Mean (song) explained

Mean
Cover:Taylor Swift - Mean.png
Alt:Cover artwork of "Mean"
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Taylor Swift
Album:Speak Now
Genre:
Label:Big Machine
Producer:
Prev Title:Back to December
Prev Year:2010
Next Title:The Story of Us
Next Year:2011

"Mean" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her third studio album, Speak Now (2010). Big Machine Records released the song to US country radio as the album's third single on March 13, 2011. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, "Mean" is a six-string banjo-led country pop and bluegrass track that incorporates hand claps, fiddles, and multitracked vocals. Inspired by critics of Swift, the lyrics narrate a protagonist's self-awareness of her own shortcomings, efforts to overcome the criticism, and ridicule of a "mean" antagonist.

In reviews of Speak Now, many music critics noted "Mean" as the album's only country-music song congruent with Swift's self-identity as a country musician. Some praised the catchy production and lyrical detail, with some picking it as an album highlight; a few criticized the lyrics as short-sighted. Rolling Stone featured "Mean" in their 2014 list of the 100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time. At the 2012 Grammy Awards, "Mean" won Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song. In the U.S., the single peaked at numbers 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 2 on the Hot Country Songs chart, and was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It reached the top 10 on the Canadian Hot 100, and received certifications in Canada, Australia, and the U.K.

The song's music video was directed by Declan Whitebloom, who developed the concept with Swift. With themes of self-empowerment and anti-bullying, it was praised by some media for encouraging a positive attitude, but questioned by others because of its unclear narrative. The video received nominations at the Country Music Association Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards, and the MTV Video Music Awards. Swift performed "Mean" live at two awards shows—the 2011 Academy of Country Music Awards and the 2012 Grammy Awards. She included it in the set list of two of her world tours, the Speak Now World Tour (2011–2012) and the Red Tour (2013–2014). A re-recorded version, titled "Mean (Taylor's Version)", was released as part of Swift's third re-recorded album Speak Now (Taylor's Version) on July 7, 2023.

Background and release

The American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift began working on her third studio album, Speak Now (2010), two years prior to its release.[3] According to Swift, the album is a collection of songs containing confessions she had wanted to but could not make to the people she had met in real life.[4] She was inspired by her critics to write the track "Mean", explaining that although she acknowledged constructive criticism, she was bothered by critics who were "just ... mean. And there's a line that you cross when you just start to attack everything about a person".[5] [6]

In an interview on 60 Minutes, Swift said that the inspiration came from a critic who chastised her after her performance at the 2010 Grammy Awards, where she sang off-key. Some media criticized Swift's live vocals as weak; The New York Times said it was refreshing to see a talented singer-songwriter like Swift "make the occasional flub".[7] Remarking on the particular critic that inspired "Mean", Swift said, "The things that were said about me by this dude, just floored me and like leveled me. And ... I don't have thick skin."[8]

As part of a three-week iTunes promotional countdown for Speak Now, "Mean" was released for download on October 19, 2010, as a promotional single.[9] It was sent to US country radio on March 13, 2011, by Big Machine Records.[10] Two exclusive packages were released to Swift's official online store. The first included a T-shirt, an individually numbered "Mean" CD single, and an autographed lithograph. This package is no longer available.[11] The second package contained just the T-shirt and CD single. Only 2,500 copies of the CD single were made.[12] The single was later included in another package that is exclusive to Taylor Swift's official store. The package includes the Target exclusive deluxe edition of Speak Now, a free pair of headphones, and the choice between either the "Sparks Fly", "The Story of Us", or the "Mean" CD single.[13]

Music and lyrics

In publications' reviews, music critics noted "Mean" as Speak Now most country-leaning track.[14] [15] [16] The six-string banjo-led song uses instruments associated with country music including fiddle and mandolin. Its sparse country-music production consists of hand claps and multitracked vocals.[17] [18] Jon Caramanica in The New York Times commented that the "rootsy" production resembles bluegrass music.[19] In AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine compared the song's production, which serves as a country-music flavor to the album, to the Dixie Chicks' music.[20]

Music scholar James E. Perone commented that "Mean" is the only album track congruent with Swift's self-identity as a country musician, as opposed to Speak Now dominant mainstream pop and rock styles. Analyzing the song structure, Perone noted the instrumental sliding up a whole step in open fifths at the end of each refrain, and the whole-step slide up from the lowered-seventh scale-step to tonic, which evokes the Mixolydian mode typically found in Anglo-American folk music. According to Perone, the refrain uses a short melodic motive, which creates its catchiness.

