Album Review

Taylor Swift – Speak Now

• 13th Nov 2010

Late January 2010, evening of the 52nd Grammy Awards with lists of talented musicians gracing the nights proceedings. With competition from U.S icon Beyoncé, global phenomena, Black Eyed Peas and infamously brilliant Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift has stiff competition. So, when her little album, Fearless, won Album of the Year, was I shocked? Not one, little, bit. With worldwide sales of nine million, the album floored the states. So when the youngest Grammy award winner, came back to write her next album, would it drown in the tsunami left by Fearless and will it be just as successful?

Her third album, Speak Now, doesn’t beat Fearless, but it won’t be forgotten in the wake, left by Fearless. But more importantly, it’s worth your £7.99. The undercurrent running through all of her albums is talent, and teenage empowerment. Not only does Swift act like every ones elder sister, but talks to you directly. You don’t just hear her unique singing voice, but her political say to every subject she writes about. This is probably because her songs are the ripped out pages of her obviously thick, worn, diary.

The album begins with ‘Mine’. A sketch about seeing the future with someone she likes. Her so innocent and childlike approach to sensitive and complicated subject, really helps teenagers get their priorities right. But, she isn’t your younger sisters favourite artist anymore. This album really speaks to the every generation that has been through, your first heartbreak, desire for someone or rejoicing in your first, genuine love! Although ‘Mine’ is good, it’s overshadowed by other album delights.

‘Sparks Fly’ really stands out on this album. Mostly because it shows glimmers of a future Shania Twain, and we all know, ‘Come on Over’ is every ones guilty pleasure in their record collection. ‘Better Than Revenge’ is quite an edgy song for this country girl. The first line of lyrics to the song is: ‘…Now go stand in the corner, and think about what you just did…’, is quite the opposite to what you would assume Taylor would be capable of. This alternate country rock has a ‘Misery Business’ feel to it. But, one song that radiated success and the flagship of this album is ‘Enchanted´. This song is absolutely brilliant! Swifts understated, pixie, voice sets the scene for a great song. The record is the type of song you’d hear in a film starring Ann Hathaway, where her ‘Prince’ comes to her house late in the night, where they passionately kiss on the step at the front door and confess their unspoken love for each other. She conveys this sense of love in fairytales, effortlessly. This gives hope to all, that everyone will get their happy ending, eventually…

This is one of the many reasons why I love her. She speaks to so many people, on so many different levels. She helps banish the teenage stereotype of being the next ‘Jack the Ripper’, and is an amazing role model for youth today. She speaks to everyone globally with through her compassionate songs. What an example she sets for everyone!

Hopefully this album will be the catalyst that gets everyone captivated and enchanted by Taylor Swift and might be able to reach out to the people that haven’t yet been touched by her magic.