taylorswift I’m gonna tell you a story. I severely doubt you remember this but it is a moment in my life that I will never forget.
7/22/11. I sat outside the z100 studios for over 12 hours waiting to see you arrive at the studios. I went expecting nothing, not even knowing if you would walk in through the main doors or if you would sneak through the back or teleport in. I had no idea. I went wanting nothing. Didn’t want an autograph, didn’t want a picture or a hug. I had all that and I would’ve happily have let other fans go in front of me who had never gotten that from you so they could experience it like I had months earlier. All I wanted was to see your smile as you walked into the studio.
When I went the night before I was sure there would be dozens of people there already. It was a neighborhood in the city I wasn’t familiar with and I was driving into the city which I also hate to do. I parked at a garage and hoped that my car would be there in the morning. I walked up to the building expecting people and there was no one there. I was confused. Was I at the wrong place? Would you be calling in from somewhere rather than going in? I had no idea. But I took a chance because I knew if I left and missed something crazy I would never forgive myself. I sat my butt down against the wall in the boiling heat and settled in for the night.
I don’t remember people bothering me. Asking what I was doing or who I was waiting for. Guess it didn’t seem all that odd. I just sat there happily reading my Harry Potter book. I avoided using my phone so that my battery wouldn’t die before you arrived the next morning. Wanted to document my experience. Wasn’t until the night dj, Mo Bounce came down during a commercial break and stopped to chat with me did things get weird. He was curious about what I was doing and I told him and he of course thought it was insane but thought I was funny. He sent someone down with a phone so I could talk to him over the air and then they brought me upstairs so I could get some air conditioning. He was doing the 9 @ 9 and I remember the song he was introducing was the new Joe Jonas song (which at the time I was not thrilled about). He gave me some water and some AC and then I went back outside to continue reading.
I finished book around 1 or 2 and wished I had brought the second one because then I had nothing to do and I was starting to get sleepy. Morning people starting arriving around 4 and I just kept on keeping on. Wasn’t going to give up at that point. Fans starting arriving around 6. Last time I had camped out for you I made friends so I tried to make friends this time. It wasn’t as easy this time. They weren’t as friendly. Or were mad at themselves for not going as early as I had. I’m not sure. But I tried anyways.
Around 8 Elvis sent down a intern so I could talk to Elvis on the phone. He asked me why I had waited all that time, why I was a fan etc. I never heard that interview but I was told later that you had and that’s why everything that transpired, transpired. The intern asked me if I needed anything or wanted anything. I joked about a chair cause my butt hurt and some water. Few minutes later he was back with a chair and seltzer. As much as I was kidding I have never been more grateful.
You arrived a little after 9 in all your elegance and grace. I stood in the back watching you smiling at all the fans thanking them for being there. That was all I had wanted and I had got it 10 fold. I started walking away when the intern came back and brought me into the lobby shortly after you got in the elevator. He was quite clearly stalling as you rode up in the elevator and I was at a loss as to what was going on. Few seconds later we walked into the elevator. He was still stalling as we stood in the elevator not moving. He was trying to come up with conversations about how cool it was I did what I did and that’s when he told me you had heard me on the radio. We rode up as I was panicking. What was happening? Was I about to be arrested?
We got to the floor and the doors opened and he popped his head out I can only assume to make sure you were gone before I got out to keep the element of surprise (and panic) going. He told me that you had told them that you wanted to see him. WUT. What do you mean she wants to see me? I am no one. How could she want to see me? We started slowly walking into the studios. I remember looking at the jingle ball pictures and seeing yours on the wall and feeling like I was having an outer body experience. As we walked around the corner he made sure you were in the studio before I walked around the corner. I saw you sitting in there and I could hear you talking about target and the fans that you brought out on your boat. People were talking all around me, they were putting headphones on me but no one was actually telling me what was happening. I was quite content just sitting there watching. Then at some point you started talking about me. You didn’t know me but you were talking about how amazing your fans were when you got sick and about the trending topic and then me. Elvis said they were bringing me in and your voice when you said “good” is something I’ll never forget. In hindsight it sounds a little like fear but at the time it sounded like pure excitement. Then you talked about thug story and in my head I was screaming “IT WASNT SNL” but they were also pushing me closer and closer to the door so I was panicking all over the place. What do I say? Can I hug you? Should I wait for you to hug me? WHAT THE HELL IS MY DAMN NAME! And then they opened the door and you hugged me so tight you were quite literally knocking the wind out of me and putting all my pieces together and dumb stupid me had to go and be all stupid and the first thing I said to you was “what perfume are you wearing is that yours?!” WHAT KIND OF CREEP AM I?!
Then we had a beautiful conversation about how you saved me. I got to say everything I ever wanted to you and then I just stood there and soaked in every word you said back.
When we were done and the mics were turned off and the cameras were gone I was terrified things would be different but you were just as gracious and caring as you were with the mics on. You asked me if I had been to any shows and if I wanted to go to another one. You asked me if I wanted you to sign my music book and said you would after your next interview. (That never happened but I could never be mad at you for that. I just laugh when I see the book now)
I will never forget this day. The people it brought into my life, both good and bad and the memories I will always have to pull out on days that I’m sad and don’t want to keep going. I doubt you remember any of this but years later, during red release week, I was talking to Frank from your office and he said to me “you’re the radio girl aren’t you?! We still talk about that around the office!” Sometime as important and monumental to me as this day was and you guys still talk about it around the office. To say I was shaken would be a understatement.
I share this today not to brag but to show people that even if things don’t work out like you plan, even if you go to concerts and can’t get into loft or don’t get noticed by you on here that that doesn’t mean you don’t care or are unaware of their existence. It means that when it does come, when you do notice them publicly It will knock you in your ass and be nothing like you expected in the most amazing way.
I am sure you don’t remember any of this and that’s ok because I do and I always will. I wanted to share this story with you and the recording so you will always know that just like you always have our back and will always hold certain memories with you for a rainy day, we always have yours. ❤️
Elvis Duran and the Z100 Morning Show by TaySwiftdotcom via #soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/tayswiftdotcom/elvis-duran-and-the-z100?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=wtshare&utm_medium=Twitter&utm_content=https://soundcloud.com/tayswiftdotcom/elvis-duran-and-the-z100
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