Ways Carpenters bring joy to you...

[Rick Henry]

After reading Rob's post in the topic about Karen in Rag Mag. I felt it was only fitting to start a topic about the ways Carpenters have brought joy to us.

When I first started listening to the C's, it's was long before Karen's illness, so the music, for me, was not necessarily connected with deep pain or anorexia. It was just simply some of the best music on the current music scene.

I was so in love with the Carpenters. Everytime I listened to their music I was filled with so much happiness. And Karen's voice just had a way of making me feel energized. I would sit there with my headphones on and listen and think, wow, this is the perfect music. Karen's voice is flawless and the music is so beautiful. Nothing even came close.

30 years later I'm still listening to the Carpenters, and it's still the music that fills me with such warmth and joy. But, now, with the internet there's a whole new dimension to loving the Carpenters. Finally Carpenters fans can communicate their feelings and ideas with each other. It's a wonderful thing. I love the everybody here. I enjoy sharing thoughts and feelings and learning from what everybody else has to say.

[cam83]

Well, ways or way that the CARPENTERS has brought me joy is ONE MAIN ONE....Karen's heavenly, esquisite voice. The sheer quality, the intonation, her unique phrasing, the 4 octave range, the images of crystalline, honey, and lilting qualities...I could go on and on, just about the technical qualities of her voice, never mind about the emotional qualities she put into a song, or how we felt she was singing just for us, as Herb Alpert best phrased it, she was sitting on our lap. I have never heard a voice like hers, in that range, the contralto range ever before. Her magic was hers and hers alone...
I know that I differ a bit than others, because I feel that her voice could have done so much more, in terms of singing so much more styles, had she not been joined at the hip with brother Richard, who I will definately agree, was a genius, but always wish she had done much more during the 1970's and early 1980's. Imagine all the duets, and songs she could have done, and concept albums, and off Broadway plays, and tv comedies/shows etc...

My thoughts,
Cameron

[Mariah Andrews]

Hello there. I'm Mariah Andrews. Age 28, a true fan of Karen and Richard's music. Their music always brought joy to me, and served best as the anti-dote to the depression and rage, plus violent anger that surrounded my life.

Their calm songs spoke to me just as effectively as any of the other artists that I listened to.

As a musician (guitarist and songwriter), I often turned to Richard Carpenter/John Bettis's songwriting brand for an answer. My music teacher once told me that he hears that strong Carpenters influence in my music. Yet I also composed a lot of goth rock and metal too.

I get high on music. And music suits my moods. Being in a depression, I have a tendency to listen to Marilyn Manson a lot, to fuel my fire. But to cool off and make me think of happy things, here comes the voice of Karen Carpenter, straight from the Goddess's Garden trillions of miles above us, into my car's CD player.

Also, I dream of one day being able to sing like Karen. Her voice was so beautiful. But as I take hormones to change from being male to female, my singing voice has changed a lot. From a scruffy Kurt Cobain-like voice I once had to a more Janis Joplin-like sound I've obtained. I pray to Goddess that one day I could sing like Karen, with practice.

Sorry if my life story scares you away. But despite who I am, I feel that I'm a valid Carpenters fan with some nice things to ask and say here.

[cam83]

8-)WELCOME!!
It's always nice to meet other CARPENTERS fans! Yes, Richard and Karen were both very talented people...and Karen's voice was heaven sent. I have always loved the 21 solo songs available Karen recorded in New York during her 1979-1980 solo album recording sessions...actually 12 were released finally in 1996 in KAREN CARPENTER, and the other 9 are available thru Kazaa, Win Mx and other downloading programs...In case you don't know the songs are...
Midnight
Something's Missing
Love Making Love To You
Don't Try To Win Me Back Again
Jimmy Mac
Keep My Lovelight Burning
Truly You
It's Really You
I Do It For Your Love

They really showcase Karen's voice in a new light...some interesting aspects to her 4 octave vocal range. Anyways, Mariah, welcome!!

My thoughts,
Cameron

[BethMosior]

I know that I have written alot of what Karen & Richard have done in bringing joy into my life, so here goes again they are my sanity, when I hear Karen, she just lightens up my load, Richards music relaxes and uplifts me, when life puts me down yet again all together they really just are awe inspiring just how Karen plays her drums & sings wow what she could do with that heaven sent voice, it realy is hard to find the words for that, and the way Richard just melds all the instruments, back round vocals, etc... wow again just unbelievably wonderful, and the music he writes :owow then when I need a good laugh I look at Karen playing yet another joke on Richard or playing a joke on one of her friends, making those funny faces at the photographer, etc... or on some of the TV specials, just the way they both make you feel like you are a part of everything, like family, just wonderful they truly are wonderful, real, nice people and I think that they are 1 of the 7 wonders of the world

[enigma]

