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I was told by my mom that she heard on the radio that Richard has chosen a Philipino girl to be his new lead singer and she sounds just like Karen.
Anyone heard about this?
Thanks....Derrick

Not a chance. He's specifically looking for someone who does NOT sound like Karen.

A lot of money on this forum is on his daughter Mindi being his new partner. Whoever it is, it's not a replacement for Karen, but that he feels ready to re-launch himself. At 62 years of age. When he said for the past few years he was semi-retired. It's all very strange.
Mindi's voice is not like Karen's at all, more of a stage voice. If it was her, I have no idea what he intends on doing with that sound, because it's not his style at all.

If it is Claire de la Fuente, then he's going to come in for a lot of flak for picking someone to 'replace' Karen, because her voice does make her sound like a Karen wannabe.

A "replacement" for Karen?

Exactly Stephen, that is how I feel. I can't see how it could be Claire de la Fuente, he has said he is not looking for someone to replace Karen and boy would the news media jump all over him on this one. If it's Mindi I also am just not sure where he would be going to market that sound, is it pop, rock, jazz, where is it catagorized, easy listening is too general which worked many many years ago but now?

We really know very little about Richard after Karen passed away, he even to this day doesn't really let the fans get close enough to him to know, the official site is rarely updated and over the years has really not been in the public eye interacting with the fans except for a project here and there. Evertime he is in the public eye the camera go wild cause he is still someone we want to see and know more about.

He has been in semi-retirement and yet with the time devoted to his kids rightfully so he could also have taken this time to touch base within the fan base by drawing closer to what made him famous in the first place by getting to know us better, he could have wrote a book during this time in semi retirement and really let "us" know more about him and give us some more memories of Karen that has shared with her during her lifetime, This does not have to be unreleased recordings I speak of...even sharing a photo of something Karen loved something she collected, a photo with a written word of what that meant to Karen during their career.

I guess it's hard to explain what I am trying to say.

Thanks for the replies. Thats the impression I had, that Richard was looking for someone who doesnt sound like Karen. And yes, there
is no replacement for Karen, silly me. Mindi is no where near Karen's voice and I think she is just a average singer, but she is very young.
I am afraid todays music scene makes it nearly impossible for a 60's to 80's artist to come up with a hit. What a shame. Most music made
1990 onwards just doesnt appeal to me, with a few exceptions.

Yeah but there's always hope, remember Yoko had their first dance hits when she was around 70, I heard she was the first women of that age to have a number one hit anywhere in the world!

I still think that if Richard is going to re-invent "The Carpenters" he would be better off going for a group or choir of singers. Any single singer will be compared to Karen and IMO it is unrealistic that he will find anyone who will really equal up to her. With a group, he would have a range of talent and a slightly different sound... a ensamble rather than single star.

We also don't really know how much of all those news stories are true from when Richard was in Japan w/ Mindi. We know that Richard is NOT looking for a professional partner contrary to what the "news stories" have led us to believe. So how much of the rest of those stories are true?

Again this takes us back to Richard not really keeping the fans updated on what is happening so the rumors start.

Richard said he's NOT looking for a singer and Madonna and Guy Ritchie said earlier this year that they were NOT going to divorce, so...!

Richard and/or (Carpenters) in the same sentence with Madonna...that's like...just wrong.

I think it would be horrific to "replace" Karen.....No fans would stand for that. But....to re-invent himself....we would encourage. He is a very talented man and should explore his musical interests. If he wants to sing with another female....so be it, but it shouldn't be a "Carpenters" knock-off imitation. Mindy is good, but doesn't have that "special" sound that makes you stop and listen, like Karen did.
Solo....he just doesn't make it either, so I wonder what he has in mind!!

Cheryl

Richard is not going to replace A GOOD THING.
What's so wrong with the man going BACK to work?
Pardon me, but Richard's voice isn't the same as it was during their career---so a fresh, new voice with Richard's arrangements will be superb. Just take a listen to his work with Dusty and Dionne----classic.

I think this is the essence of it Chris. I think the perception is he's a bit 'reclusive', sort of like Agnetha. He rarely makes public appearances (when do you ever see him at the Grammys etc?), so when he does put in a show, there is a lot of media flurry over it. I think he underestimates how much interest there would be in something like this, which is why I said, if he's working with Claire de la Fuente, the perception will be that he's trying to recreate what cannot ever be recreated.

And so that's why I think it would generate a lot of interest, and not all of it positive. Many will just turn and say 'who does she think she's trying to be, Karen Carpenter?'

I don`t think so.


No one sound like her.

but all i can say you..is that in a hidden place is a little soul who have the same voice`s register as Karen.
but she dont have the opportunities to sing in public.


im shy to say

Is me.