"Ours"
Cover artwork of Taylor Swift's single "Ours"
Single by Taylor Swift
from the album Speak Now (Deluxe)
ReleasedDecember 5, 2011
GenreCountry pop
Length3:58
LabelBig Machine
Songwriter(s)Taylor Swift
Producer(s)
Taylor Swift singles chronology
"Sparks Fly"
(2011)		 "Ours"
(2011)		 "Eyes Open"
(2012)
Music video
"Ours" on YouTube

"Ours" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for the deluxe edition of her third studio album, Speak Now (2010). It was released to US country radio as the album's last single on December 5, 2011, by Big Machine Records. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, "Ours" is an understated country pop ballad with a folk-influenced production. The lyrics depict a young couple's resilience to protect their relationship despite others' scrutiny.

Music critics noted that "Ours" features an understated production as opposed to Swift's previous upbeat singles, and complimented the intricate lyrical details. In the United States, the song peaked at number one on the Hot Country Songs chart and at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Internationally, the song charted on the singles charts of Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

The single was supported by a music video directed by Declan Whitebloon featuring Zach Gilford. Swift performed the song live at the 2011 Country Music Association Awards and included it in the concerts of her Speak Now World Tour. A re-recorded version, titled "Ours (Taylor's Version)", was released as part of her third re-recorded album Speak Now (Taylor's Version) on July 7, 2023.

Background and composition

American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift began work on her third studio album, Speak Now (2010), two years prior to its release.[1] "Ours" is a bonus song on the album's deluxe edition, which was available exclusively via Target in the United States.[2] On November 8, 2011, "Ours" was released for download through the US iTunes Store by Big Machine Records.[3] A promotional CD single was released on November 21, 2011; the CD single includes the song and a recorded live performance of "Ours".[4] It was released to US country radio as the album's sixth and final single on December 5, 2011.[5][6]

Swift wrote "Ours", which she also produced alongside Nathan Chapman.[7] The song is a country pop ballad with a folk-influenced production.[8][9] Compared to other Speak Now tracks, "Ours" features an understated production that highlights Swift's vocals.[10] The lyrics depict a young couple's resilience to protect their relationship despite others' scrutiny.[11][12] The first line that Swift wrote for the song was, "The stakes are high, the water's rough."[13] The song's couple have experienced the hardships of life and realize, "Life makes love look hard."[14] She tells the boyfriend that she loves him for him, " 'Cause I love the gap between your teeth/ And I love the riddles that you speak/ And any snide remarks from my father about your tattoos/ Will be ignored/ 'Cause my heart is yours," and affirms that she does not care what others think.[10][15]

Critical reception

Music critics gave "Ours" generally positive reviews. Billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave the song a four-and-a-half out of five rating and praised the understated production compared to the "shine and polish" of Swift's past singles.[10] Karen Goodner of All Access similarly complimented the folksy and midtempo production.[12] Allen Jacobs of Roughstock claimed "Ours" as Swift's "best single" since "White Horse" (2008).[16] The Arizona Republic's Ed Masley complimented the "bittersweet ache" in Swift's vocals and said that the track sounds like what Fleetwood Mac would release.[11] In Rolling Stone, Rob Sheffield favorably compared the song to the Replacements' music and said it is one of his most-repeated among Swift's discography.[17] The lyrics "Don't you worry your pretty little mind / People throw rocks at things that shine" were highlighted by some critics as the song's most memorable.[17][18]

On a less positive side, Alexis Petridis from The Guardian found the song not as groundbreaking as Swift's other singles, but said it contains "a certain low-key charm".[8] Erin Thompson of Seattle Weekly opined that "Ours" is inferior to "If This Was a Movie", another Speak Now deluxe edition track. Thompson wrote that after a few listens, the former sounds like "a mess of mixed metaphors".[19] Hannah Mylrea from NME dismissed the lyrics as "mawkish" and the production as "sickly sweet".[20]