Wow Rick what can I say about the Carpenters and especially Karen. When I first saw Karen she was drumming and singing We've Only Just Begun on The Ed Sullivan Show (Not the original broadcast) and here was this beautiful girl with a voice sent from heaven and she could play drums to boot she was unusual but I have always been attracted to the unusual, the exception to the rule. As I listened to more songs, this angelic voice had such a deep affect on me I never thought Karen was singing to me or right on my lap but she touched me on a level that no other singer ever had. The Beatles are and always will be my number one band but the Carpenters are a solid second. The Fab Four excite me and I love their music and inovation but none of their voices touched me on the level Karens voice did. When I saw the Carpenters' appearances and first TV special I saw a Karen that was funny, entertaining, and seemed to be a good human being the more I learned about Karen the more I respected and loved her. My love for Karen is not based on a physical attraction nor is it sexual it is based on a connection I have with her through her music and an appreciation for her talents. I cannot put into words the emotions that the Carpenters music instill in me so I told this rather long account of my introduction and thoughts on Karen to hopefully give you people and idea of what she means to me which is related to the emotions Karen and the Carpenters music create in me. Over 35 years later nothing has changed the Carpenter stil instill the same emotions.

And Cam I totally agree with you on Karen doing other things with her voice. She had the potential to do anything with that voice and did not need to be joined at the hip to Richard. Looking back it probably would have been the best thing for both Karen and Richard if she explored other musical avenues earlier. I loved her solo record because she was experimenting and spreading her wings the material was great which is why it always perplexes me as to why it was rejected and met with so much resistance.

[Mariah Andrews]

Honestly, I didn't think Karen looked half-bad at times. (Don't get me wrong. I don't want to say anything that would get me 86-ed from this forum board, considering who I am, as I described myself to the left of this message) How she looked in the "Touch Me" and "Beechwood" music videos, she looked okay. But in a more previous "Interplanetary Craft" video, I hate to say it, but she didn't look too healthy. I read that beneath that green pantssuit, she was probably wearing two or three other outfits.

I will not discuss too much about who I like beyond a social standard here, but all I can say is, Karen at a healthier weight, was a fairly attractive woman. But when she let herself go, it became hard for people to look at her without saying "you poor dear".

Also, for people back in the 70s to be making crude jokes about her on late night TV (the same way Leno and Letterman talk about Britney Spears and J-Lo), I thought that was sick and I'm glad that Bette Midler had the heart to apologize for her bad remarks towards Karen, according to the book. And one of the Olsen twins, going through something similar to Karen, I don't think it's nice to insult her neither (though I'm not a big Olsen-twins fan personally).

[Rob813]

Once again I'm astounded by the array of people who are in love with Karen and Richard. They were accused of being white bread, goody two shoes and all the rest. Yet here we are straight, gay, transgender, young, not so young (like me LOL). consevative, liberal, with all kinds of taste in other types of music and we're all absolutely crazy about Carpenters.

What does that tell you? To me it says that this couple, this brother and sister from an average, "normal" middle-class background formed a musical partnership that has inspired, comforted, rescued from despair, brought joy to generations of fans. This is a phenomenal statement. Their music has stood the test of time. There are not many artists who's musical contribution has done so.

As I walk through the isles of the giant record stores like Sam Goody, Borders, Best Buy and the rest, I am always struck with the Carpenters being so current and up-to-date amongst all the new groups and individual artists.

I discovered the Carpenters in the summer of 1970 along with the rest of the world. They filled a huge void in my life back then. I would listen to their music for hours on end. They were my friends even though I didn't know them personally. It comforted and inspired me. Everyone who knows me knows of my love of the Carpenters. People say I heard Karen singing on the radio and I thought of you. Well, what an honor for me is that. They hear Karen and think of me. It makes me feel very special and I'm probably more proud of Karen and Richard now than I've ever been during the past 34 years.

By the way, I sent an e-mail to Richard's personal assistant on richardandkarencarpenter.com explaining my love for them. I asked if there might be a job for me working for Richard (publicist etc). She was kind enough to respond back to me explaining that my letter to Richard was awesome. She said Richard had pretty much retired from concert performing and that most of this publicity was handled by Universal. She also said he was busy raising his family and working on Carpenter projects for future release. It was a thoughtful and warm response and I just wanted all of you to know about it.

Anyway welcome to our wonderful forum Mariah. You have alot of things going on in your life. I hope you always feel comfortable here in sharing anything you need to you. We are a loving bunch of people.

[Sammy]

As Beth says, WOW, this is an interesting thread.

On the Carpenters the music and Karen's beautiful voice put me right on CLOUD NINE. No other music gives me that "chill factor" like the Carpenters. I've been a fan since early on and have continued to love them 30 years and more. They have a very special place in my heart and always will.

Hi Mariah, welcome to the forum. You are amongst good company here. The people on this forum do not judge, but more so encourage each other to be just who you are.

