Opinion: The enduring enigma of Karen Carpenter

ctpost ^ | Feb. 4, 2023 | Joel Samberg

[RckyRaCoCo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5pza8052XQ

[wildbill]

Her voice had the purest sound it seemed of any pop singer of her day—and probably any day.

It’s yesterday once more/

[Migraine]

I realize that opinions vary on Annie Lennox. What graduated her to my top 5 was her Christmas album — every song done in the old style and all but one song about nothing but the Incarnation of Christ.

[cowboyusa]

Greatest Female singer ever.

[dfwgator]

It’s why people still listen to Beethoven and Bach, Mozart, etc.

I’m sure there are great new symphonies being created, but people want to listen to the classics.

[DoodleBob]

I’d like to have it publicized that I came in after Karen Carpenter in the Playboy drummer poll!” (John Bingham) told everyone in the dressing room. “She couldn’t last 10 minutes with a Zeppelin number.”

But the story got even better when someone told Carpenter about Bonham’s comments. Carpenter said she felt “humbled and embarrassed” by coming in first. “I heard that John Bonham is quite upset,” she added (per Udiscovermusic). “I hope he is not mad at me, as I had nothing to do with the poll.”

To prove she could handle at least a few minutes of Zeppelin drums, she proceeded to play (and sing) “Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You” for the TV audience. Somehow, we doubt that settled the issue in Bonzo’s mind.

[redangus]

Played at my and many other weddings in 1972.

[DesertRhino]

Lol... perfect.

[minnesota_bound]

#50 About Taylor Swift.... and no one can remember her songs and no one says she is a good singer. She is a circus act.

[dfwgator]

Rick Beato - What Is The Carpenters Greatest Song?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=135fvI3dQgc

[dfwgator]

Nobody will remember Taylor Swift in 20 years.

[PLMerite]

She did a great version of “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina.”

[Mears]

It almost killed my daughter…..prior to Karen’s death.

.

[Maris Crane]

I can still hear her voice singing Close to You, while I and my family drove down to Stone Harbor, NJ, singing along with her in the seventies.

A great and memorable voice, and a tragic loss.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

I didn’t think it up, though I wish I had. Don’t recall where I heard it.

[Glad2bnuts]

My definition of success, is bringing her voice to the world or just a few thousand. Then of course raising children and being able to sing to them and be happy.

Yes, making a lot of money is numero Uno for most and you can’t do that as easily unless you fit the noise of the time.

[Gay State Conservative]

I recall seeing a photo of her in which she looked a lot like the people of Biafra did some years back.

[Zhang Fei]

[I recall seeing a photo of her in which she looked a lot like the people of Biafra did some years back.]

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That’s another blast from the past. I think you have to be a certain age to even remember the name. The Ibo diaspora ended up doing OK for themselves. Weird how both West and East teamed up to stick it to them, whereas Israel did what little it could to get them over the hump, to no avail.