The first time I heard Taylor Swift, I was riding shotgun in the front seat of my dad’s pickup truck. Living in South Georgia—the land of cotton fields and pecan trees—country radio was just as much of a staple as sausage and grits. However, this voice on the radio was distinct and different, more than the stereotypical southern drawl that usually came on WKAK 104.5. I remember my dad said he thought it was a new artist. I was hooked.
Flash forward and we’re taking on the world together…or at least middle school drama. “Love Story” became the soundtrack to daydreams over my first crush—illegally recorded from the radio station onto a tape recorder that rattled around my bike basket as I pedaled down the long gravel driveway. One rainy afternoon in Target I took prize money from hunting Easter eggs and bought my first CD, Fearless.
I eventually upgraded to an MP3 player just as Speak Now was released and it rattled around in a different bike basket on a larger bike—until I tangled the earbud wires in the bike spokes and they snapped. The night Red was released, I convinced my parents to drive me to Fry’s Electronics to buy the CD and we listened to it on the drive home with the windows down, savoring the cool October air–wishing for a scarf I’d left in my room. By this time we’d moved across the state to North Georgia; “Love Story” switched to “Enchanted” and then in 2015, “This Love.”
Taylor’s adolescence in music hit around the same time as mine. As most music artists transitioned to streaming, Swift temporarily rebelled, pulling her music from Spotify from late 2014 until 2017. As my MP3 player started to collect dust in the drawer in favor of laptops and smartphones, I took a T. Swift hiatus. Thus, her next few albums, Reputation and Lover missed my radar.
When Folklore appeared, however, I spent September in melancholy daydreams while the long-sought rain poured. I didn’t know it then, but I was mourning something precious that I could never fully recover. In some ways, that season symbolized a loss of innocence and the slow beginnings of the end of myself. At least myself as I was.
Years passed. Emotionally and physically hollow, I stumbled across “Coney Island” in fall 2023. It got colder and colder as the sun went down on that season, the haunting strains of that song describing my disconnected life and finding a safe resting place in my aching heart. My life was an empty grave and I knew it.
The day after New Year there wasn’t any glitter on the floor. The party was over and it was time to go. I packed all the belongings that I could carry with two hands and a rucksack and moved back to Georgia, but this time to a different place where I couldn’t chase shadows in the grocery line. In this new territory, pieces of my past fell away like old cardigans, but Taylor’s music resurfaced to me as I watched life begin again.
For some people, this upcoming weekend means 4/20 with reggae music and a THC high. But I’ll be staying up until midnight in anticipation for The Tortured Poets Department to drop. Like so many fans around the world, Swift’s stories and songs entwined with mine at various points over the last two decades. In many ways, her journey has even reflected the music industry as a whole as media moved from tangible CDs and radio stations to MP3 players and iPods to streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. Her hesitation to join the streaming bandwagon in 2014 and the exclusive perks available when purchasing her CDs and vinyl on Target demonstrate her leanings towards the old soul romanticism that permeates her music.
Even as I reflect on the past, I’m excited to see what’s in store for the next era. While Swifties have known about the new album since the Grammys in February, no music has been released and very little information has surfaced about the album’s meaning. However, fans are far from twiddling their thumbs. Here are 7 things you can do in anticipation of The Tortured Poets Department to help ride out the wait.
Dress up from your favorite era
“No era truly fades from fashion. Red not only conjures cherry hues but also exudes a nostalgic charm reminiscent of the 1950s, peppered with Renaissance peasant shirts. For those drawn to tall boots and sparkles, Fearless offers a daring new look. With springtime upon us, the pastels of 1989 and Lover are also in vogue. And for those seeking to make a statement, pairing a choker necklace with a moody maroon sweatshirt captures the essence of Reputation.
Create a workout playlist inspired by the Eras tour
Did you know that Taylor Swift trained for her Eras tour by rehearsing every single song while running on a treadmill every day? While most of us may not have the time (or stamina) for such a rigorous routine, her dedication is undeniably admirable. And for fellow Swifties who don’t want to sort through her 10 albums to make their own playlist, fear not! There are already playlists like this one, curated with 3.5 hours of her most upbeat songs, ready to keep your spirits high and blood pressure low.
Plan an Eras Tour Movie watch party
Gather your girlfriends and get ready to “Shake It Off.” Exclusively available on Disney+, the highly awaited Eras Tour Movie is now available to view at home. Friendship bracelets and a French blonde cocktail—reputedly Taylor’s new favorite drink—are a must. A French blonde consists of gin and grapefruit with elderflower liqueur, lemon bitters, and Lillet Blanc wine. Sweet but sophisticated with a slightly bitter zest, the French blonde sounds like the calling card for new romantics.
Speculate with fan theories
So far, no music has dropped from The Tortured Poets Department. All we know about the 11th album is that it features 16 songs, including a duet with Post Malone. Their names have also been released but with no clues as to what they mean.
However, fans have filled the silent space with speculation over what the album is about. Is it about her ex Joe Alywn, who reputedly was part of a chat group called “The Tortured Man’s Club?” Or maybe some of the songs pay homage to her current lover, Travis Kelce? While it’s impossible to know exactly, the dark, ethereal black-and-white pictures—and 7 explicit album tracks—suggest a Wuthering Heights level of passion unequaled in her earlier work. A great place for this sort of brainstorming is Reddit’s r/TaylorSwift.
Pre-order the new album on Target
Just as they did with ‘Midnights‘, Target now offers four exclusive versions of ‘The Tortured Poets Department‘, each featuring a different bonus track and cover art. Collect all four to access all the music and exclusive posters, or simply choose your favorite for a unique addition to your collection. For bonus points, go to the store like a pre-teen purchasing Fearless for the first time.
Attend the Tortured Poets Department Midnight Listening Party
If you live near Decatur, you’re in luck. Starting at 10 pm. on the evening of April 18th, Little Shop of Stories bookstore will host a listening party event with “Swift or Shakespeare” trivia, a friendship bracelet-making station, and a Travis Kelce costume contest. Admission is only $20 and includes 2 free drink tickets in case you want to sip on eras-style cocktails. The event lasts until 1 am., with plenty of time to hear the new music at the event as soon as it drops.
Usher in 4/19 with Midnights
If you’d rather stumble home to your cats, light a floral candle to induce a“Lavender Haze” and stay up listening through your favorite eras until midnight strikes. It’s like New Year’s Eve, but better because there’s new music beyond the midnight oil instead of strangers kissing on Times Square.
What’s your Taylor Swift love story? As the next chapter opens, I hope you celebrate all the eras in her music and your own life. Through the years, her music steadily reflects a nostalgic fondness without growing stagnant, indicated in lyrics like “vintage tea, brand new phone.” It’s the yin and the yang of new and old. From the curly-haired country gal with the acoustic guitar to the bejeweled singer who still rocks tall boots while belting pop songs, she shifts her style with the seasons but remains true to herself and inspires her fans to do the same.
Whether I’m listening to her on the radio, streaming on a phone, or adopting the early 2000s mindset of buying a CD to download the tracks, I’ve heard every album and plan to do so evermore.
Conclusion
As I eagerly await Taylor Swift’s new album, I reflect on how her music has shaped every era of my life. From the innocent daydreams of “Love Story” to the introspective melodies of “Folklore,” her songs have been a constant companion through the highs and lows of my youth. My bikes have changed, my address has changed, and my relationship status has fluctuated. Yet, with each rite of passage, disappointment, and new bike there exists a Taylor Swift song to help me endure the difficult and celebrate the good.
