Taylor Swift (Emily's Version)
Look what you made me do, Blondie!!!
Regardless of what you think of her, it’s impossible to deny Taylor Swift’s presence in music and the world in general today: last month, she became the first artist ever to have every song on the Billboard Top 10 chart, and her tenth album, Midnights, broke the record for the most streamed album on Spotify in a single day.
Swift has become something of a Rorschach test in the sense that everyone seems to have a different reaction to and relationship with her, which is why I wanted to talk with a variety of people today about their thoughts on Swift, her influence on culture, and how we all interact with her.
Of course, I have my own relationship with Swift and her music but for the sake of time (and so this email appears in full in everyone’s inboxes), I’ll just say this: there are valid criticisms of Swift as a person, of Swift as an artist, and of celebrities and celebrity culture as a phenomenon. But there’s a way to do it respectfully—which everyone here has done—and there’s a way to do it that makes you look like a fucking fool.
Don’t be a fucking fool.
What would you say has been Swift's biggest influence on music, culture, and society?
Ariana, 22, she/her: Everything. She is a legend icon star. She is the moment forever.
DG, 27, he/him: Representing what owning your story means—both in the music industry with owning your art but also in life through songwriting by owning all of the emotions she feels (good, bad, ugly).
Maryam, 24, she/her: Her ability to not only stay relevant but consistently on top! Whether you love or hate her music, you know who she is, and she continues to provide new content to keep it that way.
Skylar, 24, she/her: Certainly the reclamation of the break-up song being able to be “good.”
Liz, 24, she/her: Her career has added a lot to the larger conversation about the patriarchy - her being criticized and vilified for her music/relationships/looks/etc. has offered a very tangible and visible example of double standards that no one can ignore.
AS, 21, she/her: Because she’s been making music for so long, she’s very multi-generational.
Gill, 25, she/her: Taylor Swift has long been the symbol of femininity in music and pop culture. She grew a generation of women and grew up alongside us while taking shit from the media. Beyond her incredible discography, she also paved the way for younger female artists to gain respect from the media. Seeing Taylor go through the drama of “too many boyfriends” or whatever in hindsight was awful, she really did open my eyes to internalized misogyny.
Evelyn, 21, she/her: The interaction with her music and her fans with the Easter eggs is so unique and I think many people will begin to follow in her footsteps with that.
Srijita, 23, she/her: Advocating for her masters by re-recording, providing an example to newer artists that they can reclaim power despite what the industry has historically shown. and advocating for artists to be monetarily compensated for streaming (when she signed her new record deal with Republic, she had a clause that gave EVERY artist not just herself profits from streaming which historically goes to the label).
Madeline, 24, she/her: “All Too Well,” which I personally knew was the height of her oeuvre before the rerelease! I read this really good article about how we don't allow her to grow up in the cultural consciousness because she hasn't had kids. She made sentimentality sell? Fearless changed my life personally??
Rebecca: Attention and recognition to teenage girls as songwriters.
Lincoln, 24, she/her: The Kanye thing.
Blair, 24, she/her/hers: Her own life, experiences, getting older, and love. I think one of the reasons that people love her so much is that she's singing about real things. She's singing about what it feels like to follow your dreams (as a human, not a pop star) and what it means to get older and fall in and out of love. In recent years, she has been delving into being a public figure (starting with reputation). Still, because she has her base, people want to hear it. Even if the experience isn’t relatable, the sentiment is.
Sandra, 24, she/her: I think Taylor Swift's biggest influence on culture and society is that you can be one of the most successful artists of all time but still see yourself as the victim in almost any and all situations. To me, she is one of the biggest examples of a "sore winner"—someone who regularly reminds you how she has been wronged despite 1) ignoring her own wrongs and 2) being extremely well-regarded despite having so-called "haters."
My opinion of Taylor Swift is based heavily on the fact that I think her whole brand is based on white feminism—a very elementary, "girls support other girls" with not a lick of intersectionality. Time and time again she has leaned into racial tropes: her, the delicate, maligned white woman victim versus an angry black woman/man. Examples off the top of my head: Taylor Swift interpreting Nicki Minaj's frustration at not being nominated for certain VMAs as an attack on herself, and her misleading the public about her knowledge of Kanye West's lyrics on his song Famous. There are other less racially-tinged controversies such as her contributing to a movie based on a book written by a woman who may or may not have hunted people in Africa and her needing to make a whole movie to come out as a Democrat, but I think you get the point.
To me, Taylor Swift has demonstrated an incredible ability to be both problematic and incredibly beloved. As someone said on TikTok, Taylor Swift makes music for white women who don't have a lot of problems, so it doesn't surprise me at all she has maintained her success in light of all her missteps.
What would you say has been Swift's biggest influence on you personally?
Hailey, 24, she/her: I am a curious nosey girl. The fact that she can hide Easter eggs in everything that she does, says, posts, drives my curiosity even further because I question it all and love a good hunt and conspiracy.
Abi: Vulnerability, honesty, openness—especially as a poet. Making me comfortable being so confessional.
Ariana: folklore. That album changed me as a person.
Skylar: My karaoke repertoire.
Alex H: Being there for every moment of my life since childhood. A lot of people find solace in her because of the nostalgia and a greater understanding that although everyone might not like Said Artist they have had an impact on pivotal points in their lives that has been positive.
Liz: Her music has enhanced friendships in my life—having conversations about her music has brought me closer to countless people!
Gill: She has made me more self-aware. She also I feel has created a way for women to connect with one another on shared experiences. So many of her songs hit home for so many people for different reasons. She really has made me feel connected to my peers. Not to mention she did make me realize my own internal misogyny that I grew up with. I feel like I owe her a thank you and a giant apology.
Srijita: So much, but the biggest is that at such a young age, Taylor created these albums, tour ideas, concepts for music videos, transitioned from country to pop to alternative, etc. So many people told her that her voice sucked, that she wasn’t talented, that she had to have this good girl image and be less truthful about her personal life or she’d lose her platform, and she persevered through that, stuck to her own beliefs, and it paid off.
It really made me critically examine any piece of feedback that was ever given to me, like if a professor told me that my goals for an honors thesis weren’t realistic, I didn’t automatically take that as fact. I asked myself if it actually wasn’t realistic or if he didn’t want to invest the time or resources into a project I was passionate about because it’d require more on his part. And instead of capitulating because I just blindly trusted in this man who was supposed to be a lot wiser than I am, I found other professors who encouraged my ideas and looked past my age to my actual credentials, and I wrote the honors thesis that I wanted and am super proud of.
That’s just one example, but Taylor taught me to advocate for myself despite feeling like my age or inexperience means I have to always defer to other people. She taught me that the status quo should be challenged, and you should accept feedback, but critically examine whether or not the feedback is constructive or simply a way to manipulate you into behavior that other people want you to fit into.
Madeline: Fearless—of which I had both a CD for my bedroom and a CD for the car, played when it was my day to choose music in the family minivan—was so huge to me. Tay introduced me to the concept that I was the main character (at a Midwestern Evangelical school, girls don't usually get to be the protagonists of any story, including their own).
Is it so far to say that Fearless was my alternate Bible, as opposed to the actual Bible I was reading every day? Although, in retrospect, I wonder if all that boy craziness contributed to how long it took me to come out as bi.
Lincoln: Made me like country music when I was younger.
Blair: Joy :) Taylor reminds me of driving with the windows down in my hometown and being at a time in my life when I was discovering how to be my own person. As time went on and more albums were released, I was always reminded of this time. Her success is also a reminder that maybe she's a poppy stereotype but I love her, and enjoying her music is a signal that I am embracing that bubblegum part of myself.
Arthur: Taylor Swift Saved Me! When I saw Taylor Swift at the 2022 VMAs in her Bejeweled outfit, I was reborn.
HL, 26, she/her: My first foray into country music (with her self-titled album).
If you answered yes to the previous question, please elaborate on your response.
Ariana: Well now that I’ve deemed myself a writer, the pressure is on. But her songwriting puts into words a certain type of feeling that I felt was unique to me. She makes me feel less alone and more confident as a person, especially as a female.
Alex H: I find myself constantly taking inspiration from the themes and topics she talks about in my own writing and spirituality. A lot of things are difficult to put words to and hearing someone truly describe something you can’t explain is inspiring for you to both make sense of and create your own stories from.
Madeline: I have no idea. I hope so. I hope everything I write is Swiftian (Taylor, not Jonathan—make it popular).
Rebecca: It’s cool to be cringe sometimes. And you don’t have to write like the dudes in your class. Write without being afraid of being earnest. Sincerity is in.
What do you think is the key to Swift's longevity as a performer and an artist?
Hailey: I think the fact that she has grown and allowed her music to grow with her as she’s found her sound—and, in doing so, her fans grew with her—has been really great.
