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The Carpenters, Karen and Richard, were actually the top U.S. hitmakers of the 70s with 12 top 10 all time pop classics and many more in the top 40 and top 100. They actually did all of the background vocals, using a dubbing method that recorded both their voices in different octaves and ranges. The guys you see in this video were their "traveling" band in concerts who sang back up, but on the records it was only karen and richard. Karen Carpenter, then and now was considered having one of if not thee greatest female voice in pop history. The most pure, rich, intimate, warm moving voice and master storyteller who sang TO the listener NOT at them. Besides her perfect pitch , she had the best enunciation and diction of any vocalist (she wasn't just a incredible singer, but vocalist) of any male or female I've ever heard... This song "rainy days and mondays" reached number #2 on the charts in 1971, and Karen Carpenter only 21 years old at the time. This song followed their huge hits "close to you", "we've only just begun", "for all we know" and "superstar" and more hits followed after this song..
Diane, I have one singer, male you never heard of, most amazing voice. This isn't a reaction request but someone you should check out. His name is Kamijo and he was the singer for Versailles. They are a Japanese visual kei Melodic Symphonic Power Metal band. This song is a ballad Type in Versailles Serenade. I think you would like this one.
You just heard an incredible voice now it's time to hear the MOST PLAYED song on American TV and radio of the 20th Century. The Righteous Brothers, 'You've Lost That Loving Feeling'. You may have heard it from the Tom Cruz movie Top Gun.
She's one of the greatest vocalists in history. Everyone would agree. She's = Freddie Mercury in terms of mass agreement on their vocals. She was also a really good drummer. Like studio musician quality.
"Goodbye To Love" is the most rockin' Carpenters song, featuring searing guitar licks from Tony Peluso. It's a Carpenters original, too, written by Richard Carpenter & John Bettis.
Yeah. Karen and the AMAZING arrangements and compositions of Richard were for me some kind of "secret vice" because I was 17 and played the guitar in a hard rock band... you know... bad boys were not supposed to hear that music... I could cry (in secret) when my sister played the record "Good bye to love..."
"We've Only Just Begun" has been a staple at American wedding receptions since its release over 40 years ago. I would even say that it was THE American wedding song.
This song started as a wedding-themed television commercial for Crocker National Bank in California in the winter of 1970. People loved the song so much that the writer, Paul Williams expanded the song.@@DianeJennings
@@DianeJennings Yes. I believe Karen and Richard regarded We’ve Only Just Begun as the signature Carpenter’s tune. It was their third single and second hit, although it never hit number one on Billboard’s Hot 100. Their first #1 was Close to You which is also worth checking out. These also show Richard’s brilliance as an arranger. For a great example of his piano prowess check out their version of This Masquerade. His one finger solo is a beautiful example of less is more.
My relatively new wife and I drove 125 miles to see them in 1976. They performed Superstar and this song, along with their other songs. Both songs, there was not a sound from the audience while they performed. Truly the most powerful thing I've ever witnessed. I feel blessed to have been alive and had the opportunity. Losing Karen was devastating.
@@wagonmaster1974 I to saw them in 1976 in Longview Texas at the high school. IT was a benefit for children. I so loved Karen and still do. Had a crush on her my whole life. You are right my friend, it was very devastating and still is. RIP KAREN MY DEAR. GOGGLE TORI HOLUB ON YOU TUBE. YOU WILL BE SHOCKED. KAREN REINCARNATED POSSIBLE. ENJOY
I was told Karen would walk into a recording studio and cut an entire album in ONE take. She and Patsy Cline had the two most incredible voices I've ever heard. Such vocal beauty.
Another thing they did (both Karen and Richard) was do take after take, layer them all together and turn their two voices into a huge choir. They did some really cool things.
@@tiernet8272I beg to differ. Doing one take significantly shortens how long you're in the studio and studio time isn't cheap unless you own it. Plus having to, in their case, hire session musicians. Donny Osmond is also known for his one take ability.
There are individual tracks that Karen recorded in one take. I've not heard that claim made for entire albums. Consider also the effort that went into double tracking Karen's lead vocal, plus overdubbing (with Richard) the background vocals. Given the duo's perfectionist tendencies, there were plenty of occasions when one take wouldn't do. The "Close to You" single, for example, required multiple takes to get the version that was released.
Karen was a world class drummer. They brought her out behind the drums as she was so tiny no one could see her. She had the voice of an angel. We lost her WAY to soon. RIP Karen. Richard was put in the background but he put her voice in front with his arrangements.
She was put out front as people wanted to see her as the lead singer and not hidden behind drums. Record label insisted on this. This according to her brother. She did not want to be up front as very shy.
@@vikkiflaig4735 I think if she had stayed behind the drums she would still be here today. She got so self conscious when she went out front. Saddest thing about it she was very beautiful. Such a perfectionist couldn’t see she was beautiful
I think that may have contributed to her problems, though there was no way to know that. She thought of herself as a drummer, and the drummer they hired wasn't as good. Also, I note that her death came not long after her divorce.
You write like a 14 year old boy with a learning disability. You're not fooling anyone. Now get back to flipping those burgers and return the Ipad Luvie. @@chloedevereaux1801
Karen was absolutely brilliant both vocally and with the drums. Phil Collins also did both very well. Check out his live version of 'in the air tonight '
Don Henley was not really better than Karen. Also, if you were Gen X, you'd know The Carpenters and The Eagles got famous around the time. Both were considered masters. For a good bit of history about the last Carpenters album, I'd recommend Todd In the Shadows "Trainrecords" video about the Carpenters. He has video clips from a TV special that show how terribly ill Karen looked a couple years before her death. Plus, Todd gets that that last album had possibly Richard's best arrangement and Karen's best performance of one of the weirdest songs with the weirdest backstory. "Calling Occupants" is truly a masterpiece.
45 years later, Karen's voice still touches my soul. She's the only singer that does that to me, too. John Bettis, who co-wrote 36 of their hits, said that he was asked what did Karen sound like, when he first heard Karen sing. He said, "Karen sounded just like you hear her in her albums, and she was 16 years old, and it was a voice she never worked on. It was a God-Given voice. Karen never wanted to sing, she just wanted to play the drums, but once we heard that voice, she had to sing."
I grew up listening to all my Mom's Carpenters albums. I actually still have a few of them. So yes, any time I hear a Carpenters song my eyes water up. Karen and my Mom were both taken from the world entirely too soon. I miss them both.
"Close To You" was another hit they sang. It is my wife's and I's song. We were teenagers and when we met, we just clicked. "Close To You" expressed our feelings about each other in our love. Still together after 52 years.
That wsa pretty much the song that made them famous. Burt Bacharach had been trying to get a hit from the song for years. Herb Alpert (the A in A&M Records) matched the song with the Carpenters.
In the music industry she was known as "One take Karen". She had the ability to lay down a track perfectly the very first time. Not many are able to do that. If you go to one of the videos that analyze her voice it is amazing to see how pitch perfect she was both in the studio and also live. Oh and her death was a big thing here in the states, It brought about a stronger awareness of the dangers of eating disorders. A lot of people blamed her mother for a lot of Karen's problems (Richard was the "Star" of the family) but I suspect that was only part of the problem. In the end the world lost one of the greatest voices of the century way way too soon.
Agree that she lead the way for Anorexia awareness. When the reporter for Rolling stone caller her Richards chubby sister it started her obsessive starving although her mother surely helped (or hurt).
biographers have found evidence that Karen heard someone remark about her body shape around 1970, which she took as a hurtful comment and began her lifelong effort to get thinner. Her mom's playing favorites didn't help that situation.
My dad was a huge fan of the Carpenters, and even decades later he would choke up when he talked about Karen Carpenter, and how and why she died. He said she had the most beautiful voice in his opinion. Which is really saying a lot because my mom was a vocal performance major in college.
I totally agree. She had a voice of an angel. Also, In a 1975 Playboy magazine readers poll, Karen Carpenter was voted the best rock drummer of the year-beating out Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham. She has a few drum solos on TH-cam.
