The album’s title track leads off the album. A catchy song about falling in love, “Fearless” is a song bound for radio. Taylor’s songwriting ability is showcased throughout the album and this song is no exception. With lines like “I don’t know why but with you I’d dance in a storm in my best dress, fearless” – Taylor shows her ability to put feelings into words, capturing the butterflies felt at the onset of love with just the right words.
There is a faint fairy tale theme throughout the album – appropriate when Taylor herself is living quite the fairy tale. “Love Story”, the debut track from the album, spins the tragic tale of Romeo & Juliet to end happily ever after while “White Horse”, a song that was featured on the season premiere of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, is a tale of realizing a relationship isn’t going to have a happy ending. Taylor’s songwriting ability again shines but also shows maturity with lines like this love is difficult but it’s real in “Love Story” and I'm not your princess, this ain't a fairytale, I'm gonna find someone some day, who might actually treat me well in “White Horse.”
“Hey Stephen” is a catchy lyric where Taylor fearlessly calls out ‘Stephen’ – a boy who has caught her eye. The song is rumored to be about Stephen Barker Liles of the band Love and Theft. While Taylor herself has not confirmed this, the words ‘love and theft’ are spelled out in code in the song’s lyric sheet.
Taylor again wrote or co-wrote every song on the album, this time paring with names like John Rich and Colbie Caillat. “Breathe”, the Colbie Caillat co-write on the album, is a personal favorite. Again centered around a breakup, the writing of this song is some of the very best on the album. The song is heavy on acoustic guitar and is a crossover hit in the making.
Two songs on the album pay tribute to those closest to Taylor. “Fifteen” is a song every teenage girl can relate to. Taylor sings about meeting her real life best friend, Abigail, and the trials the two encountered during their high school days, ending with a lesson teen girls will hopefully take to heart: In your life, you’ll do things greater than dating the boy on the football team. “The Best Day” is devoted to Taylor’s mother. The emotional songs travel through Taylor’s childhood as a way for Taylor to tell not only her mother but her brother and father as well that she loves and appreciates them. The line I love you for giving me your eyes, staying back and watching me shine is the peak of the song.
While the title Fearless seems at first glance to be a bold statement from a teenager who currently is sitting atop the country music world, on closer inspection of the album’s liner notes, that is not the case. To Taylor, being fearless means having fears but going for it anyway, an attitude that has taken her far in her young life. All of the fears and ‘what if’ scenarios Taylor must have had in her head leading up to the album release went unfounded as fans quickly picked up the album leading to first week sales topping 500,000. Taylor’s reign as country music’s newest superstar is nowhere near done. It’s merely just the beginning.
Taylor Swift: 'Fearless' – Album Review
by Sarah Wyland
The name ‘Taylor Swift’ has become synonymous with phrases like ‘teen titan’ and ‘country’s new queen’ – heavyweight titles that come with heavy pressure to remain on top. Her debut album did far better than a new artist could hope for, spawning five top five singles, two number ones and selling over three million copies. Naturally, anticipation was high and the pressure was on leading up to the release of her sophomore album, Fearless. No fear was necessary, however, as Taylor’s second effort easily swerves the fabled sophomore slump.
Added: January 2009