Hadley, 21, she/her: I think Taylor Swift is incredible at cultivating her persona through pop-culture relevancy. I think the ~chill introspective indie girl~ image of herself she created through folklore and evermore was so new for her but so indicative of the aesthetics of feelings of the covid era. These themes of self-reflection, loneliness, and nostalgia were honestly so relatable to me and many others, and I am not sure if I would have had the same fondness for these albums had they been released at a different stage of society / my personal life.
I think the same goes for the bad bitch reputation era. She released rep in 2017 amidst the #MeToo movement and the rise of female advocacy in the music and film industries. Even if it was not intentional, I think the messages of independence and reclamation of identity were so easy for many of her fans to become easily attached to.
Maryam: She is open to change, and she knows when she needs to do it. She plays around with different sounds and harmonies which reaches various new audiences, yet her commitment to delivering beautiful lyrics keeps her current fan base satisfied.
Skylar: I think, for better or for worse (depending on your perspective) she writes really universal experiences of personhood, mainly around love/heartbreak and does it well generally both sonically and musically. I think it’s music that mostly doesn’t feel TOO obvious, and doesn’t underestimate the listener which a lot of commercially successful artists tend to do (like how Ed Sheeran dumbed all of his music down when he got popular).
Alex H: Her authenticity and lyricism. Her ability to, despite the tabloids continue to talk about what she’s been through in a way that we can pinpoint exactly what she’s talking about is an incredible superpower.
Sojourner: 1) Her music has evolved with her fan base. If she was still making songs similar to Fearless they wouldn't be as popular but she has matured and so have the fans. 2) She is very transparent about what is going on in her career. 3) She is smart and savvy in dealing with the music industry in ways that are beyond my understanding.
Evelyn: Her music is incredibly relatable and she stays out of the public eye the right amount.
Madeline: Car crash-level honesty. Genuinely smart lyrics (maybe not the latest album, but usually). Evangelicals played her early on because all the songs were so clean (for example: I know much less about Katy Perry because I wasn't allowed to listen to her). Vulnerability. Being so beautiful and thin probably helps.
Rebecca: Songwriting and an absolutely stellar understanding of art under capitalism as a product to be sold.
Lincoln: White women.
Blair: 1) There are very few artists that have the sustained fame that Taylor has (I think of Beyoncé and Justin Bieber). A big reason for this is that she has grown with her audience. She has had so many different eras (country, reputation, Lover, folklore) that reflect changing ad growing up. Even if you already have had your reputation era or are just entering it, listeners see this growth and it's fun to listen along.
2) Gen Z are hoes for individuality. This started when she was 16 and TURNED DOWN a record label because they wouldn't let her sing her own songs. Taylor has always done whatever the fuck she wants to do and that means people respect her. reputation wasn’t her most popular album but it was what she wanted to do and that made people love her.
HL: I think she has diversified her portfolio in terms of fans. There are those who have been there since the beginning, those who were there and dropped off after/around Red (like yours truly), and those who became fans after/around red and are into her newer sound. For those of us who dropped off, we still have nothing against the music we loved in the first place. Somewhere in the world, at all times, someone is listening to some Taylor swift song, whether that be Teardrops On My Guitar or Karma.
Sandra: As I mentioned in my last response, I think that she is very successful because of the audience she caters to. I think her lyrics are intentionally vague and open to interpretation, allowing listeners to apply her songs to their own lives. I've definitely participated in this as well—in middle school, my friends told me I had to pick a Taylor Swift song to describe my feelings for my crush (I picked Hey Stephen, if you were wondering). She has grown up alongside her fans, so there’s a deep connection to her as her writing evolves from all stages of life from teenager to adult. I think she also continues to reveal new layers to herself—more recently her political affiliations, and her maybe-status as a member of the LGBT community. So as her fans are further developing their identities, they can find new references even in her old songs.
Follow up: why do you think Swift always lands on her feet after a controversy?
Abi: Honesty. She is easy to villainize because of how upfront and open she is, but it’s just as easy to see that none of it is real due to how clearly she wears her heart on her sleeve. Once you see through the smoke, you realize none of it is on her.
Ariana: Because she’s not shady.
Hadley: Short Answer—she has the privilege of being an attractive, wealthy white woman with a (mostly) blindly devoted fan base.
DG: Karma. She is a good person with good intentions and real talent and the BS fades away.
Maryam: She’s smart. She knows when to lay low and for how long, she knows when it is better to address something or to let it be, and all the while she stays committed to her fans who continue to give her support for that. I think she has created such a powerful fan base by giving us content and really making us feel heard, and thus, she has garnered enough support to rise back.
