Music Banter - ABBA or The Carpenters?

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Texas Boy

11-13-2017 05:11 PM

ABBA or The Carpenters?

I'm going with ABBA.

Trollheart

11-13-2017 05:12 PM

The Carpenters can build you a good cabinet or fix your door, so I'm going with them.

Neapolitan

11-13-2017 05:41 PM

Comparing the two ... Carpenters are better at depressing song, and ABBA are better at cheerful songs. ABBA had top notch studio musicians, but Karen could hold her own on the drums (in early days, before she took center stage). I honestly feel that Karen had the better voice among them. Both groups utilize overdubbing. Anna and Frida's were a lot of times overdubbed during the verse to give a full chorusy effect. Karen sang with very little echo/reverb, and the Carpenters used overdubbing for backing vocals. But you can always hear Karen natural voice with little or no effects, and she has one of the best voices in music.

rubber soul

11-13-2017 05:47 PM

I'm not crazy about either one. :p:

Trollheart

11-13-2017 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubber soul (Post 1894155)

I'm not crazy about either one. :p:

Yes you are.

OccultHawk

11-13-2017 05:59 PM

The Carpenters are considerably better.

MicShazam

11-13-2017 06:34 PM

I voted Abba because I actually know some of their songs. Probably should know some Carpenter's but I'm blank.

Neapolitan

11-13-2017 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubber soul (Post 1894155)

I'm not crazy about either one. :p:

Why not? How can you resists Karen's critically acclaimed voice? Both bands lead the charts in the 70s. What an amazing decade for music. Besides the 2000s what other decade can you find Acid Folk and Post Punk? ...but the 70s!

Floydy

11-13-2017 07:37 PM

Both extremely well-produced, second to none.
Abba's songs were much better compositions and I prefer cheese to sugar, so yes it's Abba for this listener.

Lisnaholic

11-13-2017 08:12 PM

Quote:

There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando
.....

Can you hear the drums Fernando?
Do you still recall the frightful night we crossed the Rio Grande?
I can see it in your eyes
How proud you were to fight for freedom in this land

To hear them singing about fighting for freedom by the banks of the Rio Grande is just laughable to me. And while they did write another song that was about the altogether grittier and more honest topic of tour burn-out in Glasgow, the song is so upbeat that the angst might pass you by: this happy little gem, for instance, (which repeats about five times in the song) is something you can quickly tire of:-

Quote:

Shining like the sun
(Sup--per Troup--per)
Smiling, having fun
(Sup--per Troup--per)

So, yeah, Carpenters, with their wistful ballads, are suddenly looking pretty good. More plaintive, less pop - good for you, Karen!

rubber soul

11-14-2017 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neapolitan (Post 1894181)

Don't get me wrong. I love the 70s. I grew up in the 70s. But, with the exception of a couple songs, I just wasn't into the Carpenters, Sing, sing a song? Give me a break.

And, actually I don't hate ABBA, and Waterloo and SOS aren't all that bad (though please don't see them do SOS on TV; it predates the Village People).

It's just that I'm not much of an MOR guy. Then again I do admit I like You Light Up My Life for some perverted reason. It mixes in well with Anarchy in the UK :laughing:

Trollheart

11-14-2017 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic (Post 1894204)

As Neapolitan says, Karen Carpenter had a great voice, and afaik most Carpenter songs were about everyday matters like love, etc

ABBA on the other hand have several counts against them imo. Firstly, a friend of mine liked them so I heard them much more often than I would've liked. Secondly they were unremittingly cheerful, and thirdly, they must've run out of things to say about Sweden, because lyrically they ventured into territory in which they were hopelessly unconvincing, e.g. Fernando:-

To hear them singing about fighting for freedom by the banks of the Rio Grande is just laughable to me. And while they did write another song that was about the altogether grittier and more honest topic of tour burn-out in Glasgow, the song is so upbeat that the angst might pass you by: this happy little gem, for instance, (which repeats about five times in the song) is something you can quickly tire of:-

So, yeah, Carpenters, with their wistful ballads, are suddenly looking pretty good. More plaintive, less pop - good for you, Karen!

Seriously, Lisna? ABBA should have been restricted to singing about their home country? I thought "Fernando" was a good song. It's not meant to be taken seriously. After all, Iron Maiden were hardly at Passchendale, and Lizzy didn't actually see Hitler at the Maginot Line. Doesn't make those songs any less excellent. What about "The Winner Takes It All"? "Name of the Game"? "Dancing Queen"? Come on: ABBA weren't meant to be serious - most of the time - they were just a fun band.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubber soul (Post 1894256)

That's cool: Karen was a goddess but not everyone would have been into the lightweight, poppy sound of the Carpenters. Personally I think they were great, but I loved ABBA too. Have you heard "Goodbye to Love"? Worth it just for the solo at the end...

rubber soul

11-14-2017 05:48 AM

Actually Goodbye To Love is one of the few Carpenters songs I like. That and maybe Superstar. I can't get into much else though.

Trollheart

11-14-2017 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubber soul (Post 1894269)

Actually Goodbye To Love is one of the few Carpenters songs I like. That and maybe Superstar. I can't get into much else though.

