Thank you so much for liking and commenting here! Part 2 is HERE: THE STORY OF SOLITAIRE:Carpenters & Neil Sedaka ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-E3rE9KgQVDo.htmlsi=O55L23qdph1D2Edi! Also Carpenter’s “A SONG for YOU” [Album DOCUMENTARY] ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lmKLU3yNwS4.html
Karen Carpenter's voice is literally therapy for the soul! She was always known as thee epitome of the vocalist (not just a great singer) who sang TO US NOT AT US!... Her brother called her voice "phono-genic".. Herb Alpert who signed them to A & M records, said it felt "like she was sitting in your lap singing only to you and for you!"....
You, too. I still cry like a baby when I hear certain of her songs. Her voice gives me such peace, joy, and relaxation I have a major problem with anxiety and her voice is better than almost any medicine. It soothes my soul. Thank you, God, for Karen. May her voice and music reign forever.
There is no other singer, even the gretest ones, that could do what Karen did. She sounds better live and does so many of her greatest songs in the first take. God's angelic gift to us.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@popcornphilosopher I miss her so much. She soothes my soul and makes me cry tears of joy and sorrow. I ask you, popcorn philosopher, how can somebody I never knew touch me in this way? I am not sure. But something in her voice and persona makes me believe in angels and heaven. I am still to this day caught up in this angel's voice. Thank you gor responding it means so much to me. Hugs and blessings from Chuck in Durham NC
Listen to Tori Holub on youtube cove Karen's songs. THAT VOICE has come around again. I only had to wait 45 years to hear that voice again in an artist....
Truly one of Karen's all time best recordings ever! She actually never liked the song, and said so (iknow!) Yet she actually recorded it in just one take. When she finished, the entire studio fell silent for a full five minutes, they were all so blown away. True story! Luv U, Karen!🙏🥰
I was only 13 when she died and I didn't know much about her at the time. Now I realize what an incredible singer she was and what a massive loss her death was for the world.
Greatest female voice of all time for me Ms. Philosopher. I cried the day she died. She was and remains an angel and a timeless voice for all ages and times. There are great female voices and then there is Karen Carpenter. One of kind and never to be heard again, but her music will be played as long as there are Human Beings. RIP Karen "Angel" Carpenter, we miss you dearly.
Yeah, it hits you from the beginning. I actually did a deep dive on this song. I don’t know if you saw it.Karen Carpenter’s “Solitaire” an Emotional Journey ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-E3rE9KgQVDo.html
There was a banner on the front wall of the church where Karen's funeral was being held. It said, Forget the World, Just Give Me Jesus. Seeing that made me know where her forever home would be. God bless you, Karen Carpenter! 🙏
Thank you Karen for ripping my heart out of my chest then gently pressing your lips against it. If you block out everything and just listen to her voice, you can feel the emotion and pain in her voice, which was the voice of an angel. This truly is my favorite song of hers. Karen and Linda Ronstadt are the two best female singers ever.
So very true! I don’t know if you saw there was a part two to this video Karen Carpenter’s “Solitaire” an Emotional Journey ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-E3rE9KgQVDo.html
Yes, so true! I did do some other carpenters videos if you didn’t see them Karen Carpenter’s “Solitaire” an Emotional Journey ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-E3rE9KgQVDo.html The Hidden Struggles Behind Carpenter's Iconic Album ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lmKLU3yNwS4.html
She was incredible. I knew every word to every song. She and her brother would just leave you breathless after every song. In my day there were no production tricks. All raw voices
@@popcornphilosopher one of her best songs and most of their songs blow you away with emotions but my favorite video or song is Make Believe its your first time
It was such an honor to grow up with the Carpenters & their music. I truly believe that Karen was the female voice of our generation. There will never be a voice like hers ever again. And she left us way too soon. When she passed so many people were heartbroken.
It shows off her voice so magically and that is what is so awesome about this song. Plus the melody and lyrics are so haunting. Ready to cry more? Now listen to "Now"
Stunning 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 most beautiful voice-ever. She compels you to listen to her sing to you, not at you. KC's enunciated emotion almost always had a haunting timber. 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. KC has a list of 'perfect' songs such as, Yesterday Once More, Rainy Days And Mondays, 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
Thank you I appreciate it! Interesting info too. I love hearing how she was respected by her contemporaries because I feel like a lot of times they talk about how they weren’t as respected in their time and only in retrospect did people realized how great they truly were/are!
