:Today Was a Fairytale
{{Short description|2010 single by Taylor Swift}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Today Was a Fairytale
| cover = Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale (Altr.).png
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Taylor Swift
| album = Valentine's Day
| released = {{Start date|2010|1|19}}
| genre = Country pop
| length = 4:02
| label = Big Machine
| writer = Taylor Swift
| producer = * Taylor Swift
| prev_title = Fearless
| prev_year = 2010
| next_title = Half of My Heart
| next_year = 2010
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| header = 2011 re-release cover
| cover = Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale.png
| type = single
| border = yes
}}{{External music video|header=Audio video|{{YouTube|rLiXLzd2Ol8|"Today Was a Fairytale"}}}}
}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Today Was a Fairytale (Taylor's Version)
| artist = Taylor Swift
| album = Fearless (Taylor's Version)
| released = {{start date|2021|4|9}}
| studio =
- Blackbird Studio (Nashville, TN){{cite AV media notes|title=Fearless (Taylor's Version)|others=Taylor Swift|year=2021|publisher=Republic Records|type=CD liner notes}}
- Kitty Committee Studio (London, England){{cite AV media notes|title=Fearless (Taylor's Version)|others=Taylor Swift|year=2021|publisher=Republic Records|type=CD liner notes}}
- Prime Recording (Nashville, TN){{cite AV media notes|title=Fearless (Taylor's Version)|others=Taylor Swift|year=2021|publisher=Republic Records|type=CD liner notes}}
| genre = Country pop
| length = 4:02
| label = Republic
| writer = Taylor Swift
| producer = * Taylor Swift
| misc =
{{External music video|header=Lyric video|type=song|{{YouTube|xSWVPqnKcXQ|"Today Was a Fairytale (Taylor's Version)"}}}}
}}
"Today Was a Fairytale" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, it was released digitally on January 19, 2010, by Big Machine Records as a single from the soundtrack for the 2010 film Valentine's Day, in which she acted. Swift had previously written the song and offered it to producers for the film's soundtrack. Musically, "Today Was a Fairytale" is country pop-influenced and, lyrically, speaks of a magical date.
Some critics deemed "Today Was a Fairytale" the best song on the Valentine's Day soundtrack, but some others deemed it bland. The song peaked at number one in Canada, number two in the United States, and number six in Australia. Swift included the track on a revised set list for the continuation of her Fearless Tour in 2010. The song was re-recorded and released as "Today Was a Fairytale (Taylor's Version)", as part of Swift's 2021 re-recorded album, Fearless (Taylor's Version).
Background and release
Swift solely penned "Today Was a Fairytale" in the summer of 2008 and stored it away for a while.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2010/01/21/taylor-swift-earns-swift-success-with-today-was-a-fairytale/|title=Taylor Swift earns swift success with 'Today Was A Fairytale'|last=Cooper|first=Peter|date=January 21, 2010|work=The Tennessean|publisher=Gannett Company|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105010638/http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2010/01/21/taylor-swift-earns-swift-success-with-today-was-a-fairytale/|archive-date=January 5, 2013|access-date=June 21, 2010}} After being cast as Felicia Miller on Valentine's Day, Swift offered the song to the film producers for the soundtrack as she did not believe it fit on her upcoming album. "When this movie opportunity came about, I reached back into my pocket and thought, 'I think this is perfect for the soundtrack. I hope it's perfect for the soundtrack'", Swift told The Tennessean. "Today Was a Fairytale" was released as a single from the Valentine's Day soundtrack on January 19, 2010, exclusively through the iTunes Store. The single was re-released on February 15, 2011, with a more country mix compared to the original version.{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/today-was-a-fairytale-single/id417966403|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221141426/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/today-was-a-fairytale-single/id417966403|title=Today Was a Fairytale – Single by Taylor Swift|publisher=iTunes Store|archive-date=February 21, 2011|access-date=February 21, 2011|url-status=dead}} Swift released a re-recorded version, "Today Was a Fairytale (Taylor's Version)", as the twentieth track on her re-recorded album Fearless (Taylor's Version), on April 9, 2021.{{Cite magazine|last=Lipshutz|first=Jason|date=February 11, 2021|title=Taylor Swift Announces Re-Recorded Fearless Album: Updated 'Love Story' Out Tonight|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9524797/taylor-swift-fearless-rerecorded-love-story-release/|access-date=February 12, 2021|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=March 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314151901/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9524797/taylor-swift-fearless-rerecorded-love-story-release/|url-status=live}}