The song's lyrics address those who question Swift's ability to sing. This is echoed by Jill Serjeant of Billboard, who wrote that "[the song] appears to take aim at critics who slammed Swift's shaky vocal performance at the 2010 Grammy Awards and at other live shows last year."[21] In the verse, Swift accuses the critic of pointing out the flaws that she is self-aware of, which makes her walking "with [her] head down" and being "wounded". In the refrain, Swift promises her critic that she would someday become successful so that their words will no longer affect her. She proclaims that she will move to a "big old city" one day, which Perone noted as congruent with a recurring theme of poor people moving to big cities to escape poverty in Appalachian music. At one point, the lyrics reference the 2010 Grammy Awards incident where Swift sings about how her critic attacks her because, "I can't sing."[17] [22]

Ann Powers from the Los Angeles Times also agreed that "Mean" "smacks down critics who say she can't sing (I stand accused) by declaring that someday she'll be "livin' in a great big city" and they'll be drunk in some dive bar, bloviating into the void."[23] Additionally, the song lyrics reflect the issue of bullying, which is evident in a review by Matt Bjorke of Roughstock, who commented that "'Mean' is an interesting song in that it finds Taylor chewing out many people, particularly bullies. It's a song that really could become part of the anti-bullying campaigns for schools everywhere."[16] The song's couplets, ("You with your switching sides and your wildfire lies and your humiliation / You have pointed out my flaws again, as if I don't already see them"), were ranked at number five out of ten best couplets from Speak Now sheet by Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly.[24]

Critical reception

Mandi Bierly from Entertainment Weekly praised the production of the song, saying "[the song] is a nice touch: It brings a sincerity to her pain and lets you focus on the words, which do, near the end, turn cheeky (proving she handles it with a sense of humor)." Theon Weber from The Village Voice described the song as "huge and hugely compassionate, and fearless" and praised it for being "chipper and funny because the narrator is predicting escape from someone she dislikes: "Some day, I'll be living in a big ole city/And all you're ever gonna be is mean."

Now's Kevin Ritchie picked it as the album's best song.[25] In The A.V. Club, Steven Hyden considered "Mean", among tracks where Swift "[indulges] in such overt nastiness" confronting those who wronged her, one of the album's strongest.[26] On the other hand, Jonathan Keefe from Slant Magazine criticized the song for its lyrical content, writing "instead of actually doing something to improve on her inability to find or hold pitch consistently, Swift has simply written a song about how it's 'mean' for people to point out that problem."[27]

The song won awards at the 54th Grammy Awards for Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance.[28] [29] Rolling Stone ranked "Mean" at number 24 on their list of the 100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time, the highest ranking for a song released in the 21st century and only one of three to be released in 2010s after "Springsteen" and "Follow Your Arrow" performed by Eric Church and Kacey Musgraves, respectively.[30] In a 2024 update, Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 20 on their list of the 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time.[31] Taste of Country ranked "Mean" as the 15th best country song of the 2010s.[32] The song featured on a 2019 list of the 100 best country songs of all time by The Tennessean.[33]

Accolades

YearOrganizationAward/workResultRef.
2011American Country AwardsFemale Single of the Year[34]
Country Music Association AwardsSong of the Year[35]
[36]
Music Video of the Year
MTV Music Video AwardsBest Video with a Social Message[37]
Teen Choice AwardsChoice Country Song[38]
2012Academy of Country Music AwardsVideo of the Year[39]
BMI AwardsTop 50 Songs[40]
Publisher of the Year
Grammy AwardsBest Country Solo Performance[41]
Best Country Song

Commercial performance

After its digital release in October 2010, "Mean" debuted at number two on Billboard Hot Digital Songs chart. The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated October 30, 2010, at number 11 (which became its peak position), the highest chart entry of the week. This made Swift the first artist to have the Hot 100's highest debut in three consecutive weeks. Prior to "Mean", the Speak Now tracks "Back to December" and title track both claimed the week's highest Hot 100 entry.[42] For the week ending November 6, 2010, it debuted at number 55 on Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, the highest debut of the week.[43] [44]

Upon its single release, "Mean" re-entered Billboard Hot 100 at number 90 and number 17 on Hot Country Songs.[45] [46] The week of May 14, 2011, Swift made a record when "Mean" jumped from number 12 to number nine on Hot Country Songs, becoming her thirteenth consecutive top ten hit on that chart. It made Swift one of two women (the other being Carrie Underwood) to begin her chart history with 13 consecutive top ten hits since the survey's 1944 launch.[47] [48] The song peaked at number two. The week of August 14, 2011, "Mean" became Swift's thirteenth song to sell more than one million copies, which is more than any other country artist in digital history.[49] By the end of 2011, "Mean" sold 1.2 million digital copies in the U.S.[50] The song was number 24 on the Billboard Year-end Country Songs chart for 2011.[51] It was certified triple platinum by the RIAA in August 2014.[52] As of July 2019, "Mean" had sold 2.5 million digital copies in the U.S., the best-selling Speak Now track.[53] Elsewhere, "Mean" debuted and peaked within the top 10 of the Canadian Hot 100,[54] and it reached number 45 on the Australian Singles Chart.

