Man, it almost brings a tear to this old musician's eye to see young people discovering these tunes and getting what made them so powerful. God bless ya Jamel!
Karen Lee , me, too. I’m so glad for younger people to appreciate what we had in our younger years too. And I’m older than you. From one Karen to another.😊👍
I'm 60 Mudhut and the same thing happens to me. I was 11 when I first heard Karen and hearing her gets me a bit misty knowing of her struggles and passed away so young... Shes singing for God now.
Im 58 years old and have always been into music. In all my life Ive never heard anyone as close to perfection as Karen Carpenter. Best female vocalist in my lifetime.
And in mine. I'm almost exactly the same age as you - I'm 57 - I have never heard any female artist as pure as Karen. Karen can put so much emotion into her voice, it makes you want to cry at any moment. She was taken way, way too early.
Im 62, and as i listen, i drifted back into my bedroom with the radio on as I'm falling asleep, and Karen's voice would make me feel like I was dreaming I was floating in Heaven! Favorite all time singer!
Waited 5 years for a baby. Got a beautiful boy!!! Sang this to him every day!!! She had the most pure voice. I'm crying now. That baby boy turned 50 this year!!! Thanks Jamal!!!💞
I don't disagree that she is not a phenominal singer. But let us not forget Dusty Springfeild, or Petula Clark. Another two ladies who had the voices of angels.
Thanks for being the first to mention the song of the roughly 100 I've read here. Karen deserves all the accolades given, but I really thought the reaction was supposed to be to the song. This song truly is one of a kind. The lyrics are so completely over the top sugar sweet, no way it could be a hit... right? Wrong. My feeling is that this song so perfectly conveys humble sweetness, a certain innocence lyrically, melodically, and instrumentally so powerfully that it grabs ahold of us deep down at our core. Then overrides every superficial facet of the human condition, and leaves us just massively empathizing with the singer, who can only admire from afar with no resentment for the many other girls clamoring for the object of her affection, or the guy himself. Now throw on top of it that it's the queen of melancholy, Ms. Carpenter, with THE voice, and the song is taken to a whole other level still. That she was still very young when she sang it fits the persona of the lyrics even more perfectly... Absolutely beautiful! Finally, the fact that such a saccharine song could possibly have had any success, much less massive success, gives the song yet more impact still, in that it hearkens back to a time when something so clean, so impeccably beautiful could still be valued. No way it even gets released today. WHAT a song!
@@donniehagy5125 It would never get released today because America and the world have completely changed. So extremely few could appreciate the qualities of this song that I mentioned above, that no record producer would touch it. Awful, but true.
She was remarkably talented. She started off as a drummer in her brother's band, but fortunately for us she began singing as well. There is a melancholy nature to her voice that is really haunting and beautiful. The voice of an angel.
I started out as a singer. People told me to shut the hell up. I bought a guitar and became classically trained and later on started to play jazz. People told me to "Quit it with the dad rock and go back to strumming the 4 chords we like". Funny how different careers can turn out.
Eve K She just has this almost lispy flippancy in her voice, as if she’s barely even trying. It makes it fuzzy in a way, if it had a physical touch. It’s warm like a hug, soft like velvet, strong like the wind and sad like a good bye- or the ending of a really good book. An incredible duality of melancholy and joy.
@@nicholashilton2514 That's is by far the best description of her voice I have ever heard. I had to read it a couple of times to fully appreciate it. Thank you.
Yeah - she's singing and playing the drums at the same time - that's hard to do. Now all of you younger people understand or are getting to understand how fabulous boomer music was back then!!!
Karen is miming voice and drumming for this video shoot. On the studio track (that they're miming _to)_ the drummer is the great LA session ace, Hal Blaine. Although K was more comfortable behind the drums in their early live performances, once she was a big star she played them less & less.
It still is fabulous. Thank the good Lord for recording...And KC could have been a session drummer for a living even without That Voice...she was terrific at that too...
@@stevetournay3731 Ah jeez, if was smart, I'd let this one go. But being dumb and compulsive, I'm sorry to inform you that, no, Karen could not have been a session drummer for a living. You have _no idea_ the sheer skills you need to be able to do that, in all styles, perfectly, when the red light is on, and the meter is ticking. She could keep a beat, but like the vast majority of working musicians - even really famous ones that do well in their successful groups - she could not keep up with demands of studio work. This is no disrespect to her! Those drummers are a rare and special breed. Check out Hal Blaine, Steve Gadd, Vinnie Colaiuta, Bernard Purdie, etc, etc. - these folks all have a solid jazz background, and can play every style from latin to rock/funk/bubble-gum, to whatever the latest thing is - with endless chops, perfect feel & time, and get it right on the first take. But yes, we all love Karen, and it's cool she could play live gigs on drums.
