Yeah, almost nobody covers the Carpenters, because nobody can match Karen. She had the perfect voice and knew how to use it perfectly. Everyone from Sinatra to John Lennon loved her voice.
Karen was one of a kind. There will never be another like her. She had such a pure calming voice. And she was a terrific drummer. That was her passion even more than singing. Sadly we lost her so young. Thankfully we have her legacy left in her music. The Carpenters had so many great songs such as "Rainy Days & Mondays", "(They Long to Be) Close to You", "For All We Know", "We've Only Just Begun", "Superstar", "Goodbye To Love", "Top Of The World", "Sing", "Yesterday Once More", "I Won't Last A Day Without You", "Please Mr. Postman", "Only Yesterday", "There's A Kind Of Hush (All Over the World)" & so many more.
@@texasgirl6000, exactly, a great choice. This song shows off how pure and smooth her voice was. The phrasing, the subtle and effortless changes all through the song.
The magic of the Carpenters were brother Richard's song choices, arrangements, and outstanding keyboard skills and he would layer the vocals with each of them singing the background, and then Karen's extraordinary voice, although we should not forget Karen's incredible drum skills either. She always viewed herself as a drummer who could sing. They gave us a beautiful catalogue of music and especially have to listen to their Christmas music every year. Sweet Karen was gone much too soon though due to anorexia.
Karen had such perfect pitch that was rich, rich, rich!! Such beauty and grace. She was the primary drummer in their live shows (but not recordings). Sad the world lost her so young.
She was pitch-perfect always!! I was fortunate enough to see them in Greensboro, NC, many, many years ago when they were at the top of the charts!!! She was very shy and chose to play the drums because she didn't have the confidence to be out in front. But as time went by, her brother, other family members and others closest to her, encouraged her to come out from behind the drums and the rest is history!! Exrraordinay singer and one of a kind vocals!!! Miss her so much!!
Richard (brother) wrote and composed the music and lyrics, played the piano and did harmonize with Karen from time to time. She was just fabulous but her mother rode her hide to not get overweight and she died from Anorexia at just 32. They gave us some great music while it lasted.
Her mother really looked down on her and adored Richard way more than her. It could have had a traumatic effect on her making her anorexcia nervosa worse.
I'm a big Carpenters fan, but i've never heard this one before. It is a very nice song, looks to be towards the end of Karen's life. She will always be missed, glad we have her music to keep her alive forever.
Karen (R.I.P.) Carpenter's voice is so "unique," "angelic" and smoother than "warm melted butter!!!" They are brother & sister and they have a deep musical catalog to enjoy!!!
Brother and sister. It took a while to get her to sing since she was the drummer, and her brother was the original lead singer. Both have a good voice, but she is remarkable. She died way too soon. Check out their song "Superstar" or "Rainy days and Mondays". Every one of her songs would relax you into a puddle of mush. She did one set of just her drumming, and it was impressive.
Actually they started as a 3 piece jazz band. The first time I saw them was in 1968 at the Hollywood Bowl battle of the bands. She was 18, and the drummer and singer. I was fascinated by them then, and they only got better. Most call their music POP, but it maintained a lot of the west coast jazz sound. She never minded sing, what bothered her was when Richard and Herb Alpert told her that the band needed a face that people could see and she should come out from behind her little fortress behind the drums so people could see her sing. She finally did, but still spent about 1/2 of every show being the drummer. She could handle the drum part of "Take Five" it was composed by saxophonist Paul Desmond and recorded by Dave Brubeck to show case drummer Joe Morello. "Take Five" is written in the key of E♭ minor, in ternary (ABA) form and in 5/4 time. Rhythmically, the five beats to the bar are split unevenly into 3 + 2 quarter notes; that is, the main accents (and chord changes) are on the first and fourth beats. Not an easy song to do!
This song by the Carpenters was indeed recorded and released in 1983, the year of Karen's death. Although frail and very sick, she never lost that beautiful voice.
