Taylor Swift is one of the biggest pop princesses of our generation. Whether or not you are a fan of her music, most admit that she has a beautiful talent for music and songwriting, and is a very genuine artist. Her lyrics are raw and relatable, their words make me want to write my own music (though I know my efforts would be in vain). In her five released albums, it is easy to see how much she has grown as a musician and person. Several of her songs spanned across her albums tell stories that I love to listen to again and again because I relate to them in such a personal way.
"The Best Day" ("Fearless").
The Best Day is a song dedicated to Taylor’s parents. Throughout the song, she sings about growing up with her mother and how their relationship has strengthened over the years. Personally, my mother is one of my best friends. Listening to this song makes me smile because I am reminded of how we have both grown over the years and been there for each other. I see my mother as the strongest woman I know; this song makes me think that Taylor probably feels the same way about her mom.
"Long Live" ("Speak Now").
"Long Live" strikes a very personal chord in my heart. In this song, Taylor sings about the magic she feels when she is with her friends and those she loves. They can conquer dragons and become kings and queens together. In my junior year of high school, my cross country team and I became state champions and this is our song: “I pass the pictures around of all the years that we stood there on the sidelines wishing for right now… they gave us our trophies and we held them up for our town… long live all the mountains we moved… we will be remembered.” As we stood on the stage receiving our trophy, we felt like we ruled the world. This song encapsulates that irreplaceable feeling.
"Welcome to New York" ("1989").
"Welcome to New York" is the first song on the "1989" album and tells the story of moving and changing. Though she sings about New York, I relate this to my move to NC State. “A kaleidoscope of loud heartbeats under coats… When we first dropped our bags on apartment floors, we took our broken hearts, put them in a drawer. Everybody here was someone else before… It’s a new soundtrack; I could dance to this beat forevermore.” Coming to college, I did not have to hold onto my past regrets or past heartbreaks. I had a new life and I could finally be whomever I wanted. I love this university, and will dance to its glorious soundtrack until the day I die.
"Clean" ("1989").
I did not personally fully understand the song "Clean" until recently, and I am now in love with it. When Taylor performs this song in concert, she gives a moving speech beforehand about how though we may be in pain, we will grow from it. We are not damaged goods and we are not our mistakes. These lyrics touch anyone who has loved and lost, even if the one you lost was yourself. “You’re still all over me like a wine-stained dress I can’t wear anymore… The rain came pouring down; when I was drowning, that’s when I could finally breathe. And by morning, gone was any trace of you -- I think I am finally clean.” The words are a breath of fresh air to a struggling soul. Sometimes, we grow and learn the most in our moments of hurt. Sometimes we are denying a truth and the painful acceptance is what sets us free. It is a stunning feeling to finally be clean.
"New Romantics" ("1989").
"New Romantics" is one of my overall favorite songs. I believe that it describes how my generation views love stories. “We need love but all we want is danger. We team up then switch sides like a record changer… We are too busy dancing to get knocked off our feet. Baby, we’re the new romantics; the best people in life are free.” As a college student, I see these lyrics acted out around me and in my own life. We can go from one love to the next because we love the newness and the danger of it all. Despite the constant change in loves, the ones who stay beside us through it all are no doubt the best ones. The best ones are free.
