Tim McGraw (song)
"Tim McGraw" is the debut single by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, who wrote it with Liz Rose for her self-titled debut studio album (2006). Big Machine Records released the song to US country radio on June 19, 2006. Produced by Nathan Chapman, "Tim McGraw" is an acoustic guitar-led country ballad that incorporates the '50s progression and elements of alternative rock. In the lyrics, Swift's character pleads with her ex-boyfriend to remember her every time he hears her favorite song by the country musician Tim McGraw, the song's namesake.
This article is about the Taylor Swift song. For songs by Tim McGraw, see Tim McGraw discography.
Music critics acclaimed Swift's songwriting on "Tim McGraw" for creating engaging and nostalgia-inducing music and lyrics. Retrospective reviews regarded the single as a defining career moment and a blueprint for Swift's songwriting on subsequent albums; Rolling Stone featured it on their list of the "100 Greatest Debut Singles of All Time" in 2020. "Tim McGraw" peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number six on Hot Country Songs, and the Recording Industry Association of America certified the track double platinum. The single also charted at number 10 on Canada Country.
The accompanying music video, directed by Trey Fanjoy, sees Swift's character and the ex-boyfriend both reminiscing about a past summer romance in rural Tennessee. Swift promoted "Tim McGraw" and her debut album with a six-month radio tour in 2006, and she performed the song at the 42nd Academy of Country Music Awards. She included "Tim McGraw" in the set list of her first headlining tour, the Fearless Tour (2009–2010) and performed it on her later tours: the Red Tour (2013), the Reputation Stadium Tour (2018), and the Eras Tour (2023).
Composition[edit]
"Tim McGraw" is 3 minutes and 52 seconds long.[14] It is a mid-tempo country ballad driven by an acoustic guitar.[15][16][17] Written in the key of C major, the song uses the '50s progression (the I-vi-IV-V chord progression; C—Am—F—G).[18] According to the musicologist James E. Perone, this chord progression is associated with late-1950s and early-1960s doo-wop and rock and roll songs, which lends "Tim McGraw" a nostalgic and timeless feel.[18]
The production of "Tim McGraw" is understated and lightweight.[17][19] The refrain, as described by Perone, is "motivically based"—each one of the melodic motif is built within a small pitch range. According to Perone, this, as well as that the refrain is built on repetitions of the initial short motif, gives the song a catchy tune that makes the audience want to sing along to.[20] Additionally, the refrain—and to a certain extent, the verses—makes heavy use of syncopation at the sixteenth-note level, which lends the song a production reminiscent to non-country genres, such as alternative rock and hip hop.[20] These melodic techniques laid the groundwork to Swift's subsequent songs, known for catchy melodies and radio-friendly verses that defined her catalog for the following decade.[20]
The lyrics of "Tim McGraw" narrate a past summer romance.[17] Perone thinks that the relationship in the song "had ended perhaps a couple of years" before the time frame of the narrative.[20] In the opening line, Swift sings, "He says the way my blue eyes shine put those Georgia stars to shame at night/ I say, 'That's a lie'", which The Boot's Riane Konc found to be "genuine romanticism underscored by real cynicism".[21] The reference to the country musician Tim McGraw, in both the title and the refrain ("When you think Tim McGraw/ I hope you think my favorite song/ The one we danced to all night long"), is more about the nostalgia for the disappeared romance rather than McGraw himself.[17][19] McGraw is one of the many items that the narrator associates her past relationship with; others include her little black dress, her faded blue jeans, and the moment she laid her head on the ex-boyfriend's chest.[14]
Critical reception[edit]
The song was acclaimed by critics. Rob Sheffield of Blender magazine described the track as a gem that hit hard.[22] Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine believe "Tim McGraw" followed "time-tested narrative conventions and [...] massive pop hooks."[23] Jeff Tamarkin of AllMusic said that the song demonstrated Swift was "a talent to be reckoned with", because of her vocal delivery that, according to him, equated that of a seasoned professional. He selected "Tim McGraw" as Taylor Swift's main highlight for its homage to Tim McGraw, commenting, "It's a device that's been used countless times in as many ways [...], yet it works as a hook here and manages to come off as an original idea."[14] Roger Holland of PopMatters praised the song, commenting it was "good enough to recall some of the best country singles of recent years", such as Rachel Proctor's "Me and Emily" and Julie Roberts's "Break Down Here." He complimented Swift's vocal abilities on the song, saying it was executed "quite perfectly", something she was unable to carry throughout the album Taylor Swift. However, Holland was repugnant of the song's title.[16] In 2007, "Tim McGraw" was one of the Award-Winning Songs at the BMI Country Awards, which honored the most-played country songs on US television and airplay throughout the year.[24]
