When the Carpenters first realeased this song the U.S. was still involved in the Vietnam War and a lot of couples were separated. So it really resonated with many of those couples. But the beauty of it is that it is timeless!
I was there in the studio when this was recorded as part of a Christmas Eve special Bruce Forsyth's Big Night. It was at London Weekend Television studios in 1978. She did it all in one take. Phenomenal!
It hurts to see her like this but her voice is so beautiful I can't turn away. I love watching all your reactions to Carpenter's songs! Have you reacted to Desperado yet? I love Karen's version the best!
Yes, Karen is very sick here, but you will never hear a song more beautifully sung. She was a very strong lady right up to the end. She was just as good live (or better) as in her recordings. Richard was not here for this performance, which was never easy for her either. God, Karen was magnificent!
The whole Carpenter's Christmas album is astounding. From Karen's singing to Richard's arrangements. The songs just flow beautifully one to the other the way Karen's voice flows. Glad that you love The Carpenters Dereck.
In this clip, she was a guest star on the Bruce Forsyth Show in 1978 so at the end, she sang Happy Christmas Brucie as a joke. There is a longer clip from this show where she sings a couple of other songs.
Karen was performing this beautiful Christmas song on a British television show hosted by someone by the name of Bruce. She was alone during this performance as Richard remained in the USA, unwell at the time.
Karen Was Way Passed 80 Pound's Here But No Matter How Sick She Was She Could Out Sing AnyOne Here Was A Lovely Young Woman Who Had Alot To Live For Truly Sad She Left Us So Young Like EveryOne Else Just Wish She Was Still With Us Karen Truly A Magical Voice God Bless You Karen
This is a live TV show version from 1978, Dereck. the regular recorded versions are from 1970 and recut in 1978 for their Christmas Portrait album and TV special for ABC.
The voice of an angel. So pure and melodic. Sadly, this was after many years of Karen thinking that she was "fat." She stood 5'4" & when they broke in around 1970, she weighed roughly 120 pounds. She was around 90 lbs in the 1978 live performance. Sadly, the years she put her body through with excessive dieting would claim her life 26 days short of her 33rd birthday. With that three-octave range in her voice will always be one of the best ever.
Hi Dereck! Karen was on the Bruce Forsyth Christmas Show, hence, she sang at the end of the song , Merry Christmas Brucey. As a joke. She does look fragile, and in particular, I noticed her eyes as being kind of panicked - or beady . But probably just unwell . Tho it was noted in the show, that her brother Richard was at home sick. And it had been said that his was at the time that he was dealing with withdrawals from getting off of prescription drugs . I think sleeping pills. But he actually had to go to a rehab facility. He got to where he was soo shaky that he couldn’t play the piano!!
Hi dude!.. my all time favourite!! She pulls my strings every time I listen to this. Still feels fresh to this date!! Liked your reaction!! If you can by your listeners..react to have yourself a merry little Christmas by the carpenter's.. You won't be disappointed! Happy Christmas dude!!..
Hi Dereck! You're a bit of a freak (which I use as a compliment). You notice the instrumentation, and your comments on the instruments are actually correct, unlike many other reactors. You seem to be affected by Karen's ability to extend her vibrato perfectly with no variability, almost machine-like; and this has always gotten to me. Every time she has a sustained note, your hand goes out, if it's not clutching your heart...you're not missing anything. You're the first reactor I've EVER seen who's noticed her phrasing. Nobody in pop phrases like Karen. Aficionados of not breathing in the wrong place often cite Frank Sinatra's phrasing, and then Karen's, in the same breath. Nobody, but nobody of all the 70 reactors I follow, noticed that until I saw you just mention it. Many pop singers just go until they're out of breath, then "INHALE!" Are you a musician or producer? A producer has to hear everything or the mix won't work. I love the Carpenters and always look forward to your next reaction with them because it's not just a perfunctory smile with the bullet-list of adjectives. Ever noticed in "Superstar," in the second verse: "Loneliness is such a sad affair (breath) and I can hardly wait (doesn't take a breath) to be with you again." Sounds a little different because she's at the bottom of her lung capacity; but she pushes it out because the phrasing is so right. I don't think anybody pays attention to this stuff. But you do. (I've taken singing and have a music degree, so I guess I'm a little attuned to it.) Nice job. You're super enjoyable to watch. (Two possible highly emotional and beautiful tear-jerkers not mentioned much because they were album cuts that never played on the radio are Solitaire [Neil Sedaka] and Desperado [Eagles].)
