Two weeks ago, Taylor Swift announced that she had finished re-recording her most successful album, Fearless, as Fearless (Taylor’s Version), and that the release of her re-recorded hit single “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” would be available that evening. 

This is the most recent development in Taylor Swift’s master recording ownership battle that began in 2018, when her contract with Big Machine Records expired. Taylor Swift had been working with Big Machine Records since she was 15, under an agreement that placed the ownership of her masters with the label. When her contract with Big Machine Records expired, Swift sought to purchase the rights to her master recordings, but the label’s founder and CEO Scott Borchetta refused to sell unless she signed a 10-year contract and created six more albums with Big Machine. In order to prioritize her future endeavors, Swift turned down this offer, with the understanding that Borchetta was intending to sell the label and thus her masters would end up in someone else’s hands. 

One year later, as Swift predicted, Borchetta sold Big Machine Records for $300 million. However, she was not expecting her extensive catalog to fall into the hands of artist manager Scooter Braun’s company, Ithaca Holdings. She described Borchetta and Braun’s deal as her “worst nightmare,” claiming that Braun and his clients, including Kanye West and Justin Bieber, had bullied, harassed, and manipulated her for years. Swift felt as if she was being stripped of her life’s work, explaining that her “musical legacy [was] about to lie in the hands of someone who tried to dismantle it.”

Just a few months later, Swift’s catalogue changed hands for the second time that year when Ithaca Holdings sold the rights to her first six albums to Shamrock Capital. Following this deal, Swift refused to collaborate with Shamrock, alluding to Braun’s continued financial involvement and saying this was “a sacrifice [she had] to make to keep Scooter Braun out of [her] life.” 

Since Scooter Braun became involved with her master recordings, Swift has been eager to regain control of her music and prevent Ithaca Holdings from profiting off of her work. Her plan is to re-release every album she made with Big Machine Records in order to reclaim her career and demonstrate her support for artist ownership rights. 

Swift began this process this month with “Love Story (Taylor’s Version),” which is almost identical to the original recording of “Love Story.” Since its release two weeks ago, this track has found extreme success: during its first day, Swift sold over 10,000 US downloads, received 5.8 million streams on US services and reached 777,000 audience impressions through radioplay. 

Following this single, fans are looking forward to the release of Fearless (Taylor’s Version) on April 9th, a recreation of the original deluxe album with six never before heard tracks. She shared insights on her re-recording in a recent social media post saying, “This process has been more fulfilling and emotional than I could’ve imagined and has made me even more determined to re-record all my music,” making fans optimistic about what’s to come with future releases. 

The Music of Black History Month

We’re honoring this Black History Month by recognizing and celebrating ten iconic and influential songs by black American musicians: 

Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday (1939) 

This 1939 protest song originated as a poem concerning the lynching of black Americans in the South during the Jim Crow Era. Its haunting lyrics describe lynching victims as a type of strange fruit that hangs from trees, rots in the sun, blows in the wind, and becomes food for crows. This raw and powerful song has been referred to as “the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement” and “a declaration of war.” Holiday received demands to stop singing “Strange Fruit” from powerful groups including the FBI, but bravely kept performing, sending a powerful message of resistance that further heightened the song’s prominence in the Civil Rights Movement. 

We Shall Overcome 

Originating from the 1901 gospel song, “I’ll Overcome Some Day,” “We Shall Overcome” is known as one of the most significant protest songs of the American Civil Rights Movement. While it has been covered countless times, the most well known common day rendition is accredited to Pete Seeger, director of the People’s Song Bulletin. Its lyrics concern the act of overcoming bigotry, violence, and hardships, lending itself perfectly to become the “unofficial anthem” of the Civil Rights Movement in 1959.

“We Shall Overcome” was performed at protests, rallies, festivals, and concerts across the country in the 1960s. For example, folk singer Joan Baez led 300,000 people in singing “We Shall Overcome” during A. Philip Randalph’s March on Washington at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. Additionally, Martin Luther King Jr recited the song’s lyrics at his final sermon on March 31, 1968, just four days before his assassination. Over 50,000 people came together to sing “We Shall Overcome” at his funeral days later. Because of its prominence in the Civil Rights Movement and its empowering message, “We Shall Overcome” is still performed at protests around the world today. 

A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke (1964) 

This 1964 R&B hit is known as one of the most recognizable anthems of the American Civil Rights Movement. Inspired by other songs of the Civil Rights Era, Cooke wrote “A Change is Gonna Come” after his band was turned away from a Louisiana “whites-only” Motel. This emotional song has received abundant critical acclaim, being placed at number 12 on the Rolling Stones’ list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” and selected for preservation in the Library of Congress. “A Change is Gonna Come” has remained prominent for decades and is still sung and referenced in protests and marches for the Black Lives Matter movement. 

Dancing in the Street by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas (1965) 

Although this upbeat song was originally written as a party song about having a great time no matter where you are, it is now best known for its role in the Civil Rights Movement. In the context of the political and social turmoil of the 1960s, “Dancing in the Street” was reclaimed as a protest song that promoted social change, as its joyous lyrics were interpreted as a message to reject passive peace and fight for the freedom of minorities in America. When asked about the song’s importance, Reeves was committed to the original meaning, saying “My Lord, it was a party song!” However, her intent doesn’t change the impact that this uplifting song had on the Civil Rights Movement. 

