[wtalley1]

http://http://www.countryuniverse.net/2009/09/06/carrie-underwood-cowboy-casanova/

It’s been well established by this point that Carrie Underwood’s eighties pop/rock runs deep in her musical roots. Being part of the MTV generation, this isn’t surprising, as the days of country artists who were only exposed to country music are long gone.

Underwood draws on those roots more than she’s ever done on a traditional single, but fans from her Idol days will have flashbacks to her star-making performance of “Alone” when they listen to “Cowboy Casanova”, as Carrie does her very best to channel Ann Wilson and often pulls it off. I have to say that the verses are catchier than the chorus, though, and if you’re going to do eighties power pop, you need a stronger, bigger chorus.

That’s a shortcoming that speaks to the larger dilemma that “Cowboy Casanova” creates. There’s a large group of people who don’t want eighties pop anywhere near their country music, so this song will be a loser for them right out of the gate. For people like me, who get a kick out of cheesy cross-genre pollination, the track doesn’t go far enough. If you’re going to kick off the song with backing vocalists that sound like Tears For Fears, you might as well go all the way.

The comparisons to Shania Twain are inevitable here, and Underwood is on record as a big fan of Twain’s. The genius of Twain’s best work is that she made brilliant pop records with country instruments. It is very difficult to do pop well in the first place, let alone incorporate country instrumentation into it. On “Cowboy Casanova”, Underwood makes a strong attempt but doesn’t quite pull it off. We’re left with just a decent single that doesn’t feel quite country enough or quite pop enough to make it a keeper.

Grade: B-

[Jade_kt]

Not a great review but not a bad one either. At least they gave it a B- and coming from Country Universe that's pretty good.

[davilas]

Kevin's said tons of great things about Carrie's talent so I believe he gave this a fair shot. I disagree with his review and feel like he didn't talk enough about the song, like the vocals or the blues and rock influences or the lyrics. Also IMO the chorus is very catchy, just as catchy as the verses. But he's entitled to his opinion.

Also I was reading the comments in the other CC post they had there (they just linked to the song so people could listen to it). It seems like even among people who aren't big Carrie fans and might not like CC they're giving it more respect than some of Carrie's other songs because they're recognizing there's something there. Maybe it's just me who's seeing that in the comments.

[tri_con]

There are tons of great reviews out there on this song and we get these posts. I could find a hundred that are greatly positive but we seem to focus on the couple mediocre ones!

[judes]

Originally Posted by davilas

Kevin's said tons of great things about Carrie's talent so I believe he gave this a fair shot. I disagree with his review and feel like he didn't talk enough about the song, like the vocals or the blues and rock influences or the lyrics. Also IMO the chorus is very catchy, just as catchy as the verses. But he's entitled to his opinion.

Also I was reading the comments in the other CC post they had there (they just linked to the song so people could listen to it). It seems like even among people who aren't big Carrie fans and might not like CC they're giving it more respect than some of Carrie's other songs because they're recognizing there's something there. Maybe it's just me who's seeing that in the comments.

I agree with you here - usually Kevin is singing Carrie's praises and the commenters do not always agree - here the comments are interesting and I like the one that says she didn't follow what's popular on radio today but changed it up and tried to do something different and that's something we will get from Carrie now and in the future and I think that's one of the most exciting things about Carrie's work - she does take chances

[wtalley1]

Originally Posted by tri_con

There are tons of great reviews out there on this song and we get these posts. I could find a hundred that are greatly positive but we seem to focus on the couple mediocre ones!

Country Universe is generally fair with their reviews. I don't agree with this one so much but I've seen great reviews for Carrie as well. I posted another one that is really good from All About Music so go check it out.

[kewlie78189]

this is an iffy review..a middle one..not bad but not good...lol

[gaycarebear]

eh I just take this review with a grain of salt...as we all should with reviews like this...I love the single...and it will do very well on the country charts and hopefully the pop charts as well...I can see another number on our hands

[c.u. brought me here]

I never took reviewers seriously when using other artists as comparison to judge a song and try too technical. To me, they became music fans & not critics. It’s no different from us fans after hearing some cover songs and quickly conclude Carrie is better. Actually, it’s not hard to judge CC. if you are a critic following the music trend, you know this is not a serious but a fun, catchy song going to be a huge hit as it beg people to stop, listen and dance. Try to forget today problems for a minute. Plus, CC has a good message most dance music today do not have.

