Karen Carpenter's calm, often somber voice was the most distinctive element of their music, settling in perfectly amidst the precise, lush arrangements provided by her brother Richard. The duo's sound drew more from pre-rock pop than rock & roll, but that didn't prevent the Carpenters from appealing to a variety of audiences, particularly Top 40, easy listening, and adult contemporary. While their popularity declined during the latter half of the '70s, they remained one of the most distinctive and recognizable acts the decade produced.
The Carpenters formed in the late '60s in Downey, CA, after their family moved from their native New Haven, CT. Richard had played piano with a cocktail jazz trio in a handful of local Connecticut nightclubs. Once the family had moved to California, he began to study piano while he supported Karen in a trio that featured Wes Jacobs (tuba/bass). With Jacobs and Richard forming her backup band, Karen was signed to the local Californian record label Magic Lamp, who released two unsuccessful singles by the singer. The trio won a Battle of the Bands contest at the Hollywood Bowl in 1966, which led to a record contract with RCA. Signing under the name The Richard Carpenter Trio, the group cut four songs that were never released. Jacobs left the band at the beginning of 1968.
Following Jacobs' departure, the siblings formed Spectrum with Richard's college friend John Bettis. Spectrum fell apart by the end of the year, but the Carpenters continued performing as a duo. The pair recorded some demos at the house of Los Angeles session musician Joe Osborn; the tape was directed toward Herb Alpert, the head of A&M Records, who signed the duo to his record label in early 1969.
Offering, the Carpenters' first album, was released in November 1969. Neither Offering or the accompanying single, a cover of the Beatles' "Ticket to Ride," made a big impression. However, the Carpenters' fortunes changed with their second single, a version of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "(They Long to Be) Close to You." Taken from the album Close to You, the single became the group's first number one, spending four weeks on the top of the U.S. charts. "Close to You" became an international hit, beginning a five-year period where the duo was one of the most popular recording acts in the world. During that period the Carpenters won two Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist of 1970, and had an impressive string of Top Ten hits, including "Rainy Days and Mondays," "Superstar," "Hurting Each Other," "Goodbye to Love," "Yesterday Once More," and "Top of the World."
After 1975's number-four hit "Only Yesterday," the group's popularity began to decline. For the latter half of the '70s, the duo were plagued by personal problems. Richard had become addicted to prescription drugs; in 1978, he entered a recovery clinic, kicking his habit. Karen, meanwhile, became afflicted with anorexia nervosa, a disease she suffered from for the rest of her life. On top of their health problems, the group's singles had stopped reaching the Top Ten and by 1978, they weren't even reaching the Top 40. Consequently, Karen decided to pursue a solo career, recording a solo album in 1979 with Phil Ramone. The record was not completed at that time (though it would be released in 1996), and she returned to the Carpenters later that year. The reunited duo released their last album of new material, Made in America, in 1981. The album marked a commercial comeback, as "Touch Me When We're Dancing" made it to number 16 on the charts. However, Karen's health continued to decline, forcing the duo out of the spotlight. On February 4, 1983, Karen was found unconscious at her parents' home in Downey; she died in the hospital shortly after due to cardiac arrest, which was later due to the strain on her heart caused by years of crash dieting caused by anorexia nervosa.
After Karen's death, Richard Carpenter concentrated on production work and assembling various compilations of the Carpenters' recorded work. In 1987, he released a solo album called Time, which featured guest appearances by Dusty Springfield and Dionne Warwick. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
from http://music.msn.com/artist/?artist=1607403&contenttype=artistsongs
Bless The Beasts & Children
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For in this world they have no voice,
They have no choice.
Bless the beasts and the children,
For the world can never be,
The world they see.
Light their way
Give them love, let it shine all around them.
Bless the beasts and the children;
Give them shelter from a storm;
Keep them safe;
Keep them warm.
Light their way
When the darkness surrounds them;
Give them love, let it shine all around them.
Bless the beasts and the children;
Give them shelter from a storm;
Keep them safe;
Keep them warm.
Bless the beasts and the children;
Give them shelter from a storm;
Keep them safe;
Keep them warm.
The lyrics to "Bless The Beasts & Children" by the Carpenters are calling for humanity to take care of animals and children who are defenseless and cannot speak for themselves in a world that can be cruel and dangerous. The lyrics lament the fact that these innocent creatures do not have a choice in the midst of suffering and pain, and beseeches those with voices and power to take up the mantle and care for them. The song talks about lighting the way for these vulnerable creatures by providing love and warmth in times of darkness, protecting them from harm and keeping them safe.
The second verse continues the theme of caring for the most innocent beings in the world. The song suggests that sometimes, the world can be overwhelming and the best thing to do is to provide shelter and comfort from the storm. The lyrics emphasize the importance of keeping these vulnerable creatures safe and warm, as they are deserving of every bit of care and compassion. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, once again calling on humanity to take responsibility for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Bless the beasts and the children
We should bestow blessings upon both animals and children for they lack a strong voice in this world.
For in this world they have no voice
Animals and children are often powerless to express themselves effectively in our society.
They have no choice
They often lack the freedom to make decisions or choose how they live their lives.
For the world can never be
The reality they face may be far different from what they perceive.
The world they see
Children and animals perceive the world differently than adults and we should respect their unique perspectives.
Light their way
We should provide guidance and support to help them navigate through difficult situations.
When the darkness surrounds them
They may face overwhelming challenges that can be frightening or disorienting.
Give them love, let it shine all around them
Showing them love and compassion can be a powerful source of comfort and strength.
Give them shelter from a storm
We should provide them with protection from harmful or dangerous situations.
Keep them safe
We should strive to ensure their physical and emotional safety.
Keep them warm
We should provide them with comfort and security, both physically and emotionally.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRY DE VORZON, PERRY L BOTKIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lugenehaynes7584
I don't know what makes me weep more---the beauty of her message, the angelic way she delivers it, or sadly that this golden voice is stilled. God bless you, Karen.
Singing with God's choir.
@K-OnTheCase
@Lugene Haynes : My friend, I couldn’t have said it better…. Tears streaming as I write this response. Bless you for saying with such clarity, exactly what my heart was aching to say 💔
@vicckk56
It makes me weep as well. It's meaning is so strong.
@skipwin9895
what about her hairstyle? that makes me weep
@jayatfreelance
Amen.
@jayatfreelance
@skip win The fact that c-nts like you exist makes me weep. You make the case for retro-active abortion.
@tmadsam
Karen was known in the music business for being "One take Karen." She always had perfect pitch and tone. She needed no rehearsal. I truly love her music and listen to her always. Although no longer physically with us, she left an incredible musical legacy!
@xaosnox
I love how people who don’t work in this industry look at it. No rehearsal?!?! They rehearsed EVERYTHING to the point that it was almost too perfect. They might as well have been robots. Every word, breath, motion, etc. was rehearsed to perfection. That's how you get things done in one take.
I've had one or two songs that I recorded where the first take of a verse or other section was a "one-take" wonder, but that was mostly driven by budget and circumstance. With Karen and Richard, everything was rehearsed to perfection. Of only she would have waited a few more years. Breast implants and other cosmetic surgery developments could have given her more of a balanced top and bottom. Not that she needed it, but it would have given her more confidence about her looks. Her sister didn't know how to dress her, either. The wardrobe choices often made her look more bottom heavy, like light culottes with dark tops. I'm not a fashion guru, but I work color, and anyone dressing someone for stage performances should know enough to avoid those mistakes.
Also, it's important to remember that she died of refeeding syndrome after she'd started gaining weight.
@iAncientOne
One of her most under-rated songs. She believes this, and in turn, makes us believe. I still grieve her loss. Her singing still brings goosebumps and tears.
@brianmallen8887
How about the way she goes from that silky practically "talk" singing to "light their way when the darkness surrounds them," the way that builds...Jesus..Anybody can take a singing lesson, but the fact is obvious, hit-making singing like Karen's is a gift, no way to replicate it. Funny how she never seemed to realize that, cocky she was not. Even when John Lennon stops her in a restaurant to tell her how great she is.