Commercial performance

After its digital release in November 2011, "Ours" debuted and peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number five on the Hot Digital Songs chart, with first-week digital sales of 148,000 copies.[21] It spent 20 weeks in total on the Hot 100.[22] On the Hot Country Songs chart, "Ours" reached number one on the week ending March 31, 2012, becoming Swift's sixth chart topper.[23][24] The single was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for one million units sold in the US.[25] As of November 2017, "Ours" has sold 1.5 million copies in the United States.[26] Elsewhere, the song appeared at number 91 on Australia's ARIA Charts,[27] number 68 on Canada's Canadian Hot 100,[28] and at number 181 on the UK Singles Chart.[29]

Live performances and music video

Swift debuted the song live at the 2011 Country Music Association Awards on November 9.[30][31] She sang an acoustic version and performed in a bright pink sweater on a living room sofa.[32] "Ours" was added to the set lists of some U.S. shows in late 2011,[33] and the Australian shows in 2012, as part of the Speak Now World Tour.[34] In 2012, Swift sang the song as part of a VH1 Storytellers episode taped at Harvey Mudd College in California.[35] Swift performed the song on select dates of later tours, including the Red Tour (Los Angeles, August 2013),[36] the Reputation Stadium Tour (Foxborough, Massachusetts, July 2018),[37] and the Eras Tour (Arlington, Texas, March 2023).[38]

The music video for "Ours" premiered on E! on December 2, 2011.[39] The video was directed by Declan Whitebloom, who had directed the video for Speak Now's single "Mean".[30] Swift conceptualized the video's narrative herself.[30] In the video, Swift plays an office worker, donning tennis shoes and messy hair.[40] She engages in mundane daily corporate experience such as riding the bus to work, waiting to drink at the water cooler, and enduring annoying co-workers.[30] As the video approaches the end, Swift's character is excited to leave work and meet her boyfriend (portrayed by Zach Gilford).[41] They meet at the airport; the boyfriend appears in military attire.[40][42]

Much of the video is monotonous until the moment the couple meet;[40] in the Nanaimo Daily News, Leah Collins noted that the part where Swift meets her boyfriend is the video's only "warm and fuzzy thing".[30] Entertainment Weekly's Erin Strecker considered the video more adult and realistic than Swift's previous romantic videos, but praised it because it "still captures that butterflies-in-your-stomach, crazy-in-love tone that she is so famous for".[40] The video spent seven weeks at number one on CMT; it also reached number one on Great American Country and Australia's Country Music Channel.[43]

Accolades

Accolades for "Ours"
Year Organization Award/work Result Ref.
2012 American Country Awards Female Single of the Year Nominated [44]
Female Video of the Year Nominated
CMT Music Awards Female Video of the Year Nominated [45]
2013 BMI Awards Country Awards Top 50 Songs Won [46]

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of the CD single.[7]

  • Taylor Swift – lead vocals, songwriter
  • Brian David Willis – additional engineering
  • Bryan Sutton – 12-string guitar, ukulele
  • Chad Carlson – recording
  • Drew Bollman – assistant mixing
  • Emily Mueller – production assistant
  • Hank Williams – mastering
  • Jason Campbell – production coordinator
  • Justin Niebank – mixing
  • Matt Rausch – assistant mixing
  • Nathan Chapman – producer, recording, acoustic guitar, audio programming, Rhodes piano, harmony vocals, additional engineering
  • Steve Blackmon – assistant mixing
  • Matt Rausch – background vocals
  • Tristan Brock-Jones – assistant engineer
  • Todd Tidwell – assistant engineer
  • Whitney Sutton – copy coordinator

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Ours"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[50] Gold 35,000‡
United States (RIAA)[25] Platinum 1,500,000[26]

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Ours"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States November 8, 2011 Digital download Big Machine [3]
November 21, 2011 CD single [4][51]
December 5, 2011 Country radio [5]

"Ours (Taylor's Version)"

"Ours (Taylor's Version)"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album Speak Now (Taylor's Version)
ReleasedJuly 7, 2023 (2023-07-07)
Length3:55
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)Taylor Swift
Producer(s)
Lyric video
"Ours (Taylor's Version)" on YouTube

After signing a new contract with Republic Records, Swift began re-recording her first six studio albums in November 2020.[52] The decision came after the public 2019 dispute between Swift and talent manager Scooter Braun, who acquired Big Machine Records, including the masters of Swift's albums the label had released.[53][54] By re-recording her catalog, Swift had full ownership of the new masters, including the copyright licensing of her songs, devaluing the Big Machine-owned masters.[55]

A re-recorded version of "Ours", titled "Ours (Taylor's Version)", was released on July 7, 2023, via Republic Records as part of Speak Now (Taylor's Version), Swift's third re-recorded album.

Personnel

Adapted from Speak Now (Taylor's Version) digital album inline notes[56]

Charts

Chart performance for "Ours (Taylor's Version)"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[57] 85
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[58] 65
Global 200 (Billboard)[59] 91
Philippines (Billboard)[60] 20
US Billboard Hot 100[61] 68
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[62] 29

References

  1. ↑ Stransky, Tanner (August 27, 2010). "Taylor Swift Tells EW About New Album Speak Now: 'I've Covered Every Emotion that I've Felt in the Last Two Years.'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  2. ↑ Dinh, James (September 30, 2010). "Taylor Swift's Speak Now Bonus Tracks Revealed". MTV News. Archived from the original on September 16, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Ours – Single by Taylor Swift". iTunes Store. November 8, 2012. Archived from the original on November 11, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  4. 1 2 Ours (CD single). Taylor Swift. Nashville: Big Machine Records. November 21, 2011. BMRTS0306A.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. 1 2 "Country Air Check Weekly" (PDF). Country Aircheck. November 28, 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 15, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  6. ↑ Dawler, Joe (July 28, 2013). "Taylor Swift, two years later". Des Moines Register. ProQuest 1412953153.
  7. 1 2 Ours (CD single liner notes). Taylor Swift. Big Machine Records. 2011. BMRTS0306A.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. 1 2 Petridis, Alexis (April 26, 2019). "Taylor Swift's singles – ranked!". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  9. ↑ "CU Roundtable Review: Taylor Swift, 'Ours'". Country Universe. December 10, 2011. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 Dukes, Billy (November 11, 2011). "Taylor Swift, 'Ours' – Song Review". Taste of Country. Archived from the original on March 27, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
  11. 1 2 Masley, Ed (August 12, 2015). "30 Best Taylor Swift singles ever (so far)". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  12. 1 2 Goodner, Karen (November 29, 2012). "Country Cool New Music". All Access. Archived from the original on December 14, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  13. ↑ Spencer 2013, p. 187.
  14. ↑ Song, Jane (February 11, 2020). "All 158 Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked". Paste. Archived from the original on April 13, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  15. ↑ Mastrogiannis, Nicole (February 27, 2019). "Every Taylor Swift Single Ranked". iHeartMedia. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  16. ↑ Jacobs, Allen. "Music Video: Taylor Swift – Ours". Roughstock. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  17. 1 2 Sheffield, Rob (October 26, 2021). "'Ours' (2010)". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  18. ↑ Konc, Riane (October 23, 2020). "All of Taylor Swift's Country Singles, Ranked". The Boot. Archived from the original on October 28, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  19. ↑ Thompson, Erin (November 25, 2011). "Taylor Swift's Speak Now Track 'If This Was A Movie' Is Better Than Her Upcoming New Single". Seattle Weekly. Archived from the original on November 30, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  20. ↑ 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.
