Song Review – Carrie Underwood’s “Little Toy Guns”
Carrie Underwood’s new singles being released as part of her recent Greatest Hits package have come at a fortuitous time for country music and Carrie, as country music appears to be transitioning away from Bro-Country, and looking for female leadership. “Something In The Water” was everything Carrie Underwood and country music needed it to be, and scored the powerful impact any label and artist must hope for a lead single to land. “Little Toy Guns” comes in as a solid followup, maybe not destined to score the same big successes, but will keep Carrie’s resurgence extended.
“Little Toy Guns” is not country, and it’s not even pop country. It’s a pop rock song, with any and all country elements unceremoniously left on the cutting house floor, if they were ever included in the first place. This isn’t a strike against the song itself; it’s just relevant to point out for a song from a country artist, being released to country radio. But “Little Toy Guns” is in no way out of bounds of what we’ve come to expect from Underwood in her career. In fact it’s right down her alley of reaching for highly moving and potent moments that wrench at your heart while serving as a vehicle for her powerful voice. “Little Toy Guns” accomplishes all these goals admirably.
Told from the perspective of a young girl facing the emotional toll rendered from listening to mommy and daddy fighting, “Little Toy Guns” puts the listener in a place most any human from an American family has found themselves in, yet we seem to be unable to extricate ourselves from replicating this same foolish and unfortunate behavior with our own families as adults. There’s something so criminal about how anger blinds one to the wisdom life has worked so hard to instill in us from a tender age. Parents turning their ire towards each other, especially within earshot of their kids, and the entire legacy of the broken family, seems to be one of the elements at the very heart of why humans are so eternally flawed.
Hats off to Carrie Underwood and fellow songwriters Hillary Lindsey and Chris DeStefano for tackling such a difficult subject, and being able to represent the emotional quotient present in this unfortunately too common occurrence with such understanding. But like with so many of these emotionally-wrenching songs, subtly is replaced with dramatic grandstanding and over-sentimentality. Teary-eyed moments are so hot right now in popular culture, evidenced recently in the parade of Super Bowl adds that have transitioned from light and fluffy humor-filled snippets to shots of weeping humans looking to elicit the same emotional response from the audience. Though emotionalism can be powerful, it can also be as shallow and opportunistic as over-sexualized content or silly humor in certain instances.
Though the setting of the video for “Little Toy Guns” is sort of this fantasy of the mind overlayed upon real life, the musical approach to the song is fairly unimaginative. There’s nothing offensive about it, but it lays down in the safe zone of sonic tropes from a mainstream country world that’s housing the refugees of mainstream rock in the aftermath of the implosion of that format. The echoing of Carrie’s lines in the chorus will come across as caustic to some ears; a bit too superfluous and busy, not letting the heart of the song breathe properly. But for other listeners the echoes will represent one of the more catchy elements of the song.
You appreciate the effort, and can’t find it offensive unless you’re being a little to over-sensitive yourself, but “Little Toy Guns,” despite its strengths, carries a little too much baggage to label it anything beyond “okay” or “better than Bro-Country.” Nonetheless, with the strength of Carrie’s built-in appeal and the poignancy of the track, it can be expected to fare fairly well amongst mainstream listeners.
1 1/4 of 2 Guns Up.
February 2, 2015 @ 11:01 am
When I first heard this song a couple of months ago I had a similar reaction “it ain’t country but it’s pretty damn good”.
Side note: I’m tired of seeing Mark Bright produce every song for her. Would love to see what someone else could do with her voice.
February 2, 2015 @ 9:34 pm
Is this what you mean when you said doing something different? I promise she isn’t singing like she does in the last two songs. Its more toned down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpZdDPqn_As&list=RDXpZdDPqn_As
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HItV8qeH9Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBjA_vPB-1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYlbQBTZp3M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMYEBNmQed0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pttR8A7Rrv4
February 2, 2015 @ 11:10 am
Can’t disagree with your commentary about the sheer volume of the song and how there’s nothing in the production that reads as country. You nailed it when you talked about how this song harvests the “sonic tropes from a mainstream country world that”™s housing the refugees of mainstream rock in the aftermath of the implosion of that format.”
For me, though, this one is all about the lyrics & how that sonic safe zone is co-opted for the story. The central metaphor is not a common one and it’s a little bit risky, but it works. In fact, I’ll go one further and say that the inherent sentimentality of the song is offset by the metaphor – sure, it’s talking about toy guns, but there’s an implied contrast with real guns and how they are used to hurt people. I just think this is a really well-crafted song. As dramatic as the production is, I don’t think it overshadows the lyrics, they work well side-by-side.
