Taylor Swift released her
self-titled debut album in 2006 which quickly thrust her into country music
stardom. She is one of those artists that practically everyone is familiar
with, whether they are a country music fan or not. Swift was only 16 when she
released her first album. This becomes apparent in “Taylor Swift,” which mainly
reflects her innocence as a young teen crushing over the cute boy next door. Even
though Swift has a common theme flowing through a majority of the tracks, she
pulls it off well. Most of the songs still have a unique sound based on the
genres she combines. Her main influences seem to be pop and rock. This album
does not get boring, like how I have found some country albums to be. She
accomplishes this by having slow songs that are followed by those with fast and
catchy beats. In one track she may be dissing the boy that has so terribly
wronged her, and in the next she is beyond elated over the one of her dreams. I
feel that it is geared more towards the female population, but that’s not to
say males can’t indulge in a little T-Swizzle. This album surpasses the bounds
of the country genre to create something special that can be enjoyed by a wider
audience.
“Taylor Swift” begins with a classic country song and her hit single, “Tim
McGraw.” A song about lost love, it mingles modern with traditional country
music. Swift’s voice is introduced with a twang of a country accent, which has
seemed to be lost in her newer music. I would categorize this song as a ballad
because of its slower beat and guitar. This song does not refine the country
music genre in any sort of notable way, but it is a nice way to introduce the
album and give fans what they are expecting.
Next on the album comes “Picture to Burn” which is a definite divergence from
the sound of the first track. It starts off strong with a fast tempo featuring
guitars, banjos, and the drums. From the beginning it is evident that this song
is highly influenced by rock. Swift is more aggressive in her lyrics; no longer
passively reminiscing about a lover. This genre of “country rock” has been
around for a while, dating back even to the 70’s, however it has become more
and more popular since the release of this album. Country artists have been
continuously experimenting within the genre by pulling influences from all
kinds of different music. Zac Brown Band is a standout example of this method.
Their usage of a diverse range of instruments such as the fiddle, banjo, and
ukulele allow them to create a sound that can’t be pigeonholed in one genre. Swift
is comparable to this band due to the pairing of her hard-edged lyrics and fast
guitars in this track alongside country croons in others about the good ol’
small-town life. The combination adds depth to the album and keeps the listener
interested.
Swift again throws the listener for a loop in her next track, “Teardrops on My
Guitar.” Suddenly she is back to being depressed about the boy that she’ll
never have. Returning to a slow beat with soft vocals, it primarily reflects
the country genre with the constant strumming guitar and theme of lost
love.
I feel that the next standout track on this album is “Tied Together With a
Smile.” It seems to be just another slow ballad when you hear the opening, but
as the chorus builds and becomes stronger, you see that this is not the case.
The theme deviates a bit in that it is more about self-confidence and feelings
of unworthiness. I mean, of course this is due to a boy, but at least she’s
trying. This track would probably also be listed primarily as a country song.
“Should’ve Said No” is a song on the album that I feel again uses a sort of rock influence to create a very powerful sound, primarily in the chorus with the strong, building vocals and electric guitar. It is a “revenge song” that Swift seems to accomplish in creating so well. The listener can feel her frustration with the boy that has so wronged her. Immediately this track makes me think of Carrie Underwood’s “Before he Cheats.” Carrie Underwood is an artist that has commonly been compared to Swift in terms of how they mix genres to create their own sound, and the themes of their music. “Before he Cheats” incorporates a very similar story of refusing to put up anymore with a man’s uncommitted behavior. Therefore, the only obvious plan is to get revenge. Both of these songs have an empowering feminist approach to the issue by taking the problem into their own hands. No longer will either of these artists rely on these men, they are going to make sure he regrets this decision. It’s refreshing to see a woman taking charge and asserting her place not only in this track, but in the country music scene in general. In a typically male dominated genre, it’s pretty impressive that a 16 year old girl was able to become so popular at such a young age, and retain that success to the present.
The listener might think that by this point Swift has had enough of the male
population. However, they would be mistaken. Of course she has to end the album
with the heartfelt track, “Our Song.” It is a purely country track primarily
driven by the banjo and a fiddle solo. This song includes all the elements
typically expected of a country song: guitars, love, and a strong country
accent. I feel that it is a good choice for tying up the album because it
allows it to end on a cheerful, even if a bit cheesy, note.
“Taylor Swift” is an album that varies between straying from the typical
country genre, and sticking to its roots. This debut album paved the way for
the rest of her career by establishing herself as a successful songwriter and
performer. It gave listeners an idea of what to expect, even though she has
become much more of a pop artist presently. If there’s something you can be
sure of when you listen to a Taylor Swift album, it’s that there will be plenty
of songs about lost love, and this album is no different. Her debut album paved
her way as a hopeless teenage romantic that just happens to also be a country
music star. It assisted in the growing change of the country genre to include
more of a variety of musical influences, while still maintaining some of the
most important aspects and ideas.
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