Carrie Underwood Releases Video for "Just a Dream"

[Matt C]

http://www.cmt.com/videos/carrie-underwood/263454/just-a-dream.jhtml?id=1592137

I have to say that I'm surprised by some of the choices, and I haven't yet decided if I like them or not. I was expecting the video to be set in present day, but that opening with "Make the World Go Away" (which was a big hit in 1965) suggests that were talking about Vietnam. Roman White takes a long time to introduce the funeral scenes, and it's bizarre to watch Carrie sing those lines in that wedding dress. It might be poignant if there was an appropriate thematic shift, but it comes across looking like White and Underwood don't really know where they're at in the song.

[Brody]

I thought Carrie Underwood did a fantastic job acting, but the rest of the video was rather "blah." The way the dress changed from white to black was especially cheesy. I just wasn't a fan of the video and thought it could have been executed way better.

[Funk]

The computer I'm on right now doesn't have audio so all I got were images. Looks like she gets married again. Does she know her name this time?

I dunno. I hate the way so many artists 'craft' their image today (like that is new) but Ms. Underwood seems to be all over the place. An artist, by definition cannot please everyone.

[Lewis]

That's a excellent video, I just got chills watching it. By the way Carrie's a great actress.

[Stormy]

Funk: She'll figure it out from the tombstone.

[Swcj]

I don't really like the video because at the wedding prt she should be crying plus there is no wedding schene in the song...this one is just crazy. Roman White to me is on the same level as Saun Silva and others. He is one who is known for good videos but, not this one.

[Chris N]

I actually did get literal chills. The room got a little dusty for me when the dress turned black. Go on and mock me, you heartless bastards.

[Funk]

No mocking. You are doing a heckuva job, Chris N.

[Stormy]

I actually did get literal chills. The room got a little dusty for me when the dress turned black. Go on and mock me, you heartless bastards.

Dammit, brain not working...... AARRRGGGG!

[Lucas]

Great video, but I'm a little ticked right now at all those people that told me to never use cliche lines like "it was just a dream" in a song because I'd never be able to use it for anything.

[Matt C]

I think that this video is a good example of the detrimental effects of Carrie's reliance on Roman White as a video director. I have to think that someone else had a better concept. In fact, this song is concept enough; mess with it too much and you're likely to screw things up.

[muspirit]

I really like this song and the video gets a B+ from me. I thought the dress turning black was an important element in the video but I thought there could have been more drama. Like when she gets the notification letter that her husband had been killed, where was the true reaction. Yes she cries but wouldn't most people fall to their knees in emotional pain? Again, I would have liked to have seen the emotional deliverance of a song such as the way Lee Ann portrayed in "Probably Wouldn't Be this Way". But then not everyone reacts in the same way and for someone as shy and reserved as Carrie, that was probably emotional for her. Roman says on his website that those are real Carrie tears as she got into the character. But again, it could have used more realism to really do the song justice.

[Funk]

Like when she gets the notification letter that her husband had been killed, where was the true reaction. Yes she cries but wouldn't most people fall to their knees in emotional pain?

Not if she doesn't recognize the name.

[Lynn]

Matt C. - I'm starting to get the feeling that while you love Carrie Underwood, you wish she had a completely different career.

As for the video...once I got past the fake eyelashes (I'll be honest, it took me awhile), I wasn't that impressed. I think my biggest problem was the fact that the actual video didn't match the awesome video I had created in my head. No seriously, I don't think the beginning added anything and I wanted the dress to turn black earlier. The images also didn't match the lyrics, and as others said, the timing was off. For the first part of the song, I was even wondering if the director had just as difficult a time figuring the song out as we did. I won't go into the fake crying...but I too was surprised that they set it in a different time period. That threw me the first time I watched it. Is Iraq too touchy of a subject?

I've got to ask: Are there only two video directors in Nashville? Trey Fanjoy being the other. I think people need to branch out...A little more realism is in order. No more opening cheesy car scenes (ahem Taylor Swift).

[NY4Carrie]

I think the video is incredible. Carrie sings the heck out of this song, first of all. But more importantly-- she really sells the emotion and pain, desperation of the war widow wanting to believe that the whole thing was "just a dream"- that he is still alive. Roman did a very good job with the imagery, emotion, lighting, and location.

The nicest surprise was hearing Eddy Arnold's song playing on the radio in the opening scene. Carrie must have wanted to give him a shout out after doing that amazing tribute duet with Brad at the ACMS. Also-- by playing his song-- you give the viewers a definite time frame for the video: it was in the 1960's, therefore, Vietnam War. I am glad it was retro to avoid the whole Iraq War controversy. I don't want poor Carrie to get "dixie-chicked" by radicals that are against or for the war- as they tend to manipulate songs to futher their own political agendas. Keeping it retro, avoided all that political fallout. The video was not pro war or anti-war anyway- but some people would have twisted it to make it such.