Back in the '70s it wasn't cool to be a Carpenters fan but as a musician, I loved Karen's incredible voice and Richard's arranging. Now, people appreciate them and aren't embarrassed to admit it. Check out "Goodbye To Love". Someone once described it as Pat Boone meets Led Zeppelin.
I remember when it wasn’t cool to be a fan since I was never cool, I always voiced my love and appreciation for their talents and abilities. It was shocking when she died.
@@janhankins911 Sometimes it's cool to be uncool. LOL! They have since gotten a lot of respect from the public and the industry. I just looked up online the greatest female singers of all time and Karen Carpenter was listed as #6. Now that's pretty damn cool.
Karen had such an incredible voice. Something about how talented she was juxtaposed against how hard her personal life was makes her story especially tragic.
Hi Diane, I remember when this song came out. I saw them perform it on TV. It was the first time I had seen a girl play the drums. As I later found out, I could not play the drums and sing at the same time, so I switched to guitar, where I don't have to even think about it. Give Chewie my love, I love you too. Good bye for now!
@@randalmayeux8880, I can also sing while playing guitar with no problem. I’ve never tried drums, but I do play piano, and if I try to sing while playing, or even simply answer someone’s “What song is that?” my fingers all turn into thumbs. It’s also difficult to sing or talk while playing the harmonica, but that’s only because my mouth is full. 😂
@DianeJennings if you want to really review the greatest female singer ever, Go listen to Judith Durham. Many to choose from with The Seekers. Georgy Girl, I'll never Find Another You, When The Stars Begin To Fall., World Of our Own, or perhaps her own Jazz Album, Judith Durham and the Hottest band In Town, try Sister Kate.
She's widely recognized as having one of the greatest female voices in modern music. The Carpenters have a large & varied catalog of hits, & it's a shame she left us so soon. Thanks for your reaction.
One of the greatest drummers in history also was one of the greatest vocalists. Her drumming is top 10 of all time. But her singing -- everyone loves her and we all miss her so much because her voice -- her basement -- was so emotive. Her death was a loss of the ages, but thankfully she lived in a time of recording so we can still have this -- and regret.
I love The Carpenters. She had an amazing voice and was a very good drummer and her brother, Richard, was such a great pianist, arranger, and songwriter plus also sang great harmonies. Their catalogue of songs is amazing. Karen's voice is so pure and clear. And yes, her pitch was spot on, every single time. I get goosebumps every time I listen to them. Great reaction! I'm glad you liked it.
When I was a kid, The Carpenters were considered sort of square. They weren't rockers, and they had a clean-cut wholesome image. Most of us loved them anyway, especially Karen. It's natural to love someone with that voice and delivery. Not only did she have perfect pitch, but her phrasing was outstanding. And she made it sound so easy. IMO, she would have been an even bigger star had she lived during the 40s and 50s, when that style of singing was more common. Karen Carpenter started as a drummer. It's how she viewed herself at first, but her voice was so good that she became mainly a singer. And it helped the act to have her out front where people could see her, instead of in back behind a drum kit. Paul Williams wrote another hit song for The Carpenters, We've Only Just Begun. It started as a jingle for a TV commercial for a bank. Richard Carpenter liked it and convinced Williams to flesh it out into a full-length song. Another Paul Williams song you probably know is Rainbow Connection from The Muppet Movie. Musical acts like The Carpenters often hire backup musicians and singers to perform with them. That's who those other musicians were (either that, or they were studio musicians). Elvis, Billy Joel, Linda Ronstadt, etc. have all done this. My favorite Carpenters song is Superstar. I'd like for you to react to that one. Other really good ones are (They Long to Be) Close to You, For All We Know, Goodbye to Love, Sing, Top of the World, and Only Yesterday.
Paul WIlliams was asked in an interview about his songs for the Carpenters "Aren't they very vanilla?" He had the perfect response "Isn't vanilla a wonderful flavor?" Just as everyone likes vanilla and it goes with anything, the Carpenters were pleasing to almost everyone (though there are occasions it doesn't fit, like a rave).
I was a tween when the Carpenters first started and both them and John Denver were my guilty pleasures. I didn't tell too many about it because they were considered square. Still love them and listen to them in the midst of my Led Zeppelin and Queen. I could be a little more open about John Denver because the 70's were the era of the singer-songwriter so listening to him along with Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, etc. wasn't quite as uncool as Carpenters were.
A great, great singer and magical voice. When I hear her, it immediately takes me back to my childhood and listening to their songs over and over again. There always seems to be a touch of melancholy in her voice. Perhaps a reflection of the struggles she went through. Beautiful.
Despite my playlist being filled with Van Halen, Aerosmith, the Stones, Led Zeppelin, and the like, I've always loved The Carpenters. Karen's voice is amazing.
No need for "despite" - all the bands you mentioned are amazingly talented. The Carpenters fit in perfectly with that theme. Great is great irrespective of genre.
Yeah, it wasn't considered cool to like the Carpenters, but I think a lot of people really did like them, they just liked them quietly! Really, how could you not love her voice & drumming, Richard's keyboards & arrangements?!
There were many great bands in the 70's that we listened to on the radio...there were lots of great soft rock songs from Carol King , James Taylor, Elton John, Bread, The Fifth Dimension, The Carpenters, and more. Would be pretty boring if every song was hard rock. The Carpenters definitely made their contribution to music in the 70's. I think they should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
I cried the day Karen died, and I still cry when I hear her voice. She was an amazing gift to us all during a time, not unlike today, when so little in our world made sense.
First time watching one of your vids. Loved the genuine look of pleasant surprise on your face at hearing Karen. Such a loss...but we have her recordings
I'm glad to see comments concerning how great a drummer she was--one of the best. I sense she would have been happier just being a background drummer, but her once in a century voice had to be heard. What's even more extraordinary is that she is timeless. New generations continue to discover her greatness.
Karen Carpenter was one of the greatest drummers in the world. No kidding. Watch one of the videos of her solos online. And listen to her sing "On Top of the World" -- The ease at which her voice could change octaves was a miracle.
Yes, that is correct. She called herself a drummer first and a singer second. She and Richard basically recognized that her beautiful voice was the strong selling point of their music, but she LOVED drumming. (and she was a great drummer!)@@Donizen1
She was definitely an excellent drummer. A lot of people don't realize just how good she was. They did showcase her talent a lot on their TV show, but somehow people didn't get the point. One of the greatest?...well...she was really good. It was clear she wanted first to be a drummer and she truly was a very very good one. But what a voice.
Uh yeah … she could play drums too. Playboy magazine did a reader’s poll of greatest drummers, and John Bonham (of Led Zeppelin during their heyday) came in 6th … but Karen Carpenter came in 5th. During a drunken comment, John was not too pleased with that. Some people think that her ranking is too high, but not me - her beats were very crisp and she could be as fast as any rock drummer.
The Carpenters Greatest Hits album. This is a clear example of how many top hits they have...when you can make a Greatest hits album =) One of the All-Time great voices
Good reaction. Herb Alpert heard Karen's voice on a demo in 1969 and signed her brother, Richard, and her to A&M records. Karen received 3 or 4 Grammys in the 70s and sold over 80 million records by 1982. She was 1975 rock drummer of the year according to Playboy. Perhaps THE best female vocalist-ever, because she commands you to listen as she sings in perfect pitch TO you, not at you, with emotion and enunciation. No auto-tune or gimmicks. No professional voice or drum instruction. She was known by the studios as 'one take'. She rarely, if ever, recorded more than one take of any song. She was also the ONLY female harmony/background voice in all her songs. She was truly born with an incredible singing talent. Documentaries point out the accolades to her voice, such as, Paul McCartney said she had the most angelic voice after hearing her sing 'Ticket To Ride'. John Lennon ran into her at an LA restaurant and told her "you have a fabulous voice, luv". Supposedly Frank Sinatra stated that Karen was the only singer he'd pay to hear. I recommend songs such as, Yesterday Once More, Solitaire, This Masquerade, Need To Be In Love, Hurting Each Other, Only Yesterday, I Can Dream Cant I, Crescent Noon, Ordinary Fool, Superstar, A Song For You, etc. KC never knew true love. One of her few friends included Dionne Warwick. 5'3" KC really lost weight, due to anorexia, in earnest beginning in 1975. She died in Feb 1983 at age 32 due to heart complications from anorexia.