When the writer Burt Bacharach heard their rendition supposedly he said Wow! That's a hit! Her voice is perfection. The arrangement is perfection. Meant to be.
Chris Parman I never get tired I hearing Karen’s voice, never, she had the voice and an angel. Unfortunately her mother destroyed her confidence and contributed her to her anorexia which eventually led her death of heart failure at only 32.
I agree with Sarah, there was nobody else in history that could touch the phenomenal talent of Karen Carpenter. No one else could ever sing like her. And Karen did not sing a song. She felt every word she was singing. She not only touched your heart but your soul, with that one of a kind voice. Was always so in love with this woman with the phenomenal voice. Never again will there be anyone like Karen. See you in Heaven Karen!!!
@AWelsh Celt Eva had such an amazing array of skills. She could sing almost any genre and hang with the best of that genre. She was fantastic. But in terms of pure vocal tonality, Karen is just on her own level. There is no one in the past 100 years who even comes close IMO.
I heard recently that this song was written by Bert Bacharach ( music) and Hal David ( lyrics ) and was performed by actor Richard Chamberlain like around 1960, but was not a hit, then sung by Dionne Warwick a few years later. Neither version was a hit. Then Richard Carpenter did his own musical arrangement of the song, and Karen's interpretation and singing and they HAD A HIT !
My first experience with this song wasn’t this version, but B.J. Thomas’ as the B-side to “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on my Head”. That version had a quicker, more upbeat tempo, and Thomas singing it about a female love interest gave it a different feel.
Karen ' s voice still gives me goosebumps, even after all these years. I'm glad to know she was born in Connecticut, in East Haven. We miss her voice, her smile and her love of music.
I'm 51 and I learned something new today. I guess I was too young to remember seeing them perform like this on TV and they came too early for the music video age. I always loved Karen's distinctive warm rich voice and the harmonies she and her brother Richard put down; but I never knew she played the drums. I'm really stunned. It's so hard to do both. So few vocalists can. I can think of a handful, including Phil Collins (Genesis) and Don Henley (Eagles). I know there are others; but my point is it's a short list, even shorter for female drummers, and probably only one on the list with a voice like hers who is also blessed with the hand, eye, and foot coordination to play as well as she did. I'm just blown away. I grew up listening to them on the radio, while riding in the car with my parents in the early 70's and I just never knew that incredible voice was tied to such a talented drummer.
Karen was so cute, beautiful, and talented in every and all ways. This one hurt when she passed. Geez it was so sad. When i was a child my parents used to play The Carpenters if i was having trouble sleeping, and it always worked. Thanks again Jamel. these are good memories of my childhood in Renton, Washington. Ijust had to say it. peace
Karen when she still looked healthy. This song is just one of many a testament to the songwriting genius of Burt Bacharach! And this song is the one that made me a fan of Karen Carpenter!
The first time I heard this song on the radio, I was sitting at home and my jaw literally dropped, I was stunned. I'd never heard a voice so angelic, womanly and beautiful in my life and with such emotion. She felt every song.
My Brutha KNOWS an AMAZING Voice when he hears it, REGARDLESS of color and you know..People with GREAT Taste love the voice No Matter WHO is behind it.. TRUTH!!! xoxoxxooxo
Karen is singing for God now, thankfully we have her recordings to remember her. It's very cool to see todays youth discovering this music, there's nothing that comes close today. Knowing her struggles and how she passed away, and hearing her sing brings a tear to my eye. She would be 70 this year and when I hear her it makes me miss what she would've been, not could've but would've been. RIP Karen.
Karen's voice is a true gift to humanity. She sings as easily as we talk...effortless. I'm 65 yrs old and a musician. I can't even begin to describe how good it feels to witness younger generations enjoying my era of music.
Love the Carpenters! Early 70's Gold! After the Eagles did the classic song called Desperado, the Carpenters covered it. Best cover ever! The Eagles should be pleased as punch!
That has to be hard playing drums while singing. Yet, she makes it look so easy. So effortless. That is her brother on the piano. He is a wonderful piano player.