Live performances

"Mean" was first performed at the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 3, 2011.[55] In May 2011, Swift performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[56] Swift also performed the song live at the 54th Grammy Awards on February 12, 2012, changing the first line of one of the final choruses to "Someday, I'll be singin' this at the Grammys".[57] She performed "Mean" as part of the set list during her Speak Now World Tour,[58] and part of the Red Tour set list as well.[59] Swift also performed it on selected dates on the 1989 World Tour in place of "You Are In Love". In her next two tours, Swift sang "Mean" as a "surprise song". She performed the track for the first Dublin show of her Reputation Stadium Tour (2018),[60] and again on the Eras Tour (2023–24) as a standalone track for the third Tampa show and as part of a mashup with her song "Thank You Aimee" (2024) for the second London show.[61]

Music video

Background and release

The accompanying music video for "Mean" was directed by Declan Whitebloom.[62] It was shot over a two-day period in Los Angeles, with the Orpheum Theatre serving as its backdrop.[62] [63] The concept of the video was developed by both Swift and Whitebloom,[64] who praised Swift's commitment and involvement with the production of the music video.[65] In an interview with MTV News, Whitebloom said that "Mean" is very personal to Swift because "it's about a critic who was a little too harsh on her". However, he added that people can relate to its message, saying "we all have similar stories in our life that hit similar emotional cues, and to open it up and make it broader about lots of people and situations .. makes it much more accessible."[66] Whitebloom described the video as sketches that feature scenes from all different time periods, from vaudevillian scenes to scenes resembling O Brother, Where Art Thou?. He also stated that the video was inspired by Swift's performance at the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

Actresses Joey King and Presley Cash are featured in the video.[67] [68] Prior to the release of the video, Jocelyn Vena of MTV predicted that the video of "Mean" would be "a honky-tonk-type performance video, in which [Swift] and her band have a little fun at someone's expense."[69] The music video premiered on Country Music Television on May 6, 2011.[62]

Synopsis

The video begins with a shot of the inside of an empty theater. As the song begins, the curtains open to reveal Swift, wearing a cream-colored dress and playing a banjo guitar. The stage lights are brightened and Swift is accompanied by her band. They are dressed in vintage-inspired clothing. The stage is set to look like the front yard of a farmhouse. Shots of Swift and her band are alternated with shots that tell several stories about people who are the victims of bullying. One is a boy who is pushed around by members of a football team for reading a fashion magazine. Another is a girl (played by Presley Cash) who is earning money for college by wearing a costume to promote a fast food restaurant. The video shows the girl's peers throwing food at her. One story features Swift herself, who is tied to railroad tracks by a villain. The villain then sits at a table and laughs and drinks wine with his friend. The final story is about a girl (played by Joey King) who is not allowed to sit with a group of other girls at lunchtime, because she is wearing a different colored ribbon around her waist than they are.

At the 3-minute mark, the stage that Swift and her band is on is transformed into a ritzy nightclub. Swift is now dressed in a sparkly flapper dress, and she is performing in the big leagues. For the video's conclusion, each of the different stories resolve themselves, and they all end happily. It is revealed that the boy reading the fashion magazine is now a famous fashion designer, the fast food girl has saved up for college and is now a big-time executive, and Swift effortlessly removes the ropes binding her and walks away from the tracks once the villain and his friend have passed out from drinking heavily. The final scene shows the girl with the unique-colored ribbon sitting as the only audience member in the theater, watching and applauding as Swift finishes her performance.

Reception

The music video was met with mixed reviews from critics. Story Gilmore of Neon Limelight perceived the clip to be "adorable",[70] while Amanda Lynne of Gather.com was not disappointed with the video and thought that Swift delivered once again.[71] The Huffington Post said the video was effective at putting Swift alongside the underdogs and dreamers.[72] Jocelyn Vena of MTV wrote that the video "is the latest entry in an avalanche of empowering clips, which we've seen from artists like Katy Perry ("Firework") and Pink ("Raise Your Glass")."[73] Ashley Lasimone of Taste of Country complimented Swift's looks in the video. She concluded that "it's difficult to not feel as empowered as superstar Swift."[74]

Kyle Anderson of Entertainment Weekly thought that the message in the music video was confusing, writing "is she really equating a professional critic questioning her ability to sing at an awards show to getting bullied because you're different?"[75] Donna Kaufman of iVillage also felt the mixed messages in the video, stating "the video doesn't show Swift being bullied... Instead, she's a kind of savior to the outsider kids, who are all shallow stereotypes."[76] Kyle Buchanan of New York magazine described the video as clichéd, didactic, self-impressed and studiously unrevealing.[77] Drew Grant of Salon.com felt that the video tried to disseminate an anti-bullying message from "a person who has never been bullied by equating it with an evil vision of a fairytale."[78] Sophie Schillaci of Zap2it noticed that the flaw in the video was the assumption that "mean ole' bullies just rot in their hometown," whereas in reality, plenty of successful people are simply mean.[79]

