"Sparks Fly" | ||||
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Single by Taylor Swift | ||||
from the album Speak Now | ||||
Written | 2006 | |||
Released | July 18, 2011 | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length | 4:22 | |||
Label | Big Machine | |||
Songwriter(s) | Taylor Swift | |||
Producer(s) |
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Taylor Swift singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Sparks Fly" on YouTube |
"Sparks Fly" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her third studio album Speak Now (2010). Swift had written the song before she released her self-titled debut album in 2006, but she only included it on her third album after receiving fan requests to release the song. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, "Sparks Fly" is an uptempo pop rock track combining elements of arena rock and country with a production incorporating dynamic electric guitars and subtle fiddles. The lyrics are about a temptation to resist a dangerous love affair.
The song was released to US country radio on July 18, 2011, by Big Machine Records, as the fifth single from Speak Now. A music video featuring footage of the Speak Now World Tour was released on August 10, 2011, accompanied by a limited-edition CD single released on Swift's official website. In contemporary reviews, most music critics praised the uptempo production, but some deemed the track forgettable. The single won a Teen Choice Award for Choice Music – Country Song.
Following the release of Speak Now, "Sparks Fly" debuted at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number 28 on the Canadian Hot 100. After its single release, it peaked at number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Swift included the song on the set lists of the Speak Now World Tour (2011–2012) and the Red Tour (2013–2014), and performed it on select dates of the 1989 World Tour (2015), Reputation Stadium Tour (2018), and the Eras Tour (2023–2024). A re-recorded version, titled "Sparks Fly (Taylor's Version)", was released as part of Swift's third re-recorded album Speak Now (Taylor's Version) on July 7, 2023.
The American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift began work on her third studio album, Speak Now (2010), two years prior to its release. [1] A track on the album, "Sparks Fly", was written by Swift when she was sixteen years old, before she released her self-titled debut album in 2006. [2] [3] She performed the song live during a few bar shows, and a recorded live performance of the song during one of her concerts made its way onto the internet in 2007. [4] [5] The song became a favorite among Swift's fans, and after Swift received fan request to include "Sparks Fly" on her third album at the 2010 CMA Music Festival, she decided to rework the song and include it on Speak Now. [6] The album version includes some changes to the lyrics and arrangement. [7]
"Sparks Fly" was sent to US country radio on July 18, 2011, by Big Machine Records; it was the fifth single from Speak Now. [8] [9] An exclusive package was released to Swift's official store including a "Speak Now" necklace and an individually numbered "Sparks Fly" CD single. [10] The single was later included in another package that was exclusive to Swift's official store. The package included the Target-exclusive deluxe edition of Speak Now, a pair of headphones, and one of the three CD singles for "Sparks Fly", "The Story of Us", or "Mean". [11] The song was featured on a promotional trailer for the CW show, Hart of Dixie . [12]
"Sparks Fly" was written by Swift, who produced it with Nathan Chapman. [14] [15] According to Swift, the song is about an irresistible but dangerous love affair with strong connection and chemistry. [8] Critics described it as an uptempo pop rock song. [13] [16] In Taste of Country , Amanda Hensel commented that "Sparks Fly" straddles the perceived boundary between country and pop. [8] Ed Masley of The Arizona Republic called the song "a perfect blend of '70s arena rock and country". [17] The production incorporates dynamic electric guitars and subtle fiddles. [13] [17]
In the lyrics, which feature fairy-tale imagery, [18] the narrator talks about her obsession with a green-eyed boy, wanting to kiss him in the rain and waiting for him to lead her to private spaces. [19] [20] In the refrain, the narrator begs her love interest to "Drop everything now" and meet her in the pouring rain; [20] Jonathan Keefe in Country Universe deemed this part the track's hook. [13] The lyrics mentioning love under the rain recall many of Swift's previous songs from her second album Fearless (2008), including the title track, "Hey Stephen", and "Forever & Always". [21]
The second verse of the 2010 album version replaces some lyrics in the original version such as, "Cause my heart is beating fast and you are beautiful," and includes new lyrics such as, "My mind forgets to remind me you're a bad idea." [4] Chris Willman from Yahoo! Music commented that the new lyrics portray the narrator as more confident. [7] Additionally, the album version leaves out the banjo on the original. [4] According to Theon Weber of The Village Voice , the lyric, "Gimme something that'll haunt me when you're not around," is an allusion to sex. [22]
In a Speak Now album review for Rolling Stone , Rob Sheffield selected "Sparks Fly" as an example where Swift improved as a singer. [23] Country Universe's Jonathan Keefe was unimpressed with Swift's vocals, which he deemed technically weak and limited, but lauded the song for its production and simplicity. Though Keefe remarked that the lyrical imagery was generic, the song "proves how evocative those turns-of-phrase can be in the right context". Keefe gave the track an A rating. [13]
