No matter what music genre your personal taste lean towards, you probably gave in at some point to some of the earworms that Taylor Swift puts out – songs like I Knew You Were Trouble, Blank Space, and her other singles, have received critical acclaim not just for their catchy melody but also for the singer’s songwriting process.
But given that she’s been in the industry for a little over 15 years, how exactly does she stay relevant in the midst of many promising new and upcoming artists? The music industry is known to be an ultra-competitive environment, and trends often come and go. But we believe that much of it lie in her passion as a musician, and we delve deep to see why.
Who is Taylor Swift?
If you didn’t know by now, Taylor Swift is a 31-year old American singer-songwriter who first started out as a country artist in Nashville during 2006. Her eponymous debut album told stories of high school love and heartbreak, both of which were recurring themes up until her second album, “Fearless”. Since then, she took the world by storm with her girl-next-door persona, which eventually evolved and became more sophisticated as her career continued. While there is often the joke about her making songs for every one of her break-ups, the manner in which she does so makes her feel genuine and relatable. Doing all this in a highly popular genre where love songs have always fared well, you can see why the odds seemed to be stacked in her favour.
What does Taylor Swift’s songwriting like?
With a knack for putting pen to paper, Taylor Swift is known to write her songs based on her personal experiences, which, despite her A-list celebrity status, makes her feel relatable and closer to her fans. She writes about finding real love and real heartbreak in romantic and platonic scenarios with a guitar in hand. But unlike other artists, she writes her song by narrating down to the specifics, allowing you to paint the scene that she’s picturing in your head without being too on the nose. Take deep cuts like All Too Well – she starts off by singing about the buildup of a blossoming relationship, almost running the red light, photo albums spread on kitchen counters, and eventually the bitter turn of events.
She is also very knowledgeable and involved in her songwriting processes, something not many singers can claim to do. Most singers hire songwriters to churn out hopeful hits, whereas Taylor Swift has continued to be as on-the-ground as possible, injecting a personal touch that can be felt throughout her years of singing. She can also often be seen rocking a guitar in her concerts, rearranging earlier releases and singing them in new arrangements, constantly keeping her tracks fresh while hitting it right on with the nostalgia factor.
Does Taylor Swift play music?
If you’ve been to a Taylor Swift concert or watched any of her videos uploaded on YouTube, you would know that she plays more than a few instruments. A guitar player first more than anything, she also plays ukulele, piano, and sometimes a banjo modified to have six strings instead of five. You can see that it isn’t a gimmick or show she’s trying to put, but a genuine interest and skill that more seasoned musicians only seem to exude.
Because her songs can easily be played by using a few open chords, her catalogue of songs focuses far more on creativity and catchy drum beats, something that new musicians who are keen to learn drums will be happy to appreciate. Songs like Fifteen, 22, and We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together are in the key of G, while Our Song and Jump Then Fall start off with a D major. Studying these songs will show you that you don’t have to play super complicated chords to make great music, that creativity and a passion for exploring unique beats can help you write many amazing songs.
Conclusion
What sets Taylor Swift apart from her fellow artists are not just her natural gift for songwriting but the down-to-earth personality that makes her very relatable. She doesn’t play them so fans can look at her from a place of admiration, but instead to sing songs the best she knows how, all the while being true to who she is as a person.
Now not many of us can be the hit song writer Taylor Swift is, but we definitely can share her love and genuine interest for music. Check the courses at Studio 72 for the best vocal lessons in Singapore to get your foundations right and, who knows, perhaps you’ll be able to sing Taylor Swift’s songs and write a couple yourself too!