Their first smash hit, "Close to you", came out in May 1970 and was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for 4 weeks, and 11 weeks in the top 10. Also "Merry Christmas Darling" is such a good one too.
I'm such a geek, The Carpenters were the first concert I went to see as a teen. I was too young to drive, so I had to convince my cousin to take us.Thanks for reminding me😊
A mainstay of my teenage years and still a frequent go to on my playlist. The purest, natural voice...like velvet. I was 19 when she died and have mourned her to this day. The expression on your face says it all, her voice is all encompassing, hypnotic. She has no equal.
Thank you for actually 1 Not interrupting the song 2 an actual analysis that goes beyond " Like ... WOW ... that was really great ... Like ... Oh my ..." I just subscribed
Glad you liked this! Karen was my favorite artist when I was in high school, still love her/miss her today. Such a clear, lush voice, it could stand up to being miked up close; her voice worked so well with nostalgic/melancholy songs. The Carpenters recorded before fancy electronics (like vocoder), so they provided their own vocal backups by recording tracks over and over. I recommend Yesterday Once More, Superstar, For All We Know and/or We've Only Just Begun (both were used as wedding songs for many years), Bless the Beasts and the Children, Ticket to Ride, Kind of Hush… Happy International Whale Shark Day and (unofficial US) National Beach Day!
Paul Williams was a really incredible songwriter. I remember seeing an interview with him in the '80s, so well after Karen had died, talking about Carpenters. One of the criticisms that they often got was that they were too "vanilla." Paul's response to that was "but what a great flavor is vanilla!"
Diane Thanks for playing the Carpenters "Rainy days and Mondays". Im an older guy and the Carpenters were and still are one of my favorites. In 1970 as I was starting my Chevy Belaire to go to class I heard them for the first time singing "Close to you" and I thought, Amazing! Thanks again and I cant help noticing your eyes how much they remind me of my Grand Daughters. She is 19 with amazing blue eyes.
Hi Diane, Karen had the voice of an angel, combined with her brother Richard's harmony, composition & arranging skills, along with their band's amazing musicianship & background vocals made The Carpenters classic solid gold!!!
The best live concert I ever attended was the Carpenters performing in the round. Not only were they outstanding, but whoever set up the sound for a rotating stage did a fantastic job.
Honestly the most purest voice ..just angelic.. really tragic to know how she eventually died but what a phenomenal talent and she played the drums too 😇
Fil, from the very popular “Wings of Pegasus” channel has done deep dives into Karen’s performances and The Carpenters…including putting their songs through voice analyzer software…not only did Karen have consistently excellent or perfect pitch - she often was even more accurate LIVE versus studio…they used to call her “One-Take Karen”. Her Contralto voice was just incredible. Karen often told people she considered herself “A drummer who also sang”…instead of singer who drummed. My personal favorite is probably: “Yesterday Once More”.
Karen had such an angelic voice, perfect pitch enabled her to do most of her songs in just one take at the recording studio. Such a sad loss to lose her at just 32. There is a London singer called Harriet (Harriet Sings seems to be the best search to find her), close your eyes and listen to Harriet covering the Carpenters, she sounds just like Karen, that glorious velvety voice that so many loved, and still love.
We lost her way too soon. So many great songs that will never be heard until we're with her again. RIP Karen. You are not forgotten and so sorely missed.
Good Choice Diane!! My Mom loved the Carpenters so I heard them played on 8 track tapes a lot growing up. Mom passed 21 years ago and hearing Karen makes me miss Mom!😢 Still glad you brought attention to the wonder of that talent.
Yes, she played the drums. She seemed really unassuming, a performer with massive talent and apparently the ego of the cleaning lady. Her voice was among the greatest ever, amazing in the way she would finish each line and embellish the lyrics.
The magic of the Carpenters. I grew up on them. Her voice, just no words. That she died so soon, leaving us too soon, well it still brings tears to my eyes. Even seeing this.
The Carpenters's Christmas music is always my go-to during the Christmas season. Karen's voice is so pure on those classic Christmas songs that it just feels angelic. And Richard's arrangements are so good!
Karen had thought of herself as a drummer who accompanied her brother, but her brother & others quickly realized, that her voice was awesome, & the rest was history. The Carpenters came along at the right time, the early 1970's, for their music, but it ended up being timeless.
It’s my understanding that being pushed to the front to sing and not being allowed to play drums may have contributed to her issues leading to anorexia, depression, and whatever else she may have been dealing with. If they had just let her stay on the drums that she loved so much, she might still be with us.
I don't mean this as an insult to Richard, but when you think about it, he was one of the luckiest guys in music history. Here he is, a young guy trying to make it in the music industry and his little sister comes along for the ride. And wouldn't you know it, but she turns out to have one of the greatest voices ever.
@DennisKovacich I think, that Karens issues had more to do with her relationship to her mother, for whom Karen was never good enough, no matter how great she was, rather than the drums. She did end up getting back behind the drums, although perhaps not as much, as she would have liked.
I have always loved the Carpenters. Karen is my favorite female vocalist of all time. Richard's composing, arranging, and overall musicianship is seldom equaled even today. Thanks for your covering this tune. By the way, they always had several backup musicians who played with them, live and in the studio. Check you their Christmas album!
Their Christmas album is still one of my favorites and it's "must" listening in our home. I love Karen's rendition of "Ave Maria" (my favorite Christmas song and she sang it like an angel).
Hey Diane! Not only was Karen Carpenter an amazing singer with perfect pitch, but she was also a PHENOMENAL drummer! That is what she was trained to do at a young age. She had the talent to play on a drum kit AND sing AT THE SAME TIME! You can watch Karen Carpenter's crazy drummer talents on TH-cam also! She being a female drum kit drummer during the late 1960s and early to mid 1970s should be noted and not to be underappreciated! :)
@@AI_Image_Master yes that is right! She was shy and her brother had to encourage her to sing by herself in front of the band, not to be "hiding behind the drums"
Inspired me to play drums beginning in Jr. High - it was a huge deal. "Women didn't do that." And there weren't many...but started a revolution in the pocket!
Karen's inflections and articulation was unequaled and remains so even today! She sometimes recorded up to 32 tracks using her and Richard's voices to give you the idea that there was an entire choir behind them. The song "Only Yesterday" really shows off their immense talents. Try it with headphones on! You'll get chills in the intro!
That opening low note sends chills down my spine! Her lower register was incredible. As she once said "the money's in the basement!" (I think she was with Mike Curb driving somewhere, and she sang something really high. He was surprised at that and that's when she made the reply. 🙂 💖)
Good choice, but... and only my opinion... "Ordinary Fool" would be my choice. All the smooth, subtle, controlled, effortless (any number of adjectives) changes... throughout the song. Purest voice, in my 70 years, I've ever heard.
Those of us born in the sixties loved this music. So much was clean and you could hear the words. Sometimes less is more applies to life as well. Happy for what you have.
Karen Carpenters Voice is really good sounding and soothing. the saxophone solo is good. I've always liked the old school musical instruments in songs. She is really talented to play the drums and sing lead vocals at the same time. She helped others learn through her struggles in life to make the world improve others quality of life.
It was really after Karen died that people started to hear about and know about anorexia. She was my all-time favorite singer and I will never forget the day I heard that she had passed away.
“Rainy Days and Mondays” and “We’ve Only Just Begun.” Both top-tier songs by The Carpenters. And brother Richard deserves major credit for his arrangements.
OH there are so many of their songs. Yesterday Once More is a song I have in my playlist. As well as Sing. Just listening to her voice is like sitting by a fire on a cold day and having Hot Chocolate. Which brings up their Christmas album. "A Christmas Portrait" which has Merry Christmas, Darling.
We did this song in choir in junior high, and it was one of the few where we all just concentrated on singing instead of messing around with the lyrics and/or melody. It's an amazing piece of music; it can be broken down into multiple parts and yet stay cohesive & easy to listen to. Karen Carpenter was a tragic loss to music, her voice was one of a kind.
I've heard of the name carpenters before but have not listened to them. This was my first time hearing rainy days and Mondays from the carpenters too. I enjoyed sharing in the musical journey hearing the song, learning and getting your reaction to the song. Music is always the best way to get through the day. Thanks for making the day joyful with your reaction video.
Karen Carpenter sang like an angel. They were part of the soundtrack of my youth. I would usually listen to Zeppelin, Grand Funk, and the like, but Karen Carpenter was always a joy to listen to. And she was a very good drummer.
Yes the same for me I loved all the old hard rock groups but also loved the Carpenters and I am now 72 and my foreign born wife's favorite singer is Karen Carpenter
@@DianeJennings - Here you go, Diane, six minutes of Karen absolutely having a ball on the drums - just look at the joy in her face as she plays ❣ (Trivia note - The fellow also playing drums is Cubby O'Brien, a former "Mouseketeer" on the original Mickey Mouse Club from 1955-1959, who toured for nine years with the Carpenters up until Karen passed.) th-cam.com/video/ie1WWWOxhMs/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=SylvioBazote
My favorite Carpenter songs are "We've Only Just Begun", "Hurting Each Other", and maybe their best song, "Merry Christmas Darling". A highly underrated group.
As I listened to Rolling Stones, my sisters favored Carpenters. No denying her pure voice. She seemed so wholesome. Always wondered the outcome if she went the same musical path as Carole King or Linda Ronstadt...(or even Grace Slick).
I remember being surprised to hear Richard say that he was a big Grateful Dead fan among other contemporary bands. He knew they had found a successful lane though and stayed in it.
After hearing she was beating it / recovering I was just stunned and had to pull over and sit for bout a half hour upon hearing of her collapse, to deal with the 'shock' 🥺❤️🔥👼
@@vikkiflaig4735 after almost dying, hospitalization, forced feeding and intensive therapy arranged by the family she was recovering and getting better and yes for many it remains a lifelong fight. Staying at her parents she was coming down to breakfast then collapsed at the bottom of the stairs dying from a heart attack before her mom due to the 'damage' done 🥺 couldn't listen to Yesterday Once More for over ten years (reminding me of the previous) after my dad died when I was 13 her voice moved me so, then to hear...
I grew up listening to Karen Carpenter. She was my father's favorite and then became mine. Still in my opinion the most beautiful voice I have ever heard.
A part of Karen's sadness was that she didn't want to be the face of the band, she just wanted to play the drums, but because of how amazing her voice was, being front and center was inevitable. BTW, she was a VERY good drummer.
good she was one of the best Any band would of had her just for the drums She was that good I am a singer and like another commenter it was not cool to like them. Here is the thing everyone who like them that I knew was in a band. Ya they were easy listening but her voice and when they let her play drums the combo... What can I say
Just watching you silently amazed for the first 2/3 of the song days so much about how much you enjoyed this, you didn't even notice Karen playing drums at the beginning because you were so enthralled 👏🏼
There's an early video of them covering Dancing in the Street live on TV as the Dick Carpenter Trio. Not sure if it's their first televised performance or not but it's well worth a watch. Karen was a very capable drummer.
Your reaction during the song was perfect; mesmerized. Yes she had perfect pitch and was known as one take Karen in the recording studio. While some singers can massage your ears, Karen's voice is a massage to the soul.
"We've Only Just Begun" was my High School class' graduation theme song. I wasn't a fan of theirs, but was very saddened to hear of Karen's passing from a serious mental health issue. She had such a beautiful voice. I hate when talent like that is taken away.
Perfect pitch, pure, and crystal clear are ways to exactly describe this phenomenal singer, Karen. Only Yesterday is another gem. I'm glad we had her for awhile, and she certainly carried alot of people over and through alot of life's tragedies and disappointments. Thank you Karen Carpenter. R.I.P.
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has been compromised.... wheeee!
The Carpenters, Karen and Richard, were actually the top U.S. hitmakers of the 70s with 12 top 10 all time pop classics and many more in the top 40 and top 100. They actually did all of the background vocals, using a dubbing method that recorded both their voices in different octaves and ranges. The guys you see in this video were their "traveling" band in concerts who sang back up, but on the records it was only karen and richard.
Karen Carpenter, then and now was considered having one of if not thee greatest female voice in pop history. The most pure, rich, intimate, warm moving voice and master storyteller who sang TO the listener NOT at them. Besides her perfect pitch , she had the best enunciation and diction of any vocalist (she wasn't just a incredible singer, but vocalist) of any male or female I've ever heard...
This song "rainy days and mondays" reached number #2 on the charts in 1971, and Karen Carpenter only 21 years old at the time. This song followed their huge hits "close to you", "we've only just begun", "for all we know" and "superstar" and more hits followed after this song..
@@tomschmitz-dj1fg
100% agree.
She ranks up there with Minie Ripperton and Dolly Parton as the best female singers in my lifetime.
Diane, I have one singer, male you never heard of, most amazing voice.
This isn't a reaction request but someone you should check out.
His name is Kamijo and he was the singer for Versailles. They are a Japanese visual kei Melodic Symphonic Power Metal band.
This song is a ballad
Type in Versailles Serenade.
I think you would like this one.
You just heard an incredible voice now it's time to hear the MOST PLAYED song on American TV and radio of the 20th Century. The Righteous Brothers, 'You've Lost That Loving Feeling'. You may have heard it from the Tom Cruz movie Top Gun.
She's one of the greatest vocalists in history. Everyone would agree. She's = Freddie Mercury in terms of mass agreement on their vocals.
She was also a really good drummer. Like studio musician quality.
I'm a rocker from the 70s, but Karen's singing always gave me the chills, even now.
"Goodbye To Love"
is the most rockin' Carpenters
song, featuring searing guitar licks
from Tony Peluso. It's a Carpenters
original, too, written by
Richard Carpenter & John Bettis.
Same here.
Same 🙋🏻♀️I love her voice! It’s so smooth, controlled, and velvety! Nobody has ever had a voice even close to her! Gone way too soon.
Me too. She simply has the most pleasing voice to my ear I have ever heard. Just so smooth and comforting and unique
Yeah. Karen and the AMAZING arrangements and compositions of Richard were for me some kind of "secret vice" because I was 17 and played the guitar in a hard rock band... you know... bad boys were not supposed to hear that music... I could cry (in secret) when my sister played the record "Good bye to love..."
"We've Only Just Begun" has been a staple at American wedding receptions since its release over 40 years ago. I would even say that it was THE American wedding song.
Must check that one out
This song started as a wedding-themed television commercial for Crocker National Bank in California in the winter of 1970. People loved the song so much that the writer, Paul Williams expanded the song.@@DianeJennings
It's actually now more than 50 years ago!
@@DianeJennings Yes. I believe Karen and Richard regarded We’ve Only Just Begun as the signature Carpenter’s tune. It was their third single and second hit, although it never hit number one on Billboard’s Hot 100. Their first #1 was Close to You which is also worth checking out. These also show Richard’s brilliance as an arranger. For a great example of his piano prowess check out their version of This Masquerade. His one finger solo is a beautiful example of less is more.
Happy Gilmore
My relatively new wife and I drove 125 miles to see them in 1976. They performed Superstar and this song, along with their other songs. Both songs, there was not a sound from the audience while they performed. Truly the most powerful thing I've ever witnessed. I feel blessed to have been alive and had the opportunity. Losing Karen was devastating.
Neat to hear that the audience didn’t speak. You were very lucky.
@@walterheinen5298 It was a long time ago - nearly 50 years. People were more respectful then.
I saw them 3 times. Never forget it!
Wow, I was 10 in 1976, the Bicentennial year, best year of my life lol
@@wagonmaster1974 I to saw them in 1976 in Longview Texas at the high school. IT was a benefit for children. I so loved Karen and still do. Had a crush on her my whole life. You are right my friend, it was very devastating and still is. RIP KAREN MY DEAR. GOGGLE TORI HOLUB ON YOU TUBE. YOU WILL BE SHOCKED. KAREN REINCARNATED POSSIBLE. ENJOY
I was told Karen would walk into a recording studio and cut an entire album in ONE take. She and Patsy Cline had the two most incredible voices I've ever heard. Such vocal beauty.
