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| released = {{start date|2008|11|11}}
| released = {{start date|2008|11|11}}
| genre = * [[Country pop]]
| genre = * [[Country pop]]
* [[folk-pop]]
* [[teen pop]]
* [[teen pop]]
| length = {{duration|m=4|s=14}}
| length = {{duration|m=4|s=14}}
| label = [[Big Machine Records|Big Machine]]
| label = [[Big Machine Records|Big Machine]]
| writer = Taylor Swift
| writer = Taylor Swift
| producer = * [[Nathan Chapman (record producer)|Nathan Chapman]]
| producer = * Taylor Swift
* [[Nathan Chapman (record producer)|Nathan Chapman]]
* Taylor Swift
}}
}}
{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
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| album = [[Fearless (Taylor's Version)]]
| album = [[Fearless (Taylor's Version)]]
| released = {{start date|2021|4|9}}
| released = {{start date|2021|4|9}}
| recorded =
| recorded =
| studio = {{hlist|Black Bird|Prime Recording}} (Nashville)
| studio = {{hlist|[[Blackbird Studio|Black Bird]]|Prime Recording}} ([[Nashville]])
| length = {{duration|m=4|s=14}}
| length = {{duration|m=4|s=14}}
| label = [[Republic Records|Republic]]
| label = [[Republic Records|Republic]]
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}}
}}


"'''Hey Stephen'''" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter [[Taylor Swift]] for her second studio album, ''[[Fearless (Taylor Swift album)|Fearless]]'' (2008). It is a [[country pop]] and [[teen pop]] song about an [[unrequited love]], inspired by a real-life infatuation. Produced by Swift and [[Nathan Chapman (record producer)|Nathan Chapman]], "Hey Stephen" features drums inspired by [[Girl group|girl-group]] records, an [[upright bass]] that propels its [[Groove (music)|groove]], and a subdued [[Hammond organ|Hammond B-3 organ]]. In reviews of ''Fearless'', critics who picked "Hey Stephen" as an album highlight praised what they deemed a catchy melody and earnest lyrics about adolescent feelings. The song peaked at number 94 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and was [[RIAA certification|certified gold]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA).
"'''Hey Stephen'''" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter [[Taylor Swift]] for her second studio album, ''[[Fearless (Taylor Swift album)|Fearless]]'' (2008). It is a [[country pop]], [[folk-pop]], and [[teen pop]] song about an [[unrequited love]], inspired by a real-life infatuation. Produced by Swift and [[Nathan Chapman (record producer)|Nathan Chapman]], "Hey Stephen" features drums inspired by [[Girl group|girl-group]] records, an [[upright bass]] that propels its [[Groove (music)|groove]], and a subdued [[Hammond organ|Hammond B-3 organ]]. In reviews of ''Fearless'', critics who picked "Hey Stephen" as an album highlight praised its catchy melody and earnest lyrics about adolescent feelings. The song peaked at number 94 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and was [[RIAA certification|certified gold]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA).


Swift included "Hey Stephen" in the set list of her first headlining tour, the [[Fearless Tour]] (2009–2010). Following the 2019 [[Taylor Swift masters controversy|dispute regarding the ownership]] of Swift's back catalog, she re-recorded the song as "'''Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)'''" for her re-recorded album ''[[Fearless (Taylor's Version)]]'' (2021). "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" charted in Australia and Canada. In retrospective rankings, some reviewers remained positive but others regarded the track as generic.
Swift included "Hey Stephen" in the set list of her first headlining tour, the [[Fearless Tour]] (2009–2010). Following the 2019 [[Taylor Swift masters dispute|dispute regarding the ownership]] of Swift's back catalog, she re-recorded the song as "'''Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)'''" for her re-recorded album ''[[Fearless (Taylor's Version)]]'' (2021). "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" charted in Australia and Canada. In retrospective rankings, some reviewers remained positive but others regarded the track as generic.


== Background and writing ==
== Background and writing ==
[[Taylor Swift]] wrote songs for her second studio album, ''[[Fearless (Taylor Swift album)|Fearless]]'', while touring as an opening act for other [[Country music|country]] musicians to promote her [[Taylor Swift (album)|self-titled debut studio album]] during 2007–2008, when she was 17–18 years old.<ref name="Kawashima">{{cite web |last=Kawashima |first=Dale |date=February 16, 2007 |title=Special Interview (2007): Taylor Swift Discusses Her Debut Album, Early Hits, and How She Got Started |url=http://www.songwriteruniverse.com/taylorswift123.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324060932/http://www.songwriteruniverse.com/taylorswift123.htm |archive-date=March 24, 2016 |access-date=December 17, 2010 |website=Songwriter Universe}}</ref><ref name="billboardq&a">{{cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=Ken |author-link=Ken Tucker |date=March 26, 2008 |title=The ''Billboard'' Q&A: Taylor Swift |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046063/the-billboard-qa-taylor-swift |url-status=live |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705032846/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046063/the-billboard-qa-taylor-swift |archive-date=July 5, 2013 |access-date=June 21, 2011}}</ref> Continuing the romantic themes of her first album, Swift wrote songs about love and personal experiences from the perspective of a teenage girl to ensure her fans could relate to ''Fearless''. To this extent, Swift said that nearly every album track had a "face" that she associated with it.<ref name="theoaklandpress">{{cite web |last=Graff |first=Gary |date=March 26, 2010 |title=Living ''Fearless'' Taylor Swift Talks About Her Whirlwind Rise to the Top |url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/03/26/entertainment/doc4baba3395e3ef490410773.txt?viewmode=default |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716215636/http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/03/26/entertainment/doc4baba3395e3ef490410773.txt?viewmode=default |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |access-date=July 1, 2011 |work=[[The Oakland Press]]}}</ref> The end product is a collection of songs about the challenges of love with prominent high-school and fairy-tale lyrical imagery.{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=20}} Swift and producer [[Nathan Chapman (record producer)|Nathan Chapman]] recorded over 50 songs for ''Fearless'', and "Hey Stephen" was one of the 13 tracks that made the final cut.<ref>{{cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=April 14, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Reveals to Stephen Colbert Who 'Hey Stephen' Is Really About |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/taylor-swift-hey-stephen-colbert-1234951185/ |access-date=December 6, 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-date=March 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317045253/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/taylor-swift-hey-stephen-colbert-1234951185/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Ganz" /> They produced the track, and Justin Niebank [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixed]] it at Blackbird Studios in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]].<ref name="liner" /> In the album [[liner notes]], she included the secret message for the song as "Love and Theft", referencing a [[Love and Theft (duo)|country-music group]] who had opened shows for her.{{Sfn|Spencer|2010|p=66}}{{efn|The "secret messages" of Swift's songs are decoded by arranging certain capitalized letters in each song's lyrics, printed in the album booklet, in the order they appear to spell out a certain word or phrase.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Strecker |first1=Erin |title=Taylor Swift's 13 Best Liner Note Secret Messages&nbsp;– So Far |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6296379/taylor-swift-liner-note-secret-messages |access-date=May 18, 2021 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=October 24, 2014 |archive-date=May 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518043558/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6296379/taylor-swift-liner-note-secret-messages |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
[[Taylor Swift]] wrote songs for her second studio album, ''[[Fearless (Taylor Swift album)|Fearless]]'', while touring as an opening act for other [[Country music|country]] musicians to promote her first album [[Taylor Swift (album)|''Taylor Swift'']] during 2007–2008, when she was 17–18 years old.<ref name="Kawashima">{{cite web |last=Kawashima |first=Dale |date=February 16, 2007 |title=Special Interview (2007): Taylor Swift Discusses Her Debut Album, Early Hits, and How She Got Started |url=http://www.songwriteruniverse.com/taylorswift123.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324060932/http://www.songwriteruniverse.com/taylorswift123.htm |archive-date=March 24, 2016 |access-date=December 17, 2010 |website=Songwriter Universe}}</ref><ref name="billboardq&a">{{cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=Ken |author-link=Ken Tucker |date=March 26, 2008 |title=The ''Billboard'' Q&A: Taylor Swift |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046063/the-billboard-qa-taylor-swift |url-status=live |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705032846/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046063/the-billboard-qa-taylor-swift |archive-date=July 5, 2013 |access-date=June 21, 2011}}</ref> Continuing the romantic themes of her first album, Swift wrote songs about love and personal experiences from the perspective of a teenage girl to ensure her fans could relate to ''Fearless''. To this extent, Swift said that nearly every album track had a "face" that she associated with it.<ref name="theoaklandpress">{{cite web |last=Graff |first=Gary |date=March 26, 2010 |title=Living ''Fearless'' Taylor Swift Talks About Her Whirlwind Rise to the Top |url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/03/26/entertainment/doc4baba3395e3ef490410773.txt?viewmode=default |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716215636/http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/03/26/entertainment/doc4baba3395e3ef490410773.txt?viewmode=default |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |access-date=July 1, 2011 |work=[[The Oakland Press]]}}</ref> The end product is a collection of songs about the challenges of love with prominent high-school and fairy-tale lyrical imagery.{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=20}} Swift and the producer [[Nathan Chapman (record producer)|Nathan Chapman]] recorded over 50 songs for ''Fearless'', and "Hey Stephen" was one of the 13 tracks that made the final cut.<ref>{{cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=April 14, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Reveals to Stephen Colbert Who 'Hey Stephen' Is Really About |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/taylor-swift-hey-stephen-colbert-1234951185/ |access-date=December 6, 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-date=March 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317045253/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/taylor-swift-hey-stephen-colbert-1234951185/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Ganz" /> They produced the track, and Justin Niebank [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixed]] it at [[Blackbird Studio]] in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]].<ref name="liner" /> In the album [[liner notes]], the secret message for the song is "Love and Theft", referencing the duo [[Love and Theft (duo)|Love and Theft]] that opened shows for her in 2008.{{Sfn|Spencer|2010|p=66}}{{efn|The "secret messages" of Swift's songs are decoded by arranging certain capitalized letters in each song's lyrics, printed in the album booklet, in the order they appear to spell out a certain word or phrase.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Strecker |first1=Erin |title=Taylor Swift's 13 Best Liner Note Secret Messages&nbsp;– So Far |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6296379/taylor-swift-liner-note-secret-messages |access-date=May 18, 2021 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=October 24, 2014 |archive-date=May 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518043558/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6296379/taylor-swift-liner-note-secret-messages |url-status=live }}</ref>}}


