For fans of: Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift, and…Taylor Swift
She’s the girl that other girls want to be friends with, the girl that guys want to be with, and the girl that you do not want to mess with. She’s also the woman who became TIME’s Person of the Year for 2023, the woman who made Grammy history by winning Album of the Year four times, and the woman who is currently the most streamed artist on Spotify. Whether you love her or hate her, there is no way around her. Taylor Swift is an icon, and Rob Sheffield is the only one who can properly explain Swift’s journey from a hopeful singer-songwriter to one of the most iconic artists of the 21st century.
To some, it may seem quite strange that a book about Taylor Swift would be written by longtime music critic Rob Sheffield instead of a teenage girl. But when it comes down to it, Sheffield is the best choice. He has been a fan of Swift since 2007, when he first heard “Our Song” in a television commercial. From that moment on, Sheffield has been one of Swift’s biggest fans, constantly listening to her albums from top to bottom, attending her concerts, and even meeting her on more than one occasion.
So, in a time when Swift’s star is the brightest it’s ever been, it makes perfect sense for Sheffield to compile everything he knows and loves about her into one book, Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music. Here, he breaks down some of her biggest moments, her greatest fails, and why she will always be at the forefront of music history.
Readers will learn early on that this is not a biography of Taylor Swift. The chapters do not dive into her life story, starting with her childhood and ending with her Eras tour. We do not learn about her home life and family. We are not treated to a rich history about each of her albums. This book reads as an homage to Swift, with chapters that touch on aspects of her career that are integral to her artistry. For instance, Sheffield explains the significance of “All Too Well” in chapter five, her bold choice to re-record her albums in chapter twenty-one, and why he cannot get over the music video for “Lover” in chapter twenty-four. He even spends a whole chapter on Swift’s use of the word “nice” in her songs.
As much as Sheffield could have given us cold hard facts about Swift’s songs and albums and music videos, he shares why these specific songs, albums, and music videos are a big deal in terms of cultural significance and relevance. He favors the emotional connection that fans have with her music over statistics, touching on why a fan would choose to listen to certain tracks on repeat or skip them altogether. The personal reflections that Sheffield has about Swift’s music also add to the book’s heart and charm, whether he mentions hearing 1989 for the first time or talking to her backstage at a show. We really hear from a true fan’s perspective, complete with casual inclusion of Swift’s lyrics in the sentences.
Considering the ‘How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music’ part of the book’s title, I would not necessarily say that Swift reinvented pop music so much as she made an impact on the genre. Throughout the book, Sheffield touches on Swift’s influence as an artist, whether she’s inspiring a younger generation of girls to learn guitar or thriving after taking a gamble and switching from country to pop. She has made waves, broken records, and has come back on top after much scrutiny. Still, at the core of all things Taylor Swift, she is someone who writes about her life and pairs the words to a sick beat or two. She hasn’t changed the way that pop music sounds or how it is written, but she has definitely upheld the notion that pop music has meaning.
If anything, Swift has found the key to longevity as a pop artist, which is noteworthy – and bookworthy. Sheffield mentions that most of Swift’s success is driven by the teenage girl fanbase, which we have seen throughout history. Swift is able to write about what’s going on in her life while speaking truth to what is going on with the younger generation as well. And not only that, but she is constantly trying to keep the fanbase engaged. Whether she’s dishing out clues in her lyrics, posting cryptic messages on socials, or inserting Easter Eggs into her music videos, she makes her fans want to know more – which is crucial. Her constant album releases play into this too, as the music is what the fans will always want. By delivering so much content on a consistent basis, she never fades out of view.
In the end, Sheffield makes the case that Taylor Swift is someone the world needs to appreciate – or at least understand a little better. He mentions in chapter one,
“In 2024, she’s at the peak of her fame, her cultural and commercial impact, her artistic powers, her warp-speed work pace. But she’s been at this level for eighteen years. This just never happens.”
When you think about it, and then go on to read about it, Sheffield is right. No matter if you adore her or could not care less about her, Taylor Swift is a strong force in music, and that is never going to change. Sheffield is not trying to say that Swift is the best pop artist to ever exist, but simply that she is important. He gives her credit where credit is due. Readers may not get all the answers they are looking for in this book, but at least they will be entertained. And isn’t that what pop music is all about?
Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music is available now. Find a copy here.
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