Taylor Swift - "Fearless"

[joey2002]

Dec 15, 2009 17:05:34 GMT -5 austin said:

I wasn't pumped when "Fifteen" was sent out, but I did grow to like it alot more once it was on the radio. I am just disappointed it was released because "Forever & Always" is probably a longshot to see radio now, because six singles may be a bit much to ask for, and "You're Not Sorry" has been a hit waiting to happen for too long to ignore it if they go six deep.

I think they should have time to go six singles deep (guessing an oct/nov 2010 album release) and "Forever & Always" would likely have great success on the airwaves. I think it depends upon if Taylor wants to go there again, or just leave it in the past. (joe jonas story) I'm not sure how radio-friendly "You're Not Sorry" is, but it would likely be the second best choice for a 6th single. When the album was first released, I originally thought that "The Way I Loved You" would be a hit -- but I haven't heard much talk about that song. I still think they'll go 6 singles deep with the album though...

[strikeleo]

I really hope they don't go six singles deep if they intend on releasing another album by the end of 2010. If they do, give her image some time to rest, like, end it with fearless, which should be done by april or so, and let her work on her material for the following six months or so and then release the cd like mid november. that'd be the smartest way to go.

[Stephen]

Dec 15, 2009 18:29:54 GMT -5 strikeleo said:

I doubt they were expecting Fifteen to be a hit, everyone could see it wasn't going to do as well as her previous singles, what they were expecting with Fifteen was to give her some credibility in the song-writing department. Ever since the release of the cd, Fifteen has always been the critics darling, so, I think they got what they wanted.

I disagree. They may not have expected smash, but they expected a regular #1 I think. No label would release a song expecting it to do less than stellar especially after YBWM elevated her to complete dominant status. That even made top 40 on Rhythmic. You don't throw away that kind of momentum. I think they though Fifteen would hit it big. They made a minor mistake, no biggie. I hate this song, but it'll hit.

[yosafbridge]

Dec 15, 2009 18:29:54 GMT -5 strikeleo said:

I doubt they were expecting Fifteen to be a hit, everyone could see it wasn't going to do as well as her previous singles, what they were expecting with Fifteen was to give her some credibility in the song-writing department. Ever since the release of the cd, Fifteen has always been the critics darling, so, I think they got what they wanted.

Great point!

Like I said in the Fifteen thread,there are a host of reasons why Fifteen was released AND radio/commercial success was not one of those reasons.

2 primary reasons come to mind : to burnish Taylor's songwriting credentials(like you said) and to act as a musical marker for her last year as a teenager(Taylor just turned 20 on Dec 13).

Taylor and her team aren't losing any sleep over the "underperformance" of Fifteen--it accomplished exactly what they intended for it to do.

[onebuffalo]

Well, the Fearless CD just sold another 168,000 copies!

[👑 Eloquent ™]

I think the average listener, just by hearing Fifteen, would have been able to tell that it didn't have huge hit potential (aka #1); it's just not that immediately likable type tune. I definitely believe the label pushed it to strengthen her artistic credibility (as the song is seemingly a critical darling) and to give audiences a little subject variation. They knew it would be a hit (which it was), don't get me wrong, but I don't think they believed it would be an automatic number one.

[joey2002]

Actually, Taylor was the one who really wanted "Fifteen" released.

I don't think it hurt her any...the song still made the top 10.

"Fearless" will bring her back to #1...

[Zazie]

Fearless debuts at #50 on the 1/2 Billboard chart, according to the Billboard website chart highlights.

[countryfan2002]

Dec 21, 2009 17:42:22 GMT -5 Zazie said:

Fearless debuts at #50 on the 1/2 Billboard chart, according to the Billboard website chart highlights.

