Whose name is dominating the headlines of almost all music awards shows, whether it is for winning a myriad of awards, scoring a standing ovation for a breathtakingly beautiful performance or awkwardly yet sincerely dancing in order to genuinely support every other artist nominated? Taylor Swift, ladies and gentleman.
She's a unique artist, who since beginning her career seven years ago, hasn't faded into the music industry's dustbowl of daunting, overrated diva artists. Instead, Swift has elicited herself as a dominating, elegant figure in the industry, whose success never deteriorates. Right now, Swift is headed towards a very rewarding future with her fifth album due this fall, and you're going to love it. The past's stats will give you a snippet of how she may just cause your mind to be blown with the new album, once again.
When Swift's third album, Speak Now, came out in 2010, she became the first female artist to sell more than 1 million copies of an album in its first week. Going platinum in your first week isn't as easy as it may seem, considering Taylor has since been distinguished as one of four female artists in history to accomplish this, joining Whitney Houston's Bodyguard, Britney Spears' Oops.. I Did It Again, and Norah Jones' Feels Like Home. To consecutively repeat this with the next album, two years later, would have been practically impossible, as it's never been achieved by a female artist before. However, nothing could impede on Swift's determination and optimism.
Flash-forward to the release of her fourth album, Red, in 2012, when Swift hit it home again with a whopping 1.21 million albums sold in its first week, approximately 200 thousand more albums than last time with Speak Now, according to Nielsen Soundscan. Yes, you just read what you think you just read, but it doesn't end there. Taylor added to the textbooks by becoming the first artist to sell that many copies in the first week since 2002, when Eminem's The Eminem Show sold 1.322 albums. According to Soundscan, since they started tracking back in 1991, Red is the 18th album to ever hit a million in the first full week. No one else has achieved the gargantuan million-mark since Red. This data is only one of the many factors to consider why Swift will reign with her fifth album due in the fall and project to be the 19th "big one" for Soundscan, and ultimately, the world.
Her sensational, heart-wrenching concert and award show performances, combined with her imperishable talent for penning hit, relatable, lyrically unique songs are major contributing factors to the possibility of selling more copies than did Speak Now and Red. Becoming the first female artist to release three consecutive albums that have all surpassed achieving a million in sales in the first week would be a monumental achievement for Swift where no doubt, a golden plated plaque in her name for prospective musicians to fawn over in the future would be very much appropriate upon recognition.
Swift has been working SUPER HARD on her fifth album, and in my opinion, way more than ever before. It's been confirmed from Billboard that Ryan Tedder from One Republic and Academy and Grammy Award winner, Diane Warren, have both co-written a song Swift's upcoming album. In addition to this, Swift has brought back Max Martin and Shellback from the previous album, Red, to collaborate with again. They're responsible for the top hits like, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and "I Knew You Were Trouble." Bringing them back is just asking for one, prospectively, VERY impeccable and successful album. Swift already has about fourteen potential songs lined up, maybe even more now. With the paparazzi constantly snapping candids of her leaving and entering the studio in Los Angeles recently says a lot by itself too. She's in full gear with creating this album, a potential masterpiece. But hey, when doesn't she produce a masterpiece?
Swift is currently dominating the music industry at the very young age of 24, more so than ever before, indirectly advocating that raw talent and "swift" elegance can go a long way. She's the best example out there to simply imply: be normal if you want to be successful. There will be cynics, but then again, there are ALWAYS cynics, no matter what end of the fame spectrum you capture. So, let's see what the future holds for Swift and her fifth album, and hopefully, it's in her best interest.
More information regarding exact name and date release are assumed to come out this summer, according to patterns Swift has followed with all her previously released albums. I CAN'T WAIT!