The night before Taylor Swift’s new album “Reputation” was unleashed upon the waiting world, I boldly announced to my squad, “If Taylor doesn’t address her political silence on the album, I think I’m going to have to let her go.”
The words seemed final as they came out of my mouth. My friends looked at me in shock. Could this be the end of our love story? (Disclaimer: this column is going to have way too way TSwift references).
Everyone knows how much I love Taylor Swift. In high school, I would go to my room any typical Tuesday night and bop to “Fearless,” “Speak Now” and then the absolute masterpiece “Red.”
When “1989” came out my first year of college, it scored innumerable nights in Hinton James with my friends as we danced, cried and prophesied about the next four year of our lives together. I attended the “1989” World Tour in Charlotte and sobbed when she played “Out of the Woods” (a break-up song I knew all too well the feelings behind). Then the summer of 2016 happened: Taylor fell out of favor faster than her relationship with Tom Hiddleston ended.
I didn’t care too much about the famous beef with Kimye or the serpentine name-calling. I had bigger things on my mind: Donald Trump was about to secure the Republican nomination for the presidency. Hillary Clinton seemed to be our only hope. It seemed like a no-brainer that Swift, who had built her “1989” era on the platform of feminism, would voice her support for Hillary. In the days leading up to the election, I tweeted at Swift every day to endorse HRC.
On Nov. 9, the DTH ran my column “Swift Did Not Speak Now” as the world learned who America’s new president would be. I was heartbroken because of her silence and because of the world I woke up to.
When I got wind of “Reputation” in September, I had mixed feelings, and continued to the more she released new singles. The day of the album release finally came and I did not have it pre-ordered, nor did I stake out the Franklin Street Target to get my copy. I spent the weekend after in a somewhat mourning period – my fears were confirmed without even listening to the album. Swift still hasn’t spoken up to support those who are most vulnerable in her fanbase: women, trans folks and people of color.
Questions of autonomy and artistry aside, her silence troubles me. No, her endorsement wouldn’t have changed the election’s results. But the alt-right extremists calling her their Aryan goddess? The violence in Charlottesville? Donald Trump’s misogyny?
Speak up, Taylor. While you might get to jet-set to islands with your cats, the rest of us live in this bad dream every day. If you want us to stand behind you through all your publicity gaffes and this questionable new sound, your voice needs to be counted in the chorus of resistance. Until then, your “reputation” is one of silence and violence.