Another thing they did (both Karen and Richard) was do take after take, layer them all together and turn their two voices into a huge choir. They did some really cool things.
She was a human tuning fork. Little point in doing another take.
@@rmdodsonbills This is why the one take thing on its surface is interpretively not a significant statement. They layered things.
@@tiernet8272I beg to differ. Doing one take significantly shortens how long you're in the studio and studio time isn't cheap unless you own it. Plus having to, in their case, hire session musicians. Donny Osmond is also known for his one take ability.
There are individual tracks that Karen recorded in one take. I've not heard that claim made for entire albums. Consider also the effort that went into double tracking Karen's lead vocal, plus overdubbing (with Richard) the background vocals. Given the duo's perfectionist tendencies, there were plenty of occasions when one take wouldn't do. The "Close to You" single, for example, required multiple takes to get the version that was released.
Karen was a world class drummer. They brought her out behind the drums as she was so tiny no one could see her. She had the voice of an angel. We lost her WAY to soon. RIP Karen. Richard was put in the background but he put her voice in front with his arrangements.
She was put out front as people wanted to see her as the lead singer and not hidden behind drums. Record label insisted on this. This according to her brother. She did not want to be up front as very shy.
@@vikkiflaig4735 I think if she had stayed behind the drums she would still be here today. She got so self conscious when she went out front. Saddest thing about it she was very beautiful. Such a perfectionist couldn’t see she was beautiful
I think that may have contributed to her problems, though there was no way to know that. She thought of herself as a drummer, and the drummer they hired wasn't as good.
Also, I note that her death came not long after her divorce.
"Superstar" still moves me to tears. The Carpenters were such a fantastic group and Karen's story is so especially tragic. She'll always be an angel.
The original version of that song was much different in tone. It was called Groupie and "see you again " was "sleep with you again " lol.
@@thomasflynn5366 And "Superstar" and "Drusilla Penny" were back to back on the album. Think about the clever juxtaposition!
@dianejennings definitely please give "Superstar" and "We've Only Just Begun" a listen & a reaction video!
Superstar is my favorite ❤️
Yes Karen has as close to perfect intonation you can get! What a superb talented musician and singer.
As a kid I saw them in concert. Wow... her voice was amazing live, just like her recordings.
A brit had done a side by side comparison of her live voice and studio voice, there was very little difference.
As a drummer, singing and drumming together is very difficult. Karen mastered it like no other. A true inspiration for me.
except maybe the singer / drummer from the eagles !!!!!!!!!!!! gat a grip gen z boy.....
@@chloedevereaux1801 not even close.
You write like a 14 year old boy with a learning disability. You're not fooling anyone. Now get back to flipping those burgers and return the Ipad Luvie. @@chloedevereaux1801
Karen was absolutely brilliant both vocally and with the drums.
Phil Collins also did both very well.
Check out his live version of 'in the air tonight '
Don Henley was not really better than Karen. Also, if you were Gen X, you'd know The Carpenters and The Eagles got famous around the time. Both were considered masters.
For a good bit of history about the last Carpenters album, I'd recommend Todd In the Shadows "Trainrecords" video about the Carpenters. He has video clips from a TV special that show how terribly ill Karen looked a couple years before her death. Plus, Todd gets that that last album had possibly Richard's best arrangement and Karen's best performance of one of the weirdest songs with the weirdest backstory. "Calling Occupants" is truly a masterpiece.
It doesnt matter what Karen sang, her voice is just absolutely beautiful. She left us far to soon!
45 years later, Karen's voice still touches my soul. She's the only singer that does that to me, too. John Bettis, who co-wrote 36 of their hits, said that he was asked what did Karen sound like, when he first heard Karen sing. He said, "Karen sounded just like you hear her in her albums, and she was 16 years old, and it was a voice she never worked on. It was a God-Given voice. Karen never wanted to sing, she just wanted to play the drums, but once we heard that voice, she had to sing."
I love The Carpenters! The only problem is the minute I hear Karen’s voice, the tears start to fall.
Yes same for me.
I grew up listening to all my Mom's Carpenters albums. I actually still have a few of them. So yes, any time I hear a Carpenters song my eyes water up. Karen and my Mom were both taken from the world entirely too soon. I miss them both.
Same here.... Her voice was a like a steel dagger wrapped in silk...
Same!
She could sing Frosty the Snowman and I would probably cry.
"Close To You" was another hit they sang. It is my wife's and I's song. We were teenagers and when we met, we just clicked. "Close To You" expressed our feelings about each other in our love. Still together after 52 years.
As a young child to learned the words to “Close to You” and would sing it.
💜💙💜
A beautiful post.
Congratulations on 52 years! I've been with my hubby for 37 years.
That wsa pretty much the song that made them famous. Burt Bacharach had been trying to get a hit from the song for years. Herb Alpert (the A in A&M Records) matched the song with the Carpenters.
In the music industry she was known as "One take Karen". She had the ability to lay down a track perfectly the very first time. Not many are able to do that. If you go to one of the videos that analyze her voice it is amazing to see how pitch perfect she was both in the studio and also live. Oh and her death was a big thing here in the states, It brought about a stronger awareness of the dangers of eating disorders. A lot of people blamed her mother for a lot of Karen's problems (Richard was the "Star" of the family) but I suspect that was only part of the problem. In the end the world lost one of the greatest voices of the century way way too soon.
yep
She, among other performers, was way nicer than required.
Agree that she lead the way for Anorexia awareness. When the reporter for Rolling stone caller her Richards chubby sister it started her obsessive starving although her mother surely helped (or hurt).
biographers have found evidence that Karen heard someone remark about her body shape around 1970, which she took as a hurtful comment and began her lifelong effort to get thinner. Her mom's playing favorites didn't help that situation.
Karen had the voice of an angel, and her brother was and is a genius at arranging and producing. Thank you, Richard, for the timeless music!
He was also a douche bag and played a major role in Karen’s unhappiness
@@HE65432 yep, without Richard there's no Karen
Richard knew just how to arrange a song to maximize Karen's voice.
My dad was a huge fan of the Carpenters, and even decades later he would choke up when he talked about Karen Carpenter, and how and why she died. He said she had the most beautiful voice in his opinion. Which is really saying a lot because my mom was a vocal performance major in college.
Oh wow! A very special voice indeed!
I totally agree. She had a voice of an angel. Also, In a 1975 Playboy magazine readers poll, Karen Carpenter was voted the best rock drummer of the year-beating out Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham. She has a few drum solos on TH-cam.
Back in the '70s it wasn't cool to be a Carpenters fan but as a musician, I loved Karen's incredible voice and Richard's arranging. Now, people appreciate them and aren't embarrassed to admit it. Check out "Goodbye To Love". Someone once described it as Pat Boone meets Led Zeppelin.
One of their latter albums was reviewed as "just for fans. But boy, are they legion!"
Sorely missed.
I remember when it wasn’t cool to be a fan since I was never cool, I always voiced my love and appreciation for their talents and abilities. It was shocking when she died.
I'm 67 now And I remember secretly buying this single at 14 or 15. Her voice was like a gift from God & I just cried a little listening to it here.
I was a huge Carpenter's fan, but I never claimed to be cool!
@@janhankins911 Sometimes it's cool to be uncool. LOL! They have since gotten a lot of respect from the public and the industry. I just looked up online the greatest female singers of all time and Karen Carpenter was listed as #6. Now that's pretty damn cool.
Karen had such an incredible voice. Something about how talented she was juxtaposed against how hard her personal life was makes her story especially tragic.
Absolutely! A too frequent tale with creative minds
Hi Diane, I remember when this song came out. I saw them perform it on TV. It was the first time I had seen a girl play the drums. As I later found out, I could not play the drums and sing at the same time, so I switched to guitar, where I don't have to even think about it.
Give Chewie my love, I love you too. Good bye for now!
