Jump to content

Tim McGraw (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Ipodnano05 (talk | contribs) at 20:29, 16 January 2011 (→Live performances). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

"Tim McGraw"
Song

"Tim McGraw" is country pop song performed by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. The song was written by Swift, in collaboration Liz Rose, and produced by Nathan Chapman. It was released on June 19, 2006 by Big Machine Records as Swift's debut single and the lead single from Swift's eponymous debut album, Taylor Swift. Swift wrote "Tim McGraw" during her freshman year of high school, knowing that she and her senior boyfriend, Brandon Borello, would break up at the end of the year when he left for college. The song was written about all the different things that would remind Borello of Swift and their time spent together, once he departed. "Tim McGraw" is musical interconnection of traditional and modern country music. Lyrically, the track lists items in order to associate a past relationship, one of them being country artist Tim McGraw's music.

The song was received with critical praise from music critics who complimented Swift's vocal delivery. Some critics described it as tender, while others admired its professionalism. "Tim McGraw" performed well commercially. The track spent numerous of weeks upon both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs in the United States. It peaked at number forty on the prior and number six on the latter. The single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has sold more than one million copies since its release. The accompanying music video for "Tim McGraw", directed by Trey Fanjoy, is comprised of flashbacks by Swift's love interest, among cut-scenes that feature Swift writhing on a lake-bed. "Tim McGraw" was promoted by Swift on a radio tour and performances in numerous venues. Swift performed it while serving as opening act for various country artists' concert tours. She also performed it as part of her first headlining concert tour, the Fearless Tour (2009-10).

Background

Swift and Liz Rose wrote "Tim McGraw" during Swift's freshman year at Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee. She conceived the idea in the midst of her mathematics class: "I was just sitting there, and I started humming this melody." She then related the melody to a predicament she was encountering at the moment.[1] Swift knew that she and her senior boyfriend, Brandon Borello, would break up at the end of the year when he left for college. In order to cope with the complicated emotions she was experiencing, Swift wrote the song. Rose said Swift showed up at her after school job, writing songs for Sony/ATV Music, "with the idea and the melody, knowing exactly what she wanted." She desired for the song to capture the sweetness and sadness of loving and losing someone. It was written about all the different things that would remind Borello of Swift and their time spent together, once he departed. "To her surprise, the first thing that came to mind was [her] love of Tim McGraw's music."[2] Several personal details were listed for the song. McGraw's mentioning was a reference to Swift's favorite song , "Can't Tell Me Nothin" from his 2004 album Live Like You Were Dying,[3] rather than McGraw as a person.[4] The writing process, as with "Our Song", took place in approximately twenty minutes,[5] and was executed with the use of a piano.[6]

Soon after, Scott Borchetta, CEO of Big Machine Records, signed Swift to his newly formed label.[2] Early into the album production, in a meeting where Borchetta and Swift discussed potential songs for Swift's debut album, she performed "Tim McGraw" for Borchetta on fluke ukalele. According to Swift, as soon as Borchetta finished listening to the song, he faced Swift and said, "That's your first single." She responded, "Well. That's how that works then."[2] Prior to that event, Swift did not believe that the song was single material. However, she followed what label executives told her and accepted that they were correct.[7] Swift placed "Tim McGraw" as the first track on Taylor Swift because of its importance to her.[6] The song was eventually released as a CD single on June 19, 2006.[8] In retrospect, Swift has said that the song "is reminiscent, and it is thinking about a relationship you had and then lost. I think one of the most powerful human emotions is what should have been and wasn't... That was a really good song to start out on, because a lot of people can relate to wanting something you can't have."[2] When Borello, the song's subject, discovered it, he thought it was "cool" and kept friendship with Swift despite their breakup.[9]

Composition

"Tim McGraw" (2006)
An 23-second audio sample of Taylor Swift's "Tim McGraw", a ballad that lists items in order to associate a past relationship.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Tim McGraw" is a country pop song with a length of three minutes and fifty-two seconds.[10] The song mingles traditional and modern country music features, primarily through its usage of a twelve-string guitar.[11] It is set in common time and has a moderate tempo of 72 beats per minute.[12] Thus, it is categorized as a ballad with a mid-paced nature.[13] It is written in the key of C major and Swift's vocals span one octave, from F3 to G4.[12] Swift's vocals are prominent in twang.[13] "Tim McGraw" follows the chord progression C5–Am–F–Gsus–G.[12]

The lyrics of "Tim McGraw" regard a summer romance that came to a sudden halt.[11] The song fondly reminisces an ex-boyfriend,[14] and directs the lyrics towards him, rather than country singer Tim McGraw himself. It uses McGraw's music as a marker in their relationship timeline: "When you think Tim McGraw / I hope you think my favorite song."[15] Sean Dooley of About.com stated, "Music has the power to evoke memories, and it’s an old Tim McGraw song that triggers her happy memories."[14] McGraw's reference is one of the several items used for association of the failed relationship, along with other items and places, such as a little black dress.[15]

Critical reception

A blond female, clothed by a white sundress and large sunglasses, in a semi-right profile view playing a wooden acoustic guitar. Behind her appears a window in daylight.
Swift performing "Tim McGraw" with a wooden acoustic guitar at Yahoo! Headquarters in 2007.

The song was well received by critics. Rob Sheffield of Blender magazine described the track as gem that hit hard.[16] Sean Dooley of About.com complimented Swift's vocal delivery, describing it as "tender and emotive." [14] Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine believe "Tim McGraw" followed "time-tested narrative conventions and [...] massive pop hooks."[17] Jeff Tamarkin of Allmusic said that the song demonstrated Swift was "a talent to be reckoned with", because of her vocal delivery that, according to him, equated that of a seasoned professional. He selected "Tim McGraw" as Taylor Swift's main highlight for its homage to Tim McGraw, commenting, "It's a device that's been used countless times in as many ways [...], yet it works as a hook here and manages to come off as an original idea."[15] Rick Bell of Country Standard Time stated, "It's an impressive debut that, while she pines about lost love and Tim McGraw, will likely have others singing the praises of Taylor Swift."[18] Roger Holland of PopMatters praised the song, commenting it was "good enough to recall some of the best country singles of recent years", such as Rachel Proctor's "Me and Emily" and Julie Roberts's "Break Down Here." He complimented sing vocal abilities on the song, saying it was executed "quite perfectly", something she was unable to carry throughout the album Taylor Swift. However, Holland was repugnant of the song's title.[13] In 2007, "Tim McGraw" was listed as a "Winning Song" by Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI).[19]

Chart performance

On the week ending September 23, 2006, "Tim McGraw" debuted at number eighty-six on the Billboard Hot 100.[20] After seventeen weeks of ascending and descending the chart, on the week ending January 13, 2007, the song reached its peak at number forty on the Billboard Hot 100, where it maintained for two consecutive weeks.[21] On the week ending February 3, 2007, the song spent its last week on the Billboard Hot 100 at number forty-three, after a total of twenty weeks on the chart.[22] Prior to charting on the United States' main chart, "Tim McGraw" charted on Hot Country Songs Chart. On the week ending July 1, 2006, "Tim McGraw" debuted at number seventy-five on the Hot Country Songs Chart.[23] After spending twenty-five weeks upon Hot Country Songs, the song reached the top ten with its new peak of number ten on the week ending December 16, 2006.[24] In the proceeding six weeks, the song managed remain on the top ten until finding its peak at number six on the week ending January 27, 2007.[21] "Tim McGraw" spent a total of thirty-five weeks upon the Hot Country Songs Chart.[21] The single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the shipment of over 1,000,000 copies.[25] As of August 2010, "Tim McGraw" has sold over 1.3 million copies in the United States.[26]

Music video

File:Taylor Swift - Tim McGraw music video.jpg
Swift and Clayton Collins lying atop the back of a 1972 Chevrolet C-10 Cheyenne in the music video for "Tim McGraw".

