Hey Stephen
"Hey Stephen" | |
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Song by Taylor Swift | |
from the album Fearless / Fearless (Taylor's Version) | |
Released | November 11, 2008
| (original)
Genre | Country pop |
Length | 4:14 |
Label |
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Songwriter(s) | Taylor Swift |
Producer(s) |
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Audio | |
"Hey Stephen" on YouTube "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" (lyric video) on YouTube |
"Hey Stephen" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her second studio album, Fearless (2008). She was inspired to write the song by her harbored feelings for Stephen Barker Lilies of country music duo Love and Theft, who had toured with her. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, the track is a country pop song featuring a subdued Hammond organ in the instrumental, with lyrics about an unrequited love.
Music critics praised "Hey Stephen" for its catchy melody and Swift's songwriting, with some picking it as an album highlight. After Fearless was released, the song peaked at number 94 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2014, for surpassing 500,000 units based on sales and stream.
Swift released a re-recorded version of "Hey Stephen", subtitled "Taylor's Version", as part of her re-recorded album Fearless (Taylor's Version) in 2021. "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" entered the top 100 on singles charts of Australia and Canada, and peaked at number 28 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.
Background and release
External videos | |
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Taylor Swift released her second studio album, Fearless, on November 11, 2008, through Big Machine Records.[1] Swift wrote or co-wrote all tracks and co-produced the album with Nathan Chapman.[2][3] Fearless is primarily about the challenges of love from a teenage girl's perspectives, with prominent high school and fairy tale imagery.[4][5] Swift wrote and recorded "Hey Stephen" for Fearless in 2008, when she was 18 years old.[6] In the album liner notes, she included the hidden message for the song as "Love and Theft", referencing a country music duo who had toured with Swift.[7] Swift said the song's inspiration was Love and Theft member Stephen Barker Liles: "It's someone who I've always been friends with and always kind of had a thing for... and he doesn't know. It's always fun for me to put something on the album that is personal. Something I know I'm going to have to deal with when the record comes out."[7]
Swift and Liles had had a friendly relationship. After Fearless was released, she told him about the song; Liles spoke to The Boot in 2009 about his reaction: "I was very relieved when it turned out to be a nice song, and it's actually one of the nicest things anybody's ever done for me."[8] He wrote "Try to Make It Anyway" as an answer song to Swift's "Hey Stephen"; although he had written it when they toured together, he only had time to finish recording it in 2011. The song was made available for download through the iTunes Store and streaming through YouTube in April 2011.[9]
After a dispute with Big Machine Records in 2019, when she had signed a new contract with Republic Records, Swift released her re-recorded version of Fearless, subtitled Taylor's Version, on April 9, 2021.[10] Fearless (Taylor's Version) includes the re-recorded version of "Hey Stephen", also subtitled "Taylor's Version".[11] One day before the album was released, Swift teased a snippet of "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" onto her Twitter account.[12] "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" is produced by Swift and Christopher Rowe.[13]
Music and lyrics
"Hey Stephen" is a country pop song.[14] The track features a drum beat reminiscent of that on the Ronettes' "Be My Baby" (1963) and begins with Swift's humming.[15] Before the final refrain, Swift chuckles.[16] "Hey Stephen" incorporates a subdued Hammond organ in the instrumental and girl group-styled ad-libs.[15][17] In the re-recorded "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)", Swift's vocals became richer and less breathy, and the cymbals in the interlude are more prominent.[18] The lyrics are about an unrequited love for a seemingly out-of-reach boy.[19][20] In the bridge, Swift sings about the reason why Stephen should date her, "All those other girls / Well they're beautiful, but would they write a song for you?"[7] Music scholar James E. Perone commented that this part aligned Swift with the 1970s singer-songwriter tradition of self-referential nods in their own songs.[21]
Live performances
![Swift wearing a blue dress and cowboy boots playing a guitar](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/FearlessPrudentialCentMay2010.jpg/170px-FearlessPrudentialCentMay2010.jpg)