In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked "Tim McGraw" at number 11 on its "The 100 Greatest Debut Singles of All Time" list, placing second among female artists; the magazine stated: "With her first song, Swift immediately showed her Nashville peers she could beat any of them at their own game, acing the classic genre trope of nostalgic country song about how country music is nostalgic".[25]
Upon hearing the song, McGraw, despite liking it and being a fan and personal friend of Swift; initially had some concerns about it in a 2021 Billboard interview: “Well, when I first heard ‘Tim McGraw’ by Taylor Swift, I mean, I thought it was a good song. I was a little apprehensive about it when I first heard it,” he admitted. “Then I thought, ‘Have I gotten to that age now [he was thirty-nine years old at the time the song was released in 2006] to where they’re singing songs about me? Does that mean I’ve jumped the shark a bit? Is everything still cool?'”[26]
Chart performance[edit]
On the week ending September 23, 2006, "Tim McGraw" debuted at number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100.[27] After 17 weeks of ascending and descending the chart, on the week ending January 13, 2007, the song reached its peak at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for two consecutive weeks.[28] On the week ending February 3, 2007, the song spent its last week on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 43, after a total of 20 weeks on the chart.[29] As of November 2017, "Tim McGraw" has sold 1.6 million copies in the United States.[30] The single was certified double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in March 2020, for surpassing two million units based on sales and streaming.[31]
Prior to charting on the United States' main chart, "Tim McGraw" charted on Billboard Hot Country Songs. On the week ending July 1, 2006, "Tim McGraw" debuted at number 60 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs.[32] After spending 25 weeks upon Billboard Hot Country Songs, the song reached the top 10 with its new peak of number 10 on the week ending December 16, 2006.[33] In the proceeding six weeks, the song managed to remain in the top 10 until finding its peak at number six on the week ending January 27, 2007.[28] "Tim McGraw" spent a total of 35 weeks upon the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.[28]
Music video[edit]
The accompanying music video for "Tim McGraw" was directed by Trey Fanjoy. It was filmed at the former home of Johnny & June Carter-Cash, which burned down the next year. The letter which the boyfriend receives is addressed to "Johnny" for this purpose.[34] In regards to the video's concept, Swift stated, "It deals with the haunting power of music and how hearing a song years after it was first popular can have such an emotional appeal."[35] Clayton Collins portrayed Swift's love interest in the music video. He was cast because of his physical resemblance to the real subject of the song, in that they were both tall with dark hair.[36]
The video begins with Swift, dressed in a white sundress, as she lies on the grass of a lake-bed and holds a transistor radio. Suddenly, the setting is switched to Collins as he drives a white and orange 1970 Chevrolet CST-10. He then turns his radio on and ceases driving, coming to a complete stop on a road. As Collins facial expressions become more serious, he flashbacks to memories with Swift. Swift and Collins are seen frolicking in a field, lying beside one another on the back of Collins' CST-10, staring at the stars together, holding hands as they walk, and slow dancing. When the song is in its final chorus, Collins arrives at a wooden cabin in his pick-up truck. He runs up the staircase to discover an enveloped letter next to the door. He then sits on the staircase, opens the envelope, and reads the letter. The video transcends towards Swift playing an acoustic guitar as she leans against the wooden cabin. Cut-scenes feature Swift lying on the lake-bed and performing with a guitar next to the wooden cabin. The video concludes with Swift, once again, lying on the initial setting.
The video premiered on July 22, 2006, on Great American Country.[35] The video received a nomination for "Number One Streamed Video From a New Artist (Rookie of the Year Award)" at the web-hosted 2006 CMT Online Awards, but lost to Lindsey Haun's video for "Broken".[37] At the 2007 CMT Music Awards, the video won the CMT Music Award for "Breakthrough Video of the Year".[38]