Taylor Swift's SPEAK NOW

[broadway86]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 11:38am

After resisting her charm for so long, I recently came around on Taylor Swift. She's radiant and adorable, but more than that, her songwriting skills are strong and her voice is lovely, though could use more control.

But what I wasn't expecting was to enjoy her new album, Speak Now, as much as I did. I liked her new single, "Mine", very much and was interested to see how her optimistic, fairy-tale style would develop now that she's approaching adulthood.

The album is truly gorgeous. Very diverse sounds, with raw emotion that is easy to connect with. Her vocals have also improved exponentially. Her already pure tone has gained complexity, with more balance and dynamics. Honestly, it's one of the best musical works I've heard from someone so young. I was even more impressed when I saw that she wrote all of it without collaborators.

I loved it, and if you are a fan, I believe you will too. But even if you don't care for her, give tracks like "Dear John", "Innocent", "Better Than Revenge", "Haunted", and "Back To December" a try. You might be surprised. Updated On: 10/26/10 at 11:38 AM

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 11:50am

I doubt it.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 11:52am

I have this problem where if I listen to a Taylor Swift song for more than 30 seconds I want to stick knitting needles in my ears. It's even worse if I see her attempt to sing live.

[broadway86]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 11:57am

...Oh.

Posted: 10/26/10 at 1:59pm

What do you consider legal? She's 20. 21 in a month.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 2:43pm

My thoughts on Taylor Swift:

-she is a cute songwriter who will go on to write hits for many other singers long after people tire of her lame ass or when she hits menopause, which ever comes first.

-my biggest beef with her is that some of the main reasons I liked her singing in the first place (the lilt in her voice and some of her high notes) she can NEVER replicate live. The girl can't sing worth a damn. I hate when friends send me a clip of her singing live to prove me wrong and she's flat and sharp all over the place.

Search "Sherry Vine Taylor Swift" on youtube. It sums it up very humorously.

No thank you.

[clever name]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 2:49pm

It's even worse if I see her attempt to sing live.



I like Taylor Swift...but her live singing is the worst I have ever heard! Every single time..awful.

[supportivemom]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 3:46pm

^ That's why it makes me really mad whenever she receives an award for female vocalist of the year!- what?

[broadway86]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 4:30pm

What do you consider legal? She's 20. 21 in a month.

Poor wording on my part... But what do you think of Taylor Swift?

Every single time..awful.

Awful? Every time?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6r9jRHeppQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QfVVMx984Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in3PtPhFltc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6b3FBZBc0Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRtV1pkKyOQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDgcVv0Gads

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGb-IkvuJCc

and plenty more. Updated On: 10/26/10 at 04:30 PM

[danmag]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 4:45pm

My only thought about Taylor Swift is that it's totally creepy that John Mayer was dating her. Even if she is 20, she looks about 15.

That Mayer is such a creeper....

Posted: 10/26/10 at 4:52pm

She's over 18. That's the line.

Personally it would be weird to date someone you couldn't take to a bar or split a bottle of wine with in a restaurant...but to each his own.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 5:45pm

I don't think she can sing either live or in the studio. Her writting is definitely easy to relate to, since any 10 yo could relate to the stupid stuff she writes about. Of course, she is successful in this country! Oy vey.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 5:54pm

I appreciate the fact that she has stayed pretty grounded, and isn't parading around Hollywood pantyless. I think she's a good role model for little girls to look up to. I also think she has some songwriting talent. But I am having to agree with those saying she's not a very good singer.

And I also agree that it is annoying when she wins awards for Vocalist of the Year.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 6:27pm

I went to her concert in Dallas September 2009 and she was brilliantt. She got a five minute standing ovation when she sang her debut single, "Tim McGraw."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJHqAhbqLTg

Also, this gives goosebumps everytime:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc79iIIJP24

Plus what she does for her fans in this song is so sweet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCnkM1ky54g&feature=related Updated On: 10/26/10 at 06:27 PM

[javero]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 10:55pm

Thomas Jefferson once wrote "every generation needs a Gaga (and an anti-Gaga)."

