Today is the release of Taylor Swift's fifth album 1989! I headed over to Target to pick up the Deluxe edition as soon as possible! They also had these adorable cards. *HINT - I want a Taylor Swift Birthday Card- HINT*
*Cue Crazy Dancing*
Here are all my feels from the first listen and the secret messages:
“Welcome to New York”: We begin our story in New York. SHE'S LIVING THE DREAM! It has a cute 1980s beat.
“Blank Space”: There once was a girl known by everyone and no one. I like the beat to this song. It's a relatable song. The relationship is a high, but they still go through with it.
“Style”: Her heart belonged to someone who couldn’t stay. Another relationship that you just can't say no to. Catchy.
“Out of the Woods”: They loved each other recklessly. This whole section is a crazy, whirlwind relationship.
“All You Had to Do Was Stay”: They paid the price. It's simple, he just had to stay. Almost everyone has felt this way, wishing it has worked out.
“Shake It Off”: She danced to forget him. This is totally going to become the anthem to 2014. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Taylor!!
“I Wish You Would”: He drove past her street each night. This is kinda upbeat for a remorseful song. That's what makes it amazing. We all regret and wish for another chance. Sometimes we get it.
“Bad Blood”: She made friends and enemies. ROAR! Cat fight. Heavy beat and I like it. Totally about a girlfriend/best friend, but it could also be about a boyfriend too.
“Wildest Dreams”: He only saw her in his dreams. Totally having enchanted flashbacks, but more urgent and older. LOVE IT! "He's so tall and handsome as hell". Totally one of my top faves, I already have it memorized.
“How You Get the Girl”: Then one day he came back. This is upbeat. I'm having Disney flashbacks. I love a cute simple love song like Kiss The Girl, Beauty and the Beast or I Won't Say I'm In Love. This is like that, but a little more real.
“This Love”: Timing is a funny thing. This is the only song written solely by Taylor on the album. All I think of is the old quote "If you love something let it go. If it comes back to you then it's yours".
“I Know Places”: And everyone was watching. Co-wrote with Ryan Tedder. It has his feel. Love the rushed feel of the song. It's an US against THEM song. Good choice.
“Clean”: She lost him but she found herself and somehow that was everything. The hardest part is feeling like you're fully washed from a previous relationship. It takes a good rain to wash away the overwhelming part.
I was going to call my posts that are about events, links, news and other things I found cool or interesting Laney's Roundup, but I decided to change it to Odds and Ends.
After weeks of trying to figure out the clues, Taylor Swift finally answers all of our burning questions with a LiveStream on Yahoo! Her fifth album, 1989, will be in stores and online on October 27th, 2014. I already made an event in my calendar!
"Shake It Off" is AMAZING! Taylor has definitely moved from her country roots and gone to the pop side! She still is an amazing singer and performer, so this move isn't all too surprising. Check it out! You'll instantly be addicted!
I'm a huge KISS fan and have been since I was 14. I loved watching Gene Simmons on The Celebrity Apprentice. Then I got hooked on his reality show, Gene Simmons Family Jewels on A&E. This was so much fun to watch!
More new music from Hilary Duff! It just keeps getting me excited to buy a new cd from her!
Six: Tribute to Robin Williams
It has been a week since Robin Williams passed away. Death is always sad, and I think everyone feels the sting from Robin Williams' passing because he brought joy and light to our lives, and it was a shame that he didn't have the same feeling. My favorite of his movies are Mrs. Doubtfire, Bird Cage & Jack. Honestly, all of his movies are amazing because he brings something special to them. Here links related to Robin Williams that I enjoyed.
Today's post is about the growth of a song. Now I'm no musician, but this is one song I've seen grow. Taylor Swift wrote this song many years ago, way back in 2007, when she was 17. At the time it was one of her biggest unreleased songs. Taylor has many songs that she's written and performed that haven't been released onto an actual CD(my ultimate favorite being I'd Lie, which is also one of the few songs that you can find in a decent download) and Sparks Fly was one of her fan favorites since it was released.
When she announced last summer that Sparks Fly would be included on her next CD everyone was ecstatic! I hadn't heard the song before the CD came out, at least not a good copy, so when I heard Sparks Fly for the first time I fell in love! Sparks Fly is one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs, and my favorite overall off of her Speak Now CD. I didn't learn until I Googled the lyrics that she had changed the song. There are many changes from the early original version and the new studio version. The chorus is still the same, but the rest of the song has been changed.
