Carnival Ride

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Nice-girl country-pop from Idol winner.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this American Idol winner's naughtiest lyrics are quite tame. "Last Name" talks about drinking too much tequila, going to bed with someone, and waking up married to them. There are some minor classic stereotypes such as dads going fishing or playing ball with their sons but not their daughters ("All-American Girl").

  • Some gender stereotypes: Dads only fish and play ball with their sons, etc.
  • One song references a soldier's funeral, but there's no violent imagery.
  • The raciest lyric is "It started out 'hey cutie, where you from?' and then it turned into 'oh no, what have I done?'" -- just a little playful innuendo.

What's the story?

Diehard fans of Carrie Underwood will enjoy the dreamy, hurt-girl ballads on CARNIVAL RIDE ("I Know You Won't" and "You Won't Find This"). New listeners are more likely to be charmed by the cleverness of the more playful tunes like "Last Name," a rock-infused romp describing a night of indiscretion in Las Vegas. "Just A Dream," the most poignant and poetic offering, describes a young girl at her soldier-sweetheart's funeral, and might inspire family discussion or offer some comfort to those who've lost loved ones in Iraq.


Is it any good?

 

Carrie Underwood attacks the 13 slickly produced country-pop confections on Carnival Ride with her usual full-tilt delivery, once again showcasing her strong voice and emotive abilities while leaving little room for subtlety.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the lyrics of "Just a Dream," which describes the grief of a young woman who has lost her sweetheart to war. Has your family experienced a recent death or tragedy? How do you deal with all the sad, complicated feelings? Do you know anyone with a family member who has been killed in Iraq? How can you help them heal?


This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Teen, 15 years old
March 12, 2010
 
perfect for everyone
another clean, loveable, CD by Carrie Underwood!!! Love everything about it

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Teen, 16 years old
April 9, 2008
 
wonderful!
i heard all American girl and it was beautiful i wish i could have the album it is not really an issue but a song mentions too much teguila

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Teen, 15 years old
August 17, 2009
 
:)
Love it. She is my favorite singer!

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Teen, 16 years old
September 22, 2009
 
Great CD!
Again, Carrie rocks. I think Some Hearts was a little bit better, but this is still great music. So Small has a positive message, and it is very good! My Top 3 -So Small -All-American Girl -Twisted

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Teen, 16 years old
April 9, 2008
 
funny!!@@!!@@
Carrie underwood is nice and so funny. She writes awesome music, but some lyrics are inappropriate for some kids. But she is a christian and really doesn't swear. This is why i like Carrie underwood

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Teen, 16 years old
July 15, 2010
 
i think it is really good

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Teen, 17 years old
August 31, 2009
 
Nice Album
This is an enjoyable album.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Feel good Pop Country blend perfect for the whole family!
This is really a CD you can play with your five-year old in the room without ever feeling embarressed. The lyrics of all the songs are so clean, and some even promote a positive message, such as the importance of family, parent-child relationships, and the "love conquers all" truth. Carrie's voice is really what is in the spotlight on this CD, though. She has such an incredible talent, and can hit such incredibly high notes with such clarity. Definately a CD the whole family can listen to!

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Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 
AMAZING!!
Everytime I hear Carrie sings, I am amazed. She has an incredible gift, and so far has used it for good only. She is a great role model for kids and has a great voice. Parts to watch out for include in the song "Last Name", Carrie talks about getting hitched in Vegas, but does not condone claiming in the song that, "My Momma would be so ashamed." Overall, it is a great CD, and I can't wait to see Carrie's career sky-rocket in the future!! 5 stars.

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Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 
this is one of the best cd that you can lisen to

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This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Artist:Carrie Underwood
Release date:October 23, 2007
Label:Arista
Genre:Country
Parental advisory:No

This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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