I was asked to listen to Carpenters - Superstar | First Reaction!! 

Thanks for watching! Most of my requests come from here. Also new request PO Box in the description. To support the show www.patreon.com/poloreacts or show your love for the channel by buying me a coffee using this link www.buymeacoffee.com/poloreacts.

As far as female singers go, Karen Carpenter was a once-in-a-lifetime talent. Aretha Franklin took you to church, but Karen takes you to heaven.

Karen Carpenter has one of the most clear, beautiful voices we have ever heard. Along with the writing and arranging gifts of her brother they were and always will be gold. Karen actually played the drums for years and didn’t want to sing. Finally she agreed to try it and the rest is history. Sadly, she died of anorexia before the disease was even known. Sad ending to such a gifted woman.

She had the most crystalline pure voice ever. She wasn’t raspy soulful but the other end of the scale with perfect pitch and beauty

Karen Carpenter is one of the greatest singers who ever lived. Period. Full stop. We all fell in love with her and that stunning and beatific voice of hers. The pure emotion and feeling she gave with every performance was absolute magic. I miss her tremendously.

Karen Carpenter has one of the most beautiful voices EVER! ❤

I grew up listening to my mom's Carpenters albums, never have I heard such a flawless voice.

Greatest female vocalist of all time

I have never heard a better singer in my 65 years.

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", "Close To You", "For All We Know", "A Song For You", "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.

Karen Carpenter and Linda Ronstadt - two voices from the 70s who defined what real music could be.

Luther loved the Carpenters and his version was a tribute to Karen the year she died in 1983. It was her brother Richard Carpenter's song choices, arrangements, his genius of stacking their vocals as harmony backgrounds, and his keyboarding which let Karen's voice shine. She still managed to only view herself as a drummer (an amazing drummer by the way) who could sing.

This version is so perfect people think it's a studio recording. It's actually live. She was that amazing.

Got that first time Karen Carpenter smile on your face.

I always loved the Carpenters. When Karen died I was shocked. She was so young. That was the first time I had ever heard of any eating disorder. My mom sat me down and explained it. She was a nurse.

Song is written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell. Bonnie's original version was titled Groupie (Superstar).

Her voice makes me tear up ... I love her

The number one female vocalist of all time Karen Carpenter beautiful rest in peace Karen Carpenter

There are good singers, great singers and then there is Karen Carpenter. A voice like no other, beautiful.

I've said this on other RU-vid channels and I have to say it again: There is nothing more enjoyable than seeing a nice young man reacting to our (elderly people) music! We were in awe back then too! ♥️♥️♥️

Brother / sister. He was the arranger

This is one of those songs performed by Karen that produces "chills" no matter how many times you hear it. Her voice was about as close to perfection as you could get. Thanks for sharing...

Karen Carpenter was one of the most talented performers of her time. Not only the voice, but she was considered to be in the top 5 drummers in her time. Another tragic story of a true artist taken too early. Great reaction. ❤

Her breath control is unbelievable, great song with a really super 70's groove. Karen has a non-typical female voice, it's range is pretty low but her skill is undeniable. THX!

Written by the late, great Leon Russell. His songs became hits for so many artists. The Carpenters alone had hits with his "A Song For You", "This Masquerade" as well as "Superstar".

She could hit those low notes with such power, unlike most female singers.

So blessed to have grown up in the 60s and 70s. Real musicians, beautiful music and Karen Carpenter. Her voice is the best ever!!!

Superb rabbit hole! Pure and rare talent. Try- "Goodbye To Love" "We've Only Just Begun" "I Need To Be In Love" "Close To You" "Only Yesterday" "I Won't Last A Day Without You" "Rainy Days And Mondays" Oh so many more. Enjoy the journey 😊

One of the most beautiful voice she had

I like seeing her play the drums while singing. Carpenters "We've Only Just Begun" on The Ed Sullivan Show

I ALWAYS use Karen Carpenter as an example (Billie Holiday too) of how simple her vocals are - no big vocal acrobatics, a completely emotionally naked performance, with zero pretense. This is what makes a singer truly captivating. It's what ALL singers should (and if they're good - do) strive for. It's rare to find a vocalist like this. In the 90s we were so preoccupied with big voices, and there's nothing wrong with that kind of singing as long as it feels like an extension of something personal rather than showing off. Freddie Mercury comes to mind as someone who pulls off a big voice but always feels very natural and not showy. This is such a gorgeous song. My parents were not very musically daring when I was a kid but we did have some Carpenters albums which I sang to endlessly. This is one that's hard to get through without getting a little choked up. Thanks for all the wonderful reactions.

