The day that would lead to today’s Swiftie craze…
Seventeen years ago today, Taylor Swift released her legendary debut self-titled album. Taylor Swift took country music listeners by storm with the tall blonde with curly hair singing about profound heartbreak. As just a teenager, Swift’s outlook was well beyond her years, and her skillful songwriting was highlighted for the first time throughout all eleven tracks on the album.
The album was recorded across four Nashville studios, including Sound Emporium and Quad Studio. Produced by Robert Ellis Orrall and Nathan Chapman, this album is the true country album from the artist, highlighting twangs, banjos, and fiddles. Now, we know that Swift would later take a turn in her career into the pop genre… but man, country Taylor Swift hits different.
The song was a MASSIVE success for a debut album, with three songs charting. “Our Song” and “Should’ve Said No” took top honors on the Hot Country Songs chart, while “Teardrops On My Guitar” gave Swift her very first top-15 chart entry on the Billboard Hot 100. And while it didn’t have as much commercial success, “Tim McGraw” is housed on this album, which was Swift’s debut single.
The album spent a total of 24 weeks at number one on the Top Country Albums chart and peaked at number five on the Billboard 200 chart, making it the longest charting album for the 2000s decade.
Today, the album is 7x RIAA Platinum certified, ARIA Platinum, BPI Gold certified, and MC Platinum, having sold over 5.8 million copies. Needless to say, the album did alright and busted down the door into the industry for Swift.
Although I personally miss her country music roots throughout today’s music, there is no doubt that Swift has captured the hearts of fans through her masterful songwriting, and catapulted herself to the pinnacle of pop culture achievement. Is there a bigger star in the world than Taylor Swift right now? I don’t think so… Hell, the NFL is even fawning over Taylor and newfound romance with Chiefs TE Travis Kelce.
Take it back to your childhood bedroom, pretend to put the CD on, and jam out to a few of these classics today.
“Tim McGraw”
“Should’ve Said No”
“Picture To Burn”
“Teardrops On My Guitar”