Karen went to the UK without Richard in 1978 as he was being treated for Quaalude addiction. Yes she's singing live here on the Bruce Forsyth show, which is why she sings the "Brucey" thing line at the end.
You should listen and react to the original 1970 verson. I prefer that version than the “Christmas Portrait” one. You should also react to Christ Is Born.
Yes that is wright OMG!! No one can sing this song like her, men wish she was still with us!?? That was funny towards the end, hilarious sounded comical!!
She IS singing live. Richard was recovering from his bout with pills. Karen went to the UK to do some promotion for Singles 74-78. This was Xmas 1978 on the Bruce Forsythe show in the UK. There is also video of her doing I know I need to be in love and Mr Postman along with an xmas medley with Bruce from the same show. Happy Christmas Brucie is what she said. He is the host.
@@close2u2000 Yes Jay Brow. I also think that she is singing live. I saw this entire video, I even posted the link in my other comment. I asked this question because of the comment from "Joseph Hart" here. Karen Carpenter was so astonishingly tuned that live was even perplexing.
This is a live TV performance from 1978, sadly after the anorexia took hold, as you noticed. Richard is not with her here as he was dealing with his Quaalude addiction at the time.
The version you hear on the radio at Christmastime is the 1978 version. The original version, recorded in 1970, can be heard here: ruclips.net/video/506m3P0PjMk/видео.html. Karen uses more of the deep part of her voice in the original. Oh, Derek, by the way, Karen is waaaaaaaaaaaay better than Linda. :-p
I disagree. As big fans of both, they can't really be compared. They are excellent in their own lanes. Karen had her obvious strengths and warmth and Linda had a remarkable range with both power and high range. Both excellent in their own ways.
@@georgecifu4376 I just think Karen's voice is more unique and more beautiful. I don't think Linda having a more powerful voice or a bigger range gives her an edge. Karen has a very delicate voice with unique tones. Maybe I shouldn't have just used the word "better." "Better" is interpreted by different people in different ways.
The Carpenters succeeded in creating a new Christmas standard where so many others tried and failed. This one became a classic. Just read recently that the lyrics were written by someone back in 1944 - World War II period. And then the Carpenters put the lyrics to this wonderful melody and released it during the Vietnam War, when so many would not be with loved ones at Christmas. Just like White Christmas and I'll Be Home For Christmas touched people deeply during World War II, this record did the same thing many years later. And, it goes without saying, Karen Carpenter sang it like no one else could have.
What if you’re a 19 year old Carpenters super-fan. Have a beautiful Alto voice and are in a professional recording studio? You record your homage to your favorite singer Kacie. And it sounds like this… Search… Tori Holub Merry Christmas Darling BTW she is surrounded by Carpenters Royalty who are taking good care of her. Or praising her, like on her Short video of Rainy Days & Mondays; Paul Williams commented high praise. ❤
Yes! I was expecting another reaction to this video. I've only seen one channel so far and now yours. Karen keeping the same quality singing live. WOW. She is unforgettable. The world is more beautiful when she sings. This is Karen Carpenter making a solo appearance on Bruce Forsyth's Big Night, which was aired on 24 December 1978. Here the link to the full video if you want to see it: ruclips.net/video/745_ShWh6mI/видео.html
LOVELY Karen battled anorexia nervosa for many years. It ultimately led to her untimely death. Karen, with her stunning talent of singing, was literally a GIFT to the world! God rest her beautiful soul. Karen ended this song by saying, Merry Christmas..... Brucie! Bruce.....
Merry Christmas "Brucie", Bruce Forsyth, the host of "Sunday Night at the London Palladium". Karen was in London without her brother, Richard, who was in the states, I believe, in rehab at the time. Watch the video here: ruclips.net/video/745_ShWh6mI/видео.html
Back in 1983, the medical community did not know enough about anorexia. I wish they did! If Karen were alive today, the word icon would have been upgraded.
