The Beauty of Music:
Taylor Swift’s Career and Inspirational Work
by Lauren Watts '22
Music is something we can always count on to bring the world together, especially in strenuous times like these. The beauty of music is that it can be appreciated by everyone, whether through lyrics, meaning, rhythm, or the artist. For many, music has been an escape during the struggles we have all faced this past year, but we wouldn’t have this amazing art form without the innovative and thoughtful musical creators who write to express themselves and provide an outlet for the rest of the world.
Over the summer, singer-songwriter Taylor Swift surprised fans with the release of her Folklore on July 24 and as a Swiftie I can say it was most definitely one of the highlights of my summer. More recently she also released Evermore this past December which became her eighth studio album to reach number one on the Billboard 200. Swift’s writing always has a meaning that a wide range of listeners can relate to and understand. This is not just a strong trend of her current and newer music but in all of her work she has been sharing since she produced her first album, Taylor Swift, in October of 2006. Since then, her work has raced to the top of the charts in the music world not only in the United States, but all over the world, with countless number 1 hits. Swift’s accomplishments don’t stop there, as she has also appeared in and written music for several movies, in addition to producing creative music videos, several of which she has directed herself. Not only is Swift known for her involvement in Hollywood and the music industry, but she is also well-known for her philanthropy and support of movements such as women’s rights.
Throughout Swift’s career, her hard work has been recognized numerous times, making her one of the biggest names in the music industry and giving aspiring artists a strong female to admire. With multiple Grammys, Country Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, People’s Choice Awards and more, it is clear that her work has been widely recognized in multiple categories. Swift currently holds the record for the most American Music Awards of any artist after having reached 29 AMAs in 2019 where she also received the award for “Artist of the Decade.”
Swift's career has not become successful without a few bumps in the road. Many will remember the infamous 2009 MTV Video Music Awards where Swift received her first VMA for her song “You Belong With Me” in the category of Best Female Video. During Swift’s acceptance speech, rapper Kanye West took the stage, telling Taylor “Imma let you finish” and further proceeding to explain that Beyoncé had “one of the best videos of all time.” Despite the retaliation Swift has received from other big names during her career, she has always remained true to herself, her music, and her fans. The release of her sixth album, Reputation, included many songs and lyrics focused on her response to the backlash she has received over the years. In addition to selling 1.216 million copies in the U.S. in the first week, she beat her own record for the highest grossing tour in the U.S., making a total of $191.1 million.
More recently, Swift has been keeping fans up to date throughout the process of rerecording her music from her first six albums that were produced under Big Machine Records and purchased by entrepreneur Scooter Braun. Swift’s legal team was recently working on a way to purchase the masters to her first six albums (Lover, Folklore, and Evermore have all been released under Republic Records); however, Swift later found out that her music had been sold by Braun to Shamrock Holdings, who was not allowed to reach out to Swift until the deal was complete. Swift mentioned in a Tweet explaining the situation on November 16th that she is unable to work with Shamrock Holdings knowing that Braun will continue to profit off her music according to their deal. Throughout this ordeal Swift has continued to persevere and has announced to fans that she has already started rerecording her own music to rerelease and says that it “has already proven to be both exciting and creatively fulfilling.”
​
There is no doubt that Taylor Swift has had one of the most successful careers in the music industry in the past 14 years since she released her first album. From country, to pop, and now alternative music she has been able to connect with fans all over the world who appreciate her art and the time she has spent making it. The stories Swift weaves into her music, whether relating to her own life or others, never fail to captivate audiences and connect with them. If you have not done so already, I highly recommend listening to her two newest albums, Folklore and Evermore, which are unlike anything fans have seen from Swift before but still strongly showcase her exquisite songwriting skills.
Sources:
https://www.purewow.com/news/taylor-swift-awards
https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/8544611/2019-amas-winners-list
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-52003974
https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/taylor-swift-breaks-own-tour-record-sold-out-reputation
https://twitter.com/taylorswift13/status/1328471874318311425/photo/1