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Having said that, Karen’s performance is still fairly wonderful. It’s still right up there, close to that ‘Superstar’ and ‘Rainy Days and Mondays’ class.In my opinion, Richard’s arrangement is more noteworthy than Karen’s lead vocal, (she doesn’t quite nail the lowest notes, either), although she does brilliantly in some sections.
I first heard Carpenters’ version on the radio in about 1975, so it did get a little airplay, despite not being a single.
By the way, I am not one of the one in twenty-five Australians who own a copy of Michael Buble’s Christmas album, (one million copies sold in a country of 25 million). I don’t even have a recollection of what he sounds like, although I’ve seen him on TV a few times.
The Gray Lady even inserted this complaint in her obituary from 1996:He reminds me of Ella Fitzgerald in a weird way, who also had great musicality and a bright, sunny tone but incapable of using her voice to explore emotional dimension.
"But Not For Me". Just Ella and a piano, in this case, Ellis Larkins. Maybe it isn't good at all; I've been sick with the flu this week.
The Gray Lady even inserted this complaint in her obituary from 1996:
"She was sometimes criticized for a lack of bluesiness and emotional depth. But her perfect intonation, vocal acrobatics, clear diction and endless store of melodic improvisations---all driven by powerful rhythmic undercurrents---brought her nearly universal acclaim."
We are all individuals and we hear music in our own way. I have always found emotion in her singing, but that's just me.
"But Not For Me". Just Ella and a piano, in this case, Ellis Larkins. Maybe it isn't good at all; I've been sick with the flu this week.
To me, Karen sounds as if she’s not feeling it in a few places in the verses - in a couple of places, she sounds as if she’s almost yelling to reach the high notes - but the quiet breaks with the harmonies sound beautiful. In my opinion, Richard’s arrangement is more noteworthy than Karen’s lead vocal, (she doesn’t quite nail the lowest notes, either), although she does brilliantly in some sections.