Review: Feeling blown away by Carrie Underwood at Staples Center

[carebear4eva]

This wasn't a bad review though. LA Times usually slams Carrie. Thank God it wasn't Chris Willman reviewing. Lol The only song off BA he liked was Forever Changed and carrie doesnt perform that song.

This guy clearly enjoyed the show and gave a good review overall with a few nitpics that are just his stylistic preference.

i had prepared myself for a Roast like Minnesota so I am happy with this one. Lol

THANK YOU! You guys, Tee has become the voice of reason around here! WHAT UP WITH THAT?

Honestly, just cuz the reviewer didn't go "ZOMG!!! BEST CONCERT EVER! MY LIFE IS CHANGED", doesn't make the review ****ty. It's a positive review with some perfectly valid criticism. The fact that he got her hometown wrong is minor. The song title is a big boo-boo, IMO, but then I don't think that attendees are given a setlist. So he probably just Googled "I just can't...love...Carrie Underwood" and got IJCLAL.

Truly, it's a shame that Carrie herself is so open to criticism and willing to listen to advice, yet her fans behave this way sometimes. Just saying. And I'm fully aware that I've been that overly-defensive fan myself. Shame on me as well

 

[epicamends]

It was a good review. Realistically, he was probably giving her some positive critique, and one that I have wondered about at times. Sometimes in these arena shows, you can't really FEEL some of Carrie's words or phrases. I'm not being negative here....I love her to death...and I would imagine that when you get out there on that stage, and look at that mass of people...you would naturally want to fill the house!!!

It's true that it's tough to create an intimate feeling with a song in a huge arena filled with 10,000+ people. But Carrie is more than capable of softening her vocals and creating that emotion, like the writer was suggesting she didn't know how to do, just in a more acoustic, intimate setting, such as the CMA Songwriters Series.

Overall, a very good review, especially coming from LA. They can be a tough crowd sometimes, especially with Carrie.

 

[Schrodinger]

I gonna guess no to that.
Another reviewer with a bug up his butt who can't even be bothered to get the most rudimentary things right. And forgoes the encore.

reviewer fail

I have been involved in some fairly notorious cases which became running stories in the local papers and on occasion picked up by the Seattle Times or Idaho Statesman. I can count the number of times a reporter got all the facts straight in a story, but I couldn't use natural numbers. (I love mathematical irony). Bottom line is until you are involved someway with a story "reported" by the press you don't understand how wrong they get it. They not only get the reported facts wrong, they also leave out critical ones and the context of the story often looks like it came from twilight zone. You'd think critics would have it easier, there some straight up facts and the rest is opinion, but nope they screw up there too.

The only exception is book reviews. I and two of my daughters write and I have a lot of author friends on the net. A book reviewer cannot make any factual mistakes or grammatical faux pas. While an author almost never responds, his or her fans will crucify the critic. A book critic has to use the same artistic medium as the artist to criticize him or her. It would be like music critics having to sing their reviews, which now that I think about would be fantastic idea.

The great irony in all this is the press have been making a mess of it for decades and yet it criticizes the internet as being the source of all thing false. Our local paper has improved significantly compared to what it was like when we moved here. Back then I think Wikipedia when win an accuracy test hands down

 

[Schrodinger]

THANK YOU! You guys, Tee has become the voice of reason around here! WHAT UP WITH THAT?

Honestly, just cuz the reviewer didn't go "ZOMG!!! BEST CONCERT EVER! MY LIFE IS CHANGED", doesn't make the review ****ty. It's a positive review with some perfectly valid criticism. The fact that he got her hometown wrong is minor. The song title is a big boo-boo, IMO, but then I don't think that attendees are given a setlist. So he probably just Googled "I just can't...love...Carrie Underwood" and got IJCLAL.

Truly, it's a shame that Carrie herself is so open to criticism and willing to listen to advice, yet her fans behave this way sometimes. Just saying. And I'm fully aware that I've been that overly-defensive fan myself. Shame on me as well

WHAT?! I know I've only been here a couple of months (two tomorrow) but I thought Tee WAS the voice of reason. Now you tell me she's not. Wow, that explains a lot

 

[rainbow1]

Naw...Sorry, I'm aware I'm on CARRIE fans, but Tammy's voice reveals hidden pain beneath a put-up-with-it smile when she sings that line. Carrie sounds mildly bored.

I know what you mean..but maybe it's because, I don't think Carrie has ever found it hard...to be a woman.

 

[epicamends]

I know what you mean..but maybe it's because, I don't think Carrie has ever found it hard...to be a woman.

Considering how tough it is for females in country music and how much harder they generally have to work than men, I'm sure she has had her fair share of struggles.

 

[carebear4eva]

I have been involved in some fairly notorious cases which became running stories in the local papers and on occasion picked up by the Seattle Times or Idaho Statesman. I can count the number of times a reporter got all the facts straight in a story, but I couldn't use natural numbers. (I love mathematical irony). Bottom line is until you are involved someway with a story "reported" by the press you don't understand how wrong they get it. They not only get the reported facts wrong, they also leave out critical ones and the context of the story often looks like it came from twilight zone. You'd think critics would have it easier, there some straight up facts and the rest is opinion, but nope they screw up there too.

The only exception is book reviews. I and two of my daughters write and I have a lot of author friends on the net. A book reviewer cannot make any factual mistakes or grammatical faux pas. While an author almost never responds, his or her fans will crucify the critic. A book critic has to use the same artistic medium as the artist to criticize him or her. It would be like music critics having to sing their reviews, which now that I think about would be fantastic idea.

The great irony in all this is the press have been making a mess of it for decades and yet it criticizes the internet as being the source of all thing false. Our local paper has improved significantly compared to what it was like when we moved here. Back then I think Wikipedia when win an accuracy test hands down

'Bout to drag this waaaay off-topic?

You're involved in the literary scene? Give me advice! I'm DESPERATE to break in, completed my first book, poked around a little, then stalled and it's been 5 months since then

 

[rainbow1]

It's true that it's tough to create an intimate feeling with a song in a huge arena filled with 10,000+ people. But Carrie is more than capable of softening her vocals and creating that emotion, like the writer was suggesting she didn't know how to do, just in a more acoustic, intimate setting, such as the CMA Songwriters Series.

Overall, a very good review, especially coming from LA. They can be a tough crowd sometimes, especially with Carrie.

Sure didn't mean to say she's not capable! I must have played Forever Changed
10,000 times!! I love her softer tones.

 

[rainbow1]

Considering how tough it is for females in country music and how much harder they generally have to work than men, I'm sure she has had her fair share of struggles.

Everyone does.

 

[epicamends]

Everyone does.

Exactly....

 

[Carrie_Rocks_The_House]

Carrie was amazing as always

 

[Gator]

Naw...Sorry, I'm aware I'm on CARRIE fans, but Tammy's voice reveals hidden pain beneath a put-up-with-it smile when she sings that line. Carrie sounds mildly bored.

Great point, but not the point I was actually making. Although, I love BOTH versions of SBYM!

I merely made an observation that the critic did not connect the two.

 

[kewlie78189]

good review just don't like the wrong info!!

 

[opry051008]

Naw...Sorry, I'm aware I'm on CARRIE fans, but Tammy's voice reveals hidden pain beneath a put-up-with-it smile when she sings that line. Carrie sounds mildly bored.

It's really not fair to compare Carrie 2005,2006? (I can't remember exactly when) to Carrie 2012. They are two completely different vocalists.

 

[opry051008]

THANK YOU! You guys, Tee has become the voice of reason around here! WHAT UP WITH THAT?

Honestly, just cuz the reviewer didn't go "ZOMG!!! BEST CONCERT EVER! MY LIFE IS CHANGED", doesn't make the review ****ty. It's a positive review with some perfectly valid criticism. The fact that he got her hometown wrong is minor. The song title is a big boo-boo, IMO, but then I don't think that attendees are given a setlist. So he probably just Googled "I just can't...love...Carrie Underwood" and got IJCLAL.

Truly, it's a shame that Carrie herself is so open to criticism and willing to listen to advice, yet her fans behave this way sometimes. Just saying. And I'm fully aware that I've been that overly-defensive fan myself. Shame on me as well

What amazes me is that a lot of music reviewers are totally out of tune with what today's concert going crowd wants. Sure I would like to see Carrie do the softer songs but those songs basically kill the concert mood, especially a concert titled "Blown Away". I have no problem when a reviewer doesn't enjoy the concert as long as they're willing to add the other side for those who did, which this reviewer has in fact done. But it's too bad the reviewer doesn't realize that Carrie has that other side because he/she's missing out and in turn isn't able to convey that to the audience reading the review. It would have been nice to let people know that it's in her catalogue if they're willing to go look.

I am still waiting for the day Carrie does an acoustic tour. We had a taste of how wonderful it could be with the CMA songwriters series.

 

[pgk]

I know what you mean..but maybe it's because, I don't think Carrie has ever found it hard...to be a woman.

It all depend on the 'type' of woman.

When Tammy sings this, to me, she sounds like a woman who lacks assertiveness and comes from the school of thought that if a man does wrong, well, what are you gonna do, 'he's just a man'. So that should make it OK. He'll have good times and you'll have sad (or is it 'bad') times? Anyway Tammy's percpective is that a woman, a good woman, stands by her man regardless of his blunders. Carrie is so far removed from that type of thinking that when she sings it she tries to make light of the fact and uses a little levity, after the line, "..after all he's just a man" she adds " Aint that right ladies". From what I've seen and heard of Carrie I don't think she'd be the passive, obedient quiet little wife who puts up with her husband's peccadillos. So it's a whole different story coming from Carrie.

 

[bigbluegrl23]

Carrie Underwood's the anti Loretta when it comes to "Stand By Your Man". they're just from completely different times. they're not gonna sing that song from the same place. carrie sings that song as a legendary hit, nothing more bc there's nothing in there for her to believe in all honesty.
Becca

 

[teesharky]

^ Exactly. Carrie is modern.....She might NOT stand by her man. ha ha

kidding

 

[Schrodinger]

'Bout to drag this waaaay off-topic?

You're involved in the literary scene? Give me advice! I'm DESPERATE to break in, completed my first book, poked around a little, then stalled and it's been 5 months since then

The topic is a big one and my reply is long so I starting a thread on writing in the Books & Magazines forum.

 

[bearball49]

It is a hard line to walk....big venues call for big and rowdy songs. It us hard to toneit down to show pain or other emotion without losing the audiance and being told that it was boring. Given an intimate setting. There is no doubt in my mind that she could turn the most miserable critic. I do think it is a valid criticism, but nothing to worry about because of the audiance reaction. I do think she has to feel what the audiance wants and give it to them. Whenever you hear a live performance you can hear the screams screams with every sustained high note. I would give anything to hear her sing FC just one time. We know she is capable of bringing tears to our eyes, but as with most belters, it can be hard to tone it down. It is hard to strike a balance. Would not worry too much about ITYS as the duet won a grammy sining it BIG.