👍Self-titled, the Carpenters were Superstars. 🖖❤

Talent from another planet

The original is by Delanie & Bonnie, Bonnie Bramlett wrote it w/ Leon Russell. It was called Groupie (Superstar). Her studio version is very soulful. I personally find Luther’s version too busy.

can't listen to her without weeping. What a loss...what a voice.

Polo, I just love how you are reflecting and connecting ideas, cultural trends and appreciating music, voices, genres that are outside of your knowledge! You are very respectful and sincere about not knowing certain aspects and of course you wouldn’t know because you weren’t around in the 1960-1980. We were and so happy to see younger people realize what a gift music was at that time, how groundbreaking it could be. Just keep learning, exploring being yourself and you will do just fine in this life! 🌈🫶🏻

One of the great singers

Her voice is like butter and so beautiful, they have a lot of great songs

Thats the best female voice ever

💜 her voice! She left us too soon.

You should check out her story....so sad and tragic!! R.I.P. Karen!

Great reaction! I used to think the Carpenters were kind of corny back in the 70s, but I've come to appreciate and love their songs. True talents! Check out Rainy Days and Mondays, live, where Karen plays the drums.....she's a great drummer! RIP Karen, gone too soon.

Honestly, you can't go wrong with the carpenters or John Denver. Just beautiful music

Great choice Polo. Yes this is the original version. I believe it was written by another group about two years before in 1969 but the song didn't take off until Karen Carpenter sang it in 1971. It was on the radio a lot that year. So 1970s again, and era when music was great, because greatness was valued. Karen Carpenter's voice is so distinctive and frankly, perfect. A time when auto tune had not been invented yet, and artists were heard as they really were.

She was the first. Person we heard of dying from anorexia nervosa. She was so gifted, and she starved herself to death because she didn’t feel good enough

Good songs from the carpenters are Close to you We’ve only just begun. Yesterday once more. Rainy days and mondays

This song will always remind me of my mother belting out the lyrics to the songs of the Carpenters. Even if she was in a bad mood, she’d pop in a tape and blissfully sing along 😍

Thanks for this. I believe Karen Carpenter has one of the purest, most authentic voices of anyone ever recorded. And love this song as it’s all the Carpenter’s at their best.

Carpenters beautiful We've only just begun released in 1970 became the the number one song for many weddings..My own Brother and fiance walked down the isle to it in 1974.

Carpenter’s Christmas songs were great too ! She was on some Christmas TV specials too 👍

Karens' brother Richard was the arranger for their music, sang beautiful background vocals and played piano

Voice of an angel.....right there. ♥️

Listening to Karen Carpenter is like listening to an English class,you can even understand her breathing... I recommend you:Only Yesterday,Yesterday Once More,We've Only Just Begun,(They Long To Be)Close To You,Top Of The World,Please Mr. Postman,Rainy Days And Mondays.

This is the most beautiful cover of a great song. Leon Russell (a co-writer) is definitely worth checking out. He wrote & recorded “Masquerade”, a song you probably know. As well as “A Song For You “. Both of those songs covered by many others. But Leon was an amazing pianist who was played on recordings of everyone (it seems), from Frank Sinatra to The Beatles, Ray Charles, The Beach Boys. The list is endless.

An absolute delight for somebody else to discover what I have known for decades, that Karen Carpenter had one of the greatest vocal talents in music history, and brother Richard is an underestimated genius. Try "goodbye to love" and "close to you"

Great reaction. Rainy Days and Monday’s is a great song too. What a voice gone way too soon. ❤✌

The music of my youth! Not an auto-tuner anywhere, just wonderful vocal talent. Thanks, Polo, and I'm glad you enjoyed the song and this version. Karen Carpenter came to a tragic end way too young.

