Musical Moment: Taylor Swift- Midnights

 Hello Swifties,

It's that time of the month for another musical moment. Although it's been a few months... Anyway this month we are looking at Taylor Swift's latest release Midnights. I was excited about this release with all the things Swift did leading up to it. I love the idea, I've done things like mood boards and playlists centered around times of day and the like, so this totally fit my mood. I love the vibe of this album, I've even made a sim with this theme in mind.

Cover Art-

We have a square of a picture surrounded by white. We have Taylor staring at the flame of a lit lighter. The simple scripted words are shades of midnight blue.

Inside Back Cover- 

 

We have Taylor in front of a is that a keyboard or small piano, I'm not familiar enough with the instrument to be able to tell.

Back of Back Cover-

We have Taylor with some midnight twos and a one.

Booklet-

In my mind the photos here are snap shots of her Midnight ponderings and adventures. I like in the case of song titles having colors that the color matches.

CD Art-

The Cd is a record this a clock in it's center. I think it's very thematic.

Songs-

Lavender Haze- Written by Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Zoe Kravitz, Mark Anothony Spears, Jahann AKil Sweet and Sam Dew. The album's first song starts with telling you "Meet me at midnight..." his beautiful song sounds like your in a haze. I can just picture being in a hazy little club with lavender lighting. And after I wrote  that Taylor provides a video with a lavender hazed party scene.

Maroon- Written by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff. We continue the color theme, which reminds me of her song Red from the album of the same name, a lot color coming into play. She speaks of an old love in memories of red. 

Anti-Hero- Written by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff. This one of my favorite songs on the album. A song about how she feels she's the problem. I read somewhere I think on her Twitter the music video was her dealing with intrusive thoughts, which is currently something I'm dealing with , so probably why I like it so much.

Snow on the Beach- Written by Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, and Lana Del Rey. Is a song of impossible love coming to be.The sound of song I could just imagine snow falling down, it'd been the perfect back drop to a snow scene. She's joined on this song by Lana Del Rey.

You're On Your Own Kid- Written by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff. This to me speaks of the passing of youth a unrequited love and shouldering the wages of life on ones own. I really don't have strong options on this one. It does have a strong guitar riff.

Midnight Rain- Written by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff. We have a mellow tune of thinking on those loves where to people were just two different to last, but you still think on it late at night.

Question...?- Written by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff. A song of questions after apparently a couple either has broken up or had a short fling, and wondering if she's still thought of while their in new relationships. The sound is one I think is common on this album with the music sound muffled, like is playing through a haze, lavender haze maybe?

Vigilante Shit- Written by Taylor Swift. I feel like this bad a** song is about a woman learning her man is a married man, and pretty much outs him to the missus, then they just ruin his life, or maybe their all different men, either way stay out of the way. 

Bejeweled- Written by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff. This song is a woman reclaiming herself after a lackluster man at home. This song has a real 80's vibe. I love the Cinderella retelling the video does.

Labyrinth- Written by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff. This song is one of two things, a girl who's broken up with someone, and despite odds falling in love again, or she's having a hard time letting go of her ex cause she keeps falling in love. There's a nice keyboard in this song through out it.

Karma- Written by Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Mark Anothony Spears, Keanu Torrees, and Jahann AKil Sweet. This nice bouncing jam is the warning that Karma is going to get the offender and it's on her side.

Sweet Nothing- Written by Taylor Swift and William Bowery. This gentle, sweet song is about after being out in this crazy world coming how to the simplicity of sweet nothings. Another strong keyboards and some gentle brass.

Mastemind- Written by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff. A song of how she planned their getting together. This is another song with 80's undertones. I feel like this hearkens back to the 1989 album.

That another Musical Moment wrapped. What did you think of Midnights? Leave a comment below to let me know. 

I hope you have a good week, listen to some awesome tunes, and God bless.

*Thrifty Geek*

Musical Moment: Taylor Swift's 1989

Hello Music Loving Friends,

So we have arrived to the final Taylor album in my collection for now. We find Taylor switching genres completely, and sadly because of lack of viewing options I didn't see some of the videos for these songs, though why I never watched them on her website I haven't a clue.

Artist: Taylor Swift
Album: 1989
Released: 2014

Cover:  It's like a CD cover sized Polaroid™ picture with Taylor standing in front of a white wall wearing red lipstick and a purple shirt with seagulls and white sleeves. The top part of her head is cut off. On the bottom on the white frame her initials and the album name appear to be written in black marker.

