Hey Charles, don't pay any attention to them. I listen for the same reason to relax and relieve stress, too. I grew up with the Carpenters and consider Karen's voice the most soothing thing there is.
Charles I’m a 55 year old man and grew up in the 70’s, you just do your thing. Karen Carpenter was a brilliant musician. Look up the contemporary artists today that list her as an inspiration. Keep doing your thing and enjoy the music.
This is live. Before auto tune, apps etc. This is talent. This is a gift from heaven. Today's "singers" don't even come close. Karen was and will always remain in a league on her own. Legend.
Anyone here in 2020 listening to Karen. Simply the purest , most beautiful singing voice ever. Hope you all have a safe, healthy and happy 2020. (From Scotland).
I am 66 years old and have always said I have never heard a more beautiful pure voice, what a talent. This is my personal favorite Carpenters song. I sure do miss her and all of the potential we missed out on because she was taken too early.
I know someone, who knew her personally, and he told me that this was Karen’s song to herself. She was always searching for that special someone 😢 3:32
couldn't agree more, I have been loving her songs for over 25 years. her talanted voice no sharp quality from the lowest to the highest, her effortless breath with this sentimental melody that etchs in my heart. Love you carpenters..
im 26 and my friends always asking me why i like this kind of music, but they dont know the feeling and inner peace im having when im listening to this kind of songs,
Who knew that until she came out from behind her drums, that she would be one of the most beautiful and crystal clear voices of all time. What a voice we would have missed.
My goodness. You are so right. Karen's diction is beautiful, literally beautiful. It is so clear. She doesn't just get it note-perfect, she gets it word-perfect.
Yes, that little shrug at the end certainly says it all. You have to imagine this song had a poignant personal meaning for her. You know I find it to be sadly ironic that for all of the beautiful and romantic love ballads that she graced the world with, that she never found anyone to truly love her.
@@Topmember Yes, it may have been something like that. I did take the time about a year ago to do a bit of a deep dive into the lives of Karen and Richard, as much as is possible to do remotely. From that I believe that she was shielded from meeting possible soul mates by the people who were making so much money from the Carpenter's fame, which was one factor. I think the other factor, which is included in the lyrics of the song, was her perfectionism. She was a perfectionist from a family of perfectionists. That's a tough way to go for a young woman who was under quite a bit of pressure already.
I've said this before, but I'll repeat it: Karen was the best female vocalist of the 20th century. And she is quite likely the best of the 21st century as well. I don't think anyone will ever be able to duplicate her talent.
Every note that came out of her mouth "LIVE" sounds just perfect and right on the pitch. Wonder if a note would ever sound flat or sharp on her bad day. She has been a treasure for our planet.
I am a 27-year-old Japanese. Even though we live in different places and in different times, I feel nostalgic when I hear her songs. The power of song is great. Thank you for leaving behind such beautiful songs.
She knew but just longed for that one special loved one that always seemed to never be in reach. She is at peace in a place our human mind can't even imagine. We love and miss you so, Karen Carpenter ❤💖
The parents favored the son. He was the golden one and she was "just the girl". She tried to win their love her whole life and never understood that they did love her with their whole hearts. It was just the way things were then. The boys were the stars and the girls were just second class. It's taken us two generations to start to change it. Nobody's fault. It's just what happened.
40 years later would she know that there are so many people who "love" her, including me...I wish I could give her a big hug. May her beautiful soul rest in peace forever.
Thanks so much guys...Though we dont know each other i can feel the warmth sympathy you are sharing with me...Good Luck Guys and take good care of yourselves...Hope you are always in the best of health! Mabuhay as we say in The Phillippines..
Karen Carpenter will go down in history as one of the top three greatest voices of all time. NO ONE can sing like her...period. Some may try, but NO ONE will match what God has given this outstanding woman.
What can I say words could never express the quality of the vocal talents of Karen, some would even say she was not worthy for a world such as ours. Without doubt the best female vocal talent in the world EVER!
so sad that she passed on at such a young age of 32. Richard said it was a crime, and it was. She had such talent and would of been singing many more songs today. One could tell that she was a wonderful person as well. RIP Karen we all miss your lovely voice.
