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
Love Me For What I Am
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the first night that we met
Together we've been happy
I have very few regrets
The ordinary problems
Have not been hard to face
But lately little changes
You're always finding something
Is wrong in what I do
But you can't rearrange my life
Because it pleases you
You've got to love me for what I am
For simply being me
Don't love me for what you intend
Or hope that I will be
And if you're only using me
To feed your fantasy
You're really not in love
So let me go, I must be free
If what you want
Isn't natural for me
I won't pretend to keep you
What I am I have to be
The picture of perfection
Is only in your mind
For all your expectations
Love can never be designed
We either take each other
For everything we are
Or leave the life we've made behind
And make another start
You've got to love me for what I am
For simply being me
Don't love me if what you intend
Or hope that I will be
And if you're only using me
To feed your fantasy
You're really not in love
So let me go, I must be free
And if you're only using me
To feed your fantasy
You're really not in love
So let me go, I must be free
You're really not in love
So let me go, I must be free
The song "Love Me For What I Am" by the Carpenters is a powerful message about unconditional love and self-acceptance. The singer tells the story of a relationship that started out strong and happy but has become fraught with tension due to the other person's expectations and desire to control. The singer pleads with their partner to love them for who they truly are, faults and all. They refuse to change themselves to meet someone else's standards, and they acknowledge that if the other person is only interested in a fantasy version of them, it is not genuine love. Ultimately, the singer declares that they must be free if they cannot be loved for who they are.
The lyrics of this song are particularly poignant because they speak to a universal experience. Many people have gone through a relationship where their partner wants to change them in some way, and it can be difficult to navigate those dynamics. The Carpenters' gentle, melodic composition accentuates the vulnerability and honesty of the lyrics. Karen Carpenter's voice is as clear and sweet as ever, emphasizing the message of self-love and standing up for oneself. The instrumentation is understated, with the emphasis being on Karen's voice and the message of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
We fell in love
We both fell in love with each other from the very first time we met.
On the first night that we met
We both fell in love with each other from the very first time we met.
Together we've been happy
Since we've been together, we have found happiness.
I have very few regrets
I don't have many regrets in life, especially when it comes to us being together.
The ordinary problems
The usual problems in life.
Have not been hard to face
We have not found it difficult to face these problems together.
But lately little changes
Recently, small differences have started to appear.
Have been slowly taking place
These differences have been happening gradually, over time.
You're always finding something
You always seem to find something wrong with what I say or do.
Is wrong in what I do
You always seem to find something wrong with what I say or do.
But you can't rearrange my life
You can't dictate how I live my life to suit your needs.
Because it pleases you
Just because it pleases you.
You've got to love me for what I am
You need to love me for who I am, as a person.
For simply being me
Just because I am who I am, as a unique individual.
Don't love me for what you intend
Don't love me for how you want me to be, or what you hope I will become.
Or hope that I will be
Don't love me for how you want me to be, or what you hope I will become.
And if you're only using me
If you're only with me to fulfill your own fantasies or desires.
To feed your fantasy
To fulfill your fantasies.
You're really not in love
If you're only using me for your own desires, then you're not really in love with me.
So let me go, I must be free
If you're not in love with me for who I am, then it's better if we go our separate ways.
If what you want
If what you want from me.
Isn't natural for me
Isn't something that comes naturally to me.
I won't pretend to keep you
I won't pretend to be someone I'm not just to keep you happy.
What I am I have to be
I am who I am, and I won't change myself just to please you.
The picture of perfection
The perfect image of someone that you have in your mind.
Is only in your mind
The perfect image of someone that you have in your mind.
For all your expectations
For all the things that you expect from me.
Love can never be designed
Love can't be contrived or forced. It's something that comes naturally.
We either take each other
We either take each other as we are.
For everything we are
We either take each other as we are, flaws and all.
Or leave the life we've made behind
Or we leave the life that we've built together behind us and seek something new.
And make another start
Start anew with someone else.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: John Bettis, Palma Anne Pascale
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hannahvillalon8765
The line; "You've got to love me for what I am for simply being me" hits a core in my heart because it is so rare to find someone who can love and accept you for who you truly are
@janinedaylig19
Ouch
@jacqueline8559
HANNAH, I truly hope that you find a true love, a person put on this Earth to love you totally and completely. I was one of the lucky ones. My husband and I met 37 years ago and fell in love that night. I'd never believed in love at first sight until then. We've been married for 32 years, parents to 2 adult sons now.
We've needed to grow and change together, to respect each others Ambitions, hopes and dreams and support each other through the good times and the bad. We love each other even more now, we have been truly Blessed in Love!
Good people exist but you're right, they're hard to find!!. When you do find ' the One' Love and Trust fiercely with everything you are and have!!! I pray you find that Special someone who will do the same for you, Blessings upon you.
@gabrielparodi9361
There is not one letter in this true beautiful song out of place. Moreover, sang but the best female vocalist that the world have known (Paul McCartney)
@babbabs
ayan yung naiisip ko pag pinapatugtug ko to huhu
@babbabs
tas lalo na pag tanggap ka talaga huhu
@jetpotz00trez
you have a good taste in music guys. <3 im 27 but still listening to this song.. my mom and grandma love this song
@user-pr8pu2zq9p
"AND IF YOUR ONLY USING ME TO FEED YOUR FANTASY, YOUR REALLY NOT INLOVE SO LET ME GO, I MUST BE FREE"............I LOVE THIS LINE..
@elara1974
My papa used to sing this song to us. It reminds me of how loving and caring a father and a husband he is to us. I missed my papa so much, and i know he’s watching me crying rn. I love you so much, Pa
@haileyko7997
I never experienced how love really is, but I don't know why I feel so moved the 1st time I listened to this song. Well, I hope this song guides me as I go through life. ONE OF THE BESTS!