The Taylor Trend
If girlhood were a person, it would be Taylor Swift. I often have to remind myself she is 33-years-old because of her childlike essence and knack for creating a nostalgic atmosphere. When NYU Langone psychologist Dr. Yamalis Diaz was asked about the cause of Swift’s cultural reckoning, he said: “music has the ability to transfer you back to a time, a moment or an experience…And so, with somebody like Taylor Swift…it cuts across generations.” Swift exudes familiarity, forging unspoken connections between strangers by creating albums reflecting shared experiences and, most recently, reigniting the trend of friendship bracelets.
Taylor Swift’s concerts allow people from all over to unite, experiencing her sensational live performances together. For many fans, being a part of this moment is well worth the steep price. As a result, the Eras Tour is estimated to generate billions of dollars in economic activity for the U.S., with people spending thousands on tickets, flights and hotels. After a summer of saving the economy and a fall converting her fans into Sunday night football spectators, the most recent Taylor effect has been seen in the revival of theater attendance. Since the 2010s, cinemas have experienced dips in business as usage of streaming services increased. However, theaters are filling up again as Taylor Swift appears life-size on IMAX screens in all her bejeweled glory. Fans who could not see the Eras Tour live no longer have to scour TikTok for shaky footage of surprise songs!
When I arrived at the Eras Concert Film on the opening weekend, I soon realized that Cineplex didn’t account for the hundreds of girls screaming along to each song in the setting of their speaker volume. The theater contained their excitement until the end of the first era: Lover. Led by our very own Teia Guttman (Grade 12)– the first to run down the aisle steps – a swarm of Swifties aged 8-20 rushed to the small open area below the big screen for the start of Fearless. Upbeat eras such as Reputation and Taylor’s most famous songs, including the finale Karma, led to full-fledged mosh pits. Many dedicated fans craned their necks to stare at the screen just 3 inches from their faces for all 2 hours and 48 minutes of the show.
As with all trends, some people have been slow to understand the hype. This reigns especially true for football fans unamused by the frequent cuts to Taylor Swift cheering in Travis Kelce’s box. Kenzie Sievert (Grade 12) was very confused about the spectacle I was dragging her to and showed up at my house in sweats, claiming she “just wanted to sit in the theater seat and eat her hot dog.” But, halfway through the movie, as we jumped up and down, singing You Belong With Me, she exclaimed that she didn’t even realize she knew so many words: “They’re just coming out of me!” This experience has been confirmed by many others who don’t consider themselves Swifties. Taylor has permeated our culture, and many people know more about her life and lyrics than they were even aware. WARNING: If you enter the Eras Concert Movie as a non-Swiftie, you’ll leave, realizing deep down you are one.
The frenzy around Taylor Swift can be felt throughout our Branksome community. Cate Mckenna (Grade 10) hand-made over 400 friendship bracelets, which she traded with other fans at the show. The fascination extends beyond her music, surrounding everything Taylor does. At 4:50 a.m. on the rowing bus, when dating rumours of Swift and Kelce began, the first-morning thought on Jaime Taylor’s (Grade 11) mind was to ask me if I thought the pair would get married.
In the age of cancel culture, I have recently wondered if the Taylor Swift star would ever fall. If, like most trends, she would be passed over for something newer. How could it be possible for someone at such a high level of stardom to stay there, continuously capturing our attention? But as she remarked in her acceptance speech for the Woman of the Decade Award at Billboard’s Women In Music, “I’ve learned that the difference between those who can continue to create in that climate usually comes down to this: Who lets that scrutiny break them, and who just keeps making art.” Unlike other artists whom the changing flux of fan support would rattle, Taylor remains focused on her craft. Even if the hype and fanfare begin to diminish, as Taylor eloquently wrote in her Evermore track, Willow, “They count me out time and time again/ But I come back stronger than a 90s trend”. Despite the critics, Taylor has made it known that she isn’t going anywhere. While she remains plastered on headlines and entrenched in our everyday conversations, it may seem that this era of global dominance is her peak. However, Taylor has proven that her consecutive peaks define her career, and The Taylor Trend is here to stay.