The Vocal Range of Karen Carpenter
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- Опубликовано: 25 авг 2024
- One of the finest voices of all time.
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Vocal Range: D3 - B♭5 (two octaves, eight semitones)
Voice Type: Mezzo-Soprano
SONGS USED:
Low Notes:
G♯3: Christ is Born, My Body Keeps Changing My Mind, Someday, Superstar
G3: At the End of a Song, Aurora, Crystal Lullaby, I Believe You, Jambalaya (On the Bayou)
F♯3: I'll Be Home for Christmas, Little Girl Blue, Now, Please Mr. Postman, The Rainbow Connection
F3: Another Song, Johnny Angel, On Top of the World, This Masquerade, Ticket to Ride
E3: Crescent Noon, The End of the World, Silent Night, Solitaire, (They Long to Be) Close to You
E♭3: Ave Maria, I Can Dream Can't I?, Only Yesterday, Rainy Days and Mondays
D3: Because We Are in Love (The Wedding Song), A Song for You, Where Do I Go From Here?
High Notes:
G♯4: Ave Maria, Eve, I Have You, Someday, This Masquerade
A4: California Dreamin', Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Mr. Guder, A Song for You, Two Sides
B♭4: Bacharach/David Medley, The First Snowfall/Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow, Only Yesterday, Superstar, (They Long to Be) Close to You
B4: B'wana She No Home, Because We Are in Love, If We Try, Road Ode
C5: Don't Try to Win Me Back Again, Jimmy Mack, Kiss Me the Way You Did Last Night
C♯5: Guess I Just Lost My Head, It's Really You It's Really Me, Midnight (Never Lets You Down)
D5: If I Had You, Invocation, Please Mr. Postman
E♭5: Just an Old Fashioned Love Song (live), Somebody's Been Lyin'
E5: Beechwood 4-5789, Fun Fun Fun
F5: I'll Never Fall in Love Again, Strength of a Woman
F♯5: Calling Occupents of Interplanetary Craft
G5: Don't Try to Win Me Back Again, Remember When Lovin' Took All Night
B♭5: B'wana She No Home
Summary:
As one half of brother-sister music duo The Carpenters, Karen Carpenter quickly became a household name in the '70s for her vocal talents. As the drummer and one of the lead singers in the duo, Karen initially shared the limelight with her brother Richard on the group's earlier recordings but was later convinced to take more of a lead role in the group, singing lead on their main hits like "(They Long to Be) Close to You" and "We've Only Just Begun". Sadly, Karen died in 1983 at the age of only thirty two from her struggles with anorexia, though she continues to be revered to this day for her immense vocal talents.
Karen possessed a fairly light singing voice, and as a result, close miking was often used to bring out richness in her lower register and other subtleties in her studio performances. Though Karen's commonly held up as a contralto because of how frequently and richly she sang in the lower third octave, Karen's didn't sound particularly deep or androgynous (especially compared to other quintessential contraltos like Cher or Nina Simone). Karen's upper and mid registers sounded fairly light, and though she focused more extensively on her lower notes (famously once saying "the money's in the basement"), she was likely a mezzo-soprano because of her tone, which didn't sound particularly weighty or low.
With that said, Karen's lower notes still hold up as some of the best of any female singer. Karen displayed an outstandingly rich, silky lower register, making notes in the lower third octave sound exceptionally easy in lieu of how low they really were for her. In addition, Karen's ability to sustain notes in her lower register was outstanding (once sustaining a G♯3 for 20 seconds in a live performance of "The End of the World"), as she showcased some seriously impressive breath control. She may have never sung exceptionally low, but her silky smooth lower notes still hold up today as some of the strongest of any woman ever.
While her upper register was never used quite as much as her lower one, it was still a very solid one, with Karen becoming more and more confident in her upper register further into her career. While not much of a belter (with notes sometimes as low as G♯4 sounding like high belts), Karen's grasp over vocal dynamics and Richard's arrangements had her often ending songs with more dramatic, belty high notes, occasionally showcasing slightly chestier highs around C5. Her head voice was too a very solid one, as Karen frequently showcased her seamless ability to transition from chest voice to head voice (in "California Dreamin'", "Calling Occupents of Interplanetary Craft" and "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" for example).
Karen was never a particularly range-y singer, but her tonal purity, strong lower register and silky phrasing are things many singers would dream of. Other singers may be more flashy and extravagant than Karen, but very few will ever match the natural beauty and finesse of Karen's voice.
Thanks for watching this video, hope you enjoy! :)
She had perfect pitch and one of the most flawless voices in music history.
