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Post by Moe on Jan 4, 2004 6:19:38 GMT -5
I was listening to "Made in America" today while driving around and kept repeating "Strength of a Woman." (each time, turning the sound up!) I always liked this song and was surprised it wasn't released as a single. I think it is one of the best tunes on the album. I love the oboe and the haunting feeling of the song, and Karen's voice is stunning, particularly on this song. Do you think it would have done any better than the others released, following "Touch me when we're dancing?" The remaining releases failed to crack the Top 50 of the pop chart. Another favorite, "(Want you) Back in my life again," only made it to 80 (I think) and that was another I was sure that would have hit big. What are your thoughts?
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Post by Sammy on Jan 4, 2004 12:15:20 GMT -5
Karen's voice is especially stunning on this song. Her reading is intense. Almost as intense as on Solitaire or Desperado.
I don't think this would have done any better than any of the other singles they released from the album. People just weren't interested in the Carpenters in 1981. I think if Karen's solo album was released instead, that would have really caught the public by surprise and it most likely would have sold very well. Made In America was a wonderful sentimental album. But in 1981 the public just wasn't looking for sentimental, they were looking more for excitement. Karen's Making Love In The Afternoon was an exciting song.
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Post by cam83 on Jan 4, 2004 20:01:50 GMT -5
Hey All, I have considered this song one of their best performances from MADE IN AMERICA. I always thought her voice was strong and the message she tried to convey that woman have to rely on their emotional strength. The background vocals are nice! Wasn't she singing with the Carpettes? Another song I loved was BECAUSE WE ARE IN LOVE. I always loved the "Big Band" feel to this tune. She really sounds convincable as a woman who is coming to touch with some fears, and the love she feels for her groom. Her voice, I feel, never sounded lovelier. I remember getting this single from the fan club. My thoughts, Cameron clongo83@hotmail.com www.stolengenerations.ca
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Post by Rick Henry on Jan 4, 2004 22:00:11 GMT -5
I love this song and I love "Made In America", but I agree with what Sammy said, the Carpenters needed to get away from being to sentimental in 1981 and move to something more exciting.
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Post by Alan on Jan 5, 2004 22:35:35 GMT -5
I love this song and I love "Made In America", but I agree with what Sammy said, the Carpenters needed to get away from being to sentimental in 1981 and move to something more exciting. I liked this song well enough too. I remember reading a review on this … probably in Billboard at the time the album was released. The author said this was an anthem and the Carpenter’s should stay miles away from singing such. Not sure why he said so and have no idea why I remember that as long ago as it’s been! I agree with your sentimental comment. I’ve always rooted for and bought everything I could find by the C’s. But having other musical tastes as well, I hoped they would grow and move on. Felt they did very much so with Horizon, slipped with Kind of Hush, then back on track, at least growth wise, with Passage, even though it didn’t sell well. They didn’t have to completely change or sell out to reinvent themselves. With a couple of exceptions, there’s very little on Lovelines that interests me personally. Having said that, as much time as I spent in bars and discos at the time, I’m glad Richard had the sense not to go there. But I remember being thrilled to hear Yesterday Once More covered by someone as a disco dance song ... the Four Tops maybe?
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Post by Rick Henry on Jan 6, 2004 1:45:16 GMT -5
But I remember being thrilled to hear Yesterday Once More covered by someone as a disco dance song ... the Four Tops maybe? Hi Alan. The Spinners did "Yesterday Once More" in a medley with another song. I think it was around 1983.
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Post by Alan on Jan 6, 2004 2:51:53 GMT -5
The Spinners did "Yesterday Once More" in a medley with another song. I think it was around 1983. Yes, The Spinners! I was singing in my head "Workin' My Way Back to You/I'm Sorry" racking my brain trying to remember them. I've since discovered ITunes is a great place to research such! Back to the C's. I remember being so glad someone had the respect to do a re-make of one of their songs, especially since RC wrote it. I still never tire of that song. But I also remember feeling a little old in that a "new" song from my teenage years was now old enough (and me too!!) to be re-recoreded by someone. I was only 26 or 27 at the time too. I remember at that same disco someone approached one time. I was 25 at the time, already out of school and working. Many there were college students. One person who I really wasn't interested in approached me and after I said my age, the response was ... "you sure do look well preserved for a 25 year old." Can you believe?!
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Post by Rick Henry on Jan 6, 2004 2:58:21 GMT -5
What made me feel old was in the 90's when I started hearing some of my favorite 70's hits on oldies radio stations.
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Post by Moe on Jan 10, 2004 6:48:35 GMT -5
Cam mentioned "Because we are in love" in an above post. This is a little aside, but...I have never cared for the song. I like the chorus and how the song builds to the climactic finish, but the earlier verses about the mother and daughter talking do nothing for me. ? I do love when Karen hits the low note in the phrase, "What a surprised to discover.." I am always surrprised that the song is almost always included in the compilation releases. Why is that?
I guess it is just a matter of taste...
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Post by Rick Henry on Jan 10, 2004 11:08:58 GMT -5
Cam mentioned "Because we are in love" in an above post. This is a little aside, but...I have never cared for the song. I do love when Karen hits the low note in the phrase, "What a surprised to discover.." I am always surrprised that the song is almost always included in the compilation releases. Why is that? I guess it is just a matter of taste... Richard tends to choose songs he and Bettis wrote for use on compilations. "Because We Are In Love" is not really one of my favorites either. Not because of the lyrics or the music. It is a great song. But I just don't think it represents Karen's vocal ability properly. In certain parts of the song her voice seems to be a bit strained and thin. Overall, though her vocal performance is still excellent, it's just in certain parts. When you put that vocal next to her vocal on "Rainy Days..." or "Solitaire", there is just no comparison.
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Post by Alan on Jan 11, 2004 18:57:37 GMT -5
Cam mentioned "Because we are in love" in an above post. This is a little aside, but...I have never cared for the song. I like the chorus and how the song builds to the climactic finish, but the earlier verses about the mother and daughter talking do nothing for me. ? I do love when Karen hits the low note in the phrase, "What a surprised to discover.." I am always surrprised that the song is almost always included in the compilation releases. Why is that? I guess it is just a matter of taste... You've got me on that one. Though I think like "I Can Dream, Can't I," this song really highlights the lushness of her vocals, I don't really care for it. I didn't realize it was included on so many compilations. It's not on the two that I own. The sentiment is sweet, though.
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