Carrie Underwood – “Temporary Home”

Carrie’s best song to date is “Just a Dream” (which I believe got a thumbs up).

I agree with JM on this review. Carrie has one of the best voices in country music but continually settles for sub-par material. She should keep her songwriting to a minimum too.

Ron – Carrie definitely needs a new musical adviser. While she has an excellent voice, she has recorded a large number of unworthy songs. I appreciate that you are a fan of Ms Underwoods BUT there is a huge difference between being a discerning fan and being a fanatic

In about ten years’ time when you go back and listening to these recordings (assuming you haven’t jumped on the next PYT’s bandwagon) you’ll see what Jim and other discerning fans are saying now.

As for credibility, the reviewer who fawns and slobbers over everything an artist does, is the reviewer who lacks credibility and cannot be trusted for consumer guidance.

The fact that Carrie Underwood wrote “Temporary Home” does not, perforce, make it a good song. It does mean she makes some extra money from having it on her album, and that may have been her objective

Carrie Underwood is physically very attractive. If she looked like Susan Boyle, I wonder how many albums she’d sell and if folks like you would be here diehard fans. Hmmmm

…country music is crap! this dog does not help at all to counter such points of view.

I forgot to comment an the actual song here – it’s mediocre – doesn’t drive me off, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to find it either

Paul W Dennis: Carrie is a steady seller as well. This isn’t just her latest album, it’s all three of her albums. You have covered Susan Boyle and now Frank Sinatra. Anybody else?

Thomas: You’re at least right about one thing. This song will go to the top of the charts. You just have a messed up reasoning to why it will get there.

“Carrie’s best song to date is “Just a Dream” (which I believe got a thumbs up). ”

Yes, but the perplexingly, the reviewer (not Jim, in fairness) decided that the lyrics were a literal representation of a bride who thought she was going to her wedding and opened the church doors only to discover to her surprise that it was her fiance’s funeral. It was astonishing (and kind of hilarious, I confess).

Jim, I think the problem is not so much the consistency with which you beat the song selection drum when it comes to Carrie, but the rank inconsistency you show in the level of scrutiny you give her songs versus those of other mainstream artists. You seem willing to overlook/forgive an awful lot in other artists’ songs, but never Carrie’s. Now you might say that is because you think the gulf between Carrie’s talent and song selection is just that wide. But I’ve seen you give Miranda, whom I consider mainstream country’s most talented singer-songwriter (and probably the one with the best taste) a pass for some very below-her-standards writing (I would cite your over-the-top review of “White Liar,” which was the ultimate in style-over-substance thinking). I’ve also seen you give an Emily West number a major pass for things you have complained about in Carrie songs (and let me be clear that I think Emily West is a terrific talent with some really, really good songs).

I think what it boils down to is that you’re just more willing to indulge other artists than you are Carrie because you find it easier to connect to their work. That’s fine — we all have our biases and the notion that a reviewer is going to be able to cancel his/hers out is silly. I think it would be helpful if you acknowledged yours because at this point, this pose in which you keep affirming your belief in Carrie’s talent before bemoaning her song choice is starting to look like a reaction to the accusations of unfairness and bias more than a response to her songs on their own merits (or lack thereof). And your repeat attempts to prove that you have given her songs balanced consideration have resulted, in my view, in some rather disingenuous-sounding, repetitive and uninteresting reviews. To your credit, you did tone down the hyperbolic tendencies in your writing for this particular review.

I disagree that this song would have the same feel in the hands of someone like Martina McBride or Sara Evans. I think Sara would have underscored the hard-luck aspect of these characters’ stories to a greater degree. Martina’s version would, I think, be more comparable if she delivered a vocal along the lines of the one she gives in “House of a Thousand Dreams,” but I think Carrie’s voice would ultimately convey more of a need to believe that better awaits us both in this world and beyond. It’s a fun parlor game to imagine the differences, anyway.

To me, “Temporary Home” is a conventional but moving song that transcends its predictability because of a fully invested vocal from Carrie. I found myself connecting to its presentation of shared humanity no matter our station in life, and I found myself moved by Carrie’s hopeful but not didactic presentation of her faith.

DAN E “This is an amazing song by Carrie”

You just lost any credibility you might have had. Only shallow and clueless morons use the term “amazing” when discussing fashion, music or literature. Plus, you really didn’t respond to my comment on Susan Boyle – would you get so hot and bothered over criticism of Carrie if she looked like Susan Boyle ??? Be honest, if that’s possible(which I doubt)

I think the best word to use to describe this song is contrived. Which I think is what this review was trying to say in so many words. Which is basically what I have a problem with in most of today’s music (it is contrived). That, and the music of today is more of a thought based off of a feeling, rather than a feeling based off of a thought.

As far as Carrie’s vocals go…just sing the song and quit trying to do vocal acrobats. I cannot stand it when a singer tries to hit the high notes in a song just for the sake of hitting the high notes. It makes the delivery and interpretation of the song that much less emotional. And I could not finish this song because I knew it was more about finding the emotion on the singers terms rather than on my own. I need to feel something on my own terms, not someone else’s.

Anyway, overall I would say that I cannot like today’s mainstream music because I feel like I am being manipulated to do so. It’s not about the music today, it’s about popularity and personality and image. And we all know how popular opinion works. It is always someone else’s agenda to see to it that it is popular opinion to begin with. And I am not about to like something or dislike something based off of what someone else wants me to like or dislike. I’ll find that on my own terms…and in today’s world that seems practically impossible. So I guess I don’t like or dislike much of anything out there today…but I’m not buying it or listening to it either.

I know Dan E. said in a previous thread that I don’t like today’s music because I simply don’t like the music. No, that’s too easy, and only a small part of the equation. I don’t like today’s music because I don’t like the artists the Industry is promoting today, and basically telling us what is good and what isn’t. The listening audience is not picking the winners and losers, the Industry is. Sorry, but everything and everyone sounds the same to me today (there really are no unique voices anymore)…that’s what happens when you base music off of personality and image rather than substance and creativity.

Anyway, if the music industry didn’t seem to be trying so hard to manipulate people into buying the music and the artists it is promoting today, maybe more people would buy it and listen to it, and it would actually be about the music and the artists defining a generation again, rather than the popularity and personality and image of certain artists defining the music and our generation. Which is another reason why today’s music and artists are not timeless, and will be forgotten. It’s called Reality….and TV is not at the end of that word. I want reality back without the manipulation. But perhaps it is too late for that. And I am not about to fight a battle that will one day self destruct anyway.

Just my opinions of course.

Ben: You really need to read more thoroughly, because I have never insinuated this at all. I am going to defend her though because I personally love her music. I also don’t like it when other people make careless comparisons that don’t even make sense. A lot of people don’t like Carrie on this site. Most people on this board can give their opinion about her in a respectful way, a few can’t.

Let’s just get these points out of the way now:

- Selling a crapload of records does not necessarily make an artist good.