When asked by ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s Austin Scaggs if Stephen was a real person, Swift replied, "I have no issue with naming names. My personal goal is for my songs to be so detailed that the guy the song is written about knows it's about him."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Scaggs |first=Austin |date=November 27, 2008 |title=Q&A: Taylor Swift |page=38| issue=1066 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |id={{ProQuest|220199620}}}}</ref> The song's inspiration was Love and Theft's member Stephen Barker Liles, with whom she had had a friendly relationship.<ref name="Oliveira" >{{Cite news |last=Oliveira |first=Michael |date=November 10, 2008 |title=Country Singer Taylor Swift, 18, Becoming a Tabloid Target, Top Star with New CD |work=[[The Canadian Press]] |id={{ProQuest|359962569}}}}</ref> After ''Fearless'' was released, Swift texted him about the song.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hirschberg |first=Lynn |date=November 23, 2009 |title=Little Miss Sunshine |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/t-magazine/womens-fashion/06well-swift.html |url-access=limited |access-date=March 17, 2023 |archive-date=March 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317175237/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/t-magazine/womens-fashion/06well-swift.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She recalled it was "fun" to put a personal confession on the album, which she was "going to have to deal with",<ref name="gigwise">{{cite web |last=Barnes |first=Kelsey |date=April 15, 2021 |title=The Story of Us: 'Hey Stephen' |url=https://www.gigwise.com/features/3398114/the-story-of-us-hey-stephen |access-date=December 6, 2021 |website=[[Gigwise]] |archive-date=March 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317045308/https://gigwise.com/features/3398114/the-story-of-us-hey-stephen |url-status=live }}</ref> and it was "interesting" to know what Liles had to say about it.<ref name="Oliveira" /> Liles spoke to ''[[The Boot (website)|The Boot]]'' (2009): "I was very relieved when it turned out to be a nice song, and it's actually one of the nicest things anybody's ever done for me."<ref>{{cite web |last=Gilcrease |first=Grayson |date=May 5, 2011 |title=Taylor Swift's 'Hey Stephen' Inspiration Returns the Favor |url=https://theboot.com/stephen-barker-liles-taylor-swift-song/ |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=[[The Boot (website)|The Boot]] |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410112030/https://theboot.com/stephen-barker-liles-taylor-swift-song/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He wrote "Try to Make It Anyway" as an [[answer song]] to Swift when they were touring together and released it for [[Music download|download]] and [[Streaming media|streaming]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |last=Conaway |first=Alanna |date=April 28, 2011 |title=Love and Theft's Stephen Barker Liles Pens Song About Taylor Swift |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/love-and-theft-stephen-barker-liles-taylor-swift-try-to-make-it-anyway/ |access-date=December 6, 2021 |website=[[Taste of Country]] |archive-date=April 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426214357/https://tasteofcountry.com/love-and-theft-stephen-barker-liles-taylor-swift-try-to-make-it-anyway/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
When asked by ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s Austin Scaggs if Stephen was a real person, Swift replied, "I have no issue with naming names. My personal goal is for my songs to be so detailed that the guy the song is written about knows it's about him."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Scaggs |first=Austin |date=November 27, 2008 |title=Q&A: Taylor Swift |page=38| issue=1066 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |id={{ProQuest|220199620}}}}</ref> The song's inspiration was Love and Theft's member Stephen Barker Liles, with whom she had had a friendly relationship.<ref name="Oliveira" >{{Cite news |last=Oliveira |first=Michael |date=November 10, 2008 |title=Country Singer Taylor Swift, 18, Becoming a Tabloid Target, Top Star with New CD |work=[[The Canadian Press]] |id={{ProQuest|359962569}}}}</ref> After ''Fearless'' was released, Swift texted him about the song.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hirschberg |first=Lynn |date=November 23, 2009 |title=Little Miss Sunshine |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/t-magazine/womens-fashion/06well-swift.html |url-access=limited |access-date=March 17, 2023 |archive-date=March 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317175237/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/t-magazine/womens-fashion/06well-swift.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She recalled it was "fun" to put a personal confession on the album, which she was "going to have to deal with",<ref name="gigwise">{{cite web |last=Barnes |first=Kelsey |date=April 15, 2021 |title=The Story of Us: 'Hey Stephen' |url=https://www.gigwise.com/features/3398114/the-story-of-us-hey-stephen |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317045308/https://gigwise.com/features/3398114/the-story-of-us-hey-stephen |archive-date=March 17, 2023 |access-date=December 6, 2021 |website=[[Gigwise]]}}</ref> and it was "interesting" to know what Liles had to say about it.<ref name="Oliveira" /> Liles spoke to ''[[The Boot (website)|The Boot]]'' (2009): "I was very relieved when it turned out to be a nice song, and it's actually one of the nicest things anybody's ever done for me."<ref>{{cite web |last=Gilcrease |first=Grayson |date=May 5, 2011 |title=Taylor Swift's 'Hey Stephen' Inspiration Returns the Favor |url=https://theboot.com/stephen-barker-liles-taylor-swift-song/ |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=[[The Boot (website)|The Boot]] |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410112030/https://theboot.com/stephen-barker-liles-taylor-swift-song/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He wrote "Try to Make It Anyway" as an [[answer song]] to Swift when they were touring together and released it for [[Music download|download]] and [[Streaming media|streaming]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |last=Conaway |first=Alanna |date=April 28, 2011 |title=Love and Theft's Stephen Barker Liles Pens Song About Taylor Swift |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/love-and-theft-stephen-barker-liles-taylor-swift-try-to-make-it-anyway/ |access-date=December 6, 2021 |website=[[Taste of Country]] |archive-date=April 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426214357/https://tasteofcountry.com/love-and-theft-stephen-barker-liles-taylor-swift-try-to-make-it-anyway/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


== Releases ==
== Releases ==
[[File:FearlessPrudentialCentMay2010.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Swift (''pictured in 2010'') on the [[Fearless Tour]], whose set list included "Hey Stephen"|alt=Swift wearing a blue dress and cowboy boots playing a guitar]]
[[File:FearlessPrudentialCentMay2010.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Swift (''pictured in 2010'') on the [[Fearless Tour]], whose set list included "Hey Stephen"|alt=Swift wearing a blue dress and cowboy boots playing a guitar]]
"Hey Stephen" was released as an album cut on ''Fearless'', on November 11, 2008, by [[Big Machine Records]].{{sfn|Spencer|2010|p=58}} It entered and peaked at number 94 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart dated November 29, 2008.<ref name="hot 100"/> The [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) [[RIAA certification|certified]] the song gold, denoting 500,000 units based on sales and streaming.<ref name="riaa"/> Swift performed the track live at her Australian concert debut at [[the Tivoli]] in Brisbane on March 5, 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sennett |first=Sean |date=March 9, 2009 |title=Swift Mania Has Arrived |page=30 |work=[[The Australian]] |id={{ProQuest|356693717}}}}</ref> "Hey Stephen" was part of the mid-show acoustic session on Swift's first headlining tour, the [[Fearless Tour]] (2009–2010).<ref name="mtv tour">{{cite web |last=Vena |first=Jocelyn |date=August 28, 2009 |title=Taylor Swift Brings Fearless Tour to Madison Square Garden |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1619780/taylor-swift-brings-fearless-tour-to-madison-square-garden/ |access-date=November 22, 2021 |publisher=[[MTV News]] |archive-date=November 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122140458/https://www.mtv.com/news/1619780/taylor-swift-brings-fearless-tour-to-madison-square-garden/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Midway through the performance, Swift would go down the aisle to greet and hug her fans.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Molly |date=June 8, 2010 |title=Taylor Swift / June 5, 2010 / Foxboro, Mass. |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/photos/live/957869/taylor-swift-june-5-2010-foxboro-mass |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141002032401/http://www.billboard.com/articles/photos/live/957869/taylor-swift-june-5-2010-foxboro-mass |archive-date=October 2, 2014 |access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Semon |first=Craig S. |date=June 7, 2010 |title=Taylor Swift Proves Worthy as Queen of Country Music |url=http://www.telegram.com/article/20100607/NEWS/6070358 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608193427/http://www.telegram.com/article/20100607/NEWS/6070358 |archive-date=June 8, 2010 |access-date=June 8, 2010 |website=[[Telegram & Gazette]]}}</ref> She performed "Hey Stephen" as a "surprise song" outside the regular setlist on the September 18, 2018, [[St. Louis]] concert of the [[Reputation Stadium Tour]]<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Iasimone |first=Ashley |date=November 20, 2018 |title=All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed on Her Reputation Stadium Tour B-Stage (So Far) |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8458025/taylor-swift-reputation-tour-b-stage-songs-list |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=November 24, 2018}}</ref> and the May 14, 2023, [[Philadelphia]] concert of [[the Eras Tour]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mier |first=Tomás |date=2023-05-16 |title=Taylor Swift Reflects on 'Most Magical' Hometown Eras Tour Shows |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-reflects-on-hometown-eras-tour-shows-1234736602/ |url-access=limited |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-date=May 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521080148/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-reflects-on-hometown-eras-tour-shows-1234736602/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
"Hey Stephen" was released as an album cut on ''Fearless'', on November 11, 2008, by [[Big Machine Records]].{{sfn|Spencer|2010|p=58}} It entered and peaked at number 94 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart dated November 29, 2008.<ref name="hot 100"/> The [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) [[RIAA certification|certified]] the song gold, denoting 500,000 units based on sales and streaming.<ref name="riaa"/> Swift performed the track live at her Australian concert debut at [[the Tivoli]] in Brisbane on March 5, 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sennett |first=Sean |date=March 9, 2009 |title=Swift Mania Has Arrived |page=30 |work=[[The Australian]] |id={{ProQuest|356693717}}}}</ref> "Hey Stephen" was part of the mid-show acoustic session on Swift's first headlining tour, the [[Fearless Tour]] (2009–2010).<ref name="mtv tour">{{cite web |last=Vena |first=Jocelyn |date=August 28, 2009 |title=Taylor Swift Brings Fearless Tour to Madison Square Garden |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1619780/taylor-swift-brings-fearless-tour-to-madison-square-garden/ |access-date=November 22, 2021 |publisher=[[MTV News]] |archive-date=November 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122140458/https://www.mtv.com/news/1619780/taylor-swift-brings-fearless-tour-to-madison-square-garden/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Midway through the performance, Swift would go down the aisle to greet and hug her fans.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Molly |date=June 8, 2010 |title=Taylor Swift / June 5, 2010 / Foxboro, Mass. |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/photos/live/957869/taylor-swift-june-5-2010-foxboro-mass |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141002032401/http://www.billboard.com/articles/photos/live/957869/taylor-swift-june-5-2010-foxboro-mass |archive-date=October 2, 2014 |access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Semon |first=Craig S. |date=June 7, 2010 |title=Taylor Swift Proves Worthy as Queen of Country Music |url=http://www.telegram.com/article/20100607/NEWS/6070358 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608193427/http://www.telegram.com/article/20100607/NEWS/6070358 |archive-date=June 8, 2010 |access-date=June 8, 2010 |website=[[Telegram & Gazette]]}}</ref> She performed "Hey Stephen" as a "surprise song" outside the regular setlist on the September 18, 2018, [[St. Louis]] show of the [[Reputation Stadium Tour]],<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Iasimone |first=Ashley |date=November 20, 2018 |title=All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed on Her Reputation Stadium Tour B-Stage (So Far) |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8458025/taylor-swift-reputation-tour-b-stage-songs-list |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=November 24, 2018 |archive-date=May 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527060413/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8458025/taylor-swift-reputation-tour-b-stage-songs-list |url-status=live }}</ref> and the May 14, 2023, [[Philadelphia]] show and the May 11, 2024, [[Paris]] show of [[the Eras Tour]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Iasimone |first=Ashley |date=May 13, 2024 |title=All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed on the Eras Tour (So Far) |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513185338/https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs/ |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |access-date=May 14, 2024 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>


