You need to research their story. The sings hit the soul even more because they were writing about their own experience. Sadly she didn't want to endure anymore. No auto tune, perfect pitch, just lovely.
It doesn't matter if 70s pop music is a genre you like or not....EVERYBODY loves Karen Carpenter's voice. It was simply perfection, warm, friendly, pure, expressive, and always in perfect pitch.
I was a serious Carpenters fan in the 1970s, and somehow, I never heard this song before. Thanks for playing it. And don't apologize for your tastes. You like what you like, and you don't have to explain that to anybody.
The chills start before she even starts singing. That's the genius of her brother's arrangements. And then when that fabulous voice comes in, the chills increase. So beautiful!
Not the 80s , this is the 70s when they were popular. Though they were still making music til her death in 1984. she brought great attention, to the eating ,disorder, anorexia . Which helped so many others . Sorta like Rock Hudson shown a light on Aids with his death. Her voice was unique, smooth ,and timeless .
I love that the mumble rap fan falls in love a singer with the best diction and clarity of tone. Wonders never cease. You're not the only one who is moved by karen's voice and the Carpenter's musicality. They were trained musicians. They studied their craft. Looking back on their music now thanks to all of you reactors, I see how perfectly these songs were crafted. It's amazing. But more importantly, I see Karen always had this melancholy, this pensive sadness in her voice. I have seen others describe it as "achy." French poets used to call it spleen. The French poet Charles Baudelaire immortalized this feeling of melancholy in his poetry. Anyway, this is the time when a good many people are self medicating and seeking therapy. There's a lot of sadness in our society and I think Karen's voice resonates. But as sad as Karen's voice seems, she always offers genuine hope, so that when the song is finished, you are uplifted not depressed.
We were SO LUCKY. We had SO MUCH variety of music to listen to and the talent was amazing. The band Bread is another from that era you may want to try. Similar richness. "Make it With You" and "Baby, I'm a Want You" are good choices.
I just love Karen Carpenter. She sings like she has a tear in her voice. I feel that, that is the best description of her voice. It is like what melancholy sounds like; a teardrop. That feeling of not sure of being happy or sad. A tear in your eye of hearing something so beautiful that you cannot express it any other way except with teardrops. Her voice stirs up an emotion to something you just don't understand on how or why it exists. So pure , so innocent, so very beautiful, that is her voice.
1970s...yes, I was lucky to have grown up experiencing the Carpenters and other greats of the decade. And you are spot on...hard to describe how clear Karen sang so effortlessly...best vocalist ever! Frank Sinatra once commented that Karen was the only singer/entertainer he'd paid to watch over and over. Carpenters music IS timeless...we would have all our favorites back in the day ...Earth Wind and Fire, Eagles, Chicago, Led Zeplin, Jackson 5, etc...but we would STOP...and listen to the Carpenters when we would hear their records on the radio. Continue your journey!!
Karen Carpenter’s music makes one feel certain ways no other singer can. It’s cool you can see (and experience) it. You allow yourself to experience it. Many your age are closed off to it. I enjoyed your reaction. Keep up the great work! Thank you!
Very few singers/groups achieve this timeless & legendary level of musical sound, harmony & masterful music arrangement, so simplistic, emotionally riveting & capable of closing all generation gaps & fill hearts with joy & an unforgettable melody! The Carpenters were/are one of the elite in this category of the musically best! You're an old soul with enough wisdom to stop & listen & recognize the meaning of 'the heart' of soul shine music & the artists' that were/are gifted in making it! I applaud you! It was a joy watching you see one of my faves. i hope you'll listen to Superstar, my favorite by Karen. Her voice is just haunting in it. Also, the fun Please Mr. Postman & the one I always sing to my sons, Close to You. Don't think that you're 'not cool' because you like this music. You are one of the rare 'old souls' who are 'cool enough' to appreciate it! I subscribed because of all the reasons I listed about you.
Beautiful vocals, like an angel, her death was so sad...R.I.P. Karen...Amazing, Thank you, We had music that was raw, and could feel it to your soul...Peace
I listen to everything from New Age music, Jazz to heavy metal. I love the Carpenters. Karen's voice is like an angels. I just don't give a damn what anyone thinks either. Check out their song Solitaire and Superstar. This song was around 1970. Haunting beauty.👍🤟😄😄
I mean, her range was INSANE. To start out so low and than be able to sing in the upper range…incredible. It’s so hard to sing in the lower range. Anyone can scream. This was 1975 btw. Another huge hit for them was For All We Know, which was co-written by one of the members of the group Bread. Karen’s live performances of this are incredible ❤️. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Oa1F2MEedZA.html
This song is from 1975. The Carpenters were a seventies group. That was the era of "walking in the flowers" music like this. The eighties were much more hyper, aggressive, and less relaxed.