As time goes on and you reflect back such as watching these throwback videos on RUclips (and shout out to Jamel and so many others and taking the time to do this) you begin to realize the talent levels and song quality back in the day was stellar. Today.....not so much. Record companies and mainstream radio have been corrupted by the almighty dollar and push only the ones they know they can market.Talent, somewhere along the way was dropped in favor of image and controversy. Yesterday, Karen Carpenter...Today, Cardi B. What a shame...
Nat King Cole would be remembered as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time if not for his incredible voice, and Karen Carpenter is no different. She was an excellent drummer, but will only be remembered by most for her voice.
There's a story there with Nat. He and the young Oscar Peterson were contemporaries; both were superb jazz pianists, both were also excellent singers (and in fact in early recordings of Oscar singing the similarity is spooky). Ultimately, for career reasons, they came to an agreement with each other that Nat would concentrate on singing while Oscar stuck with piano. Now Nat was one of those who thought smoking was beneficial vocally, and smoked like crazy. And died young in 1965. Oscar lived, and performed (even after a stroke!) into his 80s. Karen was happiest when drumming (look up her 1976 TV drum solo; you'll never see her happier). But she had That Voice, and was coaxed out front to sing. Where her heaviness was visible (and yes, that is a trainload of sarcasm; I don't think KC ever weighed over 110), leading to what happened happening. Had she stayed behind the drums...might she have emulated Oscar Peterson's longevity, and still be with us? Perhaps eventually singing as well, just as beautifully? KC would have turned 70 two months ago. She died at 32 in February 1983...
One of my earliest and fondest memories of my older sister, Peggy, was when I was 6 and she was 9, and she was walking around the house singing this happily, right after it was released. I hadn't even heard it myself at that time. I only knew my sister's "cover" for perhaps years after.
It’s refreshing to see YOU discover the Carpenters...you HAVE to listen to ALL of their hits...the sense of love and feeling in their music is hard to match... thanks for your reactions..!!!
This is “THE” Carpenters song to me. It’s the best love song, period, to me. Her voice gives me chills and sometimes tears of love and joy. Just so sweetly pure and beautiful! Thank you Jamel. You’re a good man!
I stumbled on another Carpenters reaction and I couldn't wait to see you discover that the voice of an angel also played drums!! Ridiculously talented family.
Yes, it's exactly like that! Written by Frank Pooler (Richard's university choir director) in 1946, tune rewritten by Richard around 1967, released as a Christmas single in 1970 and subsequently also on the "Christmas Portrait" album. Jamel has done a reaction to that song too (suitably Christmasy with a wreath and a hat, et cetera...)
Written by the great songwriter Burt Bacharach who wrote Walk On By and Do You Know the Way to San Jose and I Say a Little Prayer For You for his muse, Dionne Warwick- Whitney’s aunt.
Man, it almost brings a tear to this old musician's eye to see young people discovering these tunes and getting what made them so powerful. God bless ya Jamel!
I feel the same way. Im 49 and would never have imagined these young people are discovering such beautiful music.
Karen Lee , me, too. I’m so glad for younger people to appreciate what we had in our younger years too. And I’m older than you. From one Karen to another.😊👍
oops i guess i kinda said what you already said...but hey im in my mid 50s so i might miss a thing or two now and then lol
very much the same
I'm 60 Mudhut and the same thing happens to me. I was 11 when I first heard Karen and hearing her gets me a bit misty knowing of her struggles and passed away so young... Shes singing for God now.
Karen Carpenter's voice could soothe an angry lion. Birds stopped singing to hear it.
velvety smooth
Probably Love Birds🐦
The birds stopped to swoop down and steal her food. J/k, got nothin but warm and fond memories of the 70s and my parents as a kiddo.
Yes now angels listen to her
Well said .
Nobody comes close to Karen Carpenter, not even close ❣❣ Her singing is like listening to an angel sing 😇😇🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️💖💖💖
SHe was like a delicate flower ; gives me chills hearing her voice.
She had and will be the only one with the purest voice ever.
The only other voice that is as pure without any affect would be Patsy Cline, in my opinion.
I miss her voice so much and have never found anyone else to compare. Her loss was a tragic sadness.
Silk tearing as the the rose lays crushed on virgin snow .
Im 58 years old and have always been into music. In all my life Ive never heard anyone as close to perfection as Karen Carpenter.
Best female vocalist in my lifetime.
