| "Change" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Promotional single byTaylor Swift | |
| from the albumAT&T Team USA Soundtrack | |
| Written | December 2007 |
| Released | August 8, 2008 (2008-08-08) |
| Recorded | December 2007 |
| Genre | Power pop |
| Length | 4:43 |
| Label | Big Machine |
| Songwriter | Taylor Swift |
| Producers |
|
| Music video | |
| "Change" onYouTube | |
| "Change (Taylor's Version)" | |
|---|---|
| Song byTaylor Swift | |
| from the albumFearless (Taylor's Version) | |
| Released | April 9, 2021 |
| Studio |
|
| Length | 4:39 |
| Label | Republic |
| Songwriter | Taylor Swift |
| Producers |
|
| Lyric video | |
| "Change (Taylor's Version)" onYouTube | |
"Change" is a song by the American singer-songwriterTaylor Swift, released on August 8, 2008, to promote theAT&T Team USA Soundtrack for theUnited States team at the2008 Olympics. "Change" was included in Swift's second studio album,Fearless (2008). Swift wrote the track after winning theHorizon Award at the2007 Country Music Association Awards; its lyrics are about overcoming obstacles to achieve victory.
Produced by Swift andNathan Chapman, "Change" is apower pop song with dynamicstrings andelectric guitars. Music critics praised the production but found Swift's vocals weak and thin. The song peaked at number 10 on theBillboard Hot 100, number 21 on thePop 100 chart, and number 57 on theHot Country Songs chart. TheRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the trackgold. Shawn Robbins directed the music video for "Change" featuring Swift performing with a band in a ballroom. An alternate version features footage of the United States team at the 2008 Olympics.
Swift included "Change" in the set list to her first headlining tour, theFearless Tour, in 2009 and performed the song live at the45th Academy of Country Music Awards in 2010. After a2019 dispute regarding the ownership of Swift's back catalog, she released are-recorded version, "Change (Taylor's Version)", onFearless (Taylor's Version), the 2021 re-recorded version ofFearless.
WhenTaylor Swift first signed toBig Machine Records, it was the smallestrecord label inNashville, Tennessee.[4][5] At some point, Swift realized that it would be more difficult for her to achieve success through a small label, than in a larger label,[5] constricting their contacts and making it nearly impossible to embark on concert tours and have presenter or performer slots on award shows.[4] In addition, as the only signed artist, she could not ask for favors and only had herself to encourage the hope that scenarios would eventually change. Swift described the scenario as an "uphill climb"[5] and said, "There was this moment where I sat there and was like, 'When are we going to get a fighting chance? We're the smallest record label in Nashville, but we want this really bad.'"[4] After reassuring to herself that it would be different in the future, she wrote the beginning of "Change".[5] She let the track sit for a while, waiting for a remarkable event to trigger its completion.[6] She then completed the track the day after she won the Horizon Award at the2007 Country Music Association Awards and sawScott Borchetta, the president of Big Machine Records, crying.[4]
The song was recorded in December 2007, when she recognized it applied to more scenarios and had a "bigger meaning" than originally.[7] American television networkNational Broadcasting Company (NBC) had asked Swift to perform at the2008 Summer Olympics inBeijing, China. However, an appearance could not be scheduled because Swift was touring at the time. Instead, Swift's father suggested using "Change" as atheme for the event.[6] Therefore, "Change" was used during NBC's daily video highlights in August 2008, prior to the release ofFearless.[8] "I wrote the song 'Change' as an underdog story. It's kind of crazy to think that the Olympics chose this as one of the songs to play during the Olympic Games", Swift commented.[4] It was included on theAT&T Team USA Soundtrack (2008).[9] The song was released as apromotional single on theiTunes Store on August 8, 2008. All proceeds were donated to theUnited States Olympic team.[8][9]
After its digital release, "Change" was included on the track list of Swift's second studio album,Fearless, released on November 11, 2008.[10] Following amasters dispute, Swift released there-recorded version ofFearless, subtitledTaylor's Version, on April 9, 2021;Fearless (Taylor's Version) includes the re-recorded "Change", also subtitled "Taylor's Version".[11] "Change (Taylor's Version)" was produced by Swift andChristopher Rowe.[12]