My favorite singer of all time.just a beautiful voice and incredible talent.they have an endless playlist of great songs and you have to see her play drums because she was an excellent drummer to go along with incredible voice
They are brother and sister listen to "Solitair" blew me away... Lov her and miss her music...as an old musician, I listen to her many times before i go to bed with glass of wine, she brings a tear to my eyes...she was also a great drummer..youtube her drumming specials..😢
Karen and her older brother Richard performed some of the best song of the late 60,70, and early 80. She never saw herself as a singer when they first started, she was a drummer. She left this life way too soon in 1983 from Anorexia Nervosa.
Karen played drums too, Her brother Richard found, selected, arranged and played piano. Both over dubbed several tracks of harmony on their songs. Then it was called stacking
BrittReacts if you haven't yet, or no one has mentioned it yet, Karen's version of Neil Sedaka's "Solitaire" is out of this world. Even Mr. Sedaka himself has said that it's the best version of what he wrote. Her deep contralto is on a whole other level in that song. The notes dig deep and Karen just floats down to the basement and holds it there. It's the most beautiful version and contra-alto voice I've ever heard in my life. Thank you for your channel. It's great!
This song is on the album "Voice of the Heart". It is the eleventh studio album by the Carpenters. It was released in 1983 after Karen's death and contains the two songs from her final recording sessions, "Now" and "You're Enough", as well as previously unreleased tracks from sessions of their previous albums A Kind of Hush, Passage and Made in America. At least one song, "In Love Alone", was intended to be on this album, but Karen did not get the opportunity to hear the track or record a vocal for it before her death; it would be released in 1987 on Richard's solo album Time with Dionne Warwick on lead vocals. Karen's last recording, "Now", was recorded in April 1982 while Karen was taking a break from medical treatment in New York and had temporarily returned to California. The song was recorded in one take. The tracks were finished by Richard months after Karen's death.
Wow, I can’t wait for you to do more of these guys. I grew up with them and loved everything they did. She’s the star but he’s awesome too. Can’t believe someone requested this one to start with. They have so many popular ones, but I was glad to hear it because it was beautiful and I thought I knew everything they did but I didn’t know this song. Love all your reactions.❤
I was thinking the same thing, yet I have always loved this Paul Williams song. She is just irreplaceable. That voice gets to your soul. So rich , pitch perfect and controlled. I cried when she passed away.
Richard and Karen Carpenter are in my opinion one of the best brother and sister dous of all time what a voice won of my favorites is we've only just begun Karen is also an accomplished drummer
They are siblings. One of biggest selling artist of the seventies. Karen died very young from anorexia. She was such an angelic voice. We lost her way to soon.
Brother/sister....and Karen was a world class drummer. She has some drum videos that are worth a look. She was always smiling when she was behind the drums. Gone too soon.
at Christmas time, you’ll hear her singing Christmas carols. All traditional vintage Christmas carols. And she’s the only one that can sing some of those songs properly. It’s her voice that makes the Christmas songs perfect for the holiday spirit.
The Soulful Underdone was a great observation. That is the special talent that hooked and continues to hook her fans. Like a great composition, you can always listen to her for life.
Ha! You have no idea of the wonderful world of beautiful music you just walked into - the songs and creative arrangements of Richard - and the gorgeous, no incomparable, vocals of Karen - enjoy the ride!
Their harmony is fantastic since they are siblings. You should listen to We've Only Just Begun which is considered their signature song. Richard is a fabulous pianist and arranger and Karen had one of the best voices ever recorded. A very pure contralto. Karen was also a top level drummer and could sing and play drums at the same time flawlessly. They were the TOP selling group in the 1970's here in the states. You have a great rabbit hole to explore with their music 12 Top 10 singles and much more. I love your reaction. As others have mentioned , try Close to You, Rainy Days and Mondays Superstar, For All We Know and the list goes on.
Karen Carpenter had one of the greatest voices of all time. Effortless. Like a hot knife through butter. We do a tribute show to multiple artists and genres and my GF does a segment of Carpenters songs and it always a crowd favorite
Karen was the greatest female vocalist that I have ever heard, and her brother, Richard, was a musical genius in his own right. His arrangements and production skills perfectly accentuated Karen's voice. They were incredible beyond description.
