Like its namesake holiday, the “Valentine’s Day” film soundtrack is largely concerned with sticky-sweet sentiment. Several veteran crooners appear on the track list even whilst the album devotes more of its time to newer artists. Therefore Willie Nelson turns “On The Street Where You Live” into a country song next to Amy Winehouse slurring her way through “Cupid”. Special attention is paid Taylor Swift, who appears in the film itself and sings two songs here, including the Top 10 single “Today Was A Fairy Tale”.

by Mark Emge

“Sounds Of The Season” was a promotional EP originally released by country-pop dreamsicle Taylor Swift in late ‘07, and it contained a couple of original songs, a few Santa standards, and “Last Christmas” by Wham!. In case you don’t remember, due to similarities between the latter song and “Can’t Smile Without You” by Barry Manilow, a settlement was reached in which George and Andrew donated their first year’s (1984) royalties to the brand-new “Band Aid” charity. Teen Taylor certainly doesn’t remember, although considering the very merry Christmas the songwriters will have after receipts are tallied for the EP’s re-release (under the name “The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection”), I’m sure they do.

by Mark Emge

Inspired by The Dixie Chicks and Shania Twain, country-pop superstar Taylor Swift learned to play guitar from a computer repairman who showed her how to play three chords, a progression that went into her first song, “Lucky You”. Swift began writing to help her cope with the pain of not fitting in at school. Crying all the way to the bank, Swift’s “Fifteen”–a motivational ballad about the singer’s freshman year in high school–is the fourth single from her sophomore smash, “Fearless”.

by Mark Emge

“I came into the session with [pro songwriter] Liz Rose and said, ‘I’ve got this idea,’” says Taylor Swift of the third single off of her hit collection “Fearless”, “You Belong To Me”. “I overheard a friend of mine talking to his girlfriend and he was completely on the defensive, saying, ‘No, baby, of course I love you. More than anything! I’m so sorry.’ So I came up with the first line: ‘You’re on the phone with your girlfriend / She’s upset / Going off about something that you said.’” Note the song’s prominent banjo line, its concession to the country in Taylor’s pop.

by Mark Emge

The latest tally on Taylor Swift’s country-crossover second collection, the worldwide smash “Fearless”? Four digital-only singles were released from the album, and all posted in the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. Further, the song “White Horse”, without official release or any promotion, debuted at No. 13, marking a calendar-year record for the 50-year history of the chart. Swift is now tied for second place with Mariah Carey and The Beatles for the most Top 20 debut weeks in a career. (Did we mention she’s still 19?) One more entry in this category puts Swift in the company of Janet Jackson and Madonna. Will “Crazier”, from “Hannah Montana: The Movie”, tie Taylor for No. 1 before she can legally drink the champage to celebrate?

by Mark Emge

Country-pop teen queen Taylor Swift calls the kiss-off power ballad and third single, “You’re Not Sorry”, the best song on her second album. And that’s bad news for Taylor’s chart competition: Since its November ‘08 release and the yin-yang romance hits “Love Story” and “White Horse”, “Fearless” has already been certified three times Platinum, deemed the fastest-selling country album of all time, and racked up 11 non-consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard 200, a feat not accomplished since Santana’s Zeitgeist riding mega-hit “Supernatural” a decade ago.

by Mark Emge

Taylor Swift abandons any pretense that she’s a teen on her second album, “Fearless”–which isn’t to say that she suddenly tarts herself up and flees her youth in a manner all too familiar with teen stars. Swift’s maturation was deliberate and careful, styled after the crossover country-pop of Shania Twain and Faith Hill before they turned into divas. Despite the success of her self-titled ‘06 debut, there’s nothing diva-like about Swift on “Fearless”: she’s soft-spoken and considerate, a big sister instead of a big star. On “White Horse”, she counters the happy ending of first single “Love Story” with a conclusion a little more country.

by Mark Emge

19-year-old country-pop phenom Taylor Swift describes “Love Story” as “a love that you’ve got to hide because for whatever reason it wouldn’t go over well.” A fan of Shakespeare since high school, “I spun it in the direction of Romeo and Juliet–our parents are fighting. I relate to it as a love that maybe your friends wouldn’t accept.” This “Alternate Mix” of “Love Story”, Swift’s first international single aimed at markets outside North America and Australia, screams “crossover” like a wine-fueled Tybalt Capulet.

by Mark Emge

19-year-old country-pop phenom Taylor Swift describes “Love Story” as “a love that you’ve got to hide because for whatever reason it wouldn’t go over well.” A fan of Shakespeare since high school, “I spun it in the direction of Romeo and Juliet–our parents are fighting. I relate to it as a love that maybe your friends wouldn’t accept.” “Love Story” is Swift’s first international single aimed at markets outside North America and Australia, and Jason Nevins’ club-ready mix screams “crossover” like a wine-fueled Tybalt Capulet.

by Mark Emge