Carrie Underwood - "I Told You So"
By: Matt Bjorke
Last Updated: January 19, 2009 2:00 PM
Country music is all about emotion and true to life lyrics and it seems that the industry has recycled themes over and over again. They used to do this by simply recording new versions of classic hits over the years but right about the time albums became available on CD, very few songs seemingly got recycled that way. Instead the labels recycled music by borrowing similar melodies and re-writing the same ten, then 5 songs over and over again. It became a copycat industry in many cases, following whatever label hit big with an original artist. While Carrie Underwood started out on American Idol, a show which is all about recycling old songs, she became very much her own; due to her uncanny ear for hit songs. Having sold nearly 10 million albums in only 4 years on the charts, Underwood now has the cache and respect of the radio industry to step-out on a limb to release a song that is a recycled song in the old sense.
Randy Travis’ “I Told You So” was a masterful hit for him in 1988 and Underwood’s slightly altered the song to fit the modern production values but in the end it is basically the same. Backed by solid country fills (the steel guitar and fiddles are not mixed to oblivion –except in the chorus--), the lyric is about telling a long-time love that they can in fact live without them, something that people of all races and economic stature have gone through.
Even though there’ll be some traditionalists out there who will hate the song for the simple fact that it was Underwood and not someone like Josh Turner releasing the single, this song is very much a welcomed addition to the charts. Sure, Carrie does ‘over sing’ the title a bit in the chorus; the rest of the song is no doubt her best and truest country single to date. The girl was flat-out born to sing country songs and only an idiot wouldn’t agree. Hopefully the success of this single at radio (where it should have a great chance at getting to #1 just like all of her other singles) will have Underwood pushing for a few more traditional-leaning tracks on the next record, or at least songs with more fiddle solos and fills and less bombastic production and vocal stretching, something we all agree will make Underwood an even bigger star.
Read the lyrics here.
READER'S COMMENTS
Paul S. says:
Posted: Friday, January 9, 2009
Great review! I am happy to see some positive comments for Carrie, as she is a very talented vocalist who is trying to stay true to country, unlike some. I respect her for not remixing her songs to pop radio like Taylor is doing shamelessly, as the other poster mentioned. Carrie does a great job on this song... and I don't feel that she over-sings at all. I read that Randy Travis loved Carrie's version of the song as well.
Francesca says:
Posted: Friday, January 9, 2009
Nice review! I agree with your review completely. I think Carrie does a wonderful job on this song too. I also don't understand where the hate comes from for Carrie, who is a nice person with alot of talent. Rick, what is your problem with Carrie's vocals anyway? She is incredibly talented. I just don't understand why you attack her so much.
TexasFan says:
Posted: Friday, January 9, 2009
Carrie doea an AMAZING job covering this song... and I am tired of the hate, bias, and close minds of some of you usual suspects. Carrie is one of the most talented vocalists out there right now in ANY genre, and she is bringing alot of new fans to the genre. Carrie also stayed true to country by refusing to remix her songs to pop radio like Taylor Swift is doing on every song. Carrie lost alot of money in album sales by refusing to go on pop radio or MTV to remix her songs or promote herself there...because she wanted to stay true to country, unlike Taylor, who is shamelessly using the country genre to make herself famous, all the while trying to become a pop star. It is so obvious what she is doing. Instead of giving Carrie credit for what she is trying to do, you haters just attack her blindly as usual, out of hate, bias, and blind prejudice. Carrie's voice is like an angel: she is the best talent to come along since Martina, and that is saying alot. I love Trisha, Martina, Reba, etc., but I rank Carrie up there as an equal to them vocally. I don't care if you laugh or bash me for saying that, because it is the truth, and even the Grammy voters know it. Carrie wouldn't be continuously recognized by so many critics and award shows if she wasn't amazing.. which she is. Carrie is also a nice person, who was rasied on a FARM in podunk Oklahoma... so if that isn't COUNTRY enough for you, being from California (lol), then you are being a hypocrite. If you are going to trash someone for being too pop or having no talent, I would