Solitaire was Karen's unrivaled First Take reading of an amazing song. In fact she hated it & then sang it like there was no tomorrow! Most singers are lips-to-mic close that I've seen. Karen was so much more than a simple explanation can portray? Listen to her astounding breath control, most notably on the 2nd verse. She starts with, "A little hope goes up in smoke ..& how it goes, goes without saying" .. drawing out the lyrics without taking one breath!
I believe she also did Superstar in one take? Such a talent! I think I once heard someone describe her voice as "velvet wrapped in silk." I think it fits well!
Stating that she "hated" it implies that you know her inner most thoughts better than those that knew her, in fact, that you know her thoughts Better than she, herself, did. It is only known, by the masses, that she had doubts about recording the song...pretending...that you know more than that is a, purely, irrelevant comment.
I agree with you!! Karen's voice will forever be unequaled and unmatched. Every song, every note she sings is a absolute glorious gift to us all who Loved her so much
Karen Anne was an angel sent straight from heaven 💞 🌹 💖 her tones and notes are not normal. Most can feel them in their souls. Her brother Richard is the music genius behind all the arrangements of the music 🎶 and plays the piano 🎹. Godly talent and blessed 🙌
Well, there are benefits to both, but I do love the warmth of analog recording. I did discuss it on another Carpenters video. I think it was this one The Hidden Struggles Behind Carpenter's Iconic Album ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lmKLU3yNwS4.html
Far and away their finest song. This remastered version is exceptionally good! This song is REALLY special when you consider her lonely adult life and the sadness that she felt that was deep and drastic enough to have affected her so deeply that it led to her death. TRAGIC!
Karen’s voice did speak to me in my angst ridden teenage days, she “understood” me, so i am not surprised you mentioned about her empathy through the song. Fave album, “A song for you”. It included, the title song, which to me, is the standard, “i won’t last a day” is my favourite carpenters song, “it’s going to take sometime” is a wonderful carole king song (love her drumming in it), “hurting each other” showcase her vocal range, etc etc
That makes so much sense! I can totally see her voice being a good one when one’s an angsty teenager and adult too! And You’re the third or fourth person to vote for a song for you so it looks like a good choice!
This isn't "Ghost" so I'll try not to say "ditto". She was only 2 years older than me, and she'd make you feel like she understood everything you felt.
Thank you so much for keeping these beautiful songs alive for the younger generations. I was truly moved by this song and your reactions. You are a beautiful soul, please don't ever change.
Me too! I ended up doing a whole deep dive on this song if you didn’t see it Karen Carpenter’s “Solitaire” an Emotional Journey ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-E3rE9KgQVDo.html
Didn't you know? She was called "One Take Katen." She always nailed it on the first take. Such natural and beautiful talent. It shredded my heart the day she died.
Karen Carpenter did not always nail a song she recorded on the first take. It has become a certifiable myth that she did. She did record the song, "Superstar" in just one take, reading the lyrics from a cocktail napkin. But many other of the Carpenters' biggest hit songs they recorded numerous takes to try to make the released recording as nearly perfect as possible!
One could legitimately argue that Karen's recording of the great Neil Sedaka song, "Solitaire" is the greatest Carpenters' song of them all! It definitely is THE greatest-ever recording of that particular song! Miss you so much Karen!😢😢
I heard it said that without a microphone you could barely hear her...she sang so close because she never blared out the lyrics...that was part of her magic
Karen Carpemters range and clarity is unmatched as a vocalist and we often forget about her drumming as her first love and what a proficient percussionist and musician she truly was. She has the purest voice I've ever heard and made it look so effortless
Karen and her brother Richard were magic together. Her arranged, wrote and played the piano. He created the right music for his sister to sing. Their performances were pure gold. They created such beautiful music without gimmicks or tricks. They were pure talent untarnished by electronics or computerized pitch controls. They had it in its pure form. Karen had perfect pitch with a three octave vocal range. Richard was a piano prodigy with an ear for Harmony and orchestration. We had too few years of this duo. What a tragic loss when Karen died at 32 years of age. Oh, for what could have been!