Booklet: This time we have a Foreword, the word being written with neon purple lights, actually all the song titles are written with lit neon lights. She talks of change, and  speaking of the album title which is her birth year. And she mentions it's the music from that year that inspire the sounds of these songs. I definitely get that late 80's vibe here. She's written in a black pen about her songs being ours now, and in a black marker she signs it off. All the type is in black. And of course her lyrics hold it's usual hidden messages. On the opposite page is another Polaroid™ of Taylor with a line of lyric from Welcome to New York. Written in black marker. Actually the whole booklet theme is neon lights and Polaroids™ . She even includes a photo of I guess one of the writer's Imogene Heap's Keyboard along with her Grammy and tea kettle dated February, 9th 2014. The rest of the photos I'll do with there corresponding song. On the back of the cover is Swift in black, her red lipstick, looking over the back of a white bench I wanna say. The record company name and it's emblem are wrote in pen and a piece of song lyric in marker at the bottom.

Back Cover:  The inside back cover is basically the image on Taylor's shirt from the front cover. The outside back is the upper half of Taylor's head from the front picture. The producers (Max Martin and Taylor Swift, and record company name and logo  is in black pen, every thing else is in a black typed font except the song numbers that appear to have been done in black marker.

The Disk: Is the same design that's on the shirt Taylor wears on the cover. All the words are in white, including Taylor's initials: T.S. and the album title 1989, both which look like they've been done in a white marker.

The Music:

Welcome to New York- Opening is a Swift and Ryan Tedder written piece about New York City. The pic has Taylor in sunglasses, White top and shorts, and I can't make out if it's a jean or leather jacket. She's chilling on looks like a ferry with the New York skyline behind her. I remember when she performed this on Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve. She liked to have froze. What I find interesting is we have a modern artist, writing late 80's style music, yet it takes me back to the late 90's- early 2000's. And if you followed that your awesome. I don't know these song joins a list of other songs and sights that take me back to a certain string of memories; minor events that took place in that stretch of time that seem to be connected somehow.

Blank Space- It's Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback bacvk together again penning a song that I think actually involves a pen. Basically she's found her next lover and is gonna give it a try and how she's got a Blank Space for his name. Every so often she'll sound click her pen to write with it. I'm just wondering as she's describing how it really goes in her relationships?

Style- Is another tune I just picture being played as you go down the road. Swift, Max Martin, Shellback also write this along with Ali Payami. I think this song maybe aluding to two things how their clothes nor their love every is always in style. The photo has looks like Taylor and couple guys (the writers?) It's titles Style. Dated February 19th 2014 and a bit a lyric from Style all in black marker.

Out of the Woods- Swift and Jack Antonoff wrote of well kinda not sure if it's talking about being out of the tough patches of the relationship or being clear of the relationship. I do remember the video had wolves, Taylor running in the woods and finding herself?
All You Had to do Was Stay- Taylor and Max Martin write of guy trying to get back with a girl who he broke up with, and she's not taking him back.

Shake It Off- Wanna guess the trio who wrote it? If you guessed Swift, Martin and Shellback you'd be correct. Perfect advice for all that drama. The pic is of Taylor and her guitar with two other people, one guy holding some white instrument not sure what it is. It's labeled "Feb 15, 2014 Shake it off Max.J-han, Swifty". This song really didn't get a chance for a while with me cause I didn't really get into the video, then Fangirl watched The Hillywood Show's® Supernatural Parody which used a parody of Shake It Off. Before long the orginal song was being played by Fangirl and listening to it without watching the video I really heard it and got to enjoy it. Another song that I feel fit with this song is by a fellow Swifty Todderick Hall called Haterz.

I Wish You Would- We have a Swift and Jack Antonoff creation, of woman wishing she could get back together with the guy. Yet another song I think would be good to play cruising down the road.

Bad Blood- Hey look it's Swift, Martin and Shellback once more writing of the emotional wounds of a particularly bad break up.

Wildest Dreams- Our previously mentioned trio of a woman in a relationship already anticipating the end of it and she hopes he'll remember her. The photo is of Taylor in a nice black dress either on a roof top or port kind hard to tell. There's song lyrics written below.

How You Get the Girl- The trio yet again on how you can get the girl back, who's heart you broke.

This Love- Solo penned Swift song of a love that was let go and it found it's way back to her. The image is of Taylor in yellow looking top and blue skirt looking out a window onto a city street. It includes some song lyrics.

