I was never much of a Taylor Swift fan. Well, that’s an understatement - I actively avoided listening to her music for a good while. I don’t exactly have the predisposition to her early stuff to begin with, but for a few years, I spent as much time as possible not listening to her. It wasn’t really for any good reason, either. I never liked what I perceived was the motivation behind her music, and although I didn’t dislike any song in particular, I was stubborn in my refusal to partake.
Once her new sound started appearing (in what I would presume were her last two albums), I was more lenient. The songs were energetic and peppy, even if they didn’t speak to me, and I could leave a song like I Knew You Were Trouble on the radio without changing the station. Far from a seal of approval, I’ll admit, but a rather large step forward from my initial views. Even from the new album, I quite liked Shake It Off from the start, but I struggled to acclimate to most of her other songs.
Last month, I made the fairly rash decision to purchase Taylor Swift concert tickets for my significant other (who worships Taylor) and I. It was mostly a gesture of getting her the best possible gift despite my reservations, but I’ll readily admit being curious about the entertainment value an A+ list celebrity could bring to the table. So I spent a little time learning a few songs. I’m still not in love with her body of work as a whole, but when the first few notes of certain songs course through my speakers, I get this brief feeling of... I’m not sure what. Excitement, perhaps. It doesn’t really equate with my expectations, and it’s nice to be able to enjoy it for what it is.
The reason I’m writing this to fans of Taylor is to say I was wrong about her. As part of my research for the concert, I sought more information, but about her as a person, not just as an artist. The list of fantastic things she has done for her fans and for the world in general is immeasurable. Surely, she is every bit as delightful and admirable as her die-hard fans would swear. It’s surprising to see a person with this galactic level of constant scrutiny so level-headed and pleasant, not to mention the wonderful ways in which she gives back to her supporters. Millions and millions of fans across the world, and she deserves them all.
In closing, while I will probably never be head-over-heels for her music, I will always support her as a human being and wish her happiness and success, and I’m eagerly anticipating what I’m sure will be a memorable event tomorrow night at Gillette Stadium.
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