Attention, world! Taylor Swift is not looking for your approval anymore. In the documentary, ‘Miss Americana’ directed by Lana Wilson, we get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the superstar. She is the most successful musician of her generation. With seven albums and a net work of $360 million, she is a woman that has carved an amazing path in the music industry. She has achieved this milestone before her 30th birthday. Let’s face it. Our society is fascinated by celebrities. Sit back, relax and enjoy VIP access to the private singer’s world. ‘Miss Americana’ is a fascinating look at a young woman who has grown up in the spotlight.
The film expertly shows Swift’s life in the public eye as well as old video footage. The home videos show a little girl that was exploding with talent. Besides her meteoric rise, we get to see the cathartic events over the years. Among these are the Kanye West incident, her political stance during the 2018 Tennessee midterm elections and the sexual assault case against the radio DJ that groped her. Through her struggles we get to see how she has matured as an artist as well as a strong woman. Her journey has not been easy. She was vilified on social media with the hashtag #TaylorSwiftisoverparty. This is a tough pill to swallow for a young woman that built her mindset on being accepted and applauded.
She has her share of haters that see her as too skinny, dating too many guys or creating music that is too bubblegum. It definitely sends a message that she is not good enough. This led her to having an eating disorder which she has overcome. We see her digging into a yummy burrito. It is sometimes difficult to relate to a mega celebrity. She cannot just run down the corner store for a gallon of milk. She would be mobbed. She lives her life in isolation for the most part. Swift now stays away from the gossip magazines and social media. She might be a superstar but she still has feelings like you or me. When we see her petting her cute cat or working out her next song in the studio, you get the sense that Swift is going to be okay.
The cinema verite filmmaking style makes Swift relatable. She explains, “I became the person everyone wanted me to be.” It’s an impossible task to please everyone. This is why she had to block out the negativity and do what she does best – write music and perform. This is when she has the most control over her life. When she takes the stage, it is powerful. Her loyal fanbase has never wavered. Her massively successful Reputation Tour is the highest grossing U.S. tour of all time. One of the great rewards of watching the documentary is how she is still a young woman personally and professionally in progress. She never runs out of song ideas. She is one of the very few artists that can sell out a stadium. And most importantly, she is an entertaining performer to watch on stage.
It’s incredible how much Swift has accomplished at the age of 30. ‘Miss Americana’ shows an intelligent and talented woman that is in the driver seat of her music career. The behind-the-scenes look at her songwriting process is fascinating. Whether you like her music or not, Swift is a force to be reckoned with. And if that isn’t enough, her Scottish Fold cats are pretty darn cute. ‘Miss Americana’ is now streaming on Netflix.
