Voice Teacher Reacts to The Carpenters - Superstar 

Master of Voice please react to the song “Mi Juventud a los 40” from Miguel y Miguel ft Sera Ramirez

Master of Voice um abraço meu amigo, vejo que você é uma pessoa que sabe o que ouvir.

Richard got the idea for Karen singing this when he saw Bette Midler sing it on The Tonight Show. Written by the legend Leon Russell and Bonnie and Delaney, they used to have Rita Coolidge sing it on tour, calling it The Groupie Song. This song and Joan Baez' Diamonds and Rust were the songs from the early 70's that stand out to me.

For me it is the depths of color to her voice. People say soothing but I always find so much melancholy in the depths of that vocal. The original was called Groupie and is the voice of a more experienced woman. Karen’s vocal on this despite the depth seems so more the voice of a less worldly woman. Just remarkable.

She is my favorite singer bar none. She sang from the heart. Beautiful personality too.

@Keith Stewart : Yep, she was known as "One Take Karen" in the music industry. Still is.

I remember, years ago, attending an audio engineer’s conference, and I spoke with one of the assistant studio engineers who had worked on some of the vocal tracking sessions with Karen. He said that not only was she an incredible lead singer, but that she was also flawless at doubling her own vocal, and it was effortless for her to pick out and sing even the most complex harmony intervals with Richard. He told me that in the half dozen sessions that he worked on with her, he remembered her only ever doing two takes just one time, (I think he said it was the vocal tracking session for “Hurting Each Other”) and that after the first take, wanting to get a second take wasn’t at Richard’s urging, or anyone else’s... it was Karen who decided to do a second take. After the second take, when she asked Richard and the other studio personnel which take they thought was best, one of the engineers replied with, “Gee, Karen, I don’t know, but if you want, we can flip a coin to decide”... because everyone there thought that both performances were so stellar, it was impossible to decide which take was best... because they were both impeccable. 😊🙏 😊

She had a gift from God no doubt.

Keith Stewart And to think she didn’t think she could sing....

Also very highly regarded as a drummer - Even Buddy Rich considered here to be quite talented.

What is amazing is not just her voice which is so warm and lovely but her diction which you know what she is saying beside singing the song. That to me, there isn't anyone that can express herself so "clearly" and perfect pitch. Amazing songstress!

I completely agree. I have more recently rediscovered the Carpenters. Karen's voice is pure, clear, precise, and has an impressive range. That is not all though, she delivers a richness and emotion better than any singer I have ever heard. I will also give a callout to Richard. Carpenter here too. He created, found, and arranged the songs Karen sang. He created the band as well. In a way, Richard delivered to you the music Karen sang. Kudos to them both.

So perfectly said Donny. Your description was just sooooo accurate and worded wonderfully.

I tend to agree with you. She may be the greatest female singer of all time. The other one I might mention, is Ella Fitzgerald in her younger years.

Good description. Her voice is like silk and it's low, amazing. I don't know about Richard. They wrote very few of their hits, if any. I don't know about vibrato. Is it natural, or do you have to train to learn it? Is at the front of the mouth like Whitney Houston appears or in back like Karen Carpenter appears?

@@NeverforgetElvis You can hear the pain in her voice. Hauntingly beautiful.

Same here...

Sometimes, her singing DOESN'T bring tears to my eyes.

same here

Same here

Louis Wiley I cry every time I hear her and Judy garland. And I am not a cryer

Pop Land Maybe the Angel Melodius needed a voice to match his songs.

Yes, how sad it is that we have been missing her music for all these years. One can only wonder what she might have achieved and the music we would have had if she had lived out her life. We are so lucky to have lived in an age where we will always be able to listen to her beautiful voice.

Yes, sweetness and such sadness in her sound. We were so lucky to have had her. I guess God wanted to hear her up there, can't blame him.

No auto tune needed with Karen.

I especially love her voice in the lower register.

Peter I thought I heard she didn’t think she was that good singer; considered herself a drummer first. Sad, she was great all around.

I love her song called "You" Gorgeous song!

Yes Peter!!! Well stated. Her beauty, grace, control and command are astounding.

I totally agree!!! She was such a huge gift to the world!!!

I agree. Do you remember this line she sang?, "...and when my life is over, remember when we were together; we were alone and I was singing this song for you." Little did we know how prophetic those lyrics would become.