@@randalmayeux8880, I can also sing while playing guitar with no problem. I’ve never tried drums, but I do play piano, and if I try to sing while playing, or even simply answer someone’s “What song is that?” my fingers all turn into thumbs. It’s also difficult to sing or talk while playing the harmonica, but that’s only because my mouth is full. 😂
@DianeJennings if you want to really review the greatest female singer ever, Go listen to Judith Durham. Many to choose from with The Seekers. Georgy Girl, I'll never Find Another You, When The Stars Begin To Fall., World Of our Own, or perhaps her own Jazz Album, Judith Durham and the Hottest band In Town, try Sister Kate.
@@markhill9275 R.I.P., Judith Durham, Australia's favorite singer.
Karen Carpenter what a angelic voice..gone too soon but not forgotten ❤️ Rest in peace
Saw them in concert in the 70's... she was even greater in person. And so sweet. ♡
Her voice was pure magic. To me, she ranked along side some of the greatest female singers of all time.
Arguably the greatest, really.
She's widely recognized as having one of the greatest female voices in modern music. The Carpenters have a large & varied catalog of hits, & it's a shame she left us so soon. Thanks for your reaction.
Yes the carpenters were the mellowest of soft music if the 70 s they had good music . Thanks for sharing this with us ,?
Glad you enjoyed it!
Every Song the Late Karen Carpenter Sang was just Beautiful , but one of my all time favorites was ' I need to be in Love '
One of the greatest drummers in history also was one of the greatest vocalists. Her drumming is top 10 of all time. But her singing -- everyone loves her and we all miss her so much because her voice -- her basement -- was so emotive. Her death was a loss of the ages, but thankfully she lived in a time of recording so we can still have this -- and regret.
I love The Carpenters. She had an amazing voice and was a very good drummer and her brother, Richard, was such a great pianist, arranger, and songwriter plus also sang great harmonies. Their catalogue of songs is amazing. Karen's voice is so pure and clear. And yes, her pitch was spot on, every single time. I get goosebumps every time I listen to them. Great reaction! I'm glad you liked it.
Thank you! Multitalented indeed!
When I was a kid, The Carpenters were considered sort of square. They weren't rockers, and they had a clean-cut wholesome image. Most of us loved them anyway, especially Karen. It's natural to love someone with that voice and delivery. Not only did she have perfect pitch, but her phrasing was outstanding. And she made it sound so easy. IMO, she would have been an even bigger star had she lived during the 40s and 50s, when that style of singing was more common.
Karen Carpenter started as a drummer. It's how she viewed herself at first, but her voice was so good that she became mainly a singer. And it helped the act to have her out front where people could see her, instead of in back behind a drum kit.
Paul Williams wrote another hit song for The Carpenters, We've Only Just Begun. It started as a jingle for a TV commercial for a bank. Richard Carpenter liked it and convinced Williams to flesh it out into a full-length song. Another Paul Williams song you probably know is Rainbow Connection from The Muppet Movie.
Musical acts like The Carpenters often hire backup musicians and singers to perform with them. That's who those other musicians were (either that, or they were studio musicians). Elvis, Billy Joel, Linda Ronstadt, etc. have all done this.
My favorite Carpenters song is Superstar. I'd like for you to react to that one. Other really good ones are (They Long to Be) Close to You, For All We Know, Goodbye to Love, Sing, Top of the World, and Only Yesterday.
I can see how havin the drums in front of you if that’s thought you were comfortable with, would be reassuring, if you felt nervous
Paul WIlliams was asked in an interview about his songs for the Carpenters "Aren't they very vanilla?" He had the perfect response "Isn't vanilla a wonderful flavor?" Just as everyone likes vanilla and it goes with anything, the Carpenters were pleasing to almost everyone (though there are occasions it doesn't fit, like a rave).
One of my favorite is Ticket To Ride. She is gorgeous in that music video.
John Sebastian did a lot of session work on harmonica.
I was a tween when the Carpenters first started and both them and John Denver were my guilty pleasures. I didn't tell too many about it because they were considered square. Still love them and listen to them in the midst of my Led Zeppelin and Queen. I could be a little more open about John Denver because the 70's were the era of the singer-songwriter so listening to him along with Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, etc. wasn't quite as uncool as Carpenters were.
Clearly one of the greatest singers who ever lived.
A great, great singer and magical voice. When I hear her, it immediately takes me back to my childhood and listening to their songs over and over again. There always seems to be a touch of melancholy in her voice. Perhaps a reflection of the struggles she went through. Beautiful.
Superstar is one of their best. Written by Leon Russell and Bonnie Bramlett, Richard's arrangement is stunning.
She had a knack for perfect recording sessions. She would walk in, sit down and hit EVERY NOTE PERFECTLY.
They called her “One take Karen.”
Despite my playlist being filled with Van Halen, Aerosmith, the Stones, Led Zeppelin, and the like, I've always loved The Carpenters. Karen's voice is amazing.
No need for "despite" - all the bands you mentioned are amazingly talented. The Carpenters fit in perfectly with that theme. Great is great irrespective of genre.
Right there with you. Reminds me of that time growing up in the 70’s. David Gates / Bread is/are another artist that has the same affect.
Wholeheartedly agree, same here…just a beautiful voice.
Yeah, it wasn't considered cool to like the Carpenters, but I think a lot of people really did like them, they just liked them quietly! Really, how could you not love her voice & drumming, Richard's keyboards & arrangements?!
There were many great bands in the 70's that we listened to on the radio...there were lots of great soft rock songs from Carol King , James Taylor, Elton John, Bread, The Fifth Dimension, The Carpenters, and more. Would be pretty boring if every song was hard rock. The Carpenters definitely made their contribution to music in the 70's. I think they should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
I cried the day Karen died, and I still cry when I hear her voice. She was an amazing gift to us all during a time, not unlike today, when so little in our world made sense.
I cry every time I hear her sing. Her voice is so moving. She and Joni Mitchell are my favorite singers.
Me too !
Me too. I remember that I was on the New York State Thruway north of where I had entered at NJ 17. I could not stop crying for quite a while.
First time watching one of your vids. Loved the genuine look of pleasant surprise on your face at hearing Karen. Such a loss...but we have her recordings
I'm glad to see comments concerning how great a drummer she was--one of the best. I sense she would have been happier just being a background drummer, but her once in a century voice had to be heard. What's even more extraordinary is that she is timeless. New generations continue to discover her greatness.
Karen Carpenter was one of the greatest drummers in the world. No kidding. Watch one of the videos of her solos online. And listen to her sing "On Top of the World" -- The ease at which her voice could change octaves was a miracle.
Buddy Rich respected her as a drummer. That says a lot.
I heard somewhere she considered herself first a drummer. Who could also sing.
Yes, that is correct. She called herself a drummer first and a singer second. She and Richard basically recognized that her beautiful voice was the strong selling point of their music, but she LOVED drumming. (and she was a great drummer!)@@Donizen1
She was definitely an excellent drummer. A lot of people don't realize just how good she was. They did showcase her talent a lot on their TV show, but somehow people didn't get the point. One of the greatest?...well...she was really good. It was clear she wanted first to be a drummer and she truly was a very very good one. But what a voice.
Uh yeah … she could play drums too. Playboy magazine did a reader’s poll of greatest drummers, and John Bonham (of Led Zeppelin during their heyday) came in 6th … but Karen Carpenter came in 5th. During a drunken comment, John was not too pleased with that. Some people think that her ranking is too high, but not me - her beats were very crisp and she could be as fast as any rock drummer.
The Carpenters Greatest Hits album. This is a clear example of how many top hits they have...when you can make a Greatest hits album =)
One of the All-Time great voices
Good reaction. Herb Alpert heard Karen's voice on a demo in 1969 and signed her brother, Richard, and her to A&M records. Karen received 3 or 4 Grammys in the 70s and sold over 80 million records by 1982. She was 1975 rock drummer of the year according to Playboy. Perhaps THE best female vocalist-ever, because she commands you to listen as she sings in perfect pitch TO you, not at you, with emotion and enunciation. No auto-tune or gimmicks. No professional voice or drum instruction. She was known by the studios as 'one take'. She rarely, if ever, recorded more than one take of any song. She was also the ONLY female harmony/background voice in all her songs. She was truly born with an incredible singing talent. Documentaries point out the accolades to her voice, such as, Paul McCartney said she had the most angelic voice after hearing her sing 'Ticket To Ride'. John Lennon ran into her at an LA restaurant and told her "you have a fabulous voice, luv". Supposedly Frank Sinatra stated that Karen was the only singer he'd pay to hear. I recommend songs such as, Yesterday Once More, Solitaire, This Masquerade, Need To Be In Love, Hurting Each Other, Only Yesterday, I Can Dream Cant I, Crescent Noon, Ordinary Fool, Superstar, A Song For You, etc. KC never knew true love. One of her few friends included Dionne Warwick. 5'3" KC really lost weight, due to anorexia, in earnest beginning in 1975. She died in Feb 1983 at age 32 due to heart complications from anorexia.
