Music Review: Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood "Remind Me"

Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood

Remind Me

Album: This Is Country Music

Year: 2011

               Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood try to reconnect in the sober            “Remind Me.”

            A nostalgic guitar opens the single, setting a wondering tone. She gives him a peck on the cheek and pats him on the shoulder. Then, she sits at the kitchen table, checking her phone. He remembers when they first met, she was all over him. They would start kissing in the parking lot. Whenever someone walked past and told them where the closest hotel was, they would roll their eyes. It’s five years later and now they barely talk. Every once in awhile, he’ll try to figure out what she feels about their relationship. She’ll shrug and tell him she’s all right. However, he feels it has become safe and comfortable. He wants the passion back again. (“We didn't care if people stared/We'd make out in a crowd somewhere/Somebody'd tell us to get a room/It's hard to believe that was me and you/Now we keep saying that we're okay/But I don't want to settle for good not great/I miss the way that it felt back then I want to feel that way again.”)

                 In the chorus, he misses the way she would touch his hand while he kissed the nape of her neck. She remembers those days, too. (“Been so long that you'd forget

The way I used to kiss your neck/Remind me, remind me/So on fire so in love/Way back when we couldn't get enough/Remind me, remind me.”)

                 She had been excited for her trip to Florida. However, the thought of leaving her new boyfriend crushed her. In the lobby of the airport, he kissed her long and hard, telling her how much he’d miss her and that he’ll be there when she comes home. It didn’t leave her much time to get to the boarding gate. She had to catch the next flight. However, they booked a hotel and stayed, enjoying their time together. (“Remember the airport dropping me off/We were kissing goodbye and we couldn't stop/I felt bad because you missed your flight/But that meant we had one more night.”)

            In the second chorus, she thinks of when they made love several times a night. He would look at her tenderly and stroke her face. She wonders why he isn’t as affectionate anymore. He wants her to remember. (“Do you remember how it used to be/We'd turn out the lights and we didn't just sleep/Remind me, baby, remind me/Oh, so on fire so in love/That look in your eyes that I miss so much/Remind me, baby, remind me.”)

               In the bridge, he tells her needs more communication from her. She says she wants him to be intimate with her. They both admit they have to work on their relationship. (“I want to feel that way/Yeah, I want to hold you close/Oh, if you still love me/Don't just assume I know/Baby, remind me, remind me.”)

                  In the third chorus, she asks him if he can still remember the couple they were. He would bring her flowers. Her birthday would mean a road trip somewhere. (“Do you remember the way it felt?/You mean back when we couldn't control ourselves/Remind me/Yeah, remind me/All those things that you used to do/That made me fall in love with you/Remind me, oh, baby, remind me.”)

           In the final section, he thinks of seeing her wearing one of his t-shirts in their bedroom. Then, he would pull him to her as she tried to get dressed and they would make love all over again. During those times, he would have to make a lot excuses to his boss as to why he was late. He thought he was going to get fired. (“Yeah, you'd waked up in my old T-shirt/All those mornings I was late for work/Remind me/Oh, baby, remind me/Oh, baby, remind me, baby, remind me/Yeah, you'd waked up in my old T-shirt/Remind me, yeah, oh/Baby, remind me.”)

                         Paisley wishes it could be like it was. But there’s some uncertainty. Maybe it’s not right. He’s got a decision to make. Were they just about sex?

                      Underwood’s been waiting to hear him recall the memories to her. She thought he forgot. Did he outgrow her? Is she one who’s changed? So many questions she doesn’t want to answer.

                     The  real “Remind Me” has a couple at the center worth shipping.