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
The Rainbow Connection
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions, and rainbows have nothing to hide
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong wait and see
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
Who said that wishes would be heard and answered when wished on the morningstar?
Someone thought of that and someone believed it
Look what it's done so far
What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing and what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
All of us under its spell
We know that it's probably magic
Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name
Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors
The voice might be one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it
It's something that I'm supposed to be
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me
"The Rainbow Connection" by the Carpenters is a song that ponders our fascination with rainbows and what lies beyond them. The lyrics reflect upon the fact that rainbows are merely an illusion, but we still believe in them and hold them to be magical, despite the rational knowledge that they have "nothing to hide." Throughout the song, the singer rejects the idea that rainbows are illusory, insisting that someday they will find the "rainbow connection" between themselves, the dreamers, and the lovers in the world around them.
The song speaks to the power of our beliefs and our ability to find magic and wonder in the world around us. It invites us to think about what keeps us stargazing and dreaming and consider the possibility that there might be more to the world than meets the eye. This song has been interpreted many times by many artists, and it continues to be a beloved classic that inspires awe and wonder in its listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what's on the other side?
Why do people sing about rainbows so much and what could be on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions, and rainbows have nothing to hide
Rainbows are just pretty sights to see, they are not something physical nor can they hide anything.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
People have been told this and some believe it to be true.
I know they're wrong wait and see
However, the artist believes that they are not true, but we must wait to find out.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection The lovers, the dreamers and me
One day, we will discover the true meaning behind rainbows and it will connect those who are passionate and have great aspirations.
Who said that wishes would be heard and answered when wished on the morningstar?
Where did the idea come from that our desires would be heard and fulfilled when wishing upon stars?
Someone thought of that and someone believed it Look what it's done so far
However, someone came up with this idea and others believed in it, and look what it has accomplished thus far.
What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing and what do we think we might see?
What is so fascinating that it makes us want to gaze at the stars? What do we expect to see?
All of us under its spell We know that it's probably magic
We are all captivated by this idea, and we think it to be something magical and enchanting.
Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices? I've heard them calling my name
Have there ever been times when you've been half asleep and heard voices? The artist has in fact experienced it calling their name.
Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors The voice might be one and the same
The singer wonders if this is the same sweet sound that beckons young sailors.
I've heard it too many times to ignore it It's something that I'm supposed to be
The artist has heard this sound multiple times and cannot ignore it. They feel that it's their calling and what they were meant to do.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me
Once we find the true meaning behind rainbows, it will bring together those who have great passions and aspirations, including the singer.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me
Once again, the singer states their belief that one day they will find the true connection behind rainbows and it will unite those with big dreams and ideas.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kenny Ascher, Paul Hamilton Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@patriciacubacub00
The Rainbow Connection
Carpenters
Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions, and rainbows have nothing to hide
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong wait and see
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
Who said that wishes would be heard and answered when wished on the morningstar?
Someone thought of that and someone believed it
Look what it's done so far
What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing and what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
All of us under its spell
We know that it's probably magic
Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name
Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors
The voice might be one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it
It's something that I'm supposed to be
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me
@PedroFideles
Why are there so many
Songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side
Rainbows are visions
But only illusions
And rainbows have nothing to hide
So we've been told and some choose to
Believe it
I know they're wrong wait and see
Someday we'll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
Who said that wishes
Would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star
Someone thought of that
And someone believed it
And look what it's done so far
What's so amazing
That keeps us star gazing
And what do we think we might see
Someday we'll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers the dreamers and me
All of us under its spell
We know that it's probably magic
Have you been sleeping
And have you heard voices
I've heard them calling my name
Is this the sweet sound that calls
The young sailors
The voice might be one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it
It's something that I'm supposed to be
Someday we'll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
Someday we'll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me (someday, someway, I know we'll find it)
The lovers, the dreamers and me.
@billgeorgesr1457
My wife Susan of 48 years and myself use to sing this song together because she loved Rainbows She passed away a few years ago and every time I see a Rainbow I think of her ❤
@rw8733
She's still with you. God bless you both 🙏
@jeffblanke3162
♥
@jeffblanke3162
well said...@@rw8733
@Doctor-Stoppage
The song makes you feel like the world has a peaceful place in it.
@lukew.9870
It's 2018, and I am 31. As an immigrant from China, I grew up listening to her songs as a way to study English. After living in the US for 12 years, I still find Karen as one of my all-time favorite singers. She has such ease in her powerful and beautiful voice that penetrates the soft spots of your soul and heals all your sorrow. She might be way before my time, but great music can touch people through time and across continents. R.I.P. Karen
@karinberryman2009
Her gentleness lives on when you enjoy it! Embrace it!
@craigroth8710
She could sing English better than most of us can speak it!!
@trevormatson5239
First time I've heard Karen sing this. I absolutely love this song.
@Wilhelm5381
I first heard this song was the version by Barbara Streisand, very good too, then I found this Carpenter version and love it equally.