Forever & Always (Taylor Swift song)

"Forever & Always" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her second studio album, Fearless (2008). It was a last-minute addition to the album.[1] It received mixed reviews from music critics and became certified Platinum by the RIAA[2] peaking within the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, despite not being individually released or promoted as a single. "Forever & Always" revolves lyrically around a breakup and the resultant heartache.

"Forever & Always"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album Fearless
ReleasedNovember 11, 2008 (2008-11-11)
Recorded
  • October 2008 (original version)
  • 2009 (piano version)
Genre
Length
  • 3:46 (original version)
  • 4:27 (piano version)
Songwriter(s)Taylor Swift
Producer(s)

Background and recording

Inspired by her recent break-up with Joe Jonas,[3] Swift quickly wrote and recorded the song at the last minute for inclusion on Fearless. As Swift explained in a track-by-track insight into the album, the song was written about a man in her life who she could see "slowly [slipping] away" from her and the confusion she felt in dealing with a crumbling relationship.[4] In an interview with Rolling Stone, Swift described the fallout of that relationship as a "really dramatic and crazy" experience that she "[needed] to address" through her music.[1]

Jonas addressed the song in the June 2009 issue of Seventeen Magazine. When talking about it, he said he wasn't bothered by Swift writing a song about their relationship. "It's flattering," said Jonas. "It's always nice to hear their side of the story."[5]

In 2009, Swift re-recorded the song in an acoustic ballad style for the Platinum Edition re-issue of Fearless. This remastered cut is officially titled "Forever & Always (Piano Version)".[6]

Live performances

Swift performed "Forever & Always", along with "Love Story", on Saturday Night Live on January 10, 2009[7] and on the Fearless Tour. She also performed the song during the 2009 Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve as part of a medley with "Picture to Burn", "Love Story", and "Change".[8]

The song was a regular part of the set list for Swift's first concert tour, Fearless Tour. During the March 22, 2013 show in Charlotte, during the Red Tour, Swift performed "Forever & Always" in place of "I Almost Do". She would do this again on September 15, 2018, in place of "All Too Well", during the Indianapolis performance of her Reputation Stadium Tour.[9]

Chart performance
Chart (2008) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10] 32
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 34

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[12] Platinum 1,000,000

^shipments figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

References
  1. Scaggs, Austin. "Taylor's Time: Catching Up With Taylor Swift". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  2. "American certifications – Swift, Taylor". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  3. Vena, Jocelyn. "Taylor Swift Talks About Joe Jonas Breakup Online, On The Radio, On TV And In Her New Album". MTV. Archived from the original on October 30, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  4. Swift, Taylor. "Cut By But". Bigmachinerecords.com. Big Machine Records. Archived from the original on December 6, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  5. "Forever & Always by Taylor Swift". Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  6. "Forever & Always (Piano Version) on YouTube". Archived from the original on January 28, 2020.
  7. Navaroli, Joel. "SNL Archives | Episodes | October 1, 2009 #12". SNL Archives. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  8. LaCroix, Emy (December 5, 2014). "The (Taylor) Swifts of New Year's Past | American Music Awards". American Music Awards. Archived from the original on September 24, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  9. Iasimone, Ashley. "All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed on Her Reputation Stadium Tour B-Stage (So Far)". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 8, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  10. "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  11. "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  12. "American single certifications – Taylor Swift – Forever & Always". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 23, 2018. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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