And 80m records in 1982 is like a Taylor Swift result today!😊
Listening to Karen's voice through really good headphones is bone-chilling. Like you said...it's TO you.
There was no auto tune back then
Ms. Jennings . . . you just had the privilege of listening to very best female voice from the past 60 plus years . . . absolutely flawless!
Their first smash hit, "Close to you", came out in May 1970 and was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for 4 weeks, and 11 weeks in the top 10. Also "Merry Christmas Darling" is such a good one too.
Never tire of listening to Karen's beautiful voice. RIP sweet lady.
I'm such a geek, The Carpenters were the first concert I went to see as a teen. I was too young to drive, so I had to convince my cousin to take us.Thanks for reminding me😊
Oh wow! That’s so freaking cool! Any photos??
@DianeJennings Sadly no, we weren't a picture generation - too much hassle (film, get it developed, see that all you took were blurry objects) 😂
This is one of those songs that you love because it's so incredible, but also makes you sad because you're reminded how early she left us.
So tragic!
A mainstay of my teenage years and still a frequent go to on my playlist. The purest, natural voice...like velvet. I was 19 when she died and have mourned her to this day. The expression on your face says it all, her voice is all encompassing, hypnotic. She has no equal.
Thank you for actually
1 Not interrupting the song
2 an actual analysis that goes beyond " Like ... WOW ... that was really great ... Like ... Oh my ..."
I just subscribed
Glad you liked this! Karen was my favorite artist when I was in high school, still love her/miss her today. Such a clear, lush voice, it could stand up to being miked up close; her voice worked so well with nostalgic/melancholy songs. The Carpenters recorded before fancy electronics (like vocoder), so they provided their own vocal backups by recording tracks over and over. I recommend Yesterday Once More, Superstar, For All We Know and/or We've Only Just Begun (both were used as wedding songs for many years), Bless the Beasts and the Children, Ticket to Ride, Kind of Hush…
Happy International Whale Shark Day and (unofficial US) National Beach Day!
If you are going to listen to 'There's a Kind of Hush', you might as well listen to the Herman's Hermits version from 9 years earlier.
Her voice was so pure and one of rock's best drummers. There's video of her just drumming and she's amazing
Wholesome, rich and beautiful honest songs, something you just don't hear any more. A tragic loss, someone I grew up listening to and loved all of it.
Paul Williams was a really incredible songwriter. I remember seeing an interview with him in the '80s, so well after Karen had died, talking about Carpenters. One of the criticisms that they often got was that they were too "vanilla." Paul's response to that was "but what a great flavor is vanilla!"
Diane Thanks for playing the Carpenters "Rainy days and Mondays". Im an older guy and the Carpenters were and still are one of my favorites. In 1970 as I was starting my Chevy Belaire to go to class I heard them for the first time singing "Close to you" and I thought, Amazing! Thanks again and I cant help noticing your eyes how much they remind me of my Grand Daughters. She is 19 with amazing blue eyes.
A beautiful woman and voice. “Top of the World” I always thought was her best.
I must check that one out!
Hi Diane, Karen had the voice of an angel, combined with her brother Richard's harmony, composition & arranging skills, along with their band's amazing musicianship & background vocals made The Carpenters classic solid gold!!!
The best live concert I ever attended was the Carpenters performing in the round. Not only were they outstanding, but whoever set up the sound for a rotating stage did a fantastic job.
The golden voice, and having a brother that's a musical genius is a huge bonus.
I remember my mother always had the Carpenters on, especially during Christmas. I don't know anyone that doesn't love her voice.
Honestly the most purest voice ..just angelic.. really tragic to know how she eventually died but what a phenomenal talent and she played the drums too 😇
I'm 41 and grew up listening to them thanks to my mom. Karen indeed had one of the greatest singing voices of all time.
Fil, from the very popular “Wings of Pegasus” channel has done deep dives into Karen’s performances and The Carpenters…including putting their songs through voice analyzer software…not only did Karen have consistently excellent or perfect pitch - she often was even more accurate LIVE versus studio…they used to call her “One-Take Karen”. Her Contralto voice was just incredible.
Karen often told people she considered herself “A drummer who also sang”…instead of singer who drummed.
My personal favorite is probably: “Yesterday Once More”.
Karen had such an angelic voice, perfect pitch enabled her to do most of her songs in just one take at the recording studio. Such a sad loss to lose her at just 32.
There is a London singer called Harriet (Harriet Sings seems to be the best search to find her), close your eyes and listen to Harriet covering the Carpenters, she sounds just like Karen, that glorious velvety voice that so many loved, and still love.
We lost her way too soon. So many great songs that will never be heard until we're with her again. RIP Karen. You are not forgotten and so sorely missed.
Listen to Tori Holub. Sounds almost exactly like Karen.
Good Choice Diane!! My Mom loved the Carpenters so I heard them played on 8 track tapes a lot growing up. Mom passed 21 years ago and hearing Karen makes me miss Mom!😢 Still glad you brought attention to the wonder of that talent.
She must have been a great person if such sweet sounds evoke her memory 🥰
@@DianeJennings thank You❤️
Yes, she played the drums. She seemed really unassuming, a performer with massive talent and apparently the ego of the cleaning lady. Her voice was among the greatest ever, amazing in the way she would finish each line and embellish the lyrics.
Please do more Carpenters! So proud to come from her hometown of New Haven. I get goosebumps when I drive through her old neighborhood.
The magic of the Carpenters. I grew up on them. Her voice, just no words. That she died so soon, leaving us too soon, well it still brings tears to my eyes. Even seeing this.
The Carpenters's Christmas music is always my go-to during the Christmas season. Karen's voice is so pure on those classic Christmas songs that it just feels angelic. And Richard's arrangements are so good!
I agree, I love all the Carpenter's music, but when I think of Karen's voice, the song that comes to mind is "Merry Christmas Darling".
@@reneeeiier4818I can’t listen to MCD without tearing up, even after all these years.
Karen had thought of herself as a drummer who accompanied her brother, but her brother & others quickly realized, that her voice was awesome, & the rest was history.
The Carpenters came along at the right time, the early 1970's, for their music, but it ended up being timeless.
It’s my understanding that being pushed to the front to sing and not being allowed to play drums may have contributed to her issues leading to anorexia, depression, and whatever else she may have been dealing with. If they had just let her stay on the drums that she loved so much, she might still be with us.
I don't mean this as an insult to Richard, but when you think about it, he was one of the luckiest guys in music history. Here he is, a young guy trying to make it in the music industry and his little sister comes along for the ride. And wouldn't you know it, but she turns out to have one of the greatest voices ever.
@DennisKovacich I think, that Karens issues had more to do with her relationship to her mother, for whom Karen was never good enough, no matter how great she was, rather than the drums. She did end up getting back behind the drums, although perhaps not as much, as she would have liked.
I have always loved the Carpenters. Karen is my favorite female vocalist of all time. Richard's composing, arranging, and overall musicianship is seldom equaled even today. Thanks for your covering this tune. By the way, they always had several backup musicians who played with them, live and in the studio. Check you their Christmas album!
Their Christmas album is still one of my favorites and it's "must" listening in our home. I love Karen's rendition of "Ave Maria" (my favorite Christmas song and she sang it like an angel).
Hey Diane! Not only was Karen Carpenter an amazing singer with perfect pitch, but she was also a PHENOMENAL drummer! That is what she was trained to do at a young age. She had the talent to play on a drum kit AND sing AT THE SAME TIME! You can watch Karen Carpenter's crazy drummer talents on TH-cam also! She being a female drum kit drummer during the late 1960s and early to mid 1970s should be noted and not to be underappreciated! :)
And to think to she originally did not want to sing and wanted to just play the drums.
