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Post by Rob813 on Jul 29, 2004 18:57:50 GMT -5
Richard has said that looking back in retrospect he feels fans connected with something about Karen that connected to something deep in themselves. I believe this might be true. This is a personal question that may be uncomfortable for some to answer and that's cool.
For me, I had a very unhappy childhood. When I heard "Close To You" when I was 15, I was very unhappy. The music was a healing balm to me; an escape if you will from the harshness of my life. Through the years my love affair for Carpenters has been like a thread woven in my life - not always as intense as other times - but a constant nontheless.
I feel very lucky to have grown up with Karen. I grieved and continue to grieve my loss. It's hard to be objective about this and say I'm glad she is not suffering anymore, because I want her alive - but we all know that's not going to happen - and I have to live with it. I guess that's why I always connect with what might be Richard's pain. Who knows what another person's heart feels.
Anyway, I told you this was a deep one. At the very least, it's just something for you to chew on!
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Post by cam83 on Jul 29, 2004 19:07:00 GMT -5
Hi Rob,
Thanks for sharing that. Uh, well I will make an extremely long story short, but I connected with Karen because of my battle with anorexia and bulimia. Hers was a voice I could connect to, within a harsh world. Anorexia/Bulimia was something I could control within my existence of being emotionally and physically abused by my adopted father, a former Christian missionary. That is why CLOSE TO YOU, CARPENTERS, VOICE OF THE HEART and A KIND OF HUSH are albums I can relate to, with such beauty and wonderful images, albeit a bit darker...A PLACE TO HIDEAWAY was my theme song for many, many years, followed by ONLY YESTERDAY. MAYBE IT'S YOU is another gem that I really adore as well as CRESCENT NOON.
My thoughts,
Cam
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Post by Rick Henry on Jul 29, 2004 19:45:08 GMT -5
 My connection with Karen was made in 1971. She was youthful, vibrant, beautiful, and I just fell in with her the first time I heard her voice. Shortly after I saw a few pictures of her and there was no going back. She had the most wonderful smile and had an ever so attractive tomboy quality about herself. She was so very different from anybody else around at that time. She really stood out and I really connected with that. By 1971 (I was eleven) I had always enjoyed singing. When I was 5, 6, 7 years old we (my brother, sister, and I) would sing along with our dad while he played the guitar. Usually we sang Peter, Paul & Mary, Kingston trio, or Trini Lopez. By the time I heard the Carpenters I just knew then that I wanted to sing. Singing was my lifelong dream. Though I was terribly shy. I would hyperventilate so bad before a show that a few times I just couldn't go out to sing. I had my first band in 1979. Myself being a fan of Karen's voice, I do (did) have certain traits learned from eight years of listening to her voice. Though since I have a male voice I came out sounding similar to Jim Morrison. Many people told me that I sounded quite a bit like Jim Morrsion. So I came to write songs like you'd hear the Doors doing. I have one called "The Basement" which maybe I can compare to "LIght My fire". "The Basement" incorporates heavy guitar driven rock with understated reggae chords. The lyrics symbolize a church service, such as the lyric; "Down in the basement gonna have a party there". The basement is where the church is located, and the party is the service, a church service is a celebration of God, with singing and dancing and emotions and love. I have another song called "Superstar (The Legend Lives On)". for many years I wanted to write a song titled "superstar", because I loved the Carpenters song so much. My "Superstar", as I always told everyone was a dedication to Jim Morrison and Karen Carpenter (sometimes people would laugh at that odd combination, but always agreed both were the best at what they did). It is a dark pretty song with chiming twelve string guitar which works into an upbeat verse and back to a downbeat chorus. The lyric at the beginning of the song sums it all up; "The legend lives on they say, a classic never dies". Anyway, it was the musician part of me, the artistic part of me that was caught by Karen. Her voice is a pure masterpiece, and genuine artifact. There was no getting around her. ...gotta end somewhere, so there it is I spilled my guts... 
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Post by Sammy on Jul 29, 2004 22:39:40 GMT -5
It was that voice. When I first heard Karen her voice went right through and struck a chord in me. I've always had an appreciation for beautiful things, even when I was a child. I was somewhat introverted. Karen's voice was one of those beautiful things.
