Carrie Underwood – “So Small”
Carrie Underwood just released her first single, “So Small,” from her sophomore album to radio and I expect it easily top the charts by the time its run is through. Her vocal performance is nothing short of impressive, but I don’t think anyone has come to expect anything less.
With only one co-writing credit from her debut album, Underwood has another to add to her collection with “So Small,” and several more will follow with the release of her upcoming album. The lyric was just average, but I don’t anticipate that slowing the song down at all because the subject of the song is going to appeal to a lot of people and Carrie’s exceptional vocal elevates it to another level. Despite thinking it’s only an average song, I don’t think it’s plagued by the pitfalls that are so common amongst current radio offerings and it shows promise as Underwood matures as a writer.
The only real knock I have against the song (it’s a small one) is that it plays it safe and doesn’t veer too far from her tried and true format. Everyone knows that Carrie can sing with the best of them, so why not give us something off the beaten path. As long as she’s having the kind of success she is experiencing with the material she is familiar with, though, I don’t think anything will change too soon, but that’s A-OK with continued performances like this.
After all, while listening to this song, I couldn’t shake the impression that Carrie Underwood is a juggernaut with the full support of the industry behind her, and no one is going to slow her down anytime soon. It’s Carrie Underwood’s world, we’re just living in it.
Listen: Carrie Underwood – “So Small”
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[...] going to slow her down anytime soon. It’s Carrie Underwood’s world, we’re just living in it." Carrie Underwood – “So Small” — The 9513 (Moderators I’m not sure where to post [...]
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July 31, 2007 at 12:36 pm Permalink
We all know Carrie has a powerhouse voice, but sometimes her voice is SO big that it becomes a bit overwhelming. I wish that her delivery on this song was more intimate, more restrained in places.
July 31, 2007 at 12:53 pm Permalink
Carrie’s voice shines during this song. It’s expected of her to power that voice. After this song becomes a #1 let’s see what is next. Knowing her, the next song will be completely different, lol.
July 31, 2007 at 2:38 pm Permalink
The success of Some Hearts was built upon introducing different aspects of Carrie’s sound and personality through the different singles. Hopefully, Carrie will do the same with her upcoming album.
I agree that it is Carrie’s vocal that really elevates this song and makes it so likable (and, I would argue, compelling). It’s a decent though not great lyrical treatment of a theme that should resonate widely. I wish Mark Bright had left more to Carrie’s voice in the latter half of the song, instead of crowding in all that background orchestration. It gets the job done, but I can’t help but think that less would have been more.
All in all, “So Small” represents a good, if predictable, start for Carrie’s new album cycle. I hope she builds on it with the diversity and nuance in the rest of her new material.
July 31, 2007 at 7:40 pm Permalink
The production bit is a valid criticism, Dudley, and I tend to agree, but I think with Carrie’s vocal, there’s not much that is going to slow the song down.
Jim, a softer more intimate vocal performance would have been interesting and I probably would have enjoyed it more. I don’t know if it would have been enough to elevate the lyric, though, and made the song more successful than it will be in its current incarnation.
July 31, 2007 at 10:16 pm Permalink
I think the song is excellent…and I think that although Carrie “stripped” of all the orchestration is awesome (e.g. “I’ll Stand By You” for the AI charity); I think that this is exactly what the fans want to hear from her right now. When we have a whole album to choose from, variety will be welcome. But for the only release in what feels like a long, long time, I think we all wanted to hear the powerhouse Carrie doing her thing.
August 1, 2007 at 12:51 pm Permalink
All I can say is wow! She just keeps putting out great music and everything goes straight to #1! This is definitly a great song with a rock-edge that’s a fresh breeze to Country music! Carrie’s voice soars as usual, as well as the message behind the lyrics. Keep them coming Carrie!
August 1, 2007 at 9:55 pm Permalink
I agree with Jan, when we have the whole album of songs to choose from, the big vocal and big production may not be our favorite. But for a starter single that we have been waiting a long time for, this is great! I also agree that no matter how weak the lyric, her voice just makes it “OK”!
