Since Taylor Swift’s rise to superfame in 2006, the singer-songwriter has built quite the fanbase. These fans, otherwise known as Swifties, even exist among the students and faculty right here at Choate. In honor of today’s release of Swift’s Red re-recording, here’s how to become a Choate Swiftie in five simple steps:
1. Become Enchanted
Since you’re bound to find your new idol here, a “mind-blown” discovery story is essential. Julia Xu ’23, the president of Choate’s soon-to-be-official Taylor Swift fan club, discovered Swift when watching the music video for “You Belong With Me” on their parents’ computer. “I couldn’t believe she was a superstar — we felt so similarly,” said Xu. Ms. Rachel Kesler, a HPRSS teacher, also goes way back with Swift. She said, “I remember that when ‘Love Story’ came out, I was in middle school. I heard her on the radio and asked my friends who this new person Taylor Swift was.” Whether you’ve been a Swiftie since “Our Song” or are preparing for your first Swift experience in Red (Taylor’s Version), every fan has a Taylor discovery story — what will be yours?
2. Ready for Inspiration?
Taylor Swift has 50 million monthly Spotify listeners — she has to have inspired some of them, right? This assumption would be correct, at least for the Choate community. Xu said that Swift motivates people to find new passions. “She inspired me to learn guitar and ukulele and inspired me to sing and write songs,” they said. Not a songwriter? Your Taylor Swift inspiration may simply be a desire to relive signature Taylor experiences, from a “Fifteen”-esque first kiss to the crushing heartbreak detailed in “Dear John.” To Ms. Kesler, Taylor’s inspiration came in an emotional form: “The way she invites people to be honest about their emotions, and just feel their emotions is very cool.” Mr. Carey Kopeikin, a math teacher, would agree, saying, “She makes me feel happy and free, sometimes lonely and confused, all in the best way.”
3. Find Fellow T.S. Lovers
Time to find your Swiftie community. It’s not hard to find Swift fans on campus, even beyond her fan club. “Folklore and Evermore have a lot of songs about how Covid has impacted us. A lot of people I know have been listening to those albums, especially while doing homework, so they can cry and feel better about themselves,” said Xu. Tristin Hurst ’24 agreed, saying, “There isn’t a day when I don’t hear her name mentioned.” Sometimes finding a fellow Swiftie can blossom into a long-lasting Choate friendship. Campbell Pflaum ’23 said, “Finding people who are also Taylor Swift fans makes me feel more emotionally connected to someone.”
4. A Song to Call ‘Mine’
If you’re overwhelmed by Swift’s sheer popularity on campus, try differentiating yourself from the hordes by picking out your own favorite song. Out of nine studio albums, three live albums, and five EPs, there are quite a few options to choose from. Hurst’s favorite is the entire Reputation album — a choice Xu agrees with. His favorite cut off of the album is “Getaway Car,” because he believes it’s a great representation of her lyricism. Ms. Kesler’s absolute favorite Swift song is “All Too Well,” a choice made all the more appropriate given that Swift only just released the song’s extended version on Red (Taylor’s Version). Mr. Kopeikin, on the other hand, prefers the earlier country material in Swift’s catalog. “I think Fearless is one of the best albums of all time,” he said. But you can’t go wrong with any of them.
5. The Best Day and Party
This may be the last step, but it’s by far the most important — the capstone of your transition from normal person to card-carrying Taylor Swift fan. The Red (Taylor’s Version) listening party is this Sunday, November 14, at 3 p.m. in the Bay Room. It will be a chance to meet fellow Swifties, eat comfort food, and shed a few tears (of joy). As Xu points out, “We could all use a time to wallow in self-pity [listening to Swift].”
