Gloria Estefan sings "Merry Christmas Darling"

[Rick Henry]

Check this out Gloria Estefan does a fine reading of "Merry Christmas Darling" and mentions Karen Carpenter.

Gloria Estefan performs "Merry Christmas Darling": Click Here

[wisejester7]

I can't get the link to work. It could be that I'm having some technical problems or whatever. I will try again later and if it still doesn't work I'll let you know.

[YesterdayOnceMore]

I did hear it, and I think Gloria has a nice version of it. I am a Gloria Estefan fan, actually - her music has always been just awesome.....but I'm going to wait for a final verdict and come back andn post whenl I can listen to this on better speakers. Thanks for providing the link, Rick.

[wisejester7]

I finally got to hear Gloria's version. Thanks for the link!

[Rick Henry]

Hi Tim and WJ7... I am glad you both were able to enjoy the Gloria Estefan video.

I really like the Latin sort of feel in her rendition of the song... the band did a great job behind her voice. Of course I am partial to Carpenters' version and although several others have covered "Merry Christmas Darling" nobody has yet to even come close to the same depth and emotion as Karen did with this song.

[beaner]

Sorry, but I gotta be different here. I didn't really like the version all that much and I am a BIG fan of Gloria Estefan. However, I heard her and the Miami Sound Machine singing "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let it Snow" the other day and absolutely loved that one!!! The sound of her bad is super!

Getting back to "Merry Christmas, Darling" and other Carpenter Christmas arrangements, there aren't many others that can compare with me. Although, Bing's "White Christmas" and Andy Williams' "Oh Holy Night" are hard to beat too.

Beaner

[YesterdayOnceMore]

I have attempted to listen to this on several computers to see if it was just me, or if Gloria was really singing "flat" during most of the song. Unfortunately, to my ears, she was, indeed, flat most of the way through this one. I have a feeling that was due, in large part, to being in a television studio, quite early in the morning (for TODAY), and because it's just difficult to "hear" in that circumstance. I hope to find this on an MP3 download, so I can hear how she does it when she's more on key. I, too, am a fan of Gloria's work, and it's unfortunate that this wasnt better circumstances for her to sing this one - I do like the laid-back arrangement, though. And, I'm just pleased that other artists record it! No one will ever quite capture this one like Karen Carpenter, though.

[Rick Henry]

I tend to like the arrangement of Gloria's version of "Merry Christmas Darling" most of any part of the song. her vocal performance is fine, although Karen Carpenter is such a superior vocalist that it's hard to do a remake of one of her songs and do it as well. Anyhow I really like the latinesque sound in Gloria's arrangement (which I'm sure the arrangement was written by her husband).

As for Gloria being flat in her performance... I don't really hear much of that... what I think it is... we're used to hearing Karen's higher voiced performance of the song and Gloria's more subdued lower voiced reading sounds flat compared to Karen's. also Gloria covers less of a range than Karen does in her reading.

As for other recordings of Christmas songs Carpenters recorded I am very taken with Gladys Knight and the Pips' recording of "Do You Hear What I Hear". I really enjoy their gospel tinge on the song and Gladys Knight is truly on of the finest vocalists ever with her rich and full bodied voice... Gladys is certainly up there in vocal finesse along with Karen Carpenter, Annie Lennox, Aretha Franklin and Barbra Steisand as for sheer vocal ability.

And of course after The Carpenters Gldays and the Pips are my favorite family group... I love their vocal blendings... absolutely superb.

Gladys Knight and The Pips perform "Do You Hear What I Hear?": Click Here

[ps11932]

Thanks for the topic and the discussion on this. The vocal work of this young lady sounded very good to me and the band did a fine job, though no one will ever equal the standard set by The Carpenters, in my biased opinion. What stood out was most to me was the impression that Gloria seemed to have a genuine heartfelt attachment to the message of the song.

[beaner]

"Do You Hear What I Hear" is another one of my favorite Christmas songs. Gladys Knight and the Pips do an outstanding job of it. Thanks for that link, Rick. I may have to think about getting their Christmas CD. Loved it.

Beaner

[Rick Henry]

Dec 14, 2008 13:59:02 GMT -5 beaner said:

"Do You Hear What I Hear" is another one of my favorite Christmas songs. Gladys Knight and the Pips do an outstanding job of it. Thanks for that link, Rick. I may have to think about getting their Christmas CD. Loved it.

Beaner

You are welcome, Knight and the Pips have always been outstanding in their harmony and groove filled music.

Here's a link to the CD the song is on (it's an excellent disc from beginning to end).

Gladys Knight and the Pip[s - The Christmas Album: CLICK HERE

[beaner]

Thanks a lot, Rick.

[smoothie2]

THANKS for the Gloria E. link....No one can ever compare to Karen, but Gloria did ok. I especially like the fact that she did mention the C's and the song is a good tribute song for the troops.

[Rick Henry]

Dec 15, 2008 18:12:21 GMT -5 smoothie2 said:

THANKS for the Gloria E. link....No one can ever compare to Karen, but Gloria did ok. I especially like the fact that she did mention the C's and the song is a good tribute song for the troops.

For those of you who don't know the lyric was actually written by Frank Pooler, in the 40's, near the end of World War II. About 20 some odd years later Frank was the music director at Cal State University Long Beach, where both Karen and Richard were in music courses. Frank handed Richard the lyric and at that time richard composed the music.

Frank Pooler's lyric is meant as a tribute to the troops who had been fighting in World War II. Since then the song has managed to become a Christmas tribute to troops in Vietnam, Desert Storm and the Iraqi War.

what a very important tune "Merry Christmas Darling" has become. It is more than just your average Christmas song.