Swiftie (Taylor's Version)

from Pinterest

I don’t remember the exact date or time, or even the year for that matter; I had heard ‘Love Story’ from Taylor’s Fearless and was already in love with it. A friend wrote down the lyrics and gave them to me while she met me at the tuition class. Later I showed the folded-up paper containing my friend’s small and pretty handwriting, to another friend and told her it was a love letter from a guy and she almost believed me; until I couldn’t keep it up any longer and started laughing and gave the game away. I don’t remember any major fan-girl moments that must have happened after that. All I remember is I learning Love Story’s lyrics by-heart and singing it to myself constantly. Taylor Swift was the name that could be found against the ‘Favourite singer’ column in most of my scrapbooks. I just thought of her as a singer; I was used to songs having different people to write them, add music to them and sing it. I remember watching Wildest Dreams and Style on TV and waiting for the channels to play it again. Then reputation happened. I had access to her IG page. I saw the sudden announcement and the black glistening snake and the beautiful album cover and tracklist. LWYMMD came out and I realized how powerful she was…is. I had no idea about the Taylor Swift is Over Party and about treacherous phone calls and Snake Day celebrations. It had all happened during a time I had no access to anything that discussed these. I learned about all the shit that had gone down leading to Taylor disappearing and seethed with righteous anger. And I cheered for her when she came back stronger than a 90’s trend. I religiously paid attention to all her IG stories, counted down for reputation stadium tour, and giggled with joy whenever Olivia and Meredith blessed us with their charming indifference and cuteness, I sighed with sadness knowing nothing will seem as cool as rep stadium tour, and here I was, oceans apart, missing it. I remember going mad at the butterfly mural, the butterfly sparkly heels, and pink hair and palm trees, and fences with holes. I hadn’t even properly recovered from reputation when Lover came out. By this time I had realized I had always been a swiftie; friends who knew me knew they could help me get over bad things by pushing me to listen to Swift; “Go listen to some Taylor, darling.” I knew I just have to play Bad Blood or State of Grace or Holy Ground if I wanted to pull myself together. I have lost my head over several things over the years but my love for Taylor Swift has remained constant. Her struggle to get her masters back gave me sleepless nights and brought tears to my eyes. Her sass and the way she called out the people who had bullied her and celebrated National Snake Day on her behalf, through her lyrics inspire me. Her laugh in TIWWCHNT still makes me laugh. I saw someone, probably a fellow swiftie, post ‘The Devil works hard, but Taylor works harder’ during 2020. I should take inspiration from her and try and be at least 10% as productive as her. Earlier I was a little embarrassed to tell people that my most favourite artist is Taylor Swift; so childish! I read somewhere, adulthood is going back to the things we loved as teenagers, and love and enjoy it unabashedly; I am doing that. And Taylor has given more reasons for me to do so. I had a friend asking me if I’m doing ok after Taylor released folklore out of the woods- out of the blue. I have become a proud swiftie (Taylor’s Version), crying at the Love Story lyric video and rooting for an artist who has always lit candles inside my darkest cabins.