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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 18, 2005 9:19:43 GMT -5
 We speak about the wonderful "chill factor" songs quite a bit on the forum. The deep, dark, soulful and mournful songs. And the Carpenters/Karen were masters at recording those dark "chill factor" songs such as; "Solitaire", "Desperado", "This Masquerade", "Rainy Days And Mondays", "Superstar" and so forth. But what about the other side of Carpenters/Karen. There was the fun, the upbeat, the lighthearted side of their music. What are some of your favorite upbeat, fun Carpenters/Karen (solo) songs and why do you like them? I will have to come back with mine. As I am out the front door now for work.
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Post by enigma on Apr 18, 2005 9:33:53 GMT -5
I do not know about fun and upbeat but some of the Happy pick me up type songs for me include: Don't Be Afraid Whats The Use Turn Away Help Another Song Bacharach Medley Oldies Medley Happy Sweet Sweet Smile Sailing On The Tide Making Love In The Afternoon Still In Love With You (Want You) Back In My Life Again California Dreaming Its not complete but its a start. My reasoning for these songs is all the same they either have an upbeat tempo, vocal, and or lyric and they just bring up my spirits everytime I hear them.      |
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Post by Carps1000 on Apr 18, 2005 11:08:05 GMT -5
For me its gotta B. Sailing on the tide. Kind of Hush. (single version only) Postman(Single version only) Goofus & Beechwood & Sweet Smile. & of course All U Get From.... They just bounce along & U cannot help but hum/tap/or just feel so dammed good listening to em Just a few but god they were Cs at their best. Ken Carps1000 whos lives in the UK so U dont have to & who will produce a Quiz questionaire very soon so watch this space
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Post by Carps1000 on Apr 18, 2005 11:09:01 GMT -5
Oh I 4got Happy!!! Brill
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 18, 2005 20:51:52 GMT -5
Okay... "Mr. Guder" - this song is fun to me. I just love the vocal trade off at the end. For some reason I always thought this song would be great to play if you were sailing in a boat. "My Body Keeps Changing My Mind" - Lately I had been skipping this song when I play Karen's solo album. But now I'm back on to it. I just love this fun upbeat number. "Guess I Just Lost My Head" - It's the playful lyric which I find amusing in this song. "Top Of The World" - This has to be the ultimate feel good song of all-time. It's refreshing and beautiful. "Dancing In The Street" - This song is great fun. It's a wonderful upbeat tune. Karen seems to enjoy singing this tune. I love her performance of this song on the First TV special. There are more and will continue with it again tomorrow or the next day.  |
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Post by cam83 on Apr 18, 2005 23:09:05 GMT -5
FUN tunes... FUN FUN FUN TOP OF THE WORLD HAPPY JAMBALAYA SING BWANA SHE NO HOME GOOFUS THERE'S A KIND OF HUSH HELP YOUR WONDERFUL PARADE DON'T BE AFRAID SATURDAY PLEASE MR POSTMAN BEECHWOOD 4-5789 IF I HAD YOU LOVELINES SILLY LOVE SONGS MAKE ME LAUGH SAILING ON THE TIDE BOAT TO SAIL SWEET SWEET SMILE These are some of the more fun, upbeat songs I like listening too... Cameron |
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 20, 2005 0:45:29 GMT -5
$@ %?? %* A few more fun and or upbeat songs I love.     "Flat Baroque" - I just love this entertaining song. It's has a good catchy rhythm. It's just pure fun. "Your Wonderful Parade" - With Richard's circus anouncer part at the beginning you just know this song is going to be lively. I just love the way Karen sings "stand in line. Try to climb. Meet your wife at cocktail time." "Leader Of The Pack" - From the oldies medley on Live In Japan. The lyric sad. It's one of those teen tragedy songs which was very popular in the early and mid sixties. It's not so much to lyric which is fun but the overall feel and rhythm of the song is fun. And what makes it even more fun is Karen's optimistic vocal reading and also the part when she laughs and then just keeps on singing. This one always brings a smile to me. "Please Mr. Postman" - This is one of the world's best fun songs. The Carpenters took this song to the next level. This is pure fun at it's best. "Say Yeah" - From Richard's 1987 solo album "Time". Great upbeat tempo very 80's. This song moves along quite well. If only it were Karen singing. Regardless Richard does a decent job on lead vocal. "Making Love In The Afternoon" - In my mind this is the most fun of all the songs on Karen's solo album. I envision Karen with a huge smile on her face as she was recording this song. |
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Post by BethMosior on Apr 23, 2005 4:53:44 GMT -5
some of mine are Book of Love Happy Goofus My name is Sandra Dee ( live in Holland'76' ) All You Get From Love Is a love Song Sweet Sweet Smile Beechwood45789 I'm sure there are more but my brain finally desides to stop  |
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 23, 2005 9:27:54 GMT -5
