Will I Ever Enjoy Taylor Swift Music Again?

In my head, this post concept sounded cool, but I was unsure about it on paper, or more specifically, on screen. In my early teens, I didn’t have a ton of internet access. In fact, we got internet at my house around age 11-12, when I couldn’t do without it for school. In fact, I recall my mother making her first video call using Skype. I feel ancient, remembering that, but oh well. Once again, I’m off-track with my thoughts. I didn’t have access to audiobooks or a way to listen to books. It was a time when I struggled with muscle pain a lot, aka a lot of sleepless nights and hospital visits.

So, my mum got me my first iPod and told the shop owner to fill it with current music. Saying I was over the moon is an understatement. I remember annoying my sister a lot because I would sing at the top of my lungs, off-key and tone-deaf. This is what led me to start listening to music on YouTube. I still remember the first Taylor Swift song I ever listened to, which was “I Belong to You.” I was at home, waiting to attend a school event. Side note, it’s unbelievable how clear some memories come back to you years later. Anyway, from then on, I listened to her music for years.

At around 18, I stopped, not sure why, but I no longer related to the songs. It was a time when she exploded as an artist, but if I remember correctly, she wasn’t getting a ton of radio time locally during the time I was in the car listening to that. My idea was to pair some of her latest music, which I had never heard, with books. However, for whatever reason, the lyrics made me anxious, which is super weird because it only happened to me once more before with a religious song, but in this case, I don’t know the cause, since two or three of the songs I listened to were about love, a topic I write and read about often so I don’t get it myself.

Things didn’t go as I planned, but I’m still sharing this since it’s valid to me, even if I might get judged for it, given how much Taylor Swift is loved. Don’t get me wrong, I love all the good she does in the world and the millions she helps with her talent, but as much as I can’t explain the reason, I can’t connect with her art anymore, as sad as that is. As I was about to post this, I found that most of her lyrics are inspired by books, which makes it more wild to have the feelings I have.