"Sing" (Single Review)

[Must Hear This Album]

I love “Sing.” It’s sincere. It’s sweet. I’m listening to it as I type this. “Sing. Sing a song. Make it simple to last your whole life long...” What’s not to love about that? But I’m guessing my fondness has more to do with my being 2 or 3 when it was ubiquitous on the radio that spring, and it is a children’s song, after all, and Vh1 used it (affectionately, I think?) on a promo a few years ago and it was from Sesame Street, and, sigh…oh, what the hell...? I just love it.

“Sing” was written as a children’s tune, after all, and it was perfectly performed and arranged and the chorus? Adorable. Try to deny that. I DARE you. In fact, I think Karen and Richard should have "leaned-in" and recorded an ENTIRE album of children’s songs, or even created their own album of original songs geared towards children, a la Carole King’s widely acclaimed, Really Rosie.

 

[Tony]

I'm very fond of "Sing". It's not in my top 10, but it's certainly amongst my favorites. I think Karen sounds great and, if I'm not mistaken, some of her lead is doubled, giving it that wonderful full sound that I love. The harmonies around 1:55-1:58 really grab me too, and as I've posted in another thread they were responsible for yet another OCD episode in which I played the same part of a song over and over again.

What's more, I think the lyrics are not as simple as they seem. To me anyway, the admonition to sing a song is a metaphor for finding your purpose in life and living it fully and with passion—sing it loud and strong; embrace it. I could be reading more into it than Raposo intended, but that's the way I've always heard it.

 

[GaryAlan]

Another reference:
Sing! The Songs of Joe Raposo
Sing! The Songs of Joe Raposo | EW.com »

".....And there are two versions of ”Sing (Sing a Song).”
The one by multiple Muppets is eerily moving, as it recalls the loss of the great Jim Henson (the voice of Ernie and Kermit). "
"Still, it’s nothing compared with the version, also here, that the late Karen Carpenter made famous."
" As a pop tune, the Carpenters’ ”Sing” was saccharine. "
"But as a kids’ song — a cheerful, singable confidence builder — it’s unsurpassed."

 

[BarryT60]

It always amazed me how Richard sneaked This Masquerade onto virtually all the hits compilations to the point where I'm sure many people listening today actually think it was a single, when the most it ever became was a B-side (in the US and UK anyway). It has that rare distinction of having become a Carpenters classic entirely in its own right, without ever having been pulled as a single.

That and A Song For You. and Possibly Let Me Be The One.

 

[BarryT60]

I really like "Sing", but that's just me. It was one of the first songs I listened to as a fan. I think it takes guts to record what's considered a "children's song"--really, Joe Raposo wrote a great song, whether it was intended for children or not. Richard treated it incredibly well.

Karen seems so happy singing with those kids, and I think the reason the song did so well is that she brings it to a level nobody else could come close to. One of my favorite lines is when the duo overdubs "Sing, sing a song" after the kids' "sing for you and for me".

That said, I prefer the album/single mix over the remix, which does nothing for me.

That line you mention, Sing Sing A Song... right after the kiddies.... that line always gave and still gives me goosebumps. I liked it alright - and loved that it got a lot of air-play... I also liked the single sleeve graphics.

I do think, however, this one killed their potential to get ever get played on what were becoming all-Rock stations... So, ultimately, would Postman, but I tried and tried to get Solitaire played on the local rock station... to no avail... :*(

 

[BarryT60]

The short list in April 1973
Charts:
1 The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia (Vicki Lawrence)
2 Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye) (Gladys Knight & The Pips)
3 Killing Me Softly With His Song (Roberta Flack)
4 Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got) (Four Tops)
5 Break Up To Make Up (The Stylistics)
6 Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree (Dawn featuring Tony Orlando)
7 Sing Carpenters
8 Danny's Song( Anne Murray
9 Also Spach Zarathursta (2001) (Deodato)
10 The Cisco Kid (War)

that was a damned good month!

 

[KJKennedy]

As I've gotten older I've grown to love most anything that the C's have done, but 'Sing' still hasn't worked it's way into my playlist. I think it would've worked perfectly into a whole children's lp, which would probably have turned out great, but as a teen back in the day listening to Bowie, Faces, solo Beatles and yes, Carpenters, songs like 'Sing' weren't helping me convince anyone in my squad that K&C were just as cool musically. 'Top of the World' didn't help either but that one has aged much better! Now if only K&C covered a Bowie tune back in day - Tony Peluso could've really wailed there!

 

[Toolman]

As I've gotten older I've grown to love most anything that the C's have done, but 'Sing' still hasn't worked it's way into my playlist. I think it would've worked perfectly into a whole children's lp, which would probably have turned out great, but as a teen back in the day listening to Bowie, Faces, solo Beatles and yes, Carpenters, songs like 'Sing' weren't helping me convince anyone in my squad that K&C were just as cool musically. 'Top of the World' didn't help either but that one has aged much better! Now if only K&C covered a Bowie tune back in day - Tony Peluso could've really wailed there!

I remember the Top 40 radio station I listened to doing a "battle of the hits" weekend once. They'd play two hits from recent years, listeners would call in to vote for their favorite, and the winner would move on to the next round. They put "Top of the World" up against "Stairway to Heaven". Talk about apples to oranges! "Top of the World" actually won, but lost in the next round...don't remember what song it went against then.

 

[JBee]

As I've gotten older I've grown to love most anything that the C's have done, but 'Sing' still hasn't worked it's way into my playlist. I think it would've worked perfectly into a whole children's lp, which would probably have turned out great, but as a teen back in the day listening to Bowie, Faces, solo Beatles and yes, Carpenters, songs like 'Sing' weren't helping me convince anyone in my squad that K&C were just as cool musically. 'Top of the World' didn't help either but that one has aged much better! Now if only K&C covered a Bowie tune back in day - Tony Peluso could've really wailed there!

