Carrie Underwood, the country idol

It was former judge Simon Cowell, who made the prediction. Carrie Underwood will sell more than any winner of American Idol (AI). And he was proven right and that was one of the few instances when AI’s choice turned out perfect. Underwood’s bio as of this date carries very impressive stats.

 Her first three albums, Some Hearts, Carnival Ride and Play On, have already sold over 14 million copies and boasted of 14 No. 1 singles. She has already won five Grammies and had been named Entertainer of the Year twice by the Academy of Country Music and Female Vocalist of the Year three times by the Country Music Association. 

If this pace keeps up, it will not be long before the name Carrie will be mentioned in the same breath as Tammy, Reba and Loretta, those legendary ladies of country music, and nobody will be likely to think, what is Underwood doing in that list? I got the feeling that this is going to happen soon after listening to her fourth, latest, and I can say, best album, Blown Away. 

If I remember right, the Carrie that we met in AI was a small town girl who took her first plane ride when she joined the contest in season four. She came up against country rocker Bo Bice in the finals. Today the Carrie of Blown Away is smart, sophisticated and judging from the cover pics, very glamorous.

Blown Away shows remarkable growth in her creativity since Play On two years ago and such daring in the choice and treatment of her songs. This girl is no pop music diva. She is a true artist. While she had gingerly tested the parameters of country music in her previous albums, she now totally breaks out of the boundaries. Not to be somebody else, but to reinvent the music to her own terms.

Carrie rocks hard in the opener and first single release Good Girl. She is all heartache in the ballad, Do You Think About Me. For young listeners, she gives friendly advice in Nobody Ever Told You. She goes all tender and sentimental about losing one’s mind in Forever Changed and introduces Caribbean to country with One Way Ticket.

This does not mean though that she totally neglects her roots. For fans who want something typically country, there are the radio friendly Leave Love Alone; Cupid’s Got A Shotgun, a jaunty jig that has the makings of a great next single; and the sweet Wine After Whiskey.

I do not know if any of these will be released as singles. Maybe not because they are not your usual country tunes. But believe you me, these are cuts that are sure to blow you away in Blown Away. The title song, Two Black Cadillacs, See You Again, Thank God For Hometowns, Good In Goodbye, and Who Are You.

The title track is a story about child abuse. Set during a storm, the young girl hopes the wind and rain can take the pain away. This is very strong material showcased in an ingenious arrangement that brings this song out of the realm of country music. It is almost epic and Carrie’s singing soars beautifully.

Two Black Cadillacs is also a strange choice. Given the lush orchestration, one initially gets the impression that this is a love song. It is in a way, but of a love gone wrong because here are a wife and a mistress plotting the murder of you know who. Very clever.

Next are my choices for her best vocals in the CD. Carrie has excellent command of her singing. It seems as though she knows instinctively when to pull back and just enjoy the nuances of the lyrics or when to get into power mode. Check out what she does with the charming country pop tune See You Again from the movie Chronicles of Narnia; the touching Thank God For Hometowns which I see as Carrie’s “home” song; and the soulful Good In Goodbye.

And now for the grand finale and also the best of them all. Remember how much we all loved Carrie’s Jesus Takes The Wheel? She puts one over that by sounding heavenly with the power ballad Who Are You. This girl really takes your breath away.