FIRST TIME REACTING TO | Karen Carpenter Drum Solo

[@GinMae]

Thanks, Britt - this is a totally "goofy" video.. but still, it showcases her drumming talent - her first love.. and she was considered very good... (she was totally happier playing drums than singing.. she never wanted to be a singer.. but once that voice was discovered... how could they NOT use her...) Love Karen... appreciate your reaction!

[@tonycocchiola7192]

The man on the drum at the start is John Denver

[@msadventure49]

I thought so!

[@rcinsley]

Karen was a drummer...who also sang. She was always more comfortable in the back of the band, buried in her drum set, than out front in the spotlight.

[@CharlesHoward-ud6qv]

I believe that if she stayed on the drum kit and sang from there she would still be with us. She could never get over the anxiety of fronting the band because of her insecurity of how she looked. If she only knew that she was very easy on the eyes.

[@rcinsley]

@@CharlesHoward-ud6qv Yes. I heard that a media critic made some kind of derogatory comment about Karen looking "pudgy." That's all it took to get her rattled, and anorexia took her to a tragically early death. Maybe she did know that she was the sweetheart of a generation, but mental illness warps people's perceptions of themselves.

[@LoisChisholm]

I cannot remember Karen Carpenter looking happier, ever. RIP, sweet angel.

[@jealousjelly1]

Seeing how all-out happy she was playing the drums and then thinking about how she starved herself to death brings tears to my eyes. She was a beautiful young lady and everybody knew that but her.

[@jamescofer3261]

Anxiety about her body image probably killed her.

[@robertspino521]

YOU ARE RIGHT SHE WAS MOST HAPPY BEHIND HER DRUM SET

[@joanmonaghan8428]

Karen was a drummer, an exceptional drummer. But she also had an incomparable voice, a once in a lifetime voice. But in her mind she was a drummer who sang.

[@Perfect_Blend]

Karen really was such FUN to watch live. She would be behind the drums for some songs, but then stood up for others. She was often silly and very spontaneously funny. She never really knew how good she was. John Lennon told her she had a lovely voice and she thought he must have been kidding. Same for the famous drummer, Buddy Rich, who said she was HIS favorite drummer. She just had that low self esteem and couldn't believe it when she got compliments from famous people. She just loved her drums before all other things and her smile is genuine. I played drums in high school because of Karen, even tho women playing drums was unusual. I loved it too.

[@kenneth2875]

The guy in the band is John Denver. Karen Carpenter is the greatest loss to the world.

[@bruschmidt9943]

It's unreal how anyone who could sing that Superbly was also a drummer & in their first few years, did both at the same time. A real Superstar ✨

[@metoo7557]

This is why everyone loves Karen. When she was doing this it wasn't about 'I'm a woman, therefore I'm the best'. She let her talent speak for her, and she kept up with the best of them.

[@jimcarberry8262]

Karen considered herself a drummer who sang. Her brother Richard pressured her to get out front.

[@thomas2782]

her brother was a jerk

[@ericzeichert511]

@@thomas2782 And you know this how?

[@thomas2782]

@@ericzeichert511 watch the documentary. Her whole family failed her

[@Fred-vy1hm]

Karen became a singer because she had the most beautiful voice in the world but her first love and passion was always the drums. 😊

[@gwyntx7620]

She just lights up when she plays her drums

[@simgamer313]

Karen Carpenter March 2, 1950 - February 4, 1983 RIP - She had anorexia, died of a heart attack because she starved herself to death

[@scottchapin2323]

Karen was a great drummer. Great technique. If you listen closely, you will hear different styles during this solo. She was highly underrated as a drummer. There is a great story (you can find it on KZbin) about how she rated higher the John Bonham in a PLAYBOY list of top 100 drummers.

[@philosopher0076]

Right, rated tops in a major magazine...so she wasn't underrated.

[@CharlesHoward-ud6qv]

@@philosopher0076 Great point. I think a more accurate statement would be a great drummer that a lot of people didn’t know about. Her fame came from her voice and the songs she recorded and by that time she was more of a front person.

[@pumagutten]

You are right, Britt!❤ Karen had it all: The voice , the drumming, the humor and the ability to give interesting interviews.