- Even if an artist is good, that doesn’t exempt them from criticism of individual songs or albums.

- Yes, we know she has a great voice. That’s not the problem here, it’s the lyrics.

- Yes, we know she’s a good Christian girl singing about Christian themes. That doesn’t necessarily make it good either.

- The 9513 doesn’t have an agenda against any artist. If someone seems to be getting a lot more bad reviews than others, it means either 1) you’re ignoring the good reviews to focus on the bad, or 2) they deserved the bad reviews.

Jim went out of his way in the first couple paragraphs to be fair to Carrie, and it’s a pretty accurate review. This is one of her better singles, but it’s held back by the bland lyrics.

The Carrie fans who will inevitably flood this thread also need to keep in mind that all thumbs down ratings are not created equal. If The 9513 were using letter grades like other sites, a thumbs down wouldn’t necessarily be an F. There are songs that have gotten thumbs downs here that could probably go as high as a B if we were using letter grades.

Oh, and I forgot:

it’s impact is blunt

Get a proofreader while you’re at it.

There are songs that have gotten thumbs downs here that could probably go as high as a B if we were using letter grades.

Then to lesson the confusion I suggest you start using letter grades.

But I’ve seen you give Miranda, whom I consider mainstream country’s most talented singer-songwriter (and probably the one with the best taste) a pass for some very below-her-standards writing (I would cite your over-the-top review of “White Liar,” which was the ultimate in style-over-substance thinking). I’ve also seen you give an Emily West number a major pass for things you have complained about in Carrie songs (and let me be clear that I think Emily West is a terrific talent with some really, really good songs).

You forgot Jim’s masterpiece of twists and turns and knots on Love Story! Thumbs up y’all!

Trish says, “Carrie has sold 10 million albums and has 11 consecutive #1 singles including 10 #1’s off her first two albums which has never been done in country music history. Jim, you have been in the small minority with your constant negative reviews.”

But how does her selling those albums make people who don’t care for her music in “the small minority?” My guess is that only a fraction of the people who have heard Underwood have bought her music. The majority is those who have heard her music but not deemed it worth buyings (same could be said for virtually all singers, of course).

You cant understand or believe that the individuals described in the story are not real? Foster children and single mothers, there are countless such people. Yes, Carrie did not go the Taylor route and decide to name a kid she might have met or ask a songwriter to give up a name, but that is low classy and frankly not necessary. The sentiment in this song is gorgeous and so is her vocal delivery. But the king about the lyrics of this song is that it is so general. Yes its simple, but here it works. It could apply to anyone who is in a transitional state in their livess.

Sam- Right, your last sentence just negates your whole post. “My guess is that only a fraction of the people who have heard Underwood have bought her music. The majority is those who have heard her music but not deemed it worth buyings (same could be said for virtually all singers, of course”

NM-

“Ron wrote: At some point you are going to wake up & realize that all this hasn’t had any harmful effect on Carries career or chart topping ability. Yeah, Jim, you egomaniac, stop thinking you can make or break mainstream radio favorites. Stop your evil, evil plan to damage Carrie’s career.

Do readers really believe that the reviewers here are that deluded?”

No, he doesnt think the reviewers are deluded, and i hope not on this site, because most of the songs downgraded by this site for Carrie have become her biggest hits and even won grammys( last name) But to think they reviewers here, at least judging from the inconsistent reviews, don’t have an agenda or bias is not far fetched.

Lorria, having particular tastes is not the same thing as having an agenda, plan, plot, hidden motive, scheme, or whatever you want to call it. It almost amazes me (see above for definition) that people claim not to be able to make this distinction.

Before this train gets on line for Crazy Town …

Too late.

I would think Carrie’s fans would appreciate that I recognize her improvement.

Not so much because even after that you DO sound like a broken record. I’m amazed that you do acknowledge such things.

I think you already have templates of reviews ready for Carrie songs. Then you just fill in the blanks, and plug and play, and voila, another thumbs down!

It’s hard to relate to, or have much sympathy for, people who we know aren’t real.

Yeah, because the song didn’t name any characters, they’re not real. Awesome. Meanwhile, Bernice is like this unique redhead only Miranda can ever come up with, imagine, or known (And I love White Liar).

Dan – if what you said is true “Carrie Underwood always ‘astonishes’ and ‘astounds’ me whenever she releases new music. I’m always ‘overwhelmed with wonder’ in realizing she keeps getting better and better as time goes by. Therefore, Carrie Underwood is by far AMAZING, and she does it so well.”

Either you haven’t had much of a life or you are very gullible. I don’t know which is more pathetic

-30-

(I’ll let you look up what that means)

Dan – if what you said is true “Carrie Underwood always ‘astonishes’ and ‘astounds’ me whenever she releases new music. I’m always ‘overwhelmed with wonder’ in realizing she keeps getting better and better as time goes by. Therefore, Carrie Underwood is by far AMAZING, and she does it so well.”

Why not? Is Jim Malec the only one here ALLOWED to engage in such overwrought exaggeration and hyperbole, albeit on the other side of the coin?

Paul W Dennis: So liking an artist and enjoying their music means you don’t have a life? You must not like anybody, because then you would be just as pathetic. You need to grow up and realize that people don’t have to share the same tastes in music as you. Go figure.

If you would have written “Carrie Underwood is utter trash, a talentless blond and despicable shame to country music” instead, you would have gotten lots of high-fives and chest bumps here.

Wrong. There’s no need to try to misrepresent opinions you don’t agree with.

Brady, I disagree. Seems like in the comments section, the only way people will take you seriously is if you agree with Malec and several others who don’t like Carrie, and if you put an opinion which is for Carrie, but certainly nothing screamy fangirly or fanboyish, you’re just dismissed as a bitter Carrie fan who don’t know anything about music. And who should be the judge anyway of what music one should like or should not?

That’s why I don’t think it’s too far-fetched that if you write Carrie Underwood is a talentless hack, a lot of people here will be in sudden agreement.

Wow, one person finds Carrie Underwood’s music amazing, and another doesn’t. How can this be?!

The problem I have with the song isn’t in the lyrics, it’s in the music, which seems pretty forgettable.

My favorite Christmas song is the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “One Christmas Tree”. I also like the new Joey + Rory song “It’s Christmas Time”

ooops wrong thread..sorry

the only way people will take you seriously is if you agree with Malec

… or, you know, do something radical like explain why you disagree with him (or with whomever) instead of going directly to the insults and the WRONG!!!!! Reviewers here explain why they write the things they do and it’s always interesting when someone can come along and say “oh, you’re wrong, because …” and give some reasons.

I apologize for going on and on about this, but I come here to think about music and maybe talk about it. There are plenty of other places on the web to go for screaming.

But Jim clearly has an agenda regarding Carrie and even gives Taylor Swift extra praise just to annoy Underwood’s fans ..

So, that’s why he praises Swift. I always wondered about that.

Maybe Jim is really Taylor Swift who then posts these reviews just to annoy Underwood’s fans?

