I was in the grocery store about 5 years ago and "Close to You" came on the muzac and I busted out laughing and people were staring. Was I the only one to get the irony of that situation?
I was in the grocery store about 5 years ago and "Close to You" came on the muzac and I busted out laughing and people were staring. Was I the only one to get the irony of that situation?
I work in Downey where the Carpenter family lived. I know where the house is that she died in, and I know where the apartment houses are that were onced owned by her brother. I also drive by the hospital she died at, which is on Patton just south of Firestone. It freaks me out because everywhere you look is something to do with the Carpenters. I think her ghost wanders the streets of Downey.
It was alluded to but never specifically talked about and certainly not publicized that Karen's core issue was the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her BROTHER. Eeeew, I would want to die too.
Yes, at the time of her death, she was getting better. It was the constant starvation over time that had weakend her heart. Heart is muscle and when there's no fat to get energy from, the body starts eating away at the muscles. She was living with her parents at the time of her death.
Any day above ground is a good day.
I grew to love the Carpenters from listening to the Christmas album my mom played non-stop. My favorite song was Close to You though. I had to learn it in piano lessons and used to love to play it. I too think she wasn't serious about her disorder.
Se *did* get a very nice compliment once.
"Great voice, love."
The compliment came from John Lennon.
I read a book writen by Stevn Levenkron (or something like that). He was the eating disorder therapist who treated her in New York. He said she abused thyroid pills to speed up her metabolism. If I remember correctly, he said this was the first time he had ever heard of this and that is was extremely hard on the heart. She would be sweating profusely and her heart would be pounding.
Very sad....
For whatever reason, I never thought Karen Carpenter was the least bit attractive. I never knew about her anorexia, until she died, and became the face of the disease,
I think Richard was/is a COMPLETE dick!
I thought Richard was sexually abusing her as well, just by the vibe.
But, another thread from years ago-- Death Hag Mail List?? -- mentioned that Karen was bisexual and had issues.
You all have to watch this movie Todd Haynes made with Barbie dolls about Karen Carpenter called Superstar. It is unbelievably creepy in an awesomely effective way, and of course was never released due to objections from the Carpenter family and Mattel.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...30510713940545
Well that's 43 minutes and 19 seconds of my life I'll never get back. What amateurish drivel trying to rise to relevance... pure mierda without the cherry on top.
Incest - a game the whole family can play!!!!!
I think they started out really young as a professional team which bonded them closer than normal. I guess no one really understands fame and stardom less you live it. That is probably why they were so close. I really don't think any incest was going on...just a closeness.
Funny about the Carpenters .... The Offering album depicted karen and Richard holding flowers and the album opened into a gatefold that showed the two standing in a cemetary with blank looks on their faces holding flowers. The left wing christians said that The Carpenters album had satanic vibes depicted on the Offering album cover and gatefold . Bowing to these people the album title was therefore changed to Ticket to Ride but the song tracks are the same. The Original Offering album ( if you can find it ) sells for over 500 dollars sometimes on ebay. True Story !
I have every single album the Carpenters made plus the one Karen did by herself. That solo album isn't bad at all, but the powers that be, made Karen feel bad about it. It was never released until YEARS after her death.
Karen's death truly was a tragic loss for the music world...she is missed....
"Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's Heaven on Earth" - Mark Twain
You know, her brother didn't like it either and he made that point known then and even (fairly) recently in an interview. That really pissed me off. With all her struggles and, hey-o, she died, he was still so uppity about her solo work. Cripes, just give her a break for once.
Whenever I have seen Richard Carpenter in an interview, he seems to be majorly egotistical to me. That part of his personality may really have affected Karen. I think Richard was down right offended that Karen would make an album--solo--and try to have a go at it without him!
Thanks for that link, Jenny! I/we just watched it....her story has always been heartbreaking. So sad that Richard wouldn't cooperate with the producer....even for a very good cause. I guess that in his world, it is more important to have his image & his folks & sister at the "best" cemetery.....I hope he won't have to relocate the entire family again.
I'm going to have to watch this at home so I can actually hear/see it. At the end was that headline Overdose of ipecac caused singer's death? I thought she was recovering when she died?
I always loved her voice..just smooth as silk..and I never liked Richard..always thought he was a selfish controlling jerk! Maybe he can't stand seeing the way he's portrayed on film because it makes him take a look at himself in the mirror! and for him to have moved her! that was the epitome of selfish!
Just watched "The Karen Carpenter Story" on TV this afternoon, and as always, bawled like a baby....Such a bloody shame...she had the most wonderful voice....perfect!
It'll be 25 years on Monday since she died...Hope she's at peace.
You are missed, Karen!
Ali xxx
Goog grief....that video was a piece of shit - had to turn it off !!!
Guest
Wow, just watched the movie...had heard about it for years. Weirdly compelling. But boy, you can see why the family was upset. Now I can't help imagining "The Britney Spears Story" or "The Heath Ledger Story" (ducking) told that way.
Last edited by Noelle Page; 02-02-2008 at 03:23 PM.
Amy Winehouse--Beehive Bitch
Julia Roberts--Pretty Bitch
Diana Ross--Supreme Bitch
Last edited by Noelle Page; 02-02-2008 at 05:00 PM.
Oprah Winfrey - Larger-than-life Bitch
Karen Carpenter died of an electrolyte imbalance. We are electro-chemical machines, and need a certain amount of electrical impulses to signal the heart to beat. This action can be tested by an electrocardiogram. Anorexio-Nervosa combined with Bulimia and messing with 'water pills' would be so hard on her. She had a gorgeous voice, even when singing some of her brother's silly material. She did put a face on Anorexia Nervosa, which is an indideous disease... I got anorexia, withNO binging and purging, just a loss of appetite and disinterest in food, and total anxiety at the supermarket.., after the death of my best friend. I've since recovered, but sill really miss my friend.
Sounds right. I just meant there's often one incident or comment that sets it off--maybe the "chubby" review.
Jeez, and we didn't even have internet back then. Think of what Britney Spears and all the others can read about themselves on a daily basis. Frightening.
Ooo! I just realized the director of the KC Story, Todd Haynes, went on to make Velvet Goldmine and, just last year, "I'm Not There"--the Bob Dylan thing with Cate, Heath and others playing Bobby. Cant wait to see that last one. Wow, he certainly has an interesting take on real-life events.
Karen Carpenter had a nice voice but I thought she overdid the vibrato in many of her songs.....ha-a-a-ave u-u-uh ni-i-i-i-ce da-a-a-ay...