So does that mean that KSmith was the first guy to successfully pick up Taylor in the last 22 months?
Respect!
What was Taylor like? Was she heavy? Did she smell of Incredible Things? Did you ask if you could call her The Lord? Did she rap to Kendrick Lamar? Does she like computer games? Did she ever play as Taylor Swift on Band Hero? Did you ask her about when she fell over during that Target convention performance?
I want to know more about her RI Mansion. What was it like inside? Does she have a towering seawall composed of rocks, cement and several annoyed surfers? Does she have a studio there? A piano? Does Ed really have his own room there and does it have a round door and tunnel into the ground like Bilbo's? Does she like whipped cream?
The owner of Taylor Swift Style was at the Secret Session in NYC, and she wrote about it. I would recommend you to take your time to read it cause her post is great. It's very well written and her description of Taylor's place is amazing.
Quote:
Phew. Holy crap you guys. What a complete whirlwind.
So I woke up on Tuesday morning to a message from Taylor Nation sitting in my Twitter inbox. It was vague. The word ‘confidential’ was used.
I was being called up. I knew it was New York.
A lot of things had to transpire in between me getting from my new town to New York City — a place I had always dreamed of going.
I don’t even know how to begin this, really.
I think you all know the story by now. You meet at a location to talk to other likeminded Swifties. It was amazing being able to talk to so many wonderful people who were meeting their idol for the first time and had waited years for it to happen.
You get placed onto buses and then driven to her apartment where food and drink awaits you.
I wandered around her apartment in complete and utter shock, trying to absorb everything as readily as I could. The rustic cabinets filled with old, faded vintage books, various baseball paraphernalia, old vintage cameras, a birdcage filled with books and a lit up flashbulb ‘love’ sign. That was my favourite piece in her living room. Her Grammys for country album of the year and for “Mean” sitting up on her fireplace mantle in between old fashion clocks sitting on yet more vintage, faded and worn books.
All of the candles that fill her entire house. Some in singles, some in giant waxy turrets on wrought iron stands. Like candle castles. Some of them were custom created for her from a candle shop in Soho. According to the label, they were made for “Taybeca”. I couldn’t stop laughing.
The dark burgundy velvet drapes offsetting brick walls painted the same rustic brown-red that her walls are and the oriental dark red rugs on the floors. So many armchairs and comfy couches and a pool table.
A poster headlining her and Ed on tour together hangs behind one of the rustic cabinets against her walls.
Beyond her kitchen, there’s a hallway decorated with black and white pictures of friends (including a certain flame-haired singer with his middle finger up). I loved her television room which was overflowing with comfy couches and more velvet throw pillows than I can even handle.
She has Frozen on DVD and the walls were decorated with four-square framed blown up Polaroids. One was captioned something along the lines of how hardcore cross-stitching is. Another with her dancing amongst Victoria Secret angels at the VSFS.
A certain Meredith Grey was at the bay window of one of the rooms and is almost as soft as powder puff Olivia Benson. Who I got to hold in my arms after Scott Swift handed her to me.
Then there was Taylor herself. Who came down the stairs and we all promptly screamed our faces off. About a minute later, Karlie Kloss bounded down the stairs.
More screams.
Taylor and Karlie embraced, Taylor said she had just stopped by for a quick visit and then she was gone.
Taylor took to an armchair that we had all crowded around on thef loor while sitting on mass amounts of cushions and throw pillows. She talked to us. Recognized some of us. I made a few a sassy comments at some of the descriptions of the songs (that I can’t talk about) while she played us the songs and gave us descriptions about each of them. I think you’ve read enough experience stories to know how that goes.
Before she could play the album, I was sitting on the floor and I was this || close to screaming “NO SPOILERS” and running out of there. Of course, I didn’t. And, of course, I’m totally joking.
I’m probably not going to be much help by saying “I don’t know what to think of the album” right now. I’m not allowed to share lyrics, song titles, track listing or descriptions that Taylor gave us regarding how she came about to writing the songs.
