The second single from Taylor Swift's top-selling sophomore CD is a beautiful, understated ballad that showcases her skill with a lyric and shines a spotlight on her signature tender, heart-on-her-sleeve vocals. Musically and materially, this is the antithesis of her previous single "Love Story," with its upbeat melody and happily-ever-after ending. On this poignant ballad, Swift looks at what happens when the fairytale falls apart, singing, "I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairytale/I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet/Lead her up the stairwell." Sparse production places the focus on Swift's vocal and she makes the pain and disillusionment palpable. Her previous hits have explored the joys and disappointments of love from a decidedly youthful perspective, but this angst-ridden effort is something everyone can relate to. Heartbreak has rarely sounded as compelling—or hitworthy. —Deborah Evans Price