Composition
"Today Was a Fairytale" has a length of four minutes and two seconds.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r1713115|title=Valentine's Day: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack > Overview|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=June 21, 2010|archive-date=February 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207174920/https://www.allmusic.com/album/valentines-day-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0001957748|url-status=live}} It is set in common time and has a ballad tempo of 80 beats per minute. It is written in the key of G major and Swift's vocals span a little more than one octave, from G3 to C5.{{cite journal|title=Digital sheet music - Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale|website=Musicnotes.com|publisher=Alfred Publishing}} It follows the chord progression G–C–Em–D. Jody Rosen and Jonas Weiner of Slate magazine noted that although Swift typically sings country pop, "with the possible exception of that woodsy acoustic guitar" in the song's introduction "Today Was a Fairytale" displays no aspects of country music in either its instrumentation or vocals. "Taylor's vowels have gotten flattened and Yankee-ified," commented Rosen, though Weiner pointed out that Swift's pop-heavy music was the primary reason for her success.{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/browbeat/archive/2010/01/28/track-of-the-week-taylor-swift-today-was-a-fairytale.aspx|title=Track of the Week: Taylor Swift, 'Today Was a Fairytale'|first=Jonah|last=Weiner|author2=Jody Rosen|date=January 28, 2010|work=Slate|publisher=The Washington Post Company|access-date=June 21, 2010|archive-date=August 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803031633/http://www.slate.com/content/slate/blogs/browbeat/2010/01/28/track_of_the_week_taylor_swift_today_was_a_fairytale.html|url-status=live}} Hannah Mylrea from NME, meanwhile, described it as a country song.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/every-taylor-swift-song-ranked-2747916|title=Every Taylor Swift song ranked in order of greatness|first=Hannah|last=Mylrea|work=NME|date=September 8, 2020|access-date=November 26, 2020|archive-date=September 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917054150/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/every-taylor-swift-song-ranked-2747916|url-status=live}} Melanie Bertoldi of Billboard believed Swift's vocals displayed a newfound maturity.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1069774/taylor-swift-today-was-a-fairytale|title=Taylor Swift, "Today Was a Fairytale"|first=Melanie|last=Bertoldi|date=February 5, 2010|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|access-date=June 21, 2010|archive-date=September 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916005719/http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1069774/taylor-swift-today-was-a-fairytale|url-status=live}} There are two different versions of the song's intro: the first one having much more electronic production while the second one is only accompanied by an acoustic guitar.
The song's lyrics describe a magical date.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1628827/20091228/swift__taylor.jhtml|title=New Taylor Swift Song Included In 'Valentine's Day' Featurette|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|date=December 28, 2009|work=MTV News|publisher=Viacom|access-date=June 22, 2010|archive-date=November 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105002458/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1628827/new-taylor-swift-song-included-valentines-day-featurette.jhtml|url-status=dead}} Like many of Swift's songs, the lyrics invoke princess imagery with lines such as "Today was a fairytale/You were the prince/I used to be a damsel in distress." Bertoldi said the lyrics were "driven more by sweeping emotion than [...] specific, youth-focused imagery". Occasionally, Swift does interrupt the fairytale construct with modern day, real world details like the time her date arrives or the color of his shirt.
