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| 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
| prev_title = [[Fearless (Taylor Swift song)|Fearless]]
| prev_title = [[Fearless (Taylor Swift song)|Fearless]]
| prev_year = 2010
| prev_year = 2010
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| writer = Taylor Swift
| writer = Taylor Swift
| producer = * Taylor Swift
| producer = * Taylor Swift
* [[Chris Rowe|Christopher Rowe]]
* [[Christopher Rowe (record producer)|Christopher Rowe]]
| misc =
| misc =
{{External music video|header=Lyric video|type=song|{{YouTube|xSWVPqnKcXQ|"Today Was a Fairytale (Taylor's Version)"}}}}
{{External music video|header=Lyric video|type=song|{{YouTube|xSWVPqnKcXQ|"Today Was a Fairytale (Taylor's Version)"}}}}
}}
}}


"'''Today Was a Fairytale'''" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter [[Taylor Swift]]. Produced by Swift and [[Nathan Chapman (record producer)|Nathan Chapman]], it was released digitally on January 19, 2010, by [[Big Machine Records]] as a single from the corresponding [[Valentine's Day (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] for the 2010 film ''[[Valentine's Day (2010 film)|Valentine's Day]]'', in which she acted. Swift had previously written the song and offered it to producers for the film's soundtrack. Musically, "Today Was a Fairytale" is [[country pop]]-influenced and, lyrically, speaks of a magical date.
"'''Today Was a Fairytale'''" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter [[Taylor Swift]]. Produced by Swift and [[Nathan Chapman (record producer)|Nathan Chapman]], it was released digitally on January 19, 2010, by [[Big Machine Records]] as a single from the [[Valentine's Day (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] for the 2010 film ''[[Valentine's Day (2010 film)|Valentine's Day]]'', in which she acted. Swift had previously written the song and offered it to producers for the film's soundtrack. Musically, "Today Was a Fairytale" is [[country pop]]-influenced and, lyrically, speaks of a magical date.


It received generally positive reviews from contemporary critics, some who deemed it the best song on the soundtrack, and enjoyed commercial success by reaching the top ten in three countries. In Canada, "Today Was a Fairytale" became Swift's first number-one song. The song debuted and peaked at number two on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. Swift promoted "Today Was a Fairytale" at several venues and included it on a revised set list for the continuation of her [[Fearless Tour]] in 2010. The song was re-recorded as part of Swift's [[Fearless (Taylor's Version)|re-recorded version]] of her 2008 album [[Fearless (Taylor Swift album)|''Fearless'']], released in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Minsker|first1=Evan|last2=Monroe|first2=Jazz|date=February 11, 2021|title=Taylor Swift Details Re-Recorded Album Fearless (Taylor's Version)|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/taylor-swift-details-re-recorded-album-fearless-taylors-version/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211132804/https://pitchfork.com/news/taylor-swift-details-re-recorded-album-fearless-taylors-version/|archive-date=February 11, 2021|access-date=February 11, 2021|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref>
Some critics deemed "Today Was a Fairytale" the best song on the ''Valentine's Day'' soundtrack, but some others deemed it bland. The song peaked at number one in Canada, number two in the United States, and number six in Australia. Swift included the track on a revised set list for the continuation of her [[Fearless Tour]] in 2010. The song was [[Re-recording (music)|re-recorded]] and released as "'''Today Was a Fairytale (Taylor's Version)'''", as part of Swift's 2021 re-recorded album, [[Fearless (Taylor's Version)|''Fearless (Taylor's Version)'']].