I get a little frustrated when Carrie Underwood doesn’t sing countrier sounding songs, because she’s got a country voice. Check that last “oh, like little toy guns” – the cry and the curl in there is all country. I also prefer songs where she sings more subtly. But if she has to go for the big numbers, I want her to do it with lyrics this interesting.
February 2, 2015 @ 11:24 am
It’s an okay song. Very Carrie, in both good and bad ways. But at least it’s an interesting lyric and out-of-the-box way of interpreting parents fighting. I wish the video were out-of-the-box too. We’re in the midst of a weird trend of little girl wood nymph warriors in music videos.
Kina Grannis – “Dear River”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blR9yZVDTTQ
Hudson Taylor – “Battles”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbNkce8c78A
The Paper Kites – “Featherstone”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0IDiVQxZYg
February 2, 2015 @ 12:04 pm
A powerful song for sure — swap out the big-rock production for a more quietly intense approach (like, say, Garth’s “The Thunder Rolls” or Reba’s “Fancy”), and it probably could’ve fit in on early ’90s country radio (in a good way).
February 2, 2015 @ 12:15 pm
Before I heard the song, I figured a song called “Little Toy Guns” would be a tragic song about kids who like toy guns, and one mistakes a real gun for a toy and shoots somebody, or gets shot by a cop or something. Or how playing with guns instills violent tendencies. Something like that. It’s getting ridiculous how a kid can stick their finger out like a gun and get expelled when they’re just playing! If they tried to do that to my kid (if I ever have one) I’ll use any method I can, either diplomatic or psychotic, to get them to not be in trouble!
February 2, 2015 @ 12:20 pm
Ok I listened to it two times…
1. Not bad
2. Not great
3. I wish it had a more country feel or just a softer feel
4. It sounds like a lot of Underwood songs
5. the music video could have been better
6. It does seem this is becoming a hot topic lately with domestic issues which idk if that helps this songs case. It does not seem to be a trend setter but just a follower.
7. Some people will like this.. aka soccer moms.. but who cares I wont by the iTunes of it and I wont listen on youtube but that’s my choice.
February 3, 2015 @ 4:47 pm
It might not be country but it sure beats the hell outta the shit Taylor Swift tried to pass off as country.
February 3, 2015 @ 6:14 pm
“The echoing of Carrie”™s lines in the chorus will come across as caustic to some ears; a bit too superfluous and busy, not letting the heart of the song breathe properly”.
Bingo, but it is still a good song. It beats most anything else on the radio.
February 3, 2015 @ 10:52 pm
I find Carrie Underwood so incredibly boring. Many artists, mainstream and independent, can tell similar stories with more detail and better songwriting. In other words, I find that Carrie Underwood is the mainstream country music equivalent of a Walmart product. It’ll get the job done, but there are much better options.
February 4, 2015 @ 12:20 am
I like Carrie Underwood as a person, and I respect her talent, but yeah, you pretty much nailed it. Actually, your comparison with Walmart is particularly appropriate, since Carrie is the sweetheart of the Walmart-shopping set.
I’m glad country radio seems to be moving in a more substantive direction, though.
February 5, 2015 @ 5:52 am
Better than Sam Hunt.
February 5, 2015 @ 2:53 pm
I really wish she would just get a new producer. I like a number of her songs lyrically and she’s a great singer but her music is just straight adult pop. It’s just bland power balladry.
February 5, 2015 @ 4:24 pm
Great article, Trigger. I agree on that one. Little Toy Guns is not a country song, it’s a pop rock song. Why the song’s genre is country rock according to Wikipedia? It could’ve done better if the song is rock pop, not country. Carrie Underwood is talented and her lyrics is powerful, but you know that Carrie Underwood is not suppose to be always country. She pop music for her crossover. So maybe if her fifth album is a pop album and have the album produced by someone instead of Mark Bright like Max Martin, that would be great. But if she makes pop music, she has to adopt the style of contemporary Christian music for pop and have her lyrics to have strong messages and more powerful than her meaningful lyrics on her country music. While Carrie Underwood making pop music during the 10th anniversary of her career might be a step up for her career, her country music has to stay on country while her pop music will be played for pop radio. Taylor Swift is no longer country now, so how about Carrie Underwood doing the same thing. Following Taylor Swift’s footsteps and have Carrie Underwood makes pop music for everyone to enjoy. Also, make it related to something lie Kelly Clarkson. This will make Carrie Underwood appeal to everyone, not country listeners. She will also be very important to pop music when she becomes a veteran. Anyway, with Carrie Underwood getting ready for her first child, Little Toy Guns to me is considering to departure of her country music department so she can move to the pop music world so she can evolve her career to an even bigger music career. That way, her music is now appealing to everyone including kids. Carrie Underwood is very unique and she will make the best music that she can have even if her music isn’t country. I hope you like my comments.