Karen was not only, in my opinion, the greatest female vocalist, she was a superb drummer. Her ANGELIC voice is pitch perfect before pitch correction and auto tune! Another Carpenters song, also written by Leon Russell is "This Masquerade". Please explore more Carpenters, including Karen's drum solos. I'm sure you will be glad you did. Karen also did a marvelous medley with the great Ella Fitzgerald. A masterpiece!

When I was a kid and heard Karen Carpenter and Olivia Newton John singing, I thought they were angels.

If this song doesn't move you emotionally to tears then you are not a human being. Leon Russell and Bonnie Bramlett wrote this song in 1969, it is about a woman who falls for a rock star, has a tryst with him, but then in a bout of delusion awaits his return, apparently falling for it when he said he loved her. "Superstar" was recorded by Karen on her first take, singing the lyrics that had been scribbled by Richard onto a napkin. It took a while for Karen to warm up to the song. "For some reason that tune didn't hit me in the beginning," she recalled in a 1981 interview. "It's the only one. Richard looked at me like I had three heads. He said: 'Are you out of your mind?' When I heard his arrangement of it I fell over, and now it's one of my favorites too." When the Carpenters version became a hit, Bette Midler took some shots at Karen Carpenter, often mocking her wholesome image. Karen claimed the jokes didn't bother her; after her death, Midler apologized in Redbook magazine, saying she often thinks of Karen. The alternative rock band Sonic Youth covered this in 1994 for the Carpenters tribute album "If I Were A Carpenter" It is a beautiful and powerful version. Karen was also an awesome Drummer.

Karen was also a drummer. They had many great hits. Check out Rainy Days and Mondays.

"Superstar" is a 1969 song written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell, that has been a hit for many artists in different genres in the years since. The best-known versions are by the Carpenters in 1971, and by Luther Vandross in 1983. Rita Coolidge came up with the song idea, based on observing the relationships of female groupies with rock stars in the late 1960s. In its first recorded incarnation, the song was called "Groupie (Superstar)", and was released in December 1969 as the B-side of the Delaney & Bonnie single "Comin' Home". Released by Atco Records in the United States and Atlantic Records in the rest of the world, the full credit on the single was "Delaney & Bonnie and Friends featuring Eric Clapton".

Written by the great Leon Russell who also wrote A Song For You. My favorite love song

You can't go wrong with Karen...your channel is not complete without reacting to Carpenters...now that i saw that you're amazed for the first time hearing them,you're now in our clan...i'm not born in her era too,i'm only 23 but Karen hit my soul and heart since i was ten...Now,you gonna react to SOLITAIRE by them because it will haunt you forever.

Thanks for reminding how sweet this song is.

From that long ago, Fall of '71, Karen was 21 & Richard was 24 . arranged & produced by Richard Carpenter --------Bro. & Sis.---------written by leon Russell & Bonnie Bramlett. ------------------MJL, 77 y/o

Close to You and Rainy Days and Mondays!!!!! Both songs are great!

Karen was perfect pitch wonderful tone and inflection. She was Soo good was nicknamed one take Karen! She sounded as good live without auto tune!

Also Karen Carpenter is considered one of the greatest drummers of all time . Yes she plays drums. Also considered one of the best with time in the drum world.

The very first concert I ever went to was The Carpenters. I was in 6th grade. It was 1974. Karen had the most beautiful alto voice. Such a shame that she was so badly hurt by life.

She feels every word and note. Wonderful

This song makes me cry everytime ..she was amazing

God bless Karen Carpenter. One of the greatest singers to ever grace our lives!!! Miss her still!!!

Written by Bonnie Bramlett & Leon Russell. Originally recorded by Delaney & Bonnie.

Such a good song, and Karen Carpenter and Luther Vandross bring such different tones to it that it's hard to pick a favorite.

Karen had one of THE clearest voices ever heard. REAL instruments, nothing computer -altered (including voices). It was all real. Listen to more of Karen's songs; you will not be disappointed. Check out, "Close To You."

She was also one of the best drummers of that era. Actually, she considered herself to be a drummer first, singer second.

