top of page
Writer's pictureMae Dandridge

Taylor Swift's Evolution: From Taylor Swift (2006) to Fearless (Taylor's Version)(2021)

Updated: Sep 14, 2021

Research done by: Mae Dandridge

Presentation done by: Alexandra Fowler, Josh Blibaum, Mae Dandridge, & Robert Adams

Timeline of Taylor Swift Releases/Main Events:

2006- Taylor Swift releases Tim McGraw, shortly followed by her debut album “Taylor Swift”

2007- Teardrops on My Guitar single

2007- Performs on Americas Got Talent

2007- Releases Sound of Season holiday album

2008- Should’ve Said no Single

2008- Beautiful Eyes EP released

2008- Love Story single

2008- White Horse single

2008- Fearless album released

2009- Hannah Montana The Movie appearance released

2009- Fearless tour

2009- Kanye test interrupts her at the MTV music awards

2010- Speak Now album release

2012- We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together single

2012- Release of Red album

2014- Shake it Off single

2014- 1989 album released

2017- Look What You Made Me Do single

2017- Reputation album release

2019- Big Machine (former label) is sold to Scooter Braun, giving him control of her back catalog and master recordings, she accuses him of bullying her and sys she will rerecord all old albums to devalue his purchase

2019- Lover is released

2019- Cats the movie is released

2020- Miss Americana documentary

2020- Folklore album released- only announced the day prior

2020- Folklore: the long pond studio sessions

2020- Evermore released (companion album to Folklore)

2021- Fearless (Taylor’s Version) is released


Studio Albums and Correlating Genre:

Taylor Swift (2006)

Considered a country album

Fearless (2008)

Considered a country album

Speak Now (2010)

Considered a country/pop album

Red (2012)

Considered a country/pop/rock album

1989 (2014)

Considered a pop album

Reputation (2017)

Considered a pop album

Lover (2019)

Considered pop/synth-pop album

Folklore (2020)

Considered an indie folk/alternative rock album

Evermore (2020- companion album to Folklore)

Considered an indie folk/alternative rock album


Obvious Shifts in Taylor’s Image/Sound:

2010-2012: shift from a focus on country music to country pop (Speak Now and Red)

2014-2017: shift from country pop to strictly pop albums (1989 and Reputation)

2020: shift from pop music to indie/alternative rock (Folklore and Evermore)


General Thesis/Proposal:

Over the course of Taylor Swift’s musical career, the artist has had two recognizable shifts in her branding and musical sound, first from country to pop, and more recently, pop to indie.


Notable Events/Controversies:

2009: Kanye West interrupts Taylor in the middle of her VMA acceptance speech for best female video, stating that Beyoncé should have received the award

2019: Taylor’s original label, Big Machine, is sold to Scooter Braun’s company, providing him with access and rights to her backlog, including master recording





10 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Kommentare


bottom of page