An Open Letter to Taylor Swift:
Taylor (or T. Swift, Tay Tay, etc.),
First off, I’d like to give you a huge round of applause for your 2010 explosion. Girl, you’re dynamite, some kind of wildfire. It must feel like 4th of July everyday in your world. You are everywhere and girls across the world are pleased that you’re letting them sing along to the intimate details of your diary. Vulnerability is at its peak with you and it’s daring how you share so much baggage with people you’ve never met. It’s old news, but kudos for your post-Kanye bounce back. Your publicity team is fantastic and your poise is remarkable.
It’s a new year though and I’m hoping you’ll take this letter to heart. That is, if your heart isn’t completely shattered already. It seems that you’ve been busy with that thing. Three records in and it’s clear that you’re a true creature of habit.
- You fall in love and you write a song.
- Your heart gets broken and you write a song.
- Repeat
One minute you’re living a fairytale and the next you’re burning old pictures. Back and forth, high and low, it must get so exhausting to be you.
The thing is, is that it’s getting old. Practically archaic. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no manhater and I’m certainly a sucker for putting your heart on the line. I like to paint my fingernails as much as the next girl but there comes a point when the world needs more from you.
Mostly, millions of girls need more from you. They need to sing a new song. Give them a song about the reality that happiness isn’t contingent on kissing in the rain or holding hands. I’m fully confident in your ability to play the role of damsel in distress, but now it’s time to go on believing you don’t need to be rescued. So here’s what I say: read a little Martin Luther King, Jr., go on a trip by yourself, stop dating terrible guys (i.e. John Mayer), set down your pink glittery guitar and dig deep. Dig until it hurts and then come back to us with a little more substance. Come back to us with more than just another cliché story about the Bipolar nature of your dating life. I believe in you and I have a feeling I’m not the only one.
With love,
McKenzie
