"I Told You So": Underwood or Urban
There's a cute shop by my house that I go into way too often to buy way too many things like vintagey jewelry and hand-painted pictures frames that I don't need. But I like browsing around because they play country music all the time. And the last time I was there, the stereo was playing a girl singing a song I knew. But for the life of me I couldn't name the singer. So I asked the owner, "Is this ‘I Told You So?'" And another shopper said "No, Keith Urban sings that." And after a bit of back and forth, we came to the realization that there are indeed two completely different songs with that exact same name.
What they were playing was Carrie Underwood, singing her take on Randy Travis' 1988 hit. That was -- and still is -- a well-crafted, brilliantly written song that Travis actually penned himself. Underwood does it justice, and the piano behind her almost makes up for the fact that it's not Travis' distinctive voice you're hearing. The story on this one is that she left and now she's pleading to come back, wondering if he'll accept her apology or tell her, "I told you you'd do this, but it's too damn late."
The song Urban wrote is on the other end of the break-up/make-up spectrum. He's the one who was left behind by someone who needed her space. But when she comes back, he not only welcomes her with open arms but tells her specifically that he will not say, "I told you so." In his gritty way, he's saying he forgives her. (Although he does get one jab in at the end when he sings, "And I won't say I told you so, but I told you so.") The sound on this one is way more rock star and much less balladeer, but the banjo feels so country, I want to climb inside it and stay for the entire length of the song.
If this was some kind of battle of the titles, which would you choose?
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
kayefun says:
Ms. Alison - Please forgive the hijacking of this blog for a moment and all the artists’ fans PLEASE forgive me.
ALL the CMT Message boards seemed to have a system wide failure that began yesterday morning and continues through today so far. It’s about 9:17 a.m. my time right now.
The CMT Blogs seem to be up and running fine, I think:) Is there any way one of you bloggers could get any information out to we CMT board users and fans? ? ? ?
Calvin Gilbert says:
Our tech crew is aware of the problem with the message boards. Hopefully, this will be fixed shortly. I sincerely appreciate your comment in pointing this out. We do our best to keep everything up and running at all times, but … uh … stuff happens. — Calvin Gilbert/CMT.com
kayefun says:
Oh, Alison, errrr Calvin that is, I’m so flattered that you took the time to reply. I do love reading all your blogs even if I don’t reply to all the stories. (Aren’t you lucky, I don’t). Oh yes, we all certainly know stuff happens. Some of my close message board friends that we have addies for are preparing one of those “TOP 10 Reasons” list for when we get our beloved regular daily message boards back. Ruh-Rhow! LOL - we are keeping our sense of humor about it all:)
Thanks again for your reply:)
Michael says:
Love them both! Both keith and Carrie ROCK my world.
Mia says:
Carrie is my all-time favorite singer & I love her recording of Randy Travis’ “I Told You So.” I have begun to really enjoy Keith Urban’s music recently as well, but Carrie will always be my favorite. the way that she sings this song live, in concert is phenomenal as well.
Renee says:
I have to go with Keith. His voice brightens me up on the darkest of days, and this song always makes me smile!
Kate says:
Alison,
Life must be tough for you right now! So much Carrie news around: she gets her wax image unveiled in NY..another number 1 hit on the brink making it what,oh yeah 8 number 1’s in a row…oh and let’s not forget the hugely successful Carnival Ride tour, and co-hosting the CMAs with Brad P. and……and with all this we get an article like the garbage above where you must inform us that (1)you don’t know what Underwood sounds like and (2)that she even recorded this song (which is old news). Then of course you must get in a further dig by mentioning that the piano makes up for the fact that it isn’t Travis singing. And last let’s get a competition going between Urban fans and Underwood fan. (I suspect that part of your goal is probably to make up for the lack of hits generated by the gushing articles you print about your favorite head-banging female performer.. but I hope none of said fans respond)
Oh well you have to vent somehow. Do you feel better now? Life is tough these days for a Carrie hater…but Alison,seriously hate is a very bad bad thing and can ruin your health and set a poor example for your children.My parent’s always use to say if you have nothing nice to say about a person say nothing at all. Have you given any thought to some alternate means of dealing with the success of country superstar Carrie Underwood?
Sarah says:
My LOVE,LOVE Keith Urban. His voice, his smile, his music, his artistic guitar jamming. More male artists should look up to Keith Urban as a Role Model.
hotelmotel says:
Of the “I Told You So’s” I like the Randy Travis version best. Keith Urban’s different song is pretty good. And coming in a dead last is Underwood’s cover of the Travis tune. I just dont think the song fits Underwood all that well.
