Hi Taylor,
Remember me? So, in 2011, I was really, really in love with you. This was post-really, really not liking you. Why? ‘Cause you dated Joe Jonas. I wish I was kidding. I was 15, okay? In 2007, my middle school dances were filled with “Tim McGraw” slow dances, and “Our Song” jumpy dance circles with my friends.
The chords in “Our Song” were the first I learned on my guitar in 2008. I was… indifferent. Then I became obsessed with the Jonas Brothers. And then you dated one, which obviously wasn’t okay.
Then somewhere along the way in 2010/2011, Speak Now came out and that was it, I was hooked. You became my hero. I looked up to you and admired you so much. I defended you when people called you out about your dramatic “love life.” You were my role model.
Then Red came out… and I don’t know what happened. I kind of drifted. I couldn’t relate to the songs. Then the whole Harry Styles debacle of late 2012 surfaced and I was annoyed. Looking back now, it was the media planting a seed in my head that lead me astray. I thought you were dating THE Harry Styles, part of a band I was in love with, for more publicity. Then “I Knew You Were Trouble”… and calling him out at awards shows… and I was over it.
Oh, but then — 1989, your 4th and biggest album dropped late October of this year. I listened to “Shake It Off” and thought it was catchy. So I thought I’d give your whole album a chance, and oh, was I shocked. Something changed… everything was different! I threw myself back into the Taylor world with as much gusto as possible.
And, now I’m 100% in love with you. You’re an older, more mature Taylor. You’re the fantastic feminist Taylor and you are done with the media portraying you as this “clingy, crazy-girl.”
You’re doing so many amazing things for women in music. You just sold more albums than anyone since 2002. TWO-THOUSAND AND TWO. That’s when physical CDs were the primary method of listening to music! Which means no illegal downloading. No streaming. No ripping the songs from Tumblr. And you BROKE that record in TWO-THOUSAND AND FOURTEEN. That’s absolutely insane!
As for women, you’ve come out and explicitly said that you’re 100% a feminist.
You’ve also said incredible things that I want tattooed onto my body:
“When I tell people how happy I am to be alone and to be living my life on my own terms and to be free and independent and empowered, the first thing they say to me is ‘Oh, don’t worry you’ll find someone.’ And that is so not the point. What if your life completes itself?”
Furthermore:
“I just can’t help but find this to be a feminist issue…’cause I don’t think anyone ever asks Bruno Mars how he’s going to avoid taking his clothes off. There’s so many women out there who feel like it empowers them. If it’s coming from a committee of dudes telling her to and she feels trapped by it, that’s what I wouldn’t approve of. I’m doing what I’m comfortable with. And I just hope for the rest of the women in pop music, that they’re doing what they’re comfortable with.”
Wow! I am so happy that this new Taylor is winning over old and new fans. So I applaud you, Taylor Swift, and say, “you’re wonderful.” I highly suggest everyone listens to this new album, and fall in love with you and your cats and your sparkly happy personality because it’s great. You’re great, Taylor, and I love you!
Thanks for being you.
Sincerely,
Abby