Taylor Swift - "Fearless"

[elementd5]

When the album was released, "Fearless" always seemed to be a fan favorite and was noted as "single" material. Now that it hasn't lived up to expectations (most likely due to "Fifteen's" performance), it seems to me, that now people are saying the exact opposite. Very interesting.

[leilamaurizia]

"Fearless" doesn't seem to be clicking sales-wise either as a single.

SWIFT*TAYLOR FEARLESS 9,724 18 8,255 644,879

The bulk of that total was sold when "Fearless" was released on iTunes as an album pre-release track, if I'm not mistaken.

[Taylor.]

It sold 190k (or around there) first week and then dropped off the face of the earth, so most of the sales have actually been since the album (and single) have been released.

[joey2002]

Apr 12, 2010 20:29:34 GMT -5 someguy said:

I'm sure it's happened before, but I can't remember an instance where a song gained nearly 200 spins (189 in this case), enough to make the top 10 greatest spin gainers of the week (#9), but still lost over 600K in AI.

Yeah, I noticed that and was actually wondering about the same thing.

It'll be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks...

[leilamaurizia]

Apr 12, 2010 22:26:36 GMT -5 Taylor. said:

It sold 190k (or around there) first week and then dropped off the face of the earth, so most of the sales have actually been since the album (and single) have been released.

Oh man, you're tempting me to look through my sales archives! I... will... resist... the... temptation. I will agree with album release, but I still say the bulk is from pre-release and album release + time. Less than 10,000 a week for a single in the 10-11 airplay range still seems below Taylor-level for me. There are other factors that come into play though, of course.

[countrygirl918]

Apr 12, 2010 21:49:30 GMT -5 elementd5 said:

When the album was released, "Fearless" always seemed to be a fan favorite and was noted as "single" material. Now that it hasn't lived up to expectations (most likely due to "Fifteen's" performance), it seems to me, that now people are saying the exact opposite. Very interesting.

I definitely agree. I actually think it's a shame that two of the better songs from the album have underperformed so much. I'm curious if this trend is going to continue for any future releases.

[👑 Eloquent ™]

This has a new peak of #8 on Mediabase. I'm hoping it eventually places a bit higher on Billboard.

[onebuffalo]

Apr 13, 2010 10:55:22 GMT -5 👑 Eloquent ™ said:

This has a new peak of #8 on Mediabase. I'm hoping it eventually places a bit higher on Billboard.

She had another 'backwards bullet' on Billboard at #13.

[Deleted]

I also hope this song places higher on both charts, especially BB...In last week's BCU there was a bid ad, but it didn't seem to spur it too much on BB, just better MB numbers. Hopefully Big Machine keeps pushing it. As far as the next BB chart, I can't see anyone passing Fearless (though Miranda is bound to close the gap), and with Carrie and Easton going recurrent Taylor will likely be guaranteed at least a #11 position, but I'm not sure if she can get this one to go higher, and the weeks are racking up too...

[rowdawg21]

Apr 13, 2010 13:15:22 GMT -5 jhomes87 said:

I also hope this song places higher on both charts, especially BB...In last week's BCU there was a bid ad, but it didn't seem to spur it too much on BB, just better MB numbers. Hopefully Big Machine keeps pushing it. As far as the next BB chart, I can't see anyone passing Fearless (though Miranda is bound to close the gap), and with Carrie and Easton going recurrent Taylor will likely be guaranteed at least a #11 position, but I'm not sure if she can get this one to go higher, and the weeks are racking up too...

I actually think Miranda can pass Taylor next week with the way she's been moving.

I think this song is dead. I don't see it getting back to the top 10 on Billboard. I wouldn't be surprised to see Taylor sing the 6th single at the ACMs on Sunday. Does anyone know if there has been any indication to what she will sing?

[joey2002]

Apr 13, 2010 13:46:13 GMT -5 rowdawg21 said:

I think this song is dead. I don't see it getting back to the top 10 on Billboard.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Taylor sing the 6th single at the ACMs on Sunday. Does anyone know if there has been any indication to what she will sing?

