Fearless (Taylor Swift album)

Fearless
Studio album by Taylor Swift
Released November 11, 2008 (2008-11-11)
Recorded 2007–08
Genre
Length 53:29
Label Big Machine
Producer
Taylor Swift chronology
Beautiful Eyes
(2008)		 Fearless
(2008)		 Speak Now
(2010)
Singles from Fearless
  1. "Love Story"
    Released: September 12, 2008
  2. "White Horse"
    Released: December 7, 2008
  3. "You Belong with Me"
    Released: April 19, 2009
  4. "Fifteen"
    Released: August 30, 2009
  5. "Fearless"
    Released: January 3, 2010

Fearless is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. The album was released on November 11, 2008, by Big Machine Records. As with her debut, Swift wrote or co-wrote all thirteen tracks on Fearless. Most of the songs were written as the singer promoted her debut album as opening act for numerous country artists. Due to the unavailability of collaborators on the road, eight songs were self-penned by Swift. Other songs were co-written with Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey, Colbie Caillat, and John Rich. Swift also made her debut as a record producer, co-producing all songs on the album with Nathan Chapman.

Five singles were released from Fearless. The first single, "Love Story", is her best-selling song to date, selling more than 8 million copies worldwide (according to the IFPI). It was a crossover hit that became one of the best-selling singles of all time internationally and was once the best-selling country song of all time. The succeeding single, "White Horse", also performed well in the US. "You Belong with Me" was an international success, becoming Swift's second best-selling single and her highest position on the US Billboard Hot 100 at the time. "Fifteen" and "Fearless" followed with both achieving a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Fearless was an international breakthrough and huge commercial success for Swift. It debuted at No.1 in the United States and later, became the best-selling album of 2009, selling over 5.2 million copies. It gave Swift, 18 at the time, the distinction of being the youngest artist in history to have the year's best-selling album. It has sold over 7 million copies in the United States,[3] becoming the second biggest-selling album in the last six years. Internationally, Fearless topped charts in Canada and New Zealand and achieved multi-platinum status in six countries. In all, Fearless has sold more than 9.5 million copies worldwide.[4][5] Fearless is also the most awarded album in the history of country music, winning Album of the Year at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, American Music Awards of 2009, Country Music Association, and Academy of Country Music Awards.[6]

Background

Prior to stardom, Swift received a publishing contract with Sony/ATV Music.[7] Over the course of that period, Swift composed over 250 songs solely or collaborating with other songwriters, mostly with Liz Rose or Robert Ellis Orrall,[8] and refused to hand them away to already established acts with intentions of someday singing them herself. When later signed to Big Machine Records, Swift compiled her eponymous debut album of material written during her publishing contract, and expected to do the same for her second album. She said, "I've been very selfish about my songs. I had this dream of this project [Taylor Swift] coming out for so many years now that I just stockpiled. I'm so happy that I did because now we have a second album full of songs and a third album full of songs, and I don't have to lift a finger."[9] However, when embarking on her first and second tour as opening act for Rascal Flatts and George Strait, respectively, Swift continued to compose numerous songs. "I've written a lot of songs by myself lately, especially since I've been alone so much on the road," she said. "I do love writing on the road — I usually write at the concert venue. I'll find a quiet place in some room at the venue, like the locker room."[10]

As a result of writing subsequent to touring, Swift self-penned most of the material. "I've written like eight songs for the second album by myself. If you're in Arkansas, who's there to write with?"[11] During vacation days from touring, Swift collaborated with Rose,[11] musician John Rich, and singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat.[12]

In the writing process, she was heavily influenced by Sheryl Crow's candidness and truthful, yet vulnerable storytelling, and Brad Paisley's touching, yet humorous nature; she opened for Paisley.[8] She sought to prolong with centering romantic love the theme of the album. Primarily, she did not want to alienate her fans with songs about life on the road, for she could never relate to songs of the sort when younger. She continued, "I really try to write more about what I feel and guys and love because that's what fascinates me more than anything else — love and what it does to us and how we treat people and how they treat us. So pretty much every song on the album has a face that I associate with it."[13] Despite her revelation of not having kissed a male in two years, Swift said the album was not wrung dry of such inspiration because she still underwent breakups and felt its core emotions. Adding it did not "take much [for her] to get that sort of emotion out in a song",[14] she explained physical intimacy did not have to resort to kissing to feel disappointment, frustration, or heartbreak.[11] Despite having written numerous new songs, Swift decided to also include previously written tracks, believing there were stories she did not have the opportunity to put out with Taylor Swift, and still desired to.[11]

