A Song For You: Love It or Leave It

[Rick Henry]

The title track from the fabulous 1972 album "A Song For You". This song has all the trademarks of a classic Carpenters. Let us know what you like and/or dislike about the song.

[BethMosior]

I Really this song, Karen shows sooooo much feeling in and longing in this song that you just want to say I forgive you for a long time I had a hard time listening to it especially when Karen sings " and when my life is over " woooooow just soooo sad but know I can listen Richard really so moving with the music that it just brings tears to my eyes as well as Karen's interpritation WOOOOOOW what a great and beautiful song BRAVO Richard & Karen BRAVO

[enigma]

I voted I love It rich vocal great arrangement and almost autobiographical and/or prophetic or even ironic one of the more interesting songs Karen has sung lyrically speaking. A real intimate song sung as if Karen is living it as she sings it.Just a great song!

[smoothie2]

Love it all the way! One of the C's very best!

[Ming]

I love it. A song for you is very beautiful.

Ming

[YesterdayOnceMore]

;D ;D


Simply one of the best....As I've previously stated, this one is a real gut wrentching song, as it was the first song I played just after hearing of Karen's death - well, the reprise of it; nevertheless, I think of Karen singing this with longing in telling her story of being a musician - and all the trials that comes with that. She's been so many places in her life and time....sung a lot of songs.....made some bad rhyme.

But, at the end of the day, we were alone, and she was singing this song just for ME. Many, many wonderful, glorious times. And, it's true to this day that when I think of Karen's untimely death, I think of these words and Karen singing them so beautifully: "....and when my life is over, remember when we were together....we were alone and I was singing this song for you."

And she surely does......beautifully!!!

Tim

;D ;D

[cam83]

I must sadly but truthfully admit, I never liked this song. I found it so slow and kinda boring. I never liked her vocal on this song...although I loved the REPRISE of it, because it was short and sweet. I kind of liken this song to THIS MASQUERADE...I like This Masquerade but it's not a high favorite of mine. Never on one of my FAVE lists. A SONG FOR YOU was probably the last Carpenters album I ever heard...when I started collecting the Carpenters albums...

My thoughts,
Cameron

[Rick Henry]

Love it all the way...

There's no doubt about it, "A Song For You" is one of the Carpenters' strongest and finest songs in their entire repertoire. The song is bold, vibrant, powerful, sweet, dark and intimate with a bit of an edge and raw soul to it.

The musicanship on this song is outstanding and somewhat progressive in it's own soulful pop way. Musically the Carpenters were so far ahead of their contemporaries in 1972 (just look at "Goodbye To Love" - Carpenters trailblazed with that song).

Then there's Karen's voice. This song (along with "Road Ode") showcases Karen's rich, deep, dark and soulful side of her voice. She was in tip top full voice when she recorded this one. I consider this to be one of Karen's ten best vocal performances.

I also enjoy the reprise - but prefer the entire full song much much better. With the full song you get all the urgency of the song and it's intimate story, and even better you get the excellent steamy sax solo which takes the song to a higher place. I just love this song all the way.

"A Song For You" was the first Carpenters album I ever purchased. For sentimental reasons I may say this is my favorite Carpenters album (since it was the first one I purchased) - but in actuality it's something like my fifth favorite of Carpenters albums. My favorite Carpenters album is "Horizon" which was the seventh by the Carpenters that I purchased.

[smoothie2]

Well stated Rick....even though I knew and loved the C's by the time this song came out, it was only a few yrs. ago that I bought the tape A S. for You.
But, I had heard it perhaps over the radio or tv once or twice, and it was one that stuck in my head.
I think not long after the album came out, I recall being at my best friend's house in the "stereo room" and my friend was really excited for me to hear it.
And so I was especially glad that she re-acquainted me to the album and song.
/////////////////////////////////////
Of course, back then I was only about 13 in '72
and through the yrs.,
i have learned what a great impact it made but
especially since Karen passed so soon from us
and it just makes the song speak volumes even more...s

[smoothie2]

cam83 said:

I must sadly but truthfully admit, I never liked this song. I found it so slow and kinda boring. I never liked her vocal on this song...although I loved the REPRISE of it, because it was short and sweet. I kind of liken this song to THIS MASQUERADE...I like This Masquerade but it's not a high favorite of mine. Never on one of my FAVE lists. A SONG FOR YOU was probably the last Carpenters album I ever heard...when I started collecting the Carpenters albums...

My thoughts,
Cameron

???Looks like you may be in a minority on this one Cam, but hey....everybody's different in their likes and dislikes...I do like that reprise also, but I really like the whole version.

[Moe]

Love it! Karen's voice shows true growth from the previous album and the stripped down arrangement is awesome. I especially love the sax solo.

[Carps1000]

Love it too. & the reprise is awsome for an ending 2 an lp

[Rob813]

I really love this song. It's true about Karen's growth as a singer from the Carpenters album to the Song For You album. If you listen to the former one and then immediately listen to the ASFY album, one is struck by how much Karen's maturity as an artist and singer has grown. I love the simplicity of Sometimes at the end of the Carpenters album. Then at the opening of A Song For You, it's as if Karen has risen to a new level of power and "hipness". I believe A Song For You showed the whole world just what to expect from Carpenters. They were here to stay and they were dripping with talent!

[Rick Henry]

rob813 said:

I really love this song. It's true about Karen's growth as a singer from the Carpenters album to the Song For You album. If you listen to the former one and then immediately listen to the ASFY album, one is struck by how much Karen's maturity as an artist and singer has grown. I love the simplicity of Sometimes at the end of the Carpenters album. Then at the opening of A Song For You, it's as if Karen has risen to a new level of power and "hipness". I believe A Song For You showed the whole world just what to expect from Carpenters. They were here to stay and they were dripping with talent!

I like the way you worded this Rob. Karen was definitely "hip". That voice was fantastic. Karen did grow quite a bit as a vocalist just from "Carpenters" to "A Song For You". Though, Karen was already quite accomplished in 1971 especially with "Superstar" and "Rainy Days And Mondays". Karen was only 21 when she recorded these songs. Think of the female vocalists on the scene right now who are 21 (or around that age). I can't think of anyone other who even comes close to Karen's sheer vocal maturity and grace at such a young age.

You are also right in that "A Song For You" proved to the world that the Carpenters were going to be around a while. Both "Close To you" and "Carpenters" were popular (not phenomenal but still popular) in other countries throughout the world. But it wasn't until "A Song For You" that they began hitting almost every country in the world. "A Song For You" reached U.S. (#4), Japan (#5) and UK (#13). This was their first album to reach the top 15 in all three of their most popular markets. Of course we know "Now And Then" and "Horizon" sold even better worldwide.