What Made Karen Carpenter A GREAT Singer?

[@FineArtsMusic]

What do you think made Karen Carpenter such a GREAT vocalist?

[@brucemorrow5271]

The all round magic of Karen Carpenter ❤

[@victordegrande1628]

Her voice had no equal, especially her lower register. I don't think it's much of an exaggeration to say her version of any song was better than anyone else's version. Her voice was so instantly recognizable that all she had to do was sing one note, and you knew it was her.

[@tomschmitz-dj1fg]

She was a master storyteller and VOCALIST, not just a incredible singer. She had the quality that made everyone feel like she was singing only to them. She also had the most perfect diction and enunciation of any male or female singer/vocalist i've ever heard. Lastly, she sang TO the listener NOT AT THEM and she knew her voice was to carry the lyrics of the song, it wasn't necessarily about her, but about us. This itself is a skill that most singers today (and why they are not vocalist) seemingly do not have nor understand. A vocalist/singer sings songs to convey the lyrics and be a storyteller, NOT what they can do with their voice and it being about them, not the song's story...

[@victorjanusz7154]

Her “Superstar” at age 20… was a masterpiece. And it was ONE TAKE!

[@ChuckHackney]

See my comments below and be enlightened. ❤

[@beatriceszabo6121]

There will never be another Karen carpenter.she was simply the best singer of all time.

[@vickiebohy7609]

Absolutely right!

[@carlobautista6581]

Even tears to come

[@vickiebohy7609]

Absolutely right! There was nothing she couldn't sing.

[@unclewilbur8976]

I'd love to have Karen's soothing voice asking me to do her _"honey do list."_ *..."Yes, my love." ❤️*

[@maxamahnken7325]

To second best -------- again st Mirusia

[@mylittlebuckaroo]

She was not a hot dog as a singer. It was not her intention to show off with vocal gymnastics. Her vocals were sweet and clear and honest, and she had the most beautiful tone quality that I've ever heard.

[@vickiebohy7609]

Exactly!

[@pwk22]

So, the anti-Mariah Carey.

[@christopherglover4784]

What makes Karen’s Voice great is the fact she sang “to you” and not “at you” like many singers today ❤️

[@FineArtsMusic]

Interesting point

[@tomschmitz-dj1fg]

exactly. what I have always said, she was a master storyteller and knew it was her "job" to convey the lyrics, not about herself...

[@bonester50]

Karen Carpenter sang past your heart to your soul that is what makes her great. There are good singers, great singers, legendary singers then there is Karen Carpenter. Once in a creation.

[@TimRice-db7lw]

Her voice was one in a million 🤩

[@umbertocalvini7429]

One in 8 billion! 👏🤙👍

[@hhelmejor5485]

one in the whole world! unique.

[@gregman1715]

The Greatest Voice Of All Time Karen We Need You More Than Ever ❤💔

[@tomschmitz-dj1fg]

the purest, most warmth, intimate beautiful voice... perfect vocalist for love and romance songs ever...

[@iandurn1725]

Ability to sing so personally with such warmth and ease. Had a voice that carried a lifetime of experience, but with a tinge of naïveté

[@user-ik9mo8wm7q]

Simply the greatest

[@gvalley07]

She had incredible diaphragm/breath control. Listen to "Goodbye To Love". She sings very long stanzas without taking a breath. She is my favorite singer (male or female) of all time.

[@TheLarryBrown]

Richard says that is something she just did naturally. John Davidson couldn't keep up with her (no surprise) and asked if she didn't have a third lung. Richard said that she could just sing those long phrases, she just had that ability.

[@artistbrindle]

I agree. Another great example of this is their song “Sometimes”.

[@vickiebohy7609]

Mine, too.

[@q-chan4764]

This is the best explanation on KZbin of why her voice was one of the best ever if not the best.

[@stevetournay6103]

Something else about Solitaire: Karen didn't care for that song! Yet her recording of it is ravishing.

[@Ina-Lori-tm2zh]

Loved song "won't last a day without you"

[@GM-xh6gj]

Karen’s huge range wraps itself around you like a warm, soft blanket and you become the center and subject of the song. It’s very personal. There will never be another like her.

[@artistbrindle]

Everything single thing about her was unique. There will never be anyone like her.

[@tylersikora894]

I agree with everyone who commented on this page! Is sad that we only grow to appreciate these artist long after they are gone!

[@felipecerdeira8345]

The melancholy in her voice is unmatched!

[@neilgewirtzman9485]

Greatest singer ever! Can not be duplicated.

[@normadesmond6017]

one of the best female voices ever

[@jamesseeker8653]

Karen had a voice full of beauty and love.. Obviously came from inside her heart! The voice of an Angel!

[@jackteppo9633]

Angel in the Flesh that left us way to young. 😢😊 But we keep her in our Hearts.

[@PerAllwin1963]

The girl next door, with a one-in-a-trillion voice.

[@roccofranzino4069]

In addition to having an amazing voice , Richard was a musical genius. He was way ahead of his time by “double tracking “ Karen’s voice.