[NEILHUNK]

i hate this review. but what the heck, we all love the song and it will reach number 1 faster that you can say country universe. ehehehhe

[opry051008]

Reviews don't sell records. Ask Miranda Lambert.

[Farawayhills]

Interesting that the reviewer makes the connection with Ann Wilson. Although the general tone of the review is mixed - that connection is one that Carrie is likely to be pleased with.

These two artists respect and admire each other - you can see the positive vibe between them in this video:

YouTube- Carrie Underwood and Heart - Alone

[lab]

Originally Posted by Farawayhills

Interesting that the reviewer makes the connection with Ann Wilson. Although the general tone of the review is mixed - that connection is one that Carrie is likely to be pleased with.

These two artists respect and admire each other - you can see the positive vibe between them in this video:

YouTube - Carrie Underwood and Heart - Alone

Boy!!! Both of these two ladies are PHENOMENAL!!! Although it is not the same "Ann Wilson" when she recorded "Alone", Ann's vocal is still great. Carrie's vocal now is like the young Ann Wilson's vocal in 1987!!!


BUT, Carrie HAS TO RE-INVENT HERSELF!!! Carrie has to diversify and branch out slowly!!! We know that Carrie can sing wide-ranging styles of music WITH VERY SUPERIOR QUALITY OF HER VOCAL!!! "Cowboy Casanova" is a product of THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENTIRELY NEW STYLE OF SONG FROM CARRIE. This type of "country pop" song is "Carrie's ELEMENT"!!! Carrie's very infectious and very superior quality vocal RADIATES FROM THIS SONG "COWBOY CASANOVA". PHENOMENAL! "Cowboy Casanova" is FANTASTIC!

[jeff]

Originally Posted by davilas

Kevin's said tons of great things about Carrie's talent so I believe he gave this a fair shot. I disagree with his review and feel like he didn't talk enough about the song, like the vocals or the blues and rock influences or the lyrics. Also IMO the chorus is very catchy, just as catchy as the verses. But he's entitled to his opinion.

Also I was reading the comments in the other CC post they had there (they just linked to the song so people could listen to it). It seems like even among people who aren't big Carrie fans and might not like CC they're giving it more respect than some of Carrie's other songs because they're recognizing there's something there. Maybe it's just me who's seeing that in the comments.

its probably the first time i've seen him somewhat underwhelmed by carrie.

[Chuckerwood]

Who cares what Kevin has said in the past he missed the mark here big time. I think the song and his reveiw part company right from the start.His reveiw is forgettable CC isnt! This song isnt gonna change the world but its iconic in its style and delivery and will be played on the radio for decades to come! What reveiwers say really does not matter when a song is this good!
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[Jade_kt]

^^^Not to mention there are 12 other songs on the album that will be equally good if not better

[Mirasa45A]

Originally Posted by Jade_kt

^^^Not to mention there are 12 other songs on the album that will be equally good if not better

I hope Carrie saves the BEST for last !!

[Mirasa45A]

Originally Posted by jeff

its probably the first time i've seen him somewhat underwhelmed by carrie.

In my opinion, having read the Country Universe's articles before, they like a more traditional Country and NOT "pop country", that's all .

Besides, who cares about these critics --IF "Taylor Swift's "Our Song" can be at # 1 on country chart for 6 weeks, who cares about these critics --the most important is this song going to be more popular than most recent country songs lately !

[Hil]

Istill think it's her best fast single, so I'm not sure exactly what he's listening to. The chorus is plenty catchy enough,infact I find it catchier than the verses. Everyone can have their own opinion, but I think his assumption that Carrie didn't pull off the country/pop is just wrong, simple as that. I'm right and he's wrong. I'm always right though lol. j/k

[Mirasa45A]

Many critics may say that "Cowboy Casanova" is a mixture of Country, pop, and R & B -- but, this is the genius of this song. This song is going to be "Commercially very Successful". One must always remember that no matter what, a recording industry is a "BUSINESS" !!!