Forever & Always
| "Forever & Always" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Forever and Always" (sold as "Forever & Always") is a song written by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her second studio album, Fearless (2008). It was a last-minute addition to the album[1] but went on to become a fan favorite, becoming certified Platinum by the RIAA[2] and peaking within the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 despite not being individually released or promoted as a single. "Forever & Always" revolves lyrically around a breakup and the resultant heartache, and is musically one of the most decidedly pop-oriented songs on the album.
Background and recording
Inspired by her recent break-up with Joe Jonas,[3] Swift quickly wrote and recorded the song at the last minute for inclusion on Fearless. As Swift explained in a track-by-track insight into the album, the song was written about a man in her life who she could see "slowly [slipping] away" from her and the confusion she felt in dealing with a crumbling relationship.[4] In an interview with Rolling Stone, Swift described the fallout of that relationship as a "really dramatic and crazy" experience that she "[needed] to address" through her music.[1]
Jonas addressed the song in the June 2009 issue of Seventeen Magazine. When talking about it, he said he wasn't bothered by Swift writing a song about their relationship. "It's flattering," said Jonas. "It's always nice to hear their side of the story."[5]
In 2009, Swift re-recorded the song in an acoustic ballad style for the Platinum Edition re-issue of Fearless. This remastered cut is officially titled "Forever & Always (Piano version)".
Live performances
Swift performed "Forever & Always" at the 2009 CMA Awards and nightly on her 2009–2010 Fearless Tour.
Chart performance
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[6] | 37 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 34 |
References
- ^ a b Scaggs, Austin. "Taylor's Time: Catching Up With Taylor Swift". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
- ^ "American certifications – Swift, Taylor". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
- ^ Vena, Jocelyn. "Taylor Swift Talks About Joe Jonas Breakup Online, On The Radio, On TV And In Her New Album". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
- ^ Swift, Taylor. "Cut By But". Bigmachinerecords.com. Big Machine Records. Archived from the original on July 27, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|work=(help) - ^ "Forever & Always by Taylor Swift".
- ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
