The Carpenters' melodic pop charted a record-breaking score of hit recordings on the American Top 40 and Adult Contemporary charts, becoming leading sellers in the soft rock, easy listening and adult contemporary genres. The Carpenters had three #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and fifteen #1 hits on the Adult Contemporary Chart (see The Carpenters discography). In addition, they had twelve top 10 singles (including their #1 hits). To date, The Carpenters' album and single sales total more than 100 million units.
During their fourteen-year career, The Carpenters recorded eleven albums, five of which contained top 10 singles (Close to You, Carpenters, A Song for You, Now & Then and Horizon), thirty-one singles, five television specials, and one short-lived television series. They toured in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, the Netherlands and Belgium. Their recording career ended with Karen's death on February 4, 1983. Karen passed away after cardiac arrest due to complications of anorexia nervosa. Extensive news coverage of the circumstances surrounding her death increased public awareness of the consequences of eating disorders.
Their first recordings were not successful, and the recording studio that was recording them, dropped them. That's when their 'savior' came in. Herb Alpert of A&M records heard a couple of their songs and said that he felt that they had good potential. Thanks to him, and his ability to see/hear quality when it appears, we had the GREAT performers of The Carpenters.
Piano Picker
The Carpenters Lyrics
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How I got to play so fine
And friends, I'm gonna tell ya
It really did take some time
Yes, after years and years of practice
And a case of real bad knees
While the other guys were out playin' with the football
And it got me
Right were I am, this is me
Playing the piano
I hope ya like what I do
It's for you, and I'll try and sing right too
I guess I'm really very lucky
That I've got this thing to play
'Cause it can really make me feel good
Even when it's cloudy and grey
Yes, after years and years of practice
And awful allergies that made me sneeze
And now the other guys are out playin' with their girlfriends
And I was still bangin' on the keys
And it got me
Right where I am, this is me
Playing the piano
I hope ya like what I do
It's for you
And I'll try and sing right too
In "Piano Picker," The Carpenters singer reveals the journey of how he became such a fine pianist. He acknowledges that it took a lot of dedication and hard work to get to where he is today. He mentions how while other kids were out playing with football, he was home practicing to become a piano player. He also points out that piano playing can make him feel better even on the gloomiest days, and he feels grateful that he has this gift. The lyrics demonstrate the power of passion and perseverance, which are two critical components required to achieve one's musical goals.
The song is characterized by Richard Carpenter's skillful play on the piano, and the instrumentation is an essential feature of the track. The lyrics are autobiographical, and they give an insight into Richard Carpenter's personality. He comes across as a dedicated artist who loves and cherishes his art. His passion for music has enabled him to become a talented pianist, and his lyrics showcase his musical journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody always asks me
People often inquire
How I got to play so fine
How I achieved proficiency in piano playing
And friends, I'm gonna tell ya
And so, let me share with you
It really did take some time
It truly did require a significant amount of time
Yes, after years and years of practice
Indeed, after an extensive amount of practice over many years
And a case of real bad knees
And even enduring a condition of severe knee pain
While the other guys were out playin' with the football
While my peers were enjoying themselves playing sports
I was home bangin' on the keys
I was at home practicing the piano diligently
And it got me
And this led me to where I am now
Right were I am, this is me
This is my present state, being a pianist
Playing the piano
Engaged in the activity of playing the piano
I hope ya like what I do
I hope you appreciate and enjoy my performance
It's for you, and I'll try and sing right too
My music is dedicated to you, and I will also attempt to sing well
I guess I'm really very lucky
I suppose I am truly fortunate
That I've got this thing to play
To have this musical instrument to perform with
'Cause it can really make me feel good
Because the piano enables me to experience a profound sense of joy
Even when it's cloudy and grey
Even during dreary or bleak days
And awful allergies that made me sneeze
And despite suffering from terrible allergies that caused me to sneeze
And now the other guys are out playin' with their girlfriends
While my male peers are now spending time with their romantic partners
And I was still bangin' on the keys
I continued to practice diligently on the piano
And it got me
And this led me to where I am now
Right where I am, this is me
This is my present state, being a pianist
Playing the piano
Engaged in the activity of playing the piano
I hope ya like what I do
I hope you appreciate and enjoy my performance
It's for you
My music is dedicated to you
And I'll try and sing right too
And I will also attempt to sing well
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RANDY EDELMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind