Alex’s tribute to Karen Carpenter. Check out her personal memory of Carpenter at the end. I found it mesmerizing.
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God, just looking at the progression of her disease through those pictures breaks my heart. And to think it was generated by one random comment from some random record executive about her being “chubby.” What a tragedy.
You can have your AI contestants and your Jessicas and Britneys and Mariahs. I’ll take “Superstar” and “Yesterday Once More” any day. “Bland” and “saccharine” are words used by people who don’t appreciate singing in its purest form — only packaged, over-produced performing.
In my opinion.
Lisa – I just could not agree with you more. TOTALLY.
I wish that some of these American Idol contestants could sing with the kind of simplicity and clarity that Karen Carpenter had. I wonder if a TV audience would be able to enjoy that kind of restraint in an AI performance.
I’m always amazed by the economy and the subtlety of her voice.
ive been listening to Miss Karen all day because of Alex’s post…she is so soulful..not in a gospel church way but in a connection to the soul way..her voice has an ache that is palpable…the AI kids need to listen to her and Janis and Judy and Gladys and Diana and Frank and Tony and on and on…sometimes its okay to simply sing the song with your individuality attached..you dont have to bang it over the head with fakey-fake Mariah riffs..leave those to Mariah..thye are hers!
Aural heartbreak is listening to Karen sing “Road Ode”. It’s not supposed to be possible to hear a smell, but you know every one of those rooms while she sings.
Too beautiful to miss, too painful to listen to. Soundtrack for road warriors everywhere.