Taylor Swift’s ever-evolving fashion throughout her eccentric eras has been captivating. What’s remarkable is how her audience has transformed alongside her. Initially, she was embraced by innocent nine-year-old girls drawn to her catchy tunes and relatable lyrics. Fast forward to today, and her fan base has matured into a diverse crowd of 30+-year-old women capable of treating her concerts like adult outings. This evolution mirrors Taylor’s artistic growth, and it signifies her bond with her fans, who have navigated life’s twists and turns with her. Now, they attend her shows for the music and as an opportunity to savor an adult experience, complete with the freedom to make choices regarding alcohol and substance intake, all while celebrating their shared journey with one of the music industry’s most enduring talents.
Taylor Swift’s lyrics have undoubtedly matured, reflecting her growth and changing perspectives. In her earlier songs, young love and innocence themes were prevalent, and references to alcohol were relatively rare. However, as she transitioned into a grown woman and diverse artist, her lyrics began to explore a broader range of topics, including alcohol. I want to be crystal clear here: I am a Swiftie. I have followed Taylor since her debut album and am counting the days until I attend the Eras Tour in 2024. I have seen her live on three separate occasions and am currently booking flights and hotels for next year.
To say I am a fan is an understatement.
I obviously do not know her personally and cannot comment or make assumptions about her drinking habits, nor do I want to. Her lyrics are insufficient to give anyone an idea of her consumption routines. Also, Taylor is an adult. If she wants to drink, who am I to suggest she shouldn’t? I want to lay out my intention here so there is no confusion: I want to talk about how Taylor’s alcohol-centric lyrics might impact her fans. I am not saying that music has the power to make someone misuse alcohol, saying that anyone’s alcohol use disorder is someone’s problem but their own, and I am certainly not saying that Taylor herself has a problem. I very simply want to have a reasonable discussion about growth and the human experience of experimenting with substances through the lens of being a Swiftie.
All that being said, here are a few lines from her songs that have stuck out to me:
- DRESS: I’m spilling wine in the bathtub, you kiss my face, and we’re both drunk
- CRUEL SUMMER: I’m drunk in the back of the car, and I cried like a baby coming home from the bar
- THIS IS ME TRYING: But I didn’t pour the whiskey
- CLEAN: Ten months sober
- LONDON BOY: Drinking in the afternoon
- DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS: I get drunk, but it’s not enough
- THIS IS ME TRYING: I got wasted like all my potential
As a fashionist, Taylor has given us a decade of drool-worthy looks. Fashion has inspired and motivated people everywhere. We have seen her glitter eras, cottage core eras, and two-piece show some skin eras, and most of all, we have seen a woman grow into her confidence and own whatever she’s wearing era.
As a Swiftie, Taylor is a lyrical genius. As a sober person, I can’t help but notice the progressive inclusion of alcohol in her storytelling. As a sober Swiftie, I wonder what that means for all of us. Just like her fashion, her lyrics have become a little sexier, more risqué, and more adult. I STAN a Taylor fashion moment.
Sober Curator Pro Tip: In case you don’t know, the meaning of STAN = is funny slang that incorporates the word stalking and fan together. It essentially means, “I worship,” or “I live for.”
Dear God, am I so happy she swapped her flowy country style with two-piece sparkly bejeweled show outfits? She’s perhaps one of the most impressive performers in the world, so watching her style evolve into that is oh-so-pleasing. So why am I having difficulty with my newfound alcohol-spotting habit? I am not at all sensitive to alcohol references. I am confident in my sobriety, and hearing an artist talk about opening a bottle of wine or swimming in a pool of champagne isn’t going to break me. But what does it do to younger fans? Is it on par with the normalization of alcohol that our society perpetuates?
Taylor can’t possibly be responsible for how fans are interpreting her lyrics. She certainly can’t be accountable for fans using lyrics as an excuse to increase their substance consumption. After all, we are listening for the bops; we are listening for the heartbreaking, soul-crushing bridges; we are listening to scream, “I am a crumpled-up piece of paper” from the top of our lungs. And maybe that’s the point. I have friends who take certain things from songs that I have never gotten. Just the way I take “this is me trying” as a sober anthem. Some of her songs seem to ignite my trauma (alcohol-related or not), and some have me performing a full concert around my tiny apartment, complete with twirls and booty shakes. We take what we want. We hear what we want.
So, as a sober Swiftie fashionista, I am going to take the songs that strengthen my sobriety and leave the lyrics that make drinking seem cool, captivating, and mature. There is nothing remarkable about sloppily texting your ex at 2 am and asking them to come over. Nothing is compelling about telling the same story repeatedly at a party to anyone who will listen. And there is nothing mature about ingesting a toxic substance that gives you temporary confidence and then an entire day’s worth of hangxiety.
The bottom line is that we can love Taylor for all her sincerity, genuineness, and writing expertise. We can admire her for how she handles scandals, her powerful business moves, and her generosity towards fans and staff. We can appreciate that her kindness put Travis Kelce and the NFL on the map (😊), AND we can be self-aware of how her maturing lyrics might impact younger, more impressionable Swifties.
As we contemplate, you can catch me with “Is it over now” on repeat while finishing up my daily work. I still haven’t quite nailed the TikTok viral dance but I know that practice makes perfect.
As we anxiously await the Reputation TV release, lets not forget that we can enjoy the music without taking every alcohol-centric lyric and putting them into practice. Stay strong my Sober Swifties. Don’t forget that every single day: This is us trying 🙂
*It is important to note here that several sources have reported that Taylor went sober for the eras tour prep and throughout the duration of the tour. and while we all loved watching a drunk Swift at the VMA’s, perhaps her sober curious journey will lead to something that sticks. Not because I am saying she needs it, but mostly because I know that if Taylor can move masses of young adults to register to vote, I know she can also encourage her Swifties to try a sober curious lifestyle.
Sober Curator Pro Tip: Are YOU a #SOBERSWIFTIE? Then YOU should know we’ve started a Giphy sticker collection JUST FOR YOU! Use the Giphy app or add our #SOBERSWIFTIE stickers in you Instagram Stories & Reels and even on TikTok. Make sure to tag @styledandstressed and @thesobercurator so we can follow you back!
Key search words: Sober Swiftie, SoberSwiftie, StyledandStressed
Curated Articles About Taylor Swift “Going Sober” to Prepare for her ERAS TOUR:
- Taylor Swift Reveals Workout Routine to Prep for Eras Tour | TIME
- On Taylor Swift, ‘Eras,’ and the Power of a Pop Star Who Just Won’t Quit | Vogue
- Inside Taylor Swift’s ‘unbelievable’ Eras Tour (nypost.com)
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Resources Are Available
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