Hi Dereck and Happy New Year! I saw this video earlier before I was in the know. So I’m just going to leave a comment. In my life I’ve heard, mostly thanks to RUclips, everyone and their cousin try and cover Merry Christmas, Darling. A few sound nice but, not really right. Some are, a few words in and Nope. I’ve never heard anyone do it justice with Karen’s original take or refresh that she did. There is just that magical thing and no one will ever take that away from Karen. But and you knew there was a but. Maybe not take away but maybe blessed by Karen’s spirit is how I look at this warp in time. There’s more here to explore but for now just search: Tori Holub Merry Christmas Darling
She sang "Brucie" on the end in this live vocal version. Wonder who that was... This lyric dates to 1946, written by Frank Pooler; Richard set it to music in the 60s. The studio version has that gorgeous cascading overdubbed Carpenters choral vocal backing at the end...
@@eggy1962 yes. Bruce was standing to the side just out of the camera range. She sang two more songs that day, "live" with Bruce Forsyth occasionally coming into camera range as well. They had some sweet conversation together in the longer clips. Richard was in the USA, soon to be going into rehab for his qualuude addiction. So Karen and the band flew over to do the show without him. She also sang "Mr. Postman" & "I Know I Need To Be In Love" that day. That one is quite touching.
This was a very sick Karen. Richard was in rehab for qualoudes. So this is why he wasn't there. I do not know how Karen did this only weighing 78 pounds. I love her and miss her. RIP Dear sweet Karen.
Richard ( music and arrangement ) Frank Pooler ( lyrics ) 20 YEARS APART .... great story behind this. Also, watch her entire performance from this show ( Bruce Forsyth ) I need to be in love is in my opinion her most emotional performance of the song. ruclips.net/video/745_ShWh6mI/видео.html
I wonder why it is that O Holy Night on the Carpenters Christmas album was just instrumental without Karen singing...? Would have been nice to hear her on that one.
@@evanhughes1510 I always assumed it was because Karen didn't have a "big" enough voice for those notes: "Oh night DIVIIIIIIIIIIIINE!!!!!!." I'm thinking Richard thought she wouldn't be able to do justice to it, just as the "big-voiced" singers like Whitney and Mariah wouldn't do half the justice to MCD as Karen does.
@@evanhughes1510 Interesting question. Maybe it's because O Holy Night isn't quite as popular as Silent Night, and thus was just relegated to being a secondary song on the album...?
@@No1KCfan6 Karen definitely had the "big" enough voice. She likewise was able to sing the higher notes in parts of the song, since she had a 4-octave voice. (Listen to some songs from her solo album). A lot of people think her voice wasn't powerful, but it's more about the Carpenters style of music as for why she didn't "belt" out tunes like Whitney and Mariah. But yeah, she had the power. Listen to Rainy Days and Mondays, and Superstar - as well as Desperado from the Horizon album - she punches it.
@@hiseagle I believe Karen wouldn't have been good at songs that require a lot of power. And that's fine with me. She had a delicate voice suited to the songs Richard chose for her. Leave songs like "O Holy Night" to the bigmouths like Whitney, Aretha, and Mariah. I actually like Mariah Carey and think she has a beautiful voice, and her rendition of "O Holy Night" is fantastic. I just can only take so much of her vocal acrobatics, though.
No, it was definitely live. Not only because she sang "Happy Christmas, Brucie" at the end, but Karen had a masterful way of singing notes while live. Notice the hand gestures and way she tilted her head at times when singing higher notes. Definite indicators of Karen singing live.
it was common place on bbc shows that artist if not singing whole live would be encouraged to do a fresh recording.... for example check out 70's top of the pops videos.., the re records i believe had something to do with musician union regulations..... by the 80's they just mimed to studio versions.
@@josephhart7933 no doubt the mic was on but its a re recorded track probably done for tv shows, they were well experienced at doing this. even so to me karen is the finest female singer i have ever heard
She was singing all three songs "live" that day. She even changes the lyric & cadence a little bit on another she sang that day, "I Know I Need To Be In Love". This day and trip to Europe is discussed in more depth in the most recent biography about her.
When the Carpenters first realeased this song the U.S. was still involved in the Vietnam War and a lot of couples were separated. So it really resonated with many of those couples. But the beauty of it is that it is timeless!
