The Best Day

Flannagan, 1
Emma Flannagan
Nate Hellmers
English Composition
17 June 2021
The Best Day Analysis
“Don’t know if Snow White’s house is near or far away, But I know I had the best day
with you, today” is one of the many heartfelt lyrics in Taylor Swift’s “The Best Day.” The music
video is a collection of home videos of Swift growing up. The original one is mainly Swift and
her mother, Andrea. The remix, made over twelve years later, contains more of her brother,
Austin, and father, Scott. While the original “The Best Day” music video focuses on the bond
between mother and daughter, the remastered version homes in on family being one of the
strongest units in Swift’s life.
Taylor Swift had always dreamed of being a country popstar. With her family’s support,
they uprooted their home in Reading, Pennsylvania, and moved to Nashville, Tennessee. She
quickly got a record deal with Big Machine Records. In her second country album, Fearless, she
released “The Best Day.” The song is about a girl reflecting on how her upbringing made her the
person she is now. The lyrics give a shoutout to her dad and brother, but the song is for her
mother, Andrea. Andrea had always supported Taylor’s dream, so she wrote this song and made
the music video for Andrea’s birthday. The music video shows videos of Swift as a child through
teenager, primarily with her mother. There are videos with young Swift showing off her
Christmas tree farm, where she grew up. The main claim of the video is that mother and daughter
will always have a strong bond in Swift’s life. The video heavily uses Pathos, drawing out an
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emotional connection. The video makes the viewer think about their connection with their
family.
Twelve years later, Swift is ready to re-record her second Grammy-winning album
Fearless. Swift is now with a new record company. While Big Machine owns her first six
albums, Swift is legally allowed to re-record them. She started off with Fearless because of the
emotional impact it had on her life. Swift released “The Best Day” music video. The video is
very similar to the original, but this time it is a lyric video, and the home videos contain more of
her brother and father. Swift has always been close with her family, but they especially bonded
through the cancer of Andrea Swift. The main claim of this video is that family will always be a
strong unit in Swift’s life. The video uses Pathos as well, having the same affect the first video
had.
There are many differences between the original and remix. From the song itself, Taylor
has a lot more emotion and her voice is clearer in the re-record. The first music video was mainly
for Swift’s mother, but the second one is saying thanks to her whole family. Andrea Swift had
cancer in 2015, but she relapsed in 2019. Taylor and her mother were always close, so this hit
Taylor hard. Swift has written plenty of other songs for her mother including “I’m Only Me
When I’m With You,” and “Soon You’ll Get Better.” But “The Best Day” was a birthday present
for Andrea in 2009. The remix features her brother, Austin, and more of her father, Scott. Scott
had always played a big part in Swift’s life. He invested in her record company, and he helped
young Swift move to Nashville to pursue her dream. Scott has always had a hand in Taylor’s
career. Austin had also supported Swift throughout her career. So, the second video was about
Swift realizing that her family is one of the strongest bonds in her life. Her family has done so
much for her, so she decided to repay them with a song.

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The main audiences for this song are longtime fans and new ones. “The Best Day” was
not a single, so fans would have to listen to the album to know this song. Swift’s fanbase grew
between the twelve-year gap in the two videos. So old fans and new fans could watch this
familiar music video again. These videos could also be for young girls, so they could realize how
important family is. It is important to connect with family and make close bonds with them while
they’re young. Since family is so important to Swift, she probably made these videos to
encourage young fans to connect with their family and form connections with them.
Swift’s two versions of “The Best Day” have a relationship through the bond of family.
Swift’s family has always been important to her. Using her talent of songwriting, she gave them
a gift of a heartfelt and touching song. Family will always be a strong unit in Swift’s life, and
these music videos are a reflection of these values.
Works Cited
Swift, Taylor. “The Best Day.” Youtube. Uploaded by Taylor Swift. 16 June 2009.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4_6eQm7RTQ. Accessed 18 June 2021.
Swift, Taylor. “The Best Day (Taylor’s Version)” Youtube. Uploaded by Taylor Swift. 29 April
2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0cde-Km05o. Accessed 18 June 2021.

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What is the song 'The Best Day' about?

What differences are there between the original and remixed music videos for 'The Best Day'?

Flannagan, 1

The Best Day Analysis

strongest units in Swift’s life.

much for her, so she decided to repay them with a song.

these music videos are a reflection of these values.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4_6eQm7RTQ. Accessed 18 June 2021.

2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0cde-Km05o. Accessed 18 June 2021.

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