Her voice is so crystal clear and it sounds beautiful and effortless.
I love her. I cry to this day for her.
@zeenasworld Me too.
I love to listen closely to Karen with good speakers or headphones. There are so many details in her voice!!! She's beautiful and so talented. I wish I knew her and could have wooed her in love.
One of the greatest, most extraordinary voices I have ever heard. She had it all: great range, power, tone and feeling.Her voice was ethereal- what one would imagine a angel would sound like.She was also a fine drummer.
If heaven is a sound
Simply the best female singer I've ever heard, hands down!
Agree!! I've waited over 50 yrs to see if another would come along but it never happened.Miss her so much! Love you Karen!
@@RitaSora I'm sure you'll have to wait another 50 years. Rip sweet Karen
Patricia Mae Giraldo AKA Pat Benatar?
Whitney Houston better
I’m 22 and I just discovered Karen and I love her
Plenty of material to hear, jazz drumming in the 60's as well.
Cool true Karen story: She and a friend were going into a restaurant in L.A. and John Lennon was coming out. When he saw Karen he stopped, turned around and said “Love, you have a fabulous voice.” Well! Karen couldn’t move. She turned to her friend & said “Do you think he really meant that? Do you?” She was so bowled over by his words. The friend said “Yes, Karen, he really meant it.” Karen repeated the same question “Do you think he meant that?” The friend was exasperated! Everybody knew about John’s razor sharp wit & temper. He did not suffer fools gladly & wasn’t the type to say something he didn’t mean. I think she repeated the question yet again!
Can you imagine the humility of this girl? That humility you sense with every note that came out of her. No, there will never be another voice, never be another temperament, never be another heart like hers. Karen Carpenter, we loved you so much. We always will.
I wonder if America really and truly recognized and appreciated the wonderful God given talent and gift of Karen Carpenter? Growing up with that soothing angelic voice during the 70's made it a very special time indeed. If the Angels in Heaven sound like that I'll be blessed for eternity.
I don’t think we appreciated the Carpenters then as much as we do now. I can only speak for my self, but it would have been odd for me to rave to my friends back then. But I liked them and probably didn’t even recognize how much. NOW!!!!…… Now I adore the Carpenters!!!!! Honestly I can’t comprehend how Karen sang every detail perfectly. And the harmonies, layers of vocals, instrumental arrangements beyond compare, etc. Compare that to the best of today, and…….. Never mind.
I've heard imitators and some others who sound similar, but she is so effortless. Her voice is like water.
She is so Great what a voice..
@Dbo83 8
I often compared her voice to perfectly ironed crisp white linens.
Thank you for showing the perfect range for Karen’s most beautiful voice. Richard sure knew exactly what range was best suited to bring out the best of her voice. Her voice has always been the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard.
The most beautiful ever. Period.
Karen's vocal range and tone were amplified by her enunciation. She sang clean and understandable. Something today's singers need to learn.
So true. I get tired of all the added stuff that does nothing for the song.
No matter where you are if you hear her voice, you just know who’s singing. Your missed Karen.
And an incredible drummer too.
Karen Carpenter her voice was like liquid gold she could sing a phone book a golden Platinum singing voice Karen will never be forgotten
The best voice ever...and such control!
What a range...incredibly unique
this voice from karen is one of a billion...so perfect and it could be only a voice of an angel
One in a billion is actually underrating her voice. That would imply that there are 7 other people in the world who can sing like her. But in 57 years I've not heard a single voice with the crystal pureness quality of Karen's. Just a completely unique talent. I'm not sure there will ever be another voice like this.
@@davepeterschmidt5818 hello dave. yes. i love her voice many decades. she was so perfect. i am also a musician with the absolutely hearing (sorry for my bad english) but it was so perfect. her brother is also perfect. she is the only voice in my ears and in my heart who is the absolutely best. nobody did it better..... i love her !!!!!!!!!!!! she was a fantastic woman
her angelical voice, melt any soul sooo lovely.
From here to eternity..!! No one can match her voice..forever.. Infairness..
This was great… Even when she’s sung live, that gorgeous voice was perfection, clear as a bell! I sure do miss her…
Untouchable...
Karen was so talented I believe she could have even been a rock singer if she wanted to. She didn't have the high pitch of Ann Wilson or Pat Benatar, but her voice had tremendous power. I might compare her "rock" potential to the strong voice of Terri Nunn of Berlin. Karen is simply the best in my lifetime.
And Karen said she never had a vocal lesson. Great talents never live long.
Her voice just slays me.
