I agree, and it is even more amazing and it shows how phenomenal Karen was because she was not a fan of the song and her performance is nothing less then spectacular!!
It's Neil Sedaka's masterpiece! This is a nice cover, of course, it's Karen Carpenter, but Neil Sedaka puts his heart & soul into it, like only the composer can!
I agree Debbie. I had this album in 1975 and almost all they recorded were masterpieces. So rare today. I don't think we will ever hear anyone and these arrangements like this again.
My mom wore out this record when I was growing up. I remember the melody and Karen’s voice obviously but hearing it now in my 40s I can appreciate every layer (arrangements, Karen’s delivery, etc) in this track
This is my favorite song by my favorite singer of all time! It is considered by many to be Karen's best vocal performance. Dereck, thank you for showcasing this remarkable song! You have done it justice. I appreciate your emotion as well as your breadth of knowledge and your attention to detail in your analysis. Cheers!
Karen Carpenter has one of the most beautiful (perhaps THE most) voices to ever sing, her lower register, the way she hits those low notes just resinates through the soul
Rumour was Karen hated this song and initially refused to sing it. Once Richard convinced her, she did this in one take, one take! She left those in the studio stunned and silent…. The greatest singer of all time!
Solitaire is as good as any of the other Carpenters' masterpieces but this one truly shows her vocal range, which is amazing and cements her place as rhe BEST female vocalist ever!
@@tomschmitz5745 Absolutely TRUE!!! Karen had a 4 and a half octave vocal range according to the book Carpenters by Ray Coleman!! But her voice was the greatest voice my ears will ever hear
This is one of the strongest songs from The Carpenters, because it fits perfectly to her voice. Very low register, very melancholic and just beautiful as Karen is.
It is a given I believe that when you hear the voice Of Karen Carpenter you say "Oh My God" Her voice was absolute perfection 100 % of the time. Karen was absolutely brilliant as she always knew how to deliver a song to the person listening to the song. One of the greatest singers who ever walked the earth. The only singer who sends chills down my spine every time I hear that one and only voice.
agreed.. she was THEE ultimate singer who sang TO YOU NOT AT YOU.. ultimate female "crooner"... and yes, as many have said she sounded like she was not only singing just to you, but sitting in your lap while doing so.. as her brother stated her voice was "PHONO-GENIC"....
You, my friend, are 100% correct. The purest and most incredible female vocalist of the rock era ... haunting, mesmerizing, enchanting and absolutely flawless.
Couldn't agree more, my dad had great taste, there wasn't a day go by where we didn't to listen to the carpenters, it gave my dad great pleasure seeing me and my sister singing along to every song they did
As beautiful as Karen's voice was, Richard's accomplishments tend to be overshadowed. He wrote these beautiful arrangements and orchestrations that we hear Karen singing. He always showcased her incredibly.
SOLITAIRE was Karen's vocal triumph even though she never cared for this song, and never sang this in concert....her vocals are gorgeous...she possessed a 4 octave range...a contralto crystalline voice like none other....
@Rusty according to Karen herself she claimed to have a 4 octave range, however for the most part Richard would not use her higher range, only a few times as he says for "colouring" in the song....like All You Get From Love Is a Love Song (the background harmonies really high after the sax solo) or the the last part of the Here to Remind You's of the I'll Never Fall In Love Again song....and quite a few other songs she sang
@@cd72 in the biography of the capenters by ray coleman, he the author stated karen had a 4 octave range, of course it's not so much how many octaves a singer has but what they do with what they have, and karen is without equal in this regard...
This is definitely my favorite song from The Carpenters. It is giving me goosebumps everytime i’m hearing it....Karen Carpenter had a depth in her voice..... she left way too soon....
This was a Neil Sedaka original track which he himself admitted Karen Carpenter covered far better than his original version. Even he was blown away with Karen's version
"Who is Loving You" song by Smokey Robinson, made famous by Michael Jackson as a child. Smokey could not believe a 10 year old sang it that well. He sang it like he lived that heartache.
I wish so much she could've gotten the help she needed. Her voice was what we needed, a voice that comes around only once in a lifetime. I can't hear this song without crying...but I'll gladly listen to it every day just to hear that heavenly voice again. Thanks for reminding us all of her beauty!!