So how high has "Fearless" peaked so far on Billboard?

I was thinking the same thing about the ACMs -- I wonder if she might do something similar to when she performed the newly released "Should've Said No" two years ago at the ACMs. I would guess that it would have to be an upbeat song for a quick summer climb...such as "Forever & Always".

[lyrichord]

Yeah with Fairytale dead at pop and this struggling at country it would be a perfect time for a new single to be released to both formats. She already did F&A at the CMAs though so I guess Fearless will probably have this performance slot since it's one of the few songs from the album that hasn't been showcased at an awards show.

[Cody Wants Out...]

I would love for her to do a premiere of Forever & Always somewhere and it also be the next single (*yawn, Fearless was already supposed to be Top 5; pull the plug, please*), but I highly doubt that they'll release it since this is already single #5. smh

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Joey: Fearless only got to #10 on BB.

I'm not too surprised that she's starting to show signs of burnout. She's just so ridiculously overexposed anymore. In fact, I had a hunch as early as "Picture to Burn" that burnout might start to set in. Looking at her chart runs, it's all the more obvious:
*"Should've Said No" dropped like a rock (1-5-11-12-16-28[!]-29-26).
*"Love Story" was gone only two weeks after its second week at #1. That's 12 weeks on the entire chart.
*"White Horse" started crawling once it hit the Top 10, took a huge jump up to #2, then plummeted 2-7-10.
*"You Belong with Me" also inched its way up the Top 10 (10-9-8-8-8-7-6-4-3-3-1-1) then fell to #6 before going away. (Strangely, it was only 19 weeks old at the time.)
*"Fifteen"'s oddly truncated chart run: once it got past the Top 15 it went 11-11-10-9-9-8-8-7-9-gone.
*Same thing with "Fearless" -- 15-13-13-12-12-10-10-11-11-13 so far, within the Top 15 range.

[👑 Eloquent ™]

^ So, given your theory is actually true, why is it that only she is affected by overexposure? There are other artists who saturate country radio to a much higher degree without it becoming an issue for them. As for the "big plunges", I'm not too surprised. It seems every time I turn around a song is plummeting down the country chart after peaking. Sure, some may fall faster than others but most don't experience a slow decent.

[Typo]

I honestly think the biggest problem is that songs like Fifteen and Fearless just don't connect with country listeners. They rely too much on Taylor's youth, and are obviously marketed towards the younger crowd.

[drock89]

Apr 13, 2010 17:25:20 GMT -5 Typo said:

I honestly think the biggest problem is that songs like Fifteen and Fearless just don't connect with country listeners. They rely too much on Taylor's youth, and are obviously marketed towards the younger crowd.

Her vocals also are not as strong, imo, on "Fearless" as on some of her other tracks. And I agree, songs like "White Horse" appeal to a much broader audience than does "Fifteen."

[Joe1240]

The song may be close to being finished but I could see it coming back up and staying stable.There is a chance she could perform this at the ACMs this sunday. If it wasn't for TWAF,This song could of been bigger.But it is just a great song that has underperformed.

[joey2002]

Apr 13, 2010 17:25:20 GMT -5 Typo said:

I honestly think the biggest problem is that songs like Fifteen and Fearless just don't connect with country listeners. They rely too much on Taylor's youth, and are obviously marketed towards the younger crowd.

That's a good point. "Love Story" was a huge wedding song for older listeners, while it was also wildly popular down to the middle school age level -- and everywhere inbetween.

Apr 13, 2010 18:42:31 GMT -5 Joe1240 said:

If it wasn't for TWAF,This song could of been bigger.But it is just a great song that has underperformed.

TWAF wasn't promoted to country radio, so that wasn't the problem here. Although I do agree that "Fearless" did seem to under-perform most expectations...especially if #10 does indeed turn out to be its peak on the charts.

