Not only does she have a beautiful voice but the songs that her and her brother wrote; such beautiful and substance filled classics. The singers today can't sing and can't write a decent song if their lives depended on it.
That last bit is rubbish. Just because you don't listen to enough music to find the good ones doesn't mean they don't exist. They do. I go to 3 or 4 concerts in an average year for good reason.
I was born in 1967. Still, to this day, Karen's voice takes me back to my childhood. That voice was sent down from Heaven and given to an amazingly beautiful lady. I really miss her!
This is my childhood...tears are welling up...for the times this song reminds me of...listening to the Carpenters, Burt Bachrach, etc. with my mom while playing Scrabble...simply beautiful times!
One of the finest artists and purest voices of the 20th century, her death was a tragic loss to the world. In retrospect, knowing the tragedy that took her life of anorexia/bulimia, you can see the symptoms in her face; it is so gaunt, and her clothes cover her body completely. She also built her hair up around her face. She hid behind an illusion, and her appearance in her own mirror, I'm sure, was, as typical of anorexics, something she could not stand to look at, no matter how beautiful the rest of the world saw her. God rest her soul.
I saw The Carpenters in concert 1969. Karen's voice was unforgettable. No autotune....Pure Talent. 💝💖
There are so many thousands of wonderful female singers. I have not heard another more pure singer as Karen Carpenter in my 64 years.
My mum loves Karen Carpenter. She would play her on the radio when she ferried us around in the car, I know all the words to the songs. I guess they imprinted on my as a child.
Agree! RIP Karen
@@dannytwerhouse undisputed truth.
"TRUES"⚘......I'm 63.
Late reply...beautiful voice...
My daughter loves her...🎀
I dislike Mondays...
Take care
Australia ❤️
This woman was, and still is, my inspiration to tackle my anorexia. I saw her struggles and identified with her. It's an ongoing battle but I keep her close to keep on moving forward. I hope she knows now just how inspirational she is.
Prayers.
You got it. Keep fighting.
Trust me...your way to skinny, really
Just eat for fucks sake. Inspiration my ass.
@@tonybroderick4808 YOU'RE THE ASS!
I was 10 in 1972 and loved The Carpenters. Mom was taking us from our home in Redlands California to the beach (Newport) on an early Sunday morning. Kids get bored easily on these trips, so my brother and I played games to pass the time. One of these games was trying to get trucks to toot their horn. Another was trying to get people to roll their windows down for a quick chat. Eventually we came upon a white limousine in the slow lane. I told my Mom to slow down so that I could try and get the attention of the people inside. The limo windows were completely dark. I rolled my window down and waved at whoever was in the limo. They DID roll their window down. It was Karen & Richard Carpenter! I was so dumbfounded that I didn't know what to do or say. I eventually started singing this song as loud as I could. They both laughed and Karen started singing along with me. I blew her a kiss and she returned it. One of the best days of my life.
Awesome story ))
Aww...I love that
We played those games to as kids!
Oh you lucky devil! I'm so envious!
Imagining that scene makes me smile. She must have looked so happy.
Most likely the greatest singer ever
Yes she was
I was 18 in 1972, and I was really getting into rock music. I liked the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in the 60s, and I was getting into Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd and Santana, among others, in the 70s. I would blast Stairway to Heaven in my dorm room at college. Even though I wasn't a Carpenters follower, it was hard to miss them. They had a lot of airplay, and I would have grudging admitted that they did have talent, even though I wasn't really into pop music. Their music, especially the song, Superstar, has stuck with me over the years, and now I fully acknowledge their incredible talent. Karen's unique voice has variously been described as smooth, comforting, warm and even haunting, and I fully agree with all of this. Karen, we miss you, and we love you.
Those piano chords and harmonica are so beautiful and when Karen's angelic voice kicks in I get a little emotional every time. To say she was a phenomenal talent doesn't even begin to do her justice.
Shane Anthony No music like this these days except for LeAnn Rimes.
Shane Anthony You said it...nothing else to say.
Rita Kaye
Thank You :)
+Shane Anthony that was amazingly said.
