Taylor Swift is one of the most popular musicians to emerge from the millennial generation, and her music reflects the coming-of-age struggles of her core audience. Her rise from the country romances of her teen years to the imperial pop of her twenties and ambivalent ruminations of her thirties was, for millions, their journey as well. To follow the career of this singularly popular musician is to witness a generation’s coming of age, and to attend a Taylor Swift concert is more than just a show; it’s an experience in which you join tens of thousands of others who grew up with her.
Swift was born in 1989, near the peak of the Millennial Baby Boom, and she’s been famous since she was 16. That’s why her songs are more than just pop tunes; they are a soundtrack to the lives of many. The music has shifted with the times, but her voice at the center of it all has remained a constant.
In the fourth grade, Swift wrote a poem called “Monster in My Closet” and entered it into a contest—which she won. She also participated in local musical theater, including roles in productions of Grease and Bye Bye Birdie. It was at this point that she realized her singing voice sounded country, and she decided to pursue a career as a singer.
By the time she was 17, Swift had signed a recording contract with Big Machine Records and begun to work on her debut album. The project was titled Speak Now, which was released in 2007. Swift toured relentlessly to promote the album, and she received numerous awards from both the CMAs and the AMAs.
The following year, Taylor won Album of the Year at both the Grammys and the AMAs for her second album, Red. The record was a departure from her previous country style, and she worked with new producers and songwriters, including Max Martin and Shellback – who would become two of her biggest collaborators in the future. Red also incorporated new genres into her sound, like dubstep and dance-pop.
While not a hit, this song is an important lyrical moment in Swift’s catalog. It’s the first time she sings about a relationship that feels less than ideal, and it’s arguably her most straightforward love song of the era.
