(Source: Big Machine Records / Universal Music Group)
The Forever and Always Fearless One might still be kicking it. Here at the Swift Agency, just one guy who believe there’s still something left from the old Taylor, we believe T-Swizzle’s country roots might run too deep to just die.
The Blonde With The Sparkly Snake Microphone has a song she co-wrote with Pat Monahan from the group Train called “Babe”. Now Sugarland has not only added that song to their upcoming album Bigger but invited the Enchantress to do some vocal work.
The result is some background vocals by the once Princess in Red. Incidentally, the word on the street (ok on social media) is this song was coined back during the Red Era. The song came out at midnight yesterday (April 19, 2018) but yours truly desperate needed sleep (I did wake up at 5am to have a listening session).
You can get the song on iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music or you can listen to it below (audio only).
The Sparkly Dressed put out two acoustic performances on Spotify. One was her own song “Delicate” and the other was a cover of Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September”. By sheer coincidence I’ve been in a little of a disco/funk/classic r&b lately. “September” is at the top of my playlist. I’ll be honest here, I prefer the original version. I still appreciate that Taylor made her own cover of it, and even got some words of appreciation from one of the song’s writers.
“Taylor Swift is the absolute cherry on top of a very soulful and happy sundae,” commented Allee Willis in an interview for Billboard. Willis will be inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June.
The Blonde With The Sparkly 1989 Microphone (this nickname gets longer with every era…) has recently being stretching out her songwriting skills. She co-wrote a song with Pat Monahan from the group Train. The song “Babe” was picked up by recently reunited duo Sugarland for their new album Bigger. Taylor’s collaboration is not only as a songwriter. She also performs on the track. “Babe” comes out next week. You can read more about it on Rolling Stone.
But she doesn’t lv u any less, Lizettes and Lizard.
The beautiful and talented Liz Huett has a new single out. “Don’t LV U Anymore” is Liz’s second single of 2018. There’s a very quiet and minimalistic feeling to it, with Liz’s soothing voice dominating all throughout. Even when she whispers in the background, she seems to be pulling at the heartstrings.
The lyrics are about heartache, a soured relationship gone awry, but there’s a few lines that feel a little too close to real. “I don’t run to your friends to get them on my side when we fight anymore,” she sings. It’s less corny and more human as depictions of heartbreak stories go. The second verse even talks about playing songs for her ex, a personal note that speaks a lot about how close this song is to Liz.
The lyrical choices of all the singles she’s released are interesting. They’re setting an identity for herself as more of a songwriter/songstress of note. Pop singers are often trying to get that jingle radio-friendly song that makes you want to dance and sticks in your head. Liz seems to be going for more of what the song’s content is made of, both musically and lyrically. She’s taking a risk, she’s not pandering to any particular crowd, and I think she’s going for a more musically seasoned audience.
Here at the Swift Agency, just a guy who’s seen a few musical seasons, we couldn’t love her anymore for it.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, Taylor Nation.
Yesterday, April 5th, was also RAINN Day and Taylor Swift made a generous donation to the organization. RAINN stands for Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (rainn.org).
(Source: RAINN via Twitter)
Here at the Swift Agency, just a guy who has been meaning to address the almost secretive/minimalistic way that Taylor generally chooses to do charity, we’ve been happy about the way that she’s been taking a stand on her own views. However, let’s make it clear that this subject is not a political stance. Sexual assault is a crime regardless of political party.
Thank you @TaylorSwift13 for always standing with survivors. Your generous donation this week during #SAAPM ensures that survivors and their loved ones get the help they need and deserve.
So why does she choose to make donations without the photo op? I have a theory here that Taylor is self aware of how much certain naysayers (I cringe at using the word haters sorry) disapprove (foam at the mouth) at her mere involvement. She would rather keep the spotlight on the issue instead and not steal it (which let’s face it tends to happen anytime her name is mentioned). Funny enough, hat- (ugh, I can’t) naysayers are the first in line to notice Taylor’s name in the news (yes, we saw her already, quiet down). Sorry for the parenthesis spam by the way (it’s a nervous habit – oh crap, I did it again).
This is not the first time that Taylor Swift has made a donation to the cause. Going back to the days after the infamous civil trial suit-countersuit, Taylor did pledged a donation to Mariska Hargitay’s Joyful Heart Foundation shortly after the trial ended in August 2017 as reported by Huffington Post.
Happy Easter and this is not an April Fool’s joke, Taylor Nation.
Here at the Swift Agency, just a guy who had to check this several times just to make sure it wasn’t a prank, we’re sure that all the attendees were not expecting the Blonde With The Sparkly Snake Microphone to show up at the landmark venue in Nashville, Tennessee.
(Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images)
It all went down last night, March 31st, at the Bluebird Cafe according to the Tennessean. With about 40 people in attendance, songwriter Craig Wiseman, known for penning songs for Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney, was the main feature. Well, until Taylor Swift’s unannounced (but planned) surprise appearance.
Taylor performed acoustic versions of “Shake It Off” and the song she penned for Little Big Town, “Better Man”. Yes, I know you want video clips. The only ones are these clips filmed from outside with a phone, so the video and sound are of the potato quality.
“When I would play writers nights … I didn’t have the experience of a writer writing something and then it going out into the world and you earing it from someone else’s perspective until recently,” Taylor said according to the Tennessean, referring to “Better Man.” “Little Big Town gave me the opportunity to feel that way … to be at the Bluebird and play a song you’ve maybe heard on the radio. I will always be forever grateful to them for that.”
Wiseman recalled a particular CMT party in which he got her several shots of Fireball Whiskey. The Forever and Always Fearless One confessed she and Ed Sheeran stole Wiseman’s large inflatable Fireball bottle prop during said party. Wiseman then produced shot glasses and both songwriters downed Whisky shots.
Back when Taylor was just seventeen, she met Wiseman for a writing session in which she brought this song she was working on. Wiseman didn’t get it and passed on helping Taylor write the song, something he regrets to this day. The name of the song was “Love Story”. No, she didn’t perform it. That would’ve been too much salt in the wound.
The performance was being filmed for a documentary for Bluebird Cafe’s 35th anniversary. Don’t worry, I’m sure they used a better camera. You can read more on Taylor Swift’s appearance at the Tennessean.
On other news, there’s a new version of Delicate known as the vertical version on Spotify. Some fans, including myself, have not managed to see it except through video captures from other fans but it looks nice.
