On October 8 2007, I went to the Apple Store in SoHo in New York City for a special concert featuring an up-and-coming country star. There were only a dozen people in the audience... even the customers in the store barely turned their heads when the young girl started singing. Boy they must be regretting it now.
Flash forward two years and the same young artist is packing Madison Square Garden -- with fans ranging from tykes to grandparents, little brothers to businessmen -- all rockin' out to her first show at New York City's legendary venue.
Welcome to the journey of Taylor Swift... from country teen singer to pop culture superstar.
The first time I chatted with Taylor was just a few weeks before her debut self-titled album was released in October 2006... and I was immediately taken with her genuineness. She was unlike any other star I'd ever interviewed... her enthusiasm was so real and her passion for her music so heartfelt. She was at the airport getting ready to board a flight, talking from her cell, but she just had this energy and spirit that radiated over the phone that made it clear that she was going to be the next It girl.
Sure it took time, but the one thing that always stuck whenever I talked to Taylor over the years was how real she truly is. She always says what's on her mind, and is completely true to herself. None of that fronting for the press or just saying what she thinks people want to hear. And seeing that made it clear that she was no overnight sensation... she put in the hours and made sacrifices in her life to really get where she is today -- and surely deserves every ounce of success she's getting!
And that's why it was especially touching to see her perform again in New York City... but this time instead of 12 people in the audience, there were tens of thousands of people all screaming her name.
The moment was definitely not lost on Taylor... after surprising fans by appearing in the back of the stadium, she walked through the audience, hugging and saying, "I love you" to lucky fans along her path. And when she got back to the front, she just stood there soaking it all in... for a few minutes. She had made it.
Her dreams had come true... and it was obvious every person in the audience could feel that they were part of a special moment in Taylor's life.
xoxo,
Rachel Chang
J-14 Executive Editor
(Me and Taylor, at the Apple Store in 2007 (left) and backstage at Madison Square Garden (right))
OMG, I love Taylor Swift! She is an amazing singer, actress, and role model! If I had been able to see Taylor Swift in concert, I would've cherished the moment forever! I love Taylor!
Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/mvbaule
I JUST WENT 2 A TAYLOR CONCERT AT PENN STATE AND IT WAS MY 1ST CONCERT EVER AND BY FAR THE BEST I WILL EVER GO 2. SHE DEFINATLY DESERVES ALL OF THIS AFTER HER HARD WORK!!!!!
I LOVE ALL YOUR SONGS
I LOVE ALL YOUR SONGS.
The photos look awesome =)
She`s so young and talented who wouldnt think shes cool jerks.She really s living the dream,by the time shes thirty shes going to have a lot of more lucky support over here
if i could EVER go to a concert of hers...i would like DIE!! she is sooo talented and so down tot earth...shes a true girl too!!! rokk on tay!! u deserve EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i love taylor swifts music! it really speaks 2 me but i dont really like her live... but her cds are AWESOME! :p
I love Taylor Swift and her music. She is such an amazing person!
wow i luv taylor! btw that was a great piece. i luv writing and hope to get into journalism someday! u guys are inspiring me thanks so much!
~brazilcutie97~
I LOVE TAYLOR SWIFT!!!!!!!!! SHE'S IS THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!! She's not dramatic and loserish and stupid like Miley Spearsrus. She's down to earth and gorgeous and a great singer! Suck that Joe! jkjk love Joe too!!!!!!!
miley spearsus! HAHA thats a good one! and so true no offense !
I really think taylor swift is the best singer in the entire world!!!!!!!!!!! she has worked so hard 2 get where she is right now!! GO TAYLOR SWIFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wow! amazing luv her!!!!!!!! go tay! >3>3
i think that it was really cool how she seems so quiet but is wild when she goes on stage and i luv her song white horse
taylor is the luckiest girl in the world!!!
keep the hits coming tay!!
OMG i luvvvvvv taylor swift she is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i really really really really really really want 2 go 2 her concert soooooooooooooooooo badly!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I ADORE HER FOR ALL HER HARD WORK AND HAPPY SPIRIT!!!!!! =]
Taylor is cool and everything but she's just a normal person. I also think her voice is phony did you hear her on the today show? And besides she's only one person.
Omg!!! I love her song "you belong with me"
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Published Monday, August 31, 2009 9:15 AM ET
The Journey of Taylor Swift
On October 8 2007, I went to the Apple Store in SoHo in New York City for a special concert featuring an up-and-coming country star. There were only a dozen people in the audience... even the customers in the store barely turned their heads when the young girl started singing. Boy they must be regretting it now.
Flash forward two years and the same young artist is packing Madison Square Garden -- with fans ranging from tykes to grandparents, little brothers to businessmen -- all rockin' out to her first show at New York City's legendary venue.
Welcome to the journey of Taylor Swift... from country teen singer to pop culture superstar.