"Hey Stephen" was part of the regular set list for Swift's first headlining tour, the Fearless Tour (2009–2010).[22] The song was part of the mid-show acoustic session; midway through the performance, Swift went down the aisle to greet and hug her fans.[23][24] The song was also part of Swift's set list for the Florida Strawberry Festival she headlined in February 2009.[25] On September 18, 2018, during Swift's St. Louis performance on the Reputation Stadium Tour, she performed "Hey Stephen" as a "surprise song".[26]
Critical reception
In Fearless album reviews, Rob Sheffield of Blender[27] and Chris Richards of The Washington Post picked "Hey Stephen" as a highlight. Richards called it a track that "beams its irresistible smile before permanently lodging itself in your hippocampus".[14] Jody Rosen from Rolling Stone selected the song as an example of Swift's songwriting on the album: "Her music mixes an almost impersonal professionalism — it's so rigorously crafted it sounds like it has been scientifically engineered in a hit factory — with confessions that are squirmingly intimate and true."[28] In Slant Magazine, Jonathan Keefe wrote that "Hey Stephen" was one of the album's two most charming cuts, the other being "The Best Day". Although Keefe praised the song's emotional sentiments that resonated with Swift's main audience of teenagers, he deemed it lacking in sophistication.[29]
In retrospective reviews of the song, Sheffield[15] and Nate Jones from Vulture complimented its catchy melody. Jones wrote: "Swift is in the zone as a writer, performer, and producer on this winning deep cut."[17] Hazel Cills of Pitchfork was not as complimentary, deeming the song's overt confessionalism a step too far on an already personal album.[30] Perone commented although the lyrics are "generally conventional [...], Swift's performance and her melodic writing make the song enjoyable and engaging anyway".[31] In a 2021 article for Gigwise, Kelsey Barnes noted "Hey Stephen" as a parallel to Swift's artistic evolution and personal life; her youthful innocence on the track reflected her desire to be "seen, loved, and accepted by those she's daydreaming about", a recurring theme on many of her later songs. Barnes also commented that the track offered a glimpse into Swift's life before her personal life became sensationalized in the press.[7]
Commercial performance
After Fearless was released, "Hey Stephen" entered and peaked at number 94 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart dated November 29, 2008.[32] In April 2014, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the song gold, denoting 500,000 units based on sales and streaming.[33] In 2021, upon the release of the re-recorded Fearless (Taylor's Version), "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" charted on singles charts in Australia (86)[34] and Canada (68),[35] and peaked at number 105 on the Billboard Global 200.[36] In the United States, "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under Hot 100[37] and number 28 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.[38]
Personnel
"Hey Stephen"
Adapted from the liner notes of Fearless (2008)[39]
- Taylor Swift – writer, producer
- Nathan Chapman – producer
- Drew Bollman – assistant mixer
- Chad Carlson – recording engineer
- Justin Niebank – mixer
- Andrew Bowers – finger snaps
- Burrus Cox – finger snaps
- Carolyn Cooper – finger snaps
- Lauren Elcan – finger snaps
- Delaney McBride – finger snaps
- Emma McBride – finger snaps
- Nicholas Brown – instruments
"Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)"
Adapted from the liner notes of Fearless (Taylor's Version) (2021)[40]
- Taylor Swift – writer, producer, lead vocals
- Christopher Rowe – vocal recording, producer
- Max Bernstein – vibraphone
- Matt Billingslea – drums, finger snaps
- Caitlin Evanson – background vocals
- Derek Garten – additional engineer
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
- John Hanes – engineer
- Amos Heller – bass guitar
- Mike Meadows – acoustic guitar, Hammond B3, finger snaps, background vocals
- David Payne – recording
- Lowell Reynolds – assistant recording engineer
- Jonathan Yudkin – fiddle, fiddle recording
Charts
"Hey Stephen"
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"Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)"
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Certification
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA)[33] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ Spencer 2010, p. 58.
- ^ Breen, Joe (March 9, 2009). "Roots". The Irish Times. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ Wood, Mikael (April 8, 2021). "Review: A Principled Stand, a Bonanza for Swifties and a Shrug from Us: Taylor Swift's Made-over Fearless". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ Widdicombe, Lizzie (October 10, 2011). "You Belong with Me". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on July 24, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
- ^ Perone 2017, p. 20.