Amen
This woman's voice lowers blood pressure, Pure Gold
Wherever I've been in the world , whether Europe, South America, the Pacific Islands, or anywhere in the U.S.......whenever her voice comes on, I see people stop and listen. Hers was a once in a lifetime voice...Crystal clear, pure, and singularly beautiful. After all these years , no one can touch her. There you have the gift of Karen Carpenter.
beautifully said! when i was younger, before i really knew who karen or the carpenters were, whenever i'd hear her voice on the radio, i'd make note of how extraordinary it was. surrealistically beautiful.
I remember someone referring to Karen's singing voice as "saccharine for the soul". Unique comment.
Andrew Blythe
that doesn't sound particularly complimentary to me.
Both are such a tragic loss to the music world, so unbelievably talented
+nebrew centric Giptian.......you mean.......as you do? Naaa...not her....just you.
Her sound of her voice is like being trapped in silence for a year. They let you out and the first thing you hear is a harp. Unmatched originality and pure God given talent❤❤❤
I can't think of another female singer that can even touch her beautiful voice
+mcfirebug the only one that i can think of his Crystal Gayle
+mcfirebug I'd say Judy Garland but in a much different way. I personally think her, Judy Garland, and Streisand to be the best singers of the 20th century.
Allen M. Quinn how do you feel about Crystal Gayle
curtis jones She has a beautiful voice, but, when you think great/legendary, Crystal Gayle usually doesn't pop up in your head. I think what makes an artist like Judy Garland and Karen Carpenter timeless and so well-known to this day is not only down to their beautiful voices, but their stories and unique personas. They carved out their own mannerisms and style, that when you try to recreate it, you can tell who they are immediately. Can't say the same about Crystal Gayle, tho she certainly can sing!
+mcfirebug I agree. I consider Linda Rondstadt a close second.
There are certain people born to bring pleasure to others, and sadly not to themselves. Karen was a beautiful person and gave so much in her short time on this planet. But her legacy will always live on. Thankyou Karen and Richard x
+wayblyth b Yes she was beautiful and talented. It's sad that she could not be saved.
My sentiments exactly. You hit it right on the nail .
+wayblyth b
VERY well stated. Bravo.
+wayblyth I didn't know that so sad
+wayblyth b I totally agree, a once in a lifetime type talent! Not only a beautiful voice but an equally beautiful spirit that came through every note that she sang!
hearing her voice brings chills to my spine....the is undoubtedly one of the clearest and purest voices god has ever given us...RIP Karen, I miss you
She had no clue how great she is...
+James Hightower Yes she did. she knew she was great . knowing she was a great great singer wasn't her problem . her mother favored her brother and belittled her from an early age . setting her up for an insecure existence as she moved into her adult life. her being famous and being harshly ridiculed by the music media because she was very behind the times fashion wise and musically in 1970 was very very hard on her. the record company did not market them correctly either . she looked like nelly olson in 1970 . her sudden fame and romantic isolation made her mothers critical voice scream in her head. she did not feel good enough , pretty enough , sexy enough . but it was not because of her voice . her voice was a gift and i think she knew that . despite all that negative ground work her mother laid before her she connected with her music . it was her escape from mommy dearest and she threw herself into the music furthering her romantic isolation. all work and no love is no way to thrive . she knew she was great . i love her , she's the best female pop singer of all time !!! if you like her too then james you are cool too. merry christmas too all of you.
+brad lang its a shame how much of a beautiful singer she was but like so many people at the time was undiagnosed with these problems. What a loss. They don't make them like that anymore.
