Carrie Underwood - "Blown Away"

[countrygirl918]

I loved that the video was more symbolic than it was literal. It was literal too, in that the house and the dad really did get blown away, but all the little touches throughout the video have some nice symbolism in them. I'm liking it more and more every time I watch it, because I notice things that I didn't notice the first time. Such as the hints of sexual abuse at the beginning (with the dad reaching out to Carrie as if he's coming on to her), the scarecrow in the cellar, the rainbow at the end with the yellow brick road leading up to it (symbolizing hope and a new beginning for her character).

I do wish they'd tried to make Carrie look younger (simply putting on less makeup would've sufficed), but I can get past that with all the video's other strengths.

[bornfearless2000]

It's definitely her best video after BHC and TH.

[Deleted]

I thought the video was pretty solid. There was only one part I didn't like and that's because it came across as really cheesy to me. At 1:30, she's running down the road toward her house and by 1:35, the tornado is pretty darn close. But beginning at 1:50, she's just sort of nonchalantly walking through the house. I'm fine with her trying to wake her father--when she's sitting on the couch, as he's passed out, it's pretty clear that she's wrestling with the decision. The character seems like a good girl (no pun intended) so for her to be wrestling with what is morally right, before ultimately deciding to leave her passed out father there, is totally fine with me.

But when the glass is already breaking around 2:10, she's just not really in a hurry. Maybe this is me being nitpicky, and I am a meteorology major in college as well, but I don't think you need to study the weather to know that it's long past time to get the hell out of there. Instead, at 2:20, Carrie is looking out the window at the rain, lightning, and wind.

The scenes and the graphics all look good. But they really needed that part before the scene where the glass was breaking. It would be completely idiotic of anyone to still be in the house and just staring out the window by that point. Tornadoes are destructive and should never be taken lightly. I understand this is a music video, but that part should've been different. It's not realistic this way, unless Carrie is implying that her character is a moron. Any other person in real life would've been in the cellar/basement by then or another safer place, not looking out the windows right after at least one of them had its glass shattered by wind and/or debris from the storm.

Ok, done with the complaining. At 2:30, when Carrie heads to the cellar, it's great again. I just think they should've re-arranged some scenes. Showed the storm first (NOT the tornado just yet), then Carrie could've been looking out the window, maybe go outside to get a better look around...and then she could see the tornado coming, run back to the house, briefly try to wake her father, and then head to the cellar.

Otherwise, this video is good to me. I love stormy weather. I'd never wish destruction by tornadoes upon people, but they absolutely fascinate me. The scenery in this video looks very good and while Carrie does look a bit too 'old' to be playing her part, she still does it well. She looks good and the dad is playing his part well also. Aside from the one area where the scenes were out of order, it's one of my favorite videos in quite some time, and perhaps Carrie's best, at least to me.

[tsr]

This goes on VEVO in 10 minutes right?

[zaclord 🌈]

Jul 30, 2012 22:37:36 GMT -5 bornfearless2000 said:

It's definitely her best video after BHC and TH.

I definitely agree. Those two videos are masterpieces, and this one is good, but not quite on the same level. In the Carrie thread and the poll about the video I posted my full review of the video, so I won't post it here too. But my main problem was that the video made the dad look like an angry alcoholic and made Carrie look like a rebellious teen. There was nothing that defined how awful of a man her father was and how Carrie was saving herself by leaving him in the house. Nothing made me feel bad for Carrie's character or hate the dad. That should have been the focus of the video, and it wasn't.

[drock89]

Well, video confirms there's very little "country" about the production of this song, but the treatment is awesome. One of the best videos in a while, period - not just from Carrie. Perhaps this is my bias showing, but the treatment is big and bold, like something I would expect Shania to do. Love the song, love the video.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

I don't usually get this passionate about the songs, but my review is pretty gushy.

As someone with apparent synasthesia, this song "feels" stormy to me in all the right ways. The production hooked me in on the first note, and once I paid attention to the lyrics, I was amazed.

[Deleted]

I'm actually a bit underwhelmed. It was great, but nothing that exceeded my expectations.

Still a doable video for a flawless single, and it should fare well in awards season, too.

[peterca]

The article by Taste of Country explains this video very well.

Carrie Underwood Channels ‘Wizard of Oz’ in Chilling New ‘Blown Away’ Video
By: Amy Sciarretto

Carrie Underwood‘s stormy video for ‘Blown Away‘ finds the country superstar playing two roles. She portrays her character as both a teenager and as an adult, and borrows a bit from the theme of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ when she’s caught up in a tornado.

The flashback scenes are told in black and white, where we meet a teenage Carrie doing her homework at the kitchen table and trying to avoid her father, who spikes his coffee cup with an alcoholic beverage. She tries to ignore him when he probes her with questions, prompting him to grab her arm and remind him just who he is. Clearly, their relationship is not a loving and supportive one.