Well kudos to her! Nice to see this debut. It is a very refreshing track to hear. And alot different than other Taylor songs. The production is not overdone one bit, just kind of laid-back while still being more of an mid-tempo song. While still maintaining Taylor's teenage-love topic in this song, she definately is more mature about it. No 'I hate you, you did me wrong, I burn your picture' or 'I love you, you belong with me' type of song, but rather a 'right now in this moment, we're in love, and I don't know how it gets better than this' type song. It's pretty weak, vocally, but it works well. Lyrically, this isn't a Swift-masterpiece (Our Song, You Belong With Me, White Horse), but the song is meant to be more of a feel-good laid back enjoyable song over a strong lyric/strong vocal. And it is very enjoyable.
Anyway, should be a hit for her.

[ekgoodman92]

This is a good choice to send out to radio. I am surprised though that "Hey Stephan" won't be a single. It sounds very radio friendly in my opinion. I have not heard of one person who does not like that song.

[countryfan2002]

Dec 22, 2009 20:49:22 GMT -5 ekgoodman92 said:

This is a good choice to send out to radio. I am surprised though that "Hey Stephan" won't be a single. It sounds very radio friendly in my opinion. I have not heard of one person who does not like that song.

I believe that Hey Stephen is a great track, and could very well be/have been a single, but I think the competition on this album for singles was really to tough. YNS and F&A are both hits waiting to happen.

[dcowboy77]

SNL this week is reruning the show when taylor hosted last month or whenever it was.

[joey2002]

"Merry Swiftmas (Even Though I Celebrate Chanukah)" -Evan Taubenfeld


www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiLfB3mP2Uw


:) :)

[yosafbridge]

^^^^

It's out on itunes :

itunes.apple.com/us/album/merry-swiftmas-even-though-i-celebrate/id346025577

[WamuFive]

Dec 16, 2009 14:43:46 GMT -5 👑 Eloquent ™ said:

I definitely believe the label pushed it to strengthen her artistic credibility (as the song is seemingly a critical darling) and to give audiences a little subject variation.

Why does Taylor Swift need artistic credibility? She's selling more albums than pretty much everyone. As for as her record label is concerned, what else matters?

[WamuFive]

Dec 16, 2009 5:41:01 GMT -5 @yosafbridge said:

Like I said in the Fifteen thread,there are a host of reasons why Fifteen was released AND radio/commercial success was not one of those reasons.

2 primary reasons come to mind : to burnish Taylor's songwriting credentials(like you said) and to act as a musical marker for her last year as a teenager(Taylor just turned 20 on Dec 13).

Taylor and her team aren't losing any sleep over the "underperformance" of Fifteen--it accomplished exactly what they intended for it to do.

I don't really buy any of this. I agree with "Holiday Stephen". Why would they throw away momentum in the name of a "teenage musical marker"? That doesn't really make a lot of sense from a business standpoint.

[yosafbridge]

It's a long-term thing. Releasing Fifteen at the end of her teens just reinforces the very strong image that Taylor has amongst her teen fans that she's "authentic" and that her songs are diaristic and personal.

It makes the fans feel that they're getting a window into Taylor's life and that they're along for the ride.It's a smart way to build up artist identification and loyalty in the fanbase.

Short-term semi-stumble? Yes.

Long-term strategy to weather the coming upheavals in the industry where only artists with a devoted fanbase who grow with the artists will continue to be viable commercial entities? Also yes.

Not that there wasn't a strong sincere emotional component in Taylor's decision to release Fifteen at the last year of her teens but it also ties nicely into her long-term strategy(and you better believe that this girl has one).

[EPG]

LOVE. THIS. SONG. Hope it does great on Country.

[WamuFive]

Dec 23, 2009 22:54:36 GMT -5 @yosafbridge said:

It's a long-term thing. Releasing Fifteen at the end of her teens just reinforces the very strong image that Taylor has amongst her teen fans that she's "authentic" and that her songs are diaristic and personal.

It makes the fans feel that they're getting a window into Taylor's life and that they're along for the ride.It's a smart way to build up artist identification and loyalty in the fanbase.

Short-term semi-stumble? Yes.

Long-term strategy to weather the coming upheavals in the industry where only artists with a devoted fanbase who grow with the artists will be viable commercial entities? Also yes.

