A PITCHFORK MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR A radical, literary and intimate insight into one of the twentieth century's most vital vocalists. 'Tongson serves up a number of astute observations about fantasy, projection, longing, normalcy, and aberrance.' MAGGIE NELSON 'Deftly weaves memoir, history, and cultural criticism to highlight the dynamic relationship between artists and listeners.' PITCHFORK In the '60s and '70s, America's music scene was marked by raucous excess, reflected in the tragic overdoses of young ...
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A PITCHFORK MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR A radical, literary and intimate insight into one of the twentieth century's most vital vocalists. 'Tongson serves up a number of astute observations about fantasy, projection, longing, normalcy, and aberrance.' MAGGIE NELSON 'Deftly weaves memoir, history, and cultural criticism to highlight the dynamic relationship between artists and listeners.' PITCHFORK In the '60s and '70s, America's music scene was marked by raucous excess, reflected in the tragic overdoses of young superstars such as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. At the same time, the uplifting harmonies and sunny lyrics that propelled Karen Carpenter and her brother, Richard, to international fame belied a different sort of tragedy - the underconsumption that led to Karen's death at age thirty-two from the effects of an eating disorder. In Why Karen Carpenter Matters, Karen Tongson (whose parents named her after the pop icon) interweaves the story of the singer's rise to fame in the 1960s and '70s with her own trans-Pacific journey between the Philippines - where imitations of American pop styles flourished - and Karen Carpenter's home ground of Southern California. Tongson reveals why the Carpenters' chart-topping, seemingly white-washed musical fantasies of 'normal love' have profound significance for her - as well as for other people of colour, LGBT+ communities, and anyone outside the mainstream culture usually associated with Karen Carpenter's legacy. This hybrid of memoir and biography excavates the destructive perfectionism at the root of the Carpenters' sound, while finding the beauty in the singer's all-too-brief life. 'Engrossing . . . a triumphant delight.' 4COLUMNS 'Heartfelt . . . excellent . . . breathtaking.' EXCLAIM! 'Will resonate with readers who have never even heard of Carpenter.' LITERARY HUB MUSIC MATTERS: SHORT BOOKS ABOUT THE ARTISTS WE LOVE - Why Solange Matters by Stephanie Phillips - Why Marianne Faithfull Matters by Tanya Pearson - Why Karen Carpenter Matters by Karen Tongson
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Add this copy of Why Karen Carpenter Matters (Music Matters) to cart. $2.56, good condition, Sold by Dream Books Co. rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Denver, CO, UNITED STATES, published 2019 by University of Texas Press.
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Good. Minimal signs of wear. Corners and cover may show wear. May contain highlighting and or writing. May be missing dust jacket. May not include supplemental materials. May be a former library book.
Add this copy of Why Karen Carpenter Matters to cart. $3.31, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2019 by University of Texas Press.
Add this copy of Why Karen Carpenter Matters to cart. $3.31, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2019 by University of Texas Press.
Add this copy of Why Karen Carpenter Matters to cart. $3.31, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2019 by University of Texas Press.
Add this copy of Why Karen Carpenter Matters (Music Matters) to cart. $3.31, good condition, Sold by Goodwill Southern California rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Los Angeles, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2019 by University of Texas Press.
Add this copy of Why Karen Carpenter Matters (Music Matters) to cart. $4.45, very good condition, Sold by Goodwill Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hillsboro, OR, UNITED STATES, published 2019 by University of Texas Press.
Add this copy of Why Karen Carpenter Matters to cart. $6.50, very good condition, Sold by Powell's Books Chicago rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Chicago, IL, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Faber & Faber.