GEN Z Reacts to the CARPENTERS ‘Rainy Days & Mondays’

[@Perfect_Blend]

Karen Carpenter- the drummer who sang and the most beautiful voice ever. Never duplicated, she's a one-of-a-kind.

[@cottagewitch]

Karen Carpenter had one of the most perfect voices in music.

[@DonnaNable-s2g]

I am so glad that you appreciate the talent! She was lost much too soon!! RIP❤❤❤❤

[@Tmanaz480]

"What I've got they used to call the blues..." Chef's kiss to Paul Williams.

[@jeanostrom4860]

Karen Carpenter had one of the most perfect voices. Her brother Richard Carpenter was a musical genius.

[@unc1589]

There was a time when being sad was not considered “illness”. Sad songs got us through. It was therapy. It let us know that we were not the only ones in that particular situation. We need more sad music. Wait. Maybe not. It’s a different generation.

[@johnbattles1002]

I love music and lyrics that tug the heartstrings and tip over the tear ducts. It’s cathartic and the spirit needs a soul-cleansing every now and then.

[@CatherinePearl100]

This song is about depression, but in the early 70s, nobody really knew anything about it. People with depression knew how they felt, but didn’t really know what to call it. With Karen, it morphed into anorexia, another condition no one knew anything about, so there really wasn’t much in the way of help, or even support to be able to talk about it. It led to her death by heart failure in 1983, at the age of 32. There’s never been anyone like her before or since, and there probably never will be. She was a one of a kind treasure.

[@chrisester2910]

Karen Carpenter's death from Anorexia/Bullimia changed the way that eating disorders were viewed. Her tragedy brought mental health out into the open and raised awareness.

[@johnandrews3151]

Richard and Karen Carpenter. A brother/sister duo😊

[@cdnrednek1027]

Karen Carpenter always said she was a Drummer first and a Singer second.

[@VincentManiscalco]

Greatest female vocalist ever. EVER !! Her voice was flawless and absolutely effortless

[@Carolyn-u2i]

Sweetheart, today it is called depression, and she has an eating disorder. Angelic voice and tragic death. Love the Carpenters. Great reaction!

[@darcyjorgensen5808]

Not morbid, wistful. Melancholy. Yet a whisp of hope.

[@graceito973]

She much preferred drumming to singing. She was incredible at both. Gone too soon from anorexia. RIP, as you sing and drum for the angels. 💙

[@gingers.5933]

Karen was a world class drummer with a hauntingly beautiful voice, her brother Richard was a musical genius who was an excellent pianist that selected and arranged all of their songs. Richard wrote some of their songs, so everything you hear musically was because of him, and he knew to arrange everything to highlight Karen's vocals.

[@netwinters5943]

Her voice was like melted chocolate and just as addicting.

[@DBCuzitis]

Her voice was so clear and pure - like ringing a bell. And her control and emotional sensitivity when she sings too - so sweet and so very right. Always pulls my heart strings listening to her sing. An angel

[@gingerrackley5890]

There was always such a sadness about her. You HAVE to watch the video of her just playing the drums. It is the happiest I have ever seen her.

[@rosscouch6854]

Kaysee here ... one of the best female singers of all time. She had the voice of an angel. I grew up listening to the Carpenters and her voice still amazes me all these years later. She was gone too soon, passing away in 1983 at the young age of 32. RIP Karen, you left us with an amazing collection of songs that I still listen to, to this day. I recommend "Yesterday Once More"... my favourite Carpenters song.

[@realPenrodPooch]

Good song

[@GloriaYoung-qo1ts]

ditto!

[@tomyoung9049]

Karen's story is so sad. She was such an incredible person, talent and voice were gifts to us all. Gone way too soon.

[@lethasatterfield9615]

Everybody gets the blues sometimes. Back then, you were told to suck it up and get over it. She expressed it beautifully.

[@kayleighhirst6544]

Let's share guys and help this younger man out. Love, truth and light 🙏

[@erinl1265]

You are a sweetheart. Thank you for a kind and sincere reaction honoring her death. She also has happy songs like top of the world.

[@davidbronstein2745]

My favorite Carpenters song, always brings a tear ora sigh -- soft, sweet, sad, lonely, hopeful, a haunting harmonica punctuating each verse -- somehow we find a way to make it through... A carpenters classic.