+David Rynberk YEAH IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE DETAILS OF HER LIFE AND WHAT DROVE SUCH DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR .DON'T YOU WISH YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME AND HELP HER SOME HOW ??? I SURE DO . I FEEL SO BAD FOR HER . AS A SONGWRITER THIS MUSIC IS NOT INDICATIVE OF MOST OF MY HIPSTER OR HARDER ROCK INFLUENCES. SOME HOW SHE TRANSCENDS ALL THAT WITH THE SHEAR BEAUTY OF HER VOICE AND THE QUALITY OF THE SONG WRITING AND PROFESSIONALISM OF THEIR RECORDINGS. . THE FACT THAT SHE WAS A DRUMMER AND CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH MY HERO HAL BLAINE MAKES HER AND HER MUSIC IRRESISTIBLE TO ME. ALSO HER BROTHER WAS A GREAT BACK GROUND SINGER AND ARRANGER . THANKS DAVE & AND MERRY CHRISTMAS .
+brad lang Damn why are you screaming
+James Hightower i am keeping her alive www.lisabentertainment.com
This music is so beautiful.... You'll never find a group like this. The society has changed so much.......
I'm only fifteen and wasn't even alive when the carpenters were popular however my nanan introduced me to them a year or so ago,their songs are truly amazing Karen's voice is breathtaking and they have become and always will be one of my favourite artists.
Good for you! I can see you have very good taste...something that can't be bought..you either have it or you dont! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness!
I lived 6 houses away from them on Hall Street in New Haven Ct.
one of the best singers that ever walked the planet.
How many times have I wished that Karen could've found some of the happiness that she gave to us so freely through her voice and music.
Brian Bois Gilbert good thing she isnt around to see the bullshit society is going through right now
+Assasinge Gaming If Karen was alive, she would be so disappointed with the current stats of music right now. Romantic songs are not available, you can hear when radio stations play it sometimes. All you hear is EDM.
God what a deep sensual perfect voice Karen Carpenter had. The sheer beauty and power of her vocal delivery still brings tears to my eyes. RIP lovely lady.
Do any of the so called musical artists of today sing ballads anymore? Who can compare to this? Karen Carpenter was so beautiful. The voice of an angel.
My heart breaks for her; she never knew how beautiful she was.
In a a word the ballad is dead.
Adele sings mostly ballads. Quite a few artists do actually. You’ll enjoy more music if you’re just open to it.
Of course they do. Plenty of artists do, you just need to find them.
Karen was the perfect alto.
She looked so pretty and graceful here ❤️ if only she could've seen herself the same way...
timeless classic... one of the great vocalists of all time!
and some of us think she is **the** greatest vocalist of all time ;)
Agreed
Yes I would agree with that.
Simply the best ... hands down
Her voice alone just gives you goosebumps. Include the story of her life, it's just heartbreaking.
I did just get a chill.
Why does it seem that people who are genius seem to have the greatest struggles. She was a talent and gifted and defiantly left this world too soon. Her voice can't and will never be duplicated.
Don't know why. It seems the greater the gift, the greater the struggle in so many cases.
I don't know, i just know how much she's missed. In my opinion Karen Carpenter possessed the most perfect female voice of the 20th century! Hers was a talent that had and to this day still has no peers.
I believe that you are a bit wrong in your statement. Very many ordinary people have just as great struggles, its just you do not hear about them. Go to any mental hospital , you will see all types of very decent ordinary people with the most dreadful problems.
I agree with you. Also, as much as I admire Karen as a singer, those lovely, vulnerable lyrics and amazing song arrangements were written by Richard, not Karen. He had his demons too, I know. Unfortunately, mental health problems are as much the preserve of the ordinary as the amazingly talented. I do think being at genius level presents its own problems.
Her voice was a one off and totally irreplacable
She had the most incredible range in her voice.
Such a talented and lovely lady. Hard to believe that she has been gone 40 years. Her voice will never be duplicated.
R I P. SWEET KARENT
Me too. I am 65 and this woman has the voice of an angel. An angel who blessed to his sordid world with her songs for years and years. 👋
That voice. You know it’s traveling through the cosmos.
Best description ever. Bang on
What an angel Karen Carpenter was ❤
The clearest, purest voice ever! However like all the greats she was riddled with so many demons and she expressed it thru that gorgeous voice!!
I hated The Carpenters when I was a kid and they were always on the radio. Was I ever wrong. This is brilliant.
