“Loneliness is such a sad affair / And I can hardly wait to be with you again / What to say, to make you come again? / Come back to me again / And play your sad guitar” 

These lines capture the essence of the song, which is haunted by a sense of loneliness and hopeful longing. Whether Karen’s lover will return is of no consequence—it is that period of aimless waiting that her lyrics capture. 

Regardless of whether I am in love, or have ever even been loved, I have certainly known the feeling of yearning for something that feels so close, yet just out of reach. “Superstar” encapsulates what I love so much about the Carpenters; their music brings with it a sense of wistful nostalgia that makes me feel as though I have lived within the world of the song. Perhaps it’s the lyrics, or Karen’s voice, or the comforting melodies, but I am instantly transported. And all at once, I am sitting in front of the radio and mourning along with the strings of my lost lover’s guitar.