[ClevelandRox]

So close to outpeaking Fifteen, but I think George is gonna pass her before she can =/

[Deleted]

Apr 16, 2010 17:34:44 GMT -5 ClevelandRox said:

So close to outpeaking Fifteen, but I think George is gonna pass her before she can =/

If you're looking at MB, Taylor is ahead. But MB doesn't matter as much as far as songs being an official #1 or top 10 or whatnot. On BB, this week George is quite a bit ahead of Taylor as he's at #9 and she's at #13. Taylor had some days and even weeks where she lost audience, and that's mostly what BB goes by. Taylor's BB peak for Fearless (so far) is #10, while Fifteen got to #7, so she's got a ways to go yet since she did slip down to #13. The good news, however, is that Carrie's "Temporary Home" will go recurrent, and probably Easton's "Little More Country Than That" also, and no one appears on pace to pass Taylor, so "Fearless" will probably move back up to #11 next week and we'll see where it goes from there. It's had a bit of a rebound, though definitely not in the clear yet. But Fearless is hanging on, and I for one hope it does get 2nd wind and pass up Fifteen...

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Apr 13, 2010 17:24:04 GMT -5 👑 Eloquent ™ said:

^ So, given your theory is actually true, why is it that only she is affected by overexposure? There are other artists who saturate country radio to a much higher degree without it becoming an issue for them. As for the "big plunges", I'm not too surprised. It seems every time I turn around a song is plummeting down the country chart after peaking. Sure, some may fall faster than others but most don't experience a slow decent.

Taylor is just everywhere: awards shows, TV, country radio, pop radio. I hear "Love Story" and "You Belong with Me" on pop stations all the time, on the speakers at the mall or at the store, etc. She's easily getting far more exposure than most country acts simply because she's crossed over to a much higher degree for so long. After all, the crossover really started around the time "Our Song" was released, and that was 3 years ago, and she's kept about the same level profile since then. The only other artists currently even close to her level are Carrie Underwood and Lady Antebellum.

As for the drops, yes, songs are usually quick to drop anymore. But usually it's more along the lines of 1-3-5-7-8 before it's gone -- something like 1-6-gone or 1-5-11-look out below is not natural.

[Deleted]

It's an interesting theory, but I can't see it realistically. When Taylor gets a new album out, it will sell like crazy...just because she has a few singles miss top 5 doesn't mean she's in trouble by any means. She'll keep on writing and singing and being a superstar, and her songs will start to vary more I think, relate more to older people and at the same time she'll keep her young core of fans. I do agree that some people are probably tired of her, but the majority love her and that keeps her famous and I don't see that changing. The song "Fearless" should edge up 1-2 more spots next week (I think), and even though Miranda might eventually pass her, this song might squeak into the top 10 again yet...keep in mind that it had a quick rise to get there and that a lot of newer acts and superstars have huge hits and not everyone can make it big (see MG, Jack Ingram, Darryl Worley, etc..for recent flops).

[gallopinggold]

I'm curious to see if this song tanks hard or gains more play tomorrow depending on her very possible win of the ACM entertainer of the year this evening. After watching its chart movement it reminds me of a single back when someone had a theory that they held back her song to let Love & Theft reach Top 10 and now the same with Steel Magnolia. Its all very curious. Fearless is one of the singles I've enjoyed the most from the current CD and would like to see it go a bit higher. If not, I'm content with 5 Top 10's from one CD.

[onebuffalo]

Apr 18, 2010 14:30:13 GMT -5 gallopinggold said:

I'm curious to see if this song tanks hard or gains more play tomorrow depending on her very possible win of the ACM entertainer of the year this evening. After watching its chart movement it reminds me of a single back when someone had a theory that they held back her song to let Love & Theft reach Top 10 and now the same with Steel Magnolia. Its all very curious. Fearless is one of the singles I've enjoyed the most from the current CD and would like to see it go a bit higher. If not, I'm content with 5 Top 10's from one CD.

