TAYLOR SWIFT

THAO NGUYEN
MUSIC 1010
PROFESSOR ROBERT BEDONT

BIOGRAPHY
Born on December 13, 1989 in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Moved to nearby Wyomissing in early years.
Inherited grandmothers talent, who was professional opera singer
E.g.
Crafted songs at age 5
Sang at a variety of local events, including fairs and contests by the age of 10
Wrote own songs and learned guitar at 12 years old.
Released debut album at age 16.

BIOGRAPHY
Wanted to become a country singer.
Moved to Nashville, Tennessee, the country music capital to pursue career.
Kept singing at cafs and doing small performances around Tennessee.
Got impression from Scott Borchetta director of Big Machine Records when
played at the
Bluebird Caf
signed contract with him
New life has begun to her since there.

BIOGRAPHY
Released her first single named Tim McGraw in 2006 at 16 years old
Sold more than 2.5 million copies
Became a Top 10 hit on the country charts
Won the Horizon Award from the Country Music Association and the
Academy of Country Music Award for Top New Female Vocalist in 2007
Released album Fearless in which has single Love Story in 2008
Hit the top of both country and pop charts and stated there for 11 weeks.
Love Story became the second best-selling country single of all time.
Was nominated for a Grammy in the Best new Artist category and won other
accolades, including the Academy of Country Musics Female Vocalist of the
Year award.
Had become the highest-selling country artist

BIOGRAPHY
During 2008-2009, 4 singles were released including Fearless, White
Horse, Fifteen and You Belong with Me.
You Belong with Me was the highest charting single.
# 2 on the Billboard hot 100
was named the best female video
Taylor Swift became not only the first country music artist to win an MTV music
award but also the youngest artist ever.
Was 1 of only 6 women to ever be named Entertainer of the Year by the Country
Music Association.

BIOGRAPHY
During 2010-2012, 3 albums were released including Speck now, Red and
1989
All 3 albums sold more than one millions copies in their first opening week.
Taylor Swift became the first woman in history did that
Taylor Swift continues singing and writing songs to this day.
She realized her dream and keeps pursing it even though she already
became one of the most successive women in the world.

HISTORY OF SONGS
LOVE STORY
Was written by Taylor Swift when she was 17 years old
Released in September 12, 2008
Became the second best-selling country single of all time.
Based around the characters from William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet,
a tale that has been made synonymous with undying love.

HISTORY OF SONGS
UNTOUCHABLE
Is a cover song from Luna Halo, who originally sang this song.
Was released in November of 2008
Covered the originally upbeat rock song as a slow and soothing ballad
An accident that she covered it for fun, but turned out with good feedback
from her fan
Was added to the platinum edition of Swifts second album Fearless
Luna Halo actually loved it and allowed her as a Co-Writer of the song.

HISTORY OF SONGS
MEAN
Was written by Taylor Swift.
Was released on October 19, 2010
Wrote this song based off all people that have said negative things to her
throughout her life.
Not only is the fight back from her but also helps kids across the world stand
up to the bullies that try to push them around.

LISTENING GUIDE
LOVE STORY:
0:00

Introduction
Rhythm: beats are hard, soft, soft. Dynamics: Guitar comes in soft. Melody: Guitar starts to play
then voice comes in

0:17

Verse 1 begins
Voice is arched. Texture: light and high pitch. Timbre: guitar and voice play in high notes.

0:49

Chorus begins
Voice begins. Timbre: drums kick in, which helps keep the speed of the voice on track. Rhythm: Drums
are hitting on every other count.

1:05

Voice pauses. Guitar and drums continue.

1:22

Verse 2 begins

1:41

Chorus begins

2:31

Voice pauses. Melody: Guitar plays solo. Dynamics: Guitar volume ascended

2:45

Verse 3 begins
Voice kicks in. Timbre: Drums starts and guitar does slow strums. Dynamics: drums are played softly.

3:18

Chorus begins. Music fades out and last note of voice is held.

3:53

Song ends

LISTENING GUIDE
UNTOUCHABLE
0:00

Introduction
Dynamic: Guitar comes in soft. The tempo is very slow. Melody: very conjunct. Texture: monophony.