The first time I chatted with Taylor was just a few weeks before her debut self-titled album was released in October 2006... and I was immediately taken with her genuineness. She was unlike any other star I'd ever interviewed... her enthusiasm was so real and her passion for her music so heartfelt. She was at the airport getting ready to board a flight, talking from her cell, but she just had this energy and spirit that radiated over the phone that made it clear that she was going to be the next It girl.
Sure it took time, but the one thing that always stuck whenever I talked to Taylor over the years was how real she truly is. She always says what's on her mind, and is completely true to herself. None of that fronting for the press or just saying what she thinks people want to hear. And seeing that made it clear that she was no overnight sensation... she put in the hours and made sacrifices in her life to really get where she is today -- and surely deserves every ounce of success she's getting!
And that's why it was especially touching to see her perform again in New York City... but this time instead of 12 people in the audience, there were tens of thousands of people all screaming her name.
The moment was definitely not lost on Taylor... after surprising fans by appearing in the back of the stadium, she walked through the audience, hugging and saying, "I love you" to lucky fans along her path. And when she got back to the front, she just stood there soaking it all in... for a few minutes. She had made it.
Her dreams had come true... and it was obvious every person in the audience could feel that they were part of a special moment in Taylor's life.
xoxo,
Rachel Chang
J-14 Executive Editor
(Me and Taylor, at the Apple Store in 2007 (left) and backstage at Madison Square Garden (right))
Tags:j14 blog, madison square garden, taylor swift
24 Comments ShareThis
24 Comments
margaretbaule on September 1, 2009 1:29 PM
OMG, I love Taylor Swift! She is an amazing singer, actress, and role model! If I had been able to see Taylor Swift in concert, I would've cherished the moment forever! I love Taylor!
Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/mvbaule
maremare325 on September 1, 2009 3:54 PM
I JUST WENT 2 A TAYLOR CONCERT AT PENN STATE AND IT WAS MY 1ST CONCERT EVER AND BY FAR THE BEST I WILL EVER GO 2. SHE DEFINATLY DESERVES ALL OF THIS AFTER HER HARD WORK!!!!!
womonizer on September 1, 2009 6:28 PM
I LOVE ALL YOUR SONGS
musiclover1221 on September 1, 2009 7:34 PM
I LOVE ALL YOUR SONGS.
The photos look awesome =)
twilitefan13 on September 1, 2009 9:23 PM
She`s so young and talented who wouldnt think shes cool jerks.She really s living the dream,by the time shes thirty shes going to have a lot of more lucky support over here
TaylorSwiftRoks on September 2, 2009 2:49 PM
if i could EVER go to a concert of hers...i would like DIE!! she is sooo talented and so down tot earth...shes a true girl too!!! rokk on tay!! u deserve EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
becca.lynn on September 2, 2009 5:28 PM
i love taylor swifts music! it really speaks 2 me but i dont really like her live... but her cds are AWESOME! :p
courtneylyneyo on September 2, 2009 7:29 PM
I love Taylor Swift and her music. She is such an amazing person!
brazilcutie97 on September 2, 2009 8:37 PM
wow i luv taylor! btw that was a great piece. i luv writing and hope to get into journalism someday! u guys are inspiring me thanks so much!
~brazilcutie97~
Jessi Cullenizer on September 3, 2009 9:29 PM
I LOVE TAYLOR SWIFT!!!!!!!!! SHE'S IS THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!! She's not dramatic and loserish and stupid like Miley Spearsrus. She's down to earth and gorgeous and a great singer! Suck that Joe! jkjk love Joe too!!!!!!!
brazilcutie97 on September 3, 2009 9:37 PM
miley spearsus! HAHA thats a good one! and so true no offense !
taylorlautnerNMBR1fan411 on September 4, 2009 9:14 AM
I really think taylor swift is the best singer in the entire world!!!!!!!!!!! she has worked so hard 2 get where she is right now!! GO TAYLOR SWIFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kellanlutz on September 4, 2009 7:11 PM
wow! amazing luv her!!!!!!!! go tay! >3>3
cjl1998 on September 5, 2009 9:17 PM
i think that it was really cool how she seems so quiet but is wild when she goes on stage and i luv her song white horse
taylor_forever13 on September 6, 2009 5:51 AM
taylor is the luckiest girl in the world!!!
keep the hits coming tay!!
cheeratua on September 9, 2009 3:27 PM
OMG i luvvvvvv taylor swift she is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i really really really really really really want 2 go 2 her concert soooooooooooooooooo badly!!!!!!!!!!!!!
selenajb on September 9, 2009 5:01 PM
I ADORE HER FOR ALL HER HARD WORK AND HAPPY SPIRIT!!!!!! =]
friendsforchange on September 12, 2009 6:51 PM
Taylor is cool and everything but she's just a normal person. I also think her voice is phony did you hear her on the today show? And besides she's only one person.
