[Image from http://www.lyrics007.com]
The cover of Swift’s latest single, “State of Grace.”
Swift’s latest in a slew of promotional singles is “State of Grace,” a bittersweet track about a subject she’s practically an expert in: falling in love.
While this is my least favorite thus far, the track has a few redeeming qualities. Keeping with her path of musical exploration, “State of Grace” showcases a pop-rock sound. It’s contemporary, it slows things down, but it’s a touch predictable.
Each verse contains some powerhouse statements, but they’re hidden by her soft approach. Lines like “we fall in love ‘til it hurts or bleeds or fades in time” all but demand to be sung with pronounced emotion.
Instead, Swift tried for an ethereal quality… and fell short. There is nothing haunting, nothing truly lasting about “State of Grace.”
Swift sat down with Good Morning America on Monday to promote the track, talking a big sound and epic qualities.
“I wrote this song about when you first fall in love with someone … the possibilities, kind of thinking about the different ways that it could go,” she said. “It’s a really big sound. To me, this sounds like the feeling of falling in love in an epic way.”
In the chorus Swift croons “and I never saw you coming/ and I’ll never be the same.” Tell me, darlin’, if you’re never going to be the same, why don’t you sound heartbroken? You sound comfortably removed, and it stirs nothing inside the listener.
Or maybe it’s just me. In less than 24 hours the song reached #1 on the iTunes “Top 10,” so there’s got to be something there, right?
“State of Grace” isn’t the only Swift song on the chart; “I Knew You Were Trouble” takes the #2 spot, with “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” coming in at #10.
What do you think about the song? Take a listen and let us know in the comments!
You can hear Red in its entirety on October 22.
