she one of the few people who had drums plus lead which is one of the rarest type of artist beat alot of other bands too bad they whern't there for long
she always seems so happy on the drums-it seems a shame that the industry at the time wouldn't accept having an attractive female who didnt want to be in the spotlight
@bigpmc It's not just her. There are old videos of Amy Winehouse playing guitar really well, like, jazz chords and such. But once she became really big, I guarantee she was forced to be in front of a mic sans the guitar. Sad how women are treated in this industry.
WOW Karen Carpenter really jams on the drums! I never knew she was a drummer and played so wildly because I ignored their music when I was younger due to an absurd macho mentality! But Richard Carpenter is really an awesome pianist and he really kicks ass too! I'm glad I went back and listened to them. It would be a pitty for me to not have gone back to loving them in this life!
wow,look at the happiness on her face at all times,god i wish i had just a little of that in my life for even a little amount of time.You float around on YouTube and it's nice when you find an uplifting gem like this.
carl palmer, buddy rich, bill bruford, step aside....lol....this chick can drum....she is really good and yes she looks absolutely giddy drumming and obviously is her first love.....
Mr. Guder was the instrumental music teacher at my high school in the mid-1960's, but he left to become the music director at Disneyland.
He fired the Carpenters from their Tomorrowland gig before they were famous, saying that they didn't have any sort of audience appeal. "Mr. Guder" was recorded after the Carpenters had become superstars, just to "rub his nose in it" a bit.
@EdWatts Here's what Richard Carpenter himself had to say: "John Bettis and I composed this “anti-establishment” song in late 1967, following our brief stint at Disneyland. We had been hired as the piano/banjo act at Coke Corner on Main Street, USA and, as such, were required to perform American songs written around the early 1900s. A problem had started when we honored some patrons’ requests to play contemporary songs, such as “Somewhere My Love,” “Yesterday,” “Light My Fire,” et al."
@arfies cont.: "Vic Guder, our talent supervisor, was understandably disgruntled about this. John and I were young and full of ourselves, and during the ensuing weeks, continued to do as we pleased. This ultimately led to our dismissal. John and I took great umbrage at this, and wrote this song. Looking back, I feel we should have been thankful to have had the job…and adhered to policy."
that voice AND drum skills! she looks so pleased while playing . such a contrast to the inner turmoil she must have felt in regards to her self image...
Why could they not have left KAREN playing the drums & singing? Karen was so much more energized and looked so much happier when she was playing drums - she was BRILLIANT ON DRUMS - a MAJOR TALENT.
Thank you Karen for the gift of your music, which I have always enjoyed & will forever.
An amazing drummer and one of the most beautiful voices in pop music history. I grew up with The Carpenters and their music still brings up feelings and memories whenever I hear it. I still think of it as such a sad and tragic loss to the music industry as well as her family, friends and fans. RIP Karen Carpenter.
thank you SOOOO much for taking the time to compile these clips.....my god, so easy to forgot how damn talented Karen was.....at anything she put her mind to. And like the other comments have said, she looks like she's having the time of her life behind those drums....truly she would've been happiest just staying behind the kit. Reminds me of Nat King Cole....who was a brilliant piano player, but that's been forgotten too, in the wake of his voice.
W O W !!! As great a voice as she had, I never realized she was a drummer. I echo fourneirda's sentiment, she seemed happier behind the drums. A true talent that will be hard to match indeed.
@konked That would've indeed been awesome, but Joe Osborne played bass on most of the Carpenters' recordings. Karen herself even played electric bass on "All of My Life" and "Eve."
@konked CAN YOU IMAGINE JUST A SANDWICH A DAY COULD HAVE SAVED HER....THEN SHE WOULD BE HERE DRUMMING AWAY........WHAT A WASTE!!! SHE IS AS SKINNY AS HER DRUMSTICKS - SHOULD HAVE EATEN SOMETHING THEN YOU COULD HAVE ROCKED ON LONGER.
@MrD7183 Sad indeed. Richard Carpenter stated in an interview that no-one really knew what was going on except they obviously realised her deteriorating health.
