Taylor Swift on Love Story, British accents and Shania Twain in 2009 interview | BBC News

Summary

In this interview, 19-year-old Taylor Swift discusses her successful music career, having been the top-selling artist in the US in 2008 and 2009. With her album 'Fearless' topping the charts for eight weeks, she shares her excitement about releasing her single 'Love Story' in the UK. Swift talks about her songwriting process, drawing inspiration from love and relationships, and her plans for an upcoming headlining tour in the US. She also highlights the importance of staying connected with her fans through online platforms like MySpace and her commitment to involving them in her musical decisions.

Takeaways

• 🎤 Taylor Swift was the biggest selling artist in the US in 2008 and 2009.
• 🏆 Her album 'Fearless' held the number one spot for eight weeks in the US.
• 🇬🇧 Taylor visited the UK to release her single 'Love Story'.
• 🎉 She appreciates the warm welcome from UK fans and their pronunciation of her name.
• 🎶 She enjoys writing about the contrast between reality and fantasy in love stories.
• 🌐 Taylor's music is not confined to a specific genre; she writes without considering whether it's more country or pop.
• 🎸 She began playing guitar at 12 and wrote her first song immediately after.
• 🏠 Raised on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania, she was influenced by Shania Twain.
• 🚀 At 19, she's embarking on her first headlining tour in the US with all dates selling out quickly.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Her parents have always been supportive of her dreams, including her move to Nashville.
• 🌐 Taylor is excited about the prospect of touring the world and playing in different countries.
• 💻 She values her online presence, especially her MySpace, as a way to stay connected with her fans.
• 📝 Taylor writes all her songs herself, drawing inspiration from personal experiences, particularly relationships.

Q & A

What was Taylor Swift's biggest achievement in the US before her UK visit?

Taylor Swift was the biggest selling artist in the US in 2008 and 2009, and her album 'Fearless' held the number one spot for eight weeks.

What was Taylor Swift's first single released in the UK?

Taylor Swift's first single released in the UK was 'Love Story'.

How does Taylor Swift feel about the fans in the UK?

Taylor Swift loves the fans in the UK, mentioning that they have been amazing, showing up wherever she goes, and bringing her presents.

What does Taylor Swift think about the way her name is pronounced in the UK?

Taylor Swift finds it interesting and enjoyable that her name is pronounced as 'Tayor' in the UK, as opposed to 'Tyler' which she is used to hearing.

How does Taylor Swift feel about starting her career in the UK?

Taylor Swift is excited about starting fresh and starting over again in the UK, comparing it to when she released her first album at 16 in the US.

What is Taylor Swift's approach to writing about love?

Taylor Swift loves writing about the differences between reality and fantasy, especially when it comes to love and fairy tales. She writes about both believing in and not believing in the concept of Prince Charming.

Where did Taylor Swift grow up and how did she get into country music?

Taylor Swift grew up on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania and fell in love with country music after hearing Shania Twain.

When did Taylor Swift start playing the guitar and writing songs?

Taylor Swift started playing the guitar and writing songs at the age of 12, writing her first song the same night she learned to play.

What is Taylor Swift's perspective on genre when she writes music?

Taylor Swift does not focus on making her music more country or pop when she writes; she believes that would turn music into a science.

Why did Taylor Swift and her family move to Nashville?

Taylor Swift was determined to move to Nashville, the home of country music, and after years of insistence, her family finally agreed and moved there.

How does Taylor Swift use her MySpace site to connect with her fans?

Taylor Swift uses her MySpace site to stay in touch with her fans, allowing her to know what they like and want, which influences her decisions regarding her music.

What is Taylor Swift's next big goal after her success in the US?

Taylor Swift's next big goal is to tour the world, including playing in different countries and headlining her first tour in the US.

How does Taylor Swift handle the personal nature of her songwriting?

Taylor Swift writes very personal and honest songs, using songwriting as a way to deal with her emotions and experiences, and she is not afraid of being vulnerable with her music.