[@nanavamp]

Karen was loved deeply by her fans. When she passed away it was devastating.

[@nanavamp]

To add.....I'm 78 and still feel the love.

[@drumbelly]

Thanks for the reaction. Karen Carpenter was the Siren of Sadness but in the best way possible. In my opinion she had the greatest female pop voice ever.

[@scottdebruyn7038]

The Carpenters were related... Brother and sister. He the writer/composer/pianist and backing vocals. Karen was lead vocals and drummer. I believe she played other instruments as well. 😄 The Carpenters tunes were not always morbid or sad, check out 'Top of the World'! 😏

[@davidschecter5247]

One of the top three female vocalists of all-time. Richard Carpenter is a great songwriter and especially arranger. A big part of their sound.

[@Tonidolls]

They are brother and sister !!!

[@davidbronstein2745]

The Carpenters are Richard and Karen Carpenter -- Brother and Sister. Richard plays the piano, produces, arranges, sings and Karen plays drums and is lead singer!

[@angelado3]

Her singing always gives me chills !!

[@OHW313]

Hey, JayFlex, Karen's voice wasn't merely the smoothest voice you have ever heard from the 60's and 70's , it is the smoothest voice you or any one else have ever heard, period !!??!! 😮😮😮😮 HELLO !?!

[@masudashizue777]

It's sad to see the music video of someone who no longer exists although I'm grateful it exists.

[@CraigMcKee]

Karen Carpenter was the greatest female singer in popular music history. And Richard was a brilliant producer, arranger, songwriter, and piano player. Brother and sister. I first heard We've Only Just Began in 1970 when I was 11, and have loved them ever since. So many great songs, and they all stand up 50 years later. And she didn't write any of the songs, so the lyrics weren't hers. But she could interpret the emotions in a song better than anyone. By the way, sad and morbid aren't the same thing. Morbid means preoccupied with death. They have their share of sad songs but also many happy ones. Try Only Yesterday, I Won't Last a Day Without You, Sing, A Song for You, Hurting Each Other, For All We Know, Close to You, or many others.

[@bryanCJC2105]

Karen Carpenter, Linda Ronstadt, and Olivia Newton John were the 3 big American "sweethearts" of the 1970s. I wouldn't say that she had a morbid view of reality and this isn't a morbid song. Sad songs were very popular and were often #1 hits. Everyone could relate to them because it's normal and they often helped people get through tough times. Sad songs taught us that feeling sad, alone, hurt, or hopeless, feeling the sting of being dumped or someone not loving you, is normal and everyone feels those things sometimes. Sad songs were sung by both men and women, and by rock bands, disco groups, and pop groups, which helped both boys and girls deal with those feelings. Lots of men, rock band men, even sang about crying! How many guys today today sing about crying? Sad songs are a good thing and we don't hear much of those anymore, which may explain some of today's problems among young people. It's OK to not be OK sometimes. Music videos per se didn't really start until MTV in 1981. Before MTV most "music videos" of the 60s, 70s, and early 80s were taped live performances, especially from concerts or shows like The Midnight Special which were always live. This video uses a live performance with some still pics, which was popular in the 70s and wasn't expensive. Some TV variety show clips are lip synced.

[@kellijowilliams]

Well said

[@richardmodglin3900]

There is a pureness to this artist. Velvety warm and freindly vocals. Intimate and personal....easy listening music got its start here. Great reaction!

[@heralddelarosa4472]

You're right. It looks like that you're being lullaby by her voice. Voice of an angel.

[@bishop6516]

brother and sister and a collection of brilliant musicians who support them

[@TheJudiBambiPurrsParadox]

That IS Karen's brother Richard...known as a vocal duo. Her voice....ethereal, her drumming sublime. Pure...a distinctive three-octave contralto range. Sad story, Karen's. Her struggle with anorexia was lifelong and rough, at a time when so little was known about it for help.

[@friends25486]

Try listening to We’ve Only Just Begun or Close to You

[@steveasher5849]

Close To You and We've Only Just Begun are two of their biggest hits and are very happy songs...popular wedding songs in fact.

[@ricmotta2495]

They didn't do video's back then. There was only ABC, NBC, CBS and PBS back then. No HBO, No showtime, No MTV, BET or CMT because there was no cable.

