This is the best cover of ANY Carpenters song I've ever heard. The orchestrations & horns were on point, all playing Richard's original arrangement. Solo well done, this was B e a u t i f u l. Richard would be impressed!
Richard was impressed. He went to their concert last November 18 in Oxnard, CA. He even had Ksenia over to his house and signed a copy of the sheet music for Superstar for her. She has pictures posted on her Facebook page.
Karen is up in heaven, looking down and applauding. What a beautiful and haunting cover of Karen's great, moody song. She does have a similar contralto tone as Karen. Are they Russian? Ukrainian? Are they still making music? I want to hear more. Their covers are so good.
I think Leonid prides himself in that he pays strict attention to the original and doesn't vary too much from it, if at all. He has assembled a class act of musicians to play with as well.
Leonid and Friends always have the unique ability in capturing the spirit, the musicality and the dynamic vocals in their replication of such classic Band tunes. These vocals are so close to Karen's and give the strength, emotion and perfect diction we knew as Karen's. This is a joy to hear. The instruments are outstanding in their great performance. Great reaction Harri. Thanks Harri for more Leonid and Friends. 👏👏 Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
@marybaillie8907 "They always amaze me with the perfect renditions..." Yes. Contrary to the reviewer's comments, here is someone, who may not have perfect English, perfectly reproducing a great vocal from the most mellow of voices. Each of Leonid's covers are about the closest thing to the original as I ever heard. (You can see Leonid loves doing that signature bass part! Smiles each time...) If I stumbled upon this on the radio, I don't think I would have thought it was anyone other than the Carpenters. It is that close to the group I listen to in my teens and early twenties.
Ksenia Buzina is such a rare and gifted human being; she is beautiful, has a master in International economics, speaks seven languages, and can sing like this. She's an absolute gem.
I am able to see and to hear. So: yes, she is may be one of the most beautiful woman I ever seen and yes her voice is exactly at the same level. Just listen her voice, look her attitude ... Me, I studied only law and economics, speak only 4 langues (my god, how stupid i am) and can't sing at all because of a tuberculose sikness before. So in my next life i will do my very best to speak 3 languages more and hope to have a good voice again to be able to have a coffee or glass with this unique woman.
I like your reactions. I've been following Leonid for years. Seen them live. Worth the ticket. Do need to mention Ksenia is beautiful? And she can sing wonderfully.
After seeing and hearing Leonid and Friends cover this mesmerizing Carpenter's hit-it amazes me how great the Carpenters really were to play and produce this tune.
Again, another amazing cover version of this Russian band, and Ksenia has such a lovely voice, different to Karen, but also awesome. And nobody can sing like Karen did, she got just a specific tone, vibe and mood in her voice, her singing. But again this cover version is so fantastic again !!
When I watched this video the other day, I thought, "Karen Carpenter's voice was perfect in tone and enunciation, inimical, yet this singer, Ksenia Buzina, evokes her delivery quite brilliantly." I believe you explained this aspect of the song very well.
Wow! If Karen had had a daughter, this probably would have been her sound; such tonal similarities are most often found in singing families, so this surprised me. Thank you!
@Steina_The_Yarnist "Wow! If Karen had had a daughter..." More likely granddaughter. Karen would be 73 now if she lived. The sentiment is valid, though! 🙂
Good day, Harri! Leonid And Friends used to be a hidden treasure, but they’re just too good to be kept from the world. If you get a chance to see them , RUN to wherever they are playing and prepare to be thoroughly entertained. I actually hoped they would try THIS song. Careful what you wish for…
Hi Harri I absolutly agree. This is a band where every member is a unusual musical diamond. I saw them about 1 month ago on youtube and since then i can't stop to look their videos. What they perform is for me really music on a very, very high level. And this (nota bene) in many musical styles! Funky, soul (like EWF), romantic (like this song) or really groovy (like the songs from chicago), wow, it is all at the very finest. What happen here with my stupid european nabours? Why this band is not wordfamous here? They should really be and i really hope, that it will be very soon. Even if many people here are not so interested about (good) music in Europe, i am shure, that they could have an enormous success. Best regards to you and all from Switzerland
Ksenia's voice is so powerful, precise, and adaptable to any musical genre. In this case she obviously knew how critical Karen's vocal style is to Carpenters music and clearly studied and mastered the subtle intonations that bring this cover closer to the original than most would ever expect possible. This band is so exceptionally talented and their covers connect so many of their own fans with the great works of music that inspired them. Can't wait to see them live again as soon as they return to Florida USA!!!
As amazing as their videos are, and I love everyone I've seen, seeing them live, in concert is just another level of WOW! I saw them last May and I was on the first row at the concert. They are wonderful as performers and just like in their videos, their music is like ear candy. Can't wait to go see them in concert again. Ksenia's voice is like like pure honey and I'm like Pooh Bear when I hear her sing...I can't bet enough! Great job Harri, keep up the good work!