After signing a new contract with [[Republic Records]], Swift began re-recording her first six studio albums in November 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=Melas |first=Chloe |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Speaks Out about Sale of Her Masters |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/16/entertainment/taylor-swift-masters/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118064935/https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/taylor-swift-speaks-out-about-sale-of-her-masters-1.5191925 |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |access-date=November 19, 2020 |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> The decision followed a [[Taylor Swift masters controversy|2019 public dispute]] between Swift and talent manager [[Scooter Braun]], who acquired Big Machine Records, including the [[Mastering (audio)|masters]] of Swift's albums which the label had released.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 22, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift Wants to Re-Record Her Old Hits |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-49432817 |url-status=live |access-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822202321/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-49432817 |archive-date=August 22, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Finnis |first=Alex |date=November 17, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Masters: The Controversy around Scooter Braun Selling the Rights to Her Old Music Explained |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/taylor-swift-masters-scooter-braun-selling-rights-music-rerecording-row-explained-762411 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212170953/https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/taylor-swift-masters-scooter-braun-selling-rights-music-rerecording-row-explained-762411 |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=[[i (newspaper)|i]]}}</ref> By re-recording the albums, Swift had full ownership of the new masters, which enabled her to control the licensing of her songs for [[Synchronization rights|commercial use]] and therefore substituted the Big Machine–owned masters.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shah |first=Neil |date=April 9, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Releases New ''Fearless'' Album, Reclaiming Her Back Catalog |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/taylor-swift-releases-new-fearless-album-reclaiming-her-back-catalog-11617945524 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008111731/https://www.wsj.com/articles/taylor-swift-releases-new-fearless-album-reclaiming-her-back-catalog-11617945524 |archive-date=October 8, 2021 |issn=}}</ref> Swift and [[Christopher Rowe (record producer)|Christopher Rowe]] produced the re-recorded track, which was recorded by David Payne at Black Bird and Prime Recording Studios in Nashville. Rowe recorded Swift's lead vocals at her home studio in London, and [[Serban Ghenea]] mixed the track at MixStar Studios in [[Virginia Beach, Virginia]].<ref name="TVcreds">{{cite AV media notes|others=Taylor Swift|title=[[Fearless (Taylor's Version)]]|type=CD liner notes|year=2021|publisher=[[Republic Records]], an imprint of [[Universal Music Group]]|id=B0033578-02 (catalog no.)}}</ref>
After signing a new contract with [[Republic Records]], Swift began re-recording her first six studio albums in November 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=Melas |first=Chloe |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Speaks Out about Sale of Her Masters |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/16/entertainment/taylor-swift-masters/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118064935/https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/taylor-swift-speaks-out-about-sale-of-her-masters-1.5191925 |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |access-date=November 19, 2020 |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> The decision followed a [[Taylor Swift masters dispute|public 2019 dispute]] between Swift and the talent manager [[Scooter Braun]], who acquired Big Machine Records, including the [[Mastering (audio)|masters]] of Swift's albums which the label had released.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 22, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift Wants to Re-Record Her Old Hits |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-49432817 |url-status=live |access-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822202321/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-49432817 |archive-date=August 22, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Finnis |first=Alex |date=November 17, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Masters: The Controversy around Scooter Braun Selling the Rights to Her Old Music Explained |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/taylor-swift-masters-scooter-braun-selling-rights-music-rerecording-row-explained-762411 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212170953/https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/taylor-swift-masters-scooter-braun-selling-rights-music-rerecording-row-explained-762411 |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=[[i (newspaper)|i]]}}</ref> By re-recording the albums, Swift had full ownership of the new masters, which enabled her to control the licensing of her songs for [[Synchronization rights|commercial use]] and therefore substituted the Big Machine–owned masters.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shah |first=Neil |date=April 9, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Releases New ''Fearless'' Album, Reclaiming Her Back Catalog |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/taylor-swift-releases-new-fearless-album-reclaiming-her-back-catalog-11617945524 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008111731/https://www.wsj.com/articles/taylor-swift-releases-new-fearless-album-reclaiming-her-back-catalog-11617945524 |archive-date=October 8, 2021 |issn=}}</ref> Swift and [[Christopher Rowe (record producer)|Christopher Rowe]] produced the re-recorded track, which was recorded by David Payne at Black Bird and Prime Recording Studios in Nashville. Rowe recorded Swift's lead vocals at her home studio in London, and [[Serban Ghenea]] mixed the track at MixStar Studios in [[Virginia Beach, Virginia]].<ref name="TVcreds">{{cite AV media notes |others= |title=[[Fearless (Taylor's Version)]] |type=CD liner notes |year=2021 |publisher=[[Republic Records]], an imprint of [[Universal Music Group]] |id=B0033578-02 (catalog no.) |last=Swift |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Swift}}</ref>


The re-recording of "Hey Stephen", subtitled "Taylor's Version", was released as part of ''Fearless''{{'s}} re-recording, ''[[Fearless (Taylor's Version)]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Lipshutz |first=Jason |date=February 11, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Announces Re-Recorded ''Fearless'' Album: Updated 'Love Story' Out Tonight |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9524797/taylor-swift-fearless-rerecorded-love-story-release/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=March 7, 2021}}</ref> Swift released a snippet of "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" on her [[Twitter]] account on April 8, 2021,<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Ginsberg |first=Gab |date=April 8, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Recruits Olivia Rodrigo & Conan Gray to Help Tease Re-Recorded ''Fearless'' Songs: Hear Multiple New Snippets |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-olivia-rodrigo-conan-gray-share-clips-fearless-9553262/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref> one day before Republic Records released ''Fearless (Taylor's Version)''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-first-week-album-sales-streams-compare/|title=How Taylor Swift's Recent Album Releases Tell a Story of the ''Midnights'' Rollout|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=October 22, 2022|access-date=March 19, 2023}}</ref> "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" charted in Australia (86)<ref name="aus"/> and Canada (68).<ref name="canada"/> It peaked at number 105 on the [[Billboard Global 200|''Billboard'' Global 200]].<ref name="global"/> In the United States, "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" peaked at number one on [[Bubbling Under Hot 100]]<ref name="bubbling"/> and number 28 on ''Billboard''{{'s}} [[Hot Country Songs]] chart.<ref name="country"/>
The re-recording of "Hey Stephen", subtitled "Taylor's Version", was released as part of ''Fearless''{{'s}} re-recording, ''[[Fearless (Taylor's Version)]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Lipshutz |first=Jason |date=February 11, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Announces Re-Recorded ''Fearless'' Album: Updated 'Love Story' Out Tonight |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9524797/taylor-swift-fearless-rerecorded-love-story-release/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213005253/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9524797/taylor-swift-fearless-rerecorded-love-story-release/ |archive-date=February 13, 2021 |access-date=March 7, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> Swift released a snippet of "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" on her [[Twitter]] account on April 8, 2021,<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Ginsberg |first=Gab |date=April 8, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Recruits Olivia Rodrigo & Conan Gray to Help Tease Re-Recorded ''Fearless'' Songs: Hear Multiple New Snippets |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-olivia-rodrigo-conan-gray-share-clips-fearless-9553262/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=December 6, 2021 |archive-date=April 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418044222/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9553262/taylor-swift-olivia-rodrigo-conan-gray-share-clips-fearless/ |url-status=live }}</ref> one day before Republic Records released ''Fearless (Taylor's Version)''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-first-week-album-sales-streams-compare/|title=How Taylor Swift's Recent Album Releases Tell a Story of the ''Midnights'' Rollout|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=October 22, 2022|access-date=March 19, 2023|archive-date=November 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107142607/https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-first-week-album-sales-streams-compare/|url-status=live}}</ref> "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" charted in Australia (86)<ref name="aus"/> and Canada (68).<ref name="canada"/> It peaked at number 105 on the [[Billboard Global 200|''Billboard'' Global 200]].<ref name="global"/> In the United States, "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" peaked at number one on [[Bubbling Under Hot 100]]<ref name="bubbling"/> and number 28 on ''Billboard''{{'s}} [[Hot Country Songs]] chart.<ref name="country"/>


