‘I think I am smart, unless I am really, really in love, and then I am ridiculously stupid.’
On the awkwardness of middle school …
‘So … middle school? Awkward. Having a hobby that‘s different from everyone else’s? Awkward. Singing the national anthem on weekends instead of going to sleepovers? More awkward. Gain a lot of weight before you hit the growth spurt? Awkward. Frizzy hair, don’t embrace the curls yet? Awkward. Try to straighten it? Awkward!’
On photoshoots …
‘I’ve gotten there and they had a wardrobe rack and the only things hanging on the wardrobe racks were bras and bustiers.
‘I’m like, “Cool, where are the clothes?”
‘“Those are the clothes.”
‘“No, no, no. Let’s get clothes. I wear clothes.”’
On drink and drugs …
‘My career is the only thing I think about. It’s stronger than any alcohol, stronger than any drug, stronger than anything else you could try – so why should I do those things, you know? For me, rebelling is done with words.’
On fans becoming friends …
‘If I sign an autograph for someone, I don’t put them in the category of “fan” and keep them at arm’s length. If we strike up a conversation and we like the same things and we have the same sense of humour, then they’re my friend. It doesn’t matter how I met them.’
On the choices of life …
‘I overthink things a lot. I always want to make the right choice, not for the sake of how it’s perceived, but because I do understand that I’m living a life, and I’m going to have to look back on that life 20 years from now, if I’m lucky, and be proud of the choices that I made. ’Cause it is intense being 22 and having, like, a magnifying glass on you.’
On Justin Bieber …
‘Boys who say “I hate Justin Bieber” are those ones who can’t master his hair flip, no matter how much they practise.’
On being recognised in public …
‘When you spend so much time daydreaming about things like being recognised, when that actually happens you don’t ever complain about it. When I go to a restaurant, yeah, I know that a line is probably going to form in front of the table, but didn’t I always wish for that? Yeah, I did. So it’s like, I never want to be the girl who wanted something so bad her whole life and then gets it and complains about it. I’m not going to be that girl.’
On her fears …
‘I’m afraid of finding the most perfect love and losing it. I’m afraid of regretting things. I’m afraid of my career becoming mediocre and not being able to excite people any more. I’m afraid of running out of things to write about.’
On concerts …
‘I really like to think that a good concert can be like a good book: it can take you away, it can take you to a different place and help you escape.’
On Taylor: what those who know her say
‘Taylor reminds me of myself in her determination and her childlike nature. It’s an innocence that’s so special and so rare. This girl writes the songs that make the whole world sing, like Neil Diamond or Elton John.’
Stevie Nicks
‘She has the most English sense of humour out of any American I’ve ever met. She’s just dry. She has a very dry sense of humour. She’s like The Office. English Office, not Steve Carell – Ricky Gervais.’
Ed Sheeran
‘When I say she’s like a little sister to me, it’s really true, because we both keep each other in line. I have a younger half-sister, but we didn’t grow up together, and we never saw each other. I’ve actually seen Taylor more than I have my real sister, so she really is like a little sister to me.’
Kellie Pickler
‘Our Taylor has included us, recognised and pushed us to the front, right next to her, to be a part of every award she has won … She loves us like family.’
Caitlin Evanson (musician in Taylor’s backing group)
‘She happens to be good-looking, but I think she actually uses her other imperfections in an incredibly powerful and relatable way. Taylor Swift has a very unique vision, which I admire.’
Lorde
‘She was a pain in the arse.’
Harry Styles
‘I like Taylor Swift. I like listening to her. I kind of like watching her respond to all the attacks. I like the ways she’s defining herself. So I keep my eye on it.’
Neil Young
‘I don’t want to hurt her feelings, because she’s lovely – that Taylor Swift song “You Belong With Me” … Oh my God, when it comes on the radio I sing so loud, I’m so embarrassed. Taylor – I think you’re beautiful and a great songwriter.’
Lady Gaga
‘She’s no accident. You could put her in a time machine in any era and she would have a hit record. Don’t confuse everybody loving one thing as hype. Sometimes that’s everyone agreeing that it’s fabulous.’
John Mayer
‘She is extremely determined. She is really wired for this moment. It’s not like she has to wake up and say, “Now it’s time to be Taylor.” That’s who she is.’
Scott Borchetta
This is not intended as an exhaustive list of Taylor’s recordings, but rather an overview of her main releases.
