CMT Blog: Archive

Move In to Carrie Underwood's "Temporary Home"

Posted: February 4th, 2010 at 6:17 pm  |  By: Alison Bonaguro  

This is one of those videos that makes you think to yourself, "Only country music could do this."

Only country music can be this moving. It takes on issues the way Martina McBride always did, by making you want to right wrongs and have faith and love one another. This one makes me want to sign up to be a foster parent, help a single mother find a good job and then go back in time to say a proper goodbye to anyone I've ever loved who has passed away.

This "Temporary Home" is more than just a song about how everybody wants to go to heaven. This is about knowing this life on earth is just temporary. That there's something better down the road. In a way, that makes this one kind of the opposite of songs like Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying" and Phil Vassar's "Last Day of My Life," which basically tell you that your life on earth is everything there is and that once you're gone, you're gone.

Underwood does a nice acting job in this one, too, when she is saying goodbye to her grandfather through her big fat tears. The only things missing from the video are the happy endings. Did the little boy get placed with a loving and permanent foster family? Did the mom get that job? And did her grandfather really see God's face? I'm going to say yes to all three because I'm a glass-is-half-full kind of girl.

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Reader Comments

  • D J says:

    Posted: February 4th, 2010 at 6:49 pm  

    I loved this song when I first heard it and now the video makes it even better. I love the simplicity of the video and the stories it tells. Carrie has never looked or sounded better. Beautiful song with a beautiful message.

  • adriana says:

    Posted: February 4th, 2010 at 7:07 pm  

    OMG most moving music video i think i’ve ever seen carrie is do amazing love her

  • Sis says:

    Posted: February 4th, 2010 at 7:30 pm  

    The only word for this video and song is BEAUTIFUL!. The story that this song is telling is very close to my heart. This in my opinion is her best video yet. Amen, to all the things mentioned about, this is just our Temporary Home. We will all see our loved ones who have passed on to a better place again someday. God Bless you all!!

  • Samantha says:

    Posted: February 4th, 2010 at 7:47 pm  

    This song is powerful and beautiful. I love what the song is about. I love the video. I think she did a great job on the acting.

  • K says:

    Posted: February 4th, 2010 at 8:35 pm  

    I predict this will be Video Of The Year material for sure. The directors interpeted the story in such a delicate but creative way. This song and video have already elevated Carrie to a whole new level in my opinion. From her understated vocal and clear emotion in the song to the delicate, touching and helpful nature of the video- I see great things in Carrie’s future if she keeps this up. She has come so far in four years- this video is a great measure of how much she has already grown as an artist on her incredible journey.

    Carrie has said many times that this song is very close to home for her; she is a co-writer, so it was probably even more important for the directors to understand what she desired visually and conceptually for the video. The directors went above and beyond with this one, and Carrie did a fabulous job with the acting part- it’s so scincere and heartfelt, you can’t help but realize how much this song means to Carrie.

    She chose a fabulous team to work with her on this song- I couldn’t imagine a better combonation of the visuals, acting, and Carrie’s vocals. I think this video will show people a whole different side of her, and it’s already gotten an incredible response of music listeners and critcs and fans all over the web. This is just the begining for Carrie- bravo to her, the directors, actors and anyone else who made this extrodinary video.

  • GoCubsGo says:

    Posted: February 4th, 2010 at 9:15 pm  

    I cried…just as I cried the first time I heard the song on the radio. If this doesn’t make it to #1 then there’s something wrong with country music. Absolutely beautiful, and such a true message.

  • Missy says:

    Posted: February 4th, 2010 at 10:54 pm  

    Absolutely, fabulous job on this video! Makes us aware of the situations that some of us see but never experience…could be a happy or sad ending…touched my heart! Standing O for you Carrie…a #1 hit!!!!

  • diane says:

    Posted: February 4th, 2010 at 11:48 pm  

    Everytime I have watched this video..I have cried..even more than just a dream..So simple..so moving and the exchange of smiles she has with the characters..is telling us THEY know this is their temporary home..I am so excited to see Carrie in the christian based movie she will be acting in…And such pureness in her voice….BTW..love the hair too :-)

  • LuvMiranda says:

    Posted: February 5th, 2010 at 1:26 am  

    Lovely video!

  • rosyz says:

    Posted: February 5th, 2010 at 1:42 am  

    Amazing video. Love it. Carrie did an amazing job on this vedeo.

  • rosyz says:

    Posted: February 5th, 2010 at 1:42 am  

    I mean video.

