22 (Taylor Swift song)
"22" | ||||
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Single by Taylor Swift | ||||
from the album Red | ||||
Released | March 12, 2013 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:52 | |||
Label | Big Machine | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Taylor Swift singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"22" on YouTube |
"22" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her fourth studio album, Red (2012). As the sixth track on the album, it was written by Swift along with its producers Max Martin and Shellback. It was released as the album's fourth single on March 12, 2013. "22" has been described as a "thunderous" pop song, that kicks-off with a twangy acoustic guitar riff, propelling into a disco, bubblegum pop and dance-pop chorus. Lyrically, it describes the joys of being 22 years old. Over the course of time, the song turned into a cultural phenomenon, seeing twenty-second birthdays being celebrated as a milestone.
Upon release, "22" received positive reviews from music critics, who complimented the catchy melody and pop production. The song peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the sixth song from Red to reach the top 20 in the United States. It reached the top-ten in many countries worldwide. "22" has been certified 3× Platinum by Recording Industry Association of America for selling over 3 million units in the country. The accompanying music video was shot in Malibu, California. It sees Swift bouncing on trampolines, playing on the beach and having a house party with her friends. As of July 2020, the video has more than 546 million views on YouTube.
Background and release
After writing her third studio album Speak Now (2010) entirely solo, Swift opted to collaborate with different songwriters and producers for Red. Thus, she called Max Martin and Shellback, two songwriters and producers whose work she admired, to discuss a possible collaboration. She told Billboard magazine: "For me, being 22 has been my favorite year of my life. I like all the possibilities of how you're still learning, but you know enough. You still know nothing, but you know that you know nothing. You're old enough to start planning your life, but you're young enough to know there are so many unanswered questions. That brings about a carefree feeling that is sort of based on in-decision and fear and at the same time letting loose. Being 22 has taught me so much".[1]
The song was officially supposed to impact contemporary hit radio in the U.S. on March 5, 2013, before being pushed back by one week to March 12, 2013,[2] and in the UK on March 31, 2013.[3] An exclusive limited edition individually numbered CD single was also released exclusively to Swift's store on March 13, 2013, the same day the music video was released. The CD single was sold by itself or via an exclusive package with the Red Tour items and a T-shirt.[4][5]
Composition and lyrics
"22" is a pop,[6] disco,[7] bubblegum pop[8] and dance-pop[9][10] song lasting three minutes and 52 seconds. According to The Boot, the song is "is [an] essential part of her country years", despite "Swift's looming full pivot to pop music [being] obvious in [the song]".[11] The song is written in the key of G major with a tempo of 104 beats per minute.[12][13] Swift's vocals span one and a half octaves, between G3 and D5.[12] The song was written by Swift, along with Max Martin and Shellback, who helped her in writing and producing her previous hits "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and "I Knew You Were Trouble". The lyrics describe the joys and the happiness of being 22 years old.[14]
Critical reception
"22" received positive reviews from critics. Idolator said "'22' is a thunderous pop track kicking off with a twangy acoustic guitar riff before a propulsive beat that evokes Katy Perry‘s 'Teenage Dream' drops to make way for verses that are cute and likeably bratty".[15] Digital Spy said ""We're happy free confused and lonely at the same time," Swift acknowledges over perky guitars, before launching into an earworm chant of "twenty twooo-oo-oo" that will stubbornly swirl around your head for hours on end. She may have already achieved more during her youth than most do in their lifetime, but with one more pop smash to add to her repertoire, it seems she's only just getting started.", giving the song four out of five stars.[16]
Billboard said that it is "Swift's most blatantly pop song of her career", adding that:
"'22' is all about trying to 'forget about the deadlines' and embraces only the most sugary hooks available. Underneath the heel-clicking positivity and shiny production sits the line 'We're happy, free, confused and lonely in the best way', a rather stunning meditation on being in your early 20s that's flicked off like a piece of pre-chorus lint. Even when she's having fun, Swift is succinctly communicating conflicting emotion."[17]
Accolades
Year | Organization | Award/work | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Neox Fan Awards | Best Song of the Year | Nominated | [18] |
2014 | The V Chart Awards | Best Music Video | Won | [18] |
2015 | BMI Awards | Award-Winning Songs | Won | [19] |
Publisher of the Year | Won |
Music video
The music video for "22" was filmed in February 2013, and premiered on March 13, 2013. It was directed by Anthony Mandler, who had previously directed the music video for Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble".[20] The video, presented in a 4:3 aspect ratio format, shows Swift bouncing on trampolines, playing on the beach and having a house party with her friends. As of August 2020[update] the video has more than 550 million views on YouTube. The music video was shot in Malibu, California.[21]
Live performances
Swift first performed the song during her live webchat on August 13, 2012; the performance was later released during the holiday season.[when?] Also, she performed the song at Comic Relief on February 22, 2013, and for a private concert in France while on a boat which was broadcast on OFF.tv. She also performed the song on her third concert tour, The Red Tour, and on May 19, 2013 at the Billboard Music Awards.[22] The song was also performed three times during the Reputation Stadium Tour, at the second show in Chicago, Illinois; the first show in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and the show in Sydney, Australia.[23] On December 8, 2019, Swift performed the song at Capital FM's Jingle Bell Ball 2019 in London.[24]
