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Post by Rick Henry on Sept 8, 2005 9:22:17 GMT -5
"Goofus" is one of those songs that most Carpenters fans seem to having very differing opinions on. It's one of those songs that you either love or you don't. What's your thoughts on this song?
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Sept 8, 2005 12:36:07 GMT -5
I love it! It's a cute song, and I think the arrangement is just super - the harmony parts and the syncronization are just outstanding. My opinion... Tim
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Post by beaner on Sept 8, 2005 12:48:31 GMT -5
I love it! I love the harmony in it right down to the cute little pop at the end. I put my finger in my mouth and make that sound every time.
Hey come on, at least I don't put my foot in my mouth.
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Post by smoothie2 on Sept 8, 2005 13:15:41 GMT -5
???as far as the harmonies, and the superb orchestration of it, it's perfect. I'd forgot about the mouth pop at the end....that's fun. It just doesn't appeal to me like most of their other songs. The sax part is terrific. If I had to rate it, it would come in the middle range of 5 or 6....this is regarding a scale from 1-10. ...So, I voted that I can take it or leave it.
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Post by enigma on Sept 8, 2005 16:16:13 GMT -5
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Post by BethMosior on Sept 8, 2005 19:38:48 GMT -5
I love its Jazzy, New Orlands type style sound, plus Karen sings is the same way its an up beat
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Post by Rick Henry on Sept 8, 2005 21:08:43 GMT -5
I had to give this song the "love it" vote. Yes, it is a corny song and maybe a song like "Ordinary Fool" may have related better on the music scene of 1976. But if you really give "Goofus" a good close unbiased listen it's undeniable that the musical arrangement is actually very tight. It's near perfect. The sax solo, the tuba, the electric guitar, the mouth pop, and the extended note Karen's holds at the end come together to make a very wonderful vaudevillian styled song with the musical technology of 1976. The timing of all the musical and vocal parts is incredibly impeccable.
On Karen's vocal. It may not be "Solitaire", "Road Ode" or "Rainy Days And Mondays" but for this style of song Karen nails it right on. As on all her performances her vocal is near perfection. This once again displays Karen's vocal versatility. And the vocal arrangement with it's overdubbed harmonies is as good as any Richard Carpenter arrangement. Maybe not as intense or chilling. But in the technical sense this musical and vocal arrangement is just as good as anything Richard has ever done. "Goofus" is certainly somewhat on the corny side and maybe that's why several don't recognize it's musical proficiency. Regardless the proficiency is there.
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Post by Ming on Sept 8, 2005 21:16:54 GMT -5
I love this song because Karen is very happy when she is singing this song.
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Post by K on Sept 9, 2005 3:46:11 GMT -5
What is the meaning of 'Goofus'?
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Post by beaner on Sept 9, 2005 5:12:34 GMT -5
Now I read a long time ago, (I thought in one of the newsletters) that Goofus was named after a Saxophone. Can anyone shed any light on this?
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Post by enigma on Sept 9, 2005 6:44:51 GMT -5
That is a quite detailed and tachnical take on this song Rick I must say. I will also say this because somebody does not care for a song does not mean they do not recognise its musical proficiency, it does not mean they are musically illiterate and it does not mean they know anything about music. Sometimes people just do not like a song and its rather insulting to assume that their dislike of a song means they are missing the point of the song or not recognising elements in a song like arrangement etc. Not everyone gets the same "vibe" from a song and to each his own it has nothing to do with the quality of the song its a matter of personal and musical taste thats all.
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Post by cam83 on Sept 9, 2005 9:39:50 GMT -5
I will also be in the minority...NOT everything they recorded was perfection...this is one of those songs...WHAT WERE THEY THINKING??? Really...no wonder they got some jibes about image and song choice etc...she should have been recording and releasing way better songs than GOOFUS...I mean Karen did a good job on it and everything...but it's just too corny of a song...to be released as a single...
My thoughts, Cam
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Post by Rick Henry on Sept 9, 2005 9:47:21 GMT -5
That is a quite detailed and tachnical take on this song Rick I must say. I will also say this because somebody does not care for a song does not mean they do not recognise its musical proficiency, it does not mean they are musically illiterate and it does not mean they know anything about music. Sometimes people just do not like a song and its rather insulting to assume that their dislike of a song means they are missing the point of the song or not recognising elements in a song like arrangement etc. Not everyone gets the same "vibe" from a song and to each his own it has nothing to do with the quality of the song its a matter of personal and musical taste thats all. Hi Enigma! Good response though the statements I made were not in any way directed toward you or anybody else. I have always felt that "maybe" (and I use the word "maybe" here - as this is just a theory not a fact) there are a good amount of people who do not recognize the musicianship in "Goofus" just for the fact that it is a corny song. And since it is corny I can understand why several do not care for this song. And yes to each his own. There are several songs other fans love which I just do not care for (such as "Now" and "Because We Are In Love"). All in all I do defend "Goofus" as I feel it really is a very well produced song and I love the fact that it's been a popluar circus song - this just shows Karen and Richard's sense of humor.