This song always brings tears to my eyes. Karen’s voice is absolute perfection and Richard’s arrangement as always is beautiful
Please continue to do Carpenters reactions more often!!!
I was there in the studio when this was recorded as part of a Christmas Eve special Bruce Forsyth's Big Night. It was at London Weekend Television studios in 1978. She did it all in one take. Phenomenal!
Fantastic, happy for your memories.
Thank you for sharing that! How cool to have been there for this taping!
Her voice is sublime and her diction perfect.
My favorite Christmas song. Karen’s voice is smooth as silk. She wished Bruce Forsyth a Happy Christmas. He was a British entertainer.
It hurts to see her like this but her voice is so beautiful I can't turn away.
I love watching all your reactions to Carpenter's songs!
Have you reacted to Desperado yet? I love Karen's version the best!
My favorite Christmas album above all is the Carpenters Christmas album.
Yes, Karen is very sick here, but you will never hear a song more beautifully sung. She was a very strong lady right up to the end. She was just as good live (or better) as in her recordings. Richard was not here for this performance, which was never easy for her either. God, Karen was magnificent!
Her voice is warm and welcoming, the way Christmas should be.
This is a breath taking performance.
The whole Carpenter's Christmas album is astounding. From Karen's singing to Richard's arrangements. The songs just flow beautifully one to the other the way Karen's voice flows. Glad that you love The Carpenters Dereck.
You just listened to the greatest female singer ever and I mean ever!
She doesn’t say Ruthie, she says “Brucie”, referring to Bruce Forsyth, the host of the show.
I was wondering who's Brucie. Thanks for that. :)
She also says Happy Christmas at the end as well, which is a nod to him as a Brit.
From the Bruce forsythe Show in England. Nice job as always, Derck.
In this clip, she was a guest star on the Bruce Forsyth Show in 1978 so at the end, she sang Happy Christmas Brucie as a joke. There is a longer clip from this show where she sings a couple of other songs.
Karen was performing this beautiful Christmas song on a British television show hosted by someone by the name of Bruce. She was alone during this performance as Richard remained in the USA, unwell at the time.
This to me is the Best (secular) Christmas song EVER!
Karen Was Way Passed 80 Pound's Here But No Matter How Sick She Was She Could Out Sing AnyOne Here Was A Lovely Young Woman Who Had Alot To Live For Truly Sad She Left Us So Young Like EveryOne Else Just Wish She Was Still With Us Karen Truly A Magical Voice God Bless You Karen
Ave Maria Derek pls react on tbis beautiful song. You are my favorite reactor. 💕
This is a live TV show version from 1978, Dereck. the regular recorded versions are from 1970 and recut in 1978 for their Christmas Portrait album and TV special for ABC.
Growing up i wanted the voice of either Karen or Julie Andrews. They always sounded amazing, and made it seem so easy to sing like that!
"I Just Fall in Love Again" will blow you away. Just sayin'.
My favorite Christmas song of all time. The Carpenters blend of voice and harmony along with Karen's voice is simply awesome!
The voice of an angel. So pure and melodic. Sadly, this was after many years of Karen thinking that she was "fat." She stood 5'4" & when they broke in around 1970, she weighed roughly 120 pounds. She was around 90 lbs in the 1978 live performance. Sadly, the years she put her body through with excessive dieting would claim her life 26 days short of her 33rd birthday. With that three-octave range in her voice will always be one of the best ever.
Hi Dereck!
Karen was on the Bruce Forsyth Christmas Show, hence, she sang at the end of the song , Merry Christmas Brucey. As a joke. She does look fragile, and in particular, I noticed her eyes as being kind of panicked - or beady . But probably just unwell . Tho it was noted in the show, that her brother Richard was at home sick. And it had been said that his was at the time that he was dealing with withdrawals from getting off of prescription drugs . I think sleeping pills. But he actually had to go to a rehab facility. He got to where he was soo shaky that he couldn’t play the piano!!
Hi dude!.. my all time favourite!! She pulls my strings every time I listen to this. Still feels fresh to this date!!
Liked your reaction!!
If you can by your listeners..react to have yourself a merry little Christmas by the carpenter's..
You won't be disappointed!
Happy Christmas dude!!..
