The Old Taylor Is Not Dead

When my parents introduced me to their favorite music as kids, I was shown bands such as Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, Duran Duran, and The Cure. When I become a parent, and I show my children the music that filled my childhood with joy, above all else, they will hear Taylor Swift, the lyrical genius of our generation. Songs like “Speak Now,” “Mean,” “All Too Well,”  and “Exile” are prime examples of the attributes that make Taylor Swift a force in the music industry: beautiful storytelling intertwined with her remarkable singing voice. For years, Swift produced country-pop albums that were internationally acclaimed and adored. Her unique style granted her many loyal fans, also known as Swifties, who live and breathe all things Taylor Swift. 

Around 2014, Taylor Swift began to drift away from her country-esque music into the pop genre. Despite this shift in her music, albums like 1989 and Red which are primarily pop music, still encapsulated her signature style. In 2017, Taylor Swift disappeared from the industry for around a year, a period she describes as a much needed break from the public's abuse. After her much awaited return to the music industry, many of her diehard fans were disappointed to see that Swift had returned as a pop artist releasing albums like “Reputation,” which lacked the spark Taylor Swift is known for. She had gone from practically ruling her own music genre to being another song on the radio, because she thought that would grant her the most success. All this to say, the music she was making at this time was still impressive, just not the classic Taylor Swift we had all adored.

In recent months, it seems Taylor has begun to produce more music that coincides with the classic Taylor Swift. While her newest albums, Folklore and Evermore, are associated with the pop genre, there are a couple of songs and moments that reflect her country roots. Taylor Swift has returned to creating music that has her name written all over it. While listening to Folklore and Evermore fulfilled my want for the old Taylor, in recent days Taylor Swift has revealed that she is re-recording some of her most adored songs, including “Love Story,” which has already been released! According to hints found in multiple social media posts, we should expect a re-record of Fearless to be released on April 9th! In all, Taylor Swift will re-record 26 songs and release 6 new songs! There is no doubt that Swifties like me were elated by this news. To all Taylor Swift fans, this is a very exciting time, and contrary to the lyrics of “Look What You Made Me Do,” it is clear the old Taylor is not dead.

By Ruby Kaufman