:Speak Now

{{Short description|2010 studio album by Taylor Swift}}{{For-multi|the song|Speak Now (song)|the 2023 re-recording|Speak Now (Taylor's Version){{!}}Speak Now (Taylor's Version)|other uses}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Speak Now

| type = studio

| artist = Taylor Swift

| cover = Taylor Swift - Speak Now cover.png

| border = yes

| alt = Cover artwork of Taylor Swift's 2010 album Speak Now, depicting Swift twirling in a purple dress

| caption = Standard edition cover

| released = {{start date|2010|10|25}}

| recorded = 2009–2010

| studio = *Aimeeland (Nashville)

Blackbird (Nashville)
Pain in the Art (Nashville)
Starstruck (Nashville)
Capitol (Hollywood)
Stonehurst (Bowling Green)

| genre =

| length = 67:29

| label = Big Machine

| producer =

Nathan Chapman
Taylor Swift

| prev_title = Fearless

| prev_year = 2008

| next_title = Speak Now World Tour – Live

| next_year = 2011

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Speak Now

| type = studio

| single1 = Mine

| single1date = August 4, 2010

| single2 = Back to December

| single2date = November 15, 2010

| single3 = Mean

| single3date = March 7, 2011

| single4 = The Story of Us

| single4date = April 7, 2011

| single5 = Sparks Fly

| single5date = July 18, 2011

| single6 = Ours

| single6date = December 5, 2011

}}

Speak Now is the third studio album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released on October 25, 2010, by Big Machine Records. Swift wrote the album entirely herself{{NoteTag|Although "If This Was a Movie" (written by Swift and Martin Johnson) is on the deluxe edition of Speak Now, the 14-track standard edition was solely written by Swift, and thus the album is agreed upon by the press as self-penned by Swift.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/aug/24/taylor-swift-pop-music-hunger-games-gladiators|title=Taylor Swift: 'I Was Literally About to Break'|first=Laura|last=Snapes|work=The Guardian|date=August 24, 2019|access-date=October 27, 2021|quote=her entirely self-written third album, 2010's Speak Now...|archive-date=August 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824114530/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/aug/24/taylor-swift-pop-music-hunger-games-gladiators|url-status=live}}}} while touring in 2009–2010 to reflect on her transition from adolescence to adulthood.

Swift framed Speak Now as a loose concept album about the unsaid things she wanted to deliver to the subjects of her songs. Using confessional songwriting, the album is mostly about heartbreak and reflections on broken relationships, and some tracks were inspired by Swift's rising stardom in the public eye to address her critics and adversaries. She and Nathan Chapman produced Speak Now, which combines country pop, pop rock, and power pop. Its songs incorporate prominent rock stylings, and their melodies are characterized by acoustic instruments intertwined with chiming electric guitars, dynamic drums, and orchestral strings.

After the album's release, Swift embarked on the Speak Now World Tour from February 2011 to March 2012. The album was supported by six singles, including the US Billboard Hot 100 top-ten singles "Mine" and "Back to December", and the US Hot Country Songs number ones "Sparks Fly" and "Ours". Speak Now peaked atop the charts and received multi-platinum certifications in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. In the United States, it sold one million copies within its first release week, spent six weeks at number one on the Billboard 200, and was certified six-times platinum for surpassing six million album-equivalent units by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Music critics generally praised Speak Now for its radio-friendly melodies and emotional engagement. Some critics thought the lyrics represented Swift's maturity in early adulthood, but several others criticized the confrontational tracks as shallow. At the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in 2012, Speak Now was nominated for Best Country Album, and its single "Mean" won Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance. The album appeared in 2010s decade-end lists by Billboard and Spin, and Rolling Stone ranked it in their 2012 list "50 Best Female Albums of All Time". After a 2019 dispute regarding the ownership of Swift's back catalog, she re-recorded Speak Now and released it as Speak Now (Taylor's Version) on July 7, 2023.

Background

File:Taylor Swift 2009 MTV VMA.jpg]]

Taylor Swift released hеr second studio album Fearless through Nashville-based Big Machine Records in November 2008. The album spent 11 weeks at number one on the US Billboard 200, the longest chart run for a female country music artist.{{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-extra-the-all-time-record-holders.html|title=Chart Watch Extra: The All-Time Record-Holders|first=Paul|last=Grein|date=March 17, 2010|website=Yahoo! Music|access-date=June 10, 2011|archive-date=October 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006014921/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-extra-the-all-time-record-holders.html|url-status=dead}} It was the best-selling album of 2009 in the United States and then-20-year-old Swift the youngest artist to have an annual best-seller since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking album sales in 1991.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/960801/taylor-swift-edges-susan-boyle-for-2009s-top-selling-album | title=Taylor Swift Edges Susan Boyle For 2009's Top-Selling Album | magazine=Billboard | date=January 6, 2010 | access-date=November 5, 2010 | last=Caulfield |first= Keith | archive-date=April 27, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427000452/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/960801/taylor-swift-edges-susan-boyle-for-2009s-top-selling-album | url-status=live }} Two of the album's singles, "Love Story" and "You Belong with Me", performed well on both country and pop radio and brought Swift to mainstream prominence.{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5953619/fearless-taylors-version-reactions-taylor-swift/|title=The Significance of Taylor Swift's Fearless in 2008—and How Taylor's Version Stacks Up|magazine=Time|url-access=limited|date=April 9, 2021|access-date=August 9, 2021|archive-date=August 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826042950/https://time.com/5953619/fearless-taylors-version-reactions-taylor-swift/|url-status=live}} "Love Story" was the first country song to reach number one on the Pop Songs chart and "You Belong with Me" was the first country song to top the all-genre Radio Songs chart.{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303023328/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/266384/best-of-2009-part-1|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/266384/best-of-2009-part-1|title=Best Of 2009: Part 1|first=Gary|last=Trust|magazine=Billboard|date=December 15, 2009|archive-date=March 3, 2013|access-date=March 3, 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201055907/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267297/taylor-swift-climbs-hot-100-black-eyed-peas-still-no-1|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267297/taylor-swift-climbs-hot-100-black-eyed-peas-still-no-1|title=Taylor Swift Climbs Hot 100, Black Eyed Peas Still No. 1|first=Gary|last=Trust|date=September 24, 2009|archive-date=February 1, 2013|access-date=February 1, 2013|magazine=Billboard|url-status=dead}} At the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards in February 2010, Fearless won Album of the Year and Best Country Album, and its single "White Horse" won Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song.{{cite web|last1=Duke |first1=Alan |title=Taylor Swift Takes Album of the Year, 3 Other Grammys |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/31/ent.grammys/ |work=CNN News |access-date=June 14, 2015 |date=February 1, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622155646/http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/31/ent.grammys/ |archive-date=June 22, 2015 }}

The success of Fearless made Swift one of country music's biggest stars to crossover into the mainstream market.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/8529824/2009-video-music-awards-kanye-taylor-culture-reporting|title=How Kanye, Taylor and the 2009 VMAs Changed Music and Culture Reporting|first=Patrick|last=Lyons|date=September 13, 2019|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 13, 2019|archive-date=November 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111145111/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/8529824/2009-video-music-awards-kanye-taylor-culture-reporting|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/8030047/taylor-swift-speak-now-best-album|title=Why Taylor Swift's Speak Now Is Her Best Album|first=Brittany|last=McKenna|magazine=Billboard|date=November 8, 2017|access-date=November 8, 2017|archive-date=November 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108184728/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/8030047/taylor-swift-speak-now-best-album|url-status=live}} At the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, where Swift won Best Female Video for "You Belong with Me", the rapper Kanye West interrupted her acceptance speech; the incident received widespread media coverage and became known as "Kanyegate".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mtvs-2009-vmas-pull-nine-million-viewers-best-ratings-since-04-70305/|title=MTV's 2009 VMAs Pull Nine Million Viewers, Best Ratings Since '04|first=Daniel|last=Krepps|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited|date=September 15, 2009|access-date=August 15, 2020|archive-date=August 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827095355/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mtvs-2009-vmas-pull-nine-million-viewers-best-ratings-since-04-70305/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/news/a1134/kanye-taylor-swift-turn-the-vmas-into-their-personal-peace-summit-5729/|title=Kanye And Taylor Swift Turn The VMAs Into Their Personal Peace Summit|last=Aminosharei|first=Nojan|date=September 13, 2010|website=Elle|access-date=July 10, 2020|archive-date=November 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221120154722/https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/news/a1134/kanye-taylor-swift-turn-the-vmas-into-their-personal-peace-summit-5729/|url-status=live}} At the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, Swift sang "You Belong with Me" and "Rhiannon" with Stevie Nicks; some critics commented Swift performed with weak vocals.{{cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|title=Taylor Swift's Label Lashes Out at Critics of Grammy Performance|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/taylor-swifts-label-lashes-out-at-critics-of-grammy-performance-20100204|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=May 15, 2012|url-access=limited|date=February 4, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119163829/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/taylor-swifts-label-lashes-out-at-critics-of-grammy-performance-20100204|archive-date=January 19, 2013}} MTV News commented the MTV Awards incident transformed Swift into a "bona-fide mainstream celebrity",{{cite web|last=Montgomery|first=James|title=Why You Shouldn't Hate on Taylor Swift|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1631093/why-you-shouldnt-hate-on-taylor-swift/|website=MTV News|access-date=May 15, 2012|date=February 2, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908123609/http://www.mtv.com/news/1631093/why-you-shouldnt-hate-on-taylor-swift/|archive-date=September 8, 2014}} and The New York Times said it was refreshing to see a talented singer-songwriter like Swift "make the occasional flub".{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/arts/music/02taylor.html|title=For Young Superstar Taylor Swift, Big Wins Mean Innocence Lost|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Caramanica|date=February 1, 2010|work=The New York Times|url-access=limited|access-date=May 15, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828162727/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/arts/music/02taylor.html|archive-date=August 28, 2012}} Swift began writing for her third studio album immediately after she released Fearless and continued during her Fearless Tour in 2009 and 2010.

Writing and lyrics

Because of her extensive touring schedule, Swift wrote her third album alone: "I'd get my best ideas at 3:00 a.m. in Arkansas, and I didn't have a co-writer around so I would just finish it. That would happen again in New York and then again in Boston and that would happen again in Nashville." Inspired by her growth into adulthood, she conceived Speak Now as a loose concept album about the things she wanted to tell certain people she had met but never had a chance to. As with her songwriting on previous albums, Swift strove to convey emotional honesty with details as specifically as possible, believing it is important for a songwriter to do so. She described her songs as "diary entries" about her emotions that helped her navigate adulthood.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712200330/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304510704575562401576663866|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304510704575562401576663866|title=Taylor Swift's Solo Act|work=The Wall Street Journal|first=Christopher John|last=Farley|date=October 22, 2010|access-date=July 12, 2015|archive-date=July 12, 2015|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}} Swift chose not to follow the trend of making increasingly sexualized music by artists of her age and believed such a path would be incongruent with her artistic vision.{{NoteTag|In a 2010 interview with Glamour, when the interviewer asked, "And you hear artists say things like, 'When I turned 21, the record label made me over into a sexualized creature'. Could you see yourself going in that direction?", Swift responded, "I don't ever look down on people for the way they choose to have fun; it's just not necessarily the way I like to have fun".{{cite web|url=https://www.glamour.com/story/taylor-swift-talks|title=Taylor Swift Talks|first=Laurie|last=Sandell|work=Glamour|date=October 4, 2010|access-date=October 28, 2010|archive-date=October 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028013418/https://www.glamour.com/story/taylor-swift-talks|url-status=live}}}}

{{Listen

| filename = Taylor Swift - Back To December (Clip).ogg

| title="Back to December"

| pos = left

| description = The orchestral string-laden "Back to December" is about Swift's confession of her wrongdoings and plea for an ex-lover's forgiveness, departing from the starry-eyed romance of her previous songs.

}}

Departing from Fearless{{'s}} theme of fairy tales and starry-eyed romance, Speak Now explores introspection and reflections on broken relationships.{{cite web|url=https://www.songwriteruniverse.com/taylorswift2010.htm|title=Taylor Swift Talks About Her Album Speak Now, And Her Songwriting|first=Bill|last=Conger|work=Songwriter Universe|date=October 11, 2010|access-date=October 11, 2010|archive-date=October 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017080821/http://www.songwriteruniverse.com/taylorswift2010.htm|url-status=live}} By avoiding sexual references in its songs, the album kept Swift's "good-girl" image intact.{{NoteTag|In scholar Adriane Brown's view, Swift's past albums are also about romantic, nonsexual relationships, which was congruent with her public image and identity as a white, feminine, innocent, middle-class American girl.{{sfn|Brown|2012|p=176}}}} Some tracks were inspired by Swift's public experience, including past relationships with high-profile celebrities, which received media attention during the album's promotional rollout. The confessional lyrics of Speak Now are more direct and confrontational than those on Swift's past albums.{{Cite news|url=https://americansongwriter.com/taylor-swift-the-garden-in-the-machine/5/|title=Taylor Swift: The Garden In The Machine|first=Jim|last=Malec|work=American Songwriter|date=May 2, 2011|page=5|access-date=August 12, 2022|archive-date=November 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221120154714/https://americansongwriter.com/taylor-swift-the-garden-in-the-machine/5/|url-status=live}} On "Back to December", she asks an ex-lover to forgive her wrongdoings.{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101207020124/http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/10/12/taylor-swift-back-to-december-apologizes-taylor-lautner/|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/10/12/taylor-swift-back-to-december-apologizes-taylor-lautner/|title=Taylor Swift Apologizes (to Taylor Lautner?) in 'Back to December'|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=October 12, 2010|archive-date=December 7, 2010|access-date=December 7, 2010|url-status=dead|first=Mandi|last=Bierly}} Swift wrote the title track after hearing a friend's ex-boyfriend was marrying another woman; in the lyrics, the protagonist crashes the ex-boyfriend's wedding and tries to halt it. "Dear John" narrates a devastating relationship of a 19-year-old female narrator who accuses a much-older man of manipulating her with "dark, twisted games". Swift's encounter with an ex-lover at an awards show, where they ignored each other despite Swift feeling a need to speak to him inspired "The Story of Us". On "Better than Revenge", Swift affirms vengeance against a romantic rival who is known for "the things she does on the mattress".

Romantic optimism is another theme of the album. The opening track "Mine" is about Swift's hope of attaining happiness despite her tendency to "run from love" to avoid heartbreak. It was the first song she included on the track list because it represents her then-new perspective of romance. Swift had written "Sparks Fly"—a song about dangerous hints of love at first sight—before she released her 2006 debut album, Taylor Swift.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/26/taylor-swifts-singles-ranked|title=Taylor Swift's Singles – Ranked!|first=Alexis|last=Petridis|author-link=Alexis Petridis|work=The Guardian|date=April 26, 2019|access-date=December 9, 2020|archive-date=April 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427062612/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/26/taylor-swifts-singles-ranked|url-status=live}} She re-recorded the song for Speak Now after she received fan request to release it at the 2010 CMA Music Festival. "Enchanted" describes the aftermath of an encounter with a special person without knowing whether the infatuation would be reciprocated. "Haunted" is about romantic obsession and "Last Kiss" explores the lingering feelings after a breakup. On "Long Live", Swift expresses gratitude to her fans and bandmates. The lyrics of "Enchanted" and "Long Live" incorporate high-school-prom and fairy-tale imagery that recalls the youthful optimism of Fearless.

File:SXSW 2009 Kanye West (3378197438).jpg (pictured) inspired "Innocent".|alt=Kanye West performing, wearing sunglasses]]

Besides love and romance, Swift wrote about self-perception. "Never Grow Up" is a contemplation of her childhood, adulthood, and future.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-ca-taylor-swift-20101024-story.html|title=Taylor Swift: The Next Chapter|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Randy|last=Lewis|date=October 24, 2010|access-date=September 23, 2021|archive-date=October 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023112400/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-ca-taylor-swift-20101024-story.html|url-status=live}} The self-aware "Mean", in which Swift sings about facing a man who had tried to take her down, was inspired by her detractors.{{cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/taylor-swift-mean/|title=Taylor Swift, 'Mean'|work=American Songwriter|first=Davis|last=Inman|date=June 6, 2011|access-date=October 23, 2021|archive-date=October 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024064908/https://americansongwriter.com/taylor-swift-mean/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/10/31/359827368/anything-that-connects-a-conversation-with-taylor-swift|title='Anything That Connects': A Conversation With Taylor Swift|work=NPR|date=October 31, 2014|access-date=October 31, 2015|archive-date=February 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206065548/http://www.npr.org/2014/10/31/359827368/anything-that-connects-a-conversation-with-taylor-swift|url-status=live}} Because of her confessional songwriting, the media became invested in Swift's personal life and believed each song is about a real person: an ex-lover, a friend, or an enemy. Although Swift was interested to hear the response from the people to whom she dedicated the songs, she did not publicly name them and believed they would realize this themselves.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028195446/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/ourcountry/62996/taylor-swift-confronts-mayer-laments-lautner-in-new-album/|url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/ourcountry/62996/taylor-swift-confronts-mayer-laments-lautner-in-new-album/|title=Taylor Swift Confronts Mayer, Laments Lautner in New Album|first=Chris|last=Willman|website=Yahoo! Music|date=October 18, 2010|archive-date=October 28, 2010|access-date=October 28, 2010|url-status=dead}} She did reveal that Kanye West, who interrupted Swift's acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, was the subject of "Innocent".{{cite web|url=https://nymag.com/arts/popmusic/features/68796/|title=Princess Crossover|first=Chris|last=Willman|work=New York|date=October 7, 2010|access-date=October 7, 2021|archive-date=October 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025150310/https://nymag.com/arts/popmusic/features/68796/|url-status=live}} In the track, Swift sings about forgiving a man who wronged her; according to Esquire, the track can be interpreted as "a simple lament of a lost love, or a former friend being forgiven".{{cite web|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a8437/new-taylor-swift-song-091410/|title=Is Taylor Swift the New Hip-Hop Mean Girl?|first=Maura|last=Johnston|author-link=Maura Johnston|date=September 14, 2010|work=Esquire|access-date=October 21, 2021|archive-date=October 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023024655/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a8437/new-taylor-swift-song-091410/|url-status=live}}

Swift wrote as many as 25 songs and by early 2010, she had begun to select songs for the album.{{cite magazine |last=Roland |first=Tom |date=October 16, 2010 |title=Taylor Swift Ready to Speak Now |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-swift-idUSTRE69E5RK20101015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122185132/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-swift-idUSTRE69E5RK20101015 |archive-date=January 22, 2016 |access-date=October 16, 2010 |magazine=Billboard |via=Reuters}} To ensure the album would be coherent, she played the songs to her family, friends, and the producer Nathan Chapman, who had worked with Swift on both of her previous albums.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957276/taylor-swift-announces-new-album-speak-now-out-oct-25|title=Taylor Swift Announces New Album Speak Now, Out Oct. 25|first=Monica|last=Herrera|date=July 20, 2010|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 20, 2010|archive-date=September 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927064222/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957276/taylor-swift-announces-new-album-speak-now-out-oct-25|url-status=live}} Swift chose Enchanted as a working title but Big Machine Records' founder Scott Borchetta recommended Swift choose a different title, deeming Enchanted unfit for the album's mature perspective.{{NoteTag|Borchetta reportedly said to Swift; "Taylor, this record isn't about fairy tales and high school anymore. That's not where you're at."}} She settled on the title Speak Now because she thought it best captures the album's essence: "I think it's such a metaphor, that moment where it's almost too late, and you've got to either say what it is you are feeling or deal with the consequences forever ... And this album seemed like the opportunity for me to speak now or forever hold my peace." Swift finalized the track list by June 2010.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2010/08/27/taylor-swift-speak-now-new-album/|title=Taylor Swift Tells EW About New Album Speak Now: 'I've Covered Every Emotion that I've Felt in the Last Two Years.'|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Tanner|last=Stransky|date=August 27, 2010|archive-date=March 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319183417/https://ew.com/article/2010/08/27/taylor-swift-speak-now-new-album/|access-date=March 19, 2015|url-status=live}}

Composition

= Production =

Swift recorded much of Speak Now with Chapman at his Pain in the Art Studio in Nashville.{{cite web|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/taylor-swift-speak-now?amp|title=Taylor Swift Speak Now|work=Sound on Sound|first=Paul|last=Tingen|date=February 2011|access-date=September 9, 2021|archive-date=September 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910113359/https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/taylor-swift-speak-now?amp|url-status=live}} Although Fearless{{'s}} commercial success allowed Swift to engage a larger group of producers, she worked solely with Chapman because she believed they had a productive relationship. The recording process started with a demo; Swift recorded vocals and played guitar, and Chapman sang background vocals and played other instruments. After arranging the demos, they approached other engineers and musicians to tweak some elements, including overdubs and programmed drums. The first track Chapman produced with Swift on Speak Now is "Mine", which they recorded within five hours.

Because of his artistic autonomy, Chapman said he was responsible for "60 percent of the music on the album, including 90 percent of the guitars". Much of his production for Speak Now is identical to that for Fearless; he programmed the drums with Toontrack's software Superior Drummer, played drums on the Roland Fantom G6 keyboard, added electric guitars to the arrangements, recorded Swift's vocals with an Avantone CV12 microphone and his background vocals with a Shure SM57, produced the bass with an Avalon VT737 preamplifier, and used Endless Audio's CLASP System to synchronize his editing on Pro Tools and Logic. To make the sounds align with country music stylings, Chapman worked with other Nashville musicians to replace the programmed drums with live drums and add acoustic instruments such as fiddle. For instance, Chapman asked Steve Marcantonio to cut down programmed drums on "Mine" at Blackbird Studio in Nashville. For some tracks, including "Back to December", Swift and her team went to Capitol Studios in Los Angeles to record string orchestration.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-announces-third-album-speak-now-186288/|title=Taylor Swift Announces Third Album, Speak Now|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Daniel|last=Kreps|date=July 21, 2010|access-date=December 15, 2019|archive-date=December 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215052555/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-announces-third-album-speak-now-186288/|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}

After recording finished, Justin Niebank mixed the album on Pro Tools at Blackbird Studio. Within three weeks, Niebank finished mixing 17 tracks including 14 on the standard edition and three bonus tracks on the deluxe edition.{{cite AV media notes |title=Speak Now |year=2010 |publisher=Big Machine Records |type=Deluxe, Target exclusive liner notes |id=BTMSR0300B |last=Swift |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Swift}} Because Swift wanted Speak Now to be a direct communication with her audience, Niebank infused monoaural reverberation inspired by 1950s and 1960s music in the mix to evoke a "vintage" and "retro" vibe that, according to Niebank, brought a sense of authenticity. Hank Williams mastered the recordings. Because much of Speak Now was recorded and mixed in Nashville, Niebank believed the album stood out among popular records that were manipulated with contemporaneous technologies Auto-Tune and Melodyne. Although Chapman was responsible for much of the production, he said Swift's co-production credit was well-deserved: "We were really a team, very collaborative."{{cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/producer-nathan-chapman-talks-taylor-swift-the-band-perry-and-songwriting-590056|title=Producer Nathan Chapman Talks Taylor Swift, The Band Perry and Songwriting|first=Joe|last=Bosso|work=MusicRadar|date=December 17, 2013|access-date=December 17, 2013|archive-date=December 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221161003/http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/producer-nathan-chapman-talks-taylor-swift-the-band-perry-and-songwriting-590056|url-status=live}}

= Music =

{{Listen

| filename = Mine Taylor Swift.ogg

| title="Mine"

| description = Speak Now is primarily a country pop album with radio-friendly production, as exemplified by its lead single "Mine".}}

Speak Now follows the country pop sound with prominent mainstream music elements, a style that had characterized Taylor Swift and Fearless.{{cite web|url=https://blogs.mcall.com/lehighvalleymusic/2010/10/disc-review-maybe-it-wasnt-time-for-taylor-swift-to-speak-now.html|title=Maybe It Wasn't Time for Taylor Swift to Speak Now|first=John J.|last=Moser|work=The Morning Call|date=October 30, 2010|access-date=September 29, 2019|archive-date=September 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929071627/https://blogs.mcall.com/lehighvalleymusic/2010/10/disc-review-maybe-it-wasnt-time-for-taylor-swift-to-speak-now.html|url-status=live}} Its arrangements are similar to those used Swift's first two albums, but the instruments' textures are more dense and evoke strong influences of pop and rock music.{{Sfn|Nainby|2024|p=100}} The banjo-led bluegrass track "Mean" is the only song that critics agreed upon as country.{{cite news |last=Stewart |first=Allison |date=October 24, 2010 |title=Album Review: Taylor Swift, Speak Now |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/24/AR2010102402488.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113203425/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/24/AR2010102402488.html |archive-date=November 13, 2010 |access-date=October 24, 2010 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

The overall song structure of the Speak Now tracks includes climatic build-ups, catchy pop melodies, and memorable hooks,{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/taylor-swift-speak-now-review/|title=Taylor Swift Speak Now Review|first=Liz|last=Stinson|work=Paste|date=October 29, 2010|access-date=October 28, 2020|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302082831/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/taylor-swift-speak-now-review/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/taylor-swift-speak-now/2300 |title=Taylor Swift: Speak Now |last=Keefe |first=Jonathan |work=Slant Magazine |date=October 25, 2010 |access-date=October 25, 2010 |archive-date=October 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028093509/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/taylor-swift-speak-now/2300 |url-status=live }} characterized by chiming guitars, dynamic drums, and powerful choruses.{{Cite magazine |last=Olivier |first=Bobby |date=July 7, 2023 |title=Taylor Swift Reimagines Speak Now (Taylor's Version) With An Emo Twist |url=https://www.spin.com/2023/07/taylor-swift-speak-now-taylors-version-album-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708160123/https://www.spin.com/2023/07/taylor-swift-speak-now-taylors-version-album-review/ |archive-date=July 8, 2023 |access-date=July 8, 2023 |magazine=Spin}} Several critics disregarded Speak Now's categorization as a country album, aligning its genre with pop rock{{cite web |last=Horton |first=Matthew |date=October 25, 2010 |title=Review of Taylor Swift – Speak Now |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/gzx2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830042922/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/gzx2/ |archive-date=August 30, 2021 |access-date=August 30, 2021 |publisher=BBC Music}} and power pop. Ann Powers, in a review for the Los Angeles Times, described the album as borderline alternative rock and bubblegum pop, with its tracks incorporating diverse styles from "lush strings of Céline-style kitsch-pop to Americana banjo to countrypolitan electric guitar".