Skylar: Because fandom culture lets most things slide and refuses to look at their chosen person/group critically. Her defense squad is huge—but also she’s white and spent a long time as an American sweetheart as a brand so the general public is often endeared to her.
Alex H: She has the ability to fight back through her music rather than statements. You listen to the songs to know how she feels without a huge outburst or response. Even with a response, she’s able to isolate herself from what she’s experiencing to a point where you’re waiting to hear from her.
Liz: She has so many fans at this point that there will always be more than enough support to keep her successful. And, I'm sure she's done tons of personal work and therapy to feel strong and secure enough in herself to withstand criticism and respond thoughtfully.
AS: She’s better than the haters.
Sojourner: Karma.
Madeline: The Kanye one where Kim K caught her lying on the phone was tough, but she came through all right. She always lands on her feet to moi.
Rebecca: Ummmmmmmmmmm…white supremacy? But also her controversy is like…oh no! She’s a capitalist! Big surprise—what rich person isn’t?
Beyond occasionally putting her foot in her mouth, she has lived a relatively ~chill~ life (aka she’s not an abuser, not cruel to her employees, and not BLATANTLY racist). Beyond that, we don’t ask much morality of our celebrities—and honestly, we shouldn’t, they’re just gonna disappoint us.
Blair: Personally, I don’t think she really does. As a human, I’m sure she hurts and is damaged. I think Miss Americana taught us that—just because she is famous doesn’t mean words don’t hurt. But I think she has bounced back in pop culture many times. I think she does a great job at being really vulnerable and showing this hurt to the world which means her fans love her even more and evokes respect and humanity in others. She humanizes herself which allows society to treat her more like a human.
Arthur: Tree is the best publicist out there.
HL: She’s a yt woman with an acoustic guitar ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Sandra: Taylor Swift always lands on her feet after a controversy because she's a conventionally attractive, thin, cis white woman. And I would bet that a majority (but definitely not all!) of her fans are white women as well. Black artists regularly face elevated levels of scrutiny for the things they say and do (prime examples: Beyoncé and Lizzo getting called out for using a slur in their songs). Because Taylor is white, she will never get that level of criticism, and I also think that people have low expectations of her.
For example, when she was called out for taking a lot of private jet flights, people jumped to say "she's a millionaire, what do you expect?" There is zero expectation for accountability so she will continue to act accordingly.
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What are your thoughts on people who mock Swift and her fans?
Hailey: As queenerz says in her hit song, “Shake it Off,” haters gonna hate hate hate hate hate.
Abi: They’re insecure. They’re obviously going through something and would feel better if they just listened. I’d probably prescribe them a TS song to connect to and feel better.
Hadley: I honestly have mixed opinions on this. There are some criticisms of her that are totally valid (white feminism, tour dates basically only on Shabbos [Shabbat], fossil fuel queen, and queerbaiting to name a few). However, the people that try to diminish her legacy because "she only sings about breakups" or the other corny hate she receives often stems from weird sexist narratives that still impact female musicians.
DG: At this point, it’s just uneducated and sexist. I’m tired of defending her to people who choose not to see it.
Maryam: I think a lot of it derives from some type of misogyny (the narrative that it’s “girly” music) and thus they are “too cool” to appreciate the sound. Others complain that it’s “basic” but hey basic just means a lot of people can enjoy it!
Alex H: Everyone has different ideas of what they want and think about her and how they think of the fans but she’s confident in people that do love her so the noise doesn’t matter as much.
Liz: They are either misogynists, or haven’t actually paid any attention to her or her work, or are doing it to be trendy, or all of the above.
AS: They’re closeted swifties.
Srijita: I think hatred for Taylor is oftentimes rooted in misogyny. If people are critical of her music and don’t generally like pop, that’s fair, but a lot of the criticism I hear is that she only writes about exes which is not only false, but many artists (including males like Drake and Harry Styles) write about relationships and they don’t get the same kind of media criticism.
People also claim that hate that she always plays the victim, but this is also rooted in misogyny because how was she not the victim when a 32-year-old man ripped an award away from her at 18 and told her that she didn’t deserve it in front of the whole nation on live tv—why do so many people defend this incredibly problematic adult male, but hate on a woman who did nothing to deserve that action except not be beyond? Misogyny. And she also does admit when she is to blame for the end of a relationship (like “Back to December,” “Getaway Car,” “Afterglow,” etc).
Madeline: They hate women but pretend they don't. Dickless, feckless, all the -lesses.
Rebecca: It must be so miserable out there.
