Karen Carpenter vs. Olivia Newton John

[billgwx]

A couple of quotes:

"She was a good friend, a lovely person and very funny. She had the most incredible voice and her death was a big shock to me. I miss her." -- ONJ

"I just want to tell you, love, that I think you've got a fabulous voice" -- John Lennon


Someone whose precise vocal phrasing reminds me of Karen Carpenter in a way is Jenny Lewis.

 

[mrpackerguy]

Olivia would win a wet tee-shirt contest, tho.

Ahh...no she wouldn't, sorry to say. Think pink ribbon.

 

[EagleMoon]

I know Karen was technically a good singer, but I can't stand to listen to her. Olivia for me, all the way. At least pre-facelift.

 

[mikeswals]

Olivia, by far. Oh and she should sing too, and I liked her tunes more.

 

[stratovani]

For singing, it's got to be Karen Carpenter. She's got the classic alto vocal range; I think only Barbra Streisand has more range. But for make-my-eyes-water hotness, it's Olivia every time, even at her age.

 

[Lindsay]

Richard Carpenter's hair! ....errrr, no. Olivia

 

[fishtx]

And Olivia has had Lee Hendricks and Allison Prestwood...and a big surprise coming up...I am sworn to secrecy.

OK...I guess the cats out of the bag (since she posted this on Facebook), but Gail Ann Dorsey will going out on tour with Olivia (South America I believe)...

 

[burk48237]

Olivia was certainly hot but the question wasn't "which one would you jump in the sack with" or was it? Anyway KC played the drums and sang at the same time, I'm sure that took months of work. And we can't forget the contributions of Richard Carpenter. Plus Martin Mull dedicated this hit to the Carpenters.

 

[totallyfrozen]

Absolutely the best 'white-girl' singer! And a very good drummer, too.

Karen's Drum Solo

Wow! Her drums made the sounds of flutes and trumpets too. Whodathunkit?

 

[BassShifter21]

Karen, without question. Not necessarily a fan of the pop tunes they did, but her voice is absolutely the best ever. In my opinion, the Carpenter's Christmas album contains some of the most wonderful female vocals ever recorded. I look forward to the Christmas season every year just to listen to it again. Everyone does a Christmas album, but this one is a masterpiece.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

05-Aug-81
Olivia is given a star on the Walk of Fame:

 

[ShawnG]

Musically, no contest. Karen Carpenter. Her voice was ridiculous.

 

[gjohnstone]

" I never knew Karen Carpenter and Olivia Newton John were in Deep Purple . . .
. . learn something on this site every night . . . "

 

[TheDirtyLowDown]

The guy across the hall from me in college had the ONJ Physical poster. I still remember it, so there's that.

But Karen Carpenter's voice and amazing musicianship stands out more distinctly for me. Play "Yesterday Once More" and just like the song says, there I am with my brothers in the back seat of my parents' 69 Ford Station Wagon, no seat belts, windows down, eating ice cream on a Friday night. An incredible voice. A voice that brings back holidays. and the radio playing in my dad's workshop, and my parents' listening to the brand new Heathkit stereo when they thought we kids were asleep.

Sure, Olivia was (and still is) hot, and a talented star. But her music, and even the memory of her didn't/doesn't last for me the way Karen's does.

One more thing, since no one's posted it to this thread yet:

A bass guitar player dies and immediately finds himself in the afterlife. He looks around to see that he's in a recording studio, holding his bass. On his left he sees Jimi Hendrix tuning his guitar. Looking around, the bass player sees many other familiar faces in the band... "Wow," he thinks, "this must be Heaven!"

But then, all of a sudden Karen Carpenter walks into the studio and sits down at the drums.

"OK guys, Close To You. 1, 2, 3, 4...."