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Post by carpentersgermany on Apr 8, 2008 10:39:50 GMT -5
Recently I watched some photos of the Carpenters (mostly KC) and while I was watching these pictures I listened to "Non-Carpenters-music".. There are two or three songs that since then always make me think of the Carpenters. And I like watching C.'s slide shows with these songs as background music.. It's not about the lyrics or anything, the feeling of the songs is just somehow related to the Carpenters for me.. Actually I don't really know why.. Beached - Orbital www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma1ge_Lr5MEMy Life - Chanel www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX6YfHtCl7sDeep - East 17 (apropos "Guilty Pleasures" ) www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tloj9osem6wI would like to know if anyone of you also has a Non-Carpenters song that makes him/her think of the Carpenters. Could be because of the lyrics or anything else..
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Post by beaner on Apr 8, 2008 11:33:00 GMT -5
Not any one song in particular I have in mind but many of the songs that my friends sing with the Sweet Adelines international chorus reminds me of the Carpenters with all the beautiful chords that you hear.
One song they sang recently was at my friend's funeral and that was "It Is Well With My Soul". Those four parts sounded outstanding and I think Karen would have been proud. Richard as well, being the lover of chords, I would hope.
Beaner
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Post by carpentersgermany on Apr 8, 2008 14:39:43 GMT -5
Beaner, I can very well imagine that the chorus was outstanding. I visited the website of the Sweet Adelines international chorus. But if I got it right they are something like a federation of several choirs, aren't they?
A part of my family is very active in a local choir in my hometown. I was a member of that choir from 10-14. We sang "Top of the wold" in that choir. Actually there are other Carpenters songs that would seem more appropriate to me, like Crescent Noon for instance.
Naming the songs of your friends chorus here, Beaner, maybe you could help me. Is it something like a Barbershop Choir? I'm working in a concert hall and there we had an international Barbershop contest last month with groups from Germany, U.S., Canada, UK and Netherlands. I wished one of them would have sang a Carpenters song. I think this specific type of singing would match very good with some of the C.'s arrangements. Maybe you can tell me, if some of the C.'s songs are part of the standard repertoire of American choirs?
Thank you CG
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Post by GoodOldDreams on Apr 8, 2008 18:18:39 GMT -5
Hi CG, The Carpenters did a wonderful barbershop quartet-style rendition of "Without a Song" when they sang the first half of the song a cappella: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJcrfqvlqi4 . Wikipedia gives a nice characterization of this genre of music, especially the part about siblings: "[orange]A barbershop quartet is an ensemble of four people who sing a cappella in the exacting barbershop music genre. While the form is accessible to nearly anyone who can carry their part, the best quartets are formed of singers with a very uniform sound, particularly for vowels. With few exceptions, quartets are all-male or all-female in order to better match voices.[/orange] Often siblings are naturally well-matched, as they grow up using the same accent. [orange]In other cases, disciplined practice over time yields consistent use of the same vowels. In North America most male barbershop quartet singers belong to the Barbershop Harmony Society, while most female barbershop quartet singers are in either Sweet Adelines International or Harmony, Inc. Similar organizations have sprung up in many other countries. Most barbershop quartet singers also choose to sing in a barbershop chorus.[/orange]" CG, you may be interested to know that the American group Modern Barbershop Quartet did an excellent recording of "We've Only Just Begun" in this style some years ago, but is now probably long out of print. On the UK talent show "The X-Factor," a six-member group called the Unconventionals performed "Top of the World" very loosely in this fashion: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5cDWmQdUUg . In terms of choirs with the standard 4-part soprano-alto-tenor-bass harmonies with musical accompaniment, I have heard "We've Only Just Begun" and "Bless the Beasts and Children" performed in this style, but I would not consider them to be part of the standard repertoire of American choirs. Ed
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 8, 2008 20:48:53 GMT -5
