It’s almost impossible to imagine Taylor Swift’s career before the record-breaking tours, piles of music awards, and all-out superstardom. But one rare clip of a young Taylor covering one of the ‘00s greatest hits has been bringing fans right back to the pop goddess’s more humble beginnings…
Music Man readers can check out Taylor’s recently rediscovered acoustic performance in the viral video below. It’s already racked up 7.4 million views to date, despite being posted on Taylor’s official YouTube page in 2011 – a mere drop in the ocean compared to her post-acoustic performances!
In a BBC Radio 2 studio, Taylor dares to cover one of the biggest hits of the 2000s, written by one of the greatest UK bands of the 21st century: “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay.
Just 20 years old at the time, Taylor was still riding the wave of her breakthrough album, “Fearless,” and its Top 10 singles, “Love Story” and “You Belong With Me.” Her original, lightweight country-pop aesthetic is channeled cleanly into this cover, her singer-songwriter vibe setting her leagues away from the hit-maker she’d soon become.
Strumming a Taylor brand guitar, the budding star lets her iconic vocal tones steal the limelight; soft, delicate yet infused with emotional power. Her glittering smile and aura of innocence seem a world away from the lionhearted chart-topper of today, serving a true glimpse into Taylor’s wholesome origins and her pure love for music, far removed from the glitz of her world-breaking, red carpet era.
That’s not to mention her wholly organic take on the Coldplay hit – no hints of her dance-pop to be heard; simply three guitarists threading “Viva La Vida”’s symphonics into a perfectly woven acoustic piece, one that still manages to pay total homage to the 2008 original.
As fans stumble upon this old-school performance, hundreds have been left stunned at Taylor’s musical journey. One top commenter pointed out, to the tune of 4,300 likes, “She definitely has the greatest evolution in this decade, from young country artists with sweet country twang to successful pop artist with mature pop voice… she’s a living legend.”
Another Swiftie dug deeper into the differences separating showgirl Taylor from her country roots, transforming her from a singer-songwriter into an absolute superstar: “What’s really remarkable to me is seeing how much she’s worked on her voice and tone and trained to improve her technique. Nowadays, it always seems like she sings much more effortlessly; she doesn’t really sound like she’s straining to pull chest anymore. As much as I’ve always loved the way she sounds, she should be commended for continuously working on her voice and improving constantly.”