"You Belong With Me" is a song co-written and recorded by American country artist Taylor Swift. It is the third single from her second album, Fearless. The song was originally released as a digital single, peaking at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 based on downloads. In April 2009, it was officially released to radio, debuting at #32 on the Hot Country Songs charts on the chart week of May 2, 2009. The song is Swift's eighth top 10 country hit. This song won the award for "Best Female Video" at the 2009 Video Music Awards. After the official full release, the song re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at #2, becoming her highest charting single, as well as her fourth top-10 hit, eighth top-20 hit, and 13th top-40 hit. "You Belong With Me" was the first song in over nine years to be in the top five of the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts simultaneously (the last one being Faith Hill's 2000 single "Breathe").
The song also distinguished itself by being the first country song ever to top the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay since the list began incorporating Nielsen BDS-monitored data in 1990. [6]
On December 2, 2009, the song became nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 52nd Grammy Awards.
"You Belong With Me" is a song in which the young protagonist, singing in first person, has intense romantic feelings for a male friend who is involved with another woman.
Swift commented about the song's background: "I came into the writing session with Liz Rose and said... "I've got this idea. I had overheard a friend of mine talking to his girlfriend and he was completely on the defensive saying, 'No, baby... I had to get off the phone really quickly... I tried to call you right back... Of course I love you. More than anything! Baby, I'm so sorry.' She was just yelling at him! I felt so bad for him at that moment. So I came up with the first line 'You're on the phone with your girlfriend, she's upset, going off about something that you said', and I ran that into the story line that I'm in love with him and he should be with me instead of her. It just became this whole picture. It was really fun for us to write the line, 'She wears short skirts, I wear T-shirts, She's cheer captain, and I'm on the bleachers'".[7]
Taylor explained to MTV News: "This song is basically about wanting someone who is with this girl who doesn't appreciate him at all. Basically like 'girl-next-door-itis.' You like this guy who you have known for your whole life, and you know him better than she does but somehow the popular girl gets the guy every time."