Critical reception
The song received generally positive reviews from contemporary critics. Melanie Bertoldi of Billboard compared the song's lyrics to those of Swift's previous singles "You Belong with Me" and "Fifteen"; she was convinced that "Today Was a Fairytale" would "help [Swift] reach an even broader audience." Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly did not see a departure from Swift, recalling lyrics to be familiar of those of "Love Story" and "You Belong with Me". However, she ended with "What do we know? The song sounds Taylor-made (oh, the wit!) for her fans, and we’re just happy she's still sweet, neat, and [...] age-appropriate."{{cite magazine|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/01/19/new-taylor-swift-song-today-was-a-fairytale/|title=New Taylor Swift song, 'Today Was a Fairytale': Listen here|first=Leah|last=Greenblatt|date=January 19, 2010|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Time Warner|access-date=June 22, 2010|archive-date=March 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327155411/http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/01/19/new-taylor-swift-song-today-was-a-fairytale/|url-status=live}} An uncredited review from People magazine said the track led the Valentine's Day soundtrack.{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20340310,00.html|title=FIRST LISTEN: Like Taylor Swift? Stream the Valentine's Day Soundtrack!|date=February 1, 2010|work=People|publisher=Time Warner|access-date=June 22, 2010|archive-date=October 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013005314/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20340310,00.html|url-status=dead}} Brittany Talarico of British magazine OK! called the song's refrains "catchy" and described the overall feel as "sweet."{{cite web|url=http://www.okmagazine.com/2010/01/taylor-swift-serenades-sweethearts-on-valentines-day-soundtrack/|title=Taylor Swift Serenades Sweethearts on 'Valentine's Day' Soundtrack|first=Brittany|last=Talarico|work=OK!|publisher=Northern & Shell|access-date=June 22, 2010|archive-date=August 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827002041/http://www.okmagazine.com/notfound|url-status=live}} Andrew Leahey of AllMusic said that there was special attention placed on Swift's tracks on the soundtrack, particularly on the song.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r1713115|title=Valentine's Day: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack > Review|first=Andrew|last=Leahy|work=AllMusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=June 22, 2010|archive-date=February 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207174920/https://www.allmusic.com/album/valentines-day-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0001957748|url-status=live}} Jody Rosen of Slate magazine declared "Today Was a Fairytale" "track of the week", highlighting its imagery that, according to her, "sharpen the focus instead of softening it." Jonah Weiner, also of Slate, wrote, "This song is a funny mix: some of her tightest songwriting to date, but some of her laziest lyrics." He mentioned that in the lyrics, Swift mainly "invoke[d] the cliché and hope[d] it [did] her heavy lifting for her." In June 2022, Insider ranked "Today Was a Fairytale" as Swift's second worst soundtrack song.{{Cite web |last1=Ahlgrim |first1=Callie |last2=Larocca |first2=Courteney |date=2022-06-26 |title=All 8 of Taylor Swift's soundtrack songs, ranked |url=https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-soundtrack-songs-ranked-2022-6 |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=February 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207174920/https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-soundtrack-songs-ranked-2022-6 |url-status=live }}
Commercial performance
On the week ending February 6, 2010, "Today Was a Fairytale" debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 (blocked from number one by Kesha's "Tik Tok").{{Cite magazine|title = Music: Top 100 Songs {{!}} Billboard Hot 100 Chart|url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2010-02-06|magazine = Billboard|date = 2 January 2013|access-date = 2016-01-24|archive-date = 2016-01-29|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160129012523/http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2010-02-06|url-status = live}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/959594/taylor-swift-swipes-female-download-record-haiti-tracks-chart|title=Taylor Swift Swipes Female Download Record; Haiti Tracks Chart|last=Pietroluongo|first=Silvio|date=January 26, 2010|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=May 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516120245/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/959594/taylor-swift-swipes-female-download-record-haiti-tracks-chart|url-status=live}} This was due to the sales of 325,000 digital downloads, which broke the record for largest first-week download sales by a female artist previously set by Britney Spears' "Womanizer".{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/480323/official-taylor-swifts-never-song-sells-623000-sets-female-digital-record |title=Official: Taylor Swift's 'Never' Song Sells 623,000; Sets Female Digital Record |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |date=2012-08-21 |access-date=2012-08-22 |archive-date=2017-04-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410083227/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/480323/official-taylor-swifts-never-song-sells-623000-sets-female-digital-record |url-status=live }} In the succeeding week, the song descended to number 22.