Bobby Peacock of Roughstock and Amanda Hensel of Taste of Country both gave "Sparks Fly" a three-and-a-half rating out of five. Peacock welcomed the lyrical revisions from the original version and said that although the refrain is catchy, the song begins to trail off by the second half. [4] Hensel similarly commended the catchy production but felt that it lacked the originality of Speak Now's previous single "Mean". [8] On a more negative side, Erin Thompson of Seattle Weekly commented the rain imagery on "Sparks Fly" represented Swift's lack of repertoire in her songwriting. [21] John J. Moser from The Morning Call and Mikael Wood from Spin considered it one of the album's weakest tracks. [24] [25]
In a retrospective review, NME 's Hannah Mylrea lauded the "euphoric" production and described the song as a "toe-tapping head-banging anthem". [5] [26] Sheffield picked it as an example where Swift "shows off her uncanny power to make a moment sound gauchely private and messily public at the same time". [20] In Consequence , Mary Siroky opined that "Sparks Fly", which "fervidly showcased Swift's maturing approaches to songwriting and romance", should have been Speak Now's lead single replacing the "safe and reflective" "Mine". [27] Finley Liu, in a South China Morning Post ranking of Swift's discography, picked "Sparks Fly" as one of the album's underrated songs. [28]
At the BMI Country Awards in 2012, "Sparks Fly" was one of the 50 award-winning songs and helped Sony Music Publishing earn the award for Publisher of the Year. [29] It received a nomination for Favorite Song at the 2012 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards [30] and won Choice Country Song at the 2012 Teen Choice Awards. [31] In 2019, Insider named "Sparks Fly" one of the eighteen best songs written by teenagers. [32]
After Speak Now was released, "Sparks Fly" debuted at number 17 (which also became its peak) on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart dated November 4, 2010. [33] [34] It was one of the ten Speak Now tracks that debuted on the Hot 100 the same week, making Swift the first act to have ten new Hot 100 entries at the same time. [35] After its single release, it re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 84 on the week ending August 27, 2011. [36] "Sparks Fly" spent a total of 20 weeks on the Hot 100. [34]
On Billboard 's Hot Country Songs chart, which monitored US country airplay, the song peaked at number one on the chart dated November 26, 2011; it spent 21 weeks in total on the chart. [37] It was Swift's fifth Hot Country Songs number-one single and her first since "You Belong with Me" (2009). [38] "Sparks Fly" ranked at number 37 on the 2011 Hot Country Songs year-end chart. [39] The single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for surpassing one million units and, as of November 2017, had sold 1.1 million digital copies in the United States. [40]
In Canada, "Sparks Fly" debuted and peaked at number 28 on the Canadian Hot 100 [41] and number three on the Canada Country chart. [42] The single reached the lower-tier positions on charts in Australia (number 97) [43] and Flanders (number 17 on the Ultratip chart). [44]
Swift performed "Sparks Fly" as an unreleased song during a few live shows in 2007. [4] She performed "Sparks Fly" for an NBC Speak Now Thanksgiving Special, which broadcast on November 25, 2010. [45] The television special showcased the making of the album along with live performances on a rooftop in New York City. [46] On the Speak Now World Tour (2011–2012), Swift included it as the opening song to the concerts. [47] She sang the song wearing a gold dress and tall black boots as fireworks dashed through a three-staircase stage. [48] [49] The performance was recorded and released on Swift's live album, Speak Now World Tour – Live (2011). [50]
On January 11, 2011, Swift performed "Sparks Fly" as part of an exclusive concert for the Allure of the Seas cruise in Mexico. [51] She later performed "Sparks Fly" at the 2011 CMA Music Festival, held in August, [52] and at a showcase in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in September 2012, with Brazilian singer-songwriter Paula Fernandes. [53] Swift later included the track on the set list of the Red Tour (2013–2014); during the shows, she sang the song on a platform suspended from the ceiling. [54] She performed it at the Formula 1 Grand Prix held on October 22, 2016, in Austin. [55] "Sparks Fly" was also part of select shows for Swift's later tours, the 1989 World Tour (Vancouver, August 2015), [56] Reputation Stadium Tour (Columbus, July 2018), [57] and the Eras Tour (Nashville, May 2023 / Singapore, March 2024). [58] She sang the song as part of a mashup with her song "I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)" (2024) on the May 29, 2024, concert in Madrid as part of the Eras Tour. [59]
The music video for "Sparks Fly", directed by Christian Lamb, was released on August 10, 2011. [60] It features footage from the Speak Now World Tour; [61] much of the footage was captured at four tour date locations, including one from the show in Newark, New Jersey. [62] Throughout the video, Swift is seen performing with many stage actors, dancers, and acrobats, through multiple costume changes, and slow motion is used extensively. [63] Media publications praised the video's production quality with visually stimulating stage settings. [62] [64] During the week of its release, the music video accumulated over 400,000 views and helped Swift rise from number nineteen to ten on Billboard's Social 50 chart. [65]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [66] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [67] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
