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
Interview
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo, Listen up to when it
Switch up the drums
I swear the god this shit go so dumb
That's word to God I'm twisting the blunt
They asked why I started
I did it for fun
I think I'm admitted
You know that you know me
I am a dope fiend
I proceed to smoke weed
I'm popping on sosh meads
I need your attention like
(Can you quiet down?)
I need your attention
Listen
I done mixed some with weed with some diction
Spliffed it
That's on me I'm going to flip it
Quickly
I've been under trees like Christmas
Gifted
Sometimes I fiend for prescriptions
Miss it
Word to Maleek he's going to mix it
Splendid
Mm, Yeah. Mm, Yeah
Then some shit like
Ain't nobody stopping us
No ain't nobody stopping us (No, no)
It's Ty and Lewie Carpenter
Yeah it's Ty and Lewie Carpenter (Yeah, yeah)
Now ain't nobody stopping us
No ain't nobody stopping us (No, no)
It's Ty and Lewie Carpenter
Yeah it's Ty and Lewie Carpenter (Yeah, yeah)
The Carpenters' "Interview" is a song that poses a series of whimsical and rhetorical questions about love, attraction, and joy. The song opens with a philosophical question, "Why are the stars always winkin' and blinkin' above?" which is followed by a series of other rhetorical questions, such as "What makes a fellow start thinkin' of fallin' in love?" and "What puts the kick in a chicken, the magic in June?" The answer to all of these questions, according to the song, is "It's just Elmer's tune."
The song suggests that love and joy are inexplicable and mysterious, and cannot be reduced to any rational or scientific explanation. It also celebrates the unpredictability and randomness of life, as symbolized by the various characters mentioned in the song, such as an old lady, a gander, a goose, a candy maker, a baker, a city charmer, and a farmer. The song encourages the listeners to join in and sing along, as if to say that life is best enjoyed when we let go of our inhibitions and embrace the spontaneity of the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Why are the stars always winkin' and blinkin' above?
What causes the constant flickering of the stars in the sky, creating a mesmerizing sight for everyone who gazes upon it?
What makes a fellow start thinkin' of fallin' in love?
What triggers someone's mind to consider the possibility of falling deeply in love with another person?
It's not the season, the reason is plain as the moon
It is not the particular season that attracts people to form romantic connections with each other; the reason is as clear and obvious as the moon in the night sky.
It's just Elmer's tune
The sole cause of this romantic inclination is the irresistible melodies of Elmer's music.
What makes a lady of eighty go out on the loose?
What motivates an elderly woman in her eighties to abandon her routine and indulge in some thrilling, adventurous activities?
Why does a gander meander in search of a goose?
What compels a male goose to wander around, searching for a compatible female mate?
What puts the kick in a chicken, the magic in June?
What brings a surge of excitement to a chicken's everyday life, and what makes the month of June feel so enchanted?
It's just Elmer's tune
Once again, it's the enchanting power of Elmer's music that brings joy and excitement to even the most mundane lives of animals and people alike.
Listen, listen, there's a lot you're li'ble to be missin'
Pay close attention and open your mind, because there are many things you might overlook and underestimate in this world.
Sing it, swing it, any old way and any old time
Sing and dance with abandon, without worrying about the specifics of rhythm or timing.
The hurdy gurdies, the birdies, the cop on the beat
All kinds of living and non-living things, from musical instruments to birds to everyday public servants like policemen, are united in their appreciation and expression of Elmer's tune.
The candy maker, the baker, the man on the street
People from all walks of life, including those who make sweets, bake delicious food, and those you encounter casually on a daily basis, all share this musical connection through Elmer's tune.
The city charmer, the farmer, the man in the moon
Even the most diverse and seemingly-unrelated figures, from urban socialites to rural farmers to celestial bodies like the man in the moon, all feel a personal and significant connection to Elmer's music.
All sing Elmer's tune
Ultimately, the overwhelming consensus is that Elmer's tune is universally beloved and inspires joy, unity, and passion for life in all who listen to it.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Conor Rice, Travis Jones, Tyler Smoyer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@debbiemartin2026
She had a horrible stylist.
Theres one show she did in a blue jumpsuit that was really unflattering and looked home made,and she hated how she looked and from that point on developed the eating disorder.
She has naturally thin upper body and wider hips. If she had Chers stylist I-doubt she would have ever developed the disorder. Whoever dressed her didn’t take into account her pear shaped body.
She never wanted to be up front so she was insecure.
I have seen every outfit and show she has worn thats on the internet.
Was my favorite singer.I have the same range so I always love to sing along.
She had money to hire the best stylist to dress her, unless she chose her own clothing or had someone make them for her.
Either way-totally unflattering.
@davidwolf226
I loved this group right from the jump. It is so hard to believe that it will be 40 years this February 2023 since Karen's passing. In my lifetime, there have been two utterly amazing female voices... Patsy Cline and Karen Carpenter.
@anthonygeurtsen7143
I would add Dolly Parton
@hrh-xj4fh
And kd lang and etta james
@carolinedarlene8184
Would you add in Mama Cass?🥺❤️
@misschiversstitches5887
And Judith Durham of the Seekers
@Jeo-fq1zw
Thank YOU our Angel Karen.❤
@user-rz6bc2cl3c
Such a unique voice. Always so listenable. Karen certainly had a great gift, she deserved a much better outcome. RIP Ms. Carpenter. And, thank you for the many wonderful memories!
@darcieljamison3811
Karen looked very healthy in this clip. She sounded happy and very confident. It’s hard to imagine she got so sick and in 4-5 years she would be gone. Such a beautiful voice!
@dinocub1
I was 15 when Karen passed. I weep now as I did then on the thoughts of what Karen still had to offer the world. We were truly robbed of such wonderful music still yet to be. Still, will celebrate every single one of the gifts she gave during her short time on this planet. Thank you for posting this. Absolutely amazing.
On a side note...what ever happened to John Davidson. I remember him being everywhere during the late 70's...then gone in a flash.
@markdavies9117
Thank you for sharing this video. We got to see Karen healthy, playful, and joyful, while our last images of her were sad. It was wonderful how the siblings highlighted the band on the highly popular late night show of the day.