Taylor Swift Foreshadows Her Own Stardom
"An artistic overachiever." That's how Taylor Swift's mom described her. Back when she was only 12.
I found a very old article from a small newspaper in New Jersey that touches on Swift's drive and determination even at a very young age. She was getting ready to do the national anthem at the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament in New York City. And when the reporter caught up with her, she was coming off a summer of singing at Henny's Driftwood Dining Room in Stone Harbor, N.J., and getting ready to open for the Charlie Daniels Band at a Pennsylvania show.
So how did Swift's mom Andrea know her little girl was destined for greatness? "Taylor has been singing constantly since she could talk," she said. "We would take her to a movie like The Little Mermaid and she would memorize the songs right away and sing them on the way home."
Taylor herself knew she wanted to sing and act when she got her first taste of performing in the second-grade school play. "Right after that, I saw an ad for a children's theater company and I auditioned," she told the newspaper. "I got in the company, and in my second play, I got a lead role. I love singing more than acting, but I like to act because I think it helps with stage presence."
And even back then, she rarely had any stage fright. "When I see all those people, it's such a rush," she said. At the time of the interview, she had also won a national poetry contest in 2001 and was in the process of writing a book about a pre-teen girl's outlook on life.
This was all happening about the same time she was loving country music and starting to pressure her family to move to Nashville. Her little 12-year-old plan? "I want to get signed with a record company and take it from there," she said. She did have an alternate career path mapped out, though. She told the paper if she couldn't sing as a career, she'd go into interior design or write children's books. Fast forward seven years, and it's obvious there was no need for that Plan B.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
T J says:
Drive, determination and tenacity all seem to define Taylor Swift.
truth says:
Always right..u r not right. No matter how much money her father has the talent has got to be there and she has demonstrated that she is an outstanding song writer and has a flair for acting which makes her a performer. I am not a fan of her vocals at all but I will give credit where it is due and she deserves that!
Syds says:
She continues to amaze me even more and more each day. And every day, I gain a little more respect for her. Taylor Swift, you deserve every single thing you have been given. I am proud to call myself a fan. See you October 3rd!
star says:
taylor does have so much drive!! she is amazing me all the time all of the records she is breaking and making new ones her concert she produced is awsome cd awsome videos awsome speaking of cd’s 152 weeks on top 200 billboard that is the most of any country album ever for that long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4 more weeks and it will be the longest ever on top 200 billboard charts wow!!!! taylor is amazing and yet so down to earth!!!
goldie says:
this is why or one of the reasons why us taylor fans love her sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHO CARES??????? says:
I DONT HAVE ANY RESPECT FOR TAYLOR SWIFT!!!
Syds says:
And why is this?
nashviller says:
maybe because she pretends to be something she’s not?
Some Dude says:
Wow! So many haters out there. How can you not be happy for a 19 year old woman, making great music and bringing joy to so many people. You all should look within to find out why you are so angery about another’s success.
nashviller says:
I don’t think anyone is angry over her success. I think the “hate” as you would call it comes from the realization that there are so many artists that are so much more talented without the deep pocket promotion that she has.
Syds says:
What does she pretend to be?
Some Dude says:
Isn’t deep pocket promotions just part of good business and presenting the best product possible?
G McMIllan says:
Sorry, glad she is a good person for little girls to have to idol BUT ever been to a concert? She stands and just lets the fans clap for her! We actually left in the middle, bet that is never done. Lost alot of respect for her even with the talent she has. Sorry.
drdjwu says:
nashviller, what you call “realization”, other people call “opinion”, and its no justification for rudeness. I know you are a big Carrie fan, and I respect your opinion. But what do you expect to gain by constantly coming onto blogs about Taylor and then ripping her?
Do you think she’ll go away because you don’t like her?
Do you think Taylor’s fans will all suddenly say, “Oh you’re right, we don’t like her anymore”?
Is it your intention just to irritate Taylor’s fans? Oh, I know, it’s America, free speech and all — Kanye West had a similar “realization” to yours, I guess. Did you like his behavior?.
Do you think criticizing Taylor makes Carrie look better? Would she like you doing what you do? Do you think Beyonce felt good about Kanye’s speech?
jmang61 says:
why doesn’t Taylor go to the pop genre that is what she wants. who would remix every song to the pop genre. why waste the time in remixing. just go to the pop genre and it would make so many people happy and save her a lot of time remixing her songs to the pop genre..
drdjwu says:
Maybe she wants both. Who aree you to tell her what she can and can’t do?
drdjwu says:
Maybe she wants both. Why should anyone tell an artist what she can and can’t do?
There is a debate by mainstream music fans on whether Taylor is pop, rock or country — you can google it — and the majority seem to feel she is country first and will stay there.Still, many also believe she will continue to be one of those rare country artists who appeals just as much to pop and rock audiences.
I think the Love Story remix really cooks. Pretty cool!
RV Sheets King says:
People never cease to amaze me. Know what I mean?
Melissa says:
She doesn’t remix every song. Leave her alone. Taylor’s great the way she is.
friendfla says:
First of all Taylor Swift is not country. Her songs should not be played on country music stations and should not even be mentioned on CMT. Same thing happended with Shiana Twain. She even published one of her cd’s in a pop version and country version. Watch out for Carrie Underwood. She is traveling in the same direction.
