Barbie, Sam Altman, Vladimir Putin, King Charles III, Jerome Powell, Xi Jinping, Trump Prosecutors, and Hollywood Strikers— this list of eight, though diverse, includes those with two things in common: First, each was considered for this year’s Time’s Person of the Year, and second, they all inevitably lost to singer and songwriter Taylor Swift.
Pop star Taylor Swift was officially named 2023’s Person of the Year, an accomplishment to top off an already successful year. The honor of Person of the Year is one that dates back to 1927, put in place with the intent to acknowledge one influential person, group, or concept that has most shaped headlines; this year’s decision was made with little dispute.
Swift has been breaking records and raising standards since her debut in 2006. From country to indie to pop, the popular artist has made her presence in the music industry known. Time Magazine believes certain individuals hold the power to drive society, and between her globally impactful Eras Tour, two re-recorded albums, and a grammy, Taylor Swift has done just that in 2023.
As notable as this distinction is, this would not be the artist’s first time as the face of 8 billion people. In 2017, Swift was formally recognized as a Silence Breaker of sexual misconduct, propelling the ‘Me 2’ movement. Swift stands in a pool of several world leaders as the first woman to be selected twice- that too for her achievements in the arts. This time around, it was her ability to convert every setback of her career into more fame, love, and praise from her growing fanbase that drove the magazine to choose Swift. “In a divided world, where too many institutions are failing, Taylor Swift found a way to transcend borders and be a source of light. No one else on the planet today can move so many people so well” stated the December 6th issue. Whether you are a fan or not, it is hard to fight the fact that Taylor Swift has become more than just an artist, especially for women and children everywhere.
Taylor Swift’s music career has bled into all aspects of the world, most actively impacting the economy and postsecondary education. The ‘Taylor Effect’ is a term widely used by analysts in her industry, referring to the noticeable spikes which occur anytime she performs in a city. With the influx of tourists and visitors, the hospitality market stayed busy during Swift’s international tour this year. Economies benefited greatly from Taylor Swift’s visits, and it has been projected that the Eras Tour might be the biggest and most successful tour yet.
A blooming relationship between the singer and football player Travis Kelce has also proved to increase numbers dramatically. “She somehow made one of America’s most popular things—football—even more popular,” explained Sam Lansky in all her awe. But the Taylor Effect didn’t just stop here.
Attendees of the Eras Tour started the exchange of friendship bracelets, something mentioned in one of Swift’s songs from Midnights. With this turning into a booming trend, craft stores and etsy shops have been flooded by fans in the past year, almost beyond belief.
The most prestigious universities within the U.S have caught wind of Swift’s chokehold on the younger generation, driving even Harvard to have a class devoted to her. NYU, Taylor Swift’s alma mater, included her in a supplemental essay prompt, asking applicants to analyze and dissect a verse of her’s.
Regardless of one’s music taste, Swift has- without a doubt- taken the world by storm. From a young teen to the cover page of almost every magazine, she has made her mark, continuing to top headlines, charts, and people’s expectations. So, did Swift deserve this honor a second time around? To many, she is the will of Hollywood Strikers, the ethical fairness of prosecutors, the leadership of kings or CEO’s, and yes, she is Barbie. She is the 2023 Time’s Person of the Year.
Sources:
Taylor Swift Is Time’s Person of the Year – The New York Times
Person of the Year 2023: See the Shortlist | TIME
Every TIME Person of the Year for the past 25+ years
Taylor Swift: The record-breaking artist in numbers – BBC Newsround
The Taylor Swift Album to Listen to While Applying to Each NYU School