==Background and release==
==Background and release==
Swift solely penned "Today Was a Fairytale" in the summer of 2008 and stored it away for a while.<ref name="tennessean">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2010/01/21/taylor-swift-earns-swift-success-with-today-was-a-fairytale/|title=Taylor Swift earns swift success with 'Today Was A Fairytale'|last=Cooper|first=Peter|date=January 21, 2010|work=[[The Tennessean]]|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105010638/http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2010/01/21/taylor-swift-earns-swift-success-with-today-was-a-fairytale/|archive-date=January 5, 2013|access-date=June 21, 2010}}</ref> After being cast as Felicia Miller on ''Valentine's Day'', Swift offered the song to the film producers for the soundtrack as she did not believe it fit on her [[Speak Now|upcoming album]]. "When this movie opportunity came about, I reached back into my pocket and thought, 'I think this is perfect for the soundtrack. I hope it's perfect for the soundtrack'", Swift told ''[[The Tennessean]]''.<ref name="tennessean" /> "Today Was a Fairytale" was released as a single from the ''Valentine's Day'' soundtrack on January 19, 2010, exclusively through the [[iTunes Store]].<ref name="itunes1"/> The single was re-released on February 15, 2011.<ref name="rerelease">{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/today-was-a-fairytale-single/id417966403|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221141426/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/today-was-a-fairytale-single/id417966403|title=Today Was a Fairytale – Single by Taylor Swift|publisher=[[iTunes Store]]|archive-date=February 21, 2011|access-date=February 21, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Swift released a [[re-recording (music)|re-recorded]] version, "Today Was a Fairytale (Taylor's Version)", as the twentieth track on her re-recorded album ''[[Fearless (Taylor's Version)]]'', on April 9, 2021.<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/|access-date=February 12, 2021|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|archive-date=March 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314151901/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9524797/taylor-swift-fearless-rerecorded-love-story-release/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Swift solely penned "Today Was a Fairytale" in the summer of 2008 and stored it away for a while.<ref name="tennessean">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2010/01/21/taylor-swift-earns-swift-success-with-today-was-a-fairytale/|title=Taylor Swift earns swift success with 'Today Was A Fairytale'|last=Cooper|first=Peter|date=January 21, 2010|work=[[The Tennessean]]|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105010638/http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2010/01/21/taylor-swift-earns-swift-success-with-today-was-a-fairytale/|archive-date=January 5, 2013|access-date=June 21, 2010}}</ref> After being cast as Felicia Miller on ''Valentine's Day'', Swift offered the song to the film producers for the soundtrack as she did not believe it fit on her [[Speak Now|upcoming album]]. "When this movie opportunity came about, I reached back into my pocket and thought, 'I think this is perfect for the soundtrack. I hope it's perfect for the soundtrack'", Swift told ''[[The Tennessean]]''.<ref name="tennessean" /> "Today Was a Fairytale" was released as a single from the ''Valentine's Day'' soundtrack on January 19, 2010, exclusively through the [[iTunes Store]].<ref name="itunes1"/> The single was re-released on February 15, 2011, with a more country mix compared to the original version.<ref name="rerelease">{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/today-was-a-fairytale-single/id417966403|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221141426/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/today-was-a-fairytale-single/id417966403|title=Today Was a Fairytale – Single by Taylor Swift|publisher=[[iTunes Store]]|archive-date=February 21, 2011|access-date=February 21, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Swift released a [[re-recording (music)|re-recorded]] version, "Today Was a Fairytale (Taylor's Version)", as the twentieth track on her re-recorded album ''[[Fearless (Taylor's Version)]]'', on April 9, 2021.<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/|access-date=February 12, 2021|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|archive-date=March 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314151901/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9524797/taylor-swift-fearless-rerecorded-love-story-release/|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Composition==
==Composition==
"Today Was a Fairytale" has a length of four minutes and two seconds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r1713115|title=Valentine's Day: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack > Overview|work=[[Allmusic]]|publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]]|access-date=June 21, 2010|archive-date=February 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207174920/https://www.allmusic.com/album/valentines-day-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0001957748|url-status=live}}</ref> It is set in [[common time]] and has a [[ballad (music)|ballad]] tempo of 80 [[beats per minute]]. It is written in the key of [[G major]] and Swift's vocals span a little more than one [[octave]], from G<sub>3</sub> to C<sub>5</sub>.<ref name="sheet">{{cite journal|title=Digital sheet music - Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale|website=Musicnotes.com|publisher=[[Alfred Publishing]]}}</ref> It follows the [[chord progression]] G&ndash;C&ndash;Em&ndash;D.<ref name="sheet" /> [[Jody Rosen]] and Jonas Weiner of [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] magazine noted that although Swift typically sings country pop, "with the possible exception of that woodsy acoustic guitar" in the song's [[introduction (music)|introduction]] "Today Was a Fairytale" displays no aspects of country music in either its instrumentation or vocals. "Taylor's vowels have gotten flattened and Yankee-ified," commented Rosen, though Weiner pointed out that Swift's pop-heavy music was the primary reason for her success.<ref name="slate">{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/browbeat/archive/2010/01/28/track-of-the-week-taylor-swift-today-was-a-fairytale.aspx|title=Track of the Week: Taylor Swift, 'Today Was a Fairytale'|first=Jonah|last=Weiner|author2=Jody Rosen|date=January 28, 2010|work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|publisher=[[The Washington Post Company]]|access-date=June 21, 2010|archive-date=August 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803031633/http://www.slate.com/content/slate/blogs/browbeat/2010/01/28/track_of_the_week_taylor_swift_today_was_a_fairytale.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Hannah Mylrea from ''[[NME]]'', meanwhile, described it as a [[country music|country]] song.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/every-taylor-swift-song-ranked-2747916|title=Every Taylor Swift song ranked in order of greatness|first=Hannah|last=Mylrea|work=[[NME]]|date=September 8, 2020|access-date=November 26, 2020|archive-date=September 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917054150/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/every-taylor-swift-song-ranked-2747916|url-status=live}}</ref> Melanie Bertoldi of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' believed Swift's vocals displayed a newfound maturity.<ref name="billboardr">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1069774/taylor-swift-today-was-a-fairytale|title=Taylor Swift, "Today Was a Fairytale"|first=Melanie|last=Bertoldi|date=February 5, 2010|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media, Inc]]|access-date=June 21, 2010|archive-date=September 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916005719/http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1069774/taylor-swift-today-was-a-fairytale|url-status=live}}</ref> There are two different versions of the song's intro: the first one having much more electronic production while the second one is only accompanied by an acoustic guitar.
"Today Was a Fairytale" has a length of four minutes and two seconds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r1713115|title=Valentine's Day: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack > Overview|work=[[Allmusic]]|publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]]|access-date=June 21, 2010|archive-date=February 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207174920/https://www.allmusic.com/album/valentines-day-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0001957748|url-status=live}}</ref> It is set in [[common time]] and has a [[ballad (music)|ballad]] tempo of 80 [[beats per minute]]. It is written in the key of [[G major]] and Swift's vocals span a little more than one [[octave]], from G<sub>3</sub> to C<sub>5</sub>.<ref name="sheet">{{cite journal|title=Digital sheet music - Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale|website=Musicnotes.com|publisher=[[Alfred Publishing]]}}</ref> It follows the [[chord progression]] G&ndash;C&ndash;Em&ndash;D.<ref name="sheet" /> [[Jody Rosen]] and Jonas Weiner of [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] magazine noted that although Swift typically sings country pop, "with the possible exception of that woodsy acoustic guitar" in the song's [[introduction (music)|introduction]] "Today Was a Fairytale" displays no aspects of country music in either its instrumentation or vocals. "Taylor's vowels have gotten flattened and Yankee-ified," commented Rosen, though Weiner pointed out that Swift's pop-heavy music was the primary reason for her success.<ref name="slate">{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/browbeat/archive/2010/01/28/track-of-the-week-taylor-swift-today-was-a-fairytale.aspx|title=Track of the Week: Taylor Swift, 'Today Was a Fairytale'|first=Jonah|last=Weiner|author2=Jody Rosen|date=January 28, 2010|work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|publisher=[[The Washington Post Company]]|access-date=June 21, 2010|archive-date=August 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803031633/http://www.slate.com/content/slate/blogs/browbeat/2010/01/28/track_of_the_week_taylor_swift_today_was_a_fairytale.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Hannah Mylrea from ''[[NME]]'', meanwhile, described it as a [[country music|country]] song.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/every-taylor-swift-song-ranked-2747916|title=Every Taylor Swift song ranked in order of greatness|first=Hannah|last=Mylrea|work=[[NME]]|date=September 8, 2020|access-date=November 26, 2020|archive-date=September 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917054150/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/every-taylor-swift-song-ranked-2747916|url-status=live}}</ref> Melanie Bertoldi of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' believed Swift's vocals displayed a newfound maturity.<ref name="billboardr">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1069774/taylor-swift-today-was-a-fairytale|title=Taylor Swift, "Today Was a Fairytale"|first=Melanie|last=Bertoldi|date=February 5, 2010|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media, Inc]]|access-date=June 21, 2010|archive-date=September 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916005719/http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1069774/taylor-swift-today-was-a-fairytale|url-status=live}}</ref> There are two different versions of the song's intro: the first one having much more electronic production while the second one is only accompanied by an acoustic guitar.


The song's lyrics describe a magical date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1628827/20091228/swift__taylor.jhtml|title=New Taylor Swift Song Included In 'Valentine's Day' Featurette|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|date=December 28, 2009|work=[[MTV News]]|publisher=[[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]]|access-date=June 22, 2010|archive-date=November 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105002458/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1628827/new-taylor-swift-song-included-valentines-day-featurette.jhtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Like many of Swift's songs, the lyrics invoke princess imagery with lines such as "Today was a fairytale/You were the prince/I used to be a damsel in distress."<ref name="slate" /> Bertoldi said the lyrics were "driven more by sweeping emotion than [...] specific, youth-focused imagery".<ref name="billboardr" /> Occasionally, Swift does interrupt the fairytale construct with modern day, real world details like the time her date arrives or the color of his shirt.<ref name="slate" />
The song's lyrics describe a magical date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1628827/20091228/swift__taylor.jhtml|title=New Taylor Swift Song Included In 'Valentine's Day' Featurette|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|date=December 28, 2009|work=[[MTV News]]|publisher=[[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]]|access-date=June 22, 2010|archive-date=November 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105002458/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1628827/new-taylor-swift-song-included-valentines-day-featurette.jhtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> Like many of Swift's songs, the lyrics invoke princess imagery with lines such as "Today was a fairytale/You were the prince/I used to be a damsel in distress."<ref name="slate" /> Bertoldi said the lyrics were "driven more by sweeping emotion than [...] specific, youth-focused imagery".<ref name="billboardr" /> Occasionally, Swift does interrupt the fairytale construct with modern day, real world details like the time her date arrives or the color of his shirt.<ref name="slate" />


