Spring Break
Taylor Swift shines on Fearless
Kathleen McKiernan
Issue date: 2/4/09 Section: Entertainment
02/04/09 - Although Taylor Swift's first album showed promise for the young 19 year-old as a country singer, her second album, "Fearless," has proved her to be a musician that is here to stay. With a No. 1 single "Love Story" and an album that made her the biggest selling artist of 2008, Swift was able to cross music genres and appeal to more listeners.
A mix of country and pop, Swift seems to be much more than the primed and produced pop stars like Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus. She actually has talent, writing her own music, playing the guitar, and singing well without the help of digitally enhanced vocals.
I'd even go as far to say that she is better than most other country singers. Producing country music at a time when the genre is dominated by 30 to 40 year old men and their twangy voices, Swift does really well, bringing a new youth and energy to old style country.
Although her second album is more pop than country, Swift's music has not completely crossed over to the pop side, alluding to one-horse towns and bungalows to keep to her country roots. The pop music radio stations try hard to remix her songs, like "Love Story," to hide the country sound, but they do a poor job, morphing a perfectly good song into something that should have never been changed.
"Fearless"' first single, "Love Story" captures the essence of the 13 track album, a compilation of songs relating to love, heartbreak, and cruel rejection. Although many of the songs can be ripped off the pages of a teenage girl's diary, they remain captivating with strong lyrics. And who can't love "Love Story?" With its upbeat harmony and catchy chorus, can any girl, no matter how old, help but imagine Romeo, coming to sweep her off her feet? The single line "This love is difficult, but it is real" sums up the song, as something worth fighting for. "Love Story" has been number one on the pop charts for quite a few weeks.
It's hard to believe that this 19 year-old girl can write songs this good. Her lyrics speak to a life that is much more experienced than the average teenager. Then again, of course, she has a different perspective. Producing No. 1 albums and touring the country is not the life of a normal teenager.
A mix of country and pop, Swift seems to be much more than the primed and produced pop stars like Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus. She actually has talent, writing her own music, playing the guitar, and singing well without the help of digitally enhanced vocals.
I'd even go as far to say that she is better than most other country singers. Producing country music at a time when the genre is dominated by 30 to 40 year old men and their twangy voices, Swift does really well, bringing a new youth and energy to old style country.
Although her second album is more pop than country, Swift's music has not completely crossed over to the pop side, alluding to one-horse towns and bungalows to keep to her country roots. The pop music radio stations try hard to remix her songs, like "Love Story," to hide the country sound, but they do a poor job, morphing a perfectly good song into something that should have never been changed.
"Fearless"' first single, "Love Story" captures the essence of the 13 track album, a compilation of songs relating to love, heartbreak, and cruel rejection. Although many of the songs can be ripped off the pages of a teenage girl's diary, they remain captivating with strong lyrics. And who can't love "Love Story?" With its upbeat harmony and catchy chorus, can any girl, no matter how old, help but imagine Romeo, coming to sweep her off her feet? The single line "This love is difficult, but it is real" sums up the song, as something worth fighting for. "Love Story" has been number one on the pop charts for quite a few weeks.
It's hard to believe that this 19 year-old girl can write songs this good. Her lyrics speak to a life that is much more experienced than the average teenager. Then again, of course, she has a different perspective. Producing No. 1 albums and touring the country is not the life of a normal teenager.
