Everyone is at least a little bit of a Swiftie (even if you listen to John Mayer and Joe Jonas, or watch Jake Gyllenhaal movies)! Find your favorite Taylor Swift album(s) to see which Jewish holiday you are!
The original album. Like Shabbat, “Taylor Swift” was the first to be created. Shabbat is a nice end to the week, a time to wind down, be with family, and rest. With songs such as “Tim McGraw”, “Tied Together with a Smile”, and “Teardrops On My Guitar”, Taylor Swift definitely has the best songs to wind down to. Also, though, there are songs such as “Picture To Burn”, “Should’ve Said No”, and “Our Song”, which represent the upbeat transition from Shabbat to Havdalah (especially with the fire imagery in “Picture To Burn”).
You know that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you open gifts and eat latkes during Hanukkah? Fearless (especially Taylor’s Version) gives that exact feeling. The starting three tracks of this album, “Fearless”, “Fifteen,” and “Love Story,” are songs that you can sing at the top of your lungs, which gives a similar feeling to the time during Hanukkah. Similar to Hanukkah, where everyone likes at least one factor of Hanukkah, everyone has a favorite song on this album since all of the songs are so singable.
A lot of the songs featured in “Speak Now” make me want to get up and dance! Simchat Torah is the best holiday to dance during! “Better Than Revenge” and “The Story of Us,” among many other songs from this album, give a fast and almost fun tune. Simchat Torah is definitely one of the most fun holidays. It is one of the most celebratory holidays, which resembles “Speak Now”, even though most of the songs are about a breakup.
When you think about Rosh Hashanah, what color do you think of? I automatically think of red, as apples are a huge part of Rosh Hashanah! Even if that is not what you think, “Red” gives the vibes of early fall transitions, just as Rosh Hashanah does. This album contains the 10-minute version of “All Too Well,” which is debatably one of her best songs. It tells a story of new beginnings and leaving something that is horrible. Rosh Hashanah is the holiday for new beginnings and starting fresh.
Most people love Passover, but there is a select few that hates this holiday whenever it comes around. “1989” can be similar to that, especially with songs such as “Bad Blood,” “Blank Space,” and “Wildest Dreams,” which are not everyone’s first choice. I, along with many other people, LOVE both Passover AND “1989,” but there are a select few who don’t. Also, Passover is in spring, and 1989 gives major spring vibes.
“Reputation” is the album for new beginnings and changing yourself. This is very similar to the idea of Yom Kippur, which is to apologize and start anew. “Reputation” makes me automatically think of the iconic lyric in “Look What You Made Me Do,” where Taylor mentions that “...the old Taylor can't come to the phone right now,” which is presumably because she has changed a large amount. Yom Kippur is the holiday for changing and becoming your new self!
“Lover” is not many people’s favorite album, but everyone loves it. This is similar to Purim, as there is nothing to not love within Purim, but not many people claim it as their favorite holiday. Though, there are some songs in here that are many people’s favorites, just like Purim. Hamantaschen and dressing up in costume are the best elements of Purim, just as “Lover” has really great components. Also, both give off the same feeling of overall excitement.
The biggest connection that these albums have with Sukkot is the fall feel. “Folklore” and “Evermore” remind me very heavily of the leaves falling and the cool air. Sukkot is the most ‘fall’ holiday, so it definitely represents “Folklore” and “Evermore”.
Madison Harr is a BBG from Ohavim BBG #418, and she has a dog named after Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.
All views expressed on content written for The Shofar represent the opinions and thoughts of the individual authors. The author biography represents the author at the time in which they were in BBYO.
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