think you would be trashing the Talent-less Taylor Swift, who remixes all her songs to pop radio shamelessly with no repercussions by the so-called Traditionalists here. Since when is it acceptable to remix your "country" songs to pop radio, and have no backlash from Nashville? Taylor is doing it openly with no shame on every single song she releases...and there is even a club remix of Love Story out now. Pathetic! The girl cannot sing to save her life, and yet she gets away with the very thing Shania, Leanne Rimes, and Faith Hill were attacked for just a few years ago: remixing to pop radio to manipulate sales. It is sad that Nashville is becoming quite hypocritical these days. They bashed Faith, Shania, Leanne Rimes back in the day for releasing songs that were too pop, or for remixing them. Now, Taylor does this and no one says Boo. They just continue to play her bubble gum pop songs to pollute my radio, and they applaud her sales, when they ignore the fact that most of Taylor's album sales are to pop fans under the age of 15, who will NEVER buy a real country album to save their soul. They even think Carrie Underwood is too country for them, so that should tell you something right there. Carrie is the real deal, and is as country as any of you judging her. She is also an amazing vocalist, and should not be continuously attacked for no reason other then bias against her for coming from American Idol. Even Patsy Cline, Leanne Rimes, Miranda Lambert, Frank Sinatra, etc., were discovered on Star Search or Nashville Star, etc. The Great Patsy Cline, who I love to death, was discovered on a talent show. So how is it ok for her, but not ok for Carrie? Wonderful review, by the way. Sorry for ranting but I am sick of the same people bashing Carrie on every site, unfairly. This song is amazing, and Carrie does a great job!
Leeann Ward says:
Posted: Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Oops! I think I read what you said incorrectly. You said country music and not traditional country music. So, the premise of my below argument may be pointless. Sorry! I need to work on my comprehension skills?
Leeann Ward says:
Posted: Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Although I definitely don't doubt her commitment to the genre, I've heard her sing good covers of traditional songs and I respect her as an artist, I don't really feel that her voice is made to sing traditional country music. I just don't here it that way. She's meant to sing and she does a superb job of it, but there are some voices that I can only imagine singing country music and there are others that could easily fit into other genres. To my ears, Carrie is in the latter category. She doesn't necessarily sound best singing the traditional and she certainly doesn't sound out of place when she's not singing traditional stuff either. For example, Randy Travis, for one, only sounds like he's in his element when he's singing traditional stuff. When he sings untraditional country music and tries to move toward a more contemporary sound,his voice just doesn't seem to fit. So, to me, he's one who is "meant to sing traditional country music." This isn't a knock on Carrie in any way, just how I hear her as a vocalist.
Matt B. says:
Posted: Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Leeanne, Maybe they will but I believe it. It could come off as 'fanboyish' on my part but it's not hyperbole; She was born to sing songs like this (or traditional-minded stuff) and not the more pop-star like stuff of "Before He Cheats" (which she still does well).
Leeann Ward says:
Posted: Tuesday, January 6, 2009
"The girl was flat-out born to sing country songs and only an idiot wouldn’t agree." Wow! That's quite a statement! I don't mind this song (though it's not one of my favorite Travis songs), love Vince's vocals on it and even like it better than the original, but I wonder if the above quote might be a bit more testy than you intended?I'm thinkin' there are a lot of "idiots" out there who would disagree with you.:)
Blake Boldt says:
Posted: Monday, January 5, 2009
So true, so true, Matt. This isn't my favorite song of hers, but she's toned down the wailing and it's a relatively understated production.
Rick says:
Posted: Monday, January 5, 2009
Oh my heavens, the reigning queen of "Fembot Idol Country" music is out to prove her traditional country credibility. Sorry Carrie but this SoCal redneck ain't biting. I just don't care for Carrie's vocals and the type of material she sings is irrelevant to me. Carrie could make an album of great classic country covers and given the choice I'd rather be nibbled to death by ducks than listen to it.... (HA! If that doesn't rile up some of Carrie's loyal boy and girl fanbots, nothing will! Gee, I hope Sunny Sweeney doesn't read this....)