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Post by smoothie2 on Dec 20, 2003 19:53:16 GMT -5
hi all...just some thoughts I tried to post last night, but never made it. Karen has a lilt or catch to her voice which I'm sure all of you have heard, but maybe never thought of much. I may not be able to explain it. It's like in the song "We've Only Just Begun"..about the last round of the chorus...she sings "and yes we've just begun....(then her voice holds that begun part and then it's like she gets a second wind as she emphasizes that "un" part again.
This same thing happens on Ticket to Ride...about the last chorus of it ..the last word "he's gotta ticket to ride, and he don't care....don't care....are...
Also in "Baby it's You"..the chorus.."many many nights go by, I sit alone at home I cry over you what can I do...can't help myself....elf...cause baby it's you".
Other times all the other vocalists join in on doing that kind of lilt or emphasis, but mostly it's Karen who does it. And so very naturally. It just is another unique thing about her voice that shows the versatility and range of her voice..the control. Others may also can do this , but seems I'm more aware of it when I hear Karen sing. Maybe some of you know what I mean.
These are things I've had on my mind for a while but wasn't sure how to express it but wanted to give it a try.
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Post by Rick Henry on Dec 20, 2003 20:50:10 GMT -5
I know what you're saying Smoothie. She does it in "Rainy Days And Monday", "A Song for You" and many of their songs. A lot of this is of course Karen's natural ability with a song, but also has to do with Richard's arrangement for Karen's voice.
The arranger, who does the musical and vocal arrangements as Richard did for The Carpenters, is the one who has written out all the vocal parts for the singer(s) to sing. The arranger teaches the vocalist their parts for every single note of the song. Richard Carpenter had an excellent ear for putting together a song. Eventhough these are Richard's arrangements, Karen of course adds her unique phrasing and personality to a song.
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Post by smoothie2 on Dec 20, 2003 22:43:08 GMT -5
:)really? I wasn't sure what the arranger would do. I'm glad to know that Richard did that to that extent with each note. I know he's still somewhat active in arranging and putting together and re-releasing the Carpenter songs, and I know he does with radio and television some still. I know he's promoted the Japanese artist Akiko in her work also. He's so very talented, that there must be many other artists making their mark in music with his help.
Carpenter music is just unique and easy to listen to. Karen's natural ability with a song is just so very superb.
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Post by Moe on Dec 21, 2003 2:14:25 GMT -5
I really noticed it in "Rainy Days" and thought it was such a distinct way to end the song. Karen's voice was amazing in so many ways!
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Post by OceanKing on Dec 21, 2003 18:49:44 GMT -5
That "lilt" is also there in When I Fall in Love, on the last line:
"...is when I fall in love wi-ith you-ouuu."
She tweaks that last note ever so slightly, in a way that makes her version stand out. Beautiful sound.
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Post by smoothie2 on Dec 22, 2003 0:12:35 GMT -5
:)hi Oceanking..and Moe..I'm glad I did bring this subject up. Currently, I really needed to connect up to some positive vibes.
I'll have to listen again to Fall in Love again and Rainy Days now that y'all brought it up.thanks
Surely Karen added another special flavor to their music with this lilt or etc.
smoothie
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Post by Rick Henry on Dec 22, 2003 0:32:04 GMT -5
Here's a little more insight as to what the vocal arranger does. The arranger maps out every aspect of the vocal to be performed. He (or she) instructs the vocalist exactly when to take a breath in, also how long to hold each note, and when to go up and when to go down low. The arranger also helps the vocalist with there timing, when to use vibrato, there's more to it then meets the eye.
Maybe in another topic we can talk about what goes into arranging the music. that is a fascinating thing to see and experience.
Richard Carpenter was and still is a musical genious. I think he's very underrated and deserves much more accolades for his contribution to popular music.
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Post by smoothie2 on Dec 22, 2003 1:10:57 GMT -5
:)interesting...no wonder there are so very few truly great musicians or vocalists or songs in the world these days...it sounds like a very detailed and difficult job to be an arranger as well as the vocalist.
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Post by Superstargal on Dec 23, 2003 21:15:10 GMT -5
Hi Smoothie! Very neat subject you brought up about Karen. Yes, I know exactly what you're talking about. She's just great, isn't she? Nobody will ever be like her.  Rick, you are very informative! Thank you for sharing those facts about music arrangements. Very interesting; I never knew how any of that was done. I'm sure it is not an easy thing to do for singers; that lilt style. I think Karen is the exception though, because she is just so gifted! It comes natural for her, and the arranging brought out some of the best in Karen! Richard and Karen are irreplaceable!! ;D |
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Post by smoothie2 on Dec 23, 2003 23:20:36 GMT -5
hi Superstargal...yes, indeed, as the old saying goes God broke the mold whenever He made Karen.
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Post by Carrie on Dec 28, 2003 19:27:31 GMT -5
I think that Karen has been able to bring joy and comfort to many people with the strenght in her voice and the strenght in her fight against annorexia. An amazing voice and person.
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Post by smoothie2 on Dec 28, 2003 21:47:40 GMT -5
:)hi Carrie ..welcome to the site and hi to everyone else! Hope you all had good holidays..I ate waaaaaayy 2ooo MUCH!
I feel like Templeton the rat who pigged out at the fair in the story Charlotte's Web!
Anyway! glad you found our site Carrie..hope you stick around..it's a great place to talk about and share insight and fond memories of the Carpenters.. and just to shoot the breeze about just about anything.
I hope that Karen somehow will know or does know now or later just how very much we all love and appreciate all she did for us and Richard too.
I really get a lump in my throat when I think of how Karen looked near the end of her life and how desperate she must have felt in her battle at the time since anorexia was not that well known to the general public.
So, we just can listen and appreciate her now like a long lost friend.
Anyone see the Disney movie Finding Nemo..a fish story?
Saw it and it's really great ..the wonder of graphics these days!
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Post by Rick Henry on Dec 29, 2003 3:27:37 GMT -5
:)hi Carrie ..welcome to the site and hi to everyone else! Hope you all had good holidays..I ate waaaaaayy 2ooo MUCH! I feel like Templeton the rat who pigged out at the fair in the story Charlotte's Web! Anyway! glad you found our site Carrie..hope you stick around..it's a great place to talk about and share insight and fond memories of the Carpenters.. and just to shoot the breeze about just about anything. I hope that Karen somehow will know or does know now or later just how very much we all love and appreciate all she did for us and Richard too. I really get a lump in my throat when I think of how Karen looked near the end of her life and how desperate she must have felt in her battle at the time since anorexia was not that well known to the general public. So, we just can listen and appreciate her now like a long lost friend. Anyone see the Disney movie Finding Nemo..a fish story? Saw it and it's really great ..the wonder of graphics these days! Hi Carrie, welcome! I must applaude you Smoothie for your last post. You really have a heart of gold. I also really get choked up when I see those pictures during her last year. She was so pure and genuine in her talent. She seemed more like your next door neighbor, than an entertainment superstar. |
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Post by smoothie2 on Dec 29, 2003 18:19:33 GMT -5
thanks Rick...I think being such a fan of the Carpenters is truly a great thing because Karen was So very special. And Richard too. I think she can be sort of a role model even if she's no longer with us physically. Good, decent living, talented, outgoing..beautiful inside and out.
And I think your heart is pretty golden also, thanks.
smoothie
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