Taylor Swift's Fearless CD is the tenth by a female artist to have at least five top ten hits. The others:

1. Juice Newton-Old Flame-RCA
You Make Me Want To Make You Mine-1985-#1
Hurt-1986-#1
Old Flame-1986-#5
Both To Each Other Friends And Lovers-with Eddie Rabbitt-1986-#1
Cheap Love-1986-#9
What Can I Do With My Heart-1987-#9
2. Patty Loveless-Honky Tonk Angel-MCA
Blue Side Of Town-1989-#4
Don't Toss Us Away-1989-#5
Timber, I'm Falling In Love-1989-#1
The Lonely Side Of Love-1989-#6
Chains-1990-#1
3. Wynonna Judd-Tell Me Why-MCA
Tell Me Why-1993-#3
Only Love-1993-#3
Is It Over Yet-1994-#6
Rock Bottom-1994-#2
Girls With Guitars-1994-#10
4. Faith Hill-It Matters To Me-Warner Bros.
Let's Go To Vegas-1995-#5
It Matters To Me-1996-#1
Someone Else's Dream-1996-#3
You Can't Lose Me-1996-#6
I Can't Do That Anymore-1997-#8
5. Shania Twain-Come On Over-Mercury
Love Gets Me Every Time-1997-#1
Don't Be Stupid You Know I Love You-1998-#6
You're Still The One-1998-#1
From This Moment On-with Bryan White-1998-#6
Honey, I'm Home-1998-#1
That Don't Impress Me Much-1999-#8
Man! I Feel Like A Woman!-1999-#4
Come On Over-1999-#6
6. Martina McBride-Evolution-RCA
A Broken Wing-1998-#1
Valentine-with Jim Brickman-1998-#9
Happy Girl-1998-#2
Wrong Again-1999-#1
Whatever You Say-1999-#2
7. Jo Dee Messina-I'm Alright-Curb
Bye-Bye-1998-#1
I'm Alright-1998-#1
Stand Beside Me-1999-#1
Lesson In Leavin'-1999-#2
Because You Love Me-2000-#8
8. Taylor Swift-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
Tim McGraw-2007-#6
Teardrops On My Guitar-2007-#2
Our Song-2007-#1
Picture To Burn-2008-#3
Should've Said No-2008-#1
9. Carrie Underwood-Carnival Ride-Arista
So Small-2007-#1
All-American Girl-2008-#1
Last Name-2008-#1
Just A Dream-2008-#1
I Told You So-with Randy Travis-2009-#2
10. Taylor Swift-Fearless-Big Machine
Love Story-2008-#1
White Horse-2009-#2
You Belong With Me-2009-#1
Fifteen-2009-#7
Fearless-2010-#10

[singingsparrow]

Apr 18, 2010 14:30:13 GMT -5 gallopinggold said:

I'm curious to see if this song tanks hard or gains more play tomorrow depending on her very possible win of the ACM entertainer of the year this evening. After watching its chart movement it reminds me of a single back when someone had a theory that they held back her song to let Love & Theft reach Top 10 and now the same with Steel Magnolia. Its all very curious. Fearless is one of the singles I've enjoyed the most from the current CD and would like to see it go a bit higher. If not, I'm content with 5 Top 10's from one CD.

I wouldn't be as content with the fact the last two of five singles of this era for her have peaked lower than all the singles from her debut era, however.

She can very well recover with a strong start from her third studio album era, but there are definitely fissures in the foundation, I believe, and I wouldn't be surprised if it has more to do with a recent larger trend that is the mild-to-moderate backlash against what some have been referring to as "Disney Country" (Rascal Flatts, Gloriana, Love & Theft, among others) with the resurgence of neotraditionalist acts on the format (Easton Corbin, Chris Young, Joe Nichols' comeback, etc.)

For the record, I find all the backlash among more tradionalist-leaning Country circles in particular unfortunate, to say the least, given she's hardly even in her twenties and, even while she's not the most remarkable vocalist, are nonetheless regularly deriding her vocal ability with the automatic assumption her vocal skills won't mature as she ages and, in the process, overlooking her remarkable songwriting talents for someone her age.