I Know Places- I feel like this Swift and Ryan Tedder song is like a celebrity couple trying to escape the public and paparazzi, that's my interpretation of it. The pic has a man and women, the writers? It's got written "Jan 22 2014 I know places.

Clean- Swift and Imogen Heap pen a song of getting clean from a relationship, like some kind of drug. The picture is the writers with the words "2014 Imogen + Me "Clean" Feb 9".

Extra Bits: The CD comes in a box that's designed to mirror the design of the front and back covers. Included in this box with the CD is a little gold sleeve That has in white letters done like a lit neon, like the booklet, that says Photos then written in black marker is written "from Taylor". Inside is a set of "Polaroids™ " Taylor took, some are inside the booklet, I got numbers 14 through 26 according to Shineon media there was 65 to collect.

So we close the Taylor segment of my collection. You have any particular favorite songs from this album or memories, tell me in me comments. I hope you have a good week friends and God Bless!

Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer ,Vampire >vv< Kitty. and Mousey~C>

Musical Moment- Taylor Swift's Red

Welcome to another Monday my friends,

This week we dive into Taylor's last country album, well for now maybe cause we don't know where her musical journey will take her, Red some of my most favorite Taylor tunes come from this album. So let's trudge on:

Artist: Taylor Swift
Album: Red
Released: 2012



Cover:  Taylor is sporting some red lipstick. The use a bold kind of type for it all including for the first time Taylor's name, which is in white. Red is in all caps and well red.

Booklet: There's a Prologue once more that talks the album theme and Red. The lettering is in red save the word red, which is grey. Prologue and a quote from Taylor's State of Grace song, plus her signature. All the song titles are in white, for some reason certain words are underlined. It's almost like another hidden code, but I don't think it is. The lyrics, with the hidden code, are in red, with people who worked on the song in grey, and when red comes up in the son it's written in grey. The photos are made to look vintage, Taylor reminds me of some past movie star in some of them.   The last page has her in the outdoors, sun shining down. White top with black accents, black shorts holding her shades she was rocking in other pics and some teal nail polish.

Back Cover:  Inside back cover has Taylor in a field with a yellow dress and sunglasses on waving. There are vertical white and see through strips With the simple words "Thank You." beside the artist.  Outside back cover has Taylor in the yellow dress. The background is grey the record label emblem is an off white The title is in red like the cover and rest of the writing is in white.

The Disk: White background the red vertical strips, Taylor's name and album title are also in red, the rest of the words and label emblem in grey.

The Music:

State of Grace- Another solo Swift written song, about the game of love. I don't know if it's the vintage theme pics I've been looking at or what, but the music sounds like something from the past, not sure 100 percent what decade, but that is the vibe I get.

Red- Taylor solo writes a song about a love she can only describe in the color red. you know there is something to be said about associating things with colors. There's certain songs that I associate with colors even if colors don't come up anywhere. JK Rowling even did a write up on Pottermore on the subject of color associations. This is another one of those songs just would feel right playing through you car speakers, maybe it's the mentioning of a car?

Treacherous- Written by Swift and Don Wilson of the that person you should walk away from, but your gonna fall and get sucked in anyway, or for a more geeky look at it, it's like me and the show Doctor Who. One episode and I was in the Time Warp Rabbit Hole.

I Knew You Were Trouble- The song of a woman who despite knowing a guy is trouble, she falls and becomes another of his conquers. This was written by the trio of Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback. There sound like a hammer on rocks in certain parts of the song, or something mechanical. I remember this video had Taylor in a desert with I think her hair cut short for the first time. I don't know if it's just me but it's like Treacherous and  I Knew You were trouble almost could be companion songs.

All Too Well- Written by the famous writing pairing of Swift and Liz Rose about remembering the bittersweet memories of a broken love.

22- Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback pen one of my top Taylor songs.We have a group of peeps heading out into the night and "feeling 22".  I just jam to this song when ever I hear it.  My favorite line is where she's talking about instead of sleeping they'll be dreaming. To me this is talking about being a wide eyed dreamer again, something I think we all need to tap back into once in a while or else were just brain dead zombies trying to get through life. Actually, one of my favorite scenes in the video happens when this line is sung. Taylor is sitting on a rock by the beach singing, and looking like she's lost in a daydream.

