Posted on 05/25/2018 9:42:50 AM PDT by Morgana
The Carpenters were one of the biggest-selling American musical acts of all time. Between 1970 and 1984 brother and sister Richard and Karen Carpenter had 17 top 20 hits, including "Goodbye to Love", "Yesterday Once More", "Close to You" and "Rainy Days and Mondays". They notched up 10 gold singles, nine gold albums, one multi-platinum album and three Grammy awards. Karen's velvety voice and Richard's airy melodies and meticulously crafted arrangements stood in direct contrast to the louder, wilder rock dominating the rest of the charts at the time, yet they became immensely popular, selling more than 100m records.
Richard was the musical driving force but it was Karen's effortless voice that lay behind the Carpenters' hits. Promoted from behind the drums to star vocalist, she became one of the decade's most instantly recognisable female singers.
But there was a tragic discrepancy between her public and private selves. Offstage, away from the spotlight, she felt desperately unloved by her mother, Agnes, who favoured Richard, and struggled with low self-esteem, eventually developing anorexia nervosa from which she never recovered. She died at the age of 32.
In 1996 journalist Rob Hoerburger powerfully summed up Karen Carpenter's tribulations in a New York Times Magazine feature: "If anorexia has classically been defined as a young woman's struggle for control, then Karen was a prime candidate, for the two things she valued most in the world – her voice and her mother's love – were exclusively the property of her brother Richard. At least she would control the size of her own body." And control it she did. By September 1975 her weight fell to 6st 7lb (41kg).
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
You just made me think of Chris Farley and David Spade singing along (and crying) to “Superstar” in the movie “Tommy Boy.”
She was easily one of the great singers of all time. I still listen to Carpenters CDs, but I always feel a twinge of sadness when I hear her voice.
She had a quality to her voice that even were she to sing one or two lines, you’d know exactly who was singing. Same with Mama Cass Elliott. Both had beautiful voices, both had tragic deaths.
Others on this thread have commented on her pure voice. I, too, concur; but I would go so far as to put her voice on top of the world of unique female pop singers.
Others on my list would be:
Anne Murray
Aretha Franklin
Patsy Cline
Annie Lennox
Ruthie Henshall (known mostly to Brits)
Diana Ross
Shania Twain
Patti Paige
Janis Joplin
Karen Carpenter’s voice was liquid gold; one of the greatest voices of all time.
These posts about her supposedly having a relationship or crush on her brother, because it was in some movie, a skit, or publication, is disgusting and pathetic.
Try educating yourselves on the actual story of Karen Carpenter from those who knew her best, instead of those who used her best.
Also unique and memorable pop/rock singers:
Debbie Harry
Stevie Nicks
Christine McVie
Grace Slick
Joni Mitchell
Nancy Wilson
Kate Bush
I was a huge fan, and I’m sad for all the music we could have had.
“Yesterday Once More” became even more poignant when Karen was gone — at just 32.
Great list! I should’ve added to mine:
Lea Salonga (she melts my heart when she sings)
Rainy Days And Mondays
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekDSM_vMGYY
We’ve Only Just Begun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64Mpe9OLJBI
Yesterday Once More
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1g7vhY5JRI
Yes, it was. We haven't heard anything like it.
There is a funny story told. I don't know if it's true. According to the story, Karen and a friend of hers were driving somewhere with the radio on and she was singing along with all the songs on the radio. Her friend said, "You have a great soprano. Why don't you ever use it?"
To which Karen replied, "The money's in the basement."
Agree!
Because they're used to it. Nothing more complicated than that.
Amazing song and singer, Black Velvet.
Until I read some of the post on this thread I had no idea that FR had so many sick minds on it.
Cass sounded quite a bit like Bette Midler.
You left off Allison Krause. Her voice is angelic.
Yes, you are right; I meant to put her up close to the top. Thanks: I love listening to Alison and do so all the time.
If Karen Carpenter and Mama Cass had shared a Bolgna sandwich together, they’d both be alive. (Sorry)!
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