The carpenters

samcster94

Banned
What if Karen Carpenter lived longer??? She, in our universe, was in poor health and died of anorexia. What is the impact of her being alive at least until the 90's and what would her reputation(and her brother) be???
 
One question is if she resists the pressure from others to continue performing. At some point she has the option of doing a Laurel Masse and dropping out or at least radically reducing her performance & recording commitments.
 
I think they'd likely be occupying the same cultural space that Tony Orlando and The Captain And Tennille do, ie. living off royalties while keeping a relatively low profile, maybe doing a bit of charity work here and there, and occasionally being mentioned in the press as pop stars who support the Republicans(I'm assuming; "young America at its best" and all). Probably not as much media attention as Donny And Marie get.
 
And if Karen hadn't succumbed to anorexia, Todd Haynes probably wouldn't have made that campy barbie-doll film about the pair. This may or may not butterfly away his career.
 
I love their music, but easy listening was becoming less popular. I agree, they would slow down and live off their royalties as well as writing music for others - with a concert from time to time...
 
And if Karen hadn't succumbed to anorexia, Todd Haynes probably wouldn't have made that campy barbie-doll film about the pair. This may or may not butterfly away his career.
I would think it wouldn't butterfly it away. Haynes had a lot of skill and I think it would be able to direct some small budget independent movies and probably propell into bigger stuff.


As for Karen, I think she would withdraw, she would need to in order to survive. If lucky she would "divorce" her brother and make some nice solo work in the late 80's.
 

Driftless

Donor
"Back when I was a lad...." No beer-soaked Midwestern wedding reception in 1970's/80's was complete without a polka band version of "We've only just begun"... Accordion, tuba, drums, and vocals - you had to be there - just a little surreal. :openedeyewink:
 
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