Lilly Allen "Close to" Carpenters

[carpentersgermany]

Last week a friend told me, she was listening to the Top 100 Single Charts while cleaning up. All of a sudden she had to stop because she thought she was listening to a Carpenters song.. "Carpenters on the German Charts?! No! Carpenters singing such a Refrain?!?! No never!!" Those were her thoughts. She googled the song and found out that it's the new record of Lilly Allen, using a Carpenters sample.
In the evening she told me about that and played the song for me on the Internet. I was really surprised (and really proud of my friend for recognising a Carpenters sample immediately BTW ; - ))

Anyways, what do you think bout the song??

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpZm1TstpjQ

[Rick Henry]

First, I must state I am not a Lily Allen fan whatsoever. She's a bit lightweight in the voice and in musical instrumentation. That being said, I do however like her remake of ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky", although her rendition doesn't come close to the musical masterpiece ELO created with the song.

On to Lily Allen's new song, which you posted here. The keyboard part does sound somewhat similar to Carpenters' "Can't Smile Without You". As for the lyric I think Allen could have chosen her words more wisely, there are ways to get a point across without using vulgar language, I find it somewhat immature. On the other hand, I have to say I respect Allen for boldly speaking her mind. It's interesting that a Brit should record a song about a U.S. president. She obviously dislikes George W. Bush quite a bit.

Anyhow, I may not agree with the language she chose to use in this song, but I do applaud her for being courageous enough to speak her view.

[carpentersgermany]

I'm not a big fan of her either. I really liked her first release in 2006 (Smile) but never really cared for the rest.
What I find kind of funny, concerning the vulgar language, is that those words are sung in a very simple and sweet melody, sounding like every other popsong they play on the radio.

"Can't smile without you", really?! I listended to the song again, but couldn't her anything but the "Close to you"-Intro. Now, that's interesting! Even two Carpenters-melodies in one song!

[Rick Henry]

Oct 5, 2009 18:27:09 GMT -5 carpentersgermany said:

I'm not a big fan of her either. I really liked her first release in 2006 (Smile) but never really cared for the rest.
What I find kind of funny, concerning the vulgar language, is that those words are sung in a very simple and sweet melody, sounding like every other popsong they play on the radio.

"Can't smile without you", really?! I listended to the song again, but couldn't her anything but the "Close to you"-Intro. Now, that's interesting! Even two Carpenters-melodies in one song!

That's the funny thing about the song is that the way she sings it is very sweet and girl pop sounding that if you're not closely listening to the words you would never think she's saying what she's saying.

I hear a cross between "Close To You" and "Can't Smile Without You". But, I wouldn't call it a sample. I think it's an unintentional similarity in sound.

I will give Lilly this much credit, it is a catchy tune.

[enigma]

what can i say it aint a classic but it is kind of interesting does sound a little like cty piano to me but not enough to get her sued over (if that were possible)

[cinscorp]

Interestingly, when I listen to hear Close To You, I hear the resemblence. When I listen to hear Can't Smile Without You, I hear the resemblence. Maybe more Close To You throughout, though. I do think that the message behind a light and poppish delivery & arrangement is intentional and adds to the irony, though.

[Boat2Sail]

I hear both Close to You and Can't Smile Without You in the piano parts.