I was thinking of writing review for 'Fearless' by Taylor Swift. And no doubt this is my favourite album for the year 2009.
Even country music needs its own Britney Spears." That's what the store manager in Planet M, Brigade Road, Bangalore, said about the disk when I bought it. I was gonna spout off a quick reply, something like 'thanks but no thanks for your opinion,' but then I thought about it. If Britney represents her values to her fans thru singing and songwriting, then sure Taylor Swift represents her values to her fans in the same way ... so I let the comment pass.
Bursting onto the scene not very long ago (this is only her 2nd album), Taylor has quickly become a voice of empowerment for young women (and those young-at-heart!) everywhere. Her lyrics are real -- based on her own "fearless" living -- and she deserves every recognition she's receiving in both the country and pop music communities.
Fearless (8 out of 10)
"You take my hand and drag me headfirst fearless." Love, like life, is all about taking chances.
Fifteen (7 out of 10)
Reflective, poetic in a mildly melancholy way. "This is life before you know who you're gonna be."
Love Story (9 out of 10)
Uh? young love. It always seems so real when you're in it, and it always seems so unreal when you're looking back on it. William Shakespeasre's "Romeo & Juliet" never ended as happily as this confection sounds, but wouldn't the world be a better place if it did? Easily one of the best tunes here.
Hey Stephen (7 out of 10)
"I can't help it if you look like an angel." It sounds like someone named Stephen is getting lucky with Taylor, and deservedly so. More celebration of young love, and I gave it an extract. Taylor's opening and closing humming.ha. Lovely. What gives the song much of its charm is she allows her voice to be a bit more 'raw' and real than anywhere else on the album, which matches the lyrics perfectly. (If my name was there inplace of Stephen, i would probably given a perfect 10!!)
White Horse (10 out of 10)
"I'm not a princess, this ain't no fairy tale ..." Love gone bad and turned into disappointment never sounded quite so sorrowful as it does behind Taylor's youthful voice, tinking piano, soft guitar, and weeping strings. Some girls everywhere will be crying into their pillows at bedtime with this song playing in the background. "It's too late for you and your white horse to come around."
You Belong with Me (10 out of 10)
We've all been here before (in the middle of a friendship that coulda/shoulda/woulda been so, so much more), and perhaps that's why Taylor sounds so strong here. She's a lyrical 'everyman,' capturing how we've all felt in the simplest terms. Big refrain. Crankkkk
Breathe (9 out of 10)
Sorry, guys, but humming in music is so sexy, and Taylor works it to great effect here. Unexpectantly. Breathy. And, yet, wholesome. "You're the only thing that I know like the back of my hand." Getting past the mistakes made in a relationship pose the greatest challenges, and that's what this tune is all about.
Tell Me Why (5 out of 10)
"You could write a book of how to ruin someone's perfect day." God..It hurts..Would say Ouch. Getting past some of the mistakes made in a relationship pose some challenges not quite worth enduring.
You're Not Sorry (5 out of 10)
Woooowww. Taylor Swift has an awful lot to say about being jilted in a relationship ... and at such a young age, too. I'm starting to feel real bad for this gal. Sad piano turns into a reflection on ending love. Good song, but fairly repetitive to sentiments already explored on the disc. Not the strongest tune here.
The Way I Loved You (5 out of 5)
One of the strongest tracks here, musically, it builds into something that you never expected. A girl finds the perfect man (opens her doors, treats her like a lady, loves her parents, etc.) ... "but I miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain, it's 2 am and I'm cursing your name, I'm so in love that I acted insane, and that's the way I loved you." It's tragic when you realize that you love someone else more than the one you're with, and Taylor Swift hits bulleye here.
Forever & Always (5 out of 10)
Sorry, but this is WAY too repetitive for the same themes already explored on this album. And for god's sake, someone give this girl a hug! Go and kiss her in the rain, already! Heaven knows she needs it at this point!
The Best Day (5 out of 10)
A young girl reminiscing about being an even younger girl. Wonderfully poetic lyrics.
Change (9 out of 10)
Sure, maybe it's a bit predictable, but it's a good kind of predictable. All things change, and the true leaders predict it, welcome it, embrace it, celebrate it. It's about making the world a better place. "It's a revolution, throw your hands up 'cause we never gave in ..."
So what's Taylor so FEARLESS about? Clearly, it's love, and, while anyone can learn a world of lessons by plunging fearlessly into life's greatest mystery, there's a whole other series of lessons waiting for Taylor once the tempering effect that fear has on age. Don't let my 5-star-rating scare anyone, this is one classy effort and deserves to be celebrated. But what I'm more interested in is Taylor's command of lyrics. I really want to see where this young soul will be in ten year's time. I want to see her develop her skills beyond where she is today, and there's plenty of room (and time) for that to happen ... fearlessly or not.lol.
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