Teardrops on My Guitar
"Teardrops on My Guitar" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the second single from her self-titled debut album (2006). Swift wrote the song with Liz Rose, and Nathan Chapman produced it. Big Machine Records released "Teardrops on My Guitar" to US country radio on February 20, 2007. The song was released to US pop radio as a crossover single in November 2007. It was included on the international edition of Swift's second studio album, Fearless, and released in the UK in 2009.
"Teardrops on My Guitar"
Swift was inspired to write "Teardrops on My Guitar" by her unrequited love for a high-school classmate. Musically, the track is a gentle acoustic guitar-driven ballad that incorporates mandolin and fiddle. Music critics have conflicting opinions about the song's country-music classification; those disagreeing said it had a pop-music production. They complimented Swift's vocals and songwriting for earnestly portraying heartbreak. "Teardrops on My Guitar" peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was Swift's first pop-radio crossover single on the Mainstream Top 40 chart. The single was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The song's music video was directed by Trey Fanjoy and features Swift as she sees her love interest develop a relationship with another female. The video received a nomination for MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist, but lost to Tokio Hotel's music video for "Ready, Set, Go!". Swift performed the song live while supporting as the opening act for other country-music artists' concert tours, and included it on the set list of her first headlining tour, the Fearless Tour (2009–10).
Background and release[edit]
Swift was inspired to write "Teardrops on My Guitar" about her experience with a boy named Drew Hardwick, a classmate of hers whom she had feelings for. Hardwick later went on to join the United States Navy and was arrested for aggravated child abuse in 2015.[1] During their freshman year at Hendersonville High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee,[2] Swift and Hardwick sat beside each other in class every day. The two became friends, although Swift secretly desired for them to become a couple. Because of Hardwick's unawareness, he would frequently speak to Swift about another girl he had feelings for, something Swift pretended to be endeared by, commenting, "How beautiful she was, how nice and smart and perfect she was. And I sat there and listened, never meaning it any of the times I said, 'Oh, I'm so happy for you.'"[3] Hardwick and his crush eventually developed a relationship that lasted for a few years. Swift never confessed her feelings to him. By the release of Taylor Swift, he remained unaware of Swift's intentions or of the song and continued his relationship with the same female.[3] Upon its release as a single, Hardwick attempted to contact Swift via phone calls, which Swift did not respond to; he then left voicemails, but Swift felt too awkward to call back.[4]
Two years after the album's release, as she was leaving her house to attend a Nashville Predators hockey game with Kellie Pickler and Carrie Underwood, Hardwick appeared at her driveway. A car parked and Hardwick and a friend of his came out of it.[5] After two and a half years of not speaking, the two conversed: "He was like, 'Hey, how's it going?' And I'm like, 'Wow, you're late. Good to see you.' But we were civilized."[5] Swift conjectured multiple theories as to why Hardwick appeared at her house. One of them was that he was attempting to prove to his friend that he was indeed the subject of "Teardrops on My Guitar". Other possibilities was that he wanted to rebuild their friendship or believed Swift was still pining away from him.[5] Swift said it would have been poetic if he approached her upon the album's release and she would have accepted but that she had already moved on.[6] Swift cited "Teardrops on My Guitar" as an example of how she expresses her sentiments in songs and sometimes in no other manner. She was not afraid of using Hardwick's first name on the track and, therefore, believed it was very honest and susceptible, something she adored.[3]
"Teardrops on My Guitar" was released to US country radio on February 20, 2007, by Big Machine Records as the second single from Swift's debut album.[7] Big Machine and Republic Records released the song to US contemporary hit radio in November 2007.[8] The track was included on the non-US editions of Swift's second album, Fearless, released in March 2009.[9][10] In the United Kingdom, "Teardrops on My Guitar" was released as a single on May 18, 2009, by Mercury Records.[11]
Composition[edit]