Imagine having her sing you to sleep each night

@@wlonsdale1yea & thru YT, we can get the second best option, whenever we want

Hard to believe she saw herself as fat and not good. She thought people we’re lying to her about her voice. Then when people dressed her in the long sleeves to hide the skin and bones she thought it was to hide her looks.

Very well said, Robert. Thank you.

Paul Wilson I have always thought that it’s because you felt she was singing to you not just her singing the song.

@@teamcougars Exactly. She is singing to ME.

"Make believe it's your first time" then she hits you with "And I'll make believe it's mine". I burst out crying.

I said the same thing before i saw your comment. Great minds think alike

The Carpenters are not my kind of music at all. That being said I could listen to Karen all day. Her voice transcends musical styles. In fact, since I'm stuck at home, maybe I will

Rick Jangle I know what you mean. I do love to hear her voice. She never felt at ease on stage like this, but she never shows anything but enjoying performing. She would also perform her own backup vocals.

Rick Jangle it does hurt. I just broke out in tears. I loved the seventies. Everyone I loved was alive.

Laura Salveson i know what you mean Laura. It’s the same with me. You take care and stay well.

Agreed. I’m one who doesn’t experience strong emotion very often, but listening to these clips brought me to tears. What a gift.

Yes,I know what you mean,as much as I loved Karen, hearing her singing now chokes me up but also takes me back to my youth.She was a beautiful young lady taken far too soon.

Michael Jackson John Lennon Kurt Cobain

@@austinskaggs4184 Patsy Cline also

Listen to Judith Durham of the Seekers. She just passed this last August at 79. Listen to her sing Danny Boy by herself. Angelic voice in the same class as Karen Carpenter.

@@austinskaggs4184 😮

You are beautiful, I am SergioValentín from mendoza-argentina

But Richard pushed her to sing, she did not want to sing but to play her drums. Watching her playing her drums you can see she was genuinely so happy

I think that made her singing that much more emotional. People connected with her.

She got high praises from Buddy Rich.

no argument here

Got my vote.

I agree, the best voice ever.

What is there to discuss? No argument whatsoever.

I don't like to compare, I ADORE KAREN CARPENTER. But the finest singer who ever lived and nobody will ever reach her, until further notice, was Judy Garland

Your comment couldn’t be most accurate. You described her singing talent incredibly well. She is truly the ultimate crooner, a female crooner. And yes. She sings to you, to your soul. Omg I loved your comment. It’s wonderful to remember her as she deserves

Her version is from the 70s, but I believe the song is from the 60s....she was one of my all time favs, I knew just about every song she did. Loved this and top of the world, all heck, I loved every song she and the Fifth Dimension sang.

@@calme-dx2dp Just to add some info; The Carpenter's released theirs May 1971. The original is 1969, written by Bonnie Bramlett & Leon Russell, recorded by Delaney & Bonnie & Friends (Leon Russell on piano, Eric Clapton on guitar). Rita Coolege, who’d been Leon’s girlfriend, later said she helped write it and should have received credit (which Bonnie didn’t know till years later). The “Friends” (in DB&F) were a rotating group of crazy talented people including; Leon Russell, Rita Coolege, Eric Clapton, Duane & Greg Allman, George Harrison and many more. Jimi Hendrix even asked to play with them once. Delaney & Bonnie divorced in 72, which ended the band (but there’s lots of DB&F on RU-vid). Both Delaney & Bonnie went on to perform with other musicians. Their daughter, Bekka Bramlett, joined Fleetwood Mac after Stevie Nicks left. Bonnie (then married to musician Danny Sheridan) played Bonnie, Roseanne’s friend/co-worker on The Roseanne show. In 2016, Bonnie sang Groupie/Superstar at Leon Russell’s memorial. Link to the original song; ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-86S6upe_GO0.html

@@wnsafford1854 ok...I knew the song was done before, thanks for the link and the info. Still like Carpenter's version best though...brings back much childhood memories hearing her sing.

also frank sinatra

Who doesn't??

When I was born she has died already. I was born in the 80s but my parents would play her songs from time to time. Now In my late 30s I seek her songs here and I get very emotional. Incredible experience. She was truly unique

Yes!

@Michael Asay that's cool

"Karola" Spanish music is so esoteric. Boring and pretentious actually.