Having grouped over 75 songs,[8] recording with Nathan Chapman, who produced all but one song on Taylor Swift,[15] commenced soon after having completed touring with Strait;[16] in the process, Swift made her record producing debut.[17] Thereon, her and Chapman recorded and cut an abundance of songs to keep the best material on the album.[11] Thirteen tracks were intended out of Swift's fondness for the number; she attributes it to be her lucky number.[8] To aid in choosing the songs, Swift performed various new tracks – "Permanent Marker", "Missing You", "I'd Lie", "Sparks Fly", and "Fearless" – at the Gold Country Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 29 and May 30, 2007; only the latter song was chosen for the album.[18] By January 2008, Swift had recorded approximately half of the songs that would remain on the final cut of Fearless.[19] The remainder of the songs came in the last two recording sessions: one held in March 2008, the other held sometime in the summer of 2008.[11] When asked to describe the album, Swift commented, "It's the same kind of album I made (in 2006) — just two years older. Sound-wise, it's the kind of songs I like to write, which are country songs, but I guess because of the subject matter and because of some of the melodies I love to use, I guess they have crossover appeal."[13]

Writing development and lyrical content

Swift conceived the title track with Rose and songwriter Hillary Lindsey while touring. It is based on an instrumentation with acoustic guitar, fiddle, and banjo[20] and, lyrically, speaks of taking courage on the romantic circuit[21] by describing a great date.[22] She had previously contemplated the idea of a best first date, something Swift had yet to experience, and, although she was not dating at the time, she was inspired by her desires, rather than her actuality.[23] "Fifteen" was composed about Swift's freshman year of high school at Hendersonville High School,[23][24] where she met her best friend Abigail Anderson.[25] To write it, Swift first focused on how she and Anderson fell in love for the first time and were later heartbroken.[25] She commenced with the line in the bridge "And Abigail gave everything she had to a boy/ Who changed his mind", and continued writing everything else in a backwards manner.[23] She then wrote cautionary lyrics for teenage girls facing similar scenarios.[26] After receiving consent from Anderson to use the song on Fearless,[26] Swift recorded it, and, while doing so, cried.[27] "Love Story" came late into the production of Fearless.[28] It was enkindled a love interest who her family and friends were not fond of. Feeling related to William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (1597), one her favorite narratives, she self-penned the entire track on her bedroom floor in approximately twenty minutes.[29] She begun with the line, "This love is difficult but it's real", which was ultimately placed in the song's second refrain,[23] and altered its conclusion from that of Romeo and Juliet, giving them a happy ending, a feat she believed her favorite characters deserved.[27] Excluding the fictional conclusion, the song was based on Swift's real life experience and, to Swift, represented much optimism regarding how encountering the right person could surpass skepticism.[27]

Swift self-penned "Hey Stephen" about her hidden feelings for Stephen Barker Liles of Love and Theft, a country band that opened several shows for Swift.[30] It is characterized by a playful teen pop melody[31] that is accompanied by a subdued Hammond B-3 organ.[32] While recording the song at a studio owned by John McBride, Martina McBride's husband, he informed Swift of his children's longing to meet her. She invited them and their friends to watch the recording session, which led them to eventually lay down finger snaps for the track.[23] "White Horse" was written almost a year prior to the release of Fearless.[33] It is a ballad whose sparse production, which was based on acoustic guitar and soft piano with accents of cello,[34][35] emphasized on Swift's soft[36] and breathy vocals.[37] Swift first solely wrote the first verse. The singer then made a phone call to Rose asking for her aid in continuing the song, which was completed in approximately forty-five minutes.[38] Its conception was triggered by a boyfriend of Swift's who she perceived to be Prince Charming, but, in the downfall of the relationship, realized was not.[33] Once in the midst of writing, "White Horse" drifted in direction.[39] It was not originally intended to be included on Fearless, but on her next album, for Swift believed solemness was already accurately represented on the album. It was added after Betsy Beers and Shonda Rhimes, executive producers of Grey's Anatomy, decided to use it for the series.[23] Swift became inspired to compose "You Belong with Me" after she overheard a male friend of hers speaking to his girlfriend through a phone call. Out of the sympathy she felt towards him, Swift developed a concept for a song, and later developed the story line in which she was in love with him.[23] The song is based upon different twangy, up-and-down vocal hooks[40] and has banjos clucking alongside new wave electric guitars.[41]
"Breathe"
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In the ballad "Breathe", the accompaniment consists entirely of string instruments,[32] and Swift singing in regards to love-gone-wrong scenario.[36] The song was a collaboration between Swift and Caillat that surged out of Swift's interest in Caillat's debut Coco (2007). The two arranged a writing session to coincide with Caillat's upcoming concert in Nashville, Tennessee,[23] where they composed "Breathe" about Swift losing a friend very dear to her, and later recorded it with Caillat to singing background vocals loudly enough for audiences to recognize her.[42] "Tell Me Why" was triggered by a love interest she was never in a formal romantic relationship with. Raged by his disparaging and inconsistent behavior towards her,[23] she stormed into Rose's house, and vented about the scenario. She described how she grew tired of his attitude and the discrepancies between his sayings and actions, among other concerns. They consequently put all her ramblings into "Tell Me Why".[43] Swift composed "You're Not Sorry" at the moment where a relationship came tumbling down because of her lying and secretive partner.[23] It is a power ballad with rock music influences;[44] it commences with piano and progresses to electric guitars mid-song.[45] Swift had developed the fictional plot for "The Way I Loved You" (preferring complicated men for relationships), the title, and sought to write the song with Rich. He was able to relate to the plot, being that he is usually the complicated person in relationships. The two approached the song from two different angles while writing it, which she described to be incredible.[23]

"Forever & Always" was a last minute addition to Fearless, being written shortly before audio mastering was held and CD booklets were printed.[28] Swift self-penned the track about the fallout of her relationship with Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers.[46] "Forever & Always" was written in a state where she noticed Jonas' slow shift from her and wondered why.[23] Jonas later ended the relationship with Swift for actress Camilla Belle, whom he met on set his "Lovebug" (2008) music video.[47] Despite the track being written very late on in the album process, Swift decided she wanted to address the breakup via music, for it was a dramatic experience in her life.[28] "The Best Day" was a song Swift dedicated to her mother, Andrea Swift. It is an understated ballad, and the only song on Fearless to be written in simple verse form. The song was inspired by an incident during middle school, when Swift called several of her peers on the phone and asked if they wanted to go shopping with her. However, every girl had a different excuse for why they couldn't go. Eventually, Swift's mother agreed to take her to the local mall. When they arrived, Swift saw all of the girls she had called on the phone, goofing around in Victoria's Secret. "I just remember my mom looking at me and saying, We're going to King of Prussia Mall. Which is the big, big mall in Pennsylvania, 45 minutes away. So we left and went to the better mall. My mom let me escape from certain things that were too painful to deal with. And we talked about it the whole ride there, and we had a good time shopping."[48] She composed it while on tour in summer of 2007 and recorded it without her mother's knowledge because she decided to gift the song to her as a Christmas present. Assembling footage from home videos, Swift made a music video for it and surprised her mother with the DVD on Christmas Eve. Andrea was at first unaware it was Swift singing the track; once she noticed, she begun bawling.[23] The singer decided to include "The Best Day" on Fearless because she desired to address the fact that her mother was her best friend on an album.[49] "Change" was solely composed by Swift about her hopes and aspirations to succeed, although signed to the smallest record label in Nashville, Tennessee. After reassuring to herself that it would be different in the future, she wrote the beginning of "Change".[23] She left the song unfinished, waiting for a remarkable event to trigger its completion.[50] She then completed the track the day after she won the Horizon Award at the 2007 Country Music Association Awards and saw Scott Borchetta, the president of Big Machine Records, crying.[49]

Title, packaging and release

Swift performing "You're Not Sorry" on the Fearless Tour.

After completing the album's first track, Swift deeply deliberated her personal definition of the word "fearless".[51] To her, "fearless doesn't mean you're completely unafraid and it doesn't mean that you're bulletproof. It means that you have a lot of fears, but you jump anyway."[51] She then started contemplating the word to title the album, and to assure she was making the correct decision, applied to every song on the album. Finding a fearless element to the themes and messages behind the songs, Swift decided to title the album Fearless.[49] On the liner notes, she further explained the album title,

This album is called Fearless, and I guess I'd like to clarify why we chose that as the title. To me, Fearless is not the absence of fear. It's not being completely unafraid. To me, Fearless is having fears, Fearless is having doubts. Lots of them. To me, Fearless is living in spite of those things that scare you to death. Fearless is falling madly in love again, even though you've been hurt before. Fearless is walking into your freshman year of high school at fifteen. Fearless is getting back up and fighting for what you want over and over again... even though every time you've tried before, you've lost. It's Fearless to have faith that someday things will change. Fearless is having the courage to say goodbye to someone who only hurts you, even though can't breathe without them. I think it's Fearless to fall for your best friend, even though he's in love with someone else. And when someone apologizes to you enough times for things they'll never stop doing, I think it's Fearless to stop believing them. It's Fearless to say "you're NOT sorry". I think loving someone despite what people think is Fearless. I think allowing yourself to cry on the bathroom floor is Fearless. Letting go is Fearless. Then, moving on and being alright... That's Fearless too. But no matter what love throws at you, you have to believe in it. You have to believe in love stories and prince charmings and happily ever after. That's why I write these songs. Because I think love is Fearless.[17]

