I never knew about this cover. I was shocked! Imagine, the Carpenters singing ABBA! Two of my all-time favorite artists. The original was better but Karen did a great job, as one would expect.
Agnetha referred to Karen in 1 of her interviews that's on the Net, as a great singer. What's horrible about this performance for me, is how horribly skinny she's gotten.
...I think this songs needs more volume, more several singers... its not written for Karens clear fine delicate voice, its written for a pop group like ABBA how it would have been if Agnetha, Frida and Karen had sung this song together
What a treat to hear one of the greatest singers that ever lived singing classic Abba. No singer moves me like Karen Carpenter can. Especially songs like Superstar and Solataire. Love and miss her always...
Richard gave full respect to ABBA regarding this song. He believed that he could not improve upon it by putting into a Carpenters album. Karen Carpenter, of course, adds her special spin on it in this live performance. And she does a fine job. ABBA and the Carpenters were dismissed by the main stream rock media (like Rolling Stone Magazine) as bubble-gum pop pablum. Of course their album sales could not explain this viewpoint. Their positive relevance to music in the 1970s cannot be ignored.
@frankie4you2013 I would have loved to hear it on a solo piano accompaniment. That would have sounded different. Anyway, it isn't a mess, you are just used to hearing ABBAs version which of course sounds so much better than this, this is completely live with very limited instruments.
@frankie4you2013 'Destroy' is a very mean word to describe this . You know what I think of this? It's like they just picked a random song 10 minutes prior to this live performance and gave it a go. This isn't intended to be a cover, it was just something they did for fun. It would have been interesting to hear Karen sing this song in a studio environment with a proper musical arrangement and maybe then we can decide if the song was really 'destroyed'.
@frankie4you2013 That's your opinion and you are entitled to it. That doesn't change the fact that Karen sang it beautifully whether people liked it or not. Karen can sing an ugly song and turn it into a gem. This time, she enjoyed singing a song that best suits and describes her as an artist. I like ABBA and im a huge fan of theirs too but nothing compares to the the voice of KAren Carpenter.
Agnetha faltskog was an exceptional singer by her inspired interpretation above all, obviously in addition a very beautiful timbre of voice, pleasant with a sound power on very wide musical styles of abba. It's impressive.
This song was first performed by Abba on their European and Australian Tour of 1977, as part of the mini-musical The girl With The Golden Hair. It was then released on Abba The Album, which came out early in 1978. At the time, in many territories it was released as the B side of the single Eagle. In the UK, the song was not put out as a single until 1983, by which time, Abba were a spent force, as it never reached the top 20. I am an Abba fan, but I also love Karen's voice.
Thank you Karen.!That was a holy connection.Carpenters and Abba!Agnetha from Abba paid her dues in a 2013 radio interview to Karen's voice confessing her fascination and also choosing her fave 'Yesterday once more' to be played.
very nice version!!! Karen Carpenter i really adore your voice... Its very unique smooth voice I really like it... but now seen youve been gone your memories will still be with us forever!!!
Yes Karen YOU have the talent, it's wonderful to hear your crystal clear voice-colder than winter snow , Thank you for your music I can't Live without it.
I'm sooo grateful that they actually covered this song. It was made for her to sing and I was thinking it was such a shame for her to not have performed it. And then I discovered this video and the stars aligned
IF only they (ABBA, Carpenters) had met just once......Olivia Newton-John had ABBA and Andy Gibb for her 1978 TV special and had Karen for the final part of Heartache Tonight on her 1980 Hollywood Nights special..Olivia, Carpenters and ABBA embodied perfect pop music.
Karen thank you for your wonderful music that you leave behind to all the people who lived so far.. Your memories will be forever treasured.... And not be forgotten
I watch/ listen to this every day.Karen leaves me in shock because I am just amazed at her voice on this great song every single time I hear it! Fan since day one! Karen, Thank You!! The World Loves You and Always Will! I Miss You and will Love You till Forever!
Hurrah. I never knew the Carpenters covered this song. One of my all time favourite groups doing a song of another all time fave. Loving it!!! :-) Rip, Angelic Karen
Oh Richard, Karen, the band, supporters, producers, how can the world ever thank you? And Karen, you and Richard are the best of the class - coming from a littlebody who really enjoys all of your songs. Lord's blessings forever.
This song says it all. Thank you Karen for giving us your gift of BEAUTIFUL voice and music! You were SPECIAL, but you did not know it! Thank you for posting this.
I like this song so much. Also very notable that she is actually articulating. It's a pity that I can hardly understand any single word of newer songs, even when they are (supposedly) my language... So well done!!!
In Ray Coleman's book "The Carpenters", he says Karen had an incredible 4 & 1/2-octave range, including falsetto. He also quotes her as saying "...the money's in the basement."
That unmistakable lovely voice! And ABBA had many hits here in the USA but this was not one of them(though it was a worldwide hit in many other countries), I wonder if people watching this back then had a clue that this song she was singing was from ABBA?
I read somewhere that they reccorded a studio-version of this song, and it still hasn't been officially released to this day. Hopefully, if it wasn't lost in the 2008 Universal fire, Richard releases it.
I'll be darned. I didn't know the Carpenters did an ABBA cover. Karen and Agnetha: two of the most incredible singing voices in history, born 34 days apart. Just sayin'.
Carpenter they are the great they brought a beautiful song music now a days why can't this you g artist can't write good song and play good music still the old songs are the best because in the song you can hear lots of good and meaningful words thank you carpenter
sin duda la mejor cantnte y baterista si kren estuviera en vida me hubiera gustado conocerla ella me inpiro a tocar la bateria amo a the carpenters los mejores
Gosh, this is sad:( It's the first thing I've seen her do that I didn't enjoy anything about it. I am happy that there are so many wonderful performances to watch. I have always enjoyed her talented voice. I love singing her songs. She will never be forgotten:) BOP
Wow, not until now do i know that Carpenters did this song,...had associated this song with ABBA, but both have their own specialness, sweet Aggie and Frida vs. sweet Karen, 5 stars, thanx for postin' this most AWESOME VID!
i agree with you. the way i have solved this problem, is to simply not listen to any new music, except if it is somebody like Celine Dion or Celtic Woman. overwhelmingly, when i listen to modern music, it is music from the 1960's, 1970s', and early 1980's, such as the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Beach Boys, Eagles, John Denver, and of course the Carpenters
RIP Karen. Voice of an angel. I didn't know that the Carpenter's did this song. I am frankly hard pressed to decide which is better. Carpenter's or ABBA. Nevertheless, this is a powerful song!