== Music and lyrics ==
== Music and lyrics ==
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}}


"Hey Stephen" is a [[country pop]] and [[teen pop]] song.<ref name="WP">{{cite news |last=Richards |first=Chris |date=November 11, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift, ''Fearless'' and Full of Charm |page=C01 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/11/10/ST2008111002776.html |url-status=live |access-date=July 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112185553/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/11/10/ST2008111002776.html |archive-date=November 12, 2012}}</ref><ref name="slant">{{cite web |last=Keefe |first=Jonathan |date=November 16, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift: ''Fearless'' |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/taylor-swift-fearless/1574 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315060524/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/taylor-swift-fearless/1574 |archive-date=March 15, 2011 |access-date=March 8, 2011 |work=[[Slant Magazine]]}}</ref> It features a production that critics described as "smooth" and "playful".{{efn|Attributed respectively to Larry Rodgers for ''[[The Arizona Republic]]''<ref name="Rodgers" /> and Jonathan Keefe for ''[[Slant Magazine]]''<ref name="slant" />}} Instruments on the song include a [[gut string guitar]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Bonaguro |first=Alison |date=November 10, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift Shows Her Fearless Side |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/nov/10/entertainment/chi-taylor-swift-1109nov09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311015440/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/nov/10/entertainment/chi-taylor-swift-1109nov09 |archive-date=March 11, 2009 |access-date=March 11, 2009 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> an [[upright bass]] that propels its [[Groove (music)|groove]],<ref name="Ganz">{{cite magazine |last=Ganz |first=Caryn |date=October 2, 2008 |title=Fall Music Preview: Taylor Swift's ''Fearless'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/fall-music-preview-taylor-swifts-fearless-242318/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=February 9, 2022 |url-access=limited}}</ref> and a subdued [[Hammond organ|Hammond B-3]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Gardner |first=Tom |date=November 11, 2008 |title=Taylor made: Swift's Writing Continues to Improve on New CD |page=27 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |via=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> The track incorporates a drum beat that [[Rob Sheffield]] of ''Rolling Stone'' found reminiscent of [[the Ronettes]]' "[[Be My Baby]]" (1963),<ref name="sheffield best">{{cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |date=October 26, 2021 |title='Hey Stephen' (2008) |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/taylor-swift-songs-ranked-rob-sheffield-201800/hey-stephen-2008-195616/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref> and Maria Sherman of [[NPR Music]] said it evoked classic [[Motown]] girl-group records.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 12, 2021 |title=Still ''Fearless'': Re-Recording The Past On Taylor's Version |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/04/12/985842675/still-fearless-re-recording-the-past-on-taylors-version |access-date=January 16, 2022 |publisher=[[NPR]] |archive-date=April 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418045503/https://www.npr.org/2021/04/12/985842675/still-fearless-re-recording-the-past-on-taylors-version |url-status=live }}</ref> Swift uses [[Ad libitum|ad-libs]]<ref name="vulture">{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Nate |date=January 11, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/all-taylor-swift-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html |url-access=limited |access-date=December 6, 2021 |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |archive-date=September 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913234630/https://www.vulture.com/article/all-taylor-swift-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and chuckles before the final [[refrain]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=April 9, 2021 |title=Review: Taylor Swift Turns On a Facsimile Machine for ''Fearless (Taylor's Version)'' and Its Ingenious Recreations |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/reviews/taylor-swift-fearless-taylors-version-album-review-vault-1234947622/ |access-date=December 6, 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726170137/https://variety.com/2021/music/reviews/taylor-swift-fearless-taylors-version-album-review-vault-1234947622/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The track both starts and ends with Swift humming;<ref name="sheffield best" /> it ends with her humming to the band and steady finger snaps.<ref name="Eagle" /> In the original 2008 song, the finger snaps are credited to country musician [[Martina McBride]]'s children and their friends, who visited Swift one day when she was at the recording studio of McBride's husband, John.<ref name="Ganz" />{{sfn|Spencer|2010|p=65}} The re-recorded "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" features the same arrangement, which led to ''[[The New York Times]]'' journalist Joe Coscarelli commenting it sounded "more [[remaster]]ed than rerecorded".<ref name="The New York Times-2021">{{cite news |date=April 9, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Remade ''Fearless'' as ''Taylor's Version.'' Let's Discuss. |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/09/arts/music/taylor-swift-fearless-taylors-version.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=April 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409224903/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/09/arts/music/taylor-swift-fearless-taylors-version.html |archive-date=April 9, 2021}}</ref> Michael A. Lee, a professor in commercial music, identified some minor changes: Swift's voice is richer and less breathy, and the [[cymbal]]s in the [[Break (music)|break]] are louder.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Huff |first=Lauren |date=April 13, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift's New ''Fearless'' Album Sounds Different—We Got An Expert to Tell Us Why |url=https://ew.com/music/taylor-swift-new-fearless-album-differences/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref>
"Hey Stephen" is a [[country pop]],<ref name="WP">{{cite news |last=Richards |first=Chris |date=November 11, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift, ''Fearless'' and Full of Charm |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/11/10/ST2008111002776.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112185553/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/11/10/ST2008111002776.html |archive-date=November 12, 2012 |access-date=July 14, 2011 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |page=C01}}</ref> [[folk-pop]],{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=34}} and [[teen pop]] song.<ref name="slant">{{cite web |last=Keefe |first=Jonathan |date=November 16, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift: ''Fearless'' |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/taylor-swift-fearless/1574 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315060524/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/taylor-swift-fearless/1574 |archive-date=March 15, 2011 |access-date=March 8, 2011 |work=[[Slant Magazine]]}}</ref> It features a production that critics described as "smooth" and "playful".{{efn|Attributed respectively to Larry Rodgers for ''[[The Arizona Republic]]''<ref name="Rodgers" /> and Jonathan Keefe for ''[[Slant Magazine]]''<ref name="slant" />}} Instruments on the song include a [[gut string guitar]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Bonaguro |first=Alison |date=November 10, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift Shows Her Fearless Side |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/nov/10/entertainment/chi-taylor-swift-1109nov09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311015440/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/nov/10/entertainment/chi-taylor-swift-1109nov09 |archive-date=March 11, 2009 |access-date=March 11, 2009 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> an [[upright bass]] that propels its [[Groove (music)|groove]],<ref name="Ganz">{{cite magazine |last=Ganz |first=Caryn |date=October 2, 2008 |title=Fall Music Preview: Taylor Swift's ''Fearless'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/fall-music-preview-taylor-swifts-fearless-242318/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=February 9, 2022 |url-access=limited |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209073750/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/fall-music-preview-taylor-swifts-fearless-242318/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and a subdued [[Hammond organ|Hammond B-3]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Gardner |first=Tom |date=November 11, 2008 |title=Taylor made: Swift's Writing Continues to Improve on New CD |page=27 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |via=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> The track incorporates a drum beat that [[Rob Sheffield]] of ''Rolling Stone'' found reminiscent of [[the Ronettes]]' "[[Be My Baby]]" (1963),<ref name="sheffield best">{{cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |date=October 26, 2021 |title='Hey Stephen' (2008) |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/taylor-swift-songs-ranked-rob-sheffield-201800/hey-stephen-2008-195616/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=December 6, 2021 |archive-date=December 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207052001/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/taylor-swift-songs-ranked-rob-sheffield-201800/hey-stephen-2008-195616/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and Maria Sherman of [[NPR Music]] said it evoked classic [[Motown]] girl-group records.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 12, 2021 |title=Still ''Fearless'': Re-Recording The Past On Taylor's Version |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/04/12/985842675/still-fearless-re-recording-the-past-on-taylors-version |access-date=January 16, 2022 |publisher=[[NPR]] |archive-date=April 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418045503/https://www.npr.org/2021/04/12/985842675/still-fearless-re-recording-the-past-on-taylors-version |url-status=live }}</ref> Swift uses [[Ad libitum|ad-libs]]<ref name="vulture">{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Nate |date=January 11, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/all-taylor-swift-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html |url-access=limited |access-date=December 6, 2021 |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |archive-date=September 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913234630/https://www.vulture.com/article/all-taylor-swift-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and chuckles before the final [[refrain]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=April 9, 2021 |title=Review: Taylor Swift Turns On a Facsimile Machine for ''Fearless (Taylor's Version)'' and Its Ingenious Recreations |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/reviews/taylor-swift-fearless-taylors-version-album-review-vault-1234947622/ |access-date=December 6, 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726170137/https://variety.com/2021/music/reviews/taylor-swift-fearless-taylors-version-album-review-vault-1234947622/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The track both starts and ends with Swift humming.<ref name="sheffield best" /> In the original 2008 song, the finger snaps are credited to [[Martina McBride]]'s children and their friends, who visited Swift one day when she was at the recording studio of McBride's husband, John.<ref name="Ganz" />{{sfn|Spencer|2010|p=65}} The re-recorded "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" features the same arrangement, which led to ''[[The New York Times]]''<nowiki/>' Joe Coscarelli commenting it sounded "more [[remaster]]ed than rerecorded".<ref name="The New York Times-2021">{{cite news |date=April 9, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Remade ''Fearless'' as ''Taylor's Version.'' Let's Discuss. |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/09/arts/music/taylor-swift-fearless-taylors-version.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=April 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409224903/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/09/arts/music/taylor-swift-fearless-taylors-version.html |archive-date=April 9, 2021}}</ref> Michael A. Lee, a professor in commercial music, identified some minor changes: Swift's voice is richer and less breathy, and the [[cymbal]]s in the [[Break (music)|break]] are louder.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Huff |first=Lauren |date=April 13, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift's New ''Fearless'' Album Sounds Different—We Got An Expert to Tell Us Why |url=https://ew.com/music/taylor-swift-new-fearless-album-differences/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=December 6, 2021 |archive-date=December 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207051047/https://ew.com/music/taylor-swift-new-fearless-album-differences/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The lyrics are about an [[unrequited love]] for a seemingly out-of-reach boy.<ref>{{cite web |last=Perkins |first=Dennis |date=April 14, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift's 'Hey Stephen' Isn't About Stephen Colbert, No Matter What Her Vision Board Says |url=https://www.avclub.com/taylor-swifts-hey-stephen-isnt-about-stephen-colbert-1846680157 |access-date=December 6, 2021 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |archive-date=March 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317045301/https://www.avclub.com/taylor-swifts-hey-stephen-isnt-about-stephen-colbert-1846680157 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ew">{{cite magazine |last=Greenblatt |first=Leah |date=November 5, 2008 |title=''Fearless'' (2008) |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20237814,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205035408/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20237814,00.html |archive-date=December 5, 2010 |access-date=March 12, 2010 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref> The title character is a boy in whom "all the girls" are interested, and although they toss stones at his window to get his attention, Swift's character tells Stephen that she is the only one "waiting there even when it's cold".{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=21}} She confesses to him that she wants to kiss him because of his angelic looks and lists several reasons why he should date her.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=34}} In the [[Bridge (music)|bridge]], Swift's character mentions the reason why Stephen should choose her over other girls: "All those other girls, well they're beautiful, but would they write a song for you?"<ref name="gigwise" /> [[Ken Tucker]] found this lyric to showcase Swift's "confident sense of humor",<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Tucker|first=Ken|author-link=Ken Tucker|title=''Fearless''|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=November 15, 2008|page=41|volume=120|issue=46|id={{ProQuest|227228330}}}}</ref> and the [[musicologist]] James E. Perone commented that it aligned Swift with the 1970s singer-songwriter tradition of mentioning their songwriting profession in their own works.{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=22}}


