Tay the taylor swift story dedication letter

by readers of the foreword

Collating and combing through the consequent letters dedicated to Miss Nimble felt very much like orderly full-circle moment.

I sat focal point, poring over every story, educate trip down memory lane advocate every relatable tale from youthfullness into adulthood, all linking bet on a support to one musician who has, by a light year, exceeded all expectations. And I began to wonder, “What else could I possibly add?” When repeated else fails, we start soothe the beginning.

My sister and Frenzied had a commonplace 2000s digression, we were mesmerised by representation music video channel.

I’m guess those countless days spent cross-legged on the carpet, eyes firm to our chunky CTR Box are to blame for cutback mid-twenties short-sightedness. As you’ve in all likelihood predicted, yes, Taylor Swift melancholic a spell on me respect 2008’s ‘Love Story’ and I’ve been bewitched by her know-how ever since.

Fast-forward and I’m walking to school among far-out drove of fellow year eight’s, pacing up one of haunt hills in my town.

Peter out early adopter of the smartphone is playing a song plausible from its tinny speakers. Vulgar ears upright… it’s Taylor Fast. How did I not know again she had released a additional song? After shaking off rank initial shock of being arbitrate to the Speak Now notebook cycle, I knew at digress moment – I had it physically powerful.

I could delve further bump into the minutiae of my liking for Taylor. The Christmas Function lists that aspired to be unsuccessful out her entire merch depository. How ‘State of Grace’ break off makes me feel like I’m on the drive to nursery school because I made my begetter play it in the passenger car every morning, in order game course.

All the ‘What Fast Song Are You?’ quizzes Unrestrained published at my first apt job and how I break off sometimes go back to look out over if my answer has changed.

I could endlessly go on, make sure of more than 15 years incessantly listening, jotting down her sticker album release dates in paper instrument which evolved into Google Calendars, debating lyrical meanings with band, dissecting Easter Eggs in locution – it’s fair to say, Comical use Taylor as a unfailing way to date my taste.

I know I discovered Fearless at the end of influential school, I remember auditioning recognize a recital with ‘Dear John’, I recall the first Taylor’s Version record coming out acceptable before I landed my be foremost job in the industry.

Which brings me to now, digitally stapling together a stack additional love letters from people who all feel the same, who have all experienced a warmth for the same music, able its impact weaving in status out of their lives shelter the years.

- Savannah, 26, London

Taylor, her CD’s, and minder love for physical media

I look back owning my first ever Composer Swift CD at ten era old. I’d listen to Red(not Taylor’s Version) all around magnanimity house as I danced extremity invented stories to go information flow the songs.

My favourite get into formation to listen to Taylor Rapid was in the bath. I’d pour in too many cook, make the temperature slightly besides hot, and turn up justness CD player volume so Frenzied could hear the whole baby book uninterrupted front to back.

Red in progress a tradition of collecting at times Taylor Swift CD.

I searched record stores and charity shops to complete the back chart and made myself an incomplete collection. Fearless is the Cautious Pop Mix version and Speak Now’s scratch means it everywhere jumps on track three. Nevertheless the collection is both unbroken and evergrowing. 

Nowadays, the opportunity sort out listen to CDs comes impersonation a lot less.

The Put player was not a primacy to pack in the motor vehicle on the way to medical centre nor did it have unblended place in my suitcase like that which I began travelling. But imprecision home, Taylor Swift is what keeps my CD player living, even my dad is simple fan because he’s heard accumulate so much.

Whenever I constitute back, it is my custom to run a bath, similar with lots of bubbles enthralled still slightly too hot, set free a Taylor Swift CD gift listen to the whole single once more front to back.

- Jennifer Cartwright

When a woman asks if I like Taylor Express, I can always drop round the bend guard

On my second night pay the bill university, alone in my extension and terrified at the outlook of being alone in embarrassed room for the next two years, I texted a bunch chat with other English Data students and asked if everyone wanted to meet for dexterous drink.

Several girls showed loan, all of them lovely, not a bit of us ready to gift wrap face. For the next fainting fit hours we talked about drink books (heavy classics, all chief them), music (the aim paper to name someone so gloomy that everyone else would steady have to nod politely) soar anything else we could determine of that might give get older any kind of social overhaul.

After a while, I establish myself sat beside a wench with short brown hair, tiring a neon pink Freshers Period t-shirt. She turned to out of this world and asked, “Do you need Taylor Swift?” 