==Critical reception==
==Critical reception==
The song received generally positive reviews from contemporary critics. Melanie Bertoldi of ''Billboard'' compared the song's lyrics to those of Swift's previous singles "[[You Belong with Me]]" and "[[Fifteen (song)|Fifteen]]"; she was convinced that "Today Was a Fairytale" would "help [Swift] reach an even broader audience."<ref name="billboardr" /> Leah Greenblatt of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' did not see a departure from Swift, recalling lyrics to be familiar of those of "[[Love Story (Taylor Swift song)|Love Story]]" and "You Belong with Me". However, she ended with "What do we know? The song sounds Taylor-made (oh, the wit!) for her fans, and we’re just happy she's still sweet, neat, and [...] age-appropriate."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/01/19/new-taylor-swift-song-today-was-a-fairytale/|title=New Taylor Swift song, 'Today Was a Fairytale': Listen here|first=Leah|last=Greenblatt|date=January 19, 2010|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|publisher=[[Time Warner]]|access-date=June 22, 2010|archive-date=March 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327155411/http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/01/19/new-taylor-swift-song-today-was-a-fairytale/|url-status=live}}</ref> An uncredited review from ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine said the track led the ''Valentine's Day'' soundtrack.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20340310,00.html|title=FIRST LISTEN: Like Taylor Swift? Stream the Valentine's Day Soundtrack!|date=February 1, 2010|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|publisher=Time Warner|access-date=June 22, 2010|archive-date=October 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013005314/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20340310,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Brittany Talarico of British magazine ''[[OK!]]'' called the song's refrains "catchy" and described the overall feel as "sweet."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.okmagazine.com/2010/01/taylor-swift-serenades-sweethearts-on-valentines-day-soundtrack/|title=Taylor Swift Serenades Sweethearts on 'Valentine's Day' Soundtrack|first=Brittany|last=Talarico|work=[[OK!]]|publisher=[[Northern & Shell]]|access-date=June 22, 2010|archive-date=August 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827002041/http://www.okmagazine.com/notfound|url-status=live}}</ref> Andrew Leahey of [[AllMusic]] said that there was special attention placed on Swift's tracks on the soundtrack, particularly on the song.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1713115|pure_url=yes}}|title=Valentine's Day: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack > Review|first=Andrew|last=Leahy|work=AllMusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=June 22, 2010}}</ref> [[Jody Rosen]] of Slate magazine declared "Today Was a Fairytale" "track of the week", highlighting its imagery that, according to her, "sharpen the focus instead of softening it."<ref name="slate" /> Jonah Weiner, also of Slate, wrote, "This song is a funny mix: some of her tightest songwriting to date, but some of her laziest lyrics." He mentioned that in the lyrics, Swift mainly "invoke[d] the cliché and hope[d] it [did] her heavy lifting for her."<ref name="slate" /> In June 2022, [[Insider Inc.|Insider]] ranked "Today Was a Fairytale" as Swift's second worst soundtrack song.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Ahlgrim |first1=Callie |last2=Larocca |first2=Courteney |date=2022-06-26 |title=All 8 of Taylor Swift's soundtrack songs, ranked |url=https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-soundtrack-songs-ranked-2022-6 |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=[[Insider Inc.|Insider]] |language=en-US |archive-date=February 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207174920/https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-soundtrack-songs-ranked-2022-6 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The song received generally positive reviews from contemporary critics. Melanie Bertoldi of ''Billboard'' compared the song's lyrics to those of Swift's previous singles "[[You Belong with Me]]" and "[[Fifteen (song)|Fifteen]]"; she was convinced that "Today Was a Fairytale" would "help [Swift] reach an even broader audience."<ref name="billboardr" /> Leah Greenblatt of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' did not see a departure from Swift, recalling lyrics to be familiar of those of "[[Love Story (Taylor Swift song)|Love Story]]" and "You Belong with Me". However, she ended with "What do we know? The song sounds Taylor-made (oh, the wit!) for her fans, and we’re just happy she's still sweet, neat, and [...] age-appropriate."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/01/19/new-taylor-swift-song-today-was-a-fairytale/|title=New Taylor Swift song, 'Today Was a Fairytale': Listen here|first=Leah|last=Greenblatt|date=January 19, 2010|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|publisher=[[Time Warner]]|access-date=June 22, 2010|archive-date=March 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327155411/http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/01/19/new-taylor-swift-song-today-was-a-fairytale/|url-status=live}}</ref> An uncredited review from ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine said the track led the ''Valentine's Day'' soundtrack.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20340310,00.html|title=FIRST LISTEN: Like Taylor Swift? Stream the Valentine's Day Soundtrack!|date=February 1, 2010|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|publisher=Time Warner|access-date=June 22, 2010|archive-date=October 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013005314/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20340310,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Brittany Talarico of British magazine ''[[OK!]]'' called the song's refrains "catchy" and described the overall feel as "sweet."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.okmagazine.com/2010/01/taylor-swift-serenades-sweethearts-on-valentines-day-soundtrack/|title=Taylor Swift Serenades Sweethearts on 'Valentine's Day' Soundtrack|first=Brittany|last=Talarico|work=[[OK!]]|publisher=[[Northern & Shell]]|access-date=June 22, 2010|archive-date=August 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827002041/http://www.okmagazine.com/notfound|url-status=live}}</ref> Andrew Leahey of [[AllMusic]] said that there was special attention placed on Swift's tracks on the soundtrack, particularly on the song.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r1713115|title=Valentine's Day: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack > Review|first=Andrew|last=Leahy|work=AllMusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=June 22, 2010|archive-date=February 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207174920/https://www.allmusic.com/album/valentines-day-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0001957748|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Jody Rosen]] of Slate magazine declared "Today Was a Fairytale" "track of the week", highlighting its imagery that, according to her, "sharpen the focus instead of softening it."<ref name="slate" /> Jonah Weiner, also of Slate, wrote, "This song is a funny mix: some of her tightest songwriting to date, but some of her laziest lyrics." He mentioned that in the lyrics, Swift mainly "invoke[d] the cliché and hope[d] it [did] her heavy lifting for her."<ref name="slate" /> In June 2022, [[Insider Inc.|Insider]] ranked "Today Was a Fairytale" as Swift's second worst soundtrack song.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Ahlgrim |first1=Callie |last2=Larocca |first2=Courteney |date=2022-06-26 |title=All 8 of Taylor Swift's soundtrack songs, ranked |url=https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-soundtrack-songs-ranked-2022-6 |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=[[Insider Inc.|Insider]] |language=en-US |archive-date=February 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207174920/https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-soundtrack-songs-ranked-2022-6 |url-status=live }}</ref>


