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
Two Sides
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes, there's two sides, two interpretations
A laugh is a cry, hello means goodbye
You're sayin' something baby, I don't wanna buy
Well, there's two sides to every creation
You and me babe, we're no revelation
Well, there's darkness in our light, and there's wrong in our right
There's sorry babe, I'm workin' late tonight
Well, there's two sides, there's another side of me
There's the one you think you live with, the one you never see
It's never really lived, but it's never really died
It's never really made it but it's tried
Well, there's two sides to every conversation
But with you babe, that's no consolation
Silence is golden, let me put you on hold
Danglin' on your love line, baby, it's growin' old
Well, I don't know how to say it
Cause I never thought I could
God know I've tried so many times
But there's two sides, there's another side of me
There's the one you think you live with, the one you never see
It's never really lived, but it's never really died
It's never really made it, but it's tried
To every creation
We're no revelation
One sees the wrong, and one sees the right
The other side of me just caught a flight
Goodbye
The song "Two Sides" by Carpenters explores the concept of duality in every aspect of life. Throughout the lyrics, Karen Carpenter sings about the two sides that exist in every situation, every conversation, and every person. She implies that things may not always be what they seem and that there could be an alternate perspective worth considering. The lyrics express a sense of conflict, misunderstandings and tensions that arise from seeing things only from one side.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the duality by stating that there are always two sides to every situation and interpretation. Carpenter sings that laughter can be a way of masking sadness, and that sometimes when someone says hello, they could really mean goodbye. Additionally, she points out that the line between light and dark is blurred, and that just as there can be apologies, there can also be lies.
Carpenter delves deeply into this idea of duality and suggests that we all have two sides to ourselves. There is the version that we present to the world and the side of us that we keep hidden from everyone else. She sings that this "other side" is always present but not often seen, and it's always trying to break free, though it may not always succeed.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, there's two sides, to every situation
Yes, there's two sides, two interpretations
A laugh is a cry, hello means goodbye
You're sayin' something baby, I don't wanna buy
Well, there's two sides to every creation
You and me babe, we're no revelation
Well, there's darkness in our light, and there's wrong in our right
There's sorry babe, I'm workin' late tonight
Well, there's two sides, there's another side of me
There's the one you think you live with, the one you never see
It's never really lived, but it's never really died
It's never really made it but it's tried
Well, there's two sides to every conversation
But with you babe, that's no consolation
Silence is golden, let me put you on hold
Danglin' on your love line, baby, it's growin' old
Well, I don't know how to say it
Cause I never thought I could
The other side of me just caught a flight
Goodbye
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BILL DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Narendra Reza
Well, there's two sides, to every situation
Yes, there's two sides, two interpretations
A laugh is a cry, hello means goodbye
You're sayin' something baby, I don't wanna buy
Well, there's two sides to every creation
You and me babe, we're no revelation
Well there's darkness in our light, and there's
wrong in our right
There's sorry babe, I'm workin' late tonight
Well, there's two sides, there's another side of me
There's the one you think, you live with,
the one you never see
lt's never really lived, but it's never really died
It's never really made it but it's tried
Well, there's two sides to every conversation
But with you babe, that's no consolation
Silence is golden, let me put you on hold
Danglin' on your love line, baby, it's growin' old
WeII, I don't know how to say it
Cause I never thought I could
God knows I've tried so many times
But there's two sides, there's another side of me
There's the one you think you live with,
the one you never see
It's never really lived, but it's never really died
It's never really made it, but it's tried
To every creation
We're no revelation
One sees the wrong, and one sees the right
The other side of me just caught a flight
Goodbye
The OED Loves Me Not
Karen's delivery is exquisite. The lyric is also fantastic. The Carpenters catalog is full of hidden treasure, and you often get to rediscover lesser-known and yet fabulous songs like this one.
blue acid
I love this song
frankie hunter
Why so little views? The song deserves millions of views. It's a masterpiece.
vmuto1
It's not today's "stuff" so the kids won't hit it up with millions of views. Had we had You Tube in the 70's, well that's a different story. It's up to you, me & the rest of the fans out there who grew up with real genuine music to get these plays up there. Don't forget when you see Carpenters CD's in the store to move them to the top. I've been doing this for years. 😉
Luis Spacecowboy Petrillo
it's music for a few, very exquisite
Corey Sheppard
I've been a Carpenters fan since I was a teenager but it wasn't until recently that I became a fan of this song. It's almost like listening to a Solo Karen Carpenter recording. She added her grace and vocal sophistication to everything that she sang.
stephen cerny
always thought this was an amazing song and showcased Karen's voice in a perfect arrangement The British and the Japanese realized that Passage was one of the best albums in their entire collection.
Bob Davis
Yes to your "Twi Sides" compliments. In the U.S. this album broke their string of gold albums but Passage was the first Carpenters album I owned; I own them all now but this is still my favorite Carpenters album. Even the track on it I relate to least, "Don't Cry For Me Argentina," is a work of art artistically.
Maurise Grant
The carpenters always seemed to pick and sing the best of songs with a spine tingly beauty to them this is just another exception of one of those songs that suited karens crystaline voice just so beautiful
Beausoir1
I can't believe that Karen is gone... what a amazing voice. I read that Karen was very happy to make the album: Passage.Love you forever Karen... and Richard.