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Iconic Taylor Swift moments to celebrate her birthday
Swift turned 28 last week, and is playing the UK next year.
Today, Wednesday 13 December 2017, marks 28 years since the birth of pop icon Taylor Swift. Now with seven albums to her name, recently unveiling reputation to critical acclaim, Taylor emerged onto the scene in 2006 with her self-titled debut and first song, Tim McGraw. She later went on to record a song with the man himself, dropping Highway Don’t Care in 2013.
From country star to pop behemoth, Taylor Swift has inspired more than a few headlines over her decade long career to date. We’ve taken a quick look back at some of her best moments, from ecstatic fans to standout videos. Happy Birthday Taylor! Long may the success continue.
Awards, awards, awards
No, not that notorious run-in with Kanye West at the 2009 VMAs. We’re talking about the sheer number of awards Taylor Swift has collected over the years, including being the youngest ever recipient of the Nashville Songwriters Association’s Songwriter/Artist of the Year gong. Her awards list is seemingly endless. There’s eight Academy of Country Music Awards, going back to 2008. There’s also nineteen (yes, nineteen!) American Music Awards.
(Breathe in!) There’s a BRIT Award, ten GRAMMY Awards, an Emmy Award, seven VMA Awards (including Best Female Video in 2009), Kid’s Choice Awards, NME Awards, People’s Choice Awards, a place in the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame, Teen Choice Awards… (breathe out). That’s just scratching the surface.
That must be one large mantlepiece.
World Records
Not content with a whole heap of gold statues, Taylor Swift also holds six world records. Most recently she was crowned as the highest annual earner ever for a female pop star. The anthemic We Are Never Getting Back Together was the fastest selling single in digital history. In 2012 she had the most simultaneous US Hot 100 hits by a female artist. She also celebrates being the first solo female with two million-selling weeks on the US album chart. That’s quite the CV.
Seeing Red
The biggest turning point in Taylor Swift’s career was the release of Red back in 2012. Although she’d received a load of the awards and records before then, it was her fourth studio album that gave her global mainstream success. We Are Never Getting Back Together (we’ve already told you it was the fastest selling single in digital history) was everywhere, and loved by pretty much everyone (we don’t have stats to prove that last statement, but come on!).
The album also spawned the massive hits I Knew You Were Trouble and 22. I don’t know about you, but Taylor’s feeling twenty… eight.
Shaking it off
It’s not been the easiest of rides for Taylor Swift. Her massive success has meant some prying eyes. Fed up with intrusive behaviour, she exploded with pop perfection. Shake It Off, released as the lead since for 1989 in August 2014, was (and still is) a huge middle finger to negative comments sent her way. Instead of reacting to them, she’s shaking it all off. Good riddance. She was (and definitely still is) stronger than ever before.
Taking on the system
It’s not all about the music either. Taylor Swift has proven herself something of a social activist, and made waves in the music industry herself. She took on Apple Music with an open letter demanding fair pay for artists during a free trail period. The company’s policy was reversed the very next day, and artists were paid.
Taylor is also a philanthropist, donating $50,000 to a fan battling cancer when it emerged the she had chosen Bad Blood as her fight song.
Speaking of standing up for yourself, and of Bad Blood, how good is this video?!
The old Taylor is dead?
This year Taylor Swift followed up the stunning 1989 (hey, it’s the year of her birth) with reputation. Just like Shake It Off the first single was (is) a defiant masterpiece.
It seems to sum up the journey Taylor Swift has been taking since she first launched her career in 2006.
The old Taylor might not be able to come to the phone right now, but we’re loving her entire career. It’s been a wild ride, and long may it continue.
Happy Birthday Taylor Swift. Celebrate with her when she arrives in the UK in 2018.
8 June 2018 – Etihad Stadium, Manchester
9 June 2018 – Etihad Stadium, Manchester
15 June 2018 – Croke Park, Dublin
16 June 2018 – Croke Park, Dublin
22 June 2018 – Wembley Stadium, London
23 June 2018 – Wembley Stadium, London
Tickets for Taylor Swift’s UK dates are on sale now through Ticketmaster.co.uk.