Ashleigh says:
guess what Keith Urban worte that song as well I told you so :)
kayefun says:
Hey Carrie fans…has the “Elvis Presley Christmas Duets” album with Carrie singing “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” been released yet or is otherwise found on-line? ? ?
country fan1 says:
I like the Urban version better only because I don’t like girl singers. I’m not a “hater” I just prefer men. Carrie does a nice job but its cool to see the ideas behind the songs compared like this way.
bill says:
Urban
carrieFan34 says:
I would pick Carrie i have heard both of them and Carrie (randy travis) is soo much better. the volcals in this song desplays carrie amazing range LOVE IT
carrieFan34 says:
oo i forgot i completely agree with what Kate said above . stop hating on the best thing to happen to country music ever. Carrie will blow anyone out of the water in any comparison no matter what its about
Kevin says:
I dont hate carrie. I like her a little bit, and she is a good singer….BUT in my opinion Martina Mcbride has the best and most powerful female voice in country music.
RedMaZ says:
Actually she’s a Pop marketing tool. Have you heard her alternative version of “I Told You So”? It’s called “I Stubbed My Toe”. She nails it!
casey says:
First of all, this blog is actually all that correct. Urban and Underwood’s songs are completely different, and should not be compared. The better comparison should be Underwood and Travis, as they are the same songs.
But given that it is between Urban and Underwood, I would pick Keith Urban every time. Now Keith is the best theing to happen to country music, and CU didn’t learn enough from Keith when she opened for him!
kayefun says:
OK - I listened to the two different songs “I Told You So” by Keith Urban, Randy Travis and Carrie Underwood as did my girl.
Her picks
Keith Urban - FIRST
Randy Travis - SECOND
Carrie Underwood (Randy Travis song) - THIRD
My picks
RANDY Travis - FIRST (has that ol’ timey sound I LOVE)
Keith Urban - SECOND
Carrie Underwood (Randy Travis song)- THIRD
Carrie fans, PLEASE don’t think I’m “hating” on Carrie. It’s a great song and she does a fine job, but Randy’s version of his own song pulled my heart out a little bit more than Carrie’s cover of the song.
Shayna says:
Carries of course. no question there
katie says:
Carrie’s defintely. First of all the song is just amazing, and carrie sounds amazing singing it. it’s my favorite song off of her new album.
I love Keith’s song too…but when it got overplayed on radio and cmt, I got really sick of it.
Scott says:
Carrie Underwood all the way.
I’ve heard Keith’s version (my wife has his last greatest hits), but I never really recognize it when it comes on. I do love his Everybody song though.
To be honest though, I wasn’t crazy about the song when I first heard it (probably in part due to the fact that I really wanted to hear her version of Alone on the CD and was dismayed to see that she choose to go with I Told You So when picking a cover song). However, it grew on me and it’s one of the highlights of her current tour. Wow, if there was ever a song that sounded better live than in the studio, this is it. I love hearing it in concert and it’s hauntingly beautiful.
I have to say though, I’ve not seen any posts by Allison where she “disses” Carrie Underwood and I’m a huge fan. She’s the reason I listen to country music now. So maybe Allison is a bigger fan of Taylor Swift. So what? It’s a blog and she’s allowed to express her thoughts. It seems that even when there is a nice post about Carrie, people get upset at Allison and find a way to put a negative spin on her comments.
True fans of Carrie know that it doesn’t matter what others say. We all know she’s the best thing to happen to country in a long time. :)
Scott
David Nisbet, Scotland says:
I’ll take Carrie’s Country any day.
BigMouth says:
I’m not a huge Carrie fan, but I don’t hate her either. Its an ok song, but why is she covering? that seems like just another way to try to get a hit, without bothering with creativity.
Kate, you missed a old or not so old news story: the Jessica Simpson feud/no feud thing up again. I though that was blown over a month or more ago, but Carrie is till commenting on it! Why? who knows. Oh, and Tony R. is now her ex, not a friend that she never really dated.
Sherrie says:
Keith’s song is my first pick, but I like Carrie’s and Randy’s version of Randy’s song. I really like all three songs!! A great song is a great song. The DJ of the country station I listen too loved Keith’s I Told You So and he would go on and on about it every time he played it.
Kell says:
Keith ALL the way!!!!!!! I absolutely love Keith and this is a brilliant song!!
Scott says:
Carrie didn’t cover I Told You So so that she could get an “instant hit.” She wanted to cover a classic country song and had asked her fan club for suggestions. She choose I Told You So because she’s a fan of Randy Travis and wanted to cover the song from the female perspective. As of now, it’s not a “hit” as it’s not been released to the radio and I don’t think that it will be.