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/959467/ask-billboard-mileys-new-movie-music|title=Ask Billboard: Miley's New Movie Music|first=Gary|last=Trust|date=February 5, 2010|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=July 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703171541/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/959467/ask-billboard-mileys-new-movie-music|url-status=live}} It spent a total of 18 weeks on the chart. "Today Was a Fairytale" additionally peaked at number one on the Digital Song Sales chart, number 20 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart, number 21 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and number 41 on the Hot Country Songs chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/|title=Today Was a Fairytale|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|access-date=June 22, 2010|archive-date=November 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121094225/https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/|url-status=live}} It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the sales of over one million units.{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Taylor%20Swift&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25|title=RIAA – Gold & Platinum: "Taylor Swift albums"|work=RIAA.com|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America|access-date=January 2, 2010|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924154353/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Taylor%20Swift&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25|url-status=live}} As of November 2014, "Today Was a Fairytale" had sold 1.6 million digital downloads in the United States.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6312267/ask-billboard-all-taylor-swift-edition?page=0%2C1 |last=Trust |first=Gary |title=Ask Billboard: All-Taylor Swift Edition |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |date=November 11, 2014 |access-date=November 11, 2014 |archive-date=November 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123182404/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6312267/ask-billboard-all-taylor-swift-edition?page=0%2C1 |url-status=live }}
"Today Was a Fairytale" was Swift's first song to peak at number one on the Canadian Hot 100.{{Cite web |url=http://www.billboard.biz/billboardbiz/photos/pdf/canadian_update_021010.pdf |title=Billboard Canadian Update February 12, 2010 |access-date=November 8, 2017 |archive-date=May 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512001118/https://www.billboard.com/business |url-status=live }} The song peaked at number six in Australia{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=Today+Was+A+Fairytale&cat=s|title=Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale (Song)|work=Australian-charts.com|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=June 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608095158/http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift|url-status=live}} and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for sales of 70,000 units.{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.auaccreds2010.htm|title=ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Singles|access-date=March 13, 2010|work=ARIA.com.au|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|archive-date=March 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320194141/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.auaccreds2010.htm|url-status=live}} It peaked at number 29 in New Zealand,{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=Today+Was+A+Fairytale&cat=s|title=Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale (Song)|work=charts.nz|publisher=Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=April 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420151434/http://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=Today+Was+A+Fairytale&cat=s|url-status=live}} number 41 in Ireland,{{Cite web|url=http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift|title=Discography Taylor Swift|work=Irish-charts.com|publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association|access-date=January 2, 2010|archive-date=March 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329124347/http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift|url-status=live}} number 57 in the United Kingdom,{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Prairie%20Wind|title=The Official Charts Company - Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale|work=Official Charts Company|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=October 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020222728/https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/prairie%20wind/|url-status=live}} and number 63 in Japan.
Live performances
File:Taylor Swift - Fearless Tour - Austin 04.jpg
Swift performed a medley, which included the song, at the 52nd Grammy Awards. Wearing casual white blouse and black skinny jeans, Swift performed "Today Was a Fairytale", where she took center stage with a wooden acoustic guitar strapped to her shoulder. After performing the track, she announced. "It's a fairy tale and an honor to share the stage with Stevie Nicks". Following, the two performed a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon" (1976). Swift and Nicks then jumped into the third and final part in her medley, a twangy version of "You Belong with Me".