==Commercial performance==
==Commercial performance==
On the week ending February 6, 2010, "Today Was a Fairytale" debuted at number two on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] (blocked from number one by [[Kesha]]'s "[[Tik Tok (song)|Tik Tok]]").<ref>{{Cite magazine|title = Music: Top 100 Songs {{!}} Billboard Hot 100 Chart|url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2010-02-06|magazine = Billboard|date = 2 January 2013|access-date = 2016-01-24|archive-date = 2016-01-29|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160129012523/http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2010-02-06|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="downloadrecord">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/959594/taylor-swift-swipes-female-download-record-haiti-tracks-chart|title=Taylor Swift Swipes Female Download Record; Haiti Tracks Chart|last=Pietroluongo|first=Silvio|date=January 26, 2010|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media, Inc]]|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=May 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516120245/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/959594/taylor-swift-swipes-female-download-record-haiti-tracks-chart|url-status=live}}</ref> This was due to the sales of 325,000 digital downloads, which broke the record for largest first-week download sales by a female artist previously set by [[Britney Spears]]' "[[Womanizer (song)|Womanizer]]" (the current record is held by [[Adele]], with her 2015 single "[[Hello (Adele song)|Hello]]" selling 1.11 million downloads in its first week).<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/480323/official-taylor-swifts-never-song-sells-623000-sets-female-digital-record |title=Official: Taylor Swift's 'Never' Song Sells 623,000; Sets Female Digital Record |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]] |date=2012-08-21 |access-date=2012-08-22 |archive-date=2017-04-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410083227/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/480323/official-taylor-swifts-never-song-sells-623000-sets-female-digital-record |url-status=live }}</ref> In the succeeding week, the song descended to number twenty-two.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/959467/ask-billboard-mileys-new-movie-music|title=Ask Billboard: Miley's New Movie Music|first=Gary|last=Trust|date=February 5, 2010|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=July 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703171541/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/959467/ask-billboard-mileys-new-movie-music|url-status=live}}</ref> It spent a total of eighteen weeks on the chart. "Today Was a Fairytale" additionally peaked at number one on the [[Digital Songs|''Billboard'' Digital Song Sales]] chart, number 20 on the [[Mainstream Top 40]] chart, number 21 on the [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]] chart, and number 41 on the [[Hot Country Songs]] chart,.<ref name="billboard">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/|title=Today Was a Fairytale|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|access-date=June 22, 2010|archive-date=November 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121094225/https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was [[RIAA certification|certified platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) for the sales of over one million units.<ref name="riaa">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Taylor%20Swift&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25|title=RIAA &ndash; Gold & Platinum: "Taylor Swift albums"|work=RIAA.com|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|access-date=January 2, 2010|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924154353/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Taylor%20Swift&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25|url-status=live}}</ref> As of November 2014, "Today Was a Fairytale" has sold 1.6 million digital downloads in the United States.<ref name="sales">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6312267/ask-billboard-all-taylor-swift-edition?page=0%2C1 |last=Trust |first=Gary |title=Ask Billboard: All-Taylor Swift Edition |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]] |date=November 11, 2014 |access-date=November 11, 2014 |archive-date=November 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123182404/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6312267/ask-billboard-all-taylor-swift-edition?page=0%2C1 |url-status=live }}</ref> On the week ending February 20, 2010, "Today Was a Fairytale" debuted at number one on the [[Canadian Hot 100]], becoming Swift's first number-one single in Canada.<ref name="canada">{{Cite web |url=http://www.billboard.biz/billboardbiz/photos/pdf/canadian_update_021010.pdf |title=Billboard Canadian Update February 12, 2010 |access-date=November 8, 2017 |archive-date=May 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512001118/https://www.billboard.com/business |url-status=live }}</ref>
On the week ending February 6, 2010, "Today Was a Fairytale" debuted at number two on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] (blocked from number one by [[Kesha]]'s "[[Tik Tok (song)|Tik Tok]]").<ref>{{Cite magazine|title = Music: Top 100 Songs {{!}} Billboard Hot 100 Chart|url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2010-02-06|magazine = Billboard|date = 2 January 2013|access-date = 2016-01-24|archive-date = 2016-01-29|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160129012523/http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2010-02-06|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="downloadrecord">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/959594/taylor-swift-swipes-female-download-record-haiti-tracks-chart|title=Taylor Swift Swipes Female Download Record; Haiti Tracks Chart|last=Pietroluongo|first=Silvio|date=January 26, 2010|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media, Inc]]|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=May 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516120245/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/959594/taylor-swift-swipes-female-download-record-haiti-tracks-chart|url-status=live}}</ref> This was due to the sales of 325,000 digital downloads, which broke the record for largest first-week download sales by a female artist previously set by [[Britney Spears]]' "[[Womanizer (song)|Womanizer]]".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/480323/official-taylor-swifts-never-song-sells-623000-sets-female-digital-record |title=Official: Taylor Swift's 'Never' Song Sells 623,000; Sets Female Digital Record |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]] |date=2012-08-21 |access-date=2012-08-22 |archive-date=2017-04-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410083227/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/480323/official-taylor-swifts-never-song-sells-623000-sets-female-digital-record |url-status=live }}</ref> In the succeeding week, the song descended to number 22.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/959467/ask-billboard-mileys-new-movie-music|title=Ask Billboard: Miley's New Movie Music|first=Gary|last=Trust|date=February 5, 2010|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=July 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703171541/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/959467/ask-billboard-mileys-new-movie-music|url-status=live}}</ref> It spent a total of 18 weeks on the chart. "Today Was a Fairytale" additionally peaked at number one on the [[Digital Songs|Digital Song Sales]] chart, number 20 on the [[Mainstream Top 40]] chart, number 21 on the [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]] chart, and number 41 on the [[Hot Country Songs]] chart.<ref name="billboard">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/|title=Today Was a Fairytale|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|access-date=June 22, 2010|archive-date=November 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121094225/https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was [[RIAA certification|certified platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) for the sales of over one million units.<ref name="riaa">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Taylor%20Swift&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25|title=RIAA &ndash; Gold & Platinum: "Taylor Swift albums"|work=RIAA.com|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|access-date=January 2, 2010|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924154353/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Taylor%20Swift&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25|url-status=live}}</ref> As of November 2014, "Today Was a Fairytale" had sold 1.6 million digital downloads in the United States.<ref name="sales">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6312267/ask-billboard-all-taylor-swift-edition?page=0%2C1 |last=Trust |first=Gary |title=Ask Billboard: All-Taylor Swift Edition |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]] |date=November 11, 2014 |access-date=November 11, 2014 |archive-date=November 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123182404/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6312267/ask-billboard-all-taylor-swift-edition?page=0%2C1 |url-status=live }}</ref>


