Michael S. Pascua The Life of a Freelancer

My Top 30 Songs of 2009 – Number 9

9) Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me

Taylor Swift blew up into epic proportions in the 2008-2009 era. Fueled by her cute looks, harmless lyrics, and overall wholesome attitude, Taylor Swift basically can do no wrong. Well... unless she spirals into some skanky, drug and alcohol fueled demise. Which would both be heartbreaking and amazing to watch.

Taylor Swift benefited the most from the whole Kanye situation, but I still liked her before (I loved "Teardrops on My Guitar") that even occurred. She definitely found an audience that mysteriously transcends her young age.

"You Belong With Me" is upbeat, it's catchy, and has a small degree of twang. I love the music video with the whole sending messages to each other from a window, and anti-Taylor (just like Mariah Carey's Bianca!). Who wouldn't pick simple, glasses-wearing Taylor?

Mind you, Taylor Swift blows live. It's horrible. Miley Cyrus is better than her live, though that's not really saying much. This song became almost painful when Taylor couldn't hit the falsetto part in several performances I've watched. I just stopped watching her live.

Taylor really has benefited from a lack of Carrie Underwood for a short time, but Carrie Underwood is closer to actual country music than Taylor. With Carrie returning to music with "Cowboy Casanova," will Taylor lose her place? Probably not, but she may have to go a little more pop than she is accustomed to.