Redmaz says:
There still seems to be confusion as to what Pop music is. To everyone with this confusion…Pop Music is not an individual genre of music. Pop Music is an industry consisting of many genres of music including Country. Swift is in the correct genre of music. POP COUNTRY. If anyone can show me where she is recognized in the largest genre of today’s country music “ROOTS COUNTRY”, I’ll not only retract my statement, I will no longer post on this blog.
Ross says:
This reminds me of my little girl back when. She was reading at age 2 and began singing before that. She sings as well as she plays and she won state spelling bees, piano competitions, alto sax all state and was in all the AP classes. She speaks Spanish fluently. Taylor was obviously a gifted child. All children have gifts but some have bigger areas. Taylor’s was in the language arts, fine arts area. But I imagine she did well in all her other subjects as well.
bob says:
Pretty much all you listen to on country radio is pop even Alabama. So whats your point..
Kennen says:
Wow…everytime I came in,I kept seeing the same old ppl saying that she is not country,she cant sing and others…Thats acting real immature and nobody will listen to you.Remember,if you dont like her then get out of this blog.This is no place for crybabies who gives “free speech” as an excuse to put hateful comments about taylor.She truly deserves what she had today.
Gayle says:
WOW! What a role model for pre teens and teenagers!
Take a look at what determination will do for you - success!
trink says:
Why would Taylor change anything she is doing? She is doing all the right things she’s a genious. She’s selling more albums than anyone in country music or anyone period as a mater of fact. She has a huge fan base that range from 5yrs to 75yrs of age.She is selling concerts out in record time. Not just in the USA but all over the world. And yet she still claims she only wants to be remembered for being a nice person. Wow she truly is a beautiful person inside and out. Then you have you peple on here who want to rip her to pieces. Huh now you are realy not nice you could learn something from Taylor and I’m betting most of you are older than her. Pitiful
ROXANNE says:
If she doesn’t get stage fright, why is her voice always so shakey when she sings live on the awards show? Watch the video for Should’ve Said No with the rain coming down on her. She is awful and off key. That’s when I stopped liking her. And I agree that so many artists are way more talented and better singers and get no recognition at all.
SWIFTLYHERE says:
Taylors Fearless CD has sold almost 4 MILLION copies. Ha try telling her fans she can’t sing!!! We dont give hoot what you think.
Bullride says:
Taylor’s strength is Liz Rose. That’s where the songwriting is coming from.
Debra says:
Just proves money can buy anything!! Shes a spoiled brat and I quess if you want to waste your money on offkey pop songs thats your perogative!! There are so many COUNTRY artist that deserve recognition! If she wins the EOTY award at the CMAs it will be because of sympathy vote for what Kanye West did - makes for good TV !!
Christine says:
Lets get serious, these are really low blows. You try so hard to discredit Carrie even on a board that is about Taylor. I am sorry Taylor fans but i need to just respond to ‘lets get serious’
what is the song she is plagerizing “lets get serious”
If you are referring to what Perez Hilton said, it was already proven that one of his associates wrote that so his website would get more hits. More hits means more money, even if it is a bunch of angry Carrie fans posting.
I do agree that CC is pop/rock though, but her singles except, for this one do not get “more pop”.
Christine says:
Back to the article at hand, Taylor diserves all the success she has earned. She is a performer and a good role model
nashviller says:
Perez Hilton is on daddy’s payroll. He is threatened by Carrie’s phenomenal talent. Simple as that. Taylor needs to stop trying to discredit REAL talent. It will eventually come back to bite her. The article has been PROVEN to be false. And Taylor is no songwriter. Liz is the songwriting talent…talk about plagerism.
Shorty says:
Thats a load og garbage and you know it nashviller or should we call you truefan
Shorty says:
Sorry for the miss spelling. Should have said thats a load of garbage and you know it nashviller or should I call you truefan.
Christine says:
nashviller crossing a line. Taylor is not paying perez to say that stuff
goldie says:
as for cu she is all pop did you all listen to the new song wow if that’s not pop I don;t no what is !!! I do think cu is very threaten by taylor maybe thats why she made a new cd with 99% pop sound even some of the critics are saying that!!! now back to taylor she has earned her stardom if some of you don’t like it well your just going to have to live with it, she’s not going anywhere!!!!
goldie says:
oh and as far as daddy’s money goes to get all of this fame for her is a crock of crap!!!!!! she has done it all on her own!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
countryfan says:
goldie, leave Carrie out of this. Taylor fans are so jealous of Carrie its funny. It’s been reported all over that Taylor’s daddy does have pleanty of money.
kayko says:
Nashviller is the one who brought Carrie into it. Neither Taylor or Carrie are jealous of each other, thats just ridiclous to even say they are. I’m not sure who is the most delusional, Perez Hilton to even write the Carrie article, or nasviller to say Taylor had anything to do with the with it.
Shorty says:
Nashviller aka truefan has been saying that for years now. He-she needs to quit being jealous of a ninteen year old . He-she can’t come on Taylors boards because they keep banning him-her.Everyone knows true it’s no use trying to change your name we know who you are. He insists that Taylors Dad who is a finacial advisor has bought Taylors carreer. What a pitiful little person you are .