She plays a couple of fills while holding a perfect singing note in this video which just boggles my mind. What a talent
@@AI_Image_Master yes that is right! She was shy and her brother had to encourage her to sing by herself in front of the band, not to be "hiding behind the drums"
@@mynineridesshotgun Yes Diane did notice that also :) yes it is noted if you look carefully she is playing the drums AND singing at the same time!
Inspired me to play drums beginning in Jr. High - it was a huge deal. "Women didn't do that." And there weren't many...but started a revolution in the pocket!
Karen's inflections and articulation was unequaled and remains so even today! She sometimes recorded up to 32 tracks using her and Richard's voices to give you the idea that there was an entire choir behind them. The song "Only Yesterday" really shows off their immense talents. Try it with headphones on! You'll get chills in the intro!
That opening low note sends chills down my spine! Her lower register was incredible. As she once said "the money's in the basement!" (I think she was with Mike Curb driving somewhere, and she sang something really high. He was surprised at that and that's when she made the reply. 🙂 💖)
Good choice, but... and only my opinion... "Ordinary Fool" would be my choice. All the smooth, subtle, controlled, effortless (any number of adjectives) changes... throughout the song. Purest voice, in my 70 years, I've ever heard.
Those of us born in the sixties loved this music. So much was clean and you could hear the words. Sometimes less is more applies to life as well. Happy for what you have.
Karen Carpenters Voice is really good sounding and soothing. the saxophone solo is good. I've always liked the old school musical instruments in songs. She is really talented to play the drums and sing lead vocals at the same time. She helped others learn through her struggles in life to make the world improve others quality of life.
Karen’s voice was pure honey. Simply unsurpassed to this day.
74 years young
You are not the first person so mesmerized by her voice that you didn't notice she was playing the drums. Very accomplished drummer.
The most perfect voice. Bless her she didn’t want to be front of stage in the limelight. She just wanted to sit and play her drums. RIP Karen.
It was really after Karen died that people started to hear about and know about anorexia. She was my all-time favorite singer and I will never forget the day I heard that she had passed away.
“Rainy Days and Mondays” and “We’ve Only Just Begun.” Both top-tier songs by The Carpenters. And brother Richard deserves major credit for his arrangements.
Karen Carpenter is a music goddess and should be recognized as a terrific drummer as well as singer❤
Karen Carpenter had simply the greatest singing voice ever recorded!
OH there are so many of their songs. Yesterday Once More is a song I have in my playlist. As well as Sing. Just listening to her voice is like sitting by a fire on a cold day and having Hot Chocolate. Which brings up their Christmas album. "A Christmas Portrait" which has Merry Christmas, Darling.
Absolutely flawless voice. My favorite singer for the last 50 years as of last month.
We did this song in choir in junior high, and it was one of the few where we all just concentrated on singing instead of messing around with the lyrics and/or melody. It's an amazing piece of music; it can be broken down into multiple parts and yet stay cohesive & easy to listen to. Karen Carpenter was a tragic loss to music, her voice was one of a kind.
I've heard of the name carpenters before but have not listened to them. This was my first time hearing rainy days and Mondays from the carpenters too. I enjoyed sharing in the musical journey hearing the song, learning and getting your reaction to the song. Music is always the best way to get through the day. Thanks for making the day joyful with your reaction video.
Thanks Rickey! It’s nice to share new experiences with you guys.
@@DianeJennings Same Here. It's been a joyful day.
Karen Carpenter sang like an angel. They were part of the soundtrack of my youth. I would usually listen to Zeppelin, Grand Funk, and the like, but Karen Carpenter was always a joy to listen to. And she was a very good drummer.
Very good!! So coordinated to be able to sing at the same time!!!
Yes the same for me I loved all the old hard rock groups but also loved the Carpenters and I am now 72 and my foreign born wife's favorite singer is Karen Carpenter
@@DianeJennings - Here you go, Diane, six minutes of Karen absolutely having a ball on the drums - just look at the joy in her face as she plays ❣
(Trivia note - The fellow also playing drums is Cubby O'Brien, a former "Mouseketeer" on the original Mickey Mouse Club from 1955-1959, who toured for nine years with the Carpenters up until Karen passed.) th-cam.com/video/ie1WWWOxhMs/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=SylvioBazote
The 60's were simply MAGICAL! TY! Appreciate! Much love.....
My favorite Carpenter songs are "We've Only Just Begun", "Hurting Each Other", and maybe their best song, "Merry Christmas Darling". A highly underrated group.
I'm glad so many people are discovering Karen's amazing voice and trajic story.
Karen had such an incredible voice; however, she was happiest when she was drumming. Her passing was such a tragedy for the world.
She was an excellent drummer! I've seen a couple of videos of her doing drum solos (one where she moves between multiple drum kits).
As I listened to Rolling Stones, my sisters favored Carpenters. No denying her pure voice. She seemed so wholesome. Always wondered the outcome if she went the same musical path as Carole King or Linda Ronstadt...(or even Grace Slick).
Interesting to ponder that Richard!
I remember being surprised to hear Richard say that he was a big Grateful Dead fan among other contemporary bands. He knew they had found a successful lane though and stayed in it.
Must be a different Richard. I did not comment on Grateful Dead video.
@@RichardEckhard I think it was a different Richard...probably referring to Richard Carpenter, Karen's brother and the other half of the group.
We used to call those movies “After School Specials”
Never have I seen a listener so gobsmacked by a performance! 🙂 It was beautiful! Your reactions are straight from the heart, Diane.
After hearing she was beating it / recovering I was just stunned and had to pull over and sit for bout a half hour upon hearing of her collapse, to deal with the 'shock' 🥺❤️🔥👼
The damage was already done. Not sure but heard she had not really beat it.
@@vikkiflaig4735 after almost dying, hospitalization, forced feeding and intensive therapy arranged by the family she was recovering and getting better and yes for many it remains a lifelong fight. Staying at her parents she was coming down to breakfast then collapsed at the bottom of the stairs dying from a heart attack before her mom due to the 'damage' done 🥺 couldn't listen to Yesterday Once More for over ten years (reminding me of the previous) after my dad died when I was 13 her voice moved me so, then to hear...
I grew up listening to Karen Carpenter. She was my father's favorite and then became mine. Still in my opinion the most beautiful voice I have ever heard.
She is in the top of my list, too.
A part of Karen's sadness was that she didn't want to be the face of the band, she just wanted to play the drums, but because of how amazing her voice was, being front and center was inevitable. BTW, she was a VERY good drummer.
good she was one of the best Any band would of had her just for the drums She was that good
I am a singer and like another commenter it was not cool to like them. Here is the thing everyone who like them that I knew was in a band. Ya they were easy listening but her voice and when they let her play drums the combo... What can I say
Just watching you silently amazed for the first 2/3 of the song days so much about how much you enjoyed this, you didn't even notice Karen playing drums at the beginning because you were so enthralled 👏🏼
There's an early video of them covering Dancing in the Street live on TV as the Dick Carpenter Trio. Not sure if it's their first televised performance or not but it's well worth a watch. Karen was a very capable drummer.
Such a great loss, she had such an amazing voice. She said she was a drummer who happened to sing.
Your reaction during the song was perfect; mesmerized. Yes she had perfect pitch and was known as one take Karen in the recording studio. While some singers can massage your ears, Karen's voice is a massage to the soul.
"We've Only Just Begun" was my High School class' graduation theme song. I wasn't a fan of theirs, but was very saddened to hear of Karen's passing from a serious mental health issue. She had such a beautiful voice. I hate when talent like that is taken away.
Absolutely! Incredible voice-so sweet
It was my class song too.
Perfect pitch, pure, and crystal clear are ways to exactly describe this phenomenal singer, Karen. Only Yesterday is another gem. I'm glad we had her for awhile, and she certainly carried alot of people over and through alot of life's tragedies and disappointments. Thank you Karen Carpenter. R.I.P.