An Open Letter to Taylor Swift
7:34 PM
My favorite photo I took of Taylor at the Red Tour in September 2013. Sassy Swift is sassy.
Alright, Taylor, let’s do this.
For the sake of being honest, this isn’t going to be all sunshine and rainbows and me gushing about how “I’ve loved you since day one.” Because I didn’t. I actually used to kinda hate you. Don’t worry; I’ve since realized what a horrible choice that was.
When you first broke onto the music scene, your music was fine. I enjoyed it, but that was about it. The Fearless album is when I finally became really captivated by your music. “Hey Stephen” was my anthem (even though I have never had a crush on someone named Stephen) and I’ve cried while listening to “Best Day” more times than I’d like to admit. My sister had the Fearless album and I “borrowed” (read: stole) it from her so that I listened to it more than she did. She eventually just gave it to me.
I was (and still am) a diehard Jonas Brothers fan, Taylor. You dated Joe Jonas. Then, as people who aren’t right for each other do, you guys broke up and you said Joe did so during a 30-second phone call. It made Joe sound like a jerk. And Joe couldn’t be a jerk. He was a sweet, precious and pure Jonas Brother. (Forgive me. I was a stupid teenager who literally thought this way.)
I chose a side. Joe’s side. Because as a fan who had never met either of you nor knew the details of your relationship at all, I totally had the right to pick a side. So, while I could appreciate the excellence of Fearless, I stopped liking you. I complained about you during award shows and told friends that liked you that you “weren’t that great” and “totally lied about Joe.” (I promise, I cringe thinking about my actions.)
Speak Now came out and the girls in my dorm LOVED it and you. I couldn’t escape you or your music. And your music is excellent. Even when I was Team Joe, I could never allow myself to totally hate on your music. And Speak Now was great, too. I found myself loving your music again and having Taylor Swift karaoke sessions with my dorm mates but stating that I still didn’t like you. However, behind closed doors, my dislike for you was waning. I held up this façade of not really liking you for about six months and then couldn’t keep up the act anymore. I was a Taylor Swift fan again.
Before we go any further, I feel like I should apologize, Taylor. I was a silly, naïve and immature teenager who thought I had the right to judge someone I’d never met and pass judgments on situations involving that person. When someone is in the public eye, people (including myself) often get this false sense of really knowing the person and their life and having the right to know this information. In hindsight, your relationship with Joe and how strongly I reacted to it helped me to realize that it isn’t any of my damn business. I don’t know you. I don’t know Joe. The media are A+ manipulators and can make you and other celebrities look a completely different way than who you authentically are. So, I should never think that I know you or any celebrity I don’t know personally. Plus, it isn’t my business. It is your private life, and, while paparazzi invade your privacy and pull some of it into the public light, it is still your private life. Thinking I know what is going on in it is ridiculously egotistical of me. Don’t worry, Taylor, I’ve learned my lesson. This is the first thing I’ve somehow learned from you and how you’ve helped shape me into a better person.
By the time that “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” dropped, I was an indifferent Swiftie. I was a fan but not a fan. I remember sitting on my housemate’s bed from 11:45 p.m. until midnight the night the single premiered on iTunes because we were just so excited to buy it (and then listen to it about 500 times). Then, Red came out and holy crap. To this day, it’s still my favorite album of yours and one of my favorite albums of all time. My housemates and I went and saw you in September 2013 on your Red Tour. I’d originally paid almost $100 for a ticket because Ed Sheeran was the opening act (and Ed was and is my favorite musician on the planet), but by the end of the show, you’d been the one to make it money well spent (not that Ed wasn’t fantastic. He was, but I’d seen him live before. And your show is just a whole other level of cool with the sets, costumes, etc.).
After that show, there was no looking back. You’ve become someone I admire. Not only is your music consistently amazing (1989, anyone?) but your style has provided me with inspiration. From a public perspective, you really seemed to have come into yourself recently and that confidence and self-comfort is having such an impact on so many millions of people all over the world (including myself).
So, Taylor, I haven’t been the most faithful fan, but I definitely am now. And thank you for gifting the world with not only creating great music but also being someone who people can look up to as a role model. You’ve taught me so much and helped me to become a better, happier me. So, here’s a few personal thank you’s…
Thank you for teaching me it’s okay to take risks. It started with being brave enough to try red lipstick after you wore it so boldly and bravely, but it’s evolved into far more than that.
Thank you for reminding to value women. You’ve become quite a feminist, and I love it. You continually talk about how women need to support each other, and you visibly do so.
Thanks for encouraging me to be a better friend. In addition to just supporting women in general, you are always gushing about your lady friends. From doing photoshoots with your bff Karlie to making the "Bad Blood" music video with a bunch of your pals. You always seem to be so supportive and involved with your friends, and it makes me aspire to do the same.
Thank you for making me feel like I can do anything. There’s a quote from New Girl that is meant as a joke, but I still love it. It is "If Taylor Swift can live alone in New York, just think what you can do!" It's true. You've achieved some amazing things. You've followed your heart and gone after what you want, and I definitely want to get better with that.
Thank you providing me a soundtrack to listen to when I’m happy, sad, angry, and everything in between. In the car, dancing around my room, jamming in my headphones at work... your music is perfect in any situation.
Thank you for never being afraid to say what you think in a society that has often ridiculed you for doing so. You've become quite well-known for writing songs about boys and calling them out. That takes guts in the first place, but you've received hate for it additionally. Finally, you stopped putting up with it and called out the media. That takes additional guts. I pride myself on being a Gryffindor, but I'm still pretty cowardly sometimes. You make me want to be braver.
Thank you for giving me the confidence to be myself. You (at least) seem to be yourself, no matter how risky it might be. Even though country music is what first brought about all your success, you switched from the country to pop music genre when you felt like it was more authentic to who you are now. I want to be confident in myself, no matter what.
Even though I don’t know you personally, you’ve impacted my life in ways that I could never repay. So, even though you’ll never read this, this is my attempt at getting out some of the ways you’ve positively changed my life and thanking you. Thank you, Taylor.
Hannah
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