Albums
Taylor Swift, Big Machine Records, 2006
Fearless, Big Machine Records, 2008
Speak Now, Big Machine Records, 2010
Red, Big Machine Records, 2012
Singles
‘Tim McGraw’, Big Machine Records, 2006
‘Teardrops On My Guitar’, Big Machine Records, 2007
‘Our Song’, Big Machine Records, 2007
‘Picture to Burn’, Big Machine Records, 2008
‘Should’ve Said No’, Big Machine Records, 2008
‘Change’, Big Machine Records, 2008
‘Love Story’, Big Machine Records, 2008
‘White Horse’, Big Machine Records, 2008
‘You Belong With Me’, Big Machine Records, 2009
‘Fifteen’, Big Machine Records, 2009
‘Fearless’, Big Machine Records, 2010
‘Today Was a Fairytale’, Big Machine Records, 2010
‘Mine’, Big Machine Records, 2010
‘Back to December’, Big Machine Records, 2010
‘Mean’, Big Machine Records, 2011
‘The Story of Us’, Big Machine Records, 2011
‘Sparks Fly’, Big Machine Records, 2011
‘Ours’, Big Machine Records, 2011
‘Safe & Sound’, Big Machine Records, 2011
‘Long Live’, Big Machine Records, 2012
‘Eyes Open’, Big Machine Records, 2012
‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’, Big Machine Records, 2012
‘I Knew You Were Trouble’, Big Machine Records, 2012
‘22’, Big Machine Records, 2013
‘Red’, Big Machine Records, 2013
‘Everything Has Changed’, Big Machine Records, 2013
‘The Last Time’, Big Machine Records, 2013
‘Sweeter Than Fiction’, Big Machine Records, 2013
Miscellaneous
Connect Set, Big Machine Records, 2007
Sounds of the Season, Big Machine Records, 2007
Rhapsody Originals, Big Machine Records, 2007
iTunes Live from Soho, Big Machine Records, 2008
Beautiful Eyes, Big Machine Records, 2008
‘Two Is Better Than One’ (Boys Like Girls), Sony, 2009
‘Half of My Heart’ (John Mayer), Columbia, 2010
Speak Now: World Tour Live, Big Machine Records, 2011
‘Both of Us’ (B.o.B), Grand Hustle, 2012
Blair, Linda, Birth Order (Piaktus, 2013)
Cameron, Julia, The Artist’s Way (Pan, 1994)
Govan, Chloe, Taylor Swift: The Rise of the Nashville Teen (Omnibus Press, 2012)
Jepson, Louisa, Taylor Swift (Simon & Schuster, 2013)
Newkey
-Burden, Chas, Adele: The Biography (John Blake, 2011)
Spencer, Liv, Taylor Swift: The Platinum Edition (ECW Press, 2013)
Thanks to Chris Morris, Amy McCulloch and Rachel Kenny.
© Matt Baron/BEI/REX (image 26); © BDG/REX (image 5); © Broadimage/REX (image 29); © Stewart Cook/REX (image 6); © Everett Collection/REX (image 4); © KPA/Zuma/REX (images 8 and 9); © Henry Lamb/Photowire/BEI/REX (image 30); © London News Pictures/REX (image 34); © MediaPunch/REX (image 32); © Most Wanted/REX (image 15); © Olycom SPA/REX (image 19); © Erik Pendzich/Rex (image 10); © PictureGroup/REX (images 24 and 31); © REX (images 1, 11, 12, 17 and 33); © Sipa Press/REX (image 14); © Jim Smeal/BEI/REX (images 3, 4 and 20); © Startraks Photo/REX (images 2, 13, 16, 18, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28 and 35); © Philip Vaughan/REX (image 21)
Rocking Newark on the Speak Now tour in July 2011.
Beginning to make the music – pre-recording on her first album in 2006.
With possibly her biggest fan – her mother Andrea.
Doing what she’d always dreamed of doing, playing it live at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in 2008.
The two Taylors; for three months, the relationship of Taylor Swift and Twilight heart-throb Taylor Lautner was the media’s dream story.
At the 50th annual ceremony of the Grammys in 2007, Taylor Swift was surprised at her nomination as Best New Artist, but not as much as Dave Grohl was by her enthusiastic hug at his announcement!
Attending the Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in 2006 just before the release of her debut album.
Tears of joy as Taylor Swift becomes the youngest person ever to win the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year Award in 2009 at the age of just 19 (see also following image).
Showing her gratitude for the overwhelming support of her fans – the ‘Swifties’.
Taylor with fellow musician and friend Demi Lovato.
Visting London in 2009 to play two dates on her international Fearless tour.
Playing a surprise set to lucky fans in Central Park, New York, in 2010.
With her mother Andrea and brother Austin – two members of her ever-supportive family.
With great friend Selena Gomez.
Performing with country legend John Mayer at the Z100 Jingle Ball in December 2009.
Playing the Verizon Center in Washington, DC, in 2011.
Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus in 2009.
Proving Taylor Swift’s international status as she performs on Italy’s X Factor in 2010.
Actress Emma Stone and Taylor Swift have been great friends since first meeting in 2010.
Getting the day off to a good start on Good Morning America in 2012.
When Taylor and Harry Styles, two of the hottest music stars, got together, the press went wild!
Taylor Swift sharing the love in Toronto in 2010.
Having a great time with the fans – on- and offstage.
Arriving at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards and sharing the moment with one lucky fan.
London shows its love for Taylor Swift – arriving at the Brit Awards in 2013.
On stage with friend and fellow performer Ed Sheeran at the Jingle Ball in New York, December 2012.
Performing ‘22’ at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards – at which she won six awards!
Another awards ceremony, another set of awards. This time closing 2013 with four American Music Awards.
Taylor Swift takes to the catwalk with the band Fall Out Boy during the finale of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, 2013.
Feeling the buzz backstage at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards.
Taylor swaps her guitar for the piano at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC.
Jamming with the future King of England and the king of rock, Jon Bon Jovi.
A role model for teens across the globe.
Strutting her stuff at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York, 2013.
An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers
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First published by Harper 2013
FIRST EDITION
© Chas Newkey-Burden 2013
Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2013
Cover photographs © Taylor Swift portrait: Jude Edginton (Camera Press). Shutterstock.com
While every effort has been made to trace the owners of copyright material reproduced herein and secure permissions, the publishers would like to apologise for any omissions and will be pleased to incorporate missing acknowledgements in any future edition of this book.
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Chas Newkey-Burden asserts the moral right to
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