History Music / Carpenters

They were active from 1969 until Karen's death in 1983. During this time, they were prolific. They had numerous hits, only a few of which are commonly known to people who weren't there in TheSeventies. Hits include "Close to You," "Sing," "Yesterday Once More," "We've Only Just Begun," and "Superstar."

'''Carpenters''' (absolutely ''not'' "[[TheTheTitleConfusion The Carpenters]]") were a brother-and-sister pop duo consisting of Richard Carpenter (born 1946) and his sister Karen (1950–1983). Karen started out as the drummer but was gradually phased off the instrument once it became clear she had a superlative singing voice; Richard wrote the material, played piano and provided backing vocals.

'''Carpenters''' (absolutely ''not'' "[[TheTheTitleConfusion The Carpenters]]") were a brother-and-sister pop duo, Karen and Richard Carpenter. Karen started out as the drummer but was gradually phased off the instrument once it became clear she had a superlative singing voice; Richard wrote the material, played piano and provided backing vocals.

'''Carpenters''' (absolutely ''not'' "[[TheTheTitleConfusion The]] Carpenters") were a brother-and-sister pop duo, Karen and Richard Carpenter. Karen started out as the drummer but was gradually phased off the instrument once it became clear she had a superlative singing voice; Richard wrote the material, played piano and provided backing vocals.

* DownerEnding: Karen's death at 32, of complications stemming from her severe anorexia nervosa. On the bright side, it actually did a lot to open up awareness of the disease.

* DownerEnding: Karen's death from Anorexia Nervosa at 32, but it actually opened up awareness of the disease.

They were active from 1969 to 1983, in which Karen died. During this time, they were prolific. They had numerous hits, only a few of which are commonly known to people who weren't there in TheSeventies. Hits include "Close to You," "Sing," "Yesterday Once More," "We've Only Just Begun," and "Superstar."

Carpenters (absolutely '''not''' "The Carpenters") was a brother-and-sister pop duo, Karen and Richard Carpenter. Karen started out as the drummer but was gradually phased off the instrument once it became clear she had a superlative singing voice; Richard wrote the material, played piano and provided backing vocals.

----

--> Every sha-la-la-la, every whoa-whoa, still shines...

* TheTheTitleConfusion: Just "Carpenters", dammit.

** Same with "(They Long to Be) Close to You" after they say "Close to You" one last time, the song plays out slowly to end and you thought it's over, until BAM! the last few verses of the song plays again until fade. Notorious for catching disc jockeys off guard when the song started back up a few seconds into whatever was coming after it.

** Same with the "(They Long to Be) Close to You" after they say "Close to You" one last time, the song plays out slowly to end and you thought it's over, until BAM! the last few verses of the song plays again until fade. Notorious for catching disc jockeys off guard when the song started back up a few seconds into whatever was coming after it.

** Same with the version of "(They Long to Be) Close to You" as heard on iTunes Radio- after they say "Close to You" one last time, the song plays out slowly to end and you thought it's over, until BAM! the last few verses of the song plays again until fade.

* SpellMyNameWithAThe: A notable aversion.

** Same with the version of "(They Long to Be) Close to You" as heard on iTunes Radio- after they say "Close to You" the song plays out slowly to end and you thought it's over, until BAM! the last verses of the song plays again until fade.

* DownerEnding: Karen's death from anorexia nervosa at 32

* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: In the song "I Believe You". The first time you hear what appears to be the final verse that slows down and stops a bit, you think it's over but then, BAM! A repeat of the bridge and the final verse again, this time once more.

They were active from 1969 to 1981, in which Karen died. During this time, they were prolific. They had numerous hits, only a few of which are commonly known to people who weren't there in TheSeventies. Hits include "Close to You," "Sing," "Yesterday Once More," "We've Only Just Begun," and "Superstar."

They were active from 1969 to 1981. They were prolific. They had numerous hits, only a few of which are commonly known to people who weren't there in TheSeventies. Hits include "Close to You," "Sing," "Yesterday Once More," "We've Only Just Begun," and "Superstar."

* AuthorExistenceFailure: Karen's well-publicized death, due to complications of anorexia, spelled the end for the duo. Richard, in addition to milking the band's accumulated material, has gone on to be a fairly well-respected composer, arranger and producer.

* SelfBackingVocalist: another major component of their fame. Most of their singles involve Richard and Karen overdubbed numerous times on backing vocals, often using chords most [[ThreeChordsAndTheTruth rock bands]] have never even heard of.

* SillyLoveSongs: The final selling point.

* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth: Karen Carpenter is often portrayed this way.

* ShaveAndAHaircut: At the end of "Piano Picker".

* AuthorExistenceFailure: Karen's well-publicized death from anorexia nervosa (and possibly also bulimia) at the age of 33 is one of the band's main fame points today.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot -- after Karen broke up with him, songwriter Tom Bahler wrote what would eventually become a MichaelJackson hit, "She's Out Of My Life."

* SillyLoveSongs: the final selling point.

* LighterAndSofter
* LoopingLyrics -- "Sing"

They were active from about 1970 to about 1980. They were prolific. They had numerous hits, only a few of which are commonly known to people who weren't there in TheSeventies. Hits include "Close to You," "Sing," "Yesterday Once More," "We've Only Just Begun," and "Superstar."

Carpenters (absolutely ''not'' "The Carpenters") was a brother-and-sister pop duo, Karen and Richard Carpenter. Karen started out as the drummer but was gradually phased off the instrument once it became clear she had a superlative singing voice; Richard wrote the material, played piano and provided backing vocals.

Carpenters (no "the") was a brother-and-sister pop duo, Karen and Richard Carpenter. Karen started out as the drummer but was gradually phased off the instrument once it became clear she had a superlative singing voice; Richard wrote the material, played piano and provided backing vocals.

The Carpenters were a brother-and-sister pop duo, Karen and Richard Carpenter. Karen started out as the drummer but was gradually phased off the instrument once it became clear she had a superlative singing voice; Richard wrote the material, played piano and provided backing vocals.