4 Responses on Taylor Swift Songs

1. Courtney

   October 19th, 2010 at 9:14 pm

   1

   “A Place in This World”
   Taylor Swift
   The song “A Place in This World” creates an elegiac and hortatory feeling towards life, showing that we all have a purpose and are all important even if they think not; Taylor shares that in a very personal and postmodern way that we all have hope even when it seems to be lost. The song “A Place in This World” Taylor is trying to get across an important message as she does with all of her songs. The message to this song is saying that everyone has struggles and mistakes in their life; it says you need to enjoy life’s small things as it takes you on a journey. The song is saying how everyone has a place in this world whether you know it yet or not.
   Everyone has inspiration and Taylor has multiple. Taylor can fit into multiple categories of genres because she wants to make her music more about getting out the lyrics and looking at the inspiration in her life. She has many people and genres that form what her music is to be considered today. One genre in her ancestry is traditional country; this was inspired by Reba McEntire and they are similar because of the country voice and lyrics. Another genre is pop; and the group would be Whitney Houston, and Christina Aguilera and they are formed into what is now Taylor Swift because of the upbeat style, their bands, and they have the lyrics and the sparkly and girly outfits. Also, another genre is neo-traditional country. The artist that shaped Taylor and really inspired her is Shania Twain and Garth Brooks and this is shown by the country outfits, and also the band the the country beat.
   The song “A Place in This World” falls under more of a personal category. One of the reasons why it is personal she is saying “I don’t know what I want” (1), and this is the start of the song; so you know right away that it is personal and about her. Another example is that it is says “Got the radio on, my old blue jeans/ And I’m wearing my heart on my sleeve” (9-10), this is showing that she is taking ownership of the worldly possessions that she has. Also, another example says “Maybe I’m just a girl on a mission, ready to fly” (17), and it is saying that she is ready to let go of her previous encounters and the stuff that has gone wrong and take off and start something new.
   There are many poetic devices that show the lyrical and poetic intentions of Taylor’s song. One example of a poetic device in this song is a metaphor; this is shown in the line “I’m wearing my heart on my sleeve” (10), this is shown because you are not literally having your heart on your sleeve, but it is meaning that you are taking changes in life and you don’t know where it is going to take you next. Another example is a hortatory; this is show in the lines “I’m alone, on my own and I’m starting off/ I’ll be strong. I’ll be wrong. Oh but life goes on/ Oh I’m just a girl trying to find a place in this world” (6-8). This is hortatory because even though you mess up you are not looking down, you have got your chin held up high because you do have a place in this world and you are optimistic about this. Also, another example of a poetic device is hyperbole; this is show in the lines “Feeling lucky today, got the sunshine/ Can you tell me what more do I need” (11-12). This is an exaggeration because you obviously need more than just sun in your life, it is also not meaning sun, it is talking about happiness.
   “A Place in This World” is a very postmodern song. One reason why this song is postmodern is because the truth is personal; this is shown in the lines “I don’t know what I want/ so don’t ask me ’cause I’m still trying to figure it out” (1-2). This is saying that this is her perceptive of her life and she is not sure what she is not going to do with her life. Another example is that the world doesn’t live up to expectations; this is shown in lines “I’m alone, on my own and I’m starting off/ I’ll be strong, I’ll be wrong, but life goes on” (14-15). This is saying that she is frustrated when life doesn’t go your way. Also, another example is that values are mutant. This is shown in the lines “Got the radio on, got my blue jeans/ and I’m wearing my heart on my sleeve” (9-10). This means that she is not “going with the flow” but she is going against the status quo.
   This song has many great aspects; as was pointed out before. It has many deeper meanings to it than could be set out to be. My favorite lines would have to be lines that say “Feeling lucky today, got the sunshine/ Can you tell me what more do I need” (11-12) I like these because for me summer is the best time of the year, and the sunshine makes you feel happy and good about life. This song really over all is talking about how really everyone has a place in this world and we all have a purpose; this song really gives hope to those that feel like they have none.

2. dez

   November 22nd, 2010 at 5:04 pm

   2

   i luv this song it makes so much sense

3. mia

   January 11th, 2011 at 11:07 pm

   3

   loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4. Kristen

   February 4th, 2011 at 11:02 pm

   4

   @ dez
   I get what you’re saying. I think it doesn’t make sense though, but at the same time it does, you know?? The lyrics let you feel what you’re feeling, but it seems like all your life you’ve felt like this, and you can get so caught up in the music. I wish I had that weird mind-reading talent that Taylor Swift apparently has!!!