The lyrics are about an [[unrequited love]] for a seemingly out-of-reach boy.<ref>{{cite web |last=Perkins |first=Dennis |date=April 14, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift's 'Hey Stephen' Isn't About Stephen Colbert, No Matter What Her Vision Board Says |url=https://www.avclub.com/taylor-swifts-hey-stephen-isnt-about-stephen-colbert-1846680157 |access-date=December 6, 2021 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |archive-date=March 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317045301/https://www.avclub.com/taylor-swifts-hey-stephen-isnt-about-stephen-colbert-1846680157 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ew">{{cite magazine |last=Greenblatt |first=Leah |date=November 5, 2008 |title=''Fearless'' (2008) |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20237814,00.html |url-status=live |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205035408/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20237814,00.html |archive-date=December 5, 2010 |access-date=March 12, 2010}}</ref> The title character is a boy in whom "all the girls" are interested, and although they toss stones at his window to get his attention, Swift's character tells Stephen that she is the only one "waiting there even when it's cold".{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=21}} "Hey Stephen" incorporates some lyrical motifs that recur in many of Swift's other songs, such as rain ("Can't help it if I wanna kiss you in the rain so"){{efn|This imagery features on songs such as "[[Fearless (Taylor Swift song)|Fearless]]" ("There's something 'bout the way the street looks when it just rained"), "[[Forever & Always]]" ("It rains when you're here and it rains when you're gone"), and "[[Sparks Fly (song)|Sparks Fly]]" ("Drop everything now/ Meet me in the pouring rain").<ref name="seattle">{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Erin |date=November 25, 2011 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Speak Now'' Track 'If This Was A Movie' Is Better Than Her Upcoming New Single |url=http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/reverb/2011/11/taylor_swifts_speak_now_track.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130224247/http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/reverb/2011/11/taylor_swifts_speak_now_track.php |archive-date=November 30, 2011 |access-date=December 12, 2011 |website=[[Seattle Weekly]]}}</ref>}} and waiting for somebody by the window.{{Efn|This imagery features on songs such as "[[Our Song (Taylor Swift song)|Our Song]]", "[[Love Story (Taylor Swift song)|Love Story]]", and "Come In with the Rain".{{sfn|Spencer|2010|p=66}}}} At one point, Swift sings, "Hey Stephen, why are people always leaving/ I think you and I should stay the same". Biographer Liv Spencer attributed this lyric to the impact of Swift's touring that "sometimes means too many goodbyes".{{sfn|Spencer|2010|p=66}} In the [[Bridge (music)|bridge]], Swift's character mentions the reason why Stephen should date her: "All those other girls, well they're beautiful, but would they write a song for you?"<ref name="gigwise" /> Critic [[Ken Tucker]] found this lyric to showcase Swift's "confident sense of humor",<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Tucker|first=Ken|author-link=Ken Tucker|title=''Fearless''|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=November 15, 2008|page=41|volume=120|issue=46|id={{ProQuest|227228330}}}}</ref> and musicologist James E. Perone commented that it aligned Swift with the 1970s singer-songwriter tradition of mentioning their songwriting profession in their own works.{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=22}} In a 2021 article for ''[[Gigwise]]'', journalist Kelsey Barnes said "Hey Stephen" was an example of Swift's songwriting tropes: the track reflected her desire to be "seen, understood, and loved by others", a recurring theme on many of her later songs. For Barnes, it offered a glimpse into Swift's personal life before it became sensationalized in the press.<ref name="gigwise" />
"Hey Stephen" incorporates some lyrical motifs that recur in many of Swift's other songs, such as rain ("Can't help it if I wanna kiss you in the rain so"){{efn|This imagery features on songs such as "[[Fearless (Taylor Swift song)|Fearless]]" ("There's something 'bout the way the street looks when it just rained"), "[[Forever & Always]]" ("It rains when you're here and it rains when you're gone"), and "[[Sparks Fly (song)|Sparks Fly]]" ("Drop everything now/ Meet me in the pouring rain").<ref name="seattle">{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Erin |date=November 25, 2011 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Speak Now'' Track 'If This Was A Movie' Is Better Than Her Upcoming New Single |url=http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/reverb/2011/11/taylor_swifts_speak_now_track.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130224247/http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/reverb/2011/11/taylor_swifts_speak_now_track.php |archive-date=November 30, 2011 |access-date=December 12, 2011 |website=[[Seattle Weekly]]}}</ref>}} and waiting for somebody by the window.{{Efn|This imagery features on songs such as "[[Our Song (Taylor Swift song)|Our Song]]", "[[Love Story (Taylor Swift song)|Love Story]]", and "Come In with the Rain".{{sfn|Spencer|2010|p=66}}}} At one point, Swift sings, "Hey Stephen, why are people always leaving/ I think you and I should stay the same." The biographer Liv Spencer attributed this lyric to the impact of Swift's touring that "sometimes means too many goodbyes".{{sfn|Spencer|2010|p=66}} In a 2021 article for ''[[Gigwise]]'', Kelsey Barnes said "Hey Stephen" was an example of Swift's early songwriting: the track reflected her desire to be "seen, understood, and loved by others", a recurring theme on many of her later songs. For Barnes, it offered a glimpse into Swift's personal life before it became sensationalized in the press.<ref name="gigwise" /> [[Annie Zaleski]] thought that although the lyrics portrayed longing, the song turned out "rather sanguine" thanks to the "swirling" Hammond organ and Swift's "conspiratorial" vocals.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=34}}