Hi CG, The Carpenters did a wonderful barbershop quartet-style rendition of "Without a Song" when they sang the first half of the song a cappella: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJcrfqvlqi4 . Wikipedia gives a nice characterization of this genre of music, especially the part about siblings: "[orange]A barbershop quartet is an ensemble of four people who sing a cappella in the exacting barbershop music genre. While the form is accessible to nearly anyone who can carry their part, the best quartets are formed of singers with a very uniform sound, particularly for vowels. With few exceptions, quartets are all-male or all-female in order to better match voices.[/orange] Often siblings are naturally well-matched, as they grow up using the same accent. [orange]In other cases, disciplined practice over time yields consistent use of the same vowels. In North America most male barbershop quartet singers belong to the Barbershop Harmony Society, while most female barbershop quartet singers are in either Sweet Adelines International or Harmony, Inc. Similar organizations have sprung up in many other countries. Most barbershop quartet singers also choose to sing in a barbershop chorus.[/orange]" CG, you may be interested to know that the American group Modern Barbershop Quartet did an excellent recording of "We've Only Just Begun" in this style some years ago, but is now probably long out of print. On the UK talent show "The X-Factor," a six-member group called the Unconventionals performed "Top of the World" very loosely in this fashion: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5cDWmQdUUg . In terms of choirs with the standard 4-part soprano-alto-tenor-bass harmonies with musical accompaniment, I have heard "We've Only Just Begun" and "Bless the Beasts and Children" performed in this style, but I would not consider them to be part of the standard repertoire of American choirs. Ed
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 8, 2008 21:18:07 GMT -5
Recently I watched some photos of the Carpenters (mostly KC) and while I was watching these pictures I listened to "Non-Carpenters-music".. There are two or three songs that since then always make me think of the Carpenters. And I like watching C.'s slide shows with these songs as background music.. It's not about the lyrics or anything, the feeling of the songs is just somehow related to the Carpenters for me.. Actually I don't really know why.. Beached - Orbital www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma1ge_Lr5MEMy Life - Chanel www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX6YfHtCl7sDeep - East 17 (apropos "Guilty Pleasures" ) www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tloj9osem6wI would like to know if anyone of you also has a Non-Carpenters song that makes him/her think of the Carpenters. Could be because of the lyrics or anything else.. Hey CG... Thank you for bringing up this topic... Interesting that these songs make you think of Karen Carpenter... and that's great because maybe you see a different side of Karen that others don't see... a modern youthful side of Karen... which certainly existed. "Beached" has a great dance rhythm to it... I really enjoyed it. I found Chanel's music video to be quite well produced... a bit risque for my taste, though. Had Karen lived I could see her producing a techno sort of dance music video like this... of course not as risque. Karen was brave enough to want to explore into musical genres that she wasn't generally associated with.I think in this current day she would have certainly ventured into the current dance music video trends and put her own twist to it. I agree East 17 is a guilty pleasure... cute song though. Whenever I hear Jackson Browne's "That Girl Could sing", I immediately think of Karen... simply because that girl could sing! Klaatu's "A Routine Day" also makes me think of Karen because the lyric at the end says; "And I'm waiting on the pier til Charon comes"The singer's pronunciation of the name Charon sounds like he's saying Karen. I've always thought of this song to be an ode to Karen. "I Go To sleep" by the Pretenders has always made me think of Karen, because I've always thought she could do a fabulous recording of this song... When I look up from my pillow I dream you are there with me Though you are far away I know youll always be near to me I go to sleep, sleep And imagine that you're there with me I go to sleep, sleep And imagine that you're there with me I look around me And feel you are ever so close to me Each tear that flows from my eye Brings back memories of you to me I go to sleep, sleep And imagine that you're there with me I go to sleep, sleep And imagine that you're there with me I was wrong, I will cry I will love you till the day I die You were all, you alone and no one else You were meant for me When morning comes again I have the loneliness you left me Each day drags by Until finally my time descends on me I go to sleep, sleep And imagine that you're there with me I go to sleep, sleep And imagine that you're there with me
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Post by GoodOldDreams on Apr 9, 2008 1:36:33 GMT -5
