Ronan (song) explained

Ronan
Cover:Taylor Swift "Ronan" SVG Cover.svg
Alt:Cover art of "Ronan", showing texts on a black background
Type:promo
Artist:Taylor Swift
Genre:Soft rock
Label:Big Machine
Producer:Taylor Swift
Prev Title:We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
Prev Year:2012
Next Title:Begin Again
Next Year:2012

"Ronan" is a charity promotional single by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released as an iTunes-exclusive download on September 8, 2012, by Big Machine Records. The lyrics are based on a blog by Maya Thompson about her three-year-old son Ronan, who died from neuroblastoma in 2011. Swift wrote and produced the song by putting together quotes from the blog, crediting Maya Thompson as co-writer. All proceeds from sales of "Ronan" were donated for charity causes to raise awareness of and fight against cancer.

Musically, "Ronan" is a soft rock ballad instrumented by a sole finger-picked guitar with occasional piano tunes and minimal drum brushes. Music critics have lauded the song artistically, deeming it a prime example of Swift's abilities as a singer-songwriter to evoke vivid emotional sentiments through her songwriting.[1] [2] [3] [4] The single peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. A re-recorded version, "Ronan (Taylor's Version)", was included in Swift's 2021 re-recorded album Red (Taylor's Version).

Background

Swift wrote the song after reading Maya Thompson's blog. Thompson is the mother of three-year-old Ronan Thompson, who died in 2011 of neuroblastoma.[5] He had been treated at Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital. Maya began writing in August 2010 when Ronan was diagnosed and she continued penning her entries in the blog Rockstar Ronan during the nine months that Ronan suffered from the illness before dying in May 2011, just three days before his fourth birthday. Maya worked through her grief by continuing the blog, writing letters to her late son whilst raising money and awareness for childhood cancer causes.[6]

The pair met in October 2011, when Swift invited Maya to her concert at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. She wrote about her reaction when Taylor told her that she'd penned the song inspired by her blog entries; addressing her late son, Thompson said that her calmness "...soon turned to complete and utter frozen shock when these words came out of her mouth: 'I wrote a song for Ronan.' The tears started pouring down my cheeks as soon as I heard her say those words. But her words didn't stop there. Not only did she write a song for you, but she wanted to know if it would be alright to perform it on the nationally televised Stand Up to Cancer show..."[7] Swift credits Thompson as the co-writer of the song. It was released to the US iTunes Store shortly after the Stand Up to Cancer telethon ended, and all proceeds of the single go towards cancer charities.[8]

Composition and reception

Mark Hogan of Spin magazine describes "Ronan" as a soft rock ballad.[9] Swift wrote and produced the song based on the blog entries by co-writer Maya Thompson.

"Ronan" received universal acclaim from critics. Rolling Stone called the song "heartbreaking".[10] Bill Dukes of Taste of Country wrote: "It was clear [Swift] was just the voice for Maya Thompson..."[11] Ed Masley of The Arizona Republic said that "'Ronan' may very well be [Swift's] finest hour as an artist."[12] Thompson herself, in a 2012 interview with MTV, recalled her experience listening to Swift's live rendition at Stand Up to Cancer: "Listening to it was very emotional and I was blown away by how she got it. She got it in a way that most people don't. She took the time to take the intimate parts of things I'd written and put them into the song."[13] Thompson's portion of the proceeds from her co-writing credit went to her Ronan Thompson Foundation.[13]

Commercial performance

"Ronan" was downloaded 220,000 times in its first week, debuting at number 2 on the Digital Song Sales chart. The song was blocked by Swift's own song "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" from the top spot. On the Billboard Hot 100, the song peaked at number 16.[14] It also peaked at number 34 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

Live performances

Swift first performed the song live for Stand Up to Cancer in September 2012,[15] and has only performed it publicly one other time, when Maya Thompson attended the Glendale, Arizona stop of The 1989 World Tour on August 17, 2015.[16]

"Ronan (Taylor's Version)"

Ronan (Taylor's Version)
Type:song
Artist:Taylor Swift
Album:Red (Taylor's Version)
Length:4:24
Label:Republic
Producer:

Swift re-recorded "Ronan", subtitled "(Taylor's Version)", for her second re-recorded album, Red (Taylor's Version), released on November 12, 2021, through Republic Records.[17] Prior to the re-recording, Thompson confirmed she had granted Swift permission.[18] A lyric video for the track was confirmed through Thompson via Twitter on November 11, 2021, the day before the album was released.[19] The video contains images and home video footage of Ronan with Thompson, provided to Swift by Thompson herself.[20] [21]

