Taylor Swift has a huge fan base, I know, and rightfully so. But, ever since I met Emma Neary, a sophomore at BU from New York, I have been convinced that she is Taylor’s actual biggest fan. Emma doesn’t just love Taylor because her music is amazing, Emma sees Taylor both as a friend and someone who is always there for her.
Here’s what Emma had to say about her role model.
Q: What does Taylor mean to you?
A: Taylor is someone who has been a constant figure in my life, and as I’ve grown up, so has she. It’s really beautiful to see her mature and form her own views as I was starting to articulate mine. She’s a public figure, yes, but she has inspired me endlessly. Her personality is genuine and fun, and because she interacts with her fans, it really feels like she cares.
Q: What does Taylor’s music mean to you?
A: Taylor was the first pop artist I started listening to. It was in 2008, and I was obsessed with “You Belong with Me.” I’m not much of a country person, but I loved her music. Her music has a lot of range, and her lyrics are so specific but so universal. Despite her genre changing, I’ve still loved listening to her stories. It showed me how important lyricism is to me.
Q: Would you consider Taylor the best music artist of this generation? Why or why not?
A: You know, everyone has different music tastes, so I don’t want to jump right out and say yes. There are so many small or freelance artists who never get recognition for their talents. That being said, I do believe Taylor to be the greatest songwriter of this generation. I used to think that I was biased because of my long-time obsession with Fearless and Speak Now, but as I’ve gotten older and widened the artists I listen to, I’ve learned that lyricism is my favorite aspect of songs. I am sure there are incredible artists better with music theory or vocal technique, but Taylor takes the cake for songwriting.
Q: Why should we all be Swifties?
A: Taylor has been a public figure for 15 years and has managed to both grow and stay real. She is such a great person for young girls to look up to because she stands up for a myriad of social issues. She’s not perfect though, and she is willing to admit that. In her career, she has been able to educate herself and become a better person because of it. We should all be Swifties because she is a joyful woman who speaks her mind and makes AMAZING music. I love hearing other people’s stories, and Taylor does it with elegance.
Q: Why do you love Taylor?
A: As I said before, Taylor is one of the first artists I listened to. Her music is great, but so is everything that comes with it. The care she puts into everything she releases is unrivaled. Her music has always been there for me. In rough times it was a crutch. There are songs about everything and it made me feel safe. I love Taylor because she truly has gotten me through those hard days and I am forever thankful for her. She’s a human, but one that I’m so happy exists.
Taylor Swift is one of those names that will be around forever. She has left her mark on the music world (and really just the world in general), and she will continue to inspire people for many more years to come. Emma is just one of Taylor’s fans that will always be there for her.
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