As with Taylor Swift, Swift was very involved with the album packaging. The album's images were photographed by Joseph Anthony Barker, Ash Newell and Sheryl Niels while the cover and graphic designs were executed by Leen Ann Ramey for Ramey Design.[17] Fearless was released on November 11, 2008 in the United States and Canada,[52][53] and on November 15, 2008 in Australia. The album was then re-released on February 27, 2009 in Australia as a limited edition with bonus tracks originally from Taylor Swift and a new artwork. An international edition was released March 2, 2009 in Spain, and numerous countries followed in the consequent weeks.

Platinum edition re-release

Swift had already commenced to compose songs for her next album, what would become Speak Now (2010), but had also written songs she believed did not correspond with her scope of the record. She believed the songs that had accumulated should have been integrated in Fearless. Out of her desire to release them, Swift pondered the idea of re-releasing Fearless with the songs.[54] Coupled the fact that numerous fans were longing for new material while others were recently discovering her music, she decided to execute the plans.[11] Scott Borchetta, chief executive officer (CEO) of Big Machine Records stated, "Taylor's fans have an incredible appetite for her new music and her ongoing life experiences. The two million-plus fans who bought Fearless within weeks of release last year are screaming for new Taylor music and Taylor has delivered."[55] Some tracks were written much prior recording, while others were done subsequently. "Jump Then Fall" was self-penned by Swift using a banjo and a "feel-good vibe", which, along with its bouncy character, caused for it to be Swift's favorite song on the re-release.[56] Swift also reworked the tempo and replaced the guitar-driven instrumentation to piano of "Forever & Always" for the new version of Fearless.[55]

It included Swift's only cover on a studio album, a rendition of American rock band Luna Halo's "Untouchable" (2007). Borchetta previously had requested Swift to perform a cover on Clear Channel's Stripped in August 2008.[57] Swift recalled that Borchetta had given her Luna Halo's eponymous second studio album to listen to, and ultimately chose to cover "Untouchable". Swift altered the song both musically and lyrically, altering the verses' melodies significantly while completely reworking the arrangement and switching the verses while maintaining the refrains similar.[57] Once performed, video uploads of the Stripped performance and fans imitating it surfaced on YouTube.[57] Its popularity on the video-sharing site led Borchetta to convince Swift to record the song for the re-release of Fearless.[57] The members of Luna Halo consented the cover's inclusion in part because of Swift's popularity and commercial success; the band also gave Swift writing credits for her cover as they felt it was appropriate since the song was altered drastically.[57]

Titled Fearless Platinum Edition, the re-release was announced on September 10, 2009 with a release date of October 27, 2009.[55] It was then pushed forward one day, to a release to October 26, 2009.[58] Fearless Platinum Edition bore a new collector's cover that altered the background color to black and included a CD and a DVD.[55] The CD had an additional six songs — "Jump Then Fall", "Untouchable", "Forever & Always" (Piano Version), "Come in with the Rain", "SuperStar", and "The Other Side of the Door" — placed prior to the original tracks from the album.[55] The DVD comprised music videos ("Change", "The Best Day", "Love Story", "White Horse", and "You Belong with Me"), behind-the-scenes videos (for the latter three), over fifty images (photographed by Austin K. Swift, the singer's younger brother) and backstage footage from the first concert of the Fearless Tour, and "Thug Story" (a video with rapper T-Pain filmed exclusively for the 2009 CMT Music Awards).[55]

