Fine, I give up. I will concede.
Taylor Swift has conquered the music world.
In the last year, Taylor Swift went from another teen sensation to a country-pop juggernaut who managed to upset the likes of Beyonce and Lady Gaga at multiple award ceremonies. She turned the entire world against Kanye West without lifting a finger, drove the Jonas Brothers into irrelevancy with the scribble of her pen, and with the strum of her guitar, produced enough hook-filled hits to outsell the King of Pop and spend a mind-blowing eleven weeks on top of the albums chart with her 2008 album Fearless. This kind of colossal success cannot be accidental or easily created, as much as some pop music snubs would like it to be true. No, Taylor Swift entered the pop stratosphere with her incredible songwriting talent; her songs are relatable without being condescending. She also has a knack for writing a damn good hook. With this kind of skill set, it's no real surprise she's the superstar she is.
It's no more evident than with her latest single. A retelling of that crucial freshman year of high school, "Fifteen" is as much a cautionary tale as it is a wistful country-pop ballad. Unlike other similar songs by her contemporaries, the song is intelligent and realistic, capturing the essence of being a teenager without being silly. Even the serious subject matter of virginity is tackled with the kind of grace that has made her America's Sweetheart.
I won't proclaim her the future of music, but right now, Taylor Swift has made a firm stamp on popular culture.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
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