Any person who reads his review of Love Story knows of his bias because any other artist would have received a thumbs down for that song.

Logic just doesn’t get any more incisive than that.

Ahhh, everyone don’t you know his just turned 20 yr old love child does not have a new song out so he is back on a roll picking on Carrie. Go back and read things he says about his love child and you will know what his biases are. He has the hots for that one certain 20 yr old. Why do you think he when ga ga over a very poorly done Love Story. I am not sure how old Jim is but this love fest with that 20 yr old is probably against the law in some countries.

And every single one of Vance’s comments over the past month have derided Taylor Swift. Every. Single. One.

———————

I admit that I am extremely biased against her, but that has nothing to do with Jim.

I personally think that she represents everything wrong with the industry and her success along with the rap stars, synth/electropop are partly the reason for the decline of album sales.

with every comment on critical Carrie Underwood reviews posted by her fans, I become more and more convinced she has some of the craziest fans of any artist I’ve ever seen, which is a shame because Carrie herself seems like such a lovely, thoughtful and well-grounded person herself. I wonder if she knows just how crazy many of her fans are?

Jim Malec? Is he the same guy that called her something like “nothing more than a mediocre karaoke singer”. She must’ve turned him down or something. The dislike towards her is quite funny.

No, that was Mario Tarradell of the Dallas Morning News in his Carnival Ride review and the quote was “a karaoke singer who got lucky”.

I think Mario needs a pay raise…

I don’t normally comment much on here, but the review is spot on. I like the overall message and Carrie’s vocals are next to flawless, but the disconnect between each verse and the faceless characters prevent this from being a great song.

I’m sorry to see that Jim is under so much fire from the Carrie Fan Club for what, in my mind, is an accurate review.

I think Mario needs a pay raise…

I wish he would go back to Miami! (lol)

I do appreciate the fact that he loves Miranda Lambert.

Dan, somebody did: Dudley.

As an avid Carrie fan, even I can admit this song is pretty formulaic. The problem for me isn’t the thumbs down, it is the bashing of her entire catalog. Completely unnecessary and it just proves that Malec isn’t impartial. I wonder what this would get if Lambert or Swift would have sang this…

Jim, how about going to a grade system like you do with the album reviews?

Correction…it’s a 1-5 star system not letter grade system.

The only comment on here that was written in an intelligent manner appears to be that of dudley. Bravo and well said. The points that you make about Jim’s review are spot on! I see another thumbs down…hmmm I’d like to tell him where to put his thumb, but now that would be childish of me wouldn’t it? :-)

It always boils down to the same question: Which is more annoying Carrie’s nasally singing voice or her rabid fans? And as usual the answer is “Both”! This thread is just freakin’ awesome….

bull““ this is awful

This song isn’t about getting to know the characters in the song it is about understanding the circumstance the characters are going through. Everyone can empathize because we’ve had similar experiences. The characters are us and people we know and love. I grew up in a single parent household and watched my mother struggle to keep me and my brother fed and happy. Watched both my grandparents spend their last days in a hospital bed and hoping like hell they were moving on to a better place. This song’s message gives me hope and something I can hang my hat on when things get tough. Carrie is singing about what she believes in and there is nothing contrived about that. As an individual this song inspires me to be a better person on the inside and that is why it is a great song. Maybe I’m just not smart enough to understand why other people think differently.

WOW! Why so much HATE for this young woman.Carrie was just a girl from a farm in Oklahoma who chased her dreams on a whim and was tremendously blessed in the process.She has a great voice and devotes time and money to charities.What’s so bad about her? Why the scrutiny of all of her songs? Do you scrutinize the men of country music the same? Thank God I know that critical people are unhappy people.The average person would have said I either like or dislike the song and move on.Anyway, I wish the best for everyone in this world, especially those who seek to do good things with what they’ve been given.Don’t HATE.You will never get GOOD things in life by being HATEFUL and CRITICAL of others.Love ya.Peace.

I am not a big fan of Jim Malec’s reviews. When he let someone else do the Carrie Underwood review, it was much more realistic. In fact, when I saw he was doing it, my first thought was, “Oh man, here we go, another thumbs down with really arrogant, lame comments.” I think he should let someone else do Carrie’s reviews because JM clearly doesn’t like Carrie’s music, or much about her at all. (Or else he just likes to stir up controversy). It’s all become so repetitive to the point that his reviews mean nothing. Carrie deserves better, not that she gives him a second thought.

Gavin: You are right on with your thinking. This is a very touching song that people can relate to. It comes from the heart of Carrie and that is truly something incredible to hear. She is not only a great singer, but is also turning into something of a great songwriter.

Be Kind, Not Critical says, “Thank God I know that critical people are unhappy people.”

Some critical people are grouches, upset, unhappy, et cetera. But many aren’t. In fact, many critics (cultural critics, music critics, archistural critics, car critics….) love the things they critique and probably find great pleasure thinking about and critiquing those things.

Also, Be Kind… says, “Don’t HATE.You will never get GOOD things in life by being HATEFUL and CRITICAL of others.”

I don’t see any hate from Jim Malec or most of the posters. A dis-favorable review certainly isn’t the same thing as hatred.

If you’d stick around for a while and not just pop in when you get your marching orders from the Carrie Fan Club

The various fan clubs I’ve visited today have either ignored this review or have encouraged their members not to come here and comment.

What are the prerequisites and training one needs to be a critic?

Pretty much analogous to those for being a guitar player.

Carrie, is absolutely the most powerful and best artist in today’s industry of any genre of music.
Temporary Home, was written after she had been studying Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven Life”. That book is awesome and it is about our Eternal Life. This is just all of our Temporary Homes, and we all have a much better place to go to if we believe in God, and that is our permanent home.
Eternal life, in Heaven.
I don’t think some of you even get the lyrics to this song. It isn’t about the homeless!!!
SHE IS AMAZING

To Dudley ^ @ 9:58 a.m.

Thank you so much for your comments. Perhaps http://www.the9513.com could invite you to join them as a reviewer. You make a heck of a lot more sense than the folks who write their reviews currently.

Wow, a lot of fun looking at this thread…

First of all, I agree with Jim’s review. I was blown away by Carrie’s vocals when I first heard this. However, no matter who sang this song, you can’t take out that the lyrics are a little bland. I’ll still enjoy listening to this, but only because of her beautiful vocals.

If this was a letter grade, I’d give it a B-, due to the outstanding performance. However, an outstanding performance needs to be backed by clever lyrics, and these aren’t what I’d pass for clever, however moving the story may be.

I don’t understand the bashing of Jim. He’s done THREE REVIEWS (out of 7 total) for Carrie. If someone else had done this, would they have been bashed so much? Probably not. And likely their perspective on this would be nearly the same. I also really do think that if Miranda or Taylor had covered this (both of which I enjoy listening to), it would’ve been a thumbs down.