+Walter Mirren Ditto, if it wasn't rock I didn't like it. But I like it now, she was amazing
+Walter Mirren I also remember radio stations playing the hell out of this song...Great song now!
+Walter Mirren Yup. I found them so boring during my early teens that I used to put on a Carpenter's album to lure myself to sleep. How did I miss that voice! Warm, warm, warm. Imagine opening your mouth to sing and having that come out.
+rbraxley That's because a lot of their songs and music have a melancholy mood associated with them. It's good for prosperity, because it reinforces that feeling when looking back in a nostalgic way. But for a young bright positive bouncing kid naive about the real world they are a bit of a downer. Still I love the work and Karen's voice was one of those that only comes by every few decades or so.
+Walter Mirren Me too. Well into the 80's. But her talent, her brother's wonderful producing and fantastic choice of songwriters. I was wrong too. Richard Carpenter and Joni Mitchell were the only two significant musicians that really utilized vocal overdubbing at the time.
We all wish Karen loved herself as much as we love her! 😢
Nobody has the tone of Karen , she does not need high screams to tell a story , love her voice it's a like a beautiful magical blanket late night
a good story teller always has fantastic timing and presence,she had this in bundles
Wow...beautifully put!
yah, yelling and screaming and it has no sincerity like karen's voice.
No1KCfan6 you bang on the money there
Tim Jack So true , missed sadly , 😢💯
In this video she still had a perfect figure. She never knew how beautiful she was. Which explains why I can't hear that angelic voice without getting choked up.
Godspeed Karen Carpenter. May He hold you in His arms forever.
I remember this as a little kid. This music really had a calming effect. Very reflective. Music just isn't the same these days....
that's for sure.
Indeed! Sociologically therapeutic.Wishing many will look into her Christmas Carol renditions as we move to that holiday. What a gift of the voice of an angel she was blessed with!
What a vocal range. As humans, we all know that this kind of gift is very, very rare. We miss you, Karen, today as much as ever.
I really miss The Carpenters & their melodic, sweet, warm, & deeply heartfelt music..
One of the greatest voices in American popular music!
She didn't know what she had. Greatest recorded female voice of the 20th Century.
Thinking of my nan while listening to this miss her so much them tears streaming down the eyes
She always sang the sad songs the sweetest. She can still make me cry even when I've been listening to this song for over 40 years.
This woman's voice is so special,love you karen
It's a rainy Saturday here and I am feeling old. This song lifts my spirits with Karen's beautiful vocals. She had one the best voices of her time, natural talent. Thanks Karen for all these great songs that you left us.
Pax41 Music Time Machine I loved her too. Best female singer ever in my opinion
I agree Connie. This woman could penetrate your soul the way she sang. I was only 8 or 9 when they were big. But now that I am 54, I really appreciate her. I could listen to her sing all day long and it would never get old.
RICHARD AND KAREN HAS THAT PERFECT RECIPE.
Raw Talent which doesn't mean as much these days. I love it.
Pax41 Music Time Machine yes her voice brings my child hood memory back...to me she has a voice of an Angel
& unfortunately that's why God took her so soon.👼
She truly did have a one of a kind beautiful voice...
Karen was so beautiful and had such a wonderful voice. She left us way to early. I hope you are finally at peace Karen.
Crying within 22 seconds...
I LOVE them...
No matter how many times I listen to this particular song I cannot help but choke up. The sheer pathos and longing of Karen's voice - truly one voice in a generation. There are few voices that can match her and she will be long remembered when twerks and mo-fo singers are consigned to dust!
Amen.
Except that NO voices have matched or come close to her. She was a prodigy.
Karen Carpenter was one of the greatest female singers of all time. She had a genuine Alto voice, so she could easily reach lower notes other female singers just couldn’t. That’s why she sounded so distinctive and so melancholy. She was utterly, stunningly, spectacularly good.
I love rainy days...
"Rainy Days And Mondays"
Talkin' to myself and feelin' old
Sometimes I'd like to quit
Nothing ever seems to fit
Hangin' around
Nothing to do but frown
Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.