I Almost Do- Taylor writes about a person wondering what their ex is doing, and trying so hard not to get in contact with them cause they don't wanna take the chance of another heartache.

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together- the a fore mentioned trio is writing of an off and on again relationship and how the chick is saying this break up is the final one. I remember there were two videos to this song, the lyric video then the official music video that came later. I remember on CMT's making of special that her band thought they'd be in normal costumes for once, then she put them in animal outfits. I'm also amazed that this is a one continuous shot video, and we're talking complicated scenes and costume changes included! Anyone else join in on the weeeees?

Stay, Stay, Stay,- Another solo wrote song. We have a cute little bubbly number about why this person wants the person's their with to stay with them. My  favorite part of this song is after a fight where she's thrown something at him, she decides to talk it out rationally which he only agrees to with the protection of a football helmet.

The Last Time- This song features Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol who wrote this along with Swift and Jacknife Lee. It's almost like a darker toned We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together except they do apparently get back together, but this will be The Last Time it happens.

Holy Ground- Taylor writes about a woman remembering a past romance and the places they stood being Holy Ground, and going to dance, but not without him, but I guess doing it anyway and just pretending he's there... That's best description I got.

Sad Beautiful Tragic- Solo written tale of another love story turned into a tragic ending.

The Lucky One- I think Taylor may have wrote this based off a real life celebrity. It's about someone being lucky and becoming famous, then the hardship of such a life, and with luck once more got out of the biz intact.

Everything Has Changed- Ed Sheeran joins Taylor in the singing and writing of this tune, actually doesn't he sing a song with her on the Reputation album? It's about those moments that suddenly change you life in this case the meeting of a person.

Starlight- The final two songs of this album are solo written by Taylor and this song like 22 is one of my top favorite Taylor tunes. In my head I have an entire performance worked out for this, hey when I imagine I imagine big. I also can't help think of that Doctor Who episode back in David Tennant's era when he runs into space ship version of the Titanic (sorry have got Doctor Who on the brain lately).

Begin Again- A song about a woman beginning again with a new relationship, and apparently a better one than her last one. I also feel it's like the song title is telling you to begin the album again.

And so we close the door upon this country chapter of Taylor's career. As usual if you got any thought or memories surrounding this album leave a comment. Next week will be the final installment of this Taylor journey since that's the last album I have at the moment.

I hope and pray your week is good, always keep a good song in your ear, and may God bless you!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer

Musical Moment : Taylor Swift's Speak Now

 Hello my Friends,

It's Monday again so we're gonna jump back into the tunes with another trip down Taylor Swift memory lane. I should say given that Taylor and some artist love putting out deluxe or special editions of their albums, that none of the ones I talk about on here are, just a heads up.

Artist: Taylor Swift
Album: Speak Now
Released: 2010

Cover:  We have Taylor in a purple gown looking like she's in the midst of a twirl. Some of the dress looks like it has been painted. To add to the painted effect there's purple and white paint splatters. The album title is white, her name is in a shiny gold, both I'm pretty sure are in her hand, and the letters are raised (I know there's a proper term for that, but I can't recall it to save my life).

Booklet: There appears to be a theme with this booklet: paintings. They give a feel of golden framed paintings in a gallery. There is a prologue in this booklet talking about the title and album, similar to what she did in Fearless. There's looks like strokes of paint above it with the word "Prologue" written in white the rest of the words and Taylor's signature, is in black. The song titles are in in different fonts and colors appropriate to each song, some of the pictures also have lines of song, with them, and the lyrics, in various colors, has her hidden code. There's a simple one lined thank yous in white at the end. The back cover of the booklet has Taylor in a white shirt, but the bed she's sitting on and the background appear to be painted. There's of course the golden frame. The websites and Big Machine Records™  logo in white. Like the last post I'll mention individual pics with their corresponding song in the music section.

Back Cover:  Inside is a painting/photo of  the fisted hands of Taylor and her band members forming a circle each wrist has a letter that makes up the title Speak Now.  I'm pretty sure it's her band cause they've been used for the other photos and one guy had thr same "O" on his wrist in another photo. Taylor I'm almost certain is the "W" cause it also has her lucky number 13 written on the wrist. Taylor in in a yellow dress black heels. It all puts be in the mind of that famous Marilyn Monroe grate scene. The dress is painted like the cover song in for is in purple possibly in Taylor's handwriting. Producers are written in white, while the rest of the words and record company's emblem is in black.