[@Bill-zT]

Spot on about her being happy playing the drums

[@Grumpyoldman60]

Sweet, sweet Karen was the real triple threat. She could sing and play,, and she had perfect pitch which is rare and special. she was born in March 1950 which made her 15 months older than me and I fell in love with her the first time I heard her sing `Close to You`. So ,so special!!!

[@donaldk.macbaird5248]

She was 19 months older than me.

[@ricknbacker5626]

My Top 5 list of singing drummers 5) Peter Rivera (Rare Earth) 4) Levon Helm (The Band) 3) Phil Collins (Genesis) 2) Don Henley (Eagles) and #! Karen Anne Carpenter. Karen was far more comfortable being one of the band members. She never planned or desired on being the Face and the Voice of the Carpenters. History has rendered its verdict. Karen Carpenter is a legend, a world class drummer, with the voice of an angel. RNB

[@theG-man-p2h]

😊your insight is spot on once again! Karen was a drummer, first and foremost, playing drums in a band during her college years. She was not eager to leave the comfort and anonymity of her drum kit, but we're so grateful that she did. 😊

[@brittreacts]

Rock on!

[@ericechols6056]

Karen just had a heightened gift for playing the drums, and yes, I would say she was more in her element and on this video in the happy zone playing the drums. I think Karen probably loved playing the drums more than singing. Would have loved to see Karen Carpenter and Sheila E. collaborate, in playing the drums, but unfortunately Karen passed away in 83'. Sheila E. was aware of Karen's drumming talents when she was young and considered her a childhood role model.

[@PAT8888-is2pd]

She was an award winning jazz drummer before she started singing. She loved the drums. She had one of the most incredible voices ever.

[@Steve-em1ok]

I loved that you chose this video. I had the typical high school crush on Karen Carpenter, and her passing is what caused me to realize that anorexia is a real disease, a debilitating and terrible condition that needs a long and proper treatment if it’s to be overcome.

[@FredtheFrisian]

You should see the video of "Wings of Pegasus" about Karen Carpenter having (one of ) the best/precise singing voices, nearly a "natural pitch corrected voice".

[@CharlesHoward-ud6qv]

Yup. She had a beautiful voice with tremendous control. Frank Sinatra, Linda Ronstadt and Paul McCartney are other artists who have near perfect pitch. That’s quite a crowd to be recognized with. Then you add that her voice also seemed to be sprinkled with magic fairy dust. Some call it the it factor that you just can’t explain.

[@gingergardner4374]

She was such a talent. With an unfortunate disorder that Inevitably cut her life short.😟❤

[@DeansMayhem]

Karen was a one of kind talent for sure.

[@Gotblade]

She was a jazz drummer before the Carpenters made it big.

[@denveradams4909]

I am a drummer, and a singer. However, I have not been able to both at the same time. Karen could. We lost both, Karen and John Denver in tragic circumstances, way too soon. Both were national treasures.

[@ronaldmorgan7632]

And now we have Pau Villareal of The Warning.

[@BrakRulesAll]

That's John Denver in the front row of the band jawing with her!

[@SayItAintSo4real]

Yay! What a wonderful reaction, again, to the ever great and legendary Karen Anne Carpenter. She was incredible.

[@mikefuchs-sb8pv]

Buddy Rich himself said she was one of his favorite drummers- but her voice!!!!! wow

[@JamesYoung-f5h]

She was a jazz drummer with her brother before they went pop on the "A" jazz circuit.......Buddy Rich mentioned her as his favourite young drummer when she was a teenager

[@pamagnolia]

Karen was so talented. One of my favorite singer of all time😅

[@jdgolf499]

Karan always considered herself a drummer more than a singer. Ad you noticed, she was truly happy when playing the drums!

[@mlbw1966]

Karen loved playing the drums. She wanted to hid behind the drums because she thought she thought she thought she talented and fat... which led to her to anorexia that ended her life.. Her voice was so beautiful. She could record in one take. The voice of an Angel RIP KAREN CARPENTER WE MISS YOU ❤

[@catherder78]

Karen also played the tambourine (uncredited) on virtually every Carpenters song that featured that instrument.

[@johnbattles1002]

Karen and Linda Ronstadt were both absolute killers on the tambourine.

[@cygnus62]

John Denver and Karen are both drumming together in heaven.

