Taylor Swift hit the country and pop scene in a big way in 2006. In four short years, she has accomplished more than most people can ever dream of. Her debut album, Taylor Swift, produced five hit singles. In her first years of celebrity she received awards for Songwriter of the Year (the youngest artist ever to earn the award), Billboard Artist of the Year, Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year, and Breakthrough Video of the Year. In 2008, she sold more albums than any other musician in the United States. And, although her acting debut in Valentine's Day was less than stellar, Taylor showed that she is not afraid to tackle new challenges.
It would be easy to assume that Taylor is a superficial product of the entertainment industry-no different from other coddled stars-but she has already shown a strong philanthropic bent. After Nashville was devastated by lethal storms and floods, she donated $500,000 its relief. Appearing on Flood Relief with Vince Gill and Friends, Taylor said, "... I honestly could not believe what was happening to the city and the people I love so dearly.... Nashville is my home, and the reason I get to do what I love."
Where did this superstar get her start? Taylor Swift was born on December 13, 1989, in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. She started developing her singing and songwriting chops when she was ten when a computer repairman taught her three guitar chords. This led to her writing her first song, "Lucky You." Writing was a good outlet for her, as she did not fit in at school and was, therefore, homeschooled until she graduated at age eighteen.
Like her main musical influence, Shania Twain, she did not limit herself to one genre. Instead, she developed her crossover appeal in the worlds of both country and pop music where many strong females (e.g., her grandmother (a professional opera singer), Shania Twain, Tina Turner, and Dolly Parton) guided her on her journey to stardom.
A talented singer, Taylor got the opportunity to sing The National Anthem at the U.S. Tennis Open when she was eleven. In 2003, her family relocated to Nashville, and that same year she was hired as Sony/ATV's the youngest staff songwriter ever. In 2006, she released her first hit single, "Tim McGraw," which rose to #6 on Billboard's "Hot Country Songs" chart.
On the heels of "Tim McGraw," Taylor released her first album, Taylor Swift. It hit #1 on Billboard's Country charts and featured five hits: "Tim McGraw" (6), "Teardrops on my Guitar" (2), "Our Song" (1), "Picture to Burn" (3), and "Should've Said No" (1). That same year, Taylor released an extended play album, Beautiful Eyes, that debuted at #1 on the Country charts, making her the first artist since 1997 to hold the top two positions on the Billboard Country charts.
In 2008, Swift released Fearless, one of that year's most successful albums. Its best-selling single, "Love Story," Taylor's signature song, is the first crossover recording to hit Nielsen's Top 40 in that chart's 16-year history and to also hit #1 on the Mediabase Top 40 chart. Her award-winning video for "Love Story," based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, was a special "extra" on Fearless. But the best recognition of Swift's prowess as a recording artist, "Love Story" is the most downloaded country music song ever, and Fearless won Best Album of the Year for Swift as both performer and producer.
Taylor Swift's talents are profound. She has made an indelible mark on the music world and will surely, as Shania Twain and other great artists did for her, become the idol of tomorrow's superstars.
No comments:
Post a Comment