What I've got they used to call the blues
Nothin' is really wrong
Feelin' like I don't belong
Walkin' around
Some kind of lonely clown
Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.
Funny but it seems I always wind up here
with you
Nice to know somebody loves me
Funny but it seems that it's the only thing to do
Run and find the one who loves me.
What I feel has come and gone before
No need to talk it out
We know what it's all about
Hangin' around
Nothing to do but frown
Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.
She was pretty normal looking, but her beautiful soul really shone through. And she was one of the very best vocalists ever. God bless her for bringing real sweetness into the world.
*****
another chewed up and spit out by the music industry.
Yarply Twelve "Another chewed up and spit out" is a surprisingly appropriate expression. The list is a long one, to be sure. But what a voice she had! Everything she sang seemed almost like a lullaby -- so soothing and kind.
*****
"it"? hope that was a typo!
***** OK groovy! Love DSOTM icon...good choice...
Sadly ti took Karen's death to bring up the anorexia to the public.
My brother & I saw the Carpenters perform at the campus law auditorium while attending Ohio State University in 1973. Their super-refined performance was such that one could not tell the difference between their live performance and the actual album recording. To everyone's amazement, Richard & Karen performed with such an uplifting, rich & refreshing, radiant flair as if this were their only performance before a royal audience. I've attended many concerts at OSU and since, but the Carpenters were by far the most extraordinary. Karen certainly deserved a down-home Godly man who could guard her tender heart, love her unconditionally and provide the maternal adventures of family with performance without being the adventure. Their music is an exceptional gift to this world!
A great song written by a great song writer, arranged by a great arranger-producer, and sung by a great singer
A voice that puts any of today's pop stars to shame.
I was in the hospital on the other side of the world Trying to get back to the states but listening to To Karen and her music Brought the brighter side of darkness to the world that I Lived in R I P Karen
This is how I choose to remember her. Healthy, beautiful and her voice is incredible.
I was born in 1979 and for some reason her music and voice just captivated me, like a trance because you can feel every word. So beautiful and talented , I wish she was here today x
Fellow 79 man here. Karen has no equals.
The greatest voice in the world ever 💜
There are those who would disagree, but I think she was the greatest female vocalist of the 20th century. Everything she sang she turned into something magic. So sad she was gone so soon.....
I was born just after Carpenters time in 1982 but I grew up on these songs. Every time I hear Karen's voice these childhood memories of a simpler time come back. It is such an engrossing nostalgic experience listening to the Carpenters. It is also very bittersweet listening to their music. You feel happy but sad at the same time that Karen is not still with us today.
I was born in 1983, but grew up listening to everything from gospel to metal. This song, though, is incredibly haunting.
J. I. Lacdan born in 1996 grew up on carpenters
+Shanna Williams Shanna I. grew up little earlier but yes she was was beautiful and so was her music
+michael odwyer I love The Carpenters and Karens Voice SO much
+J. I. Lacdan so well said kiddo.
She was a beautiful person inside and out, and had the voice of an angel. Too bad she couldn’t see it. RIP Karen ❤️
I love this song so much :) My dad used to play it when I was a kid.
Also mine, I can't listen to this song and no cry :')
One of the best songs ever sung by the greatest of female and male vocalists. Our tremendous loss is heaven's gain. She's singing with the angels now.
Hard to believe that people took such music for granted back then. Great bands and singer-songwriters flourished in what was obviously a golden age. I remember the Carpenter's so clearly and learning to play guitar Neil Young's Harvest. A magic time. Won't come around for decades again, and then only after years of turmoil and the world being turned upside down.
Paul Williams was one of the under appreciated songwriters of the era. His acting career negatively impacted his career as a songwriter. Rainbow Connection is a wonderful song, too.
My God, her voice is just indescribable. Perfection
Timeless,amazing music!Karen's is a voice that is clear as a bell and goes straight to the heart!
Sitting here taking a trip down memory lane. Thank you for sharing your voice with us Karen. God rest your soul.
I was 10 when she died in 1983. I remember it like it was yesterday. Their music is truly the music of my life…..
