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Encyclopaedic in its scope, this is the ultimate tribute to the
life and music of Taylor Swift. No need for glossy images here, the
narrative says it all - a chronological account of her mercurial
rise to fame; the stories that inspire the songs; an in-depth look
at those much-publicised battles with the media, music industry and
fellow artists, and all recounted with well-chosen words from the
artist herself and dozens of others who have played a part in her
incredible story. Put together, we have the definitive record. If
not already a fan, reading this may very well change your opinion.
"I really do try to be a nice person...but if you break my heart,
hurt my feelings, or are really mean to me, I'm going to write a
song about you" This is how Taylor Swift once explained the meaning
behind one of her earliest songs. Never one to mince her words when
it comes to sharing her thoughts, she has achieved legendary status
in the music world with a career built largely on her personal
feelings, ever since the day one particular teenage boy made her
cry. Now barely into her third decade, her songs have taken her
fans on an emotional journey that encompasses both the elation of
young love and the heartbreak of fallen relationships. As always,
fame courts controversy, and Taylor has had her fair share -
long-standing feuds with fellow artists; harrowing claims of sexual
harassment; deeply personal accusations over her own authenticity,
and those headline-making, all-too public breakups with a catalog
of celebrity lovers - all subjects covered in detail within these
pages. This book strips away the sometimes-mythical veneer of
superstardom and lays bare the real Taylor as the songwriting
genius she was born to be; a young woman who, after all, is as
human as the rest of us, doing amazing things as well as making
incredible gaffes. But with dogged determination and staying true
to herself, she has been able to drive her own destiny. Love her or
hate her (maybe, better to love her), she has inspired a generation
of young fans across the globe, not only with her music, but with
heartfelt words of wisdom. Taylor's girl-next-door public image
remains intact, at least for now, and she stands firm by one of her
own mantras: "No matter what happens in life, be good to people.
Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind". For a
simple good lesson in life, that ain't bad.
"Music is part of my oxygen, Without it I would dry up" Mention the
name Carly Simon to some people and they will probably think of one
song in particular, maybe two or three at a push, while others may
remember her for being one half of the "golden couple" of the
Seventies' pop landscape. But this is a little unjust for an artist
whose career has spanned over fifty years and counting, and during
that time has amassed a catalog of over thirty groundbreaking
albums and scores of hit singles; has composed music for theatre,
movies and television; has written not only an opera, but a series
of acclaimed children's books, and two best-selling memoirs. And we
should not forget she is also the recipient of two Grammys, a
Golden Globe, and an Oscar, as well as having countless honours
bestowed on her for her accomplishments. Carly Simon is truly a
musical phenomenon. Few female artists have achieved such a
magnificent body of work; even fewer have been involved in so many
facets of the music business; and no one has written so candidly to
create an audio diary for the whole world to hear. From the moment
her mother sang lullabies to her, that musical journey takes you
from a childhood fraught with anxieties and phobias, having to
conquer discrimination, stage fright, and life-threatening illness,
to becoming one of the most glamorous, photographed, interviewed,
and successful female artists of her generation. Not bad for a
little girl who once saw herself as an ugly "left-over sister." But
this is Carly Simon, and nobody has done it better.
"Life isn't how to survive the storm, it's about how to dance in
the rain" This is the definitive story of Taylor Swift and her
incredible rise to success from being just a smalltown girl with a
dream to becoming one of the most influential and successful
artists of her generation. Ever since she was 14-years-old Taylor
has never known any other world than showbusiness, and we follow
her journey through the good times and the times not so good, none
more heartbreaking than losing the rights to her own music - her
"stolen lullabies." In her own words and those who have played
major parts in her career, we look back at how she turned failures
into unbelievable success and chart the creation of a wonderful
legacy by one of music's undoubted masterminds. There is no doubt
that with her words of inspiration and the powerhouse lyrics to her
songs, the world is a far better place thanks to the unstoppable
force that is TAYLOR SWIFT.
Harry Chapin never reached sixty-five years-old. In fact, he never
even reached forty. But in the all-too-brief time he was allowed,
he achieved a great deal and left such an indelible mark that now,
almost four decades on since his tragic death, it seems only
fitting we should re-evaluate and celebrate the life and career of
a man who devoted all of his time and energy to help eradicate what
for him was the "ultimate obscenity" - world hunger. But there was
also another side to Harry Chapin. First and foremost, he was an
incredibly gifted singer-songwriter, who, in a successful career
lasting a little over ten years, carved for himself a place in
music history that, even to this day, is hard to define. Few
artists of his generation came close to his intimate style of
writing thought-provoking, soul-searching and heart-breaking
story-songs, such as Cat's in the Cradle and Taxi, now well
embedded in American lore. This book delves into the fascinating
life of this truly great man, focusing mainly on his music, but
also celebrating his tireless campaigning for that better world. It
is a life that began with no direction or great ambition, but
which, in due course, made him realise that of all the roads he
could have taken, his destiny had already been defined, and, for
Harry Chapin, there had always only been one choice.
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