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Post by Rick Henry on Feb 19, 2009 21:22:00 GMT -5
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Feb 19, 2009 21:34:23 GMT -5
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Post by Rick Henry on Feb 19, 2009 22:52:26 GMT -5
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Post by freddykaren on Feb 20, 2009 10:22:31 GMT -5
Howdy-ho! Thank you, fellow fans, for the songs at hand.
I'd picked "Don't Be Afraid" as one of my choices. The C major sheet music is so easy to play and sing to. I totally love the chord structure (or rather, harmonies) in the opening. I had such joy the day I picked out those notes and their sequences, playing them again and again on the keyboard in many voices...
Which kind of bugged me in the CBS film when "Rich" is adding the harmonies and introducing ping-ponging into their gig: he (or rather, the film's director and producers) omits the coloring discord of an out-of-sync note.
"Don't Be Afraid" is chock-full of variations, vocally and rhythmically. But mostly, it's a true Carpenters song with a grand philosophy, one they probably never could capture except via certain friendships and chance encounters with fans and other strangers.
Jolly weeekend to all!
FK
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Post by enigma on Feb 20, 2009 13:49:39 GMT -5
I could have voted for more songs but narrowed them down to 4 Don't be Afraid well this song got the Carpenters signed to A&M and with good reason its an upbeat and bubbly song with a killer Karen vocal who wouldn't sign the Carpenters after hearing this mumber? Happy well the name says it all its a great uplifting song with great drumming by Karen this one always brings up my spirits Making Love In The Afternoon another upbeat song great bridges great sax solo and a Peter Cetera song always makes me happy when I hear it Sailing on the Tide well the tropical Island imagery the cool upbeat vibes in this song are just so relaxing and upbeat another winner Some of you may be surprised that Only Yesterday is not there because its my favorite Carpenters song but happy can't even begin to describe how OY makes me feel I stuck to songs that make me happy as opposed to those that simply blow me away like OY does!   |
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Post by Rick Henry on Feb 20, 2009 14:32:10 GMT -5
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Feb 20, 2009 14:56:34 GMT -5
 I have a lot of the same feelings about HAPPY as Rick mentioned in his post. First, it's just a great song, with a great lyric. How could one NOT smile when hearing it? "Happy is the way I'm feelin' and I know it's cause of being with you." And, I am also a fan of Peluso - his guitar work, and his songwriting. I've learned from other "fans" but not the kid like we are "die-hard fans" - just those who appreciated what Carpenters did in their hey-day, that this song, in particular, captured them as one of the best when they heard it. (These people are the type who listened only for the lyric moreover - not into the deep, darker lyrics and renderings we seem to favor so much here on the Avenue). And finally, from Karen's solo album "Guess I Just Lost My Head." Again, those outstanding tight vocal harmonies grabbed me from the very first, and I've enjoyed this listen after listen, and smiled at each listen as well. Karen delivered this so well, and the arrangement is ideal for her. Really showed what she could do, stacking those overdubs one on top of another, and it's just not as easy as it might sound'; yet, she made it seem as effortless as everything else she ever did. Way to go Karen. |
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Post by Rick Henry on Feb 21, 2009 10:35:15 GMT -5
 It looks like right now our happiest Carpenters songs are "Don't Be Afraid" and "Happy" with 4 votes each. Coming in next with 3 votes each are "Top Of The World", "Sweet Sweet Smile" and "Guess I Just Lost My Head". Next on down the line with 2 votes we have "Only Yesterday', "Sailing On The Tide" and "Dancing In The Street". I decided to do something fun with this poll. I burned a CD compilation with all these songs and titled it Carpenters Happiest Songs. This ought to be a fun listen. Those of you who have all these songs and access to a CD burner should make one for yourself also. I changed the order of the songs just a bit to reflect the actual release dates. The following is the order of the songs on my compilation: Don’t Be Afraid Love Is Surrender Top Of The World Sing Jambalaya Only Yesterday Happy Goofus Sweet Sweet Smile Those Good Old Dreams Sailing On The Tide Honolulu City Lights Lovelines Making Love In The Afternoon Guess I Just Lost My Head Dancing In The Street And When He Smiles |
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Post by carpentersgermany on Feb 21, 2009 17:44:08 GMT -5
I chose "Don't be afraid" - that was the song that came onto my mind when I read Rick's E-Mail for the first time, without knowing which songs would be in that poll. And it seems like I'm not alone with this feeling.
Then I chose "Sing" - I know, most people here on the Avenue aren't the biggest fans of that song, but I just love it. It is simple, yes, but sometimes positiveness or happiness can be very simple..
I chose "And when he smiles" because I love that song and it makes me feel good.