August 3, 2007 at 9:54 am Permalink
This is a very weak song for a lead off single. Of course it will debut high because radio programmers will add it quickly because of the momentum of the artist but this song is very weak and does not deserve a top 10 hit. Just listen to it, it has no melody, sounds dull and just the same as a couple of songs from her first album. Jesus Take the Wheel at least sounded better and had a better melody.
And the review you wrote is quite over the top. What did the industry pay you to say that?
Carrie Underwood is still an opening act who for the moment has the industry support but that changes in a second. If she tries to cross over with her next song then it is over for her.
Only big stars like Shania who changed the face of country music and created her own sound and is a huge worldwide star can do what she wants. Shania because bigger than country music by doing her own thing and creating her own music.
Underwood has long,long,long way to eve reach superstar status. She has to first headline her own major tour on her own.
the world is big out there and global artists like Shania are the ones with the power.
Country music and America is only a small part of the music world.
My point is that this song that you tried to praise in your review is one of the worst lead off singles I have ever heard and anyone who says otherwise was paid by the industry.
August 3, 2007 at 10:00 am Permalink
Yo Brady, I expect a cut of that money you’re being paid.
August 3, 2007 at 10:16 am Permalink
Sounds like someone has some beef with Carrie Underwood. First off, I pointed out that the lyric was just average and that it didn’t venture very far from her sound. Secondly, the only part of the review that was over the top was the last sentence and it was written in good fun, so get over yourself.
The rest of your pointless comment is a senseless diatribe. If you wanted to get technical and compare Shania vs. Carrie, you’d have to limit it to their debut albums, but that’d be ridiculous. Why do people feel like they always have to compare the two?
My point is that this isn’t as terrible of a single as you try to make it out to be and anyone who says otherwise is sucking on Shania Twain’s teat.
August 3, 2007 at 10:25 am Permalink
Brady, yeah it is quite stupid to compare anyone to Shania since Shania got no support from Nashville,did her own thing and became the biggest country female of alltime globally.
Your site seems to take jabs at Shania so I came here to check it out. Shania changed the face of country music forever and took all the heat. she got no support from Nashville and got no support from the industry.
I don’t have a beef with Underwood since I don’t hear her much where I live and I don’t follow country music too closely ever since they snubbed Shania 10 years ago.
My point is with this over the top butt kissing that goes on.
Maybe most artists should show class like Shania who is the bigget selling country female of alltime. she livea a private and reclusive life in Switzerland and New Zealand, she never brags about her accomplishments, she stays away from contraversy and she has shown class her whole career. Shania is a music icon who has been treated unfairly for a decade by the industry. Shania and Mutt did it all on their own with any support and shania became a global icon.
And just your last comment above proves the attitude most people have towards Shania.It is all jealousy and hatred.
August 3, 2007 at 12:59 pm Permalink
“Your site seems to take jabs at Shania so I came here to check it out.”
Left field, what? Aside from that sentence not making sense, I don’t recall anyone from The 9513 ever taking jabs at Shania.
August 3, 2007 at 3:23 pm Permalink
This sounds extremely similar to a letter we got at Country Weekly the other day. Apparently we hate Shania too, which was surprising to learn because I don’t believe we’ve ever printed an unkind word about her. It’s just hard to constantly find reasons to make mention of an artist who hasn’t made a new album since 2002.
In any event, I don’t find much reason to compare Carrie to Shania anyway. Their styles are extremely different.
August 3, 2007 at 5:54 pm Permalink
Chris, do you get to sit around reading fan mail and commenting on The 9513 all day? That’d be pretty sweet. And yeah, I’ve seen this person’s comments on the site they came from and it’s more of the same.
August 4, 2007 at 10:17 pm Permalink
Chris and Brady. Sorry but but I don’t write letters to countryweekly and don’t read their magazine. I found them to be totally bias against Shania a decade ago and since then they try and discredit her. Many,many Shania fans feels this way around the world so maybe one of them took time to write and say what they feel.
And you are right there is nothing to compare. Shania changed the face of country music with her sound and style and how she made it okay for woman to take charge and do their own thing. Shania is considered a music icon on a global status and her albums are favorites wordlwide and her songs are staples worldwide. I just came here to comment AI singer Carrie Underwoods lead off single which is a very weak single for a lead off.Radio programmers push who has momentum on the charts at the moment not what people are requestiong. They try and push an arist and make you believe you should listen to them.