Charts

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Why Taylor Swift's 'Ronan' Is Her Best Song Never to Appear on an Album: Critic's Take. Unterberger. Andrew. November 9, 2017. Billboard. September 14, 2022.
  2. Web site: Why Does Taylor Swift Write So Many One-Note Melodies?. November 8, 2017. BBC News. August 31, 2021. February 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220208092800/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-41886475. live.
  3. Sheffield. Rob. Rob Sheffield. 'Ronan' (2012). October 26, 2021. Rolling Stone. limited. September 15, 2022.
  4. Web site: Taylor Swift's Singles – Ranked. Alexis. Petridis. Alexis Petridis. The Guardian. April 26, 2019. April 26, 2019. April 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190427062612/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/26/taylor-swifts-singles-ranked. live.
  5. Web site: Taylor Swift to 'Stand Up to Cancer' With Song for 4-Year-Old Lost to Neuroblastoma. Megan. Pacella. September 7, 2012. Taste of Country. September 7, 2012. March 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054321/http://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-stand-up-to-cancer-ronan/. live.
  6. Web site: Ronan by Taylor Swift Songfacts . Songfacts.com . September 7, 2012 . October 17, 2016 . October 18, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161018223724/http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=27193 . live .
  7. Web site: Hey Maya, it's Taylor Swift.... Rockstaronan.com. September 9, 2012. October 17, 2016. October 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161011105352/https://rockstarronan.com/2012/09/09/hey-maya-its-taylor-swift/. live.
  8. Web site: Taylor Swift to debut song for cancer victim. September 7, 2012. MSN. Microsoft. September 7, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131213223821/http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=755896&GT1=28102. December 13, 2013. dead.
  9. Web site: Taylor Swift Debuts Tear-Jerking 'Ronan' at Cancer Benefit. Spin. Swift's soft-rock ballad "Ronan," inspired by a Phoenix mother's heartfelt blog post .... Mark. Hogan. September 10, 2012. May 27, 2015. May 27, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150527122956/http://www.spin.com/2012/09/taylor-swift-debuts-ronan-at-cancer-benefit/. live.
  10. Taylor Swift Debuts 'Ronan' at Stand Up To Cancer Benefit. September 8, 2012. Rolling Stone. September 9, 2012. September 13, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120913054843/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/taylor-swift-debuts-ronan-at-stand-up-to-cancer-benefit-20120908. live.
  11. Web site: Taylor Swift's 'Ronan,' Tim McGraw's 'Live Like You Were Dying' Highlight Emotional 'Stand Up to Cancer' Telethon. Billy. Dukes. September 7, 2012. Taste of Country. September 9, 2012. November 8, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171108210247/http://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swifts-ronan-tim-mcgraw-stand-up-2-cancer/. live.
  12. Web site: Taylor Swift song 'Ronan' for Phoenix boy an artistic high. Ed. Masley. September 9, 2012. The Republic. AZ Central. September 9, 2012.
  13. Web site: Mother Says Taylor Swift's 'Ronan' Tribute Song Got It '100 Percent Right'. Gil. Kaufman. MTV News. September 14, 2012. September 14, 2022. September 15, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220915023445/https://www.mtv.com/news/vp6nwp/taylor-swift-ronan-tribute-song. dead.
  14. Taylor Swift's 'Never' Is Hot 100's Longest-Leading Country Song Since 1980. Billboard. Gary. Trust. September 12, 2012. April 28, 2013. October 21, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201021023415/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/475154/taylor-swifts-never-is-hot-100s-longest-leading-country-song-since-1980. live.
  15. News: Taylor Swift to debut song, 'Ronan', on 'Stand Up to Cancer' telethon in honor of 3-year-old victim. Associated Press. September 7, 2012. New York Daily News. September 8, 2012. March 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041759/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/taylor-swift-debut-song-ronan-stand-cancer-telethon-honor-3-year-old-victim-article-1.1154151?localLinksEnabled=false. live.
  16. Biedenharn. Isabella. Taylor Swift sings 'Ronan' and honors woman whose son died of cancer. Entertainment Weekly. August 19, 2015. August 20, 2015. April 7, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407083446/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/19/taylor-swift-ronan. live.
  17. Web site: Red (Taylor's Version): Release date, tracklist, why Taylor Swift is rerecording her albums. CNET. Abrar. Al-Heeti. November 11, 2021. November 13, 2021. November 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211120224012/https://www.cnet.com/news/red-taylors-version-release-date-tracklist-why-taylor-swift-is-rerecording-her-albums/. live.
  18. Web site: Taylor Swift Song 'Ronan' Will Be on Her Remastered Red Album; 'I Cried' Ronan's Mother Says. Ushe. Naledi. July 31, 2021. People. July 31, 2021. July 31, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210731043447/https://people.com/music/taylor-swift-ronan-remastered-red-album/. live.
  19. Mama Maya . rockstarronan . 1458872186513592325 . November 11, 2021 . This is how I'll be all day. I just listened AND watched Ronan, Taylor's version. I couldn't tell you about the music video until now. It is beyond perfection and I can't wait for you all to see it. @taylorswift13 You are one of the greatest loves of my life. TY for loving him. . November 13, 2021.
  20. Bowenbank . Starr . Taylor Swift Releases Touching Tribute Lyric Video 'Ronan' With Permission From Family . Billboard . 23 November 2021 . 12 November 2021.
  21. Web site: Taylor Swift's 'Ronan': Mom of Late Boy Who Inspired Song Tearfully Reacts to 'Perfect' New Video. Benjamin. VanHoose. November 12, 2021. People. September 14, 2022. September 15, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220915023702/https://people.com/parents/taylor-swift-ronan-song-mom-late-4-year-old-who-inspired-single-tearfully-reacts/. live.

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