Temporary Home

Last updated
"Temporary Home"
Temporary home.png
Single by Carrie Underwood
from the album Play On
ReleasedOctober 20, 2009 (2009-10-20)
Genre
Length4:28 (album version)
4:19 (radio version)
Label Arista Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Mark Bright
Carrie Underwood singles chronology
"Cowboy Casanova"
(2009)		"Temporary Home"
(2009)		"Undo It"
(2010)
Music videos
"Temporary Home" on YouTube

"Temporary Home" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Carrie Underwood. It was released in December 2009 as the second official single from her third studio album, Play On . Before being released as a single, the song was made available to iTunes on October 20, 2009. A promotional music video for the song was released in November 2009, [1] and an official music video followed in February 2010. In December 2010, the song was ranked at number 25 on Billboard's Top Country Songs of 2010. [2]

Contents

The song was nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance at the 53rd Grammy Awards.

Background

Carrie Underwood was inspired by the book The Purpose Driven Life by Pastor Rick Warren, who wrote that this world is a "temporary home" and that when we leave here, it is not the end of existence. [3] Carrie said, "I thought of a little boy in a foster situation, and he knows where he's going, and the place where he is isn't where he should be, but he'll get there someday." She met with songwriters Luke Laird and Zac Maloy to write the song, provide the idea and the title, and had the melody. [3]

On November 16, 2009, Underwood performed the song on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien . [4] She also performed this song on 'Home for the Holidays', a CBS special that Faith Hill hosted on December 23, 2009. Before her performance at Foxwoods Casino, Connecticut, Underwood's tour bus crashed and the driver was killed. During her performance, Underwood got emotional and said "This song means so much to me..." and gave a tearful performance. [5]

Critical reception

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
Carrie Underwood "Temporary Home" (2009)
26 second sample from Carrie Underwood's "Temporary Home".
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Reviews of the song have been mainly positive. Billboard gave a positive review saying that "Hope reverberates through the scenarios as each character senses that life on Earth is but a temporary trial....Vocally, she has never sounded more heartfelt and compelling. 'Temporary Home' is a powerful song that's stirring but not preachy, and Underwood's performance is sure to resonate strongly with listeners." [6] [7]

Country Universe gave the track an A− grade saying "It’s not the narrative that powers this song, but the depth and strength of her personal conviction. From the inclusion of neglected members of society to the intricate shades of fully-invested emotion to the telling last line –“this is our temporary home”–, the song provides a glimpse at the person behind the artist." [8]

Roughstock was also positive in their review saying, "In 'Temporary Home', three characters all take on some interpretation of the title phrase: a literal sense for the foster child bounced from home to home, a struggling young mother in a halfway house, and a spiritual sense for the man on his deathbed. What could've easily been a mountain of glurge instead becomes simple and effective." [9]

Jim Malec of 9513 was less enthusiastic about the song, saying "It’s hard to relate to, or have much sympathy for, people who we know aren’t real. As a result, 'Temporary Home' has a very dull emotional affect—we’re sad because hard times are sad, and we’re happy because we hope tomorrow will be better, but we know the whole scenario is constructed to preach a particular point of view. Between the first note and the last, not a single lyric works to reveal something about ourselves or strives to tell us a story—its impact is blunt, hits fast and fades quickly." He was positive about Underwood's vocals saying, "Underwood shows off those refined chops on new single 'Temporary Home'; her vocal is beautifully delicate, and the downtempo pace of the song grants a welcome reprieve for her typically bombastic production." [10]

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
United States October 20, 2009Music downloadArista Nashville
Canada Sony Music
United StatesDecember 14, 2009AirplayArista Nashville
CanadaSony Music

Music video

Originally, a live performance from CMT's Invitation Only, was released as a music video to promote the single. A concept music video for the song was filmed in Nashville, Tennessee, and premiered on CMT on February 4, 2010. [11]