Lincoln: They got a point.
Blair: Like her or not, you have to respect her. Also, why are you hating on someone who listens to music or likes a musician? Why do you care? To quote the queen herself, "you need to calm down."
Arthur: They have small dicks.
HL: I personally am a current-swiftie-mocker so I think they are slay queens who are being fierce and reading the girls at the tea 💅🏼
Sandra: I don't think anyone benefits from mocking Taylor Swift and or her fans. While I do think that some of her fans are deranged (especially with all their conspiracy theories around her sexuality before the release of Midnights), I don't think they're that much different than other celebrities' stans. I think that the more you criticize her, the more her fans will find excuses and dig even deeper into their stances.
While I think that she deserves a degree of criticism, I think it’s more so deserved for her racial insensitivities/climate-decimation-via-private-jet versus the fact that she talks about her relationships too much. Girls and women are regularly shamed for liking things that are marketed toward themselves and I fully disagree with that.
What is one pro and one con of idolizing celebrities in the way that Swift frequently is?
Ariana: Pro—she’s timeless. Con—getting a ticket to her concert is causing my hair to grey
Hadley: Pro—I honestly do think she creates a community. One of my closest friends from camp actually met her college best friend through their mutual love of Taylor Swift, and I believe these types of connections are really positive. Con—on the flip side, I think the community (mostly the uber-dedicated fans) can develop a sort of mob mentality of devotion to her and lack the foresight to see the amount of hate they can generate.
DG: Pro—they serve as both something to aspire to and as an escape. Con—it dehumanizes them.
Skylar: IMO there are more cons than pros (I am not a “stan” of her, or anyone really, as much as a more general fan of her music) but I think if there’s one pro, it’s that it creates community for people that often need it and don’t have it IRL.
I think the biggest con (again, I think there are many) is that forming parasocial relationships with a person who you absolutely do not know at all, even if you’re literally their biggest fan, is dangerous for everyone involved. People presume to know about her life, which sucks for her because they don’t, but it also forms this deity/idolatry complex for the fan that can get very unhealthy.
Alex H: No cons the pro is getting rid of embarrassment from being cringe.
Liz: Pro—I think she's an inspiring figure to look up to. Her songs carry a lot of wisdom that can be applied in our own lives and she is a great example of someone who’s held her own despite relentless misogyny and hatred hurled at her.
Con—I think there’s a line when you become too much of a die-hard Stan and idolizing a famous person becomes a projection of your own insecurities and a way of avoiding actually finding security and strength within yourself
AS: Pro—she’s incredibly relatable and reminds people they’re not alone. Con—she’s still a human and not perfect.
Gill: Con—she is a billionaire. She could do more to help people, just as anyone else with that much money could. Pro—I think she does (usually) use her platform in a good way. She has spoken out politically and has been an ally for many marginalized groups.
Rebecca: No con just vibes.
Lincoln: Pro—gives people something to believe in. Con—toxic stan culture and being insane online.
Arthur: Con—expensive vinyls and tour tickets. Pro—everything else.
HL: Pro—I guess she still needs money for her life and stuff. Con—please stop tweeting about her, I beg of you.
Overall, what is the one thing you think history will remember Swift for?
Hailey: Fan loyalty.
Abi: Her ability to not be forgotten, whether you love or hate her.
Ariana: She has never put out a bad album. Even reputation and Lover (which were widely mocked and under-appreciated) will stand the test of time.
Hadley: Princess Diana fancam edits (I hope).
DG: Her songwriting/music.
Maryam: Honestly, being the biggest pop sensation we have known. I don’t think any artist has come close to achieving what she has achieved and SHE KEEPS DOING IT!!
Skylar: “All Too Well” (I’m actually serious).
Alex H: Her lyricism and her greater impact on the culture as someone who has done every genre and writes all her own music. Her impact on streaming and getting indie artists paid. Her donations, charity, and her reviving indie record shops.
Liz: Riding the waves of controversy with grace and putting out a fuck ton of mega-popular music through it all.
AS: Her longevity and, for some reason, how many boyfriends she’s had and written about.
Sojourner: Her longevity and how prolific she has been.
Gill: Longevity. She’s put out 10 albums and is re-releasing six of them and still charting and breaking records. I’d go as far as to say she’s probably the longest-succeeding musician of the millennial generation.
Evelyn: Being one of the biggest artists of all time.
Srijita: Re-recording her masters and her flawless transition between musical genres.
Madeline: Dominating pop music from a place of gentleness! A songbird. God, I love her.