The accompanying music video for "Tim McGraw" was directed by Trey Fanjoy.[27] In regards to the video's concept, Swift stated, "It deals with the haunting power of music and how hearing a song years after it was first popular can have such an emotional appeal."[28] Clayton Collins portrayed Swift's love interest in the music video. He was cast because of his physical resemblance to the real subject of the song, in that they were both tall with dark hair.[29] The video begins with Swift, dressed by a white sundress, as she lies on the grass of a lake-bed and holds a transistor radio. Suddenly, the setting is switched to Collins as he drives a white and orange 1972 Chevrolet C-10 Cheyenne. He then turns his radio on and ceases driving, coming to a complete stop on a road. As Collins facial expressions become more serious, he flashbacks to memories with Swift. Swift and Collins are seen frolicking on field, lying beside another on the back of Collins' C-10 Cheyenne, staring at the stars together, holding hands as they walk, and slow dancing. When the song is in its final chorus, Collins arrives at a wooden cabin in his pick-up truck. He runs up the staircase to discover an enveloped letter next to the door. He then sits on the staircase, opens the envelope, and reads the letter. The video transcends towards Swift playing an acoustic guitar as she leans against the wooden cabin. Cut-scenes feature Swift writhing on the lake-bed and performing with a guitar next to the wooden cabin. The video concludes with Swift, once again, lying on the initial setting.

The video premiered on July 22, 2006 on Great American Country.[28] The video received a nomination for "Number One Streamed Video From a New Artist (Rookie of the Year Award)" at the web-hosted 2006 CMT Online Awards, but lost to Lindsey Haun's video for "Broken".[30] At the 2007 CMT Music Awards, the video won the CMT Music Award for "Breakthrough Video of the Year".[31]

Live performances

Swift performing "Tim McGraw" during the Fearless Tour in 2009.

Swift spent six months of 2006 promoting "Tim McGraw" and Taylor Swift on a radio tour.[1] She performed the song as she opened for Rascal Flatts on several dates, from October 19 to November 3, 2006, included on the Me and My Gang Tour (2006–07).[32] Swift performed "Tim McGraw" as the concert's penultimate performance. She dressed in a black, knee-length dress and red cowboy boots with a design of a scull and cross bones across it, playing an acoustic guitar. Swift requested for the audience to raise their cell phones in order to simulate a sky filled with stars, when the song reached the lyrics "He said the way my blue eyes shined / Put those Georgia starts to shame that night."[33] She also performed the song when she served as opening act on twenty dates for George Strait's 2007 United States tour,[34] and selected dates for Brad Paisley's Bonfires & Amplifiers Tour in 2007.[35][36] During mid-2007, Swift engaged as the opening act on several dates for Tim McGraw's and Faith Hill's joint tour, Soul2Soul II Tour (2006–07), where she again performed "Tim McGraw".[37] Swift performed the song while she was again opening for Rascal Flatts for their Still Feels Good Tour in 2008.[38]

Swift's first broadcast performance of "Tim McGraw" was on October 24, 2006 on Good Morning America.[32] She continued promotion for the track at Billboard headquarters,[39] the 2007 Academy of Country Music Awards,[40] The Engine Room,[41] and a concert at the Apple Store in SoHo, New York, which was recorded and released as a live extended play (EP), iTunes Live from SoHo, exclusively sold through the iTunes Store.[42] Since completing promotion for Taylor Swift and its corresponding singles, Swift has performed "Tim McGraw" at the 2009 CMA Music Festival,[43] the 2009 V Festival,[44] and the Australian charity concert Sydney Sound Relief.[45]