Hi Dereck! You're a bit of a freak (which I use as a compliment). You notice the instrumentation, and your comments on the instruments are actually correct, unlike many other reactors. You seem to be affected by Karen's ability to extend her vibrato perfectly with no variability, almost machine-like; and this has always gotten to me. Every time she has a sustained note, your hand goes out, if it's not clutching your heart...you're not missing anything. You're the first reactor I've EVER seen who's noticed her phrasing. Nobody in pop phrases like Karen. Aficionados of not breathing in the wrong place often cite Frank Sinatra's phrasing, and then Karen's, in the same breath. Nobody, but nobody of all the 70 reactors I follow, noticed that until I saw you just mention it. Many pop singers just go until they're out of breath, then "INHALE!" Are you a musician or producer? A producer has to hear everything or the mix won't work. I love the Carpenters and always look forward to your next reaction with them because it's not just a perfunctory smile with the bullet-list of adjectives. Ever noticed in "Superstar," in the second verse: "Loneliness is such a sad affair (breath) and I can hardly wait (doesn't take a breath) to be with you again." Sounds a little different because she's at the bottom of her lung capacity; but she pushes it out because the phrasing is so right. I don't think anybody pays attention to this stuff. But you do. (I've taken singing and have a music degree, so I guess I'm a little attuned to it.) Nice job. You're super enjoyable to watch. (Two possible highly emotional and beautiful tear-jerkers not mentioned much because they were album cuts that never played on the radio are Solitaire [Neil Sedaka] and Desperado [Eagles].)
That little twist as she sings "and I wish" is pure natural feel for singing.
Karen went to the UK without Richard in 1978 as he was being treated for Quaalude addiction. Yes she's singing live here on the Bruce Forsyth show, which is why she sings the "Brucey" thing line at the end.
You should listen and react to the original 1970 verson. I prefer that version than the “Christmas Portrait” one. You should also react to Christ Is Born.
Yes that is wright OMG!! No one can sing this song like her, men wish she was still with us!??
That was funny towards the end, hilarious sounded comical!!
I think she is singing live. Can any specialist please analyze and answer this question?
She IS singing live. Richard was recovering from his bout with pills. Karen went to the UK to do some promotion for Singles 74-78. This was Xmas 1978 on the Bruce Forsythe show in the UK. There is also video of her doing I know I need to be in love and Mr Postman along with an xmas medley with Bruce from the same show. Happy Christmas Brucie is what she said. He is the host.
@@close2u2000 Yes Jay Brow. I also think that she is singing live. I saw this entire video, I even posted the link in my other comment.
I asked this question because of the comment from
"Joseph Hart" here. Karen Carpenter was so astonishingly tuned that live was even perplexing.
Karen's voice is hymatizing you just feel like relaxed.
she looks so ill in this one bless her
I also really love Karen Carpenter's version of 'Christmas Waltz.'
It will be 40 years since we lost this Angelic voice and soul this February 2023. . RIP Karen!
This is a live TV performance from 1978, sadly after the anorexia took hold, as you noticed. Richard is not with her here as he was dealing with his Quaalude addiction at the time.
Reacciona a the carpenters calling occupants of interplanetary craft vas a quedar enfermo je je
The version you hear on the radio at Christmastime is the 1978 version. The original version, recorded in 1970, can be heard here: ruclips.net/video/506m3P0PjMk/видео.html. Karen uses more of the deep part of her voice in the original. Oh, Derek, by the way, Karen is waaaaaaaaaaaay better than Linda. :-p
I disagree. As big fans of both, they can't really be compared. They are excellent in their own lanes. Karen had her obvious strengths and warmth and Linda had a remarkable range with both power and high range. Both excellent in their own ways.
@@georgecifu4376 I just think Karen's voice is more unique and more beautiful. I don't think Linda having a more powerful voice or a bigger range gives her an edge. Karen has a very delicate voice with unique tones. Maybe I shouldn't have just used the word "better." "Better" is interpreted by different people in different ways.
As beautiful she is , Karen was really battling anorexia during this time of her life. But, that didn't affect that angelic voice.
