Magnificent live performance in Tokyo at the top venue in Japan. There are some idiots or naysayers who try (and utterly fail) to take down The Carpenters a notch, but this and many, many other shows speak for themselves. Karen, best female vocalist of all time. Richard arranging everything perfectly, the whole band harmonious and in sync. That's all I've got to say.
Now that I've seen her playing drums in other pieces, I think that this "Help" rendition actually drags her down somewhat. I mean it's crisp, it's "on," but she really tears loose on other arrangements. It's like the Carpenters had so much veneration for this song (and rightly so) that they held back some.
My all time favorite Karen Carpenter video. I never would have guessed the Carpenters were the best prog rock band I could imagine until now. She's enjoying herself so much as she and the whole band pull out the tasty flourishes. The thing is---those are just the right mix of camera angles and the right cutting rhythm to make her really shine. I especially like the one with her face just above the drums, with the drumsticks flying around her to punctuate her singing. I just can't understand why her label couldn't have seen that. Thanks!
Oh man, what a groove and feel for the beat WHILE SINGING. Karen is a legend. It’s incredibly hard to sing and play drums at the same time. She was in the zone.
Hey drum riffs are outstanding. Also great sounding kit. She definitely knew what she was doing. And of course singing beautifully all the while. Great cover of a great song.
You could make a strong argument to say that Karen Carpenter was the greatest all round female vocalist/musician/entertainer of all time. R.I.P Karen.🙏❤️.x
She is one of my favorite drummers. A singer who is also a drummer has a different ear for music. They cant help but reflexively move while they sing. I think about others like Phil Collins and Shela E. Brings a smile to my face.
She was so happy there! That woman was a true legend. Simply amazing. Her talent was not of this world. She was a true gift on loan. God rest her soul. 😢
What I find absolutely amazing is that as a drummer merry we all count somehow to keep time etc (you can see Cubby nods his head); but for the life of me I can’t workout how she counts. She looks all around her, she is interacting and laughing with the other musicians, she really doesn’t appear to count! Richard once said ‘she had perfect time keeping, she was like a metronome’
I watch this every so often to remind me of how much Karen loved drumming. Richard's arrangements of Beatles songs was great too. I was lucky to see them and band at Universal Amphitheater in '73.
Can’t believe how absolutely beautiful and HAPPY Karen looks !!! What an absolute gem she was. RIP sweet girl. Thank you for all the beautiful music from your heart! 💜
That look of pure joy as she's playing. We all love that comes-along-once-in-a-lifetime-voice of hers, but Richard and A&M management should never have listened to the critics and pulled Karen away from the drums to sing. So what audiences complained they "couldn't see her" and that there was "no focal point?" Her job in the band was to drum, not to do a Streisand or Diana. And no less an authority than Wrecking Crew drummer Hal Blaine said she was one of the greatest skinwoman he'd ever met! Praise indeed! A drummer who sang was how she always saw herself, not a singer who drummed.
As a vocalist who accompanies myself on the piano, which takes considerable attention, I can't imagine the skill and concentration it takes to sing and play the drums. Pure genius! Incomparable talent and skill.
