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Post by GoodOldDreams on Nov 13, 2006 14:00:43 GMT -5
I just witnessed a TV commercial that speaks to me volumes about Karen's enduring impact on contemporary culture. This ad, promoting a product that targets girls and young women who are taking control of their personal health, uses iconic imagery of young women on the cutting-edge such as an extreme skateboarder, basketball player, soccer player and a slender white female drummer with bangs and clothing typical of Karen's style back in the late 1960's to early 1970's, twirling one of her drumsticks expertly like a baton. Homage or coincidence? What do you think? Is Karen still as iconoclastic now as then? Check it out at: www.gardasil.com/tv-commercial-for-gardasil.htmland click on the black screen to play the commercial. IMPORTANT ADVISORY: Some people may consider this ad to be rated "R" because of the subject matter, so use discretion when playing the audio!   |
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Post by wisejester7 on Nov 13, 2006 19:56:10 GMT -5
Homage or coincidence? Hmm, I'm not sure. You could probably argue either way on it.
Is Karen still as iconoclastic now as then? There still exists the uniqueness of the female drummer, so there is still the iconoclastic label, but definitely not as much as before.
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Post by GoodOldDreams on Nov 13, 2006 21:07:55 GMT -5
Homage or coincidence? Hmm, I'm not sure. You could probably argue either way on it. Is Karen still as iconoclastic now as then? There still exists the uniqueness of the female drummer, so there is still the iconoclastic label, but definitely not as much as before. Yes, with the advent of the few all-girls bands that have come and gone, there certainly have been female drummers, but perhaps not as well known as Karen worldwide. Notice how similar the haircut of the dark-haired female drummer in the ad is to that of the current background photo of Karen and Richard accepting the Grammy. Both have straight bangs and somewhat wispy, medium long hair lengths, a casual style that is not particularly common to see nowadays as well as then (usually the ends are trimmed more evenly). Even considering the few Karen impersonators and actresses that have been around, the woman in the ad seems to bear more than just a coincidental resemblance to, or subliminal suggestion of, the Lead Sister. We can dream, can't we?  |
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Post by Rick Henry on Nov 13, 2006 22:34:10 GMT -5
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Homage or coincidence?
Oh, I think this is homage all the way. definitely a tribute to Karen. The girl drummer in the commercial looks too much like Karen at a quick glance.
My own opinion on this is that Karen is today every bit as much a superstar as she was in the 70's.
Firstly her voice still manages to sell around 3 million units a year. Let me tell you not many of her peers from the 70's can claim to sell this much every single year.
Then, there's the fact that most people still know who Karen Carpenter is.
Not only that have you seen just how many web sites and myspace sites there are in tribute to either Karen or Carpenters? There are tons - more than I can count.
On top of all this the music which once was pawned off as being cardboard and uninspiring is now called classic and Karen is now considered one of the all-time great singers in the history of popular music.
And to continue Carpenters are generally accepted and more people have admitted to liking their music.
Yes, Karen is still very much alive in the hearts of music lovers the world over!
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by smoothie2 on Nov 15, 2006 1:06:54 GMT -5
 :drumspin:  :-[Well how very Interesting! Truly I agree with Rick, There is a lot of resemblance ...enough so that it just re-inforces, reminds us, of Karen/the C's music, In the current background pic at the Grammy's, Richard looks genuinely proud and thrilled, and Karen, I'm sure feels the same way, but gee they are SO very young....she's a little stunned looking and yet, looks especially like an angel I think partially because her hair is so dark and she's fair complected. In any case, Karen once again RULES!...very genuine, unique, the voice, the tremendous talent on the drums. I think the C's live on .... >>>><<<<<>>>>> By the way, just a thought on female drummers, I watched an Andy Williams at Branson tape, I think made in '94, he had a female drummer. Kinda plump, dark hair in a pony tail...wonderful on drums. I surely think she must have been inspired by Karen. ....And for all of us A. Williams fans, the DVD I rented from Netflix... just was so amazing, I could tell very little if any difference in his voice from now compared to him in his "hey-dey" (oh my, Hey-Dey's, are also so very delicious, crispy, layered chocolate cookie things...yumm) My gracious, Andy can serenade me anytime...ha.. ;D
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Nov 15, 2006 12:39:18 GMT -5
 I would have to agree this would be total "homage" to Karen Carpenter, THE female drummer. When someone says to you - oh, a female drummer - who do you immediately think of? Why, Karen, of course. Not only was she an exceptional drummer, she was accepted by those in the business, and especially her fans as a FEMALE DRUMMER - just another of those things that the times didn't allow, then. I won't get into all the politics, but you all know what I mean. Wow - what a wonderful thing for Karen not only to step out and DO this, and so many were absolutely intriqued by it - but she did it so exceptionally well. She always said she was "a drummer who sang." She knew that one of her real forte's was playing those tubs. And I am amazed more and more over the years, looking back at YouTube videos, and others I've acquired at how incredible she was. She had "grace" on the trap set. Absolute poise, agility, beauty, simplicity and grace. All in one package. The girl doll looks way, way, WAY too much like Karen for it NOT to be homage to her. Gee - could they GET any closer to Karen's appearance?? Nice, this. Thanks, Dreams for bringing it to our attention. Tim 
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Jan 10, 2007 20:58:07 GMT -5
 Interestingly, I just saw this commercial for the first time - and of course, I recognized the young girl drummer from the photos that Dreams posted. Thanks, Dreams. Yes, definitely a "homage" to Karen here, I believe. The subject matter is serious, and all too familiar - but the commercial was well done - they definitely don't overdo this girl and her drums, but one gets the picture in good time that this girl drummer has a plan for her life - and amazingly, she looks very much like a young Karen Carpenter behind the drums. Sort of, "spooky." Tim
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Post by Rick Henry on Jan 11, 2007 2:34:40 GMT -5
Tim, you and I must be connected - I also just saw the commercial today at about 10:00 a.m (which would be 1:00 p.m. your time).
I agree a well done commercial and the drummer girl image really does look very much like Karen Carpenter. It's a pretty quick shot of her - that one might almost think it is Karen (of course us die-hard fans know it isn't). Good commerical - I hope to see it again real soon so I can take a closer look. |
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Post by ps11932 on Jan 16, 2007 17:12:32 GMT -5
I've seen this commercial just once also, and agree- the drummer had to be inspirred by Karen. (Most likely, the other personages were based on actual stars of the other fields, too.)
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