I’m a newer fan since 2020 pandemic in mid-50’s. I started listening to her because I didn’t get her popularity or acclaim. Wanted to at least see whether I was missing something or not. These are the reasons I like her now:

Lyricism. Relatable. I may not be in high school but I once was. So when listen to Fearless album I don’t need to directly relate to it in order to remember what it was like to be that age, and it’s incredibly accurate. Her lyrics paint a picture where you can picture the scene. Some lyrics are more fun (bejeweled), some descriptive (all too well), some artistic and more like poetry (this love or Ivy).

Diverse. Some people say all her albums are the same, all her music sounds the same. When I started listening to her I was amazed that, at least in my opinion, each album sounds very different. Even folklore and evermore, which are sister albums, are very different to me. My ears hear very different albums fur each of her 10 albums.

Themes. In listening to her albums more closely, I have noticed each album has a few themes that set them apart. Some people may not think so, but apart from the albums sounding different to me I think the theme of each album is very distinct.

Album openers and closers. I find that I enjoy her bookends to each of the themes of the albums. She is especially good at album closers. The closing track seems to completely close out that era. Dear reader is such a wonderful closing message to the Midnights album, whereas Begin Again and New Years Day and evermore are absolutely spectacular at closing out their projects. She is a master at doing that.

Eras. What I didn’t know is that each album comes with all kinds of stuff. A literary piece. Or a set of poems. Or a set of Polaroids. Or some kind of artistic medium. Some have notes or journal entries. Plus a color. Plus a season. It becomes an e tire aesthetic. It’s a hairdo, a clothing style. It’s everything that makes the album more well rounded and full.

Easter eggs. I didn’t know she did this, I was unaware of hidden clues, games, hidden msgs. I think this adds to the experience of an album, making it more than just listening to music but becomes interactive, and becomes more engaging for fans.

Work ethic. No one that I’ve seen in my entire life is as high functioning as she seems to be. I’m new to her, didn’t know anything about her, I’m fairly intelligent, but I’ve never seen anything quite like her ability to write music, write produce direct, paint, etc. it’s unbelievable. I also had never really heard her speak in a professional setting as an adult. I love hearing her speak in her late 20’s to early 30’s. I never knew she was an intelligent, no offense, I just didn’t know anything whatsoever about her.

Well rounded. Again I didn’t know any of these things but am very impressed to find she won a National poetry contest and write a novel both by age 12. SheNs been writing the storyboards for her music videos for 15 years, now she directs them. I’m in no way surprised that she has now directed a short film and a documentary and in no way, at this point, surprised that she has written a screenplay. I don’t think it fits her to start a makeup line, or lingerie line, if that what she wants for her next career, fine, but I believe she is moving in a natural direction that extends upon her storytelling as an artist.

Anyway. Im a newer fan. I was surprised to find any of this out. And it only made me respect her and enjoy her music more.