They are in fact brother and sister, and Richard often joined in on the harmonies. You definitely need to continue down this rabbit hole. She has the voice of an angel, and they had tons of hits, starting with 1970s "Close to You." I absolutely love your reactions, Britt! ♥️
The Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo consisting of siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter. They produced a distinctive soft musical style, combining Karen's contralto vocals with Richard's harmonizing, arranging, and composition skills. Peace out.
Ahhhh Karen has the most pure and angelic. It’s just magical. Oh how I wanted to be her when I was like two. Lol. My mom says I would toddle around singing her songs.
Brother and sister. She truly was one of kind. Loved her voice and songs because I could sing them in a time when lower voices were not as appreciated as they are now though hers was.
Speaking of "Career", the length of theirs was about 10 years because by the late 1970s, they just about disappeared from the radio Hit Lists. Don't get the wrong impression by looking at pictures. Having Anorexia Nervosa, Karen seemed to have aged very quickly, looking 25-30 years older by the end of the 1970s.
Not nearly as long as it should have been. Another tragically beautiful soul & voice silenced far too soon😔 I’ve always described her voice as ‘liquid velvet’. Check out Karen Carpenter & Ella Fitzgerald’s live medley for ‘Music, Music, Music!’. Just about as close to Heaven as one can get this side of the sky❤️❤️
My oldest sister was married when I came along.I go to their place and put the big headphones on and listen to the Carpenter's. So sad we lost Karen young to anorexia .I wish she could have seen how beautiful she was. Yes, Brother and sister.
She was one of the best vocalist of all time at she suffered from anorexia after a stupid man told her she needed to loose weight which ended her life so sad 😢
She actually is a drummer because she was very shy. Once they discovered her voice, she obviously came to be the lead singer. She suffered from anorexia and depression. It ended up causing her death. They are brother and sister.
Richard Carpenter - Karen Carppenter's brother, was the bedrock arranger for their music. He arranged the music precisely for her voice, intonation, and her emotional effect because of her disciplined development of that voice. He also had a magical voice - and went on to a long career as an arranger/performer after her untimely death.
As I recall she was the drummer and her brother and someone else did the singing. One day they were short a singer and she said she will fill in. The rest is history.
Brit,I think the word you were searching for in one of your early reactions to Karen's voice is mesmerizing. She was only 3 years older than me, and now when I hear her sing, I can't hold back the tears. She was not treated kindly by the press, et al about her appearance. It's heartbreaking.
You should take a listen to This Mascarade and you will hear Karen's brilliance behind the drums and some backing vocals from Richard and an incredible piano run from him. Their career spanned from 1969 to 1983.
They were a smash hit duet for several years in the 70s. They even had a few TV specials including Christmas show. They produced a Christmas album that is still very popular with a number of originals that have become classics. Great reaction. Thanks! Here's a link to their 1978 Christmas Special that's on Richard's channel. It's funny to see what was popular entertainment back when I was a kid. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jyQTBZ6r0T4.html
You most likely got the answer to your question, but Richard and Karen Carpenter were brother and sister. Sadly Karen passed away in 1983 when she was 32, almost 33 years old. Super sad that the world lost such a beautiful voice so early.
Karen was the ultimate tragic life story. Someone called her fat which triggered her anorexic behavior. Nobody could match her rich perfect pitch voice . Gone way too young.
Paul McCartney and Elton John considered her one of the greatest voices of all time. Madonna claimed to have been influenced by the singer’s harmonic sensibility. Gwen Stefani has said she still gets goose bumps when she hears Karen sing. February 4th, 2023 will mark 40 years since we lost this beautiful soul and the music of the woman, who truly was gifted and talented to play other instruments, and had the most beautiful voice to have ever graced human ears; the greatly missed, Karen Anne Carpenter. In the eye's of many in the music business Karen also is the best female drummer ever. Whoever coined the phrase Nobody's Perfect, never heard Karen Carpenter sing! Enjoy the 70's #1 selling American group. Sold at least 150 million in their career. Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin also admired this legend. Karen and Ella do a duet and you can find it here on RU-vid.
Brother and sister. However, the group was more than them. Karen was drummer and lead singer. They were the Carpenters, but it was all Karen. When she died, that was it.
