Mama's Song

"Mama's Song" is a song recorded by American country music singer Carrie Underwood, co-written by her along with Kara DioGuardi, Marti Frederiksen, and Luke Laird. It was released in November 2010 as the fourth and final single from her third studio album, Play On. These songwriters also wrote her previous single, "Undo It".

For other uses, see Mama's Song (disambiguation).

"Mama's Song"
Single by Carrie Underwood
from the album Play On
Released	September 13, 2010 (2010-09-13)
Genre	Country
Length	4:00
Label	Arista Nashville
Songwriter(s)	Carrie Underwood Kara DioGuardi Marti Frederiksen Luke Laird
Producer(s)	Mark Bright
Carrie Underwood singles chronology
"Undo It" (2010) "Mama's Song" (2010) "There's a Place for Us" (2010)
Music video
"Mama's Song" on YouTube

Underwood performed this song on the 44th CMA Awards on November 10, 2010. The song was nominated for Best Country Solo Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards.

Content

The song is a ballad where the female narrator sings to her mother, telling her to let her go and not to worry as the daughter moves out and begins her own life as the bride of the man she loves.

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic described the song as "sticky" and "tacky."[1] Sean Daly of the St. Petersburg Times compared it unfavorably to "Change" on the same album, saying that both were "too precious, too preachy."[2] Slant Magazine reviewer Jonathan Keefe described the song more favorably in his review of the album, saying that it had cliché lyrics but praising Underwood's "understated vocal" as well as the comparatively softer production.[3] In a more positive review, Bobby Peacock of Roughstock gave it three-and-a-half stars out of five, saying that she "proves yet again that she can just sing without having to reach for the rafters on every note, and the production is agreeably mellow and acoustic."[4]

Music video

The official music video for "Mama's Song" premiered on VEVO on September 24, 2010. It features both Underwood's husband Mike Fisher, and her mother Carole. It was filmed in Nashville, and was directed by Shaun Silva. It tells the story of a woman who meets her true love and moves away from her mom.[5]

Chart performance

In October 2009, in advance of the album's release, "Mama's Song" charted at number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 68 on the Canadian Hot 100. It was the first of three promotional singles from the album.[6] On the Hot Country Songs charts dated for the week ending September 4, 2010, it entered at number 55.[7] It has also re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 87 upon its release as an official single and has reached a new peak of 56. It is one of Underwood's singles to reach the Hot 100 that has charted outside the top 50, with Love Wins and Drinking Alone. On the week of January 17, 2011 it peaked at number two on Hot Country Songs and became Underwood's third single to peak at number two.

Commercial performance

As a promotional single (before the release of Play On):

United States: 39,000

As a confirmed single (after the release of Play On):

United States: 442,000[8]

The song has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.[9]

Chart (2009–11)	Peak position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10]	68
Canada Country (Billboard)[11]	10
US Billboard Hot 100[12]	56
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[13]	2

Year-end charts

Chart (2011)	Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[14]	50

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[15]	Platinum	442,000[8]
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Awards and nominations

2011 Inspirational Country Music (ICM) Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2011	"Mama's Song"	Inspirational Mainstream Song	Nominated
2011	"Mama's Song"	Inspirational Music Video	Nominated

2011 BMI Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2011	"Mama's Song"	Songwriter of the Year	Won

2011 American Country Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2011	"Mama's Song"	Female Single of the Year	Won
2011	"Mama's Song"	Female Music Video of the Year	Won

54th Grammy Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2011	"Mama's Song"	Best Country Solo Performance	Nominated

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
United States	October 13, 2009	Music download	Arista Nashville
Canada			Sony Music
United States	September 13, 2010	Airplay	Arista Nashville
Canada			Sony Music
Australia	November 3, 2010
Philippines	November 6, 2010

References

1. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Play On review". Allmusic. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
2. Sean Daly (8 November 2009). "Carrie Underwood's new album, 'Play On,' is her weakest yet". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
3. Jonathan Keefe (5 November 2009). "Play On review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
4. Peacock, Bobby (26 August 2010). ""Mama's Song" review". Roughstock. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
5. http://www.hollyscoop.com/music/music-videos/carrie-underwood-mamas-song-music-video_2356.aspx
6. "Chart listings for "Mama's Song"". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
7. "Chart Highlights". Billboard. 23 August 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
8. Mansfield, Brian (5 January 2011). "'Idol' track sales: Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Adam Lambert". USA Today.
9. "RIAA - Gold & Platinum: Carrie Underwood singles". RIAA.com. Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on February 25, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
10. "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
11. "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
12. "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
13. "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
14. "Best of 2011: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
15. "American single certifications – Carrie Underwood – Mama's Song". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics