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Taylor Swift (album)

{{short description|2006 album by Taylor Swift}}

{{About|the debut album by Taylor Swift|other albums by Swift|Taylor Swift albums discography}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}

{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Taylor Swift

| type = studio

| artist = Taylor Swift

| cover = Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift.png

| border = yes

| alt = A portrait of Swift with wavy blonde hair against a blue-and-green background

| caption = Standard cover{{NoteTag|This cover was used for the standard and 2008 editions of the album. The 2007 deluxe edition features a different image of Swift.}}

| released = {{start date|2006|10|24}}

| recorded = 2005

| studio = {{hlist|Castles|Quad|Sound Cottage|Sound Emporium (Nashville)}}

| genre = Country

| length = 40:28

| label = Big Machine

| producer = * Nathan Chapman

| next_title = The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection

| next_year = 2007

| misc = {{singles

| name = Taylor Swift

| type = studio

| single1 = Tim McGraw

| single1date = June 19, 2006

| single2 = Teardrops on My Guitar

| single2date = February 20, 2007

| single3 = Our Song

| single3date = September 4, 2007

| single4 = Picture to Burn

| single4date = February 3, 2008

| single5 = Should've Said No

| single5date = May 19, 2008

}}

}}

Taylor Swift is the debut studio album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released in North America on October 24, 2006, and reissued multiple times in 2007–2008, by Big Machine Records. Inspired by her teenage outlook on life, the lyrics address themes of love, friendships, and insecurity.

Swift relocated from Pennsylvania to Nashville, Tennessee at 14 to sign a songwriting contract with Sony/ATV Tree Music Publishing. Her recording contract with Big Machine in 2005 enabled her to work on the album with the producer Nathan Chapman during her freshman year of high school. She wrote or co-wrote all tracks of Taylor Swift; co-writers include Robert Ellis Orrall, Brian Maher, Angelo Petraglia, and Liz Rose. Musically, Taylor Swift is a country album with pop and pop rock elements, and its acoustic arrangements are instrumented with guitars, banjos, and fiddles.

Five songs were released as singles; "Our Song" and "Should've Said No" peaked atop the Hot Country Songs chart, and "Teardrops on My Guitar" charted in the top 10 on the Pop Songs chart. Swift embarked on a six-month radio tour in 2006 and opened tours for other country artists throughout 2006–2007. By promoting Taylor Swift via the social networking site Myspace, she reached a teenage audience that had been excluded as a target demographic for country music. Initial reviews praised the production with crossover appeal and Swift's earnest depictions of adolescent feelings. Taylor Swift was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2008 Academy of Country Music Awards.

In the United States, Taylor Swift spent 24 weeks at number one on the Top Country Albums chart, became the longest-charting album of the 2000s decade on the Billboard 200, and has been certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America; Swift became the first female country artist to write or co-write every song on a platinum-certified debut album. It also charted and received certifications in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Taylor Swift's pop-oriented country sound and autobiographical songwriting set a blueprint for Swift's next albums and became an inspiration for other confessional singer-songwriters. Rolling Stone featured it in their 2022 list "100 Best Debut Albums of All Time".

Background

Taylor Swift had an interest in the performing arts as a child. While acting in a children's musical theatre company, she developed a fondness for singing and would sing country songs on the company's karaoke machine during the cast parties.{{Cite magazine |last=Grigoriadis |first=Vanessa |date=March 5, 2009 |title=The Very Pink, Very Perfect Life of Taylor Swift |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/the-very-pink-very-perfect-life-of-taylor-swift-107451/ |url-access=limited |access-date=June 28, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128093106/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/the-very-pink-very-perfect-life-of-taylor-swift-107451/ |url-status=live }} After watching a documentary about Faith Hill, she felt sure she needed to move to Nashville, Tennessee—the center of country music{{cite web |date=September 2015 |title=Nashville Music Industry: Impact, Contribution and Cluster Analysis |url=https://www.riaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/nashville-music-industry-study.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218220049/https://www.riaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/nashville-music-industry-study.pdf |archive-date=December 18, 2017 |access-date=February 21, 2020 |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America}}—to become a country singer.{{Cite news |last=Diu |first=Nisha Lilia |date=April 3, 2011 |title=Taylor Swift: 'I Won't Do Sexy Shoots' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/8421110/Taylor-Swift-interview-I-wont-do-sexy-shoots.html |url-access= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506063028/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/8421110/Taylor-Swift-interview-I-wont-do-sexy-shoots.html |archive-date=May 6, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2012 |work=The Daily Telegraph}} At 11, Swift broadened her performing capabilities by opening for Charlie Daniels and singing the national anthem of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner", at local sports games. She traveled from her hometown in Pennsylvania to Nashville with her mother to pitch demo tapes of karaoke covers to record labels,{{cite web |date=November 26, 2008 |title=CMT Insider Interview: Taylor Swift (Part 1 of 2) |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1600309/cmt-insider-interview-taylor-swift-part-1-of-2/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123055134/http://www.cmt.com/news/1600309/cmt-insider-interview-taylor-swift-part-1-of-2/ |archive-date=January 23, 2015 |access-date=July 1, 2012 |website= |publisher=CMT}} who rejected her of a recording contract, believing that her teenage songs were unfit for country music's target middle-aged demographic.{{Cite news |last=Malec |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Malec |date=May 2, 2011 |title=Taylor Swift: The Garden In The Machine |url=https://www.americansongwriter.com/2011/05/taylor-swift-the-garden-in-the-machine/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510173906/http://www.americansongwriter.com/2011/05/taylor-swift-the-garden-in-the-machine/ |archive-date=May 10, 2012 |access-date=May 21, 2012 |work=American Songwriter}}{{sfn|Spencer|2010|p=7}}

The rejections made Swift become determined to distinguish herself from other aspiring country singers. At 12, she started writing songs and learned to play the guitar with the help of a computer repairman who had fixed her family's computer.{{sfn|Spencer|2010|p=7}} Her performance of "America the Beautiful" at the 2002 US Open caught the attention of Dan Dymtrow, a music manager who helped 13-year-old Swift get an artist development deal with RCA Records in Nashville.{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2015 |title=Casting Call Hopefuls Ready To Shine |url=https://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2015-06-30/us_open_casting_call_hopefuls_ready_for_their_time_to_shine.html |access-date=July 4, 2024 |publisher=United States Tennis Association |archive-date=September 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902130335/https://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2015-06-30/us_open_casting_call_hopefuls_ready_for_their_time_to_shine.html |url-status=live }}{{sfn|Spencer|2010|p=12}} To assist Swift's artistic endeavors, her father transferred his job to Nashville, and her family relocated to the Nashville suburb of Hendersonville, where she enrolled in Hendersonville High School{{Sfn|Spencer|2010|p=19}} before being homeschooled after two years.

Development and conception

Dymtrow's management led to Swift's early exposure to show business—she had an advertising tie-in with Abercrombie & Fitch, a music compilation CD with Maybelline, and a 2004 appearance in Vanity Fair.{{Cite web |last=Reinartz |first=Joe |date=October 12, 2010 |title=Swift Sued By Former Manager |url=https://news.pollstar.com/2010/10/12/swift-sued-by-former-manager/ |access-date=July 4, 2024 |website=Pollstar |archive-date=June 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604231907/https://news.pollstar.com/2010/10/12/swift-sued-by-former-manager/ |url-status=live }} With a songwriting deal with Sony/ATV Publishing House at 14, she became the youngest signee in the publishing company's history.{{Cite news |last=Widdicombe |first=Lizzie |date=October 10, 2011 |title=You Belong With Me |url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/10/10/you-belong-with-me |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724215447/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/10/10/you-belong-with-me |archive-date=July 24, 2014 |access-date=October 11, 2011 |newspaper=The New Yorker}}{{cite magazine |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=February 5, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift's Road to Fame |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/02/05/taylor-swifts-road-fame/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117165601/https://ew.com/article/2008/02/05/taylor-swifts-road-fame/ |archive-date=January 17, 2021 |access-date=February 27, 2021 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} Swift commuted from Hendersonville to Nashville every afternoon after class to practice writing with experienced Music Row songwriters.{{Cite news |last=Malec |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Malec |date=May 2, 2011 |title=Taylor Swift: The Garden In The Machine |url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2011/05/taylor-swift-the-garden-in-the-machine/3/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807054922/http://www.americansongwriter.com/2011/05/taylor-swift-the-garden-in-the-machine/3/ |archive-date=August 7, 2013 |access-date=May 21, 2012 |work=American Songwriter |page=3}}{{Cite news |last=Preston |first=John |date=April 26, 2009 |title=Taylor Swift: The 19-Year-Old Country Music Star Conquering America – And Now Britain |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/5202294/Taylor-Swift-the-19-year-old-country-music-star-conquering-America-and-now-Britain.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105153224/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/5202294/Taylor-Swift-the-19-year-old-country-music-star-conquering-America-and-now-Britain.html |archive-date=January 5, 2012 |access-date=August 30, 2012 |work=The Daily Telegraph}} After one year on the development deal with RCA Records, Swift performed self-written songs to the label's executives, who decided to hold her off an official contract and keep her in development until she was 18. She left the label and recalled: "I genuinely felt that I was running out of time. I'd written all these songs and I wanted to capture these years of my life on an album while they still represented what I was going through."{{cite web |last=Kotb |first=Hoda |author-link=Hoda Kotb |date=May 31, 2009 |title=On Tour with Taylor Swift |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna31032270 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005101242/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/31032270/ns/dateline_nbc-newsmakers/t/tour-taylor-swift/ |archive-date=October 5, 2013 |access-date=July 1, 2012 |publisher=NBC News}}

Swift invited record label executives to her showcase concert at Nashville's Bluebird Café on November 3, 2004;{{Cite web |last=Rapkin |first=Mickey |date=July 27, 2017 |title=Oral History of Nashville's Bluebird Cafe: Taylor Swift, Maren Morris, Dierks Bentley & More on the Legendary Venue |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/the-bluebird-cafe-taylor-swift-dierks-bentley-oral-history-7880979/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121054047/https://www.billboard.com/music/country/the-bluebird-cafe-taylor-swift-dierks-bentley-oral-history-7880979/ |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |access-date=April 21, 2025 |website=Billboard}}{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Kristen |date=May 16, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift (at Age 14!) Proved 'She Can Actually Work a Room' at Nashville Landmark Bluebird Café |url=https://people.com/country/bluebird-cafe-documentary-nashville-landmark/ |access-date=July 4, 2024 |website=People |archive-date=January 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102133129/https://people.com/country/bluebird-cafe-documentary-nashville-landmark/ |url-status=live }} among the invitees was Scott Borchetta, a music executive who had worked for MCA Nashville and DreamWorks Records. Borchetta was planning to establish an independent record label that needed financing. Impressed by Swift's performance, he offered to her and her parents that as soon as the label was set up, she would have a recording contract with him. Two weeks later, Swift called Borchetta to accept the offer.{{Cite news |last=Leonard |first=Devin |date=2014-11-14 |title=Taylor Swift Is the Music Industry |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-11-12/taylor-swift-and-big-machine-are-the-music-industry |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313072511/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-11-12/taylor-swift-and-big-machine-are-the-music-industry |archive-date=March 13, 2016 |access-date=2024-07-04 |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |language=}} The label was Big Machine Records, who partnered with Universal Music Group for music distribution.{{Cite magazine |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=July 25, 2007 |title=Getting to Know Taylor Swift |url=https://ew.com/article/2007/07/25/getting-know-taylor-swift/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524211942/https://ew.com/article/2007/07/25/getting-know-taylor-swift/ |url-status=live }} According to Swift, she signed with Big Machine because the deal allowed her to write all songs that would feature in her albums.{{Sfn|Spencer|2010|p=21}} Her contract finalized by July 2005, when she ended her partnership with Dymtrow,{{Cite magazine |last=Belloni |first=Matthew |date=2010-10-08 |title=Taylor Swift's Ex-Manager Suing Over Contract Dispute |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swifts-ex-manager-suing-over-contract-dispute-954687/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=January 18, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118103138/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swifts-ex-manager-suing-over-contract-dispute-954687/ |url-status=live }} and her father purchased a three-percent stake in the company.{{Cite magazine |last1=Hiatt |first1=Brian |date=October 25, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift in Wonderland |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-in-wonderland-180107/ |url-access=limited |access-date=June 28, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209064602/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-in-wonderland-180107/ |url-status=live }}

Swift wrote over 40 songs for the album, and 11 made the standard edition.{{Sfn|Spencer|2010|p=27}} Seven songs were co-written by Liz Rose, who became an important collaborator and formed a lasting working relationship with Swift on later albums.{{sfn|Spencer|2010|p=19}} According to Rose, they had productive sessions because she respected Swift's vision and did not want to put her in the "Nashville cookie-cutter songwriting mold".{{cite web |last=Kosser |first=Michael |date=June 3, 2010 |title=Liz Rose: Co-Writer to the Stars |url=https://americansongwriter.com/liz-rose-co-writer-to-the-stars/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804202311/https://americansongwriter.com/liz-rose-co-writer-to-the-stars/ |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |access-date=February 20, 2020 |work=American Songwriter}} Robert Ellis Orrall and Angelo Petraglia co-wrote "A Place in This World", and Brian Maher co-wrote "Mary's Song (Oh My My My)" with Rose. Three tracks—"The Outside", "Should've Said No", "Our Song"—were written solely by Swift. The deluxe edition features three additional songs—"I'm Only Me When I'm with You", "Invisible", "A Perfectly Good Heart"{{NoteTag|On the 2008 physical copies, the title is published as "Perfectly Good Heart".{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=15}}}}—co-written by Orrall, Petraglia, Brett James, and Troy Verges.{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=15}}

After experimenting with different producers, Swift persuaded Big Machine to recruit Nathan Chapman, who had produced demos for other Nashville artists in a converted one-car garage behind the Sony/ATV offices.{{Cite magazine |last=Robinson |first=Will |date=June 19, 2016 |title=Taylor Swift's First Producer Looks Back on 'Tim McGraw' 10 Years Later |url=https://ew.com/article/2016/06/19/taylor-swift-tim-mcgraw-turns-10/ |access-date=March 30, 2025 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822215035/https://ew.com/article/2016/06/19/taylor-swift-tim-mcgraw-turns-10/| archive-date=August 22, 2016 |url-status=live}} Big Machine was skeptical about hiring Chapman because he had never produced a commercially released album but conceded because Swift felt they had the "right chemistry".{{cite web |last=Morris |first=Edward |date=December 1, 2006 |title=When She Thinks 'Tim McGraw', Taylor Swift Savors Payoff: Hardworking Teen to Open for George Strait Next Year |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1546980/when-she-thinks-tim-mcgraw-taylor-swift-savors-payoff.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229194025/http://www.cmt.com/news/1546980/when-she-thinks-tim-mcgraw-taylor-swift-savors-payoff/ |archive-date=December 29, 2018 |access-date=March 11, 2010 |publisher=CMT}} Before approaching Chapman, Swift conceptualized how her songs should sound: "I know exactly where I want the hook to be and [...] what instruments I want to use."{{sfn|Spencer|2010|p=27}} He has sole production credits on all songs but one, "The Outside", which credits Orrall as the producer and Chapman as an additional producer. Recording took place for four months near the end of 2005 and was completed by the time Swift had finished her freshman year of high school.{{sfn|Spencer|2010|p=28}}

Themes and lyrics

Taylor Swift follows the confessional songwriting practice of country music, and its lyrics were inspired by Swift's observations and reflections to depict her adolescent perceptions of her life, revolving around romantic relationships, friendships, and self-identity; she viewed her lyrics as atypical to country music's emphasis on rural lifestyles.{{sfn|Spencer|2010|p=18–19}} To capture real-time feelings in songs, she wrote anytime and anywhere, from studio sessions to school breaks.{{sfn|Spencer|2010|p=19}} This practice resulted in straightforward lyrics{{sfn|Spencer|2010|p=19}} that The Daily Telegraph found to have "an earnest naiveté".{{cite web |last=Carson |first=Sarah |date=October 24, 2016 |title=The Story of Taylor Swift: 10 Years At the Top In Her Own Lyrics |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/taylor-swifts-10-years-at-the-top-in-her-own-lyrics/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124215817/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/taylor-swifts-10-years-at-the-top-in-her-own-lyrics/ |archive-date=November 24, 2016 |access-date=October 24, 2016 |work=The Daily Telegraph}} Narrated from the perspective of a teenage girl in an American small town, the songs have their settings confined within high-school hallways and rural backroads, resulting in a personal and contemplative tone.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=6}}{{cite magazine |last=Bradley |first=Jonathan |date=November 7, 2017 |title=Why Taylor Swift's Self-Titled Debut Is Her Best Album |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8029960/taylor-swift-self-titled-debut-best-album |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111060002/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8029960/taylor-swift-self-titled-debut-best-album |archive-date=November 11, 2017 |access-date=November 7, 2017 |magazine=Billboard}}

Much of Taylor Swift is about teenage love, inspired by both Swift's relationships and her observations of others'. In "Tim McGraw", inspired by a senior boyfriend during her freshman year of high school, the narrator hopes that after ending the relationship and leaving for college, the boyfriend would reminisce about her every time he hears their mutual favorite song by the country singer Tim McGraw.{{cite news |last=Yahr |first=Emily |date=June 16, 2016 |title=Taylor Swift's First Song Came Out 10 Years Ago. Here's What She Was Like as a Teen Songwriter |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/06/16/taylor-swifts-first-song-came-out-10-years-ago-heres-what-she-was-like-as-a-teen-songwriter/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326071202/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/06/16/taylor-swifts-first-song-came-out-10-years-ago-heres-what-she-was-like-as-a-teen-songwriter/ |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |access-date=February 25, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} "Stay Beautiful", addressed to a character named Cory, describes Swift's admiration for him from afar without him knowing.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=13}} "Mary's Song (Oh My My My)", written in third-person perspective from the perspective of a character named Mary, portrays a love that has survived its trials and tribulations, and it ends with a marriage received by a supportive crowd.{{Sfnm|1a1=Perone|1y=2017|1p=14|2a1=Zaleski|2y=2024|2p=15}} In "Our Song", which Swift wrote for her high-school talent show,{{cite web |last=Shelburne |first=Craig |date=April 15, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift Shares Story and Success of Award-Winning 'Our Song' |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1585582/taylor-swift-shares-story-and-success-of-award-winning-our-song.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209195936/http://www.cmt.com/news/1585582/taylor-swift-shares-story-and-success-of-award-winning-our-song/ |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |access-date=March 15, 2010 |publisher=CMT}} her character sings about creating a song drawing from her and her boyfriend's daily experiences.{{cite magazine |last=Frere-Jones |first=Sasha |author-link=Sasha Frere-Jones |date=November 10, 2008 |title=Prodigy |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/11/10/prodigy-pop-music-sasha-frere-jones |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021165825/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/11/10/prodigy-pop-music-sasha-frere-jones |archive-date=October 21, 2016 |access-date=July 7, 2024 |magazine=The New Yorker}} Unrequited love is the theme of "Teardrops on My Guitar", in which Swift's narrator is disappointed upon learning that Drew, the boy she dreams about, is in love with another girl;{{cite magazine |last=Spanos |first=Brittany |date=August 22, 2016 |title=Ex-Factor: Taylor Swift's Best Songs About Former Boyfriends |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/ex-factor-taylor-swifts-best-songs-about-former-boyfriends-19644/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717201507/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/ex-factor-taylor-swifts-best-songs-about-former-boyfriends-19644/ |archive-date=July 17, 2018 |access-date=August 22, 2016 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=10}} and "Invisible", inspired by a childhood crush of Swift who would talk to her about other girls that he liked.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=22}}

{{Listen

|filename=Taylor Swift - Picture to Burn.ogg

|title="Picture to Burn"

|description=Instrumented by plucking banjos and distorted electric guitars, "Picture to Burn" was described by Rolling Stone as a song that "perfectly captures the mindset of a teenage breakup".

}}

Breakup songs are also prominent on Taylor Swift.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=9}} "Picture to Burn" and "Should've Said No" both depict a vengeful attitude towards boys who cheat.{{cite news|last=Horner|first=Marianne|date=October 20, 2008|title=Story Behind the Song: Don't Cheat on a Songwriter|newspaper=Country Weekly|volume=15|issue=21|page=14}} In "Picture to Burn", the narrator criticizes her ex-boyfriend as self-centered and lying, and she vows revenge by dating his friends and burning photographic evidence of him.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=11}} Its original version included the lyric, "That's fine; I'll tell mine you're gay", but the radio edit and subsequent versions modified it to: "That's fine; You won't mind if I say."{{Sfn|Spencer|2010|p=34}}{{cite web |last=McCarty |first=Tara |date=August 23, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift's Lover Is Out. Here's An Analysis of the Lyrics. |url=https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/2019/08/23/taylor-swifts-lover-is-out-heres-an-analysis-of-the-lyrics/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823180706/http://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/2019/08/23/taylor-swifts-lover-is-out-heres-an-analysis-of-the-lyrics/ |archive-date=August 23, 2019 |access-date=August 23, 2019 |work=Tampa Bay Times}} In "Should've Said No", the narrator confronts a cheating ex-lover that he should have not done so: had he declined the other girl, he might still have her without having to beg for forgiveness.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=13–14}} "Cold as You" laments a fruitless relationship in which the lover does not appreciate the female protagonist.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=11}} Swift said it was her favorite song lyrically on the album, highlighting its hook ("I've never been anywhere cold as you"): "I love a line in a song where afterward you're just like... burn."{{cite magazine |last1=Edwards |first1=Gavin |date=August 28, 2012 |title=2008's Country Lolita: Taylor Swift |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/2008s-country-lolita-taylor-swift-192759/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129172316/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/2008s-country-lolita-taylor-swift-192759/ |archive-date=November 29, 2020 |access-date=November 7, 2020 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}

In other songs, Swift sings about insecurity and self-consciousness. "The Outside", which Swift wrote at 12, describes the loneliness she felt when her love of country music alienated her from her friends at school.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=14}} "A Place in This World", written by Swift at 13 when she first moved to Nashville,{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=13}} expresses her uncertainty about where she truly belongs. Swift wrote "Tied Together with a Smile" the day she learned one of her best friends had an eating disorder.{{cite web |title=Ask the Artist |url=http://blogs.gactv.com/gactv/asktheartist/taylorswift/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070708082423/http://blogs.gactv.com/gactv/asktheartist/taylorswift/ |archive-date=July 8, 2007 |access-date=March 15, 2010 |publisher=Great American Country}} The song describes a young girl who lacks self-esteem and disguises her inner turbulence with a smile, but Swift's character tells her that she will never overcome her struggles until she learns to love herself.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=12}} In "I'm Only Me When I'm with You", Swift's narrator appreciates a loved one for their understanding, which makes her comfortable enough to share her insecurities and secrets.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=21}}

Music

Taylor Swift incorporates country music elements, including a twang in Swift's vocals and acoustic arrangements composed of guitars, fiddles, banjos, mandolins, and Dobro,{{cite web |last=Johnston |first=Maura |author-link=Maura Johnston |date=August 19, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift: Taylor Swift Album Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-taylor-swift/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819061344/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-taylor-swift/ |archive-date=August 19, 2019 |access-date=August 19, 2019 |website=Pitchfork}} instruments that conjure the roots of American folk music popular in the American South.{{Sfn|Nainby|2024|p=98}} Big Machine marketed the album to country radio, but music critics debated its genre classification. Some publications' reviews appeared in their columns for country music. Multiple others commented that the songs incorporate influences of pop, rock,{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709093054/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/taylor-swift/biography|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/taylor-swift/biography|title=Taylor Swift|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Chuck|last=Eddy|archive-date=July 9, 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=July 9, 2013}} and rap;{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postrock/2008/02/her_song_talking_taylor_swift_1.html|title=Her Song: Talking Taylor Swift|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=J. Freedom|last=du Lac|date=February 28, 2008|access-date=February 27, 2010|archive-date=August 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812160010/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postrock/2008/02/her_song_talking_taylor_swift_1.html|url-status=dead}} Jon Caramanica from The New York Times called the overall sound "pop-minded country".{{Cite news |last1=Caramanica |first1=Jon |author-link=Jon Caramanica |date=September 5, 2008 |title=A Young Outsider's Life Turned Inside Out |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/arts/music/07cara.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908124214/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/arts/music/07cara.html |archive-date=September 8, 2014 |access-date=August 1, 2016 |work=The New York Times}} Grady Smith from Rolling Stone listed "Tim McGraw", "Teardrops on My Guitar", "Our Song", and "Picture to Burn" among Swift's "countriest songs" that evoke "classic country" in their instruments and song structure.{{cite magazine |last=Smith |first=Grady |date=September 8, 2014 |title=Teardrops on Her Guitar: Taylor Swift's 10 Countriest Songs |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country-lists/teardrops-on-her-guitar-taylor-swifts-10-countriest-songs-164352/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820215353/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country-lists/teardrops-on-her-guitar-taylor-swifts-10-countriest-songs-164352/ |archive-date=August 20, 2020 |access-date=February 20, 2020 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} According to Maura Johnston, in her review for Pitchfork, the album is a "solid" country record, but many of its songs have a "deft melodic touch and conversational way" that make them seamlessly translatable to mainstream pop music.

{{Listen

| filename = TaylorSwift TimMcGraw.ogg

| title="Tim McGraw"

| description = The lead single and opening track "Tim McGraw" is a country ballad that uses the I-vi-IV-V chord progression, syncopation at the sixteenth-note level, and motives with small-range pitches, which evokes diverse stylistic influences.

}}

The opening track "Tim McGraw" is an understated acoustic guitar–driven ballad{{cite news |date=October 22, 2006 |title=A Singer's Son, Singing Rivals and a Singer as Song Title |newspaper=The New York Times |id={{ProQuest|2225239076}}}} that incorporates the '50s progression (I–vi–IV–V);{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=6}} its melody is defined by repeated short motifs and variations of one figure within a small pitch range, and its refrain—and to a lesser degree, its verses—extensively uses syncopation at the sixteenth-note level.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|pp=6–7}} According to the musicologist James E. Perone, these elements evoke diverse styles, such as the nostalgic feel of 1950s–1960s rock and roll and doo-wop, and the melodic rhythms of contemporary alternative rock and hip-hop.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|pp=6–7}} The genre-agnostic sound of "Tim McGraw" informs the styles of other tracks.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=7}} "Picture to Burn" similarly uses syncopation at the sixteenth-note level, and Swift's vocals in the song imitate the jazz–influenced flexibility of 1970s female singer-songwriters such as Rickie Lee Jones, Carole King, and Joni Mitchell.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=9}} Its arrangement features a mix of banjo, mandolin, pedal steel, and fiddle,{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=11}} and separate solos of banjo and electric guitar in the break.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=9}}

"Teardrops on My Guitar" has a tender production composed of hushed pedal steel, subdued banjo, and a mix of acoustic and electric guitars,{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=12}} with a sound that critics deem adaptable into pop, rock, or country.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=10}} The version released to pop radio replaced the banjo with a drum loop;{{cite web |date=November 19, 2009 |title=The Decade in Music: Taylor Swift's 'Teardrops on My Guitar' (2008) |url=https://www.npr.org/2009/11/19/120557728/the-decade-in-music-taylor-swifts-teardrops-on-my-guitar-2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816085843/https://www.npr.org/2009/11/19/120557728/the-decade-in-music-taylor-swifts-teardrops-on-my-guitar-2008 |archive-date=August 16, 2022 |access-date=September 20, 2024 |website= |publisher=NPR}} Perone commented that this change transformed the track from a genre-agnostic tune to a "rather anonymous pop ballad".{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=10}} "A Place in This World" is built on picked banjos and features influences of 1990s alternative rock,{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=13}} and "Cold as You" has a slow-tempo balladic production instrumented by sorrowful fiddles.{{Sfnm|1a1=Perone|1y=2017|1p=11|2a1=Zaleski|2y=2024|2p=13}} "The Outside", similar to "Tim McGraw" and "Picture to Burn", uses 1970s jazz–influenced vocal flexibility and short musical motifs that evoke alternative rock; its country rock melody alternates between syncopated phrases at the eighth-note and sixteenth-note levels.{{Sfnm|1a1=Perone|1y=2017|1p=11|2a1=Zaleski|2y=2024|2p=14}} The arrangement of "Tied Together with a Smile" is composed of prominent acoustic guitars, fiddles, and Dobro, evoking folk and country arrangements.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|pp=12–13}}

"Stay Beautiful", similar to "Tim McGraw", follows the '50s progression;{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=13}} it incorporates traditional styles of folk and country.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=15}} In "Should've Said No", the electric guitar tone evokes the texture of rock power ballads, while the fiddles in the introduction and break and the use of minor chords and the pentatonic scale showcase influences of Anglo-American folk music.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=14}} "Mary's Song (Oh My My My)" is a mandolin–led{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=15}} country pop track{{Cite web |last=Mylrea |first=Hannah |date=2020-09-08 |title=Every Taylor Swift Song Ranked In Order of Greatness |url=https://www.nme.com/features/every-taylor-swift-song-ranked-2740117 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=NME |archive-date=September 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908194608/https://www.nme.com/features/every-taylor-swift-song-ranked-2740117 |url-status=live }} with influences of traditional country folk.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=14}} The standard album's closing track, "Our Song", is built on a banjo riff with a dynamic contrast between the verses and the refrains: the verses use repeated pitches in the lower register of Swift's vocals, with her singing at one pitch for a sustained period; the refrains emphasize the fifth scale-step with a wider-ranging melody and higher-pitched vocals, resulting in an upbeat and tuneful sound.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=15}} Some critics identify elements of hip-hop and rhythmic music on the phrasings and the final refrain's compressed drums.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Nate |date=May 20, 2024 |title=Taylor Swift Songs Ranked |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/all-taylor-swift-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html |url-access=limited |access-date=September 20, 2024 |work=Vulture |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 }}

"I'm Only Me When I'm with You" is driven by subdued pedal steel, lively drums, and interweaving fiddles. The version included on Taylor Swift is the same as the one that Swift recorded at 14 while she was still under RCA Records' development deal; the label had rejected it because they deemed it "too pop".{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=21}} "Invisible" is instrumented by melancholic fiddles,{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=22}} and "A Perfectly Good Heart" has a balladic, country pop production.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=23}}

Release and promotion

Big Machine released "Tim McGraw" to US country radio on June 19, 2006, as Swift's debut single.{{cite news |date=June 16, 2006 |title=Taylor Swift, The New Single 'Tim McGraw' |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2006/RR-2006-06-16.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001145222/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2006/RR-2006-06-16.pdf |archive-date=October 1, 2021 |access-date=January 23, 2022 |newspaper=Radio & Records |page=37}} Swift spent the summer of 2006 with her mother and Big Machine personnel putting CD copies of the single to pitch to radio stations across the United States.{{cite magazine |last=Roland |first=Tom |date=October 23, 2010 |title=Princess Superstar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xGl78gyjknMC&pg=RA3-PA21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207172232/https://books.google.com/books?id=xGl78gyjknMC&pg=RA3-PA21 |archive-date=February 7, 2023 |access-date=September 18, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |page=21 |volume=122 |issue=39}} To promote the single and the album, she embarked on a six-month radio tour, continuing through the end of 2006. "Tim McGraw" peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/hsi|title=Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 24, 2010|archive-date=November 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119211209/https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/hsi/|url-status=live}} On the Hot Country Songs chart, the single reached the top 10 by December 2006{{Cite magazine |last=Jessen |first=Wade |date=December 16, 2006 |title=Swift Makes News; Flatts Makes History |magazine=Billboard |page=55 |volume=118 |issue=50 |id={{ProQuest|227227280}}}} and peaked at number six in January 2007.{{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=January 24, 2010|archive-date=November 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117170111/https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/csi/|url-status=live}}

File:Swift, Taylor (2007).jpg in 2007. To promote her first album, Swift opened tours for other country musicians in 2007–2008.{{cite web|last=Rosa|first=Christopher|url=https://www.vh1.com/news/y6er24/opening-acts-bigger-than-headliner|title=Opening Acts Who Became Bigger Than The Headliner|website=VH1|date=March 24, 2015|access-date=November 11, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151110191727/http://www.vh1.com/news/5861/opening-acts-bigger-than-headliner/|archive-date=November 10, 2015}}]]

Big Machine released Taylor Swift on October 24, 2006.{{Sfn|Spencer|2010|p=29}} Swift designed doodle graphics for the album packaging.{{cite AV media notes |title=Taylor Swift |year=2006 |type=album booklet |publisher=Big Machine Records |id=BMR120702 |last=Swift |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Swift}} In the liner notes, Swift included hints at the subjects of her songs: in the lyrics to each track, she capitalized certain syllables that would spell out the message;{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2008/02/04/taylor-swift-date-grammy/|title=Taylor Swift: Date with Grammy?|first=Chris|last=Willman|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=February 4, 2008|access-date=February 27, 2020|archive-date=December 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212000047/https://ew.com/article/2008/02/04/taylor-swift-date-grammy/|url-status=live}} she was inspired by the Beatles' practice of hiding secret messages in their records.{{cite news |last=Mansfield |first=Brian |author-link=Brian Mansfield |date=November 21, 2006 |title=On the Verge: Taylor Swift, Teen Hops On Back of 'Tim McGraw' |newspaper=USA Today |page=D.5 |id={{ProQuest|409044861}}}} On the day of the album's release, Swift performed live on Good Morning America and The Megan Mullally Show.{{cite web |date=October 18, 2006 |title=Taylor Swift Joins Rascal Flatts Tour |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1543489/taylor-swift-joins-rascal-flatts-tour.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623061511/http://www.cmt.com/news/1543489/taylor-swift-joins-rascal-flatts-tour/ |archive-date=June 23, 2018 |access-date=March 11, 2010 |publisher=CMT}} She performed on America's Got Talent{{cite web |date=August 20, 2007 |title=Taylor Swift Will Sing on America's Got Talent |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1567495/taylor-swift-will-sing-on-americas-got-talent.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811054944/http://www.cmt.com/news/1567495/taylor-swift-will-sing-on-americas-got-talent/ |archive-date=August 11, 2017 |access-date=March 11, 2010 |publisher=CMT}} and Total Request Live{{cite web |date=November 16, 2008 |title=Video: TRL Embraced Me for Who I Am |url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/318549/trl-embraced-me-for-who-i-am.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904191914/http://www.mtv.com/video-clips/mr98c3/trl-embraced-me-for-who-i-am |archive-date=September 4, 2018 |access-date=March 11, 2010 |publisher=MTV}} and opened tours for other country musicians, including Rascal Flatts in October–November 2006, George Strait in January–March 2007,{{cite web |date=November 17, 2006 |title=Taylor Swift Joins George Straits 2007 Tour |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1546137/taylor-swift-joins-george-straits-2007-tour.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729171151/http://www.cmt.com/news/1546137/taylor-swift-joins-george-straits-2007-tour/ |archive-date=July 29, 2018 |access-date=March 11, 2010 |publisher=CMT}} Brad Paisley in April–November 2007,{{cite web |date=March 19, 2007 |title=Brad Paisley Announces More Tour Dates |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1555074/brad-paisley-announces-more-tour-dates.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013093235/http://www.cmt.com/news/1555074/brad-paisley-announces-more-tour-dates/ |archive-date=October 13, 2018 |access-date=March 11, 2010 |publisher=CMT}} and Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in July 2007.{{cite web |date=June 1, 2007 |title=Taylor Swift Joins Tim McGraw, Faith Hill on Tour |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1561014/taylor-swift-joins-tim-mcgraw-faith-hill-on-tour.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120525193624/http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1561014/taylor-swift-joins-tim-mcgraw-faith-hill-on-tour.jhtml |archive-date=May 25, 2012 |access-date=March 11, 2010 |publisher=CMT}}

Taylor Swift was reissued several times between 2006 and 2008, with each edition containing bonus tracks and music videos.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=15}} A deluxe edition was released on November 6, 2007. It contains the three bonus tracks and a recording of Swift's first phone conversation with McGraw. Its DVD accompaniment includes the music videos of "Tim McGraw", "Teardrops on My Guitar", and "Our Song"; behind-the-scenes footage; and a home video.{{cite news |last=Mansfield |first=Brian |author-link=Brian Mansfield |date=October 5, 2007 |title=Taylor Swift Jumps Back In with Three New Songs |newspaper=USA Today |page=E1 |id={{ProQuest|409034242}}}} An "enhanced" edition was released in March 2008, containing the "pop version" of "Teardrops on My Guitar".{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=15}} Swift extensively used her social media profile on Myspace to communicate with her audiences, sharing her daily blogs and song information. Her online marketing strategy boosted the album's popularity among teenagers and young adults, who had been excluded as the target demographics of country music.

Four more singles were released: "Teardrops on My Guitar", "Our Song", "Picture to Burn", and "Should've Said No".{{cite web |last=Malec |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Malec |date=May 2, 2011 |title=Taylor Swift: The Garden in the Machine |url=https://americansongwriter.com/taylor-swift-the-garden-in-the-machine/4/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726222700/https://americansongwriter.com/taylor-swift-the-garden-in-the-machine/4/ |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |access-date=May 2, 2020 |work=American Songwriter |page=4}} "Teardrops on My Guitar" had a crossover release to pop radio;{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=12}} it peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top 10 on four of Billboard's airplay charts: Hot Country Songs, Pop Songs, Adult Pop Songs, and Adult Contemporary,{{Cite magazine |last1=Trust |first1=Gary |last2=Caulfield |first2=Keith |date=January 31, 2009 |title=Fearless Feats |url= |url-access= |access-date= |magazine=Billboard |page=40 |volume=121 |issue=4 |id={{ProQuest|227278627}}}} becoming Swift's first crossover success on the pop charts.{{Cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=2024-02-22 |title=Taylor Swift's 50 Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/top-taylor-swift-songs-top-100-hits/teardrops-on-my-guitar/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |magazine=Billboard |language= |archive-date=January 21, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121074436/https://www.billboard.com/lists/top-taylor-swift-songs-top-100-hits/teardrops-on-my-guitar |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=July 1, 2016 |title=Taylor Swift's Incredible Decade: Marking the 10th Anniversary of Her Billboard Chart Debut |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7423916/taylor-swift-10-year-anniversary-billboard-chart-debut-tim-mcgraw |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419202849/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7423916/taylor-swift-10-year-anniversary-billboard-chart-debut-tim-mcgraw |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |access-date=February 3, 2021 |magazine=Billboard}} "Our Song" and "Should've Said No" reached number one on Hot Country Songs. With "Our Song", Swift became the first female solo country artist to single-handedly write and sing a number-one country song.{{cite web |last=Grigsby |first=Karen |date=December 13, 2019 |title=Happy Birthday, Taylor Swift: 30 Big Moments in Pop Star's Life as She Turns the Big 3-0 |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/12/13/taylor-swift-birthday-turns-30-big-moments-kanye-west/2629578001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821014615/https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/12/13/taylor-swift-birthday-turns-30-big-moments-kanye-west/2629578001/ |archive-date=August 21, 2022 |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=The Tennessean}} From August 2019, Big Machine re-released the Taylor Swift singles on limited-edition vinyl. This was met with backlash from Swift's fans in light of the dispute over the ownership of Swift's album masters, which had been sold by Big Machine to the talent manager Scooter Braun.{{cite web |last=Ramli |first=Sofiana |date=July 11, 2019 |title=Big Machine to Re-Release Taylor Swift's Early Singles on Limited-Edition Vinyl |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/taylor-swift-big-machine-singles-limited-edition-vinyl-2527200 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206004203/https://www.nme.com/news/music/taylor-swift-big-machine-singles-limited-edition-vinyl-2527200 |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |access-date=December 5, 2022 |website=NME}}{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Randy |date=July 10, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift's Former Record Label Draws Criticism For Repackaging Her Catalog |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-taylor-swift-big-machine-scooter-braun-forbes-wealth-20190710-story.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206004203/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-taylor-swift-big-machine-scooter-braun-forbes-wealth-20190710-story.html |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |access-date=December 5, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times}}

Critical reception

= Reviews =

{{Music ratings

| title = Taylor Swift ratings

| MC = 67/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|3.5|5}}

| rev2 = Christgau's Consumer Guide

| rev2score = {{rating-Christgau|cut}}{{cite web|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=taylor+swift|title=Christgau's Consumer Guide: Taylor Swift|website=robertchristgau.com|first=Robert|last=Christgau|authorlink=Robert Christgau|access-date=March 1, 2021|archive-date=April 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405174259/http://robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=taylor+swift|url-status=live}}

| rev3 = Country Weekly

| rev3score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

| rev4 = The Palm Beach Post

| rev4score = A

| rev5 = The Philadelphia Inquirer

| rev5score = {{Rating|3|4}}

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6score = 6.7/10

| rev7 = PopMatters

| rev7score = 6/10

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8score = {{rating|3|5}}

}}

Taylor Swift received generally positive reviews.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/a-brief-history-of-musical-wunderkinds-lorde/|title=A Brief History of Musical Wunderkinds|last=St. Asaph|first=Katherine|date=June 21, 2017|website=Pitchfork|access-date=October 8, 2017|archive-date=October 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009042338/https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/a-brief-history-of-musical-wunderkinds-lorde/|url-status=live}} According to critical consensus, Swift's songwriting used familiar topics but succeeded in sounding original and novel.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=15}} The review aggregate site Metacritic reported five published reviews and assigned the album an aggregated score of 67 out of 100.{{cite web |title=Reviews for Taylor Swift by Taylor Swift |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/taylor-swift/taylor-swift |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830171438/https://www.metacritic.com/music/taylor-swift/taylor-swift |archive-date=August 30, 2022 |access-date=August 30, 2022 |publisher=Metacritic}}

Laura Snapes of The Guardian said that critics were impressed by Swift's "pure yet prematurely wise" portrayals of adolescent feelings;{{Cite news |last=Snapes |first=Laura |date=November 9, 2017 |title=Taylor Swift's reputation: Will Her New Album Silence Her Critics? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/nov/09/taylor-swift-reputation-can-new-album-save-her-name |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328164918/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/nov/09/taylor-swift-reputation-can-new-album-save-her-name |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |access-date=May 11, 2024 |work=The Guardian}} such reviewers include Ken Rosenbaum of The Toledo Blade,{{cite news |last=Rosenbaum |first=Ken |date=November 12, 2006 |title=The Who's 1st Disc In 24 years, Endless Wire, Is a Mixed Bag |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7MwpAAAAIBAJ&pg=6414,3357467 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021115513/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7MwpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=swQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6414,3357467 |archive-date=October 21, 2014 |access-date=March 31, 2010 |work=The Toledo Blade |page=12 |via=Google News Archive}} Nick Cristiano of The Philadelphia Inquirer,{{cite news|title=New Recordings|first=Nick|last=Cristiano|date=November 12, 2006|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|page=H12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74222780/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|access-date=April 8, 2021|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=April 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419202847/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74222780/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|url-status=live}} Jeff Tamarkin of AllMusic,{{cite web |last=Tamarkin |first=Jeff |authorlink=Jeff Tamarkin |title=Taylor Swift by Taylor Swift |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r860523 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018051613/http://www.allmusic.com/album/r860523 |archive-date=October 18, 2010 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |publisher=AllMusic}} and Rolling Stone.{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205103736/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/taylor-swift/albumguide|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/taylor-swift/albumguide|title=Taylor Swift: Album Guide|magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-date=December 5, 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=December 5, 2012}} Several critics, such as Rosebaum, Johnston, and Country Weekly's Chris Neal praised Swift's abilities to convey different emotions that made her songs connect with people of all ages, not just teenagers.{{cite web|url=http://www.countryweekly.com/taylor_swift/reviews/348|title=Taylor Swift Review|last=Neal|first=Chris|date=December 4, 2006|work=Country Weekly|access-date=March 31, 2010|archive-date=July 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722135746/http://www.countryweekly.com/reviews/taylor-swift|url-status=dead}} Tamarkin opined that the lyrical details were sophisticated.