Thank you! Oh yes, I talk all about it in part 2 if you haven’t seen it. Karen Carpenter’s “Solitaire” an Emotional Journey ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-E3rE9KgQVDo.html
Richard did the arrangements for most, if not all of their recordings. He was a perfectionist and especially the way recordings sounded. Always crystal clear!
It's nice to hear someone recognize and acknowledge how great the Carpenter's songs were arranged and recorded. That's all (with some help, of course) Richard. Everyone knows Karen was one of the greatest singers of all time, but Richard was also one of the greatest arrangers, composers, and producers of all time, too. Their partnership is what made the Carpenters great.
I agree! I did a couple of other carpenters videos if you haven’t seen them like a deep dive a song for you The Hidden Struggles Behind Carpenter's Iconic Album ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lmKLU3yNwS4.html
I'd recomend Lilac Wine by a British singer, Elkie Brooks. She had a fantastic voice and like so many female singers of the age, tends to be overlooked. This song is Sooooo evocative. I think you will love it. @@popcornphilosopher
Your review of this song brought me to tears. Finally - someone who can truly appreciate every nuance of the song, the orchestration, and the vocals. You are great!
The way you felt Karen s voice and understood it s tremendous quality is prbly why I m always so sad ( bittetsweet actually ) whenever I hear her songs- even after 40 years since she passed away. I grew up with her songs. Everyone back then loved her voice and talent. She was special and beloved by all. She was humble and kind. Good sense of humor. Anyway- great review. No different than anyone s though 40 years ago. She WAS that talented.😊👍
You can never go wrong with a Carpenters Greatest Hits album, but my personal favorite original Carpenters album is called "A Kind of Hush." "I Need to Be in Love" on this album has been reported to be Karen's favorite song to sing.
Both of these are gorgeous. It broke my heart to hear her sing “I Need to Be In Love,” knowing she was lonely herself. The hardest thing for me to do is keep believing There’s someone in this crazy world for me The way that people come and go, through solitary lives My chance might come, and I would never know . . .
Thanks for reacting to this song! I feel like it's one of their forgotten hits. It's always been my favorite. The first time I ever heard it, I had the radio playing all night. I woke up from a melancholy dream to Karen's sweet & sad voice. It had a huge impact and I still remember that night.
Yes, so true! I did do some other carpenters videos if you didn’t see them Karen Carpenter’s “Solitaire” an Emotional Journey ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-E3rE9KgQVDo.html The Hidden Struggles Behind Carpenter's Iconic Album ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lmKLU3yNwS4.html
J'aime beaucoup votre sensibilité ! Trop peu de gens , prennent le temps d'écouter les chansons intemporelles et des voix comme celle de Karen ! Merci à vous !!@@popcornphilosopher
Wow. Your reaction is exactly what I feel when I hear this song. Her voice is just so enchanting. I feel like I've had a spell cast on me whenever I hear it. Plus the lyrics speak to me in a deeply personal way.
Great reaction-I very much look forward to Part 2! I am old enough to remember this song when it came out (I was11). I followed the popular song charts every week via the American Top 40 radio program and was surprised that this was not a bigger hit chart- wise as I thought both the songwriting and performance were superb. Glad to see it getting recognition now. As for a Carpenters album, I'd strongly suggest "A Song for You" as their best album.
Thank you I appreciate it! I’m glad you liked it, Yeah, I took all about this songs, chart, action, and part two! Also, you might be happy to know that “a song, for you” is in the lead as of now! So more than likely that’ll be the album I’m going to be doing!
So glad you reviewed this song. So many people react to one of 3 songs they've done and they're over-reacted too. Some of their best music is the lesser known songs like this.
In my opinion, Karen Carpenter is the greatest pop female vocalist of the past 60 years, and if you asked me to support that claim, THIS is the performance I would play for you. I loved your reaction. You got the orchestration, arrangement, vocal quality, pathos, and caught the card game metaphor early. Another great one that sometimes gets lost in the middle of their monster hits: I suggest you give "Merry Christmas, Darling" a listen after Thanksgiving. You won't be sorry. Again, great job. Thanks!
