Red by Taylor Swift, the tribute painting by Heidi Schwartz
syn·es·the·sia also syn·aes·the·sia (\si-nəs-ˈthē-zh(ē-)ə\)
n.
1. A condition in which one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another, as when the hearing of a sound produces the visualization of a color.
There’s painting to music and then there’s painting music.
I do both.
Actually, that’s how I became a live event painter…. Are you scratching your head yet?
You see, I moved to Nashville, TN to make music, but I was painting all the time. Because of that I started combining the two mediums, and ended up with a record full of songs with lyric-inspired-paintings to match… Make sense? Because of that body of work I was asked to paint live at an event. From there my live painting career was born.
Well color me happy, I’ve done it again! This time though it was written by another songwriter…. Maybe you’ve heard of her?
The song Red by Taylor Swift is LOUD with color.
I think music usually conjures up a visual upon listening. I am a BIG fan of lyrics so I love when they can really create a picture. That is one of the strengths Miss Taylor Swift has as a songwriter. She spins a 3-minute story that erupts with beautiful visual symbols and metaphors.
I mean, seriously… the girl knows how to turn a phrase. It’s impressive. I’m a fan.
I especially love her colorful song “Red”. The crafty lyrics bring a sort of synesthesia to life. I took it to the next level and painted it.
RED by T. Swift
[Verse 1]
Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street
Faster than the wind, passionate as sin, ending so suddenly
Loving him is like trying to change your mind once you’re already flying through the free fall
Like the colors in autumn, so bright just before they lose it all
[Chorus]
Losing him was blue like I’d never known
Missing him was dark grey, all alone
Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met
But loving him was red
Oh red
Burning red
[Verse 2]
Touching him was like realizing all you ever wanted was right there in front of you
Memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words to your old favorite song
Fighting with him was like trying to solve a crossword and realizing there’s no right answer
Regretting him was like wishing you never found out that love could be that strong
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
Remembering him comes in flashbacks and echoes
Tell myself it’s time now, got to let go
But moving on from him is impossible
When I still see it all in my head
In burning red
Loving him was red
[Chorus]
[Verse 4]
And that’s why he’s spinning ’round in my head
Comes back to me, burning red
Yeah, yeah
His love was like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street
Watch the time-lapse video to watch the creation of the song-painting!
Enjoy ~ Xoxoxo –HiD
Taylor Swift’s song “Red” is LOUD with color.
“Red” — song-painting interpretation left to right
Colors of the chorus are the background of the painting
Losing him was BLUE like I’d never known
Missing him was dark GREY, all alone
But loving him was RED/ Oh RED/ Burning RED
Symbols
Autumn Tree ~ “Like the colors in autumn, so bright just before they lose it all”
Crying Blue Girl ~ “Losing him was blue like I’d never known”
Wishing Well ~ “Regretting him was like wishing you never found out that love could be that strong”
Dead End Sign/Stop Sign /Street/Traffic Light ~ “Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street/ Faster than the wind, passionate as sin, ending so suddenly”
Hands Reaching to Touch Each Other ~ “Touching him was like realizing all you ever wanted was right there in front of you”
Magnifying Glass Over the Grey ~ “Missing him was dark grey”
Heart ~ “loving him was RED”
Clock with Hand Reaching Out ~ “Tell myself it’s time now, got to let go”
Flaming Red Car~ “Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street/ Faster than the wind, passionate as sin”
Crossword Puzzle of Song Lyrics ~ “Fighting with him was like trying to solve a crossword and realizing there’s no right answer”
Words in the crossword puzzle
1) RED
2) RIGHT ANSWER
3) LOVING
4) HIM
5) NO
6) WORDS
7) SONG
Red Paint Splats~ Represent the intensity of emotions. Love/ Passion/ Affection/ Anger/ Jealousy/ Frustration
Spinning Question Mark/ Wheels Spinning on mind ~ “And that’s why he’s spinning ’round in my head”
Blonde hair rising from fire with red lips ~ A homage to the album cover of Red