I couldn't believe that Richard has said that Karen didn't like this song? My God, It's perfect to show off her alto voice and is sung with such emotion! I also know this song was "highly" underrated as it made the low top 40. Also, several other artist have sung this song but none to the beautiful perfection as Karen, Miss you much.
Philip Cody, who wrote the lyrics for the song with Neil Sedaka's composing the music, had this to day about it: "When I heard Karen Carpenter, I had chills down my spine. As a lyricist, you want that thing where an artist owns your lyric. You can measure success by the amount of money you make off a song, but I measure the success of that song by that particular moment, when she made it totally her own. And it's still great. I sat down one day and I listened to all 90 versions of 'Solitaire' that people have done, and of all the ones that are out there, Karen Carpenter's is still the one that is the benchmark for all the covers on that song."
Although written and recorded originally by Neil Sedaka, Karen's version is just so hauntingly beautiful. Every time I hear it I cry. I read Karen didn't like the song and it was recorded in one take. Something about Karen's voice just touches you. Her voice will live on forever. I hope she is looking down knowing how much her amazing talent is still cherished.
Every time i hear Karen i get chills all over, every time. Hard not to cry over the emotion she puts in that voice. Glad young people today are appreciating this beautiful voice.
This is my favorite song of theirs. It is perfect in every way. Elvis Presley covered this song too. Phil Cody the songwriter said he listened to all 90 covers and found Karen's vocal delivery the best. Richards arrangements are superb too. :)
This is without hesitation, my favorite Carpenter's song. Sad, haunting lyrics sung by a hauntingly beautiful voice. This song always makes me misty eyed.
Thanks for sharing more Carpenters, one of my all-time favourite groups. This song showcases that amazing lower register that Karen was blessed with. The way she goes down to those low notes is flawless, unparalleled. Goosebumps every time.
I hear you. Karen and Richard are immensely talented and we're the beneficiaries of that talent. Put it this way, I would be first in line tomorrow morning if tickets for their next concert were to be sold. Front row, center. Their legacy will have to do, but how I wish...
Believe it or not, she has more incredibly gorgeous music that is often overlooked. I believe you, masquerade, still crazy, trying to get the feeling again… Wonderful masterpieces of her incredibly beautiful voice.
Dereck...one of my favorite songs from the Carpenters. To this day I still know the words to every song The Carpenters ever sang. I was only 14 years old. My parents bought me every album they made before Karen passed away..Thank You for playing this. You earned your red button..Judy
This is my all-time favorite Carpenters song. It is such a beautifully, yet hauntingly sad song, and she brings such emotion to it...as she did with everything she sang.
Another great reaction! Yes, Karen thought it dragged a bit. It absolutely does showcase her lower register. To be fair, Karen was probably stressed and unhappy during the months recording Horizon which took almost a year to produce. Later in the summer of 75 Karen was suffering from exhaustion and they would fire Neil Sedaka as their opening act in Las Vegas and then cancel the rest of their concerts for the year. The cracks were starting to show..
Karen’s voice is so beautiful in this song as it is in everything she sings. However the melancholy nature of this song just brings out my regret that she left us so long ago in 1983, at the young age of 32........So sad. RIP Karen.
Karens voice is pitch perfect pure passion that really pulls at my heartstrings! Her three level octave range and contralto with vibrato is simply amazing and unmatched. 50 years later and she still brings a tear to my eye!
Karen's Solitaire always leaves me a weeping, wailing mess! Right now, I just got this lump in my throat. Incredible song but the vocal here is just another level!
I so appreciate your completely honest and yes, emotional review of this song. I'm a life long fan of the Carpenters and had the absolute pleasure of meeting Karen and Richard several times when I was very young. Keep up the reviewing. You've got a special talent and wonderful spirit!
Karen never cared for this song, though her vocals were laid down in one take. Utterly amazing how she could interpret a piece with the soul & all the emotions at the right times. Still in a Class by Herself 🙏👼
Brilliant song, and one of my all time favourites! It’s definitely a “gut punch” in song form, but Karen’s velvet voice along with Richard’s masterful arrangement and backup vocals makes it an absolute masterpiece!
