God -- this song. FIrst off you get the brilliance of the Roger Nichols / Paul Williams songwriting team, which if you ask me was virtually unbeatable in terms of perfect pop for a five-year stretch. Second, you get Karen's unbelievable, soul-stirring, tear-jerking voice -- really one of the most underrated set of pipes in the history of pop ('cause, you know, god forbid soft-pop ever catch a break, critically, right?). Third, you get that BRILLIANT harmony arrangement -- that swell when Richard comes in. Its really just perfect in so many ways.
Plus, I'm sorry, this might be inappropriate for various reasons, but is Karen not hot in this video? Wow.
This heartbreak was brought to you by Diet-Rite soda.
8 comments:
In the Carpenter's Beatles cover, when she sings "he's got a ticket to ride, and he don't care...and he don't care..." damn that's powerful stuff
The best part, where you realize the extent of how Karen rules is when the camera pulls back from her face just enough for you to see that she's drumming, and the arrangement calls for much more than keeping the beat.
i don't think she's underrated. i think the people who get it, get it. her voice really was extraordinary. i didn't know till seeing this video that she had a lisp! and the harmonies are gorgeous.
OMG, I have been listening to this song on repeat ALL week. Also, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, the power of love, which I saw an amazing contemp. dance show at sadler's wells last night.... along with some old school hip-hop, amazing! Ah music, music, music.
great blog, jon--
nice to find you here.
JDonaldson
Can I play like flutaphone in Silver Phial? Or maybe triangle? Come on, you know the idea intrigues you.
I live like 2 minutes away from what used to The Carpenters' house. Yes, the house where Karen died and the same house that's pictured in "Now and then." Well, now the a-hole owners are planning to tear down the house and build a new one. It really makes me sad, especially knowing that I can walk a few blocks and stand in front of a place with so much history. There are a few fans who have gathered in front of the house to protest them tearing it down. I'm crossing my tiny fingers. Let's hope they don't tear it down.
Just thought you might like to know.
I had the biggest crush on Karen Carpenter back in the day and became a huge fan back in the summer of '71 when Rainy Days and Mondays & Superstar all over the radio.
At the same time, they were regulars on a short-lived summer variety series called Make Your Own Kind Of Music which also featured Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders.
Yes, I'm ancient...
J.
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