She knew...how could she not - there was nothing wrong with her hearing...can you imagine being her and soaking in a hot bubble bath listening to herself on the stereo - what would she have been feeling? Thinking?
Yes, she deserved so much more in this life. She never knew how amazing she was. Her voice isn’t even comparable, she stands supreme in her own category.
So glad the younger generations are discovering and appreciating music I grew up with. The Carpenters, the Bee Gees, Simon and Garfunkel, and more. Enjoy!
I'm 62 1/2 years old, and to this day the voice of Karen Carpenter STILL gives me goosebumps. A reviewer from Rolling Stone said, "Karen's voice is the sound of a lover whispering in your ear."
I’m your Elder (smile) by 3 years and am saying SAME. Nono one knew of anorexia back in the 70’s. Soooo sad to see her waste before our eyes. Loved Richard too. ONE OF A KIND.
Her brother, Richard, lives near us and his daughter was a member of the local high school choir along with my children. When Richard's daughter would sing solos in the choir I would close my eyes and her voice was almost identical to Karen's voice. It brought tears to my eyes listening to her.
From the UK. Special memories for you in your comment. Richard was kind enough to respond to a letter I sent him in March this year. Forty years since Karen died and I felt it was time. A fan for many years and was fortunate to see them live in London in 1976.
@@shannonnichols3415 Very true! I wrote to Richard earlier this year. He was gracious enough to reply. As a fan since my teens it really made my day! Basically thanked him and Karen for the music. Regards from the UK.
Sir Paul McCartney once called Karen "The greatest vocalist of the 20th century". I'm not about to argue with Paul. Her voice always brings tears to my eyes.
True love is the Lord Jesus Christ dying on the cross for all our past present and future sins ONLY IF YOU PUT ALL YOUR TRUST IN HIM AND IN HIM ALONE You will have so much peace knowing you will be with your creator in Heaven for ever So to know that you don't have to spend eternity in Hell .Because he loves us that much. I have so much peace and you can to .Take care and God bless the reader.
God Bless you Ella, you were also a wonderful singer, and a wonderful woman, rest in peace, you are loved by many! love is a wonderful thing!, and love conquers all!!!
@@louisvaccaro5865 My dad loved Ella,, Sarah, Billie, Nancy, Lena and so many of the vocal wonder women. I was raised on jazz and blues (and pretty much everything else)! He loved Karen Carpenter, too. Daddy was a fantastic musician, a music minister and music teacher. I've always believed he is jamming with the greats in Heaven.
dont forget the great dinah washington, and billie holiday just to mention a few, when dinah would sing, i could really feel her song she sang with so much feeling and emotion. use to get me very emotional. all the best Louie Vaccaro, tenor, las vegas. @@maryvanswearingen8505
What I find sad is that she didn't know how beautiful she was. There are many people who don't know that and who don't think that they are "good enough".
There is no voice today that compares to Karen Carpenter. She was a once in a lifetime musical genius and far beyond her time. No auto tune or any other manipulations. Just her voice and her brother's amazing arrangements. No current artist can match this. Period. Karen was also one of the best drummers of her day and she could sing just like this while playing the drums simultaneously. A true top talent. RIP Karen Carpenter, we will always LOVE you!!! 💛💛💛
Well, she was a very special singer and a talented drummer, but there have been many singers on her level, and many better drummers. She actually didn't play her drums on her records.
@@wilburfinnigan2142 lol she s singing with auto tune to maker sound better then she can sing Karen sang live 40 years and she still out performs Lucy if Lucy was so good she would be in the top 100 Rolling Stones or any billboard magazine s like Karen there’s no way in hell she’s better
I’m 66 and I remember the day Karen died like it was yesterday. It was like a very special gift had been ripped away and destroyed. She was, and is, the finest female singer to exist, in my opinion - just magical. And you can understand every word she sings - her pronunciation was second to none. She gave such a gift to the world, yet couldn’t find happiness in her own life. It still makes me weep listening to her to this day - such a waste. May she rest in peace - God bless her. 💔💔💔
I'm 69. For my H.S. graduation, we sang, We've Only Just Begun. It always pulls my heartstrings. Lately, I've been listening to their Top Best . I can't seem to get enough!!
So many wonderful singers have sung this so well. The lyrics just tug at the soul of the singer as well as the audience. It's just magic for everyone participating. Thank you Leon
Katrina, yes so shocking for me. I was at a party and the news came on about her passing My heart just dropped. Well the party stopped with everyone disbelief! Thank God for her...she saved my life as a kid from a horrible childhood.
Agreed. Prior to her death in 1983, we didn't have iPhones or computers to look things up. The Carpenters weren't in the forefront of the News at that point. I had no idea she'd been ill or weighed 80 lbs wet? It was shocking & heartbreaking for sure!
@@bruschmidt9943 I was 19, at a party and the news came on that she died. My heart just sank, the party stopped. The only good thing my parents did for me and my sister was to take us to see them in 74.
@@kwpres I believe there is already a movie and a TV film out there which can be accessed on video streaming sites. If by "this generation" you mean people of our age, I personally have never forgotten her voice.
She is a fantastic singer. One of the best ever. But literally all fantastic singers sing without autotune or enhancements. lol It's what makes them great. lol Only people who uses autotune are specific subgenres of hip hop and radio pop. I don't know why people act like every singer today uses autotune, when its simply not true. lol There are just as many great singers today as ever. What makes a singer special is how unqiue they are. Not all great singers are unique. Karen is. But there are plenty of modern singers who have a killer voice/melody.
She died from Anorexia Nervosa because she never thought she was enough. Can you imagine? Being as incredible as she was- and not thinking you're enough. So, incredibly sad, and such a loss of talent. One of my favorite singers of all time... RIP Karen.
Actually it wasn't the disease itself that killed her it was some prescription she was taking without the doctor's prescription or approval that had an affect on her heart. Her private doctor broke his silence and confirmed that
The reason Karen died so young is that even with her incredible talent and beautiful Soul, she had a terrible self-image. The entertainment industry is not kind to women - then or now. Karen Carpenter died from the complications of anorexia. If no one else has said it, I’m saying it here. Her death was incredibly tragic - and completely unnecessary. Rest in Peace, Karen. ✨💖✨
There was a sad event when she bumped into John Lennon in a restaurant. He said to her "Hey you've got a great voice" but she ran off crying because she thought he was being sarcastic. It's just amazing that she could have such delusions when literally, EVERYONE that heard her sing would be blown away. She must have had so many people over the years telling her how great she was yet, it just never got through to her.
I’m 61 years old. I cannot hear her voice and not be transported back in time to very specific places and times as a young boy. With good reason her voice is the voice of the 1970s for me. Ethereal and mesmerizing. If my soul were a biscuit, her voice is the melted butter. What a loss. So tragic. Had she lived longer she would no doubt be blessing us still with those silken vocal cords.
I remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard she had died. I did not find out till later on what the problem was I wished many many times that I had known because I would have gone out and track her down and sit her down and talked to her? I don't know if that would have done any good. But it's a loss that our world does not understand. Her voice was god-given. And I hope I really hope that she's singing in God's choir. And I hope to see her someday.
