Why Do Gay Men (in particular) Love The Carpenters?

[StuntmanMike]

I noticed on the web (and on here) that many fans are gay men -- young and old who absolutley love the music. It's almost considered a gay stereotype (like liking Cher or ABBA), and their fans have been predominantly gay men and straight women.

Is it that straight men who enjoy them are too embarassed to admit to liking soft, "effeminate" sounds about love and gay men don't have that stigma? I think many gay men love Karen and her voice. Many can identify strongly with her tragic personal life (like other gay icons) and tragic death. She was an outsider who led a sad life of pain that she tried to hide. She was almost punished for being herself and didn't feel like she belonged in her family (like gay people might). Her self destructive behavior is one some can check off for themselves. Also, anorexia is second most common in gay men.

But I think gay guys can relate the lyrics and sounds of the saddness and pain in her voice to there own lives and find a sense of comfort and solace in them. She sings out the emotion built up and the music becomes cathartic. Karen's personality and warmth attracts outsiders who can feel better knowing about her. Gay men love women who they can strongly identify with and Karen fits the bill. I also believe that, more than straights, gay's can appreciate beauty and asthetic more than straight men can who dismiss it as shallow love songs.

But, what do you think?

[Telstra]

Because they sing great catchy songs:

[Telstra]

[StuntmanMike]

But straight people like catchy tunes too!

[csb999]

if idolization of one particular person ( singer or actor ) is common particularly to gay men I would suggest this is just common usual behaviour tempered with the rare certainty that this person is Safe . Cher being a rather emphatic example . Often if media people comment at all it is hostile or negative ( Axl Rose ) , and explicit male positive is very rare . Safeness is rare .

[csb999]

dead is about as non-threatening as you can get . Dead famous people . That guy from Queen . Nobody liked him much before . Dying can be a very foresightful career move .

[sixthson]

Richard is gay.

[gsdx]

That guy from Queen . Nobody liked him much before .

You're kidding, right? There would have been no Queen if it hadn't been for "that guy". And if 'dead' makes a singer popular, explain Justin Bieber.

[csb999]

Wikipedia
"The extent to which Mercury's death may have enhanced Queen's popularity is not clear. In the United States, where Queen's popularity had lagged in the 1980s, sales of Queen albums went up dramatically in 1992, the year following his death.[93] In 1992 one American critic noted, "What cynics call the 'dead star' factor had come into play—Queen is in the middle of a major resurgence"."

[csb999]

some other 70s bands / personalities were a lot bigger in terms of sales and tv time and have completely vanished . In the 80s they were nowhere .

[bike10]

Love the Carpenters saw them in person in concert years ago at the Missouri State Fair.

[StuntmanMike]

Yeah I know. I've literally read that same comment in a bunch of different places, like Yahoo Answers.

But is there any particularly reason why you, as a gay man, enjoy them?

[StuntmanMike]

You guys can't answer it....