White Horse (Taylor Swift song)
{{Short description|2008 single by Taylor Swift}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = White Horse
| cover = Taylor Swift - White Horse.png
| alt = Cover artwork of "White Horse" showing Taylor Swift with blonde curly hair behind a solid white background
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Taylor Swift
| album = Fearless
| released = {{Start date|2008|12|8}}
| studio = Fool on the Hill Studios (Nashville, TN)
| genre = Country pop
| length = 3:54
| label = Big Machine
| writer = * Taylor Swift
| producer = * Taylor Swift
| prev_title = Love Story
| prev_year = 2008
| next_title = You Belong with Me
| next_year = 2009
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|D1Xr-JFLxik|"White Horse"}}}}
}}
"White Horse" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the second single from her second studio album, Fearless (2008). Big Machine Records released the track to US country radio on December 8, 2008. Swift wrote "White Horse" with Liz Rose and produced it with Nathan Chapman. An understated country pop ballad, the song is driven by a finger-picked guitar and includes piano and cello accents. The lyrics incorporate fairy-tale imagery of princesses and white horses: the narrator is heartbroken upon realizing that her boyfriend is not an ideal figure like she thought, and in the end she leaves her town with hopes of finding somebody more worthy.
Music critics lauded "White Horse" for what they deemed a somber production and a portrayal of universal feelings arising from heartbreak, but some found the lyrics uncreative. At the 2010 Grammy Awards, the track won Best Country Song and Best Female Country Vocal Performance. In the United States, the single peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Hot Country Songs chart, and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it double platinum. The song also charted in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom; it received certifications in the first two countries.
Trey Fanjoy directed the song's music video, which depicts Swift reliving memories with her ex-boyfriend and her discovery of his infidelity after having ended their relationship through a phone call. The video premiered on February 7, 2009, on CMT, and it became the first video to debut at number one on the network's countdown. Swift performed "White Horse" live at the 2008 American Music Awards, on her Fearless Tour (2009–2010), and on certain dates of her later tours. Following the 2019 dispute regarding the ownership of Swift's back catalog, she re-recorded the song as "White Horse (Taylor's Version)" for her 2021 re-recorded album Fearless (Taylor's Version).
Background and writing
Taylor Swift wrote songs for her second studio album, Fearless, while touring as an opening act for other country musicians to promote her first album Taylor Swift during 2007–2008, when she was 17–18 years old.{{cite web |last=Kawashima |first=Dale |date=February 16, 2007 |title=Special Interview (2007): Taylor Swift Discusses Her Debut Album, Early Hits, and How She Got Started |url=http://www.songwriteruniverse.com/taylorswift123.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324060932/http://www.songwriteruniverse.com/taylorswift123.htm |archive-date=March 24, 2016 |access-date=December 17, 2010 |website=Songwriter Universe}}{{cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=Ken |author-link=Ken Tucker |date=March 26, 2008 |title=The Billboard Q&A: Taylor Swift |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046063/the-billboard-qa-taylor-swift |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705032846/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046063/the-billboard-qa-taylor-swift |archive-date=July 5, 2013 |access-date=June 21, 2011}} Continuing the romantic themes of her first album, Swift wrote songs about love and personal experiences from the perspective of a teenage girl to ensure her fans could relate to Fearless. She said that nearly every album track had a "face" that she associated with it.{{cite web |last=Graff |first=Gary |date=March 26, 2010 |title=Living Fearless Taylor Swift Talks About Her Whirlwind Rise to the Top |url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/03/26/entertainment/doc4baba3395e3ef490410773.txt?viewmode=default |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716215636/http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/03/26/entertainment/doc4baba3395e3ef490410773.txt?viewmode=default |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |access-date=July 1, 2011 |work=The Oakland Press}} The end product is a collection of songs about the challenges of love with prominent high-school and fairy-tale lyrical imagery.{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=20}} Swift and the producer Nathan Chapman recorded more than 50 songs for Fearless, and "White Horse" was one of the 13 tracks that made the final cut.{{cite magazine |last=Ganz |first=Caryn |date=October 2, 2008 |title=Fall Music Preview: Taylor Swift's Fearless |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/fall-music-preview-taylor-swifts-fearless-242318/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=February 9, 2022 |url-access=limited |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209073750/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/fall-music-preview-taylor-swifts-fearless-242318/ |url-status=live }} Recorded by the engineer Chad Carlson, "White Horse" was produced by Swift and Chapman. Justin Niebank, assisted by Steve Blackmon, mixed it at Blackbird Studio in Nashville.{{cite AV media notes |title=Fearless |year=2008 |publisher=Big Machine Records |type=CD liner notes |last=Swift |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Swift}}