According to the musicologist James E. Perone, the rock influences on Speak Now can be traced back to rock styles of the late 1970s through the 1980s.{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=29, 42}} "Sparks Fly" has an arena rock production with guitars and subtle fiddles.{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/08/12/best-taylor-swift-singles-ever-far/31478033/|title=30 Best Taylor Swift Singles Ever (So Far)|first=Ed|last=Masley|work=The Arizona Republic|date=August 12, 2015|access-date=October 23, 2021|archive-date=October 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025150234/https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/08/12/best-taylor-swift-singles-ever-far/31478033/|url-status=live}} The title track is an acoustic guitar-driven country pop song with a 1950s rock chorus.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/955267/taylor-swift-releases-speak-now-title-track|title=Taylor Swift Releases Speak Now Title Track|first=Jason|last=Lipshutz|date=October 5, 2010|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 14, 2010|archive-date=September 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916084402/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/955267/taylor-swift-releases-speak-now-title-track|url-status=live}} "The Story of Us" and "Better than Revenge" are electric-guitar-driven pop-punk songs;{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818202711/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/arts/music/24swift.html|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/arts/music/24swift.html|title=Taylor Swift Is Angry, Darn It|date=October 24, 2010|work=The New York Times|url-status=live|url-access=limited|first=Jon|last=Caramanica|author-link=Jon Caramanica|access-date=August 18, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021}} the former contains influences of dance-pop and new wave, and the latter evokes 1980s hard rock but with more melodic accessibility.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=37}} The arena-rock and goth-rock-inspired "Haunted" incorporates a dramatic recurring string section.{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/all-taylor-swift-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html|title=Taylor Swift Songs Ranked, from Worst to Best|first=Nate|last=Jones|work=Vulture|url-access=limited|date=January 11, 2021|access-date=January 11, 2021|archive-date=September 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913234630/https://www.vulture.com/article/all-taylor-swift-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html|url-status=live}} The closing track "Long Live" is a heartland rock song featuring girl-group harmonies and chiming rock guitars.

The remaining tracks of Speak Now are ballads. "Back to December" is a gentle, orchestral, string-laden ballad. "Dear John" is a slow-burning, bluesy, country-pop song with electric guitar licks. The guitar ballad "Never Grow Up" incorporates an understated production that accompanies its wistful lyrics. On "Enchanted", the acoustic guitar crescendos after each refrain and leads up to a harmony-layered coda at the end. "Innocent" and "Last Kiss" incorporate sparse instruments; the latter is a slow-tempo waltz with breathy vocals. "If This Was a Movie", a bonus song on the deluxe edition and the only song not written solely by Swift, is a fast-paced ballad with a recurring guitar riff and simple harmonies.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1067465/track-review-taylor-swift-if-this-was-a-movie/|title=Track Review: Taylor Swift, 'If This Was a Movie'|date=December 11, 2011|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 21, 2011|archive-date=September 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925233037/http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1067465/track-review-taylor-swift-if-this-was-a-movie|url-status=live}}

Release and promotion

Swift announced Speak Now on July 20, 2010, in a live stream on Ustream. Big Machine Records released the lead single "Mine" to US country radio and digital download sites on August 4, 2010.{{cite web |date=2010-08-04 |title=Taylor Swift's New Single, 'Mine,' Shipped to Country Radio After Leak |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1645091/taylor-swifts-new-single-mine-shipped-to-country-radio-after-leak.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021211934/http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1645091/taylor-swifts-new-single-mine-shipped-to-country-radio-after-leak.jhtml |archive-date=2014-10-21 |access-date=2010-08-04 |work=CMT News}} The single peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/956910/taylor-swift-makes-sparkling-hot-100-entrance|title=Taylor Swift Makes Sparkling Hot 100 Entrance|date=2010-08-11|first=Silvio|last=Pietroluongo|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2010-08-06|archive-date=2016-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131095813/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/956910/taylor-swift-makes-sparkling-hot-100-entrance|url-status=live}} and was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).{{cite certification|region=United States|type=single|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Mine|access-date=October 23, 2021}} It reached number six in Japan,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/jpn/|title=Taylor Swift Chart History (Japan Hot 100)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 23, 2020|archive-date=October 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021223159/https://www.billboard.com/music/taylor-swift/chart-history/JPN|url-status=live}} number seven in Canada,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/can/|title=Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 23, 2020|archive-date=May 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509055413/https://www.billboard.com/music/taylor-swift/chart-history/CAN|url-status=live}} and number nine in Australia.{{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=Mine&cat=s|title=Taylor Swift – Mine|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=October 23, 2020|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923004313/https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=Mine&cat=s|url-status=live}} On August 18, Swift released the album's cover art, which depicts Swift with curly hair and red lipstick twirling in a deep-purple gown.{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1646008/taylor-swift-debuts-speak-now-cover-art/|title=Taylor Swift Debuts Speak Now Cover Art|work=MTV News|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|date=August 18, 2010|access-date=October 18, 2010|archive-date=November 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111051052/http://www.mtv.com/news/1646008/taylor-swift-debuts-speak-now-cover-art/|url-status=dead}} On September 15, she announced a Target-exclusive deluxe edition whose cover art is identical to that of the standard edition but the gown is red instead of purple.{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1647945/taylor-swift-announces-deluxe-version-of-speak-now/|title=Taylor Swift Announces Deluxe Version of Speak Now|date=September 15, 2010|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|work=MTV News|access-date=September 18, 2010|archive-date=May 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526072340/http://www.mtv.com/news/1647945/taylor-swift-announces-deluxe-version-of-speak-now/|url-status=dead}} Starting from October 4, 2010, Big Machine released one Speak Now track each week on the iTunes Store as part of a three-week countdown campaign; the title track was released on October 5, followed by "Back to December" on October 12 and "Mean" on October 19.{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1648777/taylor-swift-rolling-out-speak-now-tracks-early/|title=Taylor Swift Rolling Out Speak Now Tracks Early|work=MTV News|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|date=September 27, 2010|access-date=September 28, 2010|archive-date=May 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524162044/http://www.mtv.com/news/1648777/taylor-swift-rolling-out-speak-now-tracks-early/|url-status=dead}} On October 22, Xfinity premiered a preview of "The Story of Us".

Big Machine released the standard and deluxe editions of Speak Now on October 25, 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/taylor-swift-speak-album-31396/|title=Album Review: Taylor Swift's Speak Now|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Chris|last=Willman|date=October 19, 2010|access-date=October 20, 2020|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818201357/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/taylor-swift-speak-album-31396/|url-status=live}} The Target-exclusive CD+DVD edition contains 14 songs of the standard; the bonus tracks "Ours", "If This Was a Movie", and "Superman"; acoustic versions of "Back to December" and "Haunted"; a "pop mix" of "Mine"; a 30-minute behind-the-scenes video for "Mine"; and the music video for "Mine".{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1649061/taylor-swifts-speak-now-bonus-tracks-revealed/|title=Taylor Swift's Speak Now Bonus Tracks Revealed|first=James|last=Dinh|work=MTV News|date=September 30, 2010|access-date=October 20, 2021|archive-date=September 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190916080928/http://www.mtv.com/news/1649061/taylor-swifts-speak-now-bonus-tracks-revealed/|url-status=dead}} The deluxe edition was released to other retailers on January 17, 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/speak-now-taylor-swift/19945083|title=Speak Now (Deluxe)|publisher=Barnes and Noble|access-date=October 20, 2021|archive-date=October 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024171918/https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/speak-now-taylor-swift/19945083|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.walmart.com/ip/Speak-Now-Deluxe-Edition-2CD/19527884 |title=Speak Now (Deluxe Edition) (2CD) |publisher=Walmart |date=January 17, 2012 |access-date=January 21, 2012 |archive-date=January 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120224349/http://www.walmart.com/ip/Speak-Now-Deluxe-Edition-2CD/19527884 |url-status=dead }} To bolster sales of the album, Swift had partnerships with Starbucks, Sony Electronics, Walmart, and Jakks Pacific. In October 2011, Swift partnered with Elizabeth Arden, Inc. to release her fragrance brand "Wonderstruck", whose name references the lyrics of "Enchanted".{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jim-YANOn5AC&pg=RA11-PA32|title=Women in Music 2011: Beyond Branding|volume=123|issue=35|page=32|magazine=Billboard|via=Google Books|first=Andrew|last=Hampp|date=December 10, 2011|access-date=December 10, 2011|archive-date=October 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025150235/https://books.google.com/books?id=jim-YANOn5AC&pg=RA11-PA32&lpg=RA11-PA32|url-status=live}}

File:Taylor Swift - Speak Now World Tour Sydney 2012.jpg in 2012|alt=Taylor Swift performing on tour in 2012, on a guitar]]

To further promote Speak Now, Swift appeared on magazine covers and conducted press interviews. She performed "Innocent" at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/live/956401/taylor-swift-deems-kanye-west-innocent-at-vmas|title=Taylor Swift Deems Kanye West 'Innocent' at VMAs|first=Jason|last=Lipshutz|magazine=Billboard|date=September 12, 2010|access-date=October 22, 2021|archive-date=October 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022150647/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/live/956401/taylor-swift-deems-kanye-west-innocent-at-vmas|url-status=live}} Her other performances at awards shows include the Country Music Association Awards{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1652019/taylor-swift-performs-back-to-december-at-cma-awards/|title=Taylor Swift Performs 'Back to December' at CMA Awards|work=MTV News|first=Mawuse|last=Ziegbe|date=November 10, 2010|access-date=November 10, 2010|archive-date=December 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204032136/http://www.mtv.com/news/1652019/taylor-swift-performs-back-to-december-at-cma-awards/|url-status=dead}} and the American Music Awards in 2010;{{cite news|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1652765/taylor-swift-goes-back-to-december-with-snowy-ama-performance/|title=Taylor Swift Goes 'Back to December' with Snowy AMA Performance|date=November 21, 2010|access-date=November 2, 2017|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|work=MTV News|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904201243/http://www.mtv.com/news/1652765/taylor-swift-goes-back-to-december-with-snowy-ama-performance/|archive-date=September 4, 2017|df=mdy-all}} the Academy of Country Music Awards{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/miranda-lambert-rules-acm-awards-again-taylor-swift-gets-mean-wbna42409317|title=Miranda Lambert Rules the ACM Awards Again—and Taylor Swift Gets Mean!|first=Jenna|last=Mullins|work=Today|date=April 4, 2011|access-date=October 4, 2021|archive-date=October 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025150236/https://www.today.com/popculture/miranda-lambert-rules-acm-awards-again-taylor-swift-gets-mean-wbna42409317|url-status=live}} and the Country Music Association Awards in 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/taylor-swift-cma-awards-performance-260208/|title=Taylor Swift Performs Acoustic 'Ours' on CMA Awards 2011|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Sophie|last=Schillaci|date=November 10, 2011|access-date=November 10, 2011|archive-date=October 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025150236/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/taylor-swift-cma-awards-performance-260208/|url-status=live}} She also performed at Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/09/taylor-swift-kristofferson-country-hall-fame.html|title=Taylor Swift Joins Kris Kristofferson, Vince Gill, Lionel Richie and Emmylou Harris at Country Hall of Fame Benefit|first=Randy|last=Lewis|date=September 24, 2010|access-date=September 24, 2020|work=Los Angeles Times|archive-date=September 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925191909/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/09/taylor-swift-kristofferson-country-hall-fame.html|url-status=live}} In Europe, Swift performed on BBC Radio 2 and X Factor Italy, and she had interviews with BBC Radio 1 in the United Kingdom and NRJ in France.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/international-sales-solid-for-speak-now-1198062/|title=International Sales Solid For Speak Now|first=Andre|last=Paine|date=November 4, 2011|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 16, 2022|archive-date=January 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101053610/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/international-sales-solid-for-speak-now-1198062/|url-status=live}} She embarked on a promotional tour in Japan, where she appeared on the television shows SMAPxSMAP and Music Station.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jim-YANOn5AC&pg=RA11-PA38|title=From Nashville to Tokyo|magazine=Billboard|first=Rob|last=Schwartz|date=December 10, 2011|page=38|volume=123|issue=35|access-date=October 24, 2021|via=Google Books|archive-date=March 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305092032/https://books.google.com/books?id=jim-YANOn5AC&pg=RA11-PA38#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}} Her round of American television shows included Today, Late Show with David Letterman, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Live with Regis and Kelly, and Dancing with the Stars.{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1651442/how-did-taylor-swifts-speak-now-sell-a-million-in-a-week/|title=How Did Taylor Swift's Speak Now Sell A Million in A Week?|work=MTV News|first=Gil|last=Kaufman|date=November 3, 2010|access-date=November 3, 2010|archive-date=July 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713105928/http://www.mtv.com/news/1651442/how-did-taylor-swifts-speak-now-sell-a-million-in-a-week/|url-status=dead}} She also gave private concerts to contest winners and played a semi-private concert for JetBlue at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.{{cite web |last=Sisario |first=Ben |author-link=Ben Sisario |date=November 3, 2010 |title=Taylor Swift Album Is a Sales Triumph |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/04/arts/music/04country.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902152815/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/04/arts/music/04country.html |archive-date=September 2, 2017 |access-date=November 3, 2010 |work=The New York Times}}

After "Mine", Swift released five more singles from Speak Now. "Back to December" and "Mean", which were earlier available for digital download, were released to US country radio on November 15, 2010,{{cite news|url=https://www.countryaircheck.com/pdf_publication/Issue_217%20-%20November%208,%202010.pdf|title=Country Aircheck Chart Info|work=Country Aircheck|issue=217|page=13|date=November 8, 2010|access-date=November 8, 2010|archive-date=March 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325050109/https://www.countryaircheck.com/pdf_publication/Issue_217%20-%20November%208,%202010.pdf|url-status=live}} and March 7, 2011.{{cite web|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130828093822/http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=03/13/2011&Format=4|url=http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=03/13/2011&Format=4|title=Going for Adds: Country|work=Radio & Records|archive-date=August 28, 2013|access-date=August 28, 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem.asp?xid=5167|title=Swift Starts European Leg of Speak Now World Tour|access-date=March 6, 2025|website=Country Standard Time|date=March 7, 2011|archive-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018174258/https://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem.asp?xid=5167|url-status=live}} The two singles peaked at numbers seven and ten in Canada, and "Back to December" reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/genre/e3i493aa786b5893edc9b7afa6eb4f225b5|title=Chart Moves: Lil Wayne, David Archuleta, Taylor Swift, Kanye West|date=October 21, 2010|first1=Keith|last1=Caulfield|first2=Silvio|last2=Pietroluongo|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 21, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101023234934/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/genre/e3i493aa786b5893edc9b7afa6eb4f225b5| archive-date= 23 October 2010 | url-status=dead}} "The Story of Us" was released to US pop radio on April 19, 2011.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505111202/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239#2011|url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239#2011|title=Available for Airplay|work=FMQB|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 5, 2011|access-date=May 5, 2011}} "Sparks Fly" and "Ours" were released to US country radio on July 18{{cite news|url=https://www.countryaircheck.com/pdf_publication/Issue_251%20-%20July%2011,%202011.pdf|title=Country Aircheck Chart Info|work=Country Aircheck|issue=251|page=16|date=July 11, 2011|access-date=July 11, 2011|archive-date=March 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325051250/https://www.countryaircheck.com/pdf_publication/Issue_251%20-%20July%2011,%202011.pdf|url-status=live}} and December 5, 2011.{{cite web|url=https://countryaircheck.com/pdfs/current112811.pdsmapf|title=Country Air Check Weekly|work=Country Aircheck|issue=270|page=13|date=2011-11-28|access-date=2011-11-30|archive-date=April 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412083137/http://countryaircheck.com/pdfs/current112811.pdf|url-status=live}} Prior to its single release, "Ours", together with the other deluxe edition tracks, was released for digital download via the iTunes Store on November 8, 2011.{{cite web|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-bonus-speak-now-songs-itunes/|title=Taylor Swift Releases Bonus Speak Now Songs on iTunes|work=Taste of Country|first=Cristin|last=Maher|date=November 13, 2011|access-date=November 13, 2011|archive-date=November 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114075459/http://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-bonus-speak-now-songs-itunes/|url-status=live}} "Sparks Fly" and "Ours" reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked atop the Hot Country Songs chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/hsi/|title=Taylor Swift Chart History (Billboard Hot 100)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 20, 2020|archive-date=May 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509102524/https://www.billboard.com/music/taylor-swift/chart-history/HSI|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/csi/|title=Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot Country Songs)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 20, 2020|archive-date=December 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213050240/https://www.billboard.com/music/Taylor-Swift/chart-history/CSI|url-status=live}} The RIAA certified all six of the album's singles at least platinum; "Back to December" and "Mean" sold over two million copies each, and they were certified double-platinum and triple-platinum.RIAA certifications for Speak Now singles:

{{cite certification|region=United States|type=single|title=Back to December|access-date=November 26, 2017}}
{{cite certification|region=United States|type=single|title=Mean|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=November 26, 2017}}
{{cite certification|region=United States|type=single|title=The Story of Us|access-date=November 26, 2017}}
{{cite certification|region=United States|type=single|title=Sparks Fly|access-date=November 26, 2017}}
{{cite certification|region=United States|type=single|title=Ours|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=November 26, 2017}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8046939/taylor-swift-career-album-song-sales-ask-billboard|title=Taylor Swift's Career Album & Song Sales|magazine=Billboard|first=Gary|last=Trust|date=November 26, 2017|access-date=November 26, 2017|archive-date=November 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171126192431/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8046939/taylor-swift-career-album-song-sales-ask-billboard|url-status=live}}

On November 23, 2010, Swift announced the Speak Now World Tour, which started in Singapore on February 9, 2011. The tour visited Asia and Europe before the North American leg started in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 27, 2011.{{cite magazine|url=https://assets.billboard.com/articles/news/live/950374/taylor-swift-announces-speak-now-world-tour|title=Taylor Swift Announces Speak Now World Tour|first=Julian|last=Mapes|magazine=Billboard|date=November 23, 2010|access-date=November 23, 2010|archive-date=October 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025150302/https://pandg.tapad.com/tag?gdpr=0&us_privacy=1YYY&referrer_url=&page_url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.billboard.com%2Farticles%2Fnews%2Flive%2F9643222%2Fcoldplay-twenty-one-pilots-imagine-dragons-tapped-for-iheartradios-alter-ego&owner=P%26G&bp_id=penskemedia&data=%7B%22category%22%3A%22articles%22%7D|url-status=live}} Within two days of announcement, the tour sold 625,000 tickets.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swifts-speak-now-tops-the-charts-183297/|title=Taylor Swift's Speak Now Tops the Charts|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited|first=Steve|last=Knopper|date=November 25, 2010|access-date=November 25, 2010|archive-date=March 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303142237/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swifts-speak-now-tops-the-charts-183297/|url-status=live}} By April 2011, Swift had added another 16 shows to the North American leg.{{cite web|url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/taylor-swift-adds-16-us-dates-to-speak-now-world-tour-with-miami-show-november-13-6480384|title=Taylor Swift Adds 16 U.S. Dates to Speak Now World Tour With Miami Show November 13|date=April 1, 2011|work=Miami New Times|access-date=April 1, 2011|archive-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304103311/https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/taylor-swift-adds-16-us-dates-to-speak-now-world-tour-with-miami-show-november-13-6480384|url-status=live}} After the final US concert in New York City on November 22, 2011, the Speak Now World Tour had covered 80 sold-out North American shows.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2011/11/23/taylor-swift-speak-now-tour-madison-square-garden/|title=Taylor Swift Wraps Her Speak Now Tour in New York City, Sings with James Taylor and Selena Gomez|first=Grady|last=Smith|date=November 23, 2011|access-date=November 23, 2011|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|archive-date=October 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001051610/http://www.ew.com/article/2011/11/23/taylor-swift-speak-now-tour-madison-square-garden|url-status=live}} On August 10, 2011, Swift released a music video for "Sparks Fly" that includes footage from the tour.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/viral-videos/467973/taylor-swift-offers-tour-highlights-in-sparks-fly-video/|title=Taylor Swift Offers Tour Highlights in 'Sparks Fly' Video|magazine=Billboard|first=Jason|last=Lipshutz|date=August 10, 2011|access-date=August 10, 2011|archive-date=September 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913124544/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/viral-videos/467973/taylor-swift-offers-tour-highlights-in-sparks-fly-video|url-status=live}} She released the album Speak Now World Tour – Live on November 21, 2011.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/467354/taylor-swift-announces-speak-now-live-cddvd|title=Taylor Swift Announces Speak Now Live CD/DVD|first=Jason|last=Lipshutz|magazine=Billboard|date=September 21, 2011|access-date=October 21, 2011|archive-date=February 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213004051/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/467354/taylor-swift-announces-speak-now-live-cddvd|url-status=live}} In December 2011, Swift announced an extension of the tour to Australia and New Zealand starting in March 2012.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jim-YANOn5AC&pg=RA11-PA36|title=Taylor Takes on the World|first=Richard|last=Smirke|magazine=Billboard|date=December 10, 2011|access-date=December 10, 2011|page=36|volume=123|issue=35|archive-date=October 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025150237/https://books.google.com/books?id=jim-YANOn5AC&pg=RA11-PA36&lpg=RA11-PA36|url-status=live|via=Google Books}} Concluding on March 18, 2012, the Speak Now World Tour had covered 110 shows, visited 18 countries,{{NoteTag|United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Philippines, Hong Kong, Belgium, Norway, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, France, Spain, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and England.}} and grossed $123.7 million.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8454592/taylor-swift-tour-guide-reputation|title=A Rough Guide to Taylor Swift's Tours to Date|first1=Morgan|last1=Enos|first2=Abby|last2=Jones|magazine=Billboard|date=May 7, 2018|access-date=May 7, 2018|archive-date=May 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507205537/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8454592/taylor-swift-tour-guide-reputation|url-status=live}}

Commercial performance

Before Speak Now{{'s}} release, Big Machine shipped two million copies of the album to stores in the United States. In the week ending November 13, 2010, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 1,047,000 copies.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/951633/what-taylor-swifts-million-selling-album-means-for-music/|title=What Taylor Swift's Million-Selling Album Means for Music|access-date=February 4, 2017|archive-date=February 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205013301/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/951633/what-taylor-swifts-million-selling-album-means-for-music|url-status=live|magazine=Billboard|first=Ed|last=Christman|date=November 5, 2010}} It marked the highest single-week tally for a female country artist and became the first album since Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III (2008) to sell over one million copies in its first week of release.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/951902/taylor-swift-sells-over-1-million-in-record-billboard-200-debut|title=Taylor Swift Sells Over 1 Million in Record Billboard 200 Debut | date=November 3, 2010|first=Keith|last=Caulfield|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 3, 2010|archive-date=July 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702084139/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/951902/taylor-swift-sells-over-1-million-in-record-billboard-200-debut|url-status=live}} Media publications including Billboard, MTV, and The New York Times published articles highlighting Speak Now{{'s}} strong sales in the context of declining record sales brought about by the emergence of music download platforms. According to The New York Times, although the music industry in 2010 saw album sales "[plunging] by more than 50 percent in the last decade", the album proved Swift "has transcended the limitations of genre and become a pop megastar". The Guinness World Records in 2010 recognized Speak Now as the fastest-selling album in the United States by a female country artist.{{cite web|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-selling-album-in-the-us-by-a-female-country-artist|title=Fastest-Selling Album in the US by a Female Country Artist|work=Guinness World Records|date=November 10, 2012 |access-date=October 20, 2020|archive-date=August 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801064018/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-selling-album-in-the-us-by-a-female-country-artist|url-status=live}}

In Speak Now{{'s}} first charting week, 11 of the standard edition's 14 tracks charted on the Billboard Hot 100, making Swift the first female artist to have 11 songs on the Hot 100 at the same time.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/951777/taylor-swift-debuts-10-speak-now-songs-on-hot-100|title=Taylor Swift Debuts 10 Speak Now Songs on Hot 100|first=Silvio|last=Pietroluongo|magazine=Billboard|date=November 4, 2010|access-date=November 22, 2015|archive-date=July 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720215141/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/951777/taylor-swift-debuts-10-speak-now-songs-on-hot-100|url-status=live}} After the digital release of the deluxe edition tracks in November 2011, "If This Was a Movie" charted at number 10 on the Hot 100, making Swift the first artist to have eight songs debut in the top 10.{{cite magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623115633/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/465099/rihanna-still-atop-hot-100-taylor-swifts-movie-premieres-in-top-10| url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/465099/rihanna-still-atop-hot-100-taylor-swifts-movie-premieres-in-top-10 |title=Rihanna Still Reigns Hot 100, But Taylor Swift's 'Movie' Debuts in Top 10 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 24, 2011| first=Gary| last=Trust|archive-date=June 23, 2018| date=November 16, 2011 |url-status=live }}{{NoteTag|The other seven songs that debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 are "Change" (2008), "Fearless" (2008), "Jump Then Fall" (2009), "Today Was a Fairytale" (2010), "Mine" (2010), "Speak Now" (2010), and "Back To December" (2010).{{cite web|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/only-artist-in-us-chart-history-to-have-seven-singles-debut-in-the-top-10-of-the-hot-100-|title=Only Artist in US Chart History to Have Seven Singles Debut in the Top 10 of the Hot 100|work=Guinness World Records|access-date=October 20, 2020|archive-date=August 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801074733/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/only-artist-in-us-chart-history-to-have-seven-singles-debut-in-the-top-10-of-the-hot-100-|url-status=live}}}} With this achievement, Speak Now had four songs peaking in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100—"Mine", "Back to December", "Speak Now", and "If This Was a Movie".{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/genre/news/e3ifa81d8937706f99fbd198110deb7f7d3 |title=Chart Moves: Susan Boyle, Willow Smith, Taylor Swift, Bo Burnham, Cee Lo |magazine=Billboard|first1=Keith |last1=Caulfield |first2=Silvio |last2=Pietroluongo|date=October 28, 2010 |access-date=November 24, 2011 |archive-date=January 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103012946/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/genre/news/e3ifa81d8937706f99fbd198110deb7f7d3 |url-status=dead}} The album spent six non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard 200.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/473677/taylor-swifts-speak-now-takes-no-1-in-record-low-sales-week|title=Taylor Swift's Speak Now Takes No. 1 in Record-Low Sales Week|date=January 12, 2011|magazine=Billboard|first=Keith|last=Caulfield|access-date=January 12, 2011|archive-date=August 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807232516/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/473677/taylor-swifts-speak-now-takes-no-1-in-record-low-sales-week|url-status=live}} Speak Now was the third-best-selling album of 2010 in the United States with sales of 2.96 million copies.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/473767/eminems-recovery-is-2010s-best-selling-album-katy-perrys-california-gurls-top|title=Eminem's Recovery Is 2010's Best-Selling Album; Katy Perry's 'California Gurls' Top Digital Song|magazine=Billboard|first=Keith|last=Caulfield|date=January 5, 2011|access-date=March 19, 2012|archive-date=May 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515112716/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/473767/eminems-recovery-is-2010s-best-selling-album-katy-perrys-california-gurls-top|url-status=live}} By January 2024, it had sold 4.817 million copies in the United States.{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=January 18, 2024 |title=Taylor Swift's 1989 (Taylor's Version) Surpasses 2 Million in U.S. Sales |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-1989-taylors-version-2-million-sales-1235584599/ |access-date=January 19, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118235246/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-1989-taylors-version-2-million-sales-1235584599/ |url-status=live }} The RIAA certified the album six-times platinum, which denotes six million album-equivalent units based on sales, song downloads, and streaming.

