I have only been aware of their music for a couple of months so it's all rather new to me. My impressions are as a neophyte in regards to these talented young musicians. James was gracious enough to invite me to see this performance. I also have a video in comment of the song "Tunic(Love for Karen)" by Sonic Youth off their 1990 LP GOO. It was a loving tribute to a remarkable woman who met with a sad and tragic end to her bright career. I present to you this video of a wonderful cover of the song "Superstar" performed by New York noisecore band Sonic Youth. She was listed as number 94 of the best all time singers in a 2010 ranking. Karen beat out John Bonham in a 1975 Playboy readers poll of best drummers. She felt most comfortable on stage behind her Ludwig drum kit. She was praised by Hal Blaine and Buddy Rich for her drumming. Artists such as Madonna, Sheryl Crow, Natalie Imbruglia, Shania Twain, Pat Metheny, Elton John, and Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon. A list of musicians who were influenced or admired Karen is lengthy. The legacy left behind by Karen and her brother is immense. The Carpenters had a 14 year career which saw the brother sister duo record 10 albums, have several successful singles, as well as have a few TV specials. Her three octave contralto voice is unmistakable. However she certainly made her mark on American pop music in the 1970's. His loss, I guess.Karen Carpenter was just 32 years old when she passed away, 40 years ago today. While Sonic Youth’s version has gone on to become one of the most lauded versions of the track, the Carpenters’ surviving member, Richard Carpenter, has famously said he doesn’t particularly care for Sonic Youth’s version of the song. Gone were the light and easy instrumentation, and instead, we were given an excursion into that of the noisy New York alternative rock scene. Likewise, the group’s infamously intricate guitar-tunings were used to create a vibe completely removed from the original. Maintaining the song’s feeling of loss and loneliness, Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore used his vocals to create a dark and moody atmosphere. However, Sonic Youth considered the Carpenters an influence, and dutifully recorded a cover of ‘Superstar’. Now, if one was to look at the Carpenters, often considered a staple of AM-radio easy listening, one would see almost no resemblance to that of Sonic Youth, the highly experimental alternative noise-rock group. In addition to brilliant covers from artists such as Shonen Knife (who covered ‘ Top Of The World‘), and The Cranberries (who covered ‘ (They Long To Be) Close To You‘), was the record’s sole single Sonic Youth’s version of ‘Superstar’. Gone was the soul-styled vocals of the original, and it’s sexual overtones, and instead, Karen Carpenter’s vocals were added into the mix, giving the song a deep feeling of loneliness and loss, as was originally intended by the song’s writers.Īs year’s went by, numerous bands took inspiration from the works of the Carpenters, so much so that a compilation CD was issued in 1994 that saw bands who considered the group as influences, covering their songs. The Carpenters’ version was a hit, with many stating that the Carpenters cover was far superior and emotional than the original. Instead, the song was passed around between numerous musicians until it received a great deal of success thanks to a little duo called the Carpenters, who renamed it ‘ Superstar‘. This B-side was called ‘ Groupie (Superstar)‘, and wasn’t overlooked as many B-sides of the era were. That single featured, as many did, a B-side. Back in 1969, Delaney & Bonnie released the song ‘ Comin’ Home‘.
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