And in mine. I'm almost exactly the same age as you - I'm 57 - I have never heard any female artist as pure as Karen. Karen can put so much emotion into her voice, it makes you want to cry at any moment. She was taken way, way too early.
Im 62, and as i listen, i drifted back into my bedroom with the radio on as I'm falling asleep, and Karen's voice would make me feel like I was dreaming I was floating in Heaven! Favorite all time singer!
Agreed. Check out a female singer named Rumer
I totally agree 👍
Karen's voice makes me teary eyed. It's just too beautiful.
Waited 5 years for a baby. Got a beautiful boy!!! Sang this to him every day!!! She had the most pure voice. I'm crying now. That baby boy turned 50 this year!!! Thanks Jamal!!!💞
She had the voice of an angel
My favorite song, when I was a kid. 💕
Yes ! Her voice was like a dream.... ahhhhhh..... Karen, how we miss you.....
Me too.
Her brother deserves major credit for arranging & producing these amazing songs. Her voice just ridiculously angelic
That honey alto No other woman has ever approached the beauty of her voice.
Have you heard K.D. Lang? You might like her, too.
@@AcademyNS Yes! She is a wonderful singer.
🎶🎵🎼True
I don't disagree that she is not a phenominal singer. But let us not forget Dusty Springfeild, or Petula Clark. Another two ladies who had the voices of angels.
linda ronstadt
In my personal opinion, this song is as close to perfection as a song can come.
I think that you stopped short. I think that every song she ever did was pure perfection. Her voice was absolutely flawless.
Thanks for being the first to mention the song of the roughly 100 I've read here. Karen deserves all the accolades given, but I really thought the reaction was supposed to be to the song.
This song truly is one of a kind. The lyrics are so completely over the top sugar sweet, no way it could be a hit... right? Wrong. My feeling is that this song so perfectly conveys humble sweetness, a certain innocence lyrically, melodically, and instrumentally so powerfully that it grabs ahold of us deep down at our core. Then overrides every superficial facet of the human condition, and leaves us just massively empathizing with the singer, who can only admire from afar with no resentment for the many other girls clamoring for the object of her affection, or the guy himself.
Now throw on top of it that it's the queen of melancholy, Ms. Carpenter, with THE voice, and the song is taken to a whole other level still. That she was still very young when she sang it fits the persona of the lyrics even more perfectly... Absolutely beautiful!
Finally, the fact that such a saccharine song could possibly have had any success, much less massive success, gives the song yet more impact still, in that it hearkens back to a time when something so clean, so impeccably beautiful could still be valued. No way it even gets released today. WHAT a song!
@@johnboehmer6683 Not released today???!!! Why not? Hell, Ariana Grande is a "hit"...
@@donniehagy5125 It would never get released today because America and the world have completely changed. So extremely few could appreciate the qualities of this song that I mentioned above, that no record producer would touch it. Awful, but true.
Beautiful voice!!!?
She was remarkably talented. She started off as a drummer in her brother's band, but fortunately for us she began singing as well. There is a melancholy nature to her voice that is really haunting and beautiful. The voice of an angel.
Spot on description of Karen's singing voice.
Yes she was only the drummer and her brother was the singer.
Song bring tears to my eyes, especially when you think that she was only around for another ten years, then she was taken from us.
I started out as a singer. People told me to shut the hell up. I bought a guitar and became classically trained and later on started to play jazz.
People told me to "Quit it with the dad rock and go back to strumming the 4 chords we like". Funny how different careers can turn out.
@@Doodsy1975 Same. This always gives me goosebumps, because of her voice and because she was taken too soon.
Her life was so sad. Greatest female voice of all time.
Her voice is so clean. Can't find another word for it. Pure?
Eve K No auto tune back then either, that is all HER
pure, rich, moving, intimate, haunting, simply beautiful. the ultimate singer who sang TO YOU NOT AT YOU....
Eve K She just has this almost lispy flippancy in her voice, as if she’s barely even trying. It makes it fuzzy in a way, if it had a physical touch. It’s warm like a hug, soft like velvet, strong like the wind and sad like a good bye- or the ending of a really good book. An incredible duality of melancholy and joy.
@@nicholashilton2514 That's is by far the best description of her voice I have ever heard. I had to read it a couple of times to fully appreciate it. Thank you.
sidney Thank you for the compliment, my friend! I tried my best to articulate something I find almost indescribable.
She was known as "One take Karen". She was so good that it took one time to sing the song and that was it. No need for retakes with her.