The video's themes of self-empowerment and anti-bullying received positive feedback within the LGBTQ community, specifically with a scene where a young male character sitting in a locker room reading a fashion magazine is harassed by football players; at the end, the said character is seen presenting a runway fashion show with his designs of women's clothing.[80] Adriane Brown also noted the song and video resonated with Swift's core audience of teenage girls.

Charts

Year-end charts

"Mean (Taylor's Version)"

Mean (Taylor's Version)
Artist:Taylor Swift
Album:Speak Now (Taylor's Version)
Genre:
Length:3:58
Label:Republic
Producer:

After signing a new contract with Republic Records, Swift began re-recording her first six studio albums in November 2020.[83] The decision came after the public 2019 dispute between Swift and talent manager Scooter Braun, who acquired Big Machine Records, including the masters of Swift's albums the label had released.[84] [85] By re-recording her catalog, Swift had full ownership of the new masters, including the copyright licensing of her songs, devaluing the Big Machine-owned masters.[86]

A re-recorded version of "Mean", titled "Mean (Taylor's Version)", was released on July 7, 2023, via Republic Records as part of Speak Now (Taylor's Version), Swift's third re-recorded album.

Personnel

Adapted from Speak Now (Taylor's Version) digital album inline notes[87]

Charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[88] 30
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[89] 28
Philippines (Billboard)[90] 10
Singapore (RIAS)[91] 27
UK Streaming (OCC)[92] 57

