'Speak Now' by Taylor Swift: A Genre History REVISED

Country or pop? I feel confused when I listen to Taylor, especially her album Speak Now. I keep expecting country to flood the speakers of my car but it doesn’t happen that way. Too much BAM to be considered real soul country but then again, many songs that are supposedly country have us second guessing ourselves. Just think about listening to your Today’s Country station, you know that most of those songs don’t belong. I’d say this album is half and half. Enchanted was the original title of the album until Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta told Taylor that it really wasn’t a valuable representation of this piece of art. Borchetta reminded her that this album isn’t about fairy tales and high school like her past albums had been, but more a representation of evolution as Taylor Swift gets older. Taylor used his advice and came up with Speak Now, the perfect signature to her completely self-written album.

Country-pop grew to popularity when rock music was introduced and artists started appealing to the mass groups instead of solely to one genre of music-lovers. I don’t feel that Taylor is doing this crossover just for the popularity, which I am sure many people argue. She chooses her approach based on the story that accompanies each song, and I think that is the best strategy. A couple names to the idea of crossover music—Patsy Cline used country-pop with her music and it contributed to her success. Country-rock fusion gives Glen Campbell and John Denver their brands. Garth Brooks brings in honky tonk flare and rock-and-roll to country. Then grew the female vocalists like LeAnn Rimes and Faith Hill. This is eventually where Taylor Swift grows and learns from her mentor Faith Hill as they were on tour together. If you were asked what your favorite country song is, what would you say? Now I can guarantee that almost every song you mention would be country-pop. New songs that are soulful country are hard to find. The definition of country has changed since the 1900s and we are no longer expecting to listen to what you would call “old country” or the old-school bluegrass.

As you can see, country-pop is an approach that many successful artists have chosen to take. This cross-genre can be an excellent way to portray different feelings through an array of different musical elements since there are two different genres in which musical style is chosen from. I used to think that a song had to be either country or pop, but listening to Taylor Swift makes me think anything is possible. Swift claims that her up-tempo country-pop songs represent her habit of running away from the thought and presence of love, and I completely agree.

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Just a couple songs on completely opposite ends of the country-pop spectrum:

"Better Than Revenge". Honestly didn’t think this was Taylor when I listened to this song at first, which is supposedly about Camilla Belle stealing Joe Jonas from her. More like an Avril Levigne move. This song has a very high tempo, which is why I classify it as a pop song over the others.

"Last Kiss". I say for sure a country song. Gentle tempo is what I tend to consider country. During much of this song, I am stuck wondering if Taylor is singing or actually just talking quietly. In a beautiful way though, I have to admit this song is very powerful despite its quiet tone. Another song supposedly about Joe Jonas, he must’ve been significant enough to deserve a country and a pop song in this album.

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It’s funny because when I listened to Taylor’s songs as I was growing up, I never knew exactly who she was writing about, but it is so interesting to finally discover for whom she shared these love/hate feelings. For some reason, it’s easy to pair love songs with country music and songs of hatred with pop music just because the beats fit well together. As we have already discussed, Taylor doesn’t stick to one genre or one crossover type, she is very diverse and surprises us even more with each new album she releases. Just like she is discovering herself, Taylor is also discovering the world of new musical elements and unique approaches to take. In Speak Now, there is a track for everything on the relationship spectrum—Taylor calling out guys and even calling out herself. This album has its share of long tracks… not to mention Dear John that is six minutes and forty-five seconds. In general, I would think country songs would be longer because of their slower tempo, so I’m not surprised. There are several songs within this album that are upwards of six minutes which I do think is pushing it because I could imagine myself getting tired of the song much of the time.

Just a little side note on ‘Never Grow Up’—it reminds me of ‘Best Day’ from her album Fearless because of the whole idea of family. ‘Never Grow Up’ is about when Taylor gets dropped off at her apartment and stays alone for the first time, which many people can relate to. If someone young is listening, they may be able to relate to the part about wanting to leave home, but realize how weird leaving home really is (from Taylor’s perspective, of course). Leaving your family is a weird idea and Taylor does a good job of giving her stance as a young girl who wants to start doing things on her own and then finishes the song with her worries about being left alone to tackle the world. Diving deeper into the particular genre of country-pop, Speak Now encompasses many different elements that are a combination of many artists that made up the beginning of crossover history. This album is so diverse, but it makes it easier for me to pinpoint my favorite song since I am more a fan of pop. I love ‘Back to December’ because of its apologetic nature and ‘Better Than Revenge’ because of the upbeat tone and shows what amazing work Taylor is capable of.

Of course, as Taylor progresses in her career, she learns and discovers more than ever before and is able to advance each album in that way. After listening to Speak Now, I think Taylor could do a better job of keeping a cohesive main idea for the album because it is a whole piece of art in itself.