All I can say is that, yes, it’s true. There are only two slow-ish songs on the album and they’re not in the slightest ‘traditional’ Swiftian ballads. The production on the album is more different than I have ever heard. It’s a mixture of exactly what you would expect on pop radio, but also more of a throwback to the 80s mixed in with something I didn’t expect and was very thrown from. It’s different. Very very very different. A lot of great one liners are on there. A lot of repetitive liners are on there, too.
She played “Shake It Off” last and we all had a dance party. She threw off her Louboutins and danced around with us in her party dress.
During the intermission, she herself handed out a tray of cookies that she had baked. They tasted like fall and angels.
After the album played, Taylor went upstairs and we Swifties talked amongst ourselves.
A lot of people came up to me and told me that they loved TSS. I can’t even tell you how that made me feel. I know that I teared up several times and hugged many of you many more times. I honestly just can’t express how grateful and completely crazy that is to me. To talk to actual people with actual lives in PERSON who appreciate and know and follow this blog. Like? That? Is? Insane??? And I’m BEYOND floored at the kindness of so many of you. It truly means everything to me. I hope that got across when we met.
Finally, much later on that evening, it was my turn to talk to Taylor.
Previously that day, I had written a very long letter on the back of a map of New York that had a bunch of tourist attractions written on it that me and my best friend had visited earlier that day. I wanted to make the most of New York while I could. It was an exhausting day.
I wasn’t allowed to give it to her herself but that letter was meant to detail a lot of feelings and emotions I’ve felt over the last eight years. As I knew that when I came face to face with someone who has near single-handedly changed my life and informed my opinions and philosophies on love that I wouldn’t be able to fit everything in during a five minute stammering, babbling conversation.
When she called for me she did an adorable little shimmy and said HIiiIiiIIiIiiiIIII. I walked up to her very slowly and carefully then burst into tears and said “I’m going to CRY” and she said, “Awww no you’re not. No. You’re fine. It’s okay” and she enveloped me in a tight hug.
Taylor is extremely engaging, extremely present. She looks deeply into your eyes, she purses her lips, she twirls her fingers, she bursts out laughing, she grabs your arm when you make a joke, her brows jut right up when you surprise her and she asks you questions sincerely about your life and how you got there.
I told her that my first concert ever was hers. That I was in the nosebleeds and 14-years-old and that she was “a flailing teenager in a disco dress hitting a garbage can to ‘Picture To Burn’”. She burst out laughing and said, “YES. And you knew and saw that someday I would have real garbage cans to bang on, didn’t you?” And I said yes, I knew she was something special.
I told her that me and my best friend woke up at “balls o clock” that morning to get to see the sights of New York. Her eyes basically popped out of their head and her perfectly lipsticked pout made an ‘o’ in shock and said “Oh my god what did you say?” I repeated myself. She said, with great exuberance, “THAT. IS. THE BEST THING. THAT I HAVE EVER HEARD. THAT IS AMAZING. I am going to use that in conversation ALL THE TIME. I cannot even believe that.”
We talked about how I got there. We talked about the blog. She called me a “pro” and that she had chosen me about seven to eight months ago and she couldn’t believe how dedicated I was. I’m extremely grateful I gave her that letter because it went into so much more detail about my love life and what she’s done for me.
We then took some polaroids. She said, “Do you want to do something fashion related?” and I said “Sure!” so she went into that adorable little bow/curtsy thing that she does on tour and tugged out the hem of her skirt. I followed.
She gave me another huge hug and I said thank you and I love you and she said she loved me too.
Here is my novel for all of you fine people. It's the entire story of the whole night but the album stuff is about halfway through in case you don't wanna read it all. I just gave my opinions on it. Can't say too much else!
So it all started on Thursday night at about 8:30 pm when I got a call. It was a RI area code so I figured it was someone from class or something. I never answer calls if I don’t know the number, I just don’t do it. But something told me to pick this one up. I did and it was someone from taylorswift.com inviting me to a secret event in the Providence, RI area. I had to write down a bunch of information on a piece of paper and I literally could not believe what was happening. They kept saying Providence and how we were going to be shuttled to a second location from the parking lot so I figured we would be meeting in Providence. The parking lot they gave us was not even close to Providence and in fact about 30 seconds away from Taylor’s house so I thought something was wrong and I panicked for like an hour thinking I got the wrong address. I even called the number back and I knew I wasn’t supposed to but like I was so nervous and they didn’t answer and I was like calm it down there ain’t no way you got the wrong info. Chill. And so I did. I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone or say anything so I had to keep it in and I couldn’t even believe it. I couldn’t concentrate on anything or think about anything else for the longest time.