Karen died the year I was born so I didn't grow up with her music, but I sure do love it now! She was a blessing
I've been stressing and sad all day and the second I started playing this I calmed down.
Hugs.
Hugs from me too!!
I can't stop listening to this song. Karen's voice and the music are just a beautiful hypnotic collaboration. The music is jazzy. I love it!
Close your eyes and listen
She had the voice of an angel
The best voice we will ever hear sing a song.
Seems like yesterday......Timeless........ Simple but sophisticated......... Karen Carpenter....Part of America's song book.
Her voice is just frikken amazing.
She was so special.... I just cant believe anyone would hurt her inany way.
Right now I would just like to thank her personally for sharing this wonderful, inspirational piece with us.
It will never die.
perhaps the most plaintively beautiful song ever performed
She sang with a song in her heart!
The sweetest voice EVER... Karen... :-( ... love this music.
This lady has one of the prettiest voices and she will be very sufficient I can listen to her voice.
Beautiful song. Beautiful voice. Beautiful sentiment.
+Danny Stanhope Just. Incredible.
NOTHING. Comes near it!
Karen Carpenter. Brilliant. Just a boring fact! :)
Such a talent, such a voice. It was my privilege to help represent A&M Records as a lawyer on some things when the Carpenters were one of their top acts. Such poignance in their music. Karen clearly had demons she could not overcome. Not all that uncommon with great artists, but so sad nonetheless. I honor her. I always will.
I been melting to her voice since age 10 in 71.
God my ears feel good when she sings to them .
Thanks for all loving you give us in your songs,Karen and specially both of you,the CARPENTERS.
The pure empathy in Karen's voice. The non-judgemental lyric. The beautiful music. If you are suffering, we understand. You are not alone. Hear this. No need to talk it out. We know what it's all about...😊
Missing You , Thank You God for sharing her gift with us. , R.I.P.
I absolutely love her voice. Amazing song.
My great aunt and my 2 second girl cousins loved the carpenters ,every time I here the carpenters it reminds me of my childhood in the 1970's
she is the essence of perfection
Karen is stunningly beautiful and possess an angelic voice, I just can't get enough her!! When I'm listening to this song, it feels like I'm turning back the clock.
Karen sung with such ease. She is not straining every vein in her neck to get the vocals out. Karen's voice is so soothing and smooth. She doesn't have that twang that some singers have. Her voice is so clear and precise. Not only does she have a beautiful voice but the songs that her and her brother wrote; such beautiful and substance filled classics. The singers today can't sing and can't write a decent song if their lives depended on it.
That last bit is rubbish. Just because you don't listen to enough music to find the good ones doesn't mean they don't exist. They do. I go to 3 or 4 concerts in an average year for good reason.
such a beautiful song - and her voice just makes it. love love love.
I was born in 1967. Still, to this day, Karen's voice takes me back to my childhood. That voice was sent down from Heaven and given to an amazingly beautiful lady. I really miss her!
I cannot think of a word to describe how good a singer Karen Carpenter was, flawless is about the best I can come up with
i could listen to her music all day.
This is my childhood...tears are welling up...for the times this song reminds me of...listening to the Carpenters, Burt Bachrach, etc. with my mom while playing Scrabble...simply beautiful times!
simply the purest voice ever …. what a loss !!
beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Paul Williams, thank you for writing this song so this lovely creature could record it.
great song , cryimg now ..
One of the finest artists and purest voices of the 20th century, her death was a tragic loss to the world. In retrospect, knowing the tragedy that took her life of anorexia/bulimia, you can see the symptoms in her face; it is so gaunt, and her clothes cover her body completely. She also built her hair up around her face. She hid behind an illusion, and her appearance in her own mirror, I'm sure, was, as typical of anorexics, something she could not stand to look at, no matter how beautiful the rest of the world saw her. God rest her soul.
Good.songs
You can, yeah. It's visible how sick she was when this was recorded, poor lass. I don't think yellow was a good colour for her either, to be fair.
Best female singer of all time!