Our journey through International Cover Song Month continues with a song that is one of the most surprising covers I’ve heard in a long time.
At first glance, The Carpenters seem like the least likely band to do an effective re-work of a Beatles song. For starters, they were basically contemporaries; this version of “Help” was released only five years after the original, so there isn’t the nostalgia factor of, just say, Norah Jones covering Soundgarden. Musically, The Carpenters and The Beatles are different, sure, but similar enough that there isn’t the genre-crossing quirk factor of, just say, Chet Faker covering Blackstreet.
But as it turns out, The Carpenters made a bit of a habit of covering Beatles tunes; “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “Ticket to Ride” are also in their repertoire. The Carpenters’ body of work, riddled with cheesy soft-rock ballads, hasn’t enjoyed the staying power of The Beatles’ catalogue, but there is real skill in their musicianship and vocal arrangements, and both of those elements shine in this surprising cover song.
What makes this a beautiful song:
1. The harmonies. Blossoming vocal lines were a Carpenters staple, and there are some great moments here, like the suspension on the word “insecure” at 1.02, and the big “aah” moment at 1.30.
2. The organ. Sure, Richard Carpenter might look like the type of person you’d expect to see working the cash register at a Mormon bake sale, but he throws down a killer organ solo as the song wraps up.
3. The subtext. The original version has all the boppy-ness of an early Beatles track, but John said years later that he was really crying out for help at the time, as the crushing pressure of Beatlemania was getting to him. Karen Carpenter, meanwhile, struggled with anorexia for years, and her death due to complications from that disease was a catalyst for awareness and de-stigmatization of eating disorders. Her years of quiet suffering make this song all the more poignant.
Recommended listening activity:
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