Matt C says:
Wonderful Blog Alison!! I always love reading articles about artists written while they were still working hard to achieve success in their chosen fields. Taylor is truly one of those special people with great gifts in personality, music and dedication and has worked very hard for all these years to get to where she is. It’s very interesting reading of the various steps she took as a youngster and how she made the most of the opportunities that were available to her. Not many people have that kind of drive and determination to carry through a love for something from childhood, nor the grace and class to remain beautiful on the inside as well as the outside after they have succeeded beyond all expectations. I hope and believe she will continue to work hard to keep improving and will stay humble and thankful as she steps into adulthood and lives through those experiences that come with it and with her fame and popularity. God bless Taylor and all those like her that use the gifts he’s given them to the best of their abilities and nature.
Nashviller says:
Shorty, you might want to check those message boards, because trufanofcountry is there, but it’s not the same person as trufan and Nashviller.
goldie says:
trufan, I was not the one to bring up cu in all of this!!!taylor is AMAZING and you non taylor people will not see the good in her because she is getting all of the spotlight and your favorites are NOT, taylor has plenty of talent in singing, writing,producing,actress,and much more to many to mention!!!
trufan says:
goldie, sweetie you are wrong on several points there. I couldn’t care less about who is getting the spotlight and who isn’t. My sun comes up the same way every morning regardless of who is in the headlines…I’m not obsessed like that. Also, Taylor’s talent is NOT in singing, and that has been discussed and pointed out by many folks who have a lot more musical knowledge than you. Even radio station dj’s laugh at her attempts to hit certain notes. Why do you think she writes HER songs in one octave? So she can sing them!!!! She is very limited in her vocal aptitude.
And before you “attack”, let me be the first to point out the non-bashing, non-hating in my post. It’s diplomatic and informative, whether you choose to accept it or not.
drdjwu says:
I’ve finally found a major flaw with Taylor:
She doesn’t listen well when people tell her she isn’t good enough.
In 8th grade in Pennsylvania, her childhood friends told her she was being geeky singing country music — not cool– and literally, they all stood up from her lunch table and walked away. She didn’t quit.
In Nashville, RCA didn’t think she was ready to record, wanted to shelve her and string her along with a development deal. They also refused to allow her to sing her own songs, she would have to do cover versions. She said … so long!
Stubborn girl signed with a label that wasn’t even operating yet, that had no other artists,that had no clout with radio stations or stores (You would think Daddy Swift, if he actually COULD but a record deal, would do a LITTLE better than that, wouldn’t you?).
Then, in the studio, in the videos, in concerts, people kept finding out this 17-year-old prodigy wasn’t saying “What do I do?, she was saying “Here’s how I want to do it.”
It all comes so natural to this amazing artist. No wonder so many people are jealous of her talent.
And I wonder what that smart big label guy who wouldn’t let her record thinks now?
Nashviller? What do you think?
And all you other haters, just keep talking. This girl loves a challenge!
trufan says:
Sounds like a bossy spoiled brat to me. Maybe she went home and told daddy and he made sure it all happened. The 3.5 million for the recording deal was the icing on the cake.
goldie says:
no you are mistaken you must be the wrong blog that would be cu you are speaking of, so go overthere and bug them!!!! she is the spoiled brat and very stuckup i no you didn’t say that part i did!! truth hurts!!taylor is very nice i have met her twice and she iso down to earth and GREAT to her fans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
drdjwu says:
You liked the sound of that figure, 3.5 million? Just made that up.n now or did you think on it for a while?
drdjwu says:
Wonder what that astute judge of potential at RCA would pay Taylor NOW for a contract? Think he’d let her reord her own songs now?
What would YOU do trufan/nashviller?
Britgirl says:
people like ‘trufan’ are really starting to turn me off country music
why don’t you always have to put people down because you don’t like them. If you really find time to poke problems at 19 year olds you really need to find a hobby. preferably away from the computer
Britgirl says:
do
trufan says:
sweetie, what I’m sayig is not hate, nor bashing but only truth and it can be researched and confirmed. Just because you don’t like it does not make it bad. That’s awfully judgemental on your part.
kayko says:
The last person who should accuse anyone of being judgemental is you trufan. By the way very few believe the nonsense you try to spread, and they also know about your many different names. I believe the name for that is trolling.
goldie says:
taylor has done alot for many charities so don’t say that’s all taylor is doing rap stuff she has all ways done things for charity gave her truck that her label gave her to charity and so many things to say them all!!! trufan, you just need to get a life or a new hobby because no one is taking your crap here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as for cu she did not do anything for charity the fisrt 2 years she was in the music industry!!!!!!!!
barb b says:
goldie go get a life you always
bring cu into your comments
when it comes to ts she is no gods
gift to country music
Samantha Christine says:
Hmmm..all of this bashing makes me like Pop country even more and more. Pop country has been around since the 80’s. If I start naming artists of course people will start disagreeing. There is no point with arguing with people on this blog. It won’t get anywhere.
goldie says:
barb go to your cu site we will rumble after the cma’s when taylor takes a arm load of awards home!!!!!
star says:
Taylor is a amazing young lady one of the best things to happen in country music since faith and shaina!she is only 19 people can be so mean. taylor is doing what she loves people have been buying her cd’s selling out concerts inrecord time and yet so down to earth that is what I like the most about miss swift!