I agree they should not have released it as a single. But one must remember back in 1976 when the album "A Kind Of Hush" was released several fans wrote to the fan club praising the song "Goofus" - I was one of those people. Richard, Karen and A&M decided to release this song because of the fans.
*sidebar note* I also used the word "maybe" in my original statement as to why I feel some people possibly do not understand "Goofus" - and once again the comments I made are not directed to any one person. My comments are my own personal feelings and are just general statements. Nothing more nothing less.
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Post by karen69roland on Sept 9, 2005 17:08:13 GMT -5
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Post by Federico Cruz on Sept 9, 2005 17:39:08 GMT -5
I will also be in the minority...NOT everything they recorded was perfection...this is one of those songs... WHAT WERE THEY THINKING??? Really...no wonder they got some jibes about image and song choice etc...she should have been recording and releasing way better songs than GOOFUS...I mean Karen did a good job on it and everything...but it's just too corny of a song...to be released as a single... My thoughts, Cam I totally agree with you, Cam! Back in 1976, when I did my first listen to my A Kind Of Hush LP and heard Goofus and BUIHTD, I said to myself: WHAT ARE THEY THINKING ABOUT??? The Carpenters should have been recording songs like "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You" and would have been at the top of the charts like Barry Manilow was around this time. I LOVE all the others songs from this album AKOH. Federico
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Post by Carps1000 on Sept 10, 2005 7:06:07 GMT -5
Hi Goofus Calling!!! I remeber way back in 76 listening to the radio & The DJ played the song for the 1st time & stated it was the Cs new single (It wasnt released over here actually & it was an error on his behalf) but I remember hearing it & LOVED it. Its a comical song with good vocals & typical Carpenterish great vocal harmonies & in my view was the Cs at their best. Note that there was at least one song per studio album that was in this vein of being somewhat "different" IE: A S 4 U had Intermission: C 2 U had Another Song: Drucilla Penny on Carpenters. & even Passage speaks for itself. One of the reasons why the Cs were so brilliant were they never put out monotonus LPs with 10 -12 songs of the same vein from start - finish they varied the tracks to make em interesting. Goofus is TOPS. Tho unfortunatly didnt make me top 5 charts ( Watch this space) in any form. As I have already said "No 54!!! Shame on you America". Goofus 1000
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Post by Rob813 on Sept 10, 2005 19:34:38 GMT -5
You guys are so interesting and intense at the same time. It's interesting how we take everything so personally. I myself do not care for this song. I think everything Rick said about it is true, but for me the sum of the parts do not add up to the whole. Richard himself says he released some duds toward the end. He may have been talking about this one. After all, it's not included in any of the anthology releases.
There were surely many other choices that would have been better. How Ordinary Fool was never released prior to Karen's death is a mystery to me. It is so extraordinary. I think Richard was searching for other material (aside from ballads) to drive their career in a new direction. He was dealing with the decline in his health and an unreasonable concern about declining record sales which is a normal part of every recording artists career. Television was the next step arranged by their agent and turned out to be a brilliant move. Tastes were changing in the mid to late 70's and everyone was struggling to find their way. Carpenters were no exception.
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Post by Rick Henry on Sept 10, 2005 22:08:52 GMT -5
Hmmm...
More interesting comments on "Goofus". First I'm surprised that the poll shows 5 "love it" votes. when I posted this poll I thought for sure the "leave it's" would prevail.
Eventhough I do love this song. I completely agree with what a lot of you are saying here. There were better songs which could have been put on the album "Ordinary Fool" is one such example. The song connects with me mainly because when I was in my early and mid teens 13 to 17 years old (which was from 1973 to 1977) I had a great fondness for music of the 20's and 30's. Especially vaudeville, ragtime and Charleston era pop jazz. I had a collection of "goofus" type songs such as "Yes, We Have No Bananas" and "The Music Goes Round and Round".
I also agree that other songs would have had better potential for hit status. I think if "Can't Smile without You" were released instead it would have atleast reached the top 30.
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