Karen Carpenter: probably the most perfect voice that has ever existed. We lost her way too soon.

It is truly nice to see someone of your age and talent appreciating the nuances of Karen's voice. As someone in radio at the height of her popularity, I was privileged to become a good friend of Karen's, and later, Richard. Knowing Karen was one of the greatest honors of my life.

Years ago in the early 80’s, I was at A&M Records working on a soundtrack project. Our mix-down studio was right next to Richard’s studio. Karen had just passed away and her brother was back in the studio. When the double doors would swing open, I could hear Karen’s flawless voice right off the analog masters without reverb or echo, so it sounded like she was in that room. It was a wonderful, and at the same time heartbreaking, experience that I will never forget.

Karen Carpenter was one of those very rare voices that could touch your soul. She had such beautiful tone.

So now we’ve proved that Karen was even better than we thought. A vocal genius.

I find myself in agreement with Paul McCartney's opinion of Karen Carpenter: "The best female voice in the world: melodic, tuneful and distinctive."

I am glad someone is displaying Karen Carpenter's incredible talent.

I grew up listening to The Carpenters. Karen’s voice is like a warm hug

She passed 39 years ago. In all that time I still have not heard a clearer, more beautiful voice than hers. We were so lucky to have had her for the time that we did.

As a trained singer for 40 years I can say that I have never heard another voice as pure, perfect and warm as Karen Carpenter had. She was a one off. I just wish that she had realised how wonderful she was and did not feel so physically plain. She was lovely.

To watch the younger generation appreciate Karen Carpenter just proves that she is an evergreen classic. Gorgeous flawless voice. So great to hear the younger generation thinks so too.

I don’t know a pitch from an itch. All I know is that Karen had one of the most hauntingly beautiful voicesI’ve ever heard. It was a tragedy to lose someone so amazing so young in her life.

Karen was an angel, even when I got into Heavy Metal in my youth, I was never embarrassed to say I was a Carpenter's fan...plus she was an excellent drummer. She didn't deserve what happened to her, gone far too soon.

In the early 80s, I worked at A&M Studios, where The Carpenters recorded. I heard stories about Karen's pitch being so accurate that when she was doubling her own vocals, there would be problems with phase cancellation. This is pretty much unheard of in studio singing.

When I read about Karen's death in 1983, it broke my heart. Her voice was angelic.

I just want to tell Phil that I’m so impressed with your character. During times when it seems people love to take opportunity to run another person down, you consistently take the opposite road. I love how you delight in the talent of those you analyze. Thank you! Refreshing.

Karen... I'm 65 and to this day can't hear her voice without tearing up. What a loss.

When I hear someone say Adele is probably the greatest singer ever, I roll my eyes; Karen is one of the best ever and miles ahead of Adele. Just different class.

Her voice is legendary. All you need to hear is one word and you know who's singing.

The craziest thing is that Karen felt that she was a drummer who sang.

In hindsight, she probably had the most beautiful & technically accurate voice ever in contemporary pop music

I’m 53 and grew up listening to The Carpenters. Karen was proof angels do walk among us.

I was a closet fan of the Carpenters, couldn't let my hard rock buddies know. Oh well their loss. She was an Angel!

She and Richard were often discounted due to their squeaky clean image; innocent lyrics, wholesome musicality. So I really appreciate your spotlighting her and so accurately demonstrating her incredible voice. It’s tragic, she never knew she was enough. That she didn’t need to be any better or any different. Such a special lady. Thank you!

I had the supreme pleasure to see The Carpenters in concert in September 1970 and I've been telling people for 52 years that Karen sounded better in person than in the recordings...Richard's piano performances that night were perfection, too! By far, the best concert of my life...I've always preferred studio versions over live performances in every other case, but The Carpenters were that one unforgettable exception!

What really impresses me is how soft her voice is. It is so unforced and pure. Absolutely beautiful voice.

Karen had the most naturally beautiful voice ever ... so pure ♥♥♥

This is a voice that sends chills down my spine every time I hear it. I saw her twice in concert in the 1970s and will never forget the experience. She was and is still my favorite female vocalist! And always remember that she considered herself primarily a drummer! She was an outstanding one, too, having won a jazz competition at the Hollywood Bowl as part of her brother's jazz trio before they became famous. A consummate musician in every way, along with her genius brother Richard.

As a teenager in the 70s I used to play her album over and over and over... never tired of her singing. Every wedding I went to had “We’ve Only Just Begun”. She was a fabulous drummer as well.

I’m trained musically. The first time I heard her in 1969 stopped me in my tracks! The most perfect voice I have ever heard!

Love or hate their music, Karen's voice was impeccable. Beautiful person, incredible talent, amazing music and such an unfortunate tragedy.

I've never heard any voice that could rival the warmth of Karen Carpenter's. Anne Murray has a very similar timbre, but still doesn't have that incredible warmth. Karen's voice is the definition of mellifluous.

She hit the notes as if she was striking little bells, all spot on.

Recorded in one take. A once in a century vocal talent.

