The Decade of Taylor Swift
From Tim Magraw to Lover, Taylor Swift’s 13-year-long career has been the soundtrack to a generation.
Written by Shelby Evans, Staff Writer
In the last thirteen years, Taylor Swift has changed the music industry forever. Her legendary transition from country sweetheart to a pop powerhouse has sold out arenas all around the world and this year, she was honored as the Artist of the Decade by the American Music Awards.
June 19th, 2006 was the beginning of a new chapter in popular culture. On that day, Taylor Swift released her first single, “Tim McGraw.” It has been 13 years since then. Taylor Swift was born on December 13th, 1989 (her birth year is easy to recall as it’s the title of her fifth album). She has coined 13 as her magic number, drawing it on her hand throughout the years and favoring 13 second intros on songs. She even says whenever she wins an award, something related to the number 13 appears earlier in the day.
Dedicated fans of any musician can attest that fanbases grow and change alongside the artist they follow. From her first shows in Nashville to her sold out stadium world tours, the fans grew along with their changing relationship with Taylor.
When “Speak Now” came out I was only 11 and I didn’t really understand the themes of love, friendship and heartbreak. But when I felt sad about a boy for the first time at 17, I blasted “Enchanted” and cried for a moment. I aged with the music. When I was at a similar moment in my life as she had been, she was there.
When “1989” came out I was 16 and dazed by the magic of high school and first love. Similarly to what was being portrayed in the pop induced dream of that album. I felt the excitement she was singing about while I was blasting “Blank Space” and “Style” as I drove my friends around with my new freedom of having a drivers license.
When “Reputation” came out, I was 18, in my first semester of college and was filled with the rebellious spirit that comes with a major life change. Songs like “I Did Something Bad” and “Gorgeous” were the soundtrack to my angst.
Reputation is regarded as a response to the infamous Kanye and Taylor feud. In 2009 at the VMA’s, Kanye ran on stage and took the mic from Taylor to announce, “I’mma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time.”
He later released a song that included the lyrics claiming he made her “Famous” and released a music video with a naked mannequin on Taylor, which she claimed she did not consent to. Kanye’s wife, Kim Kardashian claimed that she did know about the lyrics and okayed them, she then released a video of a phone call between the two artists.
When the phone call between the West’s and Taylor was released by Kim, Taylor retracted from her public appearances and emerged with the music of “Reputation” to provide a glimpse into her mindset.
On August 23, 2019 there was a new sweetness in the air for millions of Taylor Swift fans. That sweetness was the poetic pop music on Taylor Swift’s seventh alum, “Lover.” The Friday that the album was released was the beginning of something new for fans. It held the promise of new love and freedom of expression. “I Forgot You Existed” is a break up anthem that can be blasted on a Friday night, drunk with your best girlfriends. We feel like life always has a new beginning. There are new ways to experience love in supporting others like, “You Need To Calm Down.” There are even ways to relearn what it is to love like in “Daylight.”
As fans have felt the heartbreak and the struggles of growing into young adulthood beside Taylor Swift, her fans are reflecting on the music of Lover. We, her loyal fans, see ourselves, our experiences, in her music, and we are ready for the daylight that is to come.