According to a note published in the liner notes of Swift's 2019 album Lover, part of the lyrics to "White Horse" dated from December 2006.{{cite AV media notes|last=Swift|first=Taylor|author-link=Taylor Swift|date=August 23, 2019|title=Lover Deluxe|edition=2nd}} She wrote the first verse by herself, and Liz Rose helped her complete the song in 45 minutes.{{cite journal |last=Conaway |first=Alanna |date=June 1, 2009 |title=Story Behind the Song: 'Love Story'—Chapter 2 |journal=Country Weekly |volume=16 |issue=16 |pages=21}} Swift completed writing "White Horse" weeks after she finished the lead single "Love Story", almost one year before the release of Fearless.{{cite episode |title=On the Set Behind the Scenes 'White Horse' |minutes=22:00 |series=Taylor Swift: On the Set |network=Great American Country}} Swift said she was inspired to write "White Horse" by the moment she realized all the fantasies she had about a boy turned out completely false.{{Sfn|Spencer|2010|p=66}} The subject was also the inspiration for "Love Story"{{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/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=February 21, 2021 |url-access=limited |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 }}—Swift never dated him and, although initially infatuated with him, realized he was not an ideal Prince Charming like she thought. She told The Daily Telegraph that she kept his identity anonymous so as to "not glorify his inspirational qualities".{{Cite news |last=Wasley |first=Alice |date=March 6, 2009 |title=Country Girl Remains Close to Her Roots |page=36 |work=The Daily Telegraph |id={{ProQuest|360001683}}}} Whereas both "Love Story" and "White Horse" feature prominent fairy-tale lyrical imagery, Swift said it was important to regard fairy tales with "both sides"; the former song represented her optimistic and idealistic viewpoint on romance, and the latter her disillusionment with the said notion.{{cite web |last=Roznovsky |first=Lindsey |date=November 10, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift's Fascination with Fairy Tales Comes Through on New Album |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1599049/taylor-swifts-fascination-with-fairy-tales-comes-through-on-new-album.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020233804/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1599049/taylor-swifts-fascination-with-fairy-tales-comes-through-on-new-album.jhtml |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |access-date=February 13, 2011 |publisher=CMT News}}
Release
Swift intended to leave "White Horse" off Fearless because she felt the album already had a fair share of sad songs.{{Sfn|Spencer|2010|p=66}} She changed the decision when the producers of Grey's Anatomy wanted to feature the song in the series.{{Sfn|Spencer|2010|p=67}} Swift recalled that at a meeting set up by her agency with the show's executive producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers, she played "White Horse" alone on guitar and they "freaked out".{{cite web |last=Swift |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Swift |title=Cut By But |url=http://www.bigmachinerecords.com/taylorswift/index.cfm?id=110 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725202904/http://www.bigmachinerecords.com/taylorswift/index.cfm?id=110 |archive-date=July 25, 2010 |access-date=March 12, 2010 |publisher=Big Machine Records}} The song appeared on the premiere of season five, broadcast on September 25, 2008.{{Cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=Ken |author-link=Ken Tucker |date=2008-09-22 |title=Swift Lands New Song on Grey's Anatomy |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/swift-lands-new-song-on-greys-anatomy-1044016/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=April 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417090356/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/swift-lands-new-song-on-greys-anatomy-1044016/ |url-status=live }} Swift was elated by the feature and said it was her "life goal" to have her song on Grey's Anatomy, one of her favorite series.{{Cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=Ken |author-link=Ken Tucker |date=October 25, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift Goes Global |magazine=Billboard |volume=120 |issue=43 |pages=22–25 |id={{ProQuest|227230140}}}}
"White Horse" was released as an album cut on Fearless, on November 11, 2008, by Big Machine Records.{{sfn|Spencer|2010|p=58}} On December 8, Big Machine released the song to US country radio as the second single from the album.{{cite news |date=November 24, 2008 |title=Country Aircheck Chart Info |page=11 |work=Country Aircheck |issue=117 |url=http://www.countryaircheck.com/pdf_publication/Issue_117%20-%20November%2024,%202008.pdf |access-date=August 27, 2021 |archive-date=August 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828062701/http://www.countryaircheck.com/pdf_publication/Issue_117%20-%20November%2024,%202008.pdf |url-status=live }} In the United States, "White Horse" debuted and peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart week ending November 29, 2008.{{cite magazine |last=Cohen |first=Jonathan |date=November 20, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift Notches Six Hot 100 Debuts |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1043448/taylor-swift-notches-six-hot-100-debuts |url-status=dead |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912011313/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1043448/taylor-swift-notches-six-hot-100-debuts |archive-date=September 12, 2014 |access-date=July 28, 2010}} It gave Swift her sixth top-20 debut in 2008,{{Cite news |date=November 20, 2008 |title=Swift and Archuleta Lead Pop Chart for Album Sales |page=B6 |work=Windsor Star}} which broke the record for the most top-20 debuts in a calendar year by an artist.{{Cite news |last=Keel |first=Beverly |date=November 20, 2008 |title=Swift's Album Joins All-Genre Chart at No. 1 |work=The Tennessean |id={{ProQuest|239922867}}}} On Hot Country Songs, the single peaked at number two on the chart week ending April 4, 2009. It was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2014 and had sold two million digital copies in the United States by 2017.{{cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=November 26, 2017 |title=Ask Billboard: Taylor Swift's Career Album & Song Sales |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8046939/taylor-swift-career-album-song-sales-ask-billboard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125002923/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8046939/taylor-swift-career-album-song-sales-ask-billboard |archive-date=November 25, 2018 |access-date=November 26, 2017 |magazine=Billboard}} The single also charted in Australia (41), Canada (43), and the United Kingdom (60). It was certified platinum in Australia and gold in Canada.
="White Horse (Taylor's Version)"=
{{Infobox song
| name = White Horse (Taylor's Version)
| artist = Taylor Swift
| album = Fearless (Taylor's Version)
| recorded =
| studio = {{hlist|Black Bird|Prime Recording}} (Nashville)
| released = {{start date|2021|4|9}}
| genre =
| length = 3:54
| label = Republic
| writer = * Taylor Swift
| producer = * Taylor Swift
| misc = {{External music video|1={{YouTube|9-rKvhsjwKU|"White Horse (Taylor's Version)"}}|header=Lyric video|type=song}}
}}
After signing a new contract with Republic Records, Swift began re-recording her first six studio albums in November 2020.{{cite web |last=Melas |first=Chloe |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Speaks Out about Sale of Her Masters |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/16/entertainment/taylor-swift-masters/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118064935/https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/taylor-swift-speaks-out-about-sale-of-her-masters-1.5191925 |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |access-date=November 19, 2020 |publisher=CNN}} The decision followed a public 2019 dispute between Swift and the talent manager Scooter Braun, who acquired Big Machine Records, including the masters of Swift's albums which the label had released.{{Cite news |date=August 22, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift Wants to Re-Record Her Old Hits |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-49432817 |url-status=live |access-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822202321/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-49432817 |archive-date=August 22, 2019}}{{cite web |last=Finnis |first=Alex |date=November 17, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Masters: The Controversy around Scooter Braun Selling the Rights to Her Old Music Explained |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/taylor-swift-masters-scooter-braun-selling-rights-music-rerecording-row-explained-762411 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212170953/https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/taylor-swift-masters-scooter-braun-selling-rights-music-rerecording-row-explained-762411 |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=i}} By re-recording the albums, Swift had full ownership of the new masters, which enabled her to control the licensing of her songs for commercial use and therefore substituted the Big Machine–owned masters.{{Cite news |last=Shah |first=Neil |date=April 9, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Releases New Fearless Album, Reclaiming Her Back Catalog |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/taylor-swift-releases-new-fearless-album-reclaiming-her-back-catalog-11617945524 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008111731/https://www.wsj.com/articles/taylor-swift-releases-new-fearless-album-reclaiming-her-back-catalog-11617945524 |archive-date=October 8, 2021 |issn=}}
Swift and Christopher Rowe produced the re-recorded track, which was recorded by David Payne at Black Bird and Prime Recording Studios in Nashville. Rowe recorded Swift's lead vocals at her home studio in London, and Serban Ghenea mixed the track at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia. John Hanes engineered the track, and Derek Garten and Lowell Reynolds were credited as additional engineers. Instruments and their corresponding musicians on the re-recording include acoustic guitar (Mike Meadows), bass guitar (Amos Heller), drums (Matt Billingslea), piano (Paul Sidoti), and string (Jonathan Yudkin).{{cite AV media notes |title=Fearless (Taylor's Version) |type=CD liner notes |year=2021 |publisher=Republic Records, an imprint of Universal Music Group |id=B0033578-02 (catalog no.) |last=Swift |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Swift}}
The re-recording of "White Horse", subtitled "Taylor's Version", was released as part of Fearless{{'s}} re-recording, Fearless (Taylor's Version).{{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/ |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314151901/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9524797/taylor-swift-fearless-rerecorded-love-story-release/ |archive-date=March 14, 2021 |access-date=March 7, 2021 }} Swift contacted the singer-songwriters Olivia Rodrigo and Conan Gray to preview a snippet of "White Horse (Taylor's Version)" on their social media on April 8, 2021,{{cite magazine |last=Ginsberg |first=Gab |date=April 8, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Recruits Olivia Rodrigo & Conan Gray to Help Tease Re-Recorded Fearless Songs: Hear Multiple New Snippets |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-olivia-rodrigo-conan-gray-share-clips-fearless-9553262/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 6, 2021 |archive-date=December 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207011315/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-olivia-rodrigo-conan-gray-share-clips-fearless-9553262/ |url-status=live }} one day before Republic Records released Fearless (Taylor's Version).{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=October 22, 2022 |title=How Taylor Swift's Recent Album Releases Tell a Story of the Midnights Rollout |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-first-week-album-sales-streams-compare/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 19, 2023 |archive-date=November 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107142607/https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-first-week-album-sales-streams-compare/ |url-status=live }} "White Horse (Taylor's Version)" charted in Canada (72) and Australia (99), and it peaked at number 111 on the Billboard Global 200. In the United States, the re-recorded song peaked at number two on Bubbling Under Hot 100 and number 29 on Hot Country Songs.
Music and lyrics
{{Listen
| filename = Taylor Swift - White Horse.ogg
| title = "White Horse" (2008)
| description = "White Horse" is a country pop ballad driven by a finger-picked acoustic guitar, piano and cello accents. In the lyrics, a narrator is disillusioned with her notion of a fairy-tale romance.
| pos = left
}}
"White Horse" runs for 3 minutes and 54 seconds. It is a country pop ballad;{{Cite magazine |date=2023-03-16 |title=The 100 Best Taylor Swift Songs: Staff Picks |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-taylor-swift-songs/ |access-date=2023-04-11 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411021029/https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-taylor-swift-songs/ |url-status=live }} Slant Magazine
The co-writer Liz Rose said the song is "every teenage girl's dream song of everything she ever wished from a boy".{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Kelsey |date=April 22, 2021 |title=The Story Of Us: 'White Horse' |url=https://www.gigwise.com/features/3398352/the-story-of-us-white-horse |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Gigwise |archive-date=April 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413142008/https://gigwise.com/features/3398352/the-story-of-us-white-horse |url-status=live }} In the lyrics, a narrator is heartbroken that the boyfriend whom she used to love turns out contrary to the ideal figure she had hoped for.{{Cite news |last=Ash |first=Amanda |date=December 6, 2008 |title=Swift's More Mature, But Stays Fearless |newspaper=Edmonton Journal |page=D3|id={{ProQuest|250621343}} }}{{Cite news |last=Powers |first=Ann |author-link=Ann Powers |date=December 14, 2008 |title=It's Not Their Grandma's Type of Feminism |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |page=F12|id={{ProQuest|422265687}} }} The narrator and the boyfriend reside in a small town.{{Cite news |last=Guerra |first=Joey |date=November 30, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift Takes a Step Up |page=Z4 |work=Houston Chronicle |id={{ProQuest|396484216}}}} In the refrain, she compares her romance to a fairy tale fallen apart: "I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairytale/ I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet/ Lead her up the stairwell." She then tells him that "it's too late for [him] and [his] white horse" to return to her and rekindle the relationship.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=21}} In the final refrain, the narrator says she will move on from him and escape her town for a bigger world outside, to find somebody else who is more worthy,{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Taila |date=January 26, 2023 |title=The Taylor Swift Essentials: 13 Songs That Display Her Storytelling Prowess And Genre-Bouncing Genius |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/taylor-swift-songs-essentials-midnights-anti-hero-album-all-too-well-2023-grammys-blank-space-folklore-reputation-lover-discography |access-date=2023-04-14 |publisher=The Recording Academy |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414063314/https://www.grammy.com/news/taylor-swift-songs-essentials-midnights-anti-hero-album-all-too-well-2023-grammys-blank-space-folklore-reputation-lover-discography |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=December 2, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift's New CD Takes a Big Look at Love |page=V18 |work=Reading Eagle |id={{ProQuest|265130090}}}} "This is a big world, that was a small town/ There in my rearview mirror disappearing now."{{cite web |last=Heaton |first=Dave |date=May 10, 2010 |title=So, Taylor Swift, How Far Do You Wanna Go? |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/column/124985-things-will-change-what-taylor-swift-represents |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123062027/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/column/124985-things-will-change-what-taylor-swift-represents |archive-date=January 23, 2013 |access-date=March 25, 2011 |work=PopMatters}}
Some lyrical motifs on "White Horse" reprise those on the preceding Fearless tracks: the narrator dreams of being a "princess" ("Love Story") and compares the subject to an "angel" ("Hey Stephen").{{Sfnm|1a1=Perone|1y=2017|1p=21|2a1=Spencer|2y=2010|2p=66}} Some critics said "White Horse" is a Fearless track that explores the disconnect between fantasy and real life{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Randy |date=2008-10-26 |title=She's Writing Her Future |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-oct-26-ca-swift26-story.html |url-access=limited |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Los Angeles Times |archive-date=August 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822140403/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-oct-26-ca-swift26-story.html |url-status=live }} and an antithesis of the optimist lead single "Love Story", which explores a fairy-tale–inspired romance that has a happy ending.{{efn|Attributed to reviews by Billboard{{'s}} Deborah Evans Price, NME{{'s}} Hannah Mylrea,{{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/en_asia/features/every-taylor-swift-song-ranked-2747916 |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=NME |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 }} and the Reading Eagle}} Josh Love in The Village Voice found the lyrics to be from the perspective of a "reborn realist".{{cite web |last=Love |first=Josh |date=November 19, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift's Teenage Country-Star Tales, Spiked With Actual Wisdom |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2008-11-19/music/taylor-swift-s-teenage-country-star-tales-spiked-with-actual-wisdom/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117173246/http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-11-19/music/taylor-swift-s-teenage-country-star-tales-spiked-with-actual-wisdom/ |archive-date=January 17, 2013 |access-date=March 12, 2011 |work=The Village Voice}} According to Gigwise
Critical reception
When "White Horse" was first released, some critics praised the song for what they deemed a portrayal of heartbreak that, although told from a teenager's perspective, appealed to a broad audience and not just Swift's target audience of teenagers.{{efn|Attributed to reviews by Billboard{{'s}} Ken Tucker,{{cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=Ken |author-link=Ken Tucker |date=November 15, 2008 |title=Fearless |magazine=Billboard |volume=120 |issue=46 |page=41 |id={{ProQuest|227228330}}}} The Korea Times{{'}} Cathy Rose A. Garcia,{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Cathy Rose A. |date=2009-03-17 |title=Album Reviews |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2023/04/732_41450.html |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=The Korea Times |archive-date=April 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413105244/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2023/04/732_41450.html |url-status=live }} and The Observer{{'s}} Alice Fisher{{Cite news |last=Fisher |first=Alice |date=2009-05-09 |title=Enough to Make You Scream |page=17 |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/10/taylor-swifto2-review |access-date=2023-04-14 |archive-date=October 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016150712/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/10/taylor-swifto2-review |url-status=live }}}} Love said its lyrics showcased "preternatural wisdom and inclusiveness", and USA Today{{'s}} Elysa Gardner complimented the "guileless urgency and unmannered precociousness".{{cite news |last=Gardner |first=Elysa |date=November 11, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift Hits All the Right Words |newspaper=USA Today |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20081111/d_listen11_spotlight.art.htm |url-status=live |access-date=April 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428094543/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20081111/d_listen11_spotlight.art.htm |archive-date=April 28, 2016}} Other critics praised the production. Reviewing the single for Billboard, Deborah Evan Price wrote it appealed to many people because its production highlighted Swift's lyrics and "heart-on-the-sleeve" vocals that "[made] the pain and disillusionment palpable". The Guardian's Alex Macpherson lauded the "breathtaking" final refrain,{{Cite news |last=Macpherson |first=Alex |date=March 6, 2009 |title=Film & Music: Up Front: The F&M Playlist |page=2 |work=The Guardian |id={{ProQuest|244370688}}}} and Keefe, who picked the track as Fearless
Reviewing the re-recorded "White Horse (Taylor's Version)", some critics positively remarked how it retained the original's earnest emotion.{{Cite web |last=Taylor-Singh |first=Heather |date=April 12, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Reclaims Her Past on Fearless (Taylor's Version) |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/taylor_swift_fearless_taylors_version_album_review |access-date=March 31, 2023 |website=Exclaim! |archive-date=April 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412145641/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/taylor_swift_fearless_taylors_version_album_review |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Horton |first=Ross |date=April 9, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Reclaims Her Pivotal Moment by Breathing New Life into Fearless |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-fearless-taylors-version-album-review |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=The Line of Best Fit |archive-date=April 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409093114/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-fearless-taylors-version-album-review |url-status=live }} In The New York Times, Joe Coscarelli found the re-recording's production fresh and refined, which elevated the original's songwriting. Keefe, who initially criticized Swift's vocals as weak and restrained, wrote that they improved on "White Horse (Taylor's Version)", which consolidated it as the album's best track.{{Cite web |last=Keefe |first=Jonathan |date=2021-04-13 |title=Taylor Swift Fearless (Taylor's Version) Review: Recontexualized Teen Musings |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review-taylor-swift-new-fearless-gives-mature-voice-to-her-insular-teen-musings/ |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=Slant Magazine |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315050340/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review-taylor-swift-new-fearless-gives-mature-voice-to-her-insular-teen-musings/ |url-status=live }} Allison Stewart of The Washington Post felt the re-recorded song, though a compelling track, "drags a little".{{Cite news |last=Stewart |first=Allison |date=April 12, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift's New Take on Fearless Piles on the Nostalgia, Along with Some Revenge |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/taylor-swift-fearless-review-taylors-version/2021/04/11/c1bdef72-996a-11eb-a6d0-13d207aadb78_story.html |access-date=2023-04-17 |archive-date=August 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827095411/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/taylor-swift-fearless-review-taylors-version/2021/04/11/c1bdef72-996a-11eb-a6d0-13d207aadb78_story.html |url-status=live }} "White Horse" featured highly on some retrospective rankings of Swift's songs, such as those by Masley, who highlighted the "aching" refrain, and The Guardian
Some critics were not as complementary and said the lyrics were uncreative{{cite web |last=Davies |first=Lucy |date=March 9, 2009 |title=Fearless Is Now Triple Platinum. But Will it Fare Similarly in the UK? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/r2xm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926235557/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/r2xm |archive-date=September 26, 2009 |access-date=March 12, 2010 |publisher=BBC}}—Roisin O'Connor of The Independent said the fairy-tale–indebted narrative was not as effective as that of the previous single, "Love Story".{{cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Roisin |date=August 23, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift: Her 100 Album Tracks – Ranked |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/taylor-swift-lover-best-songs-1989-reputation-red-lyrics-music-videos-a9076476.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203140818/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/taylor-swift-lover-best-songs-1989-reputation-red-lyrics-music-videos-a9076476.html |archive-date=December 3, 2019 |access-date=December 3, 2019 |work=The Independent}} Keefe deemed the lyrical imagery "well worn, clichéd", and NME
Music video
File:Stephen Colletti at the 2012 Comic-Con.jpg (pictured in 2012) as the male lead: a character who is seemingly loyal but cheats in a relationship.]]
Trey Fanjoy, who had directed Swift's previous music videos, returned to film the "White Horse" music video for Swift. On the video's plot, Swift said the theme was infidelity. Because this was also the theme for the music video of her past single "Picture to Burn" (2008), she wanted "White Horse" to convey a different aspect of it: whereas the former stars a girl to whom someone was unfaithful to, the latter depicts a girl whom someone was unfaithful with. Swift explained the concept: "This girl falls in love with this guy and he's perfect. [...] Then, she comes to realize that he's been leading a double life. He was already in a relationship years before he ever met her."
Swift chose the actor Stephen Colletti, whom she had watched on the series One Tree Hill, to portray the male lead because of his sweet and endearing demeanor.{{cite web |last=Vena |first=Jocelyn |date=January 14, 2009 |title=Taylor Swift Talks About 'Emotional' New Video For 'White Horse' |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1602658/taylor-swift-talks-about-emotional-new-video-white-horse.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106205131/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1602658/taylor-swift-talks-about-emotional-new-video-white-horse.jhtml |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |access-date=March 15, 2011 |publisher=MTV News}} According to her, Colletti was ideal to portray a character who seemed as though he would never lie in a relationship but ultimately did and brought "the worst heartbreak". She and Fanjoy shot the video in one day in January 2009, in Germantown, Nashville.{{Cite news |last=Keel |first=Beverly |date=January 7, 2009 |title=Swift Says Her Recent Success Is Unbelievable |work=The Tennessean |id={{ProQuest|239905441}}}} It rained heavily that day, which Swift found appropriate for the gloomy and dark feel she wanted: it brought forth more muted tones and made the video less colorful lighting-wise. The last scene, which involved crying, was challenging for Swift because she felt unaccustomed doing so in front of the crew. Fanjoy helped Swift feel more comfortable and guided her into thinking about what made her most solemn; they completed the scene within three hours.
The video starts with Swift's and Colletti's characters talking on the phone. Colletti's character asks if Swift's still loves him and asks for another chance. Then, Swift's character is seen sitting on the living room floor, next to a fireplace, and reminiscing about her intimate moments with him. When she has lunch with a friend at a restaurant, her friend informs her of his infidelity. When Swift's character walks home on a street at night, she sees Colletti's character carrying groceries with another woman into a house. She runs away from the scene and the video transitions to the beginning's phone call, where Colletti's character repeats, "Will you give me another chance?" A rapid flashback of cut-scenes is played and, after its conclusion, Swift denies his request, hangs up, and cries. The video premiered on February 7, 2009, on CMT.{{cite web |date=February 5, 2009 |title=Taylor Swift's 'White Horse' Video to Premiere Exclusively on CMT |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1604409/taylor-swifts-white-horse-video-to-premiere-exclusively-on-cmt.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629210204/http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1604409/taylor-swifts-white-horse-video-to-premiere-exclusively-on-cmt.jhtml |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |access-date=March 15, 2011 |publisher=CMT News}} It was the first video to debut at number one on CMT's weekly countdown.{{Cite web |last=Duckett |first=Jodi |date=February 20, 2009 |title=Taylor Swift on the Cover of New Rolling Stone |url=https://blogs.mcall.com/lehighvalleymusic/2009/02/taylor-swift-on-the-cover-of-new-rolling-stone.html |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=The Morning Call |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414070632/https://blogs.mcall.com/lehighvalleymusic/2009/02/taylor-swift-on-the-cover-of-new-rolling-stone.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=February 20, 2009 |title=Taylor Swift's Video Is First to Debut at No. 1 on CMT's Top 20 Countdown |url=https://www.cmt.com/news/j4pymp/taylor-swifts-video-is-first-to-debut-at-no-1-on-cmts-top-20-countdown |access-date=2023-04-14 |publisher=CMT News |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414173748/https://www.cmt.com/news/j4pymp/taylor-swifts-video-is-first-to-debut-at-no-1-on-cmts-top-20-countdown |url-status=dead }}
Live performances
File:Taylor Swift Cavendish.JPG
Swift first performed "White Horse" at the 2008 American Music Awards on November 23; she donned a white evening gown and sang the song sitting on a floral-patterned couch.{{cite web |title=Swift Debuts 'White Horse' |url=http://www.cmt.com/pictures/2008-american-music-awards/1600068/3402524/photo.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629231200/http://www.cmt.com/pictures/2008-american-music-awards/1600068/3402524/photo.jhtml |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |access-date=March 17, 2011 |publisher=CMT}} She again performed the song at a pre-awards concert for nominees of the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, which was held on December 3, 2008, at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. At the concert, she was the only artist who performed her own song in addition to covering a song that had been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame: she sang a portion of Brenda Lee's "I'm Sorry" (1960) before singing "White Horse".{{Cite news |last=Cooper |first=Peter |date=February 1, 2009 |title=Nashville Acts Get Their Due in Grammy Nominations |work=The Tennessean |id={{ProQuest|239910097}}}} In the Los Angeles Times, Ann Powers deemed Swift's rendition of "White Horse" the concert's best performance: "In that moment, Swift had it all: tabloid heat and a firm hold on her brand, along with songcraft and the well-contained charisma of a career artist."{{Cite news |last=Powers |first=Ann |author-link=Ann Powers |date=December 5, 2008 |title=The Grammy Nominations; Critic's Notebook |page=E1 |work=Los Angeles Times |id={{ProQuest|422260484}}}}
"White Horse" was part of the set lists for Swift's 2009 headline festival performances including Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo,{{cite news |last=Goodspeed |first=John |date=February 27, 2009 |title=Night After Night |page=H13 |newspaper=San Antonio Express-News |id={{ProQuest|262431114}}}} the Florida Strawberry Festival,{{cite news |last=Daly |first=Sean |date=February 26, 2009 |title=Let's 'Do It Up Right |page=W20 |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times |id={{ProQuest|264272329}}}} and Craven Country Jamboree.{{Cite news |last=DeDekker |first=Jeff |date=July 9, 2009 |title=Golden Girl |page=B1 |work=Regina Leader-Post |id={{ProQuest|350041926}}}} She also performed "White Horse" live at her Australian concert debut at the Tivoli in Brisbane on March 5, 2009,{{Cite news |last=Sennett |first=Sean |date=March 9, 2009 |title=Swift Mania Has Arrived |page=30 |work=The Australian |id={{ProQuest|356693717}}}} and on a November 2010 episode of Dancing with the Stars.{{cite magazine |last=Vick |first=Megan |date=November 3, 2010 |title=Taylor Swift Performs on Dancing With The Stars |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/viral-videos/951862/taylor-swift-performs-on-dancing-with-the-stars |url-status=dead |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730083446/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/viral-videos/951862/taylor-swift-performs-on-dancing-with-the-stars |archive-date=July 30, 2013 |access-date=March 17, 2011}} Swift included "White Horse" in the set list of her first headlining concert tour, the Fearless Tour (2009–2010), where she performed the song by herself on an acoustic guitar.{{Cite news |last=Daly |first=Sean |date=March 5, 2010 |title=Taylor Swift Wows |page=B1 |work=Tampa Bay Times |id={{ProQuest|264357732}}}} At the Los Angeles concert on May 22, 2009, she sang "White Horse" in a duet with the singer-songwriter John Mayer.{{cite web |last=Marttens |first=Todd |date=May 25, 2009 |title=Taylor Swift and John Mayer: Yay or nay? |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/05/taylor-swift-john-mayer-yay-or-nay-.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026071535/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/05/taylor-swift-john-mayer-yay-or-nay-.html |archive-date=October 26, 2012 |access-date=March 17, 2011 |work=Los Angeles Times}}
On her later tours, Swift performed the song as a surprise number not part of the regular setlist on select dates. She sang it at the Red Tour concert in Edmonton, June 2013,{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal/124361709/|title=Taylor Swift Conquers 'Redmonton'|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 26, 2013|page=D1|first=Fish|last=Griwkowsky|access-date=May 12, 2023|archive-date=May 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510161248/https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal/124361709/|url-status=live}} the 1989 World Tour concert in Los Angeles, August 2015,{{cite magazine |last=Peters |first=Mitchell |date=August 23, 2015 |title=Watch: Taylor Swift Joined by Mary J. Blige, Uzo Aduba, Chris Rock & Matt LeBlanc at L.A. Concert |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6671214/taylor-swift-mary-j-blige-uzo-aduba-chris-rock-matt-leblanc-sean-o-pry-staples-center-1989 |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129011826/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6671214/taylor-swift-mary-j-blige-uzo-aduba-chris-rock-matt-leblanc-sean-o-pry-staples-center-1989 |archive-date=November 29, 2020 |access-date=August 23, 2015}} and the Reputation Stadium Tour concert in Arlington, October 2018.{{cite magazine |last1=Iasimone |first1=Ashley |date=November 21, 2018 |title=All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed on Her Reputation Stadium Tour B-Stage (So Far) |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8458025/taylor-swift-reputation-tour-b-stage-songs-list |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008113110/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8458025/taylor-swift-reputation-tour-b-stage-songs-list |archive-date=8 October 2019 |access-date=31 October 2018}} On the Eras Tour, Swift performed "White Horse" as a "surprise song" in Las Vegas, March 2023, and in Sydney (as a mashup with "Coney Island", with Sabrina Carpenter), February 2024.{{cite web |last=Iasimone |first=Ashley |date=March 25, 2023 |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/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319011405/https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs/ |archive-date=March 19, 2023 |access-date=February 27, 2024 |magazine=Billboard}}