Karen is great, but Donnie Hathaway's version is my fav. If that doesn't get to you, considering how tragically he died, nothing will. I don't listen to it often cause it's too sad. It's easier to hear Karen do it. Two different types of illnesses, both deadly.
They would sometimes have four part vocal harmony, laying down 3 tracks for each part, for a total of 12 tracks to give it a very rich chorus effect. I love it. Check out the song "Love Is Surrender" as just one example of their vocal harmonies I love. Check out the chorus of Yesterday Once More, which is Richard's fav cause he co-wrote it along with Bettis.
@@brittreacts , GIRL! GIRL! GIRL! Why aren't you recording albums!?!? Or are you? You have a BEAUTIFUL singing voice!!! Your pitch and tone are so on point and melodious!
@@helenhansen3466 , I was referring to the reactor Britt about her own personal singing voice, not about Karen’s. I was born in 1955. I followed Karen’s entire amazing career from the time The Carpenters began until the sad day she passed. Sorry you misunderstood me.
I grew up listening to her beautiful voice. We were so shocked when she died and that we would never hear her sing new songs with that blessed voice. I still have my Carpenters LPs from the 70's and will never give them up.
There will never be anyone like Karen Carpenter. She died at 32 but she was only 22 when she recorded this song. She had an interpretation much older than her years.
At 65, the Carpenters sang the songs I loved. They were my favorite group during my teenage years. Her voice and Richards arrangements made me cry. I listen to them every single day.
Thanks for your appreciation and reaction to Karen’s song! When I first heard her voice on the radio I was blown away by the purity and raw talent she had. Karen and her brother Richard were perfectionists and harmonized beautifully together. We miss you, Karen. R.I.P.
So terrific to see a younger generation falling in love with Karen Carpenter! Her brother, Richard, was the guru behind the arrangements and the pianist. Karen is his younger sister. She had NO desire to sing, initially. She wanted to hide behind the drumset and she was a very good drummer. But once the record company recognized her vocal talent, she became the star vocalist. She was a perfectionist, which drove her to be hard on herself. Her death was such a shock to the world. So incredibly sad. We fans are so thrilled to have her music available widely -- we can still feel that breath of grace in her voice.
Her voice was angelic. The Japanese used to hold competitions for contestants to sing like Karen. Her brother Richard use to attend. They considered Karen's singing voice the world standard.
FREAKY FACT: KAREN CARPENTER (CARPENTERS) 40th ANNIVERSARY OF HER PASSING AWAY FEB. 4, 1983 > WAS JUST '4 DAYS' FROM BURT BACHARACH PASSING FEB. 8, 2023! REMEMBER > IT WAS BURT'S SONG "CLOSE TO YOU" THAT *LAUNCHED* THE 'CARPENTERS' METEORIC CAREER (1st Song/Mega Hit) & MANY MORE FOLLOWED JUST LIKE THAT > 1 SONG RELEASES = ANOTHER HIT!!
Karen Carpenter is the most sincere, humble and real legend/superstar I have ever researched. Just a one of a kind human being. Another note no autotune.
Leon Russell wrote that song, he was a great songwriter musician who was in the famed "wrecking crew" (Glen Campbell & Carol Kaye were also members) for a while before going solo. Karen without a doubt was special.
@@mrspaulb3889 Agreed, Karen gave it her beautiful voice and timing. Leon's was a heartfelt tribute to, I believe Rita Coolidge, who was also the theme of "Delta Lady". She also said she never "...stood naked in the garden...", as Leon wrote in the lyrics to Delta Lady.
Listen to the original Leon Russell recording (ruclips.net/video/4lKnb5IEATg/видео.html). His opening piano intro is a gem. I bad a ball trying to emulate on nylon-stringed guitar as I was learning the song.
@@mrspaulb3889 They both have had colorful lives with many connections to other artists. Thankfully Leon left a large recorded cache. While Rita's last album was 2018 "Safe in The Arms of Time" is great. Though not connected that I know of Maria Muldaur was another treasure of those times, her latest "Let's Get Happy Together" w/Tuba Skinny is good & her voice is still fantastic.
She had a three-octave contralto range. This song contains the lowest note she sang in any song - D below Middle C, which you picked up on. She has also been praised as having perfect pitch.
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 "We've Only Just Begun", "Close To You", "For All We Know", "Rainy Days & Mondays", "Superstar", "Goodbye To Love", "Top Of The World", "Sing", "Yesterday Once More", "I Won't Last A Day Without You", "Please Mr. Postman", "Only Yesterday" & so many more.
We were the same age when she passed. I was devastated. I was so wrapped up in her voice(and her drumming). I was angry to learn that someone told her it really wasn’t right for a female to play drums and sing. So they stopped her from playing. Then someone told her she needed to lose weight. That was her downfall. She became anorexic that lead to her heart giving out. And her love life was sad too. I’m not into famous people, but Karen was special. For awhile I had to stop playing her CDs. I got too sad knowing we would never hear any more new songs from her. Her death broke my heart. But slowly I’ve been able to listen to her. Sorry to ramble.
I believe she might still be with us if never forced to come out from behind the drum set. The eating disorder really got out of control after she was primarily out front. She never looks as comfortable alone, much more relaxed behind her drum set
@@tracymetherell8744 exactly!! so so sad they objectified her and didn't leave her in her comfort zone behind the drums, more people die from eating disorders than drugs and alcohol combined
When the Carpenters first started getting some attention, a newspaper journalist spoke of how talented Richard was on piano and how lovely his "chubby little sister's" voice was. Thus began the struggle with anorexia she would ultimately lose. What a loss.
It does my heart good to see young artists like yourself recognizing the music and voice of this woman that sang her way into our souls….Her angelic voice has left it’s impression within us forever.
I also like younger people seeing & hearing things from before their time, but looking at your picture, you look real young yourself, lol, unless that's an older picture, lol, just saying, lol, I mean no disrespect ☃️🎄👍✌️
Until Karen died most people, even many of us who worked in medicine, had never heard the word anorexia before. Her passing, and the shocking photos of her once beautiful, then emaciated face shortly before her death brought massive awareness of eating disorders to the forefront. Print articles and tv spots about it were everywhere because it took down someone famous and shocked the world. Many parents now had answers and clues as to what was going on with their kids, mostly daughters. In a way, the tragedy of her untimely passing actually helped to save many lives.
She died when I was in college. It was a terrible shock. You're right, no one had really heard of anorexia before. 😔 Such an extraordinary talent. No one in music has had a voice like hers since.
I graduated from high school in 1977. We absolutely knew what anorexia was. Both anorexia and bulimia rapidly increased in the 1970s, as did the public awareness of the disorders, via media coverage, especially magazines. I had a high school friend who was anorexic (1976) and she wasn’t alone, there were others who were obviously struggling and just as many who were struggling in secret. One girl was in and out of the hospital for treatment of anorexia our entire senior year. Karen Carpenter’s anorexia wasn’t unique to the time, but it was very visible because of her fame. Her death from anorexia brought more attention to the disease and scared people. Thankfully, diagnosis and treatment has come a long way since then.
Yes, she saved my best friend. Had I not known about her and the struggle that took her life. I was able to get my friend the help she needed when I suspected bulimia. She credited me for saving her life, but it was Karen Carpenter. RIP to the best female vocalist of all time.