[@llanitedave]

They're harmonizing their vocals pretty well, too.

[@1chound1]

You need to check out The Carpenters doing Bacharach medley live from Walter Reed Hospital around 1970 or so, doing the drumming and singing at the same time. A great performance. She is sorely missed by many.

[@jamesdagenais6494]

We had great entertainment verity shows back in the 70s. Throughout the decade, several singers had tv shows that lasted a couple of years .

[@Joseph-f9m7s]

As a drummer that started playing in 1970 ar 10, then playing concert and marching and stage band HS, I can easily say that Karen was not just a good drummer, she was a great drummer. Most people don't know how hard it is to play like she did. Imagine both feet and hands all doing something different all at the same time. And making it sound great. Piano is probably the only thing harder than learning drums, at least for me.

[@thomastimlin1724]

When I heard on the car radio Karen died Feb 4, 1983 at almost age 33, I pulled over ...cried my eyes out for 5 minutes. I was music teacher, but she was my crush when I was 14, and she was 20, with their first big hit Close to You. She was like the super talented girl next door to many of all ages. I actually played the trumpet solo on Close to You the next year for the junior high choir. I wrote it out myself. I also had a crush on the choir teacher too lol. she later move dout of state and died in a single engine plane crash. Life sure sucks when good people die for nothing.

[@joanedwards-de6pl]

I feel so fortunate that I saw the Carpenters in concert in the early 1970’s.

[@bob_._.]

Karen was indeed happier drumming; she never would have become a singer if she and Richard hadn't been working on a demo recording for someone and the singer didn't show up. She filled in on vocals and that was that.

[@bonester50]

She's completely in a class all her own. Top tier singer, top tier drummer and a beautiful woman. KAC is G.O.A.T.

[@boosuedon]

Karen has said on numerous shows that playing the drums is her passion, singing pays the bills!

[@robertrichardson2617]

Was the guy in the marching band John Denver?

[@johnbattles1002]

Yep, that’s a young John Denver himself! 😊

[@golfr-kg9ss]

Amazing talent.

[@CathyMckee-h4f]

I saw this when this was aired on TV. She made me tired going from drum to drums. I played French horn drums and trumpet in high school.😅

[@johnbattles1002]

Britt, I agree with you 100% in your wish that TV and entertainment could go back to how it used to be! If you did not recognize the young “drummer”Karen was talking to in the band skit, it was none other than “Take Me Home Country Roads” John Denver! 😊

[@JulieConkle]

A really good movie you can find on KZbin, The Karen Carpenter Story, with Cynthia Gibb playing Karen, tells a good accurate story of their beginnings, to her death.

[@marioserrano6333]

When she was 18, she was voted best drummer in the world.

[@kitkakitteh]

My sister and I both played snare and other percussion in the school band, she did marching band, I did pep ( we got to sit😂)

[@yuppers54]

If the record label, and their manager, and Richard had left her behind the drums we might still have her today. It was the reviews that said she was chubby that pushed her into into the eating disorder that eventually caused her death.

[@llanitedave]

It was her failed marriage in 1980 that also exacerbated her condition from the emotional stress it caused her. She began undergoing treatment in late 1982 for her anorexia, but as a result of that gained weight faster than her weakened heart could handle. If Anorexia Nervosa had been as well understood at the time as it became later, partly as a result of her death, her treatment would likely have been more effective, and easier on her body.

[@laurasmith2522]

I love that John Denver is in this lol soso young

[@jamesrobertson2361]

Grambling State played Portland State here in a football game. I went just to see the their marching band. She was a great drummer that was also blessed with one of the greatest voices ever.

[@laurasmith2522]

Indeed I agree she looked happiest playing the drums lol love your reaction about today's entertainment as well I love you !

[@mitchfleming274]

In 75 she was voted the best drummer by playboy...ahead of John Bonham of Led Zeppelin

[@t.r.1708]

Joy is contagious! Thx Brit!

[@oldschoolsaint]

My understanding is that she was a drummer first and was reluctant about singing.

[@bakercarl8518]

Such a beautiful woman.

[@rhondaserges5136]

Karen was an award winning Jazz Drummer. Jon Bonham got very upset when Karen was named on a list of the best drummers and he wasn't. I believe she would of lived a long life if they had let her be behind her kit...