I'd lump Taylor into the latter category. Her music is not my cup of tea but there's no arguing with her success and appeal to the purity-ring sector. Twenty-five years ago I couldn't imagine anyone from my crew coppin' a Taylor Swift CD, not with Madonna, Lita Ford, & Prince's babes holdin' court. Heck, even Whitney Houston was judged too plain vanilla back then.

I wish her continued success. She strikes me as grounded and still somewhat humble.

[strummergirl]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 11:07pm

I spent a year unwillingly listening to her as my roommate played her nonstop on a loop. Never thought she was a good vocalist but I did think she wrote decent lyrics. But that Kanye retrospective song was lyrically patronizing and the presentation was over the top. Not into this idea of her 'naming names' of who did her wrong with an album, as much as I hate John Mayer. To me that erases the whole role model image and just seems more like victimhood along with continuing the Kanye controversy a year later. I did like her on SNL.

Anyway, this was the straw that broke the camel's back for me regarding Taylor Swift. Cannot sing live and destroys a Fleetwood Mac song while being within 4 feet of Steve Nicks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn1XTUyzBB0
Updated On: 10/27/10 at 11:07 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 11:54pm

I made it about 30 seconds into the Stevie duet and couln't take anymore.

Swift is on Letterman tonight.

[broadway86]

Posted: 10/27/10 at 12:23am

I respect all of your opinions, but did no one even attempt to brave the seven videos I posted? It's easily the best stuff I've heard from her.

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 10/27/10 at 1:21am

I'm actually a huge fan of Swift, and I think that she's a hugely talented songwriter. I'm not a really big fan of her lyrics, but her melodies are golden. I actually really like her new CD.

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 10/27/10 at 4:13am

I like Taylor, she's clearly a talented songwriter...but she seems only capable to recycle the same few songs. Predominately; I love this boy, I hate this boy, I'm so innocent, you're a bitch. All of which are pretty indistinguishable beyond the lyrics because they all sound the same.

I know she's hardly going to throw in a dance/pop number and granted, for what they are they are good, but changing it up would be welcome. There's only so much samey country/pop you can listen to without getting bored.

Doesn't help that she produces so much material in such a short space of time. Three albums in a few years, each ranging from 15-20+ tracks. Perhaps it would be less samey if they came out less frequently, so she was properly growing up inbetween records, advancing her abilities and experiences.

I also don't buy the 'she's just a young girl still, let her sing about unicorns and princes' attitude. She's nearly 21, my age. Lady Gaga is barely 24 and look at the stuff she's producing. I know everyone's different and Swift growing up in a quintessential southern environment is miles apart from Gaga gallivanting around NYC in spandex, but come on. Man up, Swift.

[danmag]

Posted: 10/27/10 at 9:09am

"Swift growing up in a quintessential southern environment"

She actually grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania!

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 10/27/10 at 9:35am

Yup, her family moved to TN so she could pursue her career.

And Broadway86, I did watch a few of those videos and I think she's mediocre at best. She sounds like a high school girl doing karaoke. She also has NO stage presence. She can't help that she's a bit awkward, but she's just not my cup of moonshine.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 10/27/10 at 9:44am

She really lost me with her performance at the VMA's this year. With the TV in the background playing black and white footage of when Kanye interrupted her. I was hoping he would come out and interrupt her again so she would stop singing.

[mominator]

Posted: 10/27/10 at 10:09am

"She can't help that she's a bit awkward, but she's just not my cup of moonshine."

Classic JG2 could not agree more

[broadway86]

Posted: 10/27/10 at 11:15am

Tough crowd lol.

She also has NO stage presence. She can't help that she's a bit awkward, but she's just not my cup of moonshine.

I totally disagree on the former. As for the latter, I'd argue that's part of her charm. Fair enough, though.

And for the record, fellow board members, the album is getting predominantly favorable reviews. So if you're at all curious... give it a listen. :) Updated On: 10/27/10 at 11:15 AM