Oh! I'd not heard this song in many years. Thank-you for sharing and appreciating it with the respect it deserves. Yes, one of their most beautiful songs, ever.
I love your genuine reactions. You have a tender heart. Karen was one of a kind and there will never be another like her. Please react to Ave Maria by her. I also love one of their first songs ever which was a cover of the Beatles Ticket to ride.
I wonder if Karen didn't like it because of the parallels to her own life at the time. This was right about the time she began with her eating disorders. Her voice is so beautiful on just about anything she sang.
Dereck, you've got to hear Carpenters' version (orchestrated by 50s bandleader Billy May) of the 1938 standard "I Can Dream, Can't I". It's also from the "Horizon" album. You like Karen's languid treatment of "Solitaire"; you'd love her performance of a vintage torch song...she could sing those like no one else, ever...
Karen disliked this song and Richard had to talk her into doing this one. You would never know by the way she delivered the emotions! She was a true professional!
The best voice since recorded music was invented. it actually brings tears to your eyes.
This song leaves me speechless. It is often overlooked but , in my opinion, it is one of their masterpieces.
I agree, and it is even more amazing and it shows how phenomenal Karen was because she was not a fan of the song and her performance is nothing less then spectacular!!
It's Neil Sedaka's masterpiece!
This is a nice cover, of course, it's Karen Carpenter, but Neil Sedaka puts his heart & soul into it, like only the composer can!
I agree Debbie. I had this album in 1975 and almost all they recorded were masterpieces. So rare today. I don't think we will ever hear anyone and these arrangements like this again.
It’s actually Neil sadaka’s masterpiece
My mom wore out this record when I was growing up. I remember the melody and Karen’s voice obviously but hearing it now in my 40s I can appreciate every layer (arrangements, Karen’s delivery, etc) in this track
This is my favorite song by my favorite singer of all time!
It is considered by many to be Karen's best vocal performance.
Dereck, thank you for showcasing this remarkable song!
You have done it justice. I appreciate your emotion as well as
your breadth of knowledge and your attention to detail in your
analysis. Cheers!
Karen Carpenter had the best female voice of all time. No one could touch her.
Karen Carpenter has one of the most beautiful (perhaps THE most) voices to ever sing, her lower register, the way she hits those low notes just resinates through the soul
Rumour was Karen hated this song and initially refused to sing it. Once Richard convinced her, she did this in one take, one take! She left those in the studio stunned and silent…. The greatest singer of all time!
Karen Carpenter is the greatest singer ever
That voice. That voice. That voice. An Angel singing every word every tone registers in your soul.
Solitaire is as good as any of the other Carpenters' masterpieces but this one truly shows her vocal range, which is amazing and cements her place as rhe BEST female vocalist ever!
Only ever be one Karen Carpenter, just perfection!
agreed...
I don't ever remember reading trash about Karen back in the day, today's singerttes thrive on it.
Karen's lower voice just brings me to tears. The sadness of this song really connects to her life.
From Karen’s rich vocals to Richards lush arrangements - just pure perfection ❤️❤️❤️
Amen. They will never be matched by any artist of today.
Over forty years since first hearing Karen sing this, and she just made me cry again.
Absolutely beautiful 💔
i hear you, right there with you....
Every time i listen to this song my eyes water up!
Me too Gleen
Same here. The only singer that ever lived who can make me cry and give me chills down my spine
Back for another listen, and Karen gets me again. This track is a masterpiece and her voice makes me cry every time.
Help! I'm a 64 year old man and in tears here. Forgot how brilliant her version was.
Karen has one of the richest contralto, lower register voices ever
not one of, but THEE purest and richest voice ever.
@@tomschmitz5745 Absolutely TRUE!!! Karen had a 4 and a half octave vocal range according to the book Carpenters by Ray Coleman!! But her voice was the greatest voice my ears will ever hear
To me there is nothing that sounds more beautiful than a female contralto and Karen had the absolute best I’ve heard.
It's my favorite Carpenters song but I can't allow myself to listen often as it wrings your heart out.
Yes, It does I agree!!
I agree with you, Peter. Good thing I am in for the evening, my make-up is running down my face.