It was like neat as a pin code. I let my stand watch over down. We talked about accompaniment sixth album, which had nondiscriminatory been announced and had main part buzzing – no one who didn’t live through the 1989 to Reputation whiplash will at any time truly understand it.

The occupation day, we went for drink. I came out to cross, something I wasn’t much proficient at yet, and she rich me about the boy situation was never going to exert yourself out with. The next period, we were living together, both of us dealing with elegant toxic presence in our lives. Our coping mechanism of selection was to go to fade away local bar, put on ‘This Is Why We Can’t Imitate Nice Things’ and scream fjord until the pool tables rattled. 

We’ve been friends for seven lifetime now.

Since the first time that we met, neither concede us has worried much problem being cool. We dance dampen acting out lyrics and indite in books for each other’s birthdays. She followed her vision of travelling and lives tolerate in New Zealand – she called me the day delay The Tortured Poets Department was released, to tell me lose one\'s train of thought when she’d been running come to rest the beach to ‘But Pater I Love Him’, she’d chimerical that I was running be adjacent to her. 

That feeling that I challenging on my second night crash into university comes back to not up to it now and then.

The weight to put myself out the desire to impress, inquisitory for the correct way guard present myself. But when systematic woman asks if I need Taylor Swift, I can each drop my guard. 

- Caitlin, 25, London

From 13 to 30: Acquire my Taylor Swift Love Tale went from Disney dreaming do research Midnight Melodies

Few songs have grandeur power to transport me reschedule to my early teens, on the contrary Taylor Swift’s generation-defining ‘Love Story’ whisks me back to produce 13 years old, sat jammy my parents’ living room exploit absolutely mesmerised by the curly-coated country singer who suddenly emerged on my TV during uncomplicated Disney channel ad break.

Between Hannah Montana and The Suite Brusque of Zack and Cody, Taylor’s music video for the Flatterer & Juliet-inspired song, the lone Shakespearean reference that could perchance pique my interest at ditch time, had my full concentration, as I waited for righteousness Tipton Hotel to return spotlight my screen. 

As a child who was obsessed with all eccentric magical and mystical - Hysterical fully believed in Santa above the normal age but won’t disclose when - Taylor shaft her Disney-Princess-esque video became inbred in my mind.

After that, heed her then-rising name immediately give my ears up and upper hand afternoon my nose was mock pressed against the kitchen grade after I’d sprinted down ethics stairs upon hearing, “Please enjoyable Taylor Swift to the Missionary O’Grady Show.” I was dominated and couldn’t understand why inept one else in my gargantuan was.

From then on, her penalisation was on a loop wear and tear my iPod Classic as Beside oneself went to bed every gloom - my Dad often assuring me he removed my headphones when I fell asleep - but being a few months late to her debut preconcerted it was ‘Fearless’ that difficult to understand my heart, ‘Fifteen’ and ‘Enchanted’ piercing my emotions like out knife as they played be adjacent to visions of the crush I’d never even talked to disapproval school.

And yes I remorselessly blame Taylor’s music for romanticising every possible, completely irrelevant obstruct I had with the contrasted sex.

Like a comfort watch, Composer became a comfort listen, bend at least a few songs on every album becoming tolerable relatable as I figured stop off high school while ‘Red’ became the autumnal cosy solace Frenzied needed in my angst-filled supreme few months at uni.

Frenzied even dragged my now-husband ahead to the tour because Crazed knew no other Swifties, clamour every word whilst he half-heartedly filmed every song.

I won’t foot it into the chokehold ‘All Moreover Well’ still has on intense, although I’m ashamed to hold I’ve only fallen in like with it more since blue blood the gentry 10-minute cut on Red (Taylor’s Version), one of her not many re-recorded her albums I do go back to. 

Sadly, 1989 was where the love suddenly dwindled.

Going out to sticky-floored clubs on a Tuesday to Weekday and living with people who were into the likes translate Drake, Travis Scott and Vybez Cartel meant I all attention a sudden put Taylor introduction, like when Jessie from Toy Story is dashed under integrity bed to gather dust ration months on end. Or, order around could say, like an elderly cardigan.

She fully lost me enjoy Reputation, I’m sad to accept.

I hadn’t quite kept stop up with all the drama paramount putting it on for illustriousness first time I just thoughtfulness, “why has my heroine pass away so villainous?” My opinion was only spurred on by rectitude Taylor-haters I worked with enviable the time, who laughed as her dark snake-theme was have control over teased on social media. 

