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Thanks to the participation of everyone on this forum, I've been able to see quite a few of Karen's musical numbers on film. I have certain favorites I like watching over and over and I thought it would be fun if we got to list the top 5 of our favorite film performances of Karen's (or both Carpenters)
Its really difficult to define my top 5, but here it goes:

1) I am a complete weirdo because I am realizing my most favorite number I love watching is "Goofus"! The song subtext means something to me, its catchy, corny and just a fun number.
2) "Little Girl Blue".... oooooooooh.... Karen... you are beautiful, the song is haunting and your voice makes that song magical, its more powerful to see you perform it.
3) Please Mr. Postman - the Carpenters at Disneyland
4) Richard and Karen singing the Bacharach Medley with Carol Burnett. I like the medley and I get to see the charm Karen has performing "live" and she looks healthier and hopeful in the early years.
5) I Need to Be in Love (of course) - a great song, a theme in the video, and both Karen and Richard are attractive throughout to watch.

My top 5 are

1. The Wholeee 1971 BBC Performance, I can watch this thing over and over, The Carpenters in their prime, Karen singing live and on drums, what more could you ask for?
2. Carol Burnett Bacarach Medley, This is the FIRST moving footage I saw and Karen is very charming, great first impression for me
3. Carpenters First TV Special-Karen's drum solo, she looks so happy and vibrant playing the drums in this!
4. Ticket To Ride, cause I love the Winter setting, it's my favorite season and everyone is squinting like crazy out there odd video but I like it!
5. The Whole Interpretations DVD, this was my first Carpenters DVD and has various clips from their tv specials. Karen just can't keep her hands still sitting on the Letter U in the "We've Only Just Begun" clip

Not in any particular order

1) Music Music Music Karen Ella what more can be said Karen also sounded so good in this special loved the extended Medly and duet with Ella for This Masquerade most.

2) Rainy Days and Mondays (the Gold Version) Loved Karens look in this video also loved to see her drumming even if she was miming the performance just a great video.

3) Superstar (Burgundy dress) Again loved the look and love the song

4) Only Yesterday love the location the song Karens look just everything about this video is great

5) Live at the BBC 1971 a young Karen singing drumming and truely live for the most part. I just love this video I watched it countless times.

Hmmm let's see,

1. Morinaga Chocolate commercial - I love the natural feel to this commercial. Karen appears quite shy and cute at times and always utterly beautiful.

2. Please Mr Postman - This was the first video I ever saw of the Carpenters. I was just a kid and at the time, it envisioned all that was good about the future, the unseen wonders of Disneyland and America. .

3. Only Yesterday - This is another memory based video. How Karen looks here, was how I remembered her, when I was reborn again (in a Carpeneters sense) a few years back. Karen looks great in this video.

4. I Need to be in Love - Although I didn't see this in full until last year, you just can't beat it's cheesy 70's feel. And of course again, Karen looks spectacular.

5. Goofus - Leanne, I probably wouldn't of thought of this until you brought it up, but I agree this is a fun video (I'm talking about the version from Space Encounters with Charlie Callas). Although Karen is thin here, she shines so brightly, that you can't help but be caught up in it.

Mikey.

For Me.....

I Need To Be In Love - I just plain out love this video.

We've Only Just Begun (Gold) - Karen is just so prtetty here. The way she smiles etc. really make her shine, and she has on a nice pant suit (It has pants but looks like a dress

Live In Japan - I watch it at least once a week!

Please Mr. Postman - Same as everbody else. I love it.

1 - Karen on the Tonight Show in 1978. She sings wonderfully and she's so bubbily and fun.
2 - Little Girl Blue - exquisite vocals from Karen.
3 - 1971 BBC special with Karen singing Superstar. A brilliant live perfprmance.
4 - The Superstar/Rainy Days medley from their 1976 TV show. I just love the video. It's so haunting and well suited to the songs and it's very dramatic.
5 - The Rock & Roll clip with Karen singing Yesterday Once More. Her voice is truly amazing in this clip.

Great topic!!
I haven't seen all the things you guys have seen, but so far:

1) Karen singing Top of the World, I think in their first special, but I'm not sure. You know which one! The one where she is standing and kinda flirting with someone in the audience. She is smiling throughout and is BEAUTIFUL and healthy!!!

2) Please Mr. Postman. I cannot accentuate how attractive she is in that jean jacket! I mean, .. . well. .. she looks great!!!

3) Her singing of Ave Maria in the X-mas special.

4) Her cool drum solo where she melds into herself!

5) Her duet with Ella Fitzgerald. Karen walking slowly in from the dark is very alluring!

Live in Japan - (especially Help - they do it better than on the album)
Live at the BBC - Karen's like a totally different person when she gets to play her drums
Top of the World from 1st special - Karen's noticably thin here , but it was the first video I saw of her where she really looked confident and comfortable, and like she was truly having fun onstage
Reason to Believe - again with those drums, and she really looks happy in this one
Make Me Laugh from the Dorothy Hamill special - I love how she keeps slipping and grabbing onto the giant snowman's arm

My all time favourite has to be Karen's drum solo - most people I show this to sit mesmerised by the sight of a woman laying into the drums, and even non drummers have commented to me that she has amazing technique, her talent was that obvious when she was at the kit.

The other favourite is Karen singing A Song For You, not sure what TV special it was, but she had her long white down on and the audience went mental at the end of the performance

Stephen

I have so many favourites, but I did really love the Carol Burnett medley, and the Only Yesterday video, as well as the Reason to Believe video.


Linda

newvillefan, on Feb 27 2005, 10:36 AM, said:

That is from the Bob Hope Special

Oh my. How fabulous was the Perry Como performance???? I just love it!!!


Linda

JayLumbee, on Feb 28 2005, 12:50 PM, said:

"A Song For You"..where is this available?

I like the teo versions I've seen of "Knowing When To Leave" (early version with Karen on drums) and later with an orchestra.

I like the "Postman" video because she looks healthy. That hair is gorgeous.
And in jeans!

JayLumbee, on Feb 28 2005, 05:50 PM, said:

I thought they'd guested on that show only once, but they must have been on Bob Hope's show twice at least , because that clip of A Song For You is from 1972. The other 'Hope Show' clip of her is from autumn 1973, when she performed 'We've Only Just Begun' with the gold halterneck dress on. Her physique and hair style on the two clips is totally different.

Can anyone shed some light?

Stephen

1. Rainy Days and Mondays
2. Only Yesterday
3. This Masquerade (with Ella Fitzgerald)
4. Top Of The World
5. I Need To Be In Love

Simon