A year ago or something I wrote a post: Taylor Swift’s Magic about some of her songs. In alignment with my feelings and some life experiences . This time , I’m going to stick to the artistic side. There maybe some lines that reflect personal thoughts or dreams , but my focus will be the superb songwriting and lyrics. Right now , it seems like there’s this fuss about her and everything she does or says. That’s understandable because of the mega hit album “1989” . Her biggest leap of faith into the world of pop . But let’s face it , she has been mainstream ever since her “country” years. She’s just that exceptional !
My instinct tells me to write and write all the reasons why I absolutely adore this girl . Another voice tells me that we don’t need to defend or talk much about things we truly love. I don’t know which to lean on any more so I’m choosing to talk anyways. Her mainstream dominance and her brand -girl who writes songs about people she has been with – could cloud the judgement on how good she is . I read this post by a critic the other day saying that it gets hard to write something profound about an artist’s music , when one is bombarded by all the fuss,media and attention around the artist. I love how she stayed true to herself and her art. She became this conservative superstar in an industry -specially pop- that objectifies women. Catching the hearts of millions and winning 7 Grammys along the way with her words and only her words . She has recently been included in “Rolling Stones : 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time” .
Her first name of six letters echoes these six words ( icon , game changer , original , visionary , gifted and absolutely beautiful). I chose 12 songs to write about . I have to say it was hard to narrow down the list to those 12 , maaan she has too many good songs. Let’s get started .
1) “Clean”
A song she co-wrote and produced with artist “Imogen Heap”. I have always loved Imogen Heap and “Frou Frou” as well. I means songs like “Let Go” , “Hide and Seek” and “Just for Now” are out of this world. The first time I heard Imogen I was in love and thought she sounded so cool and different . She has this distinctive voice , good song writing and then there’s what they call “manipulating electronic sounds”. Like what “Diplo ,Skrillex” did with Justin Bieber‘s song “Where are U Now”. I don’t know the technical details , but this link explains the whole thing.
So collaborating with my favorite artist ever was a treat! Taylor wrote the song about letting go of a significant other . Something or someone that was a part of your core being for so long , then you realize it’s over. The pain and hardship we go through to forget a loved one , is what this song is all about. It’s haunting and beautiful.
“The drought was the very worst
When the flowers that we’d grown together died of thirst
It was months, and months of back and forth
You’re still all over me like a wine-stained dress I can’t wear anymore
Hung my head as I lost the war, and the sky turned black like a perfect storm
Rain came pouring down when I was drowning
That’s when I could finally breathe
And by morning gone was any trace of you,
I think I am finally clean”
2) “All Too Well”
Her Grammy performance of the song ! It makes you fall in love with the song every time . In this song she is doing what she does best. And that is creating vivid, lively images with her words. A storyteller at heart , she writes in detail about a lover and the little things they shared. I mean no wonder she wrote a novel of like 500 pages when she was 12 and went on to win poetry contests . She has a way with words no one could argue about .
The song is truly an epic. Melodies start soft and slow , build up , boom and explode towards the end and then dissolve yet again. So I love how by sound and vocals she portrayed the psyche of a turbulent , doomed relationship. I read somewhere that it took her long time to write this one . She wanted to include all these details about the relationship without it having to be like a ten minute song. So it took her sometime trying to filter it , yet staying true to the heart of her story. One of her finest , most mature and emotional songs.
“you call me up again just to break me like a promise.
So casually cruel in the name of being honest.
I’m a crumpled up piece of paper lying here
‘Cause I remember it all, all, all… too well.”
3) “Innocent”
One of my most recent discoveries . I love it. It doesn’t sound like anything she has ever done . Neither does it evoke lyrically what Taylor generally writes about. I mean besides the love and break up songs she has some uplifting motivational songs here and there . Usually , they’re approached from her perspective “Taylor vs. the world”. Songs like “Mean” , “Shake It Off” and “Bad Blood”. The three empower me so much. There are rumors that she wrote it in response to “Kanye West” interruption for her acceptance speech at the MTV awards. Trivial really !