The duration of "Change" is four minutes and forty six seconds.[13] Ed Masley ofThe Arizona Republic classified it as apower pop song and noted the distorted guitars.[14] "Change" relies on astring-swathed instrumentation.[15] The lyrics of "Change" speak of overcoming obstacles and achieving triumph,[16] while instilling hope in oneself.[17] It centers around the concept of surpassing others' expectations and the limitations they set out. The song turns the notion of fearlessness into a movement that is not specified.[18] Dave Heaton ofPopMatters noted the lyric "I believe in whatever you do" meant Swift was unconcerned with the specifics of the cause. He presumed it was a universal message or was about changing the traditions of country music sound and defying the expectations of what country artists can achieve with their careers.[18]Jody Rosen ofRolling Stone believed the lyrics addressed political issues.[15]
The song received generally mixed reviews from contemporary critics. Jonathan Keefe ofSlant Magazine was unimpressed by Swift's vocals, describing them as unpleasant and thin. Keefe added that her voice often cracked and, therefore, prevented the song from becoming an anthem.[19] Jody Rosen ofRolling Stone magazine considered the track to be vague.[15] Dave Heaton ofPopMatters compared "Change" and Swift's "Long Live", both which endedFearless andSpeak Now (2010), respectively. He stated, "There's something really generic about the song[s], but that quality becomes the cornerstone of an anthem."[17] Heaton also commented that the song was appealing to multiple audiences, as long as they felt restrained by any scenario.[18]
On the week ending August 30, 2008, "Change" debuted at its peak position of number 10 on theBillboard Hot 100, selling over 131,000 digital downloads, making it Swift's best-charting song at the time and first top-10 appearance.[20] In the following week, the song descended to number 39 and then number 100 on the Hot 100, marking its third and last week on the chart.[21][22] The song is one of 13 tracks fromFearless charted within the top-40 of the Hot 100, breaking the record for the most top-40 entries from a single album.[23] "Change" also peaked at number 57 on theHot Country Songs chart on the week ending August 30, 2008.[24] The track also peaked at number 21 on the now-defunctPop 100 chart.[25]
The accompanyingmusic video for "Change" was directed by Shawn Robbins. It was filmed at the ballroom in theScottish Rite Cathedral inIndianapolis, Indiana.[26] The video commences with a shot of a stained glass window. It then transitions to Swift, clothed in a white cocktail dress and black cowboy boots, performing alongside her backup band in an empty ballroom. The band members are dressed semi-casual and play the instruments: bass, drums, and various guitars. As the video progresses, Swift is seeing singing and dancing. Cut-scenes feature close-ups of Swift in another setting, clothed by another white cocktail dress and surrounded by hot pink, white, and blue twinkling lights in a black background. The video concludes with Swift turning back and walking toward the backup band. An alternate version of the video features footage from United States Olympic team at the2008 Summer Olympics.[26] Both versions of the music video premiered onNBC.com in August 2008.[26]
Swift has performed the track on theAOL Sessions.[27] Since, Swift has performed the track at the Studio 330 Sessions,[28] the 2009CMA Music Festival,[29] the 2009V Festival,[30] and the Australian charity concert SydneySound Relief.[31] Swift's first televised performance of "Change" was at the 2010Academy of Country Music Awards, where she, donning a sparkly evening gown, sang on an elevator suspended from the crowd. She then did a quick outfit change to a black ensemble, came down, where she was joined by a teenage choir, and finished the performance by surfing the crowd.[18]
Swift performed "Change" on the first North American leg of theFearless Tour. During the performances, Swift wore a sparkly silver and black dress with black, leather boots. She noted, "It's been a tough year", and commenced singing throughout the stage as images of victims of economic and natural disasters were projected on the video screens. As the song approximated, its last refrain, she said, "Things turn back around." Then, scenes of triumph appeared on the video screens.[32] Craig Rosen ofThe Hollywood Reporter attended the May 22, 2009 concert inLos Angeles, California at theStaples Center and commented, "It was overly simplistic and a bit naive, but still hard not to be moved."[32] Jon Pareles ofThe New York Times said Swift offered the audience with optimistic thinking with the performance in the August 27, 2009 concert atMadison Square Garden inNew York City.[33] She performed the song in 2013 during the performance in Greensboro on herRed Tour, at the second show in Foxborough on herReputation Stadium Tour in 2018,[34] and at the seventh show in London on herThe Eras Tour, in 2024 in amashup with "Long Live" (2010).
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USBillboard Hot 100[35] | 10 |
| USPop 100 (Billboard)[25] | 21 |
| USHot Country Songs (Billboard)[36] | 57 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[37] | Gold | 500,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
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