It’s been a hectic year for many people, but especially for Swifties. “Swifties” is a sweet nomenclature for the fans of Taylor Swift, an American singer and songwriter. But you already knew that…
At age 33, Taylor reached billionaire status, broke a Grammy record, and received a musical doctorate degree from New York University. Taylor’s road to commercial and critical acclaim is aspirational. She began composing songs on her guitar at 12 years old and moved from Pennsylvania to Nashville to pursue country music. Her fifth album, 1989, signified a career change to pop music.
During COVID-19, Taylor explored even more genres, from indie folk to lofi productions in albums like Folklore and Evermore. Her newest album will be released in April; it will be called The Tortured Poets Department. Taylor is currently traveling internationally for the Eras Tour, which is a series of three-hour-long stadium concerts that take fans through all her albums, each one having its own distinct fashion, storytelling, and sonic styles, called “eras.”
Beijing City International School has an impressive collection of Swifties, one of which is my friend Margret in Grade 7. Margret and I bonded over our love of music and student-initiated projects. She is practically my little sister, much like how Taylor herself cultivated a sense of sisterhood among her friends and fans. We started a Taylor Swift club involving students from G7 to G12 and will hopefully connect with global Swifties. If the Eras Tour can raise the GDP of an entire country, then we can build communities around shared admiration for our idol’s music journey.
Taylor’s greatest talent is lyricism. Her lyrics are poetic, metaphorical, and full of rich imagery. Both her confessional and fictional songs craft intimate worlds listeners relate to personally. Taylor Swift is magic and brings together people from different generations with her music. Whether you’re a Millenial, Gen Z, or Gen Alpha, there’s something relatable in her music for everyone.
She is a communicator, storyteller, and writer. So, our club decodes and analyzes her lyrics, which explore accessible themes like love, human relationships, and personal growth, but which also glisten with hidden artistic depths. Taylor also drops “Easter eggs” in her songs and music videos, which are clues to her music, business, and personal life ventures. This clever marketing strategy ensures the fanbase’s intrigue, loyalty, and long-term engagement. Our club cracks open these Easter eggs and dive deep into the rabbit hole of Taylor-mania. We’re all mad here; it’s fine.
If you watched Taylor’s documentary Miss Americana in 2020, you’ll know Taylor has lived an extraordinary life. In her own words, she is “imaginative, smart, and hardworking,” and an ideal role model for young women. She is both a sensitive artist and a strategic businesswoman with ambition to burn. Several hardships graced her childhood and career, but she took accountability, re-invented herself, and continued making art. Her strong moral compass and resilient attitude provide an interesting case study for success in the music industry and really, life. So, our club deconstructs Taylor’s life, from business decisions to personal lessons – her sleepless nights, wasted tears, lost love and friendships, rising from the dead, greatest achievements, and greatest mistakes. We can all learn a few tricks from Tay Tay’s “Anti-Hero” playbook.
Finally, Taylor is a generous philanthropist. She frequently donates to charities and uses her music for charitable causes, from writing the song “Ronan” to raise awareness for child cancer to improving American public school education. She also funded a fan’s college experience in gratitude for her support. To honor her legacy, our club also raises money for charities close to our hearts such as Help a Child Smile, Roots and Shoots, and Migrant Children’s Foundation. We do so by selling handcrafts and snacks related to Taylor Swift’s self-branding. Taylor’s public persona has remained humble and down-to-earth despite reaching astronomical fame over the years. Her brilliant marketing skills tell the fascinating, adventurous story of a complex protagonist. She is both a role model and a main character, and our club aims to reflect her intelligence and creativity.
If you want to join, check out our poster and scan the QR code.
Images: Helen Wang