Speak Now was a chart success in the wider English-speaking world: it peaked atop the albums charts of Australia, Canada,{{Cite news|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/S/Swift_Taylor/2010/11/03/15941396.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709072840/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/S/Swift_Taylor/2010/11/03/15941396.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 9, 2012|title=Taylor Swift Shakes Up Charts|date=November 3, 2010|first=John|last=Williams|work=Jam!|access-date=November 4, 2010}} and New Zealand, and peaked at number six in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The album was certified triple-platinum in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Upon conclusion of the Asian leg of the Speak Now World Tour by February 2011, the album sold 400,000 copies in the region and received platinum sales certifications in Taiwan, South Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines.{{Cite news |date=February 22, 2011 |title=Success in Asia Testifies to Swift's Global Appeal |work=The Commercial Appeal |page=M2 |id={{ProQuest|2596004396}}}} In Europe, it charted at number four in Norway, number six in Japan, and number ten in Spain. After Swift embarked on the Eras Tour (2023–2024), Speak Now resurged in popularity in the United Kingdom: it re-entered the top 40 (at number 23) of the UK Albums Chart for the week ending May 18, 2023, which was its first top-40 appearance since November 2010.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Carl |date=May 12, 2023 |title=Ed Sheeran Secures Fastest-Selling Album of 2023 So Far with Subtract |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ed-sheeran-secures-fastest-selling-album-of-2023-so-far-with-subtract__39249/ |accessdate=12 May 2023 |publisher=Official Charts Company |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512163530/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ed-sheeran-secures-fastest-selling-album-of-2023-so-far-with-subtract__39249/ |url-status=live }}

Critical reception

{{Album ratings

| title = Contemporaneous professional ratings

| ADM = 6.9/10{{cite web |url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/2281/Taylor-Swift-Speak-Now.aspx |title=Speak Now by Taylor Swift reviews |publisher=AnyDecentMusic? |access-date=November 4, 2017 |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107003224/http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/2281/Taylor-Swift-Speak-Now.aspx |url-status=live }}

| MC = 77/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2Score = B−

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3Score = B+{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2010/11/03/speak-now/ |title=Speak Now (2010) |last=Greenblatt |first=Leah |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=October 25, 2010 |access-date=October 25, 2010 |archive-date=October 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028022345/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20436681,00.html |url-status=live }}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev5 = Los Angeles Times

| rev5Score = {{Rating|3|4}}

| rev6 = MSN Music (Expert Witness)

| rev6Score = A−

| rev7 = Paste

| rev7Score = 7.1/10

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev9 = Slant Magazine

| rev9Score = {{Rating|3|5}}

| rev10 = Spin

| rev10Score = 7/10

}}

Initial reviews of Speak Now were generally positive. On the review aggregator site Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album has an average score of 77 that was based on 20 reviews.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/speak-now/taylor-swift/critic-reviews |title=Reviews for Speak Now by Taylor Swift |website=Metacritic |access-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-date=April 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405062254/http://www.metacritic.com/music/speak-now/taylor-swift/critic-reviews |url-status=live }} AnyDecentMusic? compiled 10 reviews and gave it an average score of 6.9 out of 10.

Most reviews approved of Swift's grown-up perspective on love and relationships. AllMusic,{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/speak-now-mw0002025410 |title=Speak Now – Taylor Swift |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=October 25, 2010 |archive-date=November 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105185251/https://www.allmusic.com/album/speak-now-mw0002025410 |url-status=live }} Entertainment Weekly, The Guardian,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/dec/09/taylor-swift-speak-now-review |title=Taylor Swift: Speak Now – review |last=Macpherson |first=Alex |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=October 9, 2010 |access-date=January 2, 2011 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803182521/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/dec/09/taylor-swift-speak-now-review |url-status=live }} the Los Angeles Times,{{cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/10/album-review-taylor-swifts-speak-now.html |title=Album Review: Taylor Swift's Speak Now |last=Powers |first=Ann |author-link=Ann Powers |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 25, 2010 |access-date=October 25, 2010 |archive-date=October 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028003032/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/10/album-review-taylor-swifts-speak-now.html |url-status=live }} and Rolling Stone{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/speak-now-105838/ |title=Speak Now (2010) |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=October 26, 2010 |access-date=December 20, 2019 |url-access=limited |archive-date=September 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911112406/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/speak-now-20101026 |url-status=live }} complimented the songs for portraying emotions with engaging narratives and vivid details. In AllMusic's review, Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote: "[Swift] writes from the perspective of the moment yet has the skill of a songwriter beyond her years." American Songwriter approved of Swift's self-penned material and artistic control.{{cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/taylor-swift-speak-now/|title=Taylor Swift: Speak Now|first=Rick|last=Moore|work=American Songwriter|date=December 15, 2010|access-date=October 15, 2021|archive-date=October 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025150310/https://americansongwriter.com/taylor-swift-speak-now/|url-status=live}} In his consumer guide, Robert Christgau commented that although the album was too long and the romantic themes did not interest him, the songs were fascinating because of an "effort that bears a remarkable resemblance to care—that is, to caring in the best, broadest, and most emotional sense".{{cite web|url=http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blogpost.aspx?post=c271e36b-4d73-4981-8aaf-98b4e0da5d21 |title=Now That's What I Call Club Hits 2/Taylor Swift |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |work=MSN Music |date=February 4, 2011 |access-date=February 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309081051/http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blogpost.aspx?post=c271e36b-4d73-4981-8aaf-98b4e0da5d21 |archive-date=March 9, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

The album's dramatic themes of heartbreak and vengeance received mixed reviews. Spin{{cite web |url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/taylor-swift-speak-now-big-machine |title=Taylor Swift, Speak Now (Big Machine) |last=Wood |first=Mikael |work=Spin |date=October 26, 2010 |access-date=October 26, 2010 |archive-date=July 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702153358/http://www.spin.com/reviews/taylor-swift-speak-now-big-machine |url-status=live }} and Now{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202055355/https://nowtoronto.com/music/discs.cfm?content=177612|url=https://nowtoronto.com/music/discs.cfm?content=177612|title=Disc Review: Taylor Swift, Speak Now (Big Machine)|work=Now|first=Kevin|last=Ritchie|date=November 4, 2010|access-date=November 4, 2010|archive-date=December 2, 2010|url-status=dead}} said although it included some memorable tracks, Speak Now was blemished by celebrity, rage, and grievances. Slant Magazine lauded Swift's melodic songwriting for offering radio-friendly pop hooks but criticized the lyrics of "Dear John", "Mean", "Innocent", and "Better than Revenge" as shallow and shortsighted. According to Steven Hyden from The A.V. Club, those tracks were Speak Now{{'s}} strength: "Swift's niftiest trick is being at her most likeable when she's indulging in such overt nastiness."{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/taylor-swift-speak-now-1798166341 |title=Taylor Swift: Speak Now |work=The A.V. Club |date=November 2, 2010 |access-date=October 8, 2018 |last=Hyden |first=Steven |author-link=Steven Hyden |archive-date=October 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008095918/https://music.avclub.com/taylor-swift-speak-now-1798166341 |url-status=live }} Entertainment Weekly agreed, deeming those tracks inevitable for Swift's artistic evolution. The Village Voice said Swift's songwriting was "not confessional, but dramatic" and found it more nuanced and mature compared to that of Fearless.{{cite news |last=Weber |first=Theon |date=November 3, 2010 |title=The Iceberg Songs of Taylor Swift |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-11-03/music/the-iceberg-songs-of-taylor-swift/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707060458/http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-11-03/music/the-iceberg-songs-of-taylor-swift/ |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |access-date=November 3, 2010 |newspaper=The Village Voice}}

Other reviews focused on Speak Now{{'s}} production. Reviews published in Paste and Slant Magazine called it a catchy album with radio-friendly pop tunes; the former was impressed by the crossover appeal but deemed the overall production dull. The Village Voice took issue with Swift's vocals as weak and strained. BBC Music found the album's track list too long but called it overall a "sparky and affecting record". Now approved of Swift's experimentation with styles other than country but considered it "too safe" and said the album was tarnished by "slickly produced power pop and a sugary sameness [that is] indiscernible from any number of today's radio-oriented artists". Ann Powers appreciated Speak Now{{'s}} soft, introspective tracks for personalizing pop music. Jon Caramanica of The New York Times lauded the experimentation with genres such as blues and pop punk, and he called Speak Now a bold step for Swift.

Accolades

Speak Now was ranked 13th on Rolling Stone{{'}}s list of the best albums of 2010.{{cite magazine|date=December 25, 2010|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/30-best-albums-of-2010-20101213|title=The 30 Best Albums of 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217065847/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/30-best-albums-of-2010-20101213 |archive-date=December 17, 2010|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=January 18, 2011}} The New York Times{{'}} Jon Caramanica ranked the album number two (behind Rick Ross's Teflon Don) in his 2010 year-end list.{{cite news|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Caramanica|title=The Purpler the Bruise, the Sweeter the Song|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/19/arts/music/19caramanica.html?_r=2|access-date=December 19, 2010|work=The New York Times|date=December 19, 2010|archive-date=February 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208231751/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/19/arts/music/19caramanica.html?_r=2|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} The album appeared on lists of the best country albums of 2010; PopMatters ranked it fifth{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/best-country-albums-2010-2496104359.html?rebelltitem=10#rebelltitem10|title=The 10 Best Country Albums of 2010|last1=Heaton|first1=Dave|last2=Leftridge|first2=Steve|website=PopMatters|date=May 5, 2020|access-date=May 10, 2020|archive-date=December 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214230047/https://www.popmatters.com/best-country-albums-2010-2496104359.html?rebelltitem=10#rebelltitem10|url-status=live}} and The Boot ranked it second.{{cite web|last=Duvall|first=Erin|title=Top Country Albums of 2010|url=http://www.theboot.com/2010/12/06/top-country-albums-2010/|website=The Boot|date=December 6, 2010 |access-date=March 8, 2012|archive-date=April 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427115034/http://www.theboot.com/2010/12/06/top-country-albums-2010/|url-status=live}} In 2012, Speak Now appeared at number 45 on Rolling Stone{{'s}} list of the "50 Best Female Albums of All Time"; the magazine commented: "She might get played on the country station, but she's one of the few genuine rock stars we've got these days, with a flawless ear for what makes a song click."{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/women-who-rock-the-50-greatest-albums-of-all-time-160558/taylor-swift-speak-now-2-230960/ |title=Women Who Rock: The 50 Greatest Albums of All Time: Taylor Swift, Speak Now|first=Rob|last=Sheffield|author-link=Rob Sheffield |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=June 22, 2012|access-date=June 23, 2012 |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716034840/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/women-who-rock-the-50-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120622/aretha-franklin-i-never-loved-a-man-the-way-i-love-you-19691231 |url-status=dead }} In 2019, Billboard listed Speak Now in 51st place on its list of the best albums of the 2010s{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/8543722/best-albums-of-the-2010s-top-100|title=The 100 Greatest Albums of the 2010s: Staff Picks|magazine=Billboard|date=November 19, 2019|access-date=November 20, 2019|archive-date=December 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218234627/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/8543722/best-albums-of-the-2010s-top-100|url-status=live}} and second on its list of best country albums of the same decade.{{cite magazine|title=The 25 Best Country Albums of the 2010s: Staff List|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/8544968/best-country-albums-of-the-2010s-top-25|first=Annie|last=Reuter|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 2, 2019|date=December 2, 2019|archive-date=December 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202223152/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/8544968/best-country-albums-of-the-2010s-top-25|url-status=live}} The album also ranked 37th on Spin{{'s}} 2010s decade-end list{{Cite web|date=2020-06-30|title=The 101 Best Albums of the 2010s|url=https://www.spin.com/featured/the-101-best-albums-of-the-2010s/|access-date=2020-07-02|website=Spin|archive-date=July 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711212218/https://www.spin.com/featured/the-101-best-albums-of-the-2010s/|url-status=live}} and 71st on that of Cleveland.com;{{cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/life-and-culture/g66l-2019/10/9ca10ee95f3302/100-greatest-albums-of-the-2010s.html|title=100 Greatest Albums of the 2010s|last=Smith|first=Troy L.|website=Cleveland.com|date=October 9, 2019|access-date=November 23, 2019|archive-date=October 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008181557/https://www.cleveland.com/life-and-culture/g66l-2019/10/9ca10ee95f3302/100-greatest-albums-of-the-2010s.html|url-status=live}} and Taste of Country named it the fourth-best country album of the 2010s.{{cite web|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/best-country-albums-2010s/|title=The 50 Best Country Albums of the 2010s|website=Taste of Country|date=December 18, 2019|access-date=December 18, 2019|archive-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219004314/https://tasteofcountry.com/best-country-albums-2010s/|url-status=live}}

Speak Now received industry awards and nominations. In the United States, it was nominated for Album of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards,{{cite web|url=https://musicrow.com/2011/04/46th-annual-acm-awards-winners-nominees/|title=Lambert Leads ACM Awards Winners List|work=MusicRow|date=April 3, 2011|access-date=April 3, 2011|archive-date=April 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405030756/http://www.musicrow.com/2011/04/46th-annual-acm-awards-winners-nominees/|url-status=live}} the American Country Awards,{{cite web|last1=Hensel |first1=Amanda |url=http://tasteofcountry.com/2011-american-country-awards-winners/ |title=2011 American Country Awards Winners – Full List |website=Taste of Country |date=December 5, 2011 |access-date=January 25, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223050444/http://tasteofcountry.com/2011-american-country-awards-winners/ |archive-date=February 23, 2015 }} and in 2011 the Country Music Association Awards.{{cite news|date=November 11, 2011|title=2011 CMA Awards nominees, winners|work=USA Today|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/awards/story/2011-11-09/2011-cma-awards-nominees-winners/51144594/1|access-date=November 11, 2011|archive-date=November 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110151010/http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/awards/story/2011-11-09/2011-cma-awards-nominees-winners/51144594/1|url-status=dead}} At the 2011 Billboard Music Awards, Speak Now was nominated for Top Billboard 200 Album and won Top Country Album.{{cite magazine|date=May 22, 2011|title=Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Eminem Top 2011 Billboard Music Awards|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/471540/justin-bieber-taylor-swift-eminem-top-2011-billboard-music-awards|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 22, 2011|archive-date=May 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527223348/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/471540/justin-bieber-taylor-swift-eminem-top-2011-billboard-music-awards|url-status=live}} It won Favorite Album (Country) at the 2011 American Music Awards{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/ama-american-music-awards-katy-perry-bieber-264237/|title=AMAs 2011: Winners and Nominees Complete List|date=November 20, 2011|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Jane|last=Kellogg|access-date=November 20, 2011|archive-date=May 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515222152/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/ama-american-music-awards-katy-perry-bieber-264237/|url-status=live}} and Top Selling Album of 2011 by the Canadian Country Music Association;{{cite web|title=Past Award Winners |url=http://www.ccma.org/cgi/page.cgi/past_award_winners.html?log=do_search_form |publisher=Canadian Country Music Association |access-date=June 17, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923201327/http://www.ccma.org/cgi/page.cgi/past_award_winners.html?log=do_search_form |archive-date=September 23, 2015 }} and was nominated for International Album of the Year at the 2011 Juno Awards{{cite web|title=2011 Juno Awards Nominations Announced! |url=http://junoawards.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2011-JUNO-Award-NominationsFINAL.pdf |publisher=Juno Awards |access-date=June 18, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209000050/http://junoawards.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2011-JUNO-Award-NominationsFINAL.pdf |archive-date=February 9, 2016 }} and for International Album of the Year at the 2012 Canadian Independent Music Awards.{{Cite web|title=2012 Winners/Nominees|url=http://indies.ca/nominees_winners/2012-nominees/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=indies.ca|archive-date=October 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017011438/http://indies.ca/nominees_winners/2012-nominees/|url-status=dead}} At the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in 2012, Speak Now was nominated for Best Country Album, and its single "Mean" won Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/grammy-awards-2012-winners-whitney-houston-death-adele-289778 |title=Grammy Awards 2012: Complete Winners And Nominees List |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=January 25, 2015 |date=February 12, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122045320/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/grammy-awards-2012-winners-whitney-houston-death-adele-289778 |archive-date=January 22, 2015 }}

Impact

{{See also|Speak Now (Taylor's Version){{!}}Speak Now (Taylor's Version)}}

Swift has said that she wrote Speak Now by herself as a reaction to critics' doubts about her songwriting ability.{{cite magazine |last=Hiatt |first=Brian |date=September 18, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift: The Rolling Stone Interview |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/taylor-swift-rolling-stone-interview-880794/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=August 12, 2022 |url-access=limited |archive-date=September 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918150500/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/taylor-swift-rolling-stone-interview-880794/ |url-status=live }} While reviews had emphasized the importance of co-writers on her past albums, Speak Now granted Swift the definite credentials to assert authorship over her music and career.{{Sfnm|1a1=McNutt|1y=2020|1p=77|2a1=Grandchamp|2y=2024|2p=96}} Some academics have upheld how the album solidified her artistry with its nuanced observations, confessional and confrontational songs about grappling with young adulthood and fame;{{Sfnm|1a1=Perone|1y=2017|1p=42|2a1=McNutt|2y=2020|2p=77}} many retrospective reviews have considered it a groundwork to her consistent songcraft of later albums.{{NoteTag|Attributed to retrospective rankings of Swift's albums by GQ{{'s}} Lucy Ford,{{cite web|url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/taylor-swift-best-album-ranking|title=All 10 of Taylor Swift's Eras, Ranked|website=GQ|last=Ford|first=Lucy|date=April 3, 2023|access-date=May 13, 2023|archive-date=May 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513060953/https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/taylor-swift-best-album-ranking|url-status=live}} Entertainment Weekly{{'s}} Allaire Nuss,{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/music/taylor-swift-albums-ranked/|title=Taylor Swift's 10 Seminal Albums, Ranked|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|last=Nuss|first=Allaire|date=November 7, 2022|access-date=May 13, 2023|archive-date=November 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126041743/https://ew.com/music/taylor-swift-albums-ranked/|url-status=live}} and the Alternative Press{{'s}} Kelsey Barnes{{cite web|last=Barnes|first=Kelsey|title=Every Taylor Swift Album Ranked|url=https://www.altpress.com/taylor-swift-albums-ranked/|website=Alternative Press|date=February 21, 2023|access-date=May 13, 2023|archive-date=March 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306222932/https://www.altpress.com/taylor-swift-albums-ranked/|url-status=live}}}} Its commercial success contributed to her fame as a pop star transcending her self-identity as a country-music artist.{{sfn|Brown|2012|p=177}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-speak-now-anniversary-favorite-songs-9470930/|title=Taylor Swift's Speak Now Turns 10: Billboard Staff Goes Track-By-Track On Their Favorite Songs|date=October 22, 2020|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=April 15, 2022|archive-date=June 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604085716/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-speak-now-anniversary-favorite-songs-9470930/|url-status=live}} Pitchfork{{'s}} Sam Sodomsky, reviewing the album in 2019, contended that her country-music identity served as an indicator of her autobiographical songwriting rather than musical style.{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-speak-now/ |title=Taylor Swift: Speak Now |work=Pitchfork |last=Sodomsky |first=Sam |date=August 19, 2019 |access-date=August 19, 2019 |archive-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214230042/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-speak-now/ |url-status=live }}

Several critics reflected on Speak Now in the context of Swift's celebrity. Many of its songs were inspired by experiences that were routinely documented in the press, such as short-lived romantic relationships and the 2009 MTV Awards incident. This set a precedent to not only the confessional songwriting on Swift's later albums, but also the media speculation on the subjects behind her lyrics.{{NoteTag|Attributed to retrospective reviews by Billboard, Vulture{{'s}} Maura Johnston, Spin{{'s}} Al Shipley,{{cite web|last=Shipley|first=Al|date=December 13, 2022|url=https://www.spin.com/2022/12/best-taylor-swift-albums/|title=Every Taylor Swift Album, Ranked|website=Spin|access-date=May 13, 2023|archive-date=January 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125155117/https://www.spin.com/2022/12/best-taylor-swift-albums/|url-status=live}} and Consequence{{'s}} Mary Siroky{{Cite web|last=Siroky|first=Mary|date=November 9, 2021|title=Every Taylor Swift Album Ranked from Worst to Best|url=https://consequence.net/2021/11/taylor-swift-albums-ranked-list/|access-date=November 10, 2021|website=Consequence|archive-date=March 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328011127/https://consequence.net/2021/11/taylor-swift-albums-ranked-list/|url-status=live}}}} Maura Johnston opined that these songs laid the groundwork to her 2017 album Reputation, which focused on her image and confrontation against critics.{{cite web |last=Johnston |first=Maura |author-link=Maura Johnston |date=November 10, 2017 |title=Speak Now Is a Peek Into Taylor Swift's Future |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/11/revisiting-taylor-swifts-album-speak-now.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110174955/http://www.vulture.com/2017/11/revisiting-taylor-swifts-album-speak-now.html |archive-date=November 10, 2017 |access-date=November 10, 2017 |work=Vulture}} According to the gender studies professor Adriane Brown, the songs about idealized romance and her innocent, "good-girl" image made her stand out in a contemporary pool of sexualized female pop artists. Brown commented that Swift's unwillingness to openly discuss sex and tendency to criticize females who "whore themselves out", as in the lyrics of "Better than Revenge", was problematic.{{sfn|Brown|2012|pp=176–177}}

In November 2020, after a dispute over the ownership of the masters to her back catalog, Swift began re-recording her first six studio albums.{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=2019-08-22 |title=Taylor Swift Performs on 'GMA,' Talks Re-Recording Big Machine Songs (Watch) |url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/taylor-swift-performs-on-gma-talks-re-recording-big-machine-songs-watch-1203310319/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=Variety |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108014115/https://variety.com/2019/music/news/taylor-swift-performs-on-gma-talks-re-recording-big-machine-songs-watch-1203310319/ |url-status=live }} On May 5, 2023, at the first Eras Tour show in Nashville, Swift announced the re-recorded version of Speak Now—Speak Now (Taylor's Version), and its release date on July 7.{{Cite magazine |last1=Aniftos |first1=Rania |last2=Lipshutz |first2=Jason |date=2023-05-06 |title=Taylor Swift Announces Speak Now as Next Re-Recorded Album at Nashville Concert |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-speak-now-taylors-version-release-date-1235322958/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=May 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506121210/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-speak-now-taylors-version-release-date-1235322958/ |url-status=live }} Speak Now (Taylor's Version) consists of re-recordings of all fourteen songs from the standard edition, the deluxe tracks "Ours" and "Superman",{{NoteTag|The re-recorded version of "If This Was a Movie" was released independently.{{Cite web |last=Lane |first=Lexi |date=March 17, 2023 |title=Is Taylor Swift's 'If This Was A Movie' From Speak Now? |url=https://uproxx.com/pop/is-taylor-swift-if-this-was-a-movie-from-speak-now/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317004131/https://uproxx.com/pop/is-taylor-swift-if-this-was-a-movie-from-speak-now/ |archive-date=March 17, 2023 |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=Uproxx}}}} and six previously unreleased "From the Vault" songs.{{Cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Taylor Swift Reveals Hayley Williams and Fall Out Boy Features on New Speak Now (Taylor's Version) Tracklist |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/taylor-swift-reveals-hayley-williams-and-fall-out-boy-features-on-new-speak-now-taylors-version-tracklist/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610051237/https://pitchfork.com/news/taylor-swift-reveals-hayley-williams-and-fall-out-boy-features-on-new-speak-now-taylors-version-tracklist/ |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |access-date=June 7, 2023 |website=Pitchfork}} After Speak Now (Taylor's Version) was released, the original album reached new peaks in Switzerland (number one), Austria (number one), Germany (number two), and it was certified gold in the latter two countries.

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline = Speak Now standard track listing

| all_writing = Taylor Swift, except where noted

| total_length = 67:29

| title1 = Mine

| length1 = 3:50

| title2 = Sparks Fly

| length2 = 4:20

| title3 = Back to December

| length3 = 4:53

| title4 = Speak Now

| length4 = 4:00

| title5 = Dear John

| length5 = 6:43

| title6 = Mean

| length6 = 3:57

| title7 = The Story of Us

| length7 = 4:25

| title8 = Never Grow Up

| length8 = 4:50

| title9 = Enchanted

| length9 = 5:53

| title10 = Better than Revenge

| length10 = 3:37

| title11 = Innocent

| length11 = 5:02

| title12 = Haunted

| length12 = 4:02

| title13 = Last Kiss

| length13 = 6:07

| title14 = Long Live

| length14 = 5:17

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Deluxe edition bonus tracks

| total_length =

| title15 = Ours

| length15 = 3:58

| title16 = If This Was a Movie

| note16 = written by Swift and Martin Johnson

| length16 = 3:54

| title17 = Superman

| length17 = 4:36

| title18 = Back to December

| note18 = acoustic

| length18 = 4:52

| title19 = Haunted

| note19 = acoustic

| length19 = 3:37

| title20 = Mine

| note20 = pop mix

| writer20 =

| length20 = 3:50

| title21 = On the Set: Behind the Scenes "Mine" Music Video

| note21 = video

| writer21 =

| length21 = 30:21

| title22 = Mine

| note22 = music video

| writer22 =

| length22 = 3:55

}}

Notes

The international standard digital edition features "Mine (US version)" as track 15.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/speak-now-bonus-track-version/1440724790|title=Speak Now (Bonus Track Version) by Taylor Swift|publisher=Apple Music|access-date=October 25, 2021|archive-date=October 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025162045/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/speak-now-bonus-track-version/1440724790|url-status=live}}
The international deluxe edition features "Mine (US version)", "Back to December (US version)", and "The Story of Us (US version)" as tracks 20, 21, and 22.{{cite AV media notes |title=Speak Now |year=2010 |author=Swift |publisher=Big Machine Records / Universal Music Group |location=Europe |id=602527493947 |type=International edition liner notes |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Swift}}

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.{{cite AV media notes |title=Speak Now |year=2010 |type=CD liner notes |publisher=Big Machine Records |id=BTMSR0300A |last=Swift |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Swift}}

Musicians

Taylor Swift – vocals, acoustic guitar, handclapping, vocal harmony, banjo
Nathan Chapman – banjo, bass guitar, Fender Rhodes, electric twelve-string guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, handclapping, mandolin, organ, piano, synthesizer, vocal harmony
Tom Bukovac – electric guitar
Nick Buda – drums
Chris Carmichael – strings
Smith Curry – lap steel guitar
Eric Darken – percussion
Caitlin Evanson – vocal harmony
Shannon Forrest – drums
John Gardner – drums
Rob Hajacos – fiddle
Amos Heller – bass guitar
Liz Huett – vocal harmony
Tim Lauer – Hammond B3, piano
Tim Marks – bass guitar
Mike Meadows – electric guitar, handclapping
Grant Mickelson – electric guitar
Michael Rhodes – bass guitar
Paul Sidoti – electric guitar
Tommy Sims – bass guitar
Bryan Sutton – acoustic guitar, twelve-string guitar, ukulele
Al Wilson – handclapping, percussion

Production

Taylor Swift – background vocals direction, liner notes, songwriter, producer
Nathan Chapman – engineer, producer, programming
Chuck Ainlay – engineer
Joseph Anthony Baker – photography
Steve Blackmon – assistant
Drew Bollman – assistant, assistant engineer, engineer
Tristan Brock-Jones – assistant engineer
David Bryant – assistant engineer
Paul Buckmaster – conductor, orchestral arrangements
Jason Campbell – production coordination
Chad Carlson – engineer
Chris Carmichael – composer, string arrangements
Joseph Cassell – stylist
Steve Churchyard – engineer
Mark Crew – mixing engineer
Dean Gillard – production, mixing, additional instrumentation
Jed Hackett – engineer
Jeremy Hunter – engineer
Aubrey Hyde – wardrobe
Suzie Katayama – orchestra contractor
Steve Marcantonio – engineer
Seth Morton – assistant engineer
Emily Mueller – production assistant
Jemma Muradian – hair stylist
John Netti – assistant engineer
Bethany Newman – design, illustrations
Josh Newman – design, illustrations
Justin Niebank – engineer, mixing
Mark Petaccia – assistant engineer
Joel Quillen – engineer
Matt Rausch – assistant
Lowell Reynolds – engineer
Mike Rooney – assistant engineer
Austin Swift – photography
Todd Tidwell – assistant engineer, engineer
Lorrie Turk – make-up
Matt Ward – production, mixing, additional instrumentation
Hank Williams – mastering
Brian David Willis – engineer
Nathan Yarborough – assistant mixing engineer

Charts

= Weekly charts =

scope="row"\| Australian Country Albums (ARIA){{cite web\|url=http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_country.asp?chart=1F20 \|title=Top 20 Country Charts \|publisher=ARIA Charts \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723001529/http://ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_country.asp?chart=1F20 \|archive-date=July 23, 2011}} \| 1
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+2010–2011 weekly charts for Speak Now !align="left"\|Chart (2010–2011) !align="left"\|Peak position
{{album chart\|Australia\|1\|artist=Taylor Swift\|album=Speak Now\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 4, 2017\|refname="aus"}}
{{album chart\|Austria\|16\|artist=Taylor Swift\|album=Speak Now\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 16, 2023\|refname="aut"}}
{{album chart\|Flanders\|18\|artist=Taylor Swift\|album=Speak Now\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 4, 2017}}
{{album chart\|Wallonia\|45\|artist=Taylor Swift\|album=Speak Now\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 7, 2014}}
{{album chart\|BillboardCanada\|1\|artist=Taylor Swift\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 4, 2017\|refname="can"}}
{{album chart\|Denmark\|26\|artist=Taylor Swift\|album=Speak Now\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 4, 2017}}
{{album chart\|Netherlands\|17\|artist=Taylor Swift\|album=Speak Now\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 4, 2017}}
scope="row"\|European Top 100 Albums (Billboard) \| 12
{{album chart\|France\|39\|artist=Taylor Swift\|album=Speak Now\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 4, 2017}}
{{album chart\|Germany4\|15\|artist=Taylor Swift\|album=Speak Now\|id=138145\|access-date=August 16, 2023\|rowheader=true\|refname="germany"}}
scope="row"\| Greek Albums (IFPI){{cite web\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021121443/http://greekcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=Speak+Now&cat=a\|url=http://greekcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=Speak+Now&cat=a\|title=greekcharts.com – Taylor Swift – Speak Now\|publisher=Hung Medien\|archive-date=October 21, 2012\|access-date=October 21, 2012\|url-status=dead}} \| 17
{{album chart\|Ireland\|6\|year=2010\|week=44\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 4, 2017\|refname="ire"}}
{{album chart\|Italy\|18\|artist=Taylor Swift\|album=Speak Now\|access-date=November 4, 2017\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|Oricon\|6\|date=2010-11-22\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 4, 2017\|refname="oricon"}}
scope="row"\|Mexican Albums (AMPROFON){{cite web\|url=http://mexicancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=Speak+Now&cat=a\|title=Taylor Swift – Speak Now\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217092932/http://mexicancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=Speak+Now&cat=a\|publisher=Hung Medien\|archive-date=December 17, 2010\|df=mdy-all}} \| 8
{{album chart\|New Zealand\|1\|artist=Taylor Swift\|album=Speak Now\|access-date=November 4, 2017\|rowheader=true\|refname="new zealand"}}
{{album chart\|Norway\|4\|artist=Taylor Swift\|album=Speak Now\|access-date=November 4, 2017\|rowheader=true\|refname="norway"}}
{{album chart\|Scotland\|5\|date=20101031\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 1, 2020\|refname="scotland"}}
{{album chart\|Korea\|28\|artist=Taylor Swift\|date=2010.10.24~2010.10.30\|access-date=November 4, 2017\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|Spain\|10\|artist=Taylor Swift\|album=Speak Now\|access-date=November 4, 2017\|rowheader=true\|refname="spain"}}
{{album chart\|Sweden\|18\|artist=Taylor Swift\|album=Speak Now\|access-date=November 4, 2017\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|Switzerland\|17\|artist=Taylor Swift\|album=Speak Now\|access-date=August 16, 2023\|rowheader=true\|refname="swiss"}}
{{album chart\|UK2\|6\|date=20101031\|access-date=November 4, 2017\|rowheader=true\|refname="uk albums"}}
{{album chart\|Billboard200\|1\|artist=Taylor Swift\|access-date=November 4, 2017\|rowheader=true\|refname="billboard 200"}}
{{album chart\|BillboardCountry\|1\|artist=Taylor Swift\|access-date=November 4, 2017\|rowheader=true\|refname="billboard country"}}

scope="row"\| Argentine Albums (CAPIF){{cite web\|url=https://www.diariodecultura.com.ar/rankings/los-discos-mas-vendidos-de-la-semana-3/\|title=Los discos más vendidos de la semana\|trans-title=The best-selling discs of the week\|work=Diario de Cultura\|publisher=Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers\|access-date=January 25, 2022\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215030522/https://www.diariodecultura.com.ar/rankings/los-discos-mas-vendidos-de-la-semana-3/\|archive-date=February 15, 2022\|url-status=live\|language=es}} \| 3
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+2019–2023 weekly charts for Speak Now ! scope="col"\|Chart (2019–2023){{NoteTag\|The chart positions listed below coincided with the release of the 2023 re-recording Speak Now (Taylor's Version). In Austria, Germany, Greece, Portugal and Switzerland, the chart performance of the original Speak Now was combined with that of Speak Now (Taylor's Version).}} ! scope="col"\|Peak position
scope="row"\| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria Top 40) \| 1
scope="row"\| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) \| 2
scope="row" \| Greek Albums (IFPI){{cite web\|url=https://www.ifpi.gr/charts_el.html\|title=Official IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Combined) Week: 29/2023\|publisher=IFPI Greece\|language=el\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726232940/https://ifpi.gr/charts_el.html\|archive-date=July 26, 2023\|url-status=dead\|access-date=July 27, 2023}} \| 1
{{album chart\|Portugal\|1\|artist=Taylor Swift\|album=Speak Now\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 4, 2023}}
scope="row"\| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) \| 1
{{album chart\|UK2\|23\|date=20230512\|access-date=July 5, 2023\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|BillboardIndependent\|4\|artist=Taylor Swift\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 24, 2023}}

= Year-end charts =

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+2010 year-end charts for Speak Now !Chart (2010) !Position
scope="row"\|Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web\|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2010/albums-chart\|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums 2010\|access-date=December 18, 2011\|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association\|archive-date=March 5, 2019\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305105834/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2010.htm\|url-status=live}} \| 15
scope="row"\| Canadian Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/top-canadian-albums?begin=11&order=position\|magazine=Billboard\|title=Best of 2010 Top Canadian Albums\|access-date=December 18, 2011\|archive-date=June 17, 2011\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617000351/http://www.billboard.com/\|url-status=live}} \| 15
scope="row"\|New Zealand Albums (RMNZ){{cite web\|url=http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart_annual.asp \|title=The Official New Zealand Music Chart \|publisher=Recorded Music NZ \|access-date=April 20, 2012 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722162159/http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart_annual.asp \|archive-date=July 22, 2010 }} \| 15
scope="row"\| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web\|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/UKChartsPlusEOY2010.pdf\|title=End of Year 2010\|publisher=UKChartsPlus\|access-date=July 17, 2020\|archive-date=October 4, 2018\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004202030/http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/UKChartsPlusEOY2010.pdf\|url-status=live}} \| 163
scope="row"\|US Billboard 200{{cite magazine \|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/the-billboard-200 \|title=Best of 2010 – Billboard Top 200 \|magazine=Billboard \|access-date=December 31, 2010 \|archive-date=December 30, 2010 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230234115/http://www.billboard.com/ \|url-status=dead}} \| 9
scope="row"\|US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine \|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/top-country-albums \|title=Best of 2010 – Top Country Albums \|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=December 31, 2010 \|archive-date=December 30, 2010 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230234115/http://www.billboard.com/ \|url-status=dead}} \|3

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+2010 year-end charts for Speak Now

!Chart (2010)

!Position

scope="row"|Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2010/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums 2010|access-date=December 18, 2011|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|archive-date=March 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305105834/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2010.htm|url-status=live}}

| 15

scope="row"| Canadian Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/top-canadian-albums?begin=11&order=position|magazine=Billboard|title=Best of 2010 Top Canadian Albums|access-date=December 18, 2011|archive-date=June 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617000351/http://www.billboard.com/|url-status=live}}

| 15

scope="row"|New Zealand Albums (RMNZ){{cite web|url=http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart_annual.asp |title=The Official New Zealand Music Chart |publisher=Recorded Music NZ |access-date=April 20, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722162159/http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart_annual.asp |archive-date=July 22, 2010 }}

| 15

scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/UKChartsPlusEOY2010.pdf|title=End of Year 2010|publisher=UKChartsPlus|access-date=July 17, 2020|archive-date=October 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004202030/http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/UKChartsPlusEOY2010.pdf|url-status=live}}

| 163

scope="row"|US Billboard 200{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/the-billboard-200 |title=Best of 2010 – Billboard Top 200 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 31, 2010 |archive-date=December 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230234115/http://www.billboard.com/ |url-status=dead}}

| 9

scope="row"|US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/top-country-albums |title=Best of 2010 – Top Country Albums |magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 31, 2010 |archive-date=December 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230234115/http://www.billboard.com/ |url-status=dead}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+2011 year-end charts for Speak Now !Chart (2011) !Position
scope="row"\|Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web\|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2011/albums-chart\|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums 2011\|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association\|access-date=January 15, 2015\|archive-date=July 31, 2017\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731185501/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2011.htm\|url-status=live}} \| 51
scope="row"\| Canadian Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/top-canadian-albums?begin=11&order=position\|magazine=Billboard\|title=Best of 2011 Top Canadian Albums\|access-date=December 18, 2011\|archive-date=June 17, 2014\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617114654/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/top-canadian-albums?begin=11&order=position\|url-status=dead}} \| 9
scope="row"\| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ){{cite web\|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/2011-12-31\|title=Top Selling Albums of 2011\|publisher=Recorded Music NZ\|access-date=February 8, 2022\|archive-date=November 13, 2013\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113082038/http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums?chart=1862\|url-status=live}} \| 34
scope="row"\|US Billboard 200{{cite magazine \|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/the-billboard-200 \|title=Best of 2011 – Billboard Top 200 \|magazine=Billboard \|access-date=December 9, 2011 \|archive-date=April 1, 2013 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401211252/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/the-billboard-200 \|url-status=dead}} \| 2
scope="row"\|US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine \|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/top-country-albums?begin=1&order=position \|title=Best of 2011 – Top Country Albums \|magazine=Billboard \|access-date=December 9, 2011 \|archive-date=June 17, 2014 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617234942/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/top-country-albums?begin=1&order=position \|url-status=dead}} \| 1

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+2011 year-end charts for Speak Now

!Chart (2011)

!Position

scope="row"|Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2011/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums 2011|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=January 15, 2015|archive-date=July 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731185501/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2011.htm|url-status=live}}

| 51

scope="row"| Canadian Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/top-canadian-albums?begin=11&order=position|magazine=Billboard|title=Best of 2011 Top Canadian Albums|access-date=December 18, 2011|archive-date=June 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617114654/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/top-canadian-albums?begin=11&order=position|url-status=dead}}

| 9

scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/2011-12-31|title=Top Selling Albums of 2011|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=February 8, 2022|archive-date=November 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113082038/http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums?chart=1862|url-status=live}}

| 34

scope="row"|US Billboard 200{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/the-billboard-200 |title=Best of 2011 – Billboard Top 200 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 9, 2011 |archive-date=April 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401211252/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/the-billboard-200 |url-status=dead}}

| 2

scope="row"|US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/top-country-albums?begin=1&order=position |title=Best of 2011 – Top Country Albums |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 9, 2011 |archive-date=June 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617234942/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/top-country-albums?begin=1&order=position |url-status=dead}}

| 1

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+2012 year-end charts for Speak Now !Chart (2012) !Position
scope="row"\|US Billboard 200{{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/top-billboard-200-albums\|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2012\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=July 17, 2020\|archive-date=January 4, 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104020444/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/top-billboard-200-albums\|url-status=live}} \| 45
scope="row"\|US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/top-country-albums\|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2012\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=July 17, 2020\|archive-date=October 23, 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023041654/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/top-country-albums\|url-status=live}} \| 18

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+2012 year-end charts for Speak Now

!Chart (2012)

!Position

scope="row"|US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2012|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 17, 2020|archive-date=January 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104020444/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/top-billboard-200-albums|url-status=live}}

| 45

scope="row"|US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2012|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 17, 2020|archive-date=October 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023041654/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/top-country-albums|url-status=live}}

| 18

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+2017 year-end chart for Speak Now !Chart (2017) !Position
scope="row"\|US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/top-country-albums\|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2017\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=July 17, 2020\|archive-date=June 22, 2019\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622032815/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/top-country-albums\|url-status=live}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|73

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+2017 year-end chart for Speak Now

!Chart (2017)

!Position

scope="row"|US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2017|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 17, 2020|archive-date=June 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622032815/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/top-country-albums|url-status=live}}

| style="text-align:center;"|73

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+2018 year-end chart for Speak Now !Chart (2018) !Position
scope="row"\|US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/top-country-albums\|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2018\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=December 6, 2021\|archive-date=May 6, 2019\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506053437/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/top-country-albums\|url-status=live}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|77

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+2018 year-end chart for Speak Now

!Chart (2018)

!Position

scope="row"|US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 6, 2021|archive-date=May 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506053437/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/top-country-albums|url-status=live}}

| style="text-align:center;"|77

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+2021 year-end charts for Speak Now !Chart (2021) !Position
scope="row"\|US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-country-albums\|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2021\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=December 12, 2021\|archive-date=April 17, 2022\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417064814/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-country-albums/\|url-status=live}} \| 34
scope="row"\| US Independent Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/independent-albums\|title=Independent Albums – Year-End 2021\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=December 3, 2021\|archive-date=December 2, 2021\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202231859/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/independent-albums/\|url-status=live}} \| 50

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+2021 year-end charts for Speak Now

!Chart (2021)

!Position

scope="row"|US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 12, 2021|archive-date=April 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417064814/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-country-albums/|url-status=live}}

| 34

scope="row"| US Independent Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/independent-albums|title=Independent Albums – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 3, 2021|archive-date=December 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202231859/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/independent-albums/|url-status=live}}

| 50

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+2022 year-end charts for Speak Now !Chart (2022) !Position
scope="row"\| US Independent Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/independent-albums/\|title=Independent Albums – Year-End 2022\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=June 21, 2023\|archive-date=December 1, 2022\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201231154/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/independent-albums/\|url-status=live}} \| 19
scope="row"\|US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/top-country-albums\|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2022\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=June 21, 2023\|archive-date=December 1, 2022\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201162045/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/top-country-albums/\|url-status=live}} \| 15

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+2022 year-end charts for Speak Now

!Chart (2022)

!Position

scope="row"| US Independent Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/independent-albums/|title=Independent Albums – Year-End 2022|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 21, 2023|archive-date=December 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201231154/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/independent-albums/|url-status=live}}

| 19

scope="row"|US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2022|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 21, 2023|archive-date=December 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201162045/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/top-country-albums/|url-status=live}}

| 15

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+2023 year-end charts for Speak Now !Chart (2023) !Position
scope="row"\| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria){{cite web\|url=https://oe3.orf.at/charts/stories/oe3austriatop40longplay/\|title=Ö3 Austria Top40 Jahrescharts 2023\|date=November 8, 2019 \|publisher=Ö3 Austria Top 40\|language=de\|access-date=December 28, 2023\|archive-date=December 28, 2023\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228085855/https://oe3.orf.at/charts/stories/oe3austriatop40longplay/\|url-status=live}} \| 42
scope="row"\| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100){{cite web\|url=https://www.mtv.de/info/9rdbv0/jahrescharts-2023-album\|title=Jahrescharts 2023 Album\|publisher=GfK Entertainment charts\|language=de\|access-date=December 10, 2023\|archive-date=December 10, 2023\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210102919/https://www.mtv.de/info/9rdbv0/jahrescharts-2023-album\|url-status=live}} \| 32
scope="row"\| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web\|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2023/alben\|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2023\|website=hitparade.ch\|access-date=December 31, 2023\|archive-date=December 31, 2023\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231140620/https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2023/alben\|url-status=live}} \| 63
scope="row"\| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/top-billboard-200-albums/\|title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2023\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=November 22, 2023\|archive-date=December 4, 2023\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204090337/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/top-billboard-200-albums/\|url-status=live}} \| 115
scope="row"\| US Independent Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/independent-albums/\|title=Independent Albums – Year-End 2023\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=November 22, 2023\|archive-date=December 5, 2023\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205104032/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/independent-albums/\|url-status=live}} \| 14
scope="row"\| US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/top-country-albums/\|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2023\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=November 22, 2023\|archive-date=November 21, 2023\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121210008/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/top-country-albums/\|url-status=live}} \| 18

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+2023 year-end charts for Speak Now

!Chart (2023)

!Position

scope="row"| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria){{cite web|url=https://oe3.orf.at/charts/stories/oe3austriatop40longplay/|title=Ö3 Austria Top40 Jahrescharts 2023|date=November 8, 2019 |publisher=Ö3 Austria Top 40|language=de|access-date=December 28, 2023|archive-date=December 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228085855/https://oe3.orf.at/charts/stories/oe3austriatop40longplay/|url-status=live}}

| 42

scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100){{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.de/info/9rdbv0/jahrescharts-2023-album|title=Jahrescharts 2023 Album|publisher=GfK Entertainment charts|language=de|access-date=December 10, 2023|archive-date=December 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210102919/https://www.mtv.de/info/9rdbv0/jahrescharts-2023-album|url-status=live}}

| 32

scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2023/alben|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2023|website=hitparade.ch|access-date=December 31, 2023|archive-date=December 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231140620/https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2023/alben|url-status=live}}

| 63

scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/top-billboard-200-albums/|title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 22, 2023|archive-date=December 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204090337/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/top-billboard-200-albums/|url-status=live}}

| 115

scope="row"| US Independent Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/independent-albums/|title=Independent Albums – Year-End 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 22, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205104032/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/independent-albums/|url-status=live}}

| 14

scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/top-country-albums/|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 22, 2023|archive-date=November 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121210008/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/top-country-albums/|url-status=live}}

| 18

= Decade-end charts =

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+2010s decade-end charts for Speak Now ! scope="col"\| Chart (2010–2019) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web\|url=https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2019/end-of-decade-albums-chart\|title=ARIA End of Decade Albums Chart\|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association\|access-date=January 15, 2020\|archive-date=January 11, 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111005803/https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2019/end-of-decade-albums-chart\|url-status=live}} \| 39
scope="row"\| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/billboard-200\|title=Decade-End Charts: Billboard 200\|magazine=Billboard\|date=October 31, 2019\|access-date=November 15, 2019\|archive-date=March 20, 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320084752/https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/billboard-200\|url-status=live}} \| 50
scope="row"\|US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/top-country-albums\|title=Top Country Albums – Decade-End\|magazine=Billboard\|date=October 31, 2019\|access-date=March 19, 2020\|archive-date=December 16, 2019\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216073554/https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/top-country-albums\|url-status=live}} \| 17

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+2010s decade-end charts for Speak Now

! scope="col"| Chart (2010–2019)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2019/end-of-decade-albums-chart|title=ARIA End of Decade Albums Chart|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=January 15, 2020|archive-date=January 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111005803/https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2019/end-of-decade-albums-chart|url-status=live}}

| 39

scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/billboard-200|title=Decade-End Charts: Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard|date=October 31, 2019|access-date=November 15, 2019|archive-date=March 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320084752/https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/billboard-200|url-status=live}}

| 50

scope="row"|US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Decade-End|magazine=Billboard|date=October 31, 2019|access-date=March 19, 2020|archive-date=December 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216073554/https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/top-country-albums|url-status=live}}

| 17

= All-time charts =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+ All-time charts for Speak Now ! Chart ! Position
scope="row"\|US Billboard 200 (Women){{NoteTag\|Compiled by Billboard for albums 1963–2017{{cite magazine\|title=Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums By Women\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums-by-women\|magazine=Billboard\|date=November 30, 2017\|access-date=February 7, 2018\|archive-date=February 1, 2018\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201173545/https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums-by-women\|url-status=live\|url-access=subscription}}{{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/madonna-barbra-streisand-leann-rimes-adele-greatest-of-all-time-charts-hot-100-billboard-200/\|title=Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Adele & LeAnn Rimes Are Hot 100 & Billboard 200's Leading Ladies\|magazine=Billboard\|last=Trust\|first=Gary\|date=November 30, 2017\|access-date=June 16, 2023\|url-access=subscription\|archive-date=June 16, 2023\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616015401/https://www.billboard.com/pro/madonna-barbra-streisand-leann-rimes-adele-greatest-of-all-time-charts-hot-100-billboard-200/\|url-status=live}}}} \| 66
scope="row"\| US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{NoteTag\|Compiled by Billboard for albums 1963–2016{{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-country-albums/\|title=Greatest of All Time Top Country Albums\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=June 26, 2023\|url-access=subscription\|archive-date=June 26, 2023\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626093616/https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-country-albums/\|url-status=live}}}} \| 73

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ All-time charts for Speak Now

! Chart

! Position

scope="row"|US Billboard 200 (Women){{NoteTag|Compiled by Billboard for albums 1963–2017{{cite magazine|title=Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums By Women|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums-by-women|magazine=Billboard|date=November 30, 2017|access-date=February 7, 2018|archive-date=February 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201173545/https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums-by-women|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/madonna-barbra-streisand-leann-rimes-adele-greatest-of-all-time-charts-hot-100-billboard-200/|title=Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Adele & LeAnn Rimes Are Hot 100 & Billboard 200's Leading Ladies|magazine=Billboard|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=November 30, 2017|access-date=June 16, 2023|url-access=subscription|archive-date=June 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616015401/https://www.billboard.com/pro/madonna-barbra-streisand-leann-rimes-adele-greatest-of-all-time-charts-hot-100-billboard-200/|url-status=live}}}}

| 66

scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{NoteTag|Compiled by Billboard for albums 1963–2016{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-country-albums/|title=Greatest of All Time Top Country Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 26, 2023|url-access=subscription|archive-date=June 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626093616/https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-country-albums/|url-status=live}}}}

| 73

Certifications and sales

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Speak Now, with pure sales where available}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Speak Now|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2010|certyear=2023|access-date=November 16, 2023|refname="aria"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Now|award=Gold|relyear=2010|certyear=2023|access-date=August 14, 2023|refname="ifpi-austria"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Speak Now|award=Gold|relyear=2010|certyear=2012|access-date=February 1, 2015|refname="brazil-cert"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Speak Now|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2010|certyear=2010|access-date=February 1, 2015|refname="music canada"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Speak Now|award=Gold|relyear=2010|certyear=2023|access-date=August 11, 2023|refname="bvmi"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Hong Kong (IFPI)|award=Gold|nosales=true|certref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Ireland|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Speak Now|award=Gold|relyear=2010|certyear=2010|access-date=June 28, 2020|refname="irma"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Speak Now|award=Gold|relyear=2010|certyear=2010|certmonth=12|access-date=January 14, 2011|refname="riaj"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Speak Now|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2010|certyear=2023|id=2023-05-12|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|refname="rmnz"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Speak Now|award=Gold|relyear=2010|certyear=2010|access-date=February 23, 2019|refname="ifpi-norway"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Philippines|type=album|award=Platinum|salesamount=15,000|salesref={{sup|*}}|certref={{cite web|url=https://www.pep.ph/guide/music/7716/taylor-swift-receives-9x-platinum-award-for-her-fearless-album|title=Taylor Swift Receives 9× Platinum Award for Her Fearless Album|date=February 25, 2011|work=Philippine Entertainment Portal|publisher=GMA New Media. Summit Media|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725073820/https://www.pep.ph/guide/music/7716/taylor-swift-receives-9x-platinum-award-for-her-fearless-album|archive-date=July 25, 2021|url-status=live}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Singapore|type=album|certyear=2020|award=Platinum|access-date=November 24, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|artist=Taylor Swift |title=Speak Now |type=album |award=Gold |relyear=2010 |certyear=2024 |access-date=April 15, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Speak Now|award=Platinum|relyear=2010|certyear=2021|id=8683-1598-2|access-date=January 29, 2022|refname="bpi"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Speak Now|award=Platinum|number=6|relyear=2010|certyear=2018|salesamount=4,817,000|salesref={{NoteTag|Pure sales as of January 2024}}|refname="RIAA"|access-date=October 20, 2020}}

Notes

References

= Sources =

{{cite journal|first=Adriane|last=Brown|title='She isn't whoring herself out like a lot of other girls we see': Identification and 'Authentic' American Girlhood on Taylor Swift Fan Forums|year=2012|journal=Networking Knowledge: Journal of the MeCCSA Postgraduate Network|volume=5|issue=1|doi=10.31165/nk.2012.51.252|pages=161–180|doi-broken-date=November 1, 2024 |url=https://ojs.meccsa.org.uk/index.php/netknow/article/view/252}}
{{cite book |last=Grandchamp |first=Stephen |title=The Literary Taylor Swift: Songwriting and Intertextuality |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |year=2024 |isbn=9798765104514 |editor-last=Tontiplaphol |editor-first=Betsy Winakur |chapter=The Death of the Pop Auteur |editor-last2=Klimchynskaya |editor-first2=Anastasia}}
{{cite journal|first=Myles|last=McNutt|title=From 'Mine' to 'Ours': Gendered Hierarchies of Authorship and the Limits of Taylor Swift's Paratextual Feminism|year=2020|journal=Communication, Culture and Critique|volume=13|issue=1|pages=72–91|doi=10.1093/ccc/tcz042}}
{{Cite book |last=Nainby |first=Keith |title=Examining Blank Spaces and the Taylor Swift Phenomenon: An Investigation of Contingent Identities |publisher=Lexington Books |year=2024 |isbn=978-1-6669-4272-9 |pages=81–128 |chapter=More than Music: The Image 'Taylor Swift'}}
{{cite book|first=James E.|last=Perone|title=The Words and Music of Taylor Swift|publisher=ABC-Clio|series=The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection|isbn=978-1-4408-5294-7|year=2017}}

External links

{{Discogs master|master=288143|type=album}}

Category:2010 albums

Category:Big Machine Records albums

Category:Taylor Swift albums

Category:Albums produced by Nathan Chapman (record producer)

Category:Albums produced by Taylor Swift

Category:Canadian Country Music Association Top Selling Album albums

Category:Country pop albums

Category:Pop rock albums by American artists

Category:2010s concept albums

Category:Power pop albums by American artists