Why Taylor Swift's 'Blank Space' Should Win The GRAMMY For Record Of The Year
By Erin Sullivan, Radio.com
Taylor Swift made a major move in 2014 when she announced she was departing country music for a new, more pop-oriented, sound. She released 1989, starting her career on a new path; a path she forged with pop producers Max Martin and Shellback to create a new Taylor Swift sound. Some, however, felt that this sound already existed; her last album, Red, was very pop-friendly as well.
"Blank Space" was a breakthrough sonically and lyrically for Taylor Swift. As the second single from 1989, it was her audience's second experience with the "new" Taylor; gone were the acoustic guitars and fiddle solos, replaced with highly produced, beat driven sounds.
Fans not only accepted the move, most of them seemed to love it. Her new direction brought new life to her career, and brought new people to her fan base. The sounds didn't seem like a departure from the old and only really show a difference when played back to back. Swift was able to build a career that easily flowed from country to the pop world.
Inspired greatly by the popular songs of the 1980s, the singer-songwriter, paired with her producers, brought those sounds into the 21st century. In addition to the genre change, Swift brought more dramatics to "Blank Space" than previous songs. From slight additions -- like the pen noise before "I've got a blank space, baby, and I'll write your name" -- to harsh breaks in the music, the songs were custom crafted for her awe-inspiring live shows.
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