Today, ladies and gentlemen, I climbed my Everest, I harpooned my big white whale, I Avada Kadavra-ed my Voldemort! I passed a class that I was so sure was going to be the death of me. To wind down from all the exam stress I’ve been watching Harry Potter, but it’s time to really celebrate and everybody knows nobody brings the house down like The Carpenters. Harry Potter and The Carpenters … man, do I walk on the wild side. Booyeah!
I used to be a little bit embarrassed about my deep deep love for some of The Carpenters’ hits because their songs are on the cheesy side, but their version of “Superstar” especially is almost impossible not to love. It was originally a soul song by Delaney, Bonnie & Friends (featuring Eric Clapton) who called it “Groupie (Superstar)”. The original is actually really wonderful too, but I first heard and fell in love with it performed by The Carpenters. As usual, Karen’s voice is so sweet, deep and crisp, but I always get the feeling she’s straining to keep her emotions under the surface, which is heightened by the knowledge of the tragic way her life ended. The song is about a groupie who has to love her idol from afar, now that he’s moved on to bigger, better things, but not before he whispered sweet nothings into her gullible, vulnerable little ear. The lyrics express such excrutiating loneliness and longing, I can’t help but get swept away by the agony of it all. It’s pure lyrical beauty and I don’t care who knows it.
The Carpenters - Superstar
And here’s an amazing feedbacky version by Sonic Youth:
Sonic Youth - Superstar
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January 15, 2008 at 2:16 pm
sittingpugs
I love the Carpenters. When I was an elementary school kid (through the 80s), the records and cassette tapes in my house were the Carpenters, Michael Jackson the soundtrack of “Top Gun,” Janet Jackson’s “Nasty Boys” single, and the Eagles.
I liked the Carpenters the most. Karen’s voice was so different…and still is–have you happened across anyone else who sounds like her naturally?
January 15, 2008 at 6:28 pm
lisamm
I bought the tribute album “If I Were a Carpenter” a number of years ago that has the SOnic Youth version on it. The tribute is really uneven and I actually wouldn’t recommend it. Sonic Youth’s Superstar is the highlight.
Karen Carpenter was a huge, underrated talent. I’ve never heard another voice like hers. I didn’t love their style so much, but her haunting voice gives me goosebumps. Each December when I hear “Merry Christmas, Darling” I get tears in my eyes.
January 20, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Gitfidl_pickr
Cheesy?? You have me confused. What was “cheesy” about the Carpenters? How do you define the term “cheesy?” I don’t think they were cheap or that their appeal was limited (to a small clique) since they had some big hits. So I do not get how you are using the term “cheesy” Can you pleas explain?
January 21, 2008 at 12:13 pm
tamboosh
Why yes, I surely will define cheesy for ya! I meant cheesy as in corny, sickly sweet, drippy, and even a bit gooey at times. Which is also a large part of why they appeal to me, the naïveté and rose-colored view of the world their lyrics seem to portray is perfect escapism for cynical Generation Y-ers like myself. Like this famous Carptenters line: “So they sprinkled moondust in your hair Of gold and starlight in your eyes of blue.” Who else can sing that with a straight face nowadays?? They are a bit corny, but we need a bit of that now that a lot of serious artists are trying so hard to keep it real. What’s so fun about reality? I’ll take moondust and starlight over reality anytime.