Reception of the album's sound was not as uniformly positive. In a laudatory review, The Palm Beach Post's James Fontaine wrote that Taylor Swift had a musical maturity with catchy melodies that complemented the lyrical sentiments.{{cite news|title=Taylor Swift Shows She's the Real Deal|work=The Palm Beach Post|first=James|last=Fontaine|date=October 30, 2006|page=D6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75334156/the-palm-beach-post/|access-date=April 8, 2021|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=May 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513145755/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75334156/the-palm-beach-post/|url-status=live}} Rosenbaum and The Morning Call{{'s}} Keith Groller praised Swift's vocals,{{cite news |last=Groller |first=Keith |date=January 27, 2007 |title=Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift (Big Machine) [Second Edition] |newspaper=The Morning Call |page=D6 |id={{ProQuest|393303166}}}} and Cristiano complimented the acoustic country sounds for showcasing the "taste and restraint of the singing and writing". Johnston considered Taylor Swift a showcase of Swift's deft musical abilities to create catchy songs from different styles and not just country.

In less complimentary reviews, Tamarkin criticized some unnecessary "gloss" to the songs, and Chrissie Dickinson of the Chicago Tribune deemed Taylor Swift "pleasant enough" but not groundbreaking.{{cite news |last=Dickinson |first=Chrissie |date=November 17, 2006 |title=Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift (Big Machine) |work=Chicago Tribune |page=7.18 |id={{ProQuest|420510413}}}} Writing for PopMatters, Roger Holland argued that Taylor Swift limited Swift's creative outlook to country music despite her "very obvious pop sensibilities".{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/taylor-swift-taylor-swift-2495722616.html|title=Taylor Swift: Taylor Swift|first=Roger|last=Holland|work=PopMatters|date=November 9, 2006|access-date=August 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828135818/https://www.popmatters.com/taylor-swift-taylor-swift-2495722616.html|archive-date=August 28, 2018|url-status=live}} Robert Christgau designated the album with a "cut" ({{rating-Christgau|cut}}), selecting "Tim McGraw" and "Picture to Burn" as highlights.{{NoteTag|In Robert Christgau's rating, a "cut" ({{rating-Christgau|cut}}) means "a good song on an album that isn't worth your time or money".{{cite web|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-cg90/grades-90s.php|title=Key to Icons|first=Robert|last=Christgau|author-link=Robert Christgau|website=robertchristgau.com|access-date=March 1, 2021|archive-date=April 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401060851/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-cg90/grades-90s.php|url-status=live}}}}

= Accolades and reappraisal =

Taylor Swift helped Swift earn a nomination for New Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2007 Academy of Country Music Awards and a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards (2008), and win a Horizon Award at the 2007 Country Music Association Awards.{{cite magazine |last=Boardman |first=Madeline |date=August 25, 2017 |title=Flashback to Taylor Swift's First Album Drop |url=https://ew.com/gallery/taylor-swift-first-album-photos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721012123/http://ew.com/gallery/taylor-swift-first-album-photos/ |archive-date=July 21, 2017 |access-date=August 25, 2017 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}{{cite web |date=February 9, 2008 |title=2008 Grammy Award Winners and Nominees |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/09/arts/music/10grammylist.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703001311/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/09/arts/music/10grammylist.html |archive-date=July 3, 2015 |access-date=November 13, 2012 |work=The New York Times}} The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2008 Academy of Country Music Awards.{{cite web |last1=Vrazel |first1=Jarrod |date=May 19, 2008 |title=2008 Academy of Country Music Awards Winners |url=http://www.acountry.com/2008-academy-of-country-music-awards-winners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707172111/http://www.acountry.com/2008-academy-of-country-music-awards-winners/ |archive-date=July 7, 2015 |access-date=July 7, 2015 |publisher=Academy of Country Music}}

Retrospective reviews have remained generally favorable, praising the album for featuring Swift early songwriting strengths.{{Cite web |last=Hight |first=Jewly |date=2017-11-10 |title=On Her Self-Titled Debut, Taylor Swift Captured the Drama of Teenage Heartbreak |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/11/revisiting-taylor-swifts-debut-album.html |url-access=limited |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Vulture |archive-date=August 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817092333/https://www.vulture.com/2017/11/revisiting-taylor-swifts-debut-album.html |url-status=live }} According to Perone, the songs evoke high-school sentiments while being "general and vague" about the characters' ages, suggesting that they could have been written by someone more experienced in life than the teenage Swift at the time.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|pp=6, 8}} In July 2022, Rolling Stone ranked Taylor Swift at number 32 on its list "100 Best Debut Albums of All Time".{{cite magazine |date=July 1, 2022 |title=100 Best Debut Albums of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-best-debut-albums-of-all-time-143608/taylor-swift-taylor-swift-2006-1376589/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701152630/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-best-debut-albums-of-all-time-143608/taylor-swift-taylor-swift-2006-1376589/ |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |access-date=July 1, 2022}}

Commercial performance

In the United States, Taylor Swift debuted at number 19 on the Billboard 200 chart dated November 11, 2006, with first-week sales of 40,000.{{cite magazine |last=Hasty |first=Katie |date=November 1, 2006 |title=Hannah Montana Trumps My Chem, Legend At No. 1 |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/56784/hannah-montana-trumps-my-chem-legend-at-no-1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523081237/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/56784/hannah-montana-trumps-my-chem-legend-at-no-1 |archive-date=May 23, 2013 |access-date=February 21, 2010 |magazine=Billboard}} The album kept selling at a fairly consistent pace, contrary to the norm that albums would gradually drop in sales; it had sold one million copies by November 2007{{cite web |last=Guerra |first=Joey |date=November 3, 2007 |title=Swift Known For Sweet Sound, But There's More to Her |url=https://www.chron.com/entertainment/music/article/Swift-known-for-sweet-sound-but-there-s-more-to-1622345.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925142434/https://www.chron.com/entertainment/music/article/Swift-known-for-sweet-sound-but-there-s-more-to-1622345.php |archive-date=September 25, 2019 |access-date=February 21, 2020 |work=Houston Chronicle}} and reached its peak at number five on the Billboard 200 chart dated January 19, 2008.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046867/radiohead-nudges-blige-from-atop-album-chart|title=Radiohead Nudges Blige From Atop Album Chart|last=Cohen|first=Jonathan|date=January 9, 2008|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 21, 2010|archive-date=February 12, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212015339/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046867/radiohead-nudges-blige-from-atop-album-chart|url-status=live}} By October 2009, Taylor Swift had become the longest-charting album released in the 2000s decade after spending 157 weeks on the chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/266889/chart-beat-thursday-taylor-swift-tim-mcgraw-linked-again|title=Chart Beat Thursday: Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw Linked Again|date=October 29, 2009|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 12, 2019|first=Gary|last=Trust|archive-date=June 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626194521/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/266889/chart-beat-thursday-taylor-swift-tim-mcgraw-linked-again|url-status=live}} On Top Country Albums, it spent 24 nonconsecutive weeks at number one.{{cite web |date=July 26, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift Bumps Herself Out of No. 1 Slot |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1591603/taylor-swift-bumps-herself-out-of-no-1-slot.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819050922/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1591603/taylor-swift-bumps-herself-out-of-no-1-slot.jhtml |archive-date=August 19, 2010 |access-date=January 9, 2010 |publisher=CMT}} The Recording Industry Association of America, in December 2017, certified Taylor Swift seven-times platinum for accumulating seven million album-equivalent units, and it had sold 5.871 million copies by January 2024.{{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 }} It made Swift the first female solo country artist to write or co-write every song on a platinum–certified debut album.{{cite web |title=Taylor Swift |url=https://www.songhall.org/awards/winner/taylor_swift |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212003228/https://www.songhall.org/awards/winner/taylor_swift |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |access-date=February 27, 2021 |publisher=Songwriters Hall of Fame}}

Taylor Swift peaked at number 14 in Canada and charted in several European markets, appearing on some charts years after its initial release. It peaked at numbers 81 in the United Kingdom, 59 in Ireland, 49 in Austria, 33 in Portugal, and 2 in Greece. In Asia–Pacific, the album peaked at numbers 33 in Australia, 38 in New Zealand, and 53 in Japan. Taylor Swift was certified platinum in Canada and New Zealand, double platinum in Australia, and gold in Singapore and the United Kingdom.

Impact

{{quote box

| quoted = 1

| quote = Ms. Swift ... has quickly established herself as the most remarkable country music breakthrough artist of the decade. [...] She has aggressively used online social networks to stay connected with her young audience in a way that ... is proving to be revolutionary in country music, ... helping country reach a new audience.

| source = — Jon Caramanica, The New York Times (2008)

| width = 25em

| align = right

| style = padding:8px;

| border = 1px

}}

When Taylor Swift was released, country music was welcoming a surge of young female artists. While Swift was part of this trend, her themes of adolescence and youth were considered novel for country music's middle-aged target demographic.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/7430895/taylor-swift-music-career-ten-years-impact-country|title=Love Story: The Impact of Taylor Swift's First Decade in Music|first=Tom|last=Roland|magazine=Billboard|date=July 7, 2016|access-date=July 7, 2016|url-access=subscription|archive-date=July 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714142858/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/7430895/taylor-swift-music-career-ten-years-impact-country|url-status=live}} Her album was met with doubts from Nashville music industry executives but its commercial success on country radio established her as one of the few successful female artists in a radio format traditionally dominated by male musicians. Its success helped the newly formed Big Machine Records sign Garth Brooks and Jewel to their artists cohort.

