A request that this article title be changed to Never Grow Up is under discussion . Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed. |
"Never Grow Up" | |
---|---|
Song by Taylor Swift | |
from the album Speak Now | |
Released | October 25, 2010 |
Length | 4:50 |
Label | Big Machine |
Songwriter(s) | Taylor Swift |
Producer(s) |
|
Official audio | |
"Never Grow Up" on YouTube |
"Never Grow Up" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her third studio album, Speak Now (2010). She wrote the track inspired by her own feelings about childhood and growing up and handled the production with Nathan Chapman. An acoustic guitar-led ballad, "Never Grow Up" deals with Swift's reflection and contemplation on her childhood. Critics interpreted the lyrics as a message to younger fans and girls about childhood and growing up.
In reviews of Speak Now, many critics found the song emotional and praised Swift's songwriting. They have retrospectively remained positive of the track and listed it in their rankings of her discography. Commercially, "Never Grow Up" reached the US Billboard Hot 100 and Country Digital Song Sales charts, with respective peaks of number 84 and number 12. It received certifications in the United States and Australia. Swift performed the track outside the set lists on five of her concert tours. Following a 2019 dispute regarding the ownership of Swift's back catalog, she re-recorded the song as "Never Grow Up (Taylor's Version)" for the 2023 re-recorded album, Speak Now (Taylor's Version) .
Taylor Swift wrote her third studio album Speak Now (2010) entirely by herself and co-produced it with Nathan Chapman. [1] [2] She included all of the emotions she felt in the last two years on the album and conceived it as a collection of songs about the things she had wanted to but was unable to do with the people she had met in her life. [3] [4] One such song is "Never Grow Up", which Swift wrote for her younger self inspired by the nostalgia of her own childhood and the uncertainty of growing up. [5] [6] [7] It is a ballad led by an acoustic guitar (played by Chapman), [8] [2] lasting about four minutes and fifty seconds. [9] Swift's vocals on the song are breathy, and she is accompanied by a background male vocalist. [10] Critics deemed "Never Grow Up" one of Speak Now's most country-leaning tracks [11] and the closest to Swift's previous works, [8] with some believing that it could have been for her 2006 self-titled studio album. [10] [12] Rolling Stone 's writer Rob Sheffield viewed the song as a "folksy fingerpicking change of pace" on Speak Now. [12]
Based on confessional songwriting, [7] the lyrics of "Never Grow Up" address Swift's reflection on her childhood. [6] [13] [14] In the first verse, she takes on the perspective of a mother talking to a baby: "Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming / So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light". Swift asks the baby to "never grow up" to keep up with their bond in the future. [6] [15] The next verse sees Swift observing a teenager convincing her mother to drop her off near a movie theater because she deems that it is not cool to see her at her age being dropped off by her parents. [15] In the last verse, the perspective shifts to Swift herself, contemplating her childhood ("Wish I'd never grown up") [16] and longingly looks back on it ("I could still be little"). [17] She wants to remember all the memories ("Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room") but at the same time they are fading ("I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone"). [18]
Critics analyzed the lyrics as a message to younger girls and fans. In NME , Hannah Mylrea deemed it "Swift dealing out her best life advice for younger fans in particular". [19] Sam Sodomsky of Pitchfork opined that she "[sounds] far older than her years as she urges girls younger than her to savor every moment" in their lives. [8] Kate Atkinson from Billboard said that the song has a "universal" message of "trying to hold on to your own innocence and/or shielding the innocent ones around you". [20] Matt Bjorke of Roughstock thought it was "written to a younger girl reminding her to cherish the moments" of her childhood as she grows fast and will "never [be] able to reclaim that carefree fantastic time of your life". [21] For American Songwriter , Jacob Uitti believed that Swift was reaching out to her audience, particularly girls: "Sometimes we want to stay the same age, sometimes we want to be older. But no matter what we want, life happens." [22]
"Never Grow Up" was included as the eight track on Speak Now, which was released on October 25, 2010, by Big Machine Records. [9] In the United States, it peaked at number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 [23] and number 12 on the Country Digital Song Sales chart. [24] On July 13, 2015, the song received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling 500,000 units in the US. [25] In January 2024, it was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for reaching 70,000 units in Australia. [26]
After Speak Now's release, Swift performed "Never Grow Up" at selected locations of the album's associated world tour in 2011. These include Lexington, [27] Houston, [28] and Raleigh, all of which are where she performed an acoustic rendition of the song. [29] In 2013, Swift sang the track with a guitar during a Washington show of her Red Tour. [30] On the August 15, 2015, show at Santa Clara of her 1989 World Tour, she performed "Never Grow Up" in dedication to her godson and the second child of the actress Jaime King. [31] On her Reputation Stadium Tour (2018) and Eras Tour (2023–24), Swift sang it as a "surprise song"—a segment where she performs random songs from her discography—in Philadelphia [32] and Kansas City, [33] respectively.