@@markw3598 You nailed it. Her gift wasn't about range it was about timbre, warmth, richness, agility, and above all effortlessness and emotion too. Many female singers have greater range. What she had was more unique and important. It is like she didn't need to breathe and some endless supply of oxygen instead. She barely opened her mouth when she sang and all this incredible sound came out. She could enunciate lyrics beautifully, perfectly, breathlessly and effortlessly. She never made a mistake so she could sing with pleasure and you could listen with pleasure.. You weren't afraid for her. Ever felt that tension listening to a performer? You don't want them to mess up? You didn't feel that listening to her even live. Her voice had a calm fluidity, like a soprano leggero without the trills and acrobatics. Her agility was there in full voice and it was smooth and rich. That ability to move effortlessly (there is that word again )from a typical female higher register to the lower notes is unusual.. Most female singers hit the money notes high but she would hit them low instead and it worked and was extremely soothing and emotional. She called that amazing lower register her "basement." In short her sound was unique. She had very little vocal coaching and didn't need it. Her voice was a gift from God. It was like He touched her throat.
@@pippadawg7037 well well said, all true. Just to add she COULD hit the high notes if she wanted. There is a video here on youtube of her singing live from 1976 in Osaka Japan where she is singing "the end of the world" and at the end of the song she LITERALLY holds the note and word "said" for about 20 seconds!...easily too, she even jokes about it when she stops singing it.
You strike the perfect balance between listening and reacting (stopping); highlighting the talents of artists , the beauty in a composition or an arrangement and still taking notice of extraordinary lyrics. To those who suggest music to you, they safely entrust you to expose and react because you are kind, skilled, engaged, vocally talented and unlikely to carry a freshly sharpened ax with intent to cut anyone down. Your self deprecation rounds out a human being that any girl or boy can safely emulate - a role model on their journey to becoming....anything.
Karen might not be with us now but her music is timeless, the voice of an angel.. Rest well Karen, you're music is still playing and people are loving it.. 🇬🇧
We lost her 40 years ago last week. I remember when the news of her death came out - the whole world was in shock. She was one of the best female vocalists ever, in my opinion. I believe that this song was actually written by Leon Russell, any it's been covered by many singers, but I think that I love her version of it is the best.
About 40 years ago, my family was returning home from a vacation at Niagara Falls. It was late, and our three boys were sitting in the back seat while my wife sat next to me. A bright moon shone through wispy clouds. I put the Carpenters cassette into the player, and we listened to it all the way home. I was about 35 years old at the time, and I have not told anyone this until now. It is one of my fondest memories. Karen once in a lifetime angel.
As someone who grew up listening to The Carpenters, it is so nice seeing them being discovered and appreciated by a new generation. This was like heading the song for the first time again, and I've heard it hundreds of times. Watching Karen Carpenter slowly die was so heartbreaking. As a fan yes, but for her family even more so. She was a beautiful songstress, and soul. RIP Karen. This was my first of your reaction videos, I'll be checking out more of them.
Karen has this velvety voice that the moment i heard I knew her pain instantly at 16. So I was shocked to find she died of heart failure due to anorexia. She still is one of the greatest voices to touch down on earth. R.I.P Karen.
🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍 I love that your caption for this video says ** Road to 40,000 ** and today you are so far beyond that goal. What a lovely reaction to Karen Carpenter's singing, the lyrics, and the magic that was The Carpenters. Thank you.
The most beautiful voice ever. Karen had such an incredible contralto voice, and perfect pitch. She usually recorded her songs in one take. Sadly, I don't think she ever realized how special and gifted she truly was. You'll also enjoy Goodbye to Love, Merry Christmas Darling, and I Know I Need to Be In Love, as well as everything else she ever recorded. Rest in peace, sweet Karen.
One of the finest voices, male or female of her, or any generation. A bottom register to die for and brilliant from the top all the way down, not a note out of place. Today's vocalists take note - this is how it's done. Btw, the song was written by the wonderful Leon Russell
There are no words to describe her vocal perfection. And the authenticity of you reactions and comments bolsters the brilliance of this remarkable performance. Keep up this amazing work!
I agree that Karen Carpenter is probably the GOAT. Here we get to explore the amazing lower end of her range which I admit does things to me. There is also the beauty and clarity of her diction which breathes life into the lyrics beyond even what the composer of the piece Leon Russell could have imagined. I appreciate Britt's zeroing in on the lyrics which also enhances my experience of this song. Thank you for doing this. I am now a subscriber.
This song was written and recorded by Leon Russell in 1970. It's been recorded by a number of other artists as well, including Donny Hathaway, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, and Herbie Hancock/Christina Aguilera and so charted on basically any Billboard chart you can think of. In 2017 it was selected for the Grammy Hall of Fame. The Carpenters version was never released as a single but widely known as the ultimate Adult Contemporary recording.
Spend all day giving Carpenter credit for her vocal chops and interpretation, but not for the actual song and lyrics! Particularly when it comes to Leon Russell, who arguably didn’t get credit overall for being the influential musician and songwriter that he was (ask Elton John and Bruce Hornsby) I was debating in my mind whether to point this out and if anyone would care. Now I know at least one other person (+20 likes) does. Thanks!
The Carpenters were really hitting it as I hit my midteens. Their songs were the soundtrack of my life for so many years. I cried the day the music died.
My God. I just spontaneously broke down and cried listening to this. The Carpenters were an instrument of God, used the channel love and beauty into the world.
Amazingly, it wasn't released as a single. Absolutely should have been, but Carpenters and the label felt the running time would be too long for Top 40 radio.
Karen Carpenter had one of the very greatest voices of all time. She died much to young of an eating disorder age 32 years old. Truly one of the most tragic losses in music history. Karen and her older brother Richard were born 5 years apart, she was born the same year I did 1950. My heart has been broken for over 40 years missing her. I often cry listening to her.
Beautiful voice. There is a British youtuber called Wings of Pegasus who does his best to explain her perfect pitch. It is well worth seeing. The greatest voice to ever grace popular music. Any Karen Carpenter is good, very good.
While we're passing out the accolades, let's not forget the real architect of the Carpenters' sound: brother Richard. Pianist, arranger (orchestra, vocals) and vocals, great accompanist, creator of luscious harmonies, Richard set that gorgeous voice in the perfect setting. The world will never again hear its like.
I was delivering medicine to the hospital she died at in Downey Ca. The news vans were outside it had just happened I became a fan after learning more about her. So sad she died from Anorexia at a very young age but her music will last forever.🙏
The clarity in her voice was unmatched... her tone and control... her leaving us so early and young was such a shame. Saw them in concert in Duluth MN in Oct 1972...
What a beautiful voice- such confidence- no need for vocal pyrotechnics like what you hear today. Leon Russell wrote one of the most beautiful love songs of all time and the Carpenters deliver a most sublime version.
Karen Carpenter, her music was a major part of my childhood, and I still can't believe how special she was to me. Nowadays, I speak 4 languages, but English was my second language. I listened to her music when I was a ten-year-old child. I read the lyrics and sang along with her. At the age of 17, I moved to New York City and managed to learn English fluently within 7 months before taking my TOEFL exam. I was amazed at how quickly I was able to learn the language with the help of her music. I always tell people who want to learn English properly to listen to her voice and let her music be their source of inspiration, and let her voice be the perfect teacher.