In a more intimate , personal level , she soothes and feels for another . Perhaps , a friend , brother or could be a lover. Someone whom life got the best of. He/she’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders , and is burdened by his troubled soul. He/she has obviously done a big mistake or something he can’t get away from or escape. So in her own striking , fabulous style ,Taylor shares thoughts and words that reflect empathy . And she questions along with him/her the concept of how sometimes it feels as if life is corrupting and abusing our innocence , and utopian childhood years. She encourages him/her “You’re still an innocent”. It’s a song about redemption and hope.
“I guess you really did it this time
Left yourself in your warpath
Lost your balance on a tightrope
Lost your mind tryin’ to get it back
Wasn’t it easier in your lunchbox days?
Always a bigger bed to crawl into
Wasn’t it beautiful when you believed in everything
And everybody believed in you?
It’s alright, just wait and see
Your string of lights is still bright to me
Oh, who you are is not where you’ve been.
You’re still an innocent,
You’re still an innocent.”
4) “The Best Day”
Uuuh :”)! What a sweet song in her Grammy winning “Album of the year” . One she wrote for her little family. I heard that her mother cries every time she listens to the song. I mean if my future daughter writes me such a song I don’t think I’ll ever get over it. It’s a blessing to be a writer and to have words as your artistic outlet. I’m a writer myself , not lyrics or anything , short stories in my native language “Arabic”. So I relate to paying tributes and honoring those closest to you with your gift. I wish I’d write something as sincere and as beautiful to my family and friends one day.
“I’m five years old, it’s getting cold, I’ve got my big coat on
I hear your laugh and look up smiling at you, I run and run
Past the pumpkin patch and the tractor rides, look now, the sky is gold
I hug your legs and fall asleep on the way home
I don’t know why all the trees change in the fall
But I know you’re not scared of anything at all
Don’t know if Snow White’s house is near or far away
But I know I had the best day with you today
….
I have an excellent father, his strength is making me stronger
God smiles on my little brother, inside and out, he’s better than I am
I grew up in a pretty house and I had space to run
And I had the best days with you
There is a video I found from back when I was three
You set up a paint set in the kitchen and you’re talking to me
It’s the age of princesses and pirate ships and the seven dwarfs
And Daddy’s smart and you’re the prettiest lady in the whole wide world”
5) “Bad Blood”
I’m talking about the original version in the album “1989”. Which is a rich, wonderful song , unlike the abridged and remixed version featuring “Kendrick Lamar”. Such a fresh cool approach of writing and sound. Critics have criticized the original version , but lool I’m not a critic or anything , so I believe it’s great. I dedicate this song to some mean people I have met in my life. Its vindictive words , upbeat tempo and monotonous loud chorus empower you. I would totally do this song in a lip sync battle , seeing that I have terrible voice. It has attitude !
“Band-aids don’t fix bullet holes
You say sorry just for show
If you live like that, you live with ghosts
If you love like that blood runs cold”
6) “Spark Fly”
A song in the album “Speak Now” , one that she solely wrote and composed. Which is rare if almost existent. She wrote this particular song back when she was 16 and forgot all about it. Then the fans got hold of it on the internet. Of Her singing it for like a group of thirty , forty people . So they requested that she includes the song on her third album that she was working on. I don’t got much else to say about this song , except that it’s the ultimate love song of all. A very flirtatious one as well. I just truly love it There are some great catchy lines and metaphors , and the chorus gets me every time ❤ .
“The way you move is like a full on rainstorm
And I’m a house of cards
You’re the kind of reckless that should send me running
But I kinda know that I won’t get far
And you stood there in front of me
Just close enough to touch
Close enough to hope you couldn’t see
What I was thinking of
Drop everything now
Meet me in the pouring rain
Kiss me on the sidewalk
Take away the pain
Cause I see sparks fly whenever you smile
Get me with those green eyes, baby
As the lights go down
Give me something that’ll haunt me when you’re not around
Cause I see, sparks fly whenever you smile”
7) “Teardrops On My Guitar “
Oh waw ! Sometimes when I like something so much , I get tongue-tied and speechless.That or I just start blabbering about it in a way , I’m pretty sure does not put my heart into words. It feels like words are abusing these honest feelings and “je ne sais quoi” rushes that come along with something that truly moves you . However , if something is brilliant it will stand the test of time and the test of too much talking and fuss . She wrote about a guy named “Drew” who was a classmate and a friend of her in high school. I love her vocal delivery in this song , it’s so sweet and endearing. It’s considered to be her break through hit ,that paved the way for the illustrious career she has led.
“Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won’t see
That I want and I’m needing everything that we should be
I’ll bet she’s beautiful, that girl he talks about,
And she’s got everything that I have to live without.
He’s the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star
He’s the song in the car I keep singing, don’t know why I do
Drew walks by me, can he tell that I can’t breathe?
And there he goes, so perfectly,
The kind of flawless I wish I could be
She better hold him tight, give him all her love
Look in those beautiful eyes and know she’s lucky ’cause”
8) “Tim McGraw”
An all time favorite. You know how sometimes you have this favorite artist , or favorite music that you share with people you love ! Or maybe you both become die hard of the artist , then his/her music becomes a part of your love story , friendship and memories. It’s not about the artist anymore , it’s about the music being present in the stories . You recall it with the laughs , cries and it becomes a character of its own. Creating a space for itself so it never goes away. So whatever mood you’re in or how many years , the second you play that music or artist , those feelings flush back. Well Taylor wrote a song about that ! Intertwined with this teenage love story , that is breathtaking.
“He said the way my blue eyes shined
Put those Georgia stars to shame that night
I said, “That’s a lie.”
Just a boy in a Chevy truck
That had a tendency of gettin’ stuck
On back roads at night
And I was right there beside him all summer long
And then the time we woke up to find that summer gone
But when you think Tim McGraw
I hope you think my favorite song
The one we danced to all night long
The moon like a spotlight on the lake
When you think happiness
I hope you think that little black dress
Think of my head on your chest
And my old faded blue jeans
When you think Tim McGraw
I hope you think of me”
9) “This Love” + ” You Are In Love”
The reason I’ve put these two together, is because they remind me of each other. loool obviously not because of the word “love” O.O. The first few times I heard the album , I couldn’t tell them apart. There’s something about their atmosphere and vibe that complete each other . Like they’re both two sides of the coin . One that is falling in love and the other is fear of love that is slipping away and the restless heart. Perhaps , they’re supposed to be a mash-up or something. I figured it’s the same producer for the two songs, turns out they’re two different people .
10) “Treacherous”
I love love love this line:
“And all we are is skin and bone trained to get along
Forever going with the flow but you’re friction”
I think it’s genius.
11) “Sweeter Than Fiction”
Her second golden globe nominated song , after “Safe & Sound”. A very intelligent and classy uplifting pop song . She incorporates her crafty and unique song writing with a cool sound .
12) “Style”
As she says best “This sick beat!”. This song has a very cool vibe and sound. I love the intro music of the song. Taylor’s metaphor in the song: is comparing feelings between two lovers that never go away , that -even within time or after a break up- find a way to emerge triumphantly and win you back . To the vintage clothes that never go out of style , despite how long it has been . They come back stylish and fresh as ever . What ? genius !
[Honorable mentions]
“Superstar” (I wish I had it in me to write poems , just so I would write one about this song. It’s a perfect love song in my opinion . My kind of love song. ) , “New Romantics” , “Cold As You” , Dear John” , “The Lucky One” ” You’re Not Sorry” , “Untouchable” , “The Other Side of the Door” and “I Know Places” (“Vance Joy” made this great cover of the song , so if you like it , I’m sure you would do even more the original).
Lastly , I leave you with these lines from the song “New Romantics”
“Heart break is the national anthem
We sing it proudly
We are too busy dancing
To get knocked off our feet
Baby, we’re the new romantics
The best people in life are free”
Aaaand the cover album that “Ryan Adams” made for her whole “1989” album
Ryan Adams Cover Album
Movies , Music & Books Corner ♥ 
amazing post