A pop music star since she was 16, Taylor Swift has been at the forefront of popular culture for most of her adult life. Her rise to fame is the story of the millennial generation coming of age, and her music has evolved with it. From the country romance of her teens, to the imperial pop of her twenties, and now her ambivalent ruminations of her thirties, Taylor Swift’s voice has remained the constant throughout her musical journey.
She wrote her first song, “Lucky You”, at the age of 12 after a computer repairman taught her to play guitar and helped her develop her talent as a songwriter. At 14 she was signed to a development deal with RCA Records, but left the contract to pursue a career as a solo artist. She began taking frequent trips to Nashville, writing with professional songwriters including Liz Rose and Jack Antonoff. She also began to model, and worked on a campaign for Abercrombie & Fitch.
After a showcase performance at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe, Taylor caught the attention of Scott Borchetta, who was preparing to form his own independent label, Big Machine Records. Swift was signed and began working with a variety of producers and songwriters, developing a close connection with Max Martin. She also took part in a recording project with fellow country singer Colbie Caillat called Fearless, which was released in 2008.
Taylor’s first album was titled Fearless and it was a critical and commercial success. It was the best-selling debut album by a female artist in history and earned multiple awards and nominations. She is also the youngest artist to win an AMA Award for Artist of the Year.
The most controversial song from the record was “Blank Space”, a love letter to her ex-boyfriend that debuted in February 2013. It sent a wave of shock and outrage through the country and caused many people to question its sexual innuendos and overtones. However, the song was a hit and helped to propel Taylor to even greater fame.
“Shake It Off” is an upbeat and catchy song that was a hit on the charts in the summer of 2013. The song shook off all of the negative publicity surrounding Taylor from her infamous feud with Katy Perry. The song is also an indicator of how comfortable Taylor was with playing the bad girl, a trait that would continue to define her career. This song has a slinky groove and features something that Taylor had rarely used before: a solo saxophone. It’s an irresistible earworm and one of the more fun songs from Taylor’s career.