She looked very happy when she was playing. What a great talent she was. I remember listening to her as a little girl. I will always remember her as one of THE best voices ever. She had more talent in her little finger than most recording artists today.
@madchops82 I've been a Buddy Rich fan for 20+ years, and I just clicked on this from a BR video and you are absolutely right about that......I honestly don't think even Buddy could question her talent (and he loved to judge drummers!)
@retrop75 The story goes that Cubby O'Brien took Karen to meet Buddy Rich backstage, where Buddy said, "Karen Carpenter? You're one of my favorite drummers!" (and he wasn't known to give compliments!) She was floored, and asked Cubby, "Is he putting me on?" (Sadly, her low self-esteem made her not think much of her voice in the beginning or appearance either). As a teenager, Karen hung up posters in her bedroom of famous drummers, and her goal was to be as good as they were.
Karen was very insecure about her physical appearance, like many women, which was why she resisted getting out from the behind the drums. They were her security blanket on stage because you really couldn't see much of her body when she was seated. Forcing her to be on display all the time is probably what ended up killing her because she then worried so much about her appearance she went on crash diets and did other unhealthy things to keep looking slim.
@gamewizard Not only that, but taking her off the drums crushed her, since (as anyone can see) playing them (and she was an excellent drummer) made her really, really happy- and I think she needed all the happiness she could get.
@gamewizard If your interested I would pick up a copy of "Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter". It really does shine a lot of light on the situation regarding her anorexia. It was a lot more psychological and complex then just being taken away from the drums. Although it's quite obvious that played a very big role in the whole ordeal. God why would you take somebody away from something that makes them shine so much. In my honest opinion Karen shined the most while behind a drum set.
To me it has always been clear, that Karen was more happy and sparkling when she (also) played the drums. It is so obvious that she was bursting with joy and power and musicality when she was behind the drums.
@marcbbaby In the early years, it was just Karen. However, a few reviewers (not all) complained that there wasn't a focal point for the group and that Karen should get up from behind the drums, even though she loved them. She resisted that for a long time, but a deal was eventually reached where they'd hire a second drummer for when Karen sang ballads up front, then for the fast songs she'd drum again. At this point, they just left the second drummer where he was instead of taking him off.
The Budokan concert with Cubby O'Brien backing on drums was 1974. For the 1972 Australia concert, it was just her drumming (the 2nd drummer for that, Jim Anthony Squeglia, would move to bongos, tambourine, or whatever when Karen was drumming).
that was her favourite thing. it was her biggest hobby. It was her life, she loved it the most, you can see it on her face. this happines... I can't stand the fact she died.
@maleficentdiva Yeah she kind of blamed the others for putting her in the role.....but there is also the fact she could ve stand up more for herself.....which she didnt.....whatever the reasons.
damn that girl can play drums! RIP Karen
MotownMaster 22 hours ago
she one of the few people who had drums plus lead which is one of the rarest type of artist beat alot of other bands too bad they whern't there for long
1959krish 5 days ago
Unfortunately when she past away she weighted as much as those sticks
cast390 1 week ago
@cast390 Tacky. But I expect that from someone with poor spelling.
DevoBassGirl 5 days ago
No puedo creer de lo capaz que era Karen. Me deja muy impactado. Ella vivira para siempre en nuestros corazones.
michito46 1 week ago
For anyone who is interested, that's former Mousketeer Cubby O'Brien playing percussion at 1:13.
dharmaseed 2 weeks ago
she always seems so happy on the drums-it seems a shame that the industry at the time wouldn't accept having an attractive female who didnt want to be in the spotlight
bigpmc 2 weeks ago
@bigpmc It's not just her. There are old videos of Amy Winehouse playing guitar really well, like, jazz chords and such. But once she became really big, I guarantee she was forced to be in front of a mic sans the guitar. Sad how women are treated in this industry.
