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
It
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That touches my heart
It's not the way you kiss
That tears me apart
Many, many, many nights go by
I sit alone
At home, I cry
Over you
Can't help myself
('Cause baby, it's you)
You should hear what they say about you
They say you've never
Never, never been true
Oh, oh, oh
It doesn't matter what they say
I'm gonna love you any old way
What can I do?
When it's true
(Don't want nobody)
('Cause baby, it's you)
Many, many, many nights go by
I sit alone
At home, I cry
Over you
What can I do?
Can't help myself
'Cause baby, it's you
(Wa, sha-la-la-la-la-la)
(Ooh)
"Baby It's You" is a classic love song released by The Carpenters in 1970. The lyrics revolve around the idea that it's not the way someone physically interacts with you that captures your heart, but it's their overall essence that captures your attention. The first two lines of the song mention that it's not the way the person smiles or kisses that touches Karen Carpenter's heart but instead, it's their entire being. The chorus expresses the singer's feelings of being unable to break free from the love they feel, no matter how much time passes or how much they cry over their beloved.
The lyrics also address the fact that others may have negative opinions about the person the singer loves but it doesn't matter because their love is true. The singer affirms that they will continue to love unconditionally. This song is a testament to the depth of emotions that can be experienced between two individuals and the strength of a committed love.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not the way you smile
Your smile doesn't melt my heart
That touches my heart
It's something else that always makes me fall
It's not the way you kiss
Your kiss doesn't affect me as much
That tears me apart
As something else that always breaks me
Many, many, many nights go by
Countless nights have passed by me
I sit alone
Being alone is my only company
At home, I cry
And all I do is cry at home
Over you
Because I can't stop thinking about you
What can I do?
I'm helpless and I don't know what to do
Can't help myself
I can't resist feeling this way
('Cause baby, it's you)
Because it's always you who makes me feel this way
You should hear what they say about you
I hear people talk about you
They say you've never
They say that you've never
Never, never been true
Been honest and haven't stayed loyal
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
It doesn't matter what they say
But I don't care about what others say
I'm gonna love you any old way
Because I'll love you even if it's in my own way
When it's true
Because my feelings for you are genuine
(Don't want nobody)
(I don't need anyone else)
('Cause baby, it's you)
Because you're the only one I need
Many, many, many nights go by
Countless nights have passed by me
I sit alone
Being alone is my only company
At home, I cry
And all I do is cry at home
Over you
Because I can't stop thinking about you
What can I do?
I'm helpless and I don't know what to do
Can't help myself
I can't resist feeling this way
('Cause baby, it's you)
Because it's always you who makes me feel this way
(Wa, sha-la-la-la-la-la)
(Wa, sha-la-la-la-la-la)
(Ooh)
(Ooh)
Lyrics © SOROKA MUSIC LTD., Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Mack David, Barney Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Patricia Cubacub
It's gonna take some time this time
To get myself in shape
I really fell out of line this time
I really missed the gate
The birds on the telephone like, (next time)
Are cryin' out to me, (next time)
And I won't be so blind next time
And I'll find some harmony
But it's going to take some time this time
And I can't make demands
But, like the young trees in the winter time
I'll learn how to bend
After all the tears we've spent
How could we make amends?
So, it's one more round for experience
And I'm on the road again
And it's going to take some time this time
And I can't make demands
I'll learn how to bend
It's going to take some time this time
No matter what I've planned
And, like the young trees in the winter time
I'll learn how to bend
After all the tears we've spent
How could we make amends?
So, it's one more round for experience
And I'm on the road again
And it's going to take some time this time
Bruce Powell
This voice melts me every time I hear it--just too beautiful for a mere mortal. RIP Karen, who sings with angels now.
Fatima Jones
I love this song. It has that 70's stereo feel to it.
PAISLEY PRINCESS
It does! It reminds me of preschool
JayMagner
I think Karen's voice is the most beautiful female voice God ever created. The Carpenter's music had such an impact on my life. I am so grateful for their work. I am so sorry Karen was not able to find peace on earth.
NO NAME
Pure magic with Richards's carefully crafted arrangements and Karen's velvet rich voice! Undoubtedly timeless!
Roger Heisler Jr.
Man, she sounds so good on this tune! The words just fall off her lips like leaves on a tree.So unforced and beautiful to the ears. She was something else!
Rita6868 Sora
Well put!
Zant57
Roger Heisler Jr. ditto👍🏾
Dbo83
@Coupydog Yes so true
Coupydog
Roger I agree, however one could describe Karen's voice like that in nearly every song she sang. Nothing but perfection.