[@Spo-Dee-O-Dee]

Videos started in the mid-sixties, but it was more of a Europop thing as it was a way to sell songs in a foreign language.

[@ricmotta2495]

@@Spo-Dee-O-Dee Video's were made, it was rare and very very hard to find on a screen back then. The problem was the medium to view and enjoy it with... Otherwise you are mostly looking at recordings of live performances often dubbed over because of the poor recording back then.

[@Spo-Dee-O-Dee]

@@ricmotta2495 They were also not made with an Anglophone audience in mind, which is why the ones from the 60s are scarce, as much of the tape was reused. I remember cable from the mid-70s, but it was very much a rural thing for people who were too far from a signal.

[@AnnieDC304]

Music videos have been around as long as both technologies have existed simultaneously, but they didn’t become common until the early 1980s and MTV.

[@deebarlow]

My sister and I sang in the kitchen washing dishes. We sang all over the house and we did a lot of Carpenter songs. We love to sing songs that showed our vocal skills and harmony, and that’s what they did.

[@suefantastic4584]

I show my age when i display my love for the Carpenters!! IDC.. Id rather be old as dirt than to never have known their beautiful music.. xo

[@terrisarubio5068]

Morbid? I think the word you are looking for Melancholy. Melancholy was edgy back then in a gen Z way..

[@beatleschick1000]

The man on the piano is her brother, Richard Carpenter. Those two are the only ones related as far as I know. Great reaction.!

[@kayleighhirst6544]

Great video brother

[@jbs256]

Hi Jay, You are in a great rabbit hole. Yes Rainy is a sad song but not all Carpenters (Richard and Karen Carpenter, the others are in the band “Carpenters”) Their music was all,over the map, as you find out. Happy, sad, playful, serious, always complex and always Karen’s vocals and those lush harmonies. For the most part Richard and Karen did ALL the layered harmonies. There were exceptions but the vast majority was just them. I’m going to leave a link to an early hit from the Close To You album. It’s a hopeful song about starting life. It was originally a Crocker Bank of California commercial tune. Written by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols. Richard saw the TV commercial, recognized the singer and contacted him about the song. The rest lead to a #2 smash hit. “We’ve Only Just Begun.” It became the wedding song and graduation song of then70’s. Karen was 20 when she sang this in 1970. She was 21 for Rainy. She died at 32, as you read. I noticed your eyes lit up when you saw Karen playing the drums. You didn’t say anything. That was quite unusual back then, especially for a woman. She was a seriously great drummer. That will come with your further adventures. There are videos of her insane drumming skills. And she sang simultaneously, often. On a solo she’s concentrating on the drumming, as you might imagine. Enjoy your journey the link is below. Joe kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZC5gotojdNqqqssi=o3Rp-X8FHVSvsnaU .

[@Perfect_Blend]

Joe lives on KZbin, LOL. Anyway...what he said.

[@jbs256]

@@Perfect_Blend live no, rent yes 🤣🤣🤣. Our searches are of a similar nature.

[@davidfischer1138]

This was before MTV. VIDEOS WERE A LOT DIFFERENT IN 60'S AND 70's.

[@johnandrews3151]

Carpenters/Desperado. Best cover ever!😮😊

[@barbprescott303]

Another great female vocalist is Dusty Springfield. Her Son of a Preacher Man is also awesome.

[@kimcassidy]

Karen and Richard Carpenter are sister and brother.karen died way to young, beautiful voice

[@melaniew4354]

"Music videos" weren't a thing prior to MTV in 1981. This is a 1970s song. This is just a montage of pictures someone put together for KZbin. 60s and 70s bands and artists didn't make music videos. You will find live performances from various variety shows of the era, or performance shows like The Midnight Special. We didn't see our favorite artists much back then, unless they were performing on a tv show or you went to a concert. Other than pictures in Rolling Stone magazine (which my mother wouldn't allow me to buy) we just heard them on the radio.

[@Spo-Dee-O-Dee]

There were a lot of Europop videos made starting in the mid-sixties, but they were not aimed at the Anglophone market. English acts got into the game in the seventies, which is why when MTV started they showed so many videos of English acts it was because that was what was available.

[@lovebeiber101]

Whoever wrote the song struggled with depression.

[@lovebeiber101]

Her brother played the piano and harmonized with her and composed much of their music.

