Taylor Swift Says Her Label CEO Begged Her to Write Country for '1989'
FUSE TV - Taylor Swift Says Her Label CEO Begged Her to Write Country for '1989'
If the massive, massive sales of 1989 proved anything, it's that Taylor Swift knows how to make an album people will buy—which makes a recent revelation all the more shocking.
In a new cover story with Billboard magazine, Tay detailed her creative process while writing her first pop record...and Scott Borchetta, her label CEO and the man who signed her, panicked when he heard the news.
"When I knew the album had hit its stride, I went to Scott Borchetta and said, 'I have to be honest with you: I did not make a country album. I did not make any semblance of a country album,'" she said. "And of course he went into a state of semi-panic and went through all the stages of grief—the pleading, the denial. 'Can you give me three country songs? Can we put a fiddle on 'Shake it Off'?'"
Think about that for a second: The trumpets on "Shake It Off" replaced with fiddles...
Taylor went on to explain that the recording process naturally led itself to pop-leaning collaborators (booking time with Max Martin; Hanging out with Jack Antonoff and BFF Lena Dunham), instead of her usual country peers, resulting in an album she could only describe as pop.
"It felt disingenuous to try to exploit two genres when your album falls in only one," she explained. "I never want to pull the wool over people's eyes, because people are so much smarter than a lot of marketing professionals give them credit for."
We think you'll enjoy these related videos below and for more great content featuring your favorite artists, sign up for Fuse+ to access all our videos.
41m
Taylor Swift: Dare to Dream
59m
Taylor Swift: Superstar
4m
New Found Glory Consider Country Covers: Taylor Swift, Shania Twain
2m
Interviews: Taylor Swift Album Party
5m
Wolf Tyla & Her Manager Take A Lie Detector Test: Did She Write On "Simon Says?"
38s
Freedia Fights For Her Right to Twerk: First Look
2m
Ke$ha Wants Dating Advice From Taylor Swift
2m
Bea Miller Says Frank Ocean's Blonde Changed Her Life
22s
Freedia Fears For Her Freedom: First Look
3m
Hayley Kiyoko Does Her Best Grinch Impersonation, Thanks Her Fans For Lesbian Jesus Title
1m
Grace Potter On Her Connection To Graceland
2m
Juliet Simms Returns To Her Stomping Grounds
2m
Nicole Scherzinger & Her Sister Cook Her Family's Favorite Meal
2m
Coachella 2015: MØ Explains Coachella To Her Parents
1m
Marissa Challenges Her Mom To A $50 Bet
1m
Leon Talks Voodoo Festival & How Her Mom Plays On Her Songs
47s
Eve Pawned Jewelry for Bus Rides to Record Labels: My Hustle
2m
Melanie Martinez Might Channel Rihanna for Her Next Tattoo
3m
Celine Dion Says Ne-Yo Taught Her New Ways to Sing on New Album: Fuse News
5m
Interviews: Jessie Ware Maps Her Rise to Musical Stardom
3m
Interviews: Go Behind the Scenes of Estelle's Sexy "Make Her Say" Video
1m
Casey Brings Her Hosting Skills To iCandy Nightclub
58s
Freedia Gets Her Hair Done
2m
Why Freedia Picked Café Reconcile For Her Pop-Up Restaurant
4m
Interviews: Iggy Azalea on Nas Making Her Tough, Why T.I. Signed Her
3m
Ed Sheeran Talks Taylor Swift's Boyfriends, Fangirling Over Psy and New Music - Delta
3m
SXSW 2014: Kelis on Her New Album 'Food' "We Were Just Joking and Eating and Cooking and Writing"
2m
Festivals: Made in America: Filming Her "Top Secret" Video for "Radioactive"
3m
Ari Lennox Shares Her Shadiest DM's
1m
Bambiana & Her Mom Practice Positive Affirmations
2m
Interviews: The Wanted Unveil Jingle Ball Lineup: Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, One Direction & More!
1m
Freedia Shows How To Make Her Booty Poppin' Potatoes: Deleted Scene
1m
Big Freedia Plots Solo Show to Send Her Dancers a Message
1m
Dancin' On Air Producer Once Told Madonna to Clean Her Mess
1m
Interviews: Grammys:Skylar Grey Says Her Eminem-Produced Album "Will Take You on a Journey"
3m
Interviews: Owl City on Michael Jackson's "Thriller," Working With Mark Hoppus & Taylor Swift's "Red" Album
55s
Big Freedia's Emotional Reunion With Her Dad
46s
Tina Shows Off Her Most Glamorous Looks
6m
Dreezy Does ASMR With Her Own Lyrics
2m
Betty Who's Reaction to Hit Proposal Video Featuring Her Song: Fuse News
2m
Frankie Talks About Dressing Up Her Bandmates
3m
Faith Evans on her new Album, Incomparable
8m
Shenseea Shares Her Rags to Riches Story & Cooks A Native Jamaican Dish
1m
Big Freedia's Sister Crystal Speaks Her Mind
3m
Nicki Minaj Bares Her Soul On "Freedom"
34s
Shows: Top 20: Rita Ora Spills Her Love For No Doubt New 102312
1m
Shows: Hoppus on Music: Santigold Describes Her Journey From Assistant to Recording Artist
1m
Melanie Martinez Was Babysitting During Her Debut Performance
14m
Chika On Building Community Through Her Music (Extended)
2m
Bishop Briggs On Her First American Dating Experience
3m
Selena Gomez Speaks About Her Debut Solo Album
1m
Tina Shows Off Her Impressive Ear-Piercing Technique
3m
Kate Nash & Her Giant Pink Vagina at Coachella
3m
Casey Gives Her Girlfriend A Motorcycle Riding Rundown
55s
Big Freedia Gives Her Managers Some Bad News
58s
Interviews: Queen Latifah on Singing at Super Bowl & Her Plans to Party With Prince
2m
Melanie Martinez Shares The Stories Behind Her Coolest Tattoos
2m
Madilyn Bailey On Her Tetris Single and Fave Memes
2m
Fletcher Makes Friendship Bracelets and Discusses Her New Sound
3m
Juicy J On "Bandz A Make Her Dance" & More
2m
Kash Doll & Her Mom Recreate Their Great-Grandmothers Recipe
5m
Big Freedia Highlights Her Biggest Career Moments: Girl Down
2m
Hilary Duff "Doesn't Lose Sleep" Over Her Past
2m
Festivals: SXSW 2013: Yelawolf Reveals His Secrets for Writing Rap Verses
3m
Grace Potter Shows Off Her Must-Have Tour Fashion
22m
Cross Country Fan
9m
The Canvas LA: Spotlight How Rhianna Went From Flea Markets to Her Jewelry Line, Vidakush
41s
Interviews: Rihanna's Pre-Flight Message to Her 777 Tour: "Buckle Up and Let's Get Drunk!"
2m
Big Freedia Seeks Advice From Her Mother Vera in Heaven
2m
Big Freedia and Her Favorite Divas Link Up: Girl Down
2m
Big Freedia Meets Her Hollywood Puppet Shitshow Puppet Mini Me
1m
Bonnaroo 2015: Dej Loaf On Detroit, Her Vision, Upcoming EP
3m
Coachella 2014: Kate Nash & Her Giant Pink Vagina at Coachella
1m
Interviews: Beebs and Her Money Makers at Warped Tour 2014
4m
Interviews: Skylar Grey on Her Musical Rebirth After "Dark Period"
2m
Big Freedia’s Choreographer and Manager Argue Over Her Setlist
46s
Will Carly Rae Jepsen Pull An Adele On Her Exes?
2m
Interviews: Queen Diva Big Freedia Rates Her Fave Celebrity Booties
1m
Interviews: Ben Taylor intverview
2m
Interviews: Teyana Taylor Interview
2m
Tinashe Reveals First Big Purchase, Britney Spears Was Her First Album
31s
Drama Between Freedia and Her Fiance Devon: Big Freedia First Look
2m
Melanie Martinez On Her Second Album & Epic Video Plan At Lollapalooza
3m
Weezy Shares Her First Reaction with Charlamagne Tha God’s Wife
4m
Rico Nasty Shares Her First Time In the Studio & Meeting Rihanna
3m
K.Flay Shows Off Her 'Cute-Ass' Photo, Names Favorite Rappers
2m
Coachella 2015: Kiesza On Music Discovery and Releasing Her Title Track
2m
Big Freedia's Full "Explode" Performance From Her Just Be Free Tour
1m
Lollapalooza 2015: White Sea’s Morgan Kibby Discussing Her “Stoned” Song
1m
Big Freedia Performs "Gin In My System" At Her Birthday Bash
3m
SXSW 2014: Morgan Kibby Talks Her M83 Side Project White Sea
3m
Interviews: A Look Inside Indie Label Glassnote Records
20m
Teyana Taylor and Jhené Aiko
3m
Festivals: Bonnaroo 2013: Of Monsters and Men Need Boredom to Write New Music
3m
Festivals: Bonnaroo 2013: Macklemore on New Book Project: "Writing is Just Therapeutic for Me"
3m
SXSW 2014: Mary Lambert Talks Macklemore & Poetry at Her "Iconic" SXSW 2014
1m
Young M.A On Her First Time Directing An Adult Film & More
3m
Interviews: What Did Zola Jesus Think of David Lynch Remixing Her Song?
16m
Alaina Castillo Does ASMR with Her Nails, Talks the Power of Vulnerability
1m
Shows: Grammys 2014: Foxes First Heard About Her GRAMMY Nomination on Twitter!