Although there were disagreements over her identity as a country artist,{{sfn|McNutt|2020|p=77}} according to Rolling Stone, following the Dixie Chicks controversy in 2003 that left "a huge space opened up in the heart of the country audience", Swift "has completely filled it" with a country style that was as "rock-informed" as "teen-poppy". Swift's songs detailing her personal experiences and her online marketing via Myspace resonated with teenagers—a demographic that had been neglected as a target audience in country music. This broad relatability contributed to her popularity on both country and pop radio.{{cite news |last=Caramanica |first=Jon |authorlink=Jon Caramanica |date=November 9, 2008 |title=My Music, MySpace, My Life |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/arts/music/09cara.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108213744/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/arts/music/09cara.html |archive-date=January 8, 2024 |access-date=October 1, 2024 |newspaper=The New York Times}}

Many of Taylor Swift's aspects set the blueprint for Swift's later albums—the country-pop sound,{{sfn|McNutt|2020|p=77}}{{cite magazine |last=Tannenbaum |first=Rob |date=December 9, 2014 |title=4 Ways Billboard Woman of the Year Taylor Swift Changed Country Music |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6386008/how-billboard-woman-of-the-year-taylor-swift-changed-country-music |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123012548/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6386008/how-billboard-woman-of-the-year-taylor-swift-changed-country-music |archive-date=January 23, 2021 |access-date=February 27, 2021 |magazine=Billboard}} the autobiographical, confessional songwriting, and the online marketing strategy on social media sites—which helped her cultivate a loyal fan base known as Swifties.{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Randy |date=October 28, 2014 |title=How Does Taylor Swift Connect with Fans? 'Secret Sessions' and Media Blitzes |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-taylor-swift-1989-secret-sessions-fans-20141028-story.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015141/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-taylor-swift-1989-secret-sessions-fans-20141028-story.html |archive-date=February 7, 2019 |access-date=February 5, 2019 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}} Besides shaping Swift's artistry, the confessional songs about unrequited love and heartbreak inspired a subsequent generation of singer-songwriters such as Conan Gray and Olivia Rodrigo.{{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/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328011127/https://consequence.net/2021/11/taylor-swift-albums-ranked-list/ |archive-date=March 28, 2022 |access-date=November 10, 2021 |website=Consequence}} Taylor Swift also contributed to the popularity of a modernized country-pop sound; Rolling Stone thought that the album showcased "complete mastery of a genre [that Swift] was also completely transforming".

Track listing

All tracks are produced by Nathan Chapman, except where noted.

{{Track listing

| headline = Taylor Swift standard track listing

| total_length = 40:28

| title1 = Tim McGraw

| writer1 = {{hlist|Taylor Swift|Liz Rose}}

| length1 = 3:54

| title2 = Picture to Burn

| writer2 = {{hlist|Swift|Rose}}

| length2 = 2:55

| title3 = Teardrops on My Guitar

| writer3 = {{hlist|Swift|Rose}}

| length3 = 3:35

| title4 = A Place in This World

| writer4 = {{hlist|Swift|Robert Ellis Orrall|Angelo Petraglia}}

| length4 = 3:22

| title5 = Cold as You

| writer5 = {{hlist|Swift|Rose}}

| length5 = 4:01

| title6 = The Outside

| note6 = {{hlist|class=inline|Orrall|Chapman{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| writer6 = Swift

| length6 = 3:29

| title7 = Tied Together with a Smile

| writer7 = {{hlist|Swift|Rose}}

| length7 = 4:11

| title8 = Stay Beautiful

| writer8 = {{hlist|Swift|Rose}}

| length8 = 3:58

| title9 = Should've Said No

| writer9 = Swift

| length9 = 4:04

| title10 = Mary's Song (Oh My My My)

| writer10 = {{hlist|Swift|Rose|Brian Maher}}

| length10 = 3:35

| title11 = Our Song

| writer11 = Swift

| length11 = 3:24

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Deluxe edition bonus tracks

| total_length = 55:55

| title12 = I'm Only Me When I'm with You

| writer12 = {{hlist|Swift|Orrall|Petraglia}}

| length12 = 3:35

| note12 = {{hlist|class=inline|Orrall|Petraglia}}

| title13 = Invisible

| writer13 = {{hlist|Swift|Orrall}}

| length13 = 3:26

| note13 = Orrall

| title14 = A Perfectly Good Heart

| writer14 = {{hlist|Swift|Brett James|Troy Verges}}

| length14 = 3:42

| note14 = {{hlist|class=inline|James|Verges}}

| title15 = Taylor Swift's 1st Phone Call with Tim McGraw

| length15 = 4:44

}}

{{track listing

| headline = 2008 reissue deluxe edition bonus track

| title15 = Teardrops on My Guitar

| note15 = pop version

| writer15 = {{hlist|Swift|Rose}}

| length15 = 2:58

| total_length = 54:09

}}

= Notes =

  • {{small|{{note|a|a}}}} signifies an additional producer
  • The deluxe edition contains a bonus DVD disc, featuring more than one hour of video content. A special deluxe edition, released at Target, contains an extended DVD content.{{cite AV media notes|title=Taylor Swift|last=Swift|first=Taylor|author-link=Taylor Swift|edition=deluxe|year=2006|publisher=Big Machine Records|id=BMR022702}}

Personnel

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}

{{div col end}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

= Weekly charts =

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

|+ 2006–2009 weekly chart performance of Taylor Swift

! scope="col"| Chart (2006–2009)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{album chart|BillboardCanada|14|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=November 21, 2017|refname=BillboardCanada}}
{{album chart|Scotland|64|date=20090906|rowheader=true|access-date=August 1, 2020}}
{{album chart|UK2|81|date=20090906|rowheader=true|access-date=November 18, 2017|refname=uk}}
{{album chart|UKCountry|1|date=20090222|rowheader=true|access-date=July 10, 2023}}
{{album chart|Billboard200|5|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=November 21, 2017|refname=billboardus}}
{{album chart|BillboardCountry|1|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=November 21, 2017|refname=countryus}}

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

|+ 2010–2015 weekly chart performance of Taylor Swift

! scope="col"| Chart (2010–2015)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{album chart|Australia|33|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=November 18, 2017|refname=auschart}}
scope="row"| Australian Country Albums (ARIA){{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108200049/http://www.ariacharts.com.au/chart/country-albums/329|url=http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_country.asp?chart=1F20|title=ARIA 20 Country Chart|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|archive-date=November 8, 2012|access-date=November 8, 2012|url-status=dead}}

| 2

scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/441127/rank/album/|script-title=ja:テイラー・スウィフトのアルバム売上ランキング|trans-title=Taylor Swift's albums rankings|language=ja|publisher=Oricon|access-date=March 3, 2021|archive-date=October 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013161557/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/441127/rank/album/|url-status=live}}

| 53

{{album chart|New Zealand|38|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=November 17, 2012|refname="new zealand"}}
{{album chart|Ireland2|59|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=November 18, 2017|refname="ireland"}}

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

|+ 2021–2024 weekly chart performance of Taylor Swift

! scope="col"| Chart (2021–2024)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

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|work=Diario de Cultura|language=es-ar|publisher=Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906230848/https://www.diariodecultura.com.ar/rankings/los-discos-mas-vendidos-de-la-semana-3/|archive-date=September 6, 2021|access-date=September 8, 2021}}

| 10

{{album chart|Austria|49|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=August 20, 2024|refname="Austria"}}
scope="row"| Croatian International Albums (HDU){{cite web |url=https://www.top-lista.hr/www/lista-prodaje-strano-25-tjedan-2024/|title=Lista prodaje 25. tjedan 2024.|date=June 10, 2024|publisher=HDU |language=hr|access-date=June 29, 2024|archive-date=June 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629090358/https://www.top-lista.hr/www/lista-prodaje-strano-25-tjedan-2024/|url-status=dead}}

| 17

scope="row"| Greek Albums (IFPI){{cite web|url=https://www.ifpi.gr/charts_el.html|title=Top-75 Albums Sales Chart – Week 44/2023|language=el|publisher=IFPI Greece|access-date=November 1, 2023|archive-date=November 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113075223/https://www.ifpi.gr/charts_el.html|url-status=dead}}

| 2

scope="row"| Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ){{cite web |title=Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2024. 34. hét |url=https://slagerlistak.hu/album-top-40-slagerlista-fizikai-hanghordozok/2024/34 |publisher=MAHASZ |access-date=August 28, 2024 |archive-date=August 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828055049/https://slagerlistak.hu/album-top-40-slagerlista-fizikai-hanghordozok/2024/34 |url-status=live }}

| 31

{{album chart|Portugal|33|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=September 11, 2023|refname="Portugal"}}
{{album chart|Scotland|17|date=20240712|rowheader=true|access-date=July 13, 2024|refname="scotland"}}
scope="row"| Swedish Physical Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://sverigetopplistan.se/chart/234/?dspy=2024&dspp=21|title=Veckolista Album Fysiskt, vecka 21|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|access-date=May 24, 2024|archive-date=May 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524115426/https://sverigetopplistan.se/chart/234/?dspy=2024&dspp=21|url-status=live}}

| 20

{{album chart|BillboardIndependent|21|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=August 28, 2023}}

