Why is Karen Carpenter my hero?
How does an endlessly rich voice emanate from such a frail thin body? That must have been an ongoing question for anyone who saw Karen Carpenter perform. There is something about her voice that I cannot quite explain. It is not just her tone but also the emotion she attaches; the inflection. It's intoxicating. In her voice there is a time capsule. Perhaps it's just me, but whenever I hear her voice I am transported back to the 70's. My favorites are "Superstar", "Hurting Eachother", "Close to You" and "Won't Last a Day Without You".
I always wondered, with a voice like that, I'd love to hear her as a punk rocker with a Clash-style backup band. Although her voice is synonymous with dentist-office waiting rooms, she transcends that world of muk with her quality and sincerity.
Karen truly was a superstar but is equally known for her troubles. Her losing battle with anorexia is permanently attached to our memory. Her low self image and shyness clashed with her very public life. Yet she carried herself with grace. There is an innocence to Karen Carpenter. It melts me. I identify with many of her problems. I grapple with the very same food and self-image issues. That only furthers my respect and admiration that she was able to rise above.
With all her troubles, Karen Carpenter still falls well within the hero zone. Karen's struggles, in many ways, only heighten her achievements. But with any great star who dies young, we all must wonder "what if?"
To this day her voice touches me deeply.
Melissa Carter
September 2008
Karen Carpenter
"endlessly rich..."
"a superstar..."
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