I know I'm late on this, but I was the member that posted about being invited to Carrie's private Blown Away Listening Party for her Fan Club members back in April, 10 days before the release of the album. It was basically flawless.
This is what went down. The review I posted when it first happened is a bit redundant, since you all have heard the album, so I'm gonna try to explain it a little differently.
It took place at her recording studio in Nashville. The room was fairly small; there were only about 20 people at this event, so I got super lucky. When she walked in, she thanked us all for coming and said she wanted to do something really special for fans since we work so hard requesting her songs and supporting her etc. It was a super casual setting and she had snacks in the back of the room - popcorn, cupcakes from IvyCake, Vitamin Water, etc. She was sitting in a chair in the front of the room along with her the man who mixed most of the songs on the album - I believe his name was Dennis - and Carrie said that Mark (Bright) couldn't be there due to a recent knee replacement surgery.
Next, Carrie invited us to take a tour of the studio, which was super super cool. I was literally inches away from her when this happened! She explained that she recording about half of Some Hearts in addition to CR, PO, and BA in their entirety and that the studio was like a second home. She also said something about how great it is to lay down vocals and really play a part in making the music come together, to which she got a little flustered because to her, she sounded like she was taking all of the credit for her records, which she said she didn't really mean!
After the tour, she played the album, which I'm sure you guys have heard and know how flawless it is. She chimed in about how every song came together, and these were her commentaries.. in addition, fans would ask her questions about certain songs and she answered every one.
- Good Girl: Not much, she just said that she loved this song and that ti was time to get our "feet wet" for the rest of the album. She was snapping her fingers and stomping her feet while it was playing, which was adorable.
- Blown Away: Sometime to the effect of "when I first heard this song, I just had to have it." And during the recording process, she said that Mark (Bright) was having a hard time going for the "drama" she wanted in the song. She was like "it was always 'more, more, more!'
- Two Black Cadillacs: This was one that she said was a ton of fun to write, and when they were putting the track list together, they couldn't find a place where it would fit besides after BA because of how dark each song is.
- See You Again: Explained that it was originally cut for Narnia but was really interested in including it on the album and that how she loved how it came out in the end. Before this one played, she said something to the effect of "It gets happier now, guys!"
- Do You Think About Me: She said this was one of her favorite songs on the record because of how feel good and breezy it is. She was jamming along to this one too!
- Forever Changed: This was one that Carrie didn't even mention by name and you could tell she was getting choked up. She started talking and said something to the effect of "This song is... no, just - just press play." She was looking down at the ground the entire time it was playing, and when it was over, she held up a box of Kleenex that was sitting next to her and said "Okay, so who needs one?" She also said that she'd never sing it live.
- Nobody Ever Told You: She loved writing this song and the positive message behind it. She also mentioned the weird background vocals - the "A-oop" noise, which she randomly started making, haha - was something she hated originally but after awhile she started to "miss them" and wanted them back.
One Way Ticket: This was one that they had a ton of fun writing on. She mentioned that it was "the song that we brought margaritas for" and when they were writing it, they had a giant list of things that rhyme with "ticket" such as "stick it" and "lick it" because she was like, "what rhymes with ticket?" A fan asked her how she would do the whistling in concert, and she said that she was actually the one doing it and that whistling was one of her hidden talents. Someone else jokingly asked for margaritas, and she was like "They're not for you! I don't want to send all of you home drunk!" and she laughed, along with the rest of us.
- Thank God For Hometowns: She said that she got the demo for this on the way to her 10 year high school reunion, and rolled her eyes a bit at the title because "I thought it was your typical 'you love your mama and where you came from' type song, but when she listened to it she "learned that it was a really fantastic song."
- Good in Goodbye: I don't remember much with this one, besides the fact that she mentioned she wrote it with Ryan Tedder.
- Cupid's Got a Shotgun: This was a title that one of her writers had laying around. She was really intrigued by it, and she wanted to make it into a full-blown song. She said that Mike actually contributed to the writing in a way, because she knew absolutely none of the hunting terms that appeared in the lyrics prior to writing it. She also mentioned Brad's guitar solo in this, and how she told Mark to "just let Brad be Brad and see what happens." She said that was her favorite part of the song.
- Leave Love Alone: She said that this was one of her favorite demos right when she first heard it because of the more traditional-sounding roots and the "grittiness" of it. She was stomping her feet to this one as well!
- Wine After Whiskey: This one was written for Play On, but she didn't feel that it fit on there. Mark approached her about possibly including it on this album, and the rest was history.
- Who Are You: She said this was written by Mutt Lange, aka Shania's ex. Someone brought that up, and she was just like, "haha, yup." When the song was pitched to her, she said it could be about anything, but it was her producer that said "this could be a Christian song."
After the album was over, Carrie asked us if we had any plans that night because she felt bad that we came all this way just to hear the album. She suprised us all with tickets to Keith’s Opry induction! This was such a huge treat. My aunt LOVES Keith and couldn’t believe we were going! We also got two gift certificates to the Opry Backstage Grill. Thanks Carrie!
MEET AND GREET
Let me just say that I couldn’t believe I was actually meeting Carrie. I’ve been waiting 7 years for this! My mom wanted to get out as early as possible to get dinner and get to the Opry, so I was first. I don’t remember too much, as it’s all kind of a blur, but I’ll try to recall what I can...
Carrie: Hi!
Me: Hi Carrie! The album sounds great! “Who Are You” is probably my favorite. My family is really strong in their faith and I love that you sang about it!
Carrie: Aww, thanks! I’m glad you liked it!
*signing autograph* Who is this for?
Me: Emma!
Carrie: E-M-M-A?
Me: Yup!
She wrote “Emma, thanks for coming out to hear the album first! <3 Always, -Carrie Underwood”
I handed her a copy of PO that we had picked up shortly before we got there.
Carrie: Is this for you, or someone else? I can make it out to someone else if you’d like!
My mom: It’s for her!
*signs* “Emma, much love, Carrie Underwood”
Carrie: Time for a picture!”
Me: I hope you don’t mind, but you might have to do it twice if that’s okay. I blink in every picture!
Carrie: No problem!
We got several pictures. One with Christine and me, one with all four of us, and one with Carrie and myself.
Me: Thanks Carrie!
Carrie: No problem... it was nice meeting you!
I'd rather not post my picture here, but in addition to the autographs I received at the party, she also sent signed copies of our pictures. Mine says "All my love, Carrie Underwood" on it.
It was completely amazing. I'll never forget it. I'm also going to the Minneapolis show on the BA tour!
not really. but it's so sad people are shafting her over an opinion.
