Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Why You Gotta Be So Mean?

I love Taylor Swift. 

I get tired of people saying she can't sing.  First of all, I can't imagine being her age and performing in front of the audiences she has.  Who's voice wouldn't get a little jumpy under those circumstances?  And even if I didn't like her voice, she's got a true talent for writing pop/country songs like nobody's business.  And she writes them by herself, without any co-writers.  The girl has got serious talent.

When Kanye West got up and tried to rain on her parade during the VMAs last year, she never said anything mean about him in retaliation.  She held her tongue, or maybe she was never mad about it in the first place.

As she writes in the prologue of her CD, Speak Now, her latest batch of songs are, "...made up of words I didn't say when the moment was right in front of me. These songs are open letters.  Each is written to a very specific person in mind, telling them what I meant to tell them in person.  To the beautiful boy whose heart I broke in December.  To my first love who I never thought would be my first heartbreak. To my band. To a mean man I used to be afraid of. To someone who made my world very dark for a while.  To a girl who stole something of mine.  To someone I forgive for what he said in front of the whole world."

Clearly, Taylor Swift has found her beautiful way of getting her emotions out.  Maybe she's able to handle tense situations by thinking to herself, "I canNOT wait to get  home and write a song about this!"

The CD is in my car, stuck on track #6, "Mean."  Of course we don't know exactly who she's singing about, but clearly it's some naysayer who has criticized her, perhaps telling her she has a bad voice. 

Taylor is 20.  I'm hoping to grow up and be just like her.
Mean
you, with your words like knives and swords and weapons that you use against me
you have knocked me off my feet again, got me feeling like nothing
you, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard calling me out when i'm wounded
you, picking on the weaker man

well you can take me down with just one single blow
but you don't know what you know

(chorus)
someday i'll be living in a big ole city
and all you're ever gonna be is mean
someday i'll be big enough so you can't hit me
and all you've ever be is mean
why you gotta be so mean?

you, with your with you're switching sides and your wildfire lies and your humiliation
 you have pointed out my flaws again, as if I don't already see them
i walk with my head down trying to block you out cause I'll never impress you
i just wanna feel okay again

i bet you got pushed around, somebody made you cold
but the cycle ends right here cuz i'm not walking down that road
and you don't know know what you don't know

(chorus)

and i can see you years from now in a bar
talking over a football game with that same big loud opinion 
but nobody's listening
washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things
drunk and grumbling on about how i can't sing
but all you are is mean

all you are is mean, and a liar and pathetic and alone in life
and mean and mean and mean!

(chorus)

11 comments:

Valerie said...

Aw...I feel bad now. I'm one of those people.

I like what you wrote though, and I do admire Taylor for all she's done in her short life, and for her songwriting and musicianship. She's certainly got more talent than I do. Plus, she was a good sport on Saturday Night Live. :o)

Anonymous said...

I remember watching MTV that night and feeling very sorry for her. She looked lost and very sad. Creativity is a great way to tell things to people that otherwise you could not say.

Unknown said...

I hate mean people! Thanks for the album review, dying to give it a listen! XX!

Melissa Sarno said...

I love Taylor Swift! I think she's a wonderful writer. Her songs always tell stories and I love that. I didn't know the premise behind this new album-- that's very cool. I haven't heard any new songs from it (I live in a bubble) but I'm looking forward to taking a listen.

Laurie said...

I'll admit to not being fan, but my younger stepdaughter loves her. I'm just very "old school" about my country music. I am impressed with the lyrics you posted.

Roberta said...

I first thought Taylor was another pop star that was going to be another one-hit (record) wonder...that is until I saw her perform and listened to her songs and I was really impressed that someone so young could write such great songs and perform them as well. As you said...especially in front of such huge crowds. I hope she continues to remain true to her spririt and not get lost in the fame. She seems to have a good head on her shoulders and a good family to keep her grounded. But I hope her heart continues to soar. Great post Kerri! btw...my niece is taking the NaNoWriMo writing challenge with you...here's her blog post about it: http://livingandlovingincalifornia.blogspot.com/2010/10/novel-idea.html

Robert said...

My wife and I were just talking about Taylor last night and like Valerie, I'm one of those who has said the girl can't sing.

I saw a video of her yesterday playing live on some morning show and her performance only reinforced my idea of her singing.

Be that as it may, I'll admit I kinda like her music, even with her voice missing a note now and again but what I really love about Taylor Swift is how she interacts with her fans and she seems to be quite aware of the role model she has become to young girls.

And you're right, she can write a hella some lyrics.

Kerri said...

i don't even think of her as country- she's very pop to me. and i just think she's such a talent! and i admire that she really SINGS live, rather than using a back track like so many pop stars clearly do!

anyway, thanks so much everyone, for chiming in and making it a discussion.

patty said...

I admire her also. Funny, my husband is a limo driver and was involved in transporting her team a few weeks ago. He was hoping to catch a glimpse but instead got her make-up and wardrobe team in his limo, who discussed the latest outfits they had chosen for her on their ride!

Anonymous said...

I had to go check out the lyrics after you mentioned them. =) I'm not a fan of her music overall, but I give her lots of credit. She definitely has talent.

Michael said...

I really think she wrote the song for her critics and .... Kanye West. Or maybe someone she knew while growing up. Who knows. "Drunk and rumbling about how I can't sing..." I knew someone like this, once. In any case, she's proven all the naysayers wrong. Go Taylor.