When I die and go to the great beyond, that's the voice that I want to hear.What an amazing talent.
Me too! Never get tired of her voice.I have been listening to her since day one. I want to hear her sing for eternity!
I love her. I cry to this day for her.
She was so young and petite with that mature, full voice. The clarity in her bottom register is simply amazing. I’m an alto and tried for years to train my voice to go as low as hers, but I could never do it as effortlessly as Karen.
In the first ‘lowest’ note, you sample ‘Superstar’: ‘...and oh so far away’...but she hits a lower note in the next verse: ‘BE-fore the second show’. Also, I think she hits lower in ‘A Song For You’: ‘you are a friend OF MINE’. Gorgeous contralto!
"A Song For You" -- that "Mine" note gives me chills
I saw an interview where Dionne Warwick, who was a good friend of Karen's, said that they all could sing , but they didn't have that beautiful smooth lower register. And that is what makes Karen so distinctive from all the rest
the low notes get lower, starting with a "higher pitched" low note and moving lower until they start showing off her "lowest" high note and getting higher. so yeah, it isnt her lowest because the next songs after show her lowest notes.
She’s mezzo-sopran
@@babyangel.jpg_ I thought she was a contralto
Alex61, thank you very much for all your time and hard work assembling these audio clips showing Karen's large vocal range and perfect control. I really enjoyed the collection and have listened to it several times. Karen always has "perfect pitch" and control. To me, Karen is the greatest singer that ever lived. Surely do love and miss Karen.
agreed, surely the greatest female singer of love and romance songs ever and the ULTIMATE female "crooner" who sang TO YOU NOT AT YOU,...also the greatest enunciation and diction i've ever heard from any female or male singer..and yes, she could sing the high notes as well, like in "ave maria" for example, her solo album song "my body keeps changing my mind" and yes, she could also "belt" when she had to, like in the refrain of "superstar"..
drogersnm I agree. The editing, research, and your design capture the talent, skill and absolute beauty of Karen Carpenter’s voice. Wow! I’m so impressed and if there was a “Hall of Fame” RUclips video collection for all to see, this video needs to be in it! Thank you for highlighting one of the most talented singers recorded in music recoding history!
Props for using material from her solo effort and the unreleased demos. Singing isn't always about belting C5's and runs. Sure Karen couldn't belt like Streisand but her voice was unique and the lower register was magical!!! Her rendition of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina " is outstanding. We'll never have a voice like hers again :( One of my favorite singers of all time! IMO however Karen sounded her best on the "Horizon" album but that's just my opinion.
Streisand also dies not do power belts...this comes more from Gospel or real R nB like Aretha
@@mickygabriela8165Streisand used to be out there belting F5's and G5's like nothing
I also think "Horizon" was Karen's best.
Oh you made Karen's! One of the most beautiful voices EVER!
I saw Rich & Karen in concert, 5 times. I wish it had been 50. -------------Spring of '71 ---------Fall of '71 ----------Summer of '72 -----------& 2 times, in the Summer of '73 . --------------Karen was even better in person. Yes, even better. ------------------------WolfSky9
It not a put down to say no female voice comes close. On every scale she is absolute clear! Karen so many of us, including myself as a youth, were in stunned helpless silence to know of your troubles that haunted you. To your brother Richard, are sympathies never end !!😖💕
Sometimes I was in stunned silence just from hearing her voice, too.
Her otherworldly voice is like pure honey.
Her beautiful tone is warm and inviting.
Pure.
I was encouraged at a school bazaar to win an album for a girl I liked in gradeshool. It was The Carpenters brown album. I did win and took it home to play it. I couldn't give it to Donna the girl I liked so I kept it and wore it out. As a 12 year old kid I new this voice was beautiful and I bought all The Carpenters albums to come. I appreciated the range in her voice then and am always eager to hear something Karen sang I have never heard before. Her loss was tremendous to me and I still wish Richard and Karen could have overcome their problems and continued to produce beautiful music together for all of us. I truly miss Karen and all she could have been.
Karen’s voice had a indescribable quality to it that people from all walks of life fell in love with, whether they listened to country, blues or even heavy metal. It’s universally beloved.
Brilliant 👍she was so incredible she was almost not human😍😍😍
i like to watch videos I agree.
i like to watch videos . She, like Olivia Newton John are angels .
Her voice is like your bed when you come back from a long night out, it surrounds you with warmth and comfort
My gosh, Karen could hit those lower ranges..no problem..Thanks, now Sing on in heaven!!🎶🎶
A star on earth! A star in heaven!
What impressed me most is E3 in Solitaire.