The song debuted at number six on the [[ARIA charts|Australian Singles Chart]] on the week ending February 21, 2010. It ascended to its peak position at number three in the following week. The song spent twelve weeks upon the chart before falling off on the week ending May 9, 2010.<ref name="australia">{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=Today+Was+A+Fairytale&cat=s|title=Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale (Song)|work=Australian-charts.com|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]]|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=June 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608095158/http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift|url-status=live}}</ref> "Today Was a Fairytale" was [[list of music recording sales certifications|certified platinum]] by the [[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA) for the sales of 70,000 units.<ref name="auscertisingle2010">{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.auaccreds2010.htm|title=ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Singles|access-date=March 13, 2010|work=ARIA.com.au|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|archive-date=March 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320194141/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.auaccreds2010.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In New Zealand, "Today Was a Fairytale" debuted at number thirty-seven, and peaked at number twenty-nine.<ref name="nz">{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=Today+Was+A+Fairytale&cat=s|title=Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale (Song)|work=charts.nz|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand]]|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=April 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420151434/http://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=Today+Was+A+Fairytale&cat=s|url-status=live}}</ref> The song peaked at number sixty-three on the [[Japan Hot 100]].<ref name="billboard" /> In Europe, "Today Was a Fairytale" charted at number forty-one in Ireland,<ref name="irish">{{Cite web|url=http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift|title=Discography Taylor Swift|work=Irish-charts.com|publisher=[[Irish Recorded Music Association]]|access-date=January 2, 2010|archive-date=March 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329124347/http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift|url-status=live}}</ref> and number fifty-seven in the [[UK Singles Chart|United Kingdom]].<ref name="uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Prairie%20Wind|title=The Official Charts Company - Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale|work=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=October 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020222728/https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/prairie%20wind/|url-status=live}}</ref>
"Today Was a Fairytale" was Swift's first song to peak at number one on the [[Canadian Hot 100]].<ref name="canada">{{Cite web |url=http://www.billboard.biz/billboardbiz/photos/pdf/canadian_update_021010.pdf |title=Billboard Canadian Update February 12, 2010 |access-date=November 8, 2017 |archive-date=May 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512001118/https://www.billboard.com/business |url-status=live }}</ref> The song peaked at number six in Australia<ref name="australia">{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=Today+Was+A+Fairytale&cat=s|title=Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale (Song)|work=Australian-charts.com|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]]|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=June 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608095158/http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift|url-status=live}}</ref> and was [[list of music recording sales certifications|certified platinum]] by the [[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA) for sales of 70,000 units.<ref name="auscertisingle2010">{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.auaccreds2010.htm|title=ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Singles|access-date=March 13, 2010|work=ARIA.com.au|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|archive-date=March 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320194141/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.auaccreds2010.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> It peaked at number 29 in New Zealand,<ref name="nz">{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=Today+Was+A+Fairytale&cat=s|title=Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale (Song)|work=charts.nz|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand]]|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=April 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420151434/http://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=Today+Was+A+Fairytale&cat=s|url-status=live}}</ref> number 41 in Ireland,<ref name="irish">{{Cite web|url=http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift|title=Discography Taylor Swift|work=Irish-charts.com|publisher=[[Irish Recorded Music Association]]|access-date=January 2, 2010|archive-date=March 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329124347/http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift|url-status=live}}</ref> number 57 in the United Kingdom,<ref name="uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Prairie%20Wind|title=The Official Charts Company - Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale|work=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=October 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020222728/https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/prairie%20wind/|url-status=live}}</ref> and number 63 in Japan.<ref name="billboard" />


==Live performances==
==Live performances==
[[File:Taylor Swift - Fearless Tour - Austin 04.jpg|thumb|240px|Swift performing "Today Was a Fairytale" on the second North American leg of the Fearless Tour]]
[[File:Taylor Swift - Fearless Tour - Austin 04.jpg|thumb|240px|Swift performing "Today Was a Fairytale" on the second North American leg of the Fearless Tour]]
Swift performed a medley, which included the song, at the [[52nd Grammy Awards]]. Wearing casual white blouse and black skinny jeans, Swift performed "Today Was a Fairytale", where she took center stage with a wooden acoustic guitar strapped to her shoulder. After performing the track, she announced. "It's a fairy tale and an honor to share the stage with [[Stevie Nicks]]". Following, the two performed a cover of [[Fleetwood Mac]]'s "[[Rhiannon (song)|Rhiannon]]" (1976). Swift and Nicks then jumped into the third and final part in her medley, a twangy version of "You Belong with Me".<ref name="grammymedley"
Swift performed a medley, which included the song, at the [[52nd Grammy Awards]]. Wearing casual white blouse and black skinny jeans, Swift performed "Today Was a Fairytale", where she took center stage with a wooden acoustic guitar strapped to her shoulder. After performing the track, she announced. "It's a fairy tale and an honor to share the stage with [[Stevie Nicks]]". Following, the two performed a cover of [[Fleetwood Mac]]'s "[[Rhiannon (song)|Rhiannon]]" (1976). Swift and Nicks then jumped into the third and final part in her medley, a twangy version of "You Belong with Me".<ref name="grammymedley"
>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1630891/20100131/swift__taylor.jhtml|work=MTV News|publisher=Viacom|access-date=April 17, 2010|title=Taylor Swift Shares The Stage With Stevie Nicks At The Grammys|first=Eric|last=Ditzian|date=January 31, 2010|archive-date=October 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028134550/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1630891/taylor-swift-shares-stage-with-stevie-nicks-at-grammys.jhtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Eric Ditzian of MTV News was disappointed at Swift's and Nicks' harmonies, but said the two "made for a compelling twosome".<ref name="grammymedley" /> The performance followed much backlash in regards to Swift's off key singing,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631150/20100203/swift__taylor.jhtml|work=MTV News|publisher=Viacom|access-date=April 17, 2010|title=Taylor Swift Backlash: Readers Weigh In|date=February 3, 2010|first=James|last=Montgomery|archive-date=October 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027010448/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631150/taylor-swift-backlash-readers-weigh.jhtml|url-status=live}}</ref> which caused [[Scott Borchetta]], CEO of Big Machine Records, to issue a statement defending the performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631244/20100204/swift__taylor.jhtml|work=MTV News|publisher=Viacom|access-date=April 17, 2010|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|date=February 3, 2010|title=Taylor Swift's Grammy Performance Defended By Label CEO|archive-date=October 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011071735/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631244/taylor-swifts-grammy-performance-defended-by-label-ceo.jhtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1630891/20100131/swift__taylor.jhtml|work=MTV News|publisher=Viacom|access-date=April 17, 2010|title=Taylor Swift Shares The Stage With Stevie Nicks At The Grammys|first=Eric|last=Ditzian|date=January 31, 2010|archive-date=October 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028134550/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1630891/taylor-swift-shares-stage-with-stevie-nicks-at-grammys.jhtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> Eric Ditzian of MTV News was disappointed at Swift's and Nicks' harmonies, but said the two "made for a compelling twosome".<ref name="grammymedley" /> The performance followed much backlash in regards to Swift's off key singing,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631150/20100203/swift__taylor.jhtml|work=MTV News|publisher=Viacom|access-date=April 17, 2010|title=Taylor Swift Backlash: Readers Weigh In|date=February 3, 2010|first=James|last=Montgomery|archive-date=October 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027010448/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631150/taylor-swift-backlash-readers-weigh.jhtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> which caused [[Scott Borchetta]], CEO of Big Machine Records, to issue a statement defending the performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631244/20100204/swift__taylor.jhtml|work=MTV News|publisher=Viacom|access-date=April 17, 2010|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|date=February 3, 2010|title=Taylor Swift's Grammy Performance Defended By Label CEO|archive-date=October 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011071735/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631244/taylor-swifts-grammy-performance-defended-by-label-ceo.jhtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>


