Taylor Swift delivered a surprise studio at the height of the pandemic in July 2020. On it, Taylor explores a more indie-folk sound full of warm, cottage-core imagery like cardigans and coniferous forests under aurora-filled skies. Lauded by critics as one mature and bold record to date, Taylor has yet to lose her artistic flair, never letting herself stagnate. The album earned multiple number one spot on year-end lists by publications like Rolling Stone and Billboard while appearing on dozens of other’s top lists.
The break-up writing, ballad-singing queen of pop, country and everything in between, Taylor Swift has come to define what it means to be an icon. She has grown to symbolize so much culturally, both good and bad. From high ticket prices and massive vinyl orders, her success has made her a common target of hate from within the industry. But her diary-esque lyricism and knack for writing solid pop songs have garnered her fans across generational and genre lines that don’t usually bleed into one another. Her popularity is evident not only on streaming but in her physical format sales as well, being a leader in vinyl/CD sales even as the streaming era began. Her focus on original music and experimentation has inspired and made space for a whole crop of artists like Pheobe Bridgers, Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish. May the “Swifties” of the world prosper as Taylor’s exes suffer.