So if this song is a way of identifying with her fanbase, then why wouldn't her label feel it would be a big hit? I'm not doubting that this is a song with the potential to strengthen the relationship with her teen fans. I'm doubting that her label didn't feel it would be a commercial success. You seem to be suggesting they did in your most recent post, which is contrary to what you had said in a previous post.

Dec 16, 2009 5:41:01 GMT -5 @yosafbridge said:

Like I said in the Fifteen thread,there are a host of reasons why Fifteen was released AND radio/commercial success was not one of those reasons.

[yosafbridge]

For any song to be a big hit, you need the casual fans too( in addition to the hard-core fans).The decision this time was to cater to the fanbase at the cost of losing some of the casual radio listeners.(Which is what happened).

Where did i contradict myself? I said radio/commercial success was NOT one of those reasons(to release Fifteen as a single).

Besides, it's not an exact science.I'm sure there was a lot of back and forth between Big Machine and Taylor about whether to release Fifteen and in the end Taylor got her wish with BMR agreeing in hopes that it would still be relatively successful.

[WamuFive]

Dec 23, 2009 23:26:48 GMT -5 @yosafbridge said:

For any song to be a big hit, you need the casual fans too( in addition to the hard-core fans).The decision this time was to cater to the fanbase at the cost of losing some of the casual radio listeners.(Which is what happened).

I don't see the purpose of releasing a single to cater to merely the hard-core fans. The hard-core fans will already own the album and will be aware of "Fifteen". What benefit would there be in releasing a song to radio the alleged target audience can listen to anytime they want?

Dec 23, 2009 23:26:48 GMT -5 @yosafbridge said:

Where did i contradict myself? I said radio/commercial success was NOT one of those reasons(to release Fifteen as a single).

Dec 23, 2009 22:54:36 GMT -5 @yosafbridge said:

Long-term strategy to weather the coming upheavals in the industry where only artists with a devoted fanbase who grow with the artists will continue to be viable commercial entities? Also yes.

[43dudleyvillas]

Half of this thread is a rehash of why "Fifteen" was released. The title and topic of this thread is Taylor's current single, "Fearless." If you wish to continue the debate about "Fifteen," please take your comments to the Taylor Swift, "Fearless" era thread in the General Artist Discussion, K-Z forum. Thank you.

[Modern Myth]

So this is the country radio edit? I don't know why they didn't use the original, they sound about the same to me. It's a minute shorter and the songs just cuts into another part near the end, maybe this is fake? ???

[Taylor.]

The radio edit is 3:40 (album is 4:00) so that's fake.

[yosafbridge]

^^^^

What he said.The youtube edit is so sloppily done it's laughable.Obviously fake.

[Modern Myth]

I hope the real one comes out soon.

[drock89]

Should be interesting to see how this does. One thing that we can all take away from 2009 is that younger women are starting to listen to country music and they are holding the commercial keys to Music City. She and Scott Borchetta have clearly exposed who's going to buy the music and those who wish to stay in business are listening closely. Taylor is a phenom among those 12-29 something females and they are gobbling up her every move. At some point, though, Taylor will have to grow up, and she'll have to hope her audience grows up with her.

[yosafbridge]

Radio Edit of Taylor's latest single "Fearless"can be found here :

www.musicistheheartofoursoul.com/2009/12/taylor-swift-new-song.html

(Thanks to taylor-fan.com for the heads-up)

Hmm..I can actually hear the mandolin more clearly in this version.

[Modern Myth]

Dec 30, 2009 10:19:39 GMT -5 @yosafbridge said:

Radio Edit of Taylor's latest single "Fearless"can be found here :

www.musicistheheartofoursoul.com/2009/12/taylor-swift-new-song.html

(Thanks to taylor-fan.com for the heads-up)

Hmm..I can actually hear the mandolin more clearly in this version.

Are they going to make a pop remix for this too or what?
This one wasn't even necessary.

[tanjo]

LOL. I do not like how they cut these amazing songs. Fearless and Carrie's Wasted are both similar in style, tempo (and co-writers) but they are two of my favorite songs of the last decade. And then they do cutting them down on radio to make way for adverts :( oh well, glad I have the full versions on cd.