I can't watch/listen to Karen Carpenter without crying. I was newly in USA when one of her big hits came out in 1971 (We've only just begun). I had all her records. She was a musical genius, as is her brother also as a composer/pianist, etc. The Carptenters are one of the most legendary duo bands ever...

Herb Alpert (producer, I believe) said, "She didn't know how good she was." Well, now, thanks to these wave forms, we know! Thanks! These are wonderful presentations!

I heard "Yesterday Once More" playing on the car radio during a road trip when I was just a little guy in 1973. The image that came to mind was being wrapped in a warm blanket and held in my mother's arms. Karen was a brilliant musician with a perfect voice.

very unusual that the live version is even more pitch-accurate than the studio version. She was quite an amazing natural talent.

Karen did most of her studio tapings in one take. Usually, after seeing the song once, or reading the song off a napkin. She was amazing. “One take wonder”.

Her voice touches the soul.

A cousin of mine lived by the Carpenter's when they were first starting out. Apparently, they would practice in their garage with the door often open and all the neighborhood kids would come by for the show. My cousin said they were always very nice people. They certainly had some classic music.

I don't think the appropriate words exist to complement Karen's vocal talents. She was without a doubt the purest, smoothest and most soulful female singer of the 20th century. I still can't accept that we lost her at such a young age. If she was still with us she would still be at the top of her game and would have outshone many of the top artistes since. She was an outstanding gift to music and has never been bettered. God bless her memory.

Karen had an ability to modulate her voice in numerous ways to hit notes that really connected with the listener. She could sing in a husky voice that sounded so intimate and romantic or she might soften her voice in a way that sounded very sweet and innocent. Being a contralto she could hit low notes with a quality that was unique to her. Truly a one of a kind voice and presentation.

I can picture her singing in a meadow full of springtime flowers and animals would be gathering one by one to see where this angel's voice is coming from. She is the only singer that I know that probably 90% of the world's population would know the lyrics and know it's Karen Carpenter singing. Her voice is the purist form of perfection.

Greatest Female Vocal Artist of ALL TIME. I have said it before and will say it until I am no longer on this state of existence. If there are angels then when they sing they sound like Karen Carpenter. Period. Thanks for doing this Fil. RIP to a real angel.

She sounds so beautiful. Her voice is so angelic.

I was watching your Roberta Flack video earlier, and thought to myself, she had a voice that stops you dead. You have to stop whatever you're doing and just listen. And when I began thinking of other singers who strike me the same way, Karen Carpenter was definitely first to mind. I'm not a religious person. But if angels can sing, their vocal coach must be Karen Carpenter. So glad I found this. Cheers mate.

Perhaps the greatest female vocalist of all time. No other voice like hers.

This woman's voice put everyone else..then and now...to shame...nobody can compare to the clarity and power that she had

I love this. I've always claimed that Karen is the greatest female vocalist ever.

Her voice makes me tear up every time.

Karen had a way of soothing the soul and I mean soothe! She made grown men cry and she made music into works of art! She had a voice that beats any voice in history!

As a kid in the 6th grade I was one of the kids chosen to sing back up on "Sing (sing a song"". Her singing on stage was real, during the kid part she moved the Mic down past each of us so all of our voices heard during the concert. Such a cool memory -- at the time they would go town to town have schools find kids with the right pitch for the back up kid parts.

I get sad when I think about how we lost her so young. Her voice is unparalleled.

Karen Carpenter's voice takes me back to my childhood - simpler times - growing up in the 70's. Thank you for sharing this!

I have always loved her voice. I knew she was one in a million. There will never be another Karen Carpenter.

Karen’s voice was a gift. We open that gift…we cherish it because we know we’ll never get a gift like that again.

It’s nice to hear someone appreciating and pointing out how wonderful was Karen Carpenter’s voice.

Those days singer can really sing without auto tune. 🙂👏👍She was awesome! She is still missed.

Karen and Richard Carpenter were amazing. Only hardcore fans know what a technical innovator Richard was/is. He was really the first to do massive vocal overdubbing. Putting her up front on vocals (she's also the drummer) when their original vocalist left was pure genius. Karen's interpretation of "Superstar" was a tape rolling first take with lyrics on a napkin. She nailed it. That's the take used on the release. She was amazing.

Karen Carpenter has one of purest vocals out there. Nearly everyone liked her voice immensely, no matter what their primary music preference was back in the day. Dionne Warwick, another fantastic vocalist, always speaks highly of Carpenter's voice. We're very lucky to have the music of both.

I saw Karen live in the late 70’s and it was so obvious then. Her voice was like no other. Crystal clear. Beautiful. Will never forget her.

Her voice is like a warm blanket.

Karen Carpenter: Easily my top female vocalist of ALL TIME. You hear her voice and you just melt.

her flat vibrato makes her sound just a little sleepy and it’s such a beautiful quality in her voice. when she hits the notes bang on the clarity in her voice causes her sound to ring. she was an unbelievable talent

I still love Karen Carpenter's voice....so pure, clear, real. She didn't need to do vocal gymnastics like so many do today. She was a true vocalist.

Chills. Just chills.

Karen is my favourite vocalist/singer and the Carpenters ballads are timeless. Close to You, We've only just Begun, For all we Know, Superstar, Sing, Solitair, Rainy days and Mondays, This Masquerade... beautiful!!