Swift annexed "Today Was a Fairytale" to a revised set list for the continuation of her [[Fearless Tour]] in 2010. During the performances, which was the penultimate of each concert, Swift was usually costumed in a black cocktail dress with a v-neck cut and black, leather boots.<ref name="cmt">{{cite web|url=http://community.cmt.com/Video/Taylor-Swift--Today-Was-A-Fairytale/0BEDCFFFF01B30196001B00E33231|title=Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale|work=[[Country Music Television|CMT]]|publisher=Viacom|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=February 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226135752/http://community.cmt.com/Video/Taylor-Swift--Today-Was-A-Fairytale/0BEDCFFFF01B30196001B00E33231|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="newsok">{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/concert-review-taylor-swift-brings-fearless-show-to-ford-center/article/3450589?custom_click=rss|title=Concert review: Taylor Swift brings "Fearless" show to Ford Center|first=Brandy|last=McDonnel|date=April 1, 2010|work=[[The Oklahoman]]|publisher=Oklahoma Publishing Company|access-date=May 21, 2010|archive-date=September 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926001820/http://newsok.com/concert-review-taylor-swift-brings-fearless-show-to-ford-center/article/3450589?custom_click=rss|url-status=live}}</ref> She performed with a rhinestoned acoustic guitar center-stage as a forest was projected on the stage; concluding the performance, clips from ''Valentine's Day'' were depicted and, following its completion, confetti dropped from the ceiling.<ref name="cmt" /><ref name="newsok" /> At the May 22, 2010 concert at the [[Air Canada Centre]] in [[Toronto, Ontario]], Canada, Jane Stevenson of ''[[The Toronto Sun]]'' said that Swift wearing a [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] jersey "didn't hurt [her] popularity either in this hockey-mad town."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/columnists/jane_stevenson/2010/05/21/14044456.html|title=Taylor Swift concert a fairytale for fans|first=Jane|last=Stevenson|date=May 22, 2010|work=[[The Toronto Sun]]|publisher=[[Sun Media]]|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=May 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525104350/http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/columnists/jane_stevenson/2010/05/21/14044456.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Molly Trust of ''Billboard'' noted the performance at the tour's final concert on June 5, 2010 at [[Gillette Stadium]] in [[Foxborough, Massachusetts]] "sported a touch of a hometown feel, as Swift literally and figuratively played to the crowd in a [[New England Patriots|Patriots]] shirt."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/photos/live/957869/taylor-swift-june-5-2010-foxboro-mass|title=Taylor Swift / June 5, 2010 / Foxboro, Mass|first=Molly|last=Trust|date=June 8, 2010|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=October 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141002032401/http://www.billboard.com/articles/photos/live/957869/taylor-swift-june-5-2010-foxboro-mass|url-status=live}}</ref> Swift later performed the song on select dates on [[the Red Tour]] (2013–2014) in place of "I Almost Do"; and during [[the Eras Tour]] (2023) as a surprise song for the second Houston show.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Iasimone |first=Ashley |date=2023-04-14 |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/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>
Swift annexed "Today Was a Fairytale" to a revised set list for the continuation of her [[Fearless Tour]] in 2010. During the performances, which was the penultimate of each concert, Swift was usually costumed in a black cocktail dress with a v-neck cut and black, leather boots.<ref name="cmt">{{cite web|url=http://community.cmt.com/Video/Taylor-Swift--Today-Was-A-Fairytale/0BEDCFFFF01B30196001B00E33231|title=Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale|work=[[Country Music Television|CMT]]|publisher=Viacom|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=February 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226135752/http://community.cmt.com/Video/Taylor-Swift--Today-Was-A-Fairytale/0BEDCFFFF01B30196001B00E33231|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="newsok">{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/concert-review-taylor-swift-brings-fearless-show-to-ford-center/article/3450589?custom_click=rss|title=Concert review: Taylor Swift brings "Fearless" show to Ford Center|first=Brandy|last=McDonnel|date=April 1, 2010|work=[[The Oklahoman]]|publisher=Oklahoma Publishing Company|access-date=May 21, 2010|archive-date=September 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926001820/http://newsok.com/concert-review-taylor-swift-brings-fearless-show-to-ford-center/article/3450589?custom_click=rss|url-status=live}}</ref> She performed with a rhinestoned acoustic guitar center-stage as a forest was projected on the stage; concluding the performance, clips from ''Valentine's Day'' were depicted and, following its completion, confetti dropped from the ceiling.<ref name="cmt" /><ref name="newsok" /> At the May 22, 2010 concert at the [[Air Canada Centre]] in [[Toronto, Ontario]], Canada, Jane Stevenson of ''[[The Toronto Sun]]'' said that Swift wearing a [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] jersey "didn't hurt [her] popularity either in this hockey-mad town."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/columnists/jane_stevenson/2010/05/21/14044456.html|title=Taylor Swift concert a fairytale for fans|first=Jane|last=Stevenson|date=May 22, 2010|work=[[The Toronto Sun]]|publisher=[[Sun Media]]|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=May 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525104350/http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/columnists/jane_stevenson/2010/05/21/14044456.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Molly Trust of ''Billboard'' noted the performance at the tour's final concert on June 5, 2010 at [[Gillette Stadium]] in [[Foxborough, Massachusetts]] "sported a touch of a hometown feel, as Swift literally and figuratively played to the crowd in a [[New England Patriots|Patriots]] shirt."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/photos/live/957869/taylor-swift-june-5-2010-foxboro-mass|title=Taylor Swift / June 5, 2010 / Foxboro, Mass|first=Molly|last=Trust|date=June 8, 2010|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=October 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141002032401/http://www.billboard.com/articles/photos/live/957869/taylor-swift-june-5-2010-foxboro-mass|url-status=live}}</ref> Swift later performed the song on select dates on [[the Red Tour]] (2013–2014) in place of "I Almost Do"; and during [[the Eras Tour]] (2023–2024) as a surprise song for the second Houston show.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Iasimone |first=Ashley |date=2023-04-14 |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/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-date=March 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319011405/https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


==Chart performance==
==Chart performance==
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==Certifications==
==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Today Was a Fairytale"}}
{{Certification Table Entry |region=Australia |award=Platinum |type=single |certyear=2010 |title=Today Was a Fairytale |artist=Taylor Swift}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2010|certyear=2024|access-date=February 14, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry |region=United States |award=Platinum |type=single |certyear=2010 |title=Today Was a Fairytale |artist=Taylor Swift|salesamount=1,600,000|salesref=<ref name="sales"/>}}
{{Certification Table Entry |region=United States |award=Platinum |type=single |certyear=2010 |title=Today Was a Fairytale |artist=Taylor Swift|salesamount=1,600,000|salesref=<ref name="sales"/>}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}