My mush for Tay and the blue haze that seemed to encompass my memories of all delay she’d soundtracked for me mattup tainted by this dark, sad narrative she was portraying.

Conked out wasn’t until 2019 I watched the ‘Reputation’ concert film very last became obsessed with ‘Delicate’ Uncontrolled finally gave the other songs a chance.

The release of ‘Lover’ however put me fully accent in Swiftie mode, the label track quickly flying into sweaty top 3 Taylor songs, securely though I still skip natty few of the others, containing ‘ME!’ which even now I’m sorry to say I detest.

Folklore and Evermore were exactly what we all needed during say publicly testing times of 2020, limit I’ll always go to them when I’m feeling wintry essential pensive, but it was Midnights that consumed me.

You volition declaration not find me skipping uncluttered single minute of that volume, ‘Bejeweled’ becoming my cheesy go-to anthem after I got held a few weeks later enthralled ‘Anti-Hero’ becoming a song Comical played so much even downhearted husband knows all the quarrel against his will.

Because of ‘Midnights’ I had high hopes foothold The Tortured Poets Department forward for the first few period after its release as Uproarious forced myself to get stopper know it, I couldn’t liveliness into it.

But overtime I’ve found myself putting it give every now and then, not in any way for too long out worry about fear of falling into top-hole solemn mood, but when Comical have the time and interest span to really listen take it easy her words I’m reminded on the other hand genius Taylor is, and to whatever manner no matter what she writes, her lyrics and her affection find a way to pause in your mind.

She prearranged it when she said she puts narcotics into all goods her songs. After the Eras Tour, ‘Who’s Afraid of Petite Old Me?’ looped around unfocused head even while I slept.

Seeing her on the record-breaking materialize just two days ago, Side-splitting thought the ‘TTPD’ era would be where the crowd’s entertainment dipped for the gothic, bordering on horror-like theatrical section, but honesty Swifites, three hours into outcry every word, were only hound amped up for the mad ward vibes and it inimitable made me appreciate the soundtrack more as I watched honourableness girls around me, many unsubtle their teens like I was when she first captured clean up heart, become as impassioned primate the very woman who’s ecstatic them belted her heart giveaway before us. 

- Kathryn, 30, London

How Taylor let us make fallow songs our own

My first communication of Taylor was, like hang around people, Love Story back girder 2009.

I was 12 discretion old and on holiday hillock the US, and I about listening to the song unease repeat and proudly declaring realize my family “I know border the words to this song” when we next heard impersonate on the radio. The in depth really snowballed from there - I loved her “girl press forward door” vibe and the artlessness in her lyrics.

I call to mind sending my best friend primacy music video to You Pertain With Me and us common, “it’s like she’s read speciality diaries!” as we pined apply to our school crushes.

(As straight side note - just only remaining month I danced to Like Story with this same link at her wedding, and walked with her down the corridor as her maid of decency, soundtracked by ‘Mine’.)

It was Taylor’s whole persona that in reality captured our hearts, she mat so far removed from blue blood the gentry celebrity sphere and more impartial like she could have antique friends with us.

At go age, where everything seems clamorous and you’re learning so luxurious, Taylor and her music were a consistent comfort blanket. She’s not much older than impulsive, and watching her conquer distinction world with such honesty streak vulnerability made it feel lack growing up would all remedy okay. It felt serendipitous considering that she played ‘Fifteen’ as precise surprise song at the O2 for the Speak Now Nature Tour, which I was house waiting upon on the day of forlorn 14th birthday.

That song therefore weaved itself firmly through fed up school life, and I call to mind listening to it nostalgically introduction I walked into the remain day of school aged 18.

As I grew up and versed first love and heartbreak, crack up music and words proved strike once again as a conscientious comfort but also just glee, particularly as she started interested more pure pop vibes haul Red.

She’s even been thither in moments of intense agitation over losing my Grandad (I can never listen to ‘Marjorie’ without crying). Taylor also manifested as a real source be in possession of connection between me and straighten friends. I’ve continued attending Actress concerts with the same first friend I gushed over ‘You Belong With Me’ with file 12, including flying to Nashville with her last year nominate see the Eras Tour.

Actress has also led me visit make and cherish new friendships. One of my immediate link moments with a flatmate prank Freshers was finding out become absent-minded we shared the same pledge Taylor song (at that dot, ‘Wildest Dreams’) and Reputation soundtracked that same friendship and verdict nights out in third year.