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Speak Now, Again: Taylor Swift Banishes the Ghosts of Her Past. Siroky. Mary. Consequence. July 7, 2023. July 11, 2023.
  2. News: Album Review: Taylor Swift, Speak Now . Stewart . Allison . . October 24, 2010 . October 24, 2010 . November 13, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101113203425/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/24/AR2010102402488.html . live .
  3. Taylor Swift Tells EW About New Album Speak Now: 'I've Covered Every Emotion that I've Felt in the Last Two Years.'. Entertainment Weekly. Tanner. Stransky. Tanner Stransky. August 27, 2010. March 19, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150319183417/https://ew.com/article/2010/08/27/taylor-swift-speak-now-new-album/. March 19, 2015. live.
  4. Web site: Taylor Swift Talks. Laurie. Sandell. Glamour. October 4, 2010. October 28, 2010. October 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191028013418/https://www.glamour.com/story/taylor-swift-talks. live.
  5. Web site: 'Anything That Connects': A Conversation With Taylor Swift. NPR. October 31, 2014. October 31, 2015. February 6, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150206065548/http://www.npr.org/2014/10/31/359827368/anything-that-connects-a-conversation-with-taylor-swift. live.
  6. Taylor Swift takes on a bully (and John Mayer?) on new album. Mandi. Bierly. November 22, 2010. Entertainment Weekly. October 19, 2010. October 1, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151001043737/http://www.ew.com/article/2010/10/19/taylor-swift-john-mayer-mean. live.
  7. News: For Young Superstar Taylor Swift, Big Wins Mean Innocence Lost. Caramanica. Jon. Jon Caramanica. February 1, 2010. The New York Times. limited. May 15, 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120828162727/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/arts/music/02taylor.html. August 28, 2012.
  8. Web site: Taylor Swift: A young singer's meteoric rise . . June 17, 2012 . December 14, 2019 . November 24, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221124042103/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/taylor-swift-a-young-singers-meteoric-rise-17-06-2012/ . live .
  9. Web site: Taylor Swift Rolling Out Speak Now Tracks Early. MTV News. Jocelyn. Vena. September 27, 2010. September 28, 2010. May 24, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140524162044/http://www.mtv.com/news/1648777/taylor-swift-rolling-out-speak-now-tracks-early/. dead.
  10. Web site: Country . https://archive.today/20130828093822/http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=03/13/2011&Format=4 . 28 August 2013 . . dead.
  11. Web site: Big Ole City Package . TaylorSwift.com . June 9, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110829223633/http://store.taylorswift.com/product/index/id/222?refstand=_LMSF_ . August 29, 2011 .
  12. Web site: Mean Package . TaylorSwift.com . May 17, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110527083229/http://store.taylorswift.com/product/index/id/223?refstand=_LMSF_ . May 27, 2011 .
  13. Web site: Speak Now Deluxe CD-DVD + CD Single + FREE Headphones. Taylor Swift. TaylorSwift.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20111104195616/http://store.taylorswift.com/. November 4, 2011. dead. September 9, 2011.
  14. Web site: Taylor Swift: Speak Now. Rick. Moore. American Songwriter. December 15, 2010. October 15, 2021. October 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211025150310/https://americansongwriter.com/taylor-swift-speak-now/. live.
  15. Why Taylor Swift's Speak Now Is Her Best Album. Brittany. McKenna. Billboard. November 8, 2017. November 8, 2017. November 8, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171108184728/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/8030047/taylor-swift-speak-now-best-album. live.
  16. Web site: Taylor Swift – Speak Now. Matt. Bjork. December 19, 2010. Roughstock. October 26, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101027182504/http://www.roughstock.com/reviews/taylor-swift-speak-now. October 27, 2010.
  17. Web site: Album Review: Taylor Swift's Speak Now. The Hollywood Reporter. Chris. Willman. October 19, 2010. August 11, 2022. August 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210818201357/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/taylor-swift-speak-album-31396/. live.
  18. News: Theon . Weber . The Iceberg Songs of Taylor Swift . . November 3, 2010 . December 19, 2010 . July 7, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120707060458/http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-11-03/music/the-iceberg-songs-of-taylor-swift/ . live .
  19. News: Jon. Caramanica. Jon Caramanica. Taylor Swift Is Angry, Darn It. The New York Times. October 20, 2010. December 19, 2010. February 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210228153224/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/arts/music/24swift.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2. live.
  20. Web site: Speak Now – Taylor Swift . Erlewine . Stephen Thomas . Stephen Thomas Erlewine . . October 25, 2010 . November 5, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171105185251/https://www.allmusic.com/album/speak-now-mw0002025410 . live .
  21. Jill Serjeant . Taylor Swift Sings Revenge; John Mayer Among Targets? . . October 20, 2010 . December 19, 2010 . September 20, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140920100733/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/953282/taylor-swift-sings-revenge-john-mayer-among-targets . live .
  22. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20101028195446/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/ourcountry/62996/taylor-swift-confronts-mayer-laments-lautner-in-new-album/. Taylor Swift Confronts Mayer, Laments Lautner in New Album. Chris. Willman. Yahoo! Music. October 18, 2010. October 28, 2010. October 28, 2010. dead.
  23. News: Ann Powers . Taylor Swift: What it means to be 'Mean' . Los Angeles Times . October 22, 2010 . December 19, 2010 . October 19, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171019100707/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/10/taylor-swift-lessons-in-being-mean.html . live .
