Long after Taylor Swift's singing career is over, she will continue to write popular music for others because it is the song writing that is amazing... and I can PROVE how amazing she is by technically dissecting one her songs.
Let me also point out, that one of the the things that makes Taylor Swift so popular is her "realness".... she could've opted to lip sync her live performance like so many others these days... her CMA "wet" performance was exactly that... a performance... and a very entertaining one, although I didn't the a "wet t--shirt" factor there.
Taylor Swift Song Writing 101
I have pointed this out many times to others, and as a KJ its easy to recognize. Taylor's music and lyrical syncopation is very non-traditional, and the way she hits a note, a beat and a lyric syllable is classic good song writing.... but then she changes up right in the same verse to a non-traditional style. At the very same time she also creates a vivid mental image, and tells a story:
Example (and sing it as you read it):
"I was riding shotgun with my hair undone,
In the front seat of his car
He's got a one-hand feel on the steering wheel
The other on my (unexpected pause) he-art"
How many karaoke singers have you seen tripped up by this sudden off beat lyrical change? Musically, this is fun to listen to because it keeps the listener involved and paying attention because you can't automatically anticipate what comes next.
Can you see the image she's created in your mind's eye? This is brilliant song writing AND dramatic story telling... and while it may appear to be simple... this is one of the most difficult things to accomplish with lyrical prose.... and here she has opened the story, and provided a setting (the car driving down the road) AND introduced characters (herself and her boyfriend) in four simple lines!!
Next verse:
"I look around, turn the radio down
He says, ?Baby is something wrong??
I say, Nothing I was just thinking
How we don't have a song... and he says"
As with any good dramatic story, you must introduce a conflict (we don't have a song)
Now, as she goes to the Chorus, in just eight simple lines, she introduces an attempt at conflict resolution while further fleshing out the characters in the story, their history, and giving us an idea of what their lives are like:
"Our song is the slamming screen door
Sneakin' out late, tapping on your window
When we're on the phone and you talk real slow
'Cause it's late and your mama don't know
Our song is the way you laugh
The first date man, I didn't kiss her and I should have
And when I got home, 'fore I said amen
Asking God if He could play it again"
For a story to draw in the reader it must have elements that the reader can relate to, and elicit an emotional response through the truthfulness of those elements. Certainly, this tale of young love has enough things for that. A person might remember things in their own life. I personally, get both a smile and a little misty eyed at the sweetness and innocence of young love here. A younger person surely relates to the song differently... thus creating a wider appeal for the song.
Next two verses introduce additional conflict and attempts resolution while further fleshing out the two characters:
"I was walking up the front porch steps
After everything that day
Had gone all wrong or been trampled on
And lost and thrown away
Got to the hallway, well, on my way
To my lovin' bed
I almost didn't notice all the roses
And the note that said:
Back to chorus, and then to the bridge to more closely define her conflict. Here, as with any good bridge to a song, she complete changes the rhythm and syncopation of the lyrics, while maintaining the lyrical style of the song AND continuing the story:
"I've heard every album, listened to the radio
Waited for something to come along
That was as good as our song"
Back to the chorus, with an additional "'cause" to finally resolve the story with a return to the first verse with a twist:
"I was riding shotgun with my hair undone
In the front seat of his car
I grabbed a pen and an old napkin
And I wrote down our song"
Musically, the song is Pop, with strong country influence through the use of traditional country instruments such as the banjo and fiddle... however, the introduction of the story elements raises this out of the the traditional Pop mold, and more of a folksong. In addition, the song is 3/4 time like a folksong, as opposed to 4/4 time for a pop song.
More importantly, the material of the story is very relateable, and appealing to the listener... as most people young or old can find appeal in a sweet story of young love. Furthermore, she amazingly maintains the three Act format of a dramatic story:
1: Introduce the setting the characters and conflict (exposition)
2: Attempt to resolve the conflict and introduce additional elements (Climax)
3: Resolve the conflicts, and bring the story to a close (Denouncement)
For someone to write ONE good song like this is amazing. Taylor Swift does it on a regular basis, AND the songs are popular and make money. Note that "Love Story" while a completely different song also follows the format presented above. THAT'S why she's won all those awards... and deservedly so... she's an amazing talent. I can't wait to see what she does when she gets some real life experience in her.
Cute too.
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I mean, I can use a printed lyric sheet to learn the song with, I don't need a "bouncing ball" scenario, so it's no big deal... but if I ever sing it out live, WHAT will I have to stare at while singing? Look the audience in the eye? *shiver*... no can do. 
.... 
... and I'm anxious to try out the new "White Liar", which is also coming soon there) I joined up and got quite a few songs on the "notify me" list.
Drinks on me.