ThisisBigBrother.com - UK TV Forums - The Taylor Swift Appreciation Thread

DS interview:

Quote:

Last year she sold four million albums in the US alone - more than any other artist. She writes all her own songs and even co-produced her last album. Oh, and did we mention she's still only 19? As she prepares to release her first ever UK single - the charming 'Love Story', a country-pop tune about romance against daddy's wishes - we jumped at the chance to give Taylor Swift a call.

Where do you get the inspiration for your songs?
"Well, all my songs are autobiographical. I love writing about love and relationships and people that come in and out of my life. I don't even need to be dating someone to write a song about them. I can see somebody from across the room and write a song about them - it's more about feelings for me. I've always been fascinated by how we interact with each other."

When did you write your first song?
"When I was 12. I was sitting there doing my homework and a guy came over to fix my computer. He brought a guitar with him because he'd just played a show, I asked him about it and he offered to teach me three chords. I said yes and wrote my first song that night."

Was it any good?
"Haha! Um... I think it was good for a 12-year-old. It leaked actually and there are some demos of it up on YouTube. Let's say it's definitely a 12-year-old's song, but the second song I wrote is called 'The Outside' and I actually put it on my first album."

What was the inspiration for 'Love Story', your new single?
"Well, at the time I was talking to a guy that my friends and family weren't a big fan of. Usually my friends and family like the guy I'm dating, but they just didn't like this one. For the first time I could relate to the Romeo & Juliet story where the only people who wanted them to be together was them. That was how the song started and I'm really excited about how far it's gone."

How did your parents show their disapproval?
"Oh, they were subtle about it. My parents are never going to forbid me to see anyone. It was more my friends - they just didn't understand why I liked this guy. They were like, 'There's something off about him' and, well, they may have been right!"

You were the biggest-selling artist in the US last year. How do you stay grounded?
"Honestly, when I look at my sales figures I can't take credit for them. I can write songs and sing them and try to make the best record possible, but if I put that record out and nobody buys it that's out of my control. I credit my fans for my success. Also, my friends and family haven't changed their perception of me since all this happened. They tell me when I'm being moody and a brat and make sure I snap out of it."

Why do you think your songs have connected with people?
"I don't know why my songs have connected with people so much. In the beginning I actually thought it might be a problem that I write such personal songs. I thought people might find them hard to relate to, but it turned out that the more personal my songs were, the more closely people could relate to them. It's just blown me away."

Are you nervous about starting again in the UK - a market where few country artists have broken through?
"Coming to the UK is something I'm excited and nervous about. I've been over once already and the show was sold out and the fans were some of the coolest people I've met in my life. I really want the excuse to come over more often! I'm so excited about coming over to the Brit Awards in a couple of weeks after seeing so many glamorous pictures and hearing so many stories about it."

You've said in the past that you're a big Britney fan. What do you like about her?
"What I love about Britney is that in every awards show performance you're going to be surprised - whether she's doing a costume change onstage, kissing Madonna or walking out with a snake round her neck. I think there's always a surprise element to what she does and that's what keeps the audience entertained."

Have you met her?
"I've met her twice actually - once when I was 15 and then again at the VMAs last year. Both times she was really nice. We didn't get a chance to have a proper conversation because we just met in passing both times, but honestly that's good enough for me!"

You've just shot an episode of CSI. Do you have plans to act again?
"Well, I wanted to do CSI because it's one of my favourite shows. There are nine seasons of it and I've seen every single episode, so getting to do scenes with my favourite characters was just incredible for me. You know, if I were to read a script that was really smart and well-written, that would definitely be something I'd want to explore, but music is absolutely number one and I have a feeling it always will be."