Fast forward to Saturday. I could not even believe what was happening but it just didn’t feel real. Like I would say it to myself and I was like nah no way nope. They said to get there no earlier than 4 and no later than 4:30 pm. I got there at 4:01 thinking I was gonna be so early and the entire parking lot was basically filled. Then they said they were coming car by car to get everyone. This process took insanely long but whatever I was about to meet Taylor Swift I don’t care how long it takes. I sat in my car listening to her music for two hours until at about 6 o’clock I was finally able to go and check in. We were some of the last people to go in. Other people had been in the house for over an hour I’d say. So we go through all the security stuff, get in a van, and drive the 15-second drive up the street. The most surreal feeling is actually pulling into that driveway and approaching the house. We went in through the garage, did more security and went up the back stairs. And into one of the nicest, most beautiful, immaculate houses I’ve ever seen. Massive windows everywhere with outrageous ocean views and it smelled good and there were candles everywhere and it was decorated so nicely and it was all really vintagey and old-timey feeling. I couldn’t believe I was in that house. I ate a little bit but soon after we all filed into the living room to sit down. I was one of the last ones in and they made me squeeze into this tight little space in the middle of the floor and I’m a big kid and it was crazy but I got in there and I was hella uncomfortable but I DON’T CARE. And then after a few minutes we just heard “Hi guys!!” from behind us and everyone started screaming and I was just grinning from ear to ear and Taylor is so crazy beautiful its outrageous.
She sat down in a chair and said her hellos and then started introducing the first song. She went song by song and introduced them each time talking about the backstory behind that and her thoughts and feelings and who she worked with and it was awesome to get this kind of insight. She lipped out every single lyric and acted out everything and did her typical Taylor hand movements which are amazing and she would make eye contact with everyone and it was crazy. Every so often she would just see someone she recognized from Instagram and get so excited and say something personal about them, it was so nice to see. Then we took an intermission and she came out with a tray of rice krispy treats and cookies and handed them out and I took a rice krispy treat and it was very delicious. I had to use the bathroom and I was waiting in line, I noticed that she had the original lyrics to WANEGBT framed on the wall which was really cool. Just two white pieces of paper, written in pencil. It was crazy to see that.
As the intermission was about to be over, I knew I was pretty uncomfortable where I was sitting last time just kind of wedged in the middle of everyone so I thought I’d get a seat near the back this time. I was right next to this big chair, waiting for her to come back out and play the rest of the album. She walked into the room with Olivia who was really cute and she was like “surprise, surprise” and sat down in the huge chair that I was literally right up against and said for the second half she was going to sit on this side of the room. So I literally turned around and was about an inch away just sitting right in front of her, couldn’t have been closer really. Olivia was being passed around and she was at the girl right next to me and I was going to pet her but then she jumped off into Taylor’s lap and out of the room and they put her away and she never came back so I never got to pet her haha. She played the second half of the album and at one point she sang a few lyrics directly to me and was pointing down at me as if she was singing the lines to me and I just pointed back at her and internally I was just like holy ****. She played one of the voice memos which was awesome to hear. She sounded amazing and it was actually really funny, you guys will understand when you hear it. She went through her phone to find the actual voice memo and it was not from her “music” app or anything like that—so this was the legit voice memo and she sounded SO damn good. So if anyone ever tries to be like “ohhhh dat was edited” nope, no, no. It was legit straight from the voice memos on her phone.