The note will keep shaking my heart for ever.
Karen Carpenter had a sense of Love and compassion to her music...It's as if she was yearning for the audience to look deeper into her melodies. Very rarely does it happen that I'm affected in such an emotional way when I hear her perform. Her voice brings tears to my eyes...
She was Amazing! What a talent! And, a sweet spirit that lives on...
Wonderful......she is the best.
Perfection.
Such a great talent. I grew up listening to her as a boy. I eventually moved on to hard rock or heavy metal but I always kept my Carpenter’s collection current.
She had such a beautiful voice. One of my all-time favorite female singers.
Her voice is gorgeous!
So many people mesmerized by her marvelous, celestial Voice. Sensibility too, to say the least, to touch our hearts...Intelligence to master a voice like that and, over all, the most beautiful voice that ever existed on the face of the Earth!
I wish Karen was still here, maybe she would realize how much she was loved. Beautiful in everyway and what a voice!
Her "husband" did a lot to kill her, as did her own mother. Very sad.
Alex61,
It must have taken much time and trouble to put this together, thank you for your contribution to Karen's legacy and her fans.
The most amazing thing about Karen's voice is that she doesn't need to shout in order to get your attention, it's simply magical.
The most gorgeous voice ever recorded. Instantly recognizable and always welcome. I met her a few times as a child and she always took time for me.
Contralto baby
I just got a Karaoke 🎤machine for Christmas today! And I was so happy to sing along with Karen Carpenters songs!! I just had a blast singing her songs! "Only Yesterday"
"Raining days and Mondays" "Close to you" "Mr.Postman" All of the greatest songs. I love her voice so much! Truly a blessing from God..
The song that exemplifies her haunting quality and talent is Superstar, the best song by Karen!!!
My favorite and that's saying something because she had so many great performances.
Extremely interesting and informative video on Karen's voice. Thanks
This is fascinating...thanks for assembling and posting it! Ooooo...just hearing a bit of "I Can Dream Can't I"...KC should absolutely have recorded many, many big-band era standards...I've no doubt she would've, too, had she lived.
StudeSteve62 favorite song by them by far
If only she had stuck to jazz music.. I think she was just around during the wrong time
Karen sang as beautiful as she looked.Perfect pitch.One of a kind.#1111!!!💝💝💝
" Someday " , from their very 1st album, 1969------------is, for me, Karen's finest, most heartfelt vocal, of all-time. Richard Wrote it, & John Bettis gave us the lyrics. It's a song of youth---------of young love------& 19 y/o Karen, with a cold that day, & and voice still developing, brings me to tears, EVERY time i hear this rendition. it's MY # 1 , & I only wish more would hear it. --------------WolfSky9, 74 y/o
" This Masquerade " -----------" One More Time " ------------" Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore " -----------' I Believe You " , " Slow Dance " -----------& of course, " Now " ---------------are among my all-time favorites, along with " Someday " -----------WolfSky9
Even in these few seconds, her voice sounds so wonderful!
RIP Karen , se miss you
@Alex61 You highlighted her abilities well in your description! Though currently trending in popularity, singing extremely high notes, whistles, belting, and other various vocal challenges have their places in music and are very nice, but are certainly not everything, or even the biggest characteristics that can define a great singing voice. Karen Carpenter is truly a prime, if not THE prime example of vocal superiority and is STILL amazing people with that pure, silky, rich voice today without having had to rely on them! No wonder vocal coaches around the world reference her to their students! She was absolutely incredible!
Excellent! Thank you so much!
"The Money's in the basement." Godspeed for a singular talent.
Pardon me Alex61 The greatest female voice of all time!!!!
Karen truly was, an Angel among us --------------To die at 33 , no illegal drugs------not a smoker-----not a drinker -----------and that she did it out of self contempt------an unresolved issue with her mother-------an obsession with Michelle Phillips ----------so, she starved herself & worst of all-----------" binge-purged" herself to death, with Ipecac syrup. ---------------Just, too sad. ---------------Richard & Karen's legacy ?? This body of incredible music . Her voice is just so pure, so perfect, and unforgettable. --------------------------WolfSky9, 74 y/o
Aren't we lucky that the Carpenters recorded so much music? I grew up with them, discovered them in high school, and I'm still absolutely stunned when I haven't heard her voice in a while. My favorite track recently is "I Can Dream, Can't I? - just a masterpiece, from the phenomenal "Horizon" album. I don't think I realized how special it was when I marched to the music store to pick up my copy!
The sweetest voice of all time absolute perfection!
