Mindy Usher

MUSC 1010-049

Semester Paper/PowerPoint

Taylor Swift BiographyChildhood

• Grew up in Pennsylvania

• Competed in horse shows

• Moved to Hendersonville, TN when she was 14 years old

• Spent summers at her family’s summer home in Stone Harbor, New Jersey

• She was a straight A student

• Graduated from high school in 2008

Taylor Swift BiographyCareer

• Became interested in music theater when she was 9 years old

• Performed in Berks Youth Theater productions of Grease, Annie, Bye Bye Birdie and The Sound of Music

• Won a talent competition for singing LeAnn Rimes’ song, “Big Deal”, when she was 11 years old

• Learned to play the guitar when she was 12 years old – her first lesson was from a computer repair man

Taylor Swift BiographyCareer

• Performed for RCA Records and got an artist development deal when she was 12 years old

• Hired by Sony/ATV Music Publishing House when she was 14 years old

• Released her first self-titled album in 2006

• Released her second album, Fearless, in 2008

• Released her third album, Speak Now, in 2010

• Released her fourth album, Red, in 2012

1st AlbumSelf-Titled

• Released October 24, 2006• 14 Songs

– Tim McGraw• Lead Single

• Picture to Burn– 4th Single– Teardrops on My Guitar

• 2nd Single– A Place in This World– Cold as You– The Outside– Tied Together With a Smile

• Stay Beautiful– Should’ve Said No

• 5th Single• #1 on Billboard Hot County Songs

Chart– Mary’s Song [Oh My My]– Our Song

• 3rd Single• #1 on Billboard Hot County Songs

Chart– I’m Only Me When I’m With You– Invisible– A Perfectly Good Heart

2nd AlbumFearless

• Released November 11, 2008• 13 Songs

– Fearless• 5th Single

– Fifteen• 4th Single

– Love Story• Lead Single• #1 on Billboard Hot County Songs

Chart– Hey Stephen– White Horse

• 2nd Single– You Belong With Me

• 3rd Single• #1 on Billboard Hot County Songs

Chart– Breathe– Tell Me Why– You’re Not Sorry– The Way I Loved You– Forever & Always

• The Best Day– Change

3rd AlbumSpeak Now

• Released October 25, 2010• 14 Songs

– Mine• Lead Single

– Sparks Fly• 5th Single

• #1 on Billboard Hot County Songs Chart

– Back to December• 2nd Single

– Speak Now– Dear John– Mean

• 3rd Single– The Story of Us

• 4th Single– Never Grow Up– Enchanted– Better Than Revenge– Innocent– Haunted– Last Kiss– Long Live

• Promotional Single – released November 8, 2011

– Ours• #1 on Billboard Hot County Songs

Chart

4th AlbumRed

• Released on October 22, 2012• 16 Songs

– State of Grace– Red– Treacherous– I Knew You Were Trouble

• 3rd Single– All Too Well– 22– I Almost Do– We Are Never Ever Getting

Back Together• Lead Single• #1 on Billboard Hot County

Songs Chart– Stay Stay Stay– The Last Time– Holy Ground– Sad Beautiful Tragic– The Lucky One– Everything Has Changed– Starlight– Begin Again

• 2nd Single

Click here to listen to "Mean"

Why you gotta be so mean?

You, with your switching sides and your walk-by lies and your humiliation You, have pointed out my flaws again as if I don't already see them I'll walk with my head down trying to block you out'cause I'll never impress youI just wanna feel okay again

I'll bet you got pushed around, somebody made you cold But the cycle ends right now 'cause you can't lead medown that roadAnd you don't know what you don't know

Someday I'll be living in a big old city And all you're ever gonna be is mean Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

And I can see you years from now in a bar, talking over a football game With that same big loud opinion but nobody's listening Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things Drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing

But all you are is meanAll you are is mean and a liar and pathetic and alone in life And mean, and mean, and mean, and mean

But someday I'll be living in a big old city And all you're ever gonna be is mean, yeahSomeday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit meAnd all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

Someday, I'll be, living in a big old city (Why you gotta be so mean?) And all you're ever gonna be is mean (Why you gotta be so mean?) Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me (Why you gotta be so mean?) And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

MEAN

You, with your words like knives and swords and weapons that you use against me You have knocked me off my feet again got me feeling like I'm nothing You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard, calling me out when I'm wounded You, pickin' on the weaker man

