Meet people from all over the World
Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

Pages: [1] 2 3

Author Topic: The Carpenters  (Read 16208 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Mairi

  • That Means a Lot
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 7934
  • The owls are not what they seem
The Carpenters
« on: November 24, 2010, 08:59:39 PM »

I know that The Carpenters are pretty much reviled by most rock fans, espcially those who grew up in the '70s. They tend to be percieved as indulgent schlock that represents the worst of Nixon's era. However, despite this, I've really been into the Carpenters lately. Not only their music, but a general interest in their lives and Karen Carpenter's story. It's really interesting to me how their real life struggles (Karen's eating disorder, Richard's drug addiction) were at such odds with their wholesome image.

For the most part I think Richard is a p*ss-poor composer and producer. He tended to drown songs in way too much overdubs and unecessary instrumentals, plus he took Karen off drums, which was her real passion as opposed to singing. However, he wrote a few gems here and there, and I really appreciate his decision to add fuzz guitar to "Goodbye to Love" and "Love Me For What I Am".

Karen Carpenter, however, has one of the most beautiful and soothing voices I've ever heard. I grew up listening to the Carpenters' Christmas album, but it wasn't until I really got into singing that I started to appreciate Karen's talents. Her voice is so rich and chocolately, and she has great diction and emotive skills. It's really a shame that she didn't live long enough to pursue a solo career, one with more interesting and dynamic material, because I think her brother really held her back.

Carpenters - Superstar 1971


Goodbye To Love --The Carpenters


The Carpenters "Baby It's You"


Anybody interested in learning about Karen Carpenter's life story should watch this film by Todd Haynes. It's legitimately one of my favourite movies, and sheds a lot of light on the struggles she went through.

Superstar The Karen Carpenter Story


Logged
I am posting on an internet forum, therefore my opinion is fact.

Joost

  • That Means a Lot
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Posts: 5121
Re: The Carpenters
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2010, 11:58:20 PM »

I'm not a fan, but it really is soothing music. I think this is one of those rare bands that, no matter what your musical taste is, you can maybe dislike but not hate.
Logged

nyfan(41)

  • Getting Better
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 669
Re: The Carpenters
« Reply #2 on: November 25, 2010, 01:27:20 AM »

nahhh, everyone used to love them in the 70s !
close to you and rainy days and mondays were megahits
-
-
i didnt kno about her brother holding her back . . hmm
definitely the whole family was talented but she for sure was america's sweetheart from the start
-
i remember once seeing her rock on drums and sing at the same time in an evening gown
as far as the drumming- i figured she did less of it because her voice was so beloved -
but i was sure everyone knew that about her
Karen Carpenter - Drum Show
Logged

Hello Goodbye

  • Global Moderator
  • At The Top Of The Stairs
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 20100
Re: The Carpenters
« Reply #3 on: November 25, 2010, 01:31:59 AM »

And I loved Karen Carpenter too.  She had the purest pitch-perfect voice ever!  It was fun watching brother and sister performing those wonderful songs...

Top Of The World・The Carpenters
Logged
I can stay till it's time to go

Hello Goodbye

  • Global Moderator
  • At The Top Of The Stairs
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 20100
Re: The Carpenters
« Reply #4 on: November 25, 2010, 01:37:43 AM »

Logged
I can stay till it's time to go

Hello Goodbye

  • Global Moderator
  • At The Top Of The Stairs
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 20100
Re: The Carpenters
« Reply #5 on: November 25, 2010, 01:42:55 AM »

Deliver de letter, the sooner de better!

;D
Logged
I can stay till it's time to go

Hello Goodbye

  • Global Moderator
  • At The Top Of The Stairs
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 20100
Re: The Carpenters
« Reply #6 on: November 25, 2010, 01:53:09 AM »

More of Karen on drums...

Karen Carpenter - The Drummer
Logged
I can stay till it's time to go

Hello Goodbye

  • Global Moderator
  • At The Top Of The Stairs
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 20100
Re: The Carpenters
« Reply #7 on: November 25, 2010, 01:56:45 AM »

And one of the most popular wedding songs ever...

carpenters -We've Only Just Begun
Logged
I can stay till it's time to go

Mairi

  • That Means a Lot
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 7934
  • The owls are not what they seem
Re: The Carpenters
« Reply #8 on: November 25, 2010, 02:31:54 AM »

Really interesting fact about We've Only Just Begun: it's based on a commercial jingle. Richard heard a short version of the song on a televison ad (for life insurance I think?) and thought it would be perfect for Karen's voice, so he contacted the writer (Paul Williams, who's written some other great '70s songs) to flesh it out.
Logged
I am posting on an internet forum, therefore my opinion is fact.

