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Wow, 75 pageviews today, and I hadn't even written anything! Thank you! My childhood friend Kelly got suckered into a couple playlists on Spotify I made: the "Whitney" one, (predictable) and "JK's Love Mix" (oh, my!). On the other hand, I'm listening to Taylor Swift. She's outstanding. I tried to hate her, because she's everywhere, monopolizes the radio, (and not just country radio, mind you) and all her songs are about teenage-girl love. But I know good songs; I can tell you who you'll listen in 20 years without shame. And the truth is, she's one of those people.
The passion for the up-tempo "boys suck!" songs may cool, but when she slows it down to be brokenhearted, it's memorable, well-written--by her--and enjoyable. "Tim McGraw" was her very first song; I dare you not to like it. "Teardrops On My Guitar" is a song I love, and the young woman hadn't even given us what has become her signature song: "Love Story." She was 18 by this point, and she owned the music world. You can find out that she has had other hits; I'm just trying to be brief. The fourth song I want to note is "Back To December." You don't shake that from the memory easily.
What I'm saying is, I was wrong. I found her singing irritating, and I thought she'd be gone in 5 years. That was 6 years ago. Who's bigger than Taylor Swift these past 6 years? Maybe Lady Gaga? Which means that a lot of people are hearing what I'm hearing.
And the live album from the "Speak Now" world tour from last year doesn't suck. Kim Carnes and Train should thank her for those versions of "Bette Davis Eyes" and "Drops Of Jupiter," respectively. I'm just saying. [Most people hate country.--ed.] Well, Tim is no country-bumkin; ask him what he thinks. [And you always like the hot chicks.--ed.] Well, let's just say that I won't discriminate against the song out of fear that my affirmation will be judged to have a baser motive. If I say I like a song or artist, then I do.

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