She was knnown for reccording inn one take. Just the most beautiful voice ever.

Still have such great memories of sitting in the living room listening to Carpenters albums in the mid-70’s. Still know all the words. Her loss was so tragic.

Great reaction to such a beautiful voice. We lost Karen at much too young an age. Since you liked this song you should explore more of their music. They had many many hits. Here are just a few for you to consider listening to: "Rainy Days and Mondays", "I'll Say Good-bye to Love", and her cover of "Desperado".

I love this song but it makes me cry every time. 🥲 Karen Carpenter was a beautiful singer. Gone too soon.

I think this song was written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell. When Leon Russell was the music director for Joe Cocker's Mad Dog's and Englishmen US Tour, The choir director/back up singer Rita Coolidge sang the song during the tour. I think that's the first time I heard this song.

I’ve seen several comments about this being written by Leon Russell and Bonnie Bramblett. Do us a huge favor and listen to some Leon songs. His voice isn’t for everyone but the *songs* are fabulous. His best recording of his own music is probably “This Masquerade”. The Carpenters did cover it but George Benson’s is so good.

If you like that song You should listen to more of their music. They are wonderful. I was sad when Karen Carpenter passed away. There will never be another voice like hers! RIP Karen

Leon Russell was co- author on this great song. Check out another song he wrote called "A song for You". Be sure you listen to the version where he is live in a studio, playing the piano and singing in his mirrored aviators, with no other instruments or singers. It is from 1971. Just Awesome.

Karen’s voice is simply angelic. In addition to being technically beautiful (3 octave range, pitch perfect, etc), there is a sadness in her voice that grabs at your heart. Her brother Richard described it as a “loneliness” and he purposely arranged the music to highlight that aspect of her voice. They were considered “easy listening” when I was growing up so, not cool for us rock & rollers. Nonetheless, I always loved listening to her, especially as I got older. Her Christmas music brings me to tears.

In the studio, the harmonies are often multiple recordings of her voice stacked. They were technologically advanced for their time. There are videos of her vocals isolated and analyzed. Her pitch was unbelievable.

You will fall in love with her song...For All We Know.

The studio session band for this version was The Wrecking Crew... There is a documentary out there that you should watch about them.

Perfect song by the GOAT!

This version of the song is also a cover but a great one. The song was written by Leon Russell (a great singer/songwriter) and Bonnie Bramlett (a blues/rock/country/gospel singer from the Delaney and Bonnie group who are the artists who released the original recording in 1969). It was originally titled Groupie (Superstar). It’s been covered by a lot of others since then, like Vandross and the Carpenters.

Karen had such a rich, warm voice with perfect pitch. We lost so much when she passed. So many great songs we wont hear until we're with her again.

She is one of the singular voices of the 20th c., up there with Morrison and Sinatra.

"Superstar" is a 1969 song written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell, that has been a hit for many artists in different genres in the years since. The best-known versions are by the Carpenters in 1971, and by Luther Vandross in 1983.

It was a GREAT story...thank you for sharing a part of you. Many of us remember the first time we heard a song that moved us (to tears, to love, to dance) Its what makes the world go around...the energy of human connection through sound. One of the purest things about this life.

Couple things. The guy on the piano is the singer Karen's brother. You've got about 6 more songs to do by them you will no doubt love. Start with Rainy days and Mondays 🔥 Their songs can be a little melancholy which makes it all the more sad knowing the way Karen passed. R.I.P. Karen

I think you’d enjoy listening to Sissel sing Pie Jesu, whether a reaction or just for the pleasure of your ears, her voice is so clear I think if there’s a heaven it must be full of voices like hers.

Lovely to hear Karen's beautifully modulated contralto voice. 'Superstar' and 'Rainy Day Mondays' are two of the songs that show that this talented musician had some dark times like the rest of us. But what a legacy of singing and drumming she has given us too. RIP

This won't be requested very much because most radio listeners never heard it, but "Ordinary Fool" displays Karen sliding in and out of pitches in a very soulful, jazzy style. It's quite riveting, if all you've ever heard are the Carpenter's hits on the radio.

Timeless