Born in a “Single Stoplight town”, Carrie Underwood does not seem like the person to release the biggest selling single disc country album since the Dixie Chicks’ 2002 smash hit Home. She does not seem like the person to release such a fabulous fusion of classic country anthems and modern country-pop experimentations. That is, until you hear her sing.
Hailing from Checotah, Oklahoma, the 2005 American Idol winner won the hearts of the United States with her awe-inspiring vocal talent and down to earth, level headed manner, charging to victory with five hundred million votes throughout the season. Her debut single, the ballad Inside your heaven, smashed into the charts and catapulted her to country stardom. This album, her debut Some Hearts is further proof that Carrie Underwood is a one-woman talent truck smashing down the dirt roads of her homeland, and is making in-roads worldwide.
On first impressions, Some Hearts bears an uncanny resemblance to a Shania Twain chart topper that passed before it – a blend of country roots, pop tracks that are loved by all and some middle of the road songs to blend the two genres together seamlessly. However, listening to the album more attentively it soon distances itself from any comparisons to its Shania Twain precursor. The intricate attention to detail in the lyrics. The breathtaking voice. Shania Twain may be a classic, but this album is right up there with Twain’s greatest albums and, dare I say it, in some parts far surpassing any comparison to Twain with ease.
The fourteen tracks on Some Hearts are a well blended and well crafted mix of country ballads, upbeat anthems and everything in between. Some talk about heartbreak. Some talk about life. One track talks about Jesus, in the typical mid-west ‘Bible Belt’ style of Carrie’s upbringing, proving there is something here for everyone.
The opener, Wasted, is a massive, storming power ballad, released as a single from the album. Containing powerful, evocative lyrics such as “sometimes love slips away, and you just can’t get it back”, this song is the kind of song to provoke thought out of everyone, particularly if you are moving on from a close relationship. Even if you aren’t in a situation to relate to the lyrics, the song doesn’t fail to move you, especially with Carrie’s soaring voice.
Moving on is also a big theme in Don’t Forget to Remember Me, single number two. This slightly more upbeat ballad is about that time in life all parents secretly dread – their child moving away to start their adult lives. This song has a big personal meaning for Carrie; she moved to study broadcast journalism at North-eastern State University in Oklahoma, leaving behind her family and friends in her home town. The track allows Carrie’s vocals to relax and weave around a country string backing, with a memorable, infectious riff.
Before He Cheats. The title speaks for itself. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, so it is unsurprising that the song tells the story of a cheating boyfriend getting his just desserts from an angry Carrie. Be warned, country cowboys. Carrie is not the person to mess with!
The closing track on the album, debut single Inside your Heaven, is another big ballad, similar to Wasted. However, the two differ in subject. “Inside your heaven” is a love-filled ballad, gushing true adoration as well as true talent. The big notes sound like they have been written especially for Carrie. Also slightly less ‘country’ than opener Wasted, the choir-vocals and orchestral backing suit Carrie almost as much as the guitars and violins of her country roots.
Most of the songs on the album would also have deserved to be released as singles. In a similar style to Don’t forget to remember me, The night before (life goes on) is another song dealing with moving on and growing up. However, taking a different perspective and looking at the situation from the eyes of a lover that would be left behind, as well as the parents. Nostalgic whenever you remember has lyrics applicable for any reminiscing couple, regardless of whether they are still together or not. Its beautifully played piano and string backing compliment Carrie’s voice perfectly, as many of the tracks earlier in the album do.
I just can’t live a lie is another big ballad, talking about the breakdown of a relationship, but questioning whether it’s possible to live without this relationship despite its faults, and eventually deciding to move on anyways. We’re young and beautiful is a sexy country track aimed at the young couples. Once again, Carrie’s voice delivers the theme of the song, with slinky slopes and trills and powerful bursts. That’s where it is, is another one for the young couples, with romantic lyrics and harmonies, at a mid-point between country and pop genres, again showing Carrie’s versatility.
Deep ’n’ meaningful pop experimentation Lessons learned has some of the most thought-provoking lyrics on the entire album, and is a song that could easily influence anyone to change their outlook on life and take a more positive approach.