Love, love love Karen Carpenter. Great memories of my past. Music from a great period. I’m 74, would love to relive those days again. Thank you for sharing. Best wishes ♥️♥️🙏🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thank you Britt for such an insightful reaction. When Karen died, I was driving on Hillsborough Road in North Carolina. The announcement of her passing came over the radio. I had to pull my car over. I wept. We lost one of the most magnificent voices ever and an incredible lady that day. The Carpenters' music that never made it to the airwaves is some of the most beautiful music you'll ever hear. A Place to Hideaway, Road Ode, Honolulu City Lights, Ordinary Fool, the list goes on and on. I still feel the loss of what the next 30 to 40 years would have brought us. She was gone far too soon. Your reaction makes me smile and gives me hope that Karen's voice will continue to be heard for generations. Thank you for this. I appreciate you.
Did you know Karen was also the drummer for The Carpenters? She ached to be Loved, and in Love. In every lyric, and every note, she was exposing her own deepest thoughts and emotions. When she performed, she retreated into the depths of her heart and soul. She left us much too soon ... but, left a legacy no other female artist can ever match. It broke my heart when she passed away 💔 We were the same age.
Quite often, backup vocals were multiple tracks of Karen. Richard Carpenter composed or arranged much of their music. They will always be my favorite group!
She was 32 years old when she died, less than a month before her 33rd birthday. There is SO much more she could have done. It still hurts to think of the music we lost.
This a beautiful song, written by Leon Russell. Someday we should talk about him here. The Carpenters were brother and sister, both tremendous musicians and vocalists. Tragically, she died young, having danced with the Anorexia Demon for a good part of her life. Leon’s phrase ‘a place where there is no space or time’ was genius; he was said to be the master of space and time. When Elton John inducted Leon into the RNR Hall of Fame, he remarked that Leon had been a big influence on him, thatwatching Leon perform made him a better performer himself. Thank you for this one, Britt, it was wonderful.
Greatest female vocalist of all time. If only she could have known how incredible she was and how much we loved her. We miss you Karen so much.
Ella Fitzgerald would like you to hold her champagne cocktail while she approaches the mic.
"Google" Lara Fabian - Caruso
(English lyrics translation)
i agree!
She knew...how could she not - there was nothing wrong with her hearing...can you imagine being her and soaking in a hot bubble bath listening to herself on the stereo - what would she have been feeling? Thinking?
Yes, she deserved so much more in this life. She never knew how amazing she was. Her voice isn’t even comparable, she stands supreme in her own category.
So glad the younger generations are discovering and appreciating music I grew up with. The Carpenters, the Bee Gees, Simon and Garfunkel, and more. Enjoy!
I'm 62 1/2 years old, and to this day the voice of Karen Carpenter STILL gives me goosebumps. A reviewer from Rolling Stone said, "Karen's voice is the sound of a lover whispering in your ear."
I too am 62 and you said it, exactly the way I was thinking.
I’m your Elder (smile) by 3 years and am saying SAME. Nono one knew of anorexia back in the 70’s. Soooo sad to see her waste before our eyes. Loved Richard too. ONE OF A KIND.
You have it so right!
I am 61 about to turn 62...I still remember driving in my car when the news flash came over the radio, about her death...I went into shock!
64 here and same. Her pitch is perfect!
Her brother, Richard, lives near us and his daughter was a member of the local high school choir along with my children. When Richard's daughter would sing solos in the choir I would close my eyes and her voice was almost identical to Karen's voice. It brought tears to my eyes listening to her.
He made The Carpenters as much as Karen, exceptional people.
Give my regards to her and him if you meet them - Greetings Denmark !!
From the UK. Special memories for you in your comment. Richard was kind enough to respond to a letter I sent him in March this year. Forty years since Karen died and I felt it was time. A fan for many years and was fortunate to see them live in London in 1976.
@@andrewlorenz3139- 40 years? That seems impossible doesn’t it? I know life has to go on, but it sure doesn’t seem fair sometimes. It’s too fast.
@@shannonnichols3415 Very true! I wrote to Richard earlier this year. He was gracious enough to reply. As a fan since my teens it really made my day! Basically thanked him and Karen for the music. Regards from the UK.
Sir Paul McCartney once called Karen "The greatest vocalist of the 20th century". I'm not about to argue with Paul. Her voice always brings tears to my eyes.
I wouldn't argue with that. Elvis is the male version.
@@sandramoore
No.
Nat King Cole is the male version.
Elvis doesn't come near.
True love is the Lord Jesus Christ dying on the cross for all our past present and future sins ONLY IF YOU PUT ALL YOUR TRUST IN HIM AND IN HIM ALONE You will have so much peace knowing you will be with your creator in Heaven for ever So to know that you don't have to spend eternity in Hell .Because he loves us that much. I have so much peace and you can to .Take care and God bless the reader.
@@theodoreritola7641 Message from God:
"Give it a rest Theo, Youa re embarrassing!"
@@theodoreritola7641 This is not the place for that. Tasteless.
Ella Fitzgerald loved her voice and had all the Carpenters albums. Can't get a better compliment than that.
God Bless you Ella, you were also a wonderful singer, and a wonderful woman, rest in peace, you are loved by many! love is a wonderful thing!, and love conquers all!!!
@@louisvaccaro5865 My dad loved Ella,, Sarah, Billie, Nancy, Lena and so many of the vocal wonder women. I was raised on jazz and blues (and pretty much everything else)! He loved Karen Carpenter, too. Daddy was a fantastic musician, a music minister and music teacher. I've always believed he is jamming with the greats in Heaven.
dont forget the great dinah washington, and billie holiday just to mention a few, when dinah would sing, i could really feel her song she sang with so much feeling and emotion. use to get me very emotional. all the best Louie Vaccaro, tenor, las vegas.
@@maryvanswearingen8505
ruclips.net/video/HDp9b9eYoLM/видео.html
she did a duet with Ella on one of her TV specials."This Masquerade" Another Leon Russell written tune.
What I find sad is that she didn't know how beautiful she was. There are many people who don't know that and who don't think that they are "good enough".
There is no voice today that compares to Karen Carpenter. She was a once in a lifetime musical genius and far beyond her time. No auto tune or any other manipulations. Just her voice and her brother's amazing arrangements. No current artist can match this. Period. Karen was also one of the best drummers of her day and she could sing just like this while playing the drums simultaneously. A true top talent. RIP Karen Carpenter, we will always LOVE you!!! 💛💛💛
Yes. She was the best. So feminine and beautiful. So fkn natural. No filters at all, just so fkn beautiful!!!
Well, she was a very special singer and a talented drummer, but there have been many singers on her level, and many better drummers. She actually didn't play her drums on her records.
Well said her voice is a gift from god
Lucy Thomas out sings her and is a better overal singer !!
@@wilburfinnigan2142 lol she s singing with auto tune to maker sound better then she can sing Karen sang live 40 years and she still out performs Lucy if Lucy was so good she would be in the top 100 Rolling Stones or any billboard magazine s like Karen there’s no way in hell she’s better
She was such a humble soul. She never considered herself a singer, she thought of herself as a drummer who could sing. Beautiful voice.
I’m 66 and I remember the day Karen died like it was yesterday. It was like a very special gift had been ripped away and destroyed. She was, and is, the finest female singer to exist, in my opinion - just magical. And you can understand every word she sings - her pronunciation was second to none. She gave such a gift to the world, yet couldn’t find happiness in her own life. It still makes me weep listening to her to this day - such a waste. May she rest in peace - God bless her. 💔💔💔
Beautifully said, and I feel exactly the same way.
I’m 61 years old and I agree with everything you said
I’m still in denial.
I'm 69. For my H.S. graduation, we sang, We've Only Just Begun. It always pulls my heartstrings. Lately, I've been listening to their Top Best . I can't seem to get enough!!
❤️❤️
God bless Leon Russell for writing this moving song, both musically and lyrically. Paired with Karen Carpenter it is magic.
Leon also co-wrote Superstar, the best version performed by the Carpenters with Karen's incredible voice.
So many wonderful singers have sung this so well. The lyrics just tug at the soul of the singer as well as the audience. It's just magic for everyone participating. Thank you Leon
I vow to grab my alto sax and learn this melody. ❤
@@michaelhill7593 Luther Vandross version is far superior.
@@jgjg3848 said no one ever.
Karen had one of the richest and warmest voices I have ever heard. It was like being wrapped in a warm hug. Her loss was shocking at the time.
Katrina, yes so shocking for me. I was at a party and the news came on about her passing
My heart just dropped. Well the party stopped with everyone disbelief! Thank God for her...she saved my life as a kid from a horrible childhood.
I was shocked when I heard about her death on the radio many years ago. She was so special and will live in my heart forever.
It's still almost unbelievable to me.
Agreed. Prior to her death in 1983, we didn't have iPhones or computers to look things up. The Carpenters weren't in the forefront of the News at that point. I had no idea she'd been ill or weighed 80 lbs wet? It was shocking & heartbreaking for sure!
@@bruschmidt9943 I was 19, at a party and the news came on that she died. My heart just sank, the party stopped. The only good thing my parents did for me and my sister was to take us to see them in 74.
I am 71 years old now, but I still start to cry as soon as I hear her voice. I love A Song for You most of all. Thanks, Britt.
Me too. 😢
I’m 68…feel the same way. They need to do a movie about them so this generation rediscovers her voice.
@@kwpres I believe there is already a movie and a TV film out there which can be accessed on video streaming sites. If by "this generation" you mean people of our age, I personally have never forgotten her voice.
70 years old here and I think of her and miss her all the time, and still listen to that amazing voice and it's astounding "basement."
I'm 64 and I usually do tear up....they are in my musical DNA and evoke so many emotions...we were blessed
The best voice that ever existed.
Ok, but check out Miriam Makeba.
Karen singing without autotune or any enhancement. Pure Karen. Truly an angelic voice.
Nothing from this world
She is a fantastic singer. One of the best ever. But literally all fantastic singers sing without autotune or enhancements. lol It's what makes them great. lol Only people who uses autotune are specific subgenres of hip hop and radio pop. I don't know why people act like every singer today uses autotune, when its simply not true. lol There are just as many great singers today as ever. What makes a singer special is how unqiue they are. Not all great singers are unique. Karen is. But there are plenty of modern singers who have a killer voice/melody.
If you want to know how astonishingly good Karens voice was, check this out:
ruclips.net/video/HWB96ZLWUUw/видео.html
The MOST RECOGNIZABLE FEMALE VOICE EVER. Simple as that. And credit her brother Richard for the amazing arrangements
Her and Dolly.
@@matthewdooley7855and Linda!
I agree ,the small multitasking makes Karen's voice even lovelier.
Just no comparisons to her voice. She truly stands alone as one of the best singers of all time.
She died from Anorexia Nervosa because she never thought she was enough. Can you imagine? Being as incredible as she was- and not thinking you're enough. So, incredibly sad, and such a loss of talent. One of my favorite singers of all time... RIP Karen.
A stupid news reporter once described her as “chubby” and that started her eating disorder…he wasn’t being mean but it cut her deeply …
She actually died from heart complications brought on by the many substances she’s used to induce weight loss
@@bt60613 yes, but anorexia was the cause of her taking these substance..anorexia is a mental disorder.
Actually it wasn't the disease itself that killed her it was some prescription she was taking without the doctor's prescription or approval that had an affect on her heart. Her private doctor broke his silence and confirmed that
I can imagine.
The reason Karen died so young is that even with her incredible talent and beautiful Soul, she had a terrible self-image. The entertainment industry is not kind to women - then or now. Karen Carpenter died from the complications of anorexia. If no one else has said it, I’m saying it here. Her death was incredibly tragic - and completely unnecessary. Rest in Peace, Karen. ✨💖✨
There was a sad event when she bumped into John Lennon in a restaurant. He said to her "Hey you've got a great voice" but she ran off crying because she thought he was being sarcastic. It's just amazing that she could have such delusions when literally, EVERYONE that heard her sing would be blown away. She must have had so many people over the years telling her how great she was yet, it just never got through to her.
The song "Road Ode" almost seems biographical to me, what with Karen's anorexia and Richard's adiction to pills.
I remember her just a little because I was very young but yes she had an amazing voice. Very amazing beautiful voice and singing. 💖💖💖
Everything is perfectly placed in that song. Her voice is so pure. It is hard to listen without tears...
And after 50 years her voice still gives me chills
It brought me to tears,again.
I remember the first time I heard her back in the 70's. I was just a kid but I knew she was very special .
Me too
Me three. :)
@@pensiveowl7791me too. The same as the day I heard she passed away.
She had a voice like liquid gold
Yes! Like velvet
The clarity of her voice did it for me. Every word can be heard and felt
She also hits each and every note and never has to “search” for it.
Her articulation is impeccable.
It's someone using the god given talent and blessing us eternally with the purity of her voice simply beautiful.
IMO she is the best female singer ever. Her voice is so clear, crisp and smooth.
She and Olivia
@@pamballin1908 And they were good friends! Why didn't they ever do a duet? Oh, wait! Because of r-i-c-h-a-r-d.
I’m 61 years old. I cannot hear her voice and not be transported back in time to very specific places and times as a young boy. With good reason her voice is the voice of the 1970s for me. Ethereal and mesmerizing. If my soul were a biscuit, her voice is the melted butter. What a loss. So tragic. Had she lived longer she would no doubt be blessing us still with those silken vocal cords.
Leon Russell wrote the beautiful lyrics. Karen Carpenter brought the beautiful voice. Great collab. 💗
And he wrote the melody.
I remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard she had died. I did not find out till later on what the problem was I wished many many times that I had known because I would have gone out and track her down and sit her down and talked to her? I don't know if that would have done any good. But it's a loss that our world does not understand. Her voice was god-given. And I hope I really hope that she's singing in God's choir. And I hope to see her someday.
Not a collab, it was Leon's song. This is a cover.
@@reynoldgardner98434:18 😂🎉
@@kurtjohnson4816not a collaboration, but she did justice to his music
Karen's voice is a treasure. And so are the songwriting skills of Leon Russell!!
I could listen to Karen all day but give me Leon on this tune.
Karen is great, but Donnie Hathaway's version is my fav. If that doesn't get to you, considering how tragically he died, nothing will. I don't listen to it often cause it's too sad. It's easier to hear Karen do it. Two different types of illnesses, both deadly.
Leon’s is the best version.
This band had THE BEST Songwriters
@@winstonsmith8441 Leon was a terrible singer but wonderful song writer.
Another amazing thing about her. She was known as "one take Karen" because most of her songs were recorded in one take
I have no doubt!
They would sometimes have four part vocal harmony, laying down 3 tracks for each part, for a total of 12 tracks to give it a very rich chorus effect. I love it. Check out the song "Love Is Surrender" as just one example of their vocal harmonies I love. Check out the chorus of Yesterday Once More, which is Richard's fav cause he co-wrote it along with Bettis.
@@brittreacts , GIRL! GIRL! GIRL! Why aren't you recording albums!?!? Or are you? You have a BEAUTIFUL singing voice!!! Your pitch and tone are so on point and melodious!
@@johnbattles1002 She died in 1983 from anorexia.
@@helenhansen3466 , I was referring to the reactor Britt about her own personal singing voice, not about Karen’s. I was born in 1955. I followed Karen’s entire amazing career from the time The Carpenters began until the sad day she passed. Sorry you misunderstood me.
The beauty of her voice instantly brings tears to my eyes. It touches my soul.
I grew up listening to her beautiful voice. We were so shocked when she died and that we would never hear her sing new songs with that blessed voice. I still have my Carpenters LPs from the 70's and will never give them up.
There will never be anyone like Karen Carpenter. She died at 32 but she was only 22 when she recorded this song. She had an interpretation much older than her years.
No finer alto voice than Karen's has ever existed on this planet - she will reach into your soul and pluck out your emotions with a single verse
Sooooooo true . I miss here every day ….. every day …..
I am always amazed at how African Americans respond so positively to KC's voice. I mean no disrespect, when I say that, I am just totally mind blow
Actually lower than alto - contralto.
My all time favorite female singer. She was a gift to us all for such a short but beautiful time! RIP dear Karen. 🙏
At 65, the Carpenters sang the songs I loved. They were my favorite group during my teenage years. Her voice and Richards arrangements made me cry. I listen to them every single day.
Thanks for your appreciation and reaction to Karen’s song! When I first heard her voice on the radio I was blown away by the purity and raw talent she had. Karen and her brother Richard were perfectionists and harmonized beautifully together. We miss you, Karen. R.I.P.
So terrific to see a younger generation falling in love with Karen Carpenter! Her brother, Richard, was the guru behind the arrangements and the pianist. Karen is his younger sister. She had NO desire to sing, initially. She wanted to hide behind the drumset and she was a very good drummer. But once the record company recognized her vocal talent, she became the star vocalist. She was a perfectionist, which drove her to be hard on herself. Her death was such a shock to the world. So incredibly sad. We fans are so thrilled to have her music available widely -- we can still feel that breath of grace in her voice.
Her voice was angelic. The Japanese used to hold competitions for contestants to sing like Karen. Her brother Richard use to attend. They considered Karen's singing voice the world standard.
Wow - thank you for sharing that. Did not know about the contests.🤷🏽♂
FREAKY FACT: KAREN CARPENTER (CARPENTERS) 40th ANNIVERSARY OF HER PASSING AWAY FEB. 4, 1983 > WAS JUST '4 DAYS' FROM BURT BACHARACH PASSING FEB. 8, 2023! REMEMBER > IT WAS BURT'S SONG "CLOSE TO YOU" THAT *LAUNCHED* THE 'CARPENTERS' METEORIC CAREER (1st Song/Mega Hit) & MANY MORE FOLLOWED JUST LIKE THAT > 1 SONG RELEASES = ANOTHER HIT!!
@@TeslaKuhn8 You might like this one, Richard was there too. ruclips.net/video/bQEGnqcdbeI/видео.html
They considered Karen’s singing voice, the world standard, because it was. And always will be.
Karen Carpenter is the most sincere, humble and real legend/superstar I have ever researched. Just a one of a kind human being. Another note no autotune.
She had a beautiful voice, the way she could seamlessly go from high notes to low notes was sublime!!
Simply the best ever. She still reduces me to tears when she sings.
Her voice is simply perfect. Nothing to compare. ❤
Leon Russell wrote that song, he was a great songwriter musician who was in the famed "wrecking crew" (Glen Campbell & Carol Kaye were also members) for a while before going solo. Karen without a doubt was special.
Leon did a great version, too. In fact, I prefer it, even though I completely adore Karen.
@@mrspaulb3889 Agreed, Karen gave it her beautiful voice and timing. Leon's was a heartfelt tribute to, I believe Rita Coolidge, who was also the theme of "Delta Lady". She also said she never "...stood naked in the garden...", as Leon wrote in the lyrics to Delta Lady.
Listen to the original Leon Russell recording (ruclips.net/video/4lKnb5IEATg/видео.html). His opening piano intro is a gem. I bad a ball trying to emulate on nylon-stringed guitar as I was learning the song.
@@larryg7126 I had no idea about the Rita Coolidge angle. Thank you for the information!
@@mrspaulb3889 They both have had colorful lives with many connections to other artists. Thankfully Leon left a large recorded cache. While Rita's last album was 2018 "Safe in The Arms of Time" is great. Though not connected that I know of Maria Muldaur was another treasure of those times, her latest "Let's Get Happy Together" w/Tuba Skinny is good & her voice is still fantastic.
Karen could drop her voice effortlessly and smoothly. Wonderful singer. We miss her but her recordings are immortal.
I love this woman! Her voice is timeless! Rest in Peace Dear Karen.
Pure talent, unmatched. She is deeply missed.
She had a three-octave contralto range. This song contains the lowest note she sang in any song - D below Middle C, which you picked up on. She has also been praised as having perfect pitch.
She definitely had a PERFECT pitch. I heard a vocal coach say she harmonizes with herself.
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 "We've Only Just Begun", "Close To You", "For All We Know", "Rainy Days & Mondays", "Superstar", "Goodbye To Love", "Top Of The World", "Sing", "Yesterday Once More", "I Won't Last A Day Without You", "Please Mr. Postman", "Only Yesterday" & so many more.
We were the same age when she passed. I was devastated. I was so wrapped up in her voice(and her drumming). I was angry to learn that someone told her it really wasn’t right for a female to play drums and sing. So they stopped her from playing. Then someone told her she needed to lose weight. That was her downfall. She became anorexic that lead to her heart giving out. And her love life was sad too. I’m not into famous people, but Karen was special. For awhile I had to stop playing her CDs. I got too sad knowing we would never hear any more new songs from her. Her death broke my heart. But slowly I’ve been able to listen to her. Sorry to ramble.
I believe she might still be with us if never forced to come out from behind the drum set. The eating disorder really got out of control after she was primarily out front. She never looks as comfortable alone, much more relaxed behind her drum set
Yes, all so beautiful 😢
@@tracymetherell8744 exactly!! so so sad they objectified her and didn't leave her in her comfort zone behind the drums, more people die from eating disorders than drugs and alcohol combined
@@leagratch8718 so true and most people have very little awareness that this illness is all around us.
