That’s My Music… Growing Up with The Carpenters is the new show by New York City-based singer/writer/emcee/photographer Natasha Castillo.  In between the many Carpenters songs that Castillo performs– which included both the big hits and some underappreciated numbers as well– the performer shared why she has such an affinity for The Carpenters’ iconic music. Her own mother, Dai Ling Chuang, was a popular singer in southeast Asia who REALLY loved the famous brother-and-sister duo.  Castillo’s own love for Karen and Richard’s music was very apparent at Manhattan’s Don’t Tell Mama on Saturday, April 20th, starting with the opening number.  Castillo kicked off with Without a Song segueing into Yesterday Once More.  The opening lyrics of Yesterday Once More were sung in Mandarin.  The fact that the audience both recognized and were seduced by the melody, even with the lyrics in a different language, showed just how universally beloved the music remains to this day.  Throughout That’s My Music, those songs are made even beloved by Castillo’s engaging delivery and thoroughly charming persona– whether she was singing while sitting atop the piano, or sharing provocative stories about her family between those notes.

In vintage interviews, Richard Carpenter often spoke about the unique position that he and his sister Karen held in the music business at their height of fame.  To listeners who were fonder of the edgier music of the late 60’s and the 70’s, The Carpenters were seen as hopelessly “square”.  In contrast, the older generations were often slow to embrace the duo, at least in part because of (as crazy as it sounds) Richard’s long hair.  Richard and Karen, of course, would have the last laugh.  The siblings would become one of the best-selling musical groups of all time, with such eternal hits as Superstar, (They Long to Be) Close to You, and For All We Know.  Fast forward to 2024, and The Carpenters’ music is still beloved across the generations, from those who bought their music on vinyl decades ago to internet-raised teenagers of today who let their ears alone decide what sounds good.  Speaking of “sounding good”: Back to Castillo’s show… That’s My Music was directed by Lennie Watts with Musical Direction by Ted Stafford.  Her musicians were Don Kelly on Percussion and Stafford on guitar and backing vocals.

Ms. Castillo knows what works within her vocal range.  Goodbye to Love, for example, may be one of the most patently sad songs ever written, but Castillo even makes that song sound hopeful– a visible tear coming from her right eye during her delivery notwithstanding. (The intimate setting of Don’t Tell Mama does the singer VERY well…) Karen Carpenter’s voice may have been able to convey 50 shades of heartache, but Natasha Castillo’s interpretations of these songs are noticeably more empowering.  She imbues the next number, a mashup of Goofus and Sing, with personalized biographical lyrics. Her delivery throughout the show is patently smooth and clean, and she can occasionally hit those challenging notes– perhaps most evidenced with her delivery of (A Place to) Hide Away.  Even in its relatively brief running time of one hour, That’s My Music… Growing Up with the Carpenters reminded the audience at Don’t Tell Mama yet again just what made The Carpenters’ music so eternal, including the catchy melodies and the transgenerationally relevant words. Who could resist such lyrics as “All you get from love is a love song”, from the song of the same name… or the endearingly melancholy lyrics from (A Place to) Hide Away:

“I’ll save my pennies for a rainy day,
But where can I buy another you?
Dreams are for sleeping, love is for weeping,
For how I long to find a place to hide away.“

That song was dedicated to her sister.  Road Ode, savagely performed by Castillo and her musicians, seems to have been patently written for the generations of musicians who have taken their talents on the road– and many of those in attendance for Castillo’s show that night could indeed relate.  (More about them later.)  One thing Natasha’s show was decidedly NOT, however, was a straightforward medley of The Carpenters’ biggest hits.  Many of the attendees were pleased to hear many songs they had rarely or never experienced before. Many audience members may have not known, for example, that Ticket to Ride was actually the first ever Carpenters single to hit the public.  Castillo gives the song an appropriately haunting. almost trippy take. (FYI, the song is my favorite of the duo’s underappreciated gems.) Later on in the show, Castillo’s absolutely lovely performance of Look to Your Dreams clearly became an anthem of inspiration, as well as a love song from Natasha to her audience at Don’t Tell Mama that night.  This was an audience, incidentally, which included many of Castillo’s peers in the cabaret business.  They included Scott Barbarino, Celia Berk, John Burns, Barbara Malley, Maria Ottavia, Nicci Nicholas, Susan Neuffer, Ana Lisa, Lynda Rodolitz, Bob Simonello, Ellen Auwater, Sue Matsuki, Goldie Dver, Jenn Bornstein, Camille Diamond, Kati Neiheisel, Jamie Salzano, Justin Dylan Nastro, Julie Miller, and Gerrilyn Sohn.  I won’t give away the encore, but I will say that Natasha’s rendition of one of The Carpenters’ greatest hits should be the first thing the world collectively listens to every morning. It could easily replace everyone’s daily dose of antidepressant.  Put another way, it was sheer musical perfection.  Since the late great Karen Carpenter was widely known to have been a perfectionist herself, I have no doubt that the superstar would have loved this tribute. 

Visit Natasha’s official website at http://www.NatashaCastillo.com for more!