== Critical reception ==
== Critical reception ==


In album reviews of ''Fearless'', many critics picked "Hey Stephen" as a highlight.{{efn|Attributed to reviews by the ''[[Reading Eagle]]'',<ref name="Eagle">{{Cite news |date=December 2, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift's New CD Takes a Big Look at Love |page=V18 |work=[[Reading Eagle]] |id={{ProQuest|265130090}}}}</ref> Darryl Sterdan for ''[[The Edmonton Sun]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sterdan |first=Darryl |date=November 23, 2008 |title=CD Reviews |page=E13 |work=[[The Edmonton Sun]] |id={{ProQuest|2177680410}}}}</ref> Joe Breen for ''[[The Irish Times]]'',<ref name="irish times">{{cite news |last=Breen |first=Joe |date=March 9, 2009 |title=Roots |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/roots-1.726955 |access-date=December 6, 2021 |archive-date=December 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207032356/https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/roots-1.726955 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Rob Sheffield for ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''<ref name="blender">{{cite journal |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |title=Taylor Swift: ''Fearless'' |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=5374 |url-status=dead |journal=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216051131/http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=5374 |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |access-date=October 8, 2018}}</ref>}} They positively remarked how "Hey Stephen" portrays universal teenage feelings towards love and infatuation{{efn|Attributed to reviews by Craig S. Sermon for the ''[[Telegram & Gazette]]'',<ref name="Gazette"/> Katie Hubbard for ''[[The Charleston Gazette]]'',<ref name="Hubbard">{{Cite news |last=Hubbard |first=Katie |date=December 18, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Fearless'' Is Flawless |page=12 |work=[[The Charleston Gazette]] |id={{ProQuest|331727067}}}}</ref> and Thomas Kintner for the ''[[Hartford Courant]]''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kintner |first=Thomas |date=November 18, 2008 |title=CD Reviews: ''Fearless'' |page=C3 |work=[[Hartford Courant]] |id={{ProQuest|257197529}}}}</ref>}}—Craig S. Sermon of the ''[[Telegram & Gazette]]'' said, "Swift's loose and playful confession is enough to make anybody blush."<ref name="Gazette">{{Cite news |last=Sermon |first=Craig S. |date=November 30, 2008 |title=Teen Phenom Swift Sings with ''Fearless'' Sincerity |page=G4 |work=[[Telegram & Gazette]] |id={{ProQuest|269016248}}}}</ref> Others praised Swift's songwriting for creating what they deemed a catchy melody.{{efn|Attributed to reviews by Hubbard,<ref name="Hubbard"/> Ash Amanda for the ''[[Edmonton Journal]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ash |first=Amanda |date=December 6, 2008 |title=Country Crossover Queen Tones Down Teenage Spite |page=D3 |work=[[Edmonton Journal]] |id={{ProQuest|250621343}}}}</ref> and Chris Richards for ''[[The Washington Post]]''<ref name="WP"/>}} Larry Rodgers in ''[[The Arizona Republic]]'' wrote the track was "hummable pop"<ref name="Rodgers">{{Cite news |last=Rodgers |first=Larry |date=December 7, 2008 |title=''Fearless'' |page=E4 |work=[[The Arizona Republic]] |id={{ProQuest|239095110}}}}</ref> and Chris Richards in ''[[The Washington Post]]'' praised its "irresistible smile" that could "permanently [lodge] itself in your [[hippocampus]]".<ref name="WP"/> [[Jody Rosen]] in a review for ''Rolling Stone'' selected the song as an example of Swift's songwriting that highlighted her "peculiar charm" on ''Fearless'': "Her music mixes an almost impersonal professionalism—it's so rigorously crafted it sounds like it has been scientifically engineered in a hit factory—with confessions that are squirmingly intimate and true."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Rosen |first=Jody |author-link=Jody Rosen |date=November 13, 2008 |title=''Fearless'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/fearless-20081113 |url-status=live |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815082027/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/fearless-20081113 |archive-date=August 15, 2012 |access-date=March 21, 2011 |url-access=limited}}</ref> In ''[[Slant Magazine]]'', Jonathan Keefe picked "Hey Stephen" as one of the album's most charming cuts and praised the emotional sentiments that resonated with Swift's main audience of teenagers, but he felt it lacked the sophistication that others credited her with.<ref name="slant" />
In album reviews of ''Fearless'', many critics picked "Hey Stephen" as a highlight.{{efn|Attributed to reviews by Darryl Sterdan for ''[[The Edmonton Sun]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sterdan |first=Darryl |date=November 23, 2008 |title=CD Reviews |page=E13 |work=[[The Edmonton Sun]] |id={{ProQuest|2177680410}}}}</ref> Joe Breen for ''[[The Irish Times]]'',<ref name="irish times">{{cite news |last=Breen |first=Joe |date=March 9, 2009 |title=Roots |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/roots-1.726955 |access-date=December 6, 2021 |archive-date=December 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207032356/https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/roots-1.726955 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Rob Sheffield for ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''<ref name="blender">{{cite journal |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |title=Taylor Swift: ''Fearless'' |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=5374 |url-status=dead |journal=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216051131/http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=5374 |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |access-date=October 8, 2018}}</ref>}} They positively remarked how "Hey Stephen" portrays universal teenage feelings towards love and infatuation{{efn|Attributed to reviews by Craig S. Semon for the ''[[Telegram & Gazette]]'',<ref name="Gazette"/> Katie Hubbard for ''[[The Charleston Gazette]]'',<ref name="Hubbard">{{Cite news |last=Hubbard |first=Katie |date=December 18, 2008 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Fearless'' Is Flawless |page=12 |work=[[The Charleston Gazette]] |id={{ProQuest|331727067}}}}</ref> and Thomas Kintner for the ''[[Hartford Courant]]''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kintner |first=Thomas |date=November 18, 2008 |title=CD Reviews: ''Fearless'' |page=C3 |work=[[Hartford Courant]] |id={{ProQuest|257197529}}}}</ref>}}—Craig S. Semon of the ''[[Telegram & Gazette]]'' said, "Swift's loose and playful confession is enough to make anybody blush."<ref name="Gazette">{{Cite news |last=Semon |first=Craig S. |date=November 30, 2008 |title=Teen Phenom Swift Sings with ''Fearless'' Sincerity |work=[[Telegram & Gazette]] |page=G4 |id={{ProQuest|269016248}}}}</ref> Others praised Swift's songwriting for creating what they deemed a catchy melody.{{efn|Attributed to reviews by Hubbard,<ref name="Hubbard"/> Ash Amanda for the ''[[Edmonton Journal]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ash |first=Amanda |date=December 6, 2008 |title=Country Crossover Queen Tones Down Teenage Spite |page=D3 |work=[[Edmonton Journal]] |id={{ProQuest|250621343}}}}</ref> and Chris Richards for ''[[The Washington Post]]''<ref name="WP"/>}} Larry Rodgers in ''[[The Arizona Republic]]'' wrote the track was "hummable pop"<ref name="Rodgers">{{Cite news |last=Rodgers |first=Larry |date=December 7, 2008 |title=''Fearless'' |page=E4 |work=[[The Arizona Republic]] |id={{ProQuest|239095110}}}}</ref> and Chris Richards in ''[[The Washington Post]]'' praised its "irresistible smile" that could "permanently [lodge] itself in your [[hippocampus]]".<ref name="WP"/> [[Jody Rosen]] in a review for ''Rolling Stone'' selected the song as an example of Swift's songwriting that highlighted her "peculiar charm" on ''Fearless'': "Her music mixes an almost impersonal professionalism—it's so rigorously crafted it sounds like it has been scientifically engineered in a hit factory—with confessions that are squirmingly intimate and true."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Rosen |first=Jody |author-link=Jody Rosen |date=November 13, 2008 |title=''Fearless'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/fearless-20081113 |url-status=live |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815082027/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/fearless-20081113 |archive-date=August 15, 2012 |access-date=March 21, 2011 |url-access=limited}}</ref> In ''[[Slant Magazine]]'', Jonathan Keefe picked "Hey Stephen" as one of the album's most charming cuts and praised the emotional sentiments that resonated with Swift's main audience of teenagers, but he felt it lacked the sophistication that others credited her with.<ref name="slant" />