Rebecca: 1989 and those Joe Jonas purity rings.
Lincoln: The Kanye thing.
Blair: The way she brings her fans into her entire ecosystem. Easter Eggs are the big way I can think. Everything she does is made for her fans to dive in. It’s fun but also super smart.
Arthur: How the crowds went wild! Yes, I did just quote “Long Live.” And yes this is an Easter egg because Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is the next re-record.
HL: John Mayer.
Is there anything I didn't ask here that is important for you to share?
Abi: I wrote my college essay about Speak Now’s epilogue.
Hadley: Is Taylor Swift a queerbaiter? Let's talk about it.
DG: The most impactful Taylor Swift song in my life, why? “Marjorie”—as someone who lost a parent there is such a strong parallel in my life it felt like a little community between us two.
Maryam: Only that my life would be very empty without Taylor Swift.
AS: I never considered myself a die-hard swiftie until I found out she’s my #3 most-played artist ever.
HL: Something I find interesting, specifically about Midnights, is how everyone (exaggerating of course, but I have heard this from quite a few people) apparently doesn’t think it’s good but is still obsessed with it???? To each their own I guess but like spend your time listening to music you like?????
Sandra: The theories that Taylor Swift is gay!!! Although E4P has already delved into the topic of whether or not it's okay to queerbait/speculate on someone's sexuality, I do find it extremely fascinating how many people are convinced that she's gay. If you are unfamiliar with the theories, many on the internet (emphasis on the internet) were convinced that Midnights was going to be her big coming out. There are also theories that her Lover-era was going to be her announcement that she was bisexual, but was scrapped at the time.
Personally, I have seen compelling enough evidence to believe that Taylor Swift has had relationships with women in the past (so confirmed, I am a #gaylor). But do I think that she will ever publicly say that she is an open lesbian/bisexual and fight for the rights of LGBT people across the world? Absolutely not! Demonstrated by the fact that it took her 5 years and a documentary to come out as a "liberal" (only to do or say nothing ever since), I do not think she has any interest in being a genuine activist for the community, whether or not she is a member of it. She has expressed openly that she supports LGBT people so I'll give her that, but acknowledging that gay people deserve rights is a far cry away from actually using her platform to promote change in the world.
In my opinion, she cares much more about her public persona/maintaining her image as a "nice girl" than she does about coming out publicly. For now, her gay listeners will have to be regarded to finding clues and hidden meanings in her songs—and I think that is 100% intentional. It's her method of maintaining the status quo while not alienating her queer fans who so deeply believe that she is part of the community.
My most controversial yet brave opinion is that I don't think Taylor Swift is as talented as you would think considering the level of wealth and fame she has garnered. And I'm saying this as someone who has pretty consistently been streaming Midnights since it came out, so trust that it is coming from an objective lens. If you look at other celebrities—for example, Ariana Grande—even if you don't like her sound, you have to admit that she has an incredible vocal range. The same goes for artists like Beyoncé—even if you don't like her music (and personally if you don't, I think you're crazy but that’s another story), it is very clear that she puts on really elaborate shows with an insane amount of choreography executed nearly flawlessly (Super Bowl, Beychella, etc).
I genuinely do not think that Taylor Swift has either the vocal range or stage presence that either of those two artists does yet is much more successful in several metrics. I don't have a fully baked answer as to why (my guess is white mediocrity) but if you do, please let me know!
What Taylor Swift Song describes your life at the current moment?
Hailey: “I Did Something Bad”
Abi: “The Archer”
Ariana: “You’re On Your Own, Kid”
Hadley: “Mirrorball”
DG: “Evermore”
Maryam: “You’re On Your Own, Kid”
Skylar: “Labyrinth” (“Oh no, I’m falling in love again.” Oh no is right.)
Alex: “Bejeweled”
Liz: “22 (Taylor's Version)”
AS: “The Great War”
Sojourner: “Wildest Dreams”
Gill: “Look What You Made Me Do”
Evelyn: “Nothing New”
Srijita: “Never Grow Up”/”Welcome to New York,” even though I’m not in New York
Madeline: “Question...?”
Rebecca: “Sweet Nothing”
Lincoln: Does she have any songs about hating ur job and drinking a lot? If so then that one
Blair: “Lover” (But ps “New Year’s Day” is my fave song)
Jane: “Sad Beautiful Tragic,” followed closely by “Welcome to New York”
Arthur: “King of My Heart!!”
HL: “Picture to Burn”
Sandra: “Karma,” unfortunately.
Emily: “Anti-Hero”