As far as the album goes, it’s really pop and it’s not afraid to be pop and that’s what is so good about it. She took a lot of chances and went in a lot of different directions in my opinion—she stayed in the same realm this time and it truly was sonically cohesive but there’s something different and exciting about all of the songs too. The production is top notch, she sounds great and despite being catchy pop songs, the lyrics really were good. I don’t feel as though she had to sacrifice one for the other. No, it may not be as lyrically dense as something like Speak Now was but it’s Taylor, the lyrical content is there. It’s definitely a feel good album that you’ll be able to bop along to. There are fun, catchy songs. There are wistful love songs. There are some really sassy songs. There are some emotional songs. It’s a wide array of things. And I need to hear it again because a lot of it is starting to escape me. There’s some hooks that are stuck in my head. I honestly didn’t feel like there was much filler on it either. I felt like every song was really, really strong which was something I didn’t think about Red on first listen and afterwards. I truly think you will all love it and take something away. It’s very different for Taylor but it is so fitting and it really makes sense as the next direction. It’s bold and exciting and fun and catchy and unapologetic, she goes there. I don’t want to hype it up and say THIS IS THE BEST THING THAT’S EVER BEEN CREATED EVER EVERYTHINGS SHES EVER DONE BEFORE THIS IS **** cause that’s not true, I’ve only heard it once. But I can rationally say it’s very strong and something I can see myself listening to over and over and over again. I was not even remotely disappointed, even for a second. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.
Afterwards we all got to hang out again and wait. We were some of the last ones in so we were some of the last ones out, we had over two hours to kill essentially. I sat on the big comfy couches. She had books on sea glass and knot tying and the history of Watch Hill on her table, it was awesome. I touched some of the piano keys cause I was like I need to do this. Her parents came around and talked to everyone and were super friendly and nice and great and they took us out on the balcony which overlooked the ocean and a lighthouse and her pool and a massive in ground hot tub that changed colors, it was amazing. Pretty soon it was time to get ready to meet her. I had no idea what to do or say or ANYTHING it was crazy. I just got more and more nervous.
I walked into the room and she did this like twisting, cute motion like a quintessential Taylor move and was like “heyyyyy” and we hugged and it was crazy and then she rubbed my flannel for a second and was like “this is SO soft” and I had no idea what to say so I was just like “it’s LL Bean” and she’s like “really? Okay awesome because I’m always looking for nice shirts to buy my dad and brother for Christmas” and I was like “yup, got it from the catalogue” and then she asked if she could get it online and I was like I’m sure you can and she was like “cause soon I’m gonna be super busy and like for a catalogue...what like I’ll have to send something in or?” and we talked about the damn catalogue for another second and then I thanked her letting me be there and I told her about how much I loved the album and I was like “I have so much I want to say to you and it’s just not happening” or SOMETHING like that and she was like “nah you’re doing great…I mean like the shirt that’s something I’m really gonna do.” And that was nice and then I was like “I just want to tell you that you make me really, really happy” and she smiled really big and was like “aw thank you so much, I’m so happy that I could do that for you” and then I talked a bit about how I’ve been to every Gillette show and how there’s something about rain and how it’s always raining when I see her—it poured for most of the night tonight and she was like “there’s so many people from the rain show here!” And then it came time to take the picture and she asked what I wanted to do and I didn’t know and she was like “well you could hold a grammy” and then she was like “or I mean you look strong like you could hold me” I THINK I DON’T REMEMBER HOW SHE WORDED IT but I was thinking of that pose myself but wasn’t gonna bring it up and then I was like “I can do it” and she was like “I am heavier than I look” and she wasn’t. And then next thing I know she’s in my arms and we take the picture and the whole time I’m just like “I refuse to be the kid who drops Taylor Swift.” But I didn’t. And after that she turned to the lady who took it and was like “I think there was ass in that” and she was like “no don’t worry I cut it off if there is you shouldn’t see it” or whatever and I was like “Whoops that wasn’t my intention!” or something like that and she was like “no I should just wear longer skirts” (which nah she shouldn’t she was looking so good.) And then we hugged again and I said something about how I saw her open for Rascal Flatts and it was crazy to see her now and she was like “wow thank you for coming to the shows” and stuff and then I was on MY WAY AND I LEFT AND IT WAS 12:30 IN THE MORNING AND IT WAS INSANE. And none of it has even registered, it’s still crazy. And then I get home and an hour later she instagrams our picture together and I’m literally in complete disbelief I don’t even know. AND THAT IS HOW IT WENT. I’m so grateful for the opportunity. I’ve been waiting and trying for six years and tonight my LITERAL and figurative dreams came true.
it was my only pic similar to Taylor's pose 