In retrospective reviews of the song, Sheffield<ref name="sheffield best" /> and Nate Jones from ''[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]'' complimented its catchy melody. Jones wrote: "Swift is in the zone as a writer, performer, and producer on this winning deep cut."<ref name="vulture" /> Jon Bream of the [[Star Tribune|''Star Tribune'']] described "Hey Stephen" as "perfect high school pop" and picked it as a highlight on ''Fearless''.<ref name="Bream-2023">{{Cite web |last=Bream |first=Jon |date=June 20, 2023 |title=Our Music Critic Ranks Taylor Swift's Albums From Worst to Best |url=https://www.startribune.com/taylor-swift-jack-antonoff-aaron-dessner-grammy-folklore-1989-red-speak-now-kanye-west-harry-styles/600283837/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=[[Star Tribune]]}}</ref> Reviewing the re-recorded "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)", ''[[Exclaim!]]''<nowiki/>'s Heather Taylor-Singh said it retained the original's earnest emotion<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor-Singh |first=Heather |date=April 12, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Reclaims Her Past on ''Fearless (Taylor's Version)'' |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/taylor_swift_fearless_taylors_version_album_review |access-date=March 31, 2023 |website=[[Exclaim!]] |archive-date=April 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412145641/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/taylor_swift_fearless_taylors_version_album_review |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[The Line of Best Fit]]'''s Ross Horton wrote it remained "superb" as it was before.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Horton |first=Ross |date=April 9, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Reclaims Her Pivotal Moment by Breathing New Life into ''Fearless'' |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-fearless-taylors-version-album-review |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=[[The Line of Best Fit]] |archive-date=April 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409093114/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-fearless-taylors-version-album-review |url-status=live }}</ref> Some others were not as complimentary. Hazel Cills of ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' said the track's "extreme specificity", which felt like "a copy of Swift’s yearbook we're somehow privy to", was too much for an already personal album.<ref name="Pitchfork">{{cite web |last=Cills |first=Hazel |date=August 19, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift: ''Fearless'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-fearless/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819073504/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-fearless/ |archive-date=August 19, 2019 |access-date=August 19, 2019 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> Mary Siroky in ''[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]]'' called "Hey Stephen" a catchy song but wrote its "repetitive melody" and "cliched" lyrical motifs make it the album's least compelling.<ref>{{cite web |last=Siroky |first=Mary |date=November 10, 2021 |title=Every Taylor Swift Album, Ranked From Worst to Best |url=https://consequence.net/2021/11/taylor-swift-albums-ranked-list/ |access-date=January 17, 2022 |website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] |archive-date=March 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328011127/https://consequence.net/2021/11/taylor-swift-albums-ranked-list/ |url-status=live }}</ref> For Perone, although the lyrics are conventional and generic, "Swift's performance and her melodic writing make the song enjoyable and engaging anyway".{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=21}}
In retrospective reviews of the song, Sheffield<ref name="sheffield best" /> and Nate Jones from ''[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]'' complimented its catchy melody. Jones wrote: "Swift is in the zone as a writer, performer, and producer on this winning deep cut."<ref name="vulture" /> Jon Bream of the ''[[Star Tribune]]'' described "Hey Stephen" as "perfect high school pop" and picked it as a highlight on ''Fearless''.<ref name="Bream-2023">{{Cite web |last=Bream |first=Jon |date=June 20, 2023 |title=Our Music Critic Ranks Taylor Swift's Albums From Worst to Best |url=https://www.startribune.com/taylor-swift-jack-antonoff-aaron-dessner-grammy-folklore-1989-red-speak-now-kanye-west-harry-styles/600283837/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=[[Star Tribune]] |archive-date=July 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721103804/https://www.startribune.com/taylor-swift-jack-antonoff-aaron-dessner-grammy-folklore-1989-red-speak-now-kanye-west-harry-styles/600283837/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Reviewing the re-recorded "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)", ''[[Exclaim!]]''<nowiki/>'s Heather Taylor-Singh said it retained the original's earnest emotion<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor-Singh |first=Heather |date=April 12, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Reclaims Her Past on ''Fearless (Taylor's Version)'' |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/taylor_swift_fearless_taylors_version_album_review |access-date=March 31, 2023 |website=[[Exclaim!]] |archive-date=April 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412145641/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/taylor_swift_fearless_taylors_version_album_review |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[The Line of Best Fit]]'''s Ross Horton wrote it remained "superb" as it was before.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Horton |first=Ross |date=April 9, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Reclaims Her Pivotal Moment by Breathing New Life into ''Fearless'' |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-fearless-taylors-version-album-review |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=[[The Line of Best Fit]] |archive-date=April 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409093114/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-fearless-taylors-version-album-review |url-status=live }}</ref> Some others were not as complimentary. Hazel Cills of ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' said the track's "extreme specificity", which felt like "a copy of Swift’s yearbook we're somehow privy to", was too much for an already personal album.<ref name="Pitchfork">{{cite web |last=Cills |first=Hazel |date=August 19, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift: ''Fearless'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-fearless/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819073504/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-fearless/ |archive-date=August 19, 2019 |access-date=August 19, 2019 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> Mary Siroky in ''[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]]'' called "Hey Stephen" a catchy song but wrote its "repetitive melody" and "cliched" lyrical motifs make it the album's least compelling.<ref>{{cite web |last=Siroky |first=Mary |date=November 10, 2021 |title=Every Taylor Swift Album, Ranked From Worst to Best |url=https://consequence.net/2021/11/taylor-swift-albums-ranked-list/ |access-date=January 17, 2022 |website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] |archive-date=March 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328011127/https://consequence.net/2021/11/taylor-swift-albums-ranked-list/ |url-status=live }}</ref> For Perone, although the lyrics are conventional and generic, "Swift's performance and her melodic writing make the song enjoyable and engaging anyway".{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=21}}


== Personnel ==
== Personnel ==
'''"Hey Stephen" (2008)'''<ref name="liner">{{cite AV media notes |title=[[Fearless (Taylor Swift album)|Fearless]] |others=[[Taylor Swift]] |year=2008 |publisher=[[Big Machine Records]] |type=CD liner notes}}</ref>
'''"Hey Stephen" (2008)'''<ref name="liner">{{cite AV media notes |title=[[Fearless (Taylor Swift album)|Fearless]] |others= |year=2008 |publisher=[[Big Machine Records]] |type=CD liner notes |last=Swift |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Swift}}</ref>
{{div col begin}}
{{div col begin}}
* Taylor Swift&nbsp;– writer, [[record producer|producer]]
* Taylor Swift&nbsp;– vocals, writer, [[record producer|producer]]
* Nathan Chapman&nbsp;– producer
* Nathan Chapman&nbsp;– producer
* Drew Bollman&nbsp;– assistant [[audio mixing (recorded music)|mixer]]
* Drew Bollman&nbsp;– assistant [[audio mixing (recorded music)|mixer]]
Line 84: Line 87:
'''"Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" (2021)'''<ref name="TVcreds"/>
'''"Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" (2021)'''<ref name="TVcreds"/>
{{div col begin}}
{{div col begin}}
* Taylor Swift&nbsp;– writer, producer, lead vocals
* Taylor Swift&nbsp;– lead vocals, writer, producer
* [[Christopher Rowe (record producer)|Christopher Rowe]]&nbsp;– vocal recording, producer
* [[Christopher Rowe (record producer)|Christopher Rowe]]&nbsp;– vocal recording, producer
* Max Bernstein&nbsp;– [[vibraphone]]
* Max Bernstein&nbsp;– [[vibraphone]]
Line 145: Line 148:


=== Sources ===
=== Sources ===
* {{cite book |last=Perone |first=James E. |title=The Words and Music of Taylor Swift |publisher=[[ABC-Clio]] |year=2017 |isbn=978-1440852947 |series=The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection}}
* {{cite book |last=Perone |first=James E. |title=The Words and Music of Taylor Swift |publisher=[[ABC-Clio]] |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-44-085294-7 |series=The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection |pages=5–25 |chapter=Becoming ''Fearless''}}
* {{cite book |last=Spencer |first=Liv |title=Taylor Swift: Every Day Is a Fairytale&nbsp;– The Unofficial Story |publisher=[[ECW Press]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-1550229318}}
* {{cite book |last=Spencer |first=Liv |title=Taylor Swift: Every Day Is a Fairytale&nbsp;– The Unofficial Story |publisher=[[ECW Press]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-55022-931-8}}
* {{Cite book |last=Zaleski |first=Annie |author-link=Annie Zaleski |title=Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind the Songs |publisher=[[Thunder Bay Press]] |year=2024 |isbn=978-1-6672-0845-9 |pages=27–52 |chapter=The ''Fearless'' Era}}


{{Taylor Swift songs}}
{{Taylor Swift songs}}
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[[Category:Song recordings produced by Chris Rowe]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Chris Rowe]]
[[Category:Country pop songs]]
[[Category:Country pop songs]]
[[Category:Folk-pop songs]]

Latest revision as of 04:22, 28 November 2024

"Hey Stephen"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album Fearless
ReleasedNovember 11, 2008 (2008-11-11)
Genre
Length4:14
LabelBig Machine
Songwriter(s)Taylor Swift
Producer(s)
"Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album Fearless (Taylor's Version)
ReleasedApril 9, 2021 (2021-04-09)
Studio
(Nashville)
Length4:14
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)Taylor Swift
Producer(s)
Lyric video
"Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" on YouTube

"Hey Stephen" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her second studio album, Fearless (2008). It is a country pop, folk-pop, and teen pop song about an unrequited love, inspired by a real-life infatuation. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, "Hey Stephen" features drums inspired by girl-group records, an upright bass that propels its groove, and a subdued Hammond B-3 organ. In reviews of Fearless, critics who picked "Hey Stephen" as an album highlight praised its catchy melody and earnest lyrics about adolescent feelings. The song peaked at number 94 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Swift included "Hey Stephen" in the set list of her first headlining tour, the Fearless Tour (2009–2010). Following the 2019 dispute regarding the ownership of Swift's back catalog, she re-recorded the song as "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" for her re-recorded album Fearless (Taylor's Version) (2021). "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" charted in Australia and Canada. In retrospective rankings, some reviewers remained positive but others regarded the track as generic.

Background and writing

[edit]

Taylor Swift wrote songs for her second studio album, Fearless, while touring as an opening act for other country musicians to promote her first album Taylor Swift during 2007–2008, when she was 17–18 years old.[1][2] Continuing the romantic themes of her first album, Swift wrote songs about love and personal experiences from the perspective of a teenage girl to ensure her fans could relate to Fearless. To this extent, Swift said that nearly every album track had a "face" that she associated with it.[3] The end product is a collection of songs about the challenges of love with prominent high-school and fairy-tale lyrical imagery.[4] Swift and the producer Nathan Chapman recorded over 50 songs for Fearless, and "Hey Stephen" was one of the 13 tracks that made the final cut.[5][6] They produced the track, and Justin Niebank mixed it at Blackbird Studio in Nashville.[7] In the album liner notes, the secret message for the song is "Love and Theft", referencing the duo Love and Theft that opened shows for her in 2008.[8][a]

When asked by Rolling Stone's Austin Scaggs if Stephen was a real person, Swift replied, "I have no issue with naming names. My personal goal is for my songs to be so detailed that the guy the song is written about knows it's about him."[10] The song's inspiration was Love and Theft's member Stephen Barker Liles, with whom she had had a friendly relationship.[11] After Fearless was released, Swift texted him about the song.[12] She recalled it was "fun" to put a personal confession on the album, which she was "going to have to deal with",[13] and it was "interesting" to know what Liles had to say about it.[11] Liles spoke to The Boot (2009): "I was very relieved when it turned out to be a nice song, and it's actually one of the nicest things anybody's ever done for me."[14] He wrote "Try to Make It Anyway" as an answer song to Swift when they were touring together and released it for download and streaming in 2011.[15]