[@s.erikschulman8487]

This woman needs to see the Cher and Jackson Five medley.

[@ericzeichert511]

They didn't make performers like Karen before Karen either. She was truly one of a kind.

[@SuperDusty56]

Another female drummer was Irene Mandrell in fact she was the first commercially successful female drummer

[@gingergardner4374]

The mandrell sisters were always a pleasure to watch.

[@charleslively1714]

She was very good!!

[@jeffdetmer4681]

Some years back Rolling Stone (I believe) did a list of top either 50 or 100 drummers all time, and Karen was on the list. She wanted to be a drummer and not a singer, but was way too good a singer not to do that. One time in an interview after the Carpenters had performed Frank Sinatra was asked what he thought of her singing, He said I can walk into any venue anywhere, but I would pay to hear her sing.

[@socalpaul487]

All Karen really wanted to do was play the drums. Karen Carpenter was voted the best rock drummer of 1975 in a readers' poll for Playboy magazine. She beat out other top drummers, including John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, Keith Moon of The Who, and Ringo Starr of The Beatles.

[@catticusfeline4623]

Britt, thank you for your intelligent and charming insights into Karen Carpenter's artistry and personality. It's lovely to see new generations of audiences appreciate this genuine music legend. (Her brother Richard was a brilliant musician and arranger who created the Carpenters' unique sound.)

[@tonyscupham-bilton7523]

In the 1970s it was usual for US tv specials to have no audience. Applause and laugh tracks were edited on later. There are a couple of videos of Karen doing this same drum solo in front of live audiences.

[@marvinboswell6889]

Great reaction, to one of my all time favorite artists

[@CinemaLover1900]

PlayBoy magazine eanked her further ip than Jon Bonham. Bongham had a conniption and Karen bent over backwards apologizing. She was both talented, and kind.

[@WayneGardnerMIHS]

she did not want to sing nor be in front of the band .. she loved the drums

[@Joseph-f9m7s]

We had the best bunch of variety shows in the 70's.

[@TerryYelmene]

If the powers that were... just let her be the drummer!

[@supasoulproductions]

You should seek out some of the videos where she is playing and singing Carpenters hits!

[@GeorgettaRoss-sg3hs]

Watch the earl videos of the Carpenters before they were huge. She was always behind the kit. Once executives heard here sing the pulled her off the kit and up front.

[@valogden]

Being a drummer and sining at the same time can be difficult. My son has always done it, and he made it look easy, so it took me a long time to realize it. Karen, at one time, was rated as one of the best drummers ahead of Jon Bonham from Led Zeppelin, and he didn't take it well. I saw The Carpenters live in 1972. It was my first concert at 12 yrs old. She still was performing a lot behind the drums, and she was extremely talented. Vocally, she was one of the best. I have been to several hundreds of shows now, and she had one of the best live vocals I've heard. The other vocalists in concerts I have sing live that have incredible vocals are Dennis DeYoung formally from the band Styx and Adam Lambert. Adam's voice is WOW! He's amazing with Queen but if you get a chance to see him live in one of the smaller venues he performs his solo shows at, I highly recommend seeing Adam. His voice carries you thru the show . His vocals are so strong you feel them vibrating deep inside of you. He has a true gift.

[@candicelitrenta8890]

She was pressured into giving up the drums and go out front because studio executives were discussing her weight and thought being behind the drum kit was causing her to gain weight. Her mother was incredibly controlling, and she felt boxed in, so she began starving herself for her weight. It finally took its toll when she passed away from it. The problem back then is that there was no knowledge of that disease and EVERYONE in entertainment was under the zoom of being attractive for the camera. Others used drugs like cocaine to control that but not her. Once she passed that disease became the focus on everyone's lips

[@MichaelAndrews-uy1gl]

She and her brother were in a jazz group that played in nightclubs when they were younger.

[@An_Cat_Dubh]

She was in fact happier playing the drums than singing - she knew she was more carefree behind the kit, and said so in interviews.

