Tweet

Ever since the days of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and the crooners of old, popstars of all decades have been blanketed in a level of fame unrivaled by anyone else. With an aura of untouchability surrounding them, fans could only hope that they would be recognized by the musician they idolized.  

This was the way it was for many years, a clear dividing line between celebrity and fan. But in this past decade, the world has seen the rise of the “relatable celebrity.” Whether it be from social media breaking through that aura of untouchability or celebrities actually opening up; the fans have never been closer. One artist embodies this new type of celebrity, the good, the bad, and the ugly: and her name is Taylor Swift.  

“I remember hearing ‘We Are Never Getting Back Together’ way back in 2012. And I was like, why is this kind of a bop?” said Grand View University student and Biochemistry major, Cam Rafdal.  

“I listened to ‘Red,’ and I was like,  ‘I really like this song. It’s speaking to me.’ So, then I had my ears out to Taylor,” Rafdal said.  

Rafdal and millions of other fans like them had that exact same experience, but with different albums across Swift’s catalog. Somehow, Swift was able to connect with her fans not just through catchy songs, but on a more personal level. Breaking through that barrier was enough to propel Swift into the spotlight, and that light grew brighter–even when the world shut down. 

The COVID-19 pandemic was an adjustment for all, but it was also a time of reflection and vulnerability. Spending hours alone with themselves, millions of people across the world had nothing to do but to wait it out. This is where the relatability of Swift’s music comes into play once again. Her surprise pandemic album “Folklore” gave many who knew of the popstar a chance to really dive deep into her music, like GVU Nursing major Emma Kottlowski did. 

“I didn’t officially become a Swiftie until 2020. I listened to ‘Folklore,’ her eighth studio album all the way through, and I fell in love with it,” said Kottlowski 

Swift’s fame has risen even higher ever since. But, according to Rafdal, she never forgets about the fans.  

“She loves leaving little easter eggs for people to find in her music. Like the ‘Fearless’ vinyl has a bunch of capital letters that I think spelled out something to do with ‘Red (Taylor’s version).’ She hides little easter eggs in her clothing and in her vinyls, and she puts a lot of effort into her music, and she doesn’t inherently do anything negative,” Rafdal said.  

Another reason her fans love Taylor is the way she gives back. In August of 2023, CNN reported that Swift sent a donation of several tractor-trailers filled with 40,000 pounds of fresh produce to food banks that were a part of the Arizona Food Bank Network. Using her stardom for good also encourages her fans to do good, too. CBS News reported that after her donation to food banks in Santa Clarita, California contributions jumped 43% percent from the same period a year prior. 

“I think she knows she’s powerful and she’s trying to do everything to use that power for good as best she can to be, as more or less, an ethical billionaire,” said Rafdal. “I don’t really know if that’s possible–to be an ethical billionaire–but she’s trying.” 

With this power, comes a massive downside. Swift, willingly or not, has given up almost all of her privacy. Fans have created down-to-the-minute schedules of when Swift is able to see her boyfriend Travis Kelce, and her use of a private plane to jet across the world for her tour prompted one twitter user to start tracking its whereabouts. 

Giving up her privacy has also opened Swift up to tons of criticism. Never-Swifties online have called her fake for changing her genre so many times. They have mocked the way she sings and the way she dresses.  

Even student media at GVU piled on. In Volume 3 Issue 1 of “The Grand Views,” the predecessor to this publication, an article was published that questioned if the release of ‘Reputation’ would be the end of Swift’s career saying, “Only time will tell if the stylistic innovation [of ‘Reputation’] was ultimately a smart career move, or if it will be the beginning of a massive career plumet.”  

Arguably, one of the biggest points that Swift’s detractors have raged about is the fact that the NFL is featuring Swift in their broadcasts. On that point, USA Today reports that Swift was featured on-screen during the Superbowl just 55 seconds out of the 4 hour and 18-minute broadcast, and 51 of those seconds happened towards the end of the broadcast at the game winning touchdown that involved her boyfriend.  

With the huge impact that popstars bring to everyday life, whether economically or emotionally, it begs the question of if people should treat our popstars like idols or like they’re just like us. Kottlowski says that behind that “Lavender Haze” is still plain old Taylor Swift from Reading, PA. 

“I love Taylor, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to stalk her [or] to see her. That just shows that she’s not a person, [but] she is a person. She’s not just an object,” Kottlowski said. “I think we fans forget that they are people as well. They deserve privacy, even though we love them. But we don’t. We’re not friends with them. It’s all about the parasocial relationship.” 

In the end, it is up to everyone individually to make up their minds about whether they think that Taylor Swift is a genuine popstar or not.  

It is no doubt that Swift will continue making music that relates to her fans. With the continuation of her Eras Tour and release of her next studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department” on April 19th, they are almost assured of it.  

The one thing everyone should remember is that sometimes it’s okay to idolize an artist’s music, but maybe leave a “Blank Space” for the artist they love so they can “Breathe.”