Initial reviews of "Never Grow Up" found the song vulnerable and praised Swift's songwriting. Chris Willman of Our Country described it as a "sweet lullabye with an undercurrent of sadness or even wary adult bitterness". [34] Alex Macpherson from The Guardian believed that it was where Swift was at her most brave on the album and considered her singing to herself "devastating and genuinely uncomfortable". [35] Sam Gnerre of the Los Angeles Daily News viewed the song as an "excellent ballad" and "a surprisingly prescient lullaby". [36] Rick Moore from American Songwriter said that the "great opening lines and use of imagery" could see Swift start writing tracks without romance in them and become a "truly accomplished writer". [6] Melinda Newman of HitFix wrote that the song was spare and lovely. [11]
A few critics drew comparisons to other songs. The Los Angeles Times ' writer Ann Powers likened it to Brad Paisley's "Letter to Me" (2007) conceptually but thought both songs had different takes on their theme. She also viewed the track as Swift's "most revealing" song to date. [17] John J. Moser of The Morning Call considered "Never Grow Up" to have the opposite concept of her song "The Best Day" (2008) and one of the best tracks on the album where "Swift actually changes it up". [37] Leah Greenblatt from Entertainment Weekly regarded the song as a "fragile lullaby" and the "soft-focus" reversal of Harry Chapin's track "Cat's in the Cradle" (1974). [38] Other critics focused on other aspects of the song. Dave Heaton from PopMatters said that "Never Grow Up" had country radio potential and thought it showcased Swift's potential capability of "taking common country-radio templates and perfecting them". [39] George Lang of The Oklahoman believed it was one of the tracks that prevented the album from becoming a "tabloid marathon". [40] Matthew Horton of BBC Music regarded it as a "sunburst pop [nugget] that would brighten any daytime radio playlist". [41]
Retrospective reviews of "Never Grow Up" remained positive. Atkinson [20] and Sodomsky thought it was wistful and tender. [8] The musicologist James E. Perone viewed "Never Grow Up" as a standout on the album and attributed it to the theme of childhood, which he lauded Swift's sentiments about it and how it complements with the composition. He also said that the song represented her growth as a songwriter, believing that she would explore more themes other than her autobiographical songwriting. [42] James Rettig from Stereogum considered it one of the "most heart-wrenching" tracks from Swift's discography. [18] Carena Liptak of Taste of Country [43] and Martin Chilton of UDiscoverMusic considered the song highly introspective and praised the emotionalism that was displayed. [44] Finley Liu from Young Post considered the song one of the album's underrated tracks. [45]
"Never Grow Up" was included in the rankings of Swift's discography by Jane Song and a staff of Paste (at 56), [46] Nate Jones of Vulture (92), [47] Mylrea (106), [19] and Sheffield (216). [12] For Jones, the song was an example of her better writing with childhood than with old age, and he believed that the concept of children was well-written to the point "you'd swear she was secretly a 39-year-old mom". [47] Song alongside Uitti [22] wrote that it would make you emotional. [46] The song was also featured in the rankings of 100 selected tracks from Swift by the editorial staff of Billboard and Roisin O'Connor of The Independent . Andrew Unterberger of the former considered the song a "sort of childhood trilogy closer" after "Mary's Song (Oh My My My)" (2006) and "The Best Day" and thought it was given "unexpected gravity" in the end, [16] while O'Connor believed that the "tender acoustic picking" complemented by the vocals made the song soothing. [10]
Chart (2010) | Peak position |
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US Billboard Hot 100 [23] | 84 |
US Country Digital Song Sales ( Billboard ) [24] | 12 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA) [26] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [25] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
"Never Grow Up (Taylor's Version)" | |
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Song by Taylor Swift | |
from the album Speak Now (Taylor's Version) | |
Released | July 7, 2023 |
Length | 4:52 |
Label | Republic |
Songwriter(s) | Taylor Swift |
Producer(s) |
|
Lyric video | |
"Never Grow Up (Taylor's Version)" on YouTube |
Swift departed from Big Machine and signed a new contract with Republic Records in 2018. She began re-recording her first six studio albums in November 2020. [48] The decision followed a 2019 dispute between Swift and the talent manager Scooter Braun, who acquired Big Machine Records, over the masters of Swift's albums that the label had released. [49] [50] By re-recording the albums, Swift had full ownership of the new masters, which enabled her to encourage licensing of her re-recorded songs for commercial use in hopes of substituting the Big Machine-owned masters. [51] She denoted the re-recordings with a "Taylor's Version" subtitle. [52]
The re-recording of "Never Grow Up" is titled "Never Grow Up (Taylor's Version)" and was included on Speak Now (Taylor's Version) , the re-recording of Speak Now, which was released on July 7, 2023. [53] It contains two more seconds than the original. [54] The re-recording peaked at number 71 on the Billboard Global 200 [55] and reached the countries of the Philippines (15) [56] and Canada (59). [57] In the United States, it debuted and peaked at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 [58] and number 27 on Hot Country Songs. [59]