By the way, I totally agree with Johnny Paycheck’s comment at 2:20 P.M. It’s nice you pointed that out. :)

Right on Texasvet 8:31 pm –

Based on what I have read Carrie Underwood’s fans gave up on 9513 a long time ago. It’s just hard to understand why the folks here never like a single thing she does. IMO you don’t have to love every song. I just don’t get the dislike of every single song she has ever released. Eh, go figure.

“Does anyone realize what the point of a review is? It is not suppose to be a lovefest unless its a Springsteen album in Rolling Stone”

It’s not supposed to be deliberately disingenuous either. But, you knew that…

LOL! Just LOL!!!

Because she has yet to release anything worthwhile. Not so hard to understand, really.

Another proclamation by self appointed country music tsar.

who even cares what this guy has to say? what he says has no more meaning than the opinions of the rest of us, so we should stop making him seem more important than he really is. this is a great song that is sung beautifully by carrie.

I also really do think that if Miranda or Taylor had covered this (both of which I enjoy listening to), it would’ve been a thumbs down.</i?

If Carrie had sung the atrocious Love Story, you think it would have been a thumbs up? Malec would have written she doesn't know what the heck she was singing about, and laughed at her for misunderstanding the scarlet letter. But Swift somehow, magically, makes it work!

As a consumer, “Temporary Home” isn’t the sort of song that will make purchasing the album a necessary thing. After “Cowboy Casanova,” we were in need of something BIG.

Fanatics don’t realize that this is not about Carrie Underwood, and it’s not about Carrie-vs-Taylor. It’s about producing provocative (when it comes to a ballad like this one) AND entertaining music that will engage me, as a consumer, enough to purchase the album.

“Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Don’t Forget to Remember Me” did it.

“So Small” and “All American Girl” did it.

These two just don’t.

“Fanatics don’t realize that this is not about Carrie Underwood, and it’s not about Carrie-vs-Taylor. ”

If it’s not about Carrie, then why did the reviewer use half the ink on Carrie to begin his review?

I think next time, it’ll be helpful to not write a review at all. Just give it a thumbs down:

Carrie Underwood: __________________ (Fil in the blank fo 3rd single)

Thumbs Down

Saves all of us precious time. And I think it’s more fun, and no one will nitpick on Jim’s (predictable) review that way.

This won’t reach 500 comments. Only Dan E. can post that many times and I don’t see him doing that this time.

Oh my dear lord, this thread makes my head hurt.

I’m a Carrie Underwood fan. You people are giving us a bad name.

I feel sorry for Mr Malec.

I maybe a fan of Underwood but I am always ready and open to accept her flaws and yeah I think her music videos are underwhelming. Am I the only fan of hers complaining? Probably. I may be a die hard fan but I find her music videos, wait am I gonna say what I’m thinking? OK, her music videos suck.

Going back to the topic, I really find it absurd and funny at the same time that Jim would actually say he finds it hard to connect to the song or rather the people in the song because they weren’t real. Were Romeo and Juliet “real” in Love Story? Hardly. And others concluded that Jim was actually saying the song felt contrived. All songs are contrivances of the writers. It’s just like saying, “I feel like the noble I’ve read was written.” How sad. Songs just don’t pop out of nowhere and then some dumb, karaoke singer suddenly records them and then voila! We got to hear it on the radio.

Wasn’t Before He Cheats contrived. For me it has more “unreal” characters than those of Temporary Home in my opinion. I think Jim’s just running out of excuses and metaphors to tear Carrie’s songs apart since he has been doing it on a regular basis. It didn’t hurt him when he admitted his love for Swift’s albums even when the song choices are monotonous–it’s all about boys, boys and guess what? More boys. His self-denial was consumed and both of Swift’s albums made the “Top Albums of this Decade” list of this site. Though I found it very disgusting when he wrote some blasphemy during the CMA 2009 blog that the future of us country or pop country listeners are at the mercy of Swift’s choices in her career. It hurt my eyes reading those words. LOL!

I guess right now, it will never hurt his reputation if he finally admits that he’ll never ever like Carrie no matter what single or material she releases. The girl can’t win everybody and some of her fans or maybe I am the only fan who is ready to accept that. I won’t be pointing a fork on Jim like what the other people here are trying to associate with us Carrie fans. Haven’t you realized that most Carrie fans aren’t reacting & posting like they used to? Jim doesn’t really have to cover himself with, “Hey, she’s a great vocalist but I think her song selection stunk so bad I just wasted a couple of paragraphs describing how awful it was.”

Well I think he was rather kind. But I don’t share the masses fascination with peroxide blond karaoke singers.

this is ridic. people stop. and i am a carrie fan. i disagree with the review. do i think its unfair?- yes but i dont see the point of this long diatribe you arent changing his opinion, even if he dislikes carrie. maybe it is unconscious despite how many time he says he like her. sometimes we can’t help who we instinctively dislike. thats fine. just find someone else to do the next review?

and this sentence is a kicker…”On top of that, “Temporary Home” really does a disserve to Underwood, who, because the songwriting is so bland, is never able to make the song her own. There’s no reason for this to be a Carrie Underwood song—switch out the singer to Martina, Sara Evans, whomever you like, and nothing changes.”

why can not Carrie’s song be discussed in a vacuum? and by saying that all these other artists can sing this song and make it what it is , how is that possible if Jim went out his way to say the vocals are Carrie’s best yet? I dont think that Martina, Sara, or “cough” Taylor Swift, can sing like this in their dreams.

why can not Carrie’s song be discussed in a vacuum?

But you and several other Carrie fans are the ones who keep bringing up the reviews Taylor Swift has gotten. One example:

… its hard to take the content of a review seriously when it seems to be written unfairly relatively to other artists on this site and the treatment they get.

You can’t have it both ways.

Phil: I also wait for the Taylor/Carrie competition to go away. There is no need for it since they are both successful and talented artists. So, I hope for that competition to die shortly but the longevity of these individual artists will last a very long time. Since I believe that these two will last for quite a while then their fans will not have a “temporary home” in country music. It will be more of a stable residence since Carrie and Taylor aren’t leaving anytime shortly.

Dan E. I think it’s too late unfortunately. The only way it will go away is if somebody takes their places who offers something new and unique, or the Industry decides to play a new hand when they finally figure out the one they are playing gets beat or is bound to get beat.

Personally, I would take the hand they are playing right now and flush it down the toilet, and reshuffle the cards. They’re bound to come up with a better hand than the one they are playing now. My opinions of course.

I’ve seen it go both ways razor x (I do visit other forums you know). Maybe the Carrie fans started it, but the Industry created it by bringing Taylor into the mix.

I think the future of Country Music is in the female Country Artists hands. For a genre that has been male dominated for so many years, it is in desperate need of a female artist or artists who can bridge the gap between the Pop/Country and Traditional Country audience. And I don’t think Carrie or Taylor can do that. But the Industry must change its business model if that can take place, and Country radio must be willing to take chances on new and aspiring female artists who do offer that.