  24. Leah Greenblett . Taylor Swift's 'Speak Now': The 10 best lines from her new album . Entertainment Weekly . October 25, 2010 . December 19, 2010 . December 7, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101207030150/http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/10/25/taylor-swift-speak-now-best-lyrics/ . live .
  25. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20101202055355/https://nowtoronto.com/music/discs.cfm?content=177612. Disc Review: Taylor Swift, Speak Now (Big Machine). Now. Kevin. Ritchie. November 4, 2010. November 4, 2010. December 2, 2010. dead.
  26. Web site: Taylor Swift: Speak Now . . November 2, 2010 . October 8, 2018 . Hyden . Steven . Steven Hyden . October 8, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181008095918/https://music.avclub.com/taylor-swift-speak-now-1798166341 . live .
  27. Web site: Taylor Swift – Speak Now. December 19, 2010. Slant Magazine. October 25, 2010. Jonathan. Keefe. October 28, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101028093509/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/taylor-swift-speak-now/2300. live.
  28. News: Nominees And Winners . The Recording Academy . November 30, 2011 . November 30, 2011 . June 18, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120618002523/http://www.grammy.com/nominees?year=2011 . live .
  29. Web site: Shelburne. Craig. Grammy Award Nominations Revealed. CMT. December 1, 2011. November 30, 2011. June 4, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130604153725/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1675195/grammy-award-nominations-revealed.jhtml. dead.
  30. 100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time . Rolling Stone . June 1, 2014 . December 14, 2019 . April 30, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210430093703/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-country-songs-of-all-time-11200/ . live .
  31. The 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time. Rolling Stone. May 24, 2014.
  32. Web site: It's Official: We've Picked the 50 Best Country Songs of the 2010s. Dukes. Billy. Taste of Country. en. 2019-12-16. December 16, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191216234043/https://tasteofcountry.com/best-country-songs-2010s/. live.
  33. Web site: Watts . Matthew . Leimkuehler . Dave . Paulson . Cindy . August 25, 2019 . What are the all-time greatest country songs? . 2022-09-21 . . October 23, 2019 . https://archive.today/20191023091340/https://eu.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/08/25/best-country-music-songs-all-time/1760586001/ . live .
  34. Web site: Hensel . Amanda . 2011 American Country Awards Winners – Full List . Taste of Country . December 5, 2011 . January 25, 2015 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150223050444/http://tasteofcountry.com/2011-american-country-awards-winners/ . February 23, 2015 .
  35. Web site: CMA World — International Awards — CMA World . Country Music Association Awards . January 25, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150201051132/http://www.cmaworld.com/initiatives/international/international-awards/ . February 1, 2015 .
  36. Web site: Taylor to be presented with CMA's Pinnacle Award! . . January 25, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150109131351/http://taylorswift.com/news/187833 . January 9, 2015 .
  37. Web site: 2011 MTV Video Music Awards — Highlights, Winners, Performers and Photos from the 2011 MTV VMAs . MTV . January 25, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150203142212/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2011/ . February 3, 2015 .
  38. Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez Win at Teen Choice Awards . April 29, 2015 . August 8, 2011 . Rolling Stone . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150621164741/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/taylor-swift-and-selena-gomez-win-at-teen-choice-awards-20110808 . June 21, 2015 .
  39. News: 2012 ACM Awards: Nominees & Winners . June 14, 2015 . . April 1, 2012 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150627065505/http://www.countryweekly.com/news/2012-acm-awards-nominees-winners . June 27, 2015 .
  40. Web site: Tom T. Hall, Dallas Davidson, Luke Laird and Others Recognized at BMI Country Awards . Broadcast Music, Inc. . January 25, 2015 . October 31, 2012 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150124091407/http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/tom_t._hall_dallas_davidson_luke_laird_and_others_recognized_at_bmi_country . January 24, 2015 .
  41. Web site: Grammy Awards 2012: Complete Winners And Nominees List . The Hollywood Reporter . January 25, 2015 . February 12, 2012 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150122045320/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/grammy-awards-2012-winners-whitney-houston-death-adele-289778 . January 22, 2015 .
  42. Far*East Holds on Hot 100, Swift Makes Another Top Debut. October 28, 2010. Silvio. Pietroluongo. Billboard. December 19, 2010. February 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210228105831/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/952431/fareast-holds-on-hot-100-swift-makes-another-top-debut. live.
  43. Web site: Taylor Swift's Speak Now Speaks Loud as Week's Best-Selling CD. Edward. Morris. November 5, 2010. CMT News. November 5, 2011. February 1, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140201182430/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1651639/taylor-swifts-speak-now-speaks-loud-as-weeks-best-selling-cd.jhtml. dead.
  44. Hot Country Songs. Billboard. subscription. November 6, 2010. August 10, 2022. August 11, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220811115728/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/2010-11-06/. live.
  45. Hot 100: Week of April 09, 2011 (Biggest Jump). Billboard. 12 September 2008. Prometheus Global Media. March 31, 2011. February 11, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230211124447/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/?order=gainer. live.
  46. Hot Country Songs Chart Week of March 26, 2011. Billboard. March 15, 2011. September 8, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100908081359/http://www.billboard.com/news#/column/chartbeat/chart-highlights-adult-contemporary-alternative-1005073232.story. live.