The only reason Carrie (and other celebrities) comment on such matters is because they are frequently asked about it. Carrie’s latest comment on the Jessica Simpson situation was that there is no feud and it’s been completion blown out of proportion by the media.
Scott
Kevin says:
Out of the three songs, my favorite would have to be Randy Travis. Then I would put Carrie in second place just because I like that song a little bit better than Keith’s “I Told You So”
Get This says:
I pick Carries version I love Randy Travis and I like Keith but Carrie has the best vocals on the song’s
I almost laughed when I read the post above about Carrie covering this song to get a hit–where have you been?
JK says:
Keith, Keith, Keith!
Well… says:
Thank you Scott for setting the CU version of ITYS straight.
I like the idea of this blog, but in all due respect, it seems Ms. Alison has a habit of subtly slamming CU.
Just my opinion…
Marie says:
well . . . she also has a way of subtly slamming Keith as also. read of few of the blogs she started about Keith.
casey . . . you are so right that this blog is unfair. The two versions of ITYS are completely different and should not be compared like this. It should be bewteen CU and RT. Leave KU out of it!
CJ says:
I do not think you can compare them. They are two different songs. 3 totally different voices. If I had to pick it would be Carrie because of her awesome voice. WELL I totally agree with you.
Jill says:
Even Randy hisself on March 15th at the Grand Ole Opry said that Carrie has a much better voice for that particular song than he does. Randy is a legend so I have to go with Carrie and which what Randy said. I love Keith, he and Carrie are my favs, so I equally like his twin titled song. Keith’s song is a totally different song so there is nothing to compare there. I love Taylor Swift too but her live singing is not that great.
Carrie says:
I love both equally. So it would really be hard for me to chose one. Keith and Carrie are rockin’ awsome!!!!!!!!!
Betty Reid says:
It gets confusing sometimes when there are two songs out with the same name. I remember a lot of articles about the two “I Told You So” songs a few months ago–Keith wrote his song himself. I really loved the song (still do) and was glad to see him invite some high school bands to join him on his tour and play with him on that particular song.
There are also two “Stay” songs–I doubt if anyone will forget Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and her emotional version of her “Stay” song. However, if you haven’t heard Little Big Town’s recent version of a song called “Stay” (entirely different song than Sugarland’s), I would suggest you listen to it too–it’s a very nice sound and Little Big Town’s harmonies and musical abilities really shine in it. I think this group is underrated–I’d like to see them bring home CMAs Best Vocal Group one of these days.
Elizabeth says:
Kate - I am tired of how Allison always manages to find some way to slam Carrie Underwood, also. Marie, I am not surprised at all to hear she does it to Keith Urban, also. She is fan of one performer and one performer only.
Let me say this. They should not be compared. I love them both. I have both of Carrie’s albums and every single album Keith Urban has ever made. I even went out and bought some Randy Travis after Carrie did this cover. I am enjoying his music, too. I am sick to death of some of these blogs. I find joy in all kinds of music and I find lately that all CMT does is spend a great deal of time trying to pit fan bases against each other. Whatever happened to just enjoying the music.
Keith Fans - Carrie Underwood learned so much from being on tour with him earlier this year. She expresses her appreciation for Keith every single night in concert right before she sings ITYS (which follows DFTRM and is during her acoustic set). Please look away from blogs like this. Carrie fans have a great deal of appreciation for Keith Urban and no he does not get near the appreciation he deserves.
OT - Betty, I agree the LBT song “Stay” is wonderful!
Kelsy says:
Definitely Keith Urban.
KEITH URBAN CAN DO NO WRONG!!!!!
Jenna says:
Keith didn’t writ I Told You So, Sarah Buxton did he just sings it.
RedMaZ says:
Buxton co-wrote Stupid Boy that Urban covered, not I Told You So.
Don says:
Ohhh I’ll take Carrie’s I Told You So any day over Keith’s.
Carrie just sings so beautifully and Keith plays a mean guitar but I gotta go with Carrie’s great voice. Amazing
American Idol Headlines for 10/25/08 says:
[...] CMT [...]
KUluvr says:
URBAN ALL THE WAY!!
Underwood is good too but shes not my favorite.
Get This says:
I find this amazing–Just like the Blogger wanted –I see Keith Fans or some of them–just saying Keith Keith–This was suppose to be about a song–or was it–Carrie Fans you win on this blog for saying nice things about Keith.
Kim says:
Read it again Get This. and don’t accuse Keith fans like this. You disqualified your team for that one.
