Singer and songwriter Taylor Swift is a sensation in the music industry. With 14 Grammys to her name, she is all set to unveil her new album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’. It will be released on April 19.
For those who may not know, Swift signed with Big Machine Records in 2005 and picked momentum with her albums ‘Taylor Swift’ (2006) and ‘Fearless’ (2008). She has worked on 11 albums so far and has hundreds of songs under her belt. From ‘Red’ to ‘Midnights’, every album features sharp storytelling and evokes feelings ranging from love to disappointment.
Taylor, who is loved by millions of ‘Swifties’ across the globe, is a brand in the truest sense. Let’s decode what gives her the edge over her contemporaries.
Relatable Songs
From speaking about her insecurities in ‘Anti-Hero’ to portraying the urge to escape the double life of being a celebrity in ‘Delicate’, Taylor Swift is known to make songs based on her personal experiences. Swift exhibits a deep lyrical knowledge in spinning stories of heartbreak, unrequited love, high-school romance, and much more.
Taylor often creates songs based on her past relationships and lovers. For instance, she wrote ‘Style’ after a brief affair with singer Harry Styles. Similarly, fans feel that ‘Midnight Rain’ was written for Tom Hiddleston. Whether expressing regret in ‘Back to December’ about Taylor Lautner or addressing John Mayer in the clever ‘Dear John,’ Taylor has never shied away from expressing raw emotions through her work.
This makes her songs feel real, which is responsible for her cult following.
Storytelling Approach
Taylor is known fo storytelling skills and she uses them in her songs. From presenting a modern take on Romeo-Juliet in ‘Love Story’ to creating the other side of the time-old ‘Cinderella’ in ‘Bejeweled’, Swift has used this narrative style of songwriting to captivate her fans.
Songs like ‘Fifteen’, ‘Gorgeous’ and ‘You Belong With Me’ capture the essence of teenage crushes which is again something Swifties connect with. On the other hand, songs like ‘Bad Blood’ and ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ stir feelings of betrayal and ‘coming back stronger’.
Cinematic Excellence
Taylor’s music videos are synonymous with stunning visuals. ‘Lover’, ‘Enchanted’, ‘Willow’, and ‘Me’ are fine examples of this aspect. Taylor created one of the most iconic music videos for her song ‘Bad Blood’ where she brought 17 Hollywood stars including Selena Gomez, Zendeya, and Kendrick Lamar together. Her song ‘Love Story’ is also set against a fairytale-ish backdrop, making it one of the most defining songs of Swift’s music career.
Majestic on-Stage Presence
Taylor’s recent ‘Eras Tours 2023’ proves that she is a songwriter and a great performer. Swift put a tremendous amount of energy and effort into the planning and execution of her concerts and tours. The Eras Tour especially created a buzz throughout 2023 as there were 69,000 fans in attendance. Her opening night became the most-attended female concert in US history, surpassing Madonna, who had held the record for 36 years. The tour comprises 152 shows worldwide, spanning five continents. The concert was later turned into a film, which hit screens globally. Taylor performed in various countries including Singapore, Mexico, and Brazil.
Meanwhile, her upcoming album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ is all set to be released on April 19 worldwide