Well, you can take me down with just one single blowBut you don't know what you don't know

Someday I'll be living in a big old cityAnd all you're ever gonna be is mean Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Listening Guide - MeanMean (3:57)

• 0:00 1st verse - voice and banjo• 0:13 mandolin• 0:24 clapping• 0:35 chorus - voice, banjo, mandolin,

guitar, cello, tambourine and clapping• 1:00 bridge• 1:07 2nd verse - voice, banjo, mandolin • 1:10 mandolin• 1:17 clapping• 1:43 chorus - voice, banjo, mandolin,

guitar, cello, tambourine and clapping• 2:08 instruments only – banjo, mandolin

and guitar• 2:16 3rd verse - voice, banjo, mandolin• 2:38 3rd verse continues – guitar, cello and

tambourine begin to play• 3:03 1st half of chorus - voice, banjo and

clapping• 3:17 chorus - voice, banjo, mandolin,

guitar, cello, tambourine and clapping• (back up singers sing “Why you gotta

be so mean?” in between the lines • of the chorus.)• 3:54 end

History

Taylor wrote her song titled “Mean” as a response to criticism she received by the media following her performance with Stevie Nicks at the Grammy Awards. One critic in particular, Bob Lefsetz, was really harsh and negative. He said, "Now, everybody knows that Taylor Swift can't sing... Did Taylor Swift kill her career overnight? I'll argue that she did... In one fell swoop, Taylor Swift consigned herself to the dustbin of teen phenoms." (Willman, 2011) Taylor explains, “There’s constructive criticism, there’s professional criticism, and then there’s just being mean. And there’s a line that you cross when you just start to attack everything about a person… This happens no matter what you do, no matter how old you are, no matter what your job is, no matter what your place is in life, there’s always gonna be someone who’s just mean to you. And dealing with that is all that you can control, how you handle it. This song is about how I handle it.” (Bierly, 2010) The song also seems at least partly directed toward people who’ve questioned her singing ability. "Mean" is also a powerful message to kid’s about anti-bullying and how to deal with people who are mean to you.

HAUNTED Click here to listen to "Haunted"

You and I walk a fragile lineI have known it all this time but I never thought I'd live to see it break It's getting dark and it's all too quietAnd I can't trust anything now And it's coming over you like it's all a big mistake

Oh, I'm holding my breathWon't lose you again something's made your eyes go cold

Come on, come on, don't leave me like this I thought I had you figured out Something's gone terribly wrong You're all I wanted Come on, come on, don't leave me like this I thought I had you figured out Can't breathe whenever you're gone Can't turn back now, I'm haunted

Stood there and watched you walk away From everything we had But I still mean every word I said to you He would try to take away my pain And he just might make me smile But the whole time I'm wishing he was you instead

Oh, I'm holding my breath Won't see you again something keeps me holding on to nothing

Come on, come on, don't leave me like this I thought I had you figured out Something's gone terribly wrong You're all I wanted Come on, come on, don't leave me like this I thought I had you figured out Can't breathe whenever you're gone Can't turn back now, I'm haunted

I know, I know, I just know You're not gone. You can't be gone. No.

Come on, come on, don't leave me like this I thought I had you figured out Something's gone terribly wrong Won't finish what you started Come on, come on, don't leave me like this I thought I had you figured out Can't breathe whenever you're gone Can't go back, I'm haunted

Oh

You and I walk a fragile line I have known it all this time Never ever thought I'd see it break. Never thought I'd see it...

Listening Guide - HauntedHaunted (4:02)

• 0:00 introduction – piano, violin, cello, electric guitars and drums

• 0:25 1st verse – voice, piano, drums• 0:38 guitars (electric and acoustic)

accompaniment• 0:49 chorus – voice, piano, violin,

cello, electric guitars and drums• 1:24 strings, guitars and drums• 1:36 2nd verse – voice, electric

guitars and drums• 2:00 chorus – voice, piano, violin,

cello, electric guitars and drums• 2:35 electric guitars and drums• 2:46 3rd verse – voice, piano, violin,

cello, drums, guitars• 3:11 chorus – voice, piano, violin,

cello, electric guitars and drums• 3:35 voice singing “oh” - piano, violin,

cello, electric guitars and drums• 3:46 4th verse – violin, cello, drums,

electric guitars• 4:00 End

History

It is commonly believed that this song was written as a result of Taylor’s break up with Jake Gyllenhaal, but may also be about her relationship with Joe Jonas. The sound of the music in this song is as powerful as the lyrics. She chose to use the string section to give the impression of intense chaotic feelings of confusion. “ ‘Haunted’ is about the moment that you realize the person you're in love with is drifting and fading fast. And you don't know what to do, but in that period of time, in that phase of love, where it's fading out, time moves so slowly. Everything hinges on what that last text message said, and you're realizing that he's kind of falling out of love. That's a really heartbreaking and tragic thing to go through, because the whole time you're trying to tell yourself it's not happening. I went through this, and I ended up waking up in the middle of the night writing this song about it.” (Swift)