Than I had to decide between "Goofus", "Jambalaya" and "Sweet Sweet Smile" - I took "Sweet Sweet Smile" because it's just one of my all-time favourites..
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Post by geneblue on Feb 21, 2009 22:56:12 GMT -5
 Happy is my first choice the lyrics bring a good feeling to me. My other choices Sweet Sweet smile, Dancing In The Street and Making Love In The afternoon. I wanted to vote for all of them because they all make me happy.
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Post by smoothie2 on Feb 24, 2009 20:51:39 GMT -5
   Hello everyone! Finally got computer fixed!!! Dear me, always great to know I can come to the forum here!
I will surely try to keep things going! The whole month practically is over and rumors of this site going away is heard....please ....I want to say let's keep it going....I know we can!
Rick, the new look around here and new banner is so very nice! Wonderful work!
???OK....the songs I chose, Don't be Afraid, Sw. Sw. Smile, Those G. Old Dreams and I think the other one was Only Yest. The first time I heard Don't B. Afraid was on the Karen C. Story movie. I don't know off hand if it is on any of the C's albums or a single or what. But it is such a wonderful song and carries a great message! Cynthia Gibb and all the other actors I think do a great job in the movie, despite the negative stuff said or done or not done about the show in general. And the first time I knew or heard Those G. Old Dreams for the first time was here on the forum quite a while ago now. I have always loved Sw. Sw. Smile, I recall when it came over the air waves and it always got my attention no matter where or what I was doing at the time. I recall thinking what a catchy tune and it was a bit more on the country sound than any others from the Carpenters at the time, and I adored that side of it too!. ok guys ....there is a lot to catch up on around here on the forum, and I'll be back. Welcome new members!!
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Post by Rick Henry on Feb 24, 2009 22:56:46 GMT -5
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Post by smoothie2 on Feb 25, 2009 0:07:44 GMT -5
:-[Well, sure glad to hear things will still continue around here! Wow....I love polls and to share thoughts. Very good list of songs here. I would also add as favorites of mine: "Love Making Love to You" (now, just why do I feel like a blush goes over me at the name of that song?!) and ..."It's Really You" Love M. Love...from low notes to break out bold, Karen sings it certainly in her own marvelous way and "It's R. You" I'm crazy about the way it starts ...the drum and piano together.... Anyway, "Happy" is the ultimate in the way of happy songs...great beat and harmony.
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Post by Rick Henry on Mar 11, 2009 11:27:55 GMT -5
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Post by Ming on Mar 12, 2009 11:54:00 GMT -5
My choices are:
Only Yesterday (I think this song tells us that sadness will be gone and everyone can be happy)
Sweet Sweet Smile (obviously, smile equals to happy)
Dancing In The Street (the upbeat tune makes me happy)
Top Of The World (I remember the happiest times in secondary school when I listen to this song. Our class joined the singing contest, sang this song and became the first runner-up.)
Ming
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Post by cinscorp on Mar 26, 2009 22:46:37 GMT -5
Here are mine:
"Sweet Sweet Smile" - how can anyone not feel good listening to this song? Everything about it from Karen's energetic vocals to the tempo to the countrified sound and hand-claps create a happy mood.
"Happy" - combine the theme, actually singing about being happy, the great guitar work, hand-claps again, and Karen's crystal clear vocals....lifts me every time.
"Only Yesterday" - combining this perfect peformance with a theme about overcoming sadness to extreme happiness is enough to make almost anyone have hope for something better.
"Dancing In The Street" - calling out....
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Post by Rick Henry on Mar 27, 2009 10:41:10 GMT -5
Here are mine: "Sweet Sweet Smile" - how can anyone not feel good listening to this song? Everything about it from Karen's energetic vocals to the tempo to the countrified sound and hand-claps create a happy mood. "Happy" - combine the theme, actually singing about being happy, the great guitar work, hand-claps again, and Karen's crystal clear vocals....lifts me every time. "Only Yesterday" - combining this perfect peformance with a theme about overcoming sadness to extreme happiness is enough to make almost anyone have hope for something better. "Dancing In The Street" - calling out.... Very well written cinscorp and 3 of your choices are the same as mine... although I chose Karen's solo "Guess I Just Lost My Head" instead of "dancing In The Street"... I love the playful fun nature of the song. By the way cinscorp please enter you choices in the poll at the top of this thread... you can vote on four songs in the poll and once you vote you will be able to see the total vote tallies. If you're not sure how to vote in the poll just let me know and I will walk you through it. |
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Post by ps11932 on Mar 27, 2009 16:26:47 GMT -5
A very strong group of sogs from which to choose. Like CG, I love"Sing" because of the strong message it conveys in a simple way. "Sailing On The Tide" alway makes me feel better. I can relate to the relational joy of :Jambalaya", and "Happy" speaks for itself.
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