DevoBassGirl 5 days ago
@DevoBassGirl Not just women--Nat King Cole was one of the best jazz pianists in the country before the industry discovered his voice.
cwhig 2 days ago
This has been flagged as spam show
7:30 the drummer at the back is sweating buckets were Karen looks like she is playing with ease!
eeby7 2 weeks ago
7:30 the drummer at the back is sweating buckets were Karen looks like she is playing with ease!
eeby7 2 weeks ago
WOW Karen Carpenter really jams on the drums! I never knew she was a drummer and played so wildly because I ignored their music when I was younger due to an absurd macho mentality! But Richard Carpenter is really an awesome pianist and he really kicks ass too! I'm glad I went back and listened to them. It would be a pitty for me to not have gone back to loving them in this life!
ronaoch3 3 weeks ago
Really, she and her brother were/are geniuses.
patrioticfromdayone 3 weeks ago
AWESOME!!
VideosbyElle 1 month ago
wow,look at the happiness on her face at all times,god i wish i had just a little of that in my life for even a little amount of time.You float around on YouTube and it's nice when you find an uplifting gem like this.
troganhourse 1 month ago
carl palmer, buddy rich, bill bruford, step aside....lol....this chick can drum....she is really good and yes she looks absolutely giddy drumming and obviously is her first love.....
cjrvision 1 month ago
Damn it, if they'd let her stay behind the drums, she'd still be alive today.
dharmaseed 1 month ago
WHAT A FREAKING BADASS DRUMMER
tortison 1 month ago
AMAZING.
MrManguera9 1 month ago
I sure loved her......missed....
samscott54 1 month ago
She was so GREAT GREAT GREAT!!! Richard too! I long to see talent of this caliber in the public mainstream again....
mootbooxle 1 month ago
these are true musicians. not only can they sing but they can make music. today's musicians are a joke!
mamadoenut 1 month ago
She was really amazing.
just think... if she married Neil Peart of Rush, then their kid would have been a super human drummer lol :D
God bless her soul.
USAMehdi 1 month ago
OMG Amazing
mrdis58 1 month ago
she looks so happy on drums
mothergrace1 1 month ago
She makes me belive in God. That's all I have to say.
fortsmithow 1 month ago
she looks so happy
mothergrace1 1 month ago
Mr. Guder was the instrumental music teacher at my high school in the mid-1960's, but he left to become the music director at Disneyland.
He fired the Carpenters from their Tomorrowland gig before they were famous, saying that they didn't have any sort of audience appeal. "Mr. Guder" was recorded after the Carpenters had become superstars, just to "rub his nose in it" a bit.
EdWatts 1 month ago
@EdWatts Here's what Richard Carpenter himself had to say: "John Bettis and I composed this “anti-establishment” song in late 1967, following our brief stint at Disneyland. We had been hired as the piano/banjo act at Coke Corner on Main Street, USA and, as such, were required to perform American songs written around the early 1900s. A problem had started when we honored some patrons’ requests to play contemporary songs, such as “Somewhere My Love,” “Yesterday,” “Light My Fire,” et al."
arfies 1 month ago
@arfies cont.: "Vic Guder, our talent supervisor, was understandably disgruntled about this. John and I were young and full of ourselves, and during the ensuing weeks, continued to do as we pleased. This ultimately led to our dismissal. John and I took great umbrage at this, and wrote this song. Looking back, I feel we should have been thankful to have had the job…and adhered to policy."
arfies 1 month ago
that's really cool ! never seen that before ! she seems so happy playing the drums . thanks for the vid.
heidbrain 1 month ago
that voice AND drum skills! she looks so pleased while playing . such a contrast to the inner turmoil she must have felt in regards to her self image...
rastapickney76 2 months ago
She is so awesome!
RaguelAngelofBalance 2 months ago
Why could they not have left KAREN playing the drums & singing? Karen was so much more energized and looked so much happier when she was playing drums - she was BRILLIANT ON DRUMS - a MAJOR TALENT.
Thank you Karen for the gift of your music, which I have always enjoyed & will forever.
musicartism 2 months ago 3
7:35 So this is where Godsmack got the idea for their dueling drum solo.
tackyshacky 2 months ago
she sure could shred those drums!
crazycatlady68 2 months ago
The color must be off on the You're All American College show because all other footage I have seen of that appearance she is wearing a white coat.
