I have been to a few big concerts and events in my time, but the level of fan engagement at a Taylor Swift concert was something I had never seen before. There wasn’t just love and appreciation for the artist in that arena, but there was real power. I kept thinking how incredible it was to see so many women and young women in that moment, celebrating and being celebrated in return by their idol. In all honesty, I think I spent a good hour of the show just looking around at the fans and taking in the atmosphere – so many of the girls around me did not miss a beat when it came to the music. They knew every word of every song, but they also all had a moment with each of them. Most artists are famous for one or two songs and it’s those people wait for, but with Taylor it seems all her music speaks to her fans. There was so much excitement for every song, which was something I loved seeing as the night went on.
Admittedly, I’m not a converted Swiftie, and my musical taste hasn’t changed after the concert – but I will admit that my view of Taylor and her fans has changed. Actually, what I was missing was the space and comfort Taylor had given women and girls to be who they are, and to love unapologetically. She is a successful and powerful woman who has allowed herself to live out her life as she wants, and not get consumed by an industry that has destroyed so many young women. She has chosen to be happy in the face of so much – and I, like many others, felt the urge to dismiss her. But that’s wrong and dangerous, which I now know.
Just because society has not afforded me – or girls like me – the freedom to be happy and carefree, it does not mean we should deny that to others. Just yesterday, the incredible Malala Yousafzai shared about how when she was a teen and music was banned by the Taliban, she and her friends would go up into the mountains to illegally listen to Taylor Swift. After attending the Eras tour in London, she wrote: “One day I hope we will live in a world where every girl will be able to enjoy music and live out her wildest dreams.”
I had already changed my mind about Taylor, but reading Malala’s post reinforced what I had realised. What I – and so many others – need to be doing is working harder for a world where all women and girls are as joyful as Swifties. We need to be creating more safe spaces like Eras, and breaking down the social norms that are conditioning women and girls to believe they can’t be successful and powerful while enjoying life like a teenage girl.