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
Merry Christmas Darling
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Christmas rush is through
But I still have one wish to make
A special one for you
Merry Christmas darling
We're apart that's true
But I can dream and in my dreams
Holidays are joyful
There's always something new
But ev'ryday's a holiday
When I'm near to you
The lights on my tree
I wish you could see
I wish it ev'ry day
Logs on the fire
Fill me with desire
To see you and to say
That I wish you Merry Christmas (Merry Christmas darling)
Happy New Year too
I've just one wish on this Christmas Eve
(On this Christmas Eve)
I wish I were with you
The logs on the fire
Fill me with desire
To see you and to say
That I wish you Merry Christmas (Merry Christmas darling)
Happy New Year too
I've just one wish on this Christmas Eve
(On this Christmas Eve)
I wish I were with you
I wish I were with you
(Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas)
(Merry Christmas darling
The song "Merry Christmas Darling" by The Carpenters is a nostalgic love song that reflects on being separated from a loved one during Christmas time. The lyrics speak about the end of the Christmas rush and how the holiday season isn't completely over until the special wish for the loved one is fulfilled. The singer sends a message of endearment through her dreams, wishing that she could spend Christmas together with her loved one. She speaks of the joy of the holidays even though she is physically far away from her loved one, and that every day is like a holiday when she is near them. The Christmas lights on the tree and the warmth of the logs burning in the fire fill her with a strong desire that emphasizes how much she longs to be with her loved one and wishes them a Merry Christmas.
The lyrics are simple yet profound, and Karen Carpenter's vocals give a soulful and empathetic delivery to the song. The Carpenters' signature soft, pop sound creates a perfect ambiance bordering on nostalgia that pulls at the heartstrings of the listener. The throwback feel of the song is a part of its charm, and it has become a classic holiday favourite.
Line by Line Meaning
Greeting cards have all been sent
The holiday season is over and all greetings have been sent
The Christmas rush is through
The busy period leading up to Christmas has ended
But I still have one wish to make
Despite the end of the holiday season, there is still one wish to be made
A special one for you
This wish is specifically for the recipient of the song
Merry Christmas darling
A simple wish for a Merry Christmas to the recipient of the song
We're apart that's true
Acknowledgement that they are not physically together during the holiday season
But I can dream and in my dreams
Although they are apart, they can still dream of being together during the holidays
I'm Christmasing with you
In their dreams, they are spending the holiday season with the recipient of the song
Holidays are joyful
Acknowledgment of the happiness that comes with the holiday season
There's always something new
The holidays bring new experiences every year
But ev'ryday's a holiday
Being with the recipient of the song brings joy as if every day is a holiday
When I'm near to you
This joy comes from being physically close to the recipient of the song
The lights on my tree
Reference to the traditional holiday decorations on the Christmas tree
I wish you could see
Expressing a desire for the recipient of the song to be present to witness the holiday decorations
I wish it ev'ry day
This desire is constant throughout the holiday season
Logs on the fire
Reference to the cozy and warm atmosphere of the holiday season
Fill me with desire
Being apart from the recipient of the song makes the singer desire their presence even more
To see you and to say
Expressing a longing to see the recipient of the song in person and relay holiday wishes
That I wish you Merry Christmas (Merry Christmas darling)
Another simple yet heartfelt holiday wish for Merry Christmas
Happy New Year too
Adding a wish for a Happy New Year in addition to a Merry Christmas
I've just one wish on this Christmas Eve
Focusing on the one important wish at this moment, despite the presence of other wishes
(On this Christmas Eve)
Emphasizing the timing of this special wish
I wish I were with you
The most important wish - to be physically together during the holiday season
Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas
Repeating the holiday wishes in a cheerful manner
(Merry Christmas darling)
A final nod to the recipient of the song, wishing them a Merry Christmas
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Frank Pooler, Richard Lynn Carpenter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@omgahamsandwich5608
I'm 29 years old and I can't deny the beauty of the carpenters. This music is from a time when you actually needed talent to be a musician. Just letting the older folks know that young people can enjoy pure art just like them :)
@FarmersAreDummies
I'm older folks and I agree with you.
@thomasaddams8689
Pass this music on to future generations.
@sandiwalter2760
Thank u for saying that . I'm 58 and I live and grew up with the Carpenters
@grazzi9918
..a very relaxing music from an excellent singer β€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈ
@kevine.3596
You just restored my faith in "the younger generation".
@madebytheimageofyou
Being 64 I remember hearing this for the first time on the radio in the car, I couldn't believe that a Christmas song could be so beautiful. Being a huge Carpenters fan from the beginning, Karen's voice made my heart just stop! And, the ending arrangement, I just said Richard has done it again! What an angelic sound! Classic! Now, this is what superb music looks and sounds like. If this doesn't move your very soul, something is wrong! RIP to one of the greatest voices of all time!!
@birdsfan57
There will NEVER be a voice that can move one to tears as Karen Carpenter did for so many years. She truly possessed the voice of an angel, and is still so dearly missed...
@patriciaabidi4481
@birdsfan57 3:06 super voice! Never can forget her! R.I.P. Karen, π
@leewilliams6673
I'm 56 now and this song brings back so many memories of relatives ,etc that are gone. Beautiful and moving sound