== Release history ==
== Release history ==
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[[Category:2010 singles]]
[[Category:2010 singles]]
[[Category:Canadian Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Canadian Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Country ballads]]
[[Category:Pop ballads]]
[[Category:Songs written by Taylor Swift]]
[[Category:Songs written by Taylor Swift]]
[[Category:Taylor Swift songs]]
[[Category:Taylor Swift songs]]
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[[Category:Song recordings produced by Chris Rowe]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Chris Rowe]]
[[Category:Big Machine Records singles]]
[[Category:Big Machine Records singles]]
[[Category:Country pop songs]]

Latest revision as of 02:02, 18 December 2024

"Today Was a Fairytale"
Single by Taylor Swift
from the album Valentine's Day
ReleasedJanuary 19, 2010 (2010-01-19)
GenreCountry pop
Length4:02
LabelBig Machine
Songwriter(s)Taylor Swift
Producer(s)
Taylor Swift singles chronology
"Fearless"
(2010) 		"Today Was a Fairytale"
(2010) 		"Half of My Heart"
(2010)
2011 re-release cover
Audio video
"Today Was a Fairytale" on YouTube
"Today Was a Fairytale (Taylor's Version)"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album Fearless (Taylor's Version)
ReleasedApril 9, 2021 (2021-04-09)
GenreCountry pop
Length4:02
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)Taylor Swift
Producer(s)
Lyric video
"Today Was a Fairytale (Taylor's Version)" on YouTube

"Today Was a Fairytale" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, it was released digitally on January 19, 2010, by Big Machine Records as a single from the soundtrack for the 2010 film Valentine's Day, in which she acted. Swift had previously written the song and offered it to producers for the film's soundtrack. Musically, "Today Was a Fairytale" is country pop-influenced and, lyrically, speaks of a magical date.

Some critics deemed "Today Was a Fairytale" the best song on the Valentine's Day soundtrack, but some others deemed it bland. The song peaked at number one in Canada, number two in the United States, and number six in Australia. Swift included the track on a revised set list for the continuation of her Fearless Tour in 2010. The song was re-recorded and released as "Today Was a Fairytale (Taylor's Version)", as part of Swift's 2021 re-recorded album, Fearless (Taylor's Version).

Background and release

[edit]

Swift solely penned "Today Was a Fairytale" in the summer of 2008 and stored it away for a while.[1] After being cast as Felicia Miller on Valentine's Day, Swift offered the song to the film producers for the soundtrack as she did not believe it fit on her upcoming album. "When this movie opportunity came about, I reached back into my pocket and thought, 'I think this is perfect for the soundtrack. I hope it's perfect for the soundtrack'", Swift told The Tennessean.[1] "Today Was a Fairytale" was released as a single from the Valentine's Day soundtrack on January 19, 2010, exclusively through the iTunes Store.[2] The single was re-released on February 15, 2011, with a more country mix compared to the original version.[3] Swift released a re-recorded version, "Today Was a Fairytale (Taylor's Version)", as the twentieth track on her re-recorded album Fearless (Taylor's Version), on April 9, 2021.[4]

Composition

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"Today Was a Fairytale" has a length of four minutes and two seconds.[5] It is set in common time and has a ballad tempo of 80 beats per minute. It is written in the key of G major and Swift's vocals span a little more than one octave, from G3 to C5.[6] It follows the chord progression G–C–Em–D.[6] Jody Rosen and Jonas Weiner of Slate magazine noted that although Swift typically sings country pop, "with the possible exception of that woodsy acoustic guitar" in the song's introduction "Today Was a Fairytale" displays no aspects of country music in either its instrumentation or vocals. "Taylor's vowels have gotten flattened and Yankee-ified," commented Rosen, though Weiner pointed out that Swift's pop-heavy music was the primary reason for her success.[7] Hannah Mylrea from NME, meanwhile, described it as a country song.[8] Melanie Bertoldi of Billboard believed Swift's vocals displayed a newfound maturity.[9] There are two different versions of the song's intro: the first one having much more electronic production while the second one is only accompanied by an acoustic guitar.

The song's lyrics describe a magical date.[10] Like many of Swift's songs, the lyrics invoke princess imagery with lines such as "Today was a fairytale/You were the prince/I used to be a damsel in distress."[7] Bertoldi said the lyrics were "driven more by sweeping emotion than [...] specific, youth-focused imagery".[9] Occasionally, Swift does interrupt the fairytale construct with modern day, real world details like the time her date arrives or the color of his shirt.[7]

Critical reception

[edit]

The song received generally positive reviews from contemporary critics. Melanie Bertoldi of Billboard compared the song's lyrics to those of Swift's previous singles "You Belong with Me" and "Fifteen"; she was convinced that "Today Was a Fairytale" would "help [Swift] reach an even broader audience."[9] Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly did not see a departure from Swift, recalling lyrics to be familiar of those of "Love Story" and "You Belong with Me". However, she ended with "What do we know? The song sounds Taylor-made (oh, the wit!) for her fans, and we’re just happy she's still sweet, neat, and [...] age-appropriate."[11] An uncredited review from People magazine said the track led the Valentine's Day soundtrack.[12] Brittany Talarico of British magazine OK! called the song's refrains "catchy" and described the overall feel as "sweet."[13] Andrew Leahey of AllMusic said that there was special attention placed on Swift's tracks on the soundtrack, particularly on the song.[14] Jody Rosen of Slate magazine declared "Today Was a Fairytale" "track of the week", highlighting its imagery that, according to her, "sharpen the focus instead of softening it."[7] Jonah Weiner, also of Slate, wrote, "This song is a funny mix: some of her tightest songwriting to date, but some of her laziest lyrics." He mentioned that in the lyrics, Swift mainly "invoke[d] the cliché and hope[d] it [did] her heavy lifting for her."[7] In June 2022, Insider ranked "Today Was a Fairytale" as Swift's second worst soundtrack song.[15]

Commercial performance

[edit]

On the week ending February 6, 2010, "Today Was a Fairytale" debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 (blocked from number one by Kesha's "Tik Tok").[16][17] This was due to the sales of 325,000 digital downloads, which broke the record for largest first-week download sales by a female artist previously set by Britney Spears' "Womanizer".[18] In the succeeding week, the song descended to number 22.[19] It spent a total of 18 weeks on the chart. "Today Was a Fairytale" additionally peaked at number one on the Digital Song Sales chart, number 20 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart, number 21 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and number 41 on the Hot Country Songs chart.[20] It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the sales of over one million units.[21] As of November 2014, "Today Was a Fairytale" had sold 1.6 million digital downloads in the United States.[22]

"Today Was a Fairytale" was Swift's first song to peak at number one on the Canadian Hot 100.[23] The song peaked at number six in Australia[24] and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for sales of 70,000 units.[25] It peaked at number 29 in New Zealand,[26] number 41 in Ireland,[27] number 57 in the United Kingdom,[28] and number 63 in Japan.[20]