Hello Goodbye

  • Global Moderator
  • At The Top Of The Stairs
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 20100
Re: The Carpenters
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2010, 02:32:36 AM »

^

Her drumming in this song was great...

We've Only Just Begun -- Carpenters
Logged
I can stay till it's time to go

Hello Goodbye

  • Global Moderator
  • At The Top Of The Stairs
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 20100
Re: The Carpenters
« Reply #10 on: November 25, 2010, 02:35:52 AM »

Really interesting fact about We've Only Just Begun: it's based on a commercial jingle. Richard heard a short version of the song on a televison ad (for life insurance I think?) and thought it would be perfect for Karen's voice, so he contacted the writer (Paul Williams, who's written some other great '70s songs) to flesh it out.


The Crocker Bank-"Wedding Commercial"-1970
Logged
I can stay till it's time to go

Hello Goodbye

  • Global Moderator
  • At The Top Of The Stairs
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 20100
Re: The Carpenters
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2010, 02:38:16 AM »

^

Paul Williams sings the song in the commercial.
Logged
I can stay till it's time to go

Mairi

  • That Means a Lot
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 7934
  • The owls are not what they seem
Re: The Carpenters
« Reply #12 on: November 25, 2010, 02:39:50 AM »

Cool. I'm most familiar with Paul Williams through his role in "The Phantom of the Paradise" which is a Rocky Horror-esque cult fim, so it's weird to me to see him doing stuff like this.
Logged
I am posting on an internet forum, therefore my opinion is fact.

Hello Goodbye

  • Global Moderator
  • At The Top Of The Stairs
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 20100
Re: The Carpenters
« Reply #13 on: November 25, 2010, 03:17:58 AM »



Mairi, he also wrote Just An Old Fashioned Love Song, performed by Three Dog Night...

Old Fashioned Love Song (1975) - Three Dog Night (The video's owner prevents external embedding)




« Last Edit: November 25, 2010, 03:30:14 AM by Hello Goodbye »
Logged
I can stay till it's time to go

Mairi

  • That Means a Lot
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 7934
  • The owls are not what they seem
Re: The Carpenters
« Reply #14 on: November 25, 2010, 03:21:36 AM »

Hahaha oh my God that picture is getting saved to my hard drive.
Logged
I am posting on an internet forum, therefore my opinion is fact.

Hello Goodbye

  • Global Moderator
  • At The Top Of The Stairs
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 20100
Re: The Carpenters
« Reply #15 on: November 25, 2010, 03:30:59 AM »

Mairi, Paul Williams didn't mind being caricaturized by The Muppets...

The Muppets Show/Paul Williams---Old Fashioned Love Song



 ;D
Logged
I can stay till it's time to go

Hello Goodbye

  • Global Moderator
  • At The Top Of The Stairs
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 20100
Re: The Carpenters
« Reply #16 on: November 25, 2010, 03:57:59 AM »

Moderating myself now...so as not to stray off topic...






OK, we're back on topic now.

 ;D
Logged
I can stay till it's time to go

stevie

  • Getting Better
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Posts: 666
Re: The Carpenters
« Reply #17 on: November 27, 2010, 08:55:23 AM »

Carpneters had some great pop songs. 'We've Only Just Begun' a classic pop hit. They did a good version of Klaatu's Calling Occupants' too.
Logged

Hello Goodbye

  • Global Moderator
  • At The Top Of The Stairs
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 20100
Re: The Carpenters
« Reply #18 on: December 23, 2010, 04:13:38 AM »

nahhh, everyone used to love them in the 70s !
close to you and rainy days and mondays were megahits


Carpenters Close To You


The Carpenters - Rainy Days And Mondays
Logged
I can stay till it's time to go

Hello Goodbye

  • Global Moderator
  • At The Top Of The Stairs
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 20100
Logged
I can stay till it's time to go
Pages: [1] 2 3
 

Page created in 0.366 seconds with 88 queries.