Weird. That was going to be the next one I suggested. Well, maybe these...

Lisnaholic

11-14-2017 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart (Post 1894266)

Seriously, Lisna? ABBA should have been restricted to singing about their home country?

^ Well, you're quite right, that comment about Sweden was uncalled for. It was just little a rhetorical flourish that I should've resisted because it's completely unfair. Sorry.

Quote:

I thought "Fernando" was a good song. It's not meant to be taken seriously. After all, Iron Maiden were hardly at Passchendale, and Lizzy didn't actually see Hitler at the Maginot Line. Doesn't make those songs any less excellent. What about "The Winner Takes It All"? "Name of the Game"? "Dancing Queen"? Come on: ABBA weren't meant to be serious - most of the time - they were just a fun band.

^ I guess I'm too grumpy, too earnest to enjoy many fun bands and, although I've never really thought it through, perhaps I expect too much in terms of plausability too. I prefer it when an artist's songs meshes with their stage persona in a way that allows for what someone once called "the willing suspension of disbelief." Abba's "Fernando" just doesn't do it for me I'm afraid.

Frownland

11-14-2017 11:27 AM

I only like one of the carpenters.

Trollheart

11-14-2017 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland (Post 1894377)

I only like one of the carpenters.

Let me guess which one ... :rolleyes:

Dude111

11-14-2017 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Boy

I'm going with ABBA.

I picked ABBA also .....

Trollheart

11-14-2017 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dude111 (Post 1894573)

I picked ABBA also .....

You can't be awesome without an avvy...

Neapolitan

11-14-2017 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubber soul (Post 1894256)

Sing, Sing a Song would be an absolutely disaster, if it was redeemed by Karen Carpenters' voice. I always thought of myself as middle of the road, cause I don't like Metal and I don't care for Pop ... but that being said there are a few rare exceptions.

In the very beginning in the group's career they were still searching for their identity, how to dress, and I don't think ABBA was any more outrageous than any other UK Glam Rock band, or Pop artist like Elton John, or even early 70s Funk bands in America. And Funk bands got more wild with their wardrobe as the 70s went on e.g. Earth, Wind & Fire. The Village People were sorta tame in comparison.

Waterloo

salvo

11-14-2017 10:45 PM

I do appreciate both a lot, but I'd have to go with ABBA. Though, I'm also probably more familiar with ABBA's catalogue than I am with The Carpenter's. Maybe I should change that, but until then...

I went through an ABBA phase a few summers ago. Their cheese is a given, but those melodies make up for everything.

Frownland

11-14-2017 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart (Post 1894385)

Let me guess which one ... :rolleyes:

It's John.

Neapolitan

11-14-2017 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salvo (Post 1894729)

I don't think any of their big hits are cheesy (maybe I'm too familiar with them), but possibly the album fillers were. SMH over those lyrics for Dum Dum Diddle. :rolleyes:

but you're right that the melody (and their harmony) to make up for it.

ABBA : Dum Dum Diddle

musicreels

11-29-2021 03:46 AM

Has anybody like ABBA's new LP 'Voyage'?

bob_32_116

11-29-2021 06:37 AM

ABBA.

Karen Carpenter had one of the best voices ever in popular music - but a great voice isn't everything. After the initial novelty of the first few Carpenters singles, which were great, I found a certain sameness to them. There was something almost mechanical about how every note was so perfect. Whether it was a song about newlywed lovers, or a song about aliens visiting Earth, the manner of delivery was exactly the same.

There was nothing wrong with Agnetha's or Anna-Frid's voice either, but more importantly they really seemed to live those songs. That may be partly because the songs were written by the group members themselves. I usually have more time for singers who write their own songs.

bob_32_116

11-29-2021 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubber soul (Post 1894269)

Actually Goodbye To Love is one of the few Carpenters songs I like. That and maybe Superstar. I can't get into much else though.

"Superstar", as youj probably know, was written by Leon Russell. Prior to my hearing the Carpenters' version, therre was a version out by Australian singer Colleen Hewett. Her voce is nowhere near as good as Karen Carpenter's, but she absolutely put heart and soul into it. When I eventually heard the Carpenters' version, Karen sounded insipid by comparison.

Mindfulness

11-29-2021 08:48 AM

gimmie gimmie gimmie a man after midnight lol

that song jams so hard

bob_32_116

11-29-2021 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindfulness (Post 2192957)

gimmie gimmie gimmie a man after midnight lol

that song jams so hard

Well, that's the other thing. there seemed much more variety to ABBA's songs. The Carpenters would probably never have wanted to do a song a rocking as "Gimme Gimme Gimme", but if they had wanted to I doubt whether they could have pulled it off. "Top of the World" was about as far as they went in that direction; it was their version of "Let's do a fast song for a change, let's kick some arse".

rubber soul

11-29-2021 02:29 PM

I think the Carpenters' idea of a rock song was their version of Please Mr. Postman :laughing:

paulb6699

12-10-2021 04:05 AM

Both amazing musical entity’s. It’s like water and air haha

Oleg Vostyakov

12-16-2021 11:45 PM

I think ABBA! Cause of influence on world music. Carpenters are more about one song (even if it is the main theme of "Friends"). But ABBA is something more than just a music!

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