Title track Some Hearts is a chippy, chirpy pop track. Not quite as bubblegum as a pre-burnout Britney Spears, the track has a beaty backing and melodies packed tighter than the straw bales in your barn. However, infectious pre-teen-friendly lyrics combined with Carrie’s delivery of the song make it more bubblegum than the Power puff Girls in a Wrigley’s factory in comparison to the rest of the album.
Starts with Goodbye is another member of the ballads herd on the album. Starting with a quiet, ambling verse, it soon accelerates into a fully fledged Carrie-Ballad, with a true ‘stand up for the chorus’ feel to it. Slightly more poignant than Wasted and definitely more pop, this song adds to the ‘middle of the road’ feel on the album.
Most notably however is the storming I ain’t in Checotah anymore. A song personal to Carrie and her hometown, comparisons between her life as a small town country girl and a superstar fly with infectious lyrics and backing, and it’s guaranteed to have you singing in your Chevy truck.
However, Christian’s aside, Jesus Take the wheel is quite overpowering and to many it would seem as if Carrie was forcing her beliefs onto you through the lyrics. Although music lovers would praise Carrie’s singing of the track, unless you’re a devout Christian it is unlikely to appeal.
For a young artist’s debut, Some hearts displays the class and talent you’d expect from a seasoned artist, as opposed to a rookie from a reality television show. Songs that stay true to their genre. Songs that experiment with other styles. Songs that occupy a midpoint. Some Hearts has it all, in the big ballads, the love-songs, the anthems and the personal-touch songs. All of these tracks are performed to perfection by a truly talented American Idol. As the song says, “some hearts may just get all the right breaks”. Carrie certainly got a big break with American Idol, and now this album is sure to give her the perfect break onto the music scene and seal her superstardom for years to come.
I apologise now if it seems a bit off in places, but my teacher wanted me to play up the whole country theme and make more use of the semantics in order to get an A for it!
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x...Abi...x
Home > Checotah's Country Princess (i wrote this as a School assignment)
Checotah's Country Princess (i wrote this as a School assignment)
Born in a “Single Stoplight town”, Carrie Underwood does not seem like the person to release the biggest selling single disc country album since the Dixie Chicks’ 2002 smash hit Home. She does not seem like the person to release such a fabulous fusion of classic country anthems and modern country-pop experimentations. That is, until you hear her sing.
Hailing from Checotah, Oklahoma, the 2005 American Idol winner won the hearts of the United States with her awe-inspiring vocal talent and down to earth, level headed manner, charging to victory with five hundred million votes throughout the season. Her debut single, the ballad Inside your heaven, smashed into the charts and catapulted her to country stardom. This album, her debut Some Hearts is further proof that Carrie Underwood is a one-woman talent truck smashing down the dirt roads of her homeland, and is making in-roads worldwide.
On first impressions, Some Hearts bears an uncanny resemblance to a Shania Twain chart topper that passed before it – a blend of country roots, pop tracks that are loved by all and some middle of the road songs to blend the two genres together seamlessly. However, listening to the album more attentively it soon distances itself from any comparisons to its Shania Twain precursor. The intricate attention to detail in the lyrics. The breathtaking voice. Shania Twain may be a classic, but this album is right up there with Twain’s greatest albums and, dare I say it, in some parts far surpassing any comparison to Twain with ease.
The fourteen tracks on Some Hearts are a well blended and well crafted mix of country ballads, upbeat anthems and everything in between. Some talk about heartbreak. Some talk about life. One track talks about Jesus, in the typical mid-west ‘Bible Belt’ style of Carrie’s upbringing, proving there is something here for everyone.
The opener, Wasted, is a massive, storming power ballad, released as a single from the album. Containing powerful, evocative lyrics such as “sometimes love slips away, and you just can’t get it back”, this song is the kind of song to provoke thought out of everyone, particularly if you are moving on from a close relationship. Even if you aren’t in a situation to relate to the lyrics, the song doesn’t fail to move you, especially with Carrie’s soaring voice.