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Post by BethMosior on Jul 30, 2004 1:50:09 GMT -5
Well lets see Karen was real, not fake, she could let you see right through her and let you feel that it will be ok, like she really cared about you, really cared, not so much for fame but because she cared  All I had ever known was pain, sorrow, loneliness, put downs, I could go on with it, lets just say, there was lots of unfun things and it was all I knew, till GOD brought the Carpenters my way, some how I saw pain in Karen's eyes, a pain I knew all to well and Karen didn't mind me sharing my pain and even went so far as letting me know ' that all Karen & Richard's fans were thought of as friends, even if they didn't get to meet them in person', Karen was a beautiful person inside & out, like a cool breeze after a really stifling hot day, where you could finally relax, take a load off I really miss Karen's sweet face and voice, wonderfully clear, refreshing, but I think I miss most of all, being able to write her and tell her so out side of Jesus Christ she is the dearest person I'll ever hear, one day I know I will finally get to meet her    thanx for letting me ramble |
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Post by enigma on Jul 30, 2004 7:36:06 GMT -5
It is very difficult to explain my Karen connection. I never experianced an eating disorder thank god but I am very sensitive and in tune with others emotions if someone is crying I will cry too just because I feel that persons sadness. Karen puts a great deal of emotion into her songs I feel that when she sings I feel Karens pain and I identify with her personality because me and her have simular personalities (from what I know of hers). Her songs can cause me to shed a tear but for the most part they chill me to the bone and give me great joy. I connect with Karen on a deep level her songs touch me like no other artist and her voice is second to none truely angelic. I also repect Karens talents on the drums and love her sense of humour but my connection to Karen is through her voice and her music. I feel blessed every day to be able to hear Karen sing and can't imagine my world without her and Richards music in it.
I also grew up on Carpenters music and was quite taken by Karens beauty when I first saw her and love and respect her more and more with every passing day Thank you Karen where ever you are you are greatly missed.
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Post by Federico Cruz on Jul 30, 2004 12:25:39 GMT -5
My connection with Karen was made in 1971. She was youthful, vibrant, beautiful, and I just fell in with her the first time I heard her voice. Shortly after I saw a few pictures of her and there was no going back. She had the most wonderful smile and had an ever so attractive tomboy quality about herself. She was so very different from anybody else around at that time. She really stood out and I really connected with that. It happened the same with me, but in 1973. |
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Post by phoenixfan4 on Jul 30, 2004 13:04:28 GMT -5
My connection with Karen and Richard runs as deep and true as your own feelings for the Duo. Like Rick I was 11 in 1971 and when I first heard Karen sing I was amazed at the clarity and depth of her voice and also felt an immediate reaction of "This woman is a special one". I just "KNEW" that I was hearing magic in it's purest form and I would never experience anything as profound in a singers voice for many many years to come. I was devastated when Karen died. I still am but have come to understand that perhaps it was her time to leave us no matter how much pain her absence would bestow upon all of us. There is really only one other singer that gets to me like Karen and that is Linda Eder.
Anyway, that's my two cents worth. Have a great weekend all !
John in Phoenix
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Post by Moe on Jul 31, 2004 0:23:14 GMT -5
Karen's voice and the Carpenters' music has been in my life as long as I can remember. I can't imagine not growing up with the Carpenters. I was an introvert and didn't fit in with family, church, or school. I had casual friends, but never any close ones until adulthood. I lost myself in music and would sit and listen to it by the hour. In the mid to late 70's, Karen was my favorite, with Rainy Days being my favorite song. I would also listen to Anne Murray, Kenny Rogers, and Debby Boone. They all made growing up just a little bit easier. |
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Post by joeinva on Jul 31, 2004 8:45:29 GMT -5
I just found this website and i'm glad i did.
I have always loved the carpenters music. For me, no matter where i am or what i'm doing if i hear a carpenters song i stop and listen.
Karen was the best singer of her generation. No singer can bring out the emotion of a song like karen. Her voice was so clear and distinct.
