"Just a Dream" is a country song, released as the fourth single from Carrie Underwood's second studio album, ''

Carnival Ride ''Carnival Ride'' is the second studio album by American country music artist Carrie Underwood. It was released in the United States on October 23, 2007, by Arista Nashville. On this album, Underwood was more involved in the songwriting proces ...

''. The song was written by

Gordie Sampson Gordon Francis Sampson (born July 30, 1971) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and producer from Big Pond, Nova Scotia. Beginning his career as a performer on his hometown island of Cape Breton, both in bands and on his own, Sampson has gone on t ...

Steve McEwan Steve McEwan is a multi Grammy award winning British songwriter, artist, and musician. His songs have been recorded by country music artists including Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, and Keith Urban. Outside of country, he has also ...

, and

Hillary Lindsey Hillary Lee Lindsey is an American singer-songwriter. She has written songs with or for a number of artists including Michelle Branch, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Shakira, Lady A, Gary Allan, Sara Evans, Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, Bo ...

. The song was officially released to radio on July 21, 2008. A video for the song was released on August 5, 2008. The song was nominated for 2010

Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance The Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance was first awarded in 1965, to Dottie West Dorothy Marie Marsh West (October 11, 1932 – September 4, 1991) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends ...

. The song debuted at number 96 on the U.S. ''[Billboard'' Pop 100 chart without any radio release at the end of the released week of ''

'' and dropped out the week later. It debuted on ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs at number 45 one week before its official release. On the issue date August 23, 2008 the song debuted at number 98 on U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100, it later peaked at number 29 becoming her tenth top 30 hit on that chart. For the week of November 8, 2008, the song became Underwood's sixth straight number one country single, as well as her seventh number one single overall, eighth including all other charts. It stayed at the top of the chart for two weeks. It has been certified 2× Platinum by RIAA, and as of November 2015, it has sold 1,280,000 million copies.

Content

"Just a Dream" is a ballad backed by an acoustic guitar, drum kit, bass guitar and a string section. The song chronicles an 18-year-old woman going to the church in her wedding dress, with the listener believing she's going to her wedding. However, as the song goes on, it's revealed that she's actually going to the funeral of her husband, who was a soldier killed in action. During the funeral, she wishes that everything going on at the moment is all "just a dream." The woman is eventually given a folded up flag, which is only given to the next of kin, which includes spouse, blood relative or someone who has been granted permission by the courts to be their next of kin.

Writing and inspiration

Songwriters

and

composed the song over the space of a few days in collaborative songwriting sessions in Nashville. According to McEwan, in an interview with HitQuarters, it was Lindsey that first conceived the concept of the song,

"Hillary had this thing in her head, “Wouldn’t it be great to write a song about a woman where you think through the song that she’s getting married but then you suddenly realise she’s actually going to her husband’s funeral.” That’s how it started.""Interview With Steve McEwan"
''HitQuarters'', 18 January 2010.

McEwan refutes the notion that there was a deliberate political subtext to the song and instead insists their primary aim was simply to write something 'heartfelt'. The trio were nevertheless conscious of political interpretation having rejected the earlier title of "American Dream" for making the song "overly political".

Critical reception

"Just a Dream" was well-received and garnered several positive reviews from critics. Matt C. of Engine 145, a country music blog, gave the song a "thumbs up" review, calling it one of the best performances of Underwood's in an album that otherwise contained "bombastic vocals". Although he said that the first verse was written in a convoluted fashion ("a swing and a miss by the writers"), he also thought that Underwood's vocal performance compensated enough to make the song viable. ''Country Universe'' reviewer Kevin J. Coyne also gave a favorable review of the single, opining that it "illustrates just how bone-chillingly good a vocalist nderwoodis when the material is on level with her talent." The single was also ranked number fourteen on the blog's countdown for the Top 40 best country music singles of 2008. '' Billboard'' gave it a positive review as well: "The fourth single from Carrie Underwood's double-platinum ''Carnival Ride'' finds the singer charting new territory. Previous singles have stuck to a similar lyrical theme, contrasting between Underwood's girl-next-door image with inspirational or family-centered songs… 'Just a Dream' delivers the heartbreaking, storytelling side of Nashville with the kind of song usually reserved for vets like one of her idols Reba McEntire or

Martina McBride Martina Mariea McBride (née Schiff, born July 29, 1966) is an American country music singer-songwriter and record producer. She is known for her soprano singing range and her country pop material. McBride was born in Sharon, Kansas, and reloc ...

. Underwood convincingly sells the story of a young widow of a soldier killed in combat, using shades of her emotive vocal to convey anger and despair. While the subject matter is sensitive in this day and time—particularly for flag-waving country pundits—it is rooted in reality. Add Underwood's adoration by the format's listeners and there is bound to be an immediate and receptive response to this beautifully executed song."

Music video

The music video was released in August 2008, and was Underwood's final video to be directed by Roman White. It begins with Underwood sitting with her boyfriend Jonathan Roberts, played by Jeff Kasser, an officer in the military, in a car listening to

Eddy Arnold Richard Edward Arnold (May 15, 1918 – May 8, 2008) was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a Nashville sound (country/popular music) innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the ''Billboard'' cou ...

's "

Make the World Go Away "Make the World Go Away'" is a country pop song composed by Hank Cochran. It has become a Top 40 popular success three times: for Timi Yuro (1963), Eddy Arnold (1965), and the brother-sister duo Donny and Marie Osmond (1975). The original ver ...

", and trying not to talk about the inevitability of him leaving for war. As she imagines what it would be like to walk down the aisle and marry him, Underwood's smile and white dress transform into a black mourning dress and tears as she walks down the aisle to her husband's coffin; submerged with scenes of Underwood receiving news of his death. It ends with a still shot of Underwood at the casket with flag in hand panning out to reveal a sunny, breezy landscape.

Release history

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Awards and nominations

52nd Grammy Awards

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Best Female Country Vocal Performance The Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance was first awarded in 1965, to Dottie West. The award has had several minor name changes: *From 1965 to 1967 the award was known as Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Female *In 1 ...

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CMT Music Awards

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44th Academy of Country Music Awards

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2009 Country Universe Reader's Choice Awards

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Just A Dream 2000s ballads 2008 singles 2007 songs Carrie Underwood songs Country ballads Songs about death Songs about marriage Songs written by Hillary Lindsey Music videos directed by Roman White Songs written by Steve McEwan Songs written by Gordie Sampson Arista Nashville singles Song recordings produced by Mark Bright (record producer)