A Teen Love Story

Taylor Swift is bringing pop back into country music. Discovered in a café, performing songs on her acoustic guitar, Taylor was signed onto Big Machine Records and released her debut album, self titled, at sixteen. She’s a pretty little slip of a thing, performing folksy songs with country blue lyrics and nostalgic acoustics. A few of her tracks delve more into a pop-rock sound, and the petite blond performs with a sweet, southern voice made for the genre.

Her debut single, Jim McGraw is a perfect example of how Taylor incorporates her own experiences of teen love and heartbreak into her sentimental songwriting. The song peaked at no.1 at Billboard Top Country Albums and no.5 at Billboard 200, and the album has since sold over three million copies.

Tear drops on my Guitar tells a high-school story we all know way too well - falling in love with the ‘best friend’ and being his shoulder to cry on as he pines for someone that’s not you. Her honest portrayal of un-reciprocated love, her emotional frailty, naivety and vulnerability speaks to teens worldwide. Just look at the comments for her video clips on YouTube, where viewers identify with Taylor’s heartbreak, creating a sort of Unrequited Anonymous support group, as fans share their own stories of pining and loneliness.

In 2008, Taylor released her second album, Fearless. Its lead song - the cherry on the top of the charts Love Story touches on every single girlish fantasy of romance. From the golden locked princess in the castle, Romeo & Juliet references in the lyrics, secret liaisons in the forest at night with a tall, dark handsome hero right out of Austen. Change from the AT&T TEAM USA Soundtrack, is an inspiring pop-rock anthem. Critics have agreed Taylor is beyond her years, musically, and that her musical maturing and gentle handling of her music has enhanced the album, making it one of the best mainstream pop albums of the year. While failing to sound original, Taylor makes up for it with her fearlessly truthful and intimate confessions, a lack of lyrical inhibition and a flowery approach to the country pop formula. As far as teen pop goes, Taylor is truly refreshing.

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