Taylor Swift Explains Why Putting Her Real Life Into Songs Is Important

Taylor Swift - "Blank Space" Music Video

Typically, the best art comes from a personal source. It might not be entirely autobiographical or speak wholeheartedly from the soul, but it comes from a real place, and people can relate and ultimately find themselves moved by that emotional honesty. It is harder than it seems to be real with people, and Taylor Swift understands that and doesn't take it for granted.

By putting her real life into her songs, she's not merely trying to stir some controversy or get anyone in trouble or anything like that. Instead, the musical artist is allowing her fans to connect with her through her music, and in turn, she believes that means a lot to people who are sometimes starved for that sense of connection in the pop genre. As she puts it:

I think these days, people are reaching out for connection and comfort in the music they listen to. We like being confided in and hearing someone say, ‘this is what I went through’ as proof to us that we can get through our own struggles. We actually do NOT want our pop music to be generic.

This explanation came from Taylor Swift's recent cover story with Elle. As the musician explains it, her pop music is "personal." It doesn't merely touch the surface of the topics she wishes to explore. She is trying to make a genuine and authentic piece of art, and she knows that in order to do so, she has to make the music rooted from her own life and her own story.

True, when it comes to broken love, the story doesn't entirely belong to her. But Swift is someone who likes to find herself through her music, and that's often how she makes sense of the world around her -- especially during intimate, emotionally tender moments that arise from her real life.

That extra mileage goes a long way for listeners. Oftentimes, if you are feeling one way, there are other people around the world feeling something similar. And everyone is trying to make sense of our often nonsenical existence. Making good music is one thing. Making good music that touches the hearts and souls of thousands is something that allows you to earn not merely fans but followers. People who are religious about their appreciation to your work. And that's why the Taylor Nation is no small army. It is a legion, and Swift lets her voice be heard.

The rally call of Taylor Swift's chart-topping music can be heard around the world, for people of all ages, and there's a particularly good reason why. Taylor Swift puts a lot of herself and her life and heart in her music, and she's unafraid to be honest with her listeners. In turn, Swift has elevated herself beyond some of her "generic" pop musician contemporaries -- their names won't be mentioned, of course -- and becomes a voice heard and ultimately adored by many loyal listeners everywhere.

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Will Ashton

Will is an entertainment writer based in Pittsburgh, PA. His writing can also be found in The Playlist, Cut Print Film, We Got This Covered, The Young Folks, Slate and other outlets. He also co-hosts the weekly film/TV podcast Cinemaholics with Jon Negroni and he likes to think he's a professional Garfield enthusiast.