Fearless-2008: I remember vividly being about six years old in my mom’s beat-up Neon listening to overplayed music on the radio. I never really payed attention due to the fact that I was a first grader with two barbies in my hands. However, whenever the now iconic tune “You Belong With Me” came on, I stopped whatever I was doing and sang along. After my mother observed my absolute love for Taylor, she got me the Fearless album for my birthday. I was so stoked. I remember listening to it on repeat on my little MP3 Player I also got for my birthday. In a matter of two weeks I knew every word to all 13 songs on the album. I would ride my bike up and down my street singing along. I didn’t see it then, but it was sort of my escape.
Speak Now-2010: This album has some of my favorite Taylor Swift songs on it. I remember being in third grade and some of the kids were mean to me. They’d call me names and make fun of everything I ever did. So you know what I did? I sang “Mean” at the talent show. (Yep, I was that girl.) They still were mean to me, but it was an empowering moment for me. Other than that, I’d stay up on Saturday nights playing with my toys listening to “Enchanted” and “Last Kiss” until my mom would come in and tell me it was time to go to bed.
Red– 2012: Fifth grade was an experience. It was the year I met my (still to this day) best friend, the year I discovered my love for writing, and the year I became obsessed with the song “22.” In a way I began writing because of Taylor Swift. I remember I was at my best friends house watching YouTube (this was also the year we discovered YouTube, and we were very fascinated). We decided to look at Taylor Swift interviews, us both being avid Taylor Swift lovers. In one of her interviews she talked about writing her own music, and how she had kept journals ever since she was younger. And that is where my love for writing began. I got a journal and began with just writing about what happened that day. Then, it turned into writing stories, just using my imagination. I even started writing songs(I’m not saying they were good.) I guess what I’m saying is this album helped shape me into the person I am today.
1989- 2014: May 22, 2015 was by far one of the best days I’ve ever had. It was the day I saw Taylor Swift in concert, and let me tell you, I had such a great time. My 19 year old uncle had to take me because everyone else was busy(and yes, I did see and hear you jamming along beside me when you thought I wasn’t looking.) I got the tickets for my 13th birthday, and let me tell you, I was stoked. That entire day my uncle and I listened to the 1989 album probably 200 times. I’m pretty sure I cried as anyone would seeing their idol in concert. Fun fact: Due to my grandmother working the concert, I met Taylor Swift’s dad, which was an experience in itself. He gave me a glow up bracelet, which I still have and will never get rid of. This was definitely the best birthday present I’ve ever received.
Reputation– 2017: This album is by far my favorite album from Taylor, and it is iconic. The amount of times I’ve heard the infamous line “I’m sorry, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now…Why?…Oh!…Cause she’s dead.” I remember the day she released the single “Look What You Made Me Do,” I was completely shook(for lack of a better word.) I wasn’t used to this Taylor. Then her other singles “Call It What You Want”(personal favorite), “Gorgeous” and “Read For It…” came out and I just could not contain the amount of excitement I had for this album. And that’s when the day came where it was released. I remember pre-ordering it about two weeks before. When it finally came out, I listened to that album (and still occasionally do) about 2397423 times just in the first month. It was iconic and so weirdly relatable. At the time, I was working on my character and who I was. I was changing and evolving, and this album is about exactly that.
Needless to say, Taylor Swift’s music really helped me to grow in a way. I know people give me hate for even liking her music, but that doesn’t matter to me. I like what I like.
your perspective on Taylor Swift has made me rethink my opinion of her. Thanks.