Taylor Swift | Speak Now | 10.25.10 (1M Debut!)

[Nic (Britney Spears)]

Oct 18, 2010 22:55:01 GMT -5 justlurkingaround said:

I just downloaded "Mean"
I think the guy is a critic, not an ex-boyfriend like the way she made him sound in the preview.
And I think the song is awesome:)

When she described it on E! News it definitely seemed like somebody who she had frequent contact with.

[👑 Eloquent ™]

Oct 18, 2010 23:30:16 GMT -5 Nic (Britney Spears) said:

When she described it on E! News it definitely seemed like somebody who she had frequent contact with.

This could be applied to a critic as well (someone who is always reviewing her performances, singles, and albums).

BTW: I'm not saying the guy is a critic (just throwing out a different interpretation).

[Kyla]

I think "Better Than Revenge" is definitely about Camilla. Not every song is going to be super current. She's written for this album since Fearless came out. And this sounds like it was written in her right after the break-up/super bitter phase. I don't know about the mattress line, but actress that stole her boyfriend? Definitely Camilla. I don't think it could be about Demi. They were really good friends at one point and seem to be friends again. And those lyrics are pretty harsh.

I love her cheekiness in "Mean". The production's a little weird for me in the first half, but hopefully it'll grow on me. The bridge makes the song IMO.

[desertfloods]

Oct 18, 2010 23:29:20 GMT -5 👑 Eloquent ™ said:

Oct 18, 2010 23:14:40 GMT -5 desertfloods said:

Heh, she sure knows how to get people talking. TBH, the album is becoming a bit too tabloid-like for me.

I don't think she wrote the songs with intent to "shock" people or drum up publicity for herself or the album. Taylor writes about what she experiences, including the people in and out of her life. She's doing what she's done from the beginning, it's just now some of the people she's talking about are public figures (which I don't think is a valid reason for her not to write about them if she wants). I think most writers would do the same; she just happens to be honest about it.

Yes she has been writing about her life all along, but I feel that in the past, her songs aren't as direct and detailed as the new ones. Her selling point for me had been simplicity and relatability. Especially relatability. But the new songs are lacking those IMO.

And I gotta disagree with you here, I do feel like she's "dishing out the dirt" more directly for the shock factor. It sells. Sorry, just my personal opinion.

[CammyCan]

No one's going to buy her songs if they weren't already intending on doing so because she's "dishing out the dirt". How ridiculous.

I like "Mean", but it's my least favorite of the songs so far released.

[never stop]

Even though I'm super excited about this album, I agree with you. The songs are so specific that it makes them hard to relate to.

[ListenToItTwice]

iTunes:

101. Mean

[neally]

Oct 18, 2010 23:48:57 GMT -5 CammyCan said:

No one's going to buy her songs if they weren't already intending on doing so because she's "dishing out the dirt". How ridiculous.

Completely agree.

[never stop]

And I never noticed this before:

[otternobetter87]

Mean is really catchy (duh).. i love it! (also duh)

[cufan7]

I'm not a Taylor fan. But this album has me excited. Loved what I've heard so far (minus "Mine"). In my opinion she's really developing into a true artist.

[Joe1240]

Mean is so good.I love it!! :)

[#brayden]

Canadian Itunes:

8. 'Back To December'
15. 'Mean' (that was fast)
18. 'Mine'
28. 'Speak Now'

[justlurkingaround]

Lyrics:

You, with your words like knives
And swords and weapons that you use against me
You have knocked me off my feet again
Got me feeling like a nothing
You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard
Calling me out when I’m wounded
You picking on the weaker man

Well you can take me down with just one single blow
but you don’t know, what you don’t know…

Someday I’ll be living in a big ol’ city
And all you’re ever going to be is mean
Someday I’ll be big enough so you can’t hit me
And all you’re ever going to be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?

You, with your switching sides
And your wildfire lies and your humiliation
You have pointed out my flaws again
As if I don’t already see them
I walk with my head down
Trying to block you out ‘cause I’ll never impress you
I just wanna feel okay again

I bet you got pushed around
Somebody made you cold
But the cycle ends right now
Cause you can’t lead me down that road
And you don’t know, what you don’t know…

Someday I’ll be living in a big ol’ city
And all you’re ever going to be is mean
Someday I’ll be big enough so you can’t hit me
And all you’re ever going to be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?

And I can see you years from now in a bar
Talking over a football game
With that same big loud opinion
But nobody’s listening
Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things
Drunk and grumbling on about how I can’t sing
But all you are is mean

All you are is mean
And a liar, and pathetic, and alone in life
And mean, and mean, and mean, and mean

But someday I’ll be living in a big ol’ city
And all you’re ever going to be is mean, yeah yeah
Someday I’ll be big enough so you can’t hit me
And all you’re ever going to be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?

Someday I’ll be living in a big ol’ city
And all you’re ever going to be is mean, yeah yeah
Someday I’ll be big enough so you can’t hit me
And all you’re ever going to be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?

[otternobetter87]

Mean gets better with every listen!! This album is gonna be ridiculous.

[SHOOTER]

Mean is the best of the lot so far.

[applechic]

I think everything she's released so far has been better than Mine. That was a mistake on her team's part.

[Cody Wants Out...]

Oct 19, 2010 6:09:49 GMT -5 applechic said:

I think everything she's released so far has been better than Mine. That was a mistake on her team's part.

THIS. I never got into "Mine;" nothin' special really. Got tired after fourth listen.

Speak Now > Mean >> Back to December >>>>>>>>>>>>> Mine

and I was gonna pass this era.

[fullonrainstorm]

I think any doubts that Taylor hasn't evolved in her songwriting and subject matter are dead and buried(for me at least).

This album is turning out to be such a 180 degree departure from her usual musical direction.

To be honest,this sarcastic uncensored Taylor Swift we're now seeing is such a refreshing change.

CAN'T WAIT for Oct 25!

[tamed09]

They've done an incredible job with holding onto the album after so many copies have been shipped. For an album with this anticipation to not have leaked yet bodes even better for first week numbers

[Joe1240]

Taylor Swift Says Fans' 'Passion' Will Determine Next Single
'I'm sitting on the edge of my seat,' Swift tells MTV News about looming reaction to Speak Now.

By Jocelyn Vena (@jocelyn1212) , with reporting by Jim Cantiello (@jambajim)

In less than a week, fans will be able to purchase Taylor Swift's new album, Speak Now, in its entirety. Her first single from the LP, "Mine," has had fans singing along, but some are already wondering what her second official track will be. We decided to put that question to Swift.

"It's all based on what fans like the most, and every single decision we've made as far as what song to come with next has been based on the fans' passion level toward that song," Taylor explained to MTV News. "And the album isn't out yet, so we can't really get a read on it yet."

So does waiting for fan reaction make Swift anxious? "That's another reason why I'm sitting on the edge of my seat," she admitted. "I want to know what they like the best."

Meanwhile, Swift has continued to roll out sneak peeks of some Speak Now songs, which have been performing well on the charts, a fact that makes the country/pop singer even more excited for the chance to tour.

"Lots, lots of touring, very extensive tour planned," Swift revealed. "That's also gonna be a worldwide thing, so I'm just completely stoked out of my mind to play the new songs live."

Given her plans to hit the road, is there a new song she'll be most nervous to perform? "Innocent"? "Speak Now"? Or maybe the song rumored to be about Taylor Lautner, "Back to December"?

"Yes ... you'll probably be able to tell which one," Swift smiled. "It'll probably be very obvious."

www.mtv.com/news/articles/1650280/20101018/story.jhtml

[grandelf]

Taylor had a bit of a promo last night on ABC's Castle.

[neally]

Oct 19, 2010 7:40:06 GMT -5 tamed09 said:

They've done an incredible job with holding onto the album after so many copies have been shipped. For an album with this anticipation to not have leaked yet bodes even better for first week numbers

I was going to write the same thing. I am impressed that 'Speak Now' hasn't leaked yet. Big Machine Records must have employed Apple's security team on this project to keep it this tight so far, lol.

[strikeleo]

I'm not surprised speak now hasn't leaked yet, Fearless leaked on the same day it was released, this should leak around then too. Also, after mine made its way online earlier than they wanted, they are probably making sure this doesn't leak.

[Hefty Hanna]

I listened to 'Mean' on a whim and I loved it!!!!

[beebee]

I'm impressed of the longevity that "BTD" is achieving on Itunes. One week after its release and with zero airplay , the song is sitting comfortably on Itunes' top 5 just helped by Internet buzz. I strongly believe that this song eventually will be a single, and maybe even the follow-up of Mine.

[heart]

BTD is the only good song from this era so far in my opinion. Speak Now (hiding in the curtains?? ymwm part 2) is verging on self-parody. Mean is terrible, and I had hope for it being a better song when I heard all the country elements in the preview. Mine is a poor man's Our Song.

[Ivy Leegue™]

Damn. Taylor is NO JOKE this era. She seems to have ditched the "I wanna appeal to all 15 year old girls out there" approach in an attempt to get even more personal and get some things off her chest. The title also makes so much more sense now. I will probably be buying this album and I never thought I would say that about a Taylor Swift album. Also, I just found out about this "Dear John" song. Did John Mayer get it in???

[rainon]

iTunes

1. Mean - Taylor Swift

[freeman]

Mean is probably my least favorite so far next to Mine which I also don't like. It just gets repetitive IMO... I do like the country instruments though :)