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Yep.....while watching Karen during the "College" years...(Dancin' In The Streets) I wonder how she could have been sooo good and yet not believed she had a great talent, either!!!! She seemed very shy, but when she played, she came alive, so to speak. I can relate to her in so many ways and consider myself very lucky t9 have met her briefly backstage in Saratoga in "75. Very, very lucky!!! What is your favorite drum solo that Karen played?? And why??

Cheryl

She was super cute in that video. That's the way I like to see her, singing and playing drums, there's something magical about that moreso than any solo. I think its great you got to meet her! Any comments on that experience(if you haven't already in another thread)?

Steve

It's not that I believe too much in Horoscopes, but from what I've once read and heard, people who were born under a sign of Pisces, (and Karen's astrological sign was Pisces) usually have little self-assurance even if they do have great talent... They often need to be encouraged, need somebody to tell them how good they are to believe in their abilities...
Just as one of the possible presumptions...

I like a lot her drum solo at 1976 Television Special. She had so much fun there!

Clearly, Karen loved playing her drums. You can see the joy on her face. I especially enjoy her drumming in "Your Wonderful Parade" and the black-and-white Australian concert, as can be seen on YouTube.

Kurt Cobain was a Pisces too!

Something I've always wondered about that 1968 video: Karen's singing seems off key in some places. 1) Is it just me? 2) If you noticed it too: Do you think it's just a video abnormality; Was she really off-key? It's just so odd to me because I've never heard her off-key in ANYTHING except that clip.
Edited by From Angels to Roses, 16 May 2009 - 11:45 PM.

Take a listen to the original "Ticket to Ride" single (1969, not the 1973 re-recording) and you will hear more under-pitch singing by Karen. It was VERY rare, but in the early years she sang with a more heavy, forced, husky tone which sometimes (in anyone) can cause a singer to go flat. She never seemed to have that problem in later years when she backed off a little. She tended to over-sing at times, esepcially Pre-A&M!

Randy

Randy, you are correct in saying that. It is in her placement of the tone.
Jonathan

I like the pre-A&M voice of Karen. Actually, just yesterday I was listening to the 1965-1970 CD1 of "From the Top". On "Looking For Love" she is more on key and sounds powerful at age 17? The coda (tail) end of the song is amazing. .."but it's just not theeeeeeeeeeeeeerrre".
Richard's keyboard playing + Karen's drummig is nice as well, a perfect match. They were talented beyond their years.
On "I'll Be Yours", she doesn't match her dub voice in several areas & it's sorta off key in places, but nonetheless a good record for her age.

As the Carpenters grew into their A&M careers, I guess they were pressured to have a more perfect sound for mass marketing to sell ($$).
Putting out a good product was what they strived for.....and her voice did change over the decade.
Edited by JayLumbee, 18 May 2009 - 02:01 PM.

Karen's voice in her early years always sounded "nasally" to me....but the tone and tenor of her voice was there the whole time!!!

Cheryl

I actually prefer Karen's sound from her earlier years. To me it's more expressive or emotional.

Don't get me wrong, I love the early stuff, too! She just had a tendency to sing under pitch on a couple of recordings from that time period. There are at least three very distinct Karen vocal periods, maybe more, and they are all wonderful in their own ways.

Randy

Favorite drum solo?

Hmm, let me ponder that.

And my avatar!

Yea, riiiiight, Bruce!!

Cheryl

I also LOVE the stuff Karen did in the late 70's in live concert for the "I Got Rythym" segments.......she was amazing!!!!

Cheryl
Edited by Pookeysmom, 19 May 2009 - 04:38 PM.