Sunday, January 10, 2010

Fearless

I like Taylor Swift.



I feel no shame in this.

In fact, I adore her (who doesn't?), and I'll tell you why (because I know you're dying to know):

First, she's a writer, and I've always believed that singers who write their own material are infinitely more interesting than those who show up and sing whatever is handed to them. Did you know that Taylor Swift walked away from her first record deal, because they wouldn't allow her to record her own songs? RCA wanted to package her up like all the other little pop-tarts out there. Which brings us to the second reason:



She's not Britney Spears. She writes her own material. She plays her own instruments. She keeps her clothes on. She seems like a genuinely nice person, and genuinely grateful for the opportunity that she's been given.

Taylor Swift is only twenty, and her life experience is that of a twenty-year old girl, but I relate to what she says. That's the sign of a great writer -- someone that can write personally, and still make it accessible and identifiable to a larger audience. Two months ago, on my last day of work -- at a job I held for ten years, and hated for nine and a half --  as I drove home, facing unemployment, wondering if I could really make the jump into the photography business and with my emotions swirling, I put in Taylor Swift's Fearless. The song the came on first was Change.



"It's a sad picture. The final blow hits you. Somebody else gets what you wanted, again. You know it's all the same, another time and place. Repeating history, and you're getting sick of it. But, I believe in whatever you do -- and I'll do anything to see it through, because these things will change. Can you feel it now? These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down. It's a revolution, the time will come for us to finally win."

By the time I got home, I believed I could do anything.

I'm not quite there yet, but when I find myself getting overwhelmed by the whole situation, I play Taylor Swift, and it changes me. Every time.

And there are two more reasons.



There's a line from "Fifteen" that sold me on Taylor Swift:

"In your life, you'll do things greater than dating the boy on the football team."

I think that line should be burned over the doorway to the bedroom of every girl in America. And, as long Taylor Swift is writing lines like that, she can play at our house.

14 comments:

Wendy said...

Great post! And great saying to put on every doorway!

We all love Love Story--esp. the version pieced together by John Schmidt "Love Store Meets Coldplay"

kayerj said...

courage comes from unexpected places. Love that shot of your girls.

CC said...

Didn't know any of that. But I am a big fan of any singer that actually writes/composes/etc. their own music!

Unknown said...

excellent post!
~AM

Pam Emmons said...

I thought you were just going to write about how cute she is....

Good post.

And yes, you can do anything. You are one of those people I look up to. I thought about that at church today during the sacrament talk.

Mom24 said...

She really is terrific, isn't she? I love Fifteen, reminds me so much of myself at that age and what I do and do not want for my girls.

I hope that this is a year full of good changes for you.

Emily said...

Wow. I had no idea that you were a TS fanatic. I thought you were Miley all the way. :P Taylor Swift is alright with me...even though she's dating my boyfriend.

{krista} said...

I love Taylor Swift... and that line from her song is a classic for sure! I know one too many teens who need this plastered in their brains!

Anonymous said...

I SOOO Agree!! My daughter and I are huge Taylor fans. I love the messages she puts out there.

Fabulous post!

Holly said...

I see her everywhere but haven't heard too much of her music. She seems like a great artist and role model, and I hope fame doesn't do her in.

imbeingheldhostage said...

Goosebumps. That photo. wow. Perfect thoughts and lyrics to post with it.
My boys luvs them some Taylor, her voice rings through our house regularly.

Anonymous said...

I know nothing of Tylor Swift other than "She wears high heels, I wear sneakers" from my kindergartner who picked it up at school. But after reading your post I like her more already. She's not really the genre of music I pay much attention to, but I do think the above mentioned song is quite catchy.

Love the picture of your girls.

latree said...

she's not britney spears!
cool, love this quote ;)

*this makes me feel really good as I write my own song though I still don't think I will record it anyway...*

Emmy said...

Yes, I agree! Every little girl should be required to listen to Fifteen. Such a good song!!