Just a Dream

Infobox Single
Name = Just a Dream


Artist = Carrie Underwood
from Album = Carnival Ride
Released = July 21, 2008
Format = CD single, digital download
Recorded = 2007
Genre = Country pop
Length = 4:44 (Album Version)
4:13 (Radio Edit)
Label = Arista Nashville
Writer = Gordie Sampson
Steven McEwan
Hillary Lindsey
Producer = Mark Bright
Certification =
Last single = "Praying for Time"
(2008)
This single = "Just a Dream"
(2008)
Next single = "Just Stand Up!"
(2008)
Misc = External music video|" [http://www.cmt.com/videos/carrie-underwood/263454/just-a-dream.jhtml Just A Dream] " at CMT.com

"Just a Dream" is the fourth single released from Carrie Underwood's second studio album, "Carnival Ride". The song was composed by Gordie Sampson, Steven McEwan and Hillary Lindsey. A video has been filmed for the song. The video has been released as of August 5, 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/articles/2008/06/17/top_stories/07underwood.txt|title=Underwood music video filming near Hampshire|date=June 18, 2008|publisher=The Daily Herald|language=English|accessdate=2008-06-19] The song was officially released to radio on July 21, 2008. [cite news| title = Singles Calendar | url = http://www.musicrow.com/calendar/CSC002 | publisher = MusicRow | date = 2008-07-02 | accessdate = 2008-07-02]

Content

The song chronicles an 18 year-old woman who is about to get married, only to discover that her fiancé, who is a soldier, has been killed in action. Upon realizing that he is dead, she wishes that it were "just a dream" that her fiancé had been killed.cite web |url=http://www.the9513.com/carrie-underwood-just-a-dream/ |title=Carrie Underwood - "Just a Dream" |accessdate=2008-07-18 |last=C. |first=Matt |date=2008-07-08 |work=The 9513] It is possible that the song recounts dreamed events, illustrating the fear many have of losing a loved one in the military.

Critical reception

Matt C. of The 9513, a country music blog, gave the song a "thumbs up" review, calling it one of the best performances on Underwood's in an album that otherwise contained "bombastic vocals". Although he felt that the first verse was written in a convoluted fashion ("a swing and a miss by the writers"), he also felt that Underwood's vocal performance compensated.

"Billboard" also gave it a positive review: "The fourth single from Carrie Underwood's double-platinum "Carnival Ride" finds the singer charting new territory. Previous singles have stuck to a similar lyrical theme, contrasting between Underwood's girl-next-door image with inspirational or family-centered songs… 'Just a Dream' delivers the heartbreaking, storytelling side of Nashville with the kind of song usually reserved for vets like Reba McEntire or Martina McBride. Underwood convincingly sells the story of a young widow of a soldier killed in combat, using shades of her emotive vocal to convey anger and despair. While the subject matter is sensitive in this day and time—particularly for flag-waving country pundits—it is rooted in reality. Add Underwood's adoration by the format's listeners and there is bound to be an immediate and receptive response to this beautifully executed song." [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/singles/e3ic89034626f7645c3cf3c2d1104c417da]

Music video

The music video begins with Underwood sitting with her military love in an old style Cadillac, both listening to Eddy Arnold's "Make the World Go Away", and trying not to talk about the inevitability of him leaving for war. As she imagines what it would be like to walk down the aisle to marry her sweetheart, Underwood’s smile and white dress transform into a black mourning dress and tears as she walks down the aisle to her fiance's coffin. The video is made to look like around the time of the Vietnam War. [http://blog.cmt.com/2008-08-05/carrie-underwoods-powerful-just-a-dream/#more-1139]

Chart performance

The song debuted at #96 on the U.S. "Billboard" Pop 100 chart at the end of the released week of "Carnival Ride" and dropped out the week later.

It debuted on "Billboard" Hot Country Songs at #45 one week before its official release. On the issue date August 23, 2008 the song debuted at number 98 on U.S. "Billboard" Hot 100.

It also debuted at #33 on "Radio & Records" Canadian Country Singles chart.

References