Chart performance
Several songs from Red, including "22", charted in different countries due to strong digital sales following the release of the album. "22" debuted at number 44 on United States Billboard Hot 100 chart, as well as at number seven on Billboard Hot Digital Songs chart with sales of 108,000.[25][26] It later re-entered the Hot 100 at number 84 on the chart week of January 12, 2013. When it was again released as a single, it reentered the charts at number 64.[27] "22" also debuted at number 29 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart and peaked at number 20. It also managed to reach number nine on the UK Singles Chart.[28][29] It reached 2 million in sales by 2014.[30] As of November 2017, the song has sold 2.3 million copies in the United States.[31]
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[57] | 2× Platinum | 140,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada)[58] | Platinum | 80,000^ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[59] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[60] | Gold | 7,500* |
United Kingdom (BPI)[61] | Gold | 400,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[62] | 3× Platinum | 2,300,000[31] |
Venezuela (APFV)[63] | Gold | 15,000 |
Streaming | ||
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[64] | Gold | 1,300,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Country | Date | Format | Label |
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United States | November 26, 2012[2] | Contemporary hit radio | Big Machine Records |
November 27, 2012[65][66] | CD single | ||
United Kingdom | March 31, 2013[3] | Contemporary hit radio |
References
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- ^ "Taylor Swift LIMITED EDITION "22" Single CD". TaylorSwift.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
- ^ "LIMITED EDITION "22" Single Package". TaylorSwift.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
- ^ Lansky, Sam (February 6, 2013). "Taylor Swift Announces "22" As Next 'Red' Single". Idolator. Buzz Media. Archived from the original on November 16, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
- ^ Sheffield, Rob (December 12, 2019). "All 153 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
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- ^ Maher, Cristin (March 11, 2013). "Pink vs. Taylor Swift - Pop Clash". PopCrush. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ Levine, Nick (May 19, 2015). "The 20 best Taylor Swift songs". Time Out. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ Konc, Riane. "All of Taylor Swift's Country Singles, Ranked". The Boot. Archived from the original on 2019-10-28. Retrieved 2019-11-20.
- ^ a b "Digital sheet music - Taylor Swift - 22". Musicnotes.com. Alfred Publishing. November 29, 2012. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
- ^ "BPM for '22' by taylor swift". songbpm.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
- ^ "Song Reviews For Taylor Swift's "Red"". October 29, 2012. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
- ^ "Taylor Swift's "22": Listen To The Storming Pop Track". Idolator. October 18, 2012. Archived from the original on October 1, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
- ^ Corner, Lewis (March 14, 2013). "Taylor Swift: '22' - Single review". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
- ^ "Taylor Swift, 'Red': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. October 19, 2012. Archived from the original on February 13, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
- ^ a b "Neox Fan Awards 2013: Temazo del a帽o". Antena3 (in Spanish). August 10, 2014. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
- ^ "P!nk Receives President's Award at 63rd Annual BMI Pop Awards". Broadcast Music, Inc. May 13, 2015. Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ^ "TAYLOR TO PREMIERE VIDEO FOR "22" THIS WEDNESDAY". Taylor Swift. Archived from the original on 2013-03-15. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-05-11. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Acuna, Kristen (May 20, 2013). "Taylor Swift's Brilliant '22' Billboard Music Awards Performance". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on November 12, 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
- ^ Iasimone, Ashley. "All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed On Her Reputation Stadium Tour B-Stage (So Far)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ Iasimone, Ashley (December 8, 2019). "Taylor Swift Performs 'Christmas Tree Farm' Live for the First Time at Capital FM's Jingle Bell Ball: Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 8, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (November 3, 2010). "Taylor Swift Sells Over 1 Million in Record Billboard 200 Debut". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on June 6, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
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- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-09-17. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Taylor Swift – 22". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201318 into search.
- ^ "EMA Top 10 Airplay: Week Ending 2013-05-21". Entertainment Monitoring Africa. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
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- ^ "Best of 2013: Canadian Hot 100". Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
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- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Taylor Swift – 22". Music Canada.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Taylor Swift – 22". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved June 26, 2018. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2018 to obtain certification.
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- ^ "LIMITED EDITION "22" Single Package". TaylorSwift.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
External links
- 2013 singles
- 2012 songs
- Taylor Swift songs
- Songs written by Taylor Swift
- Songs written by Max Martin
- Songs written by Shellback (record producer)
- Big Machine Records singles
- Republic Records singles
- Music videos directed by Anthony Mandler
- Song recordings produced by Max Martin
- Song recordings produced by Shellback (record producer)
- Songs about dancing
- Bubblegum pop songs
- American disco songs