- ^ Aswad, Jem (April 14, 2021). "Taylor Swift Reveals to Stephen Colbert Who 'Hey Stephen' Is Really About". Variety. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Barnes, Kelsey (April 15, 2021). "The Story of Us: 'Hey Stephen'". Gigwise. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ Gilcrease, Grayson (April 10, 2021). "The Inspiration Behind Taylor Swift's 'Hey Stephen' Actually Loves the Song". Yahoo!. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ Conaway, Alanna (April 28, 2011). "Love and Theft's Stephen Barker Liles Pens Song About Taylor Swift". Taste of Country. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ Murray, Kelly (April 3, 2021). "Taylor Swift Unveils Full Track List for New Album Fearless (Taylor's Version)". CNN. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
- ^ Lipshutz, Jason (February 11, 2021). "Taylor Swift Announces Re-Recorded Fearless Album: Updated 'Love Story' Out Tonight". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
{{cite magazine}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Ginsberg, Gab (April 8, 2021). "Taylor Swift Recruits Olivia Rodrigo & Conan Gray to Help Tease Re-Recorded Fearless Songs: Hear Multiple New Snippets". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ "Credits / Fearless (Taylor's Version) / Taylor Swift". Tidal. Archived from the original on April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
- ^ a b Richards, Chris (November 11, 2008). "Taylor Swift, Fearless and Full of Charm". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
- ^ a b c Sheffield, Rob (October 26, 2021). "'Hey Stephen' (2008)". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ Willman, Chris (April 9, 2021). "Review: Taylor Swift Turns On a Facsimile Machine for Fearless (Taylor's Version) and Its Ingenious Recreations". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ a b Jones, Nate (January 11, 2021). "Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best". Vulture. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ Huff, Lauren (April 13, 2021). "Taylor Swift's New Fearless Album Sounds Different — We Got An Expert to Tell Us Why". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ Perkins, Dennis (April 14, 2021). "Taylor Swift's 'Hey Stephen' Isn't About Stephen Colbert, No Matter What Her Vision Board Says". The A.V. Club. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ Greenblatt, Leah (November 5, 2008). "Fearless (2008)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 5, 2010. Retrieved March 12, 2010.
- ^ Perone 2017, p. 22.
- ^ Vena, Jocelyn (August 28, 2009). "Taylor Swift Brings Fearless Tour to Madison Square Garden". MTV News. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
- ^ Trust, Molly (June 8, 2010). "Taylor Swift / June 5, 2010 / Foxboro, Mass". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 2, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
- ^ Semon, Craig S. (June 7, 2010). "Taylor Swift proves worthy as queen of country music". Telegram & Gazette. Archived from the original on June 8, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
- ^ Tatangelo, Wade (February 26, 2009). "Taylor Swift headlines Strawberry Festival". The Bradenton Herald. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
- ^ Iasimone, Ashley (November 20, 2018). "All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed on Her Reputation Stadium Tour B-Stage (So Far)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
- ^ Sheffield, Rob. "Taylor Swift: Fearless". Blender. Archived from the original on December 16, 2008. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- ^ Rosen, Jody (November 13, 2008). "Fearless". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 15, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
- ^ Keefe, Jonathan (November 16, 2008). "Taylor Swift: Fearless". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on March 15, 2011. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
- ^ Cills, Hazel (August 19, 2019). "Taylor Swift: Fearless". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 19, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- ^ Perone 2017, p. 21.
- ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ a b "American single certifications – Taylor Swift – Hey Stephen". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ a b "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 19 April 2021". The ARIA Report (1624). Australian Recording Industry Association: 4. April 19, 2021.
- ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ Fearless (CD liner notes). Taylor Swift. Big Machine Records. 2008.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Fearless (Taylor's Version) (CD liner notes). Taylor Swift. Republic Records. 2021.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
Sources
- Perone, James E. (2017). The Words and Music of Taylor Swift. The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection. ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1440852947.
- Spencer, Liv (2010). Taylor Swift: Every Day Is a Fairytale – The Unofficial Story. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1550229318.