Why You Should Stan Taylor Swift​

BY ELSA LEWIS '25

We’ve all seen clips of the Eras Tour on TikTok, with thousands, like me, claiming the term “Swiftie.” Did you (or your parents) wait in the queue for six hours to attempt to buy tickets? Did you stay up until midnight when Speak Now TV came out and cried while listening? I would consider myself an extreme Taylor-stan, and here’s why you should too.
 
​Obviously, Taylor is known for her songs. But what most don’t realize is that her music suits any occasion or life event, as her albums fall under diverse genres. Taylor’s career initially took off with her first country album “Debut”, known for hit songs “Our Song”, “Tim McGraw”, and “Teardrops on My Guitar”. This nostalgic album pairs well with a country attitude, cowgirl boots, and experiencing first love or heartbreak. Taylor's shift from the country era is seen with her third album “Speak Now,” one of my favorites. In “Better Than Revenge,” Taylor’s rock persona shines through with the lyrics “Stealing other people’s toys on the playground / won’t make you many friends.” If you’re in the mood for something more upbeat, the album “1989” is also a perfect choice. It reflects Taylor’s “rebirth” into pop, and is addicting to listen to because its 80s-inspired songs are so catchy. Her career doesn’t stop there—the release of alternative albums “Folklore” and “Evermore” reflect her versatility and ability to reach a wide range of audiences. This is only the start of Taylor’s large discography, as I didn’t even cover all of her music.

There’s a reason TS songs just hit different—her lyrics are original, meaningful, and clever. You’d be surprised to learn that not all Taylor Swift songs are about romantic love. In the song “The Lucky One,” Taylor sings “And they tell you that you’re lucky but you’re so confused / ‘cause you don’t feel pretty, you just feel used.” In this song, she describes the emotional toll of being in the spotlight and constantly living up to society’s standards as an artist. In the heart-wrenching song “Dear John,” she writes “You are an expert at sorry / And keeping lines blurry / Never impressed by me acing your tests.” Although her ex-boyfriend John Mayer said (publicly) that this was “cheap” songwriting, her fans disagree. The song literally makes you feel heartbroken; as she repeats “Don’t you think I was too young,” touching on the age gap between her and her boyfriend at the time. Finally, in “The Man,” she ponders what it would be like to be a man in current society, writing “I’m so sick of running as fast as I can / Wondering if I’d get there quicker if I was a man.” She writes about societal pressure, hate, reputation, hope, and even created a storyline of fictional fantasy-like characters in “Folklore” and “Evermore.” 

Taylor’s fans are the absolute best, and the fandom experience is like no other. You hear “Swifties” so much for a reason: they are known for being so supportive, uplifting, and kind. I can speak from experience here. On the first night of the Eras tour at Gillette, the line for the women’s bathroom was extremely long. Naturally, I struck up conversation with fans around me—not knowing that it would feel like we were best friends. We traded friendship bracelets and laughed because it appeared no one was using the men’s bathroom. You can guess what we did…and they assured me that the few men in line would understand. Others certainly shared my positive experience at the Eras Tour. The tour has finished its US leg and is now moving to Europe and Latin America. In fact, the tour has been so successful that Taylor awarded an extra $100,000 to each of the truck drivers that have been helping her at each concert. 

I could go on forever listing reasons why you should be in love with Taylor Swift, like I am. Her music has a way of making you feel like you know her, and it fits a variety of moods, ages, and music tastes. My dad has even started to like her—if he can, you absolutely can too. Now go lock yourself in your room and blast Tay Tay!!

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