The video was directed and produced by Deaton Flanigen. In the song's music video Underwood is shown riding around town in a taxi cab. During her journey she watches a young boy with his new foster mother, and a mother trying desperately to get a job. Finally, she reaches her destination, a hospital room with an elderly man, presumably her grandfather, lying on his deathbed. Between the third verse and third chorus on the video, Underwood goes in and talks to her dying grandfather (portrayed by Jerry Foster in the video), cries and hugs him. Throughout the video, Underwood is also shown performing the song while standing among trees in the winter, with snowfall coming down behind her. Underwood said of the video,

"It's kind of like one person on their way somewhere, which is a theme of this song. You're headed someplace, and then they kind of share these special moments with the characters. But through that, I felt like everybody's on their own journey, and we all cross paths. So I felt like it was close enough to the story, but just far enough away to where it kind of provided a different angle." [12]

Awards and nominations

53rd Grammy Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2010"Temporary Home" Best Female Country Vocal Performance Nominated

16th Inspirational Country Music Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2010"Temporary Home"Inspirational Music Video of the YearWon
2010"Temporary Home"Inspirational Mainstream Country Song of the YearNominated

2010 CMT Music Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2010"Temporary Home" (from CMT Invitation Only)CMT Performance of the YearWon

2010 CMA Triple-Play Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2010"Temporary Home"Triple-Play Songwriter (along with "Cowboy Casanova" and "Undo It")Won

2011 BMI Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2011"Temporary Home"Songwriter of the YearWon

Chart performance

"Temporary Home" debuted at number 92 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and at number 66 on the Canadian Hot 100 and peaked at number 41 and 65 respectively. It also debuted at number 48 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on the week ending December 12, 2009, and on the chart week of April 10, 2010, the song became her ninth number one single and peaked at number 34 on the U.S. Christian Songs chart.

As of October 2015, "Temporary Home" has sold 1,093,000 copies in the United States. [13]

Chart (2009–2010)Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [14] 65
Canada Country ( Billboard ) [15] 2
US Billboard Hot 100 [16] 41
US Christian Songs ( Billboard ) [17] 34
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [18] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2010)Position
US Country Songs (Billboard) [19] 25

Sales and certifications

As a promotional single (before the release of Play On):

United States: 31,000

As a confirmed single (after the release of Play On):

United States: 1,093,000 [21]

The song has been certified Platinum. [22]

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [23] Platinum1,000,000Double-dagger-14-plain.png

Double-dagger-14-plain.png Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrie Underwood</span> American country singer (born 1983)

Carrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer. She rose to prominence after winning the fourth season of American Idol in 2005. Her single "Inside Your Heaven" made her the only country artist to debut atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the only solo country artist in the 2000s to have a number-one song on the Hot 100. Her debut album, Some Hearts (2005), was bolstered by the successful crossover singles "Jesus, Take the Wheel" and "Before He Cheats", becoming the best-selling solo female debut album in country music history. She won three Grammy Awards for the album, including Best New Artist. The next studio album, Carnival Ride (2007) had one of the biggest opening weeks of all time by a female artist and won two Grammy Awards. Her third studio album, Play On (2009), was preceded by the single "Cowboy Casanova", which had one of the biggest single-week upward movements on the Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesus, Take the Wheel</span> 2005 single by Carrie Underwood

"Jesus, Take the Wheel" is a song written by Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson, and recorded by American country music artist Carrie Underwood. It was released on October 18, 2005 as the first single from Underwood's debut album Some Hearts (2005). The ballad tells of a woman seeking help from Jesus in an emergency and surrendering control to a higher power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Before He Cheats</span> 2006 single by Carrie Underwood

"Before He Cheats" is a song by American singer Carrie Underwood from her debut studio album, Some Hearts (2005). Written by Chris Tompkins and Josh Kear, it was released as the fourth single from the album. The song tells the story of a woman taking revenge on her potentially unfaithful boyfriend/husband.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrie Underwood discography</span>

American country singer Carrie Underwood has released nine studio albums, one greatest hits album, and 29 singles. Underwood rose to fame after winning the fourth season of American Idol in 2005. Her debut album, Some Hearts, was released in 2005 and is the fastest-selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history. It also became the best-selling solo female country debut in Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) history, as well as the top-selling debut album of any American Idol contestant in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Small</span> 2007 single by Carrie Underwood