Yes, this is REAL music, not the repetitive stuff on the radio that we hear today. Also, analog recording beats digital anytime and true musical talent will always outshine lack of talent.
I love Carpenters Christmas album. My mom used to play that and Amy grant during Christmas. I love everything by the Carpenters. Sing a song (I think that's the title) is a good song by them. Karen's voice is perfect.
Their version of "The Christmas Song" is brilliant.. I love theirs and Nat King Cole's equally... Karen definitely has one of the best voices in the business...
I love to see your reactions to this fabulous song. By now you know that they are brother and sister, Karen was a drummer, and Richard was the arranger and produced them. I'm sorry that Karen died so young. I can't help but think she would be astounded and touched by the overwhelming responses from the young people, to her voice. When I was younger, I knd of dismissed the Carpenters, dumb me . They were huge in South America and Japan.
You really get it, when it comes to her voice. It's hard to describe what makes it so amazing. It's just soothing and perfect .They were before my time too but I've always loved their music.
I love seeing younger generations appreciate the music I grew up on. I love your reaction! You're right. Karen didn't have to do a bunch of vocal gymnastics to get her point across. Their music was pure and straight to the point.
So nice to see a young man enjoying the music I've loved since the 70s. Even saw them in concert twice in Columbus, Ohio when Karen was still behind the drums.
The song is from their 1975 album Horizon. Every song on it flows from to the next. I recommend you buy the album and listen to end to end. "Desperado" is on there. Karen was 25 at the time.
There are two early hits that you should check out - "Close to You", the song that made them famous, and "For All We Know" - Richard heard this song in a movie and liked it, so they recorded it. Their recording helped the song win the Academy award that year for best song.
Beautiful woman with the voice of an angel. Sadly, if you look at her compared to the other videos. In 1975 was when she was at the height of her anorexia weighing 91 pounds and was 5' 4". That's when this video was made in 1975, you can see the gauntness in her face. She only lived 8 years after this as she passed in 1983. Absolutely heartbreaking. She not only had a wonderful voice & a fabulous drummer, she was also down to earth and made frequent jokes for example, she had a 3 octave contralto range but most of her songs were in her lower register of her range, she joked saying "the money's in the basement." I love the Carpenters & Karen's voice. You should listen to "Lovin' You" by Minnie Riperton you'll fall in love with her voice too.
I truly enjoy watching the level of appreciation you have for the different music genres. I really love your analysis of the songs as well. You're such a breath of fresh air. I appreciate you!
Plenty of Carpenters songs for you to discover, We've Only Just Begun, Top Of the World are 2 that I truly believe you will love. Nice to see you enjoy this one in a billion voice. RIP Karen❤
Yeah, we had great music. And my generation absolutely loves seeing young people discover our music! Glad you like the Carpenters. There's so many more songs I can't wait to see you discover.
We were very lucky to be alive when the Carpenters were opening the world to finer sounds. The first time I heard a vinyl record of 'Close To You' I listened to it at least 8 times straight. I could not help myself. Many teenagers were embarrassed to let their friends know they listened to The Carpenters, but I'll bet their friends listened to it as well!
Ever had a good friend, a real friend, who loved you and whom you loved? You like to spend time with him or her, just to enjoy each other's company? Not because he or she is cool, not because he or she is exciting; but because he or she enriches your life, makes you feel good when you're around him or her. You like the Carpenters music because you like the beauty of the music and it make you feel good inside, and that, in fact, is that. If this is the way you think, then you're a bit of a rare gem because I talk to a lot of people who won't listen to anything unless it pretty much makes them half-deaf or has someone with a reall shrill voice pushing aural daggers into your eardrums. I've actually never liked being with people who are cool or people who are exciting so much. I just like people I like without them HAVING TO BE COOL OR EXCITING. Not that you're not cool, but I like watching you react because you just listen and appreciate beauty because it's beautiful, period.
I've wondered exactly when we'd the wow moment for Richard Carpenter when he realized just how good his sisters voice was? I would have loved to have seen his reaction. With his talent, he had to realize just how great she was. And his arrangements fit her style perfectly or maybe he changed the arrangements to fit her voice. Either way, it fit perfectly. Rip Karen. Your voice is missed.