She was and is an angel there was only one Karen Carpenter
Wow! Thank you sooo much for doing this! I was hoping to find a break down of the keys and tone she displayed.I have a deep voice and can hit the low register pretty good but I get in trouble going higher like Karen could do so well.This is a great display of Karen voice and talent.Love that you put the songs on here as well.Thanks again!!
Karen really knows how to dramatize a song, to build up intensity while drawing you in with her suttleness. Captivating
Hands down my all-time favorite vocalist. Loved her so much. Thanks for posting.
I don't know what the silkiest, smoothest scotch is, but that's her voice. If any artist could be spared a too early death, she is the one I'd bring back. Imagine what she would have done....
A Most Beautiful Female voice around world.
Perfect, Fine.
Great Singer ever.
Queen Karen.
Awesome 👍😎!! Thank you so much for your talents, Karen.. No one even now comes close to your blessings!!
Happy 74th Birthday Karen! 3-2-24. Love You and Miss You Forever!❤
Thanks for doing this!
I listen to this very often.
I totally agree with the comment before mine. Perfect, period! 50 years later and I still melt 💖
Thank you for assembling this remarkable video. ❤️❤️❤️
Watch this about once a wk.Feb 4, 2022 today. Karen's 39th Anniversary. Grateful for ppl like You keeping her memory alive! Miss You Karen.Love You Forever and Ever!
My god how lucky are we to have had the enormous talent of Karen and Richard Carpenter. I was a little kid during their radio heyday. I would lye by the radio waiting for the D.J. To play their latest single. ❤️
Beautiful Karen Carpenter RIP sweetie pie ✝️❤️👑🔜
The girl with the perfect voice
The resonance in her voice is the standard for all time. So hard to measure on any scale
Still watching this amazing clip! So grateful for ppl like You on here.Today 3-2-22 Happy 72nd Birthday Karen! 3-2-50 God gave us an angel.
I don't know what Billboard Magazine used to rank the top 100 voices of all time, but Karen should have ranked in the top 3....timeless perfect voice....I miss her and often wonder where her career would have taken her...so glad she left us the treasure of her recordings.
We were lucky to have Karen, she was just an ordinary girl inside. We were lucky to hear this angel.
An all around beautiful lady.. RIP
I was at summer camp in 1970 when I heard Close To You and Karen's voice for the first. I was truly heart broken when she died way to young! Your voice will always haunt my memories my beloved Karen.
Just an amazing singer. My favorite.
an amazing talent
Congratulations Alex61. And that Karen always lives!!!
Ahhhh Crescent Noon sublime 💓
Alex, what a wonder thing to put together! Interesting and informative! Thank you!
“Crystal Lullaby” is such a lovely song.
I didn’t realize Karen had such a wide vocal range. 🎵🎶
She was an Angel in human form. I’ve had people compare my voice to hers; which I feel is too high of an honor. We were beyond blessed to have her talents shared with us!
Paul McCartney, for one, said that she has "the best female voice in the world: melodic, tuneful and distinctive." "I just want to tell you love, that I think you've got a fabulous voice " - John Lennon to Karen Carpenter. It was in the seventy's. Nothing had change since.
Vocal Range of Karen Carpenter in 13:38. Vocal Range of Richard Carpenter in :38.
She was not a belter or a wide high range singer. Just had a rich voice.
I have heard her use her range, but she never needed to be one of those singers with affect. There is something so different, yet relaxing. It's odd, yet familiar. Just so beautiful.
I have heard her belt before on the song Someday. It was on the first album Offering/Ticket to Ride.
I’ve been wondering for years what Karen Carpenter’s voice type was. I’ve loved her ever since I was three years old, and now I’m twenty-three years old. What makes Karen Carpenter’s voice type so confusing and difficult to identify is the fact that her voice was naturally rich in the lower register while becoming lighter as she ascends. Her voice could exhibit manly, womanly, and girly tonalities throughout her vocal range. Most websites classified Karen Carpenter as a contralto, while a couple others say she was a mezzo-soprano, like this video. However, there’s one video on RUclips that labeled Karen Carpenter as a light alto, possibly dugazon. I guess opinions are based on what songs are listened to most often by vocal critics. Either way, this matter should have been settled a long time ago.
A true alto
@@juliebergmann2890 I think alto is between contralto and mezzo-soprano. Therefore, it seems to settle the debate of whether Karen Carpenter is a contralto or mezzo-soprano. I have read various sources that have labeled Karen Carpenter as a contralto, light alto, mezzo-soprano and dugazon. So, she’s probably either a light alto or a dugazon.