I have this image now of a Underwood/Swift feud. Maybe its like the Jets vs. the Sharks, and are elaborate gang fights, but with everyone wearing a blond wig, bu with worse dance dancing.

So it’s the fans doing it, that is the bottom line but it was the industry that created it by finding artists via reality t.v. shows like AI.. Well, I don’t see that going away anytime soon. Now, we have Susan Boyle who’s doing better than most of the biggest artists out there. I just don’t think folks in Nashville are used to having successful artists from reality T.V.. none of the nashville star winners have really gone anywhere have they? Only the runners up have, and probably by their own will and determination.

I think Carrie gets a bad rap here b/c she’s from AI… and I can see why the fans wonder why Taylor gets better treatment, seeing she can’t sing as good. What they probably don’t realize is that Taylor was bred in Nashville and Carrie wasn’t. That’s probably why. Taylor is a very good songwriter for her age though, very successful… but they both tend to lean toward contemporary or pop, so you would think they’d both be treated the same.. no so apparently.

See I think Temporary Home is a beautiful song and I would love to hear Patsy Cline sing it, also. The problem is I can’t say that here with being accused of being an “crazy Carrie Underwood” fan.

the review is as silly as reviews go. People can’t connect with the characters in the song?
Really? This site gave Taylor’s Love Story a thumbs up. Can people relate to her contrived Romeo/Juliette more than the foster child who lives in every neighborhood, the single mom struggling on daily bases and someone’s grandfather on his death bed?
Haven’t u ever lost someone? In that case, you either forgot how it felt, or you don’t want to admit that the song hits home in at least one part of it.
Having said that, the first part of the review is simply you telling Carrie fans who are going to read this that: yeah, she is good and i’m writing this so you wouldn’t call me biased.
But really, when you give MUCH lesser songs thumbs up – I really can’t see how this can be unbiased.

And yes Razor X, we are gonna mention songs when comparing reviews because songs are compared to each other.

sorry for my strange comment: “just wanna say that the falsetto was nice…But she still found someway to…”

I know my expectations of a Carrie Underwood song are higher than for other singers to get a thumbs up BGirl. Especially with the position she holds in Country Music that was practically handed to her in the first place it seems.

But that is another problem I have with the Industry today…they are simply trying to create artists rather than letting Artists create themselves. And to me, Carrie and Taylor are nothing more than Industry creations designed to do a specific job (I’ve already said what that job is)…and they are doing it well. The preferential treatment the Industry (all the awards and accolades), Country Radio, and the media gives Carrie and Taylor is evidence enough of this for me. But I’m not falling for it. Like I said, who wants to feel like they’re being manipulated just to listen to music and like an artist? It takes all of the joy out of it for me anyway.

Please! Haha…I didn’t know that Taylor was bred in Nashville. I thought she came from a supposed Christmas Tree farm in Pennsylvania and her father was a stockbroker. Enough said.

when he wrote some blasphemy during the CMA 2009 blog that the future of us country or pop country listeners are at the mercy of Swift’s choices in her career.

I know right? When Swift decides to become T-Swizzle instead and records “B*tch I Sell More Than You Do” as her newest diss to Kanye, according to Jim Malec, we country/country-pop fans should be pitied upon because we have no more music to listen to!!!! Funniest thing ever!

ARW, how about discussing the merits of the song instead of wasting everyone’s time with that pathetic drivel contemplating whether or not Jim is a “writer.” Then again, that seems to be the best tactic you and the rest of the Carrie fans can come up with to discredit any review y’all don’t agree with.

I’m not ARW, I think a lot of people already did, but like other people, whether for or against it, you just choose to ignore it. Try again? Aside from the delicate vocals of Carrie, and refreshingly toned-down production, I actually like that there are 3 very different characters in the song, in 3 different situations in their lives, but were united in one belief that earth is just a temporary home. I agree with most that even though you could see the third verse coming from a thousand miles away, it still effective in uniting the whole direction of the song. It might be too much for those who don’t believe in that concept and for those who likes more subtleties, but I appreciate that the song is nothing too preachy. It might be a conventional structure but Carrie’s vocals make the song work. She was especially delicate but powerfully evocative in the first 2 lines of the last chorus.

Now, what I don’t understand is, if a reviewer puts up a review for everyone to read, isn’t that subject to “reviews” as well by the readers? Can’t they disagree with the reviewer’s opinion? I for one don’t know what the heck Malec was smoking when he said “it’s hard to relate to characters you know who aren’t real…” So foster kids, dying people, and poor single moms aren’t real? These kinds of people who struggle in their lives, whether financially, or finding direction, or finding security aren’t real? What is real then? Maybe a foster kid with a name? Or maybe you should be foster kid, or a single mom yourself in order for you to figure out, “hey, it’s a real character, y’all! I’m real! How about that, Mr. Malec?”

I think next time Carrie and her writers should write about crazy music critics. Then Malec wouldn’t complain about not relating to the main character of the song. It’ll also help him find other things to complain about. And probably then he can come up with newer stuff in this same tired drivel of reviews.

when he wrote some blasphemy during the CMA 2009 blog that the future of us country or pop country listeners are at the mercy of Swift’s choices in her career.

I know right? When Swift decides to become T-Swizzle instead and records “B*tch I Sell More Than You Do” as her newest diss to Kanye, according to Jim Malec, we country/country-pop fans should be pitied upon because we have no more music to listen to!!!! Funniest thing ever!

I forgot to add, that that was yet another example of Jim’s famously overwrought exaggerations that he’s very much self-indulgent in. To declare that we, country – pop fans who love country-pop music that have been in rich existence since Patsy Cline to Dolly Parton to Dixie Chicks, would suddenly have no music to listen to just because we are at the mercy of some blonde hack who tosses her hair to cover up for her mediocre vocals?! Jim Malec must reall be living in his fantasy world full of his beloved hyperboles and white horses. I would like to think the fans would be just fine even if Swift leaves the genre for greener pastures. But maybe he was really speaking for himself and was just using the fans as a smokescreen? Maybe he is the one who is at Swift’s mercy! OY!

I won’t speak for Jim, but my problem with this song, along with much of today’s mainstream music is that it is more of a thought based off of a feeling rather than a feeling based off of a thought.

In other words, the feeling is there before the thought takes place and any emotion you receive from the song is under the artists terms to begin with, and not your own.

I need to think to get to my feelings on my own terms, and if the feeling is there before the thought takes place, that feeling is being manipulated by somebody else and it comes across as being contrived.

So this song basically makes you have to feel something on the artists terms, and not your own. I would rather have to think something on the artists terms and get to how I feel about it on my own terms…and this song does the exact opposite. It makes you have to feel something on the artists terms to get to your thoughts about it.

I brought up “The Last Resort” by The Eagles….that song makes the listener have to think to get to his or her feelings. While the thoughts in that song are those of the artist, the overall feeling each listener might receive from those thoughts can vary. Whereas a song like “Temporary Home” the listener must feel what the singer is trying to say on the artists terms first, and that will lead to your thoughts once you do so. For me personally, I need the thought before the feeling takes place…not the feeling before the thought takes place. And that is why this song seems contrived to me…It basically wants to make you feel something on someone else’s terms to get to your thoughts, rather than think something on someone else’s terms to get to your overall feelings about it. I can decide whether or not I agree with somebody else’s thoughts, but I will not let somebody else be in control of how I must feel about something. Which, in a nutshell, is the problem I have with this song. It is just using the characters in the song as a feeling on the artists terms to get to your thoughts, rather than using the characters in the song as a thought on the artists terms to get to your feelings.

That probably doesn’t make sense…unless you take the time to think about it first. :)

No, I’m not left handed (if that question was directed at me). LOL Left brained perhaps.

Well, Jim, I was with you up until you said: And the fact they they believe their current situation is just a “temporary home” doesn’t strike me as especially emotionally compelling.

Huh? Not emotionally compelling? Maybe since I’m a woman…and perhaps too sensitive, but I find that very emotional.

But are you mainly lamenting the fact that the verses are like blank statements that don’t delve deeper? Would the song have been much better if the writer had kept with one character, say the old man that is dying, and spoke of more intimate details of his life to make us more aware of the story and draw us in, so that when she sings that last verse, it’s a sad, emotional but yet “a-ha” moment?

Jesus…..183 comments? I can’t believe there is so much to say about one shitty song?

I wish people put this much effort into music worth hearing.

(no I haven’t heard the song or read any of the comments, I don’t need to)

Well, Jim, here’s how I look at it: country music is full of “stock characters,” which is why they’re called “stock,” and they may be drawn well or not so well; we tend to remember the ones who are drawn well, but that doesn’t make them any less “stock” (e.g., the forsaken lover who pines to death). To me, saying they’re merely outlines or sketches suggests that they’re not well drawn, but while you call them outlines or sketches, you also have that pesky “well-drawn” in there. So in that respect, the review is a little confusing, and leaves me unsure of exactly what your complaint is in that regard.

Really, the essence of your critique seems to be that these particular characters, the varying circumstances in which they’re found and the common comforting insight they share don’t move you, and therefore, you don’t “need” to hear about them. Fair enough – but at the same time, others have testified that they are moved, and I’m guessing that they do feel a “need” to hear about them. I’m sure you’re not arguing that your sensibilities are more refined than theirs, or that they’re plagued by false emotions whereas yours are purely real – or, at least, I hope that’s not what you’re arguing. So the value of your review has to lie elsewhere, and that’s why I have been interested in digging deeper into this question of “well-drawn” but “stock” characters, because that would seem to be an area where a critic’s (presumably) wider field of reference and deeper knowledge might come into play. It’s easy to understand why people would be moved by the song – it’s designed to move them by giving a message of comfort and hope – but not so easy to understand exactly why it doesn’t move you.

Of course, it might have something to do with the music – an aspect which seems to have been pretty much ignored by everyone on all sides of the discussion ;-).

In the end what this song lacks for me is that the artist makes the listener feel any emotion in the song on her own terms, rather than letting the listener feel the emotion of the song on his or her own terms. For me it is as simple as that. And I’ve already explained why.

‘Well, Jim, here’s how I look at it: country music is full of “stock characters,” which is why they’re called “stock,” and they may be drawn well or not so well;’
Are you really saying that country music contains only stock characters?

Um, no. I’m saying that country music is full of “stock characters” (which is why they’re called that – because they recur regularly) – I gave an example, which can be found in, among other places, a song that regularly tops a lot of folks’ lists of “best country song EVAH”) – and I’m saying they may be drawn well or not so well. I don’t see where that could hard to understand, or why you need to “restate” it in substantially different terms.

“To me, saying they’re merely outlines or sketches suggests that they’re not well drawn, but while you call them outlines or sketches, you also have that pesky “well-drawn” in there. So in that respect, the review is a little confusing, and leaves me unsure of exactly what your complaint is in that regard.”
It’s only confusing if operating under your logic, where all characters are stock characters.

Well, no. I’m questioning the internal logic of your characterizations, or at least asking for an amplification of it. Now, you seem to be arguing that stock characters can’t be well-drawn – that their stockness is antithetical to being well-crafted – but in your review, you call them both “well-drawn” and “stock.” If you believe in the “antithetical” proposition, then you must take a dim view of quite a few country songs commonly considered (maybe even by you, too) as great; if you don’t, then observing that they’re stock characters isn’t really much of a criticism, nor is their presence necessarily a defect in the song, especially when you call them “well-drawn.”

It’s that contradiction that’s confusing, and it has nothing to do with my logic. My logic, such as it is, is that well-drawn characters are better than poorly drawn characters, and that’s largely independent of whether we’ve run across characters like them before.

The fact that we can sum up a character into a snappy description (”the forsaken lover who pines to death”) doesn’t mean that the character doesn’t possess attributes and characteristics that make it personal and dynamic. A stock character will, generally speaking, possess only the characteristics of the stereotype.

If a stock character – which is what you call the ones in this song – possesses only the characteristics of the stereotype, then how can it be well-drawn? And conversely, if the character is well-drawn, then mustn’t it, at least in some respects, possess some valuable specificity beyond the characteristics of the stereotype? If the characters fail to move you personally because you see them as “mere outlines or sketches,” then in what respect can you, personally, call them well-drawn? If a character has attributes that make it unique (“personal and dynamic”) then in what respect is it stock? It seems to me that in your own terms, “well-drawn stock characters” is a self-contradictory phrase. What am I missing?

OK. “Because I would think that there are verying degrees of aptitude with which stock characters could be created.” I think that’s pretty much what I said – but then, isn’t their stockness irrelevant? And in what respect can stock characters – those who possess, as you say, only the attributes of a stereotype, and who are, furthermore, mere outlines or sketches – be said to be well-drawn?

True Carrie fans hardly ever even read this site anymore…. Haven’t you noticed a big drop off of responses? This site has no credibility anymore with most Carrie fans and we just don’t bother. Opinions all….by “experts” who don’t matter.

Good comment or bad comment, Carrie is still getting recognized: 200 comments and onward!

@TEXASVET: though I hate to add another comment to this already overdiscussed issue, I just want to say that at this point in my music listening endeavors, expecting a Carry Underwood song to be enjoyable to me, would be like expecting taco bell not to give me the squirts. So I just stay away from both.

Perhaps the most irritating argument being reiterated in these comments is that Malec and the9513 has some kind of anti-Underwood vendetta.
This is despite the fact that he devotes two paragraphs of this review to praising her singing.
And as for the organization as a whole having an agenda against her?
http://www.the9513.com/underwood-is-the-perfect-choice-for-new-grand-ole-opry/

Gee, I think I will become a football analyst though I never played the game, coached the game, or even sat in a locker room after a game. When someone gets so full of self importance they become ineffective to function in normal society and for the benefit of others, they become a critic. It’s the last job that ANYONE can qualify for.

Oh well, that’s modern journalism for ya’.

Also, Waynoe is quite the hypocrite, by his own standards no less. He continues to say that anyone who hasnt performed a certain function shouldnt be eligible to comment on that function. Again, as I commented last week, unless he is a successful, widely read music blogger or journalist, he should zip it…those are his rules, not mine.

I recall someone suggesting a while back that Matt C. left The 9513 staff due to his “excessive praise” of Carrie, and Matt responding in a clearly sarcastic manner that, yes, that’s why he was no longer on the staff.

Razor is correct…I remember reading that post by Matt C.

Apparently Carrie & Mike Fisher are engaged.

http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/12/21/12226131.html

Yeah, Waynoe is right… this is the only job I could get, and I don’t complain because at least it pays pretty well. Were it not for The 9513, my wife and young child would be starving… and to that extent I owe everything to Jim and the Verchers for pulling me up by my boot straps and giving me some financial ground to stand on.

;-)

Hopefully my sarcasm is clear enough.

Jim obviously knows nothing about music. He probably would’ve ripped “He Stopped Loving Her Today” to shreads when the song first came out, too.

It’s laughable that anyone with a computer and a web site is allowed to call themselves a “critic.”

The9513 used to be relevant, it’s not anymore.

I’m sure he does, but I still don’t care for it very much; way over-rated, in my book.

Still, I’ve got to admire the persistent use of arguments here which are not only circular, but hypothetical, too (e.g., you can tell Jim is biased because if Taylor Swift had cut “Temporary Home” he would have praised it, and you can tell he would have praised it had that happened because he’s biased). I just love seeing hypotheses used as evidence.

I read somewhere in this site that he is not a part of http://www.the9513.com anymore because of his “excessive” praise for Underwood.
Yes, he was forced out by the man upstairs! He was the Combsy to Jim Malec’s Hannity and they couldn’t handle the truth teller!

Gee, I think I will become a football analyst though I never played the game, coached the game, or even sat in a locker room after a game.
Should Jeremy Clarkson quit hosting Top Gear because he’s never built a car?

For the lord’s sake people, get a grip. Malec gave a couple of mildly negative reviews to some pop songs. He’s not Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

My GOD! Wow… I mean WOW!
I agree with Jim, it’s bland
and I agree with the thumbs down
-Why not release Someday When I Stop Loving You or Songs Like This?

Kelly,

Lear how to spell and punctuate if you want to be taken seriously.

Mr. Vercher,

So now only those in agreement can post? You are correct in that everyone that contributes loves country music. And that means ALL contributors which encompasses those who disagree at times with this blog.

By the way, if you put things in print to be read by all, then you must expect a response by all. It’s funny in that self-appointed critics think they are the only ones who should not be critiqued.

I said your opinion of the writers of this site was wrong and guess what, it’s still wrong.

I’d say based on the definition of “opinion” …. opinions cant be wrong. Unpopular, disagreeable, and even downright rude maybe …. but not ‘wrong’.

1. a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty.

2. a personal view, attitude, or appraisal.

Brady, my comment was directed at Jim, not you. Apparently you and I were commenting at the same time and yours posted first. Jim and I have had a similar conversation in private before so I’m sure he took much less offense from it than you did.

I liked this song much more the first time, when it was called “This World Is Not My Home”

It’s hard to write and record a hit song and this is a hit song. I would probably prefer What Can I Say as a single over this one but this song is predictable but still moving and she does a great job on singing and the music is more understated which is good. Again, this is rocket science and I think the reviewers on here analyze lyrics too much and I get a feeling when I listen to a song whether the lyrics are simple or complex. To me the song’s message about this being our temporary home is true and we should all be worrying about whether we are saved thru Christ and where we will spend eternity. Take care.

Okay, we have just had the 1000′s reference to being worried about where we spend eternity, so lets celebrate with a little Bloodhound Gang:

But if I go to hell then I hope I burn well,
I’ll spend my days with J.F.K., Marvin Gaye, Martha Raye, and Lawrence Welk,
And Kurt Cobain, Kojak, Mark Twain and Jimi Hendrix’s poltergeist,
And Webster yeah Emmanuel Lewis cause he’s the anti-christ

What can I say? I’m the root of all that’s evil yeah but you can call me cookie.

Wow…I’m just baffled how Jim completely missed the point of the song in his review.

The song does not have a “trifecta of themes,” as he suggests. There is one theme and one theme only. The song is about the lifelong journey on Earth towards the destination of meeting God.

The point about needing to develop the characters (the little boy, the young mom and daughter, and even the old man)is completely irrelevant. The whole point of the song is that we’re all just passing through on Earth until we meet God. The characters merely represent three stages of life on Earth (beginning-early life, middle-adult, and end-old age).

Country music is all about family, love, God, friends, etc. This song is all about God.

The “passing through” theme is well discussed in the Bible. Sermons of every religion constantly reference the story about a nomad traveling on Earth questioning why the owner of one particular place he stops at has no possessions. When the nomad is asked the same question of why he has no possesions he replies, “I’m only a vistor here. I am just passing through.” The owner of the house replies, “So am I” (meaning that he has no need for possessions because Earth is just his temporary home).

“Temporary Home” is a song of “Jesus, Take The Wheel” proportions. It will score extremely well at country radio and it will go on to be played for many years to come (as “Jesus, Take The Wheel” is now).

How Jim completely missed that in his review is baffling. It’s almost as if he has no understanding of country music at all.

I agree with Kelly.

I also doubt the legitimacy of Waynoe’s assertion that “only a person that has some musical ability & knowledge can criticize others that display some musical ability & knowledge.”

There is some truth in the idea that a legitimate critic has some knowledge. Experience tells us that ignorant people generally do not make critics worth listening to.

But I am not sure that a critic must have “musical ability” as well. Admittedly, the phrase is vague. Does “musical ability” mean the ability to read music? The ability to distinguish Carries voice from Taylor’s? The ability to play an instrument at some level of competence? To pass a college level music theory class? To perform on stage without getting booed? I don’t know. But there seems to be an insinuation in some posts above that only a songwriter can critique the songs of others, that only a singer can critique the singing of others. If that is what the phrase means, it seems to be utter nonsense, again, as proven by experience: There are many critics out there who write reviews worth reading who themselves are not exactly accomplished musicians. Moreover, such statements are often – though not always – made in some kind of attempt to discredit the reviewer without actually discussing the points the reviewer made.

Personally, I think the best test of a critic is whether his or her reviews are interesting, insightful, et cetera. I suspect those who have some experience as musicians may be in a better position to be such a critic, but I see no reason to discount the views of critics who have no such qualification, so long as those critics are otherwise insightful and do not write about those musical matters of which they are ignorant.