Really enjoying you reacting to 70's music. Would love to see you react to Bad Bad Leroy Brown by Jim Croce. It's a fun 70's song. He was a great songwriter from the 70's.
You explained her genius. Everyone knows her voice is incredible. The thing that made her legendary s the way she changed up the delivery of words or phrasing JUST ENOUGH to make the lyrics magical. And, like you said, it seems she wasn't even trying. But she was. Her brother was a taskmaster. A perfectionist. Those two worked together perfectly. Other artists that worked with him buckled under his perfectionism. He wore them out. Not Karen, though.
Thank you for doing what you're doing! Your appreciation and excitement and respect for their music just makes me tear-up! It's rare to see someone as young as you so fully "getting" it.
Carpenters were huge in the 1970s. This song is from 1975. Karen died in February, 1983. They only had a couple of popular songs in the very early 80s before she died (at the age of 32). But they had dozens of big hits from about 1970 until about 1982 or so.
The Carpenters and Barry Manilow and the Commodores and Earth, Wind and fire! It was an incredible time for music. I'm glad you're getting to enjoy it today and keeping it alive!
"Only Yesterday" was the Carpenters 12th and final Top 10 single. Released in March 1975, in advance of the album, "Horizon," the single peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Although the duo had other charting songs into the early '80s, none of their later releases would peak as high. The album version, incidentally, is a little longer, with the fade coming a full chorus after the modulation.
Let's try going back to Carpenter's first TV appearance, back when Karen played the drums and sang at the same time. Full song, drumming and singing. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Eq3V2AfD9ec.html
Did you ever watch Ghost Rider with Nicholas Cage? He is a Carpenters fan and in the movie, playing some Carpenters music and karate chimp videos and when someone comes in and turns it off. He says ""Mack... you touch the Carpenters, or that chimp video again, and we got a scrap on our hands."
It was the early 70’s to about 1981. I will never forget the first time I heard her voice & I’ll never get tired of it. Try Yesterday Once More, it’s an ear worm.
You could have this music too. Music isnt just for their generation, its for all ages. Music unifies all races and genders. Its taste in music that grows no limits.
It's "feels" music! She had Depression really bad....combined with the Anorexia she battled! That finally took her from us RIP Karen!! 🙏🙏🙏 In her words you hear the battle she was going through. At least that's how I interpreted them..
Wow, haha like it if you like I Jojo. Never look to anyone but yourself if you like or dislike something. Always focus on what you like, what you don’t like you can ignore, but tolerate and don’t hate if you have to. Karyn Carpenter died one day before my 3rd birthday in 1983. My mom loved the Carpenters, got played through much of my youth on vinyl. It was not what I was attracted to, even still there is such a calmness in so many of their songs. You don’t get up an jam to most of em, but you definitely can sit back listen, and feel a lot. There are like 100’s of artists I would put ahead of them, but I still can appreciate much of their archives. Glad to see your expanding your mind, and thanks for reminding me to pull up stuff from the past I forget and slip in for my daughter. Keep loving music my man. LFR Family!
Massive respect. I loved Nirvana, Soundgarden, Linkin Park, Ice Cube, Dr Dre, The Prodigy, NWA, ACDC but I also love Karen Carpenter, voice of an angel.
You should react next to “Goodbye to Love”. It is the quintessential Carpenters song. It’s got everything. If you want happy, check out “Top of the World” and “Sweet , Sweet Smile”. Also, Karen played the drums on “Only Yesterday”.
I think it's cool that a young man is into the Carpenters. With a lot of the crap music that's out there now, it's nice to know that some youth are being exposed to what real music was. Back in the day, a lot artists were unique and had their own style or sound. Now, a lot seem to be just cookie cutters of each other (In voice and style) and a lot of times, sample the old songs anyway. If others aren't into the Carpenters, they're missing out. It just a sign of the times because The Carpenters were "cool" back then :) In 20 more years, a younger generation will be saying today's music is "back in the day" and isn't cool. Thanks for this reaction!
Karen Carpenter has most unique voice around. They were in the 70s so out of your generation. She has a tragic life and very sad ending. If you don't know she died of anorexia disorder. The world know about this eating disorder from her passing. If you haven't know the Carpenters story perhaps if you have time you can watch the following video. The Carpenters' Story: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2t97I-pBIEk.html Cheers, keep up a good work.