CS

Holistic Album Review – Taylor Swift ‘Fearless'

Next up, Taylor Swift turns FEARLESS. To be completely honest, the album Fearless is 100 times better than her debut album Taylor Swift. It seems that Taylor Swift is starting to find herself and the genre of music she places herself in. I know some people are critical of her tendency to cross between pop and country, but I think it’s admirable. She does what she wants and doesn’t feel the need to stick to the norm. What sets Taylor apart is her ability to connect with the audience during performances. After watching many videos of Taylor on her famous Fearless Tour, you would be amazed at the amount of girls (and guys) that would kill for a hug from her. This album features many more pop elements, especially the tracks ‘Fearless’ and ‘The Way I Loved You’. Taylor is starting to mature whether we like it or not, and it shows through this album. I would characterize Fearless as a way for Taylor to prove to herself and to the whole world that she isn’t a one-hit wonder kind of gal. Fearless is essentially the end of Taylor's high school stories and together, its like a yearbook. It's like at the end of the school year when you get other people to sign your yearbook and Taylor is the one that targets all of her exes. Time to dig deeper into this emotional masterpeice. 

The Not-So-Good

I definitely understand why the track ‘Change’ would appear at the end of the album, to wrap up her ideas and tell the listeners that she anticipates her songs to change along with her life after high school. I am a bit unsure about the actual song itself. It really doesn’t reflect Taylor as we all know her at this point. When I listen to it, I don’t get the feeling that it reflects the entire album, which it should do as it is the last track of the album. It is not the lyrics that make me unsure, it is the music itself. ‘Tell Me Why’ and ‘Change’ are similar in that the music seems to be a bit too overpowering for the words. Just like when you’re at a concert and the guitar and drums are drowning out the sound from the microphone, making it hard to follow along with the lyrics. The repeating ideas of the “face of an angel” and kissing in the rain are constantly popping up in her songs, which leaves the audience yearning for new and exciting tracks. We get it Taylor; you like to kiss boys in the rain. Many of the songs are about relationships, but each relationship is different, so it is more of a collection of tons of memories. There really aren’t many not-so-good elements in this album, so that’s all I have for you.

The Good

One thing that sets Taylor apart is that she is not afraid to mention someone’s name in a song. Stephen (the boy Taylor had a crush on) and Abigail (her bff) appear in this album. She is able to add these very personal elements since she either wrote or co-wrote every song in this album, as she did in her last album as well. Just as the listeners have expected, ‘Fearless’ is about many relationships cut short and some songs teach a lesson to younger girls that may experience some of the same relationship problems that Taylor does. I really enjoy how in this album, Taylor develops her role-model presence with all of her listeners while still maintaining a personal relationship with the audience. She sets an example for other teenage girls but also writes songs that relate directly to them, while building in her “big sister” advice. In 'Fifteen', as Taylor is singing about her best friend Abigail's breakup in the ninth grade, she warns teenage girls and tells them, "In your life you'll do things greater than dating the boy on the football team." I'm definitely biased because I was that girl that couldn't date someone unless they were on the football team (still am, oh no).

The GREAT

This was the first album that I personally bought (when I was 10, of course), so I know every song by heart. Taylor’s ability to put feelings into words in a song that flows is magical. One of my favorite songs on this album is ‘Breathe’. For some reason, it really does feel like a breath of fresh air, which is one of the reasons I would use this song as a representation of the whole album. It flows so nicely it just makes you want to sing, so much that I strongly considered singing it in my seventh grade talent show. Not to mention, I am a terrible singer with even worse stage fright. I’m also more of a pop lover than a country lover so I enjoy Taylor’s versatility. Everyone likes a good love story, take Romeo and Juliet in ‘Love Story’, where Taylor turns the tragic story into one with a good ending. ‘Love Story’ is one of those songs that teenage girls love to listen to because it is the ideal way to fall in love, just like in a fairytale.

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Fiddles to violins, one of the subtlest changes that makes a world of difference. The transition from country to pop becomes more apparent in this album. I have a lot of respect for this album because it solidifies Taylor’s goals and reassures the listeners of her abilities as a singer-songwriter. This whole album is a representation of what Taylor will become in the years following – successful. ‘Fearless’ is an album that parents can listen to with their teenage girls without worrying what Taylor will sing next. This is one of those things about Taylor Swift’s music that is so refreshing, and it became more evident in 'Fearless', her sophomore album. When it comes to the album itself, I can’t tell if Taylor really was fearless when she was dating different boys or if she just wanted to be fearless.

CS

Track-by-Track Analysis of Taylor Swift's Debut Album 'Taylor Swift'

It’s 2017 and Taylor Swift’s first album came out 11 years ago. It honestly feels like yesterday. Taylor Swift was just 16 years old when she released her first album, and it is made up of her most recent high school stories. Very relatable. The boyfriend that moves away, the heartbreak as your best guy friend talks about a girl he likes, and feeling out of place in a cruel world. We enter the world of a young Taylor Swift.

