S1E3: "Teardrops On My Guitar"

Welcome to The Tortured Podcasters Department. On the agenda for today…Hosts: Amy, McCormick, and Karmen.Swift Facts: Taylor Swift was one of the first musical artists to use MySpace to connect with fans and cultivate a community.Department Findings: We dive into the background, production, and lyrics of “Teardrops On My Guitar.”Which version wins out? The OG album version, country radio version, or pop radio version? Our hosts think nothing beats the OG album version.The music video featured some of Taylor’s friends and family members as extras in the hallways. We go way down the rabbit hole of leather bracelets.“Cuz it’s so damn funny” will forever be the superior lyric.Song co-writer Liz Rose revealed that record executives wanted “Drew” to be changed to “you” to make the song more universal, but Liz and Taylor fought against it. We’re glad she won that battle.The syncopation of the last line of the chorus scratches our brains just right.Amy gets a little carried away diving into the history of wishing stars.More bookending or circular structure to drive home the main themes of this song.Bookending can create a hook by adding familiarity to a line or idea.Tay-Lore: “Teardrops On My Guitar” features the very first time Taylor Swift swears on an album. The debut album actually has another “damn” in “Cold As You.” After “damn” was cleansed from “Teardrops On My Guitar” for radio and future prints of the album, Taylor wouldn’t swear again in her music until Red releases in 2012. That’s six years later.Connect with Us:Send a department memo or follow us on social media by clicking here.Music/Sound Credits:Intro Music: "A Stylish Beat (Infinite Echoes)" by ONALDIN via PixabayTay-Lore: “Lullaby Sleeping” by Music_for_Videos via PixabayTaylor Terminology: “Classical Royal British Music” by DELOSound via PixabayVarious sound effects: Pixabay