Redmaz says:
“Pop country has been around since the 80’s”? Samantha,,, you may want to do some research on that and add a couple more decades. Have you ever heard of The Nashville Sound? Countrypolitan? Chet Atkins? Owen Bradley? The birth of Rock&Roll? To “bob” if your question is directed at me, I would first like to ask you if you are aware of today’s Country Music scene OTHER than Pop Country?
barb b says:
if ts wins eoty we all know why
pure sympathy get it goldie
drdjwu says:
barb b, sounds like you’re a preparing excuses for why Taylor wins the EOTY and they haven’t even given it to her yet. But they probably will, so save that “sympathy” excuse — it’s a little lame, but you don’t have much else.
By the way did you see the Kanye West/Lady Gaga tour, just announced a week earlier, was cancelled, reportedly due to lack of interest. People really should learn to stop messing with Taylor, it just never works out well for them.
drdjwu says:
By the way, anyone trying to understand the Taylor swift phenomenon might want to check out the reviews of her concert in Pittsburgh last night (Oct. 1), many of them on the internet right now.Here’s some excerpts from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Headline: TAYLOR SWIFT PROVES TO BE THE REAL THING
Lead-in: “There’s been a lot of love between fan and star in the history of Mellon Arena, but it’s hard to remember it getting as intense as it did last night for Taylor Swift…”
More excerpts: “The screaming … rocked the sold-out house … They weren’t screams that said ‘You’re pretty and talented and awesome!’ They were screams that said ‘You’re pretty and talented and awesome — and you seem like a REAL person who actually likes us!’
“… The voice, quite lovely, came through best during the tender UNPLUGGED moments …The 19-year-old phenom brought in a massive production … yet the moments to remember will be Swift suddenly appearing in the middle of B-16 to sing “Hey Stephen” and “Tim Mcgraw”, hugging her way back to the stage …With Britney it was all just ‘Look at me’. Swift’s set was … about CONNECTING…”
There’s someone who gets it.
trufan says:
Yes, children are always quite animated with their loyalty.
drdjwu says:
So is anyone who likes Taylor a child, trufan? Are you calling famed music critic Robert Christgau a child? The New Yorker’s Sasha-Frere? Nashville Skyline’s Chet Flippo? They might WISH they still were.
Or are you just trying to insult the audience at last night triumphant concert in Grand Rapids Michigan, described in the review as “shirtless teenage boys’, one with “Taylor Belongs” and another with “With Me” on their chests, not to mention “girls of EVERY age (and there were many).” Are you just another closet misogynist trufan? Don’t like women?
barb b says:
his tour got canceled
i am wondering if ts
people had anything
to do with it
frenchie says:
always ready to start a fight aren’t you
unless you haven’t been reading lately even some people who don’t like taylor swift were disgusted by kanye’s actions
he brought this on himself
trufan says:
drd, you really don’t pay attention, do you. That’s typical of the young, the gullible and the naive…kinda like Taylornation.
drdjwu says:
trufan, who do you think you’re talking to? I’m not one of those 8-year-old girls you like to intimidate.
Why should I, or anyone, pay attention to you? What do you bring to the table — one-line puffballs? I give you fact after fact that can be checked by anyone, you say I’m not paying attention? You have a mirror?
If you want to have a debate, respond to my facts. The nation’s foremost critics regard Taylor as significant artist. The overwhelming majority of the adult men and women who cover concerts for major newspapers write one glowing reviews after another.
GO AHEAD, GIVE ME SOME FACTS! Compare the reviews and fan enthusiasm she gets with Carrie’s shows. What do ya got?
Do you have any real substantive points to make, anything to offer supported by facts, or are snide one-liners your only response?
britgirl says:
for gods sake he does not have enough money to pay millions of people in the world to buy her music. And since i higly doubt ‘daddy’ has been to england many times i doubt he is paying people in other countries to write good reviews for her
britgirl says:
do you have to bring carrie into every taylor blog
trufan says:
Ya’ll are so funny. Taylor boards never cease to amuse me.
barb b says:
this is for all you ts fans
have you ever noticed when
she plays her guitar she uses
three chords and puts her guitar
up like she is brad or keith
what a joke her voice is very limited
i also want to hear her sing the
national anthem with out that guitar
because i dont think she has the vocals
to sing it if she sang it with out her
guitar she will be embarrassed
goldie says:
yes thats pretty bad using someone elses name what a joke!!
goldie says:
p.s. barb this about taylor stardom and she is the BIGGEST star in all of music right now and for a long time to come!! taylor plays the guitar just fine!!!! keith and brad play different than taylor! taylor is great with her vocals, guitar,and everything else she does!!! so when you cut her down so much it just makes you look silly on her blog!!!!!!!!!!!!! taylor’s awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
trufan says:
Yes goldie its really sad, and I would never do that. I have been cloned numerous times.