JENDALL714 2 months ago
@JENDALL714 It was actually a different appearance. They were on the show several times.
arfies 2 months ago
Are you sheetint me? Damn
TearzGypsy 2 months ago
An amazing drummer and one of the most beautiful voices in pop music history. I grew up with The Carpenters and their music still brings up feelings and memories whenever I hear it. I still think of it as such a sad and tragic loss to the music industry as well as her family, friends and fans. RIP Karen Carpenter.
kdm71291 2 months ago
thank you SOOOO much for taking the time to compile these clips.....my god, so easy to forgot how damn talented Karen was.....at anything she put her mind to. And like the other comments have said, she looks like she's having the time of her life behind those drums....truly she would've been happiest just staying behind the kit. Reminds me of Nat King Cole....who was a brilliant piano player, but that's been forgotten too, in the wake of his voice.
geoffkaiser 2 months ago
love to see her so happy....
TheKafa84 3 months ago
lol Karen Carpenter and kick-ass in the same sentence...
Critdizzle 3 months ago 2
@Critdizzle Isn't it awesome?!
arfies 3 months ago 4
@arfies Yeah, it's pretty cool.
Critdizzle 3 months ago
W O W !!! As great a voice as she had, I never realized she was a drummer. I echo fourneirda's sentiment, she seemed happier behind the drums. A true talent that will be hard to match indeed.
TivrocSaig 3 months ago
My ass got kicked, but the biggest kick is @ 7:47.... Superb!!!! i luv it..
m1bug 3 months ago
A little Gershwin thrown in as well!
pookatim 3 months ago
Wow, she sure did look a lot happier playing drums than singing, didn't she?
fournierda 3 months ago 2
She was definitely a kick ass drummer!
Bye2Love 3 months ago 2
you can tell she really did enjoy playing those drums,what a lady,what a voice,what a talent,sadly missed.
liljon71 3 months ago 2
I forgot how good she was... TY for the post
MdNgtRyder 3 months ago 8
I LOVE KAREN!!!!!!
greeneups 3 months ago
I'm a drummer. Drumming talent is a gift from God. And I'm agnostic.
gageguy 3 months ago
Wonder if she and Carol Kaye ever played together in studio ?
konked 3 months ago
@konked That would've indeed been awesome, but Joe Osborne played bass on most of the Carpenters' recordings. Karen herself even played electric bass on "All of My Life" and "Eve."
arfies 3 months ago
@konked CAN YOU IMAGINE JUST A SANDWICH A DAY COULD HAVE SAVED HER....THEN SHE WOULD BE HERE DRUMMING AWAY........WHAT A WASTE!!! SHE IS AS SKINNY AS HER DRUMSTICKS - SHOULD HAVE EATEN SOMETHING THEN YOU COULD HAVE ROCKED ON LONGER.
MrD7183 3 months ago
@MrD7183 Sad indeed. Richard Carpenter stated in an interview that no-one really knew what was going on except they obviously realised her deteriorating health.
konked 3 months ago
I thought Caroline Corr is the best kickass woman drummer, until i saw this. Karen Carpenter kick it harder!!!
martxmhr 3 months ago 3
If there's a rock and roll heaven... she's jamming with Buddy and Gene....
caretaker245231 3 months ago
Such a phenomenal talent. <3 always for Karen.
nicm11 4 months ago
She looked very happy when she was playing. What a great talent she was. I remember listening to her as a little girl. I will always remember her as one of THE best voices ever. She had more talent in her little finger than most recording artists today.
debonbike 4 months ago
Comment removed
debonbike 4 months ago
6:10 LOL@ guy in headphones grooving along...
arfies 4 months ago
I can't stop watching this. It's mesmerizing! Karen, you are missed by people who weren't even born yet when you died.
50KC83 4 months ago
Never seen anything like it..even if she is assisted on some tunes, and she's better than Ringo!!!!LeoJPaul
jothekid 5 months ago
@jothekid As you can see, she really didn't need the "assistance!"
arfies 5 months ago
she is amazing!!!!!
Beckymaylately 5 months ago
oh my gosh! i absolutely love karen~ the carpenters!! she's on my top female vocalist!! i just love their sound! so unforgettable. no one like them.