No retakes needed!
Yeah - she's singing and playing the drums at the same time - that's hard to do. Now all of you younger people understand or are getting to understand how fabulous boomer music was back then!!!
Karen is miming voice and drumming for this video shoot. On the studio track (that they're miming _to)_ the drummer is the great LA session ace, Hal Blaine. Although K was more comfortable behind the drums in their early live performances, once she was a big star she played them less & less.
It still is fabulous. Thank the good Lord for recording...And KC could have been a session drummer for a living even without That Voice...she was terrific at that too...
@@stevetournay3731 Ah jeez, if was smart, I'd let this one go. But being dumb and compulsive, I'm sorry to inform you that, no, Karen could not have been a session drummer for a living. You have _no idea_ the sheer skills you need to be able to do that, in all styles, perfectly, when the red light is on, and the meter is ticking. She could keep a beat, but like the vast majority of working musicians - even really famous ones that do well in their successful groups - she could not keep up with demands of studio work. This is no disrespect to her! Those drummers are a rare and special breed. Check out Hal Blaine, Steve Gadd, Vinnie Colaiuta, Bernard Purdie, etc, etc. - these folks all have a solid jazz background, and can play every style from latin to rock/funk/bubble-gum, to whatever the latest thing is - with endless chops, perfect feel & time, and get it right on the first take. But yes, we all love Karen, and it's cool she could play live gigs on drums.
pbasswil Boomer music was great.. but ok boomer
@@GootWaysecrettwinofGerardWay what's okbomer?
Best female singing voice I've ever heard. Just pure.
heck yeah
agreed... beyond pure, rich, intimate, warm, beautiful, powerful, and so on..
You agree with Paul MaCartney then😀
There is no best. There were some just as good - just different. Whitney.....
Ella Fitzgerald - jazzer but actually so were the Carpenter's,- classical and jazz inherent within them. Brilliant Beautiful arrangements
Heaven sent.
I can't help but feel sad whenever I listen to her. She was so talented and beautiful. Such a tragic loss. RIP angel.
Me too !✌️🎶
Me three. Knowing what she went through, this song just leaves me sad
When the writer Burt Bacharach heard their rendition supposedly he said Wow! That's a hit!
Her voice is perfection.
The arrangement is perfection. Meant to be.
One of the best and most beautiful singing voices I have ever heard. Karen was one of a kind.
She sounds like a long lost childhood friend. There's such a familiarity in her voice.
Takes me back, forgot this song, I'll just listen to it then more times
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!
In a perfect world, Karen could do a trio with Lou Rawls and Patsy Cline. Rich voices all.
Thirty-eight years ago,the world lost arguably it's greatest musical voice.RIP Karen,you are missed.🙏🏻
No matter how many times i hear her sing, i am still blown away with her voice. Her brother is the one in this video that is playing the keyboard btw.
Richard.
He has several kids - one named after his sis
Chris Parman I never get tired I hearing Karen’s voice, never, she had the voice and an angel. Unfortunately her mother destroyed her confidence and contributed her to her anorexia which eventually led her death of heart failure at only 32.
@@teamcougars
☹☹
He also did the bulk of the arranging. He knew exactly how to bring out the best in his sister's voice and phrasing style.
@@teamcougars her brother picked on her too. Then the papers. They're all guilty
This was the number one song in the country for four weeks straight back in 1970.
She was a talent lost too soon. It’s hard to imagine that a soothing voice like hers was silenced by demons in her life. RIP KAREN!! 🙏⭐️👼
I agree with Sarah, there was nobody else in history that could touch the phenomenal talent of Karen Carpenter. No one else could ever sing like her. And Karen did not sing a song. She felt every word she was singing. She not only touched your heart but your soul, with that one of a kind voice. Was always so in love with this woman with the phenomenal voice. Never again will there be anyone like Karen. See you in Heaven Karen!!!
Her voice is like how we all remember the sound of our mother's voice when we were babies
Spot on description!
She may have sounded like so many Moms to us before we were born. The lower chest register goes further in tissue.
Might be something to it.
I'd be a hella lot meaner without Karen and all of the Carpenters. Just sayin.'
Her voice was amazing! She somehow couldn’t believe it.. her voice even today there is. NO OTHER!
Karen always described herself as a drummer that could sing.
It's so weird to see the singer as the drummer in my mind.,
Yep
@@jaybrielakoi7747 Check out "Jackie Blue" by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils. The drummer sang the song, and the drummer was a guy.
