|
|
Post by Jim on Jul 15, 2004 21:11:54 GMT -5
I was reading through a book a couple of years ago by some of the "Memphis mafia" about Elvis' life. There was a comment in there that Elvis had met the Carpenters and he found Karen to be a bit "pushy." Has anyone read that? I have heard that they all met sometime in the mid 70's and Elvis gave Karen a gift (a Karate belt or something) but that's all I know. Anyone every heard of this?
|
|
|
|
Post by Rick Henry on Jul 15, 2004 21:31:21 GMT -5
 That's a new one. I've never heard that before. Karen could have been pushy, after all we are all just human. Elvis could have been pushy with her himself. You just never know about the dynamics between two people. You get two people together like Elvis and Karen and anything can happen. Both were way too famous for their own good and both certainly had their share of psychological problems. Regardless, I love them both. 
|
|
|
|
Post by Moe on Jul 15, 2004 22:19:26 GMT -5
The Coleman biography mentioned a few times that if you were going to cross one of the the Carpenters, don't let it be Karen. She was very direct and it could come across in a less than flattering way. Karen was human with a lot of plus-es and a few minus-es...don't we all.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rob813 on Jul 15, 2004 22:50:57 GMT -5
Perhaps, just perhaps if Karen had been "pushier" she might have beat anorexia. In actuality she probably was too compliant most of the time. I'm sure Elvis was used to getting his own way and may have been "put off" by Karen's directness. Clearly they both possessed extraordinary talent that was difficult for them to handle. Both self-destructed at a young age. Part of the problem was both Karen and Richard were depicted as "perfect" people; squeeky clean; white bread and all the crap. If they could have revealed other aspects of their personality, people would have had a deeper appreciation for their contribution to the musical world. Their brilliance was overshadowed by alot of unrealistic PR that did them a great disservice.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jim on Jul 16, 2004 13:25:05 GMT -5
I'll call my friend this weekend and get the name of that Elvis book and let you know. I distinctly remember reading about the meeting with Elvis and Karen. I also remember one of the fan club letters that mentioned Elvis giving Karen a gift.
I'll keep checking...
Thanks
|
|
|
|
Post by cam83 on Jul 16, 2004 14:13:11 GMT -5
Hello,
Yes, I have read that excerpt in that book about Elvis meeting Karen. I don't buy it that Karen was pushy or demanding. That wasn't her style when meeting someone she admired. Later on I heard, from the fan club newsletters, she got a signed Karate Belt Certification from Elvis and a lucite grass, dog house.
My thoughts,
Cameron
|
|
|
|
Post by enigma on Jul 17, 2004 23:30:12 GMT -5
It is not beyond the realm of possibility that Karen could come off as rude or demanding she has been accused on a number of occasions of being less than civil towards her band and people she has met. I feel that people may misinterpret Karens personality (being direct and to the point) as malice or catch her in a bad mood, sick or tired and blow one incident out of proportion. Karen was not perfect; she was human and all I know about Karen indicates she is a down to earth kind person who does the best she can to conduct herself in a professional and civil manner. Too often only one side of the story is told and all the facts are not presented in order to make a story interesting or feed an agenda.
|
|
|
|
Post by cam83 on Jul 18, 2004 0:29:45 GMT -5
Hello All,
I never bought into that theory that she was rude to Elvis. The reason I feel that is she loved Elvis so much. She admired so many of her idols who would become her friends or who would mention her talent: Dionne Warwick, Petula Clark, Barbra Streisand, John Lennon to name a few. She never treated them rudely because that wasn't her style.
Now that is not to say she wasn't rude or tired and would come off as nasty. She was human like the rest of us and had good and bad days. And she was entitled to those moments.
As for being upset with her band for not playing up to their standards or her standards, well being the boss, she is entitled to that. And she had to let them know her expectations, and what was acceptable and what was not. ALthough, being a perfectionist and anorexic probably made her feel out of control and always wanted to be in control which could come out thru negative ways.
My thoughts,
Cameron
|
|