Tim McGraw

First released song on the album is an absolute jaw-dropper, peaking at number 6 on the Hot Country Songs Billboard. A song named after ANOTHER country singer? A bit confused, but maybe Taylor Swift was being strategic and genius. I think so. Grabbing the attention of her listeners by mentioning a famous counterpart, I’m in Taylor.  So the boy in the song. “Just a boy,” no, no, it’s never, “just a boy.” Relating Tim McGraw to a much bigger thing is what really makes this song unique. Taylor Swift gives Tim McGraw credit for her favorite song that she and her boyfriend danced to. The opener of the song gives the country vibe with the guitar, it just makes you want to get up and dance with some boy you really like.

Picture to Burn

We all know the kinds of guys that break up with a girl and have a new one the next week. This high-beat song is full of complaints and savageness. The uplifting tempo is accomplished through the banjo and drums, and when the chorus sets in, Taylor’s loud vocals and electric guitar give the song more character than I had anticipated. I wonder how many pictures Taylor has burned throughout her career!

Teardrop on My Guitar

DREW. I can’t believe he couldn’t tell Taylor was crushing hard. Little did he know, she would become a country star after releasing this song about him. We’ve all imagined ourselves with one of our best friends, right? Oh, the heartbreak when reality kicks in. As this is one of her first pop-country crossovers, a lot of people weren’t sure what to think. I thought that it was amazing and that Taylor was doing what she thought was best for the lyrical composition.

A Place in This World

High school is just a time for everyone to find a place for themselves, so this song fits perfectly in Taylor’s life and in every other high schooler’s life. Taylor is so blunt and I love it; "I don't know what I want, so don't ask me." I am impressed with Taylor’s ability to not mention a boy’s name, although she does continually refer to being alone. Taylor, it is okay to not have a boyfriend. 

Cold as You

I feel like this song really came from Taylor’s heart. When it starts out, I could envision it as a Carrie Underwood song, the soft piano and banjo lets off the country impression. Then once Taylor Swift starts singing, it’s time to figure out which boy she is referring to this time. Apparently, her feeling towards this boy are not the best and she tells us she has never been anywhere “cold as you.” This is not one of the songs that I can just remember off the top of my head, like many of her other songs. I guess I like to be warm and this song makes me cold.

The Outside

Taylor started writing this song at the age of twelve, you can imagine how she felt as her love for country music shied away from all the other sport-playing kids. She sings, “I tried to take the road less traveled by.” Referencing Robert Frost’s poem while giving a metaphor for her logic is admirable. Struggling with how to be liked by everyone, when she feels that she would never be accepted anyway. Middle school and high school are times where friends come and go and everyone can relate to this song during some point in their childhood.

Tied Together with a Smile

This song was written the day that Taylor Swift found out one of her friends was bulimic, and she was shocked. I easily could have thought this song was about every girl in high school feeling that they are not beautiful, but after learning this one fact I had to listen to this song several more times. The soft voice that Taylor uses throughout the song adds a bit of comfort and love that almost brought tears to my eyes. The verse, “Tied together with a smile, but you’re coming undone,” is the perfect way to say that someone may seem perfectly fine on the outside, but may be fighting something on the inside.

Stay Beautiful

This song is about Cory. I find it a bit interesting that she tells him to stay beautiful instead of something like stay handsome but I guess it just went along with the rhythm. This actually isn’t a breakup song where Taylor confesses her hatred towards the guy, but it gives a positive outlook on her future days and even the possibility of Cory being led back to her front door. “Cory finds another way to be the highlight of my day,” gives her fond memories of Cory as they part and go their separate ways.

Should’ve Said No

This is by far one of my favorite songs on her debut album. So upbeat and fun, as Taylor tells her cheating boyfriend that he “should’ve said no” to that girl that took her place. “Was it worth it?” was one of my favorite lines in the song as Taylor is just curious as to why he would make such a decision. A song dominated by electric guitar and drums brings us deeper into the pop-country world.

Mary’s Song (Oh My My My)

Mary’s Song is about Taylor Swift’s neighbors and their long-lasting marriage. I don’t remember listening to this song on the radio, but after listening to it, I really enjoy the story setting. This song starts out as the two kids are 7 and 9 all the way until they are old and married staring up at the stars. I love how the song doesn’t stay in one place for long, progressing the story quickly and effectively. This was not Taylor’s personal experience with a guy, but it was so detailed, it seemed as though it was.

Our Song

Here we go with another story-telling song, just a hint that there will be many more to come. This banjo based song was last on the album because of its lyrics, “play it again.” At every point during this song, there is a new scene developing in my mind. My absolute favorite one is, “I almost didn’t notice all the roses and the note that said…” going on to say the lyrics of the song. A song within a song, interesting but well-played. Let’s just take a minute to realize that this is not a break-up song! Absolutely beautiful.

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This is just a small glimpse into Taylor Swift's life as a young artist. Each track is its own story and together they create a magical storybook. Taylor's more recent albums 'Red' and '1989' are on the absolute other end of the spectrum, full of pop-y songs with more maturity in the lyrics. This is just the beginning.

CS