  47. Weekly Chart Notes: Taylor Swift, Adele, Richard Marx . Trust . Gary . May 5, 2011 . . Nielsen Business Media, Inc . May 11, 2011 . October 2, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201002151527/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/471711/weekly-chart-notes-taylor-swift-adele-richard-marx . live .
  48. Web site: Advertisement Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood Make Chart History. WTMA. May 10, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110722153825/http://www.wtma.com/rssItem.asp?feedid=115&itemid=29666780. July 22, 2011.
  49. Web site: Week Ending Aug. 7, 2011. Songs: Place Your Bets. August 10, 2011. Yahoo! Music. Yahoo!. August 11, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111201194444/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-aug-7-2011-songs-place-your-bets.html. December 1, 2011.
  50. Small But Mighty: A Big Year for Indie Labels. Billboard. January 7, 2012. 37. 114. 1. Google Books. August 11, 2022. February 11, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230211124445/https://books.google.com/books?id=RsAnJ7Zx_qgC&pg=PA37. live.
  51. Best of 2011: Country Songs . . . 2011 . December 10, 2011 . May 25, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130525023458/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/hot-country-songs . live .
  52. Web site: Recording Industry Association of America. RIAA. December 1, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151226122413/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Taylor%20Swift&format=&go=Search&perPage=50. December 26, 2015.
  53. Ask Billboard: Taylor Swift's Career Sales & Streaming Totals, From 'Tim McGraw' to 'You Need to Calm Down'. Gary. Trust. Billboard. July 14, 2019. July 14, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190715081725/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8519784/taylor-swift-career-sales-streaming-totals-2019-ask-billboard. July 15, 2019. dead. mdy-all.
  54. Canadian Hot 100: Week of November 6, 2010 (Biggest Jump). November 6, 2010. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 1, 2010. May 24, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130524110037/http://www.billboard.com/charts/2010-11-06/canadian-hot-100?order=gainer. live.
  55. Web site: Eggenberger . Nicole . April 4, 2011 . Watch Taylor Swift Perform 'Mean' at Academy of Country Music Awards! . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110410104939/http://www.okmagazine.com/2011/04/watch-taylor-swift-perform-mean-at-academy-of-country-music-awards/ . April 10, 2011 . April 16, 2011 . OK! Magazine.
  56. Web site: May 30, 2011 . Taylor Swift Performs 'Mean' . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110602075847/http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2011/05/taylor_swift_performs_mean_0530.php . June 2, 2011 . May 31, 2011 . Ellen DeGeneres.
  57. News: Suddath . Claire . February 12, 2012 . The Best and Worst of the 2012 Grammys: Taylor Swift, "Mean" . live . December 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120424081932/http://entertainment.time.com/2012/02/12/the-best-and-worst-of-the-2012-grammys/slide/taylor-swift-mean/ . April 24, 2012.
  58. Web site: Coffey . Kevin . May 28, 2011 . Taylor Swift shimmers in Omaha . dead . https://archive.today/20120630192444/http://www.omaha.com/article/20110528/NEWS01/305289989/912797 . June 30, 2012 . August 18, 2011 . Omaha World-Herald.
  59. Web site: Deluca . Dan . July 20, 2013 . Taylor Swift Set List . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20191214110457/https://www.inquirer.com/philly/entertainment/music/Taylor-Swift-Set-List.html . December 14, 2019 . December 14, 2019 . The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  60. Iasimone . Ashley . November 20, 2018 . All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed On Her Reputation Stadium Tour B-Stage (So Far) . live . Billboard . https://web.archive.org/web/20191008113110/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8458025/taylor-swift-reputation-tour-b-stage-songs-list . October 8, 2019 . December 19, 2018.
  61. Web site: Smith . Katie Louise . June 23, 2024 . Here's Every Surprise Song Performed on Taylor Swift's Eras Tour . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240623130936/https://www.capitalfm.com/artists/taylor-swift/eras-tour-surprise-songs-setlist/ . June 23, 2024 . June 23, 2024 . Capital FM.
  62. Web site: Taylor Swift's 'Mean' Video Aims To Empower Fans. Singer plays up anti-bullying message in her video.. Jocelyn. Vena. May 6, 2011. MTV. May 8, 2011. November 20, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111120023925/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663463/taylor-swift-mean-video.jhtml. dead.
  63. Web site: Taylor Swift's "Mean" Video Debuts Friday. May 4, 2011. MTV. May 8, 2011. May 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110511004638/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663245/taylor-swifts-mean-video-debuts-friday.jhtml. dead.
  64. Web site: Taylor Swift's "Mean" Video Debuts Friday. May 4, 2011. CMT. Viacom. May 8, 2011. May 7, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110507111928/http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1663245/taylor-swifts-mean-video-debuts-friday.jhtml. dead.
  65. Web site: OFFSTAGE: Taylor Swift Isn't "Mean" at All, Director Says. Alison. Bonaguro. May 6, 2011. CMT. Viacom. May 8, 2011. May 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110511135605/http://www.cmt.com/news/cmt-offstage/1663418/offstage-taylor-swift-isnt-mean-at-all-director-says.jhtml. dead.
  66. Web site: Taylor Swift's 'Mean' Director Calls Her 'Timeless'. Jocelyn. Vena. May 9, 2011. Viacom. May 10, 2011. May 13, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110513074138/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663521/taylor-swift-mean-video-director.jhtml. dead.
  67. Web site: Taylor Swift music video. May 7, 2011. Joey-king.net. May 8, 2011. May 10, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110510071210/http://joey-king.net/2011/05/07/taylor-swift-music-video/. live.
  68. Web site: Taylor Swift Mean : Mean Video. Jessica. Sinclair. May 8, 2011. Long Island Press. Jed Morey. May 9, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110512135957/http://www.longislandpress.com/2011/05/08/taylor-swift-mean-mean-video/. May 12, 2011.
