Alright, Taylor Swift. You got me.
For years I’ve resisted your charms. Actually, it wasn’t so much resisting your charms as pointing out the somewhat harmful messages in your early music. Because let’s be honest, the video for “You Belong With Me” is pretty cringeworthy and reinforces some very negative stereotypes about young women and the virgin/whore dichotomy. I was also not impressed with the lyrics of “Fifteen” which end up sounding like every mom ever warning her daughter that premarital sex will only lead to a broken heart (hint: not necessarily).
And yes, I was a bit suspicious of what seemed like an endless stream of boyfriends that all ended with you getting your heart broken. You can only go through that so many times before you need to take a step back and examine your own actions. But like all young people do, you have grown. You’ve changed. And as much as I hate to admit it to myself, you’ve become the kind of girl I’d like to have a sleepover with because I’m still relatively young and I can do what I want.
I’m not sure how it all happened. First off, you started to wear super cute outfits that make you look like a walking Modcloth catalogue. Every time you made a talk show appearance or were papped on the street you’d be in super cute flouncy dresses with your hair and makeup done, generally looking like a Seventeen cover shoot. The next thing I know I’m following a Taylor Swift Style Tumblr. How did that even happen?
Then I started to realize how endearing you could be during interviews. Whether Ellen is setting you up for another terrifying prank or you’re doing a skit on Jimmy Fallon playing a 13-year-old girl, you always come across as delightfully goofy and even a little self-deprecating. Add a few silly cat videos on your Instagram and the next thing I know I’m thinking about how awesome it would be for you, me and Mindy Kaling to be making s’mores, telling secrets and braiding each other’s hair.
And of course, there is your new music video.
In your first foray into pop music you’ve managed to craft a catchy song with an even catchier video. I don’t care what anyone says, I am amused by your new music video antics. It makes me feel like I’m not alone in being a terrible but enthusiastic dancer. Who doesn’t occasionally want to dance around in a group of ballerinas or twerkers? And while I’d like to gloss over it, I have to say that I am proud of you for finally taking some “me time” and just having fun with your friends rather than focusing on guys 24/7. It’s freeing and being able to be on your own is, in my opinion, a big sign of maturity. So rock on, TSwift. Maybe the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, but you’ve got a new fan.