Day 60: The Last Christmas Post

This is it folks. We're finally here. The post looking at the final entry into Taylor Swift's 2007 Christmas album. This song is, of course, Last Christmas and really acts as the only good song on the entire album. I've actually heard a few of Taylor's Christmas songs on the radio while riding in other people's cars (I'm not the one in control of the radio so it's okay). Of these songs on the radio, Last Christmas is the one I hear the most, by far. It's the only one I've heard multiple times for goodness sake!

So what is it that makes this song decent while the rest of the album falls short? Well, first of all this song fits Taylor's country songwriting style almost perfectly. If I didn't know better I might have guessed that this was a Taylor Swift original song.

It's a little hard to describe, but the songwriting in Last Christmas is just so "Taylor Swift". The word choice is very similar to what you would expect in one of her songs, so when she sings it she really makes it her own. It's difficult to adequately explain this; it's the kind of thing you really need to have an ear for.

And boy, have I developed an ear for Taylor Swift's style. I'm two months into this project with a little over one more to go and I have grown very familiar with how Taylor likes to write music, as well as how this has changed over time. When I started talking about this Christmas album I vocalized my yearning for a modern Taylor Swift original Christmas song. The more I listened I realized that what I really want is an album with Christmas songs spanning Taylor's career. I can so clearly hear what each one sounds like in my head and if I knew anything about music creation I might even try to make them a reality.

But that's just a cray pipe dream. One thing that I know is real is the cover of this song. It's really no wonder it's the first song on the album. If she led off with Silent Night I can't imagine anyone staying for very long. But the presence of a single good song on the album makes the rest even more disappointing. Maybe it doesn't impress, but Last Christmas is certainly promising. So, when the rest of the songs fall short it feels like wasted potential rather than just a Christmas flop. Let me address Taylor directly here, since I know she is a daily reader.

I know you don't need to make a Christmas album but just hear me out. I know it's too late this year to write one but you just have to do it next year. By that point you'll probably be starting to think about your next album, so why not get the creative juices flowing by satirizing your own style throughout the years with a bunch of bad original Christmas songs mimicking their styles? Think of how hilarious it would be! Think of what a splash it would make! But most of all think of your fans like me who have been following you relentlessly for over fifty-nine days! Do it for us Taylor!

So uh, yeah. Anyways I promised an updated list of the songs on this album, so here goes.

1. Last Christmas
2. White Christmas
3. Santa Baby
4. Christmas Must Be Something More
5. Christmases When You Were Mine
6. Silent Night

A few spots have moved, but it's all the result of a single change. The more I listened, the more I realized just how bad Silent Night is. I can stand her original songs (barely), but what she did to that beloved song is honestly just painful.

I think this post should end on a sour note, just like the album itself, so I'm ending it here. Remember, tomorrow is a holiday so it will be the first retrospective in a while! Oh boy!

See you tomorrow,
-C