I think it’s safe to say that I’ve
NEVER EVER EVER been this excited for a
Taylor Swift record. As soon as “
We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” appeared online
I KNEW my love affair for country-pop music was about to experience a
MAJOR surge. The single is the first to be taken from Swift’s forthcoming fourth studio album,
Red, due
October 22nd via
Big Machine/
Mercury Records. Featuring production from
Jeff Bhasker (
Kanye West,
Alicia Keys,
Beyonce),
Nathan Chapman (
The Band Perry,
Shania Twain),
Dann Huff (
Carrie Underwood,
Faith Hill,
Rascal Flatts),
Max Martin (
Britney Spears,
Robyn,
Kelly Clarkson) and
Shellback (
Britney Spears,
P!nk,
Maroon 5),
Red looks to be
Taylor Swift‘s most crossover friendly album to date and that
VERY much excites me!
Red is a bit of a creative departure for the 22 year old Swift, who wrote her last album, Speak Now, ENTIRELY by herself. On Red, Swift collaborated with several artists, producers and songwriters – all industry juggernauts whom the young singer/songwriter has always wanted to work with, including a duet with popular flame-haired UK singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran. According to Swift in a statement,
“For the last two years, I’ve been working on an album called Red. I called it Red because of the tumultuous crazy adventures in love and loss that it chronicles. In my mind, when you experience love that’s fast paced and out of control and mixes infatuation, jealousy, frustration, miscommunication, and all of those lovely emotions…in retrospect, it all looks red.”
Wise beyond her years, I tell you. Following it’s release, “
We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” reached #1 on
iTunes in 25 countries in 50 minutes, breaking the previous record held by
Lady Gaga‘s “
Born This Way,” making the song the fastest selling single in digital history. In it’s second week of release, “
We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” achieved top honors on the
Billboard Hot 100 chart. On the country side of things, the single became Swift’s lowest charting single on country radio, peaking at #13 on the
Hot Country Songs chart, likely due to it’s overwhelmingly pop-infused beats and production stylings. It’s clear that Swift and her label are targeting country radio with the release of the album’s second single, the more
TWANGY “
Begin Again,” although at the moment, the single appears to be doing better on the Hot 100 chart (debuting at an impressive #7) than it is on the
Hot Country Songs Chart (debuting at #37), although it is still early.
Check out adorable
Declan Whitebloom-directed video for “
We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
BELOW and stay tuned for the Paris-shot video for “
Begin Again,” due out shortly. The single is available to download now (
iTunes US/
iTunes UK), as is “
Begin Again” (
iTunes US/
iTunes UK) and the album’s title track, “
Red” (
iTunes US/
iTunes UK). Swift also recorded a heartbreaking new song called “
Ronan” (
iTunes US) in memory of a four year old boy who died of neuroblastoma. The song was
performed live on the
Stand Up To Cancer telethon and made available for digital download with proceeds going to cancer-related charities.