The Disk: The picture a black/white/grey tone version of the inside back cover picture. All the writing and trademark emblems in gray. Taylor's signature in black.

The Music:

Mine- All music on this album is written solely by Swift figure I'll get that out of the way. We have a woman who is iffy on love because her Dad left, yet finds a love whose not gonna leave. I first heard this song when I think it was CMT did the premiere of the video which included the making of. I actually probably grinned every time I saw the "they first meet" scene cause of what went on during the filming. The booklet pic for the song is  a painting/photo of Taylor in a beige top and a light blue gold trimmed skirt sitting on a rock looking out on the water.

Sparks Fly- A song about when a love has those sparks flying. Did she have a video for this song? I keep wanting to say it was a tour video, or maybe I'm confusing it with Fearless.

Back to December- The tones of a woman regretting a relationship she ended. I seem to remember her CMA performance of this song where she had an orchestra and was playing the piano and at some point snow, rose petals, or something fell from the ceiling. I sadly can't recall much of the video. The pic for this is a straight haired Taylor in a white top or dress.
Speak Now- A song that lets us image if someone actually spoke up when the preacher asks if there's any objections? This song has one of the most funniest pictures in the booklet. Her band mates are in it some playing wedding guests, one is the preacher, one's the freaked out groom, and I don't know if the bride is one of her band mates, but she is hilariously in bridezilla mode. Then there's Taylor in a pink dress with blue belt standing in the aisle reaching out to the groom, I'm assuming she's just spoken up after the preacher asked if their was any objections.

Dear John- A woman who realizes the kind of man she was really dating. I guess this is a Dear John letter if you will.

Mean- We have Taylor giving her mind to those who've ever been mean to her. The photo to this has Taylor as that damsel in distress tied up on the railroad tracks and I think it's one of her band mates as a the villain in a handle bar mustache.They actually do a scene like this for the video, don't know if it's the same guy though. I loved this song's video, which I also saw the CMT making to. It had various people being picked on for everything for the kind of jobs they were working, what they were into, or what they wore, but eventually each person finds a way to overcome the ridicule and being victorious in life, or are set on the path. Taylor and her band are putting on a show where they start of as country bumpkins in a tumble weed land home then ending up in the big city with new spiffy duds. Taylor has this silver dress of fringe on which I love the effect that happens when she spins in it.

The Story of Us- Tis the tale of how the story of a relationship is ending on a sad note. The photo for this song has Taylor in white, with a silver heart locket, her band is either in dark clothing, or in shadow, happily carrying on conversations leaving her alone.

Never Grow Up- We have a parent wishing their child wouldn't grow up and then a girl wishing she wouldn't grow up then as an adult wishing she hadn't grown up.

Enchanted- It's the song that inspired two of Taylor's frangrences: Wonderstruck and Wonderstruck Enchanted, actually if your wondering why the song seems familiar it's cause it was used in the commercial for the perfume.  Beautiful song, like some fairy tale to music I guess you can say, except we don't know if there's a happy ending yet. The photo to this song is Taylor in a beige gown a against what looks like the painting of some plantation.

Better Than Revenge- A revenge song against a girl who stole a dude from her apparently. I can't help but just jam out to this song even if it's a person bashing song. Is it sad I actually have my own moves to this song?

Innocent- She writes of someone who longs for the fresh start, simple days of youth and tells them that no matter what has happened, to her "they're still an innocent".

Haunted- An apparently fragile love has turned cold though the singer wished it hadn't. The music for this I feel really fits the song title, kinda haunting. The image we have to this song is Swift in a grey gown going through a lantern lit forest. I get a lady in grey ghost story feel from this image.

Last Kiss- She sings of a person reminiscing over the memories of a past love. I assume it's a recent split the singer is still trying to get over.

Long Live- A song about taking in the moment when you came out on top against all odds. I like to think this song is companion song to the Fearless album's Change this being the second part to it. This photo to this song features Taylor and her band looking back at the camera with a huge auditorium before them, like saying "see we've conquered".

So I guess I've spoken all I can about Speak Now. Do you have a favorite off the album or a special memory pertaining to it? I hope you have a good week my friends and keep the music going. May God Bless You!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer

Musical Moments: Taylor Swift's Fearless

Happy Monday my friends,
Yeah I know for most of you that's impossible. But look at this way the good Lord has given you another day so say Amen! Well today with our Musical Moment we are still on the Taylor Train with her second album Fearless. So let's get the tunes rocking.