Except it’s a Neil Sadaka song. And originals cannot be beaten. It’s a straight up copy
I agree. Song For You also hits me hard.
@@personalcheeses8073 wrong, originals can (sometimes) be beaten. Even Sedaka himself said that this song was tailor-made for Karen.
Vocally stunning performance and amazing arrangement.
This is one of the strongest songs from The Carpenters, because it fits perfectly to her voice. Very low register, very melancholic and just beautiful as Karen is.
"A heart that cared that went unshared"😢😢😢
It is a given I believe that when you hear the voice Of Karen Carpenter you say "Oh My God" Her voice was absolute perfection 100 % of the time. Karen was absolutely brilliant as she always knew how to deliver a song to the person listening to the song. One of the greatest singers who ever walked the earth. The only singer who sends chills down my spine every time I hear that one and only voice.
agreed.. she was THEE ultimate singer who sang TO YOU NOT AT YOU.. ultimate female "crooner"... and yes, as many have said she sounded like she was not only singing just to you, but sitting in your lap while doing so.. as her brother stated her voice was "PHONO-GENIC"....
You, my friend, are 100% correct. The purest and most incredible female vocalist of the rock era ... haunting, mesmerizing, enchanting and absolutely flawless.
Couldn't agree more, my dad had great taste, there wasn't a day go by where we didn't to listen to the carpenters, it gave my dad great pleasure seeing me and my sister singing along to every song they did
You said it brother. You pretty much covered it. Can’t think of anything else to add to your thoughts. You’re dead on.
There's never been another vocalist like Karen, absolutely beautiful.
Absolute best female singer ever and i mean ever!!!!
She hits "and solitaire" and you are shook to the core. You crumble with the memories of pain that everyone has experienced.
Makes me cry. Her unparalleled voice is so soulful and flawless. She left us much too soon. Peace, Karen. Your beauty is our gift. Thank you.
Karen Carpenter - best female voice ever 😍😍
As beautiful as Karen's voice was, Richard's accomplishments tend to be overshadowed. He wrote these beautiful arrangements and orchestrations that we hear Karen singing. He always showcased her incredibly.
So well put, thank you for pointing this out.
My all time favorite carpenters song. Karen's greatest vocal performance, in my opinion.
This is a Carpenter's masterpiece.
Karen's voice is like liquid gold! I love and enjoy your sincere reactions! Awesome job Dereck!!!
Thanks ❤️
SOLITAIRE was Karen's vocal triumph even though she never cared for this song, and never sang this in concert....her vocals are gorgeous...she possessed a 4 octave range...a contralto crystalline voice like none other....
@Rusty according to Karen herself she claimed to have a 4 octave range, however for the most part Richard would not use her higher range, only a few times as he says for "colouring" in the song....like All You Get From Love Is a Love Song (the background harmonies really high after the sax solo) or the the last part of the Here to Remind You's of the I'll Never Fall In Love Again song....and quite a few other songs she sang
@@cd72 in the biography of the capenters by ray coleman, he the author stated karen had a 4 octave range, of course it's not so much how many octaves a singer has but what they do with what they have, and karen is without equal in this regard...
This is definitely my favorite song from The Carpenters. It is giving me goosebumps everytime i’m hearing it....Karen Carpenter had a depth in her voice..... she left way too soon....
Karen once said when she left the stage after doing a show she felt such loneliness GOD BLESS HER🙏🙏🙏💔
Oh KAREN.......jeez man. What a TREASURE she was.
Karen is the best vocalist the world has ever seen and ever will. Thank you Dereck.
This was a Neil Sedaka original track which he himself admitted Karen Carpenter covered far better than his original version. Even he was blown away with Karen's version
"Who is Loving You" song by Smokey Robinson, made famous by Michael Jackson as a child. Smokey could not believe a 10 year old sang it that well. He sang it like he lived that heartache.
This song reminds me of growing up in the 70's~ She was the voice of the 70's pop music world!
I wish so much she could've gotten the help she needed. Her voice was what we needed, a voice that comes around only once in a lifetime. I can't hear this song without crying...but I'll gladly listen to it every day just to hear that heavenly voice again. Thanks for reminding us all of her beauty!!
