@onlymythoughts 20 August 2021 edited more from that month

Swifties

Taylor Swift exploded onto the country music scene back in 2006 with her single Tim McGraw which reached number 6 on the 'Hot Country Songs' chart in the US. Her style was fresh, dynamic and brought together a modern sound and a traditional country style. Fresh faced with long blond curly hair she was an artist destined to be a megastar. Her first album entitled simply 'Taylor Swift' was released also in 2006 and reached a number 5 on the billboard 200 album chart. **Check out Taylors first single below.** https://youtu.be/GkD20ajVxnY She has a huge fanbase, she writes her own music, she can play the guitar and sing. She undoubtedly has a huge talent. Her second album 'Fearless' which was released in 2008 performed even better, reaching number 1 on the billboard 200 album chart. Her style had moved away from a traditional country style and sounded much more like pop, though her music incorporated many country music elements and instruments still. Probably her best known single 'Love story' appeared on this album. A song with a romeo and juliet theme. All her songs tell a story and she sings often about relationships and romance. Love story reached a high of number 4 on the billboard 100 and number 1 in the country music charts. It also reached a high of number 2 in the UK, a huge hit indeed! **Check out Taylors Single 'Love Story' below.** https://youtu.be/8xg3vE8Ie_E The next album she released was called 'Speak Now' which again reached number 1 on the US album chart and stayed there for 11 weeks! My favourite song from the album is called 'Back to December' which is a well composed romantic ballad, a very nice song I think. **Check out Taylors single 'Back to December' below.** https://youtu.be/QUwxKWT6m7U Her style became ever more modern and the next album 'Red' was distinctly more pop than country music. After that in her next album called '1989' (the year of her birth), she moved away from country music entirely! This album also reached number 1 on the billboard chart. 1989 was a pure pop album which disapponted me as a country music fan. She was trying to appeal to a younger audience and throw off her country roots. The best know single from this album was called 'Shake it off' maybe about shaking off her reputation as a country music artist. I didn't like this album much, it was a real disappointment and with Taylors next album called 'Reputation' things became even worse. She released a single called 'Look what you made me do' in 2017 in which she became in my opinion rather bitter about the way she was viewed and her reputation. The song does not really have much of a tune, the video is to me all about a good girl who turned bad, a real shame. I have to say that I much prefered the old Taylor Swift! The single reached number 1 on the billboard 100 and was a big hit however. The following two albums were both released in 2020 during the pandemic. Her style on the Album 'Folklore' was much more mature. It sounded like Taylor had grown up, the lyrics were poetic and creative. For me Taylor redeemed herself somewhat with the release of this album and it again reached number 1 in the US album chart! My favourite song from the album is called 'Seven.' It is a very well thought out song performed brilliantly. I have shared the live version which shows she is a talented musician. **Check out Taylor Swift 'Seven' below.** https://youtu.be/lcaXPznMKI8 She released her most recent album only a month or two later which was entitled 'Evermore' needless to say this also went to number 1 in the US. Taylor can reinvent herself, move with the times, be controversial too but she cannot be ignored. Which direction will she go in next? Who knows, though in my opinion even if she does not always get it right, she is brave enough to be different and stand out from the crowd. I will always have a soft spot for Taylor Swift and her music. Maybe she will put together a new country album in the future. I wonder what you think about Taylor and the way her style has changed over the years. Article is my own Lead image courtesy of pixabay Videos are from Youtube