Little Toy Guns

"Little Toy Guns"
Single by Carrie Underwood
from the album Greatest Hits: Decade #1
Released February 16, 2015[1]
Recorded 2014
Genre
Length 3:31
Label Arista Nashville/19
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Mark Bright
Carrie Underwood singles chronology
"Something in the Water"
(2014)		 "Little Toy Guns"
(2015)

"Little Toy Guns" is a song recorded by American country music artist Carrie Underwood for her first greatest hits album, Greatest Hits: Decade #1. It was released on February 16, 2015 through Arista Nashville as the album's second single.[2] It was written by Underwood, Chris DeStefano, and Hillary Lindsey, and was produced by Mark Bright. The song peaked at Number 40 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart prior to its single release due to digital downloads from the album.[3]

Background and composition

"I’ve seen it firsthand from different people in my life and seen how the tumultuous parental relationship [...] can affect a child. So that’s kind of what it’s about, but it’s a really tempo-driven song as well, so it’s kind of a bit of a juxtaposition as far as the story content and the music … It sounds rockin’, but it has a positive message."

- Carrie Underwood on the inspiration behind the song.[4]

The song was written by Underwood with frequent collaborators Chris DeStefano and Hillary Lindsey, and was produced by Mark Bright. Drawing on country and rock influences in its composition, "Little Toy Guns" features a "heavy and orchestral" arrangement with emotionally resonant lyrics and an "uplifting" melody.[5][6] Critics have also called the song a prequel of sorts to her 2012 hit "Blown Away" for the songs' similar thematic content and "stormy" sonic aesthetic.[5][6]

Lyrically, the song tells a story of domestic violence revolving around a young child overhearing her parents fighting and wanting to escape from the pain.[2][5] Underwood narrates the chorus from the child's perspective, stating that she wishes the angry words were fake "like little toy guns" so they wouldn't hurt.[2]

Critical reception

Allmusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine called this song "bombastic."[7] News OK called this song "meaningful" and added that it "sounds fresh enough to have fans craving another new studio collection sooner rather than later."[8] Pipy Ellwood concluded that the song is "a mid-tempo number that will appeal to fans of Underwood’s more uptempo moments."[9] Renowned For Sound described that Underwood's "strong vocals (...) create a vigorous atmosphere that fans old and new are going to love." [10] Digital Journals editor Markos Padatados agreed, stating that, "yet again, [Underwood] showcases her trademark pipes."[11]

Commercial reception

"Little Toy Guns" entered the Billboard Hot Country Songs at number 40 for the week ending December 20, 2014 and has reached number 26 for the week ending March 28, 2015. It debuted at number 99 on the Hot 100 chart.[3] As of April 2015, the single has sold 186,000 copies in the US.[12]

Music video

Underwood posted a teaser video to her social media accounts on January 28, 2015 with the caption "Friday..." and the hashtags #LittleToyGuns and #CUX1 (Carrie Underwood Decade 1, an initialism for her greatest hits album),[13] which was later confirmed as a preview for the "Little Toy Guns" video premiering via Facebook on January 30, 2015.[2][14] The video was directed by P.R. Brown, who has previously collaborated with Underwood's on her "Two Black Cadillacs" video.

The video stars Grace Rundhaug, who starred alongside Underwood in The Sound of Music Live! television special, as a girl who escapes her parents' fighting by mentally transports herself to a "storybook land" where she plays a mythical hero and reunites her captive parents.[15][16] Beville Dunkerley at Rolling Stone noted that the end of the video provides a more peaceful resolution than the lyrics of the song.[16]

Chart performance

Chart (2014–2015) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17] 70
Canada Country (Billboard)[18] 11
US Billboard Hot 100[19] 74
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[20] 13
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[21] 13

References

  1. ↑ "R&R :: Going For Adds :: Country". Radio & Records. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Parton, Chris (29 January 2015). "New Single: Carrie Underwood’s "Little Toy Guns"". CMT (Viacom). Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Roland, Tom (18 December 2014). "Billboard Country : Mid-Week Update" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Whitaker, Sterling (29 November 2014). "Carrie Underwood Shares Inspiration Behind ‘Little Toy Guns'". Taste of Country (Townsquare Media). Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Carrie Underwood, ‘Little Toy Guns’ [Listen]". Taste of Country (Townsquare Media). 28 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Carrie Underwood Describes Somber Song 'Little Toy Guns'". Rolling Stone (Wenner Media). 21 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  7. ↑ Review by Allmusic Retrieved 7 February 2015
  8. ↑ NewsOK review Retrieved 7 February 2015
  9. ↑ Review by Entertainment-focus Retrieved 7 February 2015
  10. ↑ Renowned for Sound review Retrieved 7 February 2015
  11. ↑ Digital Journal review Retireved 7 February 2015
  12. ↑ Matt Bjorke (April 22, 2015). "Country Music’s Top 30 Digital Singles: Week of April 22, 2015". Roughstock. Sales figure given here
  13. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Facebook video". 28 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  14. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Facebook post". 29 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  15. ↑ Bonaguro, Alison (3 February 2015). "Carrie Underwood’s Big Casting Decision for "Little Toy Guns"". CMT (Viacom). Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Dunkerley, Beville (30 January 2015). "Watch Carrie Underwood Fire a Powerful Message in 'Little Toy Guns' Video". Rolling Stone (Wenner Media). Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  17. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for Carrie Underwood.
  18. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Canada Country for Carrie Underwood.
  19. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Carrie Underwood.
  20. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Country Airplay for Carrie Underwood.
  21. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Carrie Underwood.

External links