"So Small" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Carrie Underwood. It was released in August 2007 as the first single from her 2007 album Carnival Ride. Underwood co-wrote this song with Hillary Lindsey and Luke Laird.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Told You So (Randy Travis song)</span> 1988 song by Randy Travis

"I Told You So" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Randy Travis from his 1987 album, Always & Forever. It reached number one on the U.S. Billboard and Canadian RPM country singles charts in June 1988. Travis had first recorded it on his 1983 album Live at the Nashville Palace under his stage name "Randy Ray". It became a local hit and one of his most requested songs at the club. In 2007, the song was covered by Carrie Underwood on her album Carnival Ride. Her version was released in February 2009 and was re-recorded and re-released in March as a duet with Travis. Underwood's and Travis's duet peaked at number two on the U.S. country charts in 2009.

"Best Days of Your Life" is a song performed by American country music artist Kellie Pickler. It was written by Pickler and American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released on December 1, 2008, as the second single from Kellie Pickler's self-titled second album. Swift also provides background vocals on the song. The song is about a narrator explaining how her former boyfriend cheated on her and moved on to a new girlfriend to start a family with, wishing them well on their new life but says that the new girl won't top what they previously once had before.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowboy Casanova</span> 2009 single by Carrie Underwood

"Cowboy Casanova" is a song by American singer Carrie Underwood. It was written by Underwood, Mike Elizondo, Brett James. It was released on September 14, 2009, by Arista Nashville as the lead single from her third studio album, Play On. The song sold 2,300,000 copies, making it the fourth-biggest single of her career behind "Jesus, Take the Wheel", "Before He Cheats", and "Blown Away".

<i>Play On</i> (Carrie Underwood album) 2009 studio album by Carrie Underwood

Play On is the third studio album by American country music singer Carrie Underwood. It was released in the United States on November 3, 2009, through Arista Nashville. Play On was produced by Mark Bright who also produced Underwood's Carnival Ride and seven other songs off of Some Hearts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Undo It</span> 2010 single by Carrie Underwood

"Undo It" is a song written by Carrie Underwood, Kara DioGuardi, Marti Frederiksen, and Luke Laird. It was made available to digital retailers on October 27, 2009, and was released as an official single on May 24, 2010. The song is the third single from Underwood's third studio album, Play On.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makin' Me Fall in Love Again</span> 2010 single by Kellie Pickler

"Makin' Me Fall in Love Again" is a song written by Karyn Rochelle, James T. Slater and Shane Stevens, and recorded by American country music artist Kellie Pickler. It was released in April 2010 as the fourth and final single from her self-titled second album. The song is about someone being in love and still having that feeling, despite being told that it will fade away. Pickler said that it reflected her current relationship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Girl (Carrie Underwood song)</span> 2012 single by Carrie Underwood

"Good Girl" is a song by American country music artist Carrie Underwood. The song was written by Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley and Underwood. It was released by Arista Nashville as the lead single from Underwood's fourth studio album, Blown Away (2012).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blown Away (Carrie Underwood song)</span> 2012 single by Carrie Underwood

"Blown Away" is a song by American recording artist Carrie Underwood, taken from her fourth studio album of the same name (2012). The song served as the album's second single on July 9, 2012, through Arista Nashville. Written by Chris Tompkins and Josh Kear, who previously wrote Underwood's single "Before He Cheats" (2006-2007), "Blown Away" is a country pop song with lyrics addressing the story of a daughter locking herself in a storm cellar while her alcoholic father is passed out on the couch in the path of a tornado. Producer Mark Bright drew inspiration from 1980s music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">See You Again (Carrie Underwood song)</span> 2013 single by Carrie Underwood

"See You Again" is a song by American country music artist Carrie Underwood. It was written by Underwood, Hillary Lindsey, and David Hodges. It was released as the fourth and final single from Underwood's fourth studio album, Blown Away, on April 15, 2013. Underwood announced the single on her official Twitter account.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smoke Break</span> 2015 single by Carrie Underwood