That said, I think Taylor Swift should consider switching producers for the third album and pursue a more organic sound if she is to successfully preserve her Country fanbase. Otherwise, her whole fanbase can splinter and she may suffer a dramatic career decline her third album era.

Namaste,
Lisping Hibiscus

[Deleted]

Apr 18, 2010 23:05:03 GMT -5 @singingsparrow said:

Apr 18, 2010 14:30:13 GMT -5 gallopinggold said:

I'm curious to see if this song tanks hard or gains more play tomorrow depending on her very possible win of the ACM entertainer of the year this evening. After watching its chart movement it reminds me of a single back when someone had a theory that they held back her song to let Love & Theft reach Top 10 and now the same with Steel Magnolia. Its all very curious. Fearless is one of the singles I've enjoyed the most from the current CD and would like to see it go a bit higher. If not, I'm content with 5 Top 10's from one CD.

I wouldn't be as content with the fact the last two of five singles of this era for her have peaked lower than all the singles from her debut era, however.

She can very well recover with a strong start from her third studio album era, but there are definitely fissures in the foundation, I believe, and I wouldn't be surprised if it has more to do with a recent larger trend that is the mild-to-moderate backlash against what some have been referring to as "Disney Country" (Rascal Flatts, Gloriana, Love & Theft, among others) with the resurgence of neotraditionalist acts on the format (Easton Corbin, Chris Young, Joe Nichols' comeback, etc.)

For the record, I find all the backlash among more tradionalist-leaning Country circles in particular unfortunate, to say the least, given she's hardly even in her twenties and, even while she's not the most remarkable vocalist, are nonetheless regularly deriding her vocal ability with the automatic assumption her vocal skills won't mature as she ages and, in the process, overlooking her remarkable songwriting talents for someone her age.

That said, I think Taylor Swift should consider switching producers for the third album and pursue a more organic sound if she is to successfully preserve her Country fanbase. Otherwise, her whole fanbase can splinter and she may suffer a dramatic career decline her third album era.

Namaste,
Lisping Hibiscus

I really like T Swift, and I don't care for the backlash against her. She didn't win any ACM's, no, but I don't think it signals a downfall of sorts by any means. Keep in mind that the obvious single choices were big hits from her album the past year or so, and "Fearless" is the 5th single. On several occasions when artists release a 5th single (or sometimes even a 4th), album buzz has significantly died down. I fully believe a 3rd album from Taylor will keep up with the trend she's set on her immensely successful first 2 albums (5 and 6 times multi-platinum I believe; if I'm wrong, feel free to correct me). Those are huge sales. I think Taylor will keep producting great country music and also continue to crossover.

I agree with Lisping Hisbiscus' statements too. And gallopinggold, I think we'll start to see this song tank. My hope for a comeback on the charts is all but gone. Very discouraging numbers in the audience impressions at the end of the week. Capitol seems to be still pushing Eric, and of course Miranda is coming very fast.

[joey2002]

I'll bet that Taylor is right back in business once she releases her 3rd album...

Carrie also had a fairly quiet period following the 5th single from her 2nd album, "I Told You So".

[Continuum]

i think all taylor needs to do is
stop crossing over to pop with every song
she should just pull a C. Underwood and
cross over only once in a while

i think this would help her get country radio back on her side
(that and keep performing better every time)

[Modern Myth]

Apr 19, 2010 17:37:54 GMT -5 Continuum said:

i think all taylor needs to do is
stop crossing over to pop with every song
she should just pull a C. Underwood and
cross over only once in a while

i think this would help her get country radio back on her side
(that and keep performing better every time)

I agree. Fifteen didn't need to cross over and Today should've stayed a promo single that shouldn't of actually got sent out, and still for skipping White Horse was the right chance.

The only song on her debut that deserved to cross over was Teardrops and it did, and the rest just didn't, or didn't do well, and that's probably best.

Hopefully with the next album only two or maybe three will cross over to pop, and I'm hoping for four country singles. Just what I'm hoping for. I could see it all happening too.