Taylor Swift: Fearless Album Review
Review by Amanda

The most important thing to remember about Taylor Swift is that she is not just a country singer; she is a story teller. Her songs are so well written that they allow the listener to follow a story as though reading a book, rather than just memorize catchy choruses. Knowing that she has a hand in writing all of the tracks on “Fearless” just proves that she has a lengthy career ahead of her.

I would love to pick out just a few of the songs on her sophomore album to describe as standouts, but the truth is, they are all amazing. My “favorites” include half of the tracks.

“Fearless,” the title track, and the first on the album, is one I have to admit I had on repeat for a few days after first listening to the disc. The song is just too good. It is a song about love stopping you from being afraid of anything. It is unbelievably catchy, and if it is released as a single, I have no doubt it will easily cross from the country to the pop charts. Definitely one of my favorites, possibly the favorite, if I absolutely had to choose.

“Fifteen” is a more mature song. It has a slower pace and features Taylor looking back on the first day of high school, remembering things that might not matter now in the way they did when she was fifteen. It is beautifully written, and incredibly heartfelt. Along with “The Best Day” and “Change,” it really demonstrates just how much she has grown since the first album.

“Love Story” is probably the most popular song on the album, and for good reason. It borrows themes from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” to paint a picture of a girl in love with someone her family does not like. It is very much a fantasy song. Every girl wants to imagine that boy her family hates is actually “the one, ” and that idea very much helps listeners to connect to the music. Another of my favorites.

“Hey Stephen” has such a catchy chorus that I can’t help but hum it for hours after listening to it. I know I said that Taylor’s songs are more than just catchy choruses, and this one does have a great story to go along with it, but it really is so darn catchy. The song is about a girl who believes she is the one for Stephen, not all those other girls she sees him spending time with. After all, those others would not write a song for him, right? I think this song reflects Taylor’s personality so well, and it is another favorite of mine.

“White Horse” is definitely a less bubbly song than the others, but since the release of the music video, it has picked up a bunch of new fans for the country singer. The song is about a girl who feels she should have known better than to get involved with her most recent relationship because life is not a fairytale. The idea of making the song the anti-fairytale is a good one. In my opinion, this is probably the most heart breaking song Taylor has on the album. It is such a stark contrast to “Love Story,” but in a good way. It demonstrates her range of songwriting well.

“You Belong With Me” was definitely added to my favorite list after just one listen. What girl would not identify with this song? With lyrics like “dreamin’ ‘bout the day when you’ll wake up and find that what you’re lookin’ for was here the whole time” it is so easy for anyone to relate to this story of unrequited love. Loving someone who does not love you back is like the universal theme that has to be used at least once by every singer, and Taylor does it extremely well. It works to the songs advantage that the beat is catchy; the music keeps it from seeming like another sad song after listening to “White Horse.”

“Breathe” was a collaboration with “Bubbly” singer Colbie Caillat, and her style is definitely felt in the music, much more so than Taylor‘s. The song is about a relationship ending, and the title is reflected in the breathiness of the vocals. It is the only track on the CD that does not feel like a true representation of Taylor Swift’s style. I still love the song, but I think it would have fit better on a Colbie Caillat disc instead.

“Tell Me Why” is about an extremely dysfunctional relationship. It is sung from the point of view of a girl who is constantly belittled by her boyfriend and finds herself always at odds with him. It reflects a different kind of relationship than Taylor’s songs usually do, and it provides for an interesting listen. Also a favorite.

“You’re Not Sorry” is a break up song. It is slowed down compared to the songs preceding and following it. The slowness definitely turns it into a more serious song, but not quite as heartbreaking of a relationship ender as “White Horse.” It is an amazing song, and it definitely reflects Taylor’s style much better than her collaboration on “Breathe,” but it does not quite rank up there with my favorites of the album.

“The Way I Loved You” probably ties with “Fearless” as the best of my favorites list for the album. It is an upbeat song about a girl in a seemingly perfect relationship who is pining for the guy she may have had more passion with, even if that passion was reflected by “screaming and fighting.” A love song, but not in the typical love song fashion. Taylor Swift seems to have a knack for those.

“Forever and Always” is the now infamous (at least to Taylor’s fans and many of her biggest critics) song written after her breakup with a Jonas brother. She reportedly penned the track and then scheduled an “emergency” recording session after their break up to add the song to the album at the last minute. And it was a fantastic decision. She could have waited to record it for a future album, but it fits in nicely with the other tracks. It has a distinctly pop flavor to it without going to far into the bubblegum route. It is not a bitter break up song, but some of the lyrics are bitter sweet.

“The Best Day” is a different kind of love song. The song is about Taylor’s family. It acts as a snapshot into her childhood, and you really gain a sense of just how much her family means to her. You also retain that small town feeling present in so many country songs, and I think this solidifies her as a true country artist. She can crossover into mainstream pop all she wants to, but her heart is obviously in the southern twang of her country music.

“Change” is unlike any other song on the album, and it is probably a good thing it is the last song on the album. If it was placed anywhere else, it would be jarring, and would throw off the fantastic flow of the song list. This particular song is not about love or family, but about overcoming adversity and seeing things around us change. In terms of style, it is more of a pop anthem than anything else. When first listening to it, because it is so different from Taylor’s other music, I was unsure if I liked it or not. After really listening to the lyrics though, I love it. “Change” is a great song that has a fantastic message beyond the average song, and I think it really adds depth to the album. My final favorite.

So, of the thirteen tracks on Taylor Swifts second album, seven are included amongst my favorites. When more than half of an album’s songs are considered that great, the album must be amazing. If you pick this up, even if you are not a fan of country music, you will not be disappointed. Taylor Swift’s lyrics are capable of crossing the genre boundaries while still maintaining a country feel. The songs on the album reflect Taylor well: they are honest, beautiful, and immediately draw your attention. I cannot wait to hear more from her.