[@Philip-zp8fx]

Only the best! When I need to cry, I just listen to Karen!😪

[@rbf100]

Not merely a great singer but the greatest singer. Gone much too soon Karen. RIP

[@gerlieannmanuel7283]

I'm not in her era...even when she passed away,that i'm not born yet in this world...i'm 22 yrs old but at 10,Karen Carpenter stole my heart ...Her voice hit my soul...don't know WHY...the only reason i knew is there's something in her voice that shake and moves a little bit your soul...she let you go in different places...The word "ANGEL"maybe the right word to describe her voice and personality...a timeless woman that until this generations i'm living is never forgotten by countless people in this world...Love you My Lady KC...

[@user-lv2vq3rw3t]

I grew up listesning to their songs maybe she was so popular when i was a liitle boy, in 1976 that was the first time when i hear the song there's a kind of hush back to the good times when i was a little kid.

[@artistbrindle]

@@user-lv2vq3rw3tme too

[@zigman8550]

Karen Carpenter is still the best sounding female "pop" vocalist in the world and she's been gone for 40 years.

[@stevenburger7158]

CARPENTERS: ANOINTED & ORDAINED by God to impact the World, during dark times & Anti-God / Anti-USA 'Acid Rock' saturation > thus a METEORIC LAUNCH by the hand of God to touch people's hearts & souls (16 Mega Hits & 20+M Sales in just 1st 4 yrs.) 100M Sales in 10 yrs. & a 'Consecutive Hits' Record still standing 2023 > 50+ yrs.

[@bruschmidt9943]

God made Karen Carpenter a great singer. Perfection was her norm & she typically recorded her songs on first Take. Add she was a spectacular percussionist. Imho, her best vocal was on "Solitaire", though she never liked the song. The studio recording was done on her first Take & shows her range & gorgeous tone exceptionally. She was/is the GOAT.

[@stevetournay6103]

Another first take, the lead vocal on the hit single Superstar, was not only the first take on the day but the first time Karen ever sang the song...

[@stevenburger7158]

CARPENTERS: ANOINTED & ORDAINED by God to impact the World, during dark times & Anti-God / Anti-USA 'Acid Rock' saturation > thus a METEORIC LAUNCH by the hand of God to touch people's hearts & souls (16 Mega Hits & 20+M Sales in just 1st 4 yrs.) 100M Sales in 10 yrs. & a 'Consecutive Hits' Record still standing 2023 > 50+ yrs.

[@michaelbarlow6610]

@@stevetournay6103 . An Interesting thing is, according to Richard Carpenter, Karen was not wild at all about "Superstar" when she first read the lyrics. Amazingly, she just wasn't impressed at all by the song, and Richard had to convince her to record it! She also wasn't happy about the lyric, "........ and I can't wait to sleep with you again". So Richard or John Bettis changed the lyric to, "And I can't wait to be with you again"! Supposedly she sang the song for the very first time (the recorded version for the single) while reading the lyrics that were written on a cocktail napkin!

[@ChuckHackney]

That is something I have long felt. It's as if she is reading to you in a song. Picture a great reading vocal voice, let's say James Earl Jones. So when he talks to you or reads to you, you hear every word. You feel every word. So the vocal equivalent of that skill is Karen's voice. Every word and note is heard and felt deeply and emotionally. Solitaire shows her voice off magnificently. But the song NOW packs even more of an emotional punch. Such sadness snd melancholy along with such beauty. But isn't that kind of the story of life?? Sadness and struggle along with great beauty. God bless all from Chuck in the Tar Heel state.

[@KennySingsCarpenters]

I listened to small details like the sound of Karen taking her breath before singing the next verse, even that was heaven!😊

[@gabrielainda3536]

According to her type of voice there's no match for her, and the song Close to you proves it because nobody has been able to get even close to her. She was as beautiful as her voice.

[@FineArtsMusic]

Totally, her voice is incomparable due to it being so unique. Karen was in a class of her own.

[@TheLarryBrown]

Close to you proved that Richard can out arrange and out think big shot Bacharach. Need more proof? Listen to "Close to you" on Richard's recently released "Richard Carpenter's Piano Songbook."

[@tomheim9516]

Richard is a highly gifted pianist, vocalist, arranger and composer. I believe he has a lot of respect for Burt Bacharach's lyrical genius as well.@@TheLarryBrown

[@GM-xh6gj]

Richard often states that Bacharach was a huge influence on their arrangements.

[@Barracuda24-f3w]

She was very mic friendly!!!! Plus a vocal range unlike no other!!!! ❤❤

[@johnholliday5874]

And she was only getting better. Listen to her duet with Ella Fitzgerald and the closing medley from their last 1980 television special. She had so much more in her. Such a loss. 😢

[@carolienmartens4416]

I ❤ Karen´s duet with Ella!