That is not what the song is about. It's about her search for perfection, of what she desires for herself and of what she search, love, happiness, fulfillment, whatever she missed in her life. She has an eating disorder, anorexia, mental illness, it's the cause of her death where years of malnutrition and obsessive search for her perfect body image led her to desperate actions like medicinal abuse gave way in the form of heart failure.
I think Karen had a very good sense of how much her fans loved and appreciated her; sadly, I think probably the love, attention, and validation she craved was that of her mother, who seemed to have a difficult time showing it (from what I understand). 😔
The hardest thing I've ever done Is keep believing There's someone in this crazy world for me The way that people come and go Through temporary lives My chance could come and I might never know I used to say, no promises Let's keep it simple But freedom only helps you say goodbye It took a while for me to learn That nothin' comes for free The price I've paid is high enough for me I know I need to be in love I know I've wasted too much time I know I ask perfection of a quite imperfect world And fool enough to think that's what I'll find So here I am with pockets full of good intentions But none of them will comfort me tonight I'm wide awake at four a.m. Without a friend in sight Hanging on a hope, but I'm alright I know I need to be in love I know I've wasted too much time I know I ask perfection of a quite imperfect world And fool enough to think that's what I'll find I know I need to be in love I know I've wasted too much time I know I ask perfection of a quite imperfect world And fool enough to think that's what I'll find
@@dav.merana Our mums left us memories. Yours was this, which is beautiful and I had already. Mine were "I remember You", "and believe me and all those endearing young charms", the carnival is over, without you, amazing grace, I so miss her.
I'm 60 years old, and have never heard a singer that can touch Karen Carpenter. Yes Streisand has an incredibly beautiful voice. Ann Wilson and Gladys Knight are/were incredible singers along with many others. But nobody rips at your heart and soul like Karen.
EdS Yes. I love Linda Ronstadt and think her range is amazing and she can sing anything. Other singers like Streisand, Aretha, Gladys, Mama Cass are powerful. However, there is something in Karen's voice that speaks to the heart of you. There is a loneliness and a sadness. It is perfectly pitched, of course but the loveliness seems to come from the feeling.
You have a good ear Ed. Streisand and Wilson's pipes are (were) astounding, but neither could **sing** like Karen. Like Nat Cole, you could listen to her for hours on end and enjoy every note until the last. Can't say that about many singers, including Streisand.
I wish she would have realized how much we all loved her gift to the world and joy she brought to us all. I wish she could have a found someone that loved her in a way that could have helped her overcome her eating disorder. I still have a tear each time I hear her sing. there is truly not another vocalist any better. There are no words available to tell how amazing she was.
Amen to that. The world lost the most angelic voice ever much too soon. Karen's beautiful voice brings tears to my eyes from the sheer perfection of her voice.
Do you ever wonder if there are multiple "undiscovered" Karen Carpenters out there? As in, someone with a vocal talent that is on this level, but no one who can do anything about it has ever heard them? Or, maybe, the person just doesn't want to be famous, and is perfectly happy with whatever station in life they already have. We'll never know for sure.
@@dugroz Certainly. There are plenty of people with better voices than many of today's popular singers, or at the very least on par with. Karen was an exception with her innate perfect pitch talent and relaxed non straining facial expressions. Most professional singers strain to reach high notes. Also, Karen rarely if ever used her whistle register (falsetto). She was born with a smooth, unique sounding voice. Blessed with exceptional vocal chords.
Her voice was magical but Richard was just as vital to their success. He picked and wrote the songs and his arrangements were exceptional. They complimented each other perfectly.
Correct. Richard wrote or co-wrote many of their songs including this one. Aside from the lyrics, this song has a sensational arrangement. Even the songs that he didn’t write, the arrangements were great, and nearly always better than what people had done before. He was a musical genius, and his sister’s singing was imo the best there ever was. That’s quite a combination.
Don't agree. If you watch recent documentary her solo disco album which was great, was sabotaged by him & her mother who colluded with the record company in persuading her not to release it. They persuaded record company it was the wrong 'sexy' image.