The stories are almost the same, Taylor tells the story of a girl who falls in love with a boy, but she knows that this boy just isn't right for her and she's not suppose to feel this way about him. Still she is absolutely drawn to this boy, and she wants him, badly.
The main difference in these openings is that in the original the girl falls in love as soon as he says her name. Just his presence intoxicates her. In the studio version the girl is in a love with a boy and she knows she shouldn't be and this could be for any reason, from him being different from her usual type, or being a bad boy, or any other kind of reason. She knows that she shouldn't feel this way, yet she still can't shake the feeling of being drawn to him. Here's is the opening of the song. I've marked the original and studio versions.
Original Version
The way you move is like a full on rainstorm
And I'm a house of cards
You say my name for the first time, baby, and I
Fall in love in an empty bar
And you stood there in front of me just
Close enough to touch
Close enough to hope you couldn't see
What I was thinking of
Studio Version
The way you move is like a full on rainstorm
And I'm a house of cards
You're the kind of reckless that should
Send me running but
I kinda know that I won't get far
And you stood there in front of me just
Close enough to touch
Close enough to hope you couldn't see
What I was thinking of
The chorus is the romance book and typical girl dream of a boy just dropping everything and coming at the climatic moment when the rain is pouring down and not caring about the rain as he takes her in his arms and kisses her. That one kiss takes away all the pain of longing for him and waiting for him. The sparks fly is a common expression that fits this song well. There is chemistry between them and though they fight it, the sparks still fly between them. The last part of the chorus is her wanting him to leave her with a memory, a good one that she can hang onto when she longs for him and he is no longer there.
Chorus
Drop everything now
Meet me in the pouring rain
Kiss me on the sidewalk
Take away the pain
'Cause I see, sparks fly
Whenever you smile
Get me with those green eyes, baby
As the lights go down
Something that'll haunt me when you're not around
'Cause I see, sparks fly
Whenever you smile
After the chorus the versions change again. In the original, the girl is wide eyed and young. When the guy asks her to dance she's head over heels. Her hormones and emotions over take her, as does his presence. She wants him so badly, and she could wait for him, but she's dying to have him then.
In the studio version her mind is telling her that wanting him is bad, but a single touch blows her mind and all her sense too. This song is PG 13 at this part, and I'm assuming by what it implies things go far. But it could still be PG and just be referring to kissing. The girl also talks about being on guard with the world, but this guy gets behind her defenses, even if she tries not to let him.
Original Version
So reach out open handed
And lead me out to that floor
Well, I don't need more paper lanterns
Take me down, baby bring on the movie star
'Cause my heart is beating fast
And you are beautiful I could wait patiently
But I really wish you would
Studio Version
My mind forgets to remind me
You're a bad idea
You touch me once and it's really something
You find I'm even better than
You imagined I would be
I'm on my guard for the rest of the world, but with you
I know it's no good
And I could wait patiently
But I really wish you would
There is another round of the chorus after this part.
In the original version she wants him to give in to how much she wants him and how good they could be, even if it's just for one night. When he does, he takes her away and the reference to whispering soft and slow is a girl's dream of being wooed. She wants to hate how good he makes her feel, but he makes it so impossible. The feelings he makes her feel are comparable to fireworks.
In the studio version the girl still has the same feeling of want and trying to get him to feel the way she does. Their eyes are locked at the tension is building between them. Even though in her mind she knows it's wrong to want him so badly and to be with him, it still feels so right at the same time. He leads her up the staircase and it's every girl's dream of being swept away to a special place. He woos her and the way he wants her feels like a firework show. That burst of emotions that grow and grow.
Original Version
I run my fingers through your hair
And watch the lights go out
Just keep your beautiful eyes on me
Gonna strike this match tonight
Lead me up the staircase
Won't you whisper soft and slow
I'd love to hate it
But you make it like a fireworks show
Studio Version
I'll run my fingers through your hair
And watch the lights go wild
Just keep on keeping you eyes on me
It's just wrong enough to make it feel right
And lead me up the staircase
Won't you whisper soft and slow
I'm captivated by you baby like a firework show
The song ends with another round of the chorus.
My thoughts on this song are easy. 1). I love Taylor Swift 2). Sparks Fly is catchy and relatable. 3). It's a really well written song. 4). What's not to love?
Well I'll leave y'all with the videos to these songs. Have fun and enjoy!
