This week, I’ve had Carrie Underwood’s version of ”I’ll Stand By You” #OnRepeat. Although Carrie is typically known for singing Christian and Country music, I believe her voice fits perfectly for this Rock ballad.
Carrie Underwood is a singer, actress, and songwriter from Oklahoma who got her start when she won the fourth season of the show American Idol, going on to later win several Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and CMA Awards. Some of her most well-known songs are “Before He Cheats,” “Inside Your Heaven,” and “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”
“I’ll Stand By You” was written and recorded by the British-American Rock group, The Pretenders, for their 1994 album Last of the Independents. It is song that talks about love, acceptance, and support when a friend or loved one is going through dark time. Although several artists have covered the song since its initial release, Underwood’s version hits the hardest because of her performance technique and stylistic choices. Country singers are known for belting, but Carrie uses this vocal technique to her advantage in this song, playing up the emotional power-like quality of this Rock ballad. I may be partial since I grew up listening to this song all the time, but Carrie Underwood has quickly made this one of my favorite songs again because of her voice and performance style.
Take a listen below:
What do you think? Is there any older songs covered by modern day artists that you feel have brought new life back to that song? Leave a comment below!