"Smoke Break" is a song recorded by American country music artist Carrie Underwood from her fifth studio album, Storyteller. It was released on August 21, 2015, through Sony Music Nashville, as the album's lead single. It was written by Underwood, Chris DeStefano, and Hillary Lindsey, and was produced by Jay Joyce. Musically, it has lyrics about escaping life's many stresses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dirty Laundry (Carrie Underwood song)</span> 2016 single by Carrie Underwood

"Dirty Laundry" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Carrie Underwood from her fifth studio album, Storyteller (2015). The song was written by Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley, and Hillary Lindsey, with production from Jay Joyce, and was released as the fourth single from the album in the United States and Canada. The single was shipped to country radio on August 22 and made its official impact on September 5. The song was certified Platinum by the RIAA on January 23, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church Bells (song)</span> 2016 single by Carrie Underwood

"Church Bells" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Carrie Underwood from her fifth studio album, Storyteller. The song was written by Zach Crowell, Brett James, and Hillary Lindsey, with production from Mark Bright, and was released as the third single from the album in the United States, being shipped to radio on April 3, 2016, and had an official impact date of April 11, 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cry Pretty (song)</span> 2018 single by Carrie Underwood

"Cry Pretty" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Carrie Underwood. It was released on April 11, 2018, as the lead single and title track from her sixth studio album, Cry Pretty. The song received critical acclaim with Billboard naming it the best country song of 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southbound (Carrie Underwood song)</span> 2019 song by Carrie Underwood

"Southbound" is a song co-written and recorded by American singer Carrie Underwood, and released as the third single from her sixth studio album, Cry Pretty. The single had an official release day of April 29, 2019. The song was written by Underwood, David Garcia and Josh Miller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drinking Alone</span> 2019 song by Carrie Underwood

"Drinking Alone" is a song co-written and recorded by American singer Carrie Underwood, and released as the fourth single from her sixth studio album, Cry Pretty (2018). The single had an official release day of November 4, 2019. The song was written by Underwood, co-producer David Garcia and Brett James.

References

  1. ↑ "Underwood's Temporary Home video out". Country Standard time. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
  2. ↑ "Hot Country Songs - Year-End". Billboard . 2 January 2013.
  3. 1 2 Bronson, Fred (March 5, 2013). "Top 100 'American Idol' Hits of All Time". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  4. ↑ "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien". The Official Carrie Underwood Site. Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
  5. ↑ http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=12182984 [ dead link ]
  6. ↑ "Carrie Underwood, "Temporary Home"". Billboard . 19 January 2010.
  7. ↑ "Billboard singles reviews: Carrie Underwood, Young Money". Reuters. January 8, 2010.
  8. ↑ Seetharam, Tara (December 28, 2009). "Review: Carrie Underwood, "Temporary Home"". Country Universe. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  9. ↑ Peacock, Bobby (February 16, 2010). "Carrie Underwood - "Temporary Home"". Roughstock. Archived from the original on May 29, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  10. ↑ Malec, Jim (December 18, 2009). "Carrie Underwood - "Temporary Home"". The 9513. Archived from the original on December 22, 2009. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  11. ↑ "CMT Videos: Music Binge - 2.4.10 : Temporary Home". CMT.com. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  12. ↑ "Temporary Home by Carrie Underwood Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  13. ↑ "Britney Spears Rebounds on the Hot 100 After 'Make Me' Video Release". Billboard . 18 August 2016.
  14. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
  15. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
  17. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
  19. ↑ "Best of 2010: Country Songs". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. 2010. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
  20. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (November 4, 2009). "Your weekly sales fix: Kelly Clarkson, Adam Lambert, Kris Allen tracks". Idol Chatter - Candid commentary on American Idol Performances. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
  21. ↑ "Ask Billboard: Chart Beat's 'Piano Man' Returns!". Billboard . 11 October 2015.
  22. ↑ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - September 24, 2015". www.riaa.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24.
  23. ↑ "American single certifications – Carrie Underwood – Temporary Home". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved January 10, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.