Music Review: Taylor Swift - Fearless
Published November 13, 2008
Taylor Swift’s newest album, Fearless, which came out Tuesday, is crushing all the charts. The eighteen-year-old singer/songwriter now has 13 of the Top 15 songs on iTunes’ Top Country Songs chart, including the entire Top 10. If that wasn’t enough, Taylor also has two songs in the Top 15 of Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 singles chart, AND Fearless holds the #1 slot at the top of iTunes all-genre Top Albums. Taylor is the only female artist ever of the Billboard country chart to release five consecutive Top Ten singles from a debut album. If her songs get any hotter, people are going to start fainting.
So, is Taylor Swift’s album really worth the hype or is one of the overrated fads that will fade in a couple years? In my opinion, it is one of the best country albums out this year. Songs from Fearless will definitely be playing on the radio in a couple years; the album will definitely be remembered in a couple decades. It’s so good that I’m going to bring an iPod to school tomorrow to listen to it, which I haven’t done in four years. I just don’t think I can make it eight hours without hearing “Love Story.”
“Love Story” is definitely a favorite. When I first heard the song a couple weeks ago, I demanded it to be played on YouTube every day; I cheered when I heard the song on the radio; I stole my friend’s iPod to listen to it before my AP Government course and during lunch. I am simply addicted to this song. I really, really am. I’m usually not a big fan of lovey-dovey songs, but I’m seriously considering playing this at my wedding in the far future. It’s an amazing song, so sweet. The music video is amazing too.
“You Belong With Me” is another great one. I think it’s something we can all relate to after awhile. The title sums up the whole point of the song. The lyrics are fun and just brilliant: “She wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts. She’s cheer captain and I’m on the bleachers.” I definitely think this is a must buy.
When I read that “Forever and Always” was about Jonas Brother Joe Jonas, that was automatically the song I wanted to hear the most. I expected another “Picture to Burn.” The lyrics are on the same line, but it’s not as hard-core. I really like it. Very fun. Taylor does a nice job.
Taylor’s album is as good, if not better, than the first. Definitely consider buying it or at least purchasing “Love Story” off of iTunes.
Track Listing:
- “Fearless”
- “Fifteen”
- “Love Story”
- “Hey Stephen”
- “White Horse”
- “You Belong With Me”
- “Breathe”
- “Tell Me Why”
- “You’re Not Sorry”
- “The Way I Loved You”
- “Forever and Always”
- “The Best Day”
- "Change”
Maddy is 17 and is a senior year in high school. She is the Preview/Review editor for her school paper and excels in AP classes. She has a twin and loves the Pittsburgh Steelers. She has a radio show (part of the BC Radio Network) on Wednesdays at 5 PM available at BlogTalkRadio.
- Music Review: Taylor Swift - Fearless
- Published: November 13, 2008
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Country and Americana
- Writer: CallmeMaddy
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- CallmeMaddy's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
i love your songs u are my idal
FEARLESS Is probably the furthest thing from country-any country listener would tell you that. There is not ONE song on this album that even SOUNDS like it would be appropriate for country radio. And she still continues to write songs about boys and teenage love relationships, with a voice lacking strong, powerful vocals like many of today's great ladies in country music. The reason why she sells so many albums is because her music sounds POP-like and is appealing to young listeners-period. It's not because people actually admire her voice, because when she sings live, it's either flat, off key, or has a nasal tone to it. People can claim that she's still young and that's why her voice is weak (Really? Well Jordin Sparks and David Archuleta are young and their voices are outstanding.), but that's just a mere excuse: when she's 25 and STILL has a weak voice, people will realize what I Have been saying about Miss Swift from day one:
SHE CAN'T SING!
I give Fearless 2 stars, the second star only for the effort of writing the songs.
Don't get me wrong, i do love her songs as long as i am hearing them through radio or her videos, but i have to agree with the previous poster. I notice that when she sings Live, she is off key, and i have noticed that on more than one occasion. As a country music vocalist and songwriter myself, who has tried desperately to break into the industry, i do find it a bit frustrating that someone can get a record deal so easily, who can't sound as good Live as they do in the studio. I suppose it is because she does have a great star quality and stage presence, and reaches out mainly to the younger audience. Can you win both age groups over? Sure you can, i have both young and older fans alike, but her music is mainly geared towards the young generation, though i know many older folks that love her music. But what everyone is mainly hearing is her "studio produced" vocals, when they hear her on radio, and it does sound appealing, but not Live. Her songwriting IS amazing, and as i said, she emits the star quality necessary to be in the limelight. However, it is a bit deceiving to hear someone sound so different Live than they do on the CD. IMO, she is the Hannah Montana of country music. But....i do like Hannah's music, only Hannah aka Miley Cyrus is not country, she is pop. Then again, country is evolving into more of a pop sound anyway, in today's market.
I luv Taylor Swift! Her new album has some AWSUM songwriting! The songs are awsum! id have to say my fav is either "Love Story" or "Hey Stephen," i luv the lines "romeo save me ive been feelin so alone" and "hey stephen, why are people always leaving i think you and i should stay the same." i have 6 of the songs memorized already! and in the first week the album sold 600,000 copies!! its so sweet!!
I love Taylor's new album! My favorites are Love Story, Hey Stephen, White Horse, You Belong With Me, and Change! She is so awesome! And she CAN sing! She's not overated like Carrie is she is just original and has her own tone!
Taylor Swift is an amazing girl. People need to respect her, because she IS acutally going up on stage and singing and getting things ready for it and rehearsing and doing all she can to make her fans happy. Teenagers dont just like her songs cuz they sound POP or whatever, they like them because they can relate to them, because they actually understand what she is saying. I would give her all the stars in the WORLD... just for being such a young singer and getting stressed over things that young girls shouldnt be stressed about. =]
It would be great if Taylor could really sing better live. She has matured I must agree but not enough to make me a believer.
I HYPED Taylor Swift on EverHYPE and scored it 43%, which I think is very accurate.
visit the link to see her full synopsis.
If you get on there, rate me a 5 on it and request friendship.
People may say a lot of things about this album but I know that it's an amazing thing!
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/85340)
thanks for the article, it was great! i'm so excited for her new album, my favorite song is 'hey stephen' though - she makes me smile everytime when i hear 'all those other girls, well, they're beautiful, but would they write a song for you?'