United States | July 18, 2011 [9] | Country radio | Big Machine Records |
August 10, 2011 [10] | Limited edition CD single |
"Sparks Fly (Taylor's Version)" | |
---|---|
Song by Taylor Swift | |
from the album Speak Now (Taylor's Version) | |
Released | July 7, 2023 |
Genre | Pop rock |
Length | 4:21 |
Label | Republic |
Songwriter(s) | Taylor Swift |
Producer(s) |
|
Lyric video | |
"Sparks Fly (Taylor's Version)" on YouTube |
After signing a new contract with Republic Records, Swift began re-recording her first six studio albums in November 2020. [68] The decision came after the public 2019 dispute between Swift and the music executive Scooter Braun, who acquired Big Machine Records, including the masters of Swift's albums the label had released. [69] [70] By re-recording her catalog, Swift had full ownership of the new masters, including the copyright licensing of her songs, devaluing the Big Machine-owned masters. [71]
A re-recorded version of "Sparks Fly", titled "Sparks Fly (Taylor's Version)", was released on July 7, 2023, via Republic Records as part of Speak Now (Taylor's Version) , Swift's third re-recorded album. [72] The album was officially announced on May 5, 2023 at the Eras Tour in Nashville; after the announcement, Swift performed "Sparks Fly" on acoustic guitar as one of her "surprise songs". [58] "Sparks Fly" (Taylor's Version) was revealed to be the second song on the album when the tracklist was officially released on June 5. [73]
Adapted from Speak Now (Taylor's Version) digital album inline notes [74]
Chart (2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [75] | 17 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [76] | 25 |
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [77] | 20 |
Greece International (IFPI) [78] | 80 |
Ireland ( Billboard ) [79] | 22 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [80] | 20 |
Philippines ( Billboard ) [81] | 3 |
Singapore (RIAS) [82] | 9 |
South Korea Download (Circle) [83] | 179 |
UK Streaming (OCC) [84] | 40 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [85] | 22 |
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [86] | 8 |
Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. A subject of widespread public interest with a vast fanbase, she has influenced the music industry, popular culture, and politics through her songwriting, artistry, entrepreneurship, and advocacy.
"Our Song" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the third single from her self-titled debut studio album (2006). Swift wrote "Our Song" for a high school talent show during ninth grade; the lyrics are about a young couple using the regular events in their lives to create their own song. She included the song on the track list because it was popular among her classmates. Big Machine Records released the song to US country radio on September 10, 2007. Produced by Nathan Chapman, "Our Song" is an uptempo banjo-driven country track incorporating fiddles and drums. An international mix was included on the international edition of Swift's second studio album, Fearless, and released as a single in Europe in June 2009.
Fearless is the second studio album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Under the Big Machine Records imprint, it was released in the United States and Canada on November 11, 2008, and elsewhere on March 9, 2009.
"Fearless" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the title track of her 2008 second studio album. Swift wrote the song with Liz Rose and Hillary Lindsey while promoting her 2006 self-titled debut album, and she produced it with Nathan Chapman. She placed it first on Fearless's track listing because she thought it encompassed the album's overarching theme; the song's lyrics are about a perfect first date despite its uncertainties. The production is country pop and pop rock and incorporates dynamic guitars. Big Machine Records released "Fearless" to US country radio as the album's fifth and final single on January 4, 2010.
"Ours" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for the deluxe edition of her third studio album, Speak Now (2010). It was released to US country radio as the album's last single on December 5, 2011, by Big Machine Records. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, "Ours" is an understated country pop ballad with a folk-influenced production. The lyrics depict a young couple's resilience to protect their relationship despite others' scrutiny.
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 within two years while touring to promote her second studio album, Fearless (2008), to reflect on her transition from adolescence to adulthood.
"Mine" is a song 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 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.
"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.
The Speak Now World Tour was the second concert tour by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, who embarked on it to support her third studio album, Speak Now (2010). It began on February 9, 2011, visiting Asia and Europe before kicking off in North America on May 27, 2011. It concluded on March 18, 2012, in Oceania. In total, the tour covered 110 shows across 19 territories.
"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.
"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 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 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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
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