Swift performed "Tim McGraw" on all venues of her first headlining concert tour, the Fearless Tour, which extended from April 2009 to June 2010. The performances of "Tim McGraw" set on a small platform located at the opposite end, parallel to the stage in the arena.[46] Swift, dressed in a pastel sundress, sat on a wooden stool while performing with wooden acoustic guitar strapped to her shoulder.[46][47] Swift then completes the performance standing and walking back to the main stage. As she worked her way back to the stage, she again hugged fans, squeezed their outstretched hands and scrawled quick autographs.[46] Nicole Frehsee of Rolling Stone favored Swift's performance of "Tim McGraw" at the August 27, 2009 concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Frehsee described the entire concert as an "elaborate spectacle that doesn't slow down, even when the singer hauls her acoustic guitar into the audience to play a sweet, stripped down set of tunes including [..] 'Tim McGraw'."[47] Brandy McDonnel of The Oklahoman reported an massive sing-along by the audience at the March 31, 2010 concert at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City .[46] Molly Trust of Billboard attended the performance at the tour's final concert on June 5, 2010 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts and conjectured that the performance's setting was formed in order to "afford a better view to fans farther back."[48]

Track listings

  • US Maxi-CD Single[8]
  1. "Tim McGraw" (Album Version) – 3:52
  2. "Tim McGraw" (Radio Edit) – 3:41
  3. "Tim McGraw" (Instrumental) – 3:53

Charts

Chart (2006–07) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 40
US Hot Country Songs[21] 6