Singles
"Love Story" (2008)
A 24-second audio sample of "Love Story", a midtempo number that narrates from the perspective of the fictional character Juliet.[29]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Love Story" was released as the album's lead single on September 12, 2008 via digital distribution. The song was highly acclaimed by music critics who complimented Swift's writing style and the song's plot.[59] The track was also a commercial success internationally. It is Swift's best-selling single to date, pushing over 6.5 million copies worldwide since January 2010, therefore establishing itself among of the best-selling singles of all time.[60] In the United States, "Love Story" has sold over 5 million digital downloads as of May 2011 and became one of the best-selling singles in the United States.[61] It is the best-selling country single of all time, and was later surpassed by Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" (2009) in April 2011.[62] Furthermore, "Love Story" peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100[63] and marked the highest peak by a country song on Mainstream Top 40 (Pop Songs) since Shania Twain's "You're Still the One" (1998).[64] The track was also Swift's only number one single in Australia,[65] where it was certified triple platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).[66] An accompanying music video for "Love Story" was directed by Trey Fanjoy and follows Swift and a love interest as they meet in a university campus and imagine themselves in a prior era.[67]

"White Horse" became Fearless' second single on December 9, 2008. It garnered generally positive reception with critics commenting that Swift was able to make its message palpable[36] and selecting it among the best tracks on Fearless.[37] Although not able to duplicate the success of its predecessor, the ballad was able to perform well commercially. It peaked at number thirteen in the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on Hot Country Songs.[68] It sold over 1.6 million copies in the United States as of February 2011[69] and managed to chart in Australia,[70] Canada,[68] and the United Kingdom.[71] "White Horse"'s music video was also directed by Fanjoy and features Swift as she decides to end a relationship via phone call after recalling multiple memories with her love interest.[72]

A young woman with blond, curly hair looks up while being dressed in a black cocktail dress and standing on a taxi cab.
Swift performing "You Belong with Me" at rehearsals for the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

"You Belong with Me" was released as the third single from Fearless on April 26, 2009. Critical reception for the song was mixed, ranging from "every single Taylor Swift hit sounds the same"[73] to naming one of her best songs.[37] However, "You Belong with Me" enjoyed commercial success internationally. In the United States, the song was tied for Swift's best-charting effort, with "Today Was a Fairytale" (2010), at number two. It was later passed for that title when "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" reached number one.[74] Driven mostly by non-country radio airplay, the song established the largest crossover radio audience since Faith Hill's "Breathe" (2000).[75] Selling over 3.6 million copies as of February 2011, the track is the third best-selling country single of all time.[76] Roman White directed the music video for "You Belong with Me", which plot centers on the protagonist secretively loving the male lead, although he has a girlfriend; both the protagonist and antagonist were portrayed by Swift.[77] It won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video in 2009, but during Swift's acceptance speech, rapper Kanye West interrupted, protesting in support of nominee Beyoncé Knowles. The incident caused tumult in the media, with many coming to Swift's defense.[78]

"Fifteen" was released as the fourth single from the album on September 1, 2009. It was praised by numerous critics for its vulnerability and accurate portrayal of a real teenager.[79] Commercially, "Fifteen" was mildly successful, peaking at number twenty-one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number nineteen on the Canadian Hot 100.[80] In the United States, the song sold over 1.1 million digital downloads as of February 2011.[61] The music video for the single was directed by White and is heavily accentuated with special effects. It features Swift walking through a garden, where she relives many memories with her friend. "Fearless", the album's title track, became the fifth and final single released from Fearless on January 4, 2010. The song generally pleased contemporary critics, many who complimented it for appealing to different age groups.[81] The song peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 after its release as a promotional single.[82] During that time, it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the sales of over 500,000 digital downloads.[83] It therefore became the first single released after being certified gold by the RIAA.[21] Once released as a single, "Fearless" was only able to reach the position of number seventy-six.[84] It also peaked at number thirty-two in Spain.[85] The title track has an associated music video consisting of footage of the tour itself and backstage; it was directed by Todd Cassetty.[86]

Promotion

Swift performing "The Way I Loved You" on the Fearless Tour

To promote the album Swift released four promotional singles, advertised as "Countdown to Fearless". The first promotional single released was "Change" on August 8, 2008. The song was also included as part of the AT&T Team USA Soundtrack (2008).[87] "Fearless" was released as the second promotional single on October 14, 2008.[88] The third promotional single, "You're Not Sorry", was released October 28, 2008. The fourth and final song used to promote the album, "You Belong with Me", was released on November 4, 2008.

On June 8, 2008,[89] Swift performed on the Clear Channel Stripped to promote Fearless. Two of the performances would later be released on the Target exclusive version of Fearless Platinum Edition.[90]

Like their last album, this one also features CDVU+ that includes more than 30 pages of bonus features with an exclusive video performance, 60 printable photos, complete album lyrics, downloadable graphics, and hidden links. In addition, the packaging of the album is made from 100% recycled materials.