Long gone are the days when you huge stars like Shania who tracend genres and do their own thing.
Artists nowadays are contolled by the industry and manufactured through American Idol some other way.
there is nothing to compare. If you want to compare then compare 2 AI singers.
As for Shania not having a new album since 2002. Shania does things her way. She doesn’t put out an album every one or two years just for the sake of putting it out.
And her career is much different than other country acts, Shania is globally respected and loved for her music so she has to make music for the whole world not just country american fans. Shania has a huge global career and she and her husband make music from scratch so it takes longer plus the fact that she is busy with her son and doing her charities for kids. Plus she is writing and recording music for her next albumt to be released next year.
Shania is not one of those artists or lesser acts like Faith HIll who needs to be in the spotlight to be remembered or cause contraversy to get attention. Shania is a music icon known worldwide and people love her music.
August 5, 2007 at 9:04 pm Permalink
This song is what Carrie’s fans expected it to be. It shows off her powerhouse voice beautifully. I get chills every time I hear it. The chorus is unbelievably moving. She proved in her first album that she can mix up tempo and style. I don’t expect anything different in this one. If this song is an indication of the quality of the music on the second album, I wouldn’t be surprised if she has another multi-platinum album to add to her list of accomplishments.
August 5, 2007 at 10:51 pm Permalink
“Chris, do you get to sit around reading fan mail and commenting on The 9513 all day?”
The really sad part? Reading fan mail and commenting on The 9513 are a couple of the things I do for kicks while I’m taking a break from my actual job shaping the future of country music.
August 8, 2007 at 9:51 pm Permalink
Please tell us, oh wise one, what does the future have in store for us?
August 9, 2007 at 8:36 am Permalink
If I told you, then it wouldn’t be a surprise.
August 20, 2007 at 1:37 am Permalink
I can see Carrie’s future is gonna be something we havent seen in quite awhile she has such unlimited possibilities sky isnt the limt for this Darling of an Angel Universe is where this star’s limits are going to end up She has so much more hidden talent within herself she’s not even aware of I can Honestly say she will be going down in History Books as a Queen.Not just an American Idle but an Idle the whole World will be talking about for Generations to come watch and see.Also hear rumor she just might team up with New Artist alot has been written about his Life.His singing abilities were never mentioned once tho.There is gonna be some exciting endevors happening in world. should I say Carries World, Think was given to her as gift Imagine that.The Son of the Creator of Earth Just up and gives it to her as gift,Carries Earth. actually has good ring to it.The son must really care about Carrie and carrrie’n about Earth.So that make her Queen of Queens wouldnt it? by SOCALBOY/JC
December 3, 2007 at 9:35 am Permalink
dear carrie underwood will you be my real girlfriend i do love you & your dog i hope we will be girlfried&boyfriend if you want two i want us to be togarther as the real gilriend&boyfriend you are my ture love & i am in your ture love two i really care a bout you my love to a spacale girl that i love i love you carrie underwood love from your real boyfriend joey carpenter
December 3, 2007 at 12:48 pm Permalink
Oh my.
September 26, 2009 at 2:00 pm Permalink
She has the knack for choosing amazing first singles from her CD’s, “Jesus, Take the Wheel”, “So Small”, and now the impressive “Cowboy Casanova.” It’s great that she has achieved superstardom without letting it go to her head. She is pure amazement!
September 26, 2009 at 2:05 pm Permalink
You think Carrie Underwood chooses her own singles?
September 26, 2009 at 2:21 pm Permalink
She definitely has a hand in it. I mean, she even helped cowrite “So Small” and “Cowboy Casanova”. Because of her status in the music industry today, they are not going to force her to do something that she would be totally against. Carrie has a mind of her own and she displays it beautifully. This 3rd CD plus every one that follows will be something that Carrie approves of.
September 26, 2009 at 4:58 pm Permalink
Dan,
I doubt that Carrie writes much of these songs except maybe a basic idea or word or two or three.
September 26, 2009 at 6:50 pm Permalink
I have my doubts that she can write.
September 26, 2009 at 8:02 pm Permalink
Where does Carrie display having any opinions?
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