Taylor Swift, the latest country music star to cross over to pop, is a music producer’s dream come true. She has all the qualities that spell success in incredible doses and she is so young. She was only 14 when she started work on her first hit song Tim McGraw in the album Taylor Swift. By the time she was 18 last year she had a No. 1 seller in Fearless, several hit singles, plus both her CDs in the Top 10 of the year end charts.
Take note of all of Swift’s other pluses. She has the face of an angel and a figure that rivals Paris Hilton’s. She sings in a sweet but full-bodied voice with little girl intonations that sounds so cute. Taylor is also an excellent songwriter with a gift for catchy, flowing melodies. Her songs do tend to sound alike but she will learn how to avoid that when she’s older.
Besides, Taylor has something better going on with her compositions. She has tapped into the realm of teen-age romance with the wisdom of somebody older and kids are all saying that they feel just like she says. Best of all, she writes lyrics like All those girls, well they’re beautiful — but would they write a song for you? for a boy who might be Joe Jonas.
Taylor and the middle Jonas Brother had a much publicized romance last summer that ended with a much-publicized break-up. It was rumored that he did it over the phone. The incident later involved Miley Cyrus who commiserated with her friend Taylor just like what most teen-age girls do when in the throes of heartbreak. Fans say that Taylor’s Joe Jonas song is Forever & Always in Fearless.
But whether she wrote the songs for Joe or somebody else, what Taylor accomplished in Fearless truly speaks to the hearts of young teens. Love Story which is currently No. 1 hereabouts, plays on the tale of Romeo and Juliet. Fifteen is about entering high school. Our Song is about lovers in search of their theme song. The Best Day is for her Mom and the joys of family. Fearless has everything, particularly lots of the falling in love and breaking up stuff. Teardrops on My Guitar is the best of the latter. I do say that all that Fearless needs is something about a vampire to complete the teen-age romantic fantasy.
Other titles included are Fearless, Hey Stephen, White Horse, You Belong with Me, Breathe featuring Colbie Caillat, Tell Me Why, You’re Not Sorry, The Way I Loved You, Change and Should’ve Said No.
Taylor’s Love Story is the number one tune of the moment in Metro Manila. It is number one in radio airplay followed by My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson; Come Back to Me by David Cook; Leslie by Rocksteddy; Just Dance by Lady GaGa; Thinking of You by Katy Perry; FX by Pedicab; You Changed My Life in a Moment by Sarah Geronimo; Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) by Beyonce; and Old Friend by Kyla.
The video of Love Story is also number one in the MYX hit chart for the week. The others that made the Top 10 are Old Friend by Kyla; Tonight by the Jonas Brothers; I Caught Myself by Paramore; Hintay by Callalily; You Changed My Life in a Moment by Sarah Geronimo; A Little Too Not Over You by David Archuleta; Desolation Row by My Chemical Romance; Thinking of You by Katy Perry; and Poker Face by Lady GaGa.
Taylor ceded the number slot to U2 in Billboard’s Top 10 of the Top 200 Albums this week. That is just fine. The girl had been number one for eleven weeks now and should not mind being taken a notch or two down the list. No Line on the Horizon by U2; Fearless by Taylor Swift; Middle Cyclone by Neko Case; The Fame by Lady GaGa; Dark Horse by Nickelback; Intuition by Jamie Foxx; The Fray by The Fray; I Am - Sasha Fierce by Beyonce; Slumdog Millionaire, the original movie soundtrack; and Paper Trail by T.I.
The Top 10 titles in the Hot 100 singles chart are: Right Round by Flo Rida; Dead and Gone by T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake; Poker Face by Lady GaGa; Kiss Me Thru the Phone by Soulja Boy Tell ‘em featuring Sammie; Gives You Hell by The All-American Rejects; The Climb by Miley Cyrus; Just Dance by Lady GaGa featuring Colby O’Donis; Heartless by Kanye West; My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson; and Blame It by Jamie Foxx featuring T-Pain.