Fearless

BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Fearless. Swift, Taylor. Audio CD. Big Machine Records. Release Date: November 11, 2008
ASIN B001EYGOEM

SUMMARY

Fearless is Taylor Swift’s second release. She has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards for Fearless. It was the first album to sell one million copies in 2009. Song title are: Fearless, Fifteen, Love Story, Hey Stephen, White Horse, You Belong With Me, Breathe, Tell Me Why, You’re Not Sorry, The Way I Loved You, Forever & Always, The Best Day, Change.

CRITICAL EVALUATION

Before I bought this CD, I had no idea that Taylor Swift was a country music singer. I thought that she was a pop singer. Although her style is most definitely country, she has enough pop influence for her to be able to cross over into the pop market. Swift did write some of the songs on the CD, and she can sing, unlike the Britney’s of recent history. However, I thought all most of the songs sounded the same. Until I got to You Belong With Me, I felt like I was listening to one long song, some parts slower than others. Then beginning with the next song, I went back to one song again, with a short break for Forever & Always. I appreciate the fact that every artist has their own style, but a little variety is also good. I am not really a fan of country music, which may be why it all sounded the same to me. Since she’s been nominated for eight Grammy’s this year, there must be something more to Fearless that I just don’t get.

READER’S ANNOTATION

Country music with a pop twist.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ARTIST

Taylor Swift is an American country pop, singer-songwriter, musician and actress.
In 2006, she released her debut single "Tim McGraw", then her self-titled debut album, which was subsequently certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. In November 2008, Swift released her second album, Fearless, and the recording earned Swift four Grammy Awards, including the Album of the Year, at the 52nd Grammy Awards. Fearless and Taylor Swift finished 2008 at number-three and number-six respectively, with sales of 2.1 and 1.5 million Fearless topped the Billboard 200 for 11 non-consecutive weeks; no album has spent more time at No. 1 since 2000. Swift was named Artist of the Year by Billboard Magazine in 2009. Swift released her third album Speak Now on October 25, 2010 which sold 1,047,000 copies in its first week.

In 2008, her albums sold a combined four million copies, making her the best-selling musician of the year in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Forbes ranked Swift 2009's 69th-most powerful celebrity with earnings of $18 million and 2010's 12th-most powerful celebrity with earnings of $45 million. Swift was ranked the 38th Best Artist of the 2000–10 decade by Billboard. In January 2010 Nielsen SoundScan listed Swift as the most commercially successful country (or country/pop crossover) artist in music history with over 33 million digital tracks sold. As of March 2011, she has sold over 20 million albums and 33 million singles worldwide. (Unknown, Taylor Swift)

GENRE

Music CD, Country, Pop

CURRICULUM TIES

None

BOOKTALKING IDEAS

Not Applicable

INTEREST AGE

Ages 14 and up

CHALLENGE ISSUES

None

In order to prepare yourself should this CD be challenged you may wish to take the following steps:

•Listen to the CD or familiarize yourself with the artists.
•Refer to the library’s collection development and circulation policy.
•Read reviews from sources such as billboard.com and rollingstone.com.
•Seek the opinion of teens that are familiar with the artists and have listened to the CD.

Should this CD be challenged you should follow the additional steps below:

•Advise the senior staff of the challenge.
•Let the patron know that their challenge will be filed and that senior library management will review their request and notify them once a decision has been made.
•Offer any further assistance should the patron have additional questions.

WHY DID I INCLUDE THIS CD IN THE TITLES I SELECTED?

I found this CD in the Teen Room.