Say it Loud, I’m Black and Proud by James Brown (1968) 

This 1968 funk song is celebrated for powerfully promoting black empowerment and independence. James Brown’s main goal with “Say it Loud, I’m Black and Proud” was to encourage self-esteem in his African American listeners, coining the anthem as a “rallying cry for peaceful self-pride.” The song has had a widespread impact, as described by Public Enemy’s Chuck D: “The sheer magnitude of ‘Say it Loud’ was an implanted, soundtracked theme into understanding that our minds, bodies, and souls were black and beautiful.’ 

What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye (1971)

In the 1970s, Marvin Gaye was tired of singing purely romantic music and wanted to turn towards socially conscious artistry, a desire that manifested in the creation of “What’s Going On.” This song’s powerful lyrics are a plea for peace on earth and equality, asking why we treat each other so poorly and hoping for a future of greater love and understanding. Although Berry Gordy of Motown Records was worried that no one would want to listen to a romantic singer perform political music, Marvin Gaye released this song to extreme commercial success in 1971. “What’s Going On” has since received widespread critical acclaim, and is considered the 4th greatest song ever according to Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list. 

F**k Tha Police by NWA (1988) 

This 1988 protest song addresses the injustices of racial profiling and rampant police brutality in America. Inspired by an experience when the LAPD forced members of NWA to lay in the street with guns pointed at their heads, the lyrics of “F**k Tha Police” create an image of a trial against the police, where NWA members give testimony and judge the proceedings. Its title has since become an influential slogan that is often chanted at protests against police brutality. 

Alright by Kendrick Lamar (2015) 

Lamar has described “Alright” as a message of hope in the face of racism and inequality, using messages of solidarity to convince the audience that, together, “we gon’ be alright.” This song became associated with the Black Lives Matter Movement after its chorus was chanted at youth protests in 2015/16, and has since been referred to as the “unifying soundtrack” of BLM, “this generation’s ‘We Shall Overcome,’” and even “the modern Black National Anthem.” 

Formation by Beyoncé (2016) 

“Formation” is a song of black positivity and empowerment, with Beyoncé’s lyrics proudly celebrating her heritage as a black American from Alabama and Louisiana. This anthem was released on February 6, 2016, one day after what would have been Trayvon Martin’s 21st birthday and one day before what would have been Sandra Bland’s 29th. 

This is America by Childish Gambino (2018)

“This is America” addresses issues of gun violence and the lasting impacts of systemic racism in America. Upon its release, the song was celebrated for its powerful music video, which alludes to subjects like Jim Crow policies and the 2015 Charleston church shooting. Written during a time of extreme political turmoil and unrest in America, “This is America” provides a commentary on America’s overwhelming numbness towards racism and mass shootings. Gambino expertly juxtaposes positive and darker sounds and lyrics to symbolize the contrast between the media perception of black American life and the realities of what it means to be black in the US. 

Live Music Unites in Covid Vaccine Rollout

Contrary to popular belief, the most talked about musical sensation amongst young listeners at the moment is not Olivia Rodrigo’s breakout hit “Driver’s License,” or SZA’s “Good Days,” or even Ariana Grande, Doja Cat, and Meghan Thee Stallion’s exciting “34+35” collab. In fact, the musical trend taking over the globe right now is not even from this century. Thanks to the power of viral TikTok videos, Gen-Z and Millennial music fans have surprisingly grown obsessed with traditional sea shanties. 

Sea shanties are a style of 19th century folk song that were originally sung by merchants, pirates, and sailors at sea. Their lyrics and tunes were purposefully created to be simple and catchy so that crew members could easily learn the songs and join in. The collective singing experience was an important tradition, as it enabled crews to focus and unify while sailing. 

@nathanevanss

The Wellerman. #seashanty #sea #shanty #viral #singing #acoustic #pirate #new #original #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #singer #scottishsinger #scottish

♬ Wellerman – Sea Shanty – Nathan Evans

This forgotten style of music has unexpectedly turned into the biggest musical trend of 2021, thanks to a TikTok posted by 26 year-old Nathan Evans in which he sings “The Wellerman,” a 1860s sea shanty. The video began to garner attention in late December as fellow TikTokers created duets to add their own voice or instrument to the performance. The original video and its duets quickly received millions of views, prompting the creation of the trend “#ShantyTok” and inspiring others to join in. As of February, Evans’ original video has amassed over 11 million views, while videos tagged with #Wellerman and #SeaShanty have reached over 140 million and 4 billion views respectively. 

As #ShantyTok grew in popularity, fans were inspired to give their favorite 21st century songs the sea shanty-treatment. Remixes of Cardi B and Meghan Thee Stallion’s “WAP,” All Time Low’s “Dear Maria Count Me In,” and Smash Mouth’s “All Star” have gone viral, amongst others. Even the US Navy Band joined in, putting their own shanty-spin on “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” by Taylor Swift. These modern day shanties have prompted musicians across genre and generation to get involved in the trend, including Andrew Lloyd Weber, Jimmy Fallon and the Roots, and Brian May of Queen. 

While it may seem strange upon first glance, it’s really no surprise that sea shanties are the new anthem of 2021. These songs are primarily about connection and collaboration, two things that we are all searching for as we enter the 11th month of COVID-19 restrictions. As #ShantyTok creator Nathan Evans said, “everyone is feeling alone and stuck at home during this pandemic, and [shanties] give … everyone a sense of unity and friendship … [they’re] great because they bring loads of people together and anyone can join in.” This special style of music is surprisingly exactly what the world needs right now, and TikTokers like Evans are creating a global community, one sea shanty at a time. 

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