"My favorite thing in life is writing about life, specifically the parts of life concerning love. Because, as far as I'm concerned, love is absolutely everything" When this book was first published three years ago, the author predicted that when it came to Taylor's career, the best was still to come. What transpired has made those prophetic words a mind-blowing reality. In this revised and updated version he makes it clear that the hard work, massive heart, and the energy of ten nuclear power plants all in one human being has driven this beautiful star to the highest levels of musical fame. And no one deserves it more. As well as outlining the story behind each and every song she has recorded, this book gives a detailed account of how Taylor managed to overcome with composure and dignity the pressures on both her personal and professional life. She deserves every single award she has ever won, not the least for her stunning productivity, but for her world-class empathy for human suffering and putting her checkbook way ahead of her critics and detractors by supporting so many needy causes. There is no doubt that with her words of inspiration, and the powerhouse lyrics to her songs, the world is a far better place thanks to the unstoppable force that is TAYLOR SWIFT.
Introduction • “I write songs about my life. When my life changes, so will my music. It’s as simple as that. I tell stories”
About this book
1. A Crazy Kid with Tangled Hair • “I was brought up with a strong woman in my life, and I think that had a lot to do with me not wanting to do anything half way.”
2. Small Girl with a Big Voice • “My parents raised me to never feel like I was entitled to success. That you have to work for it. You have to work so hard for it. And sometimes then you don’t even get where you need to go”
3. Nashville Calling • “The whole process of songwriting starts out in a very lonely place for me … I sit down to write a song because I’m feeling a very intense emotion, usually an intense form of pain”
4. The Big Break • “I always try to tell the audience that I really do try to be a nice person…but if you break my heart, hurt my feelings, or are really mean to me, I’m going to write a song about you…”
5. Starstruck • “Years from now, I’ll look back and go ‘I didn’t know anything back then’ [but] I got to immortalise those emotions that when you’re so angry, you hate everything. It’s like recording your diary over the years - and that’s a gift”
6. Flawless Fearless • “You have to believe in love stories and prince charmings and happily ever after. That’s why I write these songs. Because I think love is fearless”
7. This Ain’t a Fairytale • “No matter how many break-up songs you write, no matter how many times you get hurt, you will always fall in love again”
8. Speaking Now • “There is a tendency to block out negative things because they really hurt… I can’t stop feeling those things, so I feel everything. And that keeps me who I am”
9. Tour Time • “I loved being able to thank my fans for this life they’ve given me. Being on tour, I get a nightly reminder of how lucky I am to get to stand on giant stages and sing for sold-out crowds”
10. Lady in Red • “I look back on this as my true breakup album. Every other album has flickers of different things, but this was an album that I wrote specifically about pure, absolute to the core, heartbreak”
11. Heroes and Villains • “There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.”
12. Welcome to New York • “Music is art, and art is important and rare. Important, rare things are valuable. Valuable things should be paid for. It’s my opinion that music should not be free”
13. The Most Spectacular Tour • “I was very adamant that every decision I’ve made creatively...
