Twenty years ago on Oct. 24, 2006, a 16 year old girl from Pennsylvania released her debut album, just four months after her first song, “Tim McGraw” came out.

Twenty years ago, the Taylor Swift singer, songwriter and national phenomenon was born.

Since her debut, she has become the only artist in history to win Album of the Year four times at the Grammys with “Fearless” -her second album-, “1989” -her fifth album-, “Folklore” -her eighth album- and Midnights -her 10th album-.

Swift has also had 33 MTV Music Video Award wins, four of which were for Video of the Year. She became the youngest female artist to receive the Songwriters Hall of Fame honor when she was inducted earlier this year.

In fact, Swift wrote the entirety of her third album, “Speak Now,” by herself. Just to put it into perspective, Swift was 20 when that album came out.

Even earlier than that album, however, was her debut album which spent 24 non-consecutive weeks at number one on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.

Her first few albums were of the country genre. Her debut or self-titled album mentions trucks in many of the lyrics and stereotypical other country lyrics. “Should’ve Said No” and “Picture to Burn,” my favorite songs from her debut album, are distinctly country. Probably more country than the current country artists from today’s era (I’m looking at you, Ella Langley).

Her fourth studio album, “Red,” started her transition from country to pop. From there, her music genres and mood changed with every album. “1989” was pop while “Folklore” and “Evermore” were more indie folk.

Swift has an album for everyone. While someone might not be a fan of country, they might love “The Tortured Poets Department” or “The Life of a Showgirl.”

For me, I love just about every album. However, “Midnights” and even some of “The Tortured Poets Department” I just don’t vibe with. To be a fan of Taylor Swift, you don’t have to enjoy all of her songs and I doubt she expects her fans to because her albums all sound so different.

Taylor Swift has only grown in her popularity over the past 20 years. Even when she went on her three year hiatus and social media blackout between “1989” and “Reputation,” she was still a major talking point in the music industry space due to the feud caused by Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.

Imma finish but first, Kanye did NOT make Taylor Swift famous. In fact, Swift is definitely more influential and popular than the rapper.

Although some see Swift as falling off in her writing and other aspects of her career, I don’t believe so. While the encore of “The Life of a Showgirl” was some of the worst work by the songwriter I’ve ever seen, I enjoyed many aspects of the album.

Just like me, Swift’s debut album is 20. And while Swift may have grown from her Nashville country genre, she’s just as influential and as great of a musician today as she was when she was 16.

Categories: Arts & Entertainment