Actually, did a deep dive on a song for you The Hidden Struggles Behind Carpenter's Iconic Album ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lmKLU3yNwS4.html
This is a tough song but you got through it. Definitely sneaks up on you. Yeah perfection. Poor Richard for losing his sister and beloved musical collaborator. What a hole there must be in his heart. Thanks for the reaction Popcorn. Ciao 😉
❗️Yes! ❗️ I actually just made a new Carpenters video if you haven’t seen it “A SONG for YOU” [Album DOCUMENTARY] ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lmKLU3yNwS4.html
Solitaire is from the Horizon album and it's known that this is probably their best sounding studio album because of how it was recorded. It was recorded in the then-state-of-the-art 24-track recording technology, 30 Dolby, and recorded at 30 inches per second. That b-side of Solitaire, Love Me For What I Am, is also a great track. You should have a listen to it. Speaking of Solitaire, I love how Karen ended it in a real low note! So brilliant!!! The Horizon album is considered a favorite among Carpenters fans. Another one is the self titled album, Carpenters, also known as the "tan" album. Songs in this albums are Rainy Days and Mondays, Superstar and For All We Know.....you get the picture! There are great deep tracks here too! My favorite is One Love! 🥰
That makes a lot of sense why it sound so good! I really want to hear the whole album. But I’ll also check out that b side. I love a good b side and a deep cut! The albums that have the most votes so far are that self titled album and a song for you and 3rd Horizon. So I might end up doing all 3! Thanks for the info!
Everytime I hear this song chokes me up fantastic one of my favorite songs of The Carpenter's song is timeless love your reaction rest in peace Karen Carpenter
I'm an OLD Carpenter's fan (80) the first time I saw them was in 1966 or 7 at the Whisky-A-GO-GO and a few months later at the jazz club as a 3peice jazz band Karen was not singing yet then, but a 16 or 17 year old female drummer was rare enough to catch your attention. For arrangements you could not beat Richard and Karens voice was without equal. and as you said she had the ability to make you not just hear but feel the words of the song. I like their second album "Close to You" or their eighth "Passage" which was an experimental album it has "All You Get from Love Is a Love Song", "Sweet, Sweet Smile" and "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft". The idea for this track was suggested by an actual event that is described in The Flying Saucer Reader, a book by Jay David published in 1967. In March 1953 an organization known as the "International Flying Saucer Bureau" sent a bulletin to all its members (it was also reported on radio) urging them to participate in an experiment termed "World Contact Day" whereby, at a predetermined date and time, they would attempt to collectively send out a telepathic message to visitors from outer space. The message began with the words..."Calling occupants of interplanetary craft!" I was 10 in 53 and my younger brother and I spent a few hours trying to communicate with “Visitors” (kept us quiet for a few hours). But any of their albums OR their Carpenters at the BBC - 1971 - Complete Concert would also be good for a deep dive. Oh, Karen was an accomplished jazz drummer one of her idols was Joe Morello (Dave Brubeck's drummer). By 16 she had a drum set like Morello’s and could play “Take 5”.
I was hoping I would get some requests for passage. I was watching a documentary and it seemed really interesting and I love it when artists experiment. Sounds like an interesting album! That’s incredible you got to see them live! You’re so lucky!
Their 4rh studio album "A Song For You" is also a good one. It has many of their biggest hits on it "A Song for You" "Top of the World" "Hurting Each Other" "It's Going to Take Some Time" "Goodbye to Love" "Bless the Beasts and Children" "I Won't Last a Day Without You" "A Song for You" Also there is a song that they only did 3 times I know of "Reason to Believe" It is a strait out country song. This version was on the 5th Dimension's Traveling Sunshine tv special ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kTWeHeM6mZI.html
So true! If you didn’t see it already, there was a part two to this video ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-E3rE9KgQVDo.htmlsi=PZn-YwmZ1CTXHFKp
Yeah, I wasn’t familiar with it at all. If you like to hear some background about it, I made a part two.ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-E3rE9KgQVDo.htmlsi=UJ0L_A4nj8wyGF-T
Another amazing first-time performance caught on tape was Karen's reading of "Superstar." She and Richard had seen Bette Midler performing the song on the Tonight Show - and within days Karen found herself in the studio hearing a rough mix of Richard's arrangement --- singing the lyrics that her brother had written on a napkin. It was the very first time she'd sung it, and it was perfect.
