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White Horse (Taylor Swift song)

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For the Laid Back song, see White Horse (Laid Back song).
"White Horse"
Song

"White Horse" is a song written and recorded by American country singer Taylor Swift and co-written by Liz Rose. It was the second official single released from Swift's album Fearless.

Described as "angst-ridden" and written about "the most heart-breaking part of a break-up," "White Horse" received positive critical reviews and charted in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The song has been certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of one million copies, and it won two Grammy Awards (for Best Country Song and Best Female Country Vocal Performance). Its music video was the first ever to debut at number one on CMT's Top Twenty Countdown.

Background

According to Country Weekly magazine, Swift says she wrote the song within weeks of writing "Love Story".[2] Swift said that the man from the previous song "reminded [her] a lot of fairy tales and Prince Charming." After she wrote part of the first verse, she placed a call to her friend, co-writer Liz Rose, to help her write the song. Swift and Rose finished "White Horse" within 45 minutes.[2]

At first, Swift was not planning to include "White Horse" on the album Fearless. However, the executive producers of Grey's Anatomy liked the song so much that it was featured on the show, and Swift then put it on the album, as well.[3] "White Horse" was first played during the fall 2008 season premiere. Swift was a big fan of the show, and she said that: "Finding out I have a song in Grey's Anatomy was one of the very few times in my life I've broken down crying out of happiness."[4]

Composition

The song is a country ballad,[5][6] written in the key of C Major and in 4/4 time.[7] Its female narrator tells of being hurt by a former boyfriend. She describes her feelings as the relationship ("fairytale") ends, singing "I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairytale / I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet / Lead her up the stairwell."[6]

"White Horse" (2008)
This is a 29-second sample from Taylor Swift's "White Horse".
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"In the song 'White Horse', you put everything you have into love and you get your heart broken," Swift said. "More people have been able to relate to those songs – the ones that I wrote when I was really going through something terrible."[8] Swift also said, "To me, 'White Horse' is about what, in my opinion, is the most heart-breaking part of a break-up – that moment when you realize that all the dreams you had, all those visions you had of being with this person, all that disappears. Everything after that moment is moving on.. But that initial moment of 'Wow, it's over' is what I wrote 'White Horse' about."[3]

Reception

"White Horse" was the second single released from Fearless.[6] It received favorable reviews from music critics. Billboard wrote that, "The second single from Taylor Swift's top-selling sophomore CD is a beautiful, understated ballad that showcases her skill with a lyric and shines a spotlight on her signature tender, heart-on-her-sleeve vocals ... Her previous hits have explored the joys and disappointments of love from a decidedly youthful perspective, but this angst-ridden effort is something everyone can relate to. Heartbreak has rarely sounded as compelling."[6] Karlie Justus of The 9513 gave it a "thumbs up" review, calling it "quite a leap for the queen of the OMGeneration. It's a direct rebuttal to her previous single's happy-ever-after ideal, down to shared references of grand staircases, princesses, and fairytale romances ... Although Swift has dealt with themes of rejection and loss before, the results have never been this mature or realistic."[9] Country Universe gave the song a grade of A-. Reviewer Kevin John Coyne wrote, "Swift effectively uses the standard imagery of the prince on a white horse, and there's just something about the fairy tale not coming true that makes it feel a little more country and a lot more relevant than 'Love Story.' It's worth noting that this is the best that Swift has sounded on record so far, and the understated vocal serves her well."[10]

In 2010, the song won two Grammy Awards, for Best Country Song and for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.[11] The single was certified platinum by the RIAA – for shipments of one million copies – on October 12, 2009.[1] As of February 9, 2011, it had sold 1,584,000 copies and was the sixth-best selling single of Swift's career.[12]

Music video

File:Taylor Swift in White Horse music video.jpg
Taylor Swift in the music video for "White Horse"

As the video begins, Swift is leaning against a wall and crying. In a flashback, her boyfriend has called her, attempting to make amends and begging for a second chance, but she hesitates before responding. The video then shows the couple in a happy relationship.[13]

Later, Swift tells a friend how wonderful this boy is and that he is the best thing to have happened to her. Her friend does not share the same enthusiasm, explaining that "there's something you should know about him." The explanation was that the young man is currently in another relationship. Swift then walks to her boyfriend's house and sees his other girlfriend there; she leaves, horrified, while he tries to explain. In the end, the boy asks her for another chance. After a quick-zoom montage of the couple's relationship, Swift admits that she still loves him but denies his request. She immediately hangs up and then starts to cry uncontrollably.[13]

"White Horse" was directed by Trey Fanjoy.[14] It was filmed in Nashville, Tennessee, and Swift's ex-boyfriend was played by actor Stephen Colletti.[8] The video became the first ever to debut at number one on CMT's Top Twenty Countdown.[15]

Charts

Chart (2008–2009) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Singles[16] 41
Canadian Hot 100[17] 43
UK Singles[18] 60
US Billboard Hot 100[19] 13
US Hot Country Songs[20] 2

End of year charts

Charts (2009) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 76
Preceded by Grammy Award for
Best Country Song
2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Grammy Award for
Best Female Country Vocal Performance
2010 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ a b "RIAA - Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
  2. ^ a b Conaway, Alanna (2009-06-01). "Story Behind the Song: Love Story—Chapter 2". Country Weekly. 16 (16): 21. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  3. ^ a b "Taylor Swift: Cut By Cut". bigmachinerecords.com. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  4. ^ Lu, Anne. "Country Singer Taylor Swift To Debut Her New Single On 'Grey's Anatomy' Season Premiere Episode". allheadlinenews.com. September 22, 2008. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  5. ^ "Fearless - Taylor Swift". allmusic.com. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d "Billboard single reviews of Taylor Swift, Jamie Foxx". reuters.com. December 5, 2008. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  7. ^ "Taylor Swift - White Horse Sheet Music". musicnotes.com. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  8. ^ a b Darden, Beville. "Taylor Swift's 'White Horse' Rider Revealed". theboot.com. January 9, 2009. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  9. ^ Justus, Karlie (2008-12-05). "Taylor Swift - "White Horse"". The 9513. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
  10. ^ Coyne, Kevin John. "Single Review: Taylor Swift, 'White Horse'". countryuniverse.net. November 26, 2008. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  11. ^ Sorich, Sonya. "Grammy Awards 2010 winners: Taylor Swift gets album of the year". ledger-enquirer.com. February 1, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  12. ^ Grein, Paul. "Week Ending Feb. 6, 2011: Songs: Katy Stands Alone". new.music.yahoo.com. February 9, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  13. ^ a b Taylor Swift (2009), Fearless Platinum Edition, Big Machine Records {{citation}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |title2= ignored (help)
  14. ^ "Taylor Swift's Video Is First to Debut at No. 1 on CMT's Top 20 Countdown". cmt.com. February 20, 2009. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  15. ^ Weber, Lindsey. "10 Best Taylor Swift Songs". aolradioblog.com. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  16. ^ "Taylor Swift - White Horse". australian-charts.com. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  17. ^ "Taylor Swift Album & Song Chart History". billboard.com. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  18. ^ "Taylor Swift - White Horse". chartstats.com. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  19. ^ "Taylor Swift Album & Song Chart History". billboard.com. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  20. ^ "Taylor Swift Album & Song Chart History". billboard.com. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  21. ^ Caulfield, Keith. "Taylor Swift, Black Eyed Peas and Beyoncé Lead Year-End Charts". billboard.com. December 14, 2009. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
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