So agree Diana!!! Just amazing! Maxi Skirt....i was wondering what it was called!!! Hope you find a maxi skirt!!! I bet you will look stunning in it!!!!

KAREN definitely had a superstar unique one of a kind special voice for sure

My pleasure!

I totally agree unique and beautiful velvet voice

Good point

I'm a contralto but I screw singing

Absolutely. For those of us that don't know much about the technical aspects of music, but have an advanced appreciative sense, that is the most immediately noticeable characteristic of Karen's divine gift, that unusually low register. Mr. Master of Voice makes some superb and informed observations in his commentary.

What is distinct about her singing in this range is her gentle purity of voice and the ease with which she does those low notes. Most contralto singers have a huskier, edgier hue to their voice.

Yeah and every year at Christmas time you hear her on radio and in stores. I'm still mesmerized when I hear the perfection of her voice.

did you know that karen carpenters singing voice lowers high blood pressure? yes.. her singing voice is one in a trillion.

Yes, effortless perfection. I think you are quite correct in your summation; one in a trillion.

You are so right about Karen. There is a young girl who's voice touches your soul like Karen's did. Her name is Angelina Jordan. She has lots of videos on RU-vid, but listen to this Adele cover. Pure silk. Thanks! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QHLtZQ3sIwE.html

timothy mackin We loved Carpenters in the U.K. Karen was a unique talent never seen before or since. Truly one of the greats of all time her voice has never been replicated by any other singer.

Hi, something similar happens with the voices of Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad (the voices of ABBA), are unic, never i has found similars (i have listen music for 50 years), less equal or superiors to Agnetha specially, many similars, but never equal or superior, quality, perfomance....

Psychiatry manufacturers new names for old problems, so they can charge $200+ an hour. in reality there's no science involved in the "practice" of psychiatry. it should not even be categorized as a medical doctorate.

@@frankpaya690 As you probably know, psychiatry is a field of study after one is already an MD; usually an extra three or four years. It has evolved from the Freudian behavioral model into a purely biological explanation of behavior---change the body's chemistry, change the behavior. So very few psychiatrist practice counselling psychology. They have become, for the most part, pill pushers; if one pill doesn't work, let's try another, or several at once. Behavioral therapy is practiced mostly by counselling psychologists (Ph.D.s), and some people with Master's Degrees also. But that doesn't mean that "social anxiety disorder" is not real. It just means that there is disagreement on how we will go about treating it---pills or counselling.

No execs, Richard brought her out front, and even though she wasn't comfortable at first, she adjusted, she was a performer. Just watch their TV specials, it's her that is out going and having fun! It was the obvious, and right move by him. Her emotional problems went way beyond that.

There are videos where you can clearly see how warped the mother was. Mom was one of those women who worships, loves, and supports the masculine and attacks, undermines, and/or ices out the feminine.

@@Mr.56Goldtop I only meant that her anorexia was exacerbated by her social anxiety disorder and being pushed to the front. She, like almost all girls, developed her eating disorder during her teenage years. So the disorder had been with her for years. And it often stems from an over-controlling parent. Usually the father, but in her case I believe it was her mother (not sure). Since anorexia stems from family dynamics, it is very difficult to treat, because eating disorders are symptomatic of underlying causes. Since it is difficult to deal with the underlying cause (family control issues), the symptoms get treated---eating behavior. And many never deal with the real cause(s). And with some, it is fatal.

Does anyone ever also mention Karen Carpenter's drumming abilities? HOLY SHIT!! That is so often overlooked with her vocal prowess. She's a female Buddy Rich on the drums!! Her abilities were amazing.

It melts your brain.

My jealousy is rearing it's ugly head

Wow! What an amazing opportunity.

Great description!

Listen to George Michael. The range in his voice is amazing.

Karen is my number one.number two is gladys knight

I would like to donate by mail. Please provide your address or p.o. box.

Nobody can match the sheer beauty of Karen's voice. She was one of a kind.

@Chuck Anya Vandross's version is excellent. And at the very same time, it is miles away from the specialness Karen was able to imbue it with. This is exactly why I think it's hugely foolish to try to cover a Carpenters song. Even if you do it extremely well you'll still be a distant second.

Don’t feel sorry for us, we get both the old stuff here and the new stuff too!

@@lazybelphegore6748 " and the new stuff too!" - That´s the problem.