Leading up to the release of Carnival Ride, Carrie Underwood’s sophomore album was lauded as having a “more country” sound than her debut. Her cover of Randy Travis’ “I Told You” surely played a part in those proclamations, and when the steel guitar weaves throughout the song it might superficially sound that way. Here, however, the arrangement does little to complement the vocal, and if it’s possible, the steel sounds a little melodramatic (or at least superfluous) for this particular lyric and performance.
Aside from the country credibility argument, which can’t be ascertained one way or the other and doesn’t affect the recording’s quality, why would Underwood record this song? The most likely explanation is to pay tribute to Travis, and though it’s not amongst his best cuts, it does fit Underwood’s style. Unfortunately, with the vocal flourishes exhibited on Carnival Ride, that’s not necessarily a good thing. Underwood had the opportunity to reinterpret “I Told You So” and create something that stood apart from the original, but instead took a cut that’s already a bit over the top and went the wrong way.
Her direction on the first verse is a little much, but impressive nonetheless, and had she continued along that path, delivering the chorus with as much toned-down pathos, she would have done a good bit toward establishing some interpretive credibility. However, this is a song that could use more heartache, and when she delivers the chorus she’s just a woman singing a song. Although technically proficient, it’s not very moving.
Underwood has shown flashes of greatness at times with her live performances of “San Antonio Rose,” “Stand By Your Man,” and a tribute to Eddy Arnold at the ACMs last year with a version of “Make the World Go Away,” though none of those performances were risky ventures that strayed too far from the originals. So her first cover as an album cut (and subsequent single release) comes as a disappointment since it doesn’t capture the understated quality of her live performances or show any inclination toward making an artistic statement.
It’s probably safe to say that “I Told You So” wasn’t marked as a single release when Carnival Ride came out, which only augments the disappointment in Underwood’s missed opportunity to sequester concerns about her interpretive ability.
I wouldn't expect anything less from 9513. It is what they do when it comes to Carrie 99.9% of the time. So it's not a surprise coming from them at all.
i think that they know that carrie has a lot of talent but they dont think the material lives up to it, they are waiting for the moment she shows everyone why she is the best
i think that they know that carrie has a lot of talent but they dont think the material lives up to it, they are waiting for the moment she shows everyone why she is the best
Well, this song should have done it somewhat (and every other review we have seen about ITYS would seem to attest to that) but they seem to dislike Carrie no matter what so I wonder if whatever music she puts out would get any better comments.
i wish this wasnt posted here. not because i can't take a negative review, but its pretty obvious these guys just plain don't like her. one of their editors even called her a karaoke singer in the comments.
i wont be that surprised if they were this harsh on carrie because they know they'll get a storm of negative reactions, and hits on their site.
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Quote:
Underwood’s missed opportunity to sequester concerns about her interpretive ability.
So now people have moved on to complaining about her "interpretive ability." People just dig up things to complain about, IMO. Normally she's not country enough, and now that she's released a COUNTRY song, not pop/country, it's her interpretive ability. I think there are some people, some sites, that no matter what are going to find something to complain about. She can fix one thing, and they find another thing to complain about.
Oh, come on!!! ... TRADITIONAL COUNTRY CRITICS!!! ... Carrie Underwood should continually adapt her songs to changing needs and opportunities. Although this is a traditional country song, Carrie's version is "CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY" - "MARKET-ORIENTED INNOVATION WITH QUALITY ARTISTRY". Carrie's version is very dramatic in its musical cues, great pacing and with infectious vocal masterpiece!!! In today's music climate, Carrie Underwood should not follow your advice because she will end up NOT selling albums anymore like what happened to other traditional country singers or what you call in your own mind as "TRUE TRADITIONAL COUNTRY MUSIC SINGER WHO CAN NOT SELL ALBUMS ANYMORE". A STRONGER MARKET-ORIENTED STRATEGIES IS NECESSSARY ... THAT IS "CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY MUSIC". THIS KIND OF REVIEW IS GETTING OLD ALREADY. THE REASON WHY CARRIE UNDERWOOD HAS A "PHENOMENAL SUCCESS" IN HER CAREER IS BECAUSE SHE IS "CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY ARTIST"!!! PERIOD!!!
So now people have moved on to complaining about her "interpretive ability." People just dig up things to complain about, IMO. Normally she's not country enough, and now that she's released a COUNTRY song, not pop/country, it's her interpretive ability. I think there are some people, some sites, that no matter what are going to find something to complain about. She can fix one thing, and they find another thing to complain about.
Just how I see it.
Agreed. Before I would ignore those who would say they just had something against Carrie, I though people just couldn't take criticism but honestly it's obvious they have some problem with Carrie and anything and everything she does or sings.
^yea true but i was reading comments on their page and poeple were agreeing and saying other stuff
Yeah, but that is the norm. All the Carrie haters jump on articles that are against Carrie and start in agreeing. Many of the critics that don't give her much credit seem to even like this song but I agree with Jeff that based on history, these people just don't like her and probably never will, regardless of the material.
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woah a thumbs up for taylor but not Carrie...boo...lol
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well, since it's obvious that these people don't like carrie, and probably don't like ITYS anyway, i don't really care. (:
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Actually this whole thread is making me laugh! Granted that not every review and every person on this planet is going to appreciate and recognize the incredible talent of Carrie. I'm okay with that. I'm also over the top proud of the following:
Teen Choice Awards Choice Reality Star - female
Billboard Music Awards Top-Selling Hot 100 Song of the Year: "Inside Your Heaven"
Top-Selling Country Single: "Inside Your Heaven"
Country Single Sales Artist of the Year
Gospel Music Association Awards Country Recorded Song of the Year: "Jesus, Take the Wheel"
CMT Music Awards Female Video Of The Year: "Jesus, Take the Wheel"
Breakthrough Video of the Year: "Jesus, Take the Wheel"
Academy of Country Music Awards Top New Female Vocalist of the Year
Single Record of the Year: "Jesus, Take the Wheel"
NARP organization of record retail merchants Breakthrough Country Artist
Music Row Critics Pick
Country Music Association Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Horizon Award
12th Annual Inspirational Country Music Awards Mainstream Country Artist of the Year
American Music Awards Favorite New Breakthrough Artist
Billboard Music Awards Female Country Artist of the Year
Album of the Year
Country Album of the Year
Country New Artist of the Year
Female Billboard 200 Album Artist of the Year
Canadian Country Music Awards SOCAN Song of the Year: "Jesus, Take the Wheel"
Worf Music Awards Female Act of the year
New Act of the year
Album of the year for "Some Hearts"
Best Female Country Video of the year for "Jesus, Take the Wheel"
33rd People's Choice Awards Favorite Country Song: "Before He Cheats"
Favorite Female Singer
Grammy Awards Best New Artist
Best Female Country Vocal Performance: "Jesus, Take The Wheel"
CMT Music Awards Video of the Year: "Before He Cheats"
Female Video of the Year: "Before He Cheats"
Academy of Country Music Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Album of The Year: "Some Hearts"
Video of The Year: "Before He Cheats"
Country Music Association Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Single Of The Year: "Before He Cheats"
American Music Awards Favorite Country Female Artist
Favorite Country Album: "Some Hearts"
T-Mobile Text-In Award (Artist of the Year)
Billboard Music Awards Female Country Artist of the Year
Country Album for "Some Hearts"
Country Artist of the Year
Female Billboard 200 Artist of the Year
Country Albums Artist of the Year
Worf Music Awards Best Country Female Video for "Before He Cheats"
Best Contemporary Album for "Carnival Ride"
Grammy Awards Best Female Country Vocal Performance: "Before He Cheats"
Academy of Country Music Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
European Country Music Association Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Teen Choice Awards Red Carpet Fashion Icon
Country Music Association Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
American Music Awards Favorite Country Album: "Carnival Ride"
Billboard Music Awards Country Songs Artist of the Year
CMT Online Awards Most Digitally Active Female Artist
Most Streamed Country Song of the Year: "All-American Girl"
35th People's Choice Awards Favorite Country Song: "Last Name"
Favorite Female Artist
Favorite Star 35 and Under
Country Universe Reader’s Choice Awards Artist of the Year
Female Vocalist of the Year
Single of the Year- "Just a Dream"
Music Video of the Year- "Just a Dream"
Member of the Grand Ole Opry
I probably have missed a few of Carrie's Honors!
This one review is completely pointless when I look at all that Our Carrie has accomplished! Thankfully, many, many, many other "critics", voters, and actual important individuals in the music industry see things completely differently than 9513!
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