[beaner]

The Carpenters and their music have brought so much into my life that it's hard to even express in words. I can't ever remember a time in my life when I was not thinking of the Carpenters in one way or another.

They help me when times are rough, when I just feel like chilling, when I'm happy, when I'm working at the office or at home doing housework even as I wind down with a nice bubble bath I play their music. They just mean so much to me.

Last week I vacationed in PA with relatives and brought along my cd's. I listened to them in the car down and back and so many songs get revived every time like Maybe It's You, Crystal Lullaby and Karen's Theme that Richard wrote for Karen.

Great songs too!!!

[BethMosior]

I wanted to say a big WELCOME to Mariah glad to meet you here on this great forum this is the greatest place to be, to share about the Carpenters, glad you have come here and joined our wonderful forum family yahooooooo

[Rick Henry]

I just have to add that watching the old TV Specials also brightens my day. As Beth has mentioned many times Karen really had a comedic flair. Just a certain look or expression can put such a big smile on my face. One of my favorite Karen moments is on the "Space Encounters" special when they perform "Goofus", Karen is so young and cute and there's just a sense of humor in this performance. After all the song is a famous circus "clown" song, you just have to listen to it with a sense of humor.

[Mariah Andrews]

Awwwww... thank you all. I enjoy being a part of the Carpenters community here. Yes, I represent one color of the rainbow of Carpenters fans out there. Their music plays in my mind constantly.

I won't talk a whole lot about what it's like to be transsexual, because I've gotten in too many heated arguements in other groups of other sorts.

One thing I also admire in Karen was her fashion and style in some pictures. She had great taste in clothes and a part of that influenced the fashion sense of the woman I became. But that's only a minor part of it. Women who dressed modestly I went for.

Yet when I was male, I was an extreme nerd. I could relate to Richard a lot in my high school days, choosing to look a cut-above-the-rest, yet liking the hip things that went on. I was a piano and guitar player and I dug the music that was before my time, like how he did.

Richard, being the innocent church-type, had a wild side which he expressed when he worked at Disneyland with John Bettis and sang on Main Street. Instead of singing crassy old folk songs, he played Doors, Beatles, Stones, etc instead, thus upsetting the boss. However, he ended up writing a song about that guy long after he was fired. That I admire.

I recently wrote a song called "Two Cents Short", an angry punk-rocker about a girl who harrassed me at work and accused me of all sort of nasty stuff. The "Mr. Guder" song gave me the idea to do that.

But that is basically all I can tell you about how much the Carps have influenced me.

Also, I'm writing a book about a young transgender teenager who struggles to make it in high school and goes through many suicide attempts and other drama. The main character happens to be a major Carpenters fan and listens to their music all the time. To elate him/her into a happy mood. What would Richard Carpenter think if he read it?

[Rick Henry]

The lyrics to this early Carpenters song seem appropriate here:

Don't be afraid to love and get love returned.
Don't be afraid to tell everyone you've learned.
That love is a groovy thing, it knows how to make you sing,
and it fills up your life with sunshine and joy.
Don't be afraid to give all you've got to give.
One of these days you'll find that's the way to live,
and living is what we were all put on this earth to do. So come on live and be happy.
Don't be afraid to love.

[Federico Cruz]

I always had this one inside my very favorites Carps songs since the first time I heard it!!!.
A happy and optimistic song!

[Rob813]

Mariah, I don't Richard Carpenter ever would have conceived that things would have worked out the way that did. I do believe he knows he and Karen have many faithful fans all over the world. The richardandkarencarpenter.com website says that there are about 5 millions fans worldwide. I don't know how they came up with that number, but if true, is awesome. I think Richard would be proud of your story and the important part they played in your life.

As I've said, I think it's incredible the various backgrounds of fans on this one site. I am proud to be one of them!

[Moe]

The Carpenters' music has been with me since childhood. It has enriched my life and my love of music. I was a lonely child, never really fitting in, but I fit in with the Carpenters. I listened by the hour to them through the years. I was devastated when Karen died, but still find that same great feeling when I listen to her voice. Their music is timeless, so 30 years later, it still brings peace, joy, and love.

[Rick Henry]

Rob813 said:

Mariah, I don't Richard Carpenter ever would have conceived that things would have worked out the way that did. I do believe he knows he and Karen have many faithful fans all over the world. The richardandkarencarpenter.com website says that there are about 5 millions fans worldwide. I don't know how they came up with that number, but if true, is awesome. I think Richard would be proud of your story and the important part they played in your life.

As I've said, I think it's incredible the various backgrounds of fans on this one site. I am proud to be one of them!

Hi Rob, I made a guestimate in January that the C's had something like 5 million fans worldwide. I guess I wasn't too far off. Here's a link to that guess:
carponline.proboards21.com/index.cgi?board=FAQ&action=display&thread=1074306924