A timeless voice like that of an angel.
Dear sweet Karen was lost too soon.
She was actually a drummer before a singer. She didn’t want to be the singer, but they kind of pushed her into it.
Simply the best female singer I've ever heard!
or Patsy Cline
No one can compete to KC ever!
agreed..
@AWelsh Celt Eva had such an amazing array of skills. She could sing almost any genre and hang with the best of that genre. She was fantastic. But in terms of pure vocal tonality, Karen is just on her own level. There is no one in the past 100 years who even comes close IMO.
No other voice as pure as Karen's, a beautiful gift from above
Saw the Carpenters in concerts and Karens drum solo brought the house down. Her voice was so pure and true
People seem to forget about Richard (her brother) on piano who did all the arrangements and was most definitely the glue but her voice is sublime.
Old Argyll true. Richard deserves much ore credit. He created the sound.
Thank you
So glad I was born in Karen’s era 😊60s70s 80s. The best music in the world 👌🏼no internet,no auto tune,just pure music ⭐️💫
Amen, sister!!! The best music ever!!!!
Just like her voice, your reactions are so pure. Best smile when you noticed she was the drummer 😂
She was voted a better drummer than John Bonham. For real.
I heard recently that this song was written by Bert Bacharach ( music) and Hal David ( lyrics ) and was performed by actor Richard Chamberlain like around 1960, but was not a hit, then sung by Dionne Warwick a few years later. Neither version was a hit. Then Richard Carpenter did his own musical arrangement of the song, and Karen's interpretation and singing and they HAD A HIT !
🎺 Yep...that trumpet interlude is vintage Bacharach!
Bacharach and David are music legends
My first experience with this song wasn’t this version, but B.J. Thomas’ as the B-side to “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on my Head”. That version had a quicker, more upbeat tempo, and Thomas singing it about a female love interest gave it a different feel.
The other recordings were awful, over done and over blown.
Richard stripped it down to the essentials and then balanced it all out.
Karen ' s voice still gives me goosebumps, even after all these years.
I'm glad to know she was born in Connecticut, in East Haven.
We miss her voice, her smile and her love of music.
They ended up in Downey CA not too far from me. Carpenter's are still beloved by the citizens of Downey ✌️🎼🎵🎶
I'm 51 and I learned something new today. I guess I was too young to remember seeing them perform like this on TV and they came too early for the music video age. I always loved Karen's distinctive warm rich voice and the harmonies she and her brother Richard put down; but I never knew she played the drums. I'm really stunned. It's so hard to do both. So few vocalists can. I can think of a handful, including Phil Collins (Genesis) and Don Henley (Eagles). I know there are others; but my point is it's a short list, even shorter for female drummers, and probably only one on the list with a voice like hers who is also blessed with the hand, eye, and foot coordination to play as well as she did. I'm just blown away. I grew up listening to them on the radio, while riding in the car with my parents in the early 70's and I just never knew that incredible voice was tied to such a talented drummer.
her voice is magical.
she truly had the voice of an angel.its supernatural
Her voice was so beautiful she could make you cry singing a Coca Cola commerical. There truly was something divine going on there.
The guy on the piano is her brother...
The world became significantly darker when we lost Miss Karen...
Heartbroken
She was so talented in singing and the drums. Just a Great Artist !! 💖
I'm always amazed at how beautiful her voice is every time I hear her.
Karen was so cute, beautiful, and talented in every and all ways. This one hurt when she passed. Geez it was so sad. When i was a child my parents used to play The Carpenters if i was having trouble sleeping, and it always worked. Thanks again Jamel. these are good memories of my childhood in Renton, Washington. Ijust had to say it. peace
Karen when she still looked healthy. This song is just one of many a testament to the songwriting genius of Burt Bacharach! And this song is the one that made me a fan of Karen Carpenter!
...and Paul Williams too!
Her brother wrote most of the music
@@Proverbs--tx6yr But not this one!
AWelsh Celt you’re right, he had an ear for hearing songs that he knew he and Karen could make work with a little rearranging. Never failed!!
The lilt of a Burt Bacharach song is unmistakable -- a musical genius.
The first time I heard this song on the radio, I was sitting at home and my jaw literally dropped, I was stunned. I'd never heard a voice so angelic, womanly and beautiful in my life and with such emotion. She felt every song.
So, so rare to see a lead female singer play the drums.