At one audition, he picked too high a note for her to sing (in the film) I think Richard confirmed this in a documentary, then on the lower note, that lovely rich, smooth voice was discovered. I like her solo songs, but how she sang as The Carpenters was magical. They were born to be a team Richard said, that's what I think, but sometimes singing solo was okay as well
+Sarah, as I have stated, I believe Karen was the best. I did not think her solo album was very good. While it wasn’t bad, it didn’t bring out the best in Karen, like a Richard did. Regardless, she would have never abandoned her brother. She worshipped him, and recognized his genius. She did the solo album while he was rehabbing for prescription pill addiction.
My very first album I purchased in 1971 was the Carpenters. I'm 60 years old now in 2020 and still listen to her music daily. Her voice gives me a quiet and calm spirit which is what I need now more than ever especially with all that's going on today. I am and will be forever a fan of the Carpenters!
What is stunning about Karen is the ease with which this beautiful music falls from her! No effort, no straining... it's as if all she has to do is open her mouth and the music just, well, is! What a gift.
Karen.... on the day that you were born, the Angels got together... and decided to create a dream come true... and even though you've been gone, after so many years, there's still no one who can sing quite as well as you!!!!! That is why.... everyone in town.... wishes you're... still around! Just like me.... they are absolutely.... missing you! :'( ♥
It's hard to think of such a great lady has been neglected in love, and we know that millions loved her but not the one she hoped for. To you miss Karen you filled so many with love and will never be forgotten, you have a voice to melt the coldest heart, may God embrace you with the love you deserve !!
Karen's ability to immediately captivate and involve you in the lyrics is astonishing. In her brief life, she accomplished so much and continues to bewitch people with her voice.
Tenho sempre a impressão que essa expressão facial dela, esteve me aguardando durante muitos anos. Parece que ela me olha e me deseja boa sorte kkkkk Essa música fala tanto de mim...
Karen Carpenter is the Closest ,We will Ever See or Hear ,that God has Allowed “We Mortals” to “Witness and Treasure”.R.I.P. Karen.Sleep With The Angels👼👼
私がカーペンターズにであったのは6歳のとき。車で親がかけていたCDから流れるカレンの声に魅了されました。 その当時は英語も全く理解できませんでしたが、強く心を打たれたのを覚えています。 そして今、私も成長し当時は理解できなかったカレンの拒食症のこと、もちろん英語も理解できるようになり、改めてカレンの偉大さを痛感し カレンと同じ時代を生きることができなかったことを残念に思います。 カーペンターズは私たちの心の中でいつまでも不滅です。 When I first encountered carpenters,I was 6 years old,in my car from the CD my parents listened to. I couldn't understand the English But somehow I was impressed by their music. Now,I've been grown up enough to understand the English of cause And what happened on her(I mean anorexia...) And I just love them more (after understanding more) And I'm sad that I can't live in the same generation. She's the greatest singer She will always live on in our hearts.
The people, out there in RU-vid land, who say Richard was only a "lounge piano player" who rode Karen's coattails to success, are completely out of their minds. The composition, arrangement, and orchestration of this song (and all the others) is a masterpiece in itself.
The perfect example of Richard's talent is how he re-arranged "Close to You" and made it a big hit after Bacharach's version with Dionne Warwick. The Warwick version did not do well and Bacharach complimented Richard's brilliant work re-arranging that song.
It was Richard's arrangements and Karen's voice that made the group so popular. The strange thing is the songs they've sung were made ironic by Karen's struggles with finding love.
Seeing Richard cowrote and arranged all of the music, and convinced Karen to step in front of the microphone. No Richard no Carpenters. I put him right next to Brian Wilson. He was and is a total genius. Of course, Karen was magic. The two of them together created beautiful and timeless music.
Richard always said that this was one of Karen's favourite songs and when you think of the superb lyrics in this song it kind of sums up Karen's tragic life. But we still love you Karen R.I.P
Many people pay attention to Karen for good reasons but don't forget her gifted brother Richard, who made her shine. After all, they were THE CARPENTERS.
