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
When You've Got What It Takes
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've got nothing to hide
You've got miles of feelings
And acres of pride
You've really got it
When you know who you are
Then you live what you feel
You give what you can
And it's good when you've really got it
And when you've got it
(*) Let it out
Let it show
Let'em know
Inside you've got it
Let it shine like a fine tomorrow
For when you do
The feeling comes back to you
What a difference it makes
When you've got what it takes
What a difference it makes
When you've got it
When you're sure of your heart
Then you give it away
And love is a promise
You keep every day
You know it
And when you know it
You begin to believe
You'll do more than survive
That the best part of being is being alive
You feel it
And when you feel it
Repeat (*)
When a difference it makes
When you've got what it takes
What a difference it makes
When you've got it
When a difference it makes
When you've got what it takes
What a difference it makes
When you've got it everyday
The Carpenters' "When You've Got What It Takes" is an inspiring song about self-confidence, self-awareness, and fulfilling one's life purpose. The lyrics speak of the importance of knowing oneself and having a strong sense of identity, pride, and conviction. The song suggests that having these qualities will lead to a fulfilling life, where one can freely express oneself and make a positive difference in the world.
The first verse of the song emphasizes the idea that when one is confident in themselves, they have nothing to hide. They have a strong sense of self-awareness and are in touch with their emotions. The second verse is about giving back, saying that when you know who you are, you can give what you can and make a difference in the world. The chorus urges the listener to let their true self shine, knowing that doing so will bring them fulfillment and a sense of purpose.
This song is a great reminder to be proud of who you are and not to be afraid to express yourself fully. It encourages us to give back and make a positive impact on the world. When we know who we are and what our purpose is, we can confidently pursue our passions and live a fulfilling life.
Line by Line Meaning
When you've got what it takes
When you possess the qualities required to achieve success or fulfill a goal
You've got nothing to hide
You are confident in yourself and your abilities
You've got miles of feelings
You have a deep well of emotions and empathy
And acres of pride
You take pride in yourself and your accomplishments
You've got it
You possess the necessary traits to succeed or achieve your goals
When you know who you are
When you have a strong understanding of your identity and values
Then you live what you feel
You act in accordance with your beliefs and emotions
You give what you can
You generously offer your time, resources, and abilities
And it's good when you've really got it
It feels rewarding and fulfilling to possess the traits necessary for success
And when you've got it
When you possess the necessary traits to succeed or achieve your goals
Let it out
Express yourself fully and authentically
Let it show
Display your abilities and qualities confidently
Let'em know
Make sure others are aware of your skills and achievements
Inside you've got it
You possess the traits and abilities necessary to succeed or achieve your goals
Let it shine like a fine tomorrow
Let your abilities and qualities shine brightly, like the promise of a bright future
For when you do
When you display your abilities and qualities confidently
The feeling comes back to you
You will feel a sense of reward and fulfillment
What a difference it makes
It can make a significant impact on your life or the lives of others
When you're sure of your heart
When you have a strong understanding of your emotions and values
Then you give it away
You generously offer your love, empathy, and support to others
And love is a promise
Love is a commitment you make and keep
You keep every day
You honor your commitment to love every day
You know it
You understand the importance and value of love and commitment
You begin to believe
You develop confidence and faith in yourself and your abilities
You'll do more than survive
You will thrive and achieve success
That the best part of being is being alive
Life's greatest joy is simply existing and experiencing its beauty
You feel it
You experience a deep sense of fulfillment and joy
Repeat (*)
Reiterate the previous chorus
When a difference it makes
The impact can be significant
When you've got what it takes
When you possess the necessary traits to succeed or achieve your goals
What a difference it makes
The impact can be significant
When you've got it
When you possess the necessary traits to succeed or achieve your goals
When a difference it makes
The impact can be significant
When you've got what it takes
When you possess the necessary traits to succeed or achieve your goals
What a difference it makes
The impact can be significant
When you've got it everyday
When you consistently possess the necessary traits to succeed or achieve your goals
Lyrics © ROGER NICHOLS MUSIC INC
Written by: BILL LANE, ROGER NICHOLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
J Parker
on Happy
Wrong lyrics shown. Correct ones --- Happy by Carpenters
I've played the game of love before.
Too young to know
How hard the fall could be;
I never thought I'd try again.
Somehow you brought
The gambler out in me.
You can deal me in this time around.
Even though the odds are high,
We'll play them down.
You may be a chance I need to take,
And the hand I'm holdin' says it's no mistake.
Happy is the way I'm feelin',
And I know it comes from being with you.
All at once my life is changin',
And I know it's 'cause I'm fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love.
Fallin' in love with you.
If this is luck then let it ride.
If it's the starts,
They're surely on my side.
I've never been so safisfied
By love before;
For all the times I've tried.
These beginnings could mean more
Than the brief affair I bargained for.
Little did I know, when we began,
That my time had come to win a hand.
Happy is the way I'm feelin',
And I know it comes from being with you.
All at once my life is changin',
And I know it's 'cause I'm fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love.
Fallin' in love with you.
Please forgive me if I seem
To be walking through a waking dream.
Laughter never came so easily;
There's a freedom here that's new to me.
Happy is the way I'm feelin',
And I know it comes from being with you.
All at once my life is changin',
And I know it's 'cause I'm fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love.
Fallin' in love with you.