Taylor Swift Speaks to Her Fans With Her Latest, Greatest Album

By SIRENA MONTGOMERY

Taylor Swift has done it again.

Her album, “Speak Now,” sold more than one million copies in its first week. If you haven’t already bought it, you’re going to want to rush out right now and buy a copy.

Known for singing about her feelings and relationships, Swift does not hold back at all this time. She calls people out by name now.

For those who still actually buy CDs, the booklet included in the album contains a letter to her fans that ends with a postscript dedicated to all the men she’s dated.

It reads something along the lines of, “to all the boys who inspired this album, you should’ve known.” Taylor plays dirty.

The title of her new album, “Speak Now,” is appropriate because the inspiration behind each song is to not hold back at crucial moments in your life; you’ll never get the chance to make up your unspoken words––unless you’re Taylor Swift and can make a CD about it.

Some of the songs on the 14-track disc give shout-outs to Kanye West, John Mayer, and Taylor Lautner.

Slower than her usual albums, Swift’s beat still captures her audience with her ability to take out her frustration on love in a way that everyone listening can relate to.

When her first single, “Mine,” was released at the beginning of the year, it immediately reached #1 on the iTunes “Top 100” chart. Not every track is quite as upbeat as “Mine,” but the album sends a powerful message in both her slower and upbeat songs.

One of her slower songs, “Last Kiss,” is one of the most depressing songs on the whole album. “Dear John,” another slow song, is a seven-minute ballad on John Mayer.

Don’t believe it’s actually about John Mayer, though. Listen closely, and you can hear some of his distinctive guitar twangs intertwined throughout.

If you’ve only heard Swift’s slower tracks, don’t dismiss the whole CD. There are plenty of other songs that will capture your interest.

For example, if you’re in a bad mood, drive the streets of Fredericksburg blaring “Better Than Revenge,” a song about how she lost Joe Jonas to Camilla Belle, and you’ll feel a lot better.

It’s blatantly obvious who she is pointing fingers at in the album: “She’s an actress, whoa / She’s better known for the things that she does / On the mattress, Whoa.”

Have I listened to this CD on repeat since I purchased it? Maybe. Do my roommates hate me? Just a little bit (or maybe a lot).

But how can you not dissect every inch of this album? It’s Taylor Swift!

She always writes about ex-flames, but this time, she made a point to mention that she would be naming names.

Look back to the lyrics to “Back to December,” which calls out Taylor Lautner. Maybe not by name specifically, but think about it: “And how you held me in your arms that September night / the first time you ever saw me cry.” Does that remind anyone of the MTV Video Music Awards and Kanye West?

Call me a freak for loving Taylor Swift this much, but I just don’t care. I’m just a fan. Maybe a little hardcore, but there are at least 999,999 others just like me.

(4.5 out of 5 stars)