You could hear her pain but also her joy. I love "Top Of The World" the joy in karen's voice will make anyone smile no matter what type of day you are having.
Richard was a phenomenal musician and writer.
It's tragic karen was gone from the world in such a short time.
Thankfully great music and her voice will live on forever.
I was in germany in the air force in the 80's when i heard the news karen died. I could not believe it.
What's really tragic is some idiot told karen she was fat years ago and it crushed her. The power of negative words should never be underestimated.
Thanks for letting me ramble. God bless karen and richard and all the carpenters fans.
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Post by Rob813 on Jul 31, 2004 9:58:48 GMT -5
Welcome to our site Joe. I like the way you describe your connection to Karen and Richard. It's amazing how everybody has a similar connection to our duo but describes it in an infinite number of ways; shows how unique each of us is. Keep coming back and sharing with us.
Rob
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Post by Rick Henry on Jul 31, 2004 21:40:40 GMT -5
I just found this website and i'm glad i did. I have always loved the carpenters music. For me, no matter where i am or what i'm doing if i hear a carpenters song i stop and listen. Karen was the best singer of her generation. No singer can bring out the emotion of a song like karen. Her voice was so clear and distinct. You could hear her pain but also her joy. I love "Top Of The World" the joy in karen's voice will make anyone smile no matter what type of day you are having. Richard was a phenomenal musician and writer. It's tragic karen was gone from the world in such a short time. Thankfully great music and her voice will live on forever. I was in germany in the air force in the 80's when i heard the news karen died. I could not believe it. What's really tragic is some idiot told karen she was fat years ago and it crushed her. The power of negative words should never be underestimated. Thanks for letting me ramble. God bless karen and richard and all the carpenters fans. Hi Joe, welcome to THE CARPENTERS ONLINE. We're a fun and interesting oddball sort of almost family type group here. Hope you enjoy the forum... |
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Post by smoothie2 on Jul 31, 2004 23:50:15 GMT -5
hi everybody..I really like to hear how you all have expressed yourselves and how she touched each of us. About 1970 or 71 I guess I first heard Karen on the radio. She sang Rainy Days  ..I may have seen her on tv before that or heard her first earlier than that, but in my mind, I was about 10 and lived on a farm. My brother I think had already graduated and moved out on his own. My sister had been long married by then but was in California. I mostly was raised like an only child, and did have one or 2 pals at school and at church, but mostly, I felt isolated also.
I heard the Carps....I heard Karen on a little portable radio I carried some when I was outside. I was by the swing set in the yard. My family was really into music of all kinds and we loved all the variety shows on tv.
Karen hit that nerve connected to my heart and soul and mind.
There was a lot of good music and many groups that sang back then. Many of the groups of pop or rock sounded the same, but the C's were different.
What a heartfelt voice! How lonely and sad the song was, but she had a special someone she "ran to" and gained love and support from. I liked that.
I was never popular in school and surely not outgoing as my siblings had been.
And so, Karen was a strong force , her and Richard, with their music in my life. My folks still treated me as the baby, but in thoughts often I felt grown up. Karen was just so very great and still is to listen to.Hey...welcome Joe! hope you stick around...this is a great bunch of fans here! smoothie
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Post by BethMosior on Aug 1, 2004 14:43:43 GMT -5
Hi Joeinva, welcome to this wonderful forum, very glad you have come and I love the way you put your connection to Karen & Richard, they truely are the greatest I live in Va too but wish I was in Az, I love the 110 degree weather and sunshine  o well such is life in the big city LOL Great to have you here Joe and great to have such friend as this forum group is to me Thanx |
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All I had ever known was pain, sorrow, loneliness, put downs, I could go on with it, lets just say, there was lots of unfun things and it was all I knew, till GOD brought the Carpenters my way, some how I saw pain in Karen's eyes, a pain I knew all to well and Karen didn't mind me sharing my pain and even went so far as letting me know ' that all Karen & Richard's fans were thought of as friends, even if they didn't get to meet them in person', Karen was a beautiful person inside & out, like a cool breeze after a really stifling hot day, where you could finally relax, take a load off 