Hi CG, The Carpenters did a wonderful barbershop quartet-style rendition of "Without a Song" when they sang the first half of the song a cappella: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJcrfqvlqi4 . Wikipedia gives a nice characterization of this genre of music, especially the part about siblings: "[orange]A barbershop quartet is an ensemble of four people who sing a cappella in the exacting barbershop music genre. While the form is accessible to nearly anyone who can carry their part, the best quartets are formed of singers with a very uniform sound, particularly for vowels. With few exceptions, quartets are all-male or all-female in order to better match voices.[/orange] Often siblings are naturally well-matched, as they grow up using the same accent. [orange]In other cases, disciplined practice over time yields consistent use of the same vowels. In North America most male barbershop quartet singers belong to the Barbershop Harmony Society, while most female barbershop quartet singers are in either Sweet Adelines International or Harmony, Inc. Similar organizations have sprung up in many other countries. Most barbershop quartet singers also choose to sing in a barbershop chorus.[/orange]" CG, you may be interested to know that the American group Modern Barbershop Quartet did an excellent recording of "We've Only Just Begun" in this style some years ago, but is now probably long out of print. On the UK talent show "The X-Factor," a six-member group called the Unconventionals performed "Top of the World" very loosely in this fashion: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5cDWmQdUUg . In terms of choirs with the standard 4-part soprano-alto-tenor-bass harmonies with musical accompaniment, I have heard "We've Only Just Begun" and "Bless the Beasts and Children" performed in this style, but I would not consider them to be part of the standard repertoire of American choirs. Ed I have Sinatra's recording of this standard as well. Typical of this genre, his version is a straightforward ballad, backed up by a swing orchestra. In the Carpenters' more unusual arrangement, the closely-matched vocal parts in the a capella portion (as in "that field of corn would never see a plow...") add a barbershop harmony quality to the song. Check out how Sweet Revival (Sweet Adelines Quartet) changes the familiar carol Winter Wonderland likewise into a quartet with their embellishments (the second song in the medley): www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryLXgTVta8g .
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Post by carpentersgermany on Apr 9, 2008 8:08:41 GMT -5
Hi CG, The Carpenters did a wonderful barbershop quartet-style rendition of "Without a Song" when they sang the first half of the song a cappella: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJcrfqvlqi4 . Wikipedia gives a nice characterization of this genre of music, especially the part about siblings: "[orange]A barbershop quartet is an ensemble of four people who sing a cappella in the exacting barbershop music genre. While the form is accessible to nearly anyone who can carry their part, the best quartets are formed of singers with a very uniform sound, particularly for vowels. With few exceptions, quartets are all-male or all-female in order to better match voices.[/orange] Often siblings are naturally well-matched, as they grow up using the same accent. [orange]In other cases, disciplined practice over time yields consistent use of the same vowels. In North America most male barbershop quartet singers belong to the Barbershop Harmony Society, while most female barbershop quartet singers are in either Sweet Adelines International or Harmony, Inc. Similar organizations have sprung up in many other countries. Most barbershop quartet singers also choose to sing in a barbershop chorus.[/orange]" CG, you may be interested to know that the American group Modern Barbershop Quartet did an excellent recording of "We've Only Just Begun" in this style some years ago, but is now probably long out of print. On the UK talent show "The X-Factor," a six-member group called the Unconventionals performed "Top of the World" very loosely in this fashion: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5cDWmQdUUg . In terms of choirs with the standard 4-part soprano-alto-tenor-bass harmonies with musical accompaniment, I have heard "We've Only Just Begun" and "Bless the Beasts and Children" performed in this style, but I would not consider them to be part of the standard repertoire of American choirs. Ed Wow! Thank you so much for the information, Ed! You seem to know a lot about that. Do you sing in a chorus yourself? I'd love to hear a "choral" performance of "We've only just begun" or "Bless the Beasts and Children"!! As I mentioned before, "Crescent Noon" could be great, too. Thank you for the X-Factor link! On one show of the German "American Idol" pendant, they had to sing "Close to you".. If I find it somewhere on the Internet, I'll post the link here..