  69. Web site: What Would Taylor Swift's 'Mean' Video Look Like?. Jocelyn. Vena. May 4, 2011. MTV News. MTV. May 8, 2011. April 30, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110430033917/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2011/04/04/what-would-taylor-swifts-mean-video-look-like. dead.
  70. Web site: New Video: Taylor Swift Escapes Small Town Life In "Mean". Story. Gilmore. May 7, 2011. neonlimelight.com. May 8, 2011. May 9, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110509023739/http://neonlimelight.com/2011/05/07/new-video-taylor-swift-escapes-small-town-life-in-mean/. live.
  71. Web site: Taylor Swift Releases Video for 'Mean'. Amanda. Lynne. May 7, 2011. Gather.com. May 8, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110722065129/http://entertainment.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474979301420. July 22, 2011.
  72. Web site: Taylor Swift 'Mean' Music Video: Singer Takes On Critics, Bullies (VIDEO). May 9, 2011. The Huffington Post. AOL. May 10, 2011. May 10, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110510173419/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/09/taylor-swift-mean-music-video_n_859539.html. live.
  73. Web site: Taylor Swift's 'Mean' Video Aims To Empower Fans. Jocelyn. Vena. May 6, 2011. MTV. May 8, 2011. November 20, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111120023925/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663463/taylor-swift-mean-video.jhtml. dead.
  74. Web site: Taylor Swift Braves the Bullies in Beautiful New 'Mean' Video. Ashley. Iasimone. May 6, 2011. tasteofcountry.com. May 8, 2011. May 8, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110508222419/http://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-mean-video/. live.
  75. Taylor Swift battles bullies, critics, and silent movie villains in new 'Mean' video: Watch it here. Kyle. Anderson. May 9, 2011. Entertainment Weekly. May 10, 2011. October 27, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151027060630/http://www.ew.com/article/2011/05/09/taylor-swift-mean-video. live.
  76. Web site: WATCH: Taylor Swift's "Mean" Video Creates Controversy. Donna. Kaufman. May 9, 2011. IVillage. May 10, 2011. May 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110511224129/http://www.ivillage.com/taylor-swift-mean-video-creates-controversy/1-a-348118. live.
  77. Web site: Taylor Swift's 'Mean' Video Makes Us Temporarily Pro-Bully. Kyle. Buchanan. May 9, 2011. New York. New York Media Holdings. May 10, 2011. May 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110511232511/http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/05/taylor_swift_mean_video.html. live.
  78. Web site: Taylor Swift's "Mean" doesn't equate to "It Gets Better". Drew. Grant. May 9, 2011. Salon.com. Salon Media Group. May 10, 2011. May 14, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110514001748/http://www.salon.com/entertainment/taylor_swift/?story=%2Fent%2Ftv%2Ffeature%2F2011%2F05%2F09%2Ftaylor_swift_mean_song. dead.
  79. Web site: Taylor Swift's 'Mean' video: A deserving message gone wrong. Sophie. Schillaci. May 9, 2011. Zap2it. Tribune Media Services. May 10, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110513021632/http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2011/05/taylor-swifts-mean-video-a-deserving-message-gone-wrong.html. May 13, 2011.
  80. News: For Gays, New Songs of Survival. Hawgood. Alex. November 5, 2010. The New York Times. limited. July 1, 2022. June 9, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120609020459/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/fashion/07ANTHEM.html. live.
  81. Web site: South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week: January 15, 2012 to January 21, 2012) . . December 15, 2012 . December 21, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121219094524/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/online/download/list.gaon . December 19, 2012 .
  82. Web site: Speak Now, Again: Taylor Swift Banishes the Ghosts of Her Past. Siroky. Mary. Consequence. July 7, 2023. July 11, 2023.
  83. Web site: Melas . Chloe . November 16, 2020 . Taylor Swift Speaks Out about Sale of Her Masters . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201118064935/https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/taylor-swift-speaks-out-about-sale-of-her-masters-1.5191925 . November 18, 2020 . November 19, 2020 . CTV News.
  84. News: August 22, 2019 . Taylor Swift Wants to Re-record Her Old Hits . . live . August 22, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190822202321/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-49432817 . August 22, 2019.
  85. Web site: Finnis . Alex . November 17, 2020 . Taylor Swift Masters: The Controversy around Scooter Braun Selling the Rights to Her Old Music Explained . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210212170953/https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/taylor-swift-masters-scooter-braun-selling-rights-music-rerecording-row-explained-762411 . February 12, 2021 . February 13, 2021 . i.
  86. News: Shah . Neil . 2021-04-09 . Taylor Swift Releases New Fearless Album, Reclaiming Her Back Catalog . . subscription . 2022-09-25 . October 8, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211008111731/https://www.wsj.com/articles/taylor-swift-releases-new-fearless-album-reclaiming-her-back-catalog-11617945524 . live .
  87. . . . 2023 . digital album notes.
  88. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. July 17, 2023. July 14, 2023.
  89. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. July 17, 2023. July 15, 2023.
  90. Taylor Swift Chart History (Philippines Songs) . . July 18, 2023 . November 8, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231108142420/https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/i42/ . dead.
  91. Web site: RIAS Top Charts Week 28 (7 - 13 Jul 2023). RIAS. July 18, 2023. July 18, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230718064818/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/.
  92. Web site: Official Streaming Chart Top 100 . . July 15, 2023.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Mean (song)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.