Pam Telman says:
My friends and I that love country music absolutely cannot understand the attraction to Taylor Swift. She sounds like a cat with its tail stuck in a door. Her videos are juvenile at best, and are older fans of country seriously listening to her. She has been marketed and packaged and knocked out so many talented singers I can’t believe it. Two fairy tale songs! She would have got the hook on American Idol first time out. Every time I hear her name I want to scream and flip the station as quickly as possible. Come on people - she can’t sing, she shrieks.
trufan says:
They don’t know that Pam. They’ve been duped by the marketing and promotion.
barb b says:
hey goldie tou say ts has
great vocals i dont know what you
are listening to she does not have
a good voice she cant sing live she
is off key she cant sing the national
anthem she needs her guitar did you
ever hear her sing i;m sorry by
brenda lee she butched that song
i say what i feel she does nothing
for me i guess i am not the only
one who say;s she cant sing
drdjwu says:
trufan , you are so fond of saying Taylor’s daddy buys her everything. Whose payroll are you on? Why are you so bitter about Taylor’s success?
drdjwu says:
You do see “Fearless” is STILL #1 Country album, right?. Doncha just hate that?
trufan says:
I couldn’t care less about sales or awards. What I care about is talent. Sales and awards can be bought, but talent is something you have or you don’t. So don’t throw sales up at me because I honestly don’t care if she sells a kazillion, it will be a kazillion OTHER people, and not me, because I like REAL talent, not studio manufactured talent.
goldie says:
taylor’s daddy did not pay for all the sales,cd,and everything else for taylor she got all of this on her own merit with GREAT SONGS AWSOME VIDEO’S AMAZING TOUR RECORDS SET AND BROKEN TICKETS SELLING OUT IN MINUTES WONDERFULL REVEIWS AND MORE TO MANY TO MENTION OH YES GREAT VOICE CAN’T FORGET THAT!!!!!! AND YET SO SWEET DOWN TO EARTH YOUNG LADY!!!! GO TAYLOR!!!!!! AND YES BARB TAYLOR HAS A GREAT VOICE, IT IS VERY UNQUE!!!
trufan says:
goldie, which part of her voice is great? Is it the one octave range? How about the non-supported tone, not using the diaphragm? How about not hitting the notes properly? Could it be the lack of vibrato? Or maybe it’s the heavy breaths between bars. Please explain which part it is that is so great.
goldie says:
taylor’s voice lets her emotions come through in every single note that is why she is so great!! not very many artists can do that, when taylor sings her lyrics to her songs her fans can feel it in their heart!!!!!I don’t care about octave or using the diaphragm taylor sings from her heart and soul and that means more than anything!!!!!! that is why she is sooooooooooooooooooooo likeable and love as a great entertainer singer and most of all a great person!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
trufan says:
Ok, so she relates well in her songs, but she still can’t sing. You just proved it.
barb b says:
goldie i think you are in denial
you dont have only me to contend
with there are many others who say
she does not have a good voice goldie
you have got to be kidding unique i dont
think so i also heard about her tour
kindergaden kids and there chaparones
get it
txjo says:
another taylor swift blog..shocking
drdjwu says:
tru, stop pretending to be an expert about things you don’t have a clue about.
First of all, anyone who says Taylor writes in one octave obviously doesn’t know what an octave is. “Fearless” isn’t in one octave, nor is “You Belong to Me”, “Forever and Always”, “Cold As You”, “Breathe”, “Teardrops on My Guitar”, “Should Have said No”, “Picture to Burn”, “Stay Beautiful”…etc.,etc.
Secondly, take the last song mentioned above: Anyone who knows what it means to sing from below the diaphragm and knows how certain sounds are produced with control can’t possibly listen to the way she sings the last syllable of “Stay Beautiful” — the “ul-ul-ull” effect she produces — and try to claim that sound is produced from the back of the throat. Nor could auto-tune produce it. But Taylor can, live in concert, and do it brilliantly.
She’s a much better singer than you want to admit. And since your idol Carrie can’t begin to compete with her in any other area — showmanship, writing, assertiveness over her own artistic vision — Carrie is the one who’s controlled , not Taylor — you keep harping on singing. Well, it won’t wash.
drdjwu says:
AND “txJO”, WHEREVER YOU CAME FROM NOW, (gotta love all these “new” people who pop up from nowhere … at least good ol’ barb b is consistently the same person), last time I looked there were like 7 or 8 blogs/news items/videos about Carrie, only this one about Taylor.
If you’re all so tired of hearing about Taylor, why are you here? There are lots of options, and Taylor’s fans won’t complain if you choose one.
drdjwu says:
And the LATEST concert review, last night’s show in Cleveland, from the PLAIN DEALER’s John Soeder (gee, an ADULT MALE, not a tweeny girl!) said:
“She basked in wave after wave of applause during a sold-out concert… Those lucky enough to be there won’t soon forget the performance … Swift established herself as the real deal: a honky-tonking, arena-rocking, switch hitter who pours heart and soul into her music.
“In contrast to some of the slick product Nashville cranks out, autobiographical Swift tunes CONNECTED by virtue of not only crowd-pleasing hooks, but a refreshing sincerity.”
EOTY stuff there! Good writer too! But these kind of reviews just keep coming, show after show. “Connected” seems to be a recurring word in them.