Live performances

[edit]
Swift performing "Today Was a Fairytale" on the second North American leg of the Fearless Tour

Swift performed a medley, which included the song, at the 52nd Grammy Awards. Wearing casual white blouse and black skinny jeans, Swift performed "Today Was a Fairytale", where she took center stage with a wooden acoustic guitar strapped to her shoulder. After performing the track, she announced. "It's a fairy tale and an honor to share the stage with Stevie Nicks". Following, the two performed a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon" (1976). Swift and Nicks then jumped into the third and final part in her medley, a twangy version of "You Belong with Me".[29] Eric Ditzian of MTV News was disappointed at Swift's and Nicks' harmonies, but said the two "made for a compelling twosome".[29] The performance followed much backlash in regards to Swift's off key singing,[30] which caused Scott Borchetta, CEO of Big Machine Records, to issue a statement defending the performance.[31]

Swift annexed "Today Was a Fairytale" to a revised set list for the continuation of her Fearless Tour in 2010. During the performances, which was the penultimate of each concert, Swift was usually costumed in a black cocktail dress with a v-neck cut and black, leather boots.[32][33] She performed with a rhinestoned acoustic guitar center-stage as a forest was projected on the stage; concluding the performance, clips from Valentine's Day were depicted and, following its completion, confetti dropped from the ceiling.[32][33] At the May 22, 2010 concert at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Jane Stevenson of The Toronto Sun said that Swift wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey "didn't hurt [her] popularity either in this hockey-mad town."[34] Molly Trust of Billboard noted the performance at the tour's final concert on June 5, 2010 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts "sported a touch of a hometown feel, as Swift literally and figuratively played to the crowd in a Patriots shirt."[35] Swift later performed the song on select dates on the Red Tour (2013–2014) in place of "I Almost Do"; and during the Eras Tour (2023–2024) as a surprise song for the second Houston show.[36]

Chart performance

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "Today Was a Fairytale"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[53] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
United States (RIAA)[54] Platinum 1,600,000[22]

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
List of release dates with formats and record labels
Country Date Format Label
United States[2] January 19, 2010 Digital download Big Machine
Australia[55] January 22, 2010
Japan[56]
United States[57] February 9, 2010 Contemporary hit radio
Germany[58] March 12, 2010 Digital download Universal
United States[3] February 15, 2011 Digital download (rerelease) Big Machine

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Cooper, Peter (January 21, 2010). "Taylor Swift earns swift success with 'Today Was A Fairytale'". The Tennessean. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on January 5, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Today Was a Fairytale – Single by Taylor Swift". iTunes Store. Archived from the original on July 26, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Today Was a Fairytale – Single by Taylor Swift". iTunes Store. Archived from the original on February 21, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  4. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (February 11, 2021). "Taylor Swift Announces Re-Recorded Fearless Album: Updated 'Love Story' Out Tonight". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 14, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  5. ^ "Valentine's Day: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack > Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  6. ^ a b "Digital sheet music - Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale". Musicnotes.com. Alfred Publishing.
  7. ^ a b c d e Weiner, Jonah; Jody Rosen (January 28, 2010). "Track of the Week: Taylor Swift, 'Today Was a Fairytale'". Slate. The Washington Post Company. Archived from the original on August 3, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  8. ^ Mylrea, Hannah (September 8, 2020). "Every Taylor Swift song ranked in order of greatness". NME. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c Bertoldi, Melanie (February 5, 2010). "Taylor Swift, "Today Was a Fairytale"". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on September 16, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  10. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (December 28, 2009). "New Taylor Swift Song Included In 'Valentine's Day' Featurette". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  11. ^ Greenblatt, Leah (January 19, 2010). "New Taylor Swift song, 'Today Was a Fairytale': Listen here". Entertainment Weekly. Time Warner. Archived from the original on March 27, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  12. ^ "FIRST LISTEN: Like Taylor Swift? Stream the Valentine's Day Soundtrack!". People. Time Warner. February 1, 2010. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  13. ^ Talarico, Brittany. "Taylor Swift Serenades Sweethearts on 'Valentine's Day' Soundtrack". OK!. Northern & Shell. Archived from the original on August 27, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  14. ^ Leahy, Andrew. "Valentine's Day: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack > Review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  15. ^ Ahlgrim, Callie; Larocca, Courteney (June 26, 2022). "All 8 of Taylor Swift's soundtrack songs, ranked". Insider. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  16. ^ "Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  17. ^ Pietroluongo, Silvio (January 26, 2010). "Taylor Swift Swipes Female Download Record; Haiti Tracks Chart". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on May 16, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  18. ^ Caulfield, Keith (August 21, 2012). "Official: Taylor Swift's 'Never' Song Sells 623,000; Sets Female Digital Record". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  19. ^ Trust, Gary (February 5, 2010). "Ask Billboard: Miley's New Movie Music". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  20. ^ a b c "Today Was a Fairytale". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  21. ^ "RIAA – Gold & Platinum: "Taylor Swift albums"". RIAA.com. Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  22. ^ a b Trust, Gary (November 11, 2014). "Ask Billboard: All-Taylor Swift Edition". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on November 23, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  23. ^ "Billboard Canadian Update February 12, 2010" (PDF). Archived from the original on May 12, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  24. ^ "Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale (Song)". Australian-charts.com. Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  25. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Singles". ARIA.com.au. Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  26. ^ "Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale (Song)". charts.nz. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on April 20, 2017. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  27. ^ "Discography Taylor Swift". Irish-charts.com. Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  28. ^ "The Official Charts Company - Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  29. ^ a b Ditzian, Eric (January 31, 2010). "Taylor Swift Shares The Stage With Stevie Nicks At The Grammys". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on October 28, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  30. ^ Montgomery, James (February 3, 2010). "Taylor Swift Backlash: Readers Weigh In". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  31. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (February 3, 2010). "Taylor Swift's Grammy Performance Defended By Label CEO". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  32. ^ a b "Taylor Swift - Today Was a Fairytale". CMT. Viacom. Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  33. ^ a b McDonnel, Brandy (April 1, 2010). "Concert review: Taylor Swift brings "Fearless" show to Ford Center". The Oklahoman. Oklahoma Publishing Company. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  34. ^ Stevenson, Jane (May 22, 2010). "Taylor Swift concert a fairytale for fans". The Toronto Sun. Sun Media. Archived from the original on May 25, 2010. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  35. ^ Trust, Molly (June 8, 2010). "Taylor Swift / June 5, 2010 / Foxboro, Mass". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on October 2, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  36. ^ Iasimone, Ashley (April 14, 2023). "All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed on The Eras Tour (So Far)". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  37. ^ "Taylor Swift – Today Was a Fairytale". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  38. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  39. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  40. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  41. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  42. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Taylor Swift". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  43. ^ "Taylor Swift – Today Was a Fairytale". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  44. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  45. ^ "Taylor Swift: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  46. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  47. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  48. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  49. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
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