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Post by carpentersgermany on Apr 9, 2008 9:04:20 GMT -5
Recently I watched some photos of the Carpenters (mostly KC) and while I was watching these pictures I listened to "Non-Carpenters-music".. There are two or three songs that since then always make me think of the Carpenters. And I like watching C.'s slide shows with these songs as background music.. It's not about the lyrics or anything, the feeling of the songs is just somehow related to the Carpenters for me.. Actually I don't really know why.. Beached - Orbital www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma1ge_Lr5MEMy Life - Chanel www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX6YfHtCl7sDeep - East 17 (apropos "Guilty Pleasures" ) www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tloj9osem6wI would like to know if anyone of you also has a Non-Carpenters song that makes him/her think of the Carpenters. Could be because of the lyrics or anything else.. Hey CG... Thank you for bringing up this topic... Interesting that these songs make you think of Karen Carpenter... and that's great because maybe you see a different side of Karen that others don't see... a modern youthful side of Karen... which certainly existed. "Beached" has a great dance rhythm to it... I really enjoyed it. I found Chanel's music video to be quite well produced... a bit risque for my taste, though. Had Karen lived I could see her producing a techno sort of dance music video like this... of course not as risque. Karen was brave enough to want to explore into musical genres that she wasn't generally associated with.I think in this current day she would have certainly ventured into the current dance music video trends and put her own twist to it. I agree East 17 is a guilty pleasure... cute song though. Whenever I hear Jackson Browne's "That Girl Could sing", I immediately think of Karen... simply because that girl could sing! Klaatu's "A Routine Day" also makes me think of Karen because the lyric at the end says; "And I'm waiting on the pier til Charon comes"The singer's pronunciation of the name Charon sounds like he's saying Karen. I've always thought of this song to be an ode to Karen. "I Go To sleep" by the Pretenders has always made me think of Karen, because I've always thought she could do a fabulous recording of this song... When I look up from my pillow I dream you are there with me Though you are far away I know youll always be near to me I go to sleep, sleep And imagine that you're there with me I go to sleep, sleep And imagine that you're there with me I look around me And feel you are ever so close to me Each tear that flows from my eye Brings back memories of you to me I go to sleep, sleep And imagine that you're there with me I go to sleep, sleep And imagine that you're there with me I was wrong, I will cry I will love you till the day I die You were all, you alone and no one else You were meant for me When morning comes again I have the loneliness you left me Each day drags by Until finally my time descends on me I go to sleep, sleep And imagine that you're there with me I go to sleep, sleep And imagine that you're there with me Rick, I have to say I did not know the songs you named, but enjoyed all of them, especially Jack Browne's "That girl could sing".. And I love the winds in the Pretenders Song! I agree, the yearning appeal of the song would be perfect for Karen! The Chanel Video is pretty risque, you're right. I never really watched the video. Even though it's quite well produced, it's kind of trite, isn't it. I'm really tired of all those lightly-clad girls dancing in music videos... Karen would have definitely appeared with a lot more class, but I can also imagine her so well in this disco/dance music genre. I also think it's very interesting that such different type of songs/music makes us think of the Carpenters/Karen. I think that has a lot to do with each one of us as a person. We all see the C.'s from different perspectives and we all have different songs that evoke certain emotions in us. Some of them might be linked to how we feel about the C.'s. Hmm, maybe that could be a reason.. You're right, the songs I mentioned mostly refer to Karen's youthful and playful side but I also appreciate the sometimes kind of dark and melancholic appeal of Karen. A song that makes me think of Karen, too: There is a light that never goes out - The Smiths www.youtube.com/watch?v=INgXzChwipYSeems as if this topic is as complex as human personality is..
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 9, 2008 9:13:57 GMT -5
Hi CG, The Carpenters did a wonderful barbershop quartet-style rendition of "Without a Song" when they sang the first half of the song a cappella: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJcrfqvlqi4 . Wikipedia gives a nice characterization of this genre of music, especially the part about siblings: "[orange]A barbershop quartet is an ensemble of four people who sing a cappella in the exacting barbershop music genre. While the form is accessible to nearly anyone who can carry their part, the best quartets are formed of singers with a very uniform sound, particularly for vowels. With few exceptions, quartets are all-male or all-female in order to better match voices.[/orange] Often siblings are naturally well-matched, as they grow up using the same accent. [orange]In other cases, disciplined practice over time yields consistent use of the same vowels. In North America most male barbershop quartet singers belong to the Barbershop Harmony Society, while most female barbershop quartet singers are in either Sweet Adelines International or Harmony, Inc. Similar organizations have sprung up in many other countries. Most barbershop quartet singers also choose to sing in a barbershop chorus.[/orange]" CG, you may be interested to know that the American group Modern Barbershop Quartet did an excellent recording of "We've Only Just Begun" in this style some years ago, but is now probably long out of print. On the UK talent show "The X-Factor," a six-member group called the Unconventionals performed "Top of the World" very loosely in this fashion: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5cDWmQdUUg . In terms of choirs with the standard 4-part soprano-alto-tenor-bass harmonies with musical accompaniment, I have heard "We've Only Just Begun" and "Bless the Beasts and Children" performed in this style, but I would not consider them to be part of the standard repertoire of American choirs. Ed Wow! Thank you so much for the information, Ed! You seem to know a lot about that. Do you sing in a chorus yourself? I'd love to hear a "choral" performance of "We've only just begun" or "Bless the Beasts and Children"!! As I mentioned before, "Crescent Noon" could be great, too. Thank you for the X-Factor link! On one show of the German "American Idol" pendant, they had to sing "Close to you".. If I find it somewhere on the Internet, I'll post the link here..
