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I bet this question has come up before. Karen has a way of bringing emotions into play through her singing. It finally happened to me!!! 15 years of hearing her and today was the day, she made me cry. My moment was I was watching the 1977 Christmas special I had just burned on DVD.

Karen was singing "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" - where she is wearing green satin, hanging stockings, holding a stuffed animal and looking into the camera, smiling. Not a sad thing to trigger tears, but as I just listened to her sweet voice, and watched her just being Karen with the little toy, I started to imagine how her friends would have felt knowing her and perhaps trying to talk to her about getting help for the anorexia and how sad it is to see her going toward the inevitable end of her life. That, combined with that muscial number just got me depressed. I knew one of these days, watching her on film would get to me, I just didn't think it would be the Christmas Special of all things!

I even was brave enough to tell my mom, dad and sister I teared up at watching her while I showed them some of the clips I had burned. I showed them Matt's tribute video and they liked it. I am sure this won't be the last time I cry while watching her too. Don't tell me I'm the only one cause it kind of makes me feel dumb!!! (oh brother, I am watching it again and getting that stinging feeling in my eyes... )

I always tear up when Karen sing "Now."

BUT watching that "Sweet, Sweet Smile" Clip I watered up just a bit. Karen just seemed so happy and looked like she was having so much fun. I know thats nothing to water up over, but I couldn't help it.

rmjoots, on Mar 7 2005, 04:02 AM, said:

Leanne, KAren has had that effect on me more than once, so if you're dumb then so am I. The weird thing is only last night even Richard made my eyes water when playing some original recordings back from his old tape recorder.

Mikey.

Oh My. I can't listen to her without crying. She........I dunno........it's as though she understands how I'm feeling.

rmjoots, on Mar 7 2005, 03:02 AM, said:

It's happened to me more times than I care to admit. Sometimes it's when I'm watching a video and start thinking about Karen's struggles and premature death, sometimes it's because the song is depressing or the lyrics hit too close to home, but usually I tear up just from the sheer beauty of Karen's voice.

Don't feel embarassed Leanne. Karen's wonderful voice produces such a response. It just shows how special she was that she could actually make people cry.

I've kind of had to come to this point where when I watch stuff, I have to just watch it - can't think too much or it gets really sad and crying may ensue...but every once in a while you just have to let loose. In fact, just your description of it nearly made me tear up...

Though I certainly don't find it strange (or dumb) that others do so... I don't think I tear up that much over listening to their music or watching a video... though I admit to sometimes getting goosebumps. I find a lot of comfort and joy in those things.

It may be more weird, but I usually get more teary if I hear a particular song by someone else that either reminds me of Karen (because of the lyrics not vocals) or that I would die for to hear Karen sing (and in my head it's often her voice I hear instead of the actual artist)... I don't know.... maybe because it reminds me of what we lost and what is missing, that there'll never be anything new.

I love all the "old" stuff but sometimes... boy, I think I'd give my left arm to hear her sing today... something new.

Marie

I understand what you mean, I haven't shed a tear yet though, but I've been extremely close lots of times. I just try to think of the more positive and happy things about her and the music. I admit recently trying to not look at the videos and the later songs cause I was getting really upset and sad with them but I'm ok now we all have our times but we get past them, don't feel embarassed!

SOMEDAY87, on Mar 7 2005, 08:01 AM, said:

Me too, I think it's a combination of the lyrics and sound, as well as the context of that song in Karen's life (being the last song she recorded... and after she had successfully (?) dealt with her anorexia).

Just the other day I burned this song to a CD and set it to pictures so I can play it on my dvd player.



Linda

Oh boy, I guess that's something I can look forward to, I haven't ever heard the song "Now" yet!!

To Mikey: was the Richard clip that one on the documentary where he is listening to that "All My Life" song? It WAS sad to see the expression on his face, I thought he was going to cry himself!

You haven't heard Now? I first heard it Listening to the Essential Collection all the way through, its the 2nd to last song before Karen's Theme. Definitely bitter-sweet

I'm always fine when I watch documentaries UNTIL they get to Karen's death then I feel so very,very sad & wish she'd never had anorexia & she was still here,or I could've given her my heart cos she had so much more to offer the world than me. I get a lump in my throat when i hear "Now",actually all of "Voice of the Heart" upsets me cos it was Karen's last album
People will probably think I'm strange but I also get upset when I hear Karen's solo songs because I wish someone had let her release them & I want to tell her they rock!

Mikey, on Mar 7 2005, 08:23 AM, said:

That's true, Mickey. On that video, he's playing that reel-to-reel tape and it's like he's right back there in his mind!! Karen HELPS me sometimes when I really need to cry! The "Top Of The World" video(new and old) make me cry, too!

Cheryl

rmjoots, on Mar 7 2005, 01:33 PM, said:

Yeah, that's right. I'm really glad you felt it too.