Tour

Main article: Fearless Tour

On April 23, 2009, Swift began her first headlining tour called the Fearless Tour in North America. It ran until July 10, 2010 and had four legs and 105 shows in four countries. Sales for the tour began in February 2009 and tickets for several tour dates and venues were sold out in a record of less than one minute.[91][92][93]

Swift performing the album's title track during a concert on the Fearless Tour.

Reception

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic73/100[94]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Blender[95]
Entertainment WeeklyB[96]
The Guardian[97]
MSN MusicA–[98]
The Observer[99]
Q[100]
Rolling Stone[20]
Slant Magazine[31]
USA Today[101]

Fearless received generally positive reviews from critics, earning a collective score of 73 out of 100 on Metacritic.[94] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic believed Swift abandoned teen pretenses, styling herself after Shania Twain and Faith Hill prior to becoming divas. He added that Swift presented herself as a "big sister instead of a big star", pointing "Fifteen" as a prime example of it.[2] Despite noting the album's pop music elements outweighed its country music elements and calling it "one of the best mainstream pop albums of 2008", Erlewine said Fearless "never [felt] garish, a crass attempt at a crossover success".[2] Ken Tucker of Billboard wrote, "Those who thought Taylor Swift was a big deal after the release of her first record be prepared: She's about to get way bigger. Though they're written by a teenager, Swift's songs have broad appeal, and therein lies the genius and accessibility in her second effort."[102] James Reed of The Boston Globe believed Swift's charm was in her songwriting and that honesty is what separated her from other teenage starlets at the time who relied on "big-name producers, songwriters, and Disney shows for a music career."[1] Drawing similarities between her ability to "blur the line between commercial country and Top 40 radio", Reed compared the singer to a younger version of the Dixie Chicks.[1] Writing for MSN Music, Robert Christgau found Swift's message about "believing in love stories and prince charmings and happily ever after" distastefully sentimental, but was nonetheless very impressed with the catchiness and "diaristic realism" of Swift's songs. He believed the record "can pass for a concept album about the romantic life of an uncommonly-to-impossibly strong and gifted teenage girl, starting on the first day of high school and gradually shedding naiveté without approaching misery or neurosis".[98] Leah Greenblatt from Entertainment Weekly stated, "A button-cute blond teen with a pocket full of hits — sounds like the early aughts all over again, no? But aside from sharing, possibly, a box of Clairol, there is nothing remotely Britney- or Christina-esque about Swift."[96] Greenblatt presumed that at the time her fan base would remain young females due to her way of communicating with them, but would grow over time.[96]

Alexis Petridis of the United Kingdom magazine The Guardian had mixed opinions about the album, for he thought it was certainly "bland and uninventive", yet executed incredibly well. Over the course of listening to it, he queried if more music of the sort was needed, and concluded that "the feeling that the world is going to answer your query in the affirmative swiftly overwhelms you."[97] Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone called Swift "a songwriting savant with an intuitive gift for verse-chorus-bridge architecture that [...] calls to mind Swedish pop gods Dr. Luke and Max Martin."[20] Rosen attributed Swift's particular charm to in how intertwined almost impersonal professionalism with intimate and real confessions.[20] Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine believed Fearless pointed out that Swift was capable of having a long musical career. However, Keefe was disappointed in the album, for it did not showcase significant refinements as she did on Taylor Swift; but, with an immature voice and young age, to him, Swift still had enough time to perfect her craft and make a great album.[31] Josh Love of The Village Voice wrote, "This remarkably self-aware adolescent's words don't falter, masterfully avoiding the typical diarist's pitfalls of trite banality and pseudo-profound bullshit."[103] Chris Richards of The Washington Post said, "In Swift's world, every song is a radio-ready charmer, confirming the 18-year-old's ability to pen a gaggle of consistently pleasing tunes."[41] He noted Swift's voice was only minimally twangful and her vocal delivery was sugary enough to receive heavy rotation on Radio Disney, yet poised enough to do the same CMT. He also felt Swift was a talented songwriter, but her consistency sometimes fell into uniformity.[41]

Awards and nominations

At the 52nd Grammy Awards, Fearless won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and Best Country Album.[104] Swift's Album of the Year win made her the youngest person ever at the age of 20 to receive that award, thereby surpassing Alanis Morissette's win for Jagged Little Pill at the age of 21. Six years later at the 58th Grammy Awards Swift won Album Of The Year again for her album 1989, becoming the only woman to win the award twice for her own work. Fearless was also the first album in history to win the American Music Award, Academy of Country Music Award, Country Music Association Award, and Grammy Award for Album of The Year in the same year making it the most awarded album in the history of country music.[105]