[@manonthemoog]

Karen was perfecly content being the drummer in Richard's band. Their parents felt he was the major talent in the family. Then everyone heard Karen sing. Richard was not without talent. His arranging and singing were a major part of their sound. I dont think there are many other recordings of her drumming. The wrecking crew recorded with them in the studio, and they had a full band for concerts so Karen was stuck singing most of the time. Similarly when Peter Gabriel left Genesis they auditioned 50 or more singers. Phil would sing for some of them to help with auditioning, and it gradually dawned on everyone he sang better than anyone else who tried. But he had to be dragged out from behind the kit because, as he says, the drummer is the hippest position in the band. He would continue to have a kit onstage even if he only played the instrumental parts on a few songs

[@deborahscalise3215]

Many videos of her playing drums at their live performances. Australia concert and Budokan Japan.

[@manonthemoog]

@deborahscalise3215 Did she play drums for the entire concert or just a song or two?

[@bonester50]

@@manonthemoog On the Australia concert Karen played about 80% which is the most I've seen.

[@deborahscalise3215]

@@bonester50 that is about right.

[@robertgieseler1220]

Yep, "Back then, you had to be able to do it all" You're right, also including horseback riding, step dancing, juggling -- whatever. You had to be an all-rounder. (Does the English language have an "all-roundress"...? 🙂) Karen Carpenter was really something else, and it's good the memory of her is kept alive. I actually only got to know her through youtube rection videos. Oh, BTW, you are "something else", too. No flattering -- just the truth. Love your reactions! Best wishes fom Germany

[@baronofgreymatter14]

She rivaled John Bonham of Led Zepplin which was HUGE

[@msadventure49]

This was great! So glad you decided to watch it.

[@CharlesHoward-ud6qv]

As good as this is it doesn’t even do her justice. This piece of music has a timing signature and she has to stay within it. You’ll notice that she does a series of roles then a quick break and she starts again. That’s because of the timing signature and the arrangement. I’ve heard her do solos without music and it allows her to change tempos and be more free style and much more jazz style. She was an awesome drummer. Buddy Rich, the greatest drummer of all time, was asked who was his favorite drummer and said Karen Carpenter. I believe he wasn’t being a smart a** but was being serious. Then you addd her voice that was sprinkled with fairy dust….. She was awesome but in some circles wasn’t taken seriously because of the type of songs she recorded. Her voice angelic and talent amazing and taken way to soon.

[@oldfarmshow]

She was a drummer first , she Hid behind the drums when she first started singing , it Took a lot to get her out from behind the drums

[@FleagleSangria]

Variety shows were big in the 50’s-early 80’s. This meant one had to be versatile. Unfortunately variety shows became passee and out of fashion never really coming back. I also think that there were not as many distractions then and people who had talent many times dedicated and absorbed themselves into many facets of the field.

[@edcavanaugh9507]

Yes, she WAS happier behind the drum kit. She viewed herself as a drummer first, singer second. She was also able to do both at the same time. Check out the video of Close to You for proof.

[@KenOtwell]

Try and find her really early videos drumming before she started singing - absolutely amazing. I think her drumming is partly why she was such an amazing singer with impeccable timing.,

[@kenneth2875]

The audience sees it on monitors that are above the seats

[@sarajones5436]

Karen was a world class drummper. She said she was a drummer who can sing

[@stillracer2514]

THE WARNING IS MULTI TALENTED!

[@thefoss5387]

Britt, if you want to see the Carpenters' first TV performance, with Karen behind the kit, search for The Richard Carpenter Trio, Dancing in the Street on Richard Carpenter's KZbin channel.

[@marktaylor7907]

❤

[@jmweed1861]

In 1976 Karen Carpenter was ranked as the 5th Best Rock Drummer in the world ahead of John Bohannon of Led Zeppelin.....

[@thomastimlin1724]

Your "Triple threat" comments are totally on point. Judy Garland was a triple threat. Doris Day was a triple threat. Fred Astaire was a triple threat, Gene Kelly was...Sinatra could sing, act, and would work hard to dance in musical films. May others. As you can see, Karen was abd as son drums and Buddy Rich, famous world class jazz drummer said so and gave her public praise.

[@donaldk.macbaird5248]

Hey Britt you should check out The Voice Australia,a year or two ago that a girl auditioned Playeing the drums and singing she was killer.

[@fredneecher1746]

Karen Carpenter really just wanted to be a drummer. When they found out how well she could sing they had to prise her out from behind the drum kit!