  • A says:

    Posted: February 5th, 2010 at 2:46 am  

    Yes — I absolutely agree. Something unique to country music has the thought-provoking, emotional, meaningful songs(with the exception of contemporary Christian). These types of songs were the ones that drew me in to country music in the first place. I really do think this is Carrie’s best song and video.

    I disagree that the video is missing the “happy endings” though. Happy endings would just make it cheesy and too convenient. Because there’s no resolution, it makes it more realistic because the viewer is suspended in the pain and hardships of the characters. It’s mature and sophisticated!

  • A says:

    Posted: February 5th, 2010 at 2:47 am  

    Oh yeah, what I meant by “with the exception of contemporary Christian” is that Christian music often has similar type of meaningful songs as well. In fact, Temporary Home can be considered a Christian song.

  • Dancer14 says:

    Posted: February 5th, 2010 at 9:36 am  

    OMG Carrie Underwood is the best country singer ever!! I love all of her amazing songs!!

  • opry says:

    Posted: February 5th, 2010 at 11:12 am  

    I think the video is perfect without the happy endings being shown.

    In real-life when we are in bad situations we cannot see our happy ending we only see the bad situation that we are in. So the song encourages us to believe that this situation is only temporary, things will get better, we will find where we’re supposed to be and we will be ok.

    The video relects the real-life situation because we don’t get to see the happy endings. We just have to believe that everything will be ok for all of the characters wherever their path in life leads them. Maybe the boy never gets placed in a loving and permanent home but maybe this boy eventually marries and raises his own loving and happy family. We can’t and shouldn’t assume what each characters “happy ending” will be, we just have to have faith that for each of them, everything will be alright.

    Powerful song, emotional video, incredible singer(and now song writer). Carrie Underwood is an amazing artist and I guess it’s obvious that this song touches me deeply.

  • liz says:

    Posted: February 5th, 2010 at 11:56 am  

    carrie you are amzing..good job girl

  • Eduardo says:

    Posted: February 5th, 2010 at 1:33 pm  

    This song and video are FLAWLESS!!!!

    Carrie really made a statement here. I love it!!!

  • mary roberts says:

    Posted: February 5th, 2010 at 4:43 pm  

    oh my god what a beautiful video i just cried i lost my nephrew last week at 41 years old and this just hit home.

  • Wanda says:

    Posted: February 5th, 2010 at 10:11 pm  

    I as well cried after seeing this video it is truly amazing

  • Karrie says:

    Posted: February 6th, 2010 at 12:09 am  

    I love her music but I don’t like how she’s against coal mining.

  • Robin says:

    Posted: February 6th, 2010 at 4:14 pm  

    Karrie what the heck are you talking about? Everyone picks every little thing apart so I’m expecting this to be as irrelevant as every other little critisism she’s had, but why not try to make your point?

  • Tani says:

    Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 3:22 pm  

    she is AMAZING as always this video made me cry and I loved Carrie’s acting..she will rock for sure

  • barb b says:

    Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 9:05 pm  

    congrats to carrie on her 12th no one
    single for temporary home

  • 8charlotte says:

    Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 10:44 pm  

    yes this will be #12 for her.This is such a moving video and Carrie put so much feeling in this video.Play On will be a huge success for Carrie.

  • the man says:

    Posted: February 17th, 2010 at 10:40 am  

    carrie underwood is so hot every time i see her eyes i just fall in love with them again all over this song gets to me everytime :)

  • barb b says:

    Posted: February 19th, 2010 at 1:11 pm  

    I love th it is a beautiful song
    with meaning

  • yoli says:

    Posted: February 20th, 2010 at 12:26 am  

    this is my favorite song because of how it makes me feel when I hear it…hopeful

  • Sue says:

    Posted: February 27th, 2010 at 1:18 pm  

    I remember watching Carrie win American Idol, I had tears in my eyes. I was so happy for her. Everything that she sings and comes out with she gets better and better. Carrie, you are so amazing. You go girl. First when you hear a song and then when you see the video to go with it, I am like OMG. That is amazing.

  • Hillybilly Girl :)~ says:

    Posted: March 12th, 2010 at 2:31 am  

    I only wish we had more people like carrie sincere,loving,caring an beatiful inside an out.stay good an hope one day you have all you deserve.Luv all your music an vidoes.You truely are blessed.

  • JESSICa says:

    Posted: March 31st, 2010 at 3:28 pm  

    I love this song it has a pretty message snd i know people want to go to heaven i lovee this song it is my favorite keep it up And world is temporay sorry bout you grandfather:)

    Love Jessica

  • Countrygirl:) says:

    Posted: March 31st, 2010 at 3:33 pm  

    I cried when i heard this andd read the message its was sad. I love youur music. This is a pretty song keep it up:):):):)

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