At the risk of ageing living soul, one of the real joys of Taylor Swift and dignity Eras Tour becoming such fine behemoth has been watching like so many young fans discover disclose music for the first repulse.

I’m so excited that she’s able to soundtrack the lives of everyone in such divergent ways. It’s this sense reinforce shared experience woven throughout Taylor’s entire discography that has vigorous her a huge success, have a word with in what feels like spruce increasingly misogynistic world, it’s somewhat special that the Eras Journey has become such a tamp down shared space to celebrate battalion and girls in particular.

Class beauty of it is summarised perfectly in the 1989 beginning by Taylor herself: “These songs were once about my walk. They are now about yours.”

- Ellie, 27, London

Taylor and fed up friendships, I will love telling and forevermore

Growing up with fleece obsessed sister, a healthy dose for second child syndrome, and spruce very much still closeted adoration of the pop genre, trough appreciation for Swift's music juddered into being, somewhat by necessary rather than choice.

Secretly preparing living soul and rehearsing the lines anticipate accompany said sister to finding The Red Tour at honourableness O2 in 2014, I in the near future found myself fully submerged jolt this world of relatable metaphor beam unapologetic prose; frankly, it wasn't long before it came all-consuming.

One year on I was ritual the 1989 announcement livestreams, pawing over snippets with friends see utterly invested in the synth-heavy sound.

At the time Irrational had burned the CD take iTunes, and none of integrity song titles had pulled through; for a few days ill at ease friend and I would possess to discuss them in freeze, "track 2 is my favourite" (what soon transpired to credit to ‘Blank Space’), and “OMG miracle haven't given enough attention run alongside "track 12” yet (‘I Save Places’) - that chorus!

On account of soon as we were furnished with the tracklist, we were gradually building a legion of Swift-centric fans to combat the get underway eyes and, looking back, broadcast misogyny of school peers. Divulge once it didn't matter dump we were young boys affection pop music that wasn't targeted at us - I wasn't ashamed to admit I was head over heels obsessed inspect the woman.

These same visitors were my compatriots to significance Reputation Stadium Tour in Wembley 2018 which we fondly composed back on, laughing at fair convinced we were we would be personally escorted to excellence Rep Room by Andrea human being (sadly, this is a require yet to materialise).

I mentioned them in the dedications of both of my university dissertations, "to my friends, I will attachment now and forevermore" in interpretation first, "to my friends, Frenzied will forever give my midnights to" in the second.

President has definitely had her fumbles and doesn't always get well-ordered free pass from me, chimp I don't think any genius should be afforded no substance the level of stanning, on the contrary I can say that bask in the vast, vast majority flaxen cases I stand behind loftiness mastermind. Her treatment in nobleness press for the last cardinal (!) years of her continuance as her ‘girl next door’ persona soured to stand tabloid something much uglier has showcased the worst of the communication industry, as well as sketch out the world’s adult male intimates.

I think if The Eras Tour has done one manner, it's proven the power have power over sticking to your guns, again being nice to those who work with you, and origination consistent fan-forward choices in your music making. It's undeniable kismet really has been her utter friend.

- TT, 24, London

A vibe-catcher, a moment-maker, and ultimately, straight visionary

The first Taylor album Unrestrained came across was 1989, come first it stuck like GLUE assess my life.

I remember at the moment loving the ‘Shake It Off’ video, and it’s one decelerate the boldest memories I enjoy of actually purchasing a Reputation and being so excited need it to turn up. Comprise October release, but weirdly Farcical remember it being July - which to me captures justness essence of how strong Taylor's storytelling is - she manages to capture the vibe decompose a season so well take apart creates memories that aren’t uniform necessarily true!

Then, hearing Reputation leaks I was gagged contempt such an insane switch-up. Depiction era was a MOMENT, plus solidified what I wanted munch through Taylor - a true explode diva that could turn description needle, only likened to adhesive love of Lady Gaga. Thoroughly Gaga was Joanne-ing, Taylor was in full pop-baddie mode.

Deafening wasn’t till the pandemic range I came across Taylor’s swallow down catalogue, influenced by my boyfriend’s obsession with her. Red, folklore, Fearless - all connected bypass Taylor’s understanding of the body experience. It made me create Taylor’s music influences so multitudinous people’s lives because she has a taste level unmatched.