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 9, 2008 9:18:30 GMT -5
Hey CG... Thank you for bringing up this topic... Interesting that these songs make you think of Karen Carpenter... and that's great because maybe you see a different side of Karen that others don't see... a modern youthful side of Karen... which certainly existed. "Beached" has a great dance rhythm to it... I really enjoyed it. I found Chanel's music video to be quite well produced... a bit risque for my taste, though. Had Karen lived I could see her producing a techno sort of dance music video like this... of course not as risque. Karen was brave enough to want to explore into musical genres that she wasn't generally associated with.I think in this current day she would have certainly ventured into the current dance music video trends and put her own twist to it. I agree East 17 is a guilty pleasure... cute song though. Whenever I hear Jackson Browne's "That Girl Could sing", I immediately think of Karen... simply because that girl could sing! Klaatu's "A Routine Day" also makes me think of Karen because the lyric at the end says; "And I'm waiting on the pier til Charon comes"The singer's pronunciation of the name Charon sounds like he's saying Karen. I've always thought of this song to be an ode to Karen. "I Go To sleep" by the Pretenders has always made me think of Karen, because I've always thought she could do a fabulous recording of this song... When I look up from my pillow I dream you are there with me Though you are far away I know youll always be near to me I go to sleep, sleep And imagine that you're there with me I go to sleep, sleep And imagine that you're there with me I look around me And feel you are ever so close to me Each tear that flows from my eye Brings back memories of you to me I go to sleep, sleep And imagine that you're there with me I go to sleep, sleep And imagine that you're there with me I was wrong, I will cry I will love you till the day I die You were all, you alone and no one else You were meant for me When morning comes again I have the loneliness you left me Each day drags by Until finally my time descends on me I go to sleep, sleep And imagine that you're there with me I go to sleep, sleep And imagine that you're there with me Rick, I have to say I did not know the songs you named, but enjoyed all of them, especially Jack Browne's "That girl could sing".. And I love the winds in the Pretenders Song! I agree, the yearning appeal of the song would be perfect for Karen! The Chanel Video is pretty risque, you're right. I never really watched the video. Even though it's quite well produced, it's kind of trite, isn't it. I'm really tired of all those lightly-clad girls dancing in music videos... Karen would have definitely appeared with a lot more class, but I can also imagine her so well in this disco/dance music genre. I also think it's very interesting that such different type of songs/music makes us think of the Carpenters/Karen. I think that has a lot to do with each one of us as a person. We all see the C.'s from different perspectives and we all have different songs that evoke certain emotions in us. Some of them might be linked to how we feel about the C.'s. Hmm, maybe that could be a reason.. You're right, the songs I mentioned mostly refer to Karen's youthful and playful side but I also appreciate the sometimes kind of dark and melancholic appeal of Karen. A song that makes me think of Karen, too: There is a light that never goes out - The Smiths www.youtube.com/watch?v=INgXzChwipYSeems as if this topic is as complex as human personality is..
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Post by enigma on Apr 9, 2008 9:29:21 GMT -5
I have Sinatra's recording of this standard as well. Typical of this genre, his version is a straightforward ballad, backed up by a swing orchestra. In the Carpenters' more unusual arrangement, the closely-matched vocal parts in the a capella portion (as in "that field of corn would never see a plow...") add a barbershop harmony quality to the song. Check out how Sweet Revival (Sweet Adelines Quartet) changes the familiar carol Winter Wonderland likewise into a quartet with their embellishments (the second song in the medley): www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryLXgTVta8g . CG interesting thoughts here I like the way you say the diversity of Carpenters music appeals to equally diverse personalities I never thought of it that way but there really is something for everyone on Carpenters records I tend to like Karens dark emotional interpretations of songs I truely believe this is her greatest contribution to Carpenters music Richard can arrange and coach Karen and does this excellently but Karen puts the dark emotional part into the music this cannot be taught or coached its either there or it isn't its hard to find a song that another artist does that aptly describs this but when you mentioned the different styles connecting to different personalities you got me thinking about this connection and it make complete sense to me. Nice thought provoking post CG!
