It's her era, and we're just living in it.

If you're a Swiftie, you probably know the behemoth I am talking about, and if you don't, then stop living under a rock and relive this cruel summer with us. Taylor Swift, a multi-Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, actor, model, ambassador, activist and now also a director, has managed to sell out the biggest of stadiums with her fans chanting her lyrics. She has not only managed to stay relevant but, has also crusaded billboards at No. 1 throughout her 17 years in the industry. In this house, we also call her "Mother". Some tout her as one of the greatest lyricists of our times, with her music resonating with everybody from the age of 9 to 60. Some artists have lunged at her for inspiration, including Phoebe Bridgers, Olivia Rodrigo, Finneas, Conan Gray, Camilla Cabello, and many more. Some have regarded her as the mother of snakes, even having the audacity to tease and harass her on several occasions.Ye ye ye, they have maligned her viciously, badgered her fan-base, and persecuted her again and again. But what has happened in the past decade that's been different? Why does this particular artist profusely demand your attention? Let's dissect everything, shall we?

When time turns flames to embers, you'll have new Septembers... Unlike other pop artists, most of whom started their careers with nickelodean and eventually started to sway to their musical artistry, and unlike other country artists who decided to stay in their respective genres till the end of their times, Swift started out as an indie artist in 2006, at the ripe age of 16. What followed was an array of music, with raw, unkempt emotions in her personal life. Herself-titled first album cemented her as an artist to look out for, her next album Fearless released in 2008 with songs people head bang to till date, it pegged her to gain international fame. What followed was the journey of an artist meddling through different genres with ease. What looked like a cake walk on the outside was an artist striving to be her best, proving that her resolve could not be shaken by media scrutiny, trolls, or even her own life occasionally. Speak Now, released in 2010, followed by Red, released in 2012, showed that Swift was not going to box or conform herself in a single genre, going above and beyond to prove why she started her journey. I remember I was 16, in 10th grade, and some guy had broken my heart (the usual charade). You know who I went to? It's my T-Swizzle; it's her 1989, which I listened to throughout the night. The ostentatious visuals and the nonchalant, easy going lyrics tugged at my heartstrings in all the right places.

If a man talks sh*t, then I owe him nothing. I don't regret it one bit, 'cause he had it coming... Swift, since day 1 has been an artist who has kept her head down and worked hard amid been subjected to varied forms of media trolling, slut shaming, and even at times anonymous people on the internet questioning her artistry. However, push came to shove when she was embroiled in a feud with Kanye West in 2016, when he penned down a misogynistic lyric for Swift in his then song "Famous", claiming he asked her permission before making it a part of his song, which was later denied by Swift. It sparked social media outrage with Ye's then wife releasing an edited version of the phone call between ~ West and Swift, dividing fan-bases into two groups thirsty for each other's blood. For a year, nobody saw her. No paps, no fans, nothing. 2017 was her revival. This was the year when she decided to come for everybody's throat. Everybody who wronged her, everybody who condescended her, and, oh, also everybody who didn't know what a marketing goliath she is. Reputation recorded the highest Pre-sale for an album in its first week, fastest selling album to reach No. 1 on iTunes, 2017's top selling album, all without a single interview or promotion of her. Reputation reinstated Swift as an unshakeable megastar in the music industry who has experimented and made every genre her own with her own touch of sparkly pink and gold.

Lived in the shade you were throwing 'Til all of my sunshine was gone, gone, gone...

In the past decade, Swift has not only vouched for herself but has also taken her power back from record labels that have refused to give artists the right to own their own music. She went head-to-head in an ugly fight with Scooter Braun, who bought her entire catalogue without letting her have the opportunity to buy her master recordings. Her entire life's work was taken away from her in a second. ( Something that has happened to the majority of artists in existence —yes, even Sir Paul Mccartney.) In spite of letting this enormous ordeal bog her down, she decided to re-record her entire catalogue, something that very few artists have the strength to conjure. Swift went ahead and re-recorded three of her albums in her bid to own and have complete autonomy over her own music, again proving why she is an icon who should never be messed with!

I just wanted you to know,

This is me trying... Taylor Swift today stands as a testament for a woman and an artist who started her career by penning down her emotions in her songs, giving everyone of us a bit of her heart and soul while she wailed for love herself. She was a woman who was shamed for writing about her past romantic relationships, while we catapulted male artists for doing the exact same thing. She is a woman who snatched her power back from her abusers by not keeping the peace and dignity that women are expected to maintain but by yelling, resisting, fighting, singing, and proving to her resolute self why she is one of the hardest working women in the music industry! She is one of us; we are a part of her. She writes about us, often for us. It's her era & we're just living in it.

Btw, which song from the Speak now Tv is your favourite, let us know in the comments below ?