Hard to tear down someone who keeps delivering the goods.
trufan says:
It’s easy to connect to a crowd that knows nothing about music. And drd, please stop pretending to know what you are talking about. I’m a pro, and know about vocal mechanics. You are out of your league here dude.
goldie says:
taylor is very unique and does sing from her heart and soul lik I said (barb)!!!! they even say it in the reviews!!!! as drdjwu just said!! the truth hurts you taylor haters or you people that think taylor can’t sing you don;t like the truth that taylor is a unique singer and millions and millions of fans love the way she sings including myself!!!!! taylor is AWSOME, so you people should just go somewhere else like the cu blog, by the way cu new video it does not even have a cowboy it looks like a britney video pretty sleezy! whatever tim mcgraw’s is the best of the new video’s!!! and reba!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
trufan says:
Ok, I’ll give you nine notes. You’ve said that yourself. Not exactly tearing up the scales there dude
trufan says:
goldie, you have no idea what you are talking about.
goldie says:
drdjwu you are right there is no need to be rude I won’t be speaking like that anymore on taylor’s blog I am the kind of person who does not talk that way so I will leave it at that for now. p.s. you and i and about a million more people think the way we do, taylor’s awsome!!
drdjwu says:
goldie , did my last two comments get deleted? Something’s going on I don’t know about? I believe they were fairly civil comments, yet theY get blipped and tru’S and barb b’S are left?
drdjwu says:
barb b , what we’re saying is:
Truce. You go to your Carrie blogs, we will stay off. In return, you stay off of Taylor’s. goldie and I will be happy to completely ignore Carrie. Please do likewise for Taylor.
Otherwise it’s just a lot of uncalled for rudeness. Taylor and Carrie deserve better fans.
So, tru and barb b, nice talking to you. Goodbye, and enjoy Carrie!
goldie says:
i ditto that drdjwu!!
goldie says:
i don’t no what happen to your comments drdjwu.
barb b says:
drdjwu it is a deal when goldie
said that cu new video was sleezy
uncalled for to say something like
that who does she think she is to
make such a statement you wont hear
from me no more
drdjwu says:
okay, barb b, deal! Funny thing is, while you and I disagree, I’ve never doubted you are a real person who just loves Carrie as much as goldie and I love Taylor.
trufan has something else up his sleeve and I wager he doesn’t agree to the truce.
goldie says:
i didn’t say it was not true or i was sorry for saying that i just said i don’t talk like that and won’t again but iam not taking that back. by the way taylor is #1 on vh1 top 20 count down too did you no that drdjwu!! great right!!
barb b says:
i have been following carrie since
she won american idol i happen to
love her voice because i know deep
down that cu is doing what she loves
to do goldie what are you not taking
back explain that to me
goldie says:
i am not taking back that i said her video is sl…y i just won’t say that anymore. i don’t use those words, but i get so mad when you say things that are not true about taylor or your feelings about her well those are mine about her video, sorry if it hurts but it is my opinion and some others have said it to about this new video.you like cu i like taylor and thats just the way it is but we can try and be respectful in the future! what do you say! if we do go on anything about either one of these women we have to be nice or don’t say anything!
barb b says:
my comment was not posted i wrote
a comment about 12:00 you deleted it
drdjwu says:
I have been having comments deleted also, and I didn’t even say anything excessively rude about anyone. One time trufan tried to totally misconstrue an old quote of mine and I simply stated what I actually said. If you can’t correct somebody inaccurately quoting your OWN comments w/o getting deleted, I’ve got a real problem with the blog administrator.
drdjwu says:
As far as Carrie goes, I’ve always been a fan also,I predicted she would win AI the first week I heard her. She’s gorgeous, seems like a real good person.
And I’m a little bothered by the fact that I find myself wanting to jump onto Carrie blogs and, even as a joke, give her fans a taste of their own medicine. Complain about all the attention Alison is giving her, like Robin does on Taylor blogs.
I’m not that kind of person, don’t want to get that way. Don’t mind polite debate, happy to explain why I think Taylor is really special — and hey, most of my favorite artists are REALLY different than Taylor — but I am just tired of the nasty put-downs and yelling on both sides.
Look, I’m a guy, and yet I see how women have not had it easy getting recognition in country music. Thank God for the Reba’s and Shania’s. Anybody know who Matraca Berg is, one of the best women writers in the history of country music? A lot of people never heard of her, and the kicker is she can also sing with best of ‘em. Never got a break.
Carrie and Taylor shouldn’t be a battle. They should be a movement.
goldie says:
I can’t wait for the cma’s taylor is going to have a great night, I just feel it!!!!!! all of the nominies are performing that night!!! taylor Iam sure will be amazing!!
drdjwu says:
She is becoming quite a confident and commanding performer, goldie.
Have you seen her performance at V-Fest in England? It’s been running on TV on the Palladia channel.
goldie says:
no I have not seen that drdjwu, but I will look it up and watch it thanks!!
T J says:
drdjwu - I see tru has gone defensive instead of offensive haha!
he/she seems to think they are the only one on this site that have any musical knowledge..so wrong! But then he/she has been proved wrong so many times and that was why he/she needed the hiatus they took. Or could it be they were banned again?