Personnel
"White Horse" (2008)
- Chad Carlson – recording engineer
- Nathan Chapman – producer
- Taylor Swift – producer
- Steve Blackmon – assistant mixer
- Justin Niebank – mixer
"White Horse (Taylor's Version)" (2021)
{{Div col}}
- Christopher Rowe – vocals engineer, producer
- Taylor Swift – producer, lead vocals
- David Payne – recording engineer
- Derek Garten – additional engineer
- John Hanes – engineer
- Lowell Reynolds – assistant recording engineer, additional engineer
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
- Mike Meadows – acoustic guitar, background vocals
- Amos Heller – bass guitar
- Matt Billingslea – drums
- Paul Sidoti – piano
- Jonathan Yudkin – strings
{{Div col end}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
= Weekly charts =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "White Horse" !scope="col"| Chart (2008–2009) !scope="col"| Peak |
| {{single chart|Australia|41|artist=Taylor Swift|song=White Horse|access-date=January 12, 2012|rowheader=true |refname=aus}} |
| {{single chart|Canada|43|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=January 12, 2012|rowheader=true |refname="canada"|song=}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadacountry|5|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=November 7, 2017 |rowheader=true|song=|refname=}} |
| {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|60|artist=Taylor Swift| song=White Horse| artistid=5387|access-date=January 12, 2012|rowheader=true |refname=uk}} |
| {{single chart| Billboardhot100 |13|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=January 12, 2012|rowheader=true |refname=hot100|song=}} |
| {{single chart| Billboardcountrysongs |2|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=January 12, 2012|rowheader=true |refname="country"|song=}} |
| scope="row"| US Pop 100 (Billboard){{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228202646/http://allmusic.com/artist/taylor-swift-p816977/charts-awards/billboard-singles|url=http://allmusic.com/artist/taylor-swift-p816977/charts-awards/billboard-singles|title=Taylor Swift – Billboard Singles|publisher=AllMusic|archive-date=December 28, 2010|access-date=December 28, 2010|url-status=dead}}
| 23 |
|---|
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "White Horse (Taylor's Version)" ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite magazine|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 19 April 2021|magazine=The ARIA Report|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|issue=1624|page=4|date=April 19, 2021}}
| 99 |
|---|
| scope="row"| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)
| 72 |
| {{single chart|Billboardglobal200|111|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=April 20, 2021|refname="global"|song=}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardbubbling100|2|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=April 20, 2021|refname="bubbling"|song=}} |
| scope="row"| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)
| 29 |
{{col-2}}
= Year-end charts =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Year-end chart performance for "White Horse" !scope="col"| Chart (2009) !scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/hot-100-songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 6, 2011|title=Best of 2009 – Hot 100 Songs|archive-date=April 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414053719/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/hot-100-songs|url-status=dead}}
| 76 |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2009/hot-country-songs|title=Year End Charts – Hot Country Songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702144449/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2009/hot-country-songs|archive-date=July 2, 2011|url-status=dead}}
| 27 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "White Horse"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=1|type=single|relyear=2008|certyear=2024|access-date=February 14, 2024|refname=ARIA}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Canada|artist=Taylor Swift|title=White Horse|award=Gold|digital=true|certyear=2011|access-date=August 10, 2014|refname="MC"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=White Horse|artist=Taylor Swift|type=single|region=United States|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2008|certyear=2014|access-date=November 11, 2014|refname="RIAA"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
= Sources =
- {{cite book |last=Perone |first=James E. |title=The Words and Music of Taylor Swift |publisher=ABC-Clio |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-4408-5294-7 |series=The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection}}
- {{cite book |last=Spencer |first=Liv |title=Taylor Swift: Every Day Is a Fairytale – The Unofficial Story |publisher=ECW Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-77041-151-7}}
{{Taylor Swift songs}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Country Song}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Music videos directed by Trey Fanjoy
Category:Songs written by Liz Rose
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