Great thread idea.
1. Two Black Cadillacs
2. Good Girl
3. Blown Away
4. Wine After Whiskey
5. Do You Think About Me
6. Good In Goodbye
7. Thank God For Hometowns
Why They Are Favorites
Two Black Cadillacs: what is there to say? Just a brilliant song and I think it'll go down as one of the best songs she's ever recorded. Haunted, twisted, sinister, and something Carrie had not explored until now. She just sounds so confident and convincing, like she wants you to believe these guys got what they deserved. And the lyrics are the best Carrie has ever written. They're simple, yet stunningly vivid. The production is also my favorite of any Carrie track (aside from WAW)."The women in the two black veils didn't bother to cry." I just love how it paints a picture without giving every detail.
Good Girl: I love the production, lyrics and sass. The production is brilliant, unlike anything Carrie has ever done. I also love how the song uses "Good Girl" in two ways, too. The lyrics are really fun, and I'm still in love with the "hey good girl, too good for him/better back away honey you don't know where he's been. I see it as a sign of the growth she's shown; it's sassy and sexy, and not something I could see the Carrie on Idol singing. I think GG could've been cliche at the hands of another artist, but Carrie took a tired topic and gave it a fresh twist. Love it.
Blown Away: Everything about this song is so good. I love that Carrie was the one who wanted to take a gamble with the production. This is a great example of great lyrics and production creating a monster song. I adore the way Carrie commands the story ("Shatter every window till it's all blown awayyyy"). The layering and emotion in her voice almost tells the story and fills in the gaps we don't have. I also adore the way "Some people called it taking shelter/she called it sweet revenge. Just a great line, and I love the way she says "sweet revenge." It's so sinister. Carrie has really mastered her voice in a literal and figurative sense, and BA is a perfect example.
Wine After Whiskey: This song is perfection. Perfect vocals, stellar production, and classic country lyrics. I adore the cry in Carrie's voice, and the command she has is incredible. It's so effortless for her, the vocals themselves almost tell the story. If I were to pick one song to show someone how much she has grown since the begining, this would be it.
Do You Think About Me: Carrie just has that ability to make you feel something. I can almost see the smile on her face when I'm listening to it. And I think we all have those times when we wonder if the memories we shared with someone mean the same to them as they do you. Country songs have such a unique but relatable way of capturing human emotions, and this is one of those songs for me. The lyrics are so cute without bring cheesy, and Carrie sells the hell out of it. Again, simple lyrics that are sharp enough to tell a great story. Just a gem all around. It's by far my favorite of all her upbeat love songs.
Good In Goodbye: I'm a sucker for songs that are packed with emotion, and this is one. It's so damn relatable to every kind of relationship. Sometimes music is the only thing that can capture what I'm feeling when I wouldn't be able to sort through it. This is that type of song for me.
Thank God For Hometowns: . I could not have asked for a better hometown or people to grow up with. This song describes my life growing up, and bring so attached to my hometown it means so much.
General Thoughts Regarding BA:
Blown Away represents where Carrie has been and where she's going. It celebrates topics that are meaningful to her, but it moves her forward in so many ways. Everything is so well executed: from the command in her vocals to the sharper, edgier lyrics and production choices. While there are a few songs I'm not crazy about, I feel like I can appreciate why each song ended up where it did. I really feel like Carrie was determined to make BA standout from her other albums, and it certainly does. Carrie seems to be having a blast bring in command of things now, and this album shows her efforts to move forward paid off. I'm just really proud to be a fan of an amazing woman who is so passionate about her career and her life, because this album shows that incredibly well.
Why Is Wine After Whiskey So Brilliant?
Well, country music was the first genre I connected with on a deeper, almost spirtual level. Songs like this are why I'm so passionate about country music. Just a gorgeous song with an amazing singer. There are so many heartbreak songs in country music, but I love the wine after Whiskey comparison; how one thing is so strong it'll never compare to what you currently have. Again, it's emotion that I think everyone relates to, and Carrie's emotion puts it over the top. There are so many love songs that seem to say the same thing in the exact same way; WAW is beautiful and delicate and I love it.
Do You Want It To Be a Single?
Absolutely 100% yes. I usually don't care too much about what singles are chosen, but this one deserves to be heard by the masses. I would view it as a huge mistake if it wasn't released.
Or Do You Think It Should Remain An Album Track Like SWISLY?
SWISLY is gorgeous, but I never viewed it as single material. The melody sort of drags for me, and I just don't see it as the smash hit everyone else did. A lot of great country songs are overlooked even when fans think they will do well, too. WAW, though, is beautiful and the production allow Carrie to be front and center. I want it as a single more than anything.
Is DYTAM A Good Choice For Single #3?
It's perfect. The epitome of a feel-good song; I can't think of a better choice to sing along to on a perfect spring day.
Are We In For Another Surprise This Era?
I hope not. The only songs I don't like as much as the others are NETY, Cupid, and LLA. It's not that they're bad, I just think the others are stronger choices. I really hope the label chooses the singles that showcase Carrie at her best, not at her most mediocore. We've had too many of those. If the label keeps their promise to take Carrie to the next level, we shouldn't be in for any surprises.
Will BA be the era's most successful song, or will another be even bigger?
This is a tough call, but I'm gonna say no. We are at an age where it's difficult for any artist to have a huge smash, let alone a multi format one. Unless the label plans to push the hell out of this to pop, I see it making little impact. Songs get pushed up the charts quickly and the label politicking is so fierce it's more difficult than ever to have an explosive impact with a single. I can see TBC or WAW having more substantial impact, especially if the former has a really epic video.