Alex Hopper of American Songwriter, [60] Mike DeWald of Riff Magazine, [61] and Mark Sutherland of Rolling Stone UK found the song vulnerable and believed that it was further heightened by Swift being an adult. [62] Some discussed the production and her performance. DeWald said that the song sounds "like a track straight out" of Swift's album Folklore (2020), and where her vocal growth is particularly evident. [61] Poppie Platt of The Telegraph stated that although her singing may seem jarring at first, her "grasp on tone and melody has much improved since her [early] days" that it is still effective. [63] Kate Solomon from the i wrote that the song would only be "annoying and cliched" but she believed that it was still faithful to the original. [64]
Other critics interpreted the lyrics with the new context of Swift's growth. Chris Richards of The Washington Post viewed the re-recorded track as "reinhabiting her 20-year-old psyche as she sings to both her past and future selves" and believed that the "titular refrain" brought "a sort of nostalgic claustrophobia". [65] Vrinda Jagota from Pitchfork thought that towards the end the song "reveals itself as a means of mourning her past self" and promises that no one will ever leave or harm Swift. [66]
Adapted from Speak Now (Taylor's Version) digital album inline notes [67]
Chart (2023) | Peak position |
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Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [57] | 59 |
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [55] | 71 |
Philippines ( Billboard ) [56] | 15 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [58] | 58 |
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [59] | 27 |
Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. Known for her autobiographical songwriting, artistic reinventions, and cultural impact, Swift is a leading figure in popular music and the subject of widespread public interest.
Speak Now is the third studio album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, released on October 25, 2010, by Big Machine Records. Swift wrote the album entirely herself while touring in 2009–2010 to reflect on her transition from adolescence to adulthood.
"Mine" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the lead single from her third studio album, Speak Now (2010). Big Machine Records released the song for download and to radio on August 4, 2010. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, "Mine" is a country pop and pop rock song. In its lyrics, it discusses the ups and downs of young love, inspired by Swift's tendency to run away from love for fears of heartbreak.
"Back to December" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her third studio album, Speak Now (2010). Big Machine Records released it as the album's second single on November 15, 2010. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, "Back to December" is a country pop power ballad that incorporates a string section. Inspired by Swift's relationship with the actor Taylor Lautner, the lyrics are about a remorseful plea for forgiveness from a former lover.
"Speak Now" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It is the title track for her third studio album of the same name (2010), and was released for digital download as a promotional single on October 5, 2010, by Big Machine Records. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, "Speak Now" is an acoustic guitar-driven country pop song with its refrain incorporating the 1950s rock chord progression. Lyrically, the track is about a protagonist interrupting a wedding in an attempt to win her ex-lover back. Swift was inspired to write it after learning that an ex-boyfriend of her friend would marry someone else.
"Mean" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her third studio album, Speak Now (2010). Big Machine Records released the song to US country radio as the album's third single on March 13, 2011. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, "Mean" is a six-string banjo-led country pop and bluegrass track that incorporates hand claps, fiddles, and multitracked vocals. Inspired by critics of Swift, the lyrics narrate a protagonist's self-awareness of her own shortcomings, efforts to overcome the criticism, and ridicule of a "mean" antagonist.
"Sparks Fly" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her third studio album, Speak Now (2010). Swift had written the track in 2006 and occasionally performed it live, and she recorded it for Speak Now after receiving fan requests to release it. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, "Sparks Fly" is a pop rock track combining elements of arena rock and country; its production incorporates dynamic electric guitars and subtle fiddles. The lyrics are about temptations and reluctance caused by a dangerous love affair.
"The Story of Us" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her third studio album, Speak Now (2010). The international mix was released to radio in Europe on April 7, 2011 and the original version was sent to US pop radio on April 19, 2011, as the fourth single from the album. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, the track combines pop-punk, dance-pop, new wave, and power pop, with a production consisting of fast-paced drums and dynamic electric guitars. For the lyrics, which are about the awkwardness between two parted lovers, Swift was inspired by her encounter with an ex-boyfriend at an awards show.
