Taylor Swift is a household name (even for those who live under the pop culture rock). Swift, a phenomenon in the world of music, has impacted both the country and pop genres; but also, most prevalently, my life.
My first photo with Taylor at her Speak Now World Tour in 2011.
My love for Taylor Swift began when I was merely ten years old. Growing up in Fort Worth, Texas means that you’re subject to many country radio stations; thus, it was hard for me to listen to something other than country music when traveling in the car with my family. I remember the first time I heard “Tim McGraw,” Taylor’s first single, echoing through the speakers of my moms suburban – it was magical. I was finally listening to my kind of artist, singing about younger issues and I was hooked. Being used to listening to George Strait and Brooks and Dunn on country radio did not prepare me for this moment. There was a teenage country girl artist who I could idolize as I did Britney Spears (pre-2007 head shave, of course).
Taylor’s arrival to the country scene is what made her so immensely popular; she appealed to a completely different audience, bringing so many new ears to the country music genre. A much younger demographic was drawn to this new genre of music which is something that country music wasn’t ready for and that country music listeners are still hesitant to accept.
Whatever the issues that people have with her (I will never understand), she WAS country at the beginning of her career. Yes this revelation is coming from girl with a life-size cardboard cut-out of Taylor in her room and tickets to see her in concert next month, but also from someone who knows country music and appreciates it for everything that it offers.
Taylor’s dreams of becoming the next Faith Hill would be surpassed but her country roots are what would get her there. In the early days of her career, she opened for multiple country idols, including, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Tim McGraw and Brad Paisley, just to name a few. Although she was a few decades behind her headliners, her music fit the country music bill. In her first single, Tim McGraw, Taylor describes heartache with a “boy in a Chevy truck that had a tendency of gettin’ stuck on backroads at night.” This song would plant her in the country world, which is exactly where she wanted to grow.
With constant success at country music award shows and sold-out tours, Taylor began to grow beyond country music with successful crossover hits like You Belong With Me on her second album Fearless, to which she won a VMA at the MTV Video Music Awards as the first country music artist to do so. Now, people who didn’t already love the curly, blonde country singer were starting to get more submersed in her music.
This is what I love about her; her music has never changed. All of her songs are the same kind of impactful. Her early sound made her a country artist, her later sound made her a pop artist, and her self made her a superstar. Taylor Swift should be listed under both country and pop, if you ask me. She has pushed the envelope and introduced so many listeners to country and pop music. For a fangirl like me, it’s difficult to remember a time where she wasn’t a world figure but impossible to forget where she started and what that sounded like.
“Taylor’s impact is huge on country music. She’s really helped broaden the perception of what’s intrinsic with a country song but you can present it in so many different ways,” said Keith Urban and I couldn’t agree more. I will forever be grateful for the girl who made me fall in love with country music and taught me what a good song and what good writing looks and sounds like.
Nice article! Your voice is really clear throughout this piece and I can definitely tell how much you love this artist. I enjoyed reading the history you gave of her as I’ve never really been a big Taylor Swift fan. I do agree that she’s made a big impact in the music world, especially starting so young. However, I disagree with your comment that her music has never changed. I think what is so unique about her is that her music has changed, and she’s been very successful at catering to what her listener’s want to hear (and creating new content that her fan’s still love). Her music style has progressed flawlessly with the times, and I do have no doubt that she’s made a difference in this sense. Even though I’m not the biggest fan of her music, you definitely have given me a new appreciation of her work’s impact in the music world. Thanks for sharing!!
Loved this ode to Taylor Swift! I can relate so much to being a swift fan girl since the pre-teens. This was a strong piece that showcased Taylor Swift really well. Her old music is still relevant even after her all of her new albums. Any time I’m going on a road trip I pull up my Taylor Swift playlist (which included every single and every album, acoustic version). Learning the history of country music has really made me appreciate Taylor’s old country sound, and now her new innovative country sound. In the end her plethora of awards speaks for themselves. Whether country or pop, Taylor Swift is iconic.
I loved your article! Two weeks ago I got to go to her concert in Houston, and was blown away by her show. She even played “Mean” spontaneously, and got just as much excitement as “Blank Space” or anything off of 1989. I have never understood why people get so upset at the fact that she changed up her sound/genre. I personally think her superior song-writing abilities and mastery of putting together a song is something that people don’t appreciate. She almost transcends any one music genre. I think in the years to come people will realize just how significant she was to the country music industry. To be able to successfully (an understatement) transition from country into more full-fledged pop and to a degree, rock, is something that I think should be applauded. Of course there are sometimes when I wish she would go back to her country days, but more than anything it’s fun to see what she’s going to do next! Great article!
