In excitement for Taylor Swift's new album Midnights, I thought it would be fun to write about some of her songs and how they have impacted my life. So, here are 10 songs that have helped me through the ups and downs of being a military kid, and especially a military teen:
1. Mirrorball
This song is from Taylor Swift’s album Folklore, which was released in 2020. This song is about how people have facades they put on for the world, so people see them in a certain way. Basically, just like mirrorballs, or disco balls, they are pretty to look at but quite fragile. As a military teen, I relate this to experiences of going to new schools and feeling like I have to act a certain way to make people like me. This song specifically reminds me of a time during freshman year when I began to change my personality, dressing to fit in with the "cool" volleyball players.
2. Fifteen (Taylor’s Version)
This song is from Taylor Swift’s album Fearless which was originally released in 2008 and re-released in 2021. In this song, Taylor sings of her best friend in high school, Abigail. In 9th grade, they thought of themselves as the ugly ducklings and decided just to have fun. Being a military teen, I relate this to difficult times of adapting to a new school and eventually deciding to just have a good time and make the best out of every situation. I have fond memories from freshman year when I drove to school with my mom and some of my friends. We listened to this song every morning.
3. Fearless (Taylor’s Version)
This song is from Taylor Swift’s album Fearless which was originally released in 2008 and re-released in 2021. "Fearless" is about the fearlessness of approaching new things in life. My experiences of having to be brave and meet new people/friends in new neighborhoods, new sports teams, and new schools directly relate to the message of this song. A personal experience that I relate this song to is a time when I went and sat with some of the volleyball players that went to my school on the first day of school. It took a lot of courage and I wasn't sure if I would be accepted.
4. Enchanted
This song is from Taylor’s album Speak Now which was released in 2010. "Enchanted" speaks of infatuation with someone after meeting them for the first time and worrying about whether the initial feeling will be reciprocated. As a military teen, I meet new people whom with I would love to be friends, though I am uncertain they share similar feelings. This reminds me of my friend group in 8th grade that I absolutely loved. I moved mid-year, and we didn't keep in touch. However, I was "Enchanted" to meet them.
5. marjorie
This song is from Taylor’s album evermore which was released in 2020. This song is a tribute to Swift's late grandmother and opera singer Marjorie Finlay, depicting Finlay's advice to her granddaughter and Swift's guilt over not knowing her maternal grandmother to the fullest. It is similar to those feelings of heartbreak that a military kid feels when they leave a place without getting to say a proper goodbye to good friends. In 8th grade, I moved mid-year, that was my worst move by far. I was entirely heartbroken, but it turned out okay in the end.
6. Cornelia Street
This is from Taylor's album Lover which was released in 2019. This song is about Taylor falling in love with a whimsical house on Cornelia Street in NYC. As a military teen, I relate this to experiences of moving to a new house and beginning to fall in love with it. When I lived at Ft. Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma, we lived in a two-story, six-bedroom old plantation house with wrap-around porches both upstairs and downstairs. I fell entirely in love with that house.
7. august
This is from Taylor's album Folklore which was released in 2020. This song, "august," is about taking a walk down memory lane and reminiscing heavily over memories of youthful love in the summer. And despite the romance not lasting very long, it is clear that the memories of the love are cherished and missed greatly by the singer. I can relate this to missing the places where I loved living, such as Fort Sill in Oklahoma.
8. Welcome To New York
This is from Taylor's album 1989 which was released in 2014. In this song, Swift sets up New York, her current home, as a place of unparalleled freedom. As a military teen, I connect this to experiences of feeling the magic of being in a new place and being excited to explore any sight I see. When we moved to Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado, it was such a beautiful place. I learned how to snowboard and I went on many hikes. It is one of my favorite duty stations so far.
9. The Best Day (Taylor’s Version)
This song is from Taylor Swift’s album Fearless which was originally released in 2008 and re-released in 2021. This song is a love letter to Taylor’s mom and childhood. As a military teen, I relate this to experiences of reminiscing about previous duty stations and the good memories I associate with those places. When I listen to this song, I often reminisce about Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. I was stationed there twice, both when I was young. I view it as the place where I grew up.
10. Breathe (Taylor’s Version)
This song is from Taylor Swift’s album Fearless which was originally released in 2008 and re-released in 2021. In "Breathe," Swift sang about having to leave someone, however, not blaming anyone and how the worst goodbyes are when they’re nobody's fault. This song reminds me of the oh-so-familiar heart-shattering feeling that comes with leaving friends. Specifically, when I was a young child leaving my friends behind in Fort Hood, Texas.
I believe that Taylor Swift is an extremely talented artist, and, as a military teen, I relate to a lot of her music. I recommend listening to these ten songs, as well as every Taylor Swift song that’s been released to date (as long as it’s Taylor's version).