She's one of those rare singers who gets you with the low notes more than the high ones,- gives me chills when she leans into those low notes.
Perfection. Every word pure power. Her articulation!! Wow. Richard knew just how to frame her voice with music. What a pair!!!
I have loved listening to the Carpenters since I was 12, Karen Carpenter will forever be my favourite female singer.
I couldn't believe that Richard has said that Karen didn't like this song? My God, It's perfect to show off her alto voice and is sung with such emotion! I also know this song was "highly" underrated as it made the low top 40. Also, several other artist have sung this song but none to the beautiful perfection as Karen, Miss you much.
Karen's voice draws you in emotionally. She was amazing and very much missed.
Her low notes are soooo warm!
Philip Cody, who wrote the lyrics for the song with Neil Sedaka's composing the music, had this to day about it: "When I heard Karen Carpenter, I had chills down my spine. As a lyricist, you want that thing where an artist owns your lyric. You can measure success by the amount of money you make off a song, but I measure the success of that song by that particular moment, when she made it totally her own. And it's still great. I sat down one day and I listened to all 90 versions of 'Solitaire' that people have done, and of all the ones that are out there, Karen Carpenter's is still the one that is the benchmark for all the covers on that song."
Although written and recorded originally by Neil Sedaka, Karen's version is just so hauntingly beautiful. Every time I hear it I cry. I read Karen didn't like the song and it was recorded in one take. Something about Karen's voice just touches you. Her voice will live on forever. I hope she is looking down knowing how much her amazing talent is still cherished.
Gorgeous song! Brings me to tears every time....without fail! Loved your reaction.
Voice like velvet ♥️ clear and haunting at the same time . Love the Carpenters 👍🏻
Angelic wrapped in satin. Those vocals just wash over and around you.
Every time i hear Karen i get chills all over, every time. Hard not to cry over the emotion she puts in that voice. Glad young people today are appreciating this beautiful voice.
I love that they(Karen&Richard), still touch people to this day. They sang well together but her voice is outstanding. Timeless
The most beautiful female singing 🎤 voice 💫👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💕 Karen Carpenter “Silk Velvety Silk” Portland Oregon USA 🇺🇸
This is my favorite song of theirs. It is perfect in every way. Elvis Presley covered this song too. Phil Cody the songwriter said he listened to all 90 covers and found Karen's vocal delivery the best. Richards arrangements are superb too. :)
She brings me to tears the voice of an angel
My favorite song 💔
Yes vocal perfection and heartfelt
👍 This song really showcases Karen’s range and power. I get chills when I listen to it.
Dereck, I have to admit it. I did shed tears on this one. This song is absolutely heartbreaking!
My God, those low E's are incredible.
This is without hesitation, my favorite Carpenter's song. Sad, haunting lyrics sung by a hauntingly beautiful voice. This song always makes me misty eyed.
I have tears on my face now. Karen's voice - what a God-given gift! So grateful we had her the few years we did. RIP lovely Karen.
Thanks for sharing more Carpenters, one of my all-time favourite groups. This song showcases that amazing lower register that Karen was blessed with. The way she goes down to those low notes is flawless, unparalleled. Goosebumps every time.
I hear you. Karen and Richard are immensely talented and we're the beneficiaries of that talent. Put it this way, I would be first in line tomorrow morning if tickets for their next concert were to be sold. Front row, center. Their legacy will have to do, but how I wish...
Karen's voice connects directly to the heart of the listener!
I'm crying
Believe it or not, she has more incredibly gorgeous music that is often overlooked. I believe you, masquerade, still crazy, trying to get the feeling again… Wonderful masterpieces of her incredibly beautiful voice.
Perfection is this song. Chill factor x 10
So fun to share this love of Karen's voice (and Richard's arrangements) with all of you. It's a club I love being in.
One of the best songs that shows her lower register. I love this song.
I love that people are still discovering the genius of the Carpenter's . Karen's voice has the ability to connect to our emotions like no other
Absolutely stunning vocals!
Dereck...one of my favorite songs from the Carpenters. To this day I still know the words to every song The Carpenters ever sang. I was only 14 years old. My parents bought me every album they made before Karen passed away..Thank You for playing this. You earned your red button..Judy
How can there be a thumbs down? This was a beautiful song by the best female vocalist ever.
