If somebody were to mention the name Taylor Swift, what would you think of? The idea that comes to my mind is a globally recognized popstar, singing a three hour long set list to billions of fans. But would you believe me if I said she hasn’t always been so influential? This week I will be discussing how Taylor Swift has developed an alter-ego over the 18 years she has been making music. Swift was born in a small town in Pennsylvania, and she talks about in a few songs how she grew up on a farm. Her song ‘The Best Day’ from her second album “Fearless” talks about her small-town childhood experiences. Also, in her song ‘I Bet You Think About Me,’ she talks about feeling inferior to her upper-class friends because of her upbringing. Her 2006 self-titled debut album “Taylor Swift” encompassed her undeniable small-town charm. The twangy, upbeat soundtrack paired with country lyrics is what captured the hearts of many “day one” listeners. Her second album, titled ‘Fearless,’ was what put her on the charts and even won her Album of the Year at the Grammy’s. This album still had a country feel to it, and you can tell by the way she sings that she was clinging to her country appeal. However, after this, her albums begin to change regularly. Her 2010 album ‘Speak Now’ is more of a rock album, with an angst that pulled in more listeners. Her 2014 album ‘1989’ is her entering the world of pop, characterized by the use of synth beats. By 2020, we see a complete shift from where she started with the release of her album ‘folklore.’ The release of these albums and ones in between attracted more listeners and gained her more attention. Her newest two albums, ‘Midnights’ and ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ have both topped the charts for record-breaking amounts of time. But the sound portrayed in these albums is a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn from what we first heard from Swift. Fans went from Swift playing free shows at her local farm fairs, to demand exceeding supply for her globally recognized ‘Era’s Tour.’ We all went from seeing a small-town country girl to a world-renowned pop star. Although change is a part of life, the development of Swift’s alter-ego didn’t seem to be a byproduct of time, it seemed to come with fame. So where is this country girl? Perhaps Taylor has stored her in the vault… but unlike the songs on her re-recorded albums, I don’t think she intends to let this one out.