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Shorter Songs and Bigger Albums?


Taylor Swift is one of the most successful and influential artists of our time. She has released nine studio albums, won 11 Grammy Awards, and sold over 200 million records worldwide.


On March 17, 2023, Taylor Swift took the stage at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona to kick off her highly anticipated Eras Tour. Three hours and thirteen minutes later, she walked off the stage after finishing a 44-song set spanning her ten musical eras (albums).

But how has her music changed over the years? And what can we learn from her career choices?


- Based on an article by Danny Katz on Chartmetric's website, published August 15, 2023


In this article, we will use data from Chartmetric, a music analytics platform, to explore the evolution of Taylor Swift’s music across four eras: Country, Pop, Folklore/Evermore, and Red (Taylor’s Version). We will look at how her songs’ length, tempo, genre, mood, and lyrics have changed over time, and how these changes reflect her artistic vision and market strategy.


We will also examine how her albums’ performance on streaming platforms, social media, and charts have been affected by her musical shifts and release tactics. We will see how she has leveraged her fanbase, collaborations, and re-recordings to maintain her relevance and popularity in a competitive industry.


Some of the key findings from our analysis are:


  • Taylor Swift’s songs have become shorter over time, from an average of 4:07 minutes in her Country era to 3:32 minutes in her Pop era. This could be a response to the streaming economy, where shorter songs are more likely to be played and added to playlists.


  • Taylor Swift’s songs have also become faster over time, from an average of 108 BPM in her Country era to 122 BPM in her Pop era. This could be a reflection of her transition from acoustic to electronic sounds, and her desire to appeal to a wider audience.


  • Taylor Swift’s songs have diversified in genre over time, from mostly Country and Pop in her first two eras, to Folk, Indie, Alternative, Rock, and even Hip Hop in her later eras. This could be a sign of her creative experimentation and versatility, as well as her collaboration with different producers and artists.


  • Taylor Swift’s songs have varied in mood over time, from mostly Happy and Energetic in her Country era, to Sad and Angry in her Folklore/Evermore era. This could be a result of her personal experiences and emotions, as well as the influence of the pandemic and social issues on her music.


  • Taylor Swift’s songs have become more complex in lyrics over time, from an average of 2.8 unique words per line in her Country era to 3.6 unique words per line in her Folklore/Evermore era. This could be an indication of her maturity and sophistication as a songwriter, as well as her use of metaphors and storytelling.


If you are a fan of Taylor Swift, or just curious about how she has managed to stay on top of the game for so long, you will find this article interesting and insightful. Read on to discover how Taylor Swift’s music evolved over time.


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Summary by The New Bing AI

Photo taken from Taylor Swift's official Facebook fanpage

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