Akiko Kobayashi & R. Carpenter: How Could I Ask for More

I remember when I heard this song in the radio for the first time, I really thought it was Karen... but wasn't. The voice belong to a a female Japanese singer/songwriter named Akiko Kobayashi. She sounds eerily like Karen (very similar, in fact)
In 1989 Richard Carpenter produced her album, City of Angels. And This is a typical Carpenter/Bettis tone.

If you want to hear more of this album songs... just ask.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• akiko
• kobayashi
• richard
• carpenter
• carpenters
• how
• could
• ask
• for
• more
• city
• of
• angels

[shaunie57]

Where can I get hold of Akiko's cd " A song for you" A tribute to the Carpenters?

I've tried everywhere but told it's now out of print.

I really want to hear this cd so much.

Please help :)

[ssoko]

I saw it in Japanese web site.But the Cd is out of print. :-(

[bobosemlimit]

that´s very funny...

When she sings "Koi ni ochite fall in love"her voice is very different....

Are they the same singer?

But, by the way, both songs are very beautiful!!!

[ssoko]

Probably was Richard's influence that made her sing that way... :-)

[Jenot59]

I have to correct my sorry, The album most be Great for her. Akiko Kobayashi is a great Singer and I wish her all the luck and succes she deserves. It is not in my place to say it should not have been done.

It is just I hear Music exactly like in " Voice of the Heart" and "Time". Also it is a shock when one says Karen is sounding just like Akiko!

Richard Carpenter is the best and I apologize.

Good Luck and Peace to you Both.

Still there is only one Karen A Carpenter, may she rest in peace.

[trashysinatra]

What a wonderful song. Welcome to all who discover Akiko Kobayashi`s beautiful voice through this link.

You may also wish to check out Fall In Love. A wonderful song written and performed by her when she was just a wean*!

(*scottish for young person)

as brian would say - love and mercy to all

[tonyf734atl]

I must say that this album was a great one...and thanks to Richard Carpenter we have been introduced to this wonder singer/preformer ... over the years I have come to find more of her music and really love it ... and realize that alot of the tunes that she has done would've also been perfect for Karen Carpenter as well...

Great job Akiko!!! and thanks Richard ... i truely miss Karen!!!

[johnson1095]

Well at leat she's better then Yoko Ono. LOL!

[justinjameswest]

How did he find her. nobody is Karen. But a pretty sound to her voice. Nice. I seem to not know what Richard has been doing. This is Pretty. I hope he is doing Carpenters anything everything new again.

[vmuto1]

To add Akiko is the closes to Karen as I've heared & I've heard many- this my friend is a Compliment!

[vmuto1]

No one can compare to Karen Carpenter- Yes this is good, but Karen could sing higher & certainly lower register notes. I think people alot of people don't realize how great Karen was. In my opinion the best female vocalist of all time. For Richard all this must be bitter sweet. He had the Best in Karen. Karen was the most Angelic & beautiful person that I have ever seen. People in Japan are still so much into the Carpenter now in 2010 wish it was the same here in USA. CARPENTERS RULE!

[cd72]

That is why I love this album. I know it's not Karen, but it gives me a pleasant feeling to listen to it...and how Karenesque it is. Of the songs are in the style Karen would have sung them. And Karen has passed, so it's natural Richard would do something in the same vein they were used to doing...makes us miss Karen more...

[Jenot59]

It is the styly and the arrangements of Richard and the voices together which resemble the sound,for Richard he was THE Carpenters musical sound. so the arrangements for the Voice of Akiko make her voice sound like Karen ofcourse! It sounds great I agree, and I am most of all happy that Richard is still arranging, composing and producing this wonderful music!

[mrshinyshoes]

I agree with you Jenot59. There are shades of Karen Carpenter in Akiko's voice, especially when she begins singing a line, on the accented parts, but Karen's voice was just a tad more smooth and clear, and rich. Karen also sang the high notes with more clarity too.

[MsHurryCane]

All these songs are beautiful and I think Richard should make this beautiful music. This is the Japanese tribute to a beautiful music. Karen is gone but this is a tribute to the kind of music she made. No one sounds just like her. But this lady has the same deep quality and it is a joy to hear her sing. This kind of passion only keeps Karen and Richard's music alive and vibrant and is a tribute to her. You know she is with him in his heart with anything he does. What a loving brother.

[THEmotownboy]

I have played this album countless times over the years and I still don't get tired of it. What I also found really chilling were the backing vocals on "Only The Angels Know" and "Suddenly Love" and how much Richard & Akiko sounded like Richard & Karen....