Angie's Blog

The Carpenters is the most classic duo in my mind.

Although they became popular in 1970s and early 80s, that is, before my birth, nowadays we are still familiar with some of their songs.

Indeed, they are  lagend.

Introduction About The Carpenters:

The Carpenters were American duo that consisted of Richard Carpenter and Karen Carpenter, a sibling.

during the period of 1970s, the mainstream of music is about the loud and wild Rock, 

But they produce soft music style, making a lot of difference between the prevailing market, so they opened up a trend in that time.

Carpenters started in 1965, and the original style was "Jazz"; Karen was the drummer. But they didn't sucess in that time.

They've tried a lot of different combinations, but it was when they were solo ( Richard as the keyboard and Karen the drummer, they were both vocals.) and covered a song of Beatles---- "Ticket to Ride" that they began to taste the success feeling. 

and in 1969, they became famous because of their song "Close to You".

In February, 4, 1983, Karen passed away from Anorexia Nervosa (神經性厭食症) , their career ended.

And now i want to introduce some classic songs of Carpenters to you, hope you enjoy them!

1. Yesterday Once More

It is said to be one of classic songs of last century. and it's also the movie's interlude--Mr. Holland's Opus 

the song told about the old yearning memory, when she was young she always listened to the radio and waited the song she loved.

everytime when i heard of this song, i would  also think of the old time, those wonderful memories would come again.

for the song, I felt that we should seize the day more to cherish all things.

2. I Won't Last A Day Without You

the lyric's simple but classic because it used the easy words to express far-reaching implications.

and the part i like most is about the refrain part:

When there's no getting over that I rainbow

When my smallest of dreams won't come true

I can take all the madness the world has to give

But I won't last a day without you

i was so touched by the song when i listened to it first time, the warm voice sing it slowly : 

i can face all the misery, burden all the responsibility. 

however, i cannot put up with the time without you.

the scene is soooooo touching. 

Also, lots of singers had covered this song, like Jolin Tsai, Utada Hikari, together with Sheena Ringo.

3. Close To You

it's my favorite song of Capenters!!!!!

Gary Chao had also covered it to Jazz edition, but i still feel that the original edition is the best.

unlike singing, she sang so beautifully just as she were talking softly near you.

the simple love song told that the birds appear, the stars fall down, all because they wanted to approach you like me.

how lovely!!!! 

4. Rainy Days and Mondays

the elements, rainy days and Mondays, usually connect with the word---blue

yes, this song express the kind of feeling. whether there's a place we belonged to?

everytime i heard of it, i would just associate an idea: whether the song was represent the Karen's inner feeling?

we all knew that she died from Anorxia Nervosa, and she suffered a lot by depression.

from this song, i think i could nearly touch her feeling....

Special Uses And Vocabularies:

1.melt the years away: in here, it's like the time wasn't not that long ago.

2.yesterday once more: the old times, old memories appear again.

3.look back (on sth): to think of the old things

4.years (that has) gone by : those years that had already passed   (from Yesterday Once More)

5. turn to (someone) : ask someone to help (It's nice to know that there's someone I can turn to)

6.getting over:to endure and overcome sth.

7.i won't last a day without you: i won't live if you aren't with me anymore

The Carpenters are the best duo in the world to me.

Though they had disband for a long time, they are lagend to us, and i think their songs will last forever.