I am not sure what you guys are nitpicking about honestly. The video is incredible-- and you should read the comments on CMT's blog--- people loved it anad are crying. I have been balling all night-- watching it over and over again. lol

I love the imagery of the colored flowers among the white billowing veil and dress in the opening scenes-- it was very surreal... and the whole slow motion, dream like quality of the video was very effective. Clearly-- she is at the funeral the whole time, and is having a flashback to their wedding, last night together before he was deployed, ,etc. She has trouble accepting the reality of his death- and wants desperately for it to be "just a dream"-- but when the dress changes black (metaphorically) she is suddenly thrown awake back into the reality of the funeral.

the most powerful imagery-- was the simplicity of Carrie standing at the coffin at the end, holding onto the flag for dear life. That simple scene said all there is to say. Carrie's acting was very impressive--- some of you should not judge her by hollywood standards, after all-- she is just a singer. But for a singer- she did great selling the grief, despair, and desperation. I think she has potential as an actress someday- why not? she is already better then Jessica Simpson. lol

[NY4Carrie]

I don't really like the video because at the wedding prt she should be crying plus there is no wedding schene in the song...this one is just crazy. Roman White to me is on the same level as Saun Silva and others. He is one who is known for good videos but, not this one.

Actually there is a wedding "scene" in the very first verse of the song. She is reflecting back on her wedding day, that happened 2 weeks after her 18th birthday. She is having trouble accepting the reality of her husband's death- so she is doing a flashback to the past- her wedding day- to escape the reality of the present, his death. When everything turns black-- she is in reality, and it crushes her. Of course she wouldn't cry at the beginning of the video as she was thinking back on her happy wedding day.... She only cries when the reality of his death hits hard.

I think it was incredible-- best video since Whiskey Lullaby. Not sure why you guys hate it so much??

I have family in the military and it really hit home for me-- as it did for many other people on the cmt boards, and other forums.

Sometimes you have to just sit back and enjoy the video-- instead of picking it apart.

[NY4Carrie]

http://www.cmt.com/videos/carrie-underwood/263454/just-a-dream.jhtml?id=1592137

I have to say that I'm surprised by some of the choices, and I haven't yet decided if I like them or not. I was expecting the video to be set in present day, but that opening with "Make the World Go Away" (which was a big hit in 1965) suggests that were talking about Vietnam. Roman White takes a long time to introduce the funeral scenes, and it's bizarre to watch Carrie sing those lines in that wedding dress. It might be poignant if there was an appropriate thematic shift, but it comes across looking like White and Underwood don't really know where they're at in the song.

Actually-- Carrie said in an interview a while ago that she envisioned the song as set in her parents' era, or the 1960s, Vietnam War time. I also think they were wise to avoid any reference to the Iraq War as no matter which side you are on-- it would open pandora's box, and could be career suicide for poor Carrie. The song is not about politics anyway- just a war widow's grief--- but you know how people are. They will twist the song to be anti-war or pro-war to futher their own political agendas, with no regard for what the true intent of the song was.

Personally- I was hoping for a WWII retro them- because I wanted Carrie to be the nurse and the husband to be the hot soldier at Pearl Harbor. lol I love the clothes in the 1940's. lol But-- Faith Hill did a Pearl Harbor video, so they might have accused Carrie of copying.

[Brady]

The video didn't do anything to clear up any confusion or inconsistencies in the lyric. Ultimately, I think the song had higher aspirations than it was able to achieve.

[Matt C]

I also think they were wise to avoid any reference to the Iraq War as no matter which side you are on-- it would open pandora's box, and could be career suicide for poor Carrie. The song is not about politics anyway- just a war widow's grief--- but you know how people are. They will twist the song to be anti-war or pro-war to futher their own political agendas, with no regard for what the true intent of the song was.

Well, if they were trying to avoid a divisive war, Vietnam isn't exactly the way to go.

[Funk]

I don't think Vietnam is a decisive war any longer. Like we will eventually be able to face about Iraq, today we all understand exactly what Vietnam was about. (Or we don't care so much.) What we also now see clearly, regardless of the reasons for war, soldiers are doing their job and their duty by carrying out the orders of the CIC. They probably will never be the focus of our resentments again. At least, let's hope not. It seems most here are of an age that didn't experience the way soldiers were treated in that war. It was bad and as a country, I think it is now clear we regret that.