A children's album would've been a great idea (and given that part of the Carpenters fanbase were whole families, something K&C were proud of, would have also made business sense). The problem is that would have made their goody four shoes image issues even worse. The only point they probably could have done such an album, with no repercussions, is in the 80s when it seemed K&C who were both in their 30s and seemed to no longer care (and they might have, maybe, if Karen had lived).

In the 70s BOTH of them were keenly aware of their image issues and that's why they would do the Rolling Stone interview or the People Magazine one where they talked about their support for legalized marijuana or their love lives. They always seemed desperate to prove they were not the squares that A&M marketing and the sneering rock/music press made them to be. A children's album in that period would have just solidified that image even further.

 

[KJKennedy]

Well, maybe you're right that the concept at the time would've been too far out of Richard's comfort zone, but had there been more longevity to their recording career I think it would've been a nice fit. Especially if it had been tied to an animated film or a charity relief UNICEF type thing, but this sounds like a topic for a new thread!

 

[Made In America]

I purchased it when I was 11 and it was my second Carpenters 45 purchase ("Superstar" being the first). What an amazing single it was. Great flip. Great picture sleeve. Hearing the intro immediately ushers in a flood of childhood memories.

I have never understood the concept of a squeaky clean image being negative. What was the alternative for a family act in pop music? Perhaps they could have scheduled an annual crime spree so they could be arrested? Richard and Karen pose nude for Playgirl & Playboy? Would that have made their music sell better and better longevity?

There are so many hindsight career specialists in this message board that it's not a wonder all of us aren't managing a music act today. Well, there is a reason we aren't and that is because none of us are experts. But from my perspective, I wouldn't have change much of anything in their amazing career. Most certainly I would never ever say they shouldn't have released a record that ended up selling a million copies. That is lunacy.

 

[A&M Retro]

that was a damned good month!

That was a great month indeed! Also the month and year I saw Carpenters 'live'. Talk about being a lucky kid.

 

[A&M Retro]

P.S. Regarding a Carpenters albums for children....that's a great thought! I think it would have done incredibly well.

I never did understand why Richard (and especially Karen) never did The Muppets Show. And to think Karen was on the set of the John Denver Muppets Christmas special and she wasn't utilized! I know she was just there to take pictures of she and Miss Piggy for her godchildren, but they STILL should have recruited her right then and there to do a song with the cast. I know it's not that simple, but she was a big fan of the show and they obviously liked Karen, too. She was a natural.

 

[JBee]

P.S. Regarding a Carpenters albums for children....that's a great thought! I think it would have done incredibly well.

I never did understand why Richard (and especially Karen) never did The Muppets Show. And to think Karen was on the set of the John Denver Muppets Christmas special and she wasn't utilized! I know she was just there to take pictures of she and Miss Piggy for her godchildren, but they STILL should have recruited her right then and there to do a song with the cast. I know it's not that simple, but she was a big fan of the show and they obviously liked Karen, too. She was a natural.

I was never quite sure why Karen never did anything without Richard (even before his taking off 1979) in terms of TV. We know she was looking into guest-starring on shows like Love Boat and Fantasy Island in '78 (per the fan club newsletters) and...nothing happened.

We also know she loved doing schtick and variety shows, and that Richard loathed it (per his own admission on both fronts). Yet Weintraub who was supposedly her manager never booked her alone for any show. The closest we have is her blink and you miss it cameo in ONJ's Hollywood Nights special in 1980 (and I'm sure that was all about doing it for Olivia rather than being booked on it). She would have been great on The Muppet Show (for once something that fit their image!) and the Carpenters music was perfect for that type of program, she even could have had a whole sub-plot with Animal and their mutual love of drumming.

 

[K.C. Jr]

The Muppets show and Karen were born for each other! I could never understand why at least she was never on it. Then again, I guess she didn't like "Rainbow Connection". I thought it was an amazing song for her. I can picture her beside Kermit and his banjo..of course, she'd have to get past Miss Piggy.

 

[newvillefan]

The closest we have is her blink and you miss it cameo in ONJ's Hollywood Nights special in 1980 (and I'm sure that was all about doing it for Olivia rather than being booked on it).

She was originally booked on that show to promote and perform a track from her solo album. By the time Olivia's special aired on April 14, 1980, the now infamous playback at A&M had long since taken place and the album's planned release had been all but cancelled. Karen officially shelved the album three weeks later on May 5, 1980.

 

[Mark-T]

I wonder what track it would've been.

 

[newvillefan]

I wonder what track it would've been.

Given the racy pace of the special I reckon she'd have chosen either My Body Keeps Changing My Mind, Lovelines or Makin' Love In The Afternoon.

 

[70sFan]

What a shame...

 

[ScottyB]

What a shame...

What a shame...indeed!

 

[Rick-An Ordinary Fool]

I don't want to side track this thread but yeah what a perfect opportunity to market her solo album by performing a solo cut on Olivia's Hollywood Nights tv special. I mean Olivia had a host of top guests, Andy Gibb, Elton John, Cliff Richard, Tina Turner some major acts in those days, talk about a platform for the audience to hear your single or cut off an album and head to the record stores the next day looking to buy that album. That's how it worked back then and I'm most certain Karen had intended to perform a cut from her new album yet was limited to only guesting as a special guest on Heartache Tonight. Olivia had so many guests it was a jammed packed hour.