"Better than Revenge" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her third studio album, Speak Now (2010). Swift and Nathan Chapman produced the track, which is an electric guitar-driven pop-punk song. In the lyrics, Swift's character addresses a romantic rival that stole her boyfriend, lambasting the sexual habits, tastes, and life choices of the other girl. "Better than Revenge" charted in Canada and the United States in 2010, and it was included in the set list of Swift's Speak Now World Tour (2011–2012).
Speak Now World Tour – Live is the first live album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released on November 21, 2011, by Big Machine Records. It consists of two components: an audio CD and a visual accompaniment either on DVD or Blu-ray. Recorded on Swift's Speak Now World Tour, which she embarked on to support her third studio album Speak Now, the live album consists of songs and performances on various dates.
"Long Live" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her third studio album, Speak Now (2010). Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, "Long Live" is a heartland rock song featuring girl group harmonies and chiming rock guitars. The lyrics are about Swift's gratitude for her fans and bandmates, using high-school and royalty imagery to describe the accomplishments in the narrator's life.
"State of Grace" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her fourth studio album, Red. To promote the album before its release, Big Machine Records released the song for download on October 16, 2012. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, "State of Grace" is an arena rock song that uses chiming, feedback-drenched guitars and pounding drums. An acoustic version features as a deluxe-edition bonus track. The lyrics are about the tumultuous feelings evoked by the first signs of love.
"Everything Has Changed" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift featuring the English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran from Swift's fourth studio album, Red (2012). It was released as the sixth single from the album on July 14, 2013, by Big Machine Records. A music video for the song was released earlier on June 6, 2013. Produced by Butch Walker, "Everything Has Changed" is a guitar-led folk-pop ballad. Its lyrics are about wanting to know a new lover better. The song received mixed reviews from critics, who either complimented or criticized the production.
"Innocent" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her third studio album, Speak Now (2010). Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, the song was written in response to Kanye West's interruption of her acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, feeling the need to sympathize with him after the public outrage he received. A gentle pop and alternative country ballad with tender vocals, its lyrics are about a protagonist's encouragement of someone who has committed wrongdoings, claiming them to hold innocence and believing that they could redeem themself.
"This Love" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her fifth studio album, 1989 (2014). Swift produced the song with Nathan Chapman. An atmospheric ballad, "This Love" combines soft rock and synth-pop. Its lyrics use oceanic imagery to describe the revival of a faded romance.
"Enchanted" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her third studio album, Speak Now (2010). Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, the song is a power ballad combining pop, rock, and country. The production incorporates gentle acoustic guitars and crescendos after each refrain, leading to dynamic electric guitars, a steady drum beat, and a vocal harmony-layered coda. In the lyrics, a narrator is infatuated with someone after meeting them for the first time, and she worries about whether the initial feeling will be reciprocated.
"Seven" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). Swift co-wrote the song with its producer, Aaron Dessner. "Seven" is a folk song with nostalgic lyricism. It blends present and past perspectives: a 30-year-old narrator introspecting on her childhood in Pennsylvania while recalling the purity of her relationship with an old friend and the then 7-year-old narrator incapable of understanding the domestic violence her friend had experienced but realizing it years later. The song is led by Swift's upper register over a swirling piano line, complemented by acoustic guitars, drums, and strings.
"Treacherous" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, taken from her fourth studio album, Red (2012). Swift wrote the track with its producer Dan Wilson. Blending styles of country and pop, "Treacherous" is a slow-burning ballad that builds up into a finale. Its lyrics are about a narrator's attempt to protect a fragile and dangerous relationship. A demo of the song was included in the tracklist of Red's deluxe edition.
"Dear John" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her third studio album, Speak Now (2010). The title references the Dear John letter, which is a letter written to a man by his romantic partner to inform him that their relationship is over. The lyrics describe a 19-year-old's toxic and inappropriate relationship with an older man. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, "Dear John" is a slow-burning power ballad combining soft rock, electric blues, and country pop; the production incorporates electric guitar licks.
"Haunted" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her third studio album, Speak Now (2010). Inspired by an unsettling realization, the lyrics are about the harrowing feelings following the aftermath of a relationship. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, "Haunted" is an arena rock and goth rock song with an orchestral arrangement; it incorporates a composite instrumental riff, a dramatic piano line, and dense percussion. Critics primarily praised the song for the vocals, songwriting, and production, though some deemed it lacking.
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