miljana512 on September 13, 2009 2:55 PM
Omg!!! I love her song "you belong with me"
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i love taylor swift
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Gawd, Taylor! I love you! You are so amazing! It's so cool that you didn't have any connections or anything, it was all you becoming a star, not the influence of somebody else! I love you taylor! You are amazing! You deserve to be in the spotlight since you are such a great role model, singer, actress and you are HOT! I love your song "You Belong With me!" can't wait till you re-release your album fearless! i bought it the first time and will buy it the second time! love you taylor! follow on twitter:
marvelousmarg
teamtaylor13
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taylor i love your music expecily "you belong with me" you rocked at the mtv awords
love
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OMG! Taylor Swift is so pretty! She is a role model of mine! I LOVE her music and I really wanna go to her concerts! Don't mind what Kanye West said to you at the VMA's. He acted without thinking and was really stupid!! LOVE YOU TAYLOR!!! XXX. :D
ps I LOVE YOUR SONG YOU BELONG WITH ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It really speaks to me.
OMG! Taylor Swift is so pretty! She is a role model of mine! I LOVE her music and I really wanna go to her concerts! Don't mind what Kanye West said to you at the VMA's. He acted without thinking and was really stupid!! LOVE YOU TAYLOR!!! XXX. :D
ps I LOVE YOUR SONG YOU BELONG WITH ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It really speaks to me. (i love all you outfits)
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I LOVE TAYLOR!!!!!!!!!!!! She's the sweetest, most honest, sincere celebrity out there!!!!!!! She's so talented, and she's like the most beautiful person EVER!!!!!!! She deserves everything she's getting!!!!!! Her music is amazing!!!!!! And i love her so much!!!!! GO TAYLOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Taylor and J-14er,
hey its hucksgirl101 again. taylor is awsome shes d best. i love her. her songs remind me of my life. she was an awsome singer, she is a role model 4 girls every age she neva wood have thought it b4 but i love her ahe d best she awsome. so taylor i wish u luck wit ur career and i hope 2 c u soon. love yall
Love always,
hucksgirl101
Hey Stephen, I know looks can be deceiving
But I know I saw a light in you
And as we walked we were talking
I didn't say half the things I wanted to
Of all the girls tossing rocks at your window
I'll be the one waiting there even when it's cold
Hey Stephen, boy, you might have me believing
I don't always have to be alone
'Cause I can't help it if you look like an angel
Can't help it if I wanna kiss you in the rain so
Come feel this magic I've been feeling since I met you
Can't help it if there's no one else
Mmm, I can't help myself
Hey Stephen, I've been holding back this feeling
So I got some things to say to you
I've seen it all, so I thought
But I never seen nobody shine the way you do
The way you walk, way you talk, way you say my name
It's beautiful, wonderful, don't you ever change
Hey Stephen, why are people always leaving?
I think you and I should stay the same
'Cause I can't help it if you look like an angel
Can't help it if I wanna kiss you in the rain so
Come feel this magic I've been feeling since I met you
Can't help it if there's no one else
Mmm, I can't help myself
They're dimming the street lights, you're perfect for me
Why aren't you here tonight?
I'm waiting alone now, so come on and come out
And pull me near and shine, shine, shine
Hey Stephen, I could give you fifty reasons
Why I should be the one you choose
All those other girls, well, they're beautiful
But would they write a song for you?
I can't help it if you look like an angel
Can't help it if I wanna kiss you in the rain so
Come feel this magic I've been feeling since I met you
Can't help it if there's no one else
Mmm, I can't help myself
If you look like an angel
Can't help it if I wanna kiss you in the rain so
Come feel this magic I've been feeling since I met you
Can't help it if there's no one else
Mmm, I can't help myself
Myself
Can't help myself
I can't help myself
- i loovee youu taylor ! your amazingg !
OMG! in the 2 to last pic its taylor, kellie, and gloriana! i love all of them!!!
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omg i go see her in concert in october she is commin to indiana and it will be my first offical concert!!!!!!! ILOVE TAYLOR SWIFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i saw t. swift in oshkosh WI!!!!!!!!AMAZING!!!!
follow mw on twitter,taylor!!!! (www.twitter.com/liver_13)
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rock on taylor!im srry 4 wat happened about kanye west taking ur spotlight during ur 1st mtv award!!:]soooooooooooooooo baa-baai luuuv sheep!
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when she tries to do rock+hip hop music it doesn't work! sorry taylor but i like you singing country and pop and i hope you stick with that.
I love Taylor Swift YOU ROCK TAYLOR SWIFT she is like awesome I can name 10000000 things I love about her but I doubt I could fit that all!!!!
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TAYLOR u rock big time!!!!
u have inspered me so much!!
omg i was there and taylor walked right down the aisle i was sitting at!!!