Moving on is also a big theme in Don’t Forget to Remember Me, single number two. This slightly more upbeat ballad is about that time in life all parents secretly dread – their child moving away to start their adult lives. This song has a big personal meaning for Carrie; she moved to study broadcast journalism at North-eastern State University in Oklahoma, leaving behind her family and friends in her home town. The track allows Carrie’s vocals to relax and weave around a country string backing, with a memorable, infectious riff.
Before He Cheats. The title speaks for itself. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, so it is unsurprising that the song tells the story of a cheating boyfriend getting his just desserts from an angry Carrie. Be warned, country cowboys. Carrie is not the person to mess with!
The closing track on the album, debut single Inside your Heaven, is another big ballad, similar to Wasted. However, the two differ in subject. “Inside your heaven” is a love-filled ballad, gushing true adoration as well as true talent. The big notes sound like they have been written especially for Carrie. Also slightly less ‘country’ than opener Wasted, the choir-vocals and orchestral backing suit Carrie almost as much as the guitars and violins of her country roots.
Most of the songs on the album would also have deserved to be released as singles. In a similar style to Don’t forget to remember me, The night before (life goes on) is another song dealing with moving on and growing up. However, taking a different perspective and looking at the situation from the eyes of a lover that would be left behind, as well as the parents. Nostalgic whenever you remember has lyrics applicable for any reminiscing couple, regardless of whether they are still together or not. Its beautifully played piano and string backing compliment Carrie’s voice perfectly, as many of the tracks earlier in the album do.
I just can’t live a lie is another big ballad, talking about the breakdown of a relationship, but questioning whether it’s possible to live without this relationship despite its faults, and eventually deciding to move on anyways. We’re young and beautiful is a sexy country track aimed at the young couples. Once again, Carrie’s voice delivers the theme of the song, with slinky slopes and trills and powerful bursts. That’s where it is, is another one for the young couples, with romantic lyrics and harmonies, at a mid-point between country and pop genres, again showing Carrie’s versatility.
Deep ’n’ meaningful pop experimentation Lessons learned has some of the most thought-provoking lyrics on the entire album, and is a song that could easily influence anyone to change their outlook on life and take a more positive approach.
Title track Some Hearts is a chippy, chirpy pop track. Not quite as bubblegum as a pre-burnout Britney Spears, the track has a beaty backing and melodies packed tighter than the straw bales in your barn. However, infectious pre-teen-friendly lyrics combined with Carrie’s delivery of the song make it more bubblegum than the Power puff Girls in a Wrigley’s factory in comparison to the rest of the album.
Starts with Goodbye is another member of the ballads herd on the album. Starting with a quiet, ambling verse, it soon accelerates into a fully fledged Carrie-Ballad, with a true ‘stand up for the chorus’ feel to it. Slightly more poignant than Wasted and definitely more pop, this song adds to the ‘middle of the road’ feel on the album.
Most notably however is the storming I ain’t in Checotah anymore. A song personal to Carrie and her hometown, comparisons between her life as a small town country girl and a superstar fly with infectious lyrics and backing, and it’s guaranteed to have you singing in your Chevy truck.
However, Christian’s aside, Jesus Take the wheel is quite overpowering and to many it would seem as if Carrie was forcing her beliefs onto you through the lyrics. Although music lovers would praise Carrie’s singing of the track, unless you’re a devout Christian it is unlikely to appeal.
For a young artist’s debut, Some hearts displays the class and talent you’d expect from a seasoned artist, as opposed to a rookie from a reality television show. Songs that stay true to their genre. Songs that experiment with other styles. Songs that occupy a midpoint. Some Hearts has it all, in the big ballads, the love-songs, the anthems and the personal-touch songs. All of these tracks are performed to perfection by a truly talented American Idol. As the song says, “some hearts may just get all the right breaks”. Carrie certainly got a big break with American Idol, and now this album is sure to give her the perfect break onto the music scene and seal her superstardom for years to come.
I apologise now if it seems a bit off in places, but my teacher wanted me to play up the whole country theme and make more use of the semantics in order to get an A for it!
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x...Abi...x