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
Top Of The World
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There is wonder in 'most every thing I see
Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes
And I won't be surprised if it's a dream
Everything I want the world to be
Is now comin' true especially for me
And the reason is clear, it's because you are here
I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around
Your love's put me at the top of the world
Somethin' in the wind has learned my name
And it's tellin' me that things are not the same
In the leaves on the trees and the touch of the breeze
There's a pleasin' sense of happiness for me
There is only one wish on my mind
When this day is through I hope that I will find
That tomorrow will be just the same for you and me
All I need will be mine if you are here
I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around
Your love's put me at the top of the world
I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around
Your love's put me at the top of the world
The Carpenters’ song Top of the World is a love ballad that speaks about the elation and joy that love can bring in one’s life. The song begins with the singer expressing her happiness and excitement at every little thing she sees around her. She describes being on a natural high, looking at the vast blue sky and feeling the warmth of the sun on her face. She mentions how her dream of a perfect world has finally come true, and the reason for it is clear - the presence of her lover.
The chorus is where the singer shares how her lover has made her feel on top of the world, looking down on creation. She credits her lover’s love for being the explanation behind everything good that’s happening in her life. The second verse depicts the singer becoming more conscious of the change in the environment around her, and the warm breezes that signify everything that’s good and happy. She talks about how she wants what she’s feeling to continue forever, and all she needs to make it happen is her lover’s presence.
In summary, the song is about finding true love and the power it holds in making everything brighter and happier in life. It highlights how it’s not just the physical presence of the lover that brings happiness, but also knowing that their love is constant and enduring.
Line by Line Meaning
Such a feelin's comin' over me
I am experiencing a strong emotion that cannot be described.
There is wonder in 'most every thing I see
I am discovering beauty and greatness in everything around me.
Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes
The sky is clear and the sun is shining brightly.
And I won't be surprised if it's a dream
This situation is so perfect that it feels like it could be a dream.
Everything I want the world to be
My ideal vision of the world is becoming a reality.
Is now comin' true especially for me
My dreams and desires are now becoming real, and this seems to be happening specifically for me.
And the reason is clear, it's because you are here
The reason for my happiness and success is you being here with me.
You're the nearest thing to heaven that I've seen
You are the closest thing to my ideal version of paradise that I have encountered.
I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation
I feel victorious and ecstatic, with a view of everything from a position of power.
And the only explanation I can find
The only possible reason for my happiness and success is
Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around
The love and presence of the person I am with has brought about this change in me.
Your love's put me at the top of the world
The love I have received has brought me to a peak of happiness and success.
Somethin' in the wind has learned my name
There is a sense of destiny and fate in the air, as if something is recognizing and selecting me.
And it's tellin' me that things are not the same
This sense of destiny is indicating that something has changed or is about to change.
In the leaves on the trees and the touch of the breeze
There is a peaceful and harmonious energy in the natural world around me.
There's a pleasin' sense of happiness for me
I am experiencing a deep and satisfying feeling of joy and contentment.
There is only one wish on my mind
My most important goal and desire is clear.
When this day is through I hope that I will find
By the time this day ends, I want to discover or experience something specific.
That tomorrow will be just the same for you and me
I hope that tomorrow will bring us the same happiness and success that we are experiencing today.
All I need will be mine if you are here
I have everything I need as long as I am with you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: John Bettis, Richard Lynn Carpenter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@baobab2933
Such a feeling's coming over me
There is wonder
in most everything I see
Not a cloud in the sky
Got the sun in my eyes
And I won't be surprised if
it's a dream
Everything I want the world to be
is now coming true especially for me
And the reason is clear
It's because you are here
You're the nearest thing
to heaven that I've seen
I'm on the top of the world
looking down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
is the love that I've found
Ever since you've been around
Your love's put me
at the top of the world
Something in the wind has learned
my name and it's telling me
that things are not the same
In the leaves on the trees
and the touch of the breeze
there's a pleasing sense
of happiness for me
There is only one wish on my mind
When this day is through I hope
that I will find that tomorrow will be
just the same for you and me
All I need will be mine if you are here
I'm on the top of the world
looking down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
is the love that I've found
Ever since you've been around
Your love's put me
at the top of the world
I'm on the top of the world
looking down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
is the love that I've found
Ever since you've been around
Your love's put me
at the top of the world
@leokimvideo
9 years after this incredible live performance Karen Carpenter died from an eating disorder. She was a one in a billion vocal talent.
@catherinekeller4230
Absolutely right!...how i miss her voice & a lovely person! 😇
@nobody-hp7fg
A writer called her Richard'S chubby sister and she never got over it. She starved herself to death.
@northshorepx
@nobody It was her brother was controlling her life and she couldn't escape. The article is a just misunderstanding.
@jenniferoldiges9934
@Catherine Keller Loved her.....One Take Karen! My 27 year old nice died of the same thing.
@donnalombardo1135
@nobody that's what I read too
@SkyBlue-by9ir
This young lady didn't need no fancy high tech music sound system! She had one of the most beautiful singing voice that no one can top!
@benfranklin3655
Hands down!!
@knutsenneundorf116
She for sure had a top notch high end production at her time. This was no cheapo job to polish her voice like that.
@Segelbootheizer
In deed, @Sky Blue, In deed.