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
Every Sha La La
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd listen to the radio
Waitin' for my favorite songs
When they played I'd sing along
It made me smile.
Those were such happy times
And not so long ago
But they're back again
Just like a long lost friend
All the songs I loved so well.
Every Sha-la-la-la
Every Wo-o-wo-o
Still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they're startin' to sing's
So fine.
When they get to the part
Where he's breakin' her heart
It can really make me cry
Just like before
It's yesterday once more.
Lookin' back on how it was
In years gone by
And the good times that I had
Makes today seem rather sad
So much has changed.
It was songs of love that
I would sing to then
And I'd memorize each word
Those old melodies
Still sound so good to me
As they melt the years away.
Every Sha-la-la-la
Every Wo-o-wo-o
Still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they're startin' to sing's
So fine.
All my best memories
Come back clearly to me
Some can even make me cry.
Just like before
It's yesterday once more.
Every Sha-la-la-la
Every Wo-o-wo-o
Still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they're startin' to sing's
So fine.
Every Sha-la-la-la
Every Wo-o-wo-o
Still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they're startin' to sing's
So fine.
The lyrics to Carpenters' hit song "Every Sha La La" are basically about nostalgia and the power that music holds in evoking memories from the past. The song talks about the simple joy the singer felt as a child, listening to the radio and singing along to their favorite songs. Life was good back then, things were simpler and happier, and the songs of the time reflected this feeling of joy.
The chorus of the song is particularly catchy, with its repetitions of "Every Sha La La La" and "Every Wo-o-wo-o", which are meant to capture the spirit of the songs from the past that the singer loved so much. The lyrics are designed to evoke a sense of nostalgia in the listener, to take them back to a time when life was more carefree and happiness was easier to come by.
Throughout the song, there are moments where the singer becomes emotional, like when they hear a song about heartbreak that brings them to tears. But ultimately, the message of the song is one of hope: the memories of the past will always be with us, and the music that we love will always be there to remind us of the good times.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was young
Back when I was a youth
I'd listen to the radio
I would tune in to the radio waves to catch some tunes
Waitin' for my favorite songs
Eagerly awaiting the melodies that most moved me
When they played I'd sing along
I could not help but match my voice with the lyrics
It made me smile.
It brought a jolly vibe to my countenance
Those were such happy times
Those moments were very joyful and jocund
And not so long ago
It happened not that extended period
How I wondered where they'd gone
I pondered that they were lost
But they're back again
They have returned anew
Just like a long lost friend
Like a friend who has been away for quite a spell
All the songs I loved so well.
The music that I cherished so much
Every Sha-la-la-la
Each and every 'sha-la-la-la'
Every Wo-o-wo-o
All the 'wo-o-wo-o'
Still shines
They are still bright as ever
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
All the 'shing-a-ling-a-ling'
That they're startin' to sing's
The song that's beginning to play
So fine.
It is very excellent
When they get to the part
At the section of the music
Where he's breakin' her heart
When he tears her emotions apart
It can really make me cry
It could bring tears to my eyes
Just like before
As though it was previously encountered
It's yesterday once more.
It brings to memory past occasions
Lookin' back on how it was
Reflecting how it was before
In years gone by
In the days long past
And the good times that I had
The times that were good and momentous
Makes today seem rather sad
Occasioning sadness in the present era
So much has changed.
A lot has turned around
It was songs of love that
It was love songs that
I would sing to then
That I would vocalize then
And I'd memorize each word
And I would imprint every phrase
Those old melodies
The erstwhile tunes
Still sound so good to me
They still appear very apt to me
As they melt the years away.
As they dissolve the intervening years
All my best memories
All the top recollections
Come back clearly to me
Are vividly reminded to me
Some can even make me cry.
Some brings tears to my eyes
Every Sha-la-la-la
Each and every 'sha-la-la-la'
Every Wo-o-wo-o
All the 'wo-o-wo-o'
Still shines
They are still bright as ever
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
All the 'shing-a-ling-a-ling'
That they're startin' to sing's
The song that's beginning to play
So fine.
It is very excellent
Every Sha-la-la-la
Each and every 'sha-la-la-la'
Every Wo-o-wo-o
All the 'wo-o-wo-o'
Still shines
They are still bright as ever
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
All the 'shing-a-ling-a-ling'
That they're startin' to sing's
The song that's beginning to play
So fine.
It is very excellent
Contributed by Aaron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@iorimoe_five
When I was young
I'd listen to the radio
Waitin' for my favorite songs
When they played I'd sing along
It made me smile.
Those were such happy times
And not so long ago
How I wondered where they'd gone
But they're back again
Just like a long lost friend
All the songs I loved so well.
Every Sha-la-la-la
Every Wo-o-wo-o
Still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they're startin' to sing's
So fine.
When they get to the part
Where he's breakin' her heart
It can really make me cry
Just like before
It's yesterday once more.
Lookin' back on how it was
In years gone by
And the good times that I had
Makes today seem rather sad
So much has changed.
It was songs of love that
I would sing to then
And I'd memorize each word
Those old melodies
Still sound so good to me
As they melt the years away.
Every Sha-la-la-la
Every Wo-o-wo-o
Still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they're startin' to sing's
So fine.
All my best memories
Come back clearly to me
Some can even make me cry.
Just like before
It's yesterday once more.
@wisnakow
I'm here in 2024, still listening 😊
@dayson88
This song just came to my heart tonight ....Dec 28, 2023....praying that 2024 will be filled with much more genuine and true love...
@michellehawkins2865
Have a Great Day and Night. I Found this Song on February 2024. 🙂
@catherinechan9805
Still listening in 2024 and always will .. These kind of music will never die.. The best feeling, best words best melody..
@tamiepilling4260
Just a beautiful song, sung by a beautiful lady. One of the best voices ever.
@CZARAIR45
Absolutely hands down
@Shawn666Hellion
Her voice was so very beautiful
@thorphoeung6057
I was around 6 years old when I first heard this song. It was the most beautiful memory of my childhood. Thank you Carpenters
@iorimoe_five
When I was young
I'd listen to the radio
Waitin' for my favorite songs
When they played I'd sing along
It made me smile.
Those were such happy times
And not so long ago
How I wondered where they'd gone
But they're back again
Just like a long lost friend
All the songs I loved so well.
Every Sha-la-la-la
Every Wo-o-wo-o
Still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they're startin' to sing's
So fine.
When they get to the part
Where he's breakin' her heart
It can really make me cry
Just like before
It's yesterday once more.
Lookin' back on how it was
In years gone by
And the good times that I had
Makes today seem rather sad
So much has changed.
It was songs of love that
I would sing to then
And I'd memorize each word
Those old melodies
Still sound so good to me
As they melt the years away.
Every Sha-la-la-la
Every Wo-o-wo-o
Still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they're startin' to sing's
So fine.
All my best memories
Come back clearly to me
Some can even make me cry.
Just like before
It's yesterday once more.
@michelecanhamfree4693
Thank you