  21. ↑ Trust, Gary (November 16, 2011). "Rihanna Still Reigns Hot 100, But Taylor Swift's 'Movie' Debuts in Top 10". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  22. 1 2 "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Chart Highlights: Adele, Taylor Swift, Madonna Notch New No. 1s". Billboard. March 19, 2012. Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  24. ↑ Jessen, Wade (March 22, 2012). "Taylor Swift Inks Sixth No. 1 Country Song With 'Ours'". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  25. 1 2 "American single certifications – Taylor Swift – Ours". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  26. 1 2 Trust, Gary (November 26, 2017). "Ask Billboard: Taylor Swift's Career Album & Song Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 26, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  27. 1 2 "The ARIA Report: Issue 1080 (Week Commencing 8 November 2010)" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 20, 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  28. 1 2 "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  29. 1 2 "Chart Log UK: New Entries Update". zobbel.de. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 Collins, Leah (December 6, 2011). "Taylor Swift makes it through day with cats". Nanaimo Daily News. p. B2. ProQuest 910212050.
  31. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (November 10, 2011). "Taylor Swift, The Band Perry win big at CMA Awards show". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. ProQuest 902831260.
  32. ↑ "'You've made my year'; Taylor Swift named country music entertainer of 2011". Edmonton Journal. November 10, 2011. p. D2. ProQuest 903664284.
  33. ↑ Szaroleta, Tom (November 13, 2011). "Swift enchants sold-out crowd: Closely choreographed show delivers with dancers, flying stages, acrobats". Florida Times Union. p. B5. ProQuest 906282317.
  34. ↑ Quinn, Karl (March 13, 2012). "Love conquers all for the country princess". The Age. p. 7. ProQuest 927604231.
  35. ↑ Willman, Chris (October 17, 2012). "Taylor Swift Tapes VH1 Storytellers, Lifts Curtain on New Songs from Red". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  36. ↑ Ford, Rebecca (August 20, 2013). "Taylor Swift Finds Love in Los Angeles: Concert Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  37. ↑ Iasimone, Ashley (November 20, 2018). "All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed On Her Reputation Stadium Tour B-Stage (So Far)". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 8, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  38. ↑ "Visualizing Taylor Swift Eras Tour's epic 44-song set list and tracking its surprises". www.usatoday.com. March 30, 2023. Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Watch Now: Taylor Swift's 'Ours' Music Video Premiere". E! News. December 2, 2011. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  40. 1 2 3 4 Strecker, Erin (November 23, 2011). "Taylor Swift: watch 'Ours' video". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  41. ↑ "Taylor Swift is a drab working girl in 'Ours' music video". Idolator. December 2, 2011. Archived from the original on September 9, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  42. ↑ Ford, Rebecca (December 2, 2011). "Taylor Swift Debuts 'Ours' Music Video Featuring Zach Gilford (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  43. ↑ "Taylor Swift on her way: Grammy winner wows crowds in Perth and Adelaide". The Daily Mercury. March 15, 2012. p. 24. ProQuest 927853698.
  44. ↑ "2012 American Country Awards Winners – Full List". Taste of Country. December 10, 2012. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  45. ↑ "CMT Music Awards: Archives: 2012 CMT Music Awards". CMT News. Archived from the original on March 29, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  46. ↑ "2013 BMI Country Awards Honor Dillon, Clawson, Hayes, Verges and Others". Broadcast Music, Inc. November 6, 2013. Archived from the original on April 29, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  47. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  48. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  49. ↑ "Best of 2012: Country Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  50. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
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  52. ↑ Melas, Chloe (November 16, 2020). "Taylor Swift Speaks Out about Sale of Her Masters". CTV News. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  53. ↑ "Taylor Swift Wants to Re-record Her Old Hits". BBC News. August 22, 2019. Archived from the original on August 22, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
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  55. ↑ Shah, Neil (April 9, 2021). "Taylor Swift Releases New Fearless Album, Reclaiming Her Back Catalog". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  56. ↑ Speak Now (Taylor's Version) (digital album notes). Taylor Swift. Republic Records. 2023.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  57. ↑ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 17 July 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1741. Australian Recording Industry Association. July 17, 2023. p. 4.
  58. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  59. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  60. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Philippines Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  61. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  62. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
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