References

  1. ^ a b Morris, Edward (December 1, 2006). "When She Thinks "Tim McGraw," Taylor Swift Savors Payoff: Hardworking Teen to Open for George Strait Next Year". CMT News. Viacom. Retrieved March 11, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d Parvis, Sarah. Taylor Swift. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 9780740785962. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
  3. ^ "20 Questions With Taylor Swift". CMT News. Viacom. November 12, 2007. Retrieved December 15, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  4. ^ Swift, Taylor (February 18, 2007). "Tim McGraw — the Song". Great American Country. Scripps Networks Interactive. Retrieved December 15, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  5. ^ "Taylor Swift Proves Her Staying Power". Great American Country. Scripps Networks Interactive. August 23, 2007. Retrieved December 15, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  6. ^ a b Swift, Taylor. "My Albums - Taylor Swift - Tim McGraw". Taylorswift.com. Big Machine Records. Retrieved December 18, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  7. ^ Kawashima, Dale. "Special Interview (2007): Taylor Swift Discusses Her Debut Album, Early Hits, And How She Got Started". Songwritinguniverse.com. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  8. ^ a b "Tim McGraw - Taylor Swift". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 15, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  9. ^ Swift, Taylor (February 14, 2007). "The Ex Files". Great American Country. Scripps Networks Interactive. Retrieved December 15, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  10. ^ "allmusic {{{Taylor Swift > Overview}}}". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 28, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  11. ^ a b Fabian, Shelly. "Taylor Swift - 'Taylor Swift'". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved January 26, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  12. ^ a b c "Digital sheet music – Taylor Swift – Tim McGraw". Musicnotes.com. Alfred Publishing. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  13. ^ a b c Holland, Roger (November 9, 2006). "Taylor Swift: Taylor Swift". PopMatters. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  14. ^ a b c Dooley, Sean. "Top 10 Taylor Swift Songs". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved March 15, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  15. ^ a b c Tamarkin, Jeff. "allmusic {{{Taylor Swift > Review}}}". Allmusic. Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved January 26, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  16. ^ Sheffield, Rob. "Fearless - Taylor Swift". Blender. Alpha Media Group. Retrieved February 21, 2010.
  17. ^ Keefe, Jonathan (November 16, 2008). "Taylor Swift: Fearless". Slant Magazine. Retrieved June 28, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  18. ^ Bell, Rick. "Taylor Swift review". Country Standard Time. Retrieved March 31, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  19. ^ "2007 BMI Country Awards". BMI.com. Broadcast Music Incorporated. Retrieved January 2, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  20. ^ Hope, Clover (September 14, 2006). "Timberlake's 'Sexy' Fends Off Fergie For No. 1". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
  21. ^ a b c d e "Tim McGraw - Taylor Swift". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  22. ^ "Hot 100: "Week of February 3, 2007"". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  23. ^ "Chart Beat". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  24. ^ "Country Songs: "Week of December 16, 2006"". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  25. ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum: "Taylor Swift singles"". RIAA.com. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 5, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  26. ^ Grein, Paul (August 8, 2010). "Week Ending Aug. 8, 2008: Taylor Swift Returns". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo!. Retrieved September 20, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  27. ^ "Taylor Swift - "Tim McGraw"". CMT. Viacom. Retrieved June 28, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  28. ^ a b "GAC gets exclusive premiere of new Taylor Swift music video". Great American Country. Scripps Networks Interactive. July 20, 2006. Retrieved December 26, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  29. ^ Swift, Taylor (February 10, 2007). ""Anti-Boyfriend Stage"". Great American Country. Scripps Networks Interactive. Retrieved December 15, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  30. ^ "CMT Loaded Awards 2006: Country Music Nominees and Video". CMT Online Awards. Viacom. Retrieved June 28, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  31. ^ "CMT Music Awards: Archives: 2007 CMT Music Awards". CMT Music Awards. Viacom. Retrieved December 17, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  32. ^ a b "Taylor Swift Joins Rascal Flatts Tour". CMT News. Viacom. October 18, 2006. Retrieved March 11, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  33. ^ Smith, Bobbi. "Rascal Flatts Concert Review - Air Canada Center - November 1, 2006: Taylor Swift Opens the Show". About.com. The New York Times Company. p. 1. Retrieved March 11, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)
  34. ^ "Taylor Swift Joins George Straits 2007 Tour". CMT News. Viacom. November 17, 2006. Retrieved March 11, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  35. ^ "Brad Paisley Plans Tour With Three Opening Acts". CMT News. Viacom. January 9, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  36. ^ "Brad Paisley Announces More Tour Dates". CMT News. Viacom. March 19, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  37. ^ "Taylor Swift Joins Tim McGraw, Faith Hill on Tour". CMT News. Viacom. June 1, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  38. ^ Fabian, Shelly. "Rascal Flatts & Taylor Swift in Concert - Sacramento, CA - April 10, 2008". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved June 22, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  39. ^ "Underground:Taylor Swift". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accesssdate= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  40. ^ Gilbert, Calvin (May 16, 2007). "Carrie Underwood Wins Three ACM Awards". CMT News. Viacom. Retrieved January 8, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  41. ^ "Taylor Swift - Tim McGraw Live (The Engine Room)". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo!. Retrieved July 6, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  42. ^ "iTunes Live from SoHo by Taylor Swift". iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. Retrieved July 6, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  43. ^ "Taylor Swift "Belongs" on GAC". Great American Country. Scripps Networks Interactive. June 15, 2009. Retrieved July 6, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  44. ^ "Oasis and Killers to headline V Festival". The New Musical Express. IPC Media. March 2, 2009. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  45. ^ "Sydney Relief: Sydney Info: Line-Up". Soundrelief.com.au. Sound Relief. Retrieved July 6, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  46. ^ a b c d McDonnel, Brandy (April 1, 2010). "Concert review: Taylor Swift brings "Fearless" show to Ford Center". The Oklahoman. Oklahoma Publishing Company. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  47. ^ a b Frehsee, Nicole (August 28, 2009). "Taylor Swift Performs a "Fearless" Set at Madison Square Garden". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. Retrieved January 8, 2011.
  48. ^ Trust, Molly (June 8, 2010). "Taylor Swift / June 5, 2010 / Foxboro, Mass". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tim_McGraw_(song)&oldid=408261163"