Very nice site!
I like taylor swift. She has some good songs.
Very nice site!
taylor swift is my idol!!!!!!
I have seen Taylor Swift in concert....2ce!!!! an she is jus more amaziin concet than eve! and i loved it when i seen heron er "FEARLESS 2009 TOUR" and i absolutly loved it when sh and her crue had set tis thing up an stuff ad it wa le a sort FAKE clip of her getting interveiwed aand the interveiwer said "well,when you are writeing these bd sons about these guys,what makes youthink ay boy's going to want t go out with you?" and she said "ell,if they dont want me to writea bad song about them,then they shouldnt do bad things..." and it just kept repeating "hey souldnt d bad things" over and over and ovr! It wasabsolutly halliours! i love Taylor Swift an ten she ame utn that red dress up n hat pic up her and she sand "Shouldve said no or someting? idk,i cant remember,lol.Actuly,tose pics are all of he thing tha she wod plus the sae sets and everythng when she came to Luisvlle,Kentucky! Wow thas weird!
*COME BCK TO KENTUCKY TALOR!!!!!!!*
-much love from,
Katlin
I
U ROCK TAYLOR!!!!
Taylor you rock!!
Everyone loves your songs!!!!!
Keep on rocking Taylor!!:-D
taylor you are awsome
i love all your songs and music
keep doing your thing
omg i love you taylor you are my idol!!!! dont listen to kayne west he has no idea what hes talking about. rock on taylor!!!!!
OMTAYLOR!!! I LOVE HER! DEF MY CLOSE 2ND FAV OF ALL TIME! I WAS DIEING TO SEE HER CONCERT IT LOOKS SO INTERESTING! lOVE YA TAYLOR!
taylor is soooooooooo lucky and when i listen to her somgs it makes me relize that life is too presious to waste and to be thatn ful for what we have
I heart taylor! She's my inspiration and role model. I just see her and I think of what I wanna be, determined, fearless, sweet, and just awesome. we should all be more like her.
I think that Taylor Swift rocks, everything about her. Her music, talet,music videos
omg! she looks so natural on stage!
U ROCK TAYLOR!!!
omg i love taylor swift!!
omg i love taylor swift!!
I love Taylor Swift!!! Taylor Swift is a great role model and inspiration!!!
Taylor Swift is the ultimate good girl, she is an inspiration to many children and teens, I LOVE YOUR SONG YOU BELONG WITH ME I can really relate to it, Im like the odd girl in cheerleading, because im best friends with the band and not the other cheerleaders.
Taylor Swift has grown in popularity, style, and talent. She's come so far with all of them and she's a great example to kids.
Taylor, you proved to me that not all celebrities ruin their lives. In fact, when I found out about you I was really impressed. Now I'm the ultimate Taylor Swift fan. I would give anything for the chance to go to one of your concerts. Even better, I wish you were my sister. By the way, I'm a t-shirts bleachers girl too.
love your songs
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Taylor is such a great person because she doesnt let people change her,and we all need to learn from that!!!!!!!!!!
this is my fave T- swift song:
You said the way my blue eyes shined,
Put those Georgia stars to shame that night
I said: "That's a lie"
Just a boy in a Chevy truck,
That had a tendency of gettin' stuck,
On backroads at night
An' I was right there beside him all summer long
An' then the time we woke up to find that summer'd gone
But when you think: Tim McGraw,
I hope you think my favorite song
The one we danced to all night long:
The moon like a spotlight on the lake
When you think happiness,
I hope you think: "That little black dress"
Think of my head on your chest,
An' my old faded blue jeans
When you think Tim McGraw,
I hope you think of me
September saw a month of tears,
An' thankin' God that you weren't here,
To see me like that
But in a box beneath my bed,
Is a letter that you never read,
From three summers back
It's hard not to find it all a little bitter sweet,
An' lookin' back on all of that, it's nice to believe:
When you think: Tim McGraw,
I hope you think my favorite song
The one we danced to all night long:
The moon like a spotlight on the lake
When you think happiness,
I hope you think: "That little black dress"
Think of my head on your chest,
An' my old faded blue jeans
When you think Tim McGraw,
I hope you think of me
And I'm back for the first time since then:
I'm standin' on your street,
An' there's a letter left on your doorstep,
An' the first thing that you'll read:
Is: "When you think: Tim McGraw,
"I hope you think my favorite song"
Some day you'll turn your radio on,
I hope it takes you back to that place
When you think happiness,
I hope you think: "That little black dress"
Think of my head on your chest,
An' my old faded blue jeans
When you think Tim McGraw,
I hope you think of me
Oh, think of me,
Mmmm
You said the way my blue eyes shined,
Put those Georgia stars to shame that night
I said: "That's a lie"
thanx tay
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