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Apr 9, 2008 12:41:19 GMT -5
Recently I watched some photos of the Carpenters (mostly KC) and while I was watching these pictures I listened to "Non-Carpenters-music".. There are two or three songs that since then always make me think of the Carpenters. And I like watching C.'s slide shows with these songs as background music.. It's not about the lyrics or anything, the feeling of the songs is just somehow related to the Carpenters for me.. Actually I don't really know why.. Beached - Orbital www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma1ge_Lr5MEMy Life - Chanel www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX6YfHtCl7sDeep - East 17 (apropos "Guilty Pleasures" ) www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tloj9osem6wI would like to know if anyone of you also has a Non-Carpenters song that makes him/her think of the Carpenters. Could be because of the lyrics or anything else.. Boy, I'm getting ready, I'm afraid, to show my age on this post. CG, please don't take what I'm about to post personally - you are young, and I'm sure something like Chanel's "My Life" is a great dance tune. However....wow, I couldn't make it through the entire 7 minutes of it.....it was all I could do to get 3/4 of the way. To me, this isn't what I classify as "music" (see, teeHee - here's where the old man speaketh).... it's the same thing, over and over and over, and over again - for 7 minutes and 20 seconds or whatever. The vocoder used for the vocals is just that much more irritating for me! I know this really IS music, but it's nothing I would care to listen to more than what I've already done - I tried.... The video didn't bother me, although, it's not really to my taste, either. I didn't see anything particularly vulgar or suggestive about it, but it's just not my cuppa, as they say. Now, my son and daughter probably would really like it, I might imagine. Hope I haven't hurt anyone's feelings by sharing my opinion. Thanks for the topic, CG - quite interesting, indeed.
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Post by carpentersgermany on Apr 9, 2008 17:40:32 GMT -5
Recently I watched some photos of the Carpenters (mostly KC) and while I was watching these pictures I listened to "Non-Carpenters-music".. There are two or three songs that since then always make me think of the Carpenters. And I like watching C.'s slide shows with these songs as background music.. It's not about the lyrics or anything, the feeling of the songs is just somehow related to the Carpenters for me.. Actually I don't really know why.. Beached - Orbital www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma1ge_Lr5MEMy Life - Chanel www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX6YfHtCl7sDeep - East 17 (apropos "Guilty Pleasures" ) www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tloj9osem6wI would like to know if anyone of you also has a Non-Carpenters song that makes him/her think of the Carpenters. Could be because of the lyrics or anything else.. Boy, I'm getting ready, I'm afraid, to show my age on this post. CG, please don't take what I'm about to post personally - you are young, and I'm sure something like Chanel's "My Life" is a great dance tune. However....wow, I couldn't make it through the entire 7 minutes of it.....it was all I could do to get 3/4 of the way. To me, this isn't what I classify as "music" (see, teeHee - here's where the old man speaketh).... it's the same thing, over and over and over, and over again - for 7 minutes and 20 seconds or whatever. The vocoder used for the vocals is just that much more irritating for me! I know this really IS music, but it's nothing I would care to listen to more than what I've already done - I tried.... The video didn't bother me, although, it's not really to my taste, either. I didn't see anything particularly vulgar or suggestive about it, but it's just not my cuppa, as they say. Now, my son and daughter probably would really like it, I might imagine. Hope I haven't hurt anyone's feelings by sharing my opinion. Thanks for the topic, CG - quite interesting, indeed. Hey Tim, don't worry! Did not feel offended or anything.. If anything, it was nice that you said "you're young"! I like to hear that, just a few days before my 26 birthday..;-) All jesting aside, I do understand you. There are musical genres that I just can't stand, too. Something like Hard Rock / Heavy Metal etc. for instance.. I'm really into pretty much all kinds of electronic music, with the exception of the (too) hard techno beats, but I think it's a musical genre that lives in a special context. "My life" for example makes me think of Friday/Saturday nights getting ready to go to a club and dancing to it later in the club etc., so it's just about having a good time. To you it sounds as the same over and over again, but I feel an step-by-step (little steps, I admit) intensification in the song and when it reaches climax it's just a great feeling.. But in the end it's just a matter of taste (has not much to do with the age of a person, I think. A lot of my friends don't like this kind of music either) and there is no accounting for taste resp. chacun a son gout.. So, thanks for sharing your thoughts, Tim. Anyhow, I'd like to no what kind of non-C.'s music makes you think of the C.'s.