Chart performance

On the week ending November 29, 2008, Fearless entered at the summit of the United States' Billboard 200 with over 592,000 copies sold in its first week — the largest sum for a country album since the Eagles' Long Road out of Eden sold over 711,000 copies in a single week in November 2007.[106] In the proceeding week, the album descended to number four with over 217,000 copies sold (a 63 percent decline from the previous week).[107] Three weeks later, the album reclaimed the number one position with over 249,000 copies sold, and was able to top the Billboard 200 for a total of 11 non-consecutive weeks.[108] It became the longest chart-topper since Santana's Supernatural spent 12 non-consecutive weeks at number one between 1999 and 2000,[109] and the longest reign on the Billboard 200 of the 2000s decade.[64] Furthermore, Fearless became the longest chart-topper by a female country artist, third by a country artist overall,[110] and sixth by a female artist, along with Mariah Carey's 1990 eponymous debut album.[111] After completing its Billboard 200 reign in March 2009,[108] the album continued to sell strongly throughout the remainder of 2009. It went on to sell over 5,217,000 copies in the year, becoming 2009's best-selling album in the US. Thus, Swift, at the age of 20, became the youngest artist to have the year's best-selling album and the only female country artist to have one as well.[112] Fearless' success extended years beyond its release. The week ending January 30, 2010 marked its 52nd week on the top ten of the Billboard 200, making Fearless one of 18 albums to remain on the top ten for a year or more, and the only one from the 2000s.[113] The album logged a total of 58 weeks on the top ten, becoming the longest-running top ten album by a country artist.[114] On Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, Fearless remained number one for 35 non-consecutive weeks.[115] The album was certified seven times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments exceeding seven million copies.[116] As of December 2015, Fearless has sold 7 million copies in the US.[3] It is ranked as the second biggest-selling album in the last six years[117] and the sixth best-selling digital album in history.[118] As of the week of August 15, 2015, the album has charted 238 weeks on the Billboard 200.[119]

In Canada, Fearless entered at number one on the albums chart with sales of over 27,000 copies on the week ending November 29, 2008.[120] Although only spending one week at number one, the album charted in Canada for a total of 66 weeks,[121] and was certified quadruple platinum by the Music Canada for shipments exceeding 320,000 copies.[122] The album also managed success overseas. In Australia, it debuted at number 50 on the week ending November 30, 2008 and dropped from the chart in the succeeding week. On the week ending January 25, 2009, it re-entered the Australian Albums Chart at number 42, and, nine weeks later, on the week ending April 26, 2009, peaked at number two.[123] Fearless was certified quintuple platinum by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipments exceeding 350,000 copies.[124] In New Zealand, Fearless debuted at number two on the week ending March 16, 2009 and ascended to the top spot in the following week.[125] It was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) for the shipment of 30,000 copies.[126]

The album sold over 400,000 copies throughout all of Asia as of February 2011.[127] In Japan, it debuted at number 22 with 4,945 copies sold in the first week of July 2009,[128] and peaked at number eight.[129] It was eventually certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for the shipment of over 100,000 copies.[130] In the Philippines, it was certified nine times platinum (its highest worldwide) by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) for the sales of over 135,000 copies.[131] In Europe, Fearless also performed well, charting at number eighteen on European Top 100 Albums.[132] Achieving its highest peak in Europe, the album debuted at number five on the UK Albums Chart on the week ending March 21, 2009.[133] Despite descending in the continuing weeks, the album remained on the UK Albums Chart for 63 weeks,[133] and was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for the shipment of 300,000 copies.[134] In Ireland, the album peaked at number seven,[135] and was certified double platinum by the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) for shipments exceeding 30,000 copies.[136] Fearless saw less success in mainland Europe, charting within the top twenty in Austria, Germany, Greece, Norway, Russia, and Sweden. In total, Fearless has sold over 8.6 million copies worldwide.[137]

Track listings

Fearless – North American standard edition (all songs produced by Nathan Chapman and Taylor Swift)
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Fearless"  
 4:01
2. "Fifteen"  Swift 4:54
3. "Love Story"  Swift 3:55
4. "Hey Stephen"  Swift 4:14
5. "White Horse"  
  • Swift
  • Rose
 3:54
6. "You Belong with Me"  
  • Swift
  • Rose
 3:51
7. "Breathe" (featuring Colbie Caillat)
  • Swift
  • Caillat
 4:23
8. "Tell Me Why"  
  • Swift
  • Rose
 3:20
9. "You're Not Sorry"  Swift 4:21
10. "The Way I Loved You"  
 4:04
11. "Forever and Always"  Swift 3:45
12. "The Best Day"  Swift 4:05
13. "Change"  Swift 4:40
Total length:
 53:29