Coolrockndad especially at that time period.
Now that's a brain teaser. I can't think of ANY other (not considering girl bands in general, but even there.) regardless of time period or genre.
Sheila E is the only other that comes to mind but she can't come close to Karen Carpenter.
@@seansullivan4709 I was going to say the exact same thing. Sheila E did it, but not to Karen's level.
My Brutha KNOWS an AMAZING Voice when he hears it, REGARDLESS of color and you know..People with GREAT Taste love the voice No Matter WHO is behind it.. TRUTH!!! xoxoxxooxo
Watching you loving that song made me have a little crush.
Same!!!
Yeah me too 💖
Her voice will live on forever.
Bless you you Karen Carpenter.
No one ever gets tired of hearing Karen singing.
too bad we lost her so soon.
No one
Rip karen carpenter
And you are a hater
Well said.
Karen is singing for God now, thankfully we have her recordings to remember her. It's very cool to see todays youth discovering this music, there's nothing that comes close today. Knowing her struggles and how she passed away, and hearing her sing brings a tear to my eye. She would be 70 this year and when I hear her it makes me miss what she would've been, not could've but would've been. RIP Karen.
One of my wedding songs. Also WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN. AGAIN . AMAZING.
HER VOICE IS WONDERFULLY HAUNTING KNOWING SHES GONE
Oh man, I laughed out loud when you saw her drumming. Priceless. 😄
If more people would listen to Karen Carpenter and this song the world would be a better because she exuberate love.
Great harmony!
Karen's voice is a true gift to humanity. She sings as easily as we talk...effortless. I'm 65 yrs old and a musician. I can't even begin to describe how good it feels to witness younger generations enjoying my era of music.
I am 65 also and a musician. I couldn't agree with you more! Oh and the memories this brings back!
Love the Carpenters! Early 70's Gold! After the Eagles did the classic song called Desperado, the Carpenters covered it. Best cover ever! The Eagles should be pleased as punch!
Desperado was a tremendous song! The Eagles version was priceless. I am about to try to find the Carpenters' version of it.
Oh wow! I'll have to find it!
Wasn't Linda Ronstadt the one that covered Desperado ?
@@Caprizonica the Carpenters did cover it, but Linda Ronstadt did cover it also.
@@nickimontie ruclips.net/video/DNqYkmZel_I/видео.html
I saw them live in concert at the Hollywood Bowl, her voice was legend...
Can't beat their harmonies. Richard did the arrangements.
Karen's magic was the amount of emotion in that silky voice...All came from a deep painful place in her soul.
That has to be hard playing drums while singing. Yet, she makes it look so easy. So effortless. That is her brother on the piano. He is a wonderful piano player.
She LOOOOOVED playing the Drums!!
I was always glad to see her play and do what she enjoyed so much
Never get tired of listening and watching her sing! You even have a great smirk on your face when you watch her sing!
I swear every time this woman sang the Heaven's would applaud!
As time goes on and you reflect back such as watching these throwback videos on RUclips (and shout out to Jamel and so many others and taking the time to do this) you begin to realize the talent levels and song quality back in the day was stellar. Today.....not so much. Record companies and mainstream radio have been corrupted by the almighty dollar and push only the ones they know they can market.Talent, somewhere along the way was dropped in favor of image and controversy. Yesterday, Karen Carpenter...Today, Cardi B. What a shame...
An Angelic voice like this will never be forgotten. My wedding first dance was this song nearly 40 years ago - thank you my brother.
Nat King Cole would be remembered as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time if not for his incredible voice, and Karen Carpenter is no different. She was an excellent drummer, but will only be remembered by most for her voice.
There's a story there with Nat. He and the young Oscar Peterson were contemporaries; both were superb jazz pianists, both were also excellent singers (and in fact in early recordings of Oscar singing the similarity is spooky). Ultimately, for career reasons, they came to an agreement with each other that Nat would concentrate on singing while Oscar stuck with piano. Now Nat was one of those who thought smoking was beneficial vocally, and smoked like crazy. And died young in 1965. Oscar lived, and performed (even after a stroke!) into his 80s. Karen was happiest when drumming (look up her 1976 TV drum solo; you'll never see her happier). But she had That Voice, and was coaxed out front to sing. Where her heaviness was visible (and yes, that is a trainload of sarcasm; I don't think KC ever weighed over 110), leading to what happened happening. Had she stayed behind the drums...might she have emulated Oscar Peterson's longevity, and still be with us? Perhaps eventually singing as well, just as beautifully? KC would have turned 70 two months ago. She died at 32 in February 1983...