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Post by carpentersgermany on Apr 9, 2008 17:43:40 GMT -5
I have Sinatra's recording of this standard as well. Typical of this genre, his version is a straightforward ballad, backed up by a swing orchestra. In the Carpenters' more unusual arrangement, the closely-matched vocal parts in the a capella portion (as in "that field of corn would never see a plow...") add a barbershop harmony quality to the song. Check out how Sweet Revival (Sweet Adelines Quartet) changes the familiar carol Winter Wonderland likewise into a quartet with their embellishments (the second song in the medley): www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryLXgTVta8g . CG interesting thoughts here I like the way you say the diversity of Carpenters music appeals to equally diverse personalities I never thought of it that way but there really is something for everyone on Carpenters records I tend to like Karens dark emotional interpretations of songs I truely believe this is her greatest contribution to Carpenters music Richard can arrange and coach Karen and does this excellently but Karen puts the dark emotional part into the music this cannot be taught or coached its either there or it isn't its hard to find a song that another artist does that aptly describs this but when you mentioned the different styles connecting to different personalities you got me thinking about this connection and it make complete sense to me. Nice thought provoking post CG! Enigma, thank you! That idea came onto my mind just when I wrote it down. Good to see, that it makes sense to someone else!
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Post by carpentersgermany on Apr 9, 2008 17:49:26 GMT -5
Rick, I have to say I did not know the songs you named, but enjoyed all of them, especially Jack Browne's "That girl could sing".. And I love the winds in the Pretenders Song! I agree, the yearning appeal of the song would be perfect for Karen! The Chanel Video is pretty risque, you're right. I never really watched the video. Even though it's quite well produced, it's kind of trite, isn't it. I'm really tired of all those lightly-clad girls dancing in music videos... Karen would have definitely appeared with a lot more class, but I can also imagine her so well in this disco/dance music genre. I also think it's very interesting that such different type of songs/music makes us think of the Carpenters/Karen. I think that has a lot to do with each one of us as a person. We all see the C.'s from different perspectives and we all have different songs that evoke certain emotions in us. Some of them might be linked to how we feel about the C.'s. Hmm, maybe that could be a reason.. You're right, the songs I mentioned mostly refer to Karen's youthful and playful side but I also appreciate the sometimes kind of dark and melancholic appeal of Karen. A song that makes me think of Karen, too: There is a light that never goes out - The Smiths www.youtube.com/watch?v=INgXzChwipYSeems as if this topic is as complex as human personality is.. Ah Rick, of course you know the Smiths, you just know them all. It's simply amazing!! Just listened to the Cousteau Song again and I can understand what you said about Liam's and Karen's voice..
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 9, 2008 20:41:27 GMT -5
Recently I watched some photos of the Carpenters (mostly KC) and while I was watching these pictures I listened to "Non-Carpenters-music".. There are two or three songs that since then always make me think of the Carpenters. And I like watching C.'s slide shows with these songs as background music.. It's not about the lyrics or anything, the feeling of the songs is just somehow related to the Carpenters for me.. Actually I don't really know why.. Beached - Orbital www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma1ge_Lr5MEMy Life - Chanel www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX6YfHtCl7sDeep - East 17 (apropos "Guilty Pleasures" ) www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tloj9osem6wI would like to know if anyone of you also has a Non-Carpenters song that makes him/her think of the Carpenters. Could be because of the lyrics or anything else.. Boy, I'm getting ready, I'm afraid, to show my age on this post. CG, please don't take what I'm about to post personally - you are young, and I'm sure something like Chanel's "My Life" is a great dance tune. However....wow, I couldn't make it through the entire 7 minutes of it.....it was all I could do to get 3/4 of the way. To me, this isn't what I classify as "music" (see, teeHee - here's where the old man speaketh).... it's the same thing, over and over and over, and over again - for 7 minutes and 20 seconds or whatever. The vocoder used for the vocals is just that much more irritating for me! I know this really IS music, but it's nothing I would care to listen to more than what I've already done - I tried.... The video didn't bother me, although, it's not really to my taste, either. I didn't see anything particularly vulgar or suggestive about it, but it's just not my cuppa, as they say. Now, my son and daughter probably would really like it, I might imagine. Hope I haven't hurt anyone's feelings by sharing my opinion. Thanks for the topic, CG - quite interesting, indeed.
