Taylor Swift’s ability to turn personal narratives into universal anthems has defined her career. With each new album, she has continued to explore different genres, establishing herself as a master of pop music. Red, her fourth studio album, integrated pop, rock and techno, while 1989 marked a decisive shift towards synth-pop and became one of her most popular releases to date. Following the release, she embarked on the massive Red Tour and topped Billboard’s 200 with an impressive first week sales record.
After reclaiming ownership of her master tapes, Swift released an expanded version of her 2008 album Fearless with the Red Edition in 2012. With nine never-before-released tracks, the project allowed fans to explore “more nuanced relationship issues on a lush, montage-ready album that opens up new sonic vistas for Taylor.”
In 2015, she released the hit single “Shake It Off” from the Fifty Shades Darker film soundtrack. The song was a global smash that catapulted her to a whole new audience and established her as an iconic figure. That same year, she also co-wrote two songs for the Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana series and collaborated with ZAYN on the hits “This Is What You Came For” and “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever.”
With her sixth studio album, Reputation, Taylor set out to reclaim the crown as queen of pop. It was a risky move that paid off. The album was nominated for a record-tying 23 Grammy Awards and won four. It was the biggest album of the year and set multiple streaming records. It also sold the most tickets for a world tour in history, setting an era of unprecedented success for Taylor.
While redefining her musical style, she also redefined what it meant to be a pop star. With the release of the album’s lead single “Look What You Made Me Do,” Taylor created the most polarizing music video in history. The controversial video included a scene in which Taylor violently smashed a microphone into the face of a photographer who was taking pictures of her during a live performance. The video went viral and was condemned by many critics, but Taylor defended herself by saying that the incident was an accident.
The release of the album saw Taylor become a cultural icon, and the following year she began the multi-year Eraser Tour. She continued to defy conventions and break boundaries with her music while empowering her fan base at every turn. She has also proven herself to be an unabashed philanthropist and public activist.