Artist: Taylor Swift
Album: Fearless
Released: 2008

Cover:  All I can say is white and gold. We've got a white background and Taylor in white with her hair just everywhere. The Album title Fearless is in a bold white font under Taylor's signature that's done in a shiny bronze color.

Booklet: There's not really a theme to the photos some look as they are taken straight from her photo albums, some are more artsy, since some go with particular songs I think cover it in the music section. I will say my favorite photo is on the back of booklet where Taylor seems to be channeling a bohemian hippie vibe with her outfit. She's out on a sunny day in a field with a picnic basket and a fancy tea set sitting on a blanket and pillows picnicking with bubbles floating in the air. The websites are in that white "written script" and Big Machine Records™   has a metal grate look with a red car and flames.
There's various fonts for song titles, sometimes the pics are accompanied by a line of lyric. Of course the hidden messages in her lyrics is also there so look for that. Before the Thank Yous she takes time to discuss why they chose Fearless as the album title and every time the title is mentions she has it in bold and in color to set it off from the white text.

Back Cover:  Inside is a golden pic of her hands heart surrounded by whiteish imprints of swirls and swirly leaves. The back has a close up of Taylor with her signature and album title the same as the front cover with less shine. The song titles are in a type of brown. Then in a lighter bronze with lovely cursive is the words "Enhanced Content". The music video titles are in that brown song title color. The websites are in the light bronze.

The Disk: We have the hands heart in beige along with the imprint pattern from the inside back cover, actually it's the same picture. It's encircle with black, the words on the edge in either beige or brown. All the text in the circle is in black save the websites in brown. we have Taylor's John Hancock and and Fearless in the same font as it's been used else where.

The Music:

Fearless- Here we have the title track written by Swift, Liz Rose, and Hillary Lindsey. The photo fits the song perfectly Taylor in a shy blue gown dancing in the rain by the glow of headlights. I remember the video to this being taken from the Fearless Tour. The image conjured in this song of a woman throwing caution to the wind going out in a gown dancing in the rain is one that I guess I associate with a person who is free, bold, daring, if you will... fearless.

Fifteen- Another one solely written by Taylor, as it the next two, about life and the trials of love at fifteen. The booklet's photo for this song has a nicely framed pic of Taylor and her friend Abigail, who's also mentioned in the song, in Santa hats dated 2005. I wonder how she felt about being in her friend's song, obviously pretty chill about it if she appeared in the song's video.

Love Story- This is such a beautiful song complete with references to Romeo and Juliet, except this story ends with less tragedy. I think there's even a nod to The Scarlet Letter. The photo to this song is one of her from the Love Story video, with the white gown and castle like setting. Now the video is it a remembering a past life thing or romantic fantasy in ones head, that's what I'm wondering.

Hey Stephen- If memory serves she wrote this song for a guy she was crushing on that was in a band she was touring with. Wow, talk about... fearless. The image they have for this song looks like Taylor in her room writing in her diary.

White Horse- Swift and Rose ride again in the writing. Basically a tale of how this guy and hers relationship is not what you'd find in the fairy tales and movies.  I don't have much to say about this one, pretty straight forward.

You Belong With Me- Yeah don't really need to repeat the writing duo's names do I. We find a girl watching her friend dealing with an evil cheerleader girlfriend, and hoping he realizes they are better suited for each other. Taylor does double role in this song's photo being evil head cheerleader and the band geek sitting on the bleachers, which she also does in the video. I like her and the guy next door communicate with giant sketch pads. Like two cans and a string. I think on the making of video, on CMT maybe, the signed t shirt she's wearing is someones actual band tee. Yeah in high school I was the girl seating in the bleachers, except I was friends with some of the cheerleaders. I also wasn't in band, but my best friend, though I generally didn't sit in their section at game time I did one time to hold her music or turn the pages for her.

Breathe- It says Colbie Caillat helped Taylor write this, as in the singer? It kind puts me in the mind of Caillat's style, granted it's been forever since I listened to her, so don't quote me. Basically we have someone having to carry on after a relationship ends no matter how much it hurts. The image for this one is Taylor in a gown underwater.

Tell Me Why- While this is a rather upbeat song, Swift and Rose have written about a relationship scenario that's anything but. We have someone who loves this man like a fish needs water, but he's destroying her bit by bit. Sad thing is I've had people I know in similar situations.