Ker says:
Ok just for the record, the instrument that plays in Keith’s ITYS is not a banjo,its a mandolin.Not that there isnt one playing but I dont think its heard .Now… I think that it would be cool if Carrie did a cover of Keiths.And where Im from it certainly didnt get overplayed.
In fact none of his songs do. I wish that they would play him more…. But as a resylt of that folks up here dont get sick of hearing his songs..Carries maybe…
alexis says:
carrie i love your song so small the first time i heard it i cried you are the best singer ever!!!
Abby says:
I couldn’t choose between either of those songs, they are both equally amazing.
Christy says:
Both are amazing singers with amazing songs. They should not even be compared. What is wrong with you, Alison. You’re running out of things to say?
Carrie and Keith fans, please ignore this blog. It serves no purpose. I like both Keith and Carrie. End of the story
Alison says:
Thanks, Scott. I appreciate you noticing that. And Ker? There is indeed plenty of banjo in this tune. Watch the video and you’ll see and hear it:
http://www.cmt.com/videos/keith-urban/143760/i-told-you-so.jhtml
hotelmotel says:
Its ridiculous to say “this blog serves no purpose.” Its perfectly legitimate to ask people which of three songs they prefer.
Some people think this question is some sort of attempt to stir up controversy between Carrie and Urban fans. I see no such attempt. But if Carrie and Keith fans cannot carry on a discussion over whether a certain Carrie song or certain Keith song is better, that is a fault of the fans and not a fault of the person asking the completely legitimate question.
Denise says:
Can someone please find out if CMT is ever going to fix the message boards???
Ms. Feathers says:
As someone said above, since these are two totally different songs, you really can’t COMPARE them. It’s apples and oranges. You can PREFER one over the other, for whatever reason, but you can’t compare them. Now, you CAN compare Randy and Carrie’s version of the same song, just as you can compare LeAnn Rimes vs. Trisha Yearwood on “How Do I Live?”. Etc.
And really, so much of this comes down to PREFERENCE - especially here among the “lovers” and the “haters”…. sheesh. Where did this “hating” thing come from?? Why do people feel the need to call someone a “hater” if they simply like one over another? We can’t all like EVERYTHING!! And liking thing 1 but not thing 2 does not make one a “hater” of thing 2!!! JUST STOP IT!
Sorry… had a “rage against the whiners” moment….
Anyway, I can’t say which song I prefer, simply because I’ve never heard the Randy Travis version - either his or Carrie’s. I’m partial to Keith Urban in just about all things, so I would choose him over Carrie any day. I’m NOT a Carrie fan, I don’t buy her music, I try to change the station when her songs come on, and I found her to be uninteresting as a live performer. I don’t HATE her personally. Go back and read that again, before you blast me. I don’t hate Carrie. What I *do* dislike immensely is the way she was shoved down our throats (by music industry executives looking to make a buck off a pretty face) since she won Idol. Everything from awards shows to Target ads to constant radio play, the money flowing to keep her face and voice on the top of public consciousness would be enough to bail out Wall Street. You’d have to live under a rock to not know who she is. THAT was the burr in my saddle. I just got sick of HEARING about her every where I turned. Love her or not, you have to admit she was WAY over-exposed for a LONG time. It wouldn’t matter who the performer was, with that much exposure, people are going to get sick of it eventually.
As for this blog, I don’t know if it’s a legitimate question to ask people to “choose” one or the other like this. Maybe the better question would be: Do you like “covers” or “remakes”? (and then list a bunch). Or “What do you think of different songs with the same names?”
Since the message boards are still down, maybe I could hire myself out to CMT as a blogger….
_Amanda- says:
Woohoo, so what there are two different songs with the same name, yes they are both great, but why was it so important that you had to tell everyone about it? I dont mean to be so upfront and rude about it, but frankly i dont care. Next time you find out two different songs are the same please keep it to your self!
Jud says:
Well it’s keeping this thread going. Maybe since CMT message boards aren’t working,it’s keeping this topic going.”Cause everybody,needs somebody,sometime”
hotelmotel says:
I see no reason why “you really can’t compare” songs that are “two totally different songs.”
Its certainly reasonable to compare two different country songs. It might be a case of apples and oranges to compare a GM jingle and Beethoven, but it is not apples and oranges to compare two country songs with each other.
Lulu says:
Since CMT message boards aren’t working, so I post here.. Congratulaton to Carrie. Her single “Just a Dream” got #1 in country chart this week and it becomes Carrie’s 8th #1 on country chart. Congrats !!!
barbara baer says:
you people have nothing better to
do than compare carrie to keith
there is no way they should be
compared carrie has her own style
and keith has his own style
stop causing trouble