[@lovebeiber101]

She did not commit suicide- she died from side effects of an anorexia. Eating disorders were barely known back then. Depression is a reality that 30% of the population at least suffers from. Back in the 70s it wasn’t all about sex and trying to look sexy and be seductive. It was 50 years….cultural norms weren’t exactly like today’s which obviously was apparent in musicians. Auto tune wasn’t a thing then.

[@Spo-Dee-O-Dee]

@@lovebeiber101 Anorexia was just starting to be covered in the mass-market women's magazines, which will ever leave us to wonder if there was any resulting ideation. And yes, sexy and seductive was HUUUUUUUGE in the 70s...for years Ann Wilson was expected to abuse diet pills and wear industrial-grade corsets to maintain a look before finally choosing to sing at a more comfortable weight.

[@kentscoffey]

The kickass sax player is Bob Messenger. He's also the bass player and flute player. Bob is the heart of this band, he's the glue. Bob Messenger is a genius, hands down. Smooth is a great word to describe Karen's voice.

[@timward3116]

I always love to see young people discovering and appreciating the music of previou generations. Music can tie us all together. I know that sometimes the older generations' music can seem soooo different, slow, and might be hard to get used to listening to, but I am so inspired by younger minds that are open to the best music of previous generations. I'm an old guy, but when I was young, we didn't appreciate the music of our grandparents' generation. You made my day, JayFlex!

[@mares9393]

Brother and Sister- he on piano she in the drums. She had a beautiful voice.

[@joanmcgrath280]

They didn’t do music videos back then, not till mtv. Most of the performances you will see are taken from tv shows they were on as the musical guest.

[@gulliver3103]

Harmonica

[@loveit7484]

Her voice is like satin and NO auto tune. These were the days when singers really had to sing and players actually played. I dont know if thats her thing~ many of her songs are very uplifting. These were in the days decades before internet when people actually talked about their feelings in music. Her voice, no one like her. Btw, love the channel. Joined a few months back.

[@sampanther8854]

Oh that takes me back to my childhood days.. Mum loved listening to these.. Her voice is so angelic and brings joy and sadness to my soul.. Think she was a troubled soul and it's such a. Shame 😔

[@jamessugg7061]

Voice of an angel!!!❤

[@tandaknights9047]

💙

[@bishop6516]

those good old dreams, top of the world, jambalaya happy, the rainbow connection

[@dianedarby442]

This song breaks my heart. . . in a time where you didn't discuss depression or any mental illness (anorexia). The line "No need to talk it out" that was the way of the world then, so you're right that it was very sad. You're also right about the fact that her voice is angelic. Enjoy the journey.

[@steverusso177]

You nailed it. Sad but beautiful.

[@JoeThornhill]

Music video's weren't a thing until MTV in the 80's. That's why it stands for 'Music Tele Vision', it wasn't meant for reality T.V. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen really made music videos popular. Before, bands and artists just played their new single on some talk show (just like today) and that'll be recorded. That and the odd live gig is all you'll find when looking for music videos of 70's songs and older.

[@Spo-Dee-O-Dee]

What you say is true as far as America went, but videos were a thing across the pond long before that.

[@deebarlow]

Growing up in Chicago, where the black radio stations went off the air at 12 o’clock! So then we turned to FM! This opened up a whole New World for me listening to what I called “blue eye soul”!

[@andreadeamon6419]

Karen and Olivia Newton John were really close friends. Another artist for you to look into

[@CatherinePearl100]

Other, much more uplifting, songs from the Carpenters are We’ve Only Just Begun, Top of the World, and A Song for You.

[@susanindy6406]

❤ My favorite singer of all-time. 😊

[@654tb1]

Richard came up with the songs, mostly from other writers, but he did the arrangement. Karen just sang so beautifully you believe it’s her life. But clearly very sad to say a lot of the lyrics fit her life. Karen was one of a kind, rip sweet lady

[@ArniePorter]

Karen was a one of a kind talent. An amazing range and power vocally and a very good drummer in her own right. Unfortunately she was a tortured soul who was never accepted for the person she was by her parents and more specifically her mother who loved her brother Richard more and treated Karen like an afterthought. Originally the drummer for the band, it became obvious to record executives at A&M records, (specifically Herb Alpert) that her vocals were the strength of the band’s sound and they insisted she come out from behind the drum kit and become their focal point. Karen wasn’t always comfortable with this attention and combined with her low self esteem caused by feeling unloved and the friction that developed with her brother Richard who was jealous of the notoriety she gained, she developed anorexia and kept losing weight until her heart finally gave out. A terrible tragedy that is felt in some of their music. Honestly, besides having an incredible voice and stage presence, the fact that she communicates her pain through her singing makes her performances even more powerful. RIP Karen. You’re so very missed.