The only game in town is Karen voice, as good as it gets 💯👌👍
Ohhh i love this song
This is my all-time favorite Carpenters song. It is such a beautifully, yet hauntingly sad song, and she brings such emotion to it...as she did with everything she sang.
When Karen is singing you don't need the words on screen. Beautiful diction!
Another great reaction! Yes, Karen thought it dragged a bit. It absolutely does showcase her lower register. To be fair, Karen was probably stressed and unhappy during the months recording Horizon which took almost a year to produce. Later in the summer of 75 Karen was suffering from exhaustion and they would fire Neil Sedaka as their opening act in Las Vegas and then cancel the rest of their concerts for the year. The cracks were starting to show..
Karen’s voice is so beautiful in this song as it is in everything she sings. However the melancholy nature of this song just brings out my regret that she left us so long ago in 1983, at the young age of 32........So sad. RIP Karen.
Karens voice is pitch perfect pure passion that really pulls at my heartstrings! Her three level octave range and contralto with vibrato is simply amazing and unmatched. 50 years later and she still brings a tear to my eye!
Tnx for another great reaction! Karen's voice touches me deeply everything I hear her sing. I was 17 when she died, she still is greatly missed.
@Michael Asay I share your feelings.
I was 23, grew up listening to them. Yes I cried that day.
God blessed her with the perfect voice!
Karen's Solitaire always leaves me a weeping, wailing mess! Right now, I just got this lump in my throat. Incredible song but the vocal here is just another level!
I so appreciate your completely honest and yes, emotional review of this song. I'm a life long fan of the Carpenters and had the absolute pleasure of meeting Karen and Richard several times when I was very young. Keep up the reviewing. You've got a special talent and wonderful spirit!
Ms. Chang could not agree more. A true showcase for Karen's voice.
Karen never cared for this song, though her vocals were laid down in one take. Utterly amazing how she could interpret a piece with the soul & all the emotions at the right times. Still in a Class by Herself 🙏👼
Kindly react also her rendition of DESPERADO originally sung by Eagles. She nailed it with her version. Beautiful.
God sent lovely Karen as a GIFT! May her beautiful soul rest in peace!
Brilliant song, and one of my all time favourites! It’s definitely a “gut punch” in song form, but Karen’s velvet voice along with Richard’s masterful arrangement and backup vocals makes it an absolute masterpiece!
Also, Richard would arrange or sometimes write songs specifically for Karen’s voice. He knew her voice and how to make it absolutely shine!
Oh that voice goosebumps
Phenomenal, Derick. Love you and your reactions to the Carpenters.
Glad you enjoyed
Thanks for this , Dereck. Karen had the voice of an angel
Oh! I'd not heard this song in many years. Thank-you for sharing and appreciating it with the respect it deserves. Yes, one of their most beautiful songs, ever.
I love your genuine reactions. You have a tender heart. Karen was one of a kind and there will never be another like her. Please react to Ave Maria by her. I also love one of their first songs ever which was a cover of the Beatles Ticket to ride.
Always makes me cry !!
Karen's favorite song was "I Know I Need To Be In Love," another beautiful ballad. I hope that you will check it out. It's one of my favorites, too!!
I wonder if Karen didn't like it because of the parallels to her own life at the time. This was right about the time she began with her eating disorders. Her voice is so beautiful on just about anything she sang.
Well, Karen said it was "draggy," yet Richard thinks this is one of her finest performances (if not the best vocally).
We love it though!
Dereck, you've got to hear Carpenters' version (orchestrated by 50s bandleader Billy May) of the 1938 standard "I Can Dream, Can't I". It's also from the "Horizon" album. You like Karen's languid treatment of "Solitaire"; you'd love her performance of a vintage torch song...she could sing those like no one else, ever...
Karen disliked this song and Richard had to talk her into doing this one. You would never know by the way she delivered the emotions! She was a true professional!
How true
Perfection 🌟no better singer ever🎤🌟🌟🌟
I love the Carpenters. They were big in England in their heydey
Perfection, rarely achieved!