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Apr 9, 2008 20:53:08 GMT -5
;D ;D ;D Interestingly, CG, I haven't thought about this in a way that I could put down on paper, until your post. And, thanks for knowing that my earlier post was all just opinion on my part. I do understand completely what you're saying about the "build" and how it comes to a climactic ending, etc.....makes sense. I have a son who used to be in a band...now he records them. But Jonathan (my son) made his own album entitled The Phantasm Project.....Jon WAS the Phantasm Project, actually. He'd written an album's worth of songs basically over a lost love, I think....and the bitterness that he felt about the situation - this is how he got his feelings out. He used my laptop, and Cool Edit Pro software, and recorded every instrument, and all the vocals, save one female vocal part, I believe. It took him a year, and he did it all typically right here at home - using both my pianos as he liked the sound of the acoustic vs. the baby grand, and he used both my keyboards, as well - he played guitar, and he did all the percussion - traps, and otherwise. I think he had 1,000 CD's done - I think I still have 500 of them. Leo (Prisoner_Walking) has one, as well....my reaction to this was - it's not my cuppa, either, but when it's your son making the music, you listen....and I did - ONCE. Oh yes, I have my copy - but I've only listened to it one time. So..thanks for letting me share my opinion of Chanel. Sorry, I digressed - what other music makes me think of Carpenters? Well....I suppose, truth be told, Diana Krall's music makes me think of Karen - because I wish Karen had done more jazz than she did. I know she could do it well. For example, I don't know if Karen could scat ... bet she could, though, and probably very well. (for those of you who don't know, scatting is a form of singing, but without words - it is typically thought of as imitating an instrument, like a trumpet or saxophone while singing jazz-oriented tunes - a way for the vocalist to "take a chorus" as we say). I have not thought about the why until just now, that Krall reminds me of Carpenters, but I suppose it's the approach, and it could very well be that Diana has quite a deep voice.....I'm not intimating whatsoever that she SOUNDS like Karen - she does NOT. However, that voice - I've described it as a sultry, vampy but soft voice. Just the way she sings somehow does remind me of Karen. What a thought provoking topic, CG. Thank you. And Dreams - I, too, have likened WITHOUT A SONG to the manner in which a Barbershop Quartet would sing - at least the bits and pieces where they're all together. I think only because it's accapella. It doesn't really sound like what I'm used to Barbershop harmonies sounding like. The Osmonds have often sung in the Barbershop style, and I love to hear those harmonies. And of course, since they ARE family members, it does tend to sound so great because they all sound one like another. Rick - I couldn't begin to keep up with all of your musical interests, and I have not heard most of what you've conversed about here. As you know quite well, I'm more into jazz, Billy, and things like movie soundtracks - I'm so enjoying the Steven Sodheim songs from Sweeney Todd currently - I love harmony like Carpenters did - and Osmonds do that well - I enjoyed very much N'SYNC and THEY, too, reminded me of Carpenters, come to think of it - AS DID Backstreet Boys. Call me silly - but I thoroughly enjoyed some of the music of both of those groups. And, as they progressed, they seemed to get better and better. It definitely takes some talent to not only sing the types of close harmonies they did - but to be able to dance like they could WHILE SINGING. Wow, I'm surprised I've made as many connections as I have, here. I didn't anticipate making more than one, actually - but the more I wrote, the more I could recall that these other groups did, in fact, in one way or another, from time to time, remind me of Carpenters. Just like the Sweet A's would do, Beaner. Yes, we have a Sweet A's group here in Springfield, and they rock! I can only imagine how wonderful they sounded at M's funeral. Nice, and thanks for sharing that. E! Always good to hear from you - I, like you, do very much love those dark, brooding songs that Karen seemed to rip right out of her soul, and put in a melody......like ONLY she could. ;D ;D ;D
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