"Sparks Fly" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her third studio album Speak Now.
Swift wrote the song when she was 16 years old, prior to the release of her debut single Tim McGraw in 2006.[1] Following a 2007 live performance of the song, Sparks Fly grew in popularity among Swift's fanbase. While Speak Now was under production, she received requests from fans to include the song on the album. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, the song was serviced to country radio in the United States by Big Machine Records on July 18, 2011, as the fifth single from Speak Now. A CD single was released on Swift's official store for a limited time on August 10, 2011.
Sparks Fly received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised it for its upbeat tempo. Others praised Swift's lyrics on the song and have claimed that the song is a crossover between country and pop. Following the release of the album, the song debuted at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number 28 on the Canadian Hot 100, due to strong digital sales. After the song was released as a single, it re-entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 84. It peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over 1,000,000 copies. It was used as the opening song for the Speak Now World Tour. A music video for the song was released, featuring clips of various performances during the Speak Now World Tour.
Background and release
Swift began work on her third studio album Speak Now two years prior to its release in 2010.[2] She performed the song live during several bar shows "of forty and fifty people".[3] A recorded live performance of the song during one of her concerts made its way onto the internet in 2007.[4] The song became a favorite among Swift's fans, leading Swift to rework the song and include it on Speak Now after having so many requested for it to be included on the album.[5][6] Of the song, Swift said that:
| “ | This is a song I wrote a few years ago and I have been working on it ever since. It's been awesome to see it change over the years. The fans have heard it before in concert, but there have been some really cool changes that I am very proud of and can't wait for them to hear. | ” |
The song was sent to country music radio stations on July 18, 2011,[8] as the fifth single from Speak Now.[9][10] An exclusive package was released to Swift's official store including a Speak Now necklace and an individually numbered Sparks Fly CD single. Only 2,500 copies of the CD single were made and the package was made available for a limited time.[11][12] The single was later included in another package that is exclusive to Swift's official store. The package included 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] The song was featured on a promotional trailer for the CW show, Hart of Dixie.[14] It was also featured on the annual "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Show" in 2012. The song was released on Now That's What I Call Country Volume 5.[15][16]
Taylor Swift has stated:
| “ |
"Sparks Fly" is about falling for someone who you maybe shouldn't fall for, but you can't stop yourself because there's such a connection and chemistry. This is a song I wrote a few years ago and I have been working on it ever since. It's been awesome to see it change over the years. The fans have heard it before in concert, but there have been some really cool changes that I am very proud of and can't wait for them to hear. |
” |
Lyrics
- The way you move is like a full-on rainstorm
- And I'm a house of cards
- You're the kind of reckless that should
- Send me running but
- I kinda know that I won't get far
- And you stood there in front of me
- Just close enough to touch
- Close enough to hope you couldn't see what I was thinking of
- Chorus
- Drop everything now
- Meet me in the pouring rain
- Kiss me on the sidewalk
- Take away the pain
- Cause I see sparks fly
- Whenever you smile
- Get me with those green eyes baby
- As the lights go down
- Give me something that'll haunt me when you're not around
- Cause I see sparks fly
- Whenever you smile
- My mind forgets to remind me
- You're a bad idea
- You touch me once and it's really something
- You find I'm even better than
- You imagined I would be
- I'm on my guard for the rest of the world, but with you
- I know it's no good
- And I could wait patiently
- But I really wish you would
- Chorus
- Drop everything now
- Meet me in the pouring rain
- Kiss me on the sidewalk
- Take away the pain
- Cause I see sparks fly
- Whenever you smile
- Get me with those green eyes baby
- As the lights go down
- Give me something that'll haunt me when you're not around
- Cause I see sparks fly
- Whenever you smile
- Repeat Chorus
- I'll run my fingers through your hair
- And watch the lights go wild
- Just keep on keeping your eyes on me
- It's just wrong enough to make it feel right
- And lead me up the staircase
- Won't you whisper soft and slow
- I'm captivated by you baby like a fireworks show
- Chorus
- Drop everything now
- Meet me in the pouring rain
- Kiss me on the sidewalk
- Take away the pain
- Cause I see sparks fly
- Whenever you smile
- Get me with those green eyes baby
- As the lights go down
- Give me something that'll haunt me when you're not around
- Cause I see sparks fly
- Whenever you smile
- Repeat Chorus
- Sparks fly, oh baby smile
- And the sparks fly
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOPFMrF7v4Q
- ↑ https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/07/21/taylor-swift-sets-release-date-for-new-album-speak-now/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOPFMrF7v4Q
- ↑ http://www.roughstock.com/blog/taylor-swift-sparks-fly-single-review
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOPFMrF7v4Q
- ↑ http://www.nashville.com/music/2011/08/fans-responsible-for-getting-%E2%80%9Csparks-fly%E2%80%9D-on-taylor-swift-cd/
- ↑ https://www.webcitation.org/63SvGZvKR
- ↑ http://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-sparks-fly/
- ↑ http://countryaircheck.com/pdfs/current062711.pdf
- ↑ http://shuffleme.net/2011/07/07/taylor-swift-confirms-5th-single-off-speak-now/?amp&
- ↑ https://www.webcitation.org/61XQNCWra
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/TAYLOR-SWIFT-SPARK-LIMITED-SINGLE/dp/B005HG4A0I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1313588024&sr=8-3
- ↑ https://www.webcitation.org/63HM8RWYV
- ↑ http://uk.eonline.com/news/watch_with_kristin/taylor_swift_makes_sparks_fly_in_new/284818
- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/now-thats-what-i-call-country-vol-5-mw0002369735
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Country-Thats-What-Call/dp/B007Y56KJO/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1338686520&sr=1-3