@@popcornphilosopher While Bette did perform it on the Tonight Show, the song (written by Leon Russell and Bonnie Bramlett) had been performed by a few artists previously, including Delaney and Bonnie, and Rita Coolidge, whose version appeared on Joe Cocker’s album Mad Dogs and Englishmen. So, while it was another cover of a known song, it was certainly the most popular. Karen and Richard had a few songs like that early in their career. We’ve Only Just Begun had been a jingle in a local bank commercial and For All We Know had been featured in a movie called Lovers and Other Strangers. Richard felt they all had big hit potential - and he was right.
@@popcornphilosopher Another interesting tidbit about this song - though Karen only sang it once (in defiance), Richard wasn't so able to sweep it aside, producing several different mixes of it - some featuring Tony Peluso's amazing guitar work and some without - and one version even includes a pipe organ rounding out the louder passages.
There is a gorgeous organ in the second verse 3rd bar. It's very soft, but it's beautiful. This is hands down Karen's best vocal performance. Richard even said so. Just beyond!
Thank you so much I really appreciate it ! Did you check out part 2. I really went down the rabbit hole on this song. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-E3rE9KgQVDo.htmlsi=ICbMvN85CapLgpYU
IO, You have selected a true talent!!! This lady was one hell of a singer! Great vocal range and emotion & warmth!!! Good pitch.... A broad vocal range, several octaves (4). She was a master!!!................ But she had her demons also.. And they got her in the end! You were trying so hard near the end not to cry!! Karen was SO special and wonderful....
I really was and I actually did cry! There’s going to a new carpenters video on Sunday I’ve been working on for a month! a deep dive of the song For You album! They’re both incredibly talented!
it’s definitely my favorite now toO! Especially now that I know more about it they go really in depth in part two! ‘s I love Queen, but you know Queen is another one I only really know a few of the hits. So that’s a really good idea for the channel! Thank you!
@@popcornphilosopher Thanks for your reply. If you're not familiar with much of their stuff, this is a nice one to start with. The notes he hits are crazzzzzzzzzy good! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-uHP-qgzUVLM.html
I grew up listening to the Carpenter music. I’m a teenager of the 70’s. We had such great music but I never noticed all of these beautiful sounds until you pointed them out. Thank you.
That’s a beauty of reactions is getting to experience music another perspective! I have Carpenters videos if you haven’t seen them Carpenters ru-vid.com/group/PLVaDWMlhe6SFTC0hs-Qb0pvbwSK6AK1DK
I've been listening to The Carpenters since the 70's but I never heard this one. Her voice is timeless. People will be listening to her for a hundred years
People consider her a great, great singer. However, she considered herself a drummer first and she was super talented on that instrument, as well. Such soul in that voice, she could sing the phone book and evoke emotions...if you know what I mean.
I love listening to Karen's voice and how Richard knew how to showcase it. I miss listening to a songof theirs for the first time and that captivating hold she had to tell those three minute stories. I also enjoy true emotional reactions to first time listening like yours on this song. Please do more of their music. Perhaps "Caught between goodbye and I love you" or even the album that contains it titled "Horizon".
They’re just incredible.! I actually am working on another video. But I did do a couple of others if you haven’t seen them.ru-vid.com/group/PLVaDWMlhe6SFTC0hs-Qb0pvbwSK6AK1DK&si=wKePWwBb4rylJIJx
IO, Karen's voice was solid GOLD! GOD given talent and skill. HOW about her low notes???? Richard her brother also does arranging!!! Thank for this girl.......... Later gator!!!!!!!!!!!!!........
Thank you I agree! Btw I made a couple other carpenters videos if you haven’t seen them ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lmKLU3yNwS4.htmlsi=JzriJTMKkhbo72nX
Thanks for a deep heartfelt reaction to what I think is one of the best female voices that truly touches your soul. Haunting and silky Karen Carpenter voice.