Certainly the purest and most naturally melodic voice I've known in my 50 years.

She had a unique gift. Her voice was one-of-a-kind and will never be replicated.

I think she is the greatest female vocalist of all time!! Her voice is so instantly recognizable as her.

I just saw the clip of her on The Tonight Show from many, many years ago. Wow was she amazing and she didn’t have backup dancers or raunchy moves, just pure talent. Gone too soon ❤️

"First of all, Karen's wave forms are insane". Not surprising. Karen had a magical voice. :)

In my humble opinion, Karen Carpenter had one of the most iconic and outstanding voices I’ve ever heard. Your analysis shows exactly why. Thank you so much Fil. Rest In Peace Karen. 💖🙏🏻

Karen was a one off. What an incredible voice. Her voice can bring a tear to my eye more than any other. I can actually hear the difference between live & studio recordings but I understand why so many people cannot. It’s really good that you praised her brother, he was a musical genius. Together they were perfect ♥️🎼

This video is so heart-breaking to me. She was such a wonderful talent that we lost way too soon.

Such an incredible talent. It’s like she just opened her mouth and this glorious sound came out. Clear, bell-like, rich, and honeyed. And you know it’s Karen the minute you hear her.

One of the purest vocalists ever. And yes, she could keep a mean beat.

Still, and ALWAYS WILL.... Miss Karen Carpenter😢

Sounds better live than on studio album?? Incredible, no way will there be a female singer that comes even close to Karen’s astonishing voice

Any and every time I hear Karen's voice, even to this day, I stop and listen. Her's is the most soothing voice I've ever heard. ❤️ Her. Miss her😥

As a male, I find her voice to be almost the perfect female voice, if that makes any sense. It just reverberates in my brain and produces a sense of soothing.

I always loved her voice, this analysis blew me away and surprised me. She was even better than I thought.

I saw The Carpenters in concert in the 1970s. She really was that good! What an unbelievably talented duo they were.

Karen had such a gorgeous warm, female voice. I can't think of a more beautiful vocal amongst all singers.

If babies could vote whose voice should be their mum's when they sing comforting songs to them, Karen Carpenter would win hands down!

I come back again and again to rewatch Fil's superb analysis of Karen's voice. It is easily, one of my top three videos ever on YT. I failed to mention in my post 11 months ago that at age 57, I have felt for decades that if I could pick just one artist, one group that defined the 1970s, it is Carpenters. It truly was an awesome decade to grow up in. Thank you Fil. RIP Karen❤

I once read a Karen Carpenter biography and they told how when she and Richard started they were just an instrumental group and they were told they needed a singer. They knew Karen could sing a bit and tried recording her but she always tried to sing in a higher key. Richard suggested they try and play in a lower key and it resulted in him and the producer just staring at each other in amazement at what came out. According to Richard it was one of those, aha moments. She had an incredible lower register, which is where most female singers struggle.

I especially loved how Karen would sing the lower notes. When she did it would always tug at my heart strings. What an angel. It’s brilliant how Fil interspersed the live and studio vocals, just stunning to see the waveforms.

Fil, this is absolutely one of the best you have ever done. Only technology and your explanation proves what talent Karen possessed. Whether people appreciate them or not, The Carpenters are in a class by themselves. Not better than everyone else, but unique and superbly talented. Her voice flows like warm butter.

We saw the Carpenters at the SMU/McFarlin Auditorium in the spring of '71. There were maybe 6 to 8 musicians in addition to Karen and Richard. They did not use any prerecorded tracks, even for the harmony parts. Simply a great show.

Karen was born 73 years ago on March 2, 1950. Greatest female singer ever! 👏👍😍

Arguably the finest female vocalist ever recorded. Bless.

One of the best female vocals ever! So smooth.

One of my favorite songs by the Carpenters is Superstar and the story that the record is the very first time she ever sang the song. It was so perfect they used her first vocal for the record.

Never in a million years would I have said to myself "yep I'd love for someone to show me the wave forms of singers live and recorded to see if auto tune or not and then HOW or why that was done" and yet here I am LOVING these videos

She was, musically, one of the most talented people. There will never be another vocalist like her. RIP, sweet girl.

I told my sister 50 years ago I thought Karen was the best female singer on the planet. She thought I was crazy. I wasn't !!!

The Carpenters (Karen) were so huge in my youth and if truth be told, Karen was my first vocal mentor. I am SO delighted to watch this specific analysis from you, Fil, as I just watched some of their videos again and one of the documentaries that Richard did on her/them only a few days ago and wondered what you would have to say regarding her phenomenal voice. You are so awesome and spot on and I am SO happy to hear how you recognize the set apart quality of this special woman's voice. What a treasure she was. Oh, what a special lady and my heart still hurts from losing her so young at only 32 yrs old. We love you so much, Karen. On the day YOU were born, the angels got together and sprinkled gold dust upon YOU, dear one! Eternal merit and rest upon your sweet soul.

There is never a doubt who you are listening to when one of her songs comes on. Thanks for doing this Fil! 💖