Speak Now

Hello, my name is Jessica and I'm officially addicted to Taylor Swift's new album.

Let's go back, shall we?

From the beginning, I loved Fearless. With the exception of two songs (Forever and Always and Change), I love that album. Taylor gets some flack for being too young-sounding, but I like to think she's more whimsical than immature. In fact, her lyrics are anything but immature. Sure, she talks about first dates and high school in those songs..... she was that age when she wrote the songs. However, she has a very mature way of recognizing and expressing those emotions. Plus, no matter how old I get, I don't ever want to lose the butterflies........ the dancing in the rain in my best dress feeling.

In the past two years, I've probably listened to that CD about 500 times. I never get tired of it.

Fast-forward to the upcoming release of a new album. Color me nervous. I knew, as a fan and as someone in the industry, that this new music would need to be a little more grown-up. When Mine was put out as the new single, I became even more nervous. I mean, it's a cute song and she's talking about college-type stuff instead of high school, but it sounded too much like the other stuff.

Apparently, I had no reason to worry. I adore this album.

It's interesting because the things I LOVE about the Fearless album are what I'm glad she didn't do with this one. This one isn't as bubblegum...... again, I liked that about Fearless, You Belong With Me, Hey Stephen, Best Day, etc. There are a couple songs leaning that way, but not as many. It sounds a little more mature..... 18 yr old vs 20 yr old, lol.

"Sound" aside, the words and meaning behind the songs are incredible, in my opinion. Overall, the album is about everything you've wished you said, but didn't. Either because you weren't quick enough or were too scared or didn't have the right words.

In her words (expanded in the album cover.... get it.... read it)............

'Speak now or forever hold your peace,' the words said by preachers at the end of wedding ceremonies all over the world, right before the vows. It's a last chance for protest, a moment that makes everyone's heart race, and a moment I've always been strangely fascinated by. So many fantasize about bursting into a church, saying what they'd kept inside for years like in the movies. In real life, it rarely happens.

Real life is a funny thing, you know. In real life, saying the right thing at the right moment is beyond crucial. So crucial, in fact, that most of us start to hesitate, for fear of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. But lately what I've begun to fear more than that is letting the moment pass without saying anything.

I think most of us fear reaching the end of our life, and looking back regretting the moments we didn't speak up. When we didn't say 'I love you.' When we should've said 'I'm sorry.' When we didn't stand up for ourselves or someone who needed help.

These songs are made up of words I didn't say when the moment was right in front of me. These songs are open letters. Each is written with a specific person in mind, telling them what I meant to tell them in person. To the beautiful boy whose heart I broke in December. To my first love who I never thought would be my first heartbreak. To my band. To a mean man I used to be afraid of. To someone who made my world very dark for a while. To a girl who stole something of mine. To someone I forgive for what he said in front of the whole world.

- Taylor Swift



 

If you go to her website, she has given the story behind every song. I love that.

 

I've listened to Speak Now no less than 2 dozen times in the past week. In my car, at my desk, on my iPod. I'm obsessed.

 

I fully *heart* every song. Here are a few of my thoughts on some of them.....

 

Mine - It's a sweet song. I hope that at some point I'll have the chance to tell someone that..... "You're the best thing that's ever been mine."

 

Sparks Fly - "I see sparks fly every time you smile." Something about those guys that you're not supposed to want, but still do.

 

Speak Now - This one is definitely one of the more whimsical songs, but I love it. Sometimes I've felt like I'm the girl who is "not the kind of girl who should be rudely barging in on white veil occasions." but yet I've been the girl who tells a guy that he deserves more than what he's settling for. Not at a wedding, but still, lol.

 

Never Grow Up - This song makes me cry. I'm not a mom, but I still want to protect my little ones. I want Lydia to always be the little girl who is heartbroken when Elmo is over or is thrilled when she sees Kermit the Frog's picture at MGM or will run around a courtyard chasing bubbles. I want David to giggle over the word "Knucks." I want Emma and Abby to always want me to play Tea Party with them..... who will run and throw themselves in my arms when they see me. I want Evan to always find science fascinating. I want Bella, Anthony, and Noah to always be excited when they get to see their "Aunt Jessica." I miss Haigen and wish he were still here to take care of the fish. I hope the next time I see him, he'll still want to eat dinner in the castle at Disney World and watch the Electrical Light Parade. I miss how sweet Kay-Leigh was when I took her to eat dinner with Cinderella on her birthday. I cry when I think about my brother graduating high school in a few short months. I think about my life and the various phases in it...... and, how sometimes I just wish time would stand still.

 

Enchanted - I may be breaking my pact with this one, but it describes perfectly how I felt when I first met "The Guy." I'll leave it at that.

 

Innocent - I like the theme of redemption in this one. How no matter how old you get or what mistakes you've made, there is still the chance to be innocent. You can still look at the world, see the good, and choose to focus on it.

 

Last Kiss - Again, I might be breaking my pact, but the line "I don't know how to be something you'll miss." kills me every time.

 

If you've noticed, I am highly affected by music, lol. Always have been. Clearly, I went into the right industry for me, lol.

 

If anyone makes it to the end of this......... I applaud you, lol. Have you listened? What are your thoughts?