February 5, 2015 @ 5:35 pm
I like everyone’s comments, even when they disagree with me. But I hope Max Martin comes nowhere close to Carrie Underwood.
February 5, 2015 @ 8:32 pm
Its already happened with Quitter on Play On. He wrote it with Shellback and Savan Kotecha. Max and Shellback were producers on the song. He hasn’t been used again for her music. He isn’t on the songs fans are finding she is co writing and being written by other people for next cd. I don’t want it to happen again.
February 6, 2015 @ 1:24 am
I think Max Martin-Carrie musical pairing ain’t that bad at all. “Quitter” sure is a glossy pop confection with prominent banjo sound just to make it more country; but it is one of the better tracks in ‘Play On’. I really want Carrie to try working with other producers. Mark Bright has done a fantastic job especially during the ‘Blown Away’ era, but I want to hear somebody else produce Carrie’s next album.
February 6, 2015 @ 9:13 am
Trigger I was wondering what is your thoughts about Carrie songs Wine After and Whisky, Someday When I Stop Loving You, What Can I Say, Thank God For Home Towns, Good In Goodbye and Forever Changed.
February 6, 2015 @ 10:49 am
Oh goodness, I really appreciate the interest, but I rarely engage in giving quick opinions because the can so often be misconstrued, and I rarely write dedicated song reviews unless they’re for current singles or are somehow otherwise topically relevant. But who knows what the future holds…
February 6, 2015 @ 11:28 am
Another fan really wanted me to as well. Thanks for reply.
March 5, 2015 @ 11:05 pm
As I read your list of Carrie songs I wondered if you chose those specific ones because you think they are really good. I happen to think each one of them is lovely and displays her voice at its most tender and versatile. I defy any critic to name a female singer working today in any genre who has Carrie’s vocal range (in both senses of the word) and power. Even singers with undeniably good voices and currently enjoying fame — Beyonce, Pink, Lady Gaga, for example — haven’t anywhere near the sheer number of really good songs Carrie has recorded,’with lyrics and melodies one can listen to time and time again and not lose one’s appreciation and joy and desire to sing along with. Truly, how many of each of those women’s songs has those qualities? This aspect of Carrie’s work is rarely discussed and a lot of that is probably because it’s become customary to release only four or so songs from an album as singles. So the very songs you listed got way too little play or attention. The music industry does artists a disservice in this way. I really LOVE each of the songs you mentioned. Thanks for your good ear.
February 6, 2015 @ 5:18 am
Well, I’m not a fan of this stuff, and this song reminds too much a pop song named “Battlefield” by Jordin Sparks released in 2009 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suPlYwJ3YvM). I think this “new single” by Carrie Underwood really lack of traditionnal instruments, this sounds like an autotune mixtape…
February 6, 2015 @ 12:41 pm
Some VERY sound and informed observations in Trigger’s review above and in the comments in the thread . Really happy to see this kind of solid feedback . I’m in the camp that seems to think the song is darned good ( not GREAT ) and a huge improvement over much of what commercial country radio subjects listeners to . Lyrically its beautifully put together , imo ,….Musically its obviously been delivered in a package most younger fans would be familiar with- Loud , Congested , Dynamically lacking and far too in-your-face to let the message seep into your psyche and your heart the way it deserves to . Carries’ vocals get buried in the crucial parts , although I have to say that I found it slightly more listenable than many of her songs.And I find a sameness throughout due to lack of contrast and musical variation .
I think Trigger sums it up quite succinctly here :”Hats off to Carrie Underwood and fellow songwriters Hillary Lindsey and Chris DeStefano for tackling such a difficult subject, and being able to represent the emotional quotient present in this unfortunately too common occurrence with such understanding. But like with so many of these emotionally-wrenching songs, subtly is replaced with dramatic grandstanding and over-sentimentality.”
I would absolutely love to hear Carrie’s amazing voice sing the RIGHT kinds of songs with much more sparse accompaniment….solo acoustic …solo piano , for instance , in a key that allows the lyric and melody to be the ‘star’ …not the register or vocal pyrotechnics . Radio wouldn’t love it ….but I think a LOT of fans or would-be Carrie fans would .
April 17, 2015 @ 1:11 pm
It’s a good song, but not for country radio. Something In The Water was fantastic and only peaked at #3 on the airplay chart. Watch this one will peak at #1 or #2, showing just how ridiculous the country music listening audience is today.
April 17, 2015 @ 1:28 pm
The same could be said for most of her singles since about 2010.
April 20, 2015 @ 9:11 am
I like her, I really like her voice, and u think she at heart is country. I just want her to tone it down ,and make it sound more country, and start putting a couple of real country songs on her album.