You're Not Sorry- Swift gives us the bleak tale of a woman who's fed up with her man's antics. The picture for this is of Taylor, looking at her wits end, sitting on a bathroom floor with the words "I'm sorry" scribbled all over the tub and wall. When I see this picture I see myself. At least when I'm having a bad anxiety/depression episode.

The Way I Loved You- Taylor and John Rich gives us a song about a girl that despite having a guy that sounds amazing, isn't happy cause it's not the whirlwind the last guy was. I mean I get someone wanting a passionate love that sends fire through you, but personally I'll take a nice decent guy over someone I'm gonna be getting it a yelling match with.

Forever & Always- Swift pens the final three songs solo beginning with this one of a girl recalling when she fell in love with her guy and what's happening to this relationship, if it's coming to an end. The picture for this song id Taylor peeking through her hands heart.

The Best Day- Taylor recounts special memories from her life especially with her Mom. The pic used for this song is of her Mom and a ittle Taylor.

Change- This a song for all those who've been beaten down, but never given up. How we'll fight will eventually victory will be ours. Dang I'm getting chills just writing that. Why am I including myself, believe me I've been knock down plenty, yet deep, deep, deep, deep, deep down there's apparently something inside of me that believes I could be victorious, I have no clue where, what, how but the belief's there.

Extra Bits: Like the first CD some videos are included for you to view on the computer. The screen's theme is romantic. The frame around the screen, and video box, Taylor's signature, and the words are in beige.  The time indicator for the video screen is a cute tiny  flower that is of course beige. The title list is a beautiful cursive font, the tiny white EXIT in the corner looks like some old font. You have Taylor in her Love Story gown at that castle like location from the video. The videos available for you to watch is of course Love Story and the second one is one she made for Change. I don't think the Change video was released on any video channel, it has Taylor decked on in her cowboy boots rocking out with her band.

A second treat we got with the CD was a poster of Taylor in that Love Story gown standing if front of what looks like a mosaic version of the Love Story castle set. Well truth is that background is actually made up of hundreds of tiny pictures of Taylor's fans. I remember when they asked for fans pics I was considering sending one in, but didn't. The bottom of the poster all the words are in white We have Taylor's signature and the website thetaylornation.com which I think will just take you to her main site, it use to take you to a page that allowed you view the pictures from the poster up close.

Do you guys have any memories, thought, favorites with this album? As usual if you do leave it in le comments. I hope you have a good week my friends, live life to the fullest, and may God Bless You!

Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer  and Mousey~C>

Musical Moment: Taylor Swift's... Well Taylor Swift

Hello My Fellow Audiophile Friends,
Today we begin looking into the music of Taylor Swift. For the next five weeks, five cause I don't have Reputation yet, we will be looking into each of her albums the art and music. So Swifties strap in and join along and let's get this Taylor Train going. Up first naturally the one that started it all:

Artist: Taylor Swift
Album: Taylor Swift
Released: 2006

Cover: We have a close up of Taylor maybe at a river? There's a imprinted
(is that the right word?) design of butterflies and flowers in green fading into blue fading into white on the left side. The Artist Name/Album title is in white written with the artist actual signature.

Booklet: It's set up like a kind of scrapbook with song titles and some other labels "written" on pieces of tape, I'm not sure if it's a handwritten looking font or the artist's actual writing. Some of the photos are on mattes like you'd find in really well designed scrapbooks. On the thank you's page is a picture of her writing away on a piece of paper, I'm wondering if it's the thank you's she's writing there. Through out is also little hand drawn and written scribblings, I'm thinking by Taylor herself. The back page has her on a tractor with a barn, greenery and blue skies. Continuing with the butterfly theme from the cover she's in a butterfly dress. There's a Taylor quote written in blue, again don't know by the artist or a font, talking about complications and being her friend.

What I love about the booklet is within each song lyric Taylor has left a secret message for you to decipher, she's done it for all her albums at least through 1989. I won't tell you what they say, but it is fun to do and sometimes informative, sometimes though it is very cryptic and you really wanna know what the message means.

Back Cover:  Inside has Taylor in a white dress, at the river, holding a purple clover. I'm loving that charm bracelet she's got. There's some of the same imprint design like on the front cover. On the back the artist is in same outfit wading the river. Reminds me of rivers we'd go to in summer, except bluer. Taylor Swift is written in green in her own handwriting once again. The song titles and info are in sky blue, websites in black (wow the days of MySpace), in the same script as the inside song titles.

