Isn't it amazing...

[Rick Henry]

I am always amazed by how certain Carpenters songs seem to be known by virtually everybody... even in this current day.
The song "Close To You" is known by almost anybody you speak with young, middle aged and elder. It's something how certain songs seem to transcend time and are just generally known by the public. This is similar with songs like "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "Hey Jude", "Candle In The Wind" and so forth.

Carpenters have a few songs belong to this elite group of phenomenally known songs...

"We've Only Just Begun", "Rainy Days And Mondays", "Superstar" and "Goodbye To Love" seem to belong in this group is super well known songs... even by people who are just casual listeners of music... seems like there are certain songs you can't escape knowing... even if just superficially.

[YesterdayOnceMore]

I'd venture to say that Top of the World is in this category, as well. I'd say, too, that Merry Christmas Darling would be highly recognizable, but I don't think it really would be.....not by all of those age groups you mentioned.

[enigma]

Yes I can agree with that the fact that the Carpenters just wont be forgotten like so many artists of their decade and musical style (or what people place them into as a musical style) the Carpenters stay popular and in the public eye this amazes me even though it should not. Because the Carpenters are not forgotten it makes sense that non fans will naturally be familiar with their biggest hits also the mentioned songs are the one most often played on radio so that is a contributing fact. Close to you is an obvious one its hard to bury a song that was number one for a month in america and all the metioned songs were either number one hits in america or other countrys so I agree it is amazing that they are still popular but not surprised that this is the case. You know they are also just plain good songs even if I tend to get sick of hearing them from time to time.

[Rick Henry]

enigma said:

Yes I can agree with that the fact that the Carpenters just wont be forgotten like so many artists of their decade and musical style (or what people place them into as a musical style) the Carpenters stay popular and in the public eye this amazes me even though it should not. Because the Carpenters are not forgotten it makes sense that non fans will naturally be familiar with their biggest hits also the mentioned songs are the one most often played on radio so that is a contributing fact. Close to you is an obvious one its hard to bury a song that was number one for a month in america and all the metioned songs were either number one hits in america or other countrys so I agree it is amazing that they are still popular but not surprised that this is the case. You know they are also just plain good songs even if I tend to get sick of hearing them from time to time.

I love it E... that you're honest enough to say you get sick of Carpenters' music from time to time. There will be periods where I don't listen to Carpenters at all for weeks even months. This past Christmas season I actually did not once play any Carpenters Christmas music... but that's not to say I didn't hear it... I heard their holiday cheer at the malls and on internet radio... I felt there was no reason to play the disc. Generally these days when I want my Carpenters fix... it's Karen's solo album that goes into my player... I love those jazz influenced funk grooves... despite what some have said her solo album has aged quite well musically. "My Body Keeps Changing My Mind" is about the only song on the album I feel has not aged too well. But songs like "If I Had You", "Still Crazy After All These Years", Make Believe It's Your First Time", "Guess I Just Lost My Head", "Remember When Lovin' Took All Night" and so forth still sound quite crisp and cutting edge.

Tim, I agree with you to a point on "Top Of The World"... in it's day it was a super-popular song, and nowadays it is certainly well remembered, but the song doesn't seem to have quite the same fuel as some of the others... "Goodbye To Love" is a widely known song and is topic on many blogs and forums because of Tony Peluso's guitar solo... often times "goodbye To Love" ends up on odd "Favorites" countdowns on the internet... "most depressing song", "best power ballad", etc. "Superstar" has been in several movies, same with "Close To You" and "We've Only Just Begun". "Rainy Days and Mondays" hasn't been used in any movies... but oddly enough is extremely well remembered because it is played often on Mondays when it's raining... go think... Also "Superstar" is generally mentioned by critics to be the Carpenters' all-time best song and is often listed on "best of" countdowns... VH1 has featured the song a few times on their countdowns.

By the way Tim... just so you don't think otherwise, I do like "Top Of The World", it's a fine song with a smooth easy going feel... always a good listen on a sunny day.

Anyway it is amazing just how popular Carpenters have remained throughout the years. Back in 1979 if you were to have asked me then I would have said the Carpenters most likely will not be that well remembered in history... oby was I ever proved wrong... They're still selling an amazing 3 -4 million albums a year every year.