My heart ❤️ is singing along with Karen, the single greatest singer ever!!!! Thank you for doing this!!! She passed away soo young!!!!
You said it Patricia. Greetings from Scotland.
When the Carpenters first started getting some attention, a newspaper journalist spoke of how talented Richard was on piano and how lovely his "chubby little sister's" voice was. Thus began the struggle with anorexia she would ultimately lose. What a loss.
People have noted that she sang with such emotion beyond her years. Her brother arranged most of their music. He was a genius.
It does my heart good to see young artists like yourself recognizing the music and voice of this woman that sang her way into our souls….Her angelic voice has left it’s impression within us forever.
I also like younger people seeing & hearing things from before their time, but looking at your picture, you look real young yourself, lol, unless that's an older picture, lol, just saying, lol, I mean no disrespect ☃️🎄👍✌️
Encapsulating of her Soul...not just her Voice !
She has one of the greatest voices of all time. Just hearing her beautiful voice can bring tears to my eyes.
Me too
And it gives me chills too. Usually chills are for high notes but not with Karen Carpenter. Hers were lower.
One of the greatest voices of all time! The music arrangements were truly exceptional A+++++
Thank you for loving as we all do.
Her voice never fails to amaze me. Glorious!
Until Karen died most people, even many of us who worked in medicine, had never heard the word anorexia before. Her passing, and the shocking photos of her once beautiful, then emaciated face shortly before her death brought massive awareness of eating disorders to the forefront. Print articles and tv spots about it were everywhere because it took down someone famous and shocked the world. Many parents now had answers and clues as to what was going on with their kids, mostly daughters. In a way, the tragedy of her untimely passing actually helped to save many lives.
She died when I was in college. It was a terrible shock. You're right, no one had really heard of anorexia before. 😔 Such an extraordinary talent. No one in music has had a voice like hers since.
I graduated from high school in 1977. We absolutely knew what anorexia was. Both anorexia and bulimia rapidly increased in the 1970s, as did the public awareness of the disorders, via media coverage, especially magazines. I had a high school friend who was anorexic (1976) and she wasn’t alone, there were others who were obviously struggling and just as many who were struggling in secret. One girl was in and out of the hospital for treatment of anorexia our entire senior year. Karen Carpenter’s anorexia wasn’t unique to the time, but it was very visible because of her fame. Her death from anorexia brought more attention to the disease and scared people. Thankfully, diagnosis and treatment has come a long way since then.
I lost a sister-in-law to that. And you are right they didn't understand it at all in the medical community. I know we sure didn't
Yes, she saved my best friend. Had I not known about her and the struggle that took her life. I was able to get my friend the help she needed when I suspected bulimia. She credited me for saving her life, but it was Karen Carpenter. RIP to the best female vocalist of all time.
Yes
Not only did she make her mark in music history, she unwittingly helped millions by putting anorexia front and center.
She had a 3 octave singing range. And she was a fantastic drummer.
I actually read she had a 4 octave range from the biography by ray coleman....
@@tomschmitz261 It really doesn't matter, That low range was the killer!!!
@@markw3598 You nailed it. Her gift wasn't about range it was about timbre, warmth, richness, agility, and above all effortlessness and emotion too. Many female singers have greater range. What she had was more unique and important. It is like she didn't need to breathe and some endless supply of oxygen instead. She barely opened her mouth when she sang and all this incredible sound came out. She could enunciate lyrics beautifully, perfectly, breathlessly and effortlessly. She never made a mistake so she could sing with pleasure and you could listen with pleasure.. You weren't afraid for her. Ever felt that tension listening to a performer? You don't want them to mess up? You didn't feel that listening to her even live. Her voice had a calm fluidity, like a soprano leggero without the trills and acrobatics. Her agility was there in full voice and it was smooth and rich. That ability to move effortlessly (there is that word again )from a typical female higher register to the lower notes is unusual.. Most female singers hit the money notes high but she would hit them low instead and it worked and was extremely soothing and emotional. She called that amazing lower register her "basement." In short her sound was unique. She had very little vocal coaching and didn't need it. Her voice was a gift from God. It was like He touched her throat.
It's not the number of octaves but how the vocalist sticks the octave. Karen had few equals in that regard.
@@pippadawg7037 well well said, all true. Just to add she COULD hit the high notes if she wanted. There is a video here on youtube of her singing live from 1976 in Osaka Japan where she is singing "the end of the world" and at the end of the song she LITERALLY holds the note and word "said" for about 20 seconds!...easily too, she even jokes about it when she stops singing it.
You strike the perfect balance between listening and reacting (stopping); highlighting the talents of artists , the beauty in a composition or an arrangement and still taking notice of extraordinary lyrics. To those who suggest music to you, they safely entrust you to expose and react because you are kind, skilled, engaged, vocally talented and unlikely to carry a freshly sharpened ax with intent to cut anyone down. Your self deprecation rounds out a human being that any girl or boy can safely emulate - a role model on their journey to becoming....anything.
1:27 - Yeah that low register of hers . . . nothing like it. Nobody sings like her. She was unique.
Karen might not be with us now but her music is timeless, the voice of an angel.. Rest well Karen, you're music is still playing and people are loving it.. 🇬🇧
Karen also did her own backup vocals on many of her recordings...That's why the songs sound soooo good...
mostly those were with Richard....
@@thomastimlin1724 Yes they were..
We lost her 40 years ago last week. I remember when the news of her death came out - the whole world was in shock. She was one of the best female vocalists ever, in my opinion. I believe that this song was actually written by Leon Russell, any it's been covered by many singers, but I think that I love her version of it is the best.
Yes. Written by the late great Leon Russell.
YES, I CRIED. I WAS WORKING ON A WARD IN AN AIR FORCE HOSPITAL. I DUCKED INTO THE DISPENSARY AND TEARED UP,!
About 40 years ago, my family was returning home from a vacation at Niagara Falls. It was late, and our three boys were sitting in the back seat while my wife sat next to me. A bright moon shone through wispy clouds. I put the Carpenters cassette into the player, and we listened to it all the way home. I was about 35 years old at the time, and I have not told anyone this until now. It is one of my fondest memories.
Karen once in a lifetime angel.
I still get chills even though I grew up in the 1970’s
As someone who grew up listening to The Carpenters, it is so nice seeing them being discovered and appreciated by a new generation. This was like heading the song for the first time again, and I've heard it hundreds of times.
Watching Karen Carpenter slowly die was so heartbreaking. As a fan yes, but for her family even more so. She was a beautiful songstress, and soul. RIP Karen.
This was my first of your reaction videos, I'll be checking out more of them.
Karen has this velvety voice that the moment i heard I knew her pain instantly at 16. So I was shocked to find she died of heart failure due to anorexia. She still is one of the greatest voices to touch down on earth. R.I.P Karen.
Her voice makes me tear up every time.
Me too 😢.
Me too! 😢
🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
I love that your caption for this video says ** Road to 40,000 ** and today you are so far beyond that goal. What a lovely reaction to Karen Carpenter's singing, the lyrics, and the magic that was The Carpenters. Thank you.
Just a beautiful voice I could listen to at any time of the day.