0:11

Chorus begins
2 guitars are mixing. The texture changes to homophony. The volume is soft.

0:20

Verse 1 starts
Slow and steady tempo. The vocals are in a low a lot range. The melody is repetitious to the introduction.

0:29

Continuing verse 1
The melodic contour changes to ascending. Melody: has conjunct.

0:58

Chorus begins
Instruments and vocals play different melodies but blend well together. Texture: polyphonic. Tempo picks up
a little more speed.

1:16

Continuing chorus
The vocals have a descending contour. Melody goes down

1:18

Continuing chorus
Guitar plays solo. The tempo is medium paced. Sound is very smooth.

1:28

Continuing chorus
Vocals is arched.

1:36

Verse 2 begins
This verse has an inverted arched contour. Melody moves down then steadily back up. Volume is soft.

LISTENING GUIDE
UNTOUCHABLE
2:04

Chorus begins
Harmony is consonance. Texture: polyphonic. Tempo picks up to a faster beat. Vocals begin to
harmonize.

2:43

Bridge
The guitars play a different melody than before. The form is repetitious rather than contrast. The
texture is polyphonic. Many melodies are played at once. Volume is medium.

3:02

Chorus begins
The harmony is consonance. Melody is very conjunct. The volume is softer than previous choruses.

3:11

Chorus add on

4:10

Piano kicks in. Tempo is slowing down. The harmony is still consonance.
Chorus add on

4:17

Drums and guitar keep the melody going. Texture: polyphonic.

Dynamic: softer than before. Timbre changes to guitar and vocals.

4:46

Texture changes to monophony. No instrument is being played. There are no major movements

5:11

between notes. Drums are played just a bit.

Song ends.

LISTENING GUIDE
MEAN
0:00

Introduction Verse 1 starts immediately with the guitar.

Voice enhances strong with guitar. Dynamics: volume is medium to loud. Rhythm: beat goes hard, soft,
soft. Melody is smooth.

0:37

Chorus begins
Timbre: Clap noise in background. Rhythm: Beats are dragged out. Dynamics: volume is medium

1:06

Verse 2 begins
Violin comes in. Drums kick in. Dynamics: Guitar plays softly. Timbre: claps in background begins.

1:44

Chorus begins
Clapping and Violin continues.

2:10

Voice pauses. Melody: Guitar plays solo. Rhythm: beat is played at medium to fast speed. Timbre: Guitar plays
high chords.

2:15
3:04

Verse 3 begins
Chorus begins.
Clapping stops, guitar continues to play. Rhythm: Beats are soft, hard, soft, hard. Guitar plays softly.

3:08
4:03

Chorus is played 3 times. Voice slows and music fades. Voice stops.
Song ends.

WORKS CITED
"TAYLOR SWIFT BIOGRAPHY." BIO.COM. A&E NETWORKS TELEVISION, N.D. 8 DEC. 2016.
LOUISE, EMMA. "LOVE STORY - TAYLOR SWIFT LYRICS." YOUTUBE. YOUTUBE, 15 OCT. 2011. 8 DEC. 2016.
THESWIFTTAYLOR123'S CHANNEL2. "MEAN-TAYLOR SWIFT (LYRICS)." YOUTUBE. YOUTUBE, 2 DEC. 2011. 8
DEC. 2016..
"LOVE STORY BY TAYLOR SWIFT SONGFACTS." LOVE STORY BY TAYLOR SWIFT SONGFACTS. N.P., N.D. 8 DEC.
2016.
"STORY BEHIND THE SONG: OUR SONG, TAYLOR SWIFT." THE BOOT. N.P., 5 MAR. 2008. 8 DEC. 2016.
"UNTOUCHABLE BY TAYLOR SWIFT SONGFACTS." UNTOUCHABLE BY TAYLOR SWIFT SONGFACTS. N.P., N.D. 8
DEC. 2016.
"MEAN BY TAYLOR SWIFT SONGFACTS." MEAN BY TAYLOR SWIFT SONGFACTS. N.P., N.D. 8 DEC. 2016.

THE END