The Disk: We have a light blue photo of Taylor's feet there's a full colored one in the booklet. Actually it kinda puts me in mind of the disk art for the Dixie Chick's Fly CD. All the words are in black, save the Big Machine Records™   logo that's black an white. The album title/artist's name is of course her signature.

The Music:

Tim McGraw- This was the first single she put out if memory serves. What caught my eye was the title. You know a star's hit it big when they make it into another artist's song. I enjoy a lot of Tim McGraw's music, this song didn't make me a Swifty though, I for some reason didn't get too excited over though right now it's an ear wig since I've been listen to it, and I can't keep from singing it. If you somehow missed this tune wrote by Swift and Liz Rose, the pair also wrote the next two together, it's about how someone hopes an old love will think on them from time to time.

Picture To Burn- A ye olde breaking up song and the jaded feelings that follow, and in this case revenge plots. Every time I see the title I can't help think of the title of a book or album my sister was considering once upon a time she was gonna call the project Burning Daisies of something like that. I also remember watching the making of to this song's video I think on CMT. I know Taylor had issues with the video opening basically where she was having to look through binoculars. I think her friend Abigail is starring along with her, isn't awesome when you can drag friends along for you're stardom ride.

Teardrops On My Guitar- A girl pining after her I assume guy friend, but he's in love with another. Ehh the memories of teen love angst. I had my share of guys I crushed on, and  tended to be horribly tongue tied or awkward around them. But I don't think I ever crushed on the very few guy friends I had. I wonder how these peeps feel when she uses their names in songs? I don't have the guts to do that, except in the case of past celebrity crushes.

A Place In This Word- This is a finding your path song (written by Swift, Robert Ellis Orrall and someone known simply as Angelo). As I've mentioned in a previous post I have a special list of songs that really tell my lifes story, yes all our tunes is the sound track of our life, but only certain songs really tell our story or hold memories, and this one is one of them. I added this particular song to that list back in 2009. Mostly cause at the time and even now almost 10 years later am still trying to figure out where I belong, and who I am. Plus the description in the 2nd verse of listening to music and rocking jeans fits me.

Cold As You- Another Swift and Rose song where someone tries to love a person with too many walls up. I just suddenly had an image of Elsa flash before my face.

The Outside- This is written by just Swift. I'm trying to figure out if it's a song about wanting to be part of the in, or any, crowd, being on the outside of a relationship she wishes she can be a part of, or dealing with being an outsider for the first time...

Tied Together With a Smile- Tis Swift and Rose again. This song kind fits how I feel right now. To me it sounds like it's about a person who's held it all together, hid their pain, but now they can't keep it together.

Stay Beautiful- Our just mentioned writing duo with a song that makes me think of something someone may write in that senior year yearbook. You say what you need, wish them well, hope you come across them again, and... well the title says it.

Should've Said No- And this is why you don't cheat on your partners peeps they will find out! This a solo Swift written one about an ex of course, and what he should have done. I remember when she performed this song I wanna say on the CMA's, I think they used it for a music video, and that waterfall fell from the ceiling with the no's projected in it. I mean even King George Strait gave her a standing ovation for that!

Mary's Song (Oh My My My)- Swift, Rose, and Brian Maher giving us the story of a couple as their relationship progresses from childhood to marriage and how they hope the future will be. Reminds me of Bryan White's Tree of Hearts.

Our Song- I think I heard this song for the first time on the radio as I lay in bed after the New Year arrived. This is the song, just written by Swift, that go me on the Taylor Train. I still love it after all these years. I mean hey if what's already out there can't speak how you feel why not write it yourself. I loved the video too. It was so colorful and that sparkly guitar! Actually when VH1 did this video for their reboot of Pop Up Videos I think they said the jewels or what every they used kept coming off.

Extra Bits: Stick the CD in your computer and you 'll end up at a screen that has the image from the inside of the back cover and her signature in white, there's a white butterfly hangout on the corner of the video screen. There are two videos you can choose to watch. The first one is the Tim McGraw video, I actually think a lot of the album photos were taken when they shot the video. The second is a little video about her Grand Ole Opry debut. Seeing her walking the circumference of that great circle just reminded me that even though I've outgrown the dream of being a music artist I still get a longing to at least stand in that circle.

So Swifties, did we enjoy a romp down memory lane? Do you have memories or thoughts related to Taylor's first release? If ya do comment below. I hope you have a good week my friends may God bless you!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer