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
I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Their old familiar carols play
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men
I thought how as the day had come
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth, I said
For hate s strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead nor doth he sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men
The lyrics of I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day by Carpenters portray the shift from the optimism of the holiday season to a feeling of despair and doubt in the midst of social turmoil. The bells ringing on Christmas day signify the beginning of the holiday season which brings with it feelings of joy and peace. The “old familiar carols” taking place in the background create a sense of tradition and continuity, that this is a happy time of year that we can always count on. These feelings are reinforced by the lyrics, “Of peace on earth, good will to men,” a phrase that’s become synonymous with the Christmas spirit.
However, the singer’s hopes for peace are quickly dashed as they reflect on the state of the world: “For hate is strong and mocks the song/Of peace on earth, good will to men.” This line is particularly significant as it speaks to the universal experience of disillusionment we all feel when confronted with the world’s problems. Just as the singer begins to lose hope, the bells ring out with a message of hope: "God is not dead nor doth he sleep/The wrong shall fail, the right prevail/With peace on earth, good will to men." This refrain brings the song full circle, ending with renewed hope and an affirmation that good will eventually win over evil.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard the bells on Christmas day
I listened to the chimes on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
They played the familiar Christmas songs
And wild and sweet the words repeat
The joyful and sweet lyrics kept repeating
Of peace on earth, good will to men
The lyrics conveyed a message of peace and goodwill towards people
I thought how as the day had come
I wondered about the significance of the day
The belfries of all Christendom
The church towers of all Christian nations
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Sang the continuous, unbroken harmony
Of peace on earth, good will to men
A tune about the well-being of people and harmony in the universe
And in despair I bowed my head
I surrendered to despair and lowered my head
There is no peace on earth, I said
I said, there is no tranquility on earth
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Hate is too powerful and ridicules the melody
Of peace on earth, good will to men
A tune about the well-being of people and harmony in the universe
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
The chimes rang louder and deeper
God is not dead nor doth he sleep
God is not dead, nor does he slumber
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
The injustices will ultimately cease, and righteousness will win
With peace on earth, good will to men
A wish for calm and shared affection among people
Contributed by Alexis D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
J Parker
on Happy
Wrong lyrics shown. Correct ones --- Happy by Carpenters
I've played the game of love before.
Too young to know
How hard the fall could be;
I never thought I'd try again.
Somehow you brought
The gambler out in me.
You can deal me in this time around.
Even though the odds are high,
We'll play them down.
You may be a chance I need to take,
And the hand I'm holdin' says it's no mistake.
Happy is the way I'm feelin',
And I know it comes from being with you.
All at once my life is changin',
And I know it's 'cause I'm fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love.
Fallin' in love with you.
If this is luck then let it ride.
If it's the starts,
They're surely on my side.
I've never been so safisfied
By love before;
For all the times I've tried.
These beginnings could mean more
Than the brief affair I bargained for.
Little did I know, when we began,
That my time had come to win a hand.
Happy is the way I'm feelin',
And I know it comes from being with you.
All at once my life is changin',
And I know it's 'cause I'm fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love.
Fallin' in love with you.
Please forgive me if I seem
To be walking through a waking dream.
Laughter never came so easily;
There's a freedom here that's new to me.
Happy is the way I'm feelin',
And I know it comes from being with you.
All at once my life is changin',
And I know it's 'cause I'm fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love.
Fallin' in love with you.