This song isn’t about the characters, its about the particular situations in which they reside. The characters may not be developed, but lyrically we know vividly what obstacles they are facing and that is what the writers aimed for.

And, Carrie does a great job of showing each character’s resolve. Using different vocal inflections for the young boy, the young mother and the old man.

You really missed the meaning of the song. And, that’s just sad, because this is a brilliant piece of work.

“Between the first note and the last, not a single lyric works to reveal something about ourselves or strives to tell us a story”

Along with almost the entire review, this line is a bunch of B.S.

The song tells us a story with a very strong moral. The moral of the store is that no matter how bad our lives get, this is only one stop in our lives. This place is temporary to us.

How does that not resonate to every single person in the world? We’re all going to die some day and go to another place.

This song is compelling and an incredible vocal by Carrie.

The 9513 is always just a bunch of bull. They can’t give anything less than a cynical review.

Very well said Tom; I agree 100%. I have been in the situation in the last verse several times. The song still gets me everytime. I think this song has an extremely touching and relatable message; that’s the “story” of it to me. I think this is a beautiful song, and Carrie’s emotion takes this song to a whole other level.

Yeah so going over these comments is very interesting. The thing with Carrie for me (and I will say right now that I am a big fan, so I apologize in advance if I mistakenly make contradicting statements) is that I may hear a song of hers and think, “Mmmm… just-okay vocals,” but as I listen to it more I grow to love the songs/lyrics AND vocals. This is the deal with Temporary Home for me, except when I heard the song, I was concentrating more on the lyrics because I could RELATE to them, even if it wasn’t LITERALLY. (It’s also good to hear Carrie explain it, which I did — of course it would help if it didn’t have to be explained).

And I will quote a Relient K song here: “Opinions are immunity to being told you’re wrong.” Everybody has their own opinion, I get that. This was just mine.

It is very interesting to read statements like “Between the first note and the last, not a single lyric works to reveal something about ourselves or strives to tell us a story” and “not only does “Temporary Home” have weak characters, as a whole it has little character of its own”.

In my travels I have seen it is a constant that those who do not have things ‘revealed’ about themselves have actually revealed more than they think. A song such as this, while it is indeed true that the characters are there to further the story and not the generators of it, speaks to something that many people miss. Life sucks – but this too will pass. Its emotional impact is based on that simple but ultimately powerful idea, that there is hope for a better tomorrow if you are willing to fight for it. If it does not move you then it has indeed revealed something about you, something that you may not want to admit.

My new apartment is my permanent home. I am NOT moving again.

That sounds cool.

best music video for carrie to date. i’m gonna be surprised if this doesn’t top the country charts

I agree that this song is rather boring, the characters are too. this is, in my opinion, NOT one of Carrie’s best, or even close to her best. But I do have to say that i’ve noticed you shoot down any song that involves a God, or a heaven. Since you don’t believe, maybe Country music isn’t a good genre to be judging. I say this because every other song you hear on country music radio involves God somewhere and clearly, you’re against it.

A big ‘Congratulations’ to Carrie for scoring her 12th number 1 with this remarkable song!

I used to be a big fan of Carrie Underwood.

I had her first album — minus the singles “Some Hearts” and “Inside Your Heaven” — constantly spinning in iTunes.

I called radio stations to request “Jesus Take the Wheel” and bought extra copies of the CD to give to friends and relatives.

Thanks to that CMT special, I knew about the tight deadlines for the first album and how difficult it was to headline the Idol tour and produce her first major studio album at the same time.

So I couldn’t wait for the second album, because I just knew it would be perfect. She had all those supposedly great writers working with her, enough clout to make the album she wanted, and plenty of time and money to polish it off.

And yet … it wasn’t perfect. Just a sequel. My expectations were for “Carnival Ride” to go further than just rehashing the same themes from “Some Hearts.” I still like the second album, but I never play it any more.

Now that the third album is out, I think I can safely say that I am no longer a big fan.

I hate to sound like an American Idol judge, but when I wanted Carrie to try some new things, “Cowboy Casanova” is not what I had in mind. It’s weak for pop, much less country.

The lyrics are trite and amateurish. They seem like they’re written by an arrogant suburban 19-year-old student from the Northeast writing about a town he drove through once on spring break, rather than someone who actually grew up in a small town in Oklahoma. I couldn’t believe Carrie would even put her name on the credits, much less make it a single..

So I haven’t bought the third album. I haven’t downloaded a single song. And after reading this review, I realize I’m even tuning them out when I hear them on radio.

If I’m driving into work, my mind drifts off because her songs are no longer interesting enough to take my mind off my job.

The story themes in “Temporary Home” barely even register with me. Whenever I hear “Temporary Home,” the only thing I remember is how annoying I find it when she sings “chil” instead of “child.” Seriously. I know that sounds petty, but it’s true.

So, thanks Jim, for holding Carrie to a higher standard than most of her fans. I used to be a huge fan of hers. I still respect her vocal abilities. I still have high hopes for her. But she’s let me down twice now.

These songs may be OK for someone just starting out, or for a lower rung artist without the pick of Nashville’s top song writers, but I expect more from Carrie now.

Good job Jim. You have written an excellent review. I acknowledge your very well made points, but for me personally the song did “stick”. It’s not because of the song’s message (which I think is trite) but because in this case, for me, Carrie’s singing overcomes the mediocrity of the lyrics. I enjoy beautiful singing and I think Carrie does that here.

I hate this song. I like Carrie, and I admit I don’t give her enough credit, but this song was so lame. so lame. It was almost as bad as Chuck Wicks “Man of the house.” Why not just do an effing remix and call it the, “We’re trying to be sympathetic and relatable about stuff that we don’t personally relate to in order to get a top 10 hit, Remix” that might be a good name if Chuck’s had even cracked top 30. sorry Chuck. Let’s face it, everything Carrie touches turns to gold, and yea, she’s a good girl so we want to believe that she is oh so touched by a story like this.. but c’mon. It’s stupid and overdone and while I give Carrie props for actually attempting to co-write, I want to scream every time I hear this song. We’ve heard it before, Tim Mcgraw’s “Don’t laugh at me,” Martina’s “Concrete Angel,” etc etc. The early 90′s to 00′s was all over it. I wish this had been released to christian radio only because i turn the station every time i hear the effing intro.

5 Grammy Nominations have been announced:

Temporary Home – Carrie Underwood
Satisfied – Jewel
Swingin’ – LeAnn Rimes
I’d Love To Be Your Last – Gretchen Wilson
The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert

have all been nominated for Female Country Vocal Performance

*Need You Now got nominated for Record, Album, and Song

*The House That Built Me was also nominted for Song of the Year

This is exciting stuff!

The author of this review is so derp. “It’s hard to relate to, or have much sympathy for, people who we know aren’t real,” yeah because orphans never get bounced around from foster home to foster home, all young mothers live in mansions and have no problems making ends meet, and old men simply don’t die!

The characters in “Temporary Home” are VERY real. Author is a wanker.