My favorite Christmas 🎄 song
The Carpenters succeeded in creating a new Christmas standard where so many others tried and failed. This one became a classic. Just read recently that the lyrics were written by someone back in 1944 - World War II period. And then the Carpenters put the lyrics to this wonderful melody and released it during the Vietnam War, when so many would not be with loved ones at Christmas. Just like White Christmas and I'll Be Home For Christmas touched people deeply during World War II, this record did the same thing many years later. And, it goes without saying, Karen Carpenter sang it like no one else could have.
There aren't many remakes of this song. Why try to improve upon perfection?
What if you’re a 19 year old Carpenters super-fan. Have a beautiful Alto voice and are in a professional recording studio? You record your homage to your favorite singer Kacie. And it sounds like this…
Search…
Tori Holub Merry Christmas Darling
BTW she is surrounded by Carpenters Royalty who are taking good care of her. Or praising her, like on her Short video of Rainy Days & Mondays; Paul Williams commented high praise. ❤
Karen: (sings)
Dereck: AHH! AHHH MY GOD!
*Video paused*
Dereck: I LOVE THE PIANO AND THE STRINGS.............
Great Christmas song!
She is the best 💕
Derek you are the best, man.
One of my favorites.
This is totally live!
Yes! I was expecting another reaction to this video. I've only seen one channel so far and now yours. Karen keeping the same quality singing live. WOW. She is unforgettable. The world is more beautiful when she sings. This is Karen Carpenter making a solo appearance on Bruce Forsyth's Big Night, which was aired on 24 December 1978. Here the link to the full video if you want to see it: ruclips.net/video/745_ShWh6mI/видео.html
The Carpenters have a couple of EXCELLENT Christmas albums!
LOVELY Karen battled anorexia nervosa for many years. It ultimately led to her untimely death. Karen, with her stunning talent of singing, was literally a GIFT to the world! God rest her beautiful soul. Karen ended this song by saying, Merry Christmas..... Brucie! Bruce.....
Thanks for earing a Mickey Mous shirt. it was Karen's favorite cartoon icon.
Merry Christmas "Brucie", Bruce Forsyth, the host of "Sunday Night at the London Palladium". Karen was in London without her brother, Richard, who was in the states, I believe, in rehab at the time.
Watch the video here: ruclips.net/video/745_ShWh6mI/видео.html
Hi Derek you do a great show play Barbra Streisand‘s 1964 Christmas album I don’t know if there’s a video available.
Dear friends. Follow the link to see the full video: ruclips.net/video/745_ShWh6mI/видео.html
Back in 1983, the medical community did not know enough about anorexia. I wish they did! If Karen were alive today, the word icon would have been upgraded.
Now pls listen to Christ is Born and be taken on a trip to a remarkable spiritual realm..
Hi Dereck and Happy New Year!
I saw this video earlier before I was in the know. So I’m just going to leave a comment. In my life I’ve heard, mostly thanks to RUclips, everyone and their cousin try and cover Merry Christmas, Darling. A few sound nice but, not really right. Some are, a few words in and Nope. I’ve never heard anyone do it justice with Karen’s original take or refresh that she did. There is just that magical thing and no one will ever take that away from Karen. But and you knew there was a but. Maybe not take away but maybe blessed by Karen’s spirit is how I look at this warp in time. There’s more here to explore but for now just search:
Tori Holub Merry Christmas Darling
NOT "we're a fart"..."We're a FAR"....geesh!
The end was different because the original studio version ends with the background vocals, and this version has no background vocals.
Karen was in the throes of illness here, but she sounds beautiful.
Get that left arm fixed. It’s like it has a mind of its own.
Richard wasn’t present for this performance. Brilliant performance!👍🏻🎄
She sang "Brucie" on the end in this live vocal version. Wonder who that was...
This lyric dates to 1946, written by Frank Pooler; Richard set it to music in the 60s. The studio version has that gorgeous cascading overdubbed Carpenters choral vocal backing at the end...
Bruce Forsyth, a uk game show host and generally well loved tv personality, this was a special tv show.
@@eggy1962 yes. Bruce was standing to the side just out of the camera range. She sang two more songs that day, "live" with Bruce Forsyth occasionally coming into camera range as well. They had some sweet conversation together in the longer clips. Richard was in the USA, soon to be going into rehab for his qualuude addiction. So Karen and the band flew over to do the show without him. She also sang "Mr. Postman" & "I Know I Need To Be In Love" that day. That one is quite touching.