[@TheLarryBrown]

You know what, you may be right, Karen may have had a lot yet to give. Her talent was so immense there may yet have been more pinnacles. "The Carpenters" had run its course, it was done. Richard had worked himself to burn out and was ready to quit, he was done. Karen may have gone on to new careers. As far as her getting better, you're right about that as well. Although she had her sound even on the first album, I just listened to the first albums again and there was a definite "green" quality to her singing. It's not obvious because she was so superb from the get go, but her sound on the first two albums is not equal to the incredible, more mature, classic KC sound we know from the "Carpenters" and "A song for you" albums. Then on "Made in America," and a great example is "Those Good Old Dreams" as well as "Touch me when we're dancing," she has an "exquisite" quality that is better still.😢

[@peterjb49]

The Greatest Ever!

[@GM-xh6gj]

Two songs that, IMO, are perfect examples of all the best qualities of her voice weren’t released as singles but are on 1-2 of the later albums, possibly the solo album. They are “Now” and “Where do I go From Here”. Very honorable mention for “For the Good Times” which ironically will bring tears.

[@andrewwilkins4113]

I'm 62 and Carpenter's are on my daily listening Mixes!! Still in love with this lady today as I was a we lad back in the day!! Pure Angelic voice!!🥰🎼

[@Itschriscruz]

She’s definitely in the realm of singers who just had a very lovely voice from the get go. Nana Mouskouri, Karen Carpenter, Joni Mitchell etc, all able to make a simple song into pure beauty.

[@artsci2716]

Karen had a voice that drew you to it and mesmorized you into a trance and made grown men tear up. Her voice was just that beautiful and so wonderful to listen you.

[@terry3733H]

Yesterday once more is so sentimental 😊 it makes me cry especially thinking of her sweet and lonely soul. Her beauty will never fade from our hearts 😢😢

[@ChuckHackney]

I'll take those odds and raise you to one in a billion. But that is just me. Warm quality, without a doubt.

[@stevetournay6103]

KC did do some "TV live" performances (everyone did during the period of their career), but a fan can spot the subtle differences when it's pure live...

[@bishnuprasadbehera5350]

Please come on to earth,.. I'm listening to you since my college days.. respected Karen carpenter

[@nirmalsuki]

You need a million subs. This video was so well done.

[@martinweber7912]

Solo la Voz de Karen Carpenters me llega al corazon, Only the Voice of Karen Carpenters reaches my heart

[@user-cg5fn7wc4q]

The best no one can match her..she was absolutely brilliant. ♥️🇻🇨🇻🇨

[@aallpp55]

Her voice is unique.

[@FineArtsMusic]

Instantly recognisable

[@ProximaCentauri88]

She's the Karen whom everyone loves! Please make a video about Dionne Warwick's voice, Gosh, I love her catalogue esp. during her time with Burt Bacharach and Hal David!

[@user-ok9ft1iv4x]

Alas the music world needed more people like her, so nice!

[@Ina-Lori-tm2zh]

I have the Carpenters CD...such a beautiful voice...had melody in it !

[@jlamm2223443]

my favorite singer

[@PerAllwin1963]

She puts all American Idol contestants to shame. No shouting, no vocal acrobatics.

[@vickiebohy7609]

Exactly. That's why she was so wonderful!

[@SpiritualDiscernment91]

Her voice sounds like it transcends the material world in her high notes, but it descends from heaven in her low notes to visit the physical world. She sings in a clear and pure tone that it feels as if her voice purifies the soul and an a push and pull motion in her voice as if you are in a trance , and she is the enchantress almost like her voice is magic and a spring of fresh water. I can't explain it is almost like you could touch her deep velvety voice. There is no voice like hers on this earth. God truly created an instrument inside of an amazing woman.

[@davidmayhew8083]

She had a very pleasant voice and was a musician.

[@rosangelaferreira5576]

Ela cantava tão bem que a gente consegue ouvir a letra da música 🎸🎷

[@phildarcy7647]

It's just pure and unctuous 💜💜💜

[@user-ok9ft1iv4x]

Karen will be very deeply missed by all the music world!

[@robertmorris5055]

Along with Eva Cassidy the best female artists of the 1900’s. Both with tragic endings at such a young age. RIP❤

[@joseacosta4554]

Karen Carpenter was the best

[@vickiebohy7609]

Without doubt.Hands down

[@darburing]

Someone on here said she took drugs, but all she took were laxatives and thyroid meds to speed up her metabolism, to stay thin. This was due to an early comment about her weight that hurt her deeply. Her talented percussion and "smooth as melted butter" vocals were incomparable. Rest in peace, Beautiful Lady. ❤🙏🤗🌹🎼🎶🎤💙

[@jamesdavies4004]

@fineArtsmusic I have read Karen Carpenter was either a light contralto or low Mezzo Soprano sounds higher than other contraltos like Carly Simon and Cher

[@johnholliday5874]

Neil Sedaka himself thought Karen's "Solitaire" the best. And Paul Williams credited Karen for making a hit out of "We've Only Just Begun".

[@Barracuda24-f3w]

Carly Simon is incredible also! ❤

[@ceekay1676]

everything about this video commenting about Karen's voice is correct

[@victorstok3502]

Thanks!

[@joemedley195]

Say what you will about the lyrics. Her voice gets to me every time I hear it.

[@johnnywilson7799]

Sad story

[@gloss26]

I can’t bear the AI voice in this post!!

[@peacefulpatriots]

I imagine it had something to do with all the estrogen he was taking