The most beautiful voice ever. Karen had such an incredible contralto voice, and perfect pitch. She usually recorded her songs in one take. Sadly, I don't think she ever realized how special and gifted she truly was. You'll also enjoy Goodbye to Love, Merry Christmas Darling, and I Know I Need to Be In Love, as well as everything else she ever recorded. Rest in peace, sweet Karen.
“Superstar”, “Rainy Days and Mondays, “We’ve Only Just Begun” are just a few of her big hits to check out.
Superstar was also written by Leon Russell (and Bonnie Bramlett)
And don't forget Close to You.
Goodbye to Love.
Yesterday once more
One of the finest voices, male or female of her, or any generation. A bottom register to die for and brilliant from the top all the way down, not a note out of place. Today's vocalists take note - this is how it's done. Btw, the song was written by the wonderful Leon Russell
There are no words to describe her vocal perfection. And the authenticity of you reactions and comments bolsters the brilliance of this remarkable performance. Keep up this amazing work!
I'll turn 64 in November. My parents used to listen to this. Couldn't help but love it. What a voice!
I agree that Karen Carpenter is probably the GOAT. Here we get to explore the amazing lower end of her range which I admit does things to me. There is also the beauty and clarity of her diction which breathes life into the lyrics beyond even what the composer of the piece Leon Russell could have imagined. I appreciate Britt's zeroing in on the lyrics which also enhances my experience of this song. Thank you for doing this. I am now a subscriber.
This song was written and recorded by Leon Russell in 1970. It's been recorded by a number of other artists as well, including Donny Hathaway, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, and Herbie Hancock/Christina Aguilera and so charted on basically any Billboard chart you can think of. In 2017 it was selected for the Grammy Hall of Fame. The Carpenters version was never released as a single but widely known as the ultimate Adult Contemporary recording.
Hello Maureen how are you doing today?
Spend all day giving Carpenter credit for her vocal chops and interpretation, but not for the actual song and lyrics! Particularly when it comes to Leon Russell, who arguably didn’t get credit overall for being the influential musician and songwriter that he was (ask Elton John and Bruce Hornsby)
I was debating in my mind whether to point this out and if anyone would care. Now I know at least one other person (+20 likes) does. Thanks!
Love Leon and this song is so special. Another favorite is Lady Blue.
The Carpenters were really hitting it as I hit my midteens. Their songs were the soundtrack of my life for so many years. I cried the day the music died.
She passed on when I was still just a kid and her voice and lyrics still bring me to tears. She was incredible.
My God. I just spontaneously broke down and cried listening to this. The Carpenters were an instrument of God, used the channel love and beauty into the world.
I can relate, Mike,i have often gotten emotional listening to the Carpenters.
That is one of the best songs they did in my opinion. It did not make the charts that big, but it is a very special feeling with it.
Hello Candiceli how are you doing today.l agree with you it is special feeling with it
Amazingly, it wasn't released as a single. Absolutely should have been, but Carpenters and the label felt the running time would be too long for Top 40 radio.
Karen Carpenter had one of the very greatest voices of all time. She died much to young of an eating disorder age 32 years old. Truly one of the most tragic losses in music history. Karen and her older brother Richard were born 5 years apart, she was born the same year I did 1950. My heart has been broken for over 40 years missing her. I often cry listening to her.
Just absolute gold her voice the whole band they just hit it out of the park every dam time
My fave of all time she gets this 62 yr old in tears I love love her
Great reaction 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 finally someone reacted to the full version of this treasure 🤩🤩🤩❤️ Thanks You.
Beautiful voice. There is a British youtuber called Wings of Pegasus who does his best to explain her perfect pitch. It is well worth seeing. The greatest voice to ever grace popular music. Any Karen Carpenter is good, very good.
I love FIL! He's awesome and he soooo appreciates Karen!
While we're passing out the accolades, let's not forget the real architect of the Carpenters' sound: brother Richard. Pianist, arranger (orchestra, vocals) and vocals, great accompanist, creator of luscious harmonies, Richard set that gorgeous voice in the perfect setting. The world will never again hear its like.
I was delivering medicine to the hospital she died at in Downey Ca. The news vans were outside it had just happened I became a fan after learning more about her. So sad she died from Anorexia at a very young age but her music will last forever.🙏
I loved to see her play the drums she was great so much talent in a small package I still cry when I hear her voice it's like none other !
One of the best female vocalists of time. There are so few contraltos and her voice is just so beautiful.
The clarity in her voice was unmatched... her tone and control... her leaving us so early and young was such a shame. Saw them in concert in Duluth MN in Oct 1972...
What a beautiful voice- such confidence- no need for vocal pyrotechnics like what you hear today. Leon Russell wrote one of the most beautiful love songs of all time and the Carpenters deliver a most sublime version.
Karen Carpenter, her music was a major part of my childhood, and I still can't believe how special she was to me. Nowadays, I speak 4 languages, but English was my second language. I listened to her music when I was a ten-year-old child. I read the lyrics and sang along with her. At the age of 17, I moved to New York City and managed to learn English fluently within 7 months before taking my TOEFL exam. I was amazed at how quickly I was able to learn the language with the help of her music. I always tell people who want to learn English properly to listen to her voice and let her music be their source of inspiration, and let her voice be the perfect teacher.
Love, love love Karen Carpenter. Great memories of my past. Music from a great period. I’m 74, would love to relive those days again. Thank you for sharing. Best wishes ♥️♥️🙏🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thank you Britt for such an insightful reaction. When Karen died, I was driving on Hillsborough Road in North Carolina. The announcement of her passing came over the radio. I had to pull my car over. I wept. We lost one of the most magnificent voices ever and an incredible lady that day. The Carpenters' music that never made it to the airwaves is some of the most beautiful music you'll ever hear. A Place to Hideaway, Road Ode, Honolulu City Lights, Ordinary Fool, the list goes on and on. I still feel the loss of what the next 30 to 40 years would have brought us. She was gone far too soon. Your reaction makes me smile and gives me hope that Karen's voice will continue to be heard for generations. Thank you for this. I appreciate you.
Did you know Karen was also the drummer for The Carpenters? She ached to be Loved, and in Love. In every lyric, and every note, she was exposing her own deepest thoughts and emotions. When she performed, she retreated into the depths of her heart and soul. She left us much too soon ... but, left a legacy no other female artist can ever match. It broke my heart when she passed away 💔 We were the same age.
Quite often, backup vocals were multiple tracks of Karen. Richard Carpenter composed or arranged much of their music. They will always be my favorite group!
I think ALL of their backup vocals were Karen and Richard. I don’t think they EVER hired other singers.
She was 32 years old when she died, less than a month before her 33rd birthday. There is SO much more she could have done. It still hurts to think of the music we lost.
Simply magnificent. So blessed I grew up listening to her and her brother's magical voices on the radio.
This a beautiful song, written by Leon Russell. Someday we should talk about him here. The Carpenters were brother and sister, both tremendous musicians and vocalists. Tragically, she died young, having danced with the Anorexia Demon for a good part of her life.
Leon’s phrase ‘a place where there is no space or time’ was genius; he was said to be the master of space and time. When Elton John inducted Leon into the RNR Hall of Fame, he remarked that Leon had been a big influence on him, thatwatching Leon perform made him a better performer himself. Thank you for this one, Britt, it was wonderful.