What was that? Let me quote: “And before you “attack”, let me be the first to point out the non-bashing, non-hating in my post.”
And then go on to post and I quote again: “Sounds like a bossy spoiled brat to me.”
Trufan is a living breathing contradiction first saying: “Ok, so she relates well in her songs, but she still can’t sing. You just proved it.”
And then eating his/her words with: Ok, I’ll give you nine notes.
All the trash talking about Taylor and more is just dribble used to try and upset Taylor fans and it is old and washed up, over repeated rubbish.
drdjwu says:
Well, I did report him, mainly because MY posts were being removed for no good reason I could see, especially when tru says the kind of stuff he/she does. But that bad penny will pop up again. I think he’s over at the new John Mayer/Taylor blog, up to the same stuff.
drdjwu says:
What really irritated me was that tru (actually I think he/she was using “the one who knows” as a screen name at the time) referred to a fairly old post of mine where I rebutted his/her one-octave claim by saying “one need go no further than 9 or 10 notes into “Fearless”– “when IT rains” — to hear her jump an octave.
Tru tried to use that statement to make it sound like I was admitting Taylor had a 9-note range! So I answered his post by correcting what my quote was. I further said Taylor jumps octaves all over the place.
His failure to know that indicates tru’s “expertise” is bogus and he/she really is a poseur. Yet MY post was deleted and his stayed! So I made a complaint. Probably a waste of time.
T J says:
Could it be that CMT and MTV who owns CMT want to live on controversy? If you remember Russell Brand was still given the emcee duties on the VMA awards this year - this after the fact that he caused quite a stir last year with his ‘duties’. And he wasn’t funny again this year! Any way my point being that anything that drives ratings and promotes “interest” seem to be okay on here regardless of content and negativity.
T J says:
Good point on the so called expertise of tru too! If he/she is an expert at anything it in manipulation of changing their mind.
trufan says:
LOL, you guys are really funny. I’ve never changed my mind. I’ve always maintained the facts. It seems some of really intimidated by my knowledge and really let it get to them, since they post essays about it. If it didn’t bother or intimidate you, you’d do what I do, laugh at it. That’s why I love the Taylor Swift boards. They are full of humor.
drdjwu says:
The humor is all supplied by you, tru …and all your other personae … but no matter what name you use, the one common identifier is that you always pretend to know everything … until you are challenged on one of your “facts”.
See,here’s the thing : A fact isn’t a fact just because you say so, much as you want to believe that; a fact is something that’s provable and demonstrable by experiment and testing. Our debates go like this: You claim something about Taylor, I refute it by describing a song or performance, including the exact note or syllable that shows you’re wrong; your “comeback” is either a totally digressive one-liner with another false claim, or it’s something like “you’re so funny”, which says nothing.
T J says:
Master of Nothing = trufan - LOL
trufan says:
Yall really are funny. Facts I’ve posted are documented, you just refuse to accept it.
drdjwu says:
“Get your facts first, then you can distort ‘em any way you like.” … Mark Twain
We keep asking, WHERE are your so-called facts documented? But you have to use real sources, like we do — the NY Times, Billboard Charts, the dictionary even …anything except your opinion (not a fact) or that fake letter you wrote and have posted like a half-dozen times (not a fact).
bigdog says:
Just to make it clear from the start. I’m coming down on the pro-Taylor side. Simply put, Taylor Swift is a very talented songwriter. Yes, she has had collaborators on some of her songs, and this is particularly true on her first album. On Fearless, however, she wrote seven of the songs on her own. It’s a matter of personal taste, of course, but I don’t see that these songs are in any way inferior to the ones that she had collaborators for. The reason that she is so popular is that her lyrics resonate with many people (and not just pre-teen and teenage girls). Taylor Swift really understands love, and she especially understands that most of the time love brings only temporary happiness. For the most part, when people fall in love they eventually end up angry or unhappy or both. She excels at describing the illusory nature of love and how she has felt when she has been affected by it. As for the complaints that she can’t sing, I would agree that singing is not her main strength, but she has a pleasant enough voice. The truth is that you don’t need to be a great singer if you write great songs—just ask Bob Dylan or Paul Simon (I know, I know, they’re not country, but that’s not the point). Finally, the notion that her father has been buying her success for her is pretty lame. Her father is a stockbroker, and stockbrokers can make a good living, but the idea that a stockbroker is going to be so fabulously wealthy that he is going to buy his daughter all kinds of publicity that will hypnotize the music-buying public into buying her music is naive. Taylor Swift has been successful because she has a message and a delivery that appeals to a lot of people. I happen to like her, but I recognize that she, like any popular singer in any genre, won’t appeal to everybody. Those here who don’t like her, however, are going to have to do a better job of finding reasons for dismissing her if they expect to convince her many fans that she is unworthy of the success that she has achieved.
barb b says:
hey goldie where do you come
off calling cu a spoiled brat
and stuckup do you know her
according to a lot of people she
is down to earth you are talking
about a 26 year old woman do yourself
a favor and leave cu alone
barb b says:
by the way big machine records
owns CMT does anyone know that
drdjwu says:
Well, that deal didn’t last long!
drdjwu says:
First off,barb b, I believe if you scroll up to OIct 4th, you, myself and goldie all agreed on a truce — you wouldn’t comment on Taylor blogs , and we would stay off of Carrie blogs. NO MORE NEGATIVE BASHING, we all agreed! So what happened?
