Carrie Underwood feat. Randy Travis – I Told You So (a J!-ENT Digital Single Review)

March 17, 2009 by Dennis Amith 

“A beautiful collaboration between Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis.  An amazing hit from 1988 gets a modern treatment with Underwood’s beautiful vocals!”

ARTIST:  Carrie Underwood feat. Randy Travis

SINGLE:  I Told You So (Digital Version)

LABEL: 19 Recordings Limited / Arista Nashville

DURATION: 4:18

RELEASE DATE: March 17, 2009

1. I Told You So

Back in 1988, country singer Randy Travis had a Billboard chart topping hit on the Country Music Charts for his song “I Told You So” featured in his album “Always & Forever”.  Sure enough, nearly 20-years-later, the song is covered by Carrie Underwood for her second full-length album “Carnival Ride” and was released in Jan. 2009 as her fifth CD single (March 2009 for digital release).

For Carrie Underwood, this is her second digital release in the last week with her other cover song of the popular Motley Crue hit “Home Sweet Home” being used recently for the eliminated “American Idol” contestants.

But as for “I Told You So”, I truly enjoy this rendition by Underwood.  Her beautiful vocals has warmth and works well in the cover.  And as Randy Travis made this song such a big hit back in 1988, the country legend is featured in this duet.  I enjoyed the musical arrangement with the acoustic guitar and almost a nostalgic old school country musical style that I grew up listening to.

Although a very enjoyable and really good duet by both amazing talents, of course, both vocal styles are quite different from each other, so I suppose it depends on one’s interpretation of what they get from the song.  Personally, I enjoyed this track and it’s one thing to hear Underwood’s vocals but to hear Randy Travis singing this song again especially both in a duet together, that’s pretty special.

All in all, a digital single release definitely worth having on your playlist.