I was really hoping to see a post like this at some point! I enjoyed reading it very much! I love Taylor Swift and I probably always will unless something drastic happens. For me I do love her music but I just love who she is as a person even more. I know a lot of people don’t like her because they think shes too nice or a goody two-shoes but in my opinion I feel like this just throws people off because the number of entertainers today who aren’t always in the news for drama or legal issues is very slim. Since I first heard Taylor on the radio I haven’t stopped listening from her first album to 1989. I do feel her music has changed but her roots and influence in country music are undeniable in my eyes.. Shes just a good person and as much as people will hate on her I don’t see that changing in any aspect. Her sound has changed some but who she is has not! That is probably my biggest reason for loving her is that in any song I hear from her I feel like I know her and can truly relate! I am not often a fan of female artists as much as men because I feel females tend to let others influence or takeover who they are. Taylor surprised me in a good way years ago and she hasn’t lost my interest since. I can’t wait to continue to see how her career unfolds!
Kayla, I think this is a great article and a wonderful tribute to Taylor Swift. It’s not every day a young country singer takes over the world and plays massive shows with guest artists like Mick Jagger (which happened a few nights ago). I remember seeing her sing “Should’ve Said No” at the CMAs and it was a performance that has stuck with me throughout the years. Not only is she a great artist, but she is an even better role model. It’s rare for a young girl to rise to fame so quickly and not get caught up in the hoopla. But Swift continues to handle herself with grace.
Well written article! I enjoyed reading about your adoration for Taylor. I have always been on the fence about her. I’m one who never wants to give in to liking anything “everyone else likes,” so saying I was a Taylor Swift fan has not been something I’ve uttered more than maybe twice my whole life. I had the pleasure of going to a concert of hers a few years back and during a dressing room break, I was wondering through the halls trying to exchange a shirt I had bought, and accidentally bumped right into Taylor herself. I received an immediate shove backwards from her body guard and I looked towards her in shock. Why was Taylor Swift wandering the nearly empty hallways during a break? She smiled and waved and continued walking briskly down the hall as girls quickly realized what was happening and flocked to follow her. I will always remember that moment as the most surprising fluke I’ve yet to encounter. It probably would’ve been better if there had been a different girl walking through the hallway to literally bump into Taylor Swift. A girl that was a die-hard fan and would cherish that moment forever instead of me, the person whose friends had made me join them at the concert and was more surprised than star-struck when I was face-to-face with the iconic Taylor Swift. I enjoyed reading your article because it brought back that memory I have of the one and only time I’ll attend a Taylor Swift concert, but also reminded me that Taylor Swift really is a magnificent artist and performer.
I have followed Taylor Swift since the beginning. Honestly I think my first purchase on iTunes was the “Teardrops on my Guitar” music video. This article would truly convince anyone who is a non-Taylor fan as to why she is so inspirational for young girls everywhere. Although her songs are unfortunately not on spotify, your post cause me to immediately look up and binge listen to her songs on youtube. She is truly an artist who changes little girls’ lives and you do such a great job in showing that.
Kayla, your post was really well written! I too tend to appreciate Taylor no matter what style of genre she decides to sing. I agree with you that she definitely was country when she first began her career, and now she has expanded her boundaries into a more pop style and sound. Taylor should be recognized for he many achievements and I don’t see why there aren’t more people out there like you giving her credit for all that she has accomplished. Even though I am not a die-hard fan, she definitely played a major role in introducing me to country music. Despite the fact that most of her songs nowadays are really pop and related to breakups, I still do appreciate Taylor and look forward to the next big hit she comes out with.
Kayla I couldn’t agree more with what you have to say about Taylor’s influence on both pop and country genres. She receives way too much hate on both ends of the spectrum when in reality she just has undergone many changes in style like so many girls do. The central issue boils down to what made her change. Was is money? Has she allowed record labels to define what genre she sounds the best in or will sell the most records? Her style, although mainstream, is so well-renowned and influential that she definitely deserves credit for taking her life and talent and making the most of it.