ENCHANTED

There I was again tonight Forcing laughter, faking smiles Same old tired lonely place

Walls of insincerity,Shifting eyes and vacancy Vanished when I saw your face

All I can say is it was enchanting to meet you

Your eyes whispered "Have we met? " Across the room your silhouetteStarts to make its way to meThe playful conversation startsCounter all your quick remarksLike passing notes in secrecy

And it was enchanting to meet youAll I can say is I was enchanted to meet you

Click here to listen to "Enchanted"

This night is sparkling, don't you let it goI'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way homeI'll spend forever wondering if you knewI was enchanted to meet you

The lingering question kept me up 2 AM, who do you love?I wonder 'til I'm wide awakeAnd now I'm pacing back and forthWishing you were at my doorI'd open up and you would say, "Hey,It was enchanting to meet you, All I know is I was enchanted to meet you"

This night is sparkling, don't you let it goI'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home I'll spend forever wondering if you knowThis night is flawless, don't you let it goI'm wonderstruck, dancing around all aloneI'll spend forever wondering if you knewI was enchanted to meet you

This is me praying that This was the very first page Not where the story line ends My thoughts will echo your nameUntil I see you again These are the words I held backAs I was leaving too soonI was enchanted to meet you

Please don't be in love with someone elsePlease don't have somebody waiting on youPlease don't be in love with someone else Please don't have somebody waiting on you

This night is sparkling, don't you let it go I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home I'll spend forever wondering if you know This night is flawless, don't you let it go I'm wonderstruck, dancing around all aloneI'll spend forever wondering if you knewI was enchanted to meet you

Please don't be in love with someone elsePlease don't have somebody waiting on you

Listening Guide - EnchantedEnchanted (5:52)

• 0:00 introduction – acoustic guitar, keyboard

• 0:13 1st verse – voice, acoustic guitar (rhythm), keyboard

• 0:48 2nd verse – voice, guitar chords, acoustic guitar rhythm

• 1:12 electric guitar • 1:35 chorus – voice, drums, guitars,

keyboard and back up singers• 2:04 bridge – voice, drums, guitar,

keyboard• 2:16 back up singer• 2:51 chorus – voice, drums, guitar,

keyboard• 3:07 3rd verse – voice, drums, guitar,

keyboard• 3:38 guitar solo• 3:58 4th verse - voice, drums, guitar,

keyboard• 4:26 bridge – voice, acoustic guitar• 4:36 back up singer - drums• 4:49 chorus – voice, drums, guitar• 5:35 back up singer – drums• 5:52 end

History

Judging from clues included in the Lyric booklet for her album, Speak Now, the person she went to see in New York is Adam Young, from the band Owl City. Additionally Taylor said, "That song is sort of about pining away for if you're ever going to see someone again, walking away too early. It was about this guy that I met in New York City, and I had talked to him on email before, but I had never met him. And meeting him, it was just this overwhelming feeling of: I really hope that you're not in love with somebody. And the whole entire way home, I just remember the glittery New York City buildings passing by and then just sitting there thinking, am I ever gonna talk to this person again? It was that feeling of pining away for a romance that may never even happen, but all you have is this hope that it could, and the fear that it never will." (Willman, 2011)

Bibliography• Bierly, M. (2010, October 19). Music Mix. Retrieved October 12, 2012, from EW.com

Entertainment Weekly: http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/10/19/taylor-swift-john-mayer-mean/

 

• Swift, T. (n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2012, from Taylor Swift: http://taylorswift.com

 

• unknown. (2012, October 12). Taylor Swift. Retrieved October 12, 2012, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Swift

 

• Willman, C. (2011, March 31). Our-County blog. Retrieved October 12, 2012, from Yahoo Music: http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/our-country/taylor-swift-reveals-song-subjects-in-hidden-messages.html