>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1630891/20100131/swift__taylor.jhtml|work=MTV News|publisher=Viacom|access-date=April 17, 2010|title=Taylor Swift Shares The Stage With Stevie Nicks At The Grammys|first=Eric|last=Ditzian|date=January 31, 2010|archive-date=October 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028134550/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1630891/taylor-swift-shares-stage-with-stevie-nicks-at-grammys.jhtml|url-status=dead}}
Swift annexed "Today Was a Fairytale" to a revised set list for the continuation of her Fearless Tour in 2010. During the performances, which was the penultimate of each concert, Swift was usually costumed in a black cocktail dress with a v-neck cut and black, leather boots.{{cite web|url=http://community.cmt.com/Video/Taylor-Swift--Today-Was-A-Fairytale/0BEDCFFFF01B30196001B00E33231|title=Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale|work=CMT|publisher=Viacom|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=February 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226135752/http://community.cmt.com/Video/Taylor-Swift--Today-Was-A-Fairytale/0BEDCFFFF01B30196001B00E33231|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/concert-review-taylor-swift-brings-fearless-show-to-ford-center/article/3450589?custom_click=rss|title=Concert review: Taylor Swift brings "Fearless" show to Ford Center|first=Brandy|last=McDonnel|date=April 1, 2010|work=The Oklahoman|publisher=Oklahoma Publishing Company|access-date=May 21, 2010|archive-date=September 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926001820/http://newsok.com/concert-review-taylor-swift-brings-fearless-show-to-ford-center/article/3450589?custom_click=rss|url-status=live}} She performed with a rhinestoned acoustic guitar center-stage as a forest was projected on the stage; concluding the performance, clips from Valentine's Day were depicted and, following its completion, confetti dropped from the ceiling. At the May 22, 2010 concert at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Jane Stevenson of The Toronto Sun said that Swift wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey "didn't hurt [her] popularity either in this hockey-mad town."{{cite web|url=http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/columnists/jane_stevenson/2010/05/21/14044456.html|title=Taylor Swift concert a fairytale for fans|first=Jane|last=Stevenson|date=May 22, 2010|work=The Toronto Sun|publisher=Sun Media|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=May 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525104350/http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/columnists/jane_stevenson/2010/05/21/14044456.html|url-status=live}} Molly Trust of Billboard noted the performance at the tour's final concert on June 5, 2010 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts "sported a touch of a hometown feel, as Swift literally and figuratively played to the crowd in a Patriots shirt."{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/photos/live/957869/taylor-swift-june-5-2010-foxboro-mass|title=Taylor Swift / June 5, 2010 / Foxboro, Mass|first=Molly|last=Trust|date=June 8, 2010|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=October 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141002032401/http://www.billboard.com/articles/photos/live/957869/taylor-swift-june-5-2010-foxboro-mass|url-status=live}} Swift later performed the song on select dates on the Red Tour (2013–2014) in place of "I Almost Do"; and during the Eras Tour (2023–2024) as a surprise song for the second Houston show.{{Cite magazine |last=Iasimone |first=Ashley |date=2023-04-14 |title=All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed on The Eras Tour (So Far) |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-date=March 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319011405/https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs/ |url-status=live }}
Chart performance
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (2010) !Peak |
{{singlechart|Australia|3|artist=Taylor Swift|song=Today Was a Fairytale|access-date=January 12, 2012|refname=australia2|rowheader=true}} |
{{singlechart|Canada|1|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=January 12, 2012|refname=canada2|rowheader=true}} |
{{singlechart|Billboardcanadaac|45|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=November 7, 2017|rowheader=true}} |
{{singlechart|Billboardcanadachrtop40|38|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=November 7, 2017|rowheader=true}} |
{{singlechart|Billboardcanadahotac|36|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=November 7, 2017|rowheader=true}} |
{{singlechart|Ireland3|41|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=January 28, 2020|refname=irish2|rowheader=true}} |
scope="row"| Japan Hot 100
| align="center"|63 |
---|
{{singlechart|New Zealand|29|artist=Taylor Swift|song=Today Was a Fairytale|access-date=January 12, 2012|refname=nz2|rowheader=true}} |
{{singlechart|Scotland|46|date=20100227|rowheader=true}} |
{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|57|artist=Taylor Swift|song=Today Was a Fairytale|artistid=5387|access-date=January 12, 2012|refname=uk2|rowheader=true}} |
{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|2|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true}} |
{{singlechart|Billboardadultcontemporary|21|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true}} |
{{singlechart|Billboardadultpopsongs|21|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true}} |
{{singlechart|Billboardcountrysongs|41|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true}} |
{{singlechart|Billboardpopsongs|20|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true}} |
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=Year-end charts=
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Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Today Was a Fairytale"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2010|certyear=2024|access-date=February 14, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry |region=United States |award=Platinum |type=single |certyear=2010 |title=Today Was a Fairytale |artist=Taylor Swift|salesamount=1,600,000|salesref=}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
Release history
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taylor Swift songs}}
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{{Good article}}
Category:Canadian Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Songs written by Taylor Swift
Category:Song recordings produced by Taylor Swift
Category:Song recordings produced by Nathan Chapman (record producer)
Category:Song recordings produced by Chris Rowe