This is the best cover band in existence and the best cover of this song. At moments she sounds like Karen. She captures the inflection and pace and the band is amazing. They also do Chicago amazingly well.
You have to remember, the Carpenter's version was a cover. The song Groupie (Superstar) was written by Leon Russell, Bonnie Bramlett and Delaney Bramlett and was first released by Delaney & Bonnie and Friends. There is a video of her singing it at Leon Russell's funeral, very moving. BTW, I love Leonid and Friends.
It is so important that groups and singers continue to produce music like this. Even if it is not Karen, she is doing a great job. Pls good people, keep this type of music going strong.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
What I find amazing is most of not all of them have broken English, they are Russian and Ukrainian but they sing so beautifully like you’d never know they weren’t American. Enjoy your videos
||It always amuses me, with the Carpenter's clean-cut reputation, that the song was originally called Groupie (Superstar) and the woman singing is a groupie. The song was co-written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell. The original song was first recorded by Delaney and Bonnie. That's my favourite version.
I could be wrong, but I think Rita Coolidge's version on Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen(with Leon Russell on piano) predates the recorded version by Delaney Bonnie. Rita's version is excellent--especially that piano!) and Bonnies' version with her throaty voice with that wide vibrato is great as well. I'd call it a tie! I had to laugh when Karen Carpenter's sanitized version came out, knowing the subtext of the song, but I've grown to appreciate it -- especially the beautiful resonance of her voice.
Wow and I will see exact same time you said your first comment I was making my first comment almost exactly the same... This version is just different enough to be better, Okay, It's not better but Unique it's not Karaoke And i'd love the little added guitar points or harp points, A little bit more drums very nice very very nice
Saw Leonid & Friends perform this live yesterday in Oro Valley AZ, with a 10-pc. orchestra and it was absolutely beautiful. Seriously, one of their best songs of the day. Just.....wow. 😍
I saw Leonid and Friends live last night. They were just amazing. This song on your video was also sang and it was spot on. They sound great live and have a wonderful chemistry on stage. Respects.
Karen tenía una cadencia muy desvanecedora , he visto cientos de covers , nadie puede llegar a eso , está muy bien interpretada muy linda voz , es un 9.89
Yes, indeed. This IS the best and most accurate cover of the song Superstar I have ever heard. Ksenia Buzina is a gifted and very accomplished women, lovely, talented, graduate degree holder, multilingual in several languages, plays piano, and sings. You put such a person in front of a group of extremely talented vocalists and musicians with top notch sound engineers, and you get recordings like this. Magic!!! Richard Carpenter is being honored here as is his sister RIP Karen Carpenter in the way accomplished musicians and accomplished vocalists honor the people they admire via as accurate and faithful a rendition as possible. This is best complement to Richard and Karen you can give as musical artists. Leonid and Friends know what it means to be a tribute band and all the work that goes with it in performing extremely accurate renditions of popular rock music. Well done! The kicker here is these talented Russians are having a blast playing American rock music on worldwide tous in front of adoring fans. And it all started as a fun activity for Leonid for a special occasion.
Saw them live a couple of weeks ago, and I really recommend it. It's not often you'll have the opportunity to see classics played by such amazing musicians.
We saw them live in Kansas City in June, 2023. And they surprised everyone by presenting this song. No string section and a somewhat smaller presentation but outstanding anyway! The entire concert was excellent! I loved it all ..... even the $55 t-shirts for sale!
Ksenia Buzina ! What a voice. No, it's NOT Karen's alto / contralto-------indeed, she's a natural mezzo soprano with range. But she does this so beautifully, I cannot help but love it, just as I love Karen & Richard Carpenter doing this 70's Classic. ---MJL, 77 y/o
I started follow Leonid and Friends just as i love classic choon bands with brass section. It wasn't long before i was amazed of the chemistry amongst the band. Dynamic vocals from all that sing on the tracks combined with good mixture of instruments brought together by Leonid... but this version of The Carpenters has blown me away. Ksenia best vocals to date for me.. HarriBest i have had contact too and yes we need to get these to the UK.. just need to know how much interest..
Richard Carpenter was so impressed with Ksenia’s performance, that he invited her to his home to have dinner with him and his wife. Beyond that, if anyone can ever figure out a way to clone her, I’m getting in line ……
Thanks H - as a long time fan been playing this since it arrived. Remember it's a tribute not a cover. I think UK's unlikely, many dates would have to be booked.
Really nice replication of a classic Carpenters recording. The original, incidentally, featured what had been a "work lead" vocal track that was Karen's first singing of the song ever... The lovely acoustic guitar ornaments in the second verse make me think of a different Richard...Marx. (Now And Forever, for example.) Lead singer may be channeling KC a bit here...but she actually sounds like someone else: Agnetha Faltskog. This group ever cover ABBA? Love it when the artists reach out to a reactor. Pleased to hear this band got in touch with you, Harri...
I love the Luther Vandross cover of this song, as well. I wasn't a huge fan of his, but he did very well on this song. He didn't try to over do it, which is the downfall of most cover attempts.