[@dcar335i]

she is an angel....

[@singlows]

I don’t even know where I was when I first heard this song. I’ve known it my whole life. The carpenters were my mom’s favorite band when she was young. I heard them all the time. Probably in the womb.

[@AngelaGoodwin-fh6fw]

Angelic voice.

[@danielboyer4799]

Thanks you for listening to Karen Carpenter 's voice ! Her voice IS the most beautiful, I never heard in more than 50 years in the musical of m'y carreer... Haunting and addictive to listen for me ! Take 6 minutes of your Time to listen Karen with Ella Fitzgerald : an Amazing duet ! Daniel, from France ! Thanks again Young man for your open mind and sorry for m'y english. I was born in Montréal but had to leave 30 years ago ! Bonne journée !!!

[@scotmax8426]

Richard wrote a lot of their stuff, Karen, his sister sang played percussion etc. harmonies only really matched by abba and the bee gees and karen for me simply the best female singer ever. can't hear her without my soul reacting.

[@sarablack2547]

I wouldn't use the word morbid. Sometimes people get sad, when she does she runs to find the person who loves her. She was a drummer who could sing. I wonder if she had been allowed to stay behind her drums and not pushed out in front without her safe place(drum kit)there would she still be here?💙

[@kensmith8152]

It’s so sad that she died so young at the age of 32 from anorexia nervousa. She was so talented and beautiful!

[@blockklocker]

Have you ever listened to Eva Cassidy? If not listen to Somewhere Over the Rainbow. It is soulful, soft and touching. I think you will love it. ❤️

[@wendysherbert3257]

Very pure singer…loved her songs as a child….

[@UncleCharlie111x2]

She has a strong but melancholy sound at the same time!

[@scotmax8426]

lol so to answer the end of the video, they do all types of music, try jambalaya and calling occupants ;) (for two completely different styles)

[@garnetwilliamson7817]

She had the voice of an angel her and Elvis had the most pure voices in the days before auto tune

[@richiezed]

Superstar is one of her best of many

[@clhsocial]

Harmonica.

[@EricNess-sc3rh]

You are right about her. That voice!

[@halstewart64]

Hi. Calling Occupants is a classic of theirs, also A Kind Of Hush is fun.

[@Pagandawn13]

OOOOOO! The Carpenters! Karen had the voice of an angel!

[@randysiler5551]

Everyone gets down now and then.She says she runs and finds the one who loves her

[@ghaeckel2684]

Top of the World, We've Only Just Begun - both very uplifting

[@reneemanning5194]

💙💙💙 always make it to the end - love your getting the message and asking genuine questions abt out wondrful and talented artists back in the day because you care 💟☮️

[@lilamuzik3385]

Her voice is angelic

[@dwaynerathbun1332]

Thats a harmonica on the intro

[@HellsBells1710]

I love listening to your reactions @jayflex , you're a bright guy

[@tomyoung9049]

💙 had to look this one up. But a lesser played song of theirs is " calling occupants of interplanetary crafts" a cute song. Might check that one out.

[@sandrakonstantinou8801]

I remember when she passed, I was devastated.

[@ChrisD755]

If your bed is in screen you really should tidy it up. Makes a better impression for your channel.

[@codypendragons]

They are related, there's 2 of them. There's um, the brother and the sister Carpenter.

[@mrsmicmac5548]

💙💙💙Suc a beautiful but sad song. Karen Carpenter struggled with mental health issues and sadly passed away far too young. Much love 💞

[@Braedensground]

New Subscriber here. The Carpenters are great! You would like their more upbeat tunes like 'We've Only Just Begun' ' Close To You' and ' Top Of The World'😊

[@bella-xp7qd]

Karen wanted to be known as a drummer who could sing rather than a singer who could drum. She was the drummer in the band before becoming a singer.