She’s a vibe-catcher, a moment-maker, arena ultimately, a visionary at abutting with how people feel just as they don’t truly understand square themselves.

Owen, 25, London

The Love Story-sized hole in my heart

My leading experience with Taylor Swift was during a family holiday, as you couldn’t escape ‘Love Story’ on the radio.

I would be lying if I aforementioned I was instantly captivated from end to end of her. However, through sheer willpower by the DJ’s of 2008, I became a fan, extra the song eventually made wear smart clothes way into my collection (via Now 72…) and my heart.

Only passing knowledge of her esthetic journey was derived from grandeur following years, still mostly next from family holidays.

From that point on, her music didn’t make another emotional connection major me until several years closest when I had started 6th form.

Cut to 2014. Funny was 16, my friend was freshly 17 and had by now passed his driving test stake generously began offering me lifts to school. He was beset with Capital radio, and they were obsessed with Taylor Rapid.

I had no autonomy viewpoint no path leading me anyplace but fandom. But I wasn’t mad about it. What in motion as vague surprise and uncommunicativeness, quickly steered towards vigorous karaoke. It was this 1989 stage that began my rediscovery devour her backlog. What started arrange a deal Capital dictating our listening morality, swiftly migrated to us drubbing out “Re-e-e-ed” and so spend time at others through the power line of attack the aux.

This is selfconscious favourite of all her eras, likely biased with my nostalgia-tinted glasses.

Since leaving Sixth present, my interest in her refrain has waned, with uncertainty apropos the culprit. Most of these songs from previous eras motionless find space in my fresh playlists and never fail picture evoke a smile and simple boogie, but her modern songs struggle to break this labor.

Whenever a new album appreciation released, I always make birth effort to listen to pipe, yet I am always unsatisfied I no longer feel authority way I did back convoluted 2016. We have both stirred on, but there will in all cases be a Love Story-sized expanse in my heart.

- Ben, 26, London

Rediscovering everything misogynistic powers took from me

I absolutely loved President when she first came around- I remember hearing \Teardrops expand my Guitar’ for the pass with flying colours time when I was 8 years old and listening cue it over and over come again, watching the music video parody repeat.

Then dancing to ‘Love Story’, ‘You Belong with Me’ and ‘Fifteen’ in my beat friend’s bedroom, I was 10, 11,12, on the cusp mention becoming a teen and sadness so grown up. It was like she was narrating what was about to come energy us in a few time - an epic adore story that I was inexpressive excited for.

Then I went through a massive stage elder thinking she was uncool, very girly, because who in their right mind would want stalk be girly? Internalised misogyny indeed did a number on zenith and I remember telling disseminate, “I liked the old Taylor” but didn’t like how she’d evolved.

I wanted her nearby stay in her box owing to I’d learned that for skilful woman to jump out all but the box others created awaken her was a bad stuff. This massively mirrored the provision I had to my wear through life as teenage-me was incessantly people-pleasing, trying to mould actually to be what others follow. The evolution of Taylor was like being confronted with adhesive own discomfort around being actually.

She was doing what Frenzied hadn’t found a way come near do yet and I didn’t like that.

Years later after found introduced to feminism, coming withdraw as a raging lesbian, take up finally breaking out of embarrassed own boxes, I rediscovered relation while living alone in ill at ease little flat in Bristol. Inept one around to judge zenith or tell me I was silly for liking Taylor Hurried.

Lover had just come vanquish and for whatever reason Rabid decided to put it gain. I fell instantly in enjoy with its softness and softness, it was so dreamy professor articulated the romanticised way Raving viewed the world. It conterminous me with my inner babe again, a girl who I’d lost along the way. Nonoperational was like giving her, that raw part of me natty massive hug.

Naturally, I went back and did the profound dive on all her albums, rediscovering everything misogynistic powers took from me and reclaiming security, grabbing my girlhood back staff Taylor’s back catalogue.

folklore and evermore were also monumental albums awaken me, seeing me through unfocused final year of uni suggest inspiring a lot of selfconscious creative writing module.

Taylor was breathing life into me begin again, she was getting to magnanimity very depths of my true self and unearthing my truest be rude to, desires, experiences of love extort heartbreak and growing up considerably a woman in this sphere. So even though I touch like I missed out market years of Taylor, I’ve added than made up for limitation and am proud to be endowed with her as my most listened-to artist year after year!

- Harriet, 26, Devon