Fast-forward to sequences of a violent and stormy sky punctuated by thunder and lightning. There, we find an adult Carrie, now walking down a yellow brick road. She returns home and revisits the past, trying desperately at one point to wake her father up. But he’s passed out on the couch, seemingly unreachable. Is that her way of trying to save him from himself as the house crumbles, both literally and figuratively? Perhaps.

Every window gets shattered while bricks and boards are blown away. The old house takes a beating, reminding us that only when we totally destroy something are we free to rebuild. With rain falling on her as she lies on her back on a battered mattress, Underwood still stuns with smudged, smoky eyes. She’s a picture of alternating strength and vulnerability here.

Overall, the ‘Blown Away’ video is a somber one, thanks to the heavy and provocative lyrical subject matter of the song, also the title track of Underwood’s new album. It ends with blinding light and an obscured image of the singer. Again, sending the message that we can only step into the light once we’ve fully experienced the dark. That’s the theme of ‘Blown Away.’

Other ‘Oz’ references? Red shoes, a plaid shirt and a dog.

[hank0629]

The music video is so-so. Her record label and some of her fans hype it too much!

[dmprof1]

Sorry for being a chart philistine, but how is this doing thus far? Does she have any serious competition aside from Aldean?

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Jul 31, 2012 7:34:33 GMT -5 storm said:

I guess I just don't understand why she would take such a powerful song about an abusive father and make it into a music video for The Wizard of Oz. With that said, maybe if we make it a game, I'll enjoy it more. How many Oz references can you find?

"You're not in Kansas anymore / Can't be too careful, that's for sure / City lights will lead you on / Morning comes, then they'll be gone..."

[goodsoul81]

[carriekins]

Jul 31, 2012 22:44:04 GMT -5 dmprof1 said:

Sorry for being a chart philistine, but how is this doing thus far? Does she have any serious competition aside from Aldean?

#24 in week 7. Aldean is #20 in week 2, and I think Carrie will likely stay behind him in her ascent. Aside from any upcoming Clear Channel deals, there really isn't anything coming up from behind, at least.

[mairy]

Was this posted here?

[joey2002]

Wow, awesome performance!

I actually like that better than the studio version – it sounds more like the Carrie I'm used to... :)

[Agent Yoncé]

+25 spots on the Hot 100 (#47) in its 5th week.

[Deleted]

With 65,000 units sold this week, the song is now at 364k sold, and it's still rising on iTunes. Looks like this could be an enormous seller for Carrie since this song is still starting to gain some major wind.

[bornfearless2000]

Does anyone when will Carrie's next TV performance be? August 15 for Today Show, am i correct?

If she performs BA, then the song will rise even higher on itunes! It's been selling so consistently these past days staying at #17-18 .

[Grün]

The first Carrie song I've liked since her first cd. I might have to buy this one.

[hank0629]

Aug 9, 2012 20:20:03 GMT -5 bornfearless2000 said:

Does anyone when will Carrie's next TV performance be? August 15 for Today Show, am i correct?

If she performs BA, then the song will rise even higher on itunes! It's been selling so consistently these past days staying at #17-18 .

And she will perform on "Teachers Rock" on Friday, August 17 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on CBS. Garth Brooks and Dierks Bentley will perform on this show, too!

[bornfearless2000]

Aug 14, 2012 4:55:15 GMT -5 hank0629 said:

Aug 9, 2012 20:20:03 GMT -5 bornfearless2000 said:

Does anyone when will Carrie's next TV performance be? August 15 for Today Show, am i correct?

If she performs BA, then the song will rise even higher on itunes! It's been selling so consistently these past days staying at #17-18 .

And she will perform on "Teachers Rock" on Friday, August 17 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on CBS.

Nice!

The song is doing better than i was hoping for.

It rose to number 16 itunes.

I wish it could break top 10 !

[maddkat]

^ at # 14 now
maybe the Today show performance will push it top 10 :)

[layne]

I'm a Carrie Fan so I'm biased but IMO, this song and Eric Church's Creepin are the two best songs being played on radio right now.

[someguy]

I just saw the video for this (catching up on videos today), and I have to say that I'm really impressed. The visual of the video was perfect to convey the mood of the song (lyrics and production). Carrie's acting was very good, and I appreciated the symbolism from The Wizard Of Oz. Overall, I thought the video was excellent, and serves as a great companion piece to the song.

With the last few videos from Carrie and Miranda, it feels like we're back in the 90s with the epic videos from Reba and Shania.

[Agent Yoncé]

+8 spots (#30) on the Hot 100 7wks.

[justme60]

This song is one of my most favority Carrie songs! Don't know why, but when I heard it, I just connected with it!

[Marv]

Four songs currently in the top ten will begin exiting the charts over the next three weeks starting with Kenny Chesney this weekend, so unless 'Blown' Away' hits the wall that 'Independence Day' did in 1994 due to its sensitive subject matter, it should reach the top ten by the end of September.

[rsmatto]

This song surpassed the Gold sales mark this week too.

[spencer]

On today's Mediabase chart BA has more spins and AI's than the song above it by Easton C. Why did BA not pass this song ? Any chart gurus able to explain this? Thanks in advance.