@@stevetournay3731 Didn't know that about Nat and Oscar, thanks!
THE START WITH PIANO AND BASS IT,S AMAZING AND SHE, S COMPLETE ARTIST,
This song started me loving the Carpenters. I got to see them live many times . Always wonderful.
You're so lucky!!!!
It is said she had the best voice in the world. I agree. RIP Karen Carpenter.
Love this song it’s amazing. Love that she played the 🥁 🥁.
I remember the first time I heard this song in its totality. This song is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard in my life.
She was only 19 when this came out. It put them on the map!
A beautiful beautiful song when I was a little Bloke I remember Her Singing Mick Australia keep up the great work Jamel.
You are such a joy to watch, watching her.
Thank You🙏🏾
@@jamelakajamal You're very welcome.
Nobody can sing a Carpenter's song well except the Carpenters!! Never been bored with a Carpenter's song
So much beauty in one song💕💓
Her voice is like raindrop on crystal glass, clear, distinctive, hearti-melting.
You did the song I requested, thank you! It’s my favorite song by The Carpenters.
Thanks for requesting 🙏🏾
My brothers favorite song...may he RIP
Her voice is like butter and it's not over orchestrated.
I thoroughly love his reactions and how much he enjoys the voice of Karen Carpenter.
her voice is like perfect.
Please react to the Carpenters “Goodbye to Love.” You won’t be disappointed. There’s a “first” in the middle of it.
Yes please do! My favorite Carpenters song!
One of my earliest and fondest memories of my older sister, Peggy, was when I was 6 and she was 9, and she was walking around the house singing this happily, right after it was released. I hadn't even heard it myself at that time. I only knew my sister's "cover" for perhaps years after.
It’s refreshing to see YOU discover the Carpenters...you HAVE to listen to ALL of their hits...the sense of love and feeling in their music is hard to match... thanks for your reactions..!!!
This is “THE” Carpenters song to me. It’s the best love song, period, to me. Her voice gives me chills and sometimes tears of love and joy. Just so sweetly pure and beautiful! Thank you Jamel. You’re a good man!
Karen's voice transports me every time. What a talent unmatched ever.
I love her voice. It’s so amazing.
I stumbled on another Carpenters reaction and I couldn't wait to see you discover that the voice of an angel also played drums!! Ridiculously talented family.
One of the most beautiful voices to ever grace planet Earth. Check out "I'll Say Goodbye to Love" and "We've Only Just Begun".
Her voice literally gives me chills. It's just that good..
she wAS TAKEN FROM EARTH TO YOUNG
No one else has ever played drums and sung like an angel at the same time.
YOU MADE MY DAY THAT THIS IS STILL BEING CELEBRATED IN 2019.............THANK YOU
Timeless, just timeless! I loved Karen Carpenter!!!!!!
Her voice is like and angel singing to a baby. God bless her. Thanks for the great gifts of songs you left us with.
Karen was genuine in every way. A beautiful soul with a beautiful voice.
KZ TANDINGAN IS AWESOME SINGER HER TITLE IS SOUL SUMPREME IN OUR COUNTRY PHILIPPINES!!!
Best female singing voice ever
Filipino wife here, and this is special karaoke version, but tears to my eyes.
Karen had a Christmas song that I always liked. Can't remember the title for sure. It was something like Merry Christmas Darling.
Yes, that's what it is. It's on their Christmas Portrait album. One if my faves!
Yes, it's exactly like that! Written by Frank Pooler (Richard's university choir director) in 1946, tune rewritten by Richard around 1967, released as a Christmas single in 1970 and subsequently also on the "Christmas Portrait" album. Jamel has done a reaction to that song too (suitably Christmasy with a wreath and a hat, et cetera...)
Her voice is clear and beautiful. It's like majestic omg brings back so many memories 💓
Written by the great songwriter Burt Bacharach who wrote Walk On By and Do You Know the Way to San Jose and I Say a Little Prayer For You for his muse, Dionne Warwick- Whitney’s aunt.
Karen Nyere better than The Beatles IMHO.
Yep I remember Dionne sing a lot of Burt Bacharach songs.
Did not know that.. Thanks!
Look at the amazing songs in that Billboard 100 and this one was at the top - not surprising, The Carpenters were a class above.