"Long Live" | ||||
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Single by Taylor Swift featuring Paula Fernandes | ||||
from the album Speak Now World Tour – Live | ||||
Released | March 1, 2012 | |||
Format | Digital download | |||
Genre | Country rock | |||
Length | 5:15 | |||
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Taylor Swift singles chronology | ||||
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Paula Fernandes singles chronology | ||||
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"Long Live" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her third studio album Speak Now (2010). The original version of the song was written by Swift, and produced by Nathan Chapman with Swift's assistance, and served as the closing track on Speak Now. On the strength of digital downloads following the album's release, the song charted at No. 85 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
In 2012, a new version of the song was released as a single from the Brazilian edition of Swift's live album Speak Now World Tour – Live (2011), featuring additional Portuguese verses written and performed by Brazilian recording artist Paula Fernandes. This release was a local hit, breaking into the top 5 on Billboard Brazil's Brasil Hot 100 Airplay chart.
The song's lyrics celebrate moments of triumph in the narrator's life, including collecting awards and being crowned (prom) kings and queens, and indirectly bring into question what others will remember of those times later on. Dave Heaton of PopMatters described "Long Live" as an "anthem of defiance", similar to Fearless album-ender "Change". In an explanation of the song's meaning on her website, Swift called the song a "love song... written to my team".
Musically, "Long Live" is an anthemicpower ballad with influences of country and rock music, particularly arena rock. A repeating guitar riff carries the song, while the chorus features a strong drum beat. According to the digital sheet music published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, "Long Live" was composed in the key of G Major and set in common 4
4 time to a "moderate" tempo of 92 BPM.