DIANA NAVARRO _"Cuplerias "( Gala de los premios Ceres.., 🇪🇸🤚🇪🇸
He reacts to the song "El Rey" by Vicente Fernández, in (An Aztec in the Aztec). Please, I would really appreciate it, thank you.
Great song much like.. (I need to be in love.) . beautiful music
Great reaction, Dereck!
Check out Gladys knight, dionne warwick & patti labelle at “Sisters in the name of love”
You will love it
This is the studio track. They would often lipsynch on TV in those days....
Great song, great voice!
Great reaction
My mistake! This track was live. Many of their videos are lipsynched 😉
Gloria Estefan covered this also in the 1990s.
I wasn't aware that Gloria recorded this song. Gonna look for it now.
Karen was already mired in anorexia at this time. It’s very sad to see her so thin compared to her earlier performances.
This was a very sick Karen. Richard was in rehab for qualoudes. So this is why he wasn't there. I do not know how Karen did this only weighing 78 pounds. I love her and miss her. RIP Dear sweet Karen.
Richard ( music and arrangement ) Frank Pooler ( lyrics ) 20 YEARS APART .... great story behind this. Also, watch her entire performance from this show ( Bruce Forsyth ) I need to be in love is in my opinion her most emotional performance of the song. ruclips.net/video/745_ShWh6mI/видео.html
She is in the grips of Anorexia, thst is why se looks so frail.
My two favorite Christmas songs of all time: "O Holy NIght", and "Merry Christmas Darling". Thanks for reacting to this.
I wonder why it is that O Holy Night on the Carpenters Christmas album was just instrumental without Karen singing...? Would have been nice to hear her on that one.
@@evanhughes1510 I always assumed it was because Karen didn't have a "big" enough voice for those notes: "Oh night DIVIIIIIIIIIIIINE!!!!!!." I'm thinking Richard thought she wouldn't be able to do justice to it, just as the "big-voiced" singers like Whitney and Mariah wouldn't do half the justice to MCD as Karen does.
@@evanhughes1510 Interesting question. Maybe it's because O Holy Night isn't quite as popular as Silent Night, and thus was just relegated to being a secondary song on the album...?
@@No1KCfan6 Karen definitely had the "big" enough voice. She likewise was able to sing the higher notes in parts of the song, since she had a 4-octave voice. (Listen to some songs from her solo album). A lot of people think her voice wasn't powerful, but it's more about the Carpenters style of music as for why she didn't "belt" out tunes like Whitney and Mariah. But yeah, she had the power. Listen to Rainy Days and Mondays, and Superstar - as well as Desperado from the Horizon album - she punches it.
@@hiseagle I believe Karen wouldn't have been good at songs that require a lot of power. And that's fine with me. She had a delicate voice suited to the songs Richard chose for her. Leave songs like "O Holy Night" to the bigmouths like Whitney, Aretha, and Mariah. I actually like Mariah Carey and think she has a beautiful voice, and her rendition of "O Holy Night" is fantastic. I just can only take so much of her vocal acrobatics, though.
This was toward the end of her all to short life.I think she doing this to a prerecorded track.
No, it was definitely live. Not only because she sang "Happy Christmas, Brucie" at the end, but Karen had a masterful way of singing notes while live. Notice the hand gestures and way she tilted her head at times when singing higher notes. Definite indicators of Karen singing live.
it was common place on bbc shows that artist if not singing whole live would be encouraged to do a fresh recording.... for example check out 70's top of the pops videos.., the re records i believe had something to do with musician union regulations..... by the 80's they just mimed to studio versions.
@@eggy1962 I listen to the background music ,and she could be singing live to a backing track. She had the talent to do it.
@@josephhart7933 no doubt the mic was on but its a re recorded track probably done for tv shows, they were well experienced at doing this. even so to me karen is the finest female singer i have ever heard
She was singing all three songs "live" that day. She even changes the lyric & cadence a little bit on another she sang that day, "I Know I Need To Be In Love". This day and trip to Europe is discussed in more depth in the most recent biography about her.
Karen was so unwell here....I'm still so sad that we lost her.