Yep, I always felt he went too far too. He should have just let her shine. It's very telling that his "comeback" used her voice tracks over new arrangements; his career sputtered and died when she did. Want proof? There's another video of this song on RU-vid, done late in her career and without Richard at: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-G1r1GFSF8HM.html that is much better musically than this one. Also harder to watch as her disease is on full display; she looks terrible - far too thin, her face gaunt but that beautiful voice still amazing and the song even more soulful because of her inner pain telling us the words are even more real for her.
I think the lyrics tell the story of most people's lives, that's why people love this song and Karen in general, she put a voice and a melody to the human condition.
August 2020, who's also listening right now? am 20yrs old, always been a fan since im young, the carpenters is my kind of "stress reliever" and/or "life escape" ❤️❤️
💜one of my favorites. Music is what I’ve been using to escape from this chaotic world of 2020. Gives me hope for things to change, but then reality hits again. So earphones go back on!!! Glad we have all these songs!!!!
2020 the year is filled with so much anger and hate. I don’t ever remember reading in history books of any other time like now. Music is my escape. Karen just has that soothing voice and warmth that comes from the heart. Depression is a reality these days, don’t think I e ever felt this way before... I’m 50 and wonder I will make it to 51.
I first heard this song 48 years ago in 1976, but Karen's voice still sounds fresh to me. Her voice is truly that of an angel! I still listen to this song at least once a week.
I always feel sad whenever i see her videos and hear her beautiful voice. Such tragedy :-( however, at one point while watching her today i stopped feeling sad. I smiled and just listen peacefully. I suddenly came to realization that Karen is never truly gone.. For in every song, in every melody is a piece of her heart and soul. She never really left us. Thank u Karen for the gift of your music. Forever fan here!
I can't listen to this song without feeling strongly! It was Karen's favorite, just because the lyrics were a great truth in her life! And when you see her singing this, she shows all the emotion and real feelings. The timbre of her voice is unmatched and the more singers appear in the world, the more Karen Carpenter was the best!
É a voz mais bonita, harmônica, afinada, suave que já ouvi. Não surgiu ainda uma artista completa como a Karen. Eternamente grata por oferecer esta benção para humanidade.
There are various 21st century singers but none of them gave me the feels the way legends like carpenters did, No wonder why they are called legends. (I'm 18 years of age BTW)
My favorite singer too; no one can match her tone. But it this world there are other singers who match her talent. Try listening to Ella Fitzgerald sing the songs of the "American Songbook" standard tunes from many years ago. Ella also had perfect pitch and impeccable tone. Enjoy!
I sure do miss the 80s. The music today is not even the same. Sometimes I wish I could find a time machine and go back in time . Life was much easier , and everyone enjoyed life , do you love this beautiful songs?
Yes indeed! I find it hard to believe that none knew what was going on with her! She looked so fragile that it was too obvious she needed medical help, but mainly moral support! I wish that people would listen to their loved ones in the same situation! God bless her soul!
Still one of the very best voices ever created, we both have that low but yet high voice. I love singing her music on the karaoke Smule app. I wish she was still here, but she's in a much better place
I love the way she emotes the song and the lyrics. Her face, her beautiful phrasing, her sad intonation... Karen Carpenter was a master at her craft. She made of a simple song, a masterpiece. I love this woman, so talented!
Karen was, is , and always will be the most perfect female vocalist that has ever lived. I was only 12 years old when I first heard "Close To You" and I fell in love with her voice and their music. It's 50 years later and nothing has changed about that.
Back in the 1970s and 80s, singers like Karen Carpenter rose to the top because of their beautiful voices. There was no need for sexy costumes, provocative dance moves, backup dancers and all manner of special effects onstage.
People don't get it when i say Karen Carpenter was the greatest voice ever....It is pure, simple, and heatfelt..every word she uttered had a meaning behind it, and always came from the heart. I dont miss the Carpenters, I miss what could have been more from The Carpenters
I was lucky to grow up listening to her music from a young age as my Uncle Hal was her studio drummer on most of the Carpenter albums. Rest in peace to Karen and Hal.