some of mine are Book of Love Happy Goofus My name is Sandra Dee ( live in Holland'76' ) All You Get From Love Is a love Song Sweet Sweet Smile Beechwood45789 I'm sure there are more but my brain finally desides to stop I for got all about "Look At Me I'm Sandra Dee". Thank you for mentioning that one Bth. That is a fun song. Totally funny. Karen is a hoot! |
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 28, 2005 10:45:24 GMT -5
 here's a few more FUN songs which put a smile on my face... Sweet Sweet Smile - this is a wonderful upbeat song written by Juice Newton. I just love the upbeat sunshiny feel of this song. Man Smart Woman Smarter - A fun song which shows some of that famous Carpenter humor. Jambalaya - You get a sense of feeling that Carpenters really enjoyed recording this song and performing it in concert. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D 
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Post by beaner on Apr 28, 2005 11:00:17 GMT -5
For me it's songs that Karen seemed to be enjoying while making them such as:
Top of the World (havin' a little fun with Richard)
Please Mr. Postman (Disneyland)
Dancin' in the Street (at the beginning when she says "yeah"
Breaking up is hard to do (laughing at the end)
Medley with Ella Fitzgerald (looked so proud to be with Ella)
Sing (with the children)
Songs from her unreleased collection
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 29, 2005 1:56:49 GMT -5
Hi Beaner... I hadn't thought of the Karen/Ella Medley to add to the fun list. Though you are right. This is really a fun listen. And you know Karen must have been in another world while recording this song. Although I don't think Karen and Ella actually recorded their parts at the same time. Another one to add to my fun list is "Happy". This one is one of my major favorites of any Carpenters song. The music arrangment is solid - as is everything on "Horizon". The lyric is clever. Using a card game to symbolize the chance you take with love. Karen really sounds upbeat here and sounds like she really enjoyed recording this song. I always felt this one should have been an a-side single. |
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Post by beaner on Apr 29, 2005 5:34:09 GMT -5
Hi Rick,
I didn't realize that Ella and Karen didn't record their duet together. I recently got a dvd copy of the television show where she and Ella perform and it's just so sweet to see Karen and how she must have felt. I guess the more I think about it, it is just that, sweet and not really funny but it makes me smile.
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 29, 2005 10:33:08 GMT -5
Hi Rick, I didn't realize that Ella and Karen didn't record their duet together. I recently got a dvd copy of the television show where she and Ella perform and it's just so sweet to see Karen and how she must have felt. I guess the more I think about it, it is just that, sweet and not really funny but it makes me smile. Hi Beaner! Karen's parts were recorded in the studio while Ella's parts were recorded live during the filming of the television special. I believe that's the way it happened. As for funny definitely the song (medley) is not funny - but it is a FUN listen as implied by this thread's topic of songs that are "fun". Thanks Beaner for mentioning the medley I'm going to put my headphones on and listen to it now. |
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Post by cam83 on Apr 29, 2005 12:15:12 GMT -5
What's funny is that when KC sings with Ella(with Karen lipsyncing)...she tries to sit down in the chair and has a bit of a stumble...trying to get it...but does so. Then Ella says to Karen, and you can hear her say something....like sing it...or you go...and Karen lipsyncs...so you know Ella's microphone works but when Karen says YEAH or something you can't really hear it, and if you do, it's because ELLA's microphone picks it up as that one is turned up. Karen's doesn't pick it up so I thought that was a bit funny but it makes sense that Karen's microphone is turned off, because it would have picked up anything....KAREN recorded these songs all in one way, so RC says that they may as well be LIVE. They were recorded on her birthday March 2, 1980.
Cameron
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Post by beaner on Apr 30, 2005 6:13:59 GMT -5
Cool, thanks Rick and Cam, for all that added info. on the Ella and Karen medley. I'll have to go watch it again too to try and see all that you saw Cam.
Another recent purchase on Ebay was the show with Victor Borge. Now, anytime you have Victor Borge, you're in for laughs. I absolutely LOVED that man. He would crack me up every time with his skits.
Anyway, I even had to chuckle at he and Richard playing the piano. Richard, usually serious, can't help but lose his seriousness with Victor.
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 30, 2005 9:41:43 GMT -5
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Post by Rick Henry on May 4, 2005 14:00:42 GMT -5
Another one I love which is a fun listen is "One Fine Day" from the "Now And Then" oldies medley. I just love this upbeat song. I always thought it would be great if there was a full version of this song as well as all the songs from the medley.
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