Personnel

As listed in the liner notes.[17]
  • Amos Heller – bass guitar
  • Claire Indie – cello
  • John Keefe – drums
  • Tim Lauer – Hammond organ, keyboard, piano
  • Matt Legge – assistant engineer, engineer
  • Tim Marks – bass guitar
  • Delaney McBride – finger snapping
  • Emma McBride – finger snapping
  • Justin McIntosh – graphic design
  • Grant Mickelson – electric guitar
  • Ash Newell – photography
  • Justin Niebank – mixing
  • Sheryl Nields – photography
  • Mark Petaccia – assistant engineer, engineer
  • Lee Ann Ramey – cover art, graphic design
  • Sandi Spika – hair stylist, make-up artist, wardrobe stylist
  • Bryan Sutton – acoustic guitar, mandolin
  • Whitney Sutton – copy coordinator
  • Taylor Swift – booklet design, lead vocals, producer, vocal harmony, songwriter, composer, acoustic guitar
  • Todd Tidwell – assistant engineer, engineer, mixing assistant
  • Ilya Toshinsky – banjo
  • Lorrie Turk – make-up artist
  • Brady Wardlaw – hair stylist
  • Hank Williams – mastering
  • Brian David Willis – engineer
  • Al Wilson – percussion
  • Jonathan Yudkin – cello, string arrangements, string instruments

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2008–09) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[123] 2
Australian Country Albums Chart[156] 1
Austrian Albums Chart[157] 14
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[158] 52
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[159] 68
Brazilian Albums Chart[160] 18
Canadian Albums Chart[121] 1
Danish Albums Chart[161] 23
European Top 100 Albums[132] 18
French Albums Chart[162] 26
German Albums Chart[163] 12
Greek Albums Chart[164] 19
Irish Albums Chart[135] 7
Japanese Albums Chart[129] 8
Mexican Albums Chart[165] 37
Netherlands Albums Chart[166] 43
New Zealand Albums Chart[125] 1
Norway Albums Chart[167] 5
Russian Albums Chart[168] 17
Spanish Albums Chart[169] 28
Swedish Albums Chart[170] 12
Swiss Albums Chart[171] 35
UK Albums Chart[133] 5
UK Country Albums Chart[172] 1
US Billboard 200[108] 1
US Top Country Albums[115] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2008) Position
US Billboard 200[173] 66
US Top Country Albums[174] 13
Chart (2009) Position
Australian Albums Chart[175] 4
Canadian Albums Chart[176] 2
New Zealand Albums Chart[177] 2
UK Albums Chart[178] 46
US Billboard 200[179] 1
US Top Country Albums[180] 1
Chart (2010) Position
Australian Albums Chart[181] 17
Canadian Albums Chart[182] 14
Japanese Albums Chart[183] 75
New Zealand Albums Chart[177] 31
UK Albums Chart[184] 122
US Billboard 200[185] 7
US Top Country Albums[186] 2
Chart (2011) Position
US Billboard 200[187] 88
US Top Country Albums[188] 42
Chart (2012) Position
US Billboard 200[189] 126
Chart (2013) Position
US Billboard Catalog Albums[190] 39

Decade-end charts

Chart (2000–09) Position
Australia Albums Chart[191] 87
US Billboard 200[192] 56

All-time charts

Chart (All Time) Position
US Billboard 200[193] 4

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Arab world (GCC)[194] Gold 6,000
Australia (ARIA)[195] 7× Platinum 490,000
Austria (IFPI)[196] Gold 7,500
Canada (Music Canada)[122] 4× Platinum 320,000
Hong Kong (IFPI)[197] Gold 15,000
Indonesia (ASIRI)[197] Platinum 10,000
Ireland (IRMA)[136] 2× Platinum 30,000
Japan (RIANJ)[130] Gold 100,000
Malaysia (RIM)[197] Platinum 20,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[126] 3× Platinum 45,000
Norway (IFPI)[198] Gold 7,500
Philippines (PARI)[131] 9× Platinum 135,000
Russia (NFPF)[199] Gold 5,000
Singapore (RIAS)[197] Platinum 15,000
South Africa (RiSA)[197] Gold 10,000
Taiwan (RIT)[197] Platinum 15,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[134] Platinum 506,901[200]
United States (RIAA)[116] 7× Platinum 7,001,000[3]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

See also

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