Second, Big Machine is doing an awesome job of expanding, but they’re still a fledgling company — are you really saying they own CMT? Are you serious? Do you have any proof of that silly assertion, or do you just believe anything tru says?
Last I heard, Viacom owns CMT and just about everything else in media.
barb b says:
drdjwu i lived by truce i am not
on ts blogs but i saw your comment
on cu blog you are still talking
about cu and as far as saying that
big machine records owns cmt this
is what i read go on big machine
records and see for yourself and
by the way i dont respond to tru
just you and your side kick
goldie says:
I did not make a comment on cu board i don’t even go there since we made are little deal, but i see you are not holding up your end!!! so it’s fair game.
goldie says:
and one more thing big machine records does NOT own cmt!! if they did their would be nothing at all but taylor,trishia,reba,and all the other big machine artists!! so get your facts straight barb!
drdjwu says:
She missed us, goldie. She just couldn’t stay away.
drdjwu says:
Neither of us has said a word about Carrie since our 10/5 agreement. Comments are dated, so if you can find a single one after that date, please let us know. Otherwise, you should stay on Carrie blogs
By the way, I went on line and checked on the ownership, its Viacom like I thought. No mention of Big Machine.
goldie says:
yes drdjwu, we said nothing so i do not no what barb is talking about!! maybe someone used our names!
barb b says:
you will see what i am talking about
in time
goldie says:
ya barb who got 6 nominations for the ama’s and 4 for the cma’s that would be taylor!!!! she will be going home with alot of hardware!!!! so you say we will see what you are talking about in time ya how long a couple of years!!!taylor has crushed just about every record set in country music and she is just getting started!!!!so your little cu better watch her back because taylor is right beside her if not ahead of her in alot of things sooooooooooo many to say them all but i will say a few longest cd on billboard charts with 155 weeks cu had 136,taylor won a vma, cu no, taylor in the world record books 2 times, cu no!! taylor is amazing,awsome great, and most of all the most down to earth young person i have seen in the music industry ever!!
barb b says:
it never crossed my mind how many
nominations she got it dont bother me
it seems to bother you and as far as i
am concerned carrie is not behind some
one who cant sing we all know that. how
do you know she is down to earth are you related
to her it seems that way you say she is down
to earth what i read the other day if things dont
go her way she could be nasty get your facts straight
before you put cu down there are people out there
pretending to be me i am a real person. who cares
about the ama vma you make me laugh when you say
carrie better watch her back cu is a college
graduate can you say that about ts carrie and her
family are well educated when she won american idol
she did not have to go back to college she made her
mother proud you put her down every chance
you get no matter who comments about ts you are right
there comparing her to cu now i think kellie pickler
also has a better voice than ts you asked for it you got
it cu and kp are my two favorite idols kp new song went
straight to NO 2 how about that NO I this week
goldie says:
barb, you are to funny i never sad anything abot college so i don’t no where that came from but anyway i have met miss taylor once backstage and she is the most down to earth young lady i have met in the music biz since i met faith hill and tim mcgraw years ago!! so you have mo idea what you are talking about, have you met taylor or cu for that matter? how can you talk about someone you never met!!as for kellie which i don’t no how she got into this but i love kellie too!! kellie and taylor are like big sis and little sis,but cu just acts like she is to stuck on herself!! she has to have the best of this and the best of that it is sick(cu)450 dollars for a hair cut is so stupid!! taylor has her hair done the same way since she made it big in country music, that;s just one example!! taylor is awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fearless will be #1 in 2009 says:
bigdog and Matt C have the gist of it - and I really like Taylor’s voice!
Taylor’s critics should find some singer they can stand instead of wandering the internet looking for trouble.
Another good story, Alison!
barb b says:
first it was about her clothes
now it is her hair dont you ever stop
at least her hair is beautiful no frizz
ts has very frizzy hair even as a child
in my opinion carrie is the one with the
looks i have to say that carrie smile is
pitcure perfect smile photo;dont lie!!!!!!!
WHO CARES??????? says:
Of course, she did foreshadow her fame! Her daddyswift brought it for her!!1
CC says:
Taylor sucks. she is a joke. but thats what labels go for now days. jokes make them money.
her singing is awful, her songwriting too - every song is the same theme… and WOW, she can rhyme “drew - you”, “say - okay”, “well - snl”, and how many more prince/romeo songs can she write? it shows her lack of experience in life (yes she is only a teen, therefore leave the writing to profesionals, please) as well as lack of songwriting ability. and she tries WAY too hard to look original with her presence on stage. she looks awkward, retarded, shes fake, and insincere. she might as well have been an idol - just as fake. NEXT.
erin says:
I like the fact that her voice isn’t perfect. When she sings, you know it’s her singing. The rest of them all sound alike. And how many of the so-called great singers bring a guitar to sing the national anthem—and sing it live? She’s a force–very talented and lucky girl. Plus I hear that she is already giving lots to charity–not her name or singing in concerts–but real money!