MistyBlue1432 5 months ago
She sounds almost exactly like Buddy Rich in the beginning.
madchops82 5 months ago
@madchops82 I've been a Buddy Rich fan for 20+ years, and I just clicked on this from a BR video and you are absolutely right about that......I honestly don't think even Buddy could question her talent (and he loved to judge drummers!)
retrop75 4 months ago 2
@retrop75 The story goes that Cubby O'Brien took Karen to meet Buddy Rich backstage, where Buddy said, "Karen Carpenter? You're one of my favorite drummers!" (and he wasn't known to give compliments!) She was floored, and asked Cubby, "Is he putting me on?" (Sadly, her low self-esteem made her not think much of her voice in the beginning or appearance either). As a teenager, Karen hung up posters in her bedroom of famous drummers, and her goal was to be as good as they were.
arfies 3 months ago
@retrop75 i didnt know she was so hrdcore
parachuteboi 3 months ago 12
@FreedomFlowerField You're very welcome! :)
arfies 6 months ago
even justin bieber can't do this..ahahaha..what a drummer
07garet 6 months ago
@07garet justin bieber can't sing.
nljuggalo 2 months ago
@nljuggalo yeah i know! even worst....lol
07garet 2 months ago
that's see if lady gaga can best this great talented lady .. the seventies where all the great power rock & pop came from .
petebest22 6 months ago
Karen was very insecure about her physical appearance, like many women, which was why she resisted getting out from the behind the drums. They were her security blanket on stage because you really couldn't see much of her body when she was seated. Forcing her to be on display all the time is probably what ended up killing her because she then worried so much about her appearance she went on crash diets and did other unhealthy things to keep looking slim.
gamewizard 7 months ago
@gamewizard Not only that, but taking her off the drums crushed her, since (as anyone can see) playing them (and she was an excellent drummer) made her really, really happy- and I think she needed all the happiness she could get.
arfies 6 months ago
@gamewizard If your interested I would pick up a copy of "Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter". It really does shine a lot of light on the situation regarding her anorexia. It was a lot more psychological and complex then just being taken away from the drums. Although it's quite obvious that played a very big role in the whole ordeal. God why would you take somebody away from something that makes them shine so much. In my honest opinion Karen shined the most while behind a drum set.
chrsgv 3 months ago
To me it has always been clear, that Karen was more happy and sparkling when she (also) played the drums. It is so obvious that she was bursting with joy and power and musicality when she was behind the drums.
Retrographer 7 months ago
Amazing. Thank you for the video post.
toogie555 9 months ago
She was amazing, I never know she could play the drums so well. I wonder why she always had a 2nd drummer?
marcbbaby 9 months ago
@marcbbaby In the early years, it was just Karen. However, a few reviewers (not all) complained that there wasn't a focal point for the group and that Karen should get up from behind the drums, even though she loved them. She resisted that for a long time, but a deal was eventually reached where they'd hire a second drummer for when Karen sang ballads up front, then for the fast songs she'd drum again. At this point, they just left the second drummer where he was instead of taking him off.
arfies 9 months ago
The Budokan concert with Cubby O'Brien backing on drums was 1974. For the 1972 Australia concert, it was just her drumming (the 2nd drummer for that, Jim Anthony Squeglia, would move to bongos, tambourine, or whatever when Karen was drumming).
arfies 9 months ago
is that CUBBY [THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB] behind karen on the drums?
MegaEvalee 10 months ago
@MegaEvalee Yes it is. I'm actually kind of amused that he's sweating to keep up with Karen!
arfies 10 months ago 2
that was her favourite thing. it was her biggest hobby. It was her life, she loved it the most, you can see it on her face. this happines... I can't stand the fact she died.
Googaify 10 months ago
I love in the description hauntingly beautiful voice wow so true!!!!
vishal8492 11 months ago
I love the part at the end when she says "Isn't that fun?" LOL! she was amazing, MY FAVORITE singer nobody will ever replace her! LOVE YOU KAREN! :)
maleficentdiva 1 year ago 3
@maleficentdiva Yeah she kind of blamed the others for putting her in the role.....but there is also the fact she could ve stand up more for herself.....which she didnt.....whatever the reasons.
titan57nl 10 months ago
What a loss!
sratliff63 1 year ago