User:Songsteel/Sweeter Than Fiction

"Sweeter Than Fiction" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for the soundtrack of the upcoming film, One Chance. The song was written by Swift along with Jack Antonoff, best known as the guitarist for indie pop band Fun, and was released through Big Machine Records as the lead single from the soundtrack album on October 21, 2013.

Background
One Chance producer Simon Cowell approached Swift, whom he knew through her connection to X Factor alum Harry Styles, with the idea of becoming involved with the project. Swift was reportedly "so moved" by the film's concept she was inspired to write a song for it. The song was co-written by Jack Antonoff, who claims "Sweeter Than Fiction" has a John Hughes vibe, and who tweeted he "[LOVED] working with" Swift.

Swift revealed in an interview with country music blog Taste of Country that she viewed the film as a love story in addition to a chronicling of a man's road to success, and approached the songwriting process from that perspective: "I’m very inspired by the concept of love. And this movie is, in a lot of ways, ... a story of the love his wife … has for him," Swift explained. "That was the story that hit me and really affected me. I wanted to tell a story musically from that perspective."

Composition
"Sweeter Than Ficiton" is a "rock-tinged" bubblegum pop song that also contains influences of synthpop and new wave music. Critics have deemed the song reminiscent of 80's pop. The song is musically and lyrically upbeat, with Swift singing from the point of view of a longtime friend or fan who has always believed in a performer's talents. "There you'll stand, ten feet tall", Swift sings in the chorus, "and I will say, 'I knew it all along.'" Its first four verses are in the key of B major, and the rest of the song is in C# major. It has a tempo of 134 beats per minute and lasts three minutes and fifty-four seconds.

Critical reception
The song was well-received by critics. Entertainment Weekly praised Swift's approach to the subject matter - "The track ... is uplifting without being hokey and sweet without being cloying." - and described the song as "addictive". Rachel Mcrady of US Weekly felt "Sweeter Than Fiction" possessed "all the makings of another hit" in Swift's career. MTV blogger Jenna Hally Rubenstein summarised "Sweeter" as "a masterfully crafted pop song that should do a killer job of soundtracking any and all uplifting moments in "One Chance."" Carl Williott of Idolator called the song "pretty great", saying "it's a ... sweet song, but the confident synth-pop/New Wave stylings keep it from being an overly saccharine affair, resultingly in a surprisingly bold offering from Swift."

Spin editor Larry Busacca gave a more mixed review. Though deriding the song for being "[not] the least bit groundbreaking", Busacca did admit the song was "too catchy and effortless-sounding to resist."