Releases

[edit]
Swift wearing a blue dress and cowboy boots playing a guitar
Swift (pictured in 2010) on the Fearless Tour, whose set list included "Hey Stephen"

"Hey Stephen" was released as an album cut on Fearless, on November 11, 2008, by Big Machine Records.[16] It entered and peaked at number 94 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart dated November 29, 2008.[17] The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the song gold, denoting 500,000 units based on sales and streaming.[18] Swift performed the track live at her Australian concert debut at the Tivoli in Brisbane on March 5, 2009.[19] "Hey Stephen" was part of the mid-show acoustic session on Swift's first headlining tour, the Fearless Tour (2009–2010).[20] Midway through the performance, Swift would go down the aisle to greet and hug her fans.[21][22] She performed "Hey Stephen" as a "surprise song" outside the regular setlist on the September 18, 2018, St. Louis show of the Reputation Stadium Tour,[23] and the May 14, 2023, Philadelphia show and the May 11, 2024, Paris show of the Eras Tour.[24]

After signing a new contract with Republic Records, Swift began re-recording her first six studio albums in November 2020.[25] The decision followed a public 2019 dispute between Swift and the talent manager Scooter Braun, who acquired Big Machine Records, including the masters of Swift's albums which the label had released.[26][27] By re-recording the albums, Swift had full ownership of the new masters, which enabled her to control the licensing of her songs for commercial use and therefore substituted the Big Machine–owned masters.[28] Swift and Christopher Rowe produced the re-recorded track, which was recorded by David Payne at Black Bird and Prime Recording Studios in Nashville. Rowe recorded Swift's lead vocals at her home studio in London, and Serban Ghenea mixed the track at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia.[29]

The re-recording of "Hey Stephen", subtitled "Taylor's Version", was released as part of Fearless's re-recording, Fearless (Taylor's Version).[30] Swift released a snippet of "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" on her Twitter account on April 8, 2021,[31] one day before Republic Records released Fearless (Taylor's Version).[32] "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" charted in Australia (86)[33] and Canada (68).[34] It peaked at number 105 on the Billboard Global 200.[35] In the United States, "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" peaked at number one on Bubbling Under Hot 100[36] and number 28 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.[37]

Music and lyrics

[edit]
"Hey Stephen"
"Hey Stephen" is a country pop and teen pop song that features girl-group–influenced drums and vocals, an upright bass that propels its groove, and a subdued Hammond B-3. The lyrics are about an unrequited love for a popular boy.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Hey Stephen" is a country pop,[38] folk-pop,[39] and teen pop song.[40] It features a production that critics described as "smooth" and "playful".[b] Instruments on the song include a gut string guitar,[42] an upright bass that propels its groove,[6] and a subdued Hammond B-3.[43] The track incorporates a drum beat that Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone found reminiscent of the Ronettes' "Be My Baby" (1963),[44] and Maria Sherman of NPR Music said it evoked classic Motown girl-group records.[45] Swift uses ad-libs[46] and chuckles before the final refrain.[47] The track both starts and ends with Swift humming.[44] In the original 2008 song, the finger snaps are credited to Martina McBride's children and their friends, who visited Swift one day when she was at the recording studio of McBride's husband, John.[6][48] The re-recorded "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" features the same arrangement, which led to The New York Times' Joe Coscarelli commenting it sounded "more remastered than rerecorded".[49] Michael A. Lee, a professor in commercial music, identified some minor changes: Swift's voice is richer and less breathy, and the cymbals in the break are louder.[50]

The lyrics are about an unrequited love for a seemingly out-of-reach boy.[51][52] The title character is a boy in whom "all the girls" are interested, and although they toss stones at his window to get his attention, Swift's character tells Stephen that she is the only one "waiting there even when it's cold".[53] She confesses to him that she wants to kiss him because of his angelic looks and lists several reasons why he should date her.[39] In the bridge, Swift's character mentions the reason why Stephen should choose her over other girls: "All those other girls, well they're beautiful, but would they write a song for you?"[13] Ken Tucker found this lyric to showcase Swift's "confident sense of humor",[54] and the musicologist James E. Perone commented that it aligned Swift with the 1970s singer-songwriter tradition of mentioning their songwriting profession in their own works.[55]

"Hey Stephen" incorporates some lyrical motifs that recur in many of Swift's other songs, such as rain ("Can't help it if I wanna kiss you in the rain so")[c] and waiting for somebody by the window.[d] At one point, Swift sings, "Hey Stephen, why are people always leaving/ I think you and I should stay the same." The biographer Liv Spencer attributed this lyric to the impact of Swift's touring that "sometimes means too many goodbyes".[8] In a 2021 article for Gigwise, Kelsey Barnes said "Hey Stephen" was an example of Swift's early songwriting: the track reflected her desire to be "seen, understood, and loved by others", a recurring theme on many of her later songs. For Barnes, it offered a glimpse into Swift's personal life before it became sensationalized in the press.[13] Annie Zaleski thought that although the lyrics portrayed longing, the song turned out "rather sanguine" thanks to the "swirling" Hammond organ and Swift's "conspiratorial" vocals.[39]

Critical reception

[edit]

In album reviews of Fearless, many critics picked "Hey Stephen" as a highlight.[e] They positively remarked how "Hey Stephen" portrays universal teenage feelings towards love and infatuation[f]—Craig S. Semon of the Telegram & Gazette said, "Swift's loose and playful confession is enough to make anybody blush."[60] Others praised Swift's songwriting for creating what they deemed a catchy melody.[g] Larry Rodgers in The Arizona Republic wrote the track was "hummable pop"[41] and Chris Richards in The Washington Post praised its "irresistible smile" that could "permanently [lodge] itself in your hippocampus".[38] Jody Rosen in a review for Rolling Stone selected the song as an example of Swift's songwriting that highlighted her "peculiar charm" on Fearless: "Her music mixes an almost impersonal professionalism—it's so rigorously crafted it sounds like it has been scientifically engineered in a hit factory—with confessions that are squirmingly intimate and true."[64] In Slant Magazine, Jonathan Keefe picked "Hey Stephen" as one of the album's most charming cuts and praised the emotional sentiments that resonated with Swift's main audience of teenagers, but he felt it lacked the sophistication that others credited her with.[40]

In retrospective reviews of the song, Sheffield[44] and Nate Jones from Vulture complimented its catchy melody. Jones wrote: "Swift is in the zone as a writer, performer, and producer on this winning deep cut."[46] Jon Bream of the Star Tribune described "Hey Stephen" as "perfect high school pop" and picked it as a highlight on Fearless.[65] Reviewing the re-recorded "Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)", Exclaim!'s Heather Taylor-Singh said it retained the original's earnest emotion[66] and The Line of Best Fit's Ross Horton wrote it remained "superb" as it was before.[67] Some others were not as complimentary. Hazel Cills of Pitchfork said the track's "extreme specificity", which felt like "a copy of Swift’s yearbook we're somehow privy to", was too much for an already personal album.[68] Mary Siroky in Consequence called "Hey Stephen" a catchy song but wrote its "repetitive melody" and "cliched" lyrical motifs make it the album's least compelling.[69] For Perone, although the lyrics are conventional and generic, "Swift's performance and her melodic writing make the song enjoyable and engaging anyway".[53]

Personnel

[edit]

"Hey Stephen" (2008)[7]

  • Taylor Swift – vocals, writer, producer
  • Nathan Chapman – producer
  • Drew Bollman – assistant mixer
  • Chad Carlson – recording engineer
  • Justin Niebank – mixer
  • Andrew Bowers – finger snaps
  • Burrus Cox – finger snaps
  • Carolyn Cooper – finger snaps
  • Lauren Elcan – finger snaps
  • Delaney McBride – finger snaps
  • Emma McBride – finger snaps
  • Nicholas Brown – instruments

"Hey Stephen (Taylor's Version)" (2021)[29]

  • Taylor Swift – lead vocals, writer, producer
  • Christopher Rowe – vocal recording, producer
  • Max Bernstein – vibraphone
  • Matt Billingslea – drums, finger snaps
  • Caitlin Evanson – background vocals
  • Derek Garten – additional engineer
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • John Hanes – engineer
  • Amos Heller – bass guitar
  • Mike Meadows – acoustic guitar, Hammond B3, finger snaps, background vocals
  • David Payne – recording
  • Lowell Reynolds – assistant recording engineer
  • Jonathan Yudkin – fiddle, fiddle recording

Charts

[edit]

Certification

[edit]
Certification for "Hey Stephen"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[18] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The "secret messages" of Swift's songs are decoded by arranging certain capitalized letters in each song's lyrics, printed in the album booklet, in the order they appear to spell out a certain word or phrase.[9]
  2. ^ Attributed respectively to Larry Rodgers for The Arizona Republic[41] and Jonathan Keefe for Slant Magazine[40]
  3. ^ This imagery features on songs such as "Fearless" ("There's something 'bout the way the street looks when it just rained"), "Forever & Always" ("It rains when you're here and it rains when you're gone"), and "Sparks Fly" ("Drop everything now/ Meet me in the pouring rain").[56]
  4. ^ This imagery features on songs such as "Our Song", "Love Story", and "Come In with the Rain".[8]
  5. ^ Attributed to reviews by Darryl Sterdan for The Edmonton Sun,[57] Joe Breen for The Irish Times,[58] and Rob Sheffield for Blender[59]
  6. ^ Attributed to reviews by Craig S. Semon for the Telegram & Gazette,[60] Katie Hubbard for The Charleston Gazette,[61] and Thomas Kintner for the Hartford Courant[62]
  7. ^ Attributed to reviews by Hubbard,[61] Ash Amanda for the Edmonton Journal,[63] and Chris Richards for The Washington Post[38]

References

[edit]
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Sources

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