Taylor Swift is one of the few musicians who writes her own songs, and I have always respected her for that. When she was young, I found it a little hard to relate to her – but as she gets older, I find myself about to connect with at least one lyric in each of her songs. Speak Now is undoubtedly Taylor Swift’s most mature album to date.
Speak Now is clearly Taylor Swift’s effort to make a bigger transition from country to pop/rock. Though her vocals aren’t flawless in many of the songs on the album, that’s one of its best qualities. She doesn’t pretend to be perfect.
Her unbelievably pop song “Haunted” feels a lot like Avril Lavigne meets Michelle Branch, while many teen girls are sure to relate to Taylor Swift’s song about boyfriend stealers in “Better Than Revenge.” In “Sparks Fly,” she describes the incredible feeling of lusting after someone.
Despite the effort to branch into pop music, one cannot ignore that Taylor Swift got her start in the country music industry with her first single “Tim McGraw.” Swift’s country roots on Speak Now can be seen in her song “Never Grow Up,” in which she tells a child to stay young so things can stay simple.
“Mine,” which is the first single from the album, also has a very country feel to it. In this song, Taylor Swift tells the story about being in love with a great guy, despite her fear of falling and always running away from relationships. She says, “You’re the best thing that’s ever been mine.”
A personal favorite from the new Taylor Swift album is “Last Kiss.” In this slow song, Swift sings about missing someone. She says, “Never thought we’d have a last kiss/ Never imagined we’d end like this/ Your name, forever the name on my lips.”
Taylor Swift’s song “Innocent,” which she performed at the 2010 VMAs, is said to be her rebuttal to Kanye West’s 2009 outburst. It is a song that anyone can relate to, however. Swift sings, “Wasn’t it easier in your firefly catching days/ When everything out of reach someone bigger brought down to you?”
“Dear John” is the most criticized and anticipated song on Speak Now. Taylor Swift has admitted that the song is about her ex-boyfriend, John Mayer. Swift does a great job of portraying what some people endure in an emotionally abusive relationship. She sings, “All the girls that you run dry/ Have tired lifeless eyes/ ‘Cause you burned them out/ But I took your matches before fire could catch me.”
One could guess that Taylor Swift’s song “Mean” may also be about John Mayer. In the upbeat song, Swift says that she’s going somewhere and that her former flame is just always going to be mean. The song, which is fairly country, is a very empowering breakup song.
In “Back to December,” Taylor Swift sings about Twilight heartthrob and former boyfriend, Taylor Lautner. This song, which is about wishing you could go back in time to make things right, is arguably one of the easiest songs on Speak Now to relate to.
Taylor Swift’s new album is a huge step in the right direction for her career. It is a much more mature album than her 2008 album Fearless. Fans are sure to love all of the songs on the album, which do not bore, and others who aren’t fans might find themselves reeled in with Swift’s relatable lyrics.
