Taylor Swift

Musician, Singer, Songwriter

Biography

• Born December 13, 1989

•In Wyomissing, PA

•To Andrea and Scott Swift

•Younger brother Austin Swift

•Grew up on a Christmas Tree farm in Pennsylvania

•Moved to Hendersonville, TN to further music career.

The Early Years

•11 years old – sang “Star Spangled Banner” at Philadelphia 76ers game

•12 years old – started writing her own songs and learned how to play the guitar

•13 years old – got a developmental deal with RCA records, which she walked away from at the end of the year

•14 years old – became the youngest songwriter hired by Sony in Nashville

Taylor Swift’s big break!

Taylor was discovered in 2006 by Scott Borchetta at Bluebird Café in Nashville. Swift became the first artist signed to Borchetta’s record label Big Machine Records. Swift’s debut single “Tim McGraw” became a top 10 hit on the country charts and the self-titled album went platinum.

Taylor’s Music Career

•At 18 she toured as the opening act for several country headliners, including Faith Hill and Tim McGraw•She wrote and co-wrote all songs on her debut album•2008 nominated for a Grammy in the Best New Artist category•Won Academy of Country Music’s “Female Vocalist of the Year” Award•Won AMA for Favorite Female Country Artist•Won the American Music Association’s “Horizon” Award

Taylor’s Music Career

•2008 2nd Album “Fearless” released and stays at the top of pop and country charts for 11 weeks•Highest selling country artist for 2008•Won CMT award for Video of the Year and Female Video of the Year for “Love Story” which was her crossover song from country to pop music•2009 won MTV Video Music Award “Best Female Video” making her first country star to win an MTV Award•2010 “Speak Now” her 3rd album entirely self written sells over a million copies in one week

Taylor Swift writes honest music her fans can relate to and knows her audience.

Concert tickets for Taylor Swift sell out in less than two minutes. Only female artist to have 3 albums hit number one, amongst the ranks of such artists like Michael Jackson and The BeatlesCrossed over into acting in 2010 in “Valentine’s Day” and appearing on SNL2012 released fourth album “Red” which sold over a million copies in a week

Taylor Swift is a genuine artist for our time.

“Tim McGraw”Debut single on debut album “Taylor Swift”

“Mean”Single on third album “Speak Now”

“Ronan”Made it’s debut on Stand Up To Cancer

Listening Guide“Tim McGraw”

IntroductionThe introduction begins with an acoustic guitar playing in quadruple/simple meter. The song is a ballad in minor mode. Verse 1The verse is sung over the simple chords of the guitar in the background. The fluctuations in pitch come only from Swift’s voice and it seems to only raise or lower an octave.ChorusThe drums join in at the chorus and outline the quadruple meter beat.Verse 2ChorusBridge There are only four lines in the bridge. The bridge is a fast tempo quadruple meter.ChorusThe final chorus is a slower tempo than the previous ones. Only the guitar and the drums play to accompany Swift’s voice.EndingThe ending of the song is Swift’s voice accompanied by the acoustic guitar in a quadruple/simple meter.

Taylor Swift - Tim McGraw - YouTube

Listening Guide“Mean”

0:00 Introduction & Verse 1The song opens immediately with Swift’s voice accompanied by a banjo in a simple/quadruple meter beat in major mode. 0:35 ChorusThe banjo, acoustic guitar, bass guitar and hand claps all play in unison to accentuate the words and the rhythm of the chorus.1:05 Verse 2The second verse opens with the violin joining in to add melody in the background.1:42 ChorusIn the chorus the second time around, the additions are the drums highlighting the tempo of the song. The banjo, acoustic guitar, bass guitar and hand claps all play in unison to accentuate the words and the rhythm of the chorus. 2:08 InstrumentalThe bass guitar keeps the tempo of the song accentuated, while the banjo shines in a short but awesome solo playing a fast melody for seven seconds as a segway into the bridge.3:27 Chorus & EndingThe song ends with the chorus. All instruments, banjo, drums, bass guitar, acoustic guitar and violin carry over the same melody from the last chorus.

You Tube - Taylor Swift "Mean"

Listening Guide“Ronan”

0:00 IntroductionThe song begins with only an electro-acoustic guitar playing in minor mode in a quadruple simple meter beat. The melody of the song is haunting and sets the somber mode. You can tell immediately from the melody that the song will be one about tragedy and

loss. 1:27 InstrumentalFor this ten second instrumental the hand drums join in playing a triple simple meter beat while the piano harmonizes with the electro-acoustic guitar to add texture to the melody of the song.4:10 Ending The ending is only the electro-acoustic guitar playing the melody of the song accompanying Swift’s voice singing the words, “I remember your bare feet, down the hallway. I love you to the moon and back.”

You Tube - Taylor Swift "Ronan"

References and Bibliography

Works cited   Farley, Christopher John, “Taylor Swift’s Solo Act,” The

Wall Street Journal, Arts & Entertainment, October 22, 2010

Hogan, Marc, “Taylor Swift Debuts Tear-Jerking ‘Ronan’ at Cancer Benefit,” Spin, September 10, 2012, spin.com, November 27, 2010

Houston, Chris, “Taylor Swift ‘Mean’ is Anti-Bully Anthem,” Yahoo Contributor Network, October 25, 2012, www.yahoo.com, November 24 2012

Masley, Ed, “Taylor Swift song ‘Ronan’ for Phoenix boy an artistic high,” The Republic, September 9, 2012, www.azcentral.com, November 27, 2010

Morris, Edward, “When She Thinks Taylor Swift Savors Payoff - Hardworking Teen to Open for George Strait Next Year, CMT News Online, December 1, 2006, www.cmt.com November 23, 2012

Smith, Hazel, “Taylor Swift Talks About Songwriting, Friends and Good Manners, CMT News Online, October 6, 2008, www.cmt.com, November 23, 2012

Ward, Leeann, “Taylor Swift, ‘Fifteen’”, Country Universe Online, August 28, 2009, www.countryuniverse.net, November 24, 2012

"Taylor Swift." 2012. The Biography Channel website. Nov 23 2012, 10:45 http://www.biography.com/people/taylor-swift-369608. Documentary

“Taylor Swift Biography” Part 1-16, You Tube, July 11, 2011, www.youtube.com, November 24, 2012, Documentary

Photo’s Image courtesy of favim.com Photo courtesy of

http://www.joybaker.com/tag/kathy-almendinger/ Photo courtesy of

http://www.myspace.com/taylorswiftfanatic13/photos/10774092#!

http://nashville.about.com/od/countrystarsphotogalleri/ig/5th-Annual-Academy-of-Country-Music-Honors-Show---Red-Carpet/Scott-Borchetta---Taylor-Swift.htm

http://taylorswift.com/users/eU7Ghm8O/blogs/3278791

http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/taylor-swift/images/16371135/title/taylor-swifts-mean-photo

http://mp3lyricsmania.blogspot.com/2010/11/taylor-swift-tim-mcgraw-lyrics.html

http://www.millionlooks.com/people-and-events/celebrities/celebrity-red-carpet-style-taylor-swift-epitome-of-elegance-and-femininity

http://mediagallery.usatoday.com/Taylor+Swift

http://vivienzeru.blogspot.com/2008/11/taylor-swift-fearless.html

http://taylorswiftsfans.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=112503679

Taylor Swift

Musician, Singer, Songwriter