{{col-2}}

= Year-end charts =

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

|+Year-end charts for Taylor Swift

! Chart

! Position

scope="row"| US Billboard 200 (2007){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/top-billboard-200-albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 13, 2020|title=Billboard 200 Albums Year-end charts 2007|date=January 2, 2013|archive-date=October 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001122709/http://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums|url-status=live}}

| 19

scope="row"| US Billboard 200 (2008){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-billboard-200-albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 12, 2017|title=Billboard 200 Albums Year-end charts 2008|date=January 2, 2013|archive-date=January 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116042211/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-billboard-200-albums|url-status=live}}

| 5

scope="row"| US Billboard 200 (2009){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/the-billboard-200|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 12, 2010|title=Best of 2009 – The Billboard 200|archive-date=April 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404094221/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/the-billboard-200|url-status=live}}

| 24

scope="row"| US Billboard 200 (2010){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/the-billboard-200|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 21, 2025|title=Best of 2010 – The Billboard 200|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429162519/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/the-billboard-200|archive-date=April 29, 2014|url-status=dead}}

| 62

scope="row"|US Billboard 200 (2011){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/the-billboard-200|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 12, 2010|title=Best of 2011 – The Billboard 200|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=live}}

| 164

scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (2007){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/top-country-albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 12, 2010|title=Best of 2007 – The Billboard Country Albums|archive-date=November 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131119110100/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/top-country-albums|url-status=live}}

| 3

scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (2008){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-country-albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 12, 2010|title=Best of 2008 – The Billboard Country Albums|archive-date=October 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018123256/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-country-albums|url-status=live}}

| 2

scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (2009){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/top-country-albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 12, 2010|title=Best of 2009 – The Billboard Country Albums|archive-date=June 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611053941/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/top-country-albums|url-status=live}}

| 6

scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (2010){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/top-country-albums?begin=11&order=position|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 12, 2010|title=Best of 2010 – The Billboard Country Albums|archive-date=July 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705182134/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/top-country-albums?begin=11&order=position|url-status=live}}

| 19

scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (2023){{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}}

| 41

scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (2024){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/top-country-albums/|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 23, 2024|archive-date=December 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213172542/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/top-country-albums/|url-status=live}}

| 60

scope="row"| US Independent Albums (2023){{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}}

| 45

scope="row"| Australian Country Albums (2024){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2024/country-albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 50 Country Albums for 2024|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=January 14, 2025|archive-date=January 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250113134146/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2024/country-albums-chart|url-status=live}}

| 16

= Decade-end charts =

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

|+2000s decade-end charts for Taylor Swift

! scope="col"| Chart (2000–2009)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EX4yD1pJCxUC&pg=RA163|title=The Decade in Music: Top 200 Billboard Albums|magazine=Billboard|page=163|date=October 3, 2009|volume=112|issue=39|access-date=July 15, 2019|archive-date=March 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301053159/https://books.google.com/books?id=EX4yD1pJCxUC&pg=RA163|url-status=live}}

| 53

scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)

| 9

= All-time charts =

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

|+ All-time charts for Taylor Swift

! Chart

! Position

scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{NoteTag|Compiled by Billboard for albums that charted during 1963–2015{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums|title=Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums : Page 1|magazine=Billboard|date=November 12, 2015|access-date=May 13, 2020|archive-date=October 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001122709/http://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/adele-the-beatles-billboard-200-albums-artists-all-time/|title=Greatest Billboard 200 Albums & Artists of All Time: Adele's 21 & The Beatles Are Tops|magazine=Billboard|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=November 12, 2015|access-date=June 16, 2023|url-access=subscription|archive-date=June 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609205250/https://www.billboard.com/pro/adele-the-beatles-billboard-200-albums-artists-all-time/|url-status=live}}}}

| 18

scope="row"| US Billboard 200 (Women){{NoteTag|Compiled by Billboard for albums that charted during 1963–2017{{cite magazine|title=Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums By Women|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums-by-women|magazine=Billboard|date=November 30, 2017|access-date=July 13, 2020|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}}}}

| 9

scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{NoteTag|Compiled by Billboard for albums that charted during 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}}}}

| 3

{{col-end}}

Certifications and sales

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

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=2006|certyear=2023|access-date=October 27, 2023|refname="auscerti12"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|award=Platinum|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Taylor Swift|relyear=2006|access-date=June 28, 2020|refname="cria"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|relyear=2006|title=Taylor Swift|artist=Taylor Swift|type=album|award=Platinum|source=radioscope|certyear=2023|access-date=2024-12-17|refname="RMNZ"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Singapore|type=album|award=Gold|certyear=2021|access-date=January 23, 2023|refname="Singapore"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|award=Gold|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Taylor Swift|relyear=2006|certyear=2013|id=8586-1598-2|access-date=July 25, 2016|refname="bpi"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|award=Platinum|number=7|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Taylor Swift|relyear=2006|certyear=2018|access-date=May 5, 2019|salesamount=7,000,000|salesref=|refname="riaa"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release formats for Taylor Swift

! scope="col" | Initial release date

! scope="col" | Edition(s)

! scope="col" | Format(s)

! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row" | October 24, 2006

| Standard

| {{hlist|CD|digital download}}

| style="text-align:center;"| {{Sfn|Spencer|2010|p=29}}

scope="row" | November 6, 2007

| Deluxe

|CD+DVD

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

scope="row" | March 18, 2008

| Deluxe (Enhanced)

| {{hlist|CD|digital download|vinyl LP}}

| style="text-align:center;"|Citations for Taylor Swift 2008 deluxe CD releases:

  • {{cite web|url=https://www.sanity.com.au/products/2116169/Taylor-Swift|title=Taylor Swift CD|publisher=Sanity|access-date=February 20, 2020|archive-date=August 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815055933/https://www.sanity.com.au/products/2116169/Taylor-Swift|url-status=live}}
  • {{cite web|url=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taylor-swift-taylor-swift/11583588?ean=0843930000791|title=Taylor Swift (Bonus Tracks)|publisher=Barnes and Noble|access-date=February 20, 2020|archive-date=October 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020105448/https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taylor-swift-taylor-swift/11583588?ean=0843930000791|url-status=live}}
  • {{cite web|url=https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/poprock/detail/-/art/Taylor-Swift-Taylor-swift/hnum/3470258|title=Taylor Swift: Taylor Swift|publisher=JPC|language=de|access-date=March 3, 2021|archive-date=December 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202030129/https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/poprock/detail/-/art/Taylor-Swift-Taylor-swift/hnum/3470258|url-status=live}}
  • {{cite web|url=https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/taylor-swift/0602517874695.html|title=Taylor Swift: Taylor Swift|publisher=WHSmith|access-date=March 3, 2021|archive-date=August 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810224253/https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/taylor-swift/0602517874695.html|url-status=live}}Citations for Taylor Swift vinyl releases:
  • {{cite web|url=https://www.walmart.com/ip/Taylor-Swift-Taylor-Swift-Vinyl/55907336|title=Taylor Swift – Vinyl|publisher=Walmart|access-date=March 3, 2021|archive-date=April 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416215707/https://www.walmart.com/ip/Taylor-Swift-Taylor-Swift-Vinyl/55907336|url-status=live}}
  • {{cite web|url=https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/poprock/detail/-/art/taylor-swift-taylor-swift/hnum/2509711|title=Taylor Swift: Taylor Swift (2 LPs)|publisher=JPC|language=de|access-date=March 3, 2021|archive-date=April 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419202834/https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/poprock/detail/-/art/taylor-swift-taylor-swift/hnum/2509711|url-status=live}}

Footnotes

{{NoteFoot}}

References

= Citations =

{{Reflist}}

= Cited sources =

  • {{cite journal |last=McNutt |first=Myles |year=2020 |title=From 'Mine' to 'Ours': Gendered Hierarchies of Authorship and the Limits of Taylor Swift's Paratextual Feminism |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 |pages=6–19 |chapter=The Early Years |isbn=978-1-4408-5294-7 |year=2017}}
  • {{cite book |first=Liv |last=Spencer |title=Taylor Swift: Every Day Is a Fairytale – The Unofficial Story |publisher=ECW Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-55022-931-8}}
  • {{cite book |last=Zaleski |first=Annie |author-link=Annie Zaleski |title=Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind the Songs |year=2024 |publisher=Thunder Bay Press |isbn=978-1-6672-0845-9 |pages=7–26 |chapter=The Debut Era}}

{{good article}}

{{Taylor Swift}}

{{authority control}}

Category:2006 debut albums

Category:Big Machine Records albums

Category:Taylor Swift albums

Category:Albums produced by Nathan Chapman (record producer)

Category:Country albums by American artists