"Teardrops on My Guitar" is a country pop song with a length of three minutes and 35 seconds.[12] It is set in common time and has a moderate tempo of 104 beats per minute.[13] Critics have conflicting opinions about the song's country-music classification. NPR categorized it as a pop song,[14] and Ed Masley from The Arizona Republic described it as a soft rock song, and commented the country-music elements are the steel guitar and twang in Swift's vocals.[15] Grady Smith from Rolling Stone deemed it one of Swift's "countriest" songs.[16] Musicologist James E. Perone found "Teardrops on My Guitar" full of "pop hooks" and described it as a musically flexible track because it can be adapted into many styles of pop, country, and rock.[17] It is written in the key of B♭ major and Swift's vocals span one octave, from F3 to B♭4.[13] Swift sings in a breathless manner.[18] The verse follows the chord progression B♭–Gm–E♭–F.[13] The track's instrumentation is gently guided by mandolin and acoustic guitar,[19] with accents of brushed drums.[20] It ultimately results in a simple[21] and tender undertone.[22] The version released to pop radio replaces the banjo with a drum loop.[14]
The lyrics of "Teardrops on My Guitar" speak of heartbreak and are direct, referring to the subject by his first name, Drew.[18][21] The song describes fancying someone who is already interested in someone else and, therefore, maintaining the sentiments a secret. To him, Swift acted as though she was happy about his relationship,[23] while crying and lamenting at home.[18] Dave Heaton of PopMatters interpreted the lines "And there he goes, so perfectly / The kind of flawless I wish I could be" to address Swift's ideal of perfection and her attempting to meet it, but not succeeding, a predominant theme on Fearless.[24]
Critical reception[edit]
"Teardrops on My Guitar" has received acclaim from contemporary critics. Perone cited the song as Swift's songwriting ability to draw on diverse musical styles and regarded the "teardrops on my guitar" image one of the album's most memorable lyrical detail.[17] Regarding the song's musical genre, Roger Holland of PopMatters believed there was no reason for Swift to limit herself into only the country music or why she should be a country artist at all. Holland continued, "Yet this is the channel to market she has chosen, and so she has to be prepared to hear complaints about the way that trademarked Mutt Lange guitar whine has been married to her bright shiny pop songs in order to get them onto CMT, GAC, and country radio."[25] Bill Lamb of About.com rated "Teardrops on My Guitar" four out of five stars. Lamb complimented Swift's vocal delivery and songwriting style, but criticized the production and arrangement, perceiving them to be dull. He added that the track's refrains were most impacting and deemed it among the most memorable songs of 2007.[20] Sean Dooley, also of About.com, described Swift's vocals as "nothing less than captivating."[18]
Fiona Chua of MTV Asia said "Teardrops on My Guitar" demonstrated that with Swift, "what you hear is what you get", and selected it as one best cuts on Fearless.[21][note 1] Deborah Evans Price of Billboard stated that "Teardrops on My Guitar" showcased the same qualities as "Tim McGraw" (2006) – solid gifts of songwriting and time-halting earnest and pure voice. Price declared that the song made obvious that Swift would have much success for years to come at the time. She believed the track was ultimately relatable and Swift was capable of making the song palpable.[22] Chuck Taylor, also of Billboard, reviewed the pop version release of "Teardrops on My Guitar", and stated it was a "beautiful mainstream intro to an artist whose rise is ably exemplified by her last name."[19] An uncredited review from Rolling Stone attributed the track to be one of the reasons why Taylor Swift was so commercially successful.[26] Jon Bream of Star Tribune believed the song was in attempt to empower high school- and college-age females by confronting males.[27] In 2019, Insider named "Teardrops on My Guitar" one of the fourteen best songs written by teenagers.[28] It also ranked at number 47 on Teen Vogue's "91 Best Songs About Unrequited Love" list, while Swift's 2009 single "You Belong with Me" topped the list.[29]
Commercial performance[edit]
In the United States, "Teardrops on My Guitar" peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated February 23, 2008.[30] It peaked at number two and spent 27 weeks in total on the Hot Country Songs chart, which tracks US country radio.[31] Swift's breakthrough chart success in the United States,[14][21] it made its crossover appearance to pop radio, peaking at number seven and spending 21 weeks on the Mainstream Top 40 chart.[32] It was Swift's first single to enter the pop charts.[33] The song peaked within the top 10 of four airplay charts—Hot Country Songs, Mainstream Top 40, Adult Pop Songs, and Adult Contemporary.[34] The single was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in April 2014, for surpassing three million units based on sales and streaming.[35] By July 2019, "Teardrops on My Guitar" had sold three million digital copies in the United States.[36]
In Canada, "Teardrops on My Guitar" peaked at number 45 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart dated August 12, 2007.[37] The single was certified platinum by Music Canada (MC) in July 2011, for sales of 